Capitol Improvement

More massive mega-waste planned at the Capitol. There are plans to remodel the state Capitol to the tune of $260 million. The project consists of building offices, a lobby, and an auditorium underneath the Capitol plaza. The plan also includes creating a visitors center, increasing the number of hearing rooms, revamping security, improving accessibility, and adding restrooms. Planners hope to start the work in the fall of 2008. It will take 6 years to finish.
Questions concerning this escapade of our elected officials include,
Do we want tons of our tax money spent on the state Capitol instead of other liberal waste or maybe property tax relief?
Should lawmakers start the flow of funds this year? I would bet they already have a plan.Wasn't something like this mentioned in the 2005 session? Obviously some cash has been spent on this already. It looks like some architect made some income drawing up the design.

A joke from Paul K.

One day a fourth-grade teacher asked the children what their fathers did for a living.

All the typical answers came up -- fireman, mechanic, businessman, salesman, doctor, lawyer, and so forth.

But little Justin was being uncharacteristically quiet, so when the teacher prodded him about his father, he replied, "My father's an exotic dancer in a gay cabaret and takes off all his clothes in front of other men and they put money in his underwear. Sometimes, if the offer is really good, he will go home with some guy and stay with him all night for money."

The teacher, obviously shaken by this statement, hurriedly set the other children to work on some exercises and then took little Justin aside to ask him, "Is that really true about your father?"

"No," the boy said, "He works for the Democratic National Committee and is helping to get Hillary Clinton to be our next President, but I was too embarrassed to say that in front of the other kids."

Quote for the day

"The world is a dangerous place to live in. Not because of people who do evil, but because of the people that do nothing about it."

Albert Einstein

Metzen and his per diem increase

As you all know, the Senate approved increasing their per diem by 45%. I thought it would be prudent to inform you that this was approved by committee only. Not by a vote of the full senate. The Committee on Rules and Administration is the guilty bunch. And guess what. Our own Jim Metzen is on this very committee. No surprise there. We could only expect as much from him. I must mention again that Senator Metzen has taken $66,630.00 in the last seven years in per diem and he claims only a 15 mile round trip from his home to the capitol. I understand that our legislators get a mileage reimbursement also.

Here are some of my correspondence with Representatives Rick Hanson (D), and Laura Brod (R)

Hello Rick,

I just read Representative Laura Brod's press release expressing her disgust with the recent increase in per diem. I believe that you could really score major points with your constituents by introducing a bill to repeal this increase. Could you tell me who was responsible for this being passed in the Senate? Are you planning on appearing on any more "Capitol Call In" shows? Are there any more planned? I do not feel that my questions were answered.That you justify taking the per diem because the pay is minimal.

I finally signed up for your email updates. A friend tells me they are very informative.

Bill Jungbauer

Bill:

I thought I gave a pretty detailed response to your question during the call in show. We are working on having more cable call ins as well as some town meetings. The Rules Committee passes the per diem rules in each house of the Legislature. Glad you signed up for the email updates.
Rick Hansen
State Representative
401 State Office Building
(651) 296-6828

Dear Representative Laura Brod,

After reading your press release expressing your views on the recent increase in per diem, I became curious as to why none of you have introduced a bill to repeal it. I live in district 39 and I have been giving Metzen, Hanson, and Atkins as much misery as I can on this issue. Could you please tell me who was responsible for this being passed in the senate? If Metzen is responsible, I want to know so I may post it on my blog. http://jungbauer2010.blogspot.com/
As a fellow Republican I feel that I can trust you to help me in my goal to keep them on their toes.

Thank You,

Bill Jungbauer

Bill,

Thanks for your email. The per diem/housing issue is concerning to a number of us especially since it did not even get voted on by the full House of Representatives. In regard to your comment regarding a bill to repeal... even if a bill was introduced, it would most likely not get a hearing since the Democrats control the gavels and therefore make those determinations. They obviously wanted the increase or it would never have seen the light of day in committee. Our best bet is to go the amendment route. We have a number of options in terms of which bills to try to amend and will need to be prepared in order to do so as they come forward this session. In our Government Operations Committee on which I serve, we have tried a number of times in to, at the very least, ensure that no per diem is paid during special session. We recently tried to restrict per diem and housing by trying to amend a bill authored by Diane Loeffler (D-Mpls) authorizing a continuing Resolution to "keep the lights on" if the legislature does not come to agreement before our deadlines (which House Republicans generally oppose). If you can believe it, even this amendment was defeated by the Democrats. By defeating that amendment, they seem to think that they should be paid per diem even if the job at hand is not complete.You can be assured that we will keep bringing this issue up and will keep our eyes open for opportunities to amend legislation to repeal the increase. In regard to who led the charge on the issue in the Senate, I am not able to tell you with any degree of certainty. I am also not fully aware of Metzen's role in this. I hope this information is helpful. The Democrats have made many promises and I am very concerned with some of the procedural gyration which have already occurred. We have had only two significant bills voted on the House floor and each time were told by the Democrats that if we tried to amend them, we would kill the bills. In fact, last week a bill was up on the House floor which clearly did not go through all the appropriate committees. House Republicans tried over and over to send the bill back to the appropriate committees so the concerns with the bill could be ironed out. We were denied. This all or nothing attitude that the Democrats have displayed so far is not what I believe Minnesotans were hoping for when they made their votes last Fall. Stay tuned...Thank you for taking the time to email!
Laura Brod

Representative Laura Brod, District 25A
581 State Office Building
100 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-4229
fax (651) 296-4307
Greater Minnesota: (800) 341-0510

rep.laura.brod@house.mn

Please visit my personal website at
http://www.laurabrod.com/

.Subscribe to my email updates at:
www.house.mn/25A

Voice of the Soldier

I bumped into this on http://www.specialforces.com/newsletter/2007_02/ A great website where you can get the truth from the source, our great men and women in uniform!

How dare we stop a suicide bomber! He has rights, you know...
You sure won't read of this in the leftist press

Thanks to Cliff Parrot for forwarding the following E-Mail from US Army Captain John Hunt who is in Afghanistan.

Hi everyone.I'm still alive but freezing my tail off. We got 8 inches of snow last week and it reached 5 degrees below zero that night. That's not why I'm e-mailing though.

You may have heard about a suicide car bomb attack in Kabul last Thursday. It was at one of our FOB's (Forward Observation Bases) about 27 miles from here.

But the real story is why no one was killed. We employ several thousand Afghans on our various bases. Not to mention the economy that is fed by the money these locals are making. Some are laborers and builders, but some are skilled workers. We even have one Afghan that just became OSHA qualified, the first ever. Some are skilled HVAC workers.

Anyway, there is this one Afghan that we call Rambo. We have actually given him a couple of sets of the new ACU uniforms (the new Army digital camouflage) with the name tag RAMBO on it. His entire family was killed by the Taliban and his home was where our base currently resides. So this guy really had nowhere else to go.
He has reached such a level of trust with US Forces that his job is to stand at the front gate and basically be the first security screening. Since he can't have a weapon, he found a big red pipe. So he stands there at the front gate in his US Army ACU uniform with his red pipe. If a vehicle approaches the gate too fast or fails to stop he slams his pipe down on their hood. Then once the gate is lifted the vehicle moves on the 2nd gate where the US Army MP's are. So he's like the first line of defense.

Last Thursday at 0930 hrs a Toyota Corolla packed with explosives and some Jack Ass that thinks he has 72 Virgins waiting for him approached the gate. When he saw Rambo he must have recognized him and known the gig was up. But he needed to get to that 2nd gate to detonate and take American lives. So he slams his foot on the gas which almost causes the metal gate to go up but mostly catches on the now broken windshield. Rambo fearlessly ran to the vehicle, reached thru the window and jerked the suicide bomber out of the vehicle before he could detonate and commenced to putting some red pipe to his heathen ass. He detained the guy until the MP got there. The vehicle only exploded when they tried to push it off base with a robot but no one was hurt.
I'm still waiting for someone to give this guy a medal or something. Nothing less than instant US citizenship or something.

A hat was passed around and a lot of money was given to him in thanks by both soldiers and civilians that are working over here. I guess I just wanted to share this because I want people to know that it's working over here.
They have tasted freedom. This makes it worth it to me.
JOHN W. HUNT, CPT, US ARMY
Operations Officer
Bagram, Afghanistan

Quote for the day

"History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster."
Gen. Douglas MacArthur,
at the close of World War II

The Minnesota Property Tax Project

This was emailed to me this morning by DGH. Property taxes are a hot issue. Mine have doubled in the past several years. I pay property taxes, a street assessment, and my share of a $57 million school levy.

I believe in a sliding fee scale for the elderly, a little old lady on social security should have her property taxes frozen. Meaning no increases for any reason, no exceptions. That includes street assessments or school levies. If your doing well with a good retirement income, pay your share like the rest of us.

Here is your chance to speak up! Remember these words, "The world is run by those who show up."

The Minnesota Property Tax Project, being ramrodded by the DFL, probably won't bear the results we're looking for, but I suggest that we present our liberty proposals anyway. We can't criticize their plans unless we have better ones to offer. If you send your ideas to the project, please share a carbon copy with the group so we can add our support to the best ideas as well.

The following news item from the League of Minnesota Taxpayers gives you all the links you need to participate:

Think you’ve got a solution to property tax increases?

I can’t promise any results (well, the kind of results the Taxpayers League would approve of anyway), but Rep. Paul Marquart (DFL-Dilworth), chair of the Property Tax Relief division of the Taxes committee, has set up a website – the Minnesota Property Tax Project – to gather ideas for bringing “property tax relief to every Minnesotan.” While Rep. Marquart has acknowledged that “conservative Republican solutions – such as deep cuts in local government spending or giving more power to property owners to force referenda – might not be prime candidates for ‘Idea of the Day,’” they will still “consider any and all suggestions.” That may not leave many options for those of us inclined to suggest fiscally responsible solutions, but in the spirit of Groundhog Day I would sincerely hope that you take five minutes and send the DFL your two-cents. Of course, we could wake up tomorrow and find that all we’re going to get is the same nightmare solutions we’ve seen out of every other “tax relief” package to come from the DFL, but unless you're this guy, we can always hope tomorrow will be different.

Also, for folks out there who aren’t hooked up to “the Google” there are a couple of phone numbers set up to take your ideas: in the Metro (651) 297-8391 and in Greater Minnesota 1-800-551-5520.

BROD BLASTS HOUSE PER DIEM AND HOUSING ALLOWANCE INCREASES

As you all know by my previous posts, I am very irate about the increase in per diem our crooked legislators are getting away with. I will continue to post every thing I can find on this issue. Here is a press release from Representative Laura Brod (R-New Prague). At the end of this entry you will find all the members of the Rules Committee and their email address and phone numbers. Give em hell people!

ST. PAUL - Going back on a promise to Minnesotans that they would legislate in a “fiscally responsible” manner, House Democrats, with some support from a handful of Republican legislators, recently pushed through a healthy pay raise. What’s equally concerning, according to State Representative Laura Brod (R-New Prague) is that the move was made just less than two weeks into the 2007 session and was made without a vote of the entire House of Representatives.

“If this is the type of fiscal responsibility we’re going to see in January, just imagine what’s coming down the pike in May,” Brod said. “Hold on to your wallets.”

Brod noted that the action allows House lawmakers to receive $77 dollars each day for per diem - or a meal allowance - whether they spend it or not. They can also receive $1,200 per month to find a place to live. They can also receive this funding for the entire year. The Minnesota House is only in session for five months.

The move was approved by the DFL-controlled House Rules Committee, and does not require a full House floor vote.

“This is nothing more than a backdoor pay increase without open and honest debate,” Brod said. “I have taken dozens of calls on this issue. People are outraged, and they have every right to be."

“This is an awful message to our citizens and I strongly oppose it. Personally, I will not be accepting this per diem increase or the housing allowance,” Brod concluded.



Phone Number(651) area code
E-mail Address
Chair: Anthony "Tony" Sertich (DFL)
296-0172
rep.tony.sertich@house.mn

Vice Chair: Diane Loeffler (DFL)
296-4219
rep.diane.loeffler@house.mn

Lead-GOP: Erik Paulsen (R)
296-7449
rep.erik.paulsen@house.mn

Mark Buesgens (R)
296-5185
rep.mark.buesgens@house.mn

Lyndon Carlson (DFL)
296-4255
rep.lyndon.carlson@house.mn

David Dill (DFL)
296-2190
rep.david.dill@house.mn

Ron Erhardt (R)
296-4363
rep.ron.erhardt@house.mn

Brad Finstad (R)
296-9303
rep.brad.finstad@house.mn

Debra Hilstrom (DFL)
296-3709
rep.debra.hilstrom@house.mn

Melissa Hortman (DFL)
296-4280
rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn

Larry Howes (R)
296-2451
rep.larry.howes@house.mn

Al Juhnke (DFL)
296-6206
rep.al.juhnke@house.mn

Leon Lillie (DFL)
296-1188
rep.leon.lillie@house.mn

Doug Magnus (R)
296-5505
rep.doug.magnus@house.mn

Tim Mahoney (DFL)
296-4277
rep.tim.mahoney@house.mn

Erin Murphy (DFL)
296-8799
rep.erin.murphy@house.mn

Michael V. Nelson (DFL)
296-3751
rep.michael.nelson@house.mn

Dennis Ozment (R)
296-4306
rep.dennis.ozment@house.mn

Gene Pelowski Jr. (DFL)
296-8637
rep.gene.pelowski@house.mn

Aaron Peterson (DFL)
296-4228
rep.aaron.peterson@house.mn

Steve Simon (DFL)
296-9889
rep.steve.simon@house.mn

Dean Simpson (R)
296-4293
rep.dean.simpson@house.mn

Loren Solberg (DFL)
296-2365
rep.loren.solberg@house.mn

Paul Thissen (DFL)
296-5375
rep.paul.thissen@house.mn

Kathy Tingelstad (R)
296-5369
rep.kathy.tingelstad@house.mn

Torrey Westrom (R)
296-4929
rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn

Ryan Winkler (DFL)
296-7026
rep.ryan.winkler@house.mn

A Patriotic Video

Check out this patriotic video that Jeanette W. sent me. It is awesome.

http://www.interviewwithgod.com/patriotic/highband.htm

The Castle Doctrine

This piece of BS was printed on the front page of the Pioneer Press today. I find it lacking in substance and void of any real knowledge of Minnesota's gun laws. I called the news paper and said that I doubt that the writer, Rachel E. Stassen-Berger had talked to any one with the NRA. Here it is,

Is gun bill for safety or license to shoot?
Measure would extend spaces for justified use of deadly force
BY RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER
Pioneer Press

Gun-rights advocates say the measure grants law-abiding citizens the right to defend themselves against attackers without being forced to retreat.

Here in our great state, even in our own home, we are required to retreat if at all possible, before deadly force is justified. The main idea behind the "Castle Doctrine" is that you do not have to retreat when you are in your own home.

Opponents say it grants people the right to "shoot first, ask questions later" and could turn Minnesota into the Wild West.

We heard this BS about the Wild West back when the concealed carry law was first passed. All the anti-gun folks could be heard whining "Minnesota will be like the Wild West." It never happened.

Welcome to the latest debate about guns. The debate will land in Minnesota today as lawmakers introduce the measure known as the "Castle Doctrine."

The proposal gets its name from the adage that your home is your castle, and it stems from the idea that you should be able to protect your castle with force if necessary. According to the National Rifle Association, which is backing the measure, similar laws have passed in 15 states since 2005.

"This is a homeowner, property-owner defense bill. It's not radical," said Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder, the proposal's sponsor in the House.

Cornish, a former police officer, calls the measure the "Stand Your Ground" legislation.

"I think it's easily defensible," he said.

Sen. Pat Pariseau, R-Farmington, is the measure's Senate sponsor.

If the measure becomes law, the state would replace the current law that defines justifiable homicide. Current law says it's justifiable to kill someone in your house if you fear the person will cause you "great bodily harm or death," or to prevent a felony.

This is what I'm talking about. The above paragraph could lead one to believe that it is permissible to shoot somebody who is trying to steal your car or burglarize the neighbors house.

Minnesota Statute 609.065 restricts the use of lethal force:

The intentional use of the life of another is not authorized except when necessary in resisting or preventing an offense which the actor reasonably believes exposes the actor or another to great bodily harm or death, or preventing the commission of a felony in the actor's place of abode.

The new law would extend the justification for the use of deadly force beyond the walls of your home to include your car and any other place you are legally allowed to be. It would allow you to "meet force with superior force" in your defense if you fear substantial bodily harm. Substantial bodily harm is a lesser, more temporary degree of force than great bodily harm.

Cornish says that's only right.

"When I was a cop, if someone would have threatened me and we were in a struggle and he or she broke my finger in the struggle, don't you think I would have pulled out the hardware? Why in the world wouldn't we afford a common citizen the same level of self-defense?" he said.

If I was walking down the street and got mugged, I think it is my right to pull out my pistol.

Opponents say the measure has nothing to do with self-defense.

"The law is about posturing. It was written by people who want to make it look like they are tough on criminals," said Zach Ragbourn, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

The Brady campaign has worked against similar laws in other states. According to Ragbourn's count, which is different from the NRA's, 10 states have passed the measures, which he calls fake self-defense laws.

"The system isn't broken," he said. "Good people aren't going to jail for defending their families, for fending off carjackers or muggers. They are not going to jail when someone breaks into their homes."

No, but even if your are in the right, you may very well be hauled to jail and face as much as ten grand in legal fees. I hope the "Castle Doctrine" Bill addresses this.

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner says the proposal is a "solution in search of a problem."

"We've had no complaints about the law unfairly penalizing people who are simply protecting themselves," she said. "If we had, then I might understand why this is cropping up. But the fact that it is being raised now is just, to me, is a train of thought that let's bring the Wild, Wild West to the Midwest."

There's the "Wild West" argument again. We've heard this before and nothing happened.

An Anoka County shooting from late last year might influence the debate at the Capitol.

In November, Gerald Whaley, of Coon Rapids, shot and killed 17-year-old Tony Parks after Parks broke into his house at 11 p.m. Bryan Lindberg, of the Anoka County attorney's office, said prosecutors haven't decided whether to charge Whaley with a crime.

I certainly hope not! It's a shame that a seventeen year old boy got shot dead and I hope it is something that I never do, but the kid was an intruder and had it coming. It will be a travesty of justice if Mr Whaley is charged.

Those who say the new law isn't needed might see their argument bolstered if Whaley isn't charged. If he is, the proposal's backers could pick up support.

Right now, the legislative landscape might not be welcoming to the measure.

"It is a lead duck," said Bill Gillespie, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. The organization's board opposes the measure. "I don't even expect one hearing."

Sen. Linda Higgins, DFL-Minneapolis, who calls the proposal the "shoot-to-kill legislation," believes it wouldn't have the support to survive a Senate committee vote if it did get a hearing.

But Cornish said he's ready for the fight.

"It's going to be a real effort," he said. "We know we are in for a real battle here."

And, he said, he's ready to prove detractors wrong.

"It's not an encouragement to turn it into the Wild West or to give them an excuse to shoot people," he said. "It enables them to protect themselves legally and it puts the onus on the criminal and the state to prove they were wrong."