Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report - Vol. 3, Issue 27 - 1/18/2008
Big Win For Franken
Today's Wall Street Journal has a front page story, "Labor Makes Big Comeback in '08 Races." That's certainly true in the Minnesota U.S. Senate race. It's a story we've been tracking for months, in A Tale of Two AFSCMEs, A Tale, Chapter Two and A Tale, Chapter Three.
This week, Education Minnesota endorsed DFL U.S. Senate contender Al Franken over Mike Ciresi, the other top contender in the race. The endorsement of the state's biggest union (70,000-plus members) is huge. Add the endorsement of AFCME Council 5, at 43,000 members, and now you're talking super huge. These top two state unions are highly motivated, and that will be tough, but not insurmountable, to the Ciresi team. Ciresi earned the endorsement of AFCME Council 65, which boasts 11,000-plus members.
The inside buzz is that Eliot Seide, AFSCME Council 5's executive director, orchestrated the significant pre-February 5 precinct caucus endorsement by Education Minnesota (we were told months ago Education Minnesota would stay out of it like they usually do in heated DFL battles). Seide says he wasn't involved, "We respect our friends in Education Minnesota and we didn't have anything to do with the timing or 'the who' of the endorsement. Of course, we are very happy with the outcome of their endorsement process." The Franken team, via Communications Director Andy Barr, also denies engineering an early DFL endorsement that most DFL insiders didn't expect to happen.
We suspect the Education Minnesota endorsement had a lot to do with the group's new president, Tom Dooher. So we asked him. According to Dooher, Education Minnesota did have an internal conversation about whether or not to endorse and ultimately decided to endorse "simply because we wanted to be influential at the beginning of the campaign and get our members to the caucuses." Why Franken? "We felt that he has strength in understanding our issues and that he would be a good U.S. Senator," says Dooher.
Both Education Minnesota and AFSCME Council 5 have major plans in the works to turn out their members for Franken next month. These include training videos for the caucus novice, direct mail and the all important phone banks. We also bet (but did not ask) that Seide is extraordinarily motivated to deliver for his guy, given the earlier dustup between the two.
Besides the state's top two unions, Franken is also cashing in on all the legislative fundraisers he attended the last election cycle. Whether those candidates won or lost doesn't matter. Franken made personal contacts and started relationships with DFL fundraiser attendees who are highly likely DFL caucus goers. [We were delighted to learn that Franken heavily relied on the latest edition of Politics in Minnesota: The Directory for his statewide travel.] Ciresi has been countering for months by having his supporters host house parties all over the state. We wrote about that.
For Ciresi, Franken's not so funny, anymore.
Two sidebars:
1. One of Education Minnesota' national parents, the American Federation of Teachers, endorsed Hillary Clinton for President very early in the race (the other parent, the National Education Association did not endorse anyone, and neither did Education Minnesota) as did national AFSCME. That means all the MN caucus activity for Franken bodes well for the former first lady.
2. AFSCME Council 5 is also shopping precinct caucus resolutions this year calling for -- surprise! -- investments in transportation and affordable quality health care and no more privatization of public services.
City Of Blinding Lobbyists
In The Devil Wears Prada, Meryl Streep plays top fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly (who is really former cold perfectionist Vogue editor Anna Wintour) and there's a great scene where she appears with her personal assistant (Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs) as the two tour Paris in a chauffeured car with U2's "City of Blinding Light" blaring on the soundtrack.
As we reviewed DFL State Auditor Rebecca Otto’s new "2006 Local Government Lobbying Services" report, that U2 tune came to mind. So many local units of government, so many lobbyists...the city of blinding lobbyists. [OK, we reach, here, but you try to write about a seemingly dull government report and try to make it sexy.]
Forum Communications political reporter Scott Wente got the major story, here: "The report prepared by Otto's office showed local government lobbying expenses dropping by about 9 percent from the previous year." That story, however, is not the one we look for. Rather we want to know what all the contract lobbyists want to know. How much is long-time Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities lead lobbyist Tim Flaherty and his firm taking out of the local government lobbying pie? In 2006, [PDF] the total was $910,000, from 12 city groups or individual cities. [Plus there are five more local units represented by Flaherty which do not appear in the Auditor's Report.]
The other story we look for is how many cities have paid dues into different groups that represent cities. Coon Rapids and Hoyt Lakes paid into five different groups. For Coon Rapids, those groups were Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, League of Minnesota Cities, North Metro Crossing Coalition, North Metro Highway 10 Coalition, North Metro Mayors Association. Hoyt Lakes paid into the following: Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, Coalition of Utility Cities, League of Minnesota Cities, Minnesota Association of Small Cities, Range Association of Municipalities and Schools.
These cities paid into four groups: Anoka, Babbitt, Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Circle Pines, Grand Rapids, Granite Falls, Mankato, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, Mountain Iron, New Ulm, Ramsey, and Waseca. The entire report is available here. [PDF]
We asked Otto what she thought about that and here's her answer. "This is a statutorily required transparency report on lobbying costs...it's not right for me to say what's right or wrong." That's true and a great political answer. However, she did flag something new she added this year to address these issues, a two-page appendix called "Guidance on the Use of Contract Lobbyists and Internal Controls." She asks local units of government hiring lobbyists to ask the tough questions like, "Could the decision to hire a consultant be justified to taxpayers?" Bully for Otto.
While we're the first to defend the hiring of lobbyists, there's something unseemly about making too much money from lobbying for cities and about cities having too many groups representing them (Hoyt Lakes had a 2000 census population of 2,082 people, which worked out to be 915 households or 649 families). However, there's nothing unseemly about having all the various city groups. As long as the Legislature chooses to dole out state funds according to different criteria, cities and other local units of government, there will be a multitude of splinter groups.
While we forgot to ask Otto if she wears Prada, we sure wish she'd be more of a devil on what's bad about the current state of local government unit lobbying in our state.
Name That Legislator
The hottest game of speculation in political circles this week was who was the "prominent legislator" who called GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty's office within an hour of the bridge collapse while they were still rescuing people to "threaten political retribution?" Those are Pawlenty's words at the NTSB press conference held on Tuesday, January 15th, duly noted by Mary Lahammer. We don't know who that "prominent legislator" is, but we're sooooo curious. Readers, please submit your best guess/es as to who this legislator may be to staff@politicsinminnesota.com.
Not-So-Hot-House
A global warming update brought to you by some House Republican Caucus members. Chair Debra Hilstrom (DFL-Brooklyn Center) of the Local Government Committee and Chair Bill Hilty (DFL-Finlayson) of the Energy Committee had a joint hearing yesterday on global warming and local government. At the start of the hearing, the current temperature was one degree Fahrenheit and the windchill was 14-below zero. For this global warming hearing, the expert witness, John Kaufman, Senior Policy Analyst with the Conservation Division of the Oregon Department of Energy, flew in from that state to testify. Unclear was Kaufman's carbon footprint from the flight.
Independence Party To Look Into National Campaign
In this state, which once had a formally non-partisan Legislature, there always seems to be some space for independent statewide candidates to make their case, and, of course, sometimes score the surprise win. An increasing number of Americans see themselves as independents; while the party faithful buddy up to presidential candidates' rapidly formed loyalty networks, a lot of people don't like that kind of scene at all. So where do they go? The Independence Party of Minnesota (IPM) retains major party status, thanks to Peter Hutchinson's 6.4% finish in 2006. He got 141,735 voters, more people than the 83,000 who attended all party caucuses in 2004.
It's no secret that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been flirting with running for president as an independent. He has apparently hired people to run polls and analyze his chances in all 50 states, including Minnesota. If the IPM endorsed Bloomberg, he would instantly get a spot on the ballot, because it's a major party.
While we don't have insider gossip about the outsider party today, it's worth noting that the IPM will vote at their state convention in Bloomington on January 26th about whether or not they should become affiliated with the new Independence Party Of America (IPOA), which got spun out of the large Independence Party of New York. IPOA Chairman Frank McKay has been in talks with IPM about the possible link, which is attractive because IPM is one of the most well-established third parties in the U.S. On January 10th, the Virginia Independent Green Party voted to affiliate itself with IPOA. Also, joining up with the fragmented remains of Ross Perot's Reform Party is another apparent goal. However, as MPR noted, the IPM broke off from the Reform Party because of infighting, and party members are rightly wary of counting on joining another potentially turbulent national coalition.
IPOA hopes to run a charismatic candidate for president in order to attract enough votes to become a viable party in as many states as possible, with a strong focus on voter reform. McKay certainly has talked up Bloomberg. Another third-party venture, Unity08, which hoped to use the Internet to organize and operate virtual caucuses, seems to be sputtering in ballot access efforts and fundraising, which is a good reason why IPOA is looking for established independent operations around the country with a proven ability to get on the ballot.
McKay is looking in particular for third-party people who have a fiscally conservative, socially liberal bent and are alumni of the Ross Perot movement. That seems to fit a pretty large slice of the Minnesota electorate, a pivotal but hidden bloc that surfaced to help elect Jesse Ventura from places like Anoka County.
To clarify last week's story about the SOS caucus finder, IPM is operating both conventional caucuses, getting listed online now, and an Internet-based caucus, as well. Additionally, Brooklyn Park businessman David Dillon, CEO of The Meyers Printing Co., is seeking the IPM nomination to run for GOP U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad's seat in the 3rd CD.
Republican National Convention Websites Multiply!
With a global media spectacle rolling into St. Paul less than nine months from now, it's high time to review new websites getting set up around the event, some GOP-friendly and others, decidedly not.
GopConvention.com and GopConvention2008.com point to the Committee on Arrangements for the 2008 Republican National Convention, i.e. the RNC's official site. Interesting factoid: "The Anti-Masonic Party was the first to use the national convention" as an organizing instrument. The FAQ doesn't say anything about protecting the rights of protesters.
"NO isn't on the ballot," says Unconventional Action (UnconventionalAction.org), a network of activists around the country working on organizing protests for both the Democratic and Republican conventions. Their Unconventional Strategies From Rebel Communities Within The Empire newspaper (8 MB PDF) combines slick poster art with snippets of radical history and info about Denver and St. Paul.
ProtestRNC2008.org has activist and protest news, as well as complementary Facebook and MySpace pages. They note that an organizers' conference will be held February 9th -10th at the University of Minnesota. The RNC Welcoming Committee (RNCwelcomingcommittee.org/noRNC.org (motto: "Because We Live Here!") remains the favorite bugbear for conservative bloggers. This month a roving Welcoming Committee tour will start criss-crossing the country "spreading antiRNC fervor and gathering information, feedback and resources," MarchOnRNC.org seems mainly focused on organizing protest march logistics.
The National Lawyers Guild Minnesota has a special RNC page set up and background on their goals. The RNC 2008 Wikipedia page is pretty basic but a helpful overview. The liberal watchdog wiki SourceWatch RNC 2008 page has a good array of public relations notes and other fun items. MPR's Campaign 2008 web coverage lacks a dedicated convention news index.
The City of St. Paul has a convention page and an email listserv for official documents. Various items about the RNC are posted on the Democracy in Action area of GWU.edu. The Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee (MSP2008.com) has info intended to "promote the commerce, image and prestige" of the area. It was designed by ASI Communications.
Peter Smith, a local blogger at the Huffington Post, has periodically covered the RNC. A liberal cabbie named Paul set up a blog a couple weeks ago. Famed web humor site Fark.com has a huge number of Photoshop spoofs of the RNC logo.
The Minnesota College Republicans have a bit of news. The official Minnesota Republican National Committee page is pretty spare, and Brian Sullivan's portrait is missing so he looks like a red bubble. The Minnesota GOP website (MnGOP.com) will surely have much information, as well as a volunteer sign-up page. State-level GOP party units (like Ohio) are whipping up nice-looking pages to collect volunteers.
TheUptake.org is a new operation training blogger/journalist type people for both the Denver and Twin Cities conventions. They had success webcasting live video from the Iowa caucuses. The e-democracy Wiki page for the RNC has some basic material, but currently it's pretty sparse. (Since it's editable by the public, you could add your own facts about the event.)
Nicole Russell is operating GOPConventionReport.com, a GOP-friendly source for news and tidbits. GOPConventionStrategies.com, a group handling planning, has a few items and venue news. There is no local counterpart to the impressive 2008 Democratic Convention Watch blog, which has really good data about delegates and other party machinations.
The NewsVine Web news engine has a Minnesota group at YouBetcha.newsvine.com, who are posting RNC items as they surface. Web posts about matters like permitted protest routes have popped up on sites like DailyKos. A spoof of the RNC agenda popped up (here's another one). Brave New Films, the liberal documentary outfit, has posted a spoof GOP theme song for the convention.
Liberal Think Tank & Organizers Staff Up For 2008
Offering a counterweight to long-established conservative operations around the nation, new liberal institutions in Minnesota are starting to populate their ranks and offer more grassroots training and analysis. Financed by the Wellstone Action Fund, the Wellstone Fellows Program is a training program for organizers in Minnesota communities of color, covering one month of grassroots issue and electoral organizing training, and 8 months organizing voters via non-profit organizations. The 2008 class of Wellstone Fellows are: Roy Jackson, Rena Moran-Stewart, Marco Davila, Nasimiyu Murumba, Maureen Cisneros, Kelly Lewis, Deborah Torraine, Erika Kennedy, Mohammed Abdi, Danielle Turnquest, Lily Shank, Alicia Steele, Walter Castellanos, Erik Rodriguez, Martha Salazar and Martha Fast Horse who will work with groups like Urban Embassy, Waite House, Clean Water Action, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, OutFront Minnesota, Yo! The Movement and the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network. Congratulations! Wellstone Action Executive Director Jeff Blodgett is optimistic that progressive election victories will bring real change in 2009.
The new liberal-oriented Minnesota 2020 thinktank is picking up more expertise with fiscal analyst and consultant Jeff Van Wychen, and organizer and former DFL Senate staffer Leah Peterson coming on board. [Don't forget to send your nonprofit news & personnel updates to staff@politicsinminnesota.com!]
Walz Brings The Beltway Cash Back To First CD
MinnPost political writer Catharine Richert noted that freshman DFL U.S. Rep. Tim Walz (MN-1) has really brought home the bacon for the First Congressional District, already netting $35 million in federal cash for the swing district, and working closely with DFL U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson (MN-7) to synthesize the massive farm bill, which in Peterson's words, "everyone hates equally." GOP U.S. Rep. John Kline (MN-2) recently swore off earmarks, but as a minority member he isn't too likely to do well with them anyway.
Senator Dick Day (R-Owatonna), one of Walz's GOP opponents, said at the first GOP primary debate last Thursday that he would shun earmarks: "I'm a guy that says, 'No earmarks. We should cut out the earmarks,'" the Rochester Post-Bulletin reported. Which approach works better with campaign contributors? The upcoming FEC filing will tell the tale. (Walz' other GOP opponents are Representative Randy Demmer (Hayfield), farmer/actuary/lawyer Mark Meyer, and Mayo Clinic doc Brian Davis.) [Day also memorably said "I'm too old to be influenced by power or prestige [in D.C.]," and we believe it.]
Ads In The U.S. Senate Race
Savvy Minnesota Senate race watchers will note that's a brand new ad under the banner for GOP U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman at the top of our report. We thinks it's by far the best and edgiest Coleman ad we've seen in Coleman campaign history.
Minnesota Senate hopeful Al Franken released his political ads this week featuring, of all people, his 4th grade teacher Val Molin. (It scares all of us at PIM to think what our 4th grade teachers would say about us given the chance). If you haven't yet seen the ads they are here and here. An interesting side-note is the amount of views the two main DFL senatorial hopefuls have received for their ads on YouTube. Both Mike Ciresi and Al Franken have put two ads on the popular video sharing site. All four television spots went on the site at roughly the same time. Ciresi's on January 9th and January 14th, while Franken's both went up on the 14th, yet Franken's have, as of January 17th been much more popular. His two ads "I'm Running" and "Mrs. Molin" have been viewed 21,194 and 31,748 time respectively and Ciresi's ads "Middle" and "Change" have views at 1,473 and 1,112. The reasons for this disparity may lie in YouTube's average viewer being 27 years old. According to a September 2007 Star Tribune poll, Ciresi does not do well with 18-39 year olds (60% polled saying they have never heard of him).
Remembering Bill Brooks
Just a reminder that the memorial for Bill Brooks is tomorrow morning.
The best email we got about the sad passing of the one-time dean of St. Paul lobbying comes from Willis Croonquist, who was a lobbyist for the Railroad Brotherhoods (United Transportation Union) back in the 1980s. At that time the rail unions were working hard to pass legislation to keep cabooses on trains. Writes Croonquist:
"Bill Brooks was a lobbyist for the old CNW Railroad which became the DM&E Railroad, headquartered in Waseca, Minnesota. I visited with Bill one day about one of my union members who had been fired from the railroad. Many of us thought he had been dismissed unfairly.
Bill suggested I call the fired railway worker in to meet with him. We held the meeting at my union office which at that time was in the old Lumber Exchange Building in Minneapolis. After our meeting Bill said he would see what he could do as far as getting him back to work. A week later I saw Bill at the Capitol and he informed me that the young man was being reinstated.
Although Bill continued to oppose me on our caboose legislation, I had nothing but respect for him. Our world today could use more people like Bill Brooks. I extend my condolences to Bill's family and his colleagues." As do we.
Bits & Pieces
Three cheers for long-time, highly respected lobbyist, Kathy Hahne. She just made partner at Faegre & Benson. Law school was not a place Hahne needed to go, mid-career, but she did it, anyway (and contrary to your publisher's advice). Hahne's resume is here, and includes what many Hahne-knowers have long forgotten, service in former DFL Gov. Rudy Perpich's administration.
The Minnesota Government Relations Council (MGRC) has two meetings in the near future. The first "Everything you Wanted to Know About Bonding" is Tuesday, January 29th at the Commodore Hotel, 79 Western Avenue North, St. Paul. Speakers include Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul), Sen. Keith Langseth (DFL-Glyndon), and Jim Schowalter from the Minnesota Department of Finance. RSVP at mngrc.org. The second event is the annual "Get to Know You" party on Tuesday, February 19th. This, more festive party, takes place at the Happy Gnome from 5-9 p.m. This event is open to Legislators, Staff, Lobbyists, and anyone else who has $10 for the cover charge.
January 22nd marks the 53th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, and NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota is holding a 5 day event honoring the landmark ruling. Day one, January 18th, features a book reading and signing by feminist author Jessica Valenti. On Saturday, the 19th, venture over to the Vine Arts Center for a live art and concert event starting at 7 p.m. Sunday, the 20th, the Minnesota Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice will show From Danger to Dignity a documentary about a group of 1,400 clergy from around the nation who helped women obtain safe abortions through the county in the late 60's and early 70's. Monday, February 21st, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Coalition will be joining the MLK Jr. March at Central High School. The 5 Days of Action culminates with a legislative preview session for 2008. For more information you can visit the NARAL website or visit PIM's own events page.
Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) will hold the annual March for Life at the State Capitol Tuesday, January 22nd. The event, timed with 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, is one of the largest annual events held at the Capitol and will feature Governor Tim Pawlenty (R). The march begins at 12:00 with the program featuring the Governor beginning at 12:30 on the Capitol steps. If you would like any more information check the MCCL website or the PIM events page.
As we flagged last week, we tried out the new multi-party caucus location finder at the Secretary of State's website (caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us), and it worked well. One veteran DFL pol suggested to PIM that the SOS' web service wasn't a great use of taxpayer money because the caucuses are really intended for party activists and party business; in his view, the September primaries are much more mission-relevant for the SOS to offer.
Conservatives like to grumble about all those bike paths U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN8) has funded from Washington, but it's definitely paying off with a more healthy and less-polluting commuter crowd. The Minneapolis mayor's office trumpeted the good news that in 2006, the city ranked second nationally for bicycling commuters, eighth for walking, and eleventh for public transit (2.5%, 7.1% and 13.2% of trips respectively). A new Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Project will bring $7 million in federal cash to build and expand new pathways.
The Fifth Judicial District has two judicial vacancies for the trail court bench. The retirement of David Christensen (Watonwan County) effective March 4th, and George Harrelson (Lincoln and Lyon County) effective June 2nd have created the openings. Licensed Minnesota attorneys who are residents of that district may request an application for either or both positions. To request an application contact John Hultquist at (651) 296-0019 or email him at john.hultquist@state.mn.us. All candidates must submit applications and letters of recommendations which must be received not later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 7th.
After nine years at The Council on Crime and Justice, Tom Johnson will be leaving his post as the organization's president, and returning to his law practice at Gray Plant Moody effective March 1st. The Council on Crime and Justice is looking to fill the position and KeyStone Search has been hired to help (we highlighted KeyStone's work here [see vol 3, issue 17]. Our esteemed friend Lars Leafblad recently became the vice president of KeyStone. Any questions about the opening can be directed to Rebecca Yanisch at (612) 375-8841 or by email to rebecca@keystonesearch.com.
Too bad you missed the Hennepin County Bar Association lunch with Mike Hatch and Warren Spannaus. The lunch was Thursday, January 17th and featured the former Attorneys General and... sandwiches! Hope you were there; we here at PIM are sure it was quite interesting.
D.C. pol paper Roll Call gave credit (subscription required) to U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman's (R-MN) wife Laurie, for developing the Blo & Go hair dryer system, as Strib gabber C.J. also noted.
St. Paul DFL Senator Richard Cohen will talk about his journey retracing the legacy of the civil rights movement, visiting southern cities: "He has interviewed activists and Klansmen. And murderers. Gain a new perspective on the American civil rights movement - over your lunch hour." It's $25 per person on Monday, February 4th from noon to 1 p.m. at the Minnesota Humanities Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul.
Kudos to PIM Web Editor Dan Feidt, who insisted on putting lots of material from the I-35W bridge documents into the first post-collapse issue of the Weekly Report. Readers across the spectrum told us they appreciated the hard information, and the new government report about the collapse fingers the same gusset plates whose observed deterioration (among other crumbling parts) got included.
Lobbyist Watch
From the Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board:
Morning Reports
