I live in the 2nd District — John Kline’s 2nd District. The District that gets little to no Federal help even though we pay Federal tax dollars like everybody else.

People in the 2nd get frustrated because the Democrats seem so powerless.  They are outnumbered in active members to be sure, but the District itself is less of a Republican stronghold than the 6th.  Why do we have so much trouble getting our message across?

Well, there are a number of reasons and during the next few posts, I’ll try to outline what I think are some of the issues in this particular district.  We have a number of unique problems.  Are there solutions?  I think so, but it will require a type of cooperation and vision which I do not see in the Party as a whole…at least right now.

The first and most obvious problem is that this District lacks monetary support for its candidates.   I doubt that we are “poorer” than other districts.  Dakota County, which comprises the bulk of the District, is really quite affluent.  Yet, monetary requests from local, statewide, and Congressional candidates always seem to fall on deaf ears.

I suspect that this stems from a history of election failures….especially on the Congressional side of the ledger.   Democrats are discouraged and quite frankly have little faith in the party leadership to change that.

We’ll talk more about this subject in the next post.  But if you have ideas that you like to share, feel free.

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Google Alerts today:  John Kline e-mailed this….  It’s a Pioneer Press op ed which talks about Vets and Veterans:

U.S. representatives also help people with their difficulties. Second District Congressman John Kline, who represents the southern metro area, said in an e-mail message that ensuring that his constituents…

John’s voting patterns show which services he’d like available, and I don’t see a good history of voting for vet funding.   He seems to have voted a lot of “No.”

But that’s not really the point.  The point is what we can do.  Who is there to help?  Democrats.   Veterans need help, and we have been helping our veterans.

On your next drive to Minneapolis, be sure to the read bumper stickers.  We are at war, and many families are feeling it.  Let’s remember to be thankful, talk about what we should be doing for veterans and families of veterans, and etc.  It IS a campaign issue.

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Democrats · Veterans · War

I don’t normally just post a link without comment but after reading an article by Diane Ravitch about education reform entitled, “In Need of a Renaissance“, I had to share. It’s long but well worth the read for anyone interested in the ongoing debates to improve education.

Here is the link to the article that can be downloaded in pdf form:

In Need of a Renaissance
Real Reform Will Renew, Not Abandon, Our Neighborhood Schools
By Diane Ravitch

Hollow reforms, like proposals that emphasize get-tough accountability over support for educators and widespread choice over quality neighborhood schools, enjoy their share of supporters. In this excerpt of her new book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, Diane Ravitch chronicles her realization that high-stakes tests and the proliferation of charter schools are undermining public education. Ravitch calls for a renewed focus on curriculum and instruction “that seeks to teach the best that has been thought and known and done in every field of endeavor.” Our students deserve the best. With the hard work of renaissance, we can give it to them.

Read the whole thing and ask yourself, why isn’t this woman Secretary of Education because she ought to be!

Cross Posted on Outstate Politics [comments welcomed]

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aft · american educator · american federation of teachers · diane ravitch · Education · education reform

I’m hearing talk about a non-partisan issue which will soon turn into Republican spin.

The truth is both elected Democrats and Republicans officials are proud of our veterans and have been working to ensure better benefits and care.  However, we can always do more for folks that have served us and have often putting their life on the line for us.

Minnesota Democrats:  It’s time to look at this issue.  Is there more we can do for our vets?  Do rural vets need help getting to facilities for care?  Is there appropriate compensation?  What difficulties are families of veterans facing, and can we help alleviate those problems?

Today I saw an old, faded “Thanks, Veterans!” bumper sticker.  It’s time to resurrect those bumper stickers and start talking about and with veterans and families of veterans.

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Minnesota · Veterans

As a k-12 educator in this “Progressive Brain” community, I feel the need to pop in with my two cents:

It is not that I disagree with either of the preceding posts regarding education. It’s that I think we are missing something.

First, we as educators or we as Democrats ought not be reacting to supposed reforms offered by Tim Pawlenty or anyone else. We ought to be out there offering our own reforms. Reforms, mind you, that have been developed or proven effective by actual teachers in actual classrooms. Sure, talk about inadequate funding but know that money is only the means with which to pay for reform measures.

Second, let’s be the party that encourages teachers and not the party that relentlessly demeans teachers. The fact is that good and great teachers are not the exception, they are the rule. In my eight years of teaching I have been privileged to work with good teachers and great teachers and the one or two not so good teachers didn’t stay long. I know Science teachers who push their students to the limit to produce fantastic projects for a science fair. I know English teachers who inspire previously uninterested readers to read. I know math teachers who find the every day event and turn it into a math problem.

Call it framing or call it something else but in the end support your local educators, listen to their ideas for reform, and I can all but guarantee you that you will be supporting the position of the organization that represents those educators.

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Education · Education Minnesota

I am going to have to disagree with the last post regarding candidates and teachers.

Progressives have fallen into the trap of thinking of framing as a “response”. We let the Republicans/Conservatives tell complete fabrications. We don’t challenge them right away and these made up excuses and statements are picked up as the media starts asking for reponses. Democrats think that they have to figure out a way to “frame the response”.

That is completely backwards. Let’s take the example regarding Education Minnesota. Pawlenty decided that his message regarding Race to the Top would be that the teachers were the problem – the only problem. Of course, that is not true. The administration made errors in the application and part of the criteria centered around having the teachers supporting the plan. Pawlenty’s message was the teachers need to come to him, not finding a position that everybody could support.

Democrats, more concerned with the application money than the process, began to try and find a way to get the teachers to come to Pawlenty’s position as well.  Both sides ended up asking the teachers to put their own jobs at risk for the sake of “potential” Federal money. 

I find it ironic that Pawlenty chastises the DFL for not getting on board for potential Fed money in education, yet dumps a guaranteed 7 to 1 return on health care.  But I digress.

The real problem here is not the teachers — it is education funding.  The constant cuts and increased testing have put a strain on education…pitting administrators against the education professionals.   All the while, the state keeps cutting a program for which has a Constitutional responsibility.

But let’s get back to the candidates.  I firmly believe that candidates need to be up front about what they support.  How they explain it to the public is the real framing issue.   If you “disguise” your real feelings about an issue in order to get yourself elected, then you are no better than the stealth pro-life candidates that the Republicans tried to push through the electoral process in pro-choice districts several years ago.  It’s not the right thing to do and it puts into question the votes you will have to make.

Framing isn’t some method of deception.  It is telling the truth in the most persuasive way.

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Education · Framing

Education Minnesota is getting blasted left and right. Pawlenty started the ball rolling, and now it’s rolled pretty far. There’s talk about super rich teachers, quadrillions of lobbyists, new licensing requirements (and why is that?)…

Now is the time for us to be talking about good teachers (specific ones if we have them) and to be talking about the union as being what it really is: A group of teachers coming together to talk about how to best help the kids.

The Strib ran a story about how “you can’t get bad teachers out”, for example, and we should run stories about what I see as the truth: Hard working teachers who are working very hard for our kids. And an achievement gap so wide you can fit the state of Montana in it.

IMO, Candidates should talk about it differently:

Since the union has been framed so badly, and as far as I’ve seen they aren’t running ads about what teachers are trying to do in the classroom:  I think candidates should avoid directly talking about the teacher’s union. Talk about your beliefs. For example:  “I am for getting things done, rather than going on an on about what I don’t like, as Pat Garafalo has done. As for preparing our kids for good jobs, and I want to ensure student success.”

If someone pressures you to talk about the union, talk about what you see in your local school (if you do): In my school Education Minnesota was good people sitting down together to talk about the best way to help kids, which I respect.

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Education Minnesota

fyi, All posts have been attributed to the “Admin” since I changed everyone’s login.

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Last minutes of this year’s legislative session.  It’s tough times and our side needs our support.  Pawlenty has stepped outside his bounds with unallotments, and now we’re REALLY struggling. “No new taxes” hasn’t been responsible.  How bad can it get with the schools?  I’d like to hear THAT.  Someone’s guess as to how bad it can get.

But at the same time we should be clear about our expectations…

(PS, question:  Pawlenty has said he’ll veto effort to have the rich pay their fair share.  Am I still in the game when I say this?  It’s been a week since I heard that).

So..Here’s what our legislator Dems are trying to do:

A balanced approach to resolving the $3 billion shortfall

• We are passing a budget that more than meets the Governor but does not compromise Minnesota’s most important priorities.

o   It includes 60% in payment delays, 25% cuts and 15% revenue.

• This plan protects kids in our schools, seniors and their caregivers and our communities from the brunt of an all-cuts approach.
• It resolves $421 million of the remaining $535 million deficit projected in the February forecast.  The remaining $114 million will be resolved in the HHS bill.
• It also resolves the $2.4 billion in the Governor’s unallotments that were found to be illegal.

We won’t balance the budget on the backs of working Minnesotans

• This plan reduces state government spending by $680 million
• Enacts $1.7 billion in K-12 education borrowing
• Raises $433 million in 4^th tier income tax to protect schools, seniors and our communities.  The tax blinks off once Minnesota returns to fiscal stability.
• Of the $680 million cuts, $77 million of HHS cuts will only be made if the $408 million in FMAP dollars do not arrive before June 15, 2010.
• If the state receives additional federal money, we will restore the $36 million deficit to the state grant program for financial aid for college students.
• The remaining $295 million in federal dollars will begin to repay the school shift.

This plan will resolve Minnesota’s cash-flow crisis

The bill also includes important language to protect schools from further borrowing.  The Commissioner of MMB may, but is no longer required, to borrow from school districts and the threshold is higher to protect districts with smaller reserves.

In addition, the bill makes permanent changes to certain payment and revenue collection schedules to reduce monthly low points in general fund cash flow – a critical tool as we continue to struggle with a structurally imbalanced budget.

Our balanced budget plan makes better choices for Minnesota

• There are no cuts to critical access dental for low income adults and child support enforcement;
• Significantly smaller reductions to county mental health grants; and
• Smaller reductions for PCA hours, continuing care grants and emergency general assistance.
• In addition, the plan includes a restoration of financial aid for college students if additional FMAP dollars become available.

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Budget · MN legislature · Pawlenty

For six months we have been setting the frame for “extremist” (what that means, who is an extremist = Michele Bachmann and Palin, etc), so, why say Emmer is “inflammatory?”

Does anyone care if Emmer is inflammatory? And he’s not “out of touch, either, if you are against tax cuts.  PS, Super rich people are “out of touch” right now.

Here’s some of what makes Emmer an extremist, IMO:

IF YOU’RE NOT WHITE, SEARCH THE CAR?

“What Arizona did was a wonderful first step. I’m disappointed at the federal government that’s taking issue with the state of Arizona.”

-Rep. Tom Emmer, “Midday” on Minnesota Public Radio, April 28, 2010 in regard to Arizona’s new immigration law

GOODBYE SAFETY NET?
Emmer: ‘Sky’s the limit’ in reducing government
http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/92368509.html

HANGING WITH MINNESOTA MAJORITY, EMMER HAPPY ABOUT THE SUPPORT?
http://www.looktruenorth.com/limited-government/taxation/12254-tom-emmer-confirmed-to-speak-at-tax-cut-rally.html

http://www.emmerforgovernor.com/about/awards

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Extremist · Tom Emmer