News
Will Tom Emmer Refuse to Let Minnesota Pay Back Pawlenty’s K-12 Education Shifts?
Republican candidate for governor denies Minnesota has budget deficit, implies he will not payback cuts to public education
St. Paul (August 25, 2010) - Tom Emmer reiterated his latest talking point at this morning's debate in Brooklyn Park, saying once again that Minnesota doesn't have a budget deficit.
Emmer has repeatedly denied that the state has a deficit. Just yesterday he said: "Where is the deficit? We talk about ‘You got to raise taxes, government has to invest.' I'll say it again, government in the state of Minnesota is scheduled to get a seven percent increase in the next biennium. Government will have more money to spend in the next two years than it is spending right now. And yet the folks that want to raise taxes want to talk about a $6 billion deficit which is created on paper because government wants to spend $38 billion instead of the roughly $32 billion that we have."
Unfortunately for Emmer, budget experts, elected officials and journalists disagree. By their calculations, the state has a projected $6 billion deficit, and one of the only ways to eliminate that would be for Tom Emmer to stop the state from returning the money that Governor Pawlenty "shifted" from public schools.
"Well, Tom Emmer's at it again - showing every Minnesotan just how out of touch he is," said DFL spokesperson Donald McFarland. "The state is facing a historic budget deficit and our schools are suffering from Governor Pawlenty's failed policies. Those are the facts. But rather than tell the people of Minnesota what he would do as governor and come up with a budget plan, Tom Emmer is denying that there's a problem and hinting at a future filled with even more cuts to public education. So what will it be, Tom? Will you refuse to pay back the $1.4 billion Governor Pawlenty borrowed from K-12 education?"
Emmer Snubs Greater Minnesota
Republican candidate for governor puts politics over people once again, skips out on greater Minnesota debate
St. Paul (August 18, 2010) - Tom Emmer dropped out of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities debate this week to "focus on other activities" for his campaign. But just what could be more important than an open forum with leaders from greater Minnesota? For Tom Emmer, it's a closed-door fundraiser with a special-interest group.
"Talk about a day filled with special interests," said DFL spokesperson Donald McFarland. "This would have been an opportunity for Tom Emmer to tell greater Minnesota's mayors and elected officials what his plans are for our state. Obviously, Tom Emmer still has no plan and Minnesotans are still waiting."
Where Do You Stand, Tom Emmer?
With the first full week of the general election season underway, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer still refuses to release any details on his plans for the future of Minnesota.
"It's time for Tom Emmer to take a stand on the issues Minnesotans care about," said DFL spokesperson Donald McFarland. "Emmer contradicts himself so often it leaves Minesotans with more questions than answers. So Tom Emmer, it's time to come clean. Where do you stand?"
The DFL party released this web video highlighting Emmer's frequent contradictions on the budget, job creation, immigration, renewable energy and other important issues facing Minnesota:
DFL Party Unites Behind Mark Dayton for Governor
The DFL Party came together, one day after the election to rally behind our candidate for governor, Mark Dayton. Senators Klobuchar and Franken, the DFL gubernatorial candidates, Representatives McCollum and Ellison, and State Auditor Rebecca Otto, joined other party leaders at the Unity Event to show their support for Mark Dayton.
Watch the full video of the DFL Unity Press Conference here.
Bachmann Doesn’t Want to Come In From Recess
Sixth district representative complains about returning to work to support police and teachers, reduce national deficit
St. Paul (August 5, 2010) - Representative Michele Bachmann complained this week about having to go back to work, then spoke out against a bill that would save jobs for Minnesota's police, firefighters, and teachers.
"Class sizes are already out-of-control in our schools which is directly impacting our children's ability to succeed. We need as much help keeping teachers in classrooms as we can get," said Todd Manninen, teacher at Buffalo High School. "I've lost too many excellent colleagues to budget cuts and our students are suffering."
"One of the most important functions of government is helping keep our communities are safe - that means keeping cops on the streets," said Zak Chlebeck, a north suburban area police officer and candidate for the Minnesota legislature. "Federal funding would help our local governments and police officers continue to protect our families."
The House of Representatives will reconvene next week to take up a bill that would provide millions to states in order to prevent layoffs in critical public sectors. The aid bill is paid for in full, and according to conservative estimates by the Congressional Budget Office, it will save Americans over $1billion over the next ten years. But Representative Bachmann characterized the proposal as, "spending more money we just don't have."
"Michele Bachmann has never had a problem making untrue statements to pander to the Tea Party, but her most recent comments are glaringly inaccurate," said DFL spokesperson Kristin Sosanie. "This bill will help state workers and public-school teachers keep their jobs, and it is fully paid for - that's the kind of work we need our representatives to do in Washington. It's time for Representative Bachmann to start working for people in the sixth district, not against them."
Veterans to Republicans: Do the Right Thing
Veterans ask those who took fraudulent charity's money to donate funds to actually help vets
St. Paul (July 23, 2010) - Today, veterans called on candidates and political organizations who received money from the United States Navy Veterans Association (USNVA) to donate it to an organization that actually helps those who have served the country.
"People around the country are grateful for the sacrifice that so many men and women have made to serve our nation, and want to donate to organizations that help our veterans," said Trista Matascastillo, Chair of DFL Veterans Caucus. "The fact that these candidates refuse to give up the money intended to help our nation's veterans is disgraceful."
Another Tough Town Hall for Tom Emmer?
Minnesotans deserve to know whether the GOP candidate for governor took money intended for veterans
St. Paul (July 22, 2010) - In advance of Tom Emmer's town-hall meeting with veterans this afternoon, the DFL Party called on Emmer to disclose whether he took money from the United States Navy Veterans Association (USNVA), a fraudulent charity that collected money for veterans and gave it to Republican candidates instead. State Chair Brian Melendez released this statement:
"With so many Republican candidates implicated in this controversy, and another week before we can look at the campaign-finance reports, the questions on everyone's mind are: Did Tom Emmer take money from this fraudulent charity? If so, does he plan on keeping it?
"Tom Emmer has benefitted from NAVPAC donations in the past. Minnesota's veterans deserve to know if he will keep taking advantage of these despicable practices in the future."
Unemployment According to Rep. Randy Demmer: Minnesotans Just Refuse to Work
Politician's claim is no surprise given his out-of-touch record
St. Paul (June 19, 2010) - This weekend, Rep. Randy Demmer revealed the reason he believes people are out of work in Minnesota: Minnesotans just refuse to work. Rep. Demmer claimed to know business owners who want to hire workers but have been turned down because people receiving unemployment benefits refuse to work.
"Rep. Randy Demmer has opened a new line of attack in his campaign - this time against unemployed Minnesotans," said DFL spokesperson Kristin Sosanie. "First he opposed increasing the minimum wage, then he opposed unemployment insurance, and now Rep. Demmer is blaming unemployment on the very Minnesotans struggling to make house payments and feed their families. It's disgusting. But unfortunately, that's exactly what we've come to expect from this typical politician."
Randy Demmer Chooses "Super-Lobbyist" to Chair Campaign
Typical politician chooses Republican operative
Mankato, Minn. (July 16, 2010) - Today, State Rep. Randy Demmer announced his campaign team of Republican Party insiders. Chosen to lead his team is "super-lobbyist" Vin Weber.
"Rep. Randy Demmer has been in politics for 19 years and just like a typical politician, Randy Demmer chose a Washington insider to chair his campaign" said DFL spokesperson Donald McFarland. "Tim Walz looked to local folks like Jerry and Kathleen Maschka in Mankato to chair his campaign. Southern Minnesota wants true leadership - not someone courting Republican operatives."
Rep. Demmer chooses ‘super-lobbyist.' Vin Weber named Washington, DC "super-lobbyist" [Media Transparency, 7/16/2010]
Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel
Republicans dust off their debunked claims of voter fraud to divert attention from current slate of out-of-touch candidates
St. Paul (July 15, 2010) - In a last-ditch effort to detract attention from Tom Emmer's abominable town hall with servers yesterday, the Republican Party of Minnesota today called on county attorneys to do something they're already doing. State Chair Brian Melendez released this statement:
"The 2008 election and recount was held up to the highest level of scrutiny, and passed the test. Let's look at the facts: Twelve judges - including the Supreme Court of Minnesota - found no evidence of fraud in the election. Senator Coleman's attorneys found no evidence of fraud. Governor Pawlenty admitted that there was no evidence of fraud. And leaders across the United States were impressed by the recount's meticulous attention to detail and its transparency.
"Today's latest political stunt by the Republican Party of Minnesota is about only two things: supporting Governor Pawlenty's national ambitions, and diverting attention from Tom Emmer's out-of-touch views and ongoing gaffes. If the Republicans would rather return to debunked claims about the 2008 election than talk about their candidates, things must be even worse for them than we thought."
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