“Where Are The Jobs Bills?”

“Where are the jobs bills?”, asks Minnesota House Minority Leader Paul Thissen as he criticizes a Republican backed bill focused on preventing childcare union dues for any future union from being automatically taken state payments.

Representative Thissen and other DFLers said hat the problem the bill addresses doesn’t even exist.

Representative Thissen points to a recent poll that shows the legislature’s approval rating in the teens compared to Governor Mark Dayton’s 50% approval rating.

House Majority Leader Matt Dean responds saying the union dues bill is a jobs bill as are the tort reform bills that have been sent to Governor Dayton’s desk.

The Governor is still deciding whether to sign those bills.

Northside Economic Opportunity Network Boosts Business in North Minneapolis

“What people have historically done in our community is create their own opportunities. That’s who we are, that’s what we do,” said Kenya McKnight, a community finance specialist at the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON). NEON works with small businesses and micro-businesses in North Minneapolis to help them achieve success.

North-side residents lack access to quality and local jobs, which is a huge problem. NEON fosters the north side’s entrepreneurial spirit to create more potential job opportunities. Take for example Shantae Holmes, owner of All Washed Up Laundromat on Penn Ave. in North Minneapolis. She recognized a need in her community which was lack of access to a clean, safe place to wash your clothes — a basic human need. That’s when she drew up a business plan and worked with NEON and its network of organizations to secure credit and loans to help her realize her goals of becoming a business owner.

DFL Caucus Goers Want Jobs and Personal Freedom

DFL caucus attendees in SD 42 (Eden Prairie and south half of Minnetonka) were focused on jobs, keeping the economy growing and saying no to the proposed and threatened state constitutional amendments limiting freedom, disenfranchising voters and attacking unions.

Most of the attention was on the so called Defense of Marriage Amendment that would constitutionally prohibit same sex marriages and the proposed Voter ID Amendment which would disenfranchise 200,000 Minnesota voters, Caucus turnout was less than 4 years ago, but the rooms were filled with enthusiasm.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak remembers what it was like four years ago. … Continue Reading

Ron Paul’s MN Support Crosses Political Boundaries

Hundreds of enthusiastic Ron Paul supporters jammed the meeting room at the AutoMotoPlex in Chanhassan Minnesota on Saturday to show their support for his Presidential bid. Video of his entire speech available here.

There was standing room only in the room and the garage bay doors were opened to handle the overflow crowd that almost circled the building.

“He was Tea Party before Tea Party was cool.” said one of his supporters who introduced the Republican Congressman from Texas.

The crowds choice in the 2008 election ran the gamut. Lots of Republicans – one had cast his first vote for Reagan – but also a number of 2008 Obama voters, Ron Paul write-ins plus votes for Libertarian and Constitution parties. A few claimed to be undecided, but most were very clear on their 2012 choice: Ron Paul— even if they had to write him in.

Video and photos: Ron Paul’s Minnesota supporters say why they back him. … Continue Reading

Obama’s Fair Fix For Responsible Homeowners

The housing crisis has been the single largest drag on America’s economic recovery. President Obama wants to fix that fairly for homeowners who have been responsible, but not the ones who took out huge mortgages or bought multiple homes.

He is sending Congress his plan to give responsible homeowners the chance to save thousands of dollars on their mortgages by refinancing at historically low rates without adding a cent to the deficit.

Although the Administration’s actions have helped responsible homeowners refinance their mortgages and stay in their homes, President Obama says Congress must act now to do more to continue assisting homeowners and the economy.

In his weekly address President Obama asks all Americans to tell their elected officials to pass this plan to keep more families in their homes and more neighborhoods thriving and whole.

Transcript of President Obama’s weekly address … Continue Reading

Limiting Tax Break = Attacking “Job Providers” Says Sen Michel

A proposed tax break to Minnesota business property owners will go to businesses that don’t create jobs says Senator Ken Kelash (DFL-MInneapolis). That statement, while true, brought a scolding from Senator Geoff Michel (R-Edina).

Senator Michel: I want to be careful on this one Senator Kelash. The job providers that are coming into this room, in front of this committee, we’re thankful. Thankful to them.

Senator Kelash: Mr. Chair I’m not trying to attack them.

Senator Michel: Senator Kelash let me finish then if you need to, if you need to either correct or revise your question, we are thankful for what you’re doing in Minnesota. Without a thriving private sector economy, there’s not much reason for this state capitol to even exist. And so, what we’re trying to do today, with kind of a first things first mentality is to answer that question ‘what can we do for Minnesota job creators.’ Minnesota job creators. So I don’t for a moment suddenly leap to the conclusion that somebody is just going to pocket this tax cut.

Senator Kelash: Mr. Chair.

Senator Michel: Senator Kelash I wanted to get, I wanted to make that clear

Senator Kelash: This is spending taxpayers, tax dollars and it’s not focused on job creators specifically. It’s focused on a much broader, whether people create a tax. The Governor’s proposal to offer business incentives to hire people at $3,000, that’s specifically going to it. So what I’m trying to do is get the efficiency of this cut in relationship to job growth and the inefficiency of it for those folks who choose not to grow. I’m not trying to attack them, I’m just trying say there’s an inefficiency in this.

Obama’s State Of The Union Tour Hits Five States

President Obama is on a five state tour promoting the economic proposals he made in his State of The Union address. He started in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at Conveyer Engineering and then into Arizona to an Intel plant. Thursday he want to Las Vegas and Denver. Today he is in Ann Arbor Michigan to speak about college affordability.

Obama Sells His Plan In Cedar Rapids, Iowa

President Obama visits Conveyor Engineering and Manufacturing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and speaks about strengthening America’s economy.

Transcript of President Obama’s speech in Cedar Rapids, Iowa … Continue Reading

Reforming Education To Fill Technical Jobs In Minnesota

“At a time of high unemployment, we actually have over 2 million high-wage jobs that are going unfilled,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told a town hall meeting at Irondale High School in New Brighton on Friday. Secretary Duncan was joined by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. “These are jobs that can’t be exported that we can’t fill. We need to challenge ourselves in the education community. What are we doing to prepare our students not for the jobs of yesterday but for the jobs of tomorrow?”

“We used to lead the world in college graduation rates, now we’re 16th,” said Duncan. “We’ve stagnated, and other countries have passed us by. They’re out investing, they’re out-innovating, and you wonder why we’re struggling economically.”

Minnesota leading in education innovation … Continue Reading

Obama’s State Of The Union Preview

President Obama tells the American people about a series of steps he’s taken without the help of Congress to grow the economy and create jobs — including a new strategy aimed at boosting tourism introduced this week. In next week’s State of the Union Address, the President will outline his blueprint for creating an economy built to last.

Transcript of President Obama’s weekly address … Continue Reading