http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/members_rss The following posts were created from our member blogs. Either Tom Emmer is still stuck on the first stage of grief because of his disastrous campaign to date, which recently voted several staffers off the island , or he thinks that he's campaigning to become governor of The Matrix. Tom Emmer's most recent "I have absolutely no budget plan" distraction technique unveiled today is the red pill inspired: "There is no spoon". From Tom Emmer via MPR : Where is the deficit? We talk about 'You got to raise taxes, government has to invest.' I'll say it again, government in the state of Minnesota is scheduled to get a 7 percent increase in the next biennium. Government will have more money to spend in the next two years than it is spending right now. You see, Minnesotans? There is no spoon. Whoa . The deficit is all in your head! If the budget crisis doesn't exist -- bam-- no plan needed. Even with his attempt to melt our minds by going all Neo on us, no one is fooled. Despite Emmer's selective accounting, we know we're facing a historic budget crisis, and as Tom Scheck immediately points out , the major reason for the uptick in state spending cited by Emmer is that Tim Pawlenty's kicking of the budgetary can is coming home to roost. (Mixed metaphors win elections) With over a billion in school shifts and half a billion in temporary cuts coming off the chopping block, many of the gimmicks bullied through the legislature by Tim Pawlenty-- with the full support of Tom Emmer and House Republicans -- are putting the state in an even worse situation next year. Instead of owning up to his role in the budget debacle we find ourselves in -- and provide us with what would actually be a "new direction" -- Tom Emmer has decided to try and confuse us. Whether it's mashing up $20 billion and 20% , or comparing Minnesota to a wagon full of Clydesdales , Tom Emmer is willing to say anything, except what he would actually do to the services we all use and rely on if he became governor. The problem? It's pretty hard to dance around the fact that he introduced things like cutting the minimum wage while pushing for lower taxes on corporations. We wont forget that -- when he bothered to show up to vote -- that he consistently sided with big businesses instead of working Minnesotans. For the new direction the Minnesota needs someone ready to make the hard decisions to move us forward. We need someone who can lay out a plan to get Minnesota back on track, not more Pawlenty-styled governing by press release. http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/joe/BVt http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/joe/BVt/commentary#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:40:24 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/joe/BVt User from Saint Paul, MN User from Saint Paul, MN 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVt/ Last summer, we set out on the Make Minnesota Thrive Drive , a tour of the state to find out what makes our state great, and how those things are in jeopardy because of irresponsible budget cuts. One of the things we discovered was the importance of local government aid (LGA) to cities across the state. When LGA is cut, local property taxes increase in order to maintain the same level of service and/or basic services are cut or eliminated. The Burnsville City Police Department is hoping to stave off cuts to public safety in an unconventional way. The cost of a K-9 police dog for the Burnsville police department is $22,000 to purchase, train and maintain two police dogs. Because their two current dogs will be retiring in the next two years, the department is asking for public donations on the city’s website to raise the money to keep the dogs. These dogs are an important part of the police force—they can track people, search buildings, and find weapons. One of the Burnsville police dog handlers even admitted that the majority of people give up evading the police when they see a police dog. With such a large state deficit, spending cuts are going to have to be a part of the solution, but at some point enough is enough. Cities need to be able to function and keep their residents safe, happy, and healthy. They simply should not have to rely on the charity of their residents in order to function.   Photo credit: Flickr http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVZ http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVZ/commentary#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:03:12 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVZ Stephanie Stephanie 1 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVZ/ 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. http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVq http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVq/commentary#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:45:45 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVq Xavier Xavier 4 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVq/ A new study from the National Wildlife Federation came out today, which emphasizes the fact that oil spill aren’t just limited to the Gulf of Mexico. While the Gulf Coast is still dealing with the worst environmental disaster in the history of the US, Michigan now has to deal with one of the worst spills in Midwest history. The EPA estimates that more than 1 million gallons of oil may have spilled into the Kalamazoo River since Monday morning. Just how much oil is that? According to the AP : An 800,000 gallon spill would be enough to fill 1-gallon jugs lined side by side for nearly 70 miles. It also could fill a walled-in football field, including the end zones, with just under 2 feet of oil. According to the EPA, oil is no longer leaking, but the spill is still wrecking the river’s ecology, killing fish, and coating wildlife. Not to mention the tragedy if the oil reaches Lake Michigan. Enbridge Energy, the same firm behind the Michigan spill, has had leaks in Minnesota 11 times since 2002 . Our state definitely isn’t immune to oil spills, and not just because our loons migrate to the Gulf. From 2000 to 2009, Minnesota has had an average of one pipeline spill every other month for ten years. We’ve been dependent on oil for a long time—the United States currently accounts for about 23 percent of global consumption. Last year, as a nation, we consumed more than 286 billion gallons . With oil spills happening all over the country, including Minnesota, the time is now to really invest in a clean energy economy. We can make our state healthier while protecting the environment and the wildfire in it. If you want to see how much your Senators take from dirty energy corporations, and how to demand that they stand with us and create jobs through clean energy initiatives, head over here .   Photo credit: Flickr http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVc http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVc/commentary#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:20:30 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVc Stephanie Stephanie 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVc/  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 . http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVW http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVW/commentary#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:28:12 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVW Xavier Xavier 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVW/ 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.   http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVv http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVv/commentary#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:16:11 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVv Xavier Xavier 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVv/ Pothole. They’re always an annoyance, but this year it’s become something of a dirty word in Minnesota. Potholes are the bane of drivers everywhere, until you’re helpless and frustrated and the only thing to do is make a game of avoiding them on Kenwood Parkway, like me. This last year has been characterized as the worst pothole season in Minnesota in recent memory, something the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis confirms . While overall road quality in the ninth federal reserve district (which includes Minnesota) declined, Minnesota suffered the worst falloff in ride quality from 2002 to 2007, according to the report. With the same data, MN 2020 found that Minnesota’s national rank in road conditions fell from 8th in 2002 to 27th in 2007. Even though this data doesn’t include the impact of the 2008 gas tax increase, it (and the potholes) shows the very real impact of decreased investment in public works. The simple truth is that our roads are worse than ever, and lack of funding, like decreased local government aid, has put a lot of construction and maintenance work on hold—which means more potholes.   Photo credit: Flickr http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVr http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVr/commentary#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:51:03 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVr Stephanie Stephanie 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVr/ Walking is great. It’s a healthier form of transportation for you and the environment, but every time I talk about how awesome walking and biking are compared to driving your car, I’m reminded that not everyone lives somewhere where alternate forms of transportation are a viable option. Have you ever wondered how easily you could switch from driving to walking? Lucky for you, there’s a tool to help you. Walk Score rates your address from 0 (car-dependent) to 100 (walker’s paradise) based on your proximity to schools, stores, parks, libraries, and transit stops. My house near Macalester, for example, rated 77 (very walkable). This may seem like a fun, silly tool, but a 2009 study shows that each one-point increase in Walk Score is associated with $500-$3,000 in increased home value. It seems like a lot of folks are using Walk Score in order to determine how walkable homes are while they’re looking to buy . Walkable cities also translate into huge energy and money savings : Cortright earlier showed that anti-sprawl land use policies in Portland, Ore., led to per-capita vehicle miles traveled about 20 percent below the nation's metropolitan average. For Portland's 2 million residents, that adds up — every day — to 8 million fewer miles of driving, 400,000 fewer gallons of fuel burned and 7.8 million fewer pounds of greenhouse gases emitted. Every year, that yields $1.1 billion in lower direct transportation costs, as well as $1.5 billion in time savings. Obviously a walkable lifestyle just isn’t possible in some places, where accessibility to grocery stores and other shops depends on driving. The movement to cut down fuel dependence and mitigate global warming by transitioning to a less motorized lifestyle, however, is growing exponentially.   Photo credit: Flickr http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BV4 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BV4/commentary#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:03:39 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BV4 Stephanie Stephanie 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BV4/ Tomorrow marks three months since the BP oil spill. It’s a harsh reminder that the key to our energy future lies with a clean energy economy. Now more than ever we’re reminded clean energy saves money and makes us healthier. Whether you’re committed to building a more energy-efficient house or looking for ways to reduce your current energy use, there’s always something, no matter how big or small, you can do to contribute to the clean energy economy. If you’re looking for ways to save energy and money without uprooting your entire lifestyle, try cutting down your phantom load (the small amount of electricity consumed by electronics while they’re in standby or sleep mode). If you’re like me, you turn off fans and lights in your house when you leave, but most of us don’t think about the electronics in our homes that use energy all day just because they’re plugged in. 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while products are turned off. The quick, simple fix to saving money and energy is to pull the plug on your electronics when they aren’t in use. But, if you’ve got a more significant amount of time and money on your hands, you could build a home that produces almost all the heat and power it needs. This German design, called the Passive House , “represents today’s highest energy standard with the promise of slashing the heating energy consumption of buildings by an amazing 90%.” The basic concept is an extremely well insulated, airtight building heated primarily by passive solar gain. One of the dozen Passive Houses in the nation is just across the border in Hudson, WI. These homes represent a new approach and commitment to our clean energy future, as nearly one-fourth of the energy used in the United States is used in our homes. In the wake of the oil spill disaster, it’s more serious than ever that we commit to kick-starting our future by investing in a clean economy.   Photo credit: Flickr http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVm http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVm/commentary#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:45:48 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVm Stephanie Stephanie 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVm/ A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (by which I mean last week at the Eagle Street Grille), Emmer claimed that there are servers in the state who take home over $100,000 a year including tips. He also proposed implementing a tip credit. Bloggers, reporters, and average Minnesotans all began to wonder the same thing: do servers really make $100,000 and where can I apply? Well, don’t get too excited, because Emmer’s claims were quickly proved false . Unsurprisingly, our waiters and waitresses make significantly less than that on average, which would make a wage cut even more devastating. When Emmer tried to put out a fact sheet backing off from his initial statement and claiming he doesn’t want to lower wages, we fact checked him right back . And if that isn’t enough false claims from Tom Emmer for you, he told servers at his town hall yesterday that he didn’t want to see their wages go down. But the facts tell a different story: not only did Emmer propose an amendment to abolish the minimum wage , he also said this week that he would cut the minimum wage if the Legislature approves. "If somebody is going to pass that through the Legislature, we would absolutely sign it," [Emmer] said. The waiters and waitresses who came to Emmer’s town hall passionately told their stories, each explaining how they depend on their wages to get by . One waitress, Colleen Klink, explained to Emmer how unpredictable tips can be: “I just don't think you understand that not every establishment out there tips the way that some people think they do…There are still a lot of people out there who don't believe in tipping." Instead of standing up for workers in our state by demanding a livable wage, Tom Emmer is talking about cutting wages with a tip credit. If there’s anything that the past ten days has proved, it’s that Tom Emmer is simply out of touch with the values and priorities of hard-working Minnesotans.   Photo credit: Flickr http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVP http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVP/commentary#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:42:39 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVP Stephanie Stephanie 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVP/ 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" http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BV7 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BV7/commentary#comments Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:18:58 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BV7 Xavier Xavier 2 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BV7/ Just two months after NASA reported it was the hottest April, and hottest January-April , in temperature record comes the news that the first six months of 2010 “ breaks the thermometer .” Yes, these last six months have been the hottest January to June on record. If that’s not enough for you, the 12-month running mean global temperature has reached a new record this year. While these findings are significant, they become more important when you factor in that these record-breaking high temperatures occurred with a minimum of solar irradiance .  For NASA, this reinforces the powerful evidence of human-caused global warming, as temperatures are rising while a minimum of sunlight is reaching the Earth. If you can believe it, there are still people who think that climate change is a myth . You might remember that these climate deniers went crazy over the winter, raging against climate change research because of harsh winter temperatures and snowstorms. It must be tough being a climate denier. You’ve got to be able to 100% ignore the well-respected scientific community telling you that no matter how loudly you yell about snowstorms and cold days, the last twelve months have been the warmest twelve months. Ever.   Photo credit: Climate Progress http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVY http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVY/commentary#comments Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:52:26 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVY Stephanie Stephanie 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVY/ We all know that our children are the future . I mean, how many times have you heard that (somewhat cliché) phrase? It makes sense, then, to both invest in our children, and invest in the future. It’s disturbing, then, that for the past ten years our state has slash funding for child care. Early in this decade, Minnesota’s child care assistance programs were help up as a national model for how to help parents work and achieve self-sufficiency. But Minnesota lost its title as a national leader after deep cuts to child care assistance programs passed in the 2003 and 2005 Legislative Sessions. State funding for child care assistance has dropped 26 percent in the last ten years. In Minnesota, costs for accredited child care top college tuition. That’s outrageous, especially since high-quality early childhood education is important in helping to close the achievement gap. Unsurprisingly, children from higher-income families or who have parents with more education perform better in terms of school readiness. What is surprising is that these differences disappeared among Minnesota kids enrolled in high-quality accredited child care centers. That’s huge! And it makes the state’s lack of investment in child care even more disturbing. High child care costs leave parents, especially low-income parents, relying on friends and family. This also means they miss more work due to their children’s illnesses and child care problems. After the 2003 and 2005 cuts to child care funding, 11,000 fewer children received child care assistance. Investing in our children's future just isn't something that should be slashed from the state budget. It's time Minnesota became a national leader again by helping hard-working families afford the quality child care their children deserve.    Photo credit: TC Daily Planet http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVs http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVs/commentary#comments Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:37:38 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVs Stephanie Stephanie 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVs/ A new report came out last month on the status of women and girls in Minnesota. It’s been 90 years since women gained the right to vote in the United States, but it’s important to remind ourselves, as the report says , that “we are still on the road to equality.” What that means for us is that women in Minnesota continue to face significant hurdles. We’re still not on a level playing field with men when it comes to our wages, safety and health. I’m just going to mention a few of the findings that struck me while I was reading the report: White, African-American and Latina women earn 76 cents, 61 cents and 56 cents on the dollar, respectively, compared to white men By midlife, 33 percent of Minnesota women have experienced a rape crime Minnesota has the third highest childcare costs in the country A majority of uninsured women in Minnesota work full-time These are by no means the only hurdles we face as women in Minnesota, but the 38th anniversary of Title IX also reminds us of how far we’ve come since 1920. When Title IX was enacted in 1972, it was designed to enforce equal access and quality for women’s athletics and as a result, girls’ participation in sports exploded : In high school, the number of girl athletes has increased from just 295,000 in 1972 to more than 2.6 million. In college, the number has grown from 30,000 to more than 150,000. In addition, Title IX is credited with decreasing the dropout rate of girls from high school and increasing the number of women who pursue higher education and complete college degrees. Title IX does more than just allow girls to play sports. In 1972, it offered a venue for girls and women to stay fit, excel in athletics, and feel empowered. It can also serve as a reminder of how far women have traveled on the road to equality, and the hurdles that still need to be overcome.   Photo credit: Flickr http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVy http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVy/commentary#comments Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:50:31 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVy Stephanie Stephanie 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVy/ 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. http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BV9 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BV9/commentary#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:55:35 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BV9 Xavier Xavier 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BV9/ Speaking for all the soon-to-be and recent college graduates in Minnesota, I’m pretty sure I can safely say that we have one thing on our minds constantly: jobs. It might be a little bit of an exaggeration to say I think about jobs when I eat, sleep, and do homework, but that’s kind of what it feels like. The good news for me, and other college students who will graduate in the coming years, is that Minnesota will be facing one of the largest demands for educated workers in the nation. A new report predicts that in 2018, 70 percent of the jobs in the state will require post-secondary education. But while Minnesota will add a whopping 152,000 jobs that require education and training beyond the high school level by 2018, the job prospects for high school graduates and dropouts aren’t so promising. In contrast, jobs for high school graduates and dropouts will grow by 28,000. Our educational attainment is something Minnesotans have always been proud of, but years of underfunding education makes it that much more difficult to ensure our kids get a quality education. We’ve got make sure that groups with alarming drop out rates—immigrants and minorities—have the best chance possible to succeed in high school and go on to some kind of college. Our economy and job market are changing, making it more difficult to get a job without some post-secondary education. It’s our job to make sure that we’re giving young Minnesotans the best possible tools to succeed in this changing job market.   Photo credit: Flickr http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVf http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVf/commentary#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:02:14 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVf Stephanie Stephanie 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVf/ 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/ http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVD http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVD/commentary#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:17:16 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVD Xavier Xavier 2 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVD/ 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 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVd http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVd/commentary#comments Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:51:50 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVd Xavier Xavier 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVd/ With the news that May’s global temperature is the warmest on record , it seems like a good time to talk about what we can do to reduce global warming. The Bemidji Pioneer had a great article at the beginning of the month explaining why it’s so important: As Americans, we pride ourselves on our independence. But when it comes to energy, we are still dependent on other countries — some of which are hostile to our nation and its values. In the weeks ahead, we will be given the opportunity to move toward greater independence, improving our environment, economy and national security in the process. The American Power Act in the Senate right now would give us our country’s first effective national limits on global warming pollution. The bill sets achievable emissions limits for carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that would start in 2013 and get tighter every year with a target of 17 percent reduction by 2020 and over 80 percent reduction by 2050. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analysis of the American Power Act highlights how the bill isn’t just a milestone in national global warming reduction. This legislation benefits all Americans, regardless of age, party affiliation or employment. The EPA found that the American Power Act would have a modest impact on US consumers. The cost to American consumers translates to 22 to 40 cents per household each day. That’s less than the cost of a postage stamp . We can protect our environment while also protecting the hard-working Americans who, in this tough economic climate, are concerned with the cost of such an ambitious bill. We’ve also got to keep in mind that the EPA cost estimate doesn’t include the benefits of avoiding the harmful long-term effects of climate change.   Photo credit: NOAA http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVl http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVl/commentary#comments Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:23:34 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/stephaniefenner/BVl Stephanie Stephanie 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVl/   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. http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVz http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVz/commentary#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 12:48:30 EDT http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/post/xavier/BVz Xavier Xavier 0 http://allianceminnesota.org/page/community/comment_rss/BVz/