Kiffmeyer Scandal on AM 950

I caught a bit of Two Putt Tommy, Tax Playing Liberal, and Dusty Trice talking about the Mary Kiffmeyer/banking scandal at AM 950 tonight! Great job guys!!!

So, while I was out today, others have joined our efforts!!


Who's holding who up here?

Eric Zaetsch has a great story up on the Kiffmeyer banking scandal, complete with a copy of the portrait from the bank. Yep, Jesus closing yet another banking deal for Kiffmeyer et al.

Two Putt Tommy gets the scoop that Kiffmeyer's name was pulled due to space considerations.

Space considerations? Really? The former Minnesota Secretary of State and current State Representative had her name scrubbed for space considerations? Hell, cut the Strib's prediction for the Gopher game. Just say they'll get throttled again.

But leaving Kiffmeyer's name out of the two largest daily publications in Minnesota is simply irresponsible journalism. Liberal bias my ass...

Integrity Counts

That's what Kiffmeyer ran on in 2008. We do remember WHY Kiffmeyer was running for the House in 2008 right?

Mark Olson

Yep, the dude who chucked a Bible at his wife and was convicted of misdemeanor assault. Post conviction, the House GOP Caucus kicked him out.

Folks were lining up and down Highway 10 for a shot at Mark Olson and the 16B seat. Kiffmeyer ran the Integrity Counts campaign at Olson and worked to "restore dignity to our party". So I find it rather ironic, the person running the "Integrity Counts" campaign just had her bank seized by the Feds this past Friday.

While regardless of Mark Olson's problems, this bank was going to fail under Mary Kiffmeyer's leadership, I do find it a bit humorous that 16B Republicans have some serious problems with those elected to represent them.

What's really interesting thus far, is the lack of big time mainstream media coverage of this event. No one's asking the real questions here.

Where is the oversight? How does a State Representative come to be the owner of a bank and thus on its Board of Directors under the state's regulation?

It will be interesting to look at Kiffmeyer's voting record in the Minnesota House on some of these issues...

Liberal Bias? Startribune Scrubs Kiffmeyer From Bank Failure Story

Tax Paying Liberal posted this over at the MPP.

Scrubbing at the Star and Tribune covers Kiffmeyer's bank
by: taxpayingliberal
Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 15:49:19 PM CDT

Scrubbing at the Star and Tribune covers Kiffmeyer's bank

Friday nights are when the FDIC does its work. It Friday nights when the FDIC moves in on banks that are no longer solvent and takes them over. They do this on Fridays for a reason, they know that that's when there's the least amount of reporters on duty and nobody watches the news on Friday nights. Friday nights are the night to revile stories that you don't want covered.

taxpayingliberal :: Scrubbing at the Star and Tribune covers Kiffmeyer's bank

The Star and Tribune was handed a story Friday night. It was handed the story that a bank in Ostego was being taken over by the FDIC.
This was no ordinary small bank. This was a special bank. This bank was featured in a NY times story when it opened. This bank was an example back then. This was a Christian bank and would adhere to Christian principals of doing business. People moved their hard earned savings into this bank because of that and the bank prospered.

Tellers prayed with depositors at the drive through window. People were healed in the lobby by the laying on of hands. Some 60 people were "born again" in this bank. Your loan officer prayed with you when you applied for a loan. We don't know how many non Christians got loans.

One of the banks owners was the embodiment of the conservative political Christian movement, The co-founder of the Minnesota Moral Majority, a former Secretary of State who often said that the 5 most dangerous words in the English language were "separation of church and State".

She became an owner while she held the Secretary of State office and after her defeat in her re-election bid for that office she successfully ran for the State House under the slogan "Integrity counts".

St. Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer is listed as a co owner of the Bank and is on the Board of Directors.

Last spring a small news story appeared in the Star and Trib sighting the fact that the bank was being investigated by the FDIC for shoddy banking practices. Amongst other things the FDIC said the bank had poor oversight by the board and a number of questionable loans. In other words they were running their bank like a club house and giving out loans based on faith not fact.

You and the customers of the bank probably didn't hear about this because it was a small story and nobody other than a few Bloggers followed up on it.

I personally contacted the local papers that cover that area to ask them if they were going to cover that story. I contacted the St. Cloud Times, The Elk River Star and the Sherburne County Citizen. After all a local small town bank that services their area being investigated by the FDIC for insolvency issues should at least get a mention. Nope, nada, nothing. "We're looking into it" was what they told me last spring.

When the Star and Tribune ran the story on its website Friday night they mentioned that Kiffmeyer was an owner of the bank. An Hour later they had scrubbed that version and Kiffmeyer's name was removed from the story.

20 million dollars of FDIC money will be required to bail out Kiffmeyers bank. It's one of only 6 banks in the state to fail.

It looks like the FDIC will save some of the people who put their faith in Kiffmeyers bank. And it looks like the Star and Tribune will save the owner by keeping her name out of this mess.

Federal Regulators Close Kiffmeyer Bank

State Representative and staunch "fiscal conservative" Mary Kiffmeyer's bank was closed and sold by Federal regulators. Her bank failure cost taxpayers $20 million.

Problems were initially reported in June of this past year.

Former Secretary of State, Mary Kiffmeyer, who used the phrase "Integrity Counts" as her campaign slogan and embraces a limited role of government. So its a little ironic that the feds had to shut her bank down.

This little bit from the Strib story really caught my eye...

Early in its life, Riverview had a reputation for mixing faith and finance. Chuck Ripka, one of the bank's founders, once told the Star Tribune that God spoke to him and said, "Chuck, if you pastor the bank, I'll take care of the bottom line." Ripka and his staff would pray with customers in the bank's Otsego branch and even at the drive-up window. In a 2004 New York Times story, Ripka said he occasionally slipped up and said, "Come on over to the church -- I mean the bank."

Faith is a great thing. Feeding off of one's faith to push people to your bank is sad and wrong...especially when "Integrity Counts".

Mary Kiffmeyer's banking problems

Otsego bank cited for unsound practices

Headlines like this seem to be the rule and not the exception. The story is an interesting one. A local bank that puts Bible phrases on its banking billboard and mixes Christian faith and money.

Riverview Community Bank, an Otsego bank that bet heavily on real estate and was known for mixing Christian faith with finance, has been ordered by federal regulators to clean up its lending practices.

A quick search informs us that this bank is actually owned by former Secretary of State, and current State Representative Mary Kiffmeyer. In fact, Kiffmeyer is not only a director of the Riverview Community Bank, she's the owner.

"Integrity Counts"

Politicians use catchy little phrases like this to define themselves as candidates. Unfortunately for State Representative Mary Kiffmeyer, our former Secretary of State, her catch phrase carries little weight.

Among the many things Kiffmeyer believes in is "limited government". Certainly Kiffmeyer and her "limited government" friends are steaming at the fact that the FDIC had to step in to keep her bank solvent.

So, in light of all the banking industry problems and the foreclosure crisis which is even more problematic in NW Wright County (Otsego, St Michael, Albertville area) I find it disturbing that Kiffmeyer and her bank are, well...dab smack in the middle of all this.

Wright County recently had 23 pages of foreclosures in our local paper.

As the owner and a director of the Riverview Community Bank, Kiffmeyer allowed problematic lending to occur to such a level that the FDIC had to step in?

How can Kiffmeyer effectively represent the people of HD 16B when she can't even run her own business?

A trusted conservative?

There have been rumors out there that Kiffmeyer may be a Lt. Governor or even Governor candidate in 2010.

If find a significant amount of humor in pondering this.

Who would Minnesotans trust with their money? The conservative depiction of a "tax and spend" liberal or an incompetent bank owner?

Unelectable Mark Olson Endorsed

We're now awaiting Mandy Moore's endorsement of the Bible throwing, domestic assault convict, global warming denier, PRT lover, and long winded speaker Mark Olson.





Olson, having been convicted of domestic assault last summer, was dumped by the House Republican Caucus, and lost the HD 16B endorsement race to Mary Kiffmeyer, prior to announcing his run for the State Senate.

Following Ron Carey's playbook...perhaps Speaker Kelliher and Senator Clark ought to hold a press conference at the Capitol and ask Rep Sondra Erickson and Mary Kiffmeyer to disavow any and all connections to Mark Olson.

"We are a party of local control, and the Senate District 16 Republicans have endorsed Mark Olson, and we respect that decision," said Minnesota Republican Party communications director Gina Countryman.

Sure you do Gina...sure you do.

Will Allison Krueger, who's name will still appear on the Sept 9th primary ballot, stay true to her word and not actively campaign?

Olson's past will surely be in play this election cycle. It's a great opportunity for Democrats to pick up yet another seat in the State Senate!

Good work SD 16 Republicans...what were you thinking?

More Mark Olson for Senate Stuff

A new slogan for Olson?

Mark Olson for State Senate

"Because my insanity grew bigger than the B side could contain."

Sorry, I just cannot see how he's going to win this primary fight. His domestic violence problems alone make him unelectable and a man without honor. Kiffmeyer easily won endorsement in the 16B race and Olson's firebrand speeches and tactics will not happen in a Senate that is...well...much tamer than the House where his antics draw laughter.

Olson as an independent?

Oh the possibilities of headlines in this race...

It's been widely rumored that State Representative Mark Olson will run as an independent, having lost the GOP endorsement 2 weeks ago to former Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer.

Both the Startribune and St Cloud Times have picked up on this story this weekend.

A three way race in HD 16B is interesting. Kiffmeyer, in a one on one match up with DFL endorsed candidate Steve Andrews, would be considered the favorite. However, with Olson in the mix, the base of GOP votes in 16B becomes severely diluted.

It's a winnable seat for the DFL. Olson's scandal and attempt at an Independent run make those odds much better!

An interview with Andrews will be coming soon!

LIVE: Kiffmeyer v. Olson

v. Corrine Gintz v. Mark Lumley.

Despite their best efforts to keep the endorsing convention quiet, "delegates and special invited guests" per the email I received, the 16B Republicans have an endorsing convention this Saturday.

Checking the Minnesota GOP website, there is no mention of this event on their calendar, even though HD 21B has both a forum and convention listed on the State GOP calendar.

At the HD 16B website, the convention is listed at March 8, 2008 at Salida Depot. We all know that did not happen.

Fear not though, despite the Republicans best efforts to keep this endorsement secret, we have confirmed that the Kiffmeyer v. Olson v. Gintz v. Lumley Battle Royal for the hearts and minds of 16B Republicans will be decided this Saturday, May 3rd, 10 am, at the Salida Depot in Becker.

Perhaps Political Muse will make this event with me, although I seriously doubt we'll be granted admittance into the event.

Why all the secrecy behind this endorsement?

Why no publicity?

Nothing in either of the Sherburne County papers.

Nothing in the SC Times.

I wonder if Congresswoman Bachmann will be there?

Will they adhere to the CD 6 GOP policy of no camera's, video's or court room sketches of their candidates?

We'll know sometime Saturday.

Kiffmeyer Campaign Finance Problems?

Poltical Muse has an excellent post up!

State Fair Fun!

Bluewoman and I went to the State Fair yesterday. Several hours of walking around, eating, walking, eating, and hitting political booths!

I did get to vote in the Minnesota Republican straw poll yesterday. Unfortunately, I think we are about in 2004 with Mary Kiffmeyer as the Secretary of State as my vote for Dennis Kucinich was not counted.

I also got all of the lit pieces for the four GOP candidates in the 1st that will raise a little bit of money, only to suffer a humiliating defeat to the Walz machine in the Fighting 1st.

I'll try to post the lit pieces later.

It's a day of golf today!

Great work at Beyond Sound Bites...

Great work!

And last but not least former Secretary of State, Big Lakes own Mary Kiffmeyer was discovered to have misspent a lot of money and took reimbursements to which she was not entitled. She gave raises to her staff and bypassed the State HR department. So she cost us about $160,000 which will be difficult to recover.
Kiffmeyer did not blame her spouse so one wonders if she is a true Sherburne
County Republican.By the way Kiffmeyer once said that the 5 most dangerous words in the English language are “separation of church and state.”In Sherburne County the most dangerous phrase an elected republican can utter may be “Marry me”

Keep up the good work!

After collecting the bucks, Kiffmeyer passes them

The Big Question has Kiffmeyer's reaction to her misdealings as the Secretary of State.

Simply put, she passed the buck.

Former Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer said Monday that staff members in her office were responsible for overpayment's to staff and herself during her last two years in office.

Instead of taking responsibility, she pushed the blame on new staffers, in her office.

“I had a new staff person who miscalculated the [reimbursement] rate,” Kiffmeyer said. “It was something she did. I’m giving [the SOS office] clarifying information and will give them whatever they need so this will be acceptable.”

Her statement contradicts the findings of the Legislative Auditor, which stated

Kiffmeyer's travels and mileage, the audit found that she had been overpaid an
unspecified number of times by charging for trips from her home in Big Lake to
destinations, instead of from her office on the State Capitol campus.

The audit did not cite a rate issue, it cited inaccuracies in mileage.

And about those pay raises...

“She used that authority without telling me things were beyond the contract. She
didn’t inform me, verbally or in writing. There are so many rules, we’re
dependent on HR giving us advice. I acted on what I knew.”

The former Secretary of State complaining about "so many rules". Nice!

Glad to hear that the former Secretary of State, who's job entails being the keeper of the original chapter laws passed each legislative session and signed by the various officers of the Legislature such as the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, Chief Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate as well as the Secretary of State and (in most cases) the Governor, gets bogged down by "so many rules".

You can't even make this stuff up anymore!

Whether Kiffmeyer knew about the pay raises or a rogue SoS employee played Santa to loyal employees, the issues at the SoS offices show Kiffmeyer's incompetence in leading an office as important as the Secretary of State.

It shouldn't surprise us though. Cases like this were status quo when Republicans were in control of both Houses of Congress and in control in Minnesota as well.

Passing the buck and stating "I cannot recall" have become strategic necessities for Bush era Republicans, and a detriment to the American way of life.

Kiffmeyer robs the taxpayers!

For Big Lake Republicans, the week just continues to get a bit worse.

The Startribune reports that former Secretary of State, Mary Kiffmeyer not only overpaid her staff the final two years of her reign as SoS, was also overpaid for mileage reimbursements and asked for reimbursement on at least 17 occasions where such reimbursement was not appropriate.

In dollar terms, the most significant finding involved 16 department employees who were hired at a pay rate that exceeded their collective bargaining agreement by as much as $11 an hour, costing the state $160,000.

After a 17th employee was promoted, the employee was overpaid by $11,000.

No one disputes the value of the great staff at the Secretary of State offices, but Kiffmeyer took a page out of the GOP playbook and disregarded standard protocols.

We've never heard that one before...

Even more disturbing, Kiffmeyer sought payment for travel she was not authorized for, not just once...but 17 times!

In her defense, perhaps she was travelling to the various Indian Reservations across the state in an effort to patch things up after suppressing their vote in the 2004 election.

Former State Auditor, Pat Anderson, noted that current Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie, was fulfilling the requirements for these pay increases.

The Kiffmeyer case adds some drama to the GOP dealings in 16B. While Mark Olson has said he will not resign following being found guilty on one count of domestic assault, he will have a difficult time maintaining his House seat in the 2008 elections.

Mary Kiffmeyer was rumored to be a suitable replacement...but that seems to be tarnished right now as well.

It could be worse for Big Lake Republicans though...we could have a Senator Vitter situation to deal with!

Kiffmeyer's activist SoS days

Conservative bloggers like to make light of current Secretary of State Mark Ritchie's days as an activist for rural communities and other progressive groups.

I was fortunate to have spent all day Wednesday at the Capitol, talking to a few Senators and Reps about some issues and catching up with staff members I have not seen in quite some time.

I'll have a longer report on my meeting with Senator Dille later, but it was a very good meeting.

While meeting with a senior member of the Minnesota Legislature, this gentlemen pulled out his "blue book" and was looking at some of the legislative borders around SD 18 and offering an opinion on redistricting and other future campaign possibilities.

For those who don't know what the "blue book" is, this book lists all the information for the 201 elected officials in Minnesota as well as our Federal leaders, the heads of state agencies, election information, and other great facts about Minnesota and the legislature.

It's a very good book for a lobbyist to have. My "blue book" was pretty worn out after 3 years.

This senior member pointed out the bio's in the older (Pre-Kiffmeyer) blue book. It listed his education, occupation, home address, hobbies, and legislative priorities. It also listed their family info.

Newer editions (Kiffmeyer era) took out the majority of biographical information, which did not please this legislator.

He asked Kiffmeyer why this info was deleted.

Kiffmeyer told him it was "so I don't have to list Karen Clark's domestic partner".

At this time, 1 of the 201 elected officials in Minnesota was openly gay. Kiffmeyer, in her homophobic rage, decided to change one of the largest publications promoting state officials and offices because of one possible reference to a same sex domestic partner?

Good job Kiffmeyer, way to let your personal biases permeate your reign of terror as Secretary of State.