MN Republicans and Energy

Minnesota Republicans will make affordable energy one of our top priorities in the 2009 legislative session. House Leader Mary Seifert said Republicans will stand in the way of Democrats efforts to make energy more expensive by imposing electric energy tariffs and using 'cap and trade' schemes to regulate energy beyond what Minnesotans can afford. Established policy is stopping the free market from delivering cheap, reliable energy. Those barriers must be removed. "Seniors on fixed incomes and families stretched thin can't afford another session of legislators turning a blind eye to energy costs," said Seifert.

What a fantastic choice!

Earlier today on one of the talk shows I heard a caller say they are once again proud to be a Republican. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's meteoric rise to vice-presidential candidate has a lot of people gasping, perhaps herself as well. What an honor and what a challenge, especially when there are so many who will say she's too young and inexperienced. But that's the point of our government, isn't it? Citizens run it, not trained professionals. We don't send gifted high-schoolers to graduate school and take Elected Public Official 101. Its supposed to be us common folk who have lives and jobs and families and take a couple of years out of our busy lives to help run the government. It should happen more often. And I have a strong belief that Governor Palin will get herself up to speed. Senator Biden could be in for a tough time.

A Money Shortage?

Forecasts are beginning to leak out about Minnesota government's near future and most sound pretty bleak. From my years in broadcasting, I don't remember too many that sounded upbeat and perky. Slowly, I believe people are catching on and looking around at their own personal experience. And it doesn't match up with reports of doom and gloom. And just like in their personal lives, balancing a budget becomes a matter of prioritizing. Minnesota's economy is basically sound. It's government that spending more than it has. One forecast predicts that it will grow by 9.7% for the 2010-2011 period. That's moving in the wrong direction. We now know that millions of our welfare dollars are being spent in every other state in the nation. That taxpayer disrespect and abuse was pretty easy to find. How much more can we discover if we really try? The forecast I want to see some day is that Minnesota government will spend 9.7% less. And I'd like to see it soon.

Civic Fest Update, More info

The Civic Fest at the Minneapolis Convention Center will run from Friday, August 29th through September 4th and we expect to see lots of people checking it out between Republican Convention meetings. The people in charge have already said to expect political celebrities and to keep our cool and remember why we're there, to showcase the exhibits, to maintain our pride in our nation's and state's history. Get more information at www.civicfest.org. The Civic Fest is designed to be a non-partisan event and we've been told it's not paid for with tax dollars. What's not to like about that?

Civic Fest

Civic Fest is an event loosely connected to next week's RNC Convention that opens tomorrow/Friday that will feature a display of old American flags, FDR and Ronald Reagan limousines, a section of AF One from the 70s, and a Smithsonian-type display on US Presidents and their documents BEFORE George Washinton (you savvy folks know about the Articles of Confederation and the Treaty of Paris signed after the Revolution and before The US Constitution). Check out Civic Fest at the Minneapolis Convention Center. It will run at the same time as next week's Republican Convention and beyond and promises to be a fascinating look at US and Minnesota history. More later.

Soucheray Visit

My wife and I went to the Minnesota State Fair on Wednesday. In amongst sharing a cheese curd with the Governor and visiting the Republican Party booth, I found myself on AM 1500's Joe Soucheray Show. Producer Angie predicted it would be a version of 'Grilling the Politician' but the 6 minute appearance turned quickly to talking about the $486-Million per cash welfare benefit payments, millions of which were paid out in every other state in the nation; $1.3-Million in Illinois last year, nearly $3,000 in Hawaii. This is the Minnesota welfare program, not the United States welfare system funded solely by Minnesota taxpayers. Soucheray asked if I would sponsor legislation to repeal the system and replace it with one that makes sense and I said that would be at the top of the list next January, if elected. Then he asked me how many terms I was willing to serve and I said two. Just in case you weren't listening to the Soucheray show. My opponent and I will be on the WWWI program Koep-ing with Government next Wednesday, September 3rd at 9am. 1270AM, 95.9FM. Join us.

What I believe Minnesota's K-12 public education system should become.

I believe that Minnesota’s K-12 public education is not broken but badly bruised. And the system can be fixed.

I believe that the most important element of K-12 public education is the student. And the most important relationship in public education is between concerned, talented, well-educated teachers and motivated, engaged students. Teachers must have not only a depth of knowledge of their subject matter but an ability to inspire.

I believe that the early years are the most important ones of a child’s educational life. They deserve the most qualified teachers and our immediate future as citizens depend on it. Therefore, beginning elementary school teachers should be paid more than they currently are. Qualified beginning teachers for all grade levels should be courted away from competing industries with competing salaries. And teacher salary should be based primarily on merit with fewer artificially-imposed advances such as steps and lanes. Great teachers should be paid accordingly; poor teachers should be encouraged to find other ways to make a living. Professional educators should expect life time job security no more than doctors, lawyers, engineers or broadcasters.

I believe we should reverse the trend to bigger schools that waste student time shuffling through crowded hallways to overcrowded classrooms. Students should learn in smaller settings, and we should increase the use of computer-enhanced education. Those smaller settings should be closer to their homes and we should stop using up student lives by shipping them across artificial boundaries in lengthy school bus rides.

I believe the primary focus of K-12 public education should be to pass on the lessons of Minnesota and American culture and experience. Our future depends on an educated population that believes the United States of America became the leader of the free world because of hard work, ingenuity and the liberty to choose our future. We live in the greatest nation in the history of planet Earth and K-12 students should know why.

I believe K-12 public education should be controlled locally by concerned parents and community members without interference from outside special interest groups, including state and federal governments. All unfunded mandates should be repealed and disallowed in the future. Too little tax money reaches the classroom and too much finds its way toward supporting overly generous health plans, retirement programs, questionable educational school fads and expensive consultants selling theoretical programs untried in the real world.

Finally, I believe we must transform Minnesota’s K-12 public education system into one that is completely, unmistakably and unquestionably student-centered.

These challenges will not be accomplished overnight but trends weakening our education system and endangering our student’s futures must not continue. These trends must change and those changes should start now.

A Great Fair

Congratulations to the Crow Wing County Fair Board and anybody who had anything to do with this year’s fair. This was my first fair experience as a candidate for public office and I experienced nothing but warm, friendly people doing their best to make sure everyone had a good time. I know I did. I’ve spent most County Fair days in the past four years as the News Director for KLKS, interviewing 4H kids, goat handlers, politicians, master gardeners and even a couple members of the livestock world. This year, I was the subject, on exhibit, and I have nothing but good memories from the way I was treated. The people who attended this year’s County Fair were open, honest, friendly and engaging and the week was an absolute pleasure.

Next year's fair is sure to be even better.