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Graphic artist and blogger Mario Piperni, that's who. Amazing graphics, great stories.

Debt Debate Solution : Cut Student Loans

Did you know that the Boehner plan to raise the debt ceiling will result in … hold on to your hats …. a decrease of $22 Billion in the FY 2012 budget ? That’s right … all this protesting by the Republican-controlled House will result in a scant $22 Billion reduction next year. The legislation

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MN-06 : Whatever Happened to Bachmann’s 2007 Impala ?

Following up on this post that stated : Michele Bachmann (R-MN-06) was first elected, she leased a 2007 Chevy Impala at a cost of $365.43 per month. Why would she lease a vehicle may be answered since apparently she may have put a lot of miles on her husband’s car … as implied by this

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MN-08 : House Budget Rules Changed After Cravaack Leases Luxury Vehicle

It has been well known that some Members of Congress have leased vehicles in the past … for example, when Michele Bachmann (R-MN-06) was first elected, she leased a 2007 Chevy Impala at a cost of $365.43 per month. This spending is permitted under the Members Representation Allowance … and Members may lease as many

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Proof That GOP Not Serious About Cutting Budgets to 2008 Levels

The Republicans promote the “Cut, Cap and Balance” concept as a way to restoring fiscal discipline. The premise is that spending should be cut to FY 2008 levels … of course, since the Republicans control the House of Representatives; they could start doing that now as they are approving appropriations bills for FY 2012. But

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MN-08 : Cravaack to Augusta GA ?

It’s one thing that Raymond Cravaack has determined that taxpayers should pay for his leased Chevrolet Equinox AWD , but should we be paying for his newspaper ? OK, a Congressman needs to be informed about the news … so a subscription to a local paper would not be atypical and Mr. Cravaack does have

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Traditional Tim Pawlenty Forgets His Minnesota History

“It’s certainly a social and cultural, and moral issue, but it also has practical effects. I think obviously a man and a woman together are the traditional family. That’s how children are born and raised – traditionally.” Tim Pawlenty responding to a question by Candy Crowley on CNN State of the Union, July 24, 2011

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GOP House Turns Bachmann Freedom Bulb ON

Michele Bachmann (R-MN-06) three year crusade for the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act has reached a critical phase … in the dark and quietly, the Republican-controlled House has found a way to move this legislation to the US Senate. When Joe Barton’s (R-TX-06) legislation did not receive sufficient votes for passage, it appeared that

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OOT GOP – Birthers Produce Migraines

CBS News Poll taken November 7-10, 2010 (after the mid-term elections which produced the Republicans control over the House of Representatives) “Of all the problems facing this country today, which one do you most want the new Congress to concentrate on first when it begins in January?” 56% – Economy and JOBS 14% – Health

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Is Bachmann Freedom Bulb an American Job Killer

The genesis of potential Presidentress Michele Bachmann (curious about the term Presidentress, see below) is H. R. 5616 the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act. As I chronicled in 2008, Bachmann’s legislation is a response to the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 which President Bush signed in December. President Bush touted in

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MN-08 : Does New Hampshire Home Explain Cravaack’s Leased Chevy Equinox AWD

The Duluth News Tribune reports that Raymond Cravaack (R-MN-08) is selling his home in Lindstrom and moving to North Branch, where he’ll be closer to his office … while his wife, Traci, and their two children are planning to purchase a home in New Hampshire. Cravaack said his wife often had to spend three days

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Shutdown Over – New Ulm Schedules School Referendum

The front page of Friday’s New Ulm Journal says it all. First, a photo The Faces Tell Everything of the three leaders of the state – Speaker Kurt Zellers, Governor Mark Dayton, and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch … their faces seem to acknowledge the horrors that their actions have caused on the State …

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Strange Bedfellows : Bachmann and McCain

“He is not my man. Our candidate was chosen by the media” – Michele Bachmann March 15, 2008 describing John McCain to delegates at the Sherburne County Convention. In 2008, John McCain may not have been Ms. Bachmann’s “man”, but according to two sources Senator McCain and Ms. Bachmann met this past June. The subject

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Government Subsidies Are Bad Unless You Benefit From Them (Again)

Last October, John Kline (R-MN-02) participated in Randy Demmer’s “Invest in Hope” tour. Mr. Kline had his talking points … “Republicans have made a Pledge to America to immediately focus on job creation by ending economic uncertainty, stopping out of control government spending, and taking other commonsense steps to make America more competitive.” Today, the

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Will House GOP Wait For Pawlenty to Reform Post Office

“It’s an uncomfortable question, to be sure,” Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) posed last week. “Are they trying to undermine the economy on purpose, for political gain? Harry Truman had a do-nothing Congress. The Republicans seem to be trying to make this a do-nothing-on-the-economy Congress.” It’s a fair question … especially when the Republican-controlled House of

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Circa 2013, Pawlenty Celebrates Independence Day

Last week, while Michele Bachmann was keeping bloggers busy fact checking and Mitt Romney was doing his best No I Didn’t Say What I Said impression, Tim Pawlenty was doing what Republican candidates do … talking Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. During the Q&A, “Soon-To-Be-President” Pawlenty was asked if his foreign policy

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