Some time this fall, The New Ulm Journal will make its endorsements for November elections, but this week it opined on the recent Wisconsin election (highlights below):
Watch Wisconsin
The state of Wisconsin is starting to move on from a bruising recall battle, won by Gov. Scott Walker and the Republicans against the Democratic-public union supporters who wanted to yank him from office.
It was as partisan as a battle can get. Walker angered liberals and labor by proposing and passing legislation that reduced public unions’ rights to negotiate. They petitioned for a vote to recall Walker. Walker, backed by conservative money from around the country, massively outspent his critics and kept his seat.
After the election, Walker spoke about his desire to mend relationships, to cross the divide and bring Wisconsin’s lawmakers to work together.
It will be worth watching Wisconsin to see if he can accomplish that.
Well, the New Ulm Journal should Ignore Wisconsin and Watch Minnesota … and the “conservative money” coming in to address “union’s rights” … because it is here already.
As MPR reported:
Americans for Prosperity Minnesota, the local arm of the conservative Americans for Prosperity, is targeting three state Senate incumbents for supporting the new Vikings stadium.
AFP supports small government and low taxes. It was founded by David Koch, a well-known name among conservative donors and co-owner of Koch Industries, a conglomerate that operates oil refineries and owns several household goods brands.
Every Vikings fan knows the key to success of any play is diversion and decoys … Randy Moss runs a long pass route diverting two defenders to follow him … meanwhile Brett Favre hands the ball to the Adrian Peterson while faking a throwing motion toward Moss. The running back gallops for a long gain while the defenders fell for the decoy and diversion tactics … a classic football play.
Well, voters had better see the diversion and decoy in the political play.
Reading the flyer attacking my State Senator Julie Rosen, it cites her support for the Vikings stadium but also her failure to embrace legislation that would allow a Constitutional Amendment to determine Right To Work rules.
Come on … this is classic diversion … the Vikings stadium bill is done … that issue is over … but the Right to Work … errrr … or as it is also known “establishing a Freedom of Employment” as Constitutional right guaranteed by Article 1 of the Minnesota Constitution.
Last session Dave Thompson, a Republican who will be seeking the Senate seat in new District 58 (opposed by Andrew Brobston) was the prime pusher with his legislation SF 1705. It failed in the Senate, despite Mr. Thompson’s committee maneuvering.
In political world of misleading-name-game, Right To Work is a clear winner as expertly explained by David Bly, a candidate for House 20B. David’s blog cites studies that states that have enacted “Freedom of Employment” laws have lower wages, less benefits and worse yet – have no affect whatsoever on job growth (Lafer and Allegretto 2011). For example, Oklahoma –
The facts—which come straight from the state and federal government and are now uncontested by any party, are:
• In the 10 years since the law was passed, the number of new companies coming into the state has decreased by one-third (Oklahoma Department of Commerce 2011). Indeed, the same two OCPA staff analysts who authored the most recent RTW study—Moody and Warcholik—also published a 2010 article showing that Oklahoma has suffered a net out-migration of jobs to other states.
• In the 10 years since Oklahoma adopted its right-to- work law, the number of manufacturing jobs in the state has fallen by one-third (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2011).
Mr. Thompson’s bill did not pass in the Senate while in the House, there were also vocal Republican dissidents including Republicans Public Safety Chairman Tony Cornish (a candidate in new House 23-B) and Taxes Chairman Greg Davids (in new House District 28-B and opposed by Ken Tschumper) … plus it was reported that possibly 20 House Republicans would vote against the proposed Constitutional ballot question.
So why target Julie Rosen … think decoy … think sending a message to the other Republicans who already heard what happened when Capitol Direct (a direct mail business owned by Republican then-Senator Chris Gerlach) sent out pro-amendment fliers on behalf of the conservative Freedom Club PAC to some GOP colleagues who were purportedly wary of passing right-to-work targeting MN-GOP Senator Julianne Ortman and GOP Senator Claire Robling.
Will voters be swayed by the Stadium-vote attack on Julie Rosen and punish her in November ?
Well, at least this time the DFL has an opponent as her last competitive election was in 2006 when she received 62% of the vote … but in not so good news for the Koch Brothers money machine, her opponent this time in Senate District 23 credits Senator Rosen for her work to pass the Vikings stadium bill.
Turns out that Paul Marquardt is glad that many construction jobs will be created and thinks that more needs to be done.
Paul Marquardt, who has been married for 32 years, describes himself as a “pro” candidate – pro-choice, pro-gun and pro-work for families and has no plans on being a “career politician.” Oh, and it should be noted that Paul Marquardt is a recently retired plumber, so it will be interesting to hear his views on unions.
Oh, and by the way, Paul Marquardt is not too impressed with the constitutional amendments being on the ballot in November.
“When all they can come up with are constitutional amendments on the ballot, some lawmakers need to be replaced,” he said. “Those shouldn’t be on the ballot. You send legislators there to vote.”
Somehow, I do not think that the Koch Brothers and their allies in ALEC, Americans for Prosperity Minnesota and the Freedom Club will want to see the New Ulm Journal endorse Paul Marquardt … but after reading the flyer, I will vote for Paul.
