Alert! Contact Senator Coleman!

We need to contact Senator Coleman on this ASAP!

There is an issue in Congress right now - the Energy Bill - known as SR 6.

Here is a little synopsis:

Democrat's House/Senate Energy Bill
Status: Headed for a House/Senate Conference Committee to work out the differences

Key points in the Democrat's Energy Bill:
1. Increases taxes on oil and natural gas - our energy supply
2. Gives tax credits/subsidies to "alternative energy" programs
3. Repeals/delays provision that encourage energy exploration domestically in America - which in turns sends people overseas

1. What's wrong with taxing oil and natural gas, our energy supply?- Higher taxes is not the free market way! This Energy Bill would raise taxes on U.S. oil companies by as much as $32 billion. This same-old, anti-market approach of higher taxes and increased regulations will not help consumers or reasonably grow the energy industry.
- Higher taxes will lead to higher energy prices for consumers and businesses. Because oil and gas will be more costly, costs will be just passed along to businesses and consumers. The Heritage Foundation's study found that under current policies, the price per gallon will be $3.67 in 2016. Under this bill, the price per gallon would be $6.41. Isn't $3 gas at the pump enough already without increased taxes?

2. Why is giving subsidies to "alternative energy" bad?- The free market should be deciding what is best - consumers - not the government. Policies should be fair for all energy sources, not favoring one over the other.
- Americans will use more energy in the future - specifically oil and gas. The U.S. Department of Energy projects that Americans will consume 28 percent more oil and 19 percent more natural gas in 2030 than was consumed in 2005. The Democrat's policy will make energy more expensive for the consumer in the future, and not help provide a stable supply of energy needed in the future to meet the growing demand.

3. How would repealing or delaying energy exploration in America affect us?
- New taxes and regulations on energy exploration will discourage new American oil and gas production and make us more dependent on foreign producers. Tax increases make domestic production more expensive compared to the cost of doing business overseas - making foreign oil more economically viable.
- Exploration in America helps our national security. The higher taxes proposed by the Democrat's in congress will make our nation more dependent on fuels from other countries - and more than likely, political volatile regions. This would be bad for America's economy and make America less secure.

Basically: Energy conservation should be a high national priority. Renewable fuels, despite their current limitations, should continue to be researched, developed and utilized to the extent possible. But any energy policy that circumvents the free market, increases the cost of domestic production, makes imports more attractive, and reduces capital investment in the nation’s energy infrastructure is a policy that reduces our nation’s energy security and increases the risk of a more volatile international situation that may put us in harm’s way



SENATOR COLEMAN ON THE ISSUE:

- Voted Yes on the Senate floor for the Senate bill, without the tax increases in it

- Leaning yes on the bill because of the ethanol subsidies for corn farmers in Minnesota – the “alternative energy” subsidies



WHO’S AGAINST THE BILL? MY SIDE: The majority of Republicans, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Taxpayer’s Union, National Association of Manufactures

WHO’S FOR THE BILL? The majority of Democrats, environmental organizations, Greenpeace



WHAT TO DO:


* Call Coleman’s office in St. Paul at 651.645.0323 and get Matt Ketelsen on the phone. He is very nice. Make the basic statement and a supporting statement (written below) and then he will ask for your name and address. He will not ask questions. This is very easy. Do not leave a message.


- If Matt Ketelsen is unavailable, call Tony Eberhard at the Washington DC office at 202.224.5641

- or try Gerald Woodley at the Mankato office at: 507-625-6800. Leaving messages will not help, we need to actually speak to them.


WHAT TO SAY:


Basic message: Senator Coleman, I encourage you to vote against the Democrat’s Energy Bill.

Examples of supporting statements:

* I see first hand what higher oil prices mean for my small business and for others in my community. These rising costs really affect my company and bottom line, and we’ll have to increase prices for our customers – other consumers as well. This will not help my bottom line, and our nation’s bottom line.

* I strongly urge you to NOT support increasing taxes. The free market through consumer decision is the best way to decide on energy sources, and also on prices. Government shouldn’t and cannot solve problems that the free market and consumers can do better!

* The energy bill headed for the house/senate conference committee will do more harm to my small business and employers like me. Please vote against this energy bill that includes tax increases and prohibits free markets from working!

* I strongly encourage you to oppose the Democrat’s energy bill because it raises taxes, gives, incentives to “alternative energy” that isn’t proven to work, and inhibits companies from providing lower-priced oil and natural gas right here in America, instead of going oversees to provide the same thing for a higher price.

* The cost of oil and natural gas are high enough!!! Three dollars at the pump is very high, and a real strain on my budget. Any further taxes put on by the government will have a real impact on my bottom line – and the consumers in the area as well. These harmful new taxes and regulations on the energy industry will only hurt people like me.

* Please DO NOT support tax increases on energy in America, and please DO support domestic energy exploration.

Defend Archbishop Nienstedt's Right to Shepherd His Flock

For the second time in less than a week, Archbishop John Nienstedt has been publically vilified for simply communicating the Catholic Church’s teaching on human sexuality. In today’s Minneapolis Star Tribune, Nick Coleman castigated the Archbishop for his recent column in the Catholic Spirit newspaper in which the Archbishop concisely and charitably explained the Catholic Church's teaching regarding a homosexual's obligation to chastity and the Church's obligation to support and encourage such a chaste lifestyle. Nick Coleman’s criticisms, together with those of other homosexual activists, expose a deep-seated intolerance and hatred some have towards those who hold traditional values regarding human sexuality.

TAKE ACTION

Click here to send a note of thanks to Archbishop Nienstedt for having the courage to speak-out on the moral teachings of the Church.

Click here to write a letter to the editor in response to Nick Coleman's article attacking Archbishop Nienstedt.
Please FORWARD THIS MESSAGE to friends and family members.

Voter Identification

I went to the library recently and realized that I no longer possessed a library card. When I asked about getting a new one , I was asked to provide valid identification.

I was at the Holiday gas station on Robert Street last week and the lady in front of me in line was asked to show her ID to purchase a pack of smokes. She appeared to me to be about thirty but the cashier was playing it safe.

Quite often, people are carded at the liquor store. If you are pulled over as the result of a traffic stop you must show your drivers license. If you go to the bank to conduct business you must show identification. If you go to a gun shop and purchase a firearm, you must show a valid ID.

At a local credit union, a St. Paul police officer became upset. He was refused service because he did not have his drivers license. He was in uniform and had his name tag on, but as the teller had told him, anyone could dress up like a cop and print up a name tag.

According to Mark Ritchie, Minnesota's Secretary of State, requiring valid photo ID would only disenfranchise voters. Why is it that every thing we do, we must show identification to conduct business in our day to day lives, but some do not think it should be required to vote?

I recently became aware of a study by Jeffrey D. Milyo, a professor at the University of Missouri. In this study, the professor claims that the new photo ID law in Indiana did not hurt voter turn out in a recent election and showed a 2 percent increase in democrat voter turn out from the 2002 election.

Click on this link to be further enlightened on this issue. It is an interesting article on the subject.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20071127/NATION/111270031/1002

It is odd, in my opinion, that an ID is required for everything we do, but to exercise one of most important traditions of our democracy this issue would be contested. I have no qualms with same day registration as long as a photo ID is required.

Norm Coleman to Address State of Conservatism in Minnesota Conference

Freedom Foundation of Minnesota is pleased to announce that U.S. Senator Norm Coleman will deliver a keynote address at this Saturday's State of Conservatism in Minnesota Conference. Senator Coleman will share his thoughts on the state of the conservative movement in Minnesota and nationally and what conservatives must do to advance their agenda.

Senator Coleman joins a group of distinguished conservative leaders who will be addressing the conference throughout the day. Confirmed speakers include:


Governor Tim Pawlenty
Michael Barone, FOX News contributor
Tony Fabrizio, nationally acclaimed polling expert
Jason Lewis, host of the Twin Cities' The Jason Lewis Show
Former Congressman Vin Weber

Due to generous underwriting support for the conference, registration is only $40 per person. This special cost includes all conference materials as well as continental breakfast, lunch, and gala dinner.

This exciting conference will begin at 8:00 a.m. this Saturday, December 1 at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest in Minnetonka. (Registration opens at 7:00 a.m.) Attendees will have numerous opportunities to interact directly with conference speakers, panelists, and fellow conservative leaders and activists from throughout Minnesota.



Click here for more information on conference registration, speakers, location and other details. For online registration, click here.

Please Freedom Foundation of Minnesota at 612-279-2022 with additional questions.

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear First Second Amendment Case Since 1939

Here is where you can make a difference and take the step toward protecting your 2nd amendment rights! Contribute to the NRA here! https://secure.nraila.org/Contribute.aspx



Sarah Brady and her gaggle of anti 2nd amendment numb nuts are busy preparing their own brief for the Supreme Court. We must support the NRA! Contribute here! https://secure.nraila.org/Contribute.aspx



Tuesday, November 20, 2007


Fairfax, Va. - The United States Supreme Court today announced its decision to take up District of Columbia v. Heller-a case in which plaintiffs challenge the unconstitutional gun ban in the nation’s capital. The District of Columbia appealed a lower court’s ruling earlier this year affirming that the Second Amendment of the Constitution protects an individual right to keep and bear arms, and that the District’s bans on handguns, carrying firearms within the home, and possession of loaded or operable firearms for self-defense violate that right.


The NRA will participate in this case through briefs as a friend of the court. Oral arguments are likely to take place in early 2008.


In March, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit held that “[T]he phrase ‘the right of the people,’ when read intratextually and in light of Supreme Court precedent, leads us to conclude that the right in question is individual.” The D.C. Circuit also rejected the claim that the Second Amendment does not apply to the District of Columbia because D.C. is not a state.


The decision marks the first time a Second Amendment challenge to a firearm law has reached the Supreme Court since 1939.

ROBERT STREET TRANSIT PUBLIC WORKSHOPS TO BE HELD

The public can attend one of three workshops at the end of November and early December where comments will be collected as part of the Robert Street Corridor Transit Feasibility Study. The study will evaluate transit alternatives to identify opportunities and impacts to improve transit along the Robert Street corridor.

Transit options being considered along primary county transportation corridors include light rail transit, bus rapid transit, modern streetcars, and express buses. Possible corridors include Robert Street and South Robert Trail, Highways 52 and 55, Highway 110 and Mendota Road, Yankee Doodle Road and 80th Street, and County Road 42.

Workshops will be held at:
Dakota County Northern Service Center
1 Mendota Road W., West St. Paul
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m., presentation at 4 p.m.

Dakota County Technical College
1300 145th St. E. (County 42), Rosemount
Thursday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m., presentation at 6:30 p.m
(in the Dakota Room- off west parking lot)

Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building
179 Robie St. E., St. Paul
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m., presentation at 6 p.m.

The workshops are part of Dakota County’s development of a long-term transit vision for the County. The study, conducted in collaboration with the Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority and local municipalities provides local decision makers and stakeholders with tools to develop transportation solutions to congestion and transportation issues for the future. To guide the study, the County hired a consultant, URS Corporation, and assembled a Technical Advisory Committee and a Steering Committee, which includes elected officials and staff from throughout the study area.

The study area extends from downtown Saint Paul to Rosemount and from Highway 35E to the Mississippi River. It includes the cities of Saint Paul, West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Lilydale, Sunfish Lake, Inver Grove Heights, and portions of Mendota, Mendota Heights, Rosemount, and Eagan.The study will also consider transportation opportunities in the UMorePark area. Population in the corridor is expected to increase by 44percent, and employment by 27 percent by the year 2030.

For more information visit: www.dakotacounty.us and enter “Robert Street” in the search feature. Dakota County’s Office of Transit coordinates public transit planning services for Dakota County residents. The Office’s mission is to improve existing and future mobility needs within Dakota County through comprehensive transit planning and innovative and progressive project development.

Clinton Quotes

The source of the following quotes are from the House Republican Conference and press reports. Watching Hillary's campaign makes me think that she sure has learned quite a lot from her husband on double-speak. They have turned it into an art form.


"We need to provide a tax credit of up to $800 per child to ease the burden on working families."
-Bill Clinton, March 1992


"We will lower the tax burden on middle-class Americans. Middle-class taxpayers will have a choice between a children's tax credit or a significant reduction in their income tax rate."
-Bill Clinton, "Putting People First"


"We should cut middle-class taxes immediately by 10 percent."
-Bill Clinton, Campaign Document, September, 1992


"We want to give modest middle-class tax relief to restore some fairness, especially to middle-class people with families with incomes of under $60,000 per year."
-Bill Clinton, First Presidential Debate, October, 1992


"I've offered a comprehensive plan to get our economy moving again. It starts with a tax cut for the middle class." -Bill Clinton, First Campaign Ad, January 1992


"I want to make it very clear that this middle-class tax cut, in my view, is central to any attempt we're going to make to have a short term economic strategy."
-Bill Clinton, January 19, 1992


"From New Hampshire forward, for reasons that absolutely mystified me, the press thought the most important issue in the race was the middle-class tax cut. I never did meet any voter who thought that."
-Bill Clinton, Press Conference, January 14, 1993


"I will slash boondoggle projects."
-Bill Clinton, "Putting People First"


"We're slashing subsidies and canceling wasteful projects. Many of these programs were justified in their time and a lot of them were difficult for me personally .... We're going to have no sacred cows."
-Bill Clinton, State of the Union, February 18, 1993


"The Clinton team's search for programs 'that don't work or are no longer needed' found only eleven."
-The Wall Street Journal, March23, 1993


"I will not raise taxes on the middle class."
-Bill Clinton, June 21, 1992


"I'm not going to raise taxes on the middle class."
-Bill Clinton, July 13, 1992


"The middle class has paid through the nose for a decade. We have to be somewhat wary of making a problem of inadequate income even worse by taxing people whose incomes are going down. That's my premise."
-Bill Clinton, Quoted in Time, July 20, 1992


"I had hoped to invest in your future without asking more of you. And I've worked harder than I've ever worked in my life to meet that goal. But I can't."
-Bill Clinton, Oval Office Address, February 15, 1993, Announcing Middle-Class Tax Increase After Being in Office Less Than One Month


"I can tell you this. I'm not going to raise taxes on middle-income Americans to pay for the programs I've recommended. If the money does not come in to pay for these programs, we will cut other government spending or we will slow down the phase-in of these programs."
-Bill Clinton, Last Presidential Debate, October 19, 1992


$178 billion: cost of Clinton's proposed new spending.
$173 billion: revenues raised under Clinton plan from Social Security, income, energy, and gas taxes.
-Bill Clinton's Budget Document, "A Vision of Change for America," February 1993


"It is a disgrace to the American people that the president of the United States would make a claim that is so baseless, that is so without foundation, so shameless in its attempt to get votes under false pretenses."
-Bill Clinton, October 1, 1992, in Response to a Bush-Quayle Ad That People With Incomes of as little as $36,000 would pay more taxes under the Clinton plan.


"There are [tax] increases for every family making more than $20,000 a year."
-New York Times Analysis of Clinton's budget


"When I began the campaign, the projected deficit was $250 billion a year, not $400 billion."
-Bill Clinton, quoted in Business Week, July 6, 1992


"When I started in New Hampshire working with those numbers, we felt the deficit was going to be around $250 billion a year, not $400 billion."
-Bill Clinton, quoted in Time, July 20, 1992


"The deficit of this country is about $50 billion a year bigger than I was told it was going to be before the election."
-Bill Clinton, February 10, 1993, after "discovering" that the deficit was $290 billion, $110 billion less than he had claimed in July


"My plan will cut the deficit in four years and assure that the deficit continues to fall each year after that."
-Bill Clinton, June20, 1992


"My economics package will cut $500 billion from the deficit in five years."
-Bill Clinton, press conference, March 23, 1993


Deficit in 1998 with Clinton budget: $234 billion.
Deficit in 2001 with Clinton budget: $401 billion.
-Bill Clinton's budget document, "A Vision of Change for America," February 1993


"I don't like to use the word sacrifice."
-Bill Clinton, May 1992


"It will not be easy. It will require sacrifice."
-Bill Clinton, January 1993"


My plan is basically 50-50, spending cuts and revenues the first four years."
-Bill Clinton, February 1993


"If the Senate will adopt a budget resolution like the House did, the American people will know we are not going to raise taxes until we cut spending, and we are going to create jobs."
-Bill Clinton, press conference, March 1993


Net new taxes: $267 billion- Net new spending cuts: $55 billion- 83 percent taxes, 17 percent spending cuts
-Congressional Budget Office analysis of Clinton budget, March 1993


"He [Bush] hasn't fought a real war on crime and drugs. I will."
-Bill Clinton, Democratic National Convention, July 16, 1992


121 positions at the Office of National Drug Control Policy eliminated. Policy of random drug testing for White House staff revoked.
-White House announcement, February 9, 1993


"I think President Bush played racial politics with the Haitian refugees. I wouldn't be shipping those poor poeple back."-Bill Clinton, March 27, 1992


"The practice of returning those who fled by boat will continue, for the time being, after I become president. Those who do leave Haiti by boat will be stopped and directly returned by the United States Coast Guard."
-Bill Clinton, January 14, 1993"My Haiti policy is not the same as the Bush policy."-Bill Clinton, January 14, 1993


"Administration to Defend Bush Haitian Policy in Court."
-The Washington Post, March 1, 1993


"If [Mr. Hussein] wants a different relationship with the Untied States, all he has to do is change his behavior."
-Bill Clinton, Quoted in The New York Times, January 13, 1993


"Everybody who heard those conversations was astonished that such a conclusion could be drawn. Nobody asked me about normalization."
-Bill Clinton, January 14, 1993, Denying that he made conciliatory remarks regarding Saddam Hussein


"The president inadvertently forgot that he was asked and he regrets denying that it was asked."
-George Stephanopoulis, January 15, 1993, After New York Times transcripts revealed that Clinton had been specifically asked about "normal relations" and "normalization," not once, but five times.


"We call for an immediate repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians serving in United States Armed Forces."
-Bill Clinton, campaign document, October 1992


"I was frankly appalled that we spent so much time in the first week on geys in the military."
-Bill Clinton, Februaury 10, 1993


"Senators in the other party wanted it dealt with now. I actually spent very little time on the issue myself."
-Bill Clinton, February 10, 1993, a few minutes later


"I am going to ask them [Congress] to cut spending in a broad range of areas."
-Bill Clinton, February 10, 1993, referring to budget that cuts spending primarily in one area: the military


"As long as I am president, I will do everything I cna do to make sure that the men and women who serve under the American flag will remain the best trained, the best prepared, the best equipped fighting force in the world."
-Bill Clinton, Joint Session of Congress, Februaury 17, 1993


"I will save the country $700 billion by the turn of the century under my proposals to cap health care costs."
-Bill Clinton, September 24, 1992"This plan is not play or pay. It wil require no new taxes."-Bill Clinton, September 24, 1992, in a speech on his health-care plan to employees of Merck Pharmaceuticals in Rahway, New Jersey


"Clinton Health Plan to Cost $100 Billion a Year."
-Washington Times, April 23, 1993


"The health-care task force has just met."
-Bill Clinton, announcig the formation of the task force of 526 members under Hillary Clinton, January 25, 1992


"The health-care task force has never met."
-argument made by White House lawyers before federal judge Royce Lamberth on the legality of the closed task force meetings, March 1993


"I did not mean to float a trial balloon about a national sales tax. It's not under consideration at this time. Ten to 15 years away."
-Bill Clinton, February 19, 1993


"We have to reject tax-and-spend economics."
-Bill Clinton, National League of Cities conference, March 8, 1993


"Certainly, we're looking at a VAT tax."
-Donna Shalala, Secratary of Health and Human Services, April 15, 1993


"The problem with the structural deficit is rooted in the early 1980s when we cut income taxes and increased defense spending."
-Bill Clinton, "Putting People first"


Individual income taxes 1980: $244 billion
Individual income taxes 1992: $476 billion
National defense budget 1980: 5.1 percent of GDP
National defense budget 1992: 5.0 percent of GDP
-U. S. Budget Office, January 1993


"I'm sure-after almost five weeks in office-that there are more [budget] cuts coming."
-Bill Clinton, U. S. Chamber of Commerce, February 1993


"The president had no specific cuts in mind and no schedule for masking them."
-George Stephanopoulos, the next day


"We don't need to tamper with Social Security."
-Bill Clinton, September 1992


"The budget plan does ask older Americans with higher incomes who do not rely solely on Social Security to get by or contribute more."
-Bill Clinton, State of the Union, January 1993


"I have confirmed that I intend to present to the leadership in Congress a plan of action for the first hundred days of the next presidency."
-Bill Clinton, June 6, 1992


"If I'm elected, I'll have the bills ready the day after I'm inaugurated. I'll send them to Congress and we'll have a hundred-day period."
-Bill Clinton, "Good Morning America" June23, 1992


"My first one hundred days will be the most productive in modern history."
-Bill Clinton, June 1992


"People of the press are expecting to have some 100-day program. We never had one."
-Dee Dee Myers, January 12, 1993

Vote For Hillary Online is Hilarious!

A comment from a recent reader aroused my curiosity. The person who left the comment is involved with,

http://www.voteforhillaryonline.com/

After checking out this website, I was instantly amused by this paragraph.

Initially, the intent of this website was to promote Hillary Clinton and ensure that she is elected president in 2008. We were going to list her positions on this website, but because of how quickly her positions change on each issue, we simply don't have the staff to be able to keep up with all the updates. For now though, we have for you an outstanding clip from the last Democratic debate.

Is this supposed to be helpful to her campaign? I think not by a long shot. And I bet it will be updated really quick after they read this!! Hillary brings new meaning to flip-flop!

23/6: SwiftKids: Hillary Clinton

This clip from Youtube.com is hilarious! Just like the democrats march out little kids to stand behind when they "inform" us of the latest social crisis. How they stand behind these children and inform us "it's for the children." This video does a great job of parodying them.

Chavez: US Attack on Iran Will Spike Oil

Here is the latest from that wannabe kook, Chavez. He has nationalized the oil industry of his nation. He has nationalized the media of Venezuela. He is now busy changing their constitution so he can be president for life. Government sponsored paramilitary troops have recently opened fire on an estimated 250,000 student protesters who oppose his socialist rule. Chavez is doing all he can to be the next Castro. And Hollywood and Sean Penn tell us what a great guy Chavez is. Why, because he bashes our President. Go out and rent the movie Team America, World Police. If you have not seen it yet, you will be amused by the members of The Film Actors Guild, also known by the acronym FAG. Sean Penn is a member, which is a good roll for him.



Saturday November 17, 3:04 pm ET

By Sebastian Abbot, Associated Press Writer
Chavez, at OPEC Meeting, Warns US Attack on Iran or Venezuela Would Raise Oil Prices


RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- In his opening address of a rare OPEC summit, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned the United States on Saturday that oil prices would further surge if the U.S. contemplates an attack against his country or Iran.

Minutes after Chavez declared that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries should "assert itself as an active political agent," Saudi King Abdullah appeared to rebuke the Venezuelan, insisting that "OPEC has always acted moderately and wisely."


"Oil shouldn't be a tool for conflict, it should be a tool for development," said the king, a close U.S. ally whose country is the world's largest oil producer.


The OPEC summit opened Saturday in Saudi Arabia, with heads of states and delegates from 12 of the world's biggest oil-producing nations. Chavez warned that the U.S. should not target OPEC members for foreign policy reasons.


"If the United States attempts the madness of invading Iran or attacking Venezuela again, the price of oil is probably going to reach $200, not just $100," Chavez said.


While Iran has been in a standoff with the U.S. over its nuclear program, left-wing Chavez is a bitter antagonist of President Bush.


"We are witnessing constant threats against Iran. I think OPEC should strengthen itself in this capacity and demand respect for the sovereignty of our nations, if the developed world wants a guaranteed supply of oil."
It was the third full OPEC summit since the organization was created in 1960.


The run-up to the meeting was dominated by speculation over whether OPEC would raise production following recent oil price increases that have closed in on $100.


U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman called on OPEC to increase production earlier this week, but cartel officials have said they will hold off any decision until the group meets next month in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.


They have also cast doubt on the effect any output hike would have on oil prices, saying the recent rise has been driven by the falling dollar and financial speculation by investment funds, rather than any supply shortage.


Saudi Arabia opposed a move by Iran on Friday to have OPEC include concerns over the falling dollar included in the summit's closing statement after the weekend meeting.

Senate Per Diem

I recently received the latest per diem records for our state senators. There are some interesting figures in this list. First, lets start with the members of the Rules Committee. They are responsible for the 45% increase to their own per diem. They did this without a senate vote! They are privileged enough to do this on their own!

Larry Pogemiller, DFL Minneapolis
Per Diem, $15,894.00
Mileage $677.91
Other $1500.00
Total $18,071.91

Tarryl Clark, DFL St Cloud
Per Diem, $16,436.00
Mileage, $3,142.09
Other $9,667.20
Total $29,245.29

David Senjem, Republican Rochester
Per Diem, $13,440.00
Mileage, $1907.02
Other, $11,353.04
Total, $26,700.06

Thomas Bakk, DFL Virginia This man has taken more from us taxpayers than any other senator!
Per Diem, $17,406.00
Mileage, $10,375.61 Number two! My boss pays me forty cents per mile. At that rate Tom Bakk has claimed close to 26,000 miles. Divide that by 60 miles per hour and you get over 433 hours of driving. That is close to 11 working weeks of driving time! If he is doing all that driving, when is he at the capitol? If he is driving back and forth to home, why is he claiming so much "Other" expenses such as housing allowance?
Other, $15,255.66
Total, $43,037.27 Number One!

Linda Berglin, DFL Minneapolis
Per Diem, $18,144.00
Mileage, $167.83
Other, $3520.81
Total, $21,832.64

Richard Cohen, DFL St Paul
Per Diem, $11,687.50
Mileage, $0.00
Other, $1,575.00
Total, $13,262.50

Dennis Frederickson, Republican New Ulm
Per Diem, $14,400.00
Mileage, $5,117.69
Other, $11,439.72
Total, $30,957.41

Keith Langseth, DFL Glyndon
Per Diem, $16,236.00
Mileage, $10,829.35 Number One! See Thomas Bakk! Above
Other, $11,903.43
Total, $38,968.78

Jim Metzen, DFL South St Paul This man claims a 15 mile round trip to the capitol. Mileage information is available in the Senate Journal
Per Diem, $14,784.00
Mileage, $321.08 What for? His round trip to work and back?
Other, $725.00
Total, $15,830.08

Gen Olson, Republican Minnetrista
Per Diem, $14,688.00
Mileage, $443.29 She lives in Minnetrista. This is quite a bit further than South Saint Paul!
Other, $1,868.69
Total, $16,999.98

Mee Moua, DFL St Paul is the number one taxpayer gouger in per diem. And she lives on Saint Paul's east side! She probably lives closer to the capitol than any other senator! She could easily set a fine example to all of us and ride a bike to session!
Per Diem, $19,266.00 Number One!
Mileage, $0.00
Other, $4,105.24 What is this for? I am quite sure she does not receive any housing allowance.
Total, $23,371.24

Ray Vandeveer, Republican Forest Lake This man is responsible for bringing attention to the Rules Committee's behavior and causing our senators to declare on the senate floor whether they will be taking the full $96.00 per day.
Per Diem, $9,174.00
Mileage, $0.00
Other, $1,200.00
Total, $10,374.00

Other Notables,

Richard Day, Republican Owatonna He has taken the least amount of per diem than any other senator!
Per Diem, $8,844.00
Mileage, $3,729.25
Other, $8,934.13
Total, $21,507.38

Pat Pariseau, Republican Farmington Senator Pariseau lives quite a bit further than our own Senator Metzen. Just look at how much more money Senator Metzen feels he is entitled too!
Per Diem, $9,732.00
Mileage, $31.04
Other, $2,357.28
Total, $12,120.32

Leroy Stumpf, DFL Plummer
Per Diem, $14,610.00
Mileage, $10,029.85 Number four on the mileage list! See Thomas Bakk!
Other, $11,912.33
Total, $36,552.18 Number four overall!

David Tomassoni, DFL Chisholm
Per Diem, $17,700.00 Fourth in per diem!
Mileage, $10,152.13 Third in mileage!
Other, $12,824.12
Total, $40,676.25 Number two!

Those who have claimed zero mileage.

Don Betzold, DFL Fridley
Jim Carlson, DFL Eagan
Richard Cohen, DFL St. Paul
Tony Lourey, DFL Kerrick
Geoff Michel, Republican Edina
Mee Moua, DFL St Paul
Julianne Ortman, Republican Chanhassen

Those that have claimed less than $100.00 in mileage. All of these senators live further away from the capitol than our own Senator Metzen yet he claims more mileage than any of them.
D. Scott Dibble, DFL Minneapolis $63.05
John Doll, DFL Burnsville $91.18
David Hann, Republican Eden Prairie $54.32
Linda Higgins, DFL Minneapolis $11.64
Debbie J. Johnson, Republican Ham Lake $58.20
Dan Larson, DFL Bloomington $95.06
Ron Latz, DFL St. Louis Park $15.52
Pat Pariseau, Republican Farmington $31.04
Patricia Ray, DFL Minneapolis $40.74

Controversial Ad From Tom Tancredo

Tom Tancredo has the brass stones to tell it like it is. Watch his new commercial and see for yourself! Then look him up and send him a check. You can find out how right here! http://teamtancredo.org/

Commitee Budgets Doubled Under democrats Control!

This is a press release from House Minority Leader Marty Seifert. He points out that in just one year of House democratic control, the budget for the myriad amount of committees is doubled from $324,000 under the previouss Republican controlled House, to $646,000 under democratic control.

DEMOCRATS TURN A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE INTO A FULL-TIME JOB

Seifert Says: "It's time to cut government."

SAINT PAUL - (November 7, 2007) - Citing more than 80 committees, subcommittees, working groups, task forces and commissions in the Minnesota House of Representatives, House Republican Leader Marty Seifert today criticized Democrats for the expansive and expensive growth in government.

"The explosive growth of government shows what happens when Democrats take over," said House Republican Leader Marty Seifert. "The complicated and bloated process is confusing to the public, time consuming and expensive. There is little to show for the excessive amount of meetings taking place. When all is said and done, there will be a lot more said than done."

Seifert said it is nearly impossible to determine how many groups are working on legislation and how much this process is costing Minnesota taxpayers.

"There seems to be a lot of repetition without reason. We question the necessity of having so many subgroups working on legislation that a standing committee should be able to accomplish on its own and the great number of meetings being held at taxpayers expense to hear about the problems but not bring forward solutions,"
Seifert said "The Democrats have turned a part-time citizen legislature into a full-time job."

Seifert said at a time when schools and nursing homes are struggling to make their budgets, House Democrats chose to almost double its operations budget from $324,000 to $646,000 during a House Rules Committee meeting in August.

"We gave schools a mere 3 percent increase for the biennium and nursing homes received even less than that but then gave gigantic increases to the Legislature," Seifert said. "This is a matter of priorities. The Democrats ran on fiscal responsibility and leadership. They have failed to demonstrate either during their reign of confusion in the Minnesota House. When House Republicans are in charge, we will restore fiscal sanity by cutting the number of committees by more than 50 percent and returning costs to prior levels."

Seifert said he is most concerned about the upcoming legislative session.

"We have important issues we need to resolve and this process doesn't make me confident that we will achieve those results," Seifert said. "In the private sector, failing businesses are often over managed and under led. The more than 80 House Democrat committees are too busy mopping the floor to take time and turn off the faucet."