Gubernatorial Debate
CANDIDATE CONVERSATION

Wednesday, September 15, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Pantages Theater
710 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis

BringMeTheNews is partnering with the Citizens League and the LEAD Project to present "Candidate Conversation" a live, interactive debate between Minnesota gubernatorial candidates Mark Dayton, Tom Emmer and Tom Horner.  

The debate will be 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will be moderated by Rick Kupchella. Following the debate , attendees are invited to a reception at Seven.

The program will be produced as a unique conversation-style debate where Minnesotans can participate in an interactive question and answer session through BringMeTheNews' social networks by using the event hashtag #debateMN.

The debate is free, but reservations are required .

SD46 DFL

Thursday, September 23 to Friday September 25

Garage of Steve Landis
7118 Grimes Avenue N, Brookyn Center

We need volunteers to staff the garage sale.  Please contact Steve Landis, progressiveveteran@comcast.net to let him know when you could help out.

Please donate items you no longer need.  You can drop them off Monday, September 20 to Wednesday, September 23 after 4 p.m.  If that isn't convenient, please arrange another time with Steve Landis, 612-280-0622 or progressiveveteran@comcast.net

Meffert Town Hall Forum on Education
CD3 DFL Candidate for the U.S. House


Thursday, September 9, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

 Edina High School, Community Room
6754 Valley View Road, Edina, Mn 55439
Enter Door # 7.

How are we preparing our kids to learn? How should we be measuring their progress? What can we do to increase collaboration between parents and teachers? What will it take to make sure every child has the opportunity to succeed at school?

Join Jim Meffert, former state PTA President, to discuss opportunities and barriers facing public education here and around the country. Jim will share his goals for improving public education and answer questions from attendees.

CELEBRATING SOCIAL SECURITY'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY
AND FIXING IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS  

Social Security celebrated its 75th Anniversary in August 2010.  Since it was signed into law by President Roosevelt in 1935, the Social Security Act has provided modest old-age pensions, a guaranteed income for those unable to work due to disabilities, and financial aid for dependent children of disabled and deceased workers.  On the 75th anniversary of Social Security, President Obama promised to protect it from Republican leaders in Congress who have made privatization a key part of their agenda. He makes clear that gambling Social Security on Wall Street makes no sense.

Listen to the President's 3 minute talk.

Over the next 75 years, Social Security will have a shortage of revenue over costs estimated to be 1.70 percent of current covered payroll earnings. President Obama has appointed a bipartisan commission to make recommendations for lowering both the short term and long term U.S. budget deficit.  Theur recommendations are likely to include changes in Social Security to extend its fiscal solvency.  How the revenue shortfall is met will determine whether millions of future retirees, disabled people, and dependent children will be kept out of poverty.  Read an overview of Social Security, including the importance of life expectancy at 65 to the programs's costs, the options the commission will consider, and their impact on low and middle income beneficiaries.

What People Are Saying about Mark Dayton

Faced with a top secret intelligence report warning of an imminent attach on the Capitol, "Dayton's response was consistent with his caring, compassionate, unselfish character."  See

"The Day Mark Dayton Sent Us to a Safer Place."

Mark Dayton's tax policy is fair.  "As a small-business owner for more than 20 years, I make hiring decisions on the basis of market demand, not the tax rates.  I would not mind paying more taxes if I made more money.  This is fair."  See

"What's the real impact of 'tax the rich' policy?"

Mark Dayton Wins Primary to Become the DFL Candidate for Governor

 

Mark Dayton's Campaign Theme - Making the Rich Pay their Fair Share

Mark Dayton used a straightforward campaign message that gained the support of many DFL voters.  He emphasized that the total state and local tax rate paid by affluent Minesotans is lower than that of everyone else, and as Governor, he would see to it that taxes of the rich were raised before funds for education, health care, and local government aid were cut.  To help balance the projected $6 billion deficit in the 2012-2013 budget, Dayton supported more substantial tax increases for the highest income Minnesotans than either Kelliher or Entenza to avoid deeper cuts for government services which have already been severely cut under Pawlenty.  "If the wealthiest Minnesotans pay their fair share . . . they would provide an additional $3.8 BILLION of revenues in the next biennium."


DFL Candidate for Lieutenant Governor - Yvonne Prettner Salon

Running with Dayton for Lieutenant Governor is MN Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon from Duluth.  Prior to her election as a MN Senator, Prettner Solon served as President of the Duluth City Council.  In the Minnesota Senate, Senator Prettner Solon has championed legislation to reduce the costs of prescription drugs and health care programs in Minnesota.  She was the Chief Senate Author of the Children’s Health Security Act, which provides universal coverage for all Minnesota children.  As Chair of the Senate’s Energy, Utilities, Technology, and Communications Committee, Senator Prettner Solon was a leader in passing progressive energy policies, including the Next Generation Energy Act which established nation-setting greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals for Minnesota.

The Facts behind Mark Dayton's "Tax the Rich" Theme
and his Race for Governor

The MN Department of Revenue's Tax Incidence study shows that in 1990, Minnesotans on average paid 11.8 percent of their income in state and local taxes, and this percent was distributed quite evenly among people of varied incomes.  By 2006, the average had dropped to 11.2%, but median-income families paid more, 12.4%, while those in the top tenth paid 10 percent, and the wealthiest 1 percent paid only 8.9 percent in taxes. The MN Department of Revenue predicts that the trend for taxes to become more regressive will continue.   Former Minneapolis City Council member Richard R. Miller wrote in the Star Tribune, "Three governors have let what was a very fair tax system become grossly distorted in favor of those among us who are most able to fund the common good. Dayton is the only candidate telling us that the emperor has no clothes."

Dayton stated that he is running for Governor because Minnesota is in crisis and can do better.  While our state used to lead the nation in job creation, after 19 years of cuts in government spending, we are now one of the poorest states in employment growth, our classrooms are overcrowded, college tuition is unaffordable, over 400,000 of our citizens lack health insurance, and 140,000 MN children live in poverty.  "All of that is terribly wrong."

Before serving as U.S. Senator, Mark Dayton was Minnesota's Commissioner of Economic Development, Commissioner of Energy and Economic Development, and State Auditor.

Dear Friends,

We know that far too many Minnesota kids are struggling: more than 140,000 Minnesota children were living in poverty in 2008—10,500 kids in the Third District alone. 88,000 Minnesota kids were uninsured, 7,400 kids in our district. In 2009, more than one million kids’ families received help from local food shelves, and over 35% of Minnesota students were receiving free or reduced-cost lunches.

 These economic, health and family challenges directly impact student achievement and graduation rates, and we are already seeing serious warning signs from our failure to address them: a Casey Foundation report found that in 2009, 63% of fourth graders in Minnesota public schools scored below proficiency in reading.

Please take a moment to read and sign the promise to our kids today and forward it to your friends and family. Then please sign up to help us win this race, so we can get Washington refocused on building a better future for our kids.

Sincerely,

Jim Meffert

Jim Meffert, DFL Candidate for the U.S. House, Will Fight for You

Meet Jim Meffert:  "I’m running for Congress for the chance to fight for you. . .  I will be the voice for the 140,000 Minnesota children living in poverty, for the 480,000 uninsured Minnesotans, for the families and the people who have lost their jobs and are concerned about losing their homes, and for patients who are struggling to pay their medical bills.  I'll be a voice for our children and their future. . . We are all in this to build strong communities and help our neighbors build better lives"  (CD3 DFL Endorsement Acceptance Speech, 4/10/10).  Get to know Jim Meffert, a candidate with outstanding ideas and real commitment, and and let your friends and neighbors know about him too.

Watch Jim Meffert's interview produced by Democratic Visions, a Cable TV and internet program produced by Senate District 42 DFL.  Jim speaks on banking and Wall Street reform, health care, and higher education - 10 minutes.

Hear his view of government in an interview with Mike McIntee of the UpTake - 10 minutes

Jim Meffert is currently the Chief Executive of the Minnesota Optometric Association and was past President of the Minnesota Parent Teacher Association.  He lives in Edina and is the father of three children.

Check out Jim's website, and donate and volunteer for his campaign at www.jimmeffertforcongress.org.  While you're there, ask a question on an issue that concerns you.  Then watch for Jim's answer on JimTV.  Jim Meffert is committed to making government work for you.

Constituents Dissatisfied with Extremism of Representative Paulsen

In the question and answer session following Representative Erik Paulsen's presentation at the August Town Hall in Edina, numerous constituents expressed dissatisfaction with his consistent votes against  legislation supported by the Obama administration and in line with Republican extremism. Erik Paulsen represents Minnesota's Third Congressional District.  Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park are located in the Third.  See Bill Sorem's seven minute video giving a sampling of the Question and Answer session and the MinnPost article on the meeting.

Along with his fellow Republican legislators, Erik Paulsen has consistently voted no to the legislation Obama and Democrats have been supporting that helps American families and workers.  Erik Paulsen voted no to middle class tax cuts and to extension of unemployment benefits in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.  Erik Paulsen voted no to extending the same protections to homeowners facing foreclosures that already apply to owners of luxury yachts and vacation homes. He voted no to the landmark Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. He voted no to the historical Health Reform Bill that extends health insurance to 32 million more Americans and stops the most serious insurance industry abuses. He even voted no to the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that prevents pay discrimination against women and the recent campaign finance disclosure legislation that would require groups to reveal their contribution to campaign ads. 

See  Paulsen's votes on bills affecting the middle class that resulted in his very low score of 28% for 2009 for votes supporting the middle class at theMiddleClass.org. Paulsen also received a very low score of 21% for his votes on bills related to public lands protection, clean energy funding, and climate change from the League of Conservation Voters.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Makes Voting Easy for Military Personnel

From Bob Malecki

I’m a Vietnam veteran who applauds Secretary of State Mark Ritchie for his efforts to ensure that all of our state’s military personnel can successfully exercise their right to vote.  Mr. Ritchie worked hard to move the date of Minnesota’s primary election to August 10th in order to allow more time for military personnel serving overseas to submit their absentee ballots.  He was the first state official to form a partnership with the nonpartisan Overseas Vote Foundation to provide a one-stop, Minnesota-specific website featuring a user friendly absentee ballot application, the answers to frequently asked questions, and contact information for local election officials.

By making Minnesota the leader in ensuring that our military personnel can successfully exercise their right to vote, our Secretary of State has created a model for other states to follow. For example, in 2008, Mr. Ritchie’s efforts were rewarded by a 300 percent increase in successfully cast absentee ballots by military personnel.

Mark Ritchie has also launched the Vote in Honor of a Veteran program which pays tribute to veterans by reminding citizens that the right to vote has been ensured by the sacrifices of military personnel.

I urge all patriotic Minnesotans to reward Mark Ritchie’s efforts by voting to re-elect him in 2010.