I Don’t Hate America!

General Mills announced yesterday it is recalling 5 million frozen pizzas marketed under the brand names “Totino’s” and “Jeno’s.” You know, those “party pizzas” that cost about a dollar each and have flimsy crust and bland toppings, but can be appealing for their price and ease of cooking?

Well, before you fire up your oven in preparation of football watching and pizza eating this Sunday, check this list and make sure the pizza in your freezer isn’t on it. If it is, throw it away, but not before saving the UPC code and mailing it to General Mills.

We find this very convenient that such a potential outbreak leading to a massive recall is right in the middle of the season which they probably sell the most pizza: football season! Also convenient is that the Minority Leader of the Minnesota House, Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, has the Schwan Food Company within his district!

Why does this matter? Schwan’s produces pizzas under brand names such as “Red Baron,” “Freschetta” and “Tony’s.”

Yes, direct competitors to Totino’s. If true, it would not be the first time Seifert has used his position to help Schwan Foods. In an epic 35-minute oration on the House floor on May 12, 2005 Seifert cited the list of products produced by Schwan’s while speaking against a gas tax increase.

Did Seifert go into the factory and poison the pepperoni himself? Did he have Tom Emmer, Brad Finstad or maybe Lynn Wardlow do it for him? I don’t know the answers to those questions, but after connecting all the dots, it is clear this is nothing but political mischief on behalf of Seifert to sabotage a couple of brands of pizza for the benefit of a competitor in his own district.

Please check back to I Don’t Hate America throughout the day for more information on this developing story.

(Full Disclosure: The author’s frozen pizza preference is Kraft’s “Tombstone” brand for its superior crust and toppings, especially the cheese. Additionally, with the exception of the previous sentence, this is intended to be satire.)

Following up on a bizarre situation involving Minnesota House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, and the security measures employed in the Redwood County courthouse, the Marshall Independent, Seifert clarified his comments to make it clear that he is not so arrogant to think that the county board should provide him his own security nor than he thinks it is acceptable to bring a knife of gun into the facility.

Seifert said he thought court-ordered security from 5th District Chief Judge George Harrleson was odd because it appeared to apply when court was both in session and not in session. The Gazette quoted Seifert as saying Harrelson’s order was odd and that was reprinted in the Oct. 25 Independent.

“I don’t have a problem with security in the courtroom,” Seifert said Monday.

But, does a deputy need to be on the third floor of the courthouse providing court security when no court is in session, Seifert said Monday and said he had asked at the Redwood County board meeting Oct. 16.

Seifert said Monday he believed court was not in session Oct. 16 and a deputy was still on duty. That led him to discuss the order and mention it would be odd to require security when there was no court in session, Seifert said.

Court administrator Patty Amberg said Monday that court was in session Oct. 16, and Harrelson said Redwood County District Court Judge David Peterson told him court was in session Oct. 16.

I’m sure the folks of Redwood County are happy they have the permission of their state representative.

Harrelson was quoted in the Oct. 25 Independent story that his order was issued because of specific and general safety concerns, and that in one week four knives were confiscated.

Seifert said Monday he was asked by area residents during the weekend if he thought it was OK to bring knives and guns in the courtroom.

“I want to clarify, I don’t think it’s OK to bring knives and guns in the courtroom,” Seifert said.

But he also wants Harrelson to clarify if he wants to require Redwood County to have security when court is not in session.

Speaking of Seifert, he and Rep. Lynn Wardlow, R-Eagan, will be having a town hall meeting this evening at Eagan City Hall at 7:00 p.m. I would be there except I will be attending “Indoctrinate U” at the Oak Street Cinema.

Maybe someone in attendance can ask the gentlemen about this, via MnPublius:

We all have to miss work from time to time. Well, except in the occasional story seen at the tail end of the 5 p.m. news of the “factory worker who retired without missing a day in 200 years,” but that is extremely rare. Events like a death in the family, illness, transportation trouble or the graduation of a son or daughter can get in the way of making it to work either on time or at all on a given day and a reasonable employer will make accommodations.

In order to get out of a day of work in the Minnesota House of Representatives a member must write a simple request to the speaker and that particular member will be noted in the journal as excused.

On May 7 and 8 of this year, Rep. Randy Demmer, R-Hayfield, did just that, but not for one of the dire situations listed above. Rather, Rep. Demmer took a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend Republican “congressional candidate school.” No big deal, right? So what, he only missed a couple of votes?

Let me continue. Some of our jobs require expenses, such as meals, for which the employee is able to be reimbursed. Certainly if you aren’t working a given day, you don’t have work related expenses and wouldn’t expect reimbursement, right? Well, it doesn’t work that way at the Minnesota Legislature, where the maximum per diem of $77 is available to members daily with virtually no oversight. No receipts, invoices or any other paperwork to prove expense.

Demmer, who wants to unseat First District Congressman Tim Walz, took the maximum per diem of $77 on 139 consecutive days during the 2007 legislative session. Yes, even the two days he was in D.C. learning campaign tricks from Karl Rove.

But he only missed a couple of votes, right? If you read this paragraph from the Rochester Post-Bulletin, it’s what Demmer would have you believe (thanks Ollie, for finding it):

Demmer said that while he took a leave of absence from the state House during his trip, he said that he was not on any conference committees and that bills brought up for a vote those days were not final. “I missed two or three votes, and those bills are coming back around,” he said.

Two or three, Randy? Maybe you really are Teen Talk Barbie (you know, math is hard?). It was more than “two or three” but let’s start with your lack of expertise in the area of division, and no, I don’t mean obnoxiously yelling out “DIVISION!” on the House floor after an obvious loss during a voice vote; you House Republicans are quite good at that. Blue Man has an easier explanation about Demmer’s math than I do, but bear with me.

Let’s take $10,703 (total per diem taken by Demmer) divided by $77 (max. per diem) and that equals 139 (total days between the opening and closing gavels of the legislature). You didn’t think ordinary citizens would be able to find out you took per diem for days you were in Washington working on your political ambitions for higher office, Or do you think they just wouldn’t care? Your constituents will be the ones holding you accountable for lack of representation in St. Paul on those two days. Taking per diem on those days though? *I* pay for that, pally. All of us who pay state taxes pay for that. Shameful!

Do I think the House and Senate leadership should (and should have in the past under GOP control!) institute a measure of accountability for these funds? Absolutely. Do I think you, Rep. Demmer, should be off the hook for having the tax payers cover the tabs for your meals in D.C.? I know restaurants out there can be spendy, but the answer is NO.

Back to the missed votes: Wow, it looks like your math problems are even worse than I first diagnosed. Pressing your luck with voters, Randy? While I can give you the benefit of the doubt for thinking division can be a difficult concept, your inability to master one of the most fundamental skills of mathematics, counting, should be considered inexcusable by your constituents. All who have reached grade one, at least.

Let’s take a look at the floor activity from Monday, May 7.

The first bill was SF1131 dealing with preventative health care programs for cities. Speaking of Rep. Demmer “pressing his luck,” in the words of the late Peter Tomarken:

“Let’s goto the big board!”

I hear Rep. Demmer yelling “Big Bucks! No Whammies!” from afar.

Oh, a Whammy! See there kids? The yellow arrow points to the name of our candidate who was out in D.C. OK, so I guess we can give you a freebie as this seems to be a non-controversial bill.

Oh wait, I thought you said bills brought up for a vote those days were not final?

It was signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty three days later. How can you get more final than that?

Next up: SF805, modifying coverage for hearing aids.

Again, that one was presented three days later to the governor. That sufficiently blows one of your assertions out of the water, eh Randy?

Next one: The game, fish and lands bill, SF1131.

Hmm, a little more controversial that time and I’m sure your constituents would have appreciated your leadership. You do possess leadership skill, right? Not only did you miss the vote for final passage, but you missed a roll call vote for an amendment. We’re already to a total of four missed votes. Let me see if I get this equation right: 4 > 2 or 3. Yeah, I could call a math professor, but I will trust my judgment that I am right. In fairness though, this time the bill did come around again after a conference committee. Still, shouldn’t it be important for you, Randy, to help craft your chamber’s position entering conference?

As you know Randy, four Whammies, and you’re out of the game! Fortunately for you the House rules allow you to land on the “Big Bucks!” square while still getting four Whammies! Or maybe you’re a Whammy yourself taking all of our money!

Next bill on the Calender of the Day for Monday, May 7, 2007 (I hear the voice of Al Mathiowitz, House chief clerk, in my head as I type this) is HF2294, a bill modifying the Cook-Orr Hospital District levy. I don’t pretend to be educated on this issue, but then again I’m not an elected state representative expected to vote on it. Hee hee.

Next up is not a bill but rather a motion to refer another motion dealing with allegations against the Attorney General’s office. Unfortunately for Rep. Demmer, Marty Seifert yelled out “MADAME SPEAKER, ROLL CALL ON THAT PLEASE!!!,” thus causing him to stretch the “two or three votes” song and dance even more.

Finally for May 7, after a roll call vote on a motion to refuse to concur with the Senate, the conference committee report on SF2171, the health and human services bill was before the House.

This bill was vetoed by the Governor and did indeed come back again. But Randy, is that any reason your leadership prowess shouldn’t have been present on the floor for the vote on behalf of your district? Mark Buesgens isn’t in any official leadership capacity with the GOP caucus, but that doesn’t stop him from articulating his conservative viewpoints on the floor. Randy, maybe Buesgens and you can switch seats, he actually sits on the back-bench; you just act like you do!

After day one of his absence, we see at least eight roll call votes missed by Randy Demmer. Quite a bit more than “two or three.” Let’s take a look at May 8. First up was the conference committee report on HF455, a bill dealing with public defenders.

Next, our friend Rep. Leon Lillie’s first bill to the floor this year, SF1073, ratifying public employee labor contracts.

SF1509, Hennepin County design build modifications is next:

Airport zoning disclosure requirements, SF218 is next:

SF26, medical practices board advisory councils expiration dates elimination:

Here’s one that should be of interest to Demmer’s constituents (you do have consumers and business owners in your district, right Randy?): security breach liability involving credit cards, HF1758. First an amendment offered by another potential candidate for Congress, Rep. Kurt Zellers:

And final passage:

Next, SF118, dealing with the capitol area planning board and legislative membership:

Finally, our last votes of the day. After a roll call vote on a motion to refuse to adopt the conference committee report, here’s the roll call for final passage on SF1989, the higher-ed bill, one I lobbied on behalf of considerably:

On the second day of his trip to Washington, he missed at least ten votes for a grand total of 18 (or more, I can’t guarantee I didn’t miss other procedural votes and the like).

Tell me, Randy, how do you get “two or three” out of 18.

There are so many themes arising from all of this and I apologize for not being able to keep this post within any focus.

1. Taking a trip to D.C. for further political ambitions during session while constituents should have their representative in St. Paul.
2. Taking full per diem as a House member while doing the aforementioned activities.
3. Misleading the public (really, I could use the word “lying” here, but I prefer not to go there) about how many votes were missed while on the junket.
4. Downplaying the role of state representative. Doesn’t each member have an election certificate? Does Rep. Demmer like being considered a “backbencher?” How is that perception a good one when trying to prove ability to head to Congress? Should he just go ahead and no-show other days he may consider to not be important, such as those early on in session when very little official action is taken?

I suppose considering his lackluster fundraising thus far, that $154 could be used toward the $20,000 he had to loan his campaign.

No Whammies!

Debate has officially kicked off in the US House of Representatives about the 2007 Farm Bill. I don’t follow floor debate in the US House too often but I am already having a flashback to the rhetoric from Marty Seifert and Tim Pawlenty when the Minnesota legislature had under its consideration a proposal to include inflation in budget forecasting. Those two Republicans falsely characterized it as “budget increases on autopilot.”

This time, the Farm Bill would close a loophole which allows for corporate overseas tax shelters. The elimination of this loophole, which would create $4 billion of revenue, is falsely being referred to by Republicans such as a tax “increase.”

I liken it to being shorted on your paycheck and upon notifying to your boss/payroll clerk/HR/whatever being told you shouldn’t be entitled to a pay increase.

Ugh. And due to this provision, these Republicans, such as Agriculture committee ranking member Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia), are intending to vote against the bill.

Nevertheless, Minnesota elected officials will get some spotlight, such as Agriculture committee chairman Collin Peterson, who has been heralded for his efforts to find compromise, and Tim Walz who is a member of the committee.

Based on a quote from this story yesterday, it doesn’t appear John Kline will support the bill.

Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., commended Peterson’s effort but had some reservations, including how a $4 billion increase to nutrition programs would be paid for.

“We have to see how these concerns are met,” Kline said in a statement.

I can only assume Michele Bachmann will vote against it because, well, she votes against everything so why even bother to find some real basis for that conclusion.

We will try and offer updates from time to time here at IDHA and of course Bluestem will continue to provide stellar coverage on this issue.

[UPDATE] Quick Farm Bill update (trying not to live blog as I will not hear the end of how “lame” live blogging C-SPAN is):

The controversial Ron Kind/Jeff Flake delete-everything amendment failed on a voice vote with a roll call vote to be taken later.

In opposition to the amendment, Tim Walz said it was well intentioned but doesn’t address the needs of his district, Minnesota’s 1st, which he described as one of the “richest pieces of agriculture land in the world.”

Walz, in his usual blunt tone, showed irritation at some of the rhetoric being presented in opposition to the bill.

“When I need advice about agriculture, I go to Kevin Paap at the Minnesota Farm Bureau, not the ideology at the Cato Institute.”

13 amendments were approved “en bloc” via voice vote with 17 more remaining. Final passage is expected to take place tomorrow. [/UPDATE]

[UPDATE 2] The Kind/Flake amendment fails 117-309. Looks like that will be all for the Farm Bill tonight.  I always laugh when the parliamentarian has to guide the Speaker Pro Temp through every little process and still has to ask “Now what?” into the microphone. [/Update 2]

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!

Excellent weather today, eh? I was able to sneak out of work a little early to enjoy some time outside.

Yesterday I missed Matt and Sean over at MNPublius on the air on AM950. I had not heard of them appearing before they were on the air, so instead I listened to KTLK 100.3 the other side of the dial.

Unfortunately, instead of hearing the heartwarming and inspiring voice of Jason Lewis (..sarcasm…yeah..), who happened to be on vacation, the show was guest hosted by none other than state House Minority leader Marty Seifert.

Yes, Marty Seifert hosting a radio show for three full hours. Three hours of right wing rhetoric straight from the leader of the tribe. Three hours of nasal-voiced goodness.

In all fairness, he didn’t do too poorly for someone whom I assume has little experience in broadcasting behind the mic. For instance, his transitions were poor and he forgot to give out the phone number the first half hour but he did much better than Michele Bachmann in the same role a few months ago, which Hal Kimball describes as “the worst three hours in the history of radio.” He had somewhat interacted with the traffic, weather and news people and actually took phone calls.

There is another story here though beyond Marty Seifert simply hosting a radio show.

Overall it seemed like a three hour radio infomercial for the House GOP Caucus! You see, those folks are hosting a Republican Straw Poll for the presidential race. I thought all should be able to take part in the democratic process, but apparently in GOP land you can only participate for $100 and a trip to the Rivercenter in St. Paul. A few callers complained about this fact but Seifert gave the excuse that “renting the Rivercenter costs money.”

I can’t remember the date advertised and apparently the GOP doesn’t want people to find out anymore. The official website for the House GOP Caucus is down. The parked page offers links to information on how to start a hot dog franchise, Republican ringtones, the Minnesota Independence Party and information on John McCain for president but unfortunately nothing about a straw poll.

If Seifert had mentioned this event once or maybe even twice I would see no issue, but he brought it up constantly throughout the program. After breaks, after comments from callers and seemingly all other points of the program he continued to mention this $100 event, which can only be assumed to be a fundraiser. It seemed like one of those infomercials for a Ron Popeil product disguised as a talk show. Is this or should this be considered legitimate advertising or open game? I am no expert in state campaign finance law, and I am not making accusations here, but it seems to raise a couple of questions from me:

Did the Minnesota House Republicans pay KTLK for this time? Is there a monetary value to the time given to the Minnesota House Republicans on this program that should be listed as an “in-kind” contribution on campaign finance statements? Since I know so little about this specific subject, I’d love to hear from someone with some knowledge of it.

I may be on to something. Then again, I may be on something.

And no, I’m not calling for a return to the fairness doctrine or anything. Simply put, while my observations may end up being completely baseless, this just came across as quite fishy to me.

(Sidenote: KTLK doesn’t podcast shows with guest hosts. I would like to revisit this show, but I guess that can’t happen.)

[Update] The House GOP site is back up and running.  Get those checkbooks out; the site is advertising the date of the straw poll as August 22.  And no, I did not record the show because while I thought Seifert hosting a radio show for three full hours had the potential to be funny, I didn’t (perhaps naively) think it had much potential to be controversial.[/Update]