I Don’t Hate America!

Via press release:

WALZ SUPPORTS EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE

Package signals a clear change of priorities in Washington

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Tim Walz joined 384 of his House colleagues in voting for the bipartisan Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008. The emergency stimulus package provides tax rebates this spring of up to $600 for an individual and up to $1,200 for a married couple, plus $300 per child. A total of 117 million families will receive a check. The package also includes mortgage lending reforms and additional write offs for small businesses.

“American families are hurting and this package provides them with badly needed relief,” said Walz. “I’m pleased that Democrats and Republicans came together and found agreement on helping every day Americans. We will continue to monitor the economy and to work together if additional actions are necessary to spur the economy.”

“Under this plan, a single mother with two children making $15,000 will get a $900 rebate. That is real money in the pockets of working people who desperately need the assistance,” said Walz. “When it comes to the economy, this legislation is a clear sign that Washington’s priorities have changed. A few years ago, big business would have been the priority during an economic downturn. Today, every day Americans are first on the agenda, and that is a change we can be proud of.”

The following provisions are included in the legislation passed by the House:

Broad-Based Relief for Individuals

· Tax Cut for 117 million Families. This broad-based stimulus package will provide tax relief of up to $600 per individual and $1,200 per married couple, plus an additional $300 per child. Recovery rebate checks could be sent as early as mid-May, getting money to Americans who will spend it immediately to reinvigorate the economy.

· Unprecedented Tax Relief for Working Families. The measure provides $28 billion in tax relief for 35 million families who work but make too little to pay income taxes — families who otherwise would not have been included in this recovery effort. More than 19 million of these are families with children. Americans who earned at least $3,000 in 2007 will get at least $300 per single and $600 per couple, plus a child tax credit of $300 per child. Economist Mark Zandi of Moody’s Economy.com estimates that tax rebates that include low- and moderate-income families are 24 percent more effective as stimulus than rebates that leave these families out.

· Tax Fairness and Targeted Rebate. Nearly $50 billion of the rebate will go to middle-income Americans and those aspiring to it — making less than $50,000. The wealthiest taxpayers are not eligible for this relief. Tax relief begins to phase out above incomes of $75,000 for a single and $150,000 for a married couple.

· American families are struggling in weakening economy. Family incomes and home prices are down as health care, energy, food, and education costs and mortgage foreclosures have climbed. No wonder American families falling behind on their bills and consumer confidence is at a five-year low.

Helping Families Avoid Foreclosure

· Increasing Affordable Refinancing Opportunities and Liquidity in Housing Market. For 2008, the bill increases the FHA loan limits up to $729,750, to expand affordable mortgage loan opportunities for families at risk of foreclosure through the Federal Housing Administration. To enhance credit availability in the mortgage market, the measure includes a one-year increase in the loan limits for single family homes from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from $417,000 up to $729,750 for 2008.

Encouraging Business Investment

· Small Business Expensing. The bipartisan plan doubles the amount small businesses can immediately write off their taxes for capital investments made in 2008 from $125,000 to $250,000, for purchases of new equipment of up to $800,000 (from $500,000).

· Bonus Depreciation. It provides immediate tax relief for all businesses to invest in new plants and equipment by speeding up depreciation provisions, so that firms can write off an additional 50 percent for investments purchased in 2008.

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Via press release:

WALZ RESPONDS TO BUSH’S FINAL STATE OF THE UNION

(Washington, DC) – The following statement can be attributed to Congressman Tim Walz (MN-01).

“I’m pleased that this was President Bush’s last State of the Union speech. The American people are demanding change in Washington’s priorities and while the Congress has made some progress, the President has been a consistent roadblock. Tonight we heard more of the same from the President. What we need is a change in priorities.

“I, like many Americans, had high hopes for the President’s State of the Union Address: We wanted to hear his plan to make the economy work for all Americans, his plan to truly change the course in Iraq, and his plan to make health care available and affordable to everyone. Instead of rolling up his sleeves and sitting down with us in Congress to make the changes the American people are waiting for, the President delivered uninspiring sound bites.

“The American family needs to be Washington’s top priority as we move into 2008. Joining me tonight to listen to the President’s State of the Union was Victor Vieth, Director of Winona State University’s National Child Protection Training Center, which helps protect our kids from predators. I wanted to hear the President make protecting our children a priority.

“Tomorrow, the House will vote on an economic stimulus package to help ensure American families can afford the rising costs of food and heat during this economic downturn. And in the coming weeks, we will try again to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program so that more of America’s kids can get the health care they need. These are America’s priorities and I will continue to fight for our kids and families.

“I believe strongly that despite the economic downturn, the future holds great promise for America. Democrats and Republicans found common ground on the economic stimulus package and I am hopeful that we can sit down and work together on more issues.”

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It was a matter of when, not if.

…for those of us somewhat grounded in reality anyway. From the AP story:

CLEVELAND — Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is abandoning his second bid for the White House. In an interview with Cleveland’s Plain Dealer, the six-term congressman said he was quitting the race and would make a formal announcement on Friday.

“I will be announcing that I’m transiting out of the presidential campaign,” Kucinich said. “I’m making that announcement tomorrow about a new direction.”

“New direction?” Any predictions?

This past November, voters in the Prior Lake-Savage school district elected Chris Lind, a campus supervisor who had been terminated this past summer, to the school board.  Speculation still persists about the conditions surrounding Lind’s termination as his personnel file remains private.  So far.

Monday will be Lind’s first meeting.  Item “A” under “New Business” will be “Consideration of Chris Lind’s request for mediation.”  Yes, last month Lind’s lawyer sent a letter to the district, indicating legal action could still be a possibility against the district.

This brings up some questions, such as how fair of a legal strategy the district will be able to mount when it seems Lind, as a duly elected member of the board, can’t be prohibited from attending executive sessions.  Also, questions linger over Lind’s motives for being on the board, but he continues to insist spite toward the district is not one of them.

The Prior Lake American gives their thoughts in an editorial:

As we wrote in that Nov. 17 editorial, Lind will become an
elected official when he takes the oath of office at the Monday, Jan. 14 board
meeting. Since his election, this newspaper’s staff and many others in the
community have called on Lind to reach out in an open, direct manner,
explaining the circumstances of his firing. He has not done so, and now, with
news of his planned lawsuit against the district, he presumably cannot.

As a result, Lind won’t be able to serve both himself and the
school district. Therefore, we urge Lind to reconsider his plans to take
office.

By all appearances, Lind has not broken the law and is simply
doing what he has the legal right to do. However, he has given the impression
that he’s content to allow speculation about his circumstances to divide this
community – not exactly what most people would expect from an elected official.

We wonder how Lind could sit quietly in his seat Monday night
when the School Board discusses, in open forum, his request for a monetary
settlement. But that’s what he’ll have to do.

Via Llloydletta, here is an editorial the Star Tribune recently ran.

You can bet it will be a packed house on Monday night!

The three remaining Republican candidates wishing to vie for the seat in Congress currently held by freshman DFL Rep. Tim Walz debated for the first time last night in Rochester.

First time? I guess if we’re playing under the “if no one was allowed to see it, it didn’t happen” rules, maybe

The Post Bulletin has coverage of the debate featuring Mayo physician Brian Davis, state Sen. Dick Day and state Rep. Randy Demmer, who collectively form “Team-3D.”

All three were fighting for the anti-immigration vote:

Day said a framework could be put in place that would alert potential employers to the immigration status of job-seekers.

“If we don’t protect our borders, we don’t have a country,” Day said.

State Rep. Randy Demmer of Hayfield and Mayo Clinic physician Brian Davis also said they’re strong believers in adopting a get-tough stance against illegal immigration.

Wow, great original insight, Dick.

The candidates also agreed on the importance of fostering greater energy independence by increasing the domestic oil supply, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and in making sure that DFL Rep. Tim Walz of Mankato is not re-elected to a second term in November.

I thought the cookie-cutter talking point on domestic oil was about “individual liberty and choices,” not energy independence. Oh, you mean this isn’t the Jason Lewis show? Sorry, my bad.

The candidates also seemed to touch on issues such as education, national security and health care.

The PB article did not mention if Iraq or transportation issues were discussed, though apparently Day’s greatest qualification is his old age and newest conquest is apparently earmarks.

“I’m too old to be influenced by power or prestige,” he said.

Day, an 18-year state senator, also said fiscal discipline would be a top priority and that he would shun earmarks.

“I’m a guy that says, ‘no earmarks. We should cut out the earmarks,’” he said.

I wish we could get real and stop with this demagoguery about earmarks. Good luck getting funding for a project, say, I don’t know, Highway 14, to go through the United States Congress in a stand alone bill. People complain about how nothing gets done in Washington as it is; can you imagine how bad it would be if every single line item to be appropriated had to have its own bill? Ollie has her views here.

Will we see Day on a mission to stop omnibus bills in the state legislature, too? Somehow I doubt it.

Tomorrow, Brian Davis will appear on NARN’s “the FINAL word” at 3:00 p.m. on 1280 AM. Glad to see Davis has caught on that it’s easier to reach his prospective voters on a conservative station as opposed to say, this lefty-blog.

If you’re in the First District, or even three miles away from the interchange of Cliff Road and 35E, and thus out of the 5,000 watt station’s reach, they offer convenient web streaming. How sweet of them!

Of course since there isn’t proof he authored the letters, regardless of a lack of a byline and the fact his name is prominently on the masthead, I have to say “potential” in my title.

I’m referring to CNN’s BREAKING NEWS (®MDE) today about Ron Paul’s 1993 newsletter featuring racist ranting following the Rodney King incident.

Yes, breaking news about a 1992 newsletter which has long been available on Google Groups an other usenet readers.

So now we get all of the excuses from the Paulites.  Rep. Paul himself has said he didn’t write the comments and isn’t a racist.  His fingers on the keyboard or not, when you distribute a newsletter with your name featured prominently in the title and with no other bylines: EXERCISE SOME DAMN JUDGMENT ABOUT THE SUBJECT MATTER YOU ALLOW TO BE PUBLISHED.  If in some fantasy world Paul is elected to be president of a country (since yes, I know he won’t be in this one), how would that country’s citizens know his cabinet won’t feature secretaries spouting the same drivel?  Yes, this stuff does matter.

Then there’s the excuse of the article’s age.  Yes, it is 15 years old, but right wing pundits like Sean Hannity still mention Robert Byrd’s past affiliation with the KKK with glee at every possible opportunity.  When running for president, keep the closet clear of skeletons.  If that isn’t possible; don’t be surprised when they are found!

Finally, I’ve heard and seen the age old defense to racism, “Well, it isn’t racist to tell the truth about black people!” out of some Paul supporters.  Cult is a strong word, but is arguably appropriate concerning Ron Paul and his crowd.

Look, I know Paul isn’t going to get the GOP nomination and I know if he goes third party he won’t be elected president.  Even so, it is disheartening to see people I know personally  buy into this fraud  of a candidate when they don’t know what he’s about beyond ending the war and “shrinking government,” whatever that is (beyond pure demagoguery, of course).  And by fraud, I’m not talking about the questions of his racism, I’m talking about him being a fraud when it comes to fiscal libertarianism/conservatism.

If you need proof of Ron Paul being a fiscal fraud, just watch his interview on Meet the Press where he says while in Congress he has never voted for a bill with an earmark, yet admits he’s sure to get all of his pork into the bills before inevitable final passage.  And we all thought John Kline’s new “principles” on earmarks were phoney, eh?

OK, rant over for now.

I ran across this video and couldn’t help but share.

Conventional wisdom would say that Ron Paul would win an award for “Most Desperate Candidate” considering the lengths his supporters go to suck up every millisecond of attention possible.

Today however video from Veracifier shows Paul being upstaged by Duncan Hunter, interupting MSNBC programming to let everyone know he got a single delegate in Wyoming.

Get the stage ready for him in St. Paul this fall!

As I channel-surf watching coverage of the results of the New Hampshire presidential primary (supplemented with viewing of the Uptake’s live coverage), it’s become clear that the media is not telling the whole story about this primary.

By “not telling the whole story” I mean no one has told me that Minnesota’s own Ole Savior is on the Democratic presidential ballot in New Hampshire (link to PDF).

Furthermore, none of the major networks, nor the Uptake, are displaying his numbers.  Shameful.

In all seriousness, congrats to John McCain on his victory.  It looks like Barack Obama is gaining a little bit of ground on Hillary, but let’s keep watching to see how it turns out.

Maybe I’m just being a nit here, but it really bugs me when bloggers on either side of the ideological spectrum purport to be experts/pundits on political issues and can’t even get simple facts straight when presenting an analysis.

Case in point: Shot in the Dark’s Mitch Berg on the Senate District 25 special election, won by DFLer Kevin Dahle. On Tuesday, not only did Mitch give the incorrect date for the election (claimed it was Wednesday when it was really Thursday), but claimed the district was “in the heart of Tim Walz’s district.”

Berg, who also plays radio talk show host every Saturday on 1280 AM “the Patriot,” explained the error with the date by stating he had meant to upload the post the following day (plausible, we’re all human, mistakes happen). He explained his error in identifying which Congressional District the SD was in by saying “SD25 is in CD2? Who knew?”

The latter is simply lazy “reporting.”

Who knew? Well, I would like to say everyone blogging about the subject, but I guess I was wrong.

As if publicly being wrong once on this very easy geographic fact was enough, today on Berg’s radio show he claimed SD 25 was in “the greater…uh…somethin’…the West Metro!”

West? Maybe south-southwest at an angle of 10 degrees…maybe. Metro? That’s funny.

I am by no means an expert on this political stuff, but the ability to do the most basic research such as going to a map, is within my realm. It is evidently lacking from Mr. Berg’s.

Again, we all make mistakes, but when someone who tries to sound credible has a soap box such as a radio show these errors resulting from laziness, as opposed to a “true” mistake (such as putting a post up early), shouldn’t be excused.

When the Star Tribune’s website launched “Politically Connected” a few months ago wasn’t that supposed to make the Strib the end-all/be-all source for politics?

Apparently not if you are interested in what’s going on in Minnesota. As I visited the area of the site today to see what they had to say about Kevin Dahle’s victory over Ray Cox last night, I noticed they have not updated since December 20th. In fact, the most recent story about the District 25 race was about the Republican primary.

Good job serving your readership, Strib.

i

[UPDATE]:  It was brought to my attention that I did not have the address in the title bar causing suspicion that this was from a Google (or other) cache.  It is not; it is the “Local Politics” page currently featured at the Star Tribune.  When you goto Politically Connected and click “Local Politics” on the left-side navigation, this is what you get.

Regardless, above is a double screen-shot of the page featuring old content.  I also assumed that when I said “Apparently not if you are interested in what’s going on in Minnesota,” that would imply “local politics.”  I apologize for any confusion.