David Kjerland’s Celebration of Life
Oct 28, 2007 News
Last week I attend a celebration for David Kjerland who passed away on his birthday October 15th. I was honored to read excerpts from an interview David gave about his experience teaching in Alabama in 1965. It is not difficult to understand how this shaped David's life.
You can find a copy of the interview on the his website. David was a local Stained glass artist and you will find examples of his work on the studio website and all over Northfield. David loved Northfield and St. Olaf, where he attended before going to Alabama. David was loved by Northfield in turn. Many people have stopped to talk with me about a story he told or that they too have a treasured example of his art in their home.
David called me the night of the election to let me know the votes had swung in my favor and I had won. He and his brother Dean had been watching the returns with me at the Contented Cow and before the returns were in I went home. So David will for ever be linked in my mind with my service in the Legislature.
Teaching and Legislating make for a busy schedule
Oct 28, 2007 News
I am now just finishing my first quarter teaching again at the ALC and I am finding it a challenge to keep up with all the demands of teaching at the same time I try to meet the demands of being a legislator. I still find both jobs interesting and invigorating. I have two interim initiatives that have been taking up my time. I am chairing a work group that is looking at better ways to look at and encourage quality in Alternative Schools. The current system of tests often punish Alternative Schools for problems they do not create and completely ignore the many good things great programs offer.
The second initiative is a Progressive Health Care Reform Caucus I formed along with Rep. Shelley Madore. I am hoping to explore some real solutions to the rising costs of Health Care. Politicians have been talking about the problem as long as I can remember but have made little progress. I will say more about my findings and Bills we will introduce in the coming session in a later posting.
In addition to that I attended a conference of State Legislators from across the country on Higher Education and Workforce Development. Lots of good data was shared examining struggles various states have in preparing the workforce for the future. Minnesota is doing better than many states but on several counts that’s not saying a lot. In future blogs I will share more information about that as well.
You may have read in the Northfield News about the recent visit of the House Capital Investment Committee to Northfield and Dundas. The committee is making a pass through South and Southwest Minnesota to see first hand many of the proposed bonding projects. They were interested in seeing what Northfield’s needs were for a refurbished Safety Center. City Administrator Al Roder and other Safety Center staff stressed the importance of seeing Northfield as a Regional service provider for Northern Rice County and Southern Dakota County.
They also talked about the potential of a new center meeting some of the space needs of County, State and National Guard service vehicles as well as the Northfield Fire Department. A tour of the garage showed trucks packed in so tightly you could barely find room to walk between them.
In Dundas the Committee visited the Mill Towns Trail Head and saw a presentation about progress on the trail. The Mill Towns trail will eventually hook up with trails that now run from Cannon Falls to Red Wing and another from Mankato to Faribault. The finished trail will allow bike enthusiasts to travel from Mankato to Red Wing. One citizen explained he couldn't wait for the connection from Northfield to Faribault to be completed because his only means of transportation is by bike and he finds the current highway connection very hazardous.
I hope to see you soon as I make my way to various community events. I can’t make them all but I try to make as many as I can. I have recently spoken to the local Sertoma Club and to the Belle Plaine Lion’s Club.
Rangers consider run for Governor
Oct 28, 2007 News
I received word yesterday that not only was State Senator Bakk thinking of running for Governor but my front row seat mate, Rep. Tom Rukavina is thinking of a 2010 run for the State's top job. Rep. Rukavina has not been afraid to take on the Governor on numerous occasions as he does here in a recent letter:
Toned down, but still angry
By State Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia
Recently, State Representative Tom Emmer distributed a column to Minnesota newspapers blaming the DFL leadership for the failure to address the I-35W bridge collapse and other transportation woes of this state. My first attempt to respond to Representative Emmer's column was much stronger, but after thinking about it for 24 hours, I've toned it down considerably in the interest of maintaining legislative decorum.
Representative Emmer, you may not be a liar, but you aren't telling the truth. It's not the DFL Legislature holding up funding for the I-35W bridge and other transportation needs. It's the Governor and you're enabling him to do so.From the very beginning, Governor Pawlenty and his Administration has been less than honest about the circumstances leading to the collapse of the 35W bridge. He has further blocked all efforts to address the lack of transportation funding in this state. He is ignoring the rapid decline of the Minnesota economy. He needs to be held accountable for his misrepresentations of the condition of the bridge, his unwillingness to correct prior mistakes and his failure to lead Minnesota back to the economic juggernaut it was under the leadership of Governor Perpich.
On the night of the I-35W bridge collapse, Governor Pawlenty appeared on CNN national news assuring the entire nation that the bridge had been inspected twice in the past three years and there was absolutely nothing wrong with the structural integrity of the bridge. The very next morning, the Star Tribune ran a story with the headline, "Bridge was rated 'structurally deficient' in 2005." The article notes that the point score rating for the bridge "indicates replacement may be in order."
Did Governor Pawlenty receive his erroneous information from Lt. Governor Molnau, which may explain why the Senate is leading the charge to replace her? Or did he receive it from a Minnesota Department of Transportation bureaucrat who was unaware of the problems with the bridge? In either case, Governor Pawlenty never apologized for giving inaccurate information on national television to the entire world.
Governor Pawlenty's miscues did not end there. Shortly after the bridge collapsed, the Governor stated he was willing to call a special session of the Legislature to authorize an increase in the gas tax to help fund emergency road and bridge projects. Several days later the Governor backed off his commitment to approve a gas tax increase unless it was offset by a reduction in other taxes. The Governor's abrupt flip-flop on the gas tax makes me wonder whether he is more concerned about tax rates or the safety of his people.
Governor Pawlenty continues to obstruct any efforts to address our critical needs for road and bridge funding. He refuses to acknowledge that Minnesota's economy is in turmoil, trailing national economic indicators for the first time in 30 years. He fails to understand that funding necessary road and bridge projects could also help Minnesota recover some of the 17,400 jobs we lost since June of this year.
Governor Pawlenty, come home and lead this state. You're not the Governor of India. Since you left Minnesota, Boston Scientific and GMAC Mortgage Corporation, two companies with major Minnesota operations, have announced the elimination of 5,300 jobs, with many of the cuts targeted for Minnesota. These cuts come on the heels of the net loss of 17,400 over the past three months. Governor, leave the Taj Mahal behind and come back to Minnesota to address our real economic and infrastructure problems. If you are true to your word about the need for a special session to raise the gas tax, come home, read the Constitution and call a special session of the Legislature.
The Minnesota Constitution clearly states it's the Governor's responsibility to call a special session of the Legislature; and it's the Legislature's responsibility to determine how the issues are to be addressed. Governor, you are no longer the Majority Leader of the House. You don't control the legislative agenda. I know you understand there are three branches of State Government, but you're acting as though you perceive those three branches to be "me, myself and I". For a Governor who never received over 47 percent of the vote, your failure to cooperate with the Legislature and provide the leadership this state needs is incomprehensible.
I'm sure glad I tossed out the harsher version of this letter.
Flood Relief
Oct 27, 2007 News
The other day I received the following press release and thought I would pass it on as flood victims continue to need help:
For Immediate Release
Hotel & Restaurant workers host drive to restock kitchens for flood survivors
Oct. 31-Nov. 2, at UNITE HERE Local 21 office, 105 N. Broadway, Rochester
Two and a half months after flood waters swept through Southeastern Minnesota our neighbors are recovering-and many are preparing to return to their homes. As they repair their homes, clean up their yards and continue their recovery, our neighbors are looking forward to preparing home-cooked meals in their own kitchens. But before dinners are served, survivors would welcome a little help restocking their kitchens.
Members of Rochester’s Hotel & Restaurant Workers union (UNITE HERE Local 21) know what a huge task that can be. So they’re stirring up a little help themselves, by offering their building as a collection point for donations of new and gently used kitchen equipment.
From Wednesday, Oct. 31 through Friday, Nov. 2, you can bring kitchen items to the
UNITE HERE Local 21 office at 105 N. Broadway, Rochester. Donations will be accepted from 8 AM to 5 PM, all three days. Please enter via the back parking lot door;push the buzzer and someone will buzz you in. Place items in the boxes in the meeting room on the right.
Call Southeast Minnesota Labor Council staffer Liz McLoone, 507-254-9249, if you need to schedule a time to deliver your contributions. Items needed are new or gently used:
• Pots/Pans • Silverware • Dishes • Baking Pans • Cookie Sheets • Mixing Bowls • Spatulas • General Utensils • Toasters • Microwaves • Coffee Makers • Electronic Mixers • Crock Pots • Measuring Cups
This event is sponsored by the Southeast Minnesota Area Labor Council (SEALC), which serves 34,000 union members in 16 counties. For information on the SEALC,please call President Laura Askelin, at 651-238-5334.
