Xavier Lopez-Ayala's Blog

Marty Seifert, Tom Emmer, & GOP Legislators Put "Politics Ahead of Getting Things Done"

Xavier — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:16:52 EST

Earlier today, the Minnesota House of Representatives had an opportunity to override Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of a bill to continue to provide basic medical services to 70,000 Minnesotans through General Assistance Medical Care.

The bill, which passed which passed two weeks ago with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, ensured that Minnesota's most vulnerable -- including 8,000 veterans -- do not go without the health care coverage they need.

Over the weekend, over 2,200 Minnesotans used participated in our Save GAMC campaign, writing letters to their legislators -- particularly the 38 Republicans who voted in favor of the original bill -- to vote yes once again.

Denise Cardinal, Executive Director here at Alliance for a Better Minnesota:

This afternoon, Republican Rep. Paul Kohls declared that it's a sad day in Minnesota when politicians "put politics ahead of getting things done."
He's right -- and when it comes to providing basic health care services for 70,000 Minnesotans, Rep. Kohls' statement certainly applies to the 38 Republican legislators who took back their original vote in favor of the General Assistance Medical Care service.
Under pressure from the governor and party leaders, they decided their political agenda was more important than listening to the thousands of constituents, faith leaders, doctors and nurses, and veterans who joined you in calling on them to save GAMC.
The decision of Republican legislators like Marty Seifert to reverse their support for legislation to save GAMC was a decision put the interests of the Republican party ahead of their constituents. At least half of the Minnesotans covered through the GAMC service now have just one option to get the medical care they need -- the emergency room. This kind of "Emergency Room Health Care Plan" advocated by the likes of Tim Pawlenty is the most costly option for all of us.

Minnesotans expect more than political calculation from their governor and as candidates for the Republican Governor's endorsement, legislators like Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer had an opportunity to show real leadership on this issue.

Sadly, they did not. It's not leadership to throw the most vulnerable 70,000 Minnesotans under the bus because party leaders say so. This sort of politics is what got us into this budget mess, and it's certainly not what will get us out of it.

This is only the first time that we will see this sort of partisan calculation during this legislative session. From education cuts, deeper cuts to health care, to gutting the higher education budget, we'll need to push back just as hard as we did this time.

If legislators like Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer expect Minnesotans to believe they have the vision to move Minnesota forward, they'll have to set aside obstructionism and partisan games and make a real effort to put Minnesota on the right track.

We'll be watching.
Thank you again for working with us to move Minnesota forward,

Denise

Denise Cardinal
Executive Director
Alliance for a Better Minnesota

Analysis: Health Care Reform Will Create Over 4,300 Jobs in Minnesota

Xavier — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:48:56 EST

A new analysis from the Center for American Progress demonstrates the benefits of passing health care reform on the American economy. Passing reform, say the authors, could increase the number of jobs in the United States by about 250,000 to 400,000 per year over the coming decade.

Skeptics of health care reform argue that it will do little to control health care spending in the long run. Yet even the skeptics agree that successful health reform will reduce uninsurance by expanding private nongroup, private small group, and public insurance coverage. This expansion in insurance coverage will likely increase health care jobs since the newly insured will need doctors, nurses, and other health care personnel to meet their medical needs. So even those with doubts about reform would have to recognize that it will likely create jobs and also improve the well-being of the currently uninsured, many of whom are unemployed.
A more optimistic view of health reform recognizes its potential to improve the efficiency of the U.S. health care system. More efficient health care will lower the burden of health insurance premiums for firms, and in turn allow them to hire more workers. This will also increase the number of jobs and at the same time reduce the financial woes of those struggling with uninsurance and a depressed labor market.

A recent poll conducted by the Progressive Campaign Change Committee, found that 62% of Minnesota voters support health care reform that includes a public option.

SEIU: Bank execs meeting in St. Paul -- send them a message

Xavier — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:20:54 EST

Today in St. Paul, bank executives are meeting to prepare for their annual lobby day, when they'll head to the State Capitol and lobby state lawmakers to loosen regulations on the financial industry.

While they were meeting this morning, a group of Twin Cities janitors with SEIU came to send a simple message loud and clear: "How much profits do you need? No more bailouts, no more greed!"

Their simple message is especially powerful when you realize, as John VanDeventer points out in the email below, that these are the very same janitors who mop the floors and clean up the offices where some of these bankers work. While they're lining their pockets with billions in profits and bonuses, many of these janitors are struggling to make ends meet.

If the big bank CEOs want to see the damage they've done to our economy, they don't even need to leave their offices. They just need to wait until 6:00pm.
That's when the janitors come in to empty the trash, mop the floors, and scrub the bathrooms. But, unlike the bankers whose buildings they keep running, the janitors didn't see any bonuses this year. In fact, at banks like Wells Fargo and US Bank in the Twin Cities, the janitors are struggling just to get by.
Right now, executives from Wells Fargo and US Bank are at a bankers meeting in St. Paul. Send a message to their Blackberries that it's time to fix the economy they broke - and they can start with the janitors in their own buildings: http://action.seiu.org/mnjanitors
For Wells Fargo and US Bank alone, the combined bonus and compensation pool for 2009 was more than $30 billion. But, these same banks refuse to help the workers in their own buildings that are struggling to support their families. Instead of putting money back into their communities, the bankers are putting it into their own pockets.
It's time we remind the banks who bailed them out when they crashed the economy - and of the promise they made to use our money to help get Main Street back on its feet: http://action.seiu.org/mnjanitors
Right now, executives from Wells Fargo and US Bancorp are at the Minnesota Bankers Association convention in St. Paul. While they're all in the room together, we're going to deliver your messages right to their Blackberries. We need to let them know the entire country is holding them accountable for what they do with our money.

Send your message to the bankers right now: http://action.seiu.org/mnjanitors
Thanks,
John VanDeventer
SEIU.org/bigbanks

VIDEO: Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer Applaud Pawlenty's Last Stand

Xavier — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:36:17 EST

Yesterday, Governor Pawlenty told Minnesota that we should protect corporate America at the expense of our school children, the poor, the disabled, and the elderly. There in the audience were two of his Republican allies -- legislators Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer -- who applauded his rhetoric as they hope to continue Pawlenty's failed policies.

We believe it's time to move Minnesota forward -- to put middle class families first by protecting the services they need most, like education, health care, and public safety.

Sign our petition at: http://aBetterMinnesota.org

At the same time that school districts are "considering layoffs and program cancellations" because of the state's budget deficit, the governor proposed cutting the corporate tax rate and continuing his failed JOBZ program.

According to the Legislative Auditor, the JOBZ program has been mismanaged and lacked proper oversight to protect taxpayer's dollars. But, instead of fixing these problems, the governor protects inefficient programs at the expense of programs like GAMC, which provides those less fortunate with the vital care that they need. The governor calls this controlling government spending even though it sends scores of Minnesotans to expensive emergency rooms instead of providing less costly, more effective preventive care.

At its core, the governor's proposals are about helping corporations at the expense of middle-class families. For every step of the way, Republican legislators like Seifert and Emmer have been advocates for the governor's approach. Legislator Emmer even went so far as to suggest taking money away from programs that ensure clean drinking water to pay for a new Vikings stadium.

We are experiencing unprecedented times and Minnesota deserves better than this from those charged with finding the solutions.

Stand up for a Minnesota that is better than this.

Report: 480,000 Minnesotans Lack Health Insurance

Xavier — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:06:32 EST

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.

The UpTake: Constituents Push Rep.Tara Mack To Back GAMC

Xavier — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:40:52 EST

Constituents of Representative Tara Mack corner her on the first day of the 2010 Minnesota Legislature and ask her to support funding General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC).

GAMC is the program that provides health care to the poorest of the poor in Minnesota and was line item vetoed by Governor Tim Pawlenty at the end of the last legislative session.

Representative Mack did not commit to voting for any of the proposals to save GAMC, saying the program was not as important as making sure health care services continue to those the program now serves.

Video and reporting by The UpTake

VIDEO: Planned Parenthood's Response to the Tim Tebow Anti-Choice Super Bowl Ad

Xavier — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:09:00 EST

Planned Parenthood has released a video featuring former college and professional football player Sean James and Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner responding to the "Focus on the Family" Super Bowl ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mother.

Check it out:

To learn more about Planned Parenthood and their great work here in Minnesota, visit PlannedParenthoodAdvocate.org.

ReturnMyRebate.com: Speak Up Now, They're Listening

Xavier — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:09:12 EST

Today is the first day of the 2010 legislative session. Now is the time to get our full renters rebate back -- and you can take action today to get it done.

Last week many Minnesotans, including myself, wrote their legislators demanding that they get back the money Tim Pawlenty and his allies took from renters during his budget slashing last summer.

Good news -- our letters are getting noticed.

I want to share with you portion of the response I got from my state Senator, Scott Dibble, who has successfuly stopped proposed cuts to the renter's credit in the past:

"It is vital that you keep talking to lawmakers, your own colleagues, friends and family about the importance of the renters' credit. We face even more daunting budget deficits in years to come, so I fully expect similar proposals to crop up before the legislature in the future. It is only the strong activism of people like yourself that has allowed us to turn them back."

With the legislative session now underway, we need to take Sen. Dibble's advice and continue our strong activism. Contact your legislator and tell them you demand the full renters rebate back today.

If we don't make our voice heard loud and clear during this session, we may not be able to get back the money Gov. Pawlenty and his allies took last summer.

Thank you for taking action.

Joe Davis, ReturnMyRebate.com

CAP: 11 Reasons to End Don't Ask Don't Tell

Xavier — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:02 EST

The military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy does not make sense practically, it does not make sense financially, and by acting in a discriminatory fashion, it certainly does not make sense morally.

Our friends over at the Center for American Progress have put together 11 reasons why Don't Ask Don't Tell should be repealed:

Nearly 14,000 gay and lesbian service men and women have been discharged from military service since 1993.
More than 33,000 gay and lesbian service men and women have been discharged from military service since 1980.
A survey of 545 service members who served in Afghanistan and Iraq found that 73 percent are comfortable in the presence of gay men and lesbians.
This policy may have cost the U.S. government more than $1.3 billion since 1980.

Find the rest of the reasons here.

VIDEO: Republicans: What do you stand for?

Xavier — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:28:02 EST

A new web video takes a look at the way Congressional Republicans responded to President Obama's 2010 State of the Union, which included a proposal to recover the money American taxpayers spent to bailout the banks and use to help community banks lend to small businesses, calling for a new small business tax cut, a jobs bill, a comprehensive financial reform package, among others.

Check it out:

If there's one thing that's clear, it's that Republicans are still representing a party that’s still pushing the same special interest-driven policy agenda that destroyed our economy and drove us into this mess in the first place.

ReturnMyRebate.com: Use Our Rebate Calculator to Find Out How Much You'll Lose

Xavier — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:19:47 EST

Tim Pawlenty and the GOP legislators who backed up his cut to the Renter's Credit thought they were off the hook. They were hoping that the many months passing between their cuts and your lighter wallet might make you forget who was responsible.

But they were wrong. Already, hundreds of Minnesotans -- including you -- have stood up and called for the Renter's Credit to be fully restored.

With the start of the legislative session just around the corner, we have an important opportunity to reach out to our elected officials and make sure our voice is heard.

Take a minute to use our Renter's Credit Rebate Calculator to find out how much money Tim Pawlenty took from YOU -- then let your legislator know you want that money back!

It's really easy to use our Renter's Credit Rebate Calculator to find out how much Pawlenty and friends took from you -- just enter your monthly rent and income. If you're not a renter, you can use it to find out how many dollars were taken from the pockets of folks who would've been spending that money and supporting local economies.

As our legislators prepare to head back to Saint Paul, they need to hear from all of us who will lose out on a much-needed boost to our budgets during these hard times. Your personal story is one of the best weapons we have in his fight and will help raise awareness in the legislature about the need to restore the Renter's Credit.

Send a message to your legislators. Tell them that renters are counting on them to stand up and fight to put money back in their pockets.

ACTION: Tell Franken & Klobuchar to Oppose the Dirty Air Act

Xavier — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:49:42 EST

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) plans to introduce a Congressional Disapproval Resolution that would block enforcement of the Clean Air Act for greenhouse gases.

Her "Dirty Air Act" resolution would "retroactively veto" the Environmental Protection Agency's finding released in December "that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare," threatening the hopes for a clean energy economic recovery for the nation.

Our friends over at Environment Minnesota are calling on Minnesotans to
reach out to Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar and tell them to speak out on the floor of the Senate against Murkowski's effort to undermine the United States' ability to combat climate change.

Read the note below from Samantha Chadwick and take a minute to call Senator Franken or Senator Klobuchar and let them know you want them to speak out against the Dirty Air Act.

Dear Environment Minnesota supporter,

The Senate is set to take a big vote on global warming as early as today, and so far it's too close to call.

The vote is not a step in the right direction. Instead, it's a sneak attack to block President Obama's progress on global warming -- in the form of an amendment literally written by lobbyists for big polluters.

But few people even know about it because industry lobbyists have hidden it in a completely unrelated bill on the national debt. As a result, many senators are still on the fence, even though the vote happens as early as today.

Tell Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar to speak out on the Senate floor against this sneak attack on the Clean Air Act.

The vote is on an effort led by Sen. Lisa Murkowski to block President Obama from enforcing the Clean Air Act to fight global warming (even though she's from Alaska, the state most quickly and dramatically being affected by global warming). It will move America backward and halt the creation of clean energy jobs, just when we need them the most.

Last week, our advocates helped reveal that Jeffrey Holmstead, a powerful lobbyist for the coal industry and electric utilities, actually wrote Sen. Murkowski's original amendment. He admitted to the Washington Post, "'I certainly worked with her staff' on the exact phrasing of the measure..." [1]

Click the link below to tell Sens. Franken and Klobuchar to speak out on the Senate floor against this sneak attack on the Clean Air Act:

http://www.environmentminnesota.org/action/global-warming/protect-clean-air-act?id4=ES

Thanks, as always, for making it all possible.

Sincerely,

Samantha Chadwick
Environment Minnesota Associate
http://www.environmentminnesota.org

P.S. Please share this e-mail with your family and friends.

[1] http://views.washingtonpost.com/climate-change/post-carbon/2010/01/murkowski_and_her_lobbyist_allies.html

Last Chance: Enter to Win a $100 IKEA Gift Card on ReturnMyRebate.com

Xavier — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:32:43 EST

We're getting closer and closer to the next legislative session, and with Governor Pawlenty's reckless unallotments' coming under fire, there is real momentum building to get our full renters rebate back if we make our voices heard.

Before the holidays we offered you a chance to enter a drawing for a free $100 IKEA gift card by sending a Tim "The Grinch" Pawlenty e-card to your friends.

Because our hearts aren't "two sizes too small" like Tim Pawlenty and his cut to the renter's rebate program, we thought we would give all of you sorting through your inboxes after the holidays two more days to enter the contest.

http://allianceminnesota.org/send-a-card

Right now Peter S., Lydia H., Bao H., and Michael B. are in a dead heat for the most e-cards sent, but there's still time to play catch-up, but only if you hurry.

Remember: the more people you tell, the more chances you have to win the IKEA gift card.

Good Luck!

Climate Denier (and Fave of Pat Anderson, Michele Bachmann) Gets PWND in Copenhagen

Xavier — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:32:37 EST

Members of the Youth Climate Movement confronted infamous climate denier, Lord Monckton, after he compared climate advocates to "Hitler Youth."

While Monckton was talking to reporters, some young climate advocates quietly placed a 350.org sticker on his back. 350 -- as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere (we're at 387 right now).

Check out the video:

In October, the Minnesota Free Market Institute brought Monckton to Minnesota for an event that was heavily promoted by other right-wing groups like Minnesota Majority and the Tea Party Patriots. All the hype about Monckton lead one Minnesota Daily reader wondering "Who exactly claims that Lord Christopher Monckton is a global warming expert?"

The company he works for that gets money from ExxonMobile.

What is his diploma in again?

Journalism.

How is that a scientific background?

It is not.
Was he a science adviser to Margaret Thatcher?

No.

None of those actual facts stop GOP gubernatorial candidate Pat Anderson from promoting Monckton's lies on Facebook and Twitter. I wonder if she thinks Monckton's also right when he says climate scientists are "criminals" and climate activists are "Hitler Youth."

The Mulch: A Global Day of Action

Xavier — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:29:59 EST

By Alison Hamm, Media Consortium Blogger

On Saturday, December 12, climate activists rallied to call for a binding climate agreement. Vigils, fasts, and protests were held around the world, and in the largest environmental demonstration in history, 100,000 activists marched in downtown Copenhagen from the Christiansborg Palace to the Bella Center, where the United Nations Climate Change Conference (Cop15) is being held.

Overall, the march was peaceful and positive, ending with a vigil outside the Bella Center, where the demonstrators were greeted by South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu. However, Danish police detained more than 500 activists at the back of the line, where European “black bloc” anarchists were trying to infiltrate, as Jacob Wheeler and Chuck Olsen report for The UpTake.

Kumi Naidoo, the first African leader of Greenpeace, is optimistic and enthusiastic about a deal in Copenhagen—and the role activists will play in making it happen. In an interview with Madeline Ostrander for Yes! Magazine, Naidoo says that the "... summit itself would not be taking place had it not been for groups like Greenpeace and others who have fought for a very, very long time. The fact that we are here is in itself an expression of innovation, courage, and willingness to speak truth to power."

According to Naidoo, activists are putting pressure on leaders by working both inside and outside the negotiations, and "delegations are reaching out to us as they try to figure out what’s happening. Sometimes we civil society folks get to know what these countries are doing and thinking before some of the other negotiators do." Without the "sweat of activist groups," Naidoo says, Copenhagen wouldn't even be happening.

OneClimate posted a video overview (below) of demonstrators' work at the Cop15 climate march on Saturday. "People are not in Copenhagen to bury the climate treaty, " said Vandana Shiva, Director of Navdanya, a women-centered movement for the protection of biological and cultural diversity. "They are here to implement it! Let this be the time where, you, marching to the Cop15, tell the leaders, 'We have the power... we will be the change we want to see, and no one is going to stop us.'"

In other news, Tuvalu and other small island nations introduced a proposal that would commit the world's developed nations to reducing greenhouse gas emissions enough to keep their islands habitable. They want Cop15 to produce two binding agreements: One to extend the Kyoto Protocol and make it stricter, and another that would require the United States to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

Tuvalu's lead negotiator, Ian Fry, made an impassioned plea to the U.S. Senate, President Barack Obama, and the entire UN climate conference Saturday, telling them that his country's very survival depends on the decisions they make in the next week, as Jeffrey Allen reports for OneWorld. Fry's speech brought other nations' officials to tears.

"The fate of my country rests in your hands," Fry told the other delegates.

This weekend's action helped set the stage for an exciting second week in Copenhagen, as Geoffrey Lean writes for Grist. "If the conference is successful, then the more than 100 world leaders due to come to the Danish capital this week will initiate the biggest economic change since the Industrial Revolution."

There are still arguments over the details of any final deal, such as how the measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions will be monitored and verified, who will fund it, and how to retain and improve the Kyoto Protocol.

"The likeliest outcome is a toughened Kyoto Protocol, with a linked treaty covering the United States and developing countries (at present excluded from its provisions) and new agreements made in Copenhagen," Lean writes. "... It will be one big package, or nothing. And it may all come down to the last few hours of the last day—or night, since no one wants to move until the last minute. The outcome of the Copenhagen talks is going to be a cliffhanger."

This post features links to the best independent, progressive reporting about the environment by members of The Media Consortium. It is free to reprint. Visit the Mulch for a complete list of articles on environmental issues, or follow us on Twitter. And for the best progressive reporting on critical economy, health care and immigration issues, check out The Audit, The Pulse, and The Diaspora. This is a project of The Media Consortium, a network of leading independent media outlets.

CBO Report Confirms Stimulus Act Created Jobs

Xavier — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:14:12 EST

A new report released by the Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act is already responsible for more than 1 million jobs nationwide, including over 11,800 right here in Minnesota.

Here's Vice President Joe Biden's statement on the report:

This new report from the Congressional Budget Office is further evidence of what private forecasters and government economists have been saying: the Recovery Act is already responsible for more than 1 million jobs nationwide. From independent economists to Congress’s own nonpartisan research body, the experts have spoken and the debate is no longer whether the Recovery Act is creating and saving jobs, but how we provide even more opportunities to drive growth and support American workers. This early progress less than halfway through the program is encouraging, but we’re just getting started. In the coming months, we’ll break ground on thousands of infrastructure projects, launch multi-billion dollar broadband and high speed rail initiatives and make critical investments in our nation’s schools and businesses through the Recovery Act that will help put America back to work and lay a foundation for long-term economic growth.

When we went on the Make Minnesota Thrive Drive over the summer, we were already seeing the impacts the stimulus dollars were having across the state. While most of the stories we heard were about the impacts of the budget cuts championed by Governor Pawlenty and his Republican allies in the legislature, stimulus dollars were helping young adults afford college and creating jobs.

First reNEW Minnesota Candidate Screening to feature Dayton, Entenza, Thissen

Xavier — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:54:08 EST

This Thursday marks the first meeting of TakeAction Minnesota and the reNEW Minnesota Campaign’s Candidate Interview Series, featuring Mark Dayton, Matt Entenza, and Paul Thissen.

From reNew.mn:

Each candidate will be interviewed for 45 minutes, separately, with questions based on our vision for Minnesota. Does this candidate boldly agree with our vision? Does this candidate have a plan to win? Will the candidate govern with us? Will you be excited about this candidate? The interview will end with a chance to ask your own questions during the Open Q & A.

In a crowded field, this event is a great chance to hear from the candidates in depth as we move full speed ahead towards the Precinct Caucuses in February. Be sure to come armed with a question for the candidates, ready to hear how they would reNEW Minnesota as governor.

What: reNEW Minnesota Campaign/TakeAction Minnesota Candidate Interview Series 1st Meeting
When: Thursday December 3rd 5:30pm-8:30pm
Where: CWA Local 7200 3521 E. Lake Street Minneapolis
Candidates: Paul Thissen, Mark Dayton, & Matt Entenza

For more information, please contact Jane at (651) 379-0766 or jane@takeactionminnesota.org.

Stepping up for 2010 and beyond

Xavier — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:24:17 EST

From Denise Cardinal, Executive Director here at Alliance for a Better Minnesota:

You'll love this.
A friend forwarded me a post written by radical right-wing blogger Mitch Berg about the Netroots Minnesota conference we organized last weekend. In it, he calls progressives "graying ex-hippies" and "perpetually outraged-looking women" who are "wandering the streets begging for cops to taze and teargas them."
He couldn't have been further from the truth. With the help of our allies in the progressive community, Alliance for a Better Minnesota brought together nearly 300 Minnesotans from across the stat to get trained, connect, and build on the tactics that will help progressives step up our organizing in 2010 and beyond.
Behind Berg's attempt to ridicule progressives, is his worried realization that what what started at Netroots Minnesota is just the beginning of ABM's efforts to strengthen the progressive community.
One thing is clear: we need to be prepared , and we can't afford to wait.
That's why I'm asking you to help make sure we're ready for 2010 and beyond by stepping up and making a contribution today:
https://secure.allianceminnesota.org/StepUp2010
We need a progressive voice in this state, and that's why we're here. You're contribution helps us provide issue and opinion research, develop winning messages, and give one-on-one technical assistance to progressive groups in their battles to build on progressive power.
Building a stronger progressive movement - and a better Minnesota - won't just happen on it's own. It's up to you to make it happen.
https://secure.allianceminnesota.org/StepUp2010
Thank you for your support,
Denise
Denise Cardinal
Executive Director
Alliance for a Better Minnesota

HHS Releases Report Making the Case for Health Insurance Reform in Minnesota

Xavier — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:45:13 EST

Health and Human Serivces Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the release of a new report highlighting the benefits of health insurance reform for Minnesota.

Under health insurance reform in Minnesota:

519,000 residents who do not currently have insurance and 356,000 residents who have nongroup insurance could get affordable coverage through the health insurance exchange.
282,000 residents could qualify for premium tax credits to help them purchase health coverage.
747,000 seniors would receive free preventive services.
133,000 seniors would have their brand-name drug costs in the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” halved.
72,400 small businesses could be helped by a small business tax credit to make premiums more affordable.

The report also notes that if we do nothing, by 2019 the number of uninsured people will grow by more than 30 percent in 29 states and by at least 10 percent in every state. Without reform, the amount of uncompensated care provided will more than double in 45 states. Additionally, businesses in 27 states will see their premiums more than double and fewer people will have coverage through an employer if the status quo continues.

Netroots Minnesota: See you in St. Paul!

Xavier — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:22:17 EST

We are just 24 hours away from the start of the Netroots Minnesota. Some of the best state and national experts will be joining us to plan and strategize how to expand and strengthen the progressive community in 2010 and beyond.

Tomorrow night, Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund is sponsoring what's sure to be one of the most interactive and engaging Governor's forum to date. If you have questions for the gubernatorial candidates, you can ask them on Facebook or on Twitter (#nmn09gov or #nmn09). Or ask in person (register at NetrootsMinnesota.org).

Earlier this afternoon, I sent a note to the folks who've registered for the conference, that note is included below. If you haven't registered -- it's not too late! Click here to register; if you can't make it to both days, we do have a discounted daypass available!

Please make sure that your friends don't miss this great opportunity. Pass this message on to let them know that they can register online until 5 pm tonight or at the door. The conference starts at 1 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Hotel in downtown St. Paul (411 Minnesota Street). To find out more details, like parking, visit www.netrootsminnesota.org.
We just released the information about our closing keynote -- Minnesota's Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will talk about the importance of a strong progressive movement on Saturday evening to get us fired up and ready to go.
This conference is going to be an interactive conversation with our participants. Please remember that you can ask some of our presenters questions through twitter.

For Secretary of State Mark Ritchie include #nmn09sos in your tweet

For the gubernatorial candidates include #nmn09gov in your tweet

For Congressman Tim Walz include #nmn09walz in your tweet

We look forward to seeing you soon. Check the program for the latest schedule information at www.netrootsminnesota.org.
To get the latest updates, be sure to follow @NetrootsMN on Twitter!