State grid lock on the budget.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and Republicans continued to meet about the budget yesterday, and will again today. Both sides have said they don't want to have the state government shut down. That will happen on July 1st should they not be able to strike a budget deal.

I personally don't see how the two sides could come to deal before July 1st. The two sides ran on totally different view points, the Democrats ran on increasing taxes to the rich and trying to hold the line, well the republicans ran on less government and taxes. With the way things went I don't see a coming together on this issue, as if there is settlement that deludes either sides position it would be a big to that party.

If the government does in fact shut down, it then lays in the Governors hands to call a special session to work on the issues facing the state.

They don't seem to understand one simple thing.

Here is what the Minnesota AFL-CIO president wrote about the Minnesota economy. It is from there web page, http://www.mnaflcio.org/.

There is one thing that the AFL-CIO does not understand. It is the State house that is responsible for our troubles. That is of course lead by the DFL party. Why would the AFL-CIO not attack them? Oh wait that is right, that is who they support. They can't blame there own.

The Governor does try to set the budget however it is up to the state house to approve it and this is were the water get muddled with pork. Governor Pawlenty has done a good job of dealing with what he has been dealt by the DFL.


MN AFL-CIO President tells Governor “Invest in Minnesotans --create jobs!”


"The latest budget forecast of the Pawlenty Administration shows the disastrous impact of the Governor’s economic policies.” Minnesota AFL-CIO President Ray Waldron said today. "We MUST invest in Minnesota to rebuild our economy, our state and our long-term prosperity. The quickest way to rebuild our state is to create good-paying jobs—a move that will help workers, employers and the state as a whole.”The need is clear, Waldron said. The Jobs Now Coalition reported this week that the number of unemployed workers in the state has risen by 98 percent1 during the past eight years, while the number of job openings has dropped by 63 percent 2. Right now, 165,0003 unemployed workers are competing for only 52,0004 open jobs.
Open jobs in Minnesota today: - 38 percent are part-time - 61 percent require no education past High School - Median wage $10.58 The impact of creating good jobs: "Every 1,000 jobs created through investment in construction will support 610 total upstream jobs." From "Infrastructure investment and economic recovery." Testimony of John Irons, Research and Policy Director, Economic Policy Institute before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Wednesday, October 29, 2008. Notes & Sources 1,2,3,4,5—Jobs Now Coalition Updated Jobs Vacancy Survey, Dec. 3, 2008www.jobsnowcoalition.org

Also appearing on the page was this,


Budget Forecast: Ugly… The Dec. 4 State Budget Forecast forecast was grim: the state, already facing an unexpected half-billion dollar deficit, expects income from taxes and fees to drop as unemployment continues to rise. One of the results of that…unbudgeted costs for folks who no longer have jobs or employer-paid health care. On Thursday morning, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Ray Waldron called on the Governor to create jobs to help pull Minnesota out of its budget morass; leaders of the House and Senate DFL caucuses echoed that call. …and the

Governor's response is just as uglyGovernor Pawlenty sang his ‘no new taxes’ song and suggested that health care for low-income and unemployed folks might be first on the chopping block.Action steps: Union members can let their legislators know that the best way to rebuild our economy is to first, preserve good paying jobs and secondly, create those jobs where none exist.

The left is bitter and can't post a blog with out.......

Man the left is bitter and they can't even seem to post a blog with out swearing in it or at least leaving sign for a swear word. I don't understand why you can't get your point over with out being so bitter? Please explain to me.

http://yellowdoggrannie.blogspot.com/

There are many others as well.

Doug Johnson supporting who?

Long time DFL ( now retired) Staete Senator from Tower is going to support and vote for an unlikely candidate. Johnson always votes for the DFL candidates. Johnson said the this is first time if 40 years ( ten years longer then I have been alive) that he is voting for a republican.

Well the star trib article http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/29866779.html?elr=KArks:DCiU1OiP:DiiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU , does not say why he is not supporting Franken it does say that he things Coleman is the candidate to work with both sides of the aisle.

Johnson said this is the only race he is voting for a republican. He will vote for the Democrats the rest of the ticket.


More he as wellhttp://www.virginiamn.com/articles/2008/09/28/news/doc48def75a38cfc857117666.txt . DP will have any updates on this story. More on this later tonight as well.


Johnson is a well respected Democrat in Northern Minnesota and the State as whole. This endorsement is huge for Coleman.

Best news yet.

Thank you to the DFL for the endorsement of Al Franken today. The DFL endorsed there candidate today in at the State convention.

Today they chose to endorse Al Fraken to run against Norm Coleman. I was a bit shocked that there was an endorsement today. I was thinking they were going to go with no endorsement at all. With the troubles of Al Franken it almost ensures Mr. Coleman a victory. If you are unaware of the many problems that Franken has had you can view them at Minnesota Democrats Exposed, www.http://www.http//www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/.

Bonding Bill

I sent an email to Governor Tim Pawlenty yesterday. I asked him to veto the entire bill. Some thing he should use the line item veto. I could see that but I don't believe that will send as strong of a message to the DFL.

I am as big of a supporter as anyone to get the DECC expansion. I however am not willing to compromise values to get it. Please understand that even if the Governor did veto the entire bill we could still get the DECC expansion this year. It would be a longer process but still very possible.

The DFL tents to think that they can just disregard any warning by the Governor. He has urged them to keep it with in a specific amount yet again those chose to not do so. The bonding bill affects every Minnesota. Yes well projects maybe put at jeopardy by a veto we must understand that it needs to be done. We need responsible spending and the DFL in this case is not willing to a bit by this. In a time were Minnesota and the Country are heading toward a possible recession it is time we demand our government protect us.

I believe that a complete veto sends a much stronger message then line item veto does. I also believe it gives him the power he needs to hold there feet to the fire. Trust me when I say I believe this a lot of Minnesotans feel. Governor Pawlenty protected us last bonding season and I hope he will do it again. Now is the time to control our money.

This is what my email focused on. It went more in depth. As of now I only got the thank you for contacting our office message. Will keep you updated if I get anything back.

Mike Ciresi Drops out of the Senate race.

The best DFL candidate in my mind dropped out of the race yesterday. I was not going to support Mr. Ciresi however I thought he was the best candidate the DFL had. I first read the news at www.minnesotademocratsexposed. Followed by a story on the www.duluthnewstribune.com site.

My first thought was, to bad. The best candidate they offer drops out because he feels he can't win the nomination. I was cheering for Mr. Ciresi to win the DFL nomination. I then expected a tight race for the guy I do support Senator Coleman. Mike offered the a common sense approach on many issues. It does not matter if you agree with him or not. He and I don't agree many times, however in the few times I have had the chance to talk with him he was very respectful.

Senator Colman had this to say about the news, "Mike Ciresi should be applauded for his willingness to get into the arena and his desire to serve. He and I both share a common path in having raised our families here and making a commitment to serving the people of Minnesota through public and community service. He would have been a formidable opponent. Laurie and I and our family extend our best wishes to Mike and Anne."

I think by Ciresi dropping out of the race it will only help the re-election Mr. Coleman. It sure is my hope anyway. I don't see a lot of the people that would have voted for Mike voting for Al Fraken. Even if Ciresi endorses him.