The Obama administration reached another major milestone with the passing of the Wall Street Reform Bill. The Senate had a hard time getting to the 60 votes necessary to break the fillibuster that prevented the bill from coming to the floor for a vote. The bill is a major step forward in reversing the many years of deregulation that resulted in the worldwide crash of banking systems. Senator Ted Kaufman (D, Delaware) gives a thoughtful analysis of the many accomplishments of the bill and the ways it should be strengthened in future legislation in "The Wall Street Reform Bill: How Much Did We Lose Getting to 60?"
Jim Meffert on Reinstating Glass-Steagall to Strengthen Financial Reform
The reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act, supported by CD3 Candidate for the U.S. House Jim Meffert, would strengthen the separation of investment from commercial banking that Senator Kaufman explains depends to a great deal on regulators in the current bill. See Jim Meffert's 2 minute video on the need for further financial regulation.
Last Updated on Thursday, 29 July 2010 10:20
In contrast to Erik Paulsen who favors offshore drilling and nuclear energy, Jim Meffert will fight for investment in homegrown sources of energy such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels. Not only are they safer and renewable, but they will also create good jobs and economic growth in Minnesota and throughout the country.
Read about Jim Meffert's visits to the new green Maple Grove Library which uses efficiency and green technology to save energy and to the Minneapolis Electrical Training Facility in St. Michael, where apprentices are learning to install solar panels and other green technology skills.
Meffert - Can't Allow Enormous Step Forward in Health Care to Be Dismantled
Jim Meffert
 The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed by Congress represents an enormous step forward in reforming our nation’s failing health care system. While far from perfect, this bill will provide coverage to nearly thirty-two million uninsured Americans. The legislation stops insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions and dropping people when they get sick, while eliminating lifetime limits and restrictive annual coverage limits. Further, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports that the bill will reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 Trillion over the next two decades. The reforms in this bill will help reduce Minnesota's health care taxes by nearly 5% because we will no longer need MinnesotaCare. We can get rid of the assessments, premiums and provider taxes. This bill is a first step towards achieving universal and affordable health care as a right, not a privilege. Yet there will be a great deal of resistance as we continue the fight for better health care for all. The insurance industry, highly paid specialists and health company CEOs have plenty of advocates in Congress who will attempt to reverse or block further reform at every turn. Congressman Erik Paulsen has collected over $198,000 from health care interests and has consistently opposed reform in the state legislature and now in Congress according to Alliance Minnesota. We cannot allow Rep. Paulsen and the extreme right to succeed in dismantling the progress we have made. _________________
Last Updated on Thursday, 29 July 2010 09:24
The State Convention is over, Jim Meffert is our candidate for US House and MAK is ready to charge ahead for Governor. We have a new CD3 office in Hopkins (opening any day now) and we have a lot of work ahead!
Don't let anyone fool you: Democrats are in a good position for the fall. The monster the GOP so carefully crafted from bits of propaganda and deceptive issue framing has now turned on them. How could it be otherwise when they encouraged their people to avoid reason and facts in favor of ideology and anger? The few remaining "responsible Republicans" have little influence; Teabaggers are now in control, righteously indignant -and running their own candidates against the GOP. This bodes well for us.
So what is our plan between now and the election?
- We need to let voters know who we really are. We need to engage voters in our frames -not the GOP's. If you do not know about framing -bone up! We'll help with training on how to talk about our values with voters. Most voters share our values so this will be easier than you might think.
- We must recruit new volunteers. If we are not calling all of our SD convention delegates (at least) and asking friends or people who come to Links meetings to join us, then I don't want to hear complaints about how much work we have. Grow or die.
- We must get out and door knock and phone call. Historically we've had the luxury of a better grass roots effort -now the GOP gets it and is organizing. We also know that corporations can now spend as much as they want to throw elections and they sure won't be throwing money our way. Engaging voters is our most powerful tool.
- Take Initiative! Don't wait to be called and asked to do something -call and ask what you can do. We also do not have legions of volunteers waiting around to implement the next bright idea. Rather than coming to us with a great idea and asking why no one is doing it -come to us with an idea and a plan that you will help make a reality!
Since 2008 we have had strategic as well as tactical plans -these plans are well along and beginning to succeed. We'll have a workshop soon for all our committees and we'll be asking our new and old Directors to take leadership roles in making sure we meet them both. We get some of the best voter turnout in the country and CD3 has been trending ever more blue, so you are part of a winning team!
I know you all really care about the future of our democracy and fear the dire consequences if today's extremist GOP further disinvests in our future. Let's get strong and turn CD3 solidly blue!
See you on the campaign trail!
Uncle Geo
Last Updated on Thursday, 29 July 2010 08:34
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Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Speaker of the MN House, is the first woman endorsed by a major party for Governor of Minnesota. Growing up on a dairy farm in southern Minnesota, her leadership abilities became evident when as a teenager she served as President of the State 4-H Club. Kelliher is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and received her Master's in Public Affairs from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Elected to the MN House of Representatives in 1998, Kelliher fought for strong schools; quality, accessible health care; safe roads and bridges; and providing every Minnesotan with the opportunity to succeed. She earned a reputation as a coalition builder able to work across the aisle and within the diverse DFL.  As Speaker, she has worked to make Minnesota a leader in energy, guiding passage of the strongest renewable energy standard in the country. She also brought together a coalition of business, labor, agriculture, and environmental leaders in support of a comprehensive transportation bill. The legislation became law following the first veto override of Governor Tim Pawlenty. Over the course of the past three legislative sessions, Speaker Kelliher oversaw the passing of legislation that provided health care coverage for 40,000 uninsured children, provided for property tax relief for Minnesota families, fulfilled a commitment to increase school funding, and created a Jobs Task Force.
John Gunyou - Kelliher chose as her running mate John Gunyou, one of the most experienced financial managers in Minnesota who worked under both Republican and Democratic elected officials. Currently the City Manager for Minnetonka, Gunyou was Finance Commissioner under Republican Governor Arne Carlson and Finance Director under Democratic Mayor of Minneapolis Don Fraser.
On being announced as Margaret Anderson Kelliher's running mate, Gunyou stated, "I'm honored to stand with Margaret as we close the door on 8 years of failed leadership and open the age of responsibility in Minnesota. And we do that by returning to one simple principle, doing the right thing at the right time and for the right reason."
Gunyou is an Air Force Academy graduate and earned a bachelor's degree in economics and master's degrees in economics and public administration from UCLA and the University of Colorado. As Governor Carlson's Finance Commissioner, he advocated a balanced approach of both cuts and tax increases to fix the budget at the time the state had a $2.5 billion deficit. As city manager, he has been a frequent critic of Governor Tim Pawlenty's anti-tax positions, emphasizing that Pawlenty's cuts of Local Government Aid have forced communities to raise property taxes.During his years of public service, Gunyou established a reputation as an advocate for honesty with legislators and the press, as an outstanding leader in improving the financial management of our state, as a publisher of common sense and entertaining op-eds, and as a respected negotiator. Kelliher noted that John Gunyou developed his reputation by telling the truth about the state budget. "We need to regain that budget stability . . . to keep our promise to strive for a vibrant economy getting jobs growing in this state again." View John Gunyou greeting the Edina parade goers and find out the top priority of the DFL endorsed Kelliher-Gunyou ticket.
Gubernatorial Candidate Kelliher Listens to Minnesotans
One of a series of Margaret Anderson Kelliher's " No Stone Unturned" meetings around the state convened in Richfield on a stormy Thursday evening. Kelliher delivered her standard opening and then fielded questions from a packed house. She asked for first person stories about job issues, family crises and any other personal issues. Her demeanor continues to be confident and truly concerned. Listen to a 3 minute YouTube with excerpts from the Richfield Town Hall.
Last Updated on Thursday, 29 July 2010 09:19
President Obama signing the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act
An article from the New York Times offers an interesting analysis of the Obama administration's progressive achievements and their effect on the upcoming elections. It provides information on what Obama and the Congress have accomplished for the average American family and the reason why the midterm elections are important for determining whether these progressive changes will continue and expand.
The first year and a half of the Obama administration brought a fast paced change to policies which promote growth while reducing income inequality which had been growing for the last 35 years. Obama's outstanding accomplishments include a stimulus bill that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said created up to 2.1 million jobs and boosted the economy by up to 3.5 percent; an expansion of health care for Veterans and services to prevent Veterans from becoming homeless; a health care bill which makes sure people don't lose their health care when they change jobs and insures 32 million people currently without insurance; and the removal of subsidies to banks making student loans and using the money for financial aid instead.
The most recent of these accomplishments is a the Wall Street Reform Bill which created a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency, established oversight of the vast derivatives market, and gave the government authority to wind down large banks that threaten the financial system. The bill also give a council of regulators authority to monitor risks to the financial system and impose new restrictions on credit rating agencies. The article has ample ideas for inspiring you to write a letter to the editor. Get out your pen:
Last Updated on Thursday, 29 July 2010 10:35
 Golf Outing and Dinner - Saturday, July 31, Glen Lake Golf Course, 14350 County Road 62, Minnetonka. 1 p.m. First Tee, 4 p.m. Social, 5 p.m. Dinner, 6 p.m. Program. $90 Golf and Dinner, $35 Dinner only. See Details and purchase tickets at the SD 42 DFL website or download a 2010 Divots Brochure.
 Katie Rodriguez Birthday and Primary Watch Party - Tuesday, August 10, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Maple Tavern Bar and Grill, 9475 Deerwood Avenue, Maple Grove. Appetizers, Drink, and Food. Stay later and watch the primary results. Contact LaDonna Meinecke at 763-420-3610.
Last Updated on Thursday, 29 July 2010 08:22
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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.
