I Don’t Hate America!

With just under a year to go until the 2008 election, contenders for the Minnesota House of Representatives are lining up.

The Star Tribune is reporting today that DFLer Steve Andrews will challenge Rep. Mark Olson, R-Big Lake, for the District 16B seat.

That’s if Mean Mark isn’t victim to a primary before the general election.  Olson is infamous for a domestic saga culminating with his conviction for misdemeanor domestic assault this summer.  In addition to the conviction, he was suspended from the House GOP Caucus.

Following all of his troubles, I have to ask: why the hell isn’t this guy giving it up already?  Does he have the support of any Republican?

I guess he has the support of some as at least a few allowed themselves to be advertised for his old-fashioned family picnic in September.  To me, nothing screams “fun family time” like the combination of pork chops, a petting zoo, Sue Jeffers blowing smoke (figuratively or literally: not sure?) and a politician convicted of domestic meanness.

I wasn’t present, but I can just picture Phil Krinkie on hay ride duty and reacting to a youngster wanting to come along: “Why are we giving you subsidized transportation?! Have you ever thought about who is footing the bill?! When is ‘enough enough’ when it comes to transit?!”

Sounds like family fun indeed.  Also advertised for the picnic was Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Wabasha.

Speaking of the Draz (wow, do I have great transitions or what?!) learned (hopefully at least) that he will be facing Winona High School teacher Linda Pfeilsticker, DFL-Wabasha, in a rematch of August’s special election between the two.  Drazkowski came out ahead 53-47 for the 28B seat to replace departing former House Speaker Steve Sviggum.

Mark Olson, Representative from Big Lake was sentenced today on his “misdemeanor domestic assault conviction.” Rep. Olson avoids jail, but picks up 2 years of probation among other fines. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, this is the same man that knows the cure for diabetes, determined that global warming as an issue depends on your faith, and forcefully pushed early 1900’s research papers as required readings before making a decision that smoking is harmful.

Link to an earlier post by DJ for more information on the conviction.

Star Tribune reports:

ELK RIVER, MINN. — State Rep. Mark Olson was sentenced this afternoon on his misdemeanor domestic assault conviction. He avoids jail time – 90 days in jail was stayed – but he was given two years’ probation along with nearly $400 in fines and court costs.

Olson, a Republican from Big Lake, was convicted July 13 by a Sherburne County jury for causing his wife fear of bodily harm when they collided and fell to the ground behind their home in November. He was acquitted of intentionally harming or trying to harm her after his attorney argued that he had acted in self-defense in an abusive relationship.

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, and House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marsahall, have conferred about Olson’s case, but no legislative action has taken place, said Andy Wittenborg, a spokesman for the DFL caucus.

According to Anderson Kelliher, for formal punishment to take place, a complaint signed by at least two members would have to be submitted to the House ethics committee.

“Members from both sides have said they’re ready to bring a complaint, but none has been filed yet,” Wittenborg said. “People were waiting to see what happened at sentencing.”

Any recommendation for disciplinary action from that bipartisan panel would be referred to the full House for final action, most likely during the 2008 session, he said.

Serving his eighth term, Olson was suspended from the Republican caucus after his arrest. Before he was convicted, members of the House Republican leadership suggested he resign his seat.

During the trial, both Olsons testified about having violent arguments for several years that led to numerous confrontations. But they disagreed on who pushed or hit whom. They accused one another of being in a rage and causing each other fear on that November day, with Mark Olson saying his wife pushed him and they fell down only once.

Heidi Olson testified he threatened her and pushed her down three times, as well as pushing her in two other incidents and bruising her arms once by throwing two Bibles at her.

Heidi Olson, 50 , admitted in court to being ashamed that she hit her husband once and another time stabbed his favorite dresser with a knife.

Along with being on probation and paying a $300 fine and $82 in court costs, Mark Olson must have no contact with Heidi Olson and attend a 12-week behavior-oriented course.

Staff writer Bob von Sternberg contributed to this report.

Sorry for my recent lack of posting. I’ve been dealing with some personal issues as of late. I also started my new job as an RN last week! Healthcare news coming up next!

ECM capitol reporter T.W. Budig offers a thought provoking column about the situation concerning Minnesota State Rep. Mark Olson (R-Big Lake) who was recently convicted of a misdemeanor in the domestic assault case involving him and his wife.

An ethics complaint could await Rep. Mark Olson, R-Big Lake, in the near future.

Olson, sole and presiding member of the House Independent Republican Caucus — a body he formed after being booted out of the House Republican caucus — was recently found guilty of one count of misdemeanor domestic assault.

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, has been making inquiries about the ethics complaint process, indicating while his would not be one of the two signatures needed to advance an ethics complaint, volunteers are found within the Republican ranks.

Seifert doesn’t argue that there’s a certain selectivity when it comes to ethics complaints.

Two DFLers in recent times were arrested for drunk driving — the President of the Senate, a colorful House committee chairman — and both have apparently escaped sanction by their peers.

Not that human suffering fits nicely into categories — or should — but drunk drivers kill many more people a year than are claimed by domestic violence.

Serious about complaint

At any rate, House Republicans seem serious about filing an ethic complaint. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to look the other way,” said Seifert of the domestic assault conviction.

In a sense, Olson may be more vulnerable for being on the receiving end of an ethics complaint than other lawmakers.

The Legislature is not unlike high school, and Olson is lawmaker in the periphery — the kid with the bag lunch at the end of the table.

House Republican leaders have express frustration over Olson’s unwillingness to back the caucus — for years he has routinely voted against his Republican colleagues on big bills.

This is not an endearing trait.

And there’s a starkness between the crime and the dizzy world of idealism Olson luxuriates in a like a warm tub.

Quotes George Washington

Olson quotes George Washington more frequently than Martha Washington ever did.

(Quotes from Thomas Jefferson and Ronald Reagan brighten his Capitol office door).

On the House floor, Olson has spoken at length for the need of character development in students and the virtue found in the Great Books.

If his voting record has cost him supporter, his House floor speeches may have cost him more.

Olson himself has noted lawmakers slipping out the House chamber or rolling their eyes during his speeches. (The origins of Olson’s apparently self-defeating behavior might be pondered.) But listeners sometimes raise their eyebrows, too.

In one memorable speech, Olson seemed to suggest the best form of cancer screening might be litmus paper.

On an environmental issue, Olson detailed experiments he had conducted at home that had led him to question one alleged symptom of global warming.

Lawmaker image

The image of the lawmaker making definitive strives in the kitchen sink is one a person might think lawmakers would cherish.

Some do not — it’s late session, they’re tired, and this guy won’t sit down.

Still Olson persists.

This is not to say he is without some support.

One local DFLer, after House Republicans ejected Olson from their caucus after the domestic abuse allegations surfaced, spoke of kicking someone when they’re down.

During a special session, when Olson repeatedly tried a parliamentary maneuver aimed at breaking the deadlock, some lawmakers, along with Olson, kept count.

Resignation or don’t run

Seifert opined if Olson does not resign his House seat he should at least consider not running again.

The leader predicted Olson, serving out his eighth term, will face Republican challengers next time around.

It’s unlikely Olson will be expelled from the Legislature because that virtually never happens.

Whatever does happen, Olson will probably enjoy the full backing of the House Independent Republican Caucus.

Maybe that’s the support he cares about the most, anyway.

I have sat through many a Mark Olson nonsensical amendment and speech combo and I can see why members on both sides of the aisle get frustrated with him whether he is a member of the GOP caucus with an an “independent streak” or a true independent.

Regardless of that though an ethics complaint or effort to remove him should be based squarely in the situation concerning his legal troubles or other unethical behavior violating House rules, not just because he was/is a pain in the ass.

Speaking of being a pain in the ass, I’m watching the US House debate the Transportation and Housing appropriations bill, and is it just me or is there a similarity between Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Olson?

Not from the perspective of spousal abuse, rather the endless array of “gotcha” roll call floor amendments!