RACH IS FAN OF THE DAY ON WCCO 12/30/11

It came to my surprise that I ended up being WCCO's Fan of the Day. I did not know until a friend told me and I had to dig up and I found the vid here that was on TV this morning. Sorry if it is not captioning but this is what it was on this morning's newscast. WCCO is TV Station based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and CBS affiliate.

Not word-for-word, but summary of the video's audio:

"We love Rachel's picture of her with her stuffed animal dogs, including
Bullseye from Target... We agree with her post on our page: 'Please keep
Old Man Winter away!' ... Thanks for being our fan, Rachel."

Monserrate will be in charge of Minneapolis School Board

By Rach Eggert, Rach's Political Report

There will be some adjustments within Minneapolis School Board. Jill Davis is stepping aside and Vice Chair Alberto Monserrate will be new chair when Jenny Arneson moving up as Vice Chair from Clerk position. They had unofficial retreat reorganizing the School Board.

Other officers of School Board for 2012 will be:

Chair: Albert Monserrate
Vice Chair: Jenny Arneson
Treasurer: Hussein Samatar
Clerk: Richard Mammen

They also appointed Kim Ellison, a teacher and wife of Congressman Keith Ellison to the board replacing Lydia Lee who left the board for new job. Ellison’s term will start on January 10, 2012.

Rest of Board members will be at large directors: Carla Bates, Jill Davis, Rebecca Gagnon, and Kim Ellison.

The new roles of board will take effect on January 10, 2012. 

Why I chose not to write about Senator Koch's situation

I would like to explain why I rather not to write about latest situation at my work (Minnesota State Capitol) regarding Senator Amy Koch and former staffer Michael Brodkorb. I wanted to get my point across so people can understand why I chose not to write about latest scandal at the Capitol. 


Due to my nonpartisan job at the Capitol, I decided not to write about Amy Koch and Michael Brodkorb scandal. Let the matters be handled alone by Senate Human Resources Department, Secretary of Senate Office and Senate Rules and Administration subcommittee on Ethical Conduct. I have no comment on the situation since I am staying out of this matter. I am not on anyone’s side and just staying out of it. 


I only can write about election, events or good things about what are going on at the Capitol or in politics. I hope my readers can understand that I need to keep my job and as I stated that my job is nonpartisan, I cannot report on what is going on with my coworkers such as Amy Koch situation. All I can say people do make mistakes but need to respect them even if they are not brightest light on Christmas tree and they do deserve privacy so I leave the scandal out of this blog. I do not want to cause any conflict or rift between me and my coworkers. 


We are one big family in the Legislature, and we have to respect each other even if there are bad situations or conflicts. I hope that the Amy Koch situation gets resolved soon so we can move on by time we start new session in 2012. 


Again, please understand and thank you. I would appreciate people do same thing leave situation handled at my work by the Senate and let people move on with their lives.

Why Minnesota State Capitol lacks modernization, need major renovation and how to retain legislative fans

By Rach Eggert, Rach’s Political Report

·        Leaky pipes, cracked walls, peeling paint, poor air conditioner and heater, and there are canopies at the entrances. Even the chandelier is still in a box for viewing. Low fan turnout is even worse. 

  

   There are about 300 events a year but most of them occur during legislative session besides House and Senate sessions. It have been walked through by million of visitors a year. The building is wearing out and really need to have major renovation. 

Minnesota State Capitol has been getting renovated over the years. I have been working there since mid-2000’s even been going over to events since late 1990’s. Air conditioning and heater are very poor so when it’s too cold, I do have to wear sweatshirt or jacket during my shift or going to events.

Both Senate and House of Representatives had their major renovation in their respective chambers years ago even the cafeteria got major renovation like 15 years ago but what about rest of the building?

The Minnesota State Capitol Building is somewhat in bad shape like Target Center and Metrodome that need to be repaired inside but not torn down. I do love the Capitol building but sadly, it need more upgrades, modernity and renovation to meet the demand and needs of people.

Minnesota State Capitol should follow example of Target Center but one problem is that Friends of the Minnesota State Capitol have not done much and they should have done what Target Center renovation did to get words out like social network and get more media attention but sadly, media paid really little attention to what is really going on with the building since they only pay attention to Legislative sessions or Governor’s press conferences or some rallies or events but what about the building itself?

Session by Session, I have noticed there are more and more damage on the building as years progresses. My coworkers in other departments are aware that we do need to do something about it but who are going to pay for renovation? Since Capitol is in St. Paul and Ramsey County, I think that they should pay the share to renovate it. Target Field had good example of who paid to build and renovate the stadium, click here to see how Hennepin County and Twins paid to build Target Field. City of Saint Paul and Ramsey County should be partners to pay for renovation also Minnesota State Capitol’s major tenants, Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate should chip in to pay for the renovation.

Here are suggestion of other ways how it can be paid would be:

·        Businesses such as restaurants, bars and hotels around the State Capitol should use sale tax.

·        Merchandise sold at State Capitol and Minnesota History Museum should go to funding to help pay for renovation. They even should expand to clothing such as hoodies, t-shirts, anything related to Minnesota State Legislature just like Hockey Lodge sells Wild/Swarm merchandise and Twins Pro Shop sells Twins related merchandise.

·        Event Permit/booking Fee

·        Event tickets or entry fee

·        Start charging Legislative Session tickets (they can be single Session Day, 7 Session Days flex pack, partial and full season ticket packages).

·        Start charge people to rent rooms or floor if event is not sponsored by Legislature such as weddings or any private functions.

·        Start charging for tours. Target Field tours are $15, Metrodome tours are $4, Target Center tours are $1.

Not only renovation, they need to make some improvements around or modernize the Capitol from the years based on my observations to make it more fan friendly or accommodating even bring in more fans and revenue.

·        Loading docks need to be improved and making it more accessible such as change door size, change how things get delivered into the Capitol, make it little bigger because sometimes more than two trucks or one trailer are there. They only have one loading dock. When there are more than two trucks, they usually park somewhere else or circle  the City of Saint Paul until they are called to unload deliveries. Loading dock is made out of steel and people have to use stair to get on it and sometimes delivery items are too heavy for ramp so occasionally would use forklift or heavy manpower to unload and load the item. The loading dock is in parking lot but if there are many cars, how can truck fit in and venture around the parking lot? They need better permanent loading dock. Capitol lacks modernity. Deliveries usually consists food, items for events, and whatever Capitol or State of Minnesota need to be delivered to the Capitol.

·        Sears need to expand parking lot to make designated area for school and charter buses where they can go after dropping school children off due to safety on street and for city bus safety. Sometimes city buses have no place to drop or pick people up. Sometimes city buses do not see people due to school or charter buses blocking bus stops that cause people to miss bus.

·        Allow food service sell food and drinks on Capitol Mall just like Target Plaza and Vikings plaza where they sell food before and during games or events.

·        Better ticketing system for House or Joint Session such as State of the State Address. There should be “Will Call” and ticket booth. There should be different type of tickets such as for Gallery or Floor or Alcove. There should be a hotline number or website where people can order tickets.

·        Meet and Greet/Autograph sessions should be controlled better, depending on crowd size and there should be station where every celebrities could be seated and people form a line to get autograph around in hallways.

·        Expand more seating in Senate and House and have specific adjacent room if the floor sessions are “sold out”.

·        Captioning board similar to Target Field for announcements or play by play so deaf people who are there can know what are going on since sign language interpreters are usually only requested in advance.

·        Turn Capitol Mall into Plaza- Target Plaza is better example. Have put more benches where people can sit and relax.

·        Better concessions area and storage.

·        Improve on interaction area for Lobbyists, fans when House and Senate are in session.

·        Better break room for Capitol staff for ALL departments.

·        Has a store similar to “The Gym” at Target Center or Twins Majestic Clubhouse Store at the Target Field but at Capitol, it would be Minnesota Legislature or political related items such as books, posters, clothing, etc.

·        Better promotional schedule for example Minnesota Zoo Day on the Hill, and if it falls on Session Day, they should have something to give out such as school backpacks to first 200 children or a day in honor of old timer (ex: Roger Moe), they could give out 1,000 Roger Moe bobbleheads to first 1,000 in attendance. It could be magnetic calendar to first 2,000 people in attendance or poster on final days of session to show appreciation and have autograph session just like Minnesota Lynx usually do during last home game. List all recess entrainment (similar to halftime or in between of period shows) or anything like that are going to be played on the day of floor session.

·        Encourage public to bring in perishable food or toys for occasions like Toys for Tots or used coat that can be donated to food shelf or charity on session days. That would be good example if they do community service.

·        Give out free breakfast on Session Opening Day just like any pro teams on opening day. People could drive or walk up and get free donut and coffee.

·        Flat screen TVs and captioning board in galleries because most of time people who sit in House Gallery have hard time hearing or trying to see who speak on floor but there is obscure view, cannot see the whole floor.

·        They need to add more women bathrooms and make them look nicer. Those bathrooms look so depressing and really need some fixing.

·        Turn Capitol Cafeteria into restaurant just like Hubert’s inside Target Center or Headwater at the Xcel Energy Center.

There are some ideas I have in my head how we could pay for Capitol renovation and how to make the place more welcoming and bring in more fans and revenue. Wolves got Rick Rubio, Twins have new stadium, and Lynx have WNBA championship but what about Legislature? They do need more fans to come out and watch. I know sometimes floor sessions can be boring but it’s great way to interact with people and something to do in St. Paul besides Wild hockey or Swarm Lacrosse. I know most of my ideas won’t happen and several people may disagree with me but that is my opinion on how we can pay and improve success to the Legislature and Capitol.

They should do similar campaign like Target Center Renovation. Here is website for TC Renovation that would give my coworkers some ideas how they can renovate the Capitol.

People like me who love Legislature may like my ideas but I am sure they won’t be sitting well with my coworkers or maybe few ideas they would approve of.

If you have ideas or would like to discuss, feel free to post your comments. All comments are moderated. 

Major Building Renovations Needed At State Capitol

SOURCE: WCCO

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) — The roof is leaking, and the furnace needs replacing. It’s a common lament for thousands of Minnesota homeowners.

But it’s happening at Minnesota’s biggest house, the State Capitol. At more than a century old, Minnesota’s most visible landmark has seen better days.

Several years of patch-up repairs won’t work anymore.

That’s why there’s a plan in the works for a massive overhaul that could actually force everyone to move out and close the Capitol for years.

There’s a leaky dome, heavy water damage and pieces of the building are literally falling off.

“Last session we had canopies over the doorways,” said Rep. Dean Urdahl, (R) Litchfield. “So that if rocks fell down they wouldn’t hit us on the head.”

Urdahl is helping lead a massive renovation of the 105 year-old Capitol, which he said is at a tipping point.

“We have leaky roofs, leaky pipes, our beautiful murals and paintings are water-stained. What does that say about us as a state?” he asks.

When it was completed in 1905, Minnesota’s Capitol was a classic of modern design. But nowadays, miles of wires are exposed in open ceilings.

The hallways are cramped, there are accessibility problems and fire safety concerns. Even the historic chandelier is down for cleaning and repair.

A high-level Capitol renovation committee is making far reaching plans for the outdated ventilation and heating systems, wiring and plumbing.

It’s an extreme makeover that will force the governor and legislature to vacate the building for years.

“It’s going to be a major, major disruption,” said Mark Dayton, the first-year Democratic governor. “You liken it to maybe an interstate highway project that takes three four five years. It’s major disruption and dysfunction.”

Built for $4.5 million, the price tag to build the same State Capitol today would be $1 billion. The renovation would cost up to $300 million, staged over 10 years.

Much of the work that is planned is out of public view: Heating and ventilation systems, extensive wiring updates and plumbing.

It would be by far the most extensive renovation in more than a century. The people behind it will say when the renovation iscomplete it will last for 100 years.

“This is the people’s building,” said Urdahl. “This is the most important building that the people own in the state of Minnesota. And if we can’t maintain the people’s building as a symbol of the state, then I think we are in a pretty sad state of affairs.”

Allen and Dziedzic won Special Primary Election

Minneapolis Legislative Delegation could go up from 8 women to 10 women if they made the cut in January Special Election and one of those district will be all woman legislative delegation.

Susan Allen won primary in House District 61B when Kari Dziedzic emerged as winner in all men race in senate district 59 replacing Senator Larry Pogemiller who resigned to work for Dayton Administration. They are advancing to Special General Election which will be held on January 10, 2012.

Result for State Senate (winners are underlined and in bold letters):

NAME                                  TOTAL

Brian Schwanke                38
Peter Wagenius                1089
Jacob Frey                          473
Kari Dziedzic                      1965
Paul Ostrow                       792
Alicia Frosch                      36
Mohamud Noor                1626

Result for House District 61B

NAME                                  TOTAL

Josh Bassais                       25
Nelson Inz                          63
Paul Dennis                        32
Susan Allen                       550

SPECIAL ELECTION CANDIDATE PROFILE: Public Servant want to make comeback and aiming for higher office. Paul Ostrow is running for State Senate

Former Minneapolis City Council President Paul Ostrow want to run for State Senate on grassroots level, refuse to accept contributions from lobbyists as he have done in the past. He was on Minneapolis City Council from 1998 until 2009 representing First Ward but served as Council President from 2002 until 2005.

His issues are: Campaign Finance Law, Education, and is in favor of new stadium for Minnesota Vikings.

Candidate Information: 

Name: Paul Ostrow

Political Party: DFL

Age: Unknown

Home: Minneapolis

Family: Wife, Julie Mattson Ostrow; Two children, Matthew and Emily

Occupation: Assistant Anoka County Attorney

Education:  University of Minnesota Law School and St. Olaf College

Endorsements: Unknown

Contact information: 

Website: http://ostrowforsenate.com/

SPECIAL ELECTION CANDIDATE PROFILE: Former Wellstone Staffer wants to move on to State Capitol from County Courthouse, Kari Dziedzic want to replace Pogemiller

Daughter of Former Minneapolis Alderman and Park Board Member Walter Dziedzic is only woman out of all man candidates vying for State Senate seat that is vacated by Larry Pogemiller. She would be first woman to represent the area if she made the cut.

Her issues are: Infrastructure, Education, Environment/Clean Water, Equal Rights, neighborhoods/Affordable Housing, Property Taxes, Protecting the Safety Net, Public Safety, Opposes new stadium for Vikings.

Candidate Information: 

Name: Kari Dziedzic

Political Party: DFL

Age: Unknown

Home: Minneapolis

Family: Single

Occupation: Policy Aide for Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Stenglein

Education:  University of Minnesota Institute of Technology

Endorsements: Women Winning, Minneapolis Firefighters Local 82, Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades,  MN Professional Firefighters, Teamsters Joint Council 32, Police Officers' Federation of Minneapolis

Contact information: 

Website: http://www.kariforsenate.com/

Twitter: @Kari4Senate

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kari-Dziedzic-for-Minnesota-State-Senate/102373066543665?sk=wall

SPECIAL ELECTION CANDIDATE PROFILE: Policy Wonk wants to move on to next level from City Hall to State Capitol, Peter Wagenius want to be State Senator this time

Former Senate Staffer, Son of State Representative Jean Wagenius, and Mayoral Aide to RT Rybak, Peter Wagenius is one of early candidate that jumped into Special Senate Election besides Jacob Frey. He lives with his new wife, Mandy are restoring their 122 years old house in Prospect Park Neighborhood. He has been recognized in the media as a top campaign strategist by helping candidates winning offices and is very active in DFL party..

His issues are: Tax Fairness, Honest Budget, Public Safety, E-12 Education, Higher Education, Transit, Environment, Equal Rights, and Clean Open Elections.

When he is not campaigning or working, he loves to go out on bike rides, he likes watching classic movies at The Heights, swing dancing, and restoring old furniture.

Candidate Information: 

Name: Peter Wagenius

Political Party: DFL

Age: 40

Home: Minneapolis (14 years in district)

Family: Wife Mandy

Occupation: Policy Director for Minneapolis Mayor’s Office

Education:  Unknown

Endorsements: Sierra Club

Contact information: 

Website: http://www.peterwagenius.org/

Twitter: @PeterWagenius

TONIGHT'S SPECIAL ELECTION FORUM IN SENATE DISTRICT 59

If you are a political junkie and have nothing to do tonight or are paying attention to latest special election, here is something that you could do tonight.

The 2011 State Senate Special Election Candidate Forum is a DFL event for the six DFL candidates on the December 6, 2011 DFL primary election ballot. The candidates will respond to questions and address the public prior to the primary election at this event. The Forum is intended to inform, educate and empower the public to make an informed decision in the upcoming primary election. The agenda will include a variety of questions and information of public interest. The Forum is free and open to the public. 

Live Streaming 

The Forum will be streamed live on The UpTake at: http://www.theuptake.org/ 

The content will be available for online on-demand viewing from The UpTake and via the Senate 

District 59 DFL web site. 

Please check the Senate District 59 DFL web site after November 15, 2011 for further details: 

http://www.sd-59.org 

Event Details: 

DATE:   Wednesday November 30, 2011 

TIME:   6:30PM – 9:00PM 

LOCATION:  Sheridan Arts Magnet School Auditorium 

   1201 University Ave. NE • Minneapolis, MN 55413 

   (Corner of Broadway ST NE and University Ave NE)

PARKING:  Limited parking is available in the rear parking lot + along 4th ST NE, and 

adjacent to the school in legal neighborhood spaces

ACCESSIBILITY: The site is fully accessible and there will be CART services for Deaf people who are going.

BUS ACCESS: The site is on a regular bus line 

SENATOR BENJAMIN KRUSE PARTICIPATES IN BROOKLYN PARK “BEANS FOR THE TROOPS” EVENT

Senator Benjamin Kruse (R-Brooklyn Park) will join “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” organizers for two “Beans for the Troops” events at the Brooklyn Park Caribou Coffee. The event will be collecting coffee bean donations to send to Minnesota’s Red Bull Division stationed in Kuwait and to Minnesota soldiers who are stateside but cannot be home for the holidays.

The event will take place at Caribou Coffee in Brooklyn Park at 9638 Colorado Lane North on two Fridays, December 2nd and 9th from 7:00AM until 9:00AM. 

Kansas teen won't apologize to governor's office for Twitter post

SOURCE: CNN

By Karen Smith, CNN

(CNN) -- A high school senior, who faces a Monday morning deadline to apologize to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback for a disparaging tweet, has said she will not write the apology letter.

"I don't think I should write the letter, and I don't think it would be the best move for me," Emma Sullivan, 18, said late Sunday night. "At this time, I do not think an apology would be a sincere thing for me to do."

Sullivan said her parents and many of her peers support her decision.

The teen made national headlines last week for a tweet she said was intended just for her friends.

A Kansas teen said she will not apologize for her disparaging tweet about Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.

During a Kansas Youth in Government field trip to the state Capitol on November 21, Sullivan wrote: "Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot."

The Shawnee Mission East senior said she did not actually talk to Brownback, and the post referenced a joke she had with a student on the trip.

The next day, she was called into the principal's office.

"I had no idea what it was about or why I was being called into the office," she said. "I had never been in trouble before."

A Brownback staffer had notified the principal, she said.

"My principal told me he needed to do damage control and was really upset," Sullivan said. "He said I was an embarrassment to the school and the school district and that I had been disrespectful."

The principal then asked her to write a letter of apology to Brownback and his staff. He set Monday as the due date for the letter.

Sullivan said she did not know what will happen when she does not turn in the letter Monday. But she hopes the tweet will bring attention to the issue of free speech.

"I hope there won't be any consequences and that my principal and the governor's office can move on," she said. "The issue is relevant and, if anything, is a starting point of dialog with the governor about his policies and how our First Amendment rights can be taken away."

Sullivan said she has not heard from the governor's office directly. But, following the media attention, her Twitter follower count has rocketed from 65 to more than 4,000 in the last week.

"I hope that the governor realizes the power of the people and how people can make things happen," she said. "I also hope he will spend his time doing more productive things."

Rep. Barney Frank Won't Be Running For Re-Election

SOURCE: MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO

by Eyder Peralta, National Public Radio

November 28, 2011

(This post was retopped at 2:20 p.m. ET.)

Barney Frank, one of the most passionate liberals in Washington and the first member of Congress to openly acknowledge being gay, announced today that he will not seek a 17th term.

The 71-year-old lawmaker, who in recent years was best known for legislation aimed at tightening regulations on Wall Street and toughening consumerprotections, said redistricting in Massachusetts would have meant he would need to spend too much time introducing himself to new constituents before next November's election and not enough on the issues he cares about.

We began this post at 10 a.m. ET. Read through to see how the story developed and our earlier updates:

10 a.m. ET: WBUR in Boston reports it has confirmed that Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) will not seek re-election in 2012.

CNN says that "Frank, a 16-term Democrat, will announce Monday he does not intend to seek re-election in 2012, according to a statement from [his] office."

Back in February, Frank announced he would run again in 2012, saying he wanted to "defend the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act" that he helped enact and wanted to work to "reduce significantly America's swollen, unnecessary, worldwide military footprint." It isn't known yet why he's apparently reversed course.

Watch It's All Politics for more on this.

Update at 11:52 p.m. ET. Frank Will Announce Decision Today:

The New York Times reports that Frank will announce his decision at a 1 p.m. ET. press conference in Newton, Mass.

The Times adds that one of the fiercest liberals in the House is retiring after facing one his toughest reelection campaigns in 2010. The 2012 election has gotten even tougher for him after redistricting:

His Fourth District falls mostly in southern Massachusetts but also includes the famously liberal Boston suburbs of Newton and Brookline. Under a new redistricting plan that Gov. Deval Patrick, a fellow Democrat, signed into law last week, Mr. Frank's district would have lost heavily Democratic city of New Bedford and gained some more conservative towns.

Update at 12:02 p.m. ET. A Bit Of Biography:

The Boston Globe has a bit of Frank's biography:

Former party head Philip W. Johnston told the Globe: "He was brilliant, funny, acerbic, strategic, and unashamedly liberal. And they're in short supply these days."

Frank, 71, was raised in New Jersey but schooled at Harvard University and Harvard Law School, endowing him with a street-fighter's mouth and an academic's wit.

He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1972 and the US House eight years later. In 1987, he became the first member of the chamber to voluntarily acknowledge he was gay. Two years later, he was involved in a scandal in which a live-in boyfriend operated a gay prostitute service from his home. The House ended up reprimanding Frank for the incident.

More recently, he has been one of President Obama's most important allies but also a target of Republicans. They accuse him of helping create the country's housing collapse by pushing the government and banks into approving loans to unqualified buyers.

In 2008, Frank was one of the writers of the Wall Street bailout, known as TARP. In 2010, as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, he co-wrote and assured passage of "Dodd-Frank," which enacted major Wall Street regulatory reforms.

Update at 1 p.m. ET. It's Official; Frank Says Redistricting Is The Reason:

The congressman is holding a news conference right now, and WBUR is webcasting here. As it reported earlier, "Massachusetts lawmakers just redrew Frank's current 4th Congressional District, making it larger and eliminating New Bedford, where he held a lot of support." The 71-year-old lawmaker says that running for re-election in a district that is "half new" would have required that he spend a lot of time introducing himself to new constituents. Instead, he says, he wants to concentrate for the next year on defending the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and making the case that deficit reduction requires raising taxes on the wealthy and trimming defense spending as well as other sacrifices.