Xavier's Blog

RELEASE: Tom Emmer Makes False Claims on Role in DWI Legislation

Xavier — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:45:45 EDT

Emmer Makes False Claims on Role in DUI Legislation: Supporters of Lessening Penalties for Drunk Drivers Were Defense Attorneys, Not Prosecutors

Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Emmer's campaign made false claims on Wednesday when it stated that prosecutors asked Emmer to sponsor a bill that lessened penalties for drunk driving.

In fact, records show that the Minnesota County Attorneys Association opposed the bill Emmer introduced, as well as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Office of Public Safety. The attorneys testifying in favor of the law were private attorneys who, according to their web sites, defend those arrested for drunk driving.

"Emmer is trying to run from the fact that he introduced a bill that lessened penalties against drunk driving," said Denise Cardinal, Executive Director of Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund. "Minnesotans need a leader who will protect us, not lessen penalties for drunk drivers. It's insulting that he is trying to blame others in explaining his own record."

Emmer's false claims were posted on his website in response to a television ad put out by Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund. The ad features the mother of someone killed in a drunk driving accident questioning Emmer’s support of the bill that lessens drunk driving penalties.

Cardinal added that Emmer still hasn’t answered some questions about his vague, and untrue, response: "When he says he’s made mistakes -- what is he talking about? The first drunk driving arrest or his second drunk driving arrest or both? Or about introducing legislation last year that would delay and lessen penalties for drunk driving? None of this is clear in his response and Minnesotans deserve to know."

A "Rhetoric Vs. Reality" Fact-Check of Tom Emmer's claims can be found here - http://TomEmmer.MN/DWIRhetoricVsReality

To see the ad ABM is airing on this, you can go to http://ABetter.MN/LightAd

The ad is running for two weeks statewide. The buy is more than $500,000 for that duration.

Emmer's Response to Ad "Insulting" -- Minnesotans Deserve Better Than Vague Excuses, Blaming Others

Xavier — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:28:12 EDT

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer responded to a new ad being run by Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund today by trying to explain that he was asked to support a bill lessening DWI penalties by a group of prosecutors and showing a video where he talks vaguely about making a mistake -- but not mentioning he himself received two drunk driving convictions.

"It is insulting that Tom Emmer is trying to explain away his record by blaming others for proposing the law he put his name on," said Denise Cardinal, Executive Director of Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund. "Then Emmer shows a three-month-old online video of himself talking vaguely about mistakes and negative campaigning but never specifically addresses why he sponsored a law that lessens penalties for drunk drivers. Furthermore, in the video he never apologizes."

Cardinal added that Emmer needs to answer some questions: "When he says he's made mistakes -- what is he talking about? The first drunk driving arrest or his second drunk driving arrest or both? Or about introducing legislation last year that would delay and lessen penalties for drunk driving? None of this is clear in his response and Minnesotans deserve to know."

To see the ad ABM is airing on this, you can go to http://ABetter.MN/LightAd

The ad is running for two weeks statewide. The buy is more than $500,000 for that duration.

More information about Emmer’s record can be found at: http://TomEmmersMN.org and http://EmmerTruth.MN.

To get breaking news updates from ABM, follow us at http://twitter.com/ABetterMN.

"The Target I Knew Was The Target That Embraced Its Gay Employees"

Xavier — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:16:11 EDT

Target Corp. is in full damage control mode this week. Why? Because people aren't happy about the corporation's decision to donate $150,000 to MN Forward, a right-wing interest group which is spearheading an effort to get Tom Emmer elected governor.

While Target claims it doesn't have a "social or political agenda" the same can't be said about the Republican they're spending a lot of money to get elected. The "pro-business" Tom Emmer that Target is supporting is the same guy who wants to cut the minimum wage for service industry employees, who voted against banning toxic chemicals from baby bottles and sippy cups, and who tried to get same-sex and unmarried couples excluded from a surrogacy law.

After hearing about Target's decision to back one of the most anti-LGBT candidates in the country (not only does Tom Emmer consistently back gay marriage bans, but he's a constant voice of opposition to laws to protect LGBT youth from bullying in schools), one Eden Prairie mom and grandmother went to her local Target store to get some answers.

Watch what happened:

While Target Corp's donation to MN Forward is now legal in the new post-Citizens United world, what's troubling is that it flies in the face of the outreach Target has made to the LGBT community -- and its fairly progressive stance on issues like climate change.

Target has even supported government regulations to restrict greenhouse gas emissions -- making it a leader in the business community. How can that same Target Corporation contribute to MN Forward, which supports Tom Emmer -- a legislator who actively opposed funding for conservation and consistently voted against environmental protection funding, including a reporting system for greenhouse gas emissions?

Last week, ABM launched Facebook ads targeting some 57,000 Target employees to let them know about the donation. Today, we're taking our effort to inform employees -- and Target customers -- to the next level by launching a Facebook poll of Target employees and "fans" of Target on Facebook asking them what they think about Target's decision to back Tom Emmer.

We'll keep you posted on the results, but if the comments on Target's Facebook page are any indication, Target Corp. hasn't heard the last from its customers about its support of a far-right candidate like Tom Emmer.

When Republicans Need Him Most, Tom Hauser is There

Xavier — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:18:58 EDT

It's no surprise that when Republican leaning reporter Tom Hauser looked at our recent ad highlighing Tom Emmer's legislative record that he repeated the same accusations of the Minnesota Republican Party.

What is surprising, though,is that he did so even after these claims had been proven false, and that a simple glance at the ad's accompanying fact-check would reveal a simple typo, not some grand conspiracy.

See the links below for the fact-checks of every bit of information contained in our ad "Failed", and see that it's 100% factually accurate.

ABM AF Ad Fact Check

Memo on GOP Fact Check of "Failed"

ABMAF Launches Television and Online Ads on @TomEmmer's Record

Xavier — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:55:35 EDT

Saint Paul -- Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund today released the first television and online ads it will be running during the election to share Republican Tom Emmer’s abysmal record of voting against Minnesota’s economic interest, and siding with Tim Pawlenty.

The ads, which are running starting July 6 on broadcast and cable statewide, share with viewers just some of the countless ways Emmer has voted against the things that make our state great, and prosperous.

“We need a leader who will fight for us,” said Denise Cardinal, Executive Director of Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund. “Voters need to know that Tom Emmer is just like Tim Pawlenty, who sides with the big corporate special interests over working families. Emmer’s record shows he’s not on our side.”

The size of the buy for this ad is more than $500,000 for television and is the first ad ABMAF plans on running this year, with others coming in the following weeks and months. ABMAF is also launching online ads statewide as well.

The ad can be viewed below:

A fact check on the ad is available at http://allianceminnesota.org/page/-/xavi/ABM_AF_Failed_FactCheck_FINAL.pdf

More information about Tom Emmer’s record can be found at: www.EmmerTruth.MN and www.TomEmmersMN.com

###

Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund is the political arm of Alliance for a Better Minnesota and conducts state-based political independent expenditures. ABMAF is funded by progressive donors and institutions that want strong leadership for clean lakes, great schools, safe infrastructure and civil rights in Minnesota.

EMMER TRUTH: Statewide Tour Won't Make Up For Tom Emmer's Not Great Record on Greater Minnesota Issues

Xavier — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:17:16 EDT

In response to Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Representative Tom Emmer is joining fellow statewide office seekers in a tour of cities in Greater Minnesota starting tomorrow, the Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund (ABMAF) is releasing a fact sheet about Emmer's abysmal record in opposing key issues that would bring jobs and businesses to Greater Minnesota.

"Emmer's record for Greater Minnesota is anything but great," said Denise Cardinal, Executive Director of ABMAF. "He's voted against bringing broadband access to these communities, and against ethanol and biofuel support as well as wanting to severely cut state aid to town for the services they provide like road repair and snow plowing. How can he now say that he's for prosperity in Greater Minnesota?"

ABMAF's fact sheet can be viewed online at: http://EmmerTruth.MN/GreaterMinnesota/

EMMER TRUTH: Emmer Defended His Taking of Tens of Thousands of Taxpayer Dollars in Payments He Now Criticizes

Xavier — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:51:50 EDT

Earlier this week, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer told the St. Cloud Times that he would like to cut benefits and per diem to state elected officials. Yet throughout Emmer's legislative career he has taken full advantage of this perk, at the cost of thousands to taxpayers. The Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund is calling on Tom Emmer to return that money.

"Tom Emmer is not on the side of Minnesota taxpayers," said Denise Cardinal, executive director of Alliance for a Better Minnesota. "He's using a classic campaign trick by denouncing a perk he himself has taken advantage of--and has publicly defended. He should return the thousands in taxpayer money he received. Tom Emmer needs to walk the talk."

While some politicians have chosen not to claim per diem, Emmer has been unapologetic in receiving the perk - even defending it. On September 5, 2005 article in the Pioneer Press says, "But Rep. Tom Emmer, a freshman Republican from Delano, said he and the other legislators who claimed per diems have no apologies to make. Emmer, an attorney, said the $1,320 he earned in special session per diems was far less than he would have made in his law practice. 'You're talking to a guy who at 44 years old made a significant personal and financial sacrifice to serve my constituents,' Emmer said."

For more information on this issue or to see other ABM Action Fund fact-checks of Tom Emmer's campaign statements, visit http://EmmerTruth.MN.

###

Below are the amount of funds received by Tom Emmer for Per Diem expenses as a legislator:

2009 - $9,240.00
2008 - $6,039.00
2007 - $10,846.00
2006 - $6,336.00
2005 - $11,068.00

Source: Minnesota House Controller

It's Time To End Minnesota's Race to the Bottom

Xavier — Wed, 26 May 2010 12:48:30 EDT

As a Minnesotan, I take pride in our state's education system.

But Republican Governor Candidate Tom Emmer, and his support for Tim Pawlenty's cuts to K-12 education, are putting Minnesota on the wrong track.

Our state's economy is closely tied with the success of our schools. Without enough funding, our schools have crowded classrooms, little or no music, arts and physical education programs and some schools are even being forced to move to a four day school week.

We can't succeed in a global economy if we're cheating our kids out of the quality education that they deserve.

Instead of addressing these problems, Republicans like Emmer and Pawlenty are playing partisan games with our children's education by not applying for free federal money money that could fill part of the budget hole.

You have an opportunity to reverse the mistake of Republicans and secure funding to protect teacher jobs around the state.

Please call Senator Klobuchar and Senator Franken at at 1-866-608-6355 to urge them to support the Keep Our Educators Working Act. This legislation will help Minnesota provide desperately needed money to school districts that will save or create 5,200 jobs across the state.1

When you call Senator Klobuchar and Franken at 1-866-608-6355, you will hear some suggested talking points and then be connected to the capitol switchboard.

Don't let Minnesota break its promise to our children by underfunding education. We need Senator Kolbuchar and Senator Franken to address the problems that are being ignored by Republicans like Emmer and Pawlenty in Minnesota.

TOMORROW: Progressive Activists Share "Thank Taxes" Message on Tax Day via Mobile Billboard

Xavier — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:11:41 EDT

MEDIA ADVISORY
April 14, 2010

TOMORROW: Progressive Activists Share "Thank Taxes" Message on Tax Day via Mobile Billboard

St. Paul, MN - With the grassroots "Thank Taxes" campaign gaining ground leading up to tax day, Alliance for a Better Minnesota announces it will have a mobile billboard at the state capitol on Tax Day, featuring photos of Minnesotans thankful for the services they use and enjoy every day that are made possible through tax dollars.

Activists have been sending tweets, blog posts, and photos throughout the week to highlight the services that they are thankful for. Summaries, links and photos can be viewed by going to www.ThankTaxes.org.

The "Thank Taxes" campaign is in response to right wing, Republican and Tea Party activists who usually complain about President Obama, Health Care Reform and taxes on April 15. The billboard will be driving around the Capitol most of the afternoon, and a media availability will take place around 3:30 p.m.

WHO: Alliance for a Better Minnesota and the ThankTaxes.org mobile billboard.

WHAT: 3:30 p.m., April 15th.

WHERE: John Ireland Blvd, near State Capitol parking area.

Below are some of the "Thank Taxes" images collected so far:

VIDEO: DNC Hits Brodkorb, Bachmann, and Palin in "The Republican Gold Standard ... To The Extreme"

Xavier — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:07:12 EDT

A new web video from the Democratic National Committee really illustrates what we've been saying here at ABM for a long time, Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin represent, as MN GOP hack Michael Brodkorb calls it "the Republican Gold Standard."

Unfortunately for a party trying to recover from a slew of high-level resignations following a $2,000 expenditure at a bondage-themed night club in West Hollywood, the "Republican Gold Standard" is an extreme brand of politics that just isn't working for Minnesota families.

And it doesn't look like the Minnesota Republican Party is going to be backing off from the fringes just yet, Politics in Minnesota recently wrote about the great lengths to court Tea Party Patriots. Yes, these Tea Party Patriots.

Watch the DNC web video below.. and check back later today for ABM's own video.

On Tax Day, #ThankTaxes for _________

Xavier — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:57:46 EDT

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of crazy conservatives dominating the conversation about taxes.

They're loud, they're obnoxious, and more to the point, they're wrong.

As Tax Day approaches, we need to remember that taxes pay for things that don't grow on trees -- like teachers, police, hospitals, safe bridges, and clean water. Instead of complaining about taxes, I decided to think about all of the things taxes pay for in my daily life.

I made a quick video of all the things and services my tax dollars help pay for. Check it out:

http://thanktaxes.org/thanktaxesfor.php

There are so many things I take for granted that would not be possible without my hard-earned tax dollars. That's why this April 15th, instead of whining, I will just be thankful for all the things that taxes pay.

And you can be a part of this "Thank Taxes" movement, too! Think of all the things your taxes pay for -- your local school, a special park, or your neighborhood police officer -- and take your picture next to the person, place or thing thing you value most with a "Thank Taxes" sign.

You can print off the "Thank Taxes for _________" sign I created, or get creative and make your own.

We're going to take your pictures and put them on a huge display for all the conservative whiners that will be up at the Capitol on April 15th.

Together, we will remind Minnesotans that, while we might not always be happy about paying our taxes, we are thankful for the important services they help support.

VIDEO: Window Washers Stand for Safety

Xavier — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:30:14 EDT

Media Watch: Health Care Reform vs. MN GOP Hijinks

Xavier — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:52:52 EDT

Last week, over 160,000 letters were sent to House Republicans by ABM supporters asking what parts of the health care reform bill they want to repeal. So far, we have heard back from only a few -- none of which mentioned specifics.

However, we DID hear about how some House Republicans were just forwarding these emails onto DFL legislators -- just to try and jam the DFL-side inboxes as a sort of retaliation.

The response we got was one of the biggest yet for any ABM action -- which is why we alerted the media to this effort. However, there was no mention of the more than 160,000 emails in any of the stories written about Republican efforts to repeal health care. This email push actually knocked out the email system for legislators in some cases.

Before we sound like whiners for not getting some mainstream media attention, let's compare it to a similar incident earlier in the yea when a handful of phone calls made in February, when the MNGOP directed some party members to call legislators while they were on the floor of the Senate. In that case there were at least 5 stories about it:

MPR: MNGOP dials phones that rarely ring
KARE 11: Phone stunt sparks war of words at Minn. state capitol
Star Tribune: DFLers, GOP trade jabs over calls on state Senate floor
Pioneer Press: Minnesota Republican Party's use of Senate phones creates static (no longer available)

So, after we jammed the email system, we moved onto social media. This campaign generated hundreds of tweets asking Marty Seifert, Tom Emmer, the MN GOP, and other Republican legislators to be specific about which parts of health care reform they wanted repealed. But we didn't stop there -- we asked folks to visit theFacebook pages of the GOP, Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer to ask our questions again.

Here are some great comments that people have posted (note we snatched some of these screenshots before they were scrubbed):

It doesn't seem balanced to report on GOP hijinks while not even mentioning more than 160,000 emails. Is there another reason we're missing?

Gasoline Drenched Flag Sent to Betty McCollum is Result of Bachmann/Palin-type Rhetoric on Health Care

Xavier — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:44:52 EDT

This morning's Minnesota Independent reports that Rep. Betty McCollum, who voted for the strongest patient protections in American history, is among the Democratic legislators who voted for health care reform that have been subjected to threats, vandalism, and in some cases, violence.

“Betty McCollum you’ve been dry f***** by the liberal party.” So read a letter, which also contained a condom removed from its packaging, received by Rep. Betty McCollum’s office on Monday. Another letter contained a shredded American flag drenched in gasoline along with a note that reads, “It represents Obama and your liberal filth. Open the bag, it’s covered in the stench you’ve brought to our government … Because of you, we are now a country of dirt, shame, corruption and slime.”

McCollum’s is one of many congressional offices that are reporting threatening tactics by anti-health care reform activists, particularly members of the Tea Party movement. McCollum released a statement on Thursday saying she will not be intimidated: “I will not back down in the face of attacks, threats, and violence. I do not regret my vote, and I will proudly stand in the face of opposition and defend my support of health care reform.”

The kind of threatening tactics right-wingers are employing against pro-reform Democrats are the direct result of the "death panel" and "freedom fighter" rhetoric that Republicans have been using to incite fear, anger, and hate in the minds of their conservative base.

Take Minnesota's own Michele Bachmann, who just yesterday said she was "like Nostradamus" when she predicted last year that President Obama had "anti-American views."

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN): “I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax because we need to fight back. Thomas Jefferson told us, having a revolution every now and then is a good thing, and the people – we the people, are going to have to fight back hard if we’re not going to lose our country.”

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN): “And are they going to listen? Oh yeah, oh yeah, they're going to listen. It was Thomas Jefferson who said a revolution every now and then is a good thing. What do you think?”

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN): “The number one thing people can do is come, see their member of Congress, look at them in the eyes, especially with other freedom fighters in tow, and let them know that the lessons of August, they should not forget, at their peril.”

It's the Bachmann brand of rhetoric, aimed at whipping the conservative fringe into an anti-health care reform frenzy, that's created an angry monster capable of cutting the gas line at a house identified as Rep. Tom Perriello's on a Tea Party blog and faxing pictures of nooses to a civil rights leader.

Just look at the anger in this woman, who showed up at a "Kill the Bill" rally at Rep. Betty McCollum's office on the Friday before the health care vote:

It's time for Michele Bachmann, John Kline, Erik Paulsen, and the Minnesota Republican Party to take responsibility for the monster they've created -- and put a stop to it.

But I wouldn't count on it. Taking a page from John Boehner and Eric Cantor, Bachmann's office justified the irrational rage among fringe conservatives her rhetoric helped create.

In a written statement, Bachmann's office said it did not condone threats or violence but suggested Democrats are to blame because of health care reform.

"Americans are upset for being ignored by the Democrats "This frustration should be channeled into repealing this monstrosity of a bill."

Once again, Michele Bachmann misses the point. I'll let Rep. Tom Perriello -- the freshman member of Congress whose brother's house had his gas line cut -- explain why:

“No, the answer is, we want those people to go to jail who are committing a crime,” he said. “We want all those other good, law-abiding people who are adamantly opposed to health care to join our campaigns.”

The Response from Pro Health Care Reform Minnesotans Has Been Incredible

Xavier — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:41:53 EDT

In less than 48 hours, thousands of pro-health care reform Minnesotans wrote over 160,000 emails to Republican legislators, and the state legislature's email system couldn't handle that many messages.

That's incredible.

Don't worry -- we're going to make sure your voice is heard. I'm going to go through our software to find all the emails that didn't make it through -- and I'm going to deliver them in person.

Thanks again for helping us tell the 68 anti-reform Republican legislators that they don't speak for Minnesotans. As someone who traveled across the state on the Obama campaign, I know how much Minnesota needs health care reform. The last thing Minnesotans need is for Republicans to succeed and return us to the status quo we've fought so hard to change.

We've already flooded their inboxes, now let's flood their Twitters. Below is a list of some of the anti-reform Republicans on Twitter, click the links to send them a message on Twitter:

@SeifertMN Do you FAVOR repealing the ban on insurance companies denying you coverage once you get sick? (tweet to @TomEmmer)

@TomEmmer Do you FAVOR repealing the ban on insurance companies denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions? (tweet to @SeifertMN)

@PaulKohls Do you FAVOR repealing the tax breaks for the middle class to help them reduce insurance costs? (tweet to @TomEmmer or @SeifertMN)

@LauraBrod Do you FAVOR repealing the new provision allowing parents to keep their kids on their insurance through age 26? (tweet @SeifertMN, @TomEmmer, or @MNGOP)

March Badness - The Egregious Eight - Make Your PIcks

Xavier — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:28:50 EDT

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If you’re like me you have already crumpled up your March Madness bracket and have used it to get your first bonfire of the spring up and running.

Don't get too down and out -- you still have hope of winning our march badness bracket! But you have to vote today.

Click here to make your picks in the Egregious Eight.

In our bracket Tom Emmer played the role of Northern Iowa, pulling off the big upset taking down Joe “You Lie” Wilson. Saying that “defeating liberals was a bigger battle than defeating terrorism” was the ticket to the next round for Allen Quist. Check out the other winners and losers from the opening round, and send in your picks.

http://allianceminnesota.org/EgregiousEight

To stay alive for our prizce package—which includes the 10th Anniversary BraveNew Films Box set and Progress Now Founder Michael Huttner’s new book—we need your votes received for every round, so make sure to submit yours right now.

It’s been a year stocked full of conservatives being crazy, lazy, and downright mean. Who was the worst? Let us know and fill out your bracket.

Fill out your Egregious Eight ballot now!

Happy Bracketing,

Minnesotans Fight Back Against GOP Legislators, Flood Inboxes in Support of Health Care Reform

Xavier — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:31:55 EDT

Just hours after 68 Republican legislators announced they would ask the State Attorney General to repeal President Obama's historic health insurance reform legislation, Minnesotans from all over the state stood up to protect health insurance reform.

In just one day, 2,158 people have sent 144,408 emails to the legislators who have decided to put the insurance companies ahead of working Minnesotans once again.

"These state Republican legislators have decided that they would like to go back to allowing insurance companies to deny care to folks with a pre-existing condition, massive rate hikes, and the all-too-frequent medical bankruptcies of the past instead of moving our state, and the country forward," said Denise Cardinal, Executive Director of Alliance for a Better Minnesota.

Alliance for a Better Minnesota, a progressive advocacy organization that uses online tools to increase engagement amongst working families, set up a contact page for the Republican legislators that have urged AG Swanson to push for repeal of the new health insurance law.

The over 2,100 Minnesotans who have already used the feature have sent a letter to each of the 68 legislators for a total letter count of over 140,000.

To see the letter, visit http://ga0.org//campaign/MinnesotaNeedsHCR

Health care for all... except Minnesota?

Xavier — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:12:31 EDT

This should be a great day.

This morning, President Barack Obama signed into law a health care reform bill that will stop greedy insurance companies form denying coverage to sick people and women. This health reform bill means folks without a job, or those whose employers don't provide insurance, no longer have to live in fear of losing coverage or plunging into bankruptcy because of a medical emergency.

It's about time.

But not everyone supports high-quality, affordable health care for every American. The Star Tribune reported yesterday that Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer -- the two leading candidates for the Republican endorsement for governor -- want to keep Minnesotans from receiving the benefits of this bill.

That's right. President Obama hadn't even signed the bill and Minnesota's right-wing, tea party Republicans were already trying to deny Minnesota families the protections from arbitrary rate hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions that health care reform provides.

We can't let the right-wing keep Minnesotans from getting the health care they need. Please take a minute to send an email to Marty Seifert, Tom Emmer, and the 66 other Republicans who want to repeal the toughest patient protections in American history and let profit-driven insurance companies decide on your care -- or whether you get coverage at all.

http://allianceminnesota.org/WeNeedHealthReform

The health care reform bill will offer help for families like Ashley's in Minneota, Minnesota who writes that both she and her husband have gone for long stretches without health insurance and are still fighting with greedy insurance companies to insure their one-year-old daughter.

"I was denied private insurance due to 'pre-existing' conditions. My one-year-old daughter was denied by Blue Cross because she had a urinary tract infection when she was two weeks old..."

Ashley's state legislator, Marty Seifert, in trying to repeal federal health care reform, is supporting profit-driven insurance companies -- the same companies that deny Ashley's one-year-old coverage because of a urinary tract infection.

His Republican colleague in the legislature and fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate, Tom Emmer, is sticking up for the insurance industry instead of his unemployed constituents who struggle to afford health care coverage for their families. Take Nicole, from Delano, Minnesota, Emmer's hometown:

"The Chrysler dealership my husband worked for closed. We lost our health care with no option for COBRA. We have two small children and I am pregnant.."

Tom Emmer's push to stop Minnesotans from experiencing the benefits of the federal health care bill means families like Nicole's will have to live in fear of being one injury or illness away from bankruptcy.

Send GOP legislators a message: Minnesotans need this health care reform -- don't stop it.

http://allianceminnesota.org/WeNeedHealthReform

Unlike the big insurance companies, families like Ashley's and Nicole's didn't have 2,049 lobbyists or $86 million to spend on negative ads. And now that health care reform has passed, it's clear that GOP legislators like Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer have chosen to side with the insurance companies -- not their constituents.

Together, we'll make sure right-wing state legislators like Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer won't get away with trying to deny hundreds of thousands of Minnesota families the health care security they deserve.

-Denise

Denise Cardinal
Executive Director
Alliance for a Better Minnesota

Links:

1.   Star Tribune, All GOP legislators to ask AG to sue over health care. http://aBetter.MN/4q
2.   Health Care Stories for America: Ashley - Minneota, MN. http://aBetter.MN/4o
3.   Health Care Stories for America: Nicole - Delano, MN. http://aBetter.MN/4p

Report: 480,000 Minnesotans Lack Health Insurance

Xavier — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:06:32 EDT

A new report from the Minnesota Department of Health confirms what we've been saying all along in this health reform debate: the status quo is not an option.

The report found that more than 100,000 Minnesotans lost their health insurance between 2007 and 2009, largely due to the bad econom, raising the total of uninsured Minnesotans from 374,000 to 480,000 -- 85,000 of those being children under the age of 17.

The survey found that some groups were hit harder than others. More men than women lost their employer-sponsored insurance as sectors that traditionally hire men -- manufacturing and construction, for example -- were hit hard by the recession. Some 12 percent of male Minnesotans were uninsured last year, compared to 6 percent of females.
Young adults were also far more likely to be uninsured, as were minorities.
Equally worrying was the finding that more people were going without insurance for long periods. Researchers asked respondents if they had been continuously uninsured for the past 12 months; 6.2 percent said yes, up from 4.6 percent when that question was asked in 2007.

So not only are more people uninsured, but they're staying uninsured for longer.

Under the current proposal for health insurance reform being debated in Congress, 519,000 Minnesota residents who currently don't have insurance -- and 356,000 residence who have nongroup insurance -- could get affordable coverage through the health insurance exchange. An additional 282,000 residents could qualify for premium tax credits to help them purchase health coverage.

Note: This post originally appeared on the ABM blog on Feb 08, 2010.

Announcing Netroots Minnesota 2010 (#nmn10)

Xavier — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:25:00 EDT

Last year, over 350 progressives gathered in St. Paul to kick off the first ever Netroots Minnesota. The conference was an opportunity to strengthen our community, inspire action, and serve as an incubator for ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately bring change to the public sphere.

That's why we want to do it again. Today, we announce that the Netroots Minnesota 2010 will be held on August 21st, and will be a mix of trainings and discussions about how we strengthen the progressive movement in 2010 and beyond.

Reserve your spot today: http://allianceminnesota.org/NetrootsMinnesota2010

If we're going to be prepared for the November election and beyond, we'll need to get as many Minnesotans fired up and ready to go as possible. That's why I'm excited to announce that, because of the generosity of our sponsors, we are able to start general registration for Netroots Minnesota at $20.

Click here to register today:

General Registration*: $20 (Click here to register!)

Student Registration*: $15 (Click here to register!)

*Registration fee includes lunch and refreshments

The Netroots Minnesota conference is about empowering you to help build a stronger progressive community -- and to do that, we need to know what you want to learn. Please send us your ideas for discussion and training topics that you would like to see on the Netroots Minnesota 2010 agenda.

Submit your ideas here: http://netrootsminnesota.org/suggest-a-panel/

This daylong conference will get progressives trained on the tools, tactics, and messages we need to step up our organizing for 2010 and beyond!

We hope to see you there,