Category: DFL Gov 2010

by Dave Mindeman

Minnesota Progressive Project is running a total as well. They are getting more direct information and may be more accurate. But a second source can't hurt.

The second update is listed below.

A big thank you to the county units that have passed along information...keep it coming. This is the county and senate districts I have been able to get so far...with totals.

Counties and SD reporting that I have currently:

Senate Districts: 5-18-19-35-37-38-39-43-46-47-49-58-59-60-61-62-63-66.

Counties: Beltrami, Blue Earth, Chisago, Clay, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hubbard, La Quie Parle, Lincoln, Morrison, Mower, Nicollet,, Sherburne, Swift, Waseca, Winona.

That totals 481 delegates as near as I can tell; Totals so far:

Uncommitted.....202
MAK..................87.5
Rybak................75
Thissen..............45
Rukavina............29
Marty.................23
Bakk..................15.5
Entenza...............4

Now -- if anybody has additional information about delegate selection in district or county units not listed above, I'd very much appreciate a report. And please, if a delegate is from an uncommitted caucus, report it as such -- if you happen to know which way they are leaning it would be great to hear that, but do not report it as an official delegate for that candidate.

Send the information to my email: dmindeman06@yahoo.com

Thanks again.

Category: GOP Politics

by Dave Mindeman

Sometimes there is a legislative vote that clearly defines the true nature of a political party. Minnesota had such a vote yesterday in the Minnesota House.

Less than a week ago, the GAMC bill had clear bi-partisan support. It was necessary. It met a need. The bill was a good bill.
Republicans and Democrats agreed.

One week later, every Republican that voted for the bill last week, voted against it this week. Did the bill change? No. Did the need go away? No. Did a better alternative get suggested? No.

The excuses were lame. It didn't go to conference. We need a comprehensive fix. The reality is clear and it all boiled down to one thing. Are you going to vote for helping the state's most vulnerable people or are you going to vote against helping them?

It was that simple.

Oh, I hear the fiscal arguments. It will add to the deficit. But consider this as well. The bill cost $284 million. Hospitals will lose at least $200 milllion if nothing is done. This will come nowhere near paying for everything needed, but the hospitials, the doctors, and other providers are willing to take a loss in order to keep some source of funding.

And consider today's news as well. The projected deficit is about $200 million less than first thought. So, in reality, the bill could be passed without any changes to the Governor's budget. Nothing. It would have been absorbed.

This bill was the essence of fiscal compromise.

Did you hear that Rep. Tara Mack? How about you, Rep. Pat Garofalo? or maybe you, Rep. Jim Abeler? or you, Rep. Dean?

You thought this bill was the right thing to do a week ago. Yet, there is that NO vote on the board when the final call is made.

This is what the Minnesota Republican Party stands for. They stand for obstruction. They stand for money interests. They stand for tax cuts at the expense of the poor.

We get the message....we all do.

It has never been made more clear.

I think that a price should be paid for that vote yesterday. A price that each and every House Republican should pay this November.