Marty Seifert was one of the 38 House Republicans to vote for the GAMC bill last week, but he has since vowed to uphold the Governor’s veto. Rep. Seifert is clearly showing that partisanship is more important than proving the 8,000 veterans who rely on GAMC with the care they need.

The Star Tribune reported that David Skulborstad, a military veteran who lost his job in 2004, relies on GAMC for more than his prescription drugs or doctors appointments.

"Having GAMC means I'm alive," he said. "I protected this country. In my moment of need, Gov. Pawlenty chose not to protect me."

Voting to upholding Gov. Pawlenty’s veto means that Rep. Seifert also chose not to protect veterans like Skulborstad. That’s why Alliance for a Better Minnesota will be running online ads to pressure him to stand by his original vote. We’re running 30,000 impressions on the Marshall Independent website alone, as well as on all the top websites visited in Rep. Seifert’s district throughout the weekend.

Clicking on these ads will allow Minnesotans to demand that Rep. Seifert honor his commitment to caring for the most vulnerable and veterans instead of putting partisanship ahead of Minnesota’s priorities.

We only need three Republicans to stand by their vote for the GAMC bill in order to override Gov. Pawlenty’s veto, so make sure you send Rep. Seifert a letter demanding he put veterans and the state’s most vulnerable ahead of partisan politics. Below are some of the ads you’ll be seeing if you live in Rep. Seifert’s district.

"[It's] under the guise of quote, volunteerism, but it's not volunteers at all. It's paying people to do work on behalf of government. There are provisions for what I would call re-education camps for young people, where young people get trained in the philosophy the government puts forward and then they have to go work in these politically correct forums.

"As a parent, I would have a very, very difficult time seeing my children do this."

Well, the last application deadline was in February and successful candidates were notified within two months. So when Rep. Bachmann went on the air with her negative comments, she certainly would have known that Harrison had applied for Teach for America, if not that he had been accepted. It seems Bachmann has no choice but to see her child do this, as he obviously does not share her concerns.

This is just another example of Michele Bachmann’s nonsense. For more on that, watch the ABM ad below:

Ironically, this will mark the first year that Teach for America will be in Minnesota. According to WCCO, Minnesota has one of the highest achievement gaps in the country, which is why TFA will be expanding into the Twin Cities. Teach for America operates in 34 communities across the country. Although TFA would not disclose where Harrison Bachmann would be teaching, how delicious would it be if he were teaching right here in Minnesota? To learn more about Teach for America head over to their website.

Not only has Bachmann’s son joined the government’s brainwashing program, but TPMDC wonders whether she has an even greater disaster on her hands: the possibility that one of her children will now completely fill out the family’s Census form.

The staff of Alliance for a Better Minnesota is off at Netroots Nation for the next few days, learning from some of the best and brightest minds in the progressive movement about how to use technology to influence the public debate.

But we're also here to share some of the lessons and knowledge that Minnesota's progressive movement has to share.

Denise Cardinal, ABM's Executive Director, is on a panel on Saturday, August 13th at 3 p.m. on Cutting-edge Evidence-Based Practices.  From the website: 

Do GOTV text messages work? Can Internet banner ads persuade? Is it true that simple questions can double the impact of a GOTV call? Through randomized controlled experiments, we have answers. This panel will introduce attendees to the cutting-edge world of data-driven politics and evidence-based best practices. Hundreds of randomized controlled experiments were conducted during the 2008 election cycle by leading progressive organizations to determine what works and what doesn’t in voter contact. Learn the basics of how a randomized controlled experiment works and be a part of building the progressive toolkit.

 I'm also on a panel today, Thursday, at 4:30 p.m. about "the myth of digital democracy" and how progressives can make sure that their online organizing strategies are reaching the right communities.  From the website:

In his book “The Myth of Digital Democracy,” Matthew Hindman “debunks popular notions about political discourse in the digital age, revealing how the Internet has neither diminished the audience share of corporate media nor given greater voice to ordinary citizens.” This panel will use Hindman’s argument as a starting point, addressing the question of whether or not online political and social organizing is indeed reaching under-represented communities, such as young people in inner-cities and rural areas. Do online organizing sites work with and reach a diverse group of members, especially in terms of age, race, education level and economic background? Who is being left out of the conversation? Looking forward, what steps do we need to take to make sure these communities are incorporated into the discussion so they can be empowered both socially and politically?

 If you're interested in joining in on some of the conversations happening here in Pittsburgh, check out the Netroots Nation website, where they'll be "doin' it live" and streaming panels throughout the weekend.

You can also follow along on Twitter.  Denise tweets as @denisecardinal, myself as @xavierla, and the ABM Twitter stream is @alliancemn.  You might also want to follow @Populista (Populista from over at Minnesota Progressive Project) and @JasonBarnett (Jason Barnett from The UpTake) who are also here in Pittsburgh.

Tomorrow at 2 p.m, the Seat Our Senator campaign will hold a brief press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol, before delivering a basket of Iowa corn ot Governor Tim Pawlenty with a simple message: "the Iowa caucuses can wait, Minnesota needs you now.

Tomorrow's press event is part of ongoing campaign by Alliance for a Better Minnesota, MN AFL-CIO, AFSCME Council 5, Working America, SEIU MN State Council, Americans United for Change and others urging Pawlenty to do his legal duty and certify the U.S. Senate election results should Al Franken be declared the winner by the Minnesota Supreme Court.

The press release from Americans United for Change is below:

The latest effort by the Seat Our Senator campaign follows a recent television ad from Americans United for Change called ‘The Choice’ which aired in the Twin Cities and Rochester media markets and a billboard purchased on the SE corner of 94 and Snelling Ave. in St. Paul that both ask Governor Pawlenty if he will act in the best interests of the people of Minnesota that urgently need full representation in the U.S. Senate – or his own national political ambitions.

WHO:                Alliance for a Better MN
Americans United for Change

WHAT:              “Seat Our Senator” Campaign to Deliver Basket of Corn and Message to Governor Pawlenty: “Iowa
Caucuses Can Wait, Minnesota Needs You Now” / Effort Part of Ongoing Campaign Urging Governor Pawlenty to Do His Legal Duty and Certify the U.S. Senate Election Results Should Al Franken Be Declared the Winner by the Minnesota Supreme Court

WHERE:           MN State Capitol, Room 125

WHEN:             Friday, May 29th at 2:00 p.m.

Yesterday, Alliance for a Better Minnesota joined other progressive organizations to launched a counter framework to Governor Pawlenty’s budget plan.  In a truly Minnesotan fashion, the announcement was made amid the backdrop of a church basement potluck.

Denise Cardinal, ABM's Executive Director, supplied the tater tot hot dish and I'm told the meatballs were delicious.

Here's Denise's email about her hot dish and the recipe for Minnesota's economic success:

Dear Friend,

Governor Pawlenty flew around the state in his plane today while I served up tater tot hot dish and meatballs in a church basement with other progressive organizations, like Take Action Minnesota, SEIU Health Care, Minnesota 2020, ISAIAH, and the Blue-Green Alliance in unveiling Minnesota's Recipe for Economic Security, Fairness, and Opportunity.

Read the Recipe For Economic Security, Fairness, and Opportunity.

With the economy in such dire straights, the Governor and lawmakers need to be focused on more than just getting in a news story or on Fox News Sunday.  We need to be positioning Minnesota to come out of this crisis stronger and better prepared for the future. These set of principals for the budget will help us build for the future and an economy that works for all Minnesotans.

Submit Your Recipe For Economic, Security, Fairness, and Opportunity.

Governor Pawlenty's proposed cuts only increase the strain on Minnesotans struggling in this economy. Our priorities address the long-term needs of our state. I hope you'll read about them on our website, submit some of your ideas and sign the recipe card.

http://www.MNRecipeForSuccess.com

We need to let Pawlenty know that in church basements around this state, people care less about what he said on Fox News Sunday and more about how he's helping get our state back on track.

Thanks,
Denise Cardinal