Pawlenty wants Vikings and Metrodome operators to get along

Posted at 11:16 AM on November 23, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)
Filed under: Tim Pawlenty

Gov. Tim Pawlenty says the Minnesota Vikings and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission need to maintain a good relationship.

Vikings officials got upset with the commission last week for proposing to extend their Metrodome lease by two more years, when the team wants a new stadium. Pawlenty told reporters today that the dustup resulted in some unfortunate comments.

"They are tenant and landlord so to speak," Pawlenty said. "But pretty soon the sports facilities commission is going to be transcended because the Vikings are going to need to make other arrangements. And so we need to make sure the relationship is positive."

Pawlenty offered no prediction about the chances of a Vikings stadium bill advancing in the 2010 Legislative session. With the economy still struggling, he said state budget matters will have to come first.

Comment on this post

The wet cement is drying quickly

Posted at 9:17 AM on November 23, 2009 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Minnesota Governor

Charlie Weaver, executive director of the Minnesota Business Partnership, announced this morning that he won't run for governor. In an interview, Weaver joked that it's Thanksgiving week and he's "thankful he's not running for governor." Weaver ran for Attorney General in 1998 and said he knows how difficult it is to run a statewide campaign.

"Mostly, it was an unwillingness to make the sacrifice, "Weaver said. "The personal commitment is just too much."

Weaver said he isn't ready to back a candidate right now but will back a candidate at some point. He also suggested that there are other Republicans who can enter the race like former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman or state Rep. Laura Brod.

Despite Weaver's assessment, the timing of the precinct caucuses could make it difficult for a newcomer to make a splash at this point. We'll see if any other candidates get in or if those sitting on the sidelines start backing the candidates currently in the race.

Here's Weaver's news release with a special Top 10 list:

Charlie Weaver today announced that he will not be a candidate for Governor in 2010.

Weaver, a former Republican state legislator, Chief of Staff to Governor Tim Pawlenty, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety for Governor Jesse Ventura and criminal prosecutor for Anoka County, said he made the decision based on personal considerations.

"Running for Governor is a full time job and I know well the sacrifices that go along with the decision to seek statewide office," said Weaver, who ran for Attorney General in 1998. "The toll that a year-long political campaign takes on your family is just something that I am not willing to accept. Life is short, and the thought of quitting my job and basically not seeing much of my wife and four children for the next year was just something that I couldn't justify."

Weaver and his wife, Julie, live in Anoka with their four school-age children.

"Recently, Julie and I were discussing the pros and cons of my getting in the race. That same night, we had one son at bowling practice, one son in both a football game and at hockey practice after football, our daughter at dance and our other son in a band concert. Life is hectic, but I also really enjoy attending our kid's activities. I love public service, but time with my kids - particularly at this point in their lives - is more important to me."

Weaver is currently the Executive Director of the Minnesota Business Partnership, an organization comprised of the CEOs of Minnesota's 100 largest companies. The mission of the Partnership is to grow Minnesota's economy and improve Minnesota's quality of life through keeping Minnesota globally competitive.

"While the Governor of Minnesota is a pretty good job, I am blessed to have a great job right now", said Weaver. "I am able to work with some of the brightest business leaders in the world on issues that matter to our state and we've made a difference in protecting Minnesota's remarkable quality of life."
"There are many ways to serve this great state," said Weaver. "Continuing to lead the Partnership in this challenging economic and political environment with a focus on growing jobs in Minnesota and being the best Dad I can be is the best way to contribute right now."

"When I initially indicated that I was exploring getting into the Governor's race, the reaction at that time of my ten-year-old son was "Don't do it, Dad - you'll get crushed!" While I still don't agree with his assessment of my chances, I would dearly miss being around him for the next year and hearing more of his good advice."

Weaver offered 10 additional reasons why he won't be running for Governor in 2010:
1. The Governor's Residence is nice, but it ain't Anoka;
2. Old streaking " incident" makes endorsement unlikely;
3. Has only raised $25.13 so far;
4. Discovered that he has to pay for personal parties at the Residence;
5. Thinks unallotment is a board game;
6. Troopers told him he couldn't wander the Residence in his underwear;
7. Friends are too "busy" to attend convention;
8. Gift ban makes it harder to get free stuff;
9. Not interested in all those boring budget meetings; and
10. Recent polling reveals he would lose to the intoxicated motorized LazyBoy guy.

Comment on this post

On the stump...

Posted at 4:47 PM on November 22, 2009 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Minnesota Governor

It's a short week for most of the candidates for governor. Here's where they'll be:

Pat Anderson (GOP):
No public events scheduled for this week.

Tom Bakk (DFL):
Tuesday, Nov. 24 - Meet-and-greet, 11:30 a.m., Timberlake Lodge, 144 SE 17th St., Grand Rapids; Meet-and-greet, 4 p.m., Coffee Corner, 502 S 2nd St., Princeton; Congressional Dist. 3 and Congressional Dist. 5 Gubernatorial Forum, 7 p.m., Hopkins Center for the Arts, 111 Main St., Hopkins

Leslie Davis (GOP):
Friday, Nov. 27, Aitkin Fish House, Aitkin, Minnesota

Mark Dayton (DFL):
The campaign did not provide me with a schedule.

Tom Emmer (GOP):
Friday, Nov. 27, Aitkin Fish House Parade. 1:00 PM, Aitkin, MN

Matt Entenza (DFL):
Tuesday, Nov. 24, Retired Teachers Chapter 59 meeting, 12pm, 67 8th Ave. NE, Minneapolis; CD3/CD5 Gubernatorial Debate, 7pm, Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Main St., Hopkins

Susan Gaertner (DFL):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.
Tuesday, 11/24, 7-9p, CD3/5 & SD44 DFL Candidate Forum, Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Main St., Hopkins, MN 55343

Bill Haas (GOP):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.

David Hann (GOP):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.

Phil Herwig (GOP):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.

Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL):
Sunday, Nov.22, Meet & Greet with Margaret, Acoustic Café, 77 Lafayette Street, Winona, 11:30AM; Meet & Greet with Margaret, Perkin's Restaurant & Bakery, 2215 E Main Street, Albert Lea, 2:30pm; Meet & Greet with Margaret, 222 E Blue Earth Ave, Fairmont,5:00PM
Tuesday, Nov. 24, CD3/5 Gubernatorial Debate, 7pm, Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Main Street, Hopkins

Steve Kelley (DFL):
Sunday, Nov.22,1:00PM: Stonewall DFL meeting, DFL Headquarters, 330 E Plato Blvd. St. Paul
Tuesday, November 24, 6:00PM - CD3/5 Gubernatorial Debate, Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Main St., Hopkins

John Marty (DFL):
Monday, Nov. 23, Rep Mindy Greiling's & The Hanson's Marty Party, 3321 Edward Street NE Minneapolis, 55418, 7pm
3. 11/24
Tuesday, 11/24, 3rd and 5th CD DFL Gubernatorial Debate, Hopkins Center for the Arts 1111 Mainstreet Hopkins, MN, 6:30pm

Tom Rukavina (DFL):
The campaign did not provide me with a campaign schedule.
Monday, 11/23, Tabling at UMD campus
Tuesday, 11/24, 12 pm, Meeting with "Ely Tuesday Group" at Grand Ely Lodge, 6 pm Gubernatorial Debate at the Hopkins Center for the Performing Arts

R.T. Rybak (DFL):
Tuesday, Nov. 24, 7 PM, CD3/CD5/SD44 Gubernatorial Debate, 1111 Main St, Hopkins MN

Marty Seifert (GOP):
Friday, Nov. 27, Friday, Nov 27: Aitkin Fish House Parade. 1:00 PM, Aitkin, MN

Paul Thissen (DFL):
Sunday, 11/22, 2-3:30p, Mahnomen Meet &Greet, Red Apple Cafe, 116 N Main St, Mahnomen, MN 56557; 4:30-6p, Bagley Meet & Greet, Fireside Grill, Hwy 2 W, Bagley, MN 56621; 6:30-8p, Meet & Greet at Sen. Moe's Home, 17444 Park Ave SE Erskine, MN 56535
Monday, 11/23 - 9-10:30a, Red Lake Falls Meet & Greet, Memories Cafe, 217 8th St SE, Red Lake Falls, MN 56750; 11:30a-1p, Warren Meet & Greet, Melody's Cafe, 510 N. Main St Warren, MN 56762; 3:30-5p, Hallock Meet & Greet, Caribou Grill, 225 Broadway St Hallock, MN 56728; 6:30-8p, Roseau Meet & Greet, Roseau Diner, 806 3rd St NW, Roseau, MN 56751
Tuesday, 11/24 - 9-10:30a, Detroit Lakes Meet & Greet, Sunflower Hill Coffee & Gifts, 808 Washington Ave # 19C, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501; 7-9p, CD3/5 & SD44 DFL Candidate Forum, Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Main St., Hopkins, MN 55343
Wednesday, 11/25- 12-1p, Online Video Chat (details at www.PaulThissen.com)

Comment on this post

I-P keeps ban on PAC $, ditches cross party endorsement

Posted at 5:43 PM on November 21, 2009 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Minnesota Governor, U.S. House

The Independence Party announced today that the party's delegates decided to keep a ban in place that would forbid the party from taking donations from special interests also known as Political Action Committees.

The delegates also voted to ditch a procedure that allowed the I-P to endorse candidates from other parties. The party allowed for such action in 2008, most notably with 6th District DFLer El Tinklenberg. The endorsement at the time didn't mean much since another candidate, Bob Anderson, filed as a member of the I-P and was on the November ballot. Republican Michele Bachmann ended up winning the election.

Here's the release from the Independence Party:

Independence Party Shouts "System Sucks!"

Party definitively differentiates itself from the two entrenched political parties

At its State Party Convention in Brooklyn Park, MN, Independence Party delegates overwhelmingly reaffirmed the Party's ban on accepting special interest money (PAC money) and eliminated cross-endorsement of candidates representing other political parties. State Party Chair, Jack Uldrich, said "Today's actions clarify and amplify the fact that the Independence Party is the only true reform party."

While the ban on accepting special interest money has been a core tenant of the Party since its inception in 1992, Governor Pawlenty's elimination of the popular Political Contribution Refund (PCR) program forced delegates to confront the prospect that all future candidates will now be allowed to accept special interest money. In response, they voted overwhelmingly to "double down" and ban all special interest contributions...period.

"Today's political system sucks and special interest money lies at the heart of so many problems," said Uldrich, adding "Not accepting PAC money won't make our job of electing candidates any easier but it is the right thing to do. Unlike every other political party, the Independence Party is going to live - or die - on principle."

Additionally, delegates voted to eliminate the Party's short-lived experiment in cross-

endorsement that began in 2008. "Our delegates feel that offering endorsement support to candidates of the parties that brought us this systemic mess diluted our message" stated Jack Uldrich, Independence Party Chair, "All levels of government are in need of massive reform that can only be provided by centrist candidates without special interest strings attached as opposed to puppets of the status quo." Added Uldrich, "If other political candidates want our endorsement, they are welcome to have it but they are going to have to leave their current party to get it."

Comment on this post

Netroots Minnesota debate

Posted at 9:03 PM on November 20, 2009 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Minnesota Governor

Nine of the ten DFL candidates for governor took part in a nearly two hour debate tonight in St. Paul. The Netroots Minnesota debate featured former DFL state Sen. Steve Kelley, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, former DFL state Rep. Matt Entenza, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, DFL Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL Rep. Paul Thissen, former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton and DFL state Sen. John Marty. DFL state Sen. Tom Bakk was not in attendance.

The debate focused on everything from reproductive rights to the expansion of the sales tax to the candidate's political heroes. You can listen to the entire debate here: Listen

Comment on this post

For your viewing pleasure...

Posted at 4:19 PM on November 20, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Here's a look at who will be on the public policy shows this weekend:

TPT's Almanac:
This week on Almanac, we'll analyze the latest news from the Petters Trial with Hamline Law School Dean Don Lewis, Congressman Oberstar pays us a rare studio visit and Mary Lahammer does some Thanksgiving cooking live in studio with Sen. Al Franken and Franni Franken.

KSTP's At Issue:
Margaret Anderson Kelliher will be on...Dave Thompson, Javier Morillo Alicea, Cathie Hartnett and Annette Meeks.
Heavy focus on Vikings stadium stuff this weekend.

WCCO's Sunday Morning:
They didn't get back to me.

ABC's This Week:
Topics: Health care, with Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.

C-SPAN's Newsmakers:
Interview with Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee

CBS' Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer:
Topics: Health care, mamogram guidelines, with Sens. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

CNN's State of the Union with John King:
Health care debate, Afghanistan, 9/11 trials, with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; mammogram debate, with Carly Fiorina, California Republican senate candidate.

CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS:
Topics: Afghanistan, Parkisan, with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

NBC's Meet the Press:
Health care reform, with Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., breast cancer guidelines, with Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Koman for the Cure.

Update:
"Fox News Sunday" - Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Kit Bond, R-Mo., Arlen Specter, D-Pa., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Bernadine Healy, former director of the National Institutes of Health.

Comment on this post

House brief on unallotment

Posted at 4:12 PM on November 20, 2009 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Tim Pawlenty

The Minnesota House filed its friend of the court brief in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Pawlenty's unallotment power.

The brief says Pawlenty has no precedent in Minnesota history, exceeded his authority under the statute and unconstitutionally delegates powers to the executive.

You can read it here.

Comment on this post

Breakdown of PCR contributions

Posted at 3:58 PM on November 20, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, MN Legislature, Tim Pawlenty

The Republican Party and GOP local party units were the biggest user of a campaign program that was cut by Governor Pawlenty. The program gave donors tax refunds for part of their contributions. AP has a story here.

Here's the breakdown in Party contributions:

Republican Party and local party units - 42,469 contributions with $2,895,729 refunded.

DFL Party and local party units - 20,841 contributions with $1,107,660 refunded.

Independence Party and local party units - 175 contributions with $11,376 refunded.

Green Party and local party units- 255 contributions with $10,033 refunded.

Side note: Donors to DFL Rep. Joe Atkins, chair of the House Commerce Committee, relied the heaviest on the PCR. They received $32,960 in refunds. You can read the breakdown on candidate contributions here.

Comment on this post

Quist on the stump...

Posted at 3:42 PM on November 20, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, U.S. House

Republican Allen Quist announced yesterday that he's challenging DFL Rep. Tim Walz in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District. We had a few problems with our audio so we didn't get Quist's entire stump speech. We did, however, get the q and a. At that point, he bashed the health care overhaul bill being debated in Congress and the proposed cap and trade bill. He said the winners in the health care bill are "big business" and the "government bureaucrats."

You can listen to it here: Listen

Side note: For those wondering, we're hoping to put up stump speeches, news conferences and other campaign related events on the blog so people have as much information as possible to make their decisions at caucuses and at the polling place.

(h/t Tim Nelson)

UPDATE: Politico is reporting that Republicans in D.C. aren't too enthused about Quist's candidacy. Not sure if that helps or hurts Quist in an endorsing convention.

Comment on this post

The Washington Post gauges Minnesota interest on Afghanistan

Posted at 3:24 PM on November 20, 2009 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, U.S. House

The Washington Post visited Winona to gauge interest on the war in Afghanistan. DFL Rep. Tim Walz is heavily mentioned.

Comment on this post