Dille wil be missed

An op-ed in the West Central News Tribune

Sen. Steve Dille announced earlier this week that he would not seek re-election in 2010. The veteran Republican senator will serve during the 2010 Minnesota legislative session.

Dille will be missed in the Legislature.

A veterinarian and farmer from Dassel, Dille has served diligently and well — first in the House for six years and then for 17 years in the Senate. He has a good temperament that has served his constituents, his district and his party well.

Unfortunately, Dille is a moderate in a district where some in the Republican Party are moving farther to the right. This moderate senator was facing opposition within his district from party activists, who were not very tolerant of some of his moderate stands.

It is unfortunate when intolerance runs anyone out of either major political party.

Dille was brave and he was right for taking a stand for outstate Minnesota when he voted to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of the transportation bill, which included a gas tax. All of Minnesota needed this investment in our infrastructure.

Dille authored the Freedom to Breathe Act, supported and signed by Pawlenty, that banned smoking in bars and restaurants. This was the right move for Minnesota.

Overall, Dille has been supportive of the Republican caucus for the majority of the time. Senate Minority Leader David Senjem of Rochester released a statement commending Dille for both his service and temperament.

However, Dille is 64 and has others things he wants to pursue in life. We understand that.

We are glad Dille will still serve through another session in the Legislature. Moreover, we wish him well in his new pursuits in life.

Senator Dille was forced out

I had heard on numerous occasions that Senator Dille was being forced out...now the proof.

"The far right wing has basically taken over the Republican Party in my district," Dille said. "They're not very tolerant of some of the votes I've taken over the years."

Senate Minority Leader David Senjem of Rochester issued a statement praising Dille for his service and temperament, but a local party leader in Dille's district had a different take on Dille.

"He's an honorable man, but it was time for him to go," said Doug Krueger, first vice chairman of the McLeod County Republican Party. "He's a moderate. I'm ... a conservative first and a Republican second. So I'm pushing for candidates that are conservative."

Conservative first, Republican second, the people of SD 18 third is how that should have read.

"I'm really disgusted with Republicans not stepping up to the plate on this transportation issue," said Dille, the ranking minority member on agricultural committees.

Most of the criticism of the Senator is based on his transportation bill vote which contained a gas tax increase. I'll remind readers yet again that Dille always said he would support an increase. He said he would support it and didn't cave when political pressure mounted.

Rep Urdahl also said he would support this bill, eventually voted for it, but put his party ahead of his district and voted to sustain the Governor's veto.

With rumors rampant about who will run in SD 18, with this seat being open for the first time in 24 years, does anyone think the local GOP will run anyone short of a far right wing conservative?

Dille will not seek relection in 2010

You know how I feel about this...

Go check it out here!

McLeod County Chronicle: Defending my 2006 opponent

Crazy talk right. A Democrat defending a Republican, specifically a Republican that soundly defeated me in 2006.

But that's what I did in a LTE to the McLeod County Chronicle.

Why?

Senator Dille has served 22 years in the Minnesota House and the Senate. I don't agree with the Senator on a lot of issues, but he has served our area well. He works for compromise and he is a strong principled man. When he says he supports something, he doesn't waver under last minute pressure.

Recently, the Republican party in the area, mostly the McLeod GOP, has been working to push Senator Dille out. They'll push the good Senator out for a strong right wing ideologue. A Bachmann/Emmer/Shimanski clone.

And I don't think it's good for the district. A right wing ideologue will go along to get along in St Paul. They will hold the party line while putting the people of SD 18 behind, a complete contradiction to Dille's 22 years of service.

And if the good Senator does get pushed out, we'll urge him to run as an Independent.

And if he doesn't...I might.

A good op-ed on Senator Dille

From the McLeod County Chronicle

A number of months ago, state Sen. Steve Dille, R-Dassel, indicated he may not run for his District 18 state Senate seat in 2010. We hope he reconsiders. We need him, and his moderate views, now more than ever.

As partisan as Minnesota politics has become in the past decade, it comes as no surprise that Dille is dismayed over how much more difficult it has become to accomplish anything of substance at the state Legislature.

Gridlock has become the norm, and the results have seen this state get bogged down in the quagmire. Minnesota once was the leader in many respects, when what was good for Minnesota was more important than what was good for one's party.

Dille is a pragmatic legislator. Being in the minority party in the Senate for so long requires a Republican senator like Dille to find some common ground in getting something done.

And that talking-with-the-enemy approach has gotten him into trouble with his own party leaders. To them, he is too moderate in their views and needs to step aside.

Now Dille must face the party-endorsing gauntlet of his own district Republicans, who will test his loyalty to the party platform.

Dille may fail the GOP's conservative litmus test with several of his votes in recent years, including his support for the state transportation bill in 2008. That vote flew in the face of the conservatives' no new taxes pledge.

But the Republican Party has lost its moral high ground on deficit spending during the George W. Bush administration, a Republican president who ran up trillions in debt in fighting two wars at the same time, while bailing out "companies too big to fail" to boot during the current recession.

Democrat President Barack Obama then took the U.S. deficit spending into the stratosphere, and it may never come back to earth.

On the state level, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the darling of fiscal conservatives, started strongly in his tenure, but immediately boxed himself in with his "no new tax pledge." When you paint yourself into a corner, it is hard to maneuver when maneuvering is required. Ask President George H.W. Walker, breaking a no-tax promise can be costly.

But with the 2010 state budget crisis looming, legislators need to realize that no party has all the answers. They need to work together to get through this mess.

State legislators like Dille will be needed more than ever to bridge the chasm that separate the extremes in the two major parties in Minnesota.

If Dille does not get the District 18 GOP endorsement next year, we encourage him to stay in the race anyway. Whether he runs as an endorsed Republican or as an independent is not as important as the need for him to remain in the Legislature. His stature in District 18 will likely get him elected regardless, if he wants to run for re-election.

Dille Uncertain About 2010

Not breaking news but still...

The McLeod County Republican Party's executive committee met Thursday evening in Glencoe and heard perhaps the first of a long list of candidates seeking the governor's position in 2010.

But they also heard that long-time District 18 State Sen. Steve Dille, R-Dassel, has not made up his mind whether to run for another term in two years.

Dille told the committee that he will likely make a decision this fall or prior to the upcoming precinct caucuses.

Dille and the more conservative executive committee, have not always seen eye-to-eye on issues, and Dille alluded to that.

Many on the executive committee "have a problem with me, because I'm not partisan enough. It's not my style to wage war against the Democrats 24/7. I don't plan on changing."

Dille said his bipartisan approach, especially after all these years as the minority party in the state Senate, is the only way to get anything done.

Also, he pointed out that he has won 11 elections in a row, most by wide margins. He said that is the kind of representation most constituents want for the district.

But Dille is under a lot of pressure to resign after the current term and allow a more conservative Republican to take his place.

"It's important to pick the right person," Dille said. "Once you get them, you're stuck with them."

Dille said 2010 is an important election because of redistricting, which usually occurs two years after the census.

Eleven elections in a row...wow!

Dille for Governor?

Well...the Hutchinson Leader has an editorial endorsing this notion.

Minnesotans have not elected a DFL governor in 20 years. With strong DFL majorities in the House and Senate, voters might expect to sweep a DFL candidate into the governor’s office, too. But we believe the state is closely split and the inclination toward a balanced government might prevail for a Republican of the caliber and seasoning of Mr. Dille.

Senator Dille can win elections in Greater Minnesota. Door knocking in our race against Senator Dille in 2006, we found that nearly 2/3 of the district is related to the Senator in some way, shape, or form. He's a pretty popular guy out here and as a former opponent of the Senator, I have the utmost respect for Steve Dille.

In my opinion, I think he is a cool, common sense leader. In numerous meetings with the Senator since the 2006 elections, I've been able to help him work on some important Veterans and Higher Education issues.

Republicans view Senator Dille as a RINO, especially after his vote for the Transportation Bill in 2007 and the gas tax increase. I admire his political courage on this vote, but Republicans across the State would not support him.

Mr. Dille’s term is up as senator. If he decides not to run for governor, it is our hope he will run for Senate and serve voters here for another four years. We believe residents would return him to the Senate by a wide margin.

If, and that's a big if, Senator Dille decided to run again in 2010, it would not be for a four year term, but a two year term because of redistricting that would take effect in 2012.

However IF, Senator Dille decided to run again for the State Senate in 2010, I agree, he would most likely win by a large margin...coming from experience of course!

But this story is about Dille for Governor.

Look at the GOP field: Anderson, Hann, Brod, Seifert, Kohls, etc.

Look at the DFL field: Dayton, Kelley, Entenza, Kelliher, Coleman, Ryback, Thissen, etc.

IP field: ?

So, with his moderate views and consensus building history, it would make the most sense that IF Senator Dille were looking at higher office, he would have the most success at an IP Candidate for Governor.

Pray for us in a Anderson, Dille, and Marty debate...

Shimanski on LGA

Senator Dille and Representative Shimanski were in Glencoe recently discussing cuts to Local Government Aid and state mandates.

A participant asked Shimanski if local governments should plan on the eventual elimination of local government aid (LGA) to cities, counties and townships.

"As long as Tim Pawlenty is governor, it will be a target," said Shimanski. Shimanski said he recently saw a spreadsheet of cuts proposed by the governor that included a 5 percent to 10 percent reduction in LGA each year.

However, Shimanski said, the Legislature currently has a Democratic majority, and the governor's proposals will be "balanced" by counter-proposals by the Legislature, so there will likely be cuts in LGA, but the program will probably not be eliminated altogether.

Let's remember that the vast majority of these small towns in Dille and Shimanski's district voted for Governor Pawlenty and love the "no new taxes" pledges.

However they fail to realize that Pawlenty and Shimanski's cuts to LGA actually result in property tax and other fee increases, in order to fill the void left by LGA cuts.

So Shimanski's message to small town Minnesota?

Get rid of Pawlenty.

And at last...we agree on something!

SD 18/19 Legislative Update

We'll attempt to have a regular, possible weekly post on local happenings down in St Paul, following legislation sponsored by local legislators.

SD 18:

Senator Dille has sponsored two bills thus far, both being somewhat controversial.

We've posted about the Minnesota Political Contribution Refund Program legislation. Dille's legislation completely halts the PCR program. (SF 124)

The second bill stands to be more controversial. Senator Dille seeks to lift the moratorium on building new nuclear power plants in Minnesota. (SF 126)

Representatives Dean Urdahl, 18B and Ron Shimanski, 18A, have yet to author legislation in the House.

SD 19:

Senator Koch has offered Senate resolutions congratulation Eagle Scouts and sought to reduce the number of stamps used by Senate offices.

Bruce Anderson, 19A is carrying Dille's nuclear power plant bill in the House.

Tom Emmer, 19B has authored 2 bills.

HF 0057, Emmer's bill for voting ID.

HF 107, Emmer's bill allowing school boards to use staff development revenue on CPR and automatic external defibrillator training and first aid certification.

Dille to introduce bill to discontinue PCR program

From an op-ed by Senator Dille in the McLeod County Chronicle.

I will introduce a bill to discontinue the Political Contributions Refund (PCR) Program this session, saving Minnesota approximately $12 million during the next biennium.

This program reimburses Minnesota citizens up to $50 per year who donate to political candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, auditor, attorney general, secretary of state, state senator or state house of representatives. This reimbursement is also available for donations made to the Republican, DFL, Independent or Green Party.

This is the way it works: a Minnesota citizen sends $50 to a party or candidate. A receipt and special form are sent to the donor who fills out the form and sends both to the Minnesota Department of Revenue. In four to eight weeks, the donor receives a $50 check from the taxpayers of Minnesota.

This program was established in 1990 and also set campaign spending and donation limits. The goal was to decrease the influence of special interests.

Some believe campaigns should be funded entirely with public money. So far, no other state has established a similar program.

Minnesota is facing at least a $5 billion deficit in the biennium beginning July 1. Our state constitution requires a balanced budget. To accomplish this, many programs must end or be cut back.

This is one that should end. It is one $12 million step on the long road we will travel this session to balance the state's $35 billion biennial budget.

Interesting.

I'm not sure that I support this cut, but I suppose we should have everything open for a closer examination.

Cutting this program would ensure that career politicians are able to keep their "career" as a legislator. Senator Dille is an honorable man, but I'm not 100% certain that this cut will make things better. Incumbents are already tough enough to defeat.

For the most part, money in the Legislative races is pretty clean. We have limits on spending and individual contribution limits to level the playing field. The PCR program feeds off of this. Cutting the PCR program could taint the political contribution process in Minnesota.

That's not a good thing...

Dille Law Faces Challenge

Senator Steve Dille wrote a bill in 2006, at the request of local Eden Valley citizens, to restrict a strip club that had popped up on the outskirts of town. By the time our own State Senate campaign kicked off in 2006, the club had been closed.

Seems like a southern Minnesota club is fighting Dille's bill.

The owner of the proposed Pussycat Cabaret wants an injunction against the city, as well as a temporary restraining order preventing Zumbro Falls from enforcing the state law, which another federal judge had warned was likely unconstitutional.

"Until we drive a stake through the heart of this statute, any future adult business that opens up is going to have to comply with it or file a suit to get it enjoined," said Randall D.B. Tigue, the Golden Valley attorney representing the business, owned by Shakiba Laura Dewitz, of Rochester, Minn.

Tigue said that if U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen rules in their favor after Wednesday's hearing, "My guess is the business would open the day we got a restraining order. They have dancers ready to go."

But Zumbro Falls Mayor Alan VanDeWalker said the city intends to battle the club, even though the cost of a legal fight "is going to put our small city in a very tough financial situation."

The restrictions in the law?

Unless a municipality writes its own ordinances governing adult-oriented businesses, state law applies. The state law was authored by State Sen. Steve Dille, R-Dassel, in 2006 and severely restricts establishments offering adult entertainment.

Among other things, the law says an adult business has to give the a city 60 days' notice before applying for a permit to operate. It also prohibits such businesses from being within 500 feet of residential property, 1,500 feet of other adult businesses or 2,800 feet of a school or place of worship; they can be open only between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. and must be closed Sundays.

In other words...virtually every small town in Minnesota is covered under this law.

Agree or disagree?

In light of the poor economy and financial crunch faced by Minnesota's small towns, could this law end up hurting the same towns it's meant to protect? Litigation is very costly, could it cost these small towns vital employees and services fighting these battles?

My point of contention with the law is consistency. Feeding off the Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) mentality.

Got a large feedlot that not only stinks to high hell, but pollutes the ground water in the area as well? That's ok, they have to go somewhere right?

Not that I care if Eden Valley has, had or wants an adult entertainment facility. I'd just ask for some consistency.

A slice of life in McLeod County

Though Governor Pawlenty vetoed the Central Corridor project in St. Paul, other transportation related projects remained in the bonding bill. Take the $500,000 for the Stagecoach trail near Mantorville.

The Luce Line Trail meanders through the southern half of my senate district and while Senator Dille supports upgrading it, it's unlikely to receive any funding for improvements so long as Ron Shimanski remains in office. There is a glimmer of hope, however.

Not only is Ron an uber-conservative, he also owns an apple orchard that abuts the Luce Line Trail as it wind its way past his home west of Silver Lake. Ron has fretted publicly the upgrading the trail surface from loose gravel and gopher holes would bring more traffic, and with more traffic, apple thieves.

Now, there's not much worse than stealing a man's apples. Or any farmer's crop, wrestled from the soil. Those wishing fresh Minnesota produce should buy it from roadside stands and farmers' markets.

But there's new hope that Representative Shimanski's dreams of earning the fruits of his labors and the aspirations of cyclists can be reconciled, thanks to exciting new developments in biotech. A friend tells me that a new natural security system has been developed for apple growers by the University of Minnesota ag school, and Ron's orchard was first to obtain this new genetically engineered technology for field testing.

My friend obtained the video below, taped early last fall, of the new biotechnology in action, protecting the apples from a small party of larceny-bent hikers. She vouched for the tape's authenticity:



It's GMO breakthroughs like this that make me hopeful for the future! I'm a little worried about the Arboretum's new line of Dog-toothed Violets, however much the DNR says our woodlands need protection from wildflower rustlers.

Dille Transportation LTE: McLeod Chronicle

A letter supporting Senator Dille's Transportation vote.

While increasing taxes - even dedicated user taxes - can be controversial, he understood the importance of this legislation for helping farmers get their crops to market and making everyone's trip on our highways a safer one.

For our part of the state, the transportation funding bill will mean real money for counties and cities. McLeod County will see an increase in state highway dollars of $10.7 million in the next 10 years. For Meeker County, the increase is $6.9 million, and for Wright County the increase will be $27 million.

The city of Litchfield also will receive an additional $839,000 over the next 10 years for municipal roadway repair, and the city of Hutchinson will receive $1.7 million.

MnDOT also will have more money to repair state highways and bridges in our area. The additional funding that will be coming from state transportation user fees will reduce the pressure to raise local property taxes, which have been going up to fund needed transportation work.

The cost to the average driver for the increase in the gas tax will be about $55 a year, or about 14 cents per day. The cost will be partially offset for low-income individuals through a $25 tax credit.

If you keep the cars you own today, you will see no increase in license tab fees. Only people who purchase a vehicle that was not previously registered in Minnesota will see an increase in tab fees. Those are the only two increases in fees for residents in Greater Minnesota.

The letter was written by Grant Knudson, a McLeod County Commissioner.

Dille on the Transportation Bill

Wright County: $2.7 million more per year.
Meeker County: $700,000 more per year.
McLeod County: $1.1 million more per year.

Urdahl voted no.

From Senator Dille:

I voted for the transportation bill that was vetoed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and then overridden by the House of Representatives on a 91 to 44 vote and by the Senate on a 47 to 20 vote. I would like to take the opportunity to explain why I supported this legislation.

This bill will provide an additional $660 million per year for 10 years to help catch up on delayed maintenance and reinvestment in our transportation infrastructure. Some of this money will be used by cities, counties and townships and decrease the need to increase property taxes. For example, Wright County will receive an average of $2.7 million more per year, Meeker County will receive $700,000 more per year, and McLeod County will receive $1.1 million more per year.

The lack of action to improve roads and transit is costing us all real money as the cost of construction continues to increase and we lose out on potential federal funds. Investing in transportation will create jobs and boost economic activity. Also, we can make improvements to the safety of our roads and bridges and reduce fatalities and injuries.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce supported this bill and stated in their support letter that "Transportation is a critical issue for Minnesota businesses. Chamber members are users of the system -- they recognized that it is important for businesses to move freight and other goods efficiently and safely, and for employees to get to work in a timely and safe manner."

Over a 140 organizations and many individual citizens supported this bill including the Minnesota Truckers Association, Minnesota Farm Bureau, and Minnesota Farmers Union. This bill was supported by almost all of the farm commodity organizations including Minnesota Corn Producers, Minnesota Soybean Producers, Minnesota Wheat Producers, Minnesota Potato Producers, Minnesota Sugar Beet Producers, and Minnesota Pork Producers. In addition, this bill was supported by 21 environmental protection organizations and many local government organizations such as the Minnesota Association of Counties, Minnesota Association of Townships, and the League of Minnesota Cities. The transportation bill was opposed by two organizations, the Republican Party and the Taxpayer League, as well as, many individual citizens.

The final bill summary contains the following:
• 5 cent per gallon increase in gas tax.
• 3.5 cent per gallon surcharge on gas for servicing the trunk highway bond debt.
• $1.8 billion in trunk highway bonds over 10 years.
• Eliminating caps on license tab fees and changing the depreciation schedule.
• Dedicating sales tax on leased vehicles to greater Minnesota transit and local roads.
• Providing a $25 tax credit for low-income residents.
• Authorizing metropolitan area counties to impose a 0.25 percent sales tax for transit without a referendum.
• Authorizing counties in greater Minnesota to levy a sales tax of up to 0.50 percent for transportation purposes with a referendum.
• Increased authorization for MnDOT to spend trunk highway funds in FY08 and FY09 to reflect federal emergency funding related to the I-35W bridge project.
• $60M in general obligation bonds for local roads and bridges.

This increase in revenue may sound like a lot but it is only 1/3 as much as Governor Pawlenty's own Department of Transportation estimated is needed which is $1.7B more per year for 10 years. Also, if you calculate the increased revenue against the state and local units of governments' annual budgets, it comes to only a 1.5% annual increase in government spending.

In most years, budgets increase much more than that.

Many opponents claim this bill is the largest tax increase in state history, which isn't true. The fiscal analysts from the non-partisan Senate Counsel identifies the Minnesota Miracle of the early 1970s that reformed K-12 education funding as the largest tax increase in recent state history. State and local taxes went up 16 percent. Adjusted for inflation, this would be a $3 billion annual increase in 2008 dollars.

Minnesota currently ranks 30th among the 50 states in the amount they tax gas. When the 5 cents per gallon gas tax takes affect in October of this year and assuming no other states increase their gas tax, Minnesota will rank 20th among the 50 states.

Some argue we should fix our roads by selling bonds or, in other words, borrow the money instead of increasing our taxes. The bill that passed includes some bond sales, but the debt must be paid back so a surcharge was added of 3.5 cents per gallon of fuel to service this debt.

Urdahl still feeling the heat

Thanks to a Ollie for pointing this out to me.

Urdahl, R-Grove City, accepted the position offered by House Minority Leader Marty Seifert of Marshall, but said he then had second thoughts. While he voted against the transportation spending package, Urdahl said he did not think the six House Republicans who helped put it into law should be punished. Seifert removed those six from committee and leadership positions.

Larry Schumacher reports a strange exchange between himself and Urdahl this week as well.

Apparently, Urdahl handed Schumacher his own press release stating "Urdahl Reconsiders Lead Position".

Urdahl's press release also posed the question "Wouldn't a retraction be in order?"

Schumacher posts:

Upon closer reading of the press release, however, things became even more confusing. A quote I'll reproduce below describes what Urdahl meant by "reconsiders."

"Today I announced to the committee that I view my new position as a caretaker role," Urdahl said. "It is my belief that Rep. Hamilton should not have resigned the position and that he should be reinstated. I do not condone any consequences for members based upon their votes of conscience."

So I called Urdahl to ask him to clarify. Was he resigning his seniority position?

"No," he said. "But I wanted to make it clear that I'm only holding it real temporarily."

So why the call for a retraction of a story or editorial that only pointed out he had taken the lead Republican spot on the committee?

Urdahl said the request for a retraction, which he no longer wanted, was based on a second-hand recounting to him of what was in the editorial. Upon reading it, he decided it wasn't so bad after all.

And why the press release if he's not resigning the position?

"I didn't want to condone what was happening and the consequences of it," Urdahl told me. "I regret what leadership's doing, but I felt obligated to take the position when Hamilton resigned."

Did I mention that Urdahl and Heidgerken share both an office wall and a legislative assistant? Or that his counterpart in the Senate, Steve Dille, R-Dassel, voted for both the bill and the override?

And did I mention that Urdahl voted for a similar transportation bill last year, but then voted against that year's override?

Pretty odd behavior.

Is he feeling the pressure of someone running against him? The Meeker County DFL convention is today and I am quite sure a strong candidate will emerge today to challenge Urdahl. Dean's lucky I've decided I will not run against him this year. It would be a fun race.

It's easy to take the high road on Seifert's demotions after the fact, after you've been rewarded for toeing the party line. As Schumacher points out, Urdahl has voted for a similar transportation bill before, only to flip flop under the pressure of Marty Seifert and Governor Pawlenty.

Urdahl had political cover in the district with the highly popular Senator Dille voting for the Transportation Bill and voting to override the Governor's veto. His flip flop last year blew some of that political cover, but Dille has always had a great explanation for his transportation vote.

Urdahl makes excuses.

Schumacher's post is very interesting. Urdahl's acting awfully odd right now.

Transportation Bill Override Thoughts

As a guy who drives about 1,000 miles and fills my gas tank 4-5 times per week, I think it's about time we raised the gas tax. While I fully understand that it is a regressive tax and it will have an impact on my pocketbook, I'm more than willing to do my share to fix our roads and bridges. The time to "red pen" every piece of sensible and responsible legislation has come and gone.

I've read the right wing blogs and listened to Jason Lewis on my way home tonight. I'm not surprised in the least at their outrage.

I'm proud of Senator Dille. Campaigning against him in 2006, I saw firsthand his support for a gas tax increase and reasonable transportation solutions. He's a man of his word. He said he'd support it and did.

While the right wing bloggers and Jason Lewis condemn legislators like Senator Dille, those in the House and Senate Republican minority, who opposed sensible transportation solutions, should be commended for putting their political allegiances ahead of what is right for the safety and economic security of Minnesota.

This override vote proves that inaction on transportation was no longer an option. A bipartisan coalition of legislators decided that safe roads and bridges and job creation were too important to be waylaid by the Governor's unwillingness to make this investment.

The Startribune had a LTE in this morning talking about the state's need for investment.

This transportation funding bill is a compromise and reflects the legislative process at its best. This compromise has the support of not only the Itasca Project and its 45 CEOs of the state's largest companies, but it has the support of virtually all of the state's major business and trade organizations.

45 CEO's of the state's largest companies supported this measure. Don't Lewis and the other right wingers talk about how these tax increases will push business out of the state? It's interesting that 45 CEO's clearly dispute that rhetoric.

Dean Urdahl chose to vote with the minority. He chose to side with the obstructionists. Once again, he put politics before the people.

Hats off to Senator Dille and the other GOP members that came across the aisle to vote for a sensible transportation package!

Urdahl and Shimanski called out for Transportation vote

West Central Tribune's Op-ed section praised some local legislators, including Senator Steve Dille for his vote to support Transportation in Minnesota.

Dean Urdahl and Ron Shimanski were two Representatives that drew their ire for their lackluster support for Transportation.

It is shameful that these lawmakers talk on their campaigns about the importance of transportation to west central Minnesota and then stick their head in the sand when a key vote comes up.

Minnesota has not made a significant transportation investment for two decades — except to borrow funding by bonding which requires future repayment.

Where do Urdahl and Gimse expect to generate funding for U.S. Highway 12 upgrades?

Indeed, they spend a lot of time talking about what they want to do, but do nothing to support Transportation solutions. The Urdahl case is more shocking than Shimanski. Shimanski has been at the end of the Seifert / Emmer leash since his 06 election.

Urdahl is different. He has stated openly he would support a gas tax increase. He voted for it last May. Only after Governor Pawlenty called him to the carpet did Urdahl suddenly not support a gas tax increase and Transportation.

His vote Thursday in support of Governor Pawlenty's "Red Pen Plan" shows his allegiance to the Governor, while pushing his constituents "under the bus".

We call on Reps. Urdahl, Shimanski, Seifert, and Westrom and Sen. Gimse and Fischbach to put west central Minnesota first before the politics of their party. We ask for their vote as well to override Pawlenty’s political veto on this bill.

Urdahl and Shimanski putting the people before politics? We'll see again as the veto override comes soon.

SD 18 Caucus stuff

Just a few observations and analysis of the numbers.

On the 18B side, Wright County is the reason for "State Representative" being the title before "Dean Urdahl". While Meeker County has been blue for the past few elections, Urdahl has held a sizable lead in Wright County in order to push him over the top.

Momentum is building and this may be our best shot in years to make Dean Urdahl a cheerleader for the foreseeable future.

Enormous turnouts in Corrina Township, Annandale, Cokato, Cokato Township, French Lake, Southside Township, and Howard Lake are very positive for DFLers in our area looking to push out a State Representative that has decided to put politics before the people.

Litchfield as great turnout as well on the DFL side. According to the SOS numbers, it would appear as though ZERO Republican's voted in Litchfield. We'll work to confirm that but they are reporting all 68 precincts in SD 18 reported.

No votes in Grove City either. Did Urdahl even vote in the caucuses? Or was he moving across the district in feeble attempt to save his hide from a November loss? Perhaps he was pitching his support for "No Child Left Behind", I don't know...

The 18A side looked like it had some mixed results. One colleague reported that Hutchinson had over 300 people voting! Glencoe had about 50, Winsted 11, Silver Lake 3, and Lester Prairie 20 people voting.

In total, nearly 1200 DFLers cast a vote in SD 18 Tuesday. Less than a thousand SD 18 Republicans went to the polls.

Senator Steve Dille on Mike Huckabee: "To me, he looks like a guy you can go hunting with and he probably wouldn't shoot you."

More to follow on this...

Dille on 07 Session

Despite what the righty blggers say, according to Senator Steve Dille, the 2007 Legislative Session in the Senate was the most bi-partisan in 21 years.

Perhaps Marty Seifert could learn a few things from Senator Frederickson or Senator Senjem.

Dille on the gas tax

Senator Dille has a piece in the Annandale Advocate discussing the difference between Federal and State gas taxes.

I hope Dean Urdahl reads this...at least one of our locally elected representatives gets it!

Many people have communicated with me about supporting a gas tax increase if it is used only for roads. They are concerned that revenue could be diverted to the general fund and used for transit or some non-transportation purpose. This concern about the Minnesota gas tax is not valid.

100% of the State gas tax is used for the roads.

Metro area legislators are generally not supportive of this distribution formula. They want more money for mass transit (buses, light rail and commuter rail). Rural legislators on the other hand are usually supportive because the current formula favors greater Minnesota where there are more miles of highway than in metro areas.

Others really have no idea where they stand on Transportation, until they come out of Principal's office!

Urdahl calls his vote to override the Governor's transportation veto "a meaningless vote".

Let's make sure that after 2008, Dean Urdahl never casts a meaningful vote again...