I Don’t Hate America!

Tim Walz recently endorsed Steve Sarvi for Congress, as announced on Sarvi’s campaign website. In his statement, Walz says,

“Steve’s experience serving his community and country prepare him well for service in Congress. Change began in 2006 with my election and now we must strengthen that change in 2008.”

Also announcing his endorsement is construction contractor Dan Powers, who recently dropped out of the race for the 2nd district seat. His statement says,

“I have decided to support Steve Sarvi because the 2nd Congressional District needs to be united, today, around a candidate who will defeat John Kline in November. In Steve Sarvi, we have a candidate with the vision, values and experience to help our nation change course – something Democrats, Republicans and independents all are calling for. In Steve Sarvi we will find the solid leadership and strength of character needed to move us forward on a path of hope. I believe Steve will unite people from all sides of the ‘aisle’ to bring meaningful, needed change to Washington.”

Steve Sarvi is an Iraq war veteran and has given 19 years of military service. His fresh perspectives, especially on the war on terror, will hopefully move voters in a traditionally red district. We saw Walz do it in 2006 and we can bet Sarvi will put up a good fight as well.

*Update - Ollie at Bluestem has more analysis of Sarvi’s endorsement.

Steve Sarvi is launching his second listening tour in the 2nd district of Minnesota. From the e-mail sent out today, here are the listed dates and times for the tour:

Saturday, February 16:

11 AM, Sister’s Coffee Shop, 202 2nd Street East, Hastings

1 PM, Tom Moy’s Cafe, 8200 Hadley Avenue South, Cottage Grove

3 PM, VFW, 8790 Upper 208th Street, Lakeville

5 PM, Apple Valley Community Center, 14603 Hayes Road, Apple Valley

Sunday, February 17:

1 PM, Home of Kathy Siebsen, 42108 205th Avenue, Le Center

3:30 PM, Hosted by Mick McGuire, 202 Oak Avenue West, Montgomery

5:30 PM, Chameleon Cafe, 408 Main Street West, New Prague

Monday, February 18:

5:30 PM, Mocha Monkey, 115 S Olive Street, Waconia

7:00 PM, American Legion, 102 West 4th Street, Chaska

Tuesday, February 19:

11:30 AM, Inver Hills College, 2500 East 80th Street, Inver Grove Heights

5 PM, Caribou Coffee, 5763 Blaine Avenue, Inver Grove Heights

7 PM, Al Baker’s Restaurant, 3434 Washington Drive, Eagan

Wednesday, February 20:

5:30 PM, Coffee ta Cream, 1156 Shakopee Town Square, Shakopee

7 PM, Dan Patch Coffee Depot, 4800 West 123rd Street, Savage

Thursday, February 21:

5:30 PM, Edelweiss Bakery, 16186 Main Avenue South East, Prior Lake

7 PM, Jo Jo’s Rise and Wine, 12501 Nicollett Avenue, Suite 100, Burnsville

Friday, February 22:

11:30 AM, St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfield

4:30 PM, Froggy Bottom, 305 Water Street South, Northfield

6 PM, Home of Yvette Marthaler, 821 Northwest 3rd Avenue, Faribault

Sunday, February 24:

4 PM, Home of Peggy Hanson, 500 Calhoun Avenue South, Lanesboro

Sarvi campaign website: http://www.stevesarvi.org/

Via press release:

WALZ TO RETURN APPROXIMATELY $100,000 OF OFFICE BUDGET TO TREASURY

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Walz announced today that he will return approximately $100,000 in unspent funds from his 2007 congressional office budget to the U.S. Treasury.

“In my first year representing the people of Southern Minnesota, my staff and I exercised fiscal discipline and were good stewards of the people’s money,” said Walz. “We finished 2007 with money left over and today, I am proud to announce that we will give approximately $100,000 back to the Treasury to help pay down the monstrous federal debt.”

Walz said, “One hundred thousand dollars isn’t a lot in comparison to a $9 trillion federal debt, but I believe that we’re all in this together and that every little bit helps.”

Every member of the House of Representatives receives an annual allowance to fund his or her office activities.  This appropriation is called the Member’s Representational Allowance and in 2007 it totaled roughly $1.4 million.  Walz will return approximately 7 percent of his budget.

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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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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!

A week ago today Bill Habedank of Red Wing experienced one of the main consequences of having Rep. John Kline in office: zero constituent service.

Habedank and others tried to visit Kline’s office last week and he tells his story in a letter to the Red Wing Republican Eagle:

You are told no one is ready to discuss your issue even though you called ahead. The young lady has you fill out a form.

As 13 of us wrote down our issue and contact information, each knew that was as far as this would go. Why? Because that is what happened all the other times you have done this.

Treatment is the same whether you visit, send an e-mail or call. You are always treated courteously, but you could (or should) get that treatment in any office. You came to be heard even if your message was contrary to the representative’s views. That is his job.

This wasn’t the first time he had to deal with this runaround.

We asked when we could speak with someone of authority. We are told the congressman’s and his assistant’s schedules are not to be revealed, so it becomes a guessing game. We are then told issues of this magnitude are best brought to the Washington, D.C., office.

I did that last March. I asked at least two weeks in advance to meet with Kline. I did get an appointment and get beyond the front desk. I had a 20-minute meeting with a young man in Kline’s plush office. As I relayed my issue, I found the man to be slightly argumentative. Is that his job?

You would think if Kline is unable to hold a decent town-hall meeting his taxpayer funded staff would at least show an effort to listen to constituents. I have an experience lobbying Kline in Washington D.C. as well and while the legislative assistant with whom we met wasn’t argumentative, it was clear from the start of the meeting that the congressman’s position on higher education (the issue about which we were lobbying) had already been established.

Steve Sarvi was able to teach democracy over in Iraq; it looks like we will have to elect him in order for Second District citizens to be able to see it in action here in America.

While I was in Winona this weekend visiting to catch fall graduation ceremonies at the ole’ alma mater, Winona State, I missed quite a bit of news concerning transportation issues, especially those surrounding US Highway 14 in southern Minnesota.

With a h/t to Bluestem Prairie, the Star Tribune shows us it has the ability to publish thoughtful stories about the First Congressional District, as opposed to those based nearly solely on press releases from ambitious GOPers, with a thorough piece about the deadly stretch of road around Owatonna.

Several years ago, as newcomers to Winona State, my colleagues and I would light-heartedly write off Highway 14 as a possible route getting to the metro area (instead sticking with I-90) as it is likely to become stuck behind a tractor and limited to traveling at 15 mph. Later we would find out 14’s problems go beyond inconvenience into the realm of real danger. From the Strib:

The highway, a mix of old two-lane and reconstructed four-lane sections, has blind intersections, heavy truck traffic, narrow shoulders and unexpected curves. It may be the deadliest highway in the state.

Since the mid-1980s, more than 145 people have been killed on the highway, which winds through 265 miles of farmland from Winona to the South Dakota border. On average, someone dies on the road every two months. And 75 percent of the deaths between 2000 and 2005 occurred on the two-lane stretches, state rec­ords show.

Instead of investing in transportation projects such as Highway 14, we keep getting empty political rhetoric from Republican officials. On TPT’s Almanac last month, John Kline called this year’s House Transportation bill, which had funding for Highway 14, the I-35W bridge and other projects, “fiscally irresponsible.” What’s really fiscally irresponsible: fixing the infrastructure now, or continuing to clean up wrecked vehicles, bringing accident victims to the hospital and taking the pieces of wrecked bridges out of the river?

On that same program, Rep. Tim Walz asked Kline why he should have to give up Highway 14 for his district when the President Bush won’t compromise on anything. Kline’s response: “We should all have to give.”

Meanwhile, GOP state Sen. Dick Day, who represents a district bisected by the highway, shows signs of being out of touch with what’s really going on. From the Owatonna People’s Press (I know I’m late here, but other stuff was on our minds when it came out):

Day and Ruth, both members of legislative committees concerning transportation, told the audience that transportation has been a low priority in Minnesota. The pair said they hoped to bring more funding and attention to transportation issues in Southern Minnesota.

“[Highway] 14 isn’t ever on the radar, yet,” Day said. “Everybody said health care, education are more important. The Bridge had to come down before a certain group of people would say that transportation is important.”

Barring a presidential veto, Highway 14 will soon be in line for federal funding. U.S Representative Tim Walz has sought funds in the 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill for the expansion of the highway.

According to Meredith Salisbury, Walz’ press secretary, Walz earmarked $850,000 for Highway 14 in the current version of the bill. The revised bill still has yet to pass through the U.S. Senate. President George W. Bush threatened to veto the first version of the bill in October.

Day and Ruth did not mention the bill pending in the U.S. Congress, but explained to Chamber members that they hope to pass a comprehensive transportation plan and find state funding for Highway 14 and other road projects without resorting to a gas tax.

This is a classic article in the sense that Day forfeits any credibility even before reality is presented.

Not even on the radar? Was Day awake in the Senate chamber this legislative session (before the bridge collapse) when Sen. Steve Murphy, Senate transportation chair, spoke clearly about “Highway 14 in Sen. Day’s district” multiple times (among countless other things)?
Funny too is how Day says people think “education and health care are more important” when he’s made it clear his campaign theme is rounding up illegal immigrants.

Well, he convinced the Strib’s Mark Brunswick of that anyway.

As this photo shows, Day should put the toy glasses he got early from Santa away and worry about the issues important to southern Minnesota such as education, health care and oh yeah, transportation.

I hate writing posts about parliamentary procedure basically because people hate reading it due to the sometimes complicated “inside baseball” nature it possesses (and I guess it’s a pretty boring subject, too).  Certainly, reading about the procedure behind passing legislation isn’t as appealing as reading about rhetoric or the issues.

Unfortunately, Republicans have a nasty way of taking advantage of the general ignorance about which formal steps actually occur in the halls of Congress to further their mission of making Democrats look lazy and out of touch.

Yes, American people: how dare you not understand, much less care about, every nuance dealing with Mason’s Manual, Jefferson’s Manual, the Book of Hoyle and the rules of the US House of Representatives?!  Well, I guess mandatory C-SPAN viewing wouldn’t be so bad, would it?

Case in point: this press release from Ron Carey, chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota.

“Tim Walz promised to stand up for the middle class during his campaign but it’s clear he didn’t really mean it. With his vote against bringing a clean Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) patch to floor of the House, Walz once more sides with national liberals and against the interests of the First District.”

I’m enraged! Wow, the nerve of that Waltz guy.  He’s a real restaurant-quality SOB to put a dull knife right in the back of the middle class like that.  And how he’s putting those evil, prominent national liberals over his constituents! I bet totally forgot where he came from. What’s that I feel? Based on this quote it sseems like he’s physically sticking his hand right in my pocket and taking the contents! Ugh, I don’t want to talk about Washington Waltz anymore!

Without the context of the true procedure on the House floor (I’m sure just conveniently accidentally omitted by Carey, sure) a reaction like the above paragraph could be completely understandable.  With the context though, Carey is grasping at straws, at best.  He maybe is even fiddling with reality.  To call him a liar in this instance wouldn’t be too unreasonable.

As Bluestem Prairie points out, the underlying bill was the energy bill, not one dealing with the Alternative Minimum Tax.  Carey seems to think the House should have allowed this amendment to be considered, regardless of the subject’s relevance to the bill.

You see, the subject of the song was “I’m Just a Bill,” not “How a Motion to Recommit Gets Put to a Vote” or “How an Amendment Gets Through the Rules Committee” (though I am sure both would provide for excellent educational fodder for our nation’s children).  As far as I am aware, since the Schoolhouse Rock video was produced, the main vehicle for which legislation is passed is still a bill.  And yes, amendments to these bills can and do come up for discussion.

Almost always though the amendment offered is germane to the bill at hand.  Not so in this case: the Republicans wanted to make an amendment to the energy bill essentially wiping it out and replacing it with Alternative Minimum Tax language.  Walz and the majority then voted for the rule prohibiting such an amendment.

Yes, how dare that elitist liberal majority use its power in such as way as stopping non-germane amendments.  Personally, I am not a very big fan of closed rules such as the one used for the energy bill, but the obstructionist tactics (such as this proposed amendment) the GOP has employed time and time again make their use necessary.

This isn’t the first time the GOP has used press releases about a “gotcha” vote to try and make Walz appear in poor light: Randy Demmer used loaded rhetoric, eerily similar to that used by Carey, in October to describe a Walz vote on a motion to recommit. 

Remember when the GOP grandstanded on SCHIP during debate on the agriculture appropriations bill?  Same thing all over again.  This is classic “gotcha” from the GOP, but lucky for you, we’re here with the truth about what happened.

The Senate has passed AMT-patch legislation.  If the House brings up similar legislation and Walz or any other member votes against it, then we would hope if Carey or another GOP member authors a press release that it be based on the merits of the vote on such legislation.  Until then, we hope Carey stops trying to recreate reality.

This info was passed along from Mike McIntee, familiar to viewers of the Uptake and listeners to Inside Minnesota Politics, who will be guest hosting the Mark Heaney Show on AM950, Air America’s Minnesota affiliate.

When I first interviewed Steve Sarvi he was in Iraq helping people in rural Iraq rebuild their roads, buildings and other infrastructure that has been destroyed in the fighting there.  It was his last assignment in a 19-year military career that had included successfully mentoring people in war-damaged Kosovo on how to set up their own local governments.

At that time Sarvi indicated he was ready for his next assignment: coming home, taking on Rep. John Kline in a run for Congress, and then helping us fix our own war-damaged government.

Today Steve will be a guest (and I’ll be the fill-in host) on Air America Minnesota’s Mark Heaney show.  We’re going to talk about what Steve has heard in his 13-stop listening tour through Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District.  By the way, that’s 12 more open face-to-face meetings than Rep. Kline has held with his constituents this year.  I’ll be opening the phone lines so you can ask questions of Steve too.

So as you’re driving home, or cleaning house today for Thanksgiving, turn your radio to AM 950 and participate.

Three ways to listen.  On the air live on AM950, on line live, or if you miss the show there’s a podcast available usually by the next day.

I had the opportunity to attend two of Sarvi’s listening sessions last week, and he has said that part of the reason he decided to run for Congress is because of Kline’s lack of open meetings.  Listen in at 5:00 p.m.