Don Arnosti, IATP
 Don Arnosti, Director of Forestry for the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy, talks about the need for a low carbon fuel policy in a 10 minute video. A low carbon fuels policy would determine the life cycle emissions that come from producing and using a gallon of fuel whether that be ethanol, gasoline, or diesel and find ways to reduce it.
The EPA, eleven New England States, and the state of California are implementing such a policy. Minnesota is the first state to take a legislative approach. A low carbon fuel policy will reward investment in the lower carbon impact renewable fuels that are just around the corner.
Jim Meffert won the DFL endorsement for the U.S. House seat by acclamation at the 3rd Congressional District Convention April 10. In his acceptance speech, Meffert emphasized the importance of diversity, community, and responsibility. “We need to fight for each other. That’s what community is all about. That’s what neighbors do. 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."
Jim Meffert is a stark contrast to first term incumbent Erik Paulsen who has voted against middle class tax cuts, against extension of unemployment benefits in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, against extending the same protections to homeowners facing foreclosures that already apply to owners of luxury yachts and vacation homes, against the Wall Street Accountability and Consumer Protection Act, against the Health Reform Bill that extends health insurance to 32 million more Americans and stops the most serious insurance industry abuses, and even against the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that prevents pay discrimination against women. Paulsen received a grade of F assigned to Senators and Representatives who vote less than 40% of the time for the middle class and those who aspire to be middle class . Paulsen's score was a very low 28%.
Jim Meffert is currently the chief executive of the Minnesota Optometric Association. He worked for the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons on coverage for reconstruction after mastectomy, cleft lip and palate repair and to ensure access to burn care and reconstructive surgery were included in the Clinton Health Plan proposals. He has fought to improve Minnesota's public schools as past President of the Minnesota Parent Teacher Association and as a parent representative for the Alliance for Student Achievement and for the Growth and Justice Foundation Smart Investments in Public Education Steering Committee.
It is time for the people of the Third Congressional District to have a Representative in Washington who stands up for them. With your help, Jim Meffert will be that Representative who "never stops fighting for you."
Jim Meffert Addresses State DFL Convention
Tuesday, 27 April 2010 Videos Recorded by the UpTake
Introducing himself as the Candidate who is going to beat Erik Paulsen, Jim Meffert told the delegates, "Make no mistake. The Third District is our turf. It's DFL ground. It's our house. And we're about to give Erik Paulsen an eviction notice. . . We're going to win this election by standing up for what we believe in, by believing in we the people, by standing in the face of fear and division and bringing back hope. We're going to win by standing up for our neighbors, by giving voice to those who are overlooked, by building bridges instead of walls, by empowering the diverse communities in our district."
Listen to Jim Meffert's talk at the State DFL Convention (4.5 minutes)
In an interview with Mike McIntee, Jim Meffert discussed his campaign for the CD3 U.S. House seat. He commented that Erik Paulsen has not been a moderate independent voice like we've had for decades in this district. "That's something we'll talk about a lot. . . We've lost a relevant voice that first looks at what needs to get done, instead of first looking at what we shouldn't do to help people and how we should set our limits before we look at the problems that need to be solved." He commented that our present Congressman likes to talk about the size of government. "Frankly government doesn't have a size. It should be flexible. It should be nimble. It's a tool to be used."
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 recently 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.
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Find out more on Jim Meffert at the Jim Meffert for Congress website and by listening to Tim O'Brien interview Jim on Democratic Visions.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 July 2010 15:20
The Senate passed the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 Thursday May 20. Providing the most far reaching financial regulations since the Great Depression, the bill creates a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency, establishes oversight of the vast derivatives market, and gives the government authority to wind down large banks that threaten the financial system. The bill also gives a council of regulators authority to monitor risks to the financial system, imposes new restrictions on credit rating agencies, and gives shareholders a say in corporate affairs. The final vote of 59 to 39 came just a few hours after Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts switched his vote to make the 60 needed to limit debate and move to a vote on the bill. Four Republicans voted in favor of the bill, and two Democrats opposed it. Obama hailed the breakthrough during a 7 minute talk to the preess in the Rose Garden after the Senate had cleared the way for passage of the bill. The financial industry, Obama commented, had tried to stop the new regulations "with hordes of lobbyists and millions of dollars in ads . . . . Our goal is not to punish the banks but to protect the larger economy and the American people from the kind of upheavals that we've seen in the past few years."
Listen to President Obama's Talk
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken Led Momentum to Strenghten the Wall Street Reform Bill
 Robert Kuttner, coeditor of the American Prospect and fellow at DEMOS, explains how serious financial reform gained momentum in recent weeks, led by freshman senators such as Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken. "Thus, by a wide margin of 64-35 . . . the Senate passed Senator Al Franken's surprise amendment to reform corruption in credit rating agencies by having financial clients allocated randomly rather than by paying agencies to give good ratings to junk." Another  important amendment led by Amy Klobuchar requires strong underwriting standards on all mortgages, and prohibits kickbacks to mortgage companies who peddle high-risk, high-cost products. Both amendments were neither in the Dodd bill nor the White House bill, and both passed by wide margins with Republican support. Read Kuttner's interesting analysis of the process of strengthening the Senate bill, including the important role of issue organizations, and of additional changes needed in the financial sector that go beyond the Wall Street Reform Bill:
For information on other amendments Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken proposed to strengthen the financial reform legislation, see the article in MinnPost by Derek Wallbank:
Last Updated on Monday, 07 June 2010 16:21
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It's been nearly 30 years since Ronald Reagan stated that tax cuts for the wealthy would trickle down to the rest of us. During the course of those 30 years, marginal tax rates for the wealthy were drastically reduced. Yet the middle class is shrinking, more Americans have to rely on food banks, employment and income have become very unstable, and millions of Americans have lost their homes. We now have the greatest concentration of wealth in our history and among industrialized countries. The few have prospered, but many live under a great deal of financial and personal stress. The deregulation of our financial institutions was recently the catalyst for a catastrophic meltdown of financial institutions throughout the world. Trickle down Reaganomics was a dismal failure.
President Obama and progressive Democrats in the U.S. Senate and House have been trying to move government policy in a new direction: to make government work for you, but almost all Republicans and a number of Democrats often stand in the way. To continue their work to make government benefit the people, they need more people on their side. That's where you come in. They need your help to let people know about candidates who will stand with them.
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.
Read the articles below and watch the videos to learn more about Jim's solutions for improving health care, energy, jobs, financial regulation, and early childhood and K-12 education. Check out his 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.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 August 2010 13:13
 In his June 19th speech to the nation, President Obama criticized Republicans for blocking legislation on a bill that extends unemployment benefits for American workers who have lost jobs through no fault of their own and saves the jobs of thousands of teachers, cops, and firefighters. Republicans are also refusing to allow a debate or vote on the bill that removes the liability cap of $75 million on the amount oil companies must pay to families and businesses who suffer economic losses as the result of a spill.
He noted that as he spoke, 136 highly qualified men and women he nominated for key positions in the federal government are still awaiting a vote on the floor of the Senate. Republican leaders are blocking their confirmation even though the vast majority have support from both parties.
"Gridlock as a political strategy is destructive to the country. We have an obligation that goes beyond caring about the next election. We have an obligation to care for the next generation."
Listen to the President's 4 minute speech.
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken Led Momentum to Strengthen the Wall Street Reform Bill
Robert Kuttner, coeditor of the American Prospect and fellow at DEMOS, explains how serious financial reform gained momentum led by freshman senators such as Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken. "Thus, by a wide margin of 64-35 . . . the Senate passed Senator Al Franken's surprise amendment to reform corruption in credit rating agencies by having financial clients allocated randomly rather than by paying agencies to give good ratings to junk." Another important amendment led by Amy Klobuchar requires strong underwriting standards on all mortgages, and prohibits kickbacks to mortgage companies who peddle high-risk, high-cost products.
Both amendments were neither in the Dodd bill nor the White House bill, and both passed by wide margins with Republican support. Read Kuttner's interesting analysis of the process of strengthening the Senate bill, including the important role of issue organizations. Kuttner views the bill an an important step forward and suggests additional changes needed in the financial sector that go beyond the Wall Street Reform Bill:
Last Updated on Saturday, 26 June 2010 12:30
President Obama has made nuclear weapons policy a priority of his administration and has been working hard on national and global policies that reorient U.S. nuclear forces away from massive retaliation and toward today's threats of nuclear terrorism and new nuclear states. The Obama administration successfully negotiated a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia, set new guidelines for U.S. nuclear weapons policy, and persuaded 46 other nations to put nuclear materials beyond the reach of terrorists within four years at the recent nuclear security summit.
According to the Washington Post, Kenneth Luongo, an expert on nuclear security at the Partnership for Global Security, said Obama "has put his personal prestige on the line like no other world leader has before" on the issue. The 47 nation pact which is a voluntary agreement is a first step in a longer term process. A follow-up meeting to review countries' progress is to be held in six months, and another summit will be held in two years. Find out further details in the following articles and videos:
By David Corn, Washington Bureau Chief for Mother Jones, April 7, 2010:
Article by Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post Staff Writer and short videos, 4/14/2010:
Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:19
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Jim Kleinschmit, Director of Rural Communities at the Institute for Trade and Agriculture Policy, reports on the multiple ways agriculture impacts and is impacted by climate change. He notes that achieving “climate-friendly” agriculture systems requires a shift in focus, research, and investment away from industrialized input and fossil-fuel dependent agricultural practices toward more resilient low-input systems that increase carbon sequestration in the soil and lessen output of greenhouse gases. Kleinschmit explains that the focus needs to be on the kinds of foods we produce and how we produce them because 50 to 83 percent of emissions are produced before food leaves the farm gate. Read Jim Kleinschmit's excellent 7 page report.
A 4 minute interview with Professor Michael Pollan also emphasizes the importance of the method of production for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He points out that 100 years ago it took 1 calorie of fossil fuel to produce two calories of food. Today in the U.S. it takes 10 calories of fossil fuel to produce 1 calorie of food. Michael Pollan is Director of the Knight Program in Science and Environmental Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, author, and critic of the global industrial food complex. Watch Professor Pollan's interview on 
