Alliance for a Better Minnesota

An Ultra-Rich Republican is Running for Governor

2013-04-24T19:11:29Z

Ever heard of Scott Honour? There's only one thing you need to know: He's an ultra-rich Republican who just announced he's running for Governor.

We wish we could say we're shocked that the ultra-rich want to take back our state from Governor Dayton, who stands up for middle class families every day. But we're not.

Talk about your classic, out of touch Republican. Before moving to Minnesota, Honour used to live in Pacific Palisades. He lived in an ultra-swanky mansion with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. That's over 10,000 sq. ft.

He sold his LA mansion in 2010 for almost $9 million. Here's a screen shot of his LA mansion from Google Earth:

You'll notice he paid almost $100,000 in property taxes in 2010. Because nothing says I know how to make Minnesota better for middle class, hard working families than paying more in property taxes than most Minnesotans make in a year.

When Scott Honour moved to Minnesota, he chose the 5th wealthiest zipcode in the Twin Cities.

Honour dropped a cool $9.75 million on his house in Wayzata. It's got five bedrooms and 5.25 baths. It's over 8,500 sq. ft. on almost three acres of land at the tip of a peninsula.

That's a pretty freaking nice life, if you can afford it. Take a good hard look at where Scott Honour lives, because chances are you and I are never, ever, ever going to be making that kind of cash.

Is anybody else singing the theme song from The Apprentice ("money, money, money mooooney") in their heads?

We're in the fight of our lives trying to get the richest of the rich to pay their fair share and end corporate tax loopholes that allow them to avoid paying US taxes, and millionaire Scott Honour thinks he knows what's best for the state of Minnesota?

We're here to tell you first: Scott Honour is WRONG for Minnesota.

Bob Davis is the Coward of the Country

2013-04-22T19:34:53Z

Bob Davis' horrific comments on his radio show "Davis & Emmer" reverberated throughout the nation last week when he told the victims of the Newtown massacre to "go to hell." When given a chance to apologize, Davis offered up a weak non-apology. A few days later, Davis clarified his non-apology.

Today, it's become clear just how close to home Davis' disrespectful, mean-spirited and insensitive comments hit for the families in Newtown, Conn.

Brad Greene, a resident of Sandy Hook, Conn., wrote to the Star Tribune to publicly ask Davis whether he had the courage to repeat his hurtful comments in front of the victims of the families and educators killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

"Would he have the courage to look people in the eye, tell them to deal with their tragedy, tell them that his liberty is more important than their loss, and tell them to go to hell?"

Greene even told Davis he would pay for his travel expenses to Newtown "to stand in front of people and repeat the words he said on the radio." Unsurprisingly, Davis has yet to respond.

We stand behind Greene and the families in Newtown. Davis' cowardly actions wither pathetically next to the courage of Sandy Hook victims.

Photo credit: City Pages

Paulsen and Kline still refuse to support equal pay for women

2013-04-09T14:28:56Z

Today is April 9, 2013.

It's also how far into 2013 women had to work to earn what men earned in 2012.

That's absolutely ridiculous and that's why today we are recognizing Equal Pay Day to highlight the gap between men's and women wages.

Women on average earn less than men for similar jobs - 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, a gender wage gap of 23%. Even more daunting: a new chart released by the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) estimates that, at the current pace, the gap in pay between men and women won't close until 2057.

2057! But yet, in 2013, women are nearly half the workforce and the equal, if not main, breadwinner in four of ten families, according to IWPR.

We can close this gender wage gap sooner but it's going to require Congress, including Minnesota's own Erik Paulsen and John Kline, to do the right thing and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.

The Paycheck Fairness Act would help close the pay gay between men and women and allow women to seek back pay and punitive damages for pay discrimination. It would also, among other things, set up "a grant program to strengthen salary negotiation and other workplace skills and requires the Department of Labor to enhance outreach and training efforts to eliminate pay disparities."

But extremists Paulsen and Kline oppose equal pay and have consistently voted against the best interests of women in Minnesota.

They prevented the U.S. House of Representatives from debating and voting on the Paycheck Fairness Act AND voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which redefined unlawful employment laws and gave women more flexibility to sue over pay inequality. They also hold a lot of other extreme views on women, as well.

Equal pay for equal work is not a women's issue, it's a family issue, a Minnesotan issue, an American issue. Tell Paulsen and Kline today to pledge to support the Paycheck Fairness Act:

- Contact Erik Paulsen

- Contact John Kline

Photo Credit: MPR, Pioneer Press

Failed MN Senate Candidate Elected MNGOP Party Chair

2013-04-08T20:53:51Z

Nothing says making your party more relevant to today's voters like electing a guy too extreme and out of touch to win a MN Senate race in 2012. On Saturday, the MNGOP elected their brand new Party Chair. They picked Keith Downey.

Now, folks all across Minnesota will be learning what Edina residents already know: Keith Downey has the wrong priorities for Minnesota.

Middle class Minnesotans need leaders who will fight for them, but Keith Downey is firmly on the side of big corporations.

He chose to shut down our government to protect a tax break for his corporate friends, but voted to raise taxes on renters who earn less than $55,000 a year.

He sided with insurance companies to deny coverage for mammograms and maternity care.

Downey even voted to criminalize stem cell research that could cure devastating diseases like Alzheimer's.

And that's not all. As Minnesotans, we believe our daughters should have an equal opportunity to reach the top, but Downey sponsored a bill to repeal equal pay rules for women. Downey's plan would allow employers to pay women less than men for the same job.

Downey's unfair rules wouldn't just hurt women - they'd hurt all Minnesota families.

Downey failed to get elected in 2012 because voters knew he'd be wrong for Minnesota, and this is the guy Republicans think will lead them out of millions of dollars of debt and an embarrasing 2012 election cycle?

We don't think so.

Just Another Day Where Out of Touch MNGOPers Defend Corporate Tax Breaks

2013-03-16T16:00:00Z

It's incredible the lengths to which the MNGOP will go to protect their special interest friends. To see just how committed they are to protecting big corporations ahead of middle class Minnesotans, check out what Sen. Julianne Ortman said at the MNGOP weekly press conference yesterday:

Yeah, that's right. Julianne Ortman just admitted that Gov. Dayton's budget closes loopholes that allow big corporations to hide profits overseas and avoid paying taxes. And that she's against that plan.

To recap:

"When it comes to the corporate taxes, that's a very big concern for us too. ...Now [Gov. Dayton's] just going to raise taxes on our biggest corporations." -Julianne Ortman

Apparently Sen. Ortman and the MNGOP still don't think we should close corporate tax loopholes so we can invest in getting Minnesota back on the right track: making sure our kids get the high-quality education they need to compete in a global economy and growing the economy from the middle class out.

Minnesotans clearly sent a message in November that they believe in Gov. Dayton's fair, honest and responsible plan to permanently solve our state's budget deficit and move Minnesota forward.

And the MNGOP clearly didn't get it.

Only in DC folks: Kline hosting fundraiser for scandal-ridden Congressmen

2013-03-15T18:54:16Z

What do you do when you don't want Minnesotans to know you're hosting a fundraiser for a Congressman riddled with scandal? Just host the fundraiser in Washington, DC!

That's what Rep. John Kline did, anyways.

In case you haven't heard - Rep. Kline is hosting a fundraiser on April 19th for the scandal-plagued politician Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee. Rep. DesJarlais, who is a pro-life Republican, is under fire for having an affair and then "pressing his mistress to get an abortion," according to the Star Tribune. You can also read about in the National Journal or the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee.

"Court papers released by the Tennessee Democratic Party shortly after his November re-election over Democrat Eric Stewart show that while practicing medicine, DesJarlais dated several patients, arranged with one to get an abortion, and agreed to an abortion for his then-wife."

This is especially interesting since Kline is a strong supporter of "personhood" bills - bills that provide no abortion exceptions, even for victims of rape or when the mother's life is at risk.

Kline's excuse was that he had no plans to attend the fundraiser and that he was just "lending his name" as chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, which includes DesJarlais.

Talk about 'right' hypocrisy: Kline, a personhood Republican, is "lending his name" in support of a Congressman who pressed his mistress to have an abortion?

Only in Washington, DC, folks.

Check out the video below to see the kind of person Kline is helping raise money for:

Paulsen and Kline Consistently Turn the Clock Back on Women

2013-03-13T19:12:46Z

Women's History Month is a time to reflect on the progress we've made, honor the great pioneers who fought for where we are now, and continue fighting for equality for all women in all facets of their lives.

Unfortunately, women have come under attack by Republican extremists who don't believe more progress needs to be made and would rather turn back the clock on women. Erik Paulsen and John Kline haven't had public, women-related gaffes like Todd Akin, but they're just as extreme when it comes to women.

This video highlights just some of the ways in which Erik Paulsen and John Kline have consistently fought to turn back the clock on women. Check it out.

It's pretty shocking.

We haven't heard about these guys in the news, but both Paulsen and Kline oppose equal pay for equal work.

They voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act even though women still make only 77 cents for every dollar made by men.

Both Paulsen and Kline want to redefine rape. They've both been co-sponsors on legislation (HR 5939 and HR 3) to rewrite the rules, narrowing the definition of rape to exclude "non-forcible" rape--including many instances of statutory rape.

And as you can see, both Paulsen and Kline vote overwhelmingly with anti-women extremists like Todd Akin, who believe in "legitimate rape," who don't believe statutory rape victims need abortions, and that abortion is unnecessary to protect a woman's life or health.

March is Women's History Month, but if Representatives Erik Paulsen and John Kline had their way, we wouldn't have a lot of the landmark protections and rights for which women before us fought so hard to gain. We should be celebrating women and their achievements, not turning back the clock.

Preparing You for Silly Talking Points: Budget Edition

2013-03-12T15:26:58Z

Before I write this I just want to clarify something. I'm from Wisconsin. I love Wisconsin--especially the Packers and cheese, but I will also admit to supporting the Milwaukee Bucks--however I can't let Minnesota Republicans continue to lie about my home state. You see, it's not some job creation paradise since Scott Walker took over. In fact, it's quite the opposite. So when you see some Minnesota Republican post or tweet something like this tomorrow during Mark Dayton's budget announcement, I want you to be prepared. (Update: The budget will now be rolled out later this week, not tomorrow)

#ABetterWi RT @rachelsb Blog auto feed: Wisconsin legislator reaches out to tax-rattled Minnesota companies bit.ly/11Qk8CM #stribpol
-- Sean Nienow (@SNienow) February 5, 2013

According to some new numbers being released, Wisconsin is checking in at #50 in percentage employment change since Scott Walker took office. That's... not good. If we limit it to only the last year Wisconsin jumps all of the way to... #40. Still not good. So remember, when a Minnesota Republican starts to attack a balanced budget plan that invests in the things that keep Minnesota competitive as though it's going to be a greal deal for Wisconsin, conservatives aren't exactly doing a great job guiding Wisconsin forward.

A Viral Video Without the Terrible Dancing

2013-03-07T17:08:39Z

You may have seen this floating around on the internet and haven't watched it yet. Change that. Right now. We all know things have gotten pretty unequal in America, but I didn't realize it was this bad.

From Glenn "There Is No Gay Gene" Gruenhagen: "Welfare" Responsible for Out-of-Wedlock Births by "Minorities"

2013-03-05T16:26:21Z

Last week, state legislator Glenn Gruenhagen stood up at an anti-marriage equality press conference and bizarrely kept repeating, "There is no gay gene." Upworthy put it best: A politician attacks gay people using pretend science. Real science corrects him. Take a look:

Now he's at it again. During a legislative debate on the Minnesota health insurance exchange last night, Gruenhagen actually claimed that welfare causes out-of-wedlock minority births by telling "men that they can impregnate as many women as they want and the government will pick up the tab." Again, take a look.

My favorite part? When Rep. Tina Liebling stands up and puts the truth smack down on Rep. Gruenhagen.

Michele Bachmann Lies, Erik Paulsen Misleads on VAWA Vote

2013-03-04T19:48:51Z

Can you believe that Michele Bachmann lied about voting for the Violence Against Women Act?

Late last week, the Republican-led House of Representatives finally did the right thing and passed the real, bipartisan, inclusive Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Republicans held VAWA hostage for months, refusing to protect all women and include LGBT, Native and immigrant women among those protected from violence and abuse.

They learned from their constituents that Americans believe ALL women should be protected from violence, and that folks weren't happy Republicans let VAWA expire for the first time since it was first passed in 1994.

Maybe that's why Republicans are now misleading and outright lying about their votes. Do these people not understand that the vote is public, so we know when you're lying about voting to protect women?!

Our very own Michele Bachmann was one of the many US House members who started lying about their vote. Her spokesman said:

"Rep. Bachmann recognizes the importance of giving local law enforcement and nonprofit programs the resources they need to fight against domestic violence and sexual assault, which is why she supported the stronger House version of the Violence Against Women Act," said Bachmann spokesman Dan Kotman.

There's just one problem, Dan: Michele Bachmann sure did vote for the gutted House version of VAWA, but she sure as heck voted against the bipartisan, inclusive, stronger VAWA that ultimately passed.

Uh oh, looks like someone is lying again.

Meanwhile, Erik Paulsen wants you to think he supports preventing violence against all women. He released a statement basically congratulating himself for being bipartisan and doing the right thing:

The Violence Against Women Act is bipartisan legislation that is critical to protecting women from domestic violence, assault, and stalking. I worked closely with victims' advocates and housing organizations on provisions to provide victims with additional housing opportunities, which is critical for their safety. I look forward to continuing to work with these groups and law enforcement in Minnesota to provide services and support in halting domestic abuse.

Too bad it's something he should have done nine months ago.

Erik Paulsen and Republicans in the House had an opportunity to do the right thing in May of 2012 and they chose to let VAWA expire rather than protect all women from violence.

He also voted twice on weakened, gutted VAWA legislation that would have excluded LGBT and Native women from VAWA's needed protections.

It looks like once again Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen have more in common than we thought: neither of them can be counted on to put women's interests ahead of the interests of the Republican Party.

Sequestration: Anyone Surprised the GOP Chose Corporations Over the Middle Class?

2013-02-25T21:14:12Z

There is, and will be, a lot of talk about sequestration this week, as the across-the-board budget cuts are set to take effect on Friday. Republicans are desperate to pin sequestration on Obama, but they must be sequestered from reality if they think Americans have forgotten that we only have the sequester because Republicans held the debt ceiling hostage in 2011.

Here's a great video from American Bridge 21st Century Foundation that helps paint the picture of the GOP-forced sequester.

That's right--Republican House Speaker John Boehner actually said,"I got 98 percent of what I wanted" when he negotiated the deal that wrote sequestration into law.

Sequestration is going to have a very real impact, both on the nation and on Minnesota. Sequestration means budget cuts to vital programs in every area, but women and children and especially going to feel the effects. Take a look at what sequestration means for Minnesota women and children:

Sequestration cuts domestic violence prevention and emergency shelter services by over $100,000 this year alone. In Minnesota, that means 400 fewer domestic violence victims will be helped.

500 disadvantaged and vulnerable children could lose access to child care this year alone, which is essential for working parents to hold down a job.

Sequestration cuts vaccination funding by over $160,000 this year alone, which means 2,360 fewer children will get needed vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, whooping cough and tetanus.

Sequestration cuts almost $250,000 from breast and cervical cancer screenings, meaning 933 low-income, underinsured and uninsured women will not receive needed cancer screenings.

Sequestration, and these harmful budget cuts, could absolutely have been prevented. The choice was clear: harmful across-the-board budget cuts at a time when states like Minnesota are struggling to get back on the right track or close wasteful tax loopholes for the very rich and big corporations.

Once again, Republicans chose protecting big corporations at the expense of middle class families.

6 Thumbs That Explain the GOP's Problems

2013-02-21T18:59:54Z

Lately there have been clusters of Minnesota Republicans gathering around fancy tables, elaborate powerpoints, college lecture halls of an appropriate size, and perhaps even tiny campfires peering deep into their hearts. This might seem rather odd for a party known for cutting low-income people off of health insurance, but losing every statewide election since 2006 can get to you. Shake your spirit, even.

Nationally, a similar conversation is happening around even more fancy tables and the most elaborate powerpoints D.C. interns can put together. Losing five of the last six popular votes for President will do that, too.

Luckily, instead of blaming technology gaps and other factors out on the margins, we can look at three simple pictures from new data released by Pew Research today and see pretty quickly what the problem is. They're massively out of touch:

Minnesota's middle class: The lost decade

2013-02-20T20:51:59Z

"The sum of these parts leads to a conclusion that the middle class in Minnesota has suffered a lost decade."

"...for the first time in generations, more people are falling out of the middle class than joining its ranks."

Those are just two of the damaging conclusions at the end of yesterday's MinnPost article, "How is Minnesota's 'middle class' doing?," which examined wage equality, the Great Recession and Minnesota's middle class.

That's why today we applaud the DFL-led House of Representatives for holding a hearing on developing the world's best workforce.

Over the last 15 years wage inequality in Minnesota has increased and the middle class has been left with the short end of the stick. According to MinnPost, "workers in the exact middle of the pay range gained about $4,300 over their 1995 annual incomes -- some 13 percent. Meanwhile, the top earners gained $49,924 to claim 24 percent more than they had earned in 1995." The Great Recession also hit the middle class much harder than the richest Minnesotans. Between 2006 and 2011, Minnesota's middle class saw their pay fall by $500, compared to the richest 2 percent who saw their pay rise by $10,000 during that same time period.

Minnesota must reform its unfair and outdated tax system and ask the richest Minnesotans to pay their fair share. In Minnesota, the richest 5 percent of households earn average incomes 11x as large as the bottom 20 percent of households and 4x as large as the middle 20 percent of households, according to the Economic Policy Institute and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

This evening's joint hearing of the House Education Finance and Education Policy Committees will be an opportunity to hear more about the challenges facing Minnesota's workforce and the best path forward to strengthening the sate's middle class.

Legislators will hear from presenters from across the business and academic spectrum - including Minnesota State Economist Dr. Tom Stinson, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Board Member Sanjay Kuba, Minnesota AFL-CIO's Steve Hunter, Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius, MnSCU Chancellor Steven Rosenstone, and many more. The hearing begins at 6PM.

What Republicans Don't Seem to Realize About VAWA

2013-02-19T20:47:00Z

In the U.S., 1 in 4 women are victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives.

Every day, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends.

These are just a few of the horrifying numbers and statistics about violence against women in the U.S.

These numbers--these women--are the reason the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) exists. It revolutionized the way violent crimes against women are prosecuted and prevented.

Since VAWA became law, domestic violence has dropped by more than half.

Yet, thanks for House Republicans, for the first time since it became law in 1994, VAWA has expired.

Two-thirds of Americans strongly agree that domestic violence is a serious, widespread problem in the U.S.

In the past few years, Republicans have taken to saying are such things "forcible rape" and "legitimate rape," and today, a U.S. Representative from Tenneessee actually said,

"Like most men, I'm more opposed to violence against women than even violence against men. Because most men can handle it a little better than a lot of women can."

Reauthorizing VAWA has traditionally been a bipartisan, non-controversial, easy vote. All women deserve protection from abuse and violence - no matter if they are black, white, immigrant, Native American or gay.

The Senate-passed version of VAWA includes landmark protections for Native American and LGBT women, which is why newspapers all across the U.S. - including in Minnesota - are urging the U.S. House not to eliminate those important protections and quickly pass VAWA.

The St. Cloud Times perfectly outlined what's at stake and what Republicans are holding hostage with their inaction of VAWA:

Instead of drafting its own version of the bill, which would most likely deny protections to Native American women living on reservations, the House should not squander its chance to pass VAWA as is.

...there's little time left for a repeat of the political games Congress pulled last session.The VAWA is desperately needed. A delayed vote is not an option.

When the Senate passed VAWA last week, every single female Senator supported protecting women from violence. It is critical that our Minnesota House delegation--including Michele Bachmann, Erik Paulsen, and John Kline--take a stand and show Minnesotans that they take violence against women seriously.

Photo credit: Flickr