Category: John Kline

by Dave Mindeman

Representative (and I use the term loosely) John Kline has been talking endlessly about standing on principle. Yet, it is hard to see which principles he is relying on.

His recent foray into the news has been puzzling....

1. Tells the MN Supreme Court What to Do. Kline decides to make comments on his preference in a Court decision that has nothing whatsoever to do with his situation. It can only be labeled as a completely partisan comment. And this comes from a person who rails against the troublesome partisanship in Congress. And in addition, this is a guy who supposedly thinks judicial activism is abhorrent.

2. New Ranking Member of Education and Labor Committee. His first actions as new ranking member are to lie about the potential effects of the Employee Free Choice Act on secret ballots. He has claimed loudly that it will do away with the secret ballot...although if he actually read the bill, he would know it does not.

3. Kline as Member of Intelligence Committee. Proudly proclaiming that he is now a member of the House Intelligence Committee, Kline lets everyone know that he is privy to top secret intelligence information. Then, within weeks, he puts himself into a classified ethics dilemma by stating that classified memos would prove a partisan point for his party. Kline, the military officer, knows better.

This is on top of the 2nd District Congressman's refusal to apply for funding for appropriate 2nd District projects such as the Cedar Avenue BRT. Claiming that all of it, every project requested, is pork and he refuses to do anthing about it.

Has Kline forgotten what his job consists of?

Why does the 2nd District keep electing this individual? He meets none of the criteria expected of a Congressional representative.

Category: Environment

by Dave Mindeman

Pawlenty may be hitting the talk show circuit proclaiming his budget solutions as "fiscally" prudent, but the growing toll on our state's vulnerable population is socially demoralizing.

The Star Tribune story from Washington County is a concern, but the real problem is that they won't be alone.

In February and March commissioners cut $3.1 million, about 2 percent of what the county had planned to spend this year. The 2010 budget will require further savings of $2.2 million that Gov. Tim Pawlenty unallotted from local government aid.

Pawlenty has cut the programs directly and then furthur exacerbates the situation by cutting the LGA money that might have acted as the buffer to help.

Pawlenty won't talk about that on CNN or Fox News. The people he hurts don't count. They are the forgotten ones. They are data on a budget post script.

Myra Peterson of the Washington County Board says it best:

"Governments have always been concerned with taking care of the most vulnerable, those least able to care for themselves, and yet that's what we'll be cutting out. It's a travesty."

Yes, Governor Pawlenty won't be discussing travesties with Wolf Blitzer.

Category: Environment

by Dave Mindeman

The Climate bill passed in the House. Michele Bachmann is railing against the "tyranny" of it. So, progressives should be happy, right?

Here's your answer. Dennis Kucinich voted against the bill.

And he's right. This bill catered to the coal industry. It catered to the Ag industry. It almost compromised itself into uselessness.

This bill, alone, is not going to solve any climate problems. It is too weak and has too many delays built in. There are many doubts that this will pass in the Senate. But it is not because of the many flaws in the bill -- no, the Senate will probably want to water it down more.

I still hope it gets signed into law. At least it will be something. A start. A break in the gridlock.

But we will have a lot more work to do.