Category: US Politics

by Dave Mindeman

The US House Republican leadership has pulled the Voting Rights Act from consideration for renewal. This was caused by a rank and file revolt among the GOP caucus. Apparently, voting (at least the GOP way) is controversial.

The leadership wanted to limit debate and allow no amendments from the floor. Although, they were going to allow a few pre-determined amendments for consideration.

One of those came from Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga) who wanted to redefine a portion of the law to change the Justice Department approval of changes to voting practices in certain states... approval that has protected the right to vote in the past.

The House leadership decided to take the bill off the calendar. No word as to when it will be reconsidered. (Source: Roll Call) The VRA is due to expire in 2007.

Incidently, Rep. Westmoreland made a recent appearance on the Colbert Report. Stephen Colbert featured Westmoreland's district in his ongoing "Better Know a District" feature. During his interview with Westmoreland, Colbert brought up a proposed bill from the Georgia Congressman requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in Federal courthouses. Which prompted Colbert to ask the Representative to recite the 10 Commandments. Westmoreland's response was, "you mean all of them?" He couldn't come up with 5.

Category: Minnesota Politics

by PDW58

It was announced (by himself) that Michael Brodkorb, the blogger for Minnesota Democrats Exposed, has a job with the Mark Kennedy campaign. He is letting us know about it as a "courtesy" but he will continue to blog. Not much changes.. before... he was a party hack blogging to help promote Republican candidates and hatchet Democrats; now... he is a paid party hack blogging to help promote Republican candidates and hatchet Democrats. Nice of him to let us know though.

Category: Minnesota Politics

by Dave Mindeman

Hey, all you commuters out there!!!!! Are you paying attention? Are you having fun sucking up those exhaust fumes at the Crosstown? Well that futile exercise will continue because Pawlenty-Molnau ain't gonna fix it!

Their "solution" to the dearth of transportation funds needed to fix the Crosstown, was to have the contractors loan the state the money, if they won the bid on the project. Needless to say, the answer was ... "are you nuts?" No bids came in and now the Crosstown fix is postponed indefinitely.

MPR reported that not only is the Crosstown project pretty much in limbo (as well as the federal dollars involved with it).... they have no extra funds for ANY new projects either. They have dedicated future revenues to current projects and all the DOT will be able to do is pay off debts.

The current administration wouldn't support a gas tax during the previous session (because they had to keep the pledge, you know), and now we will be paying the price in future debt, and the interest on that debt, and the inflationary delays, well into the future.

Yea, they pat themselves on the back about balancing that budget deficit without raising taxes -- but now the "credit cards" are coming due.

Better bring back the bumper stickers -- "This Crosstown Mess brought to you by Pawlenty-Molnau!"