Update-here is the link to the People's Press story about the meet and greet, and you can watch video of the event here.
8:25 I'm at Central park Coffee in Owatonna, getting set up for a practice run at live blogging.
8:35 Mike Parry is here and talking with local residents
8:41 question from the audience, 'doesn't a 15% reduction in state spending mean payroll cuts?' Mike says yes, and that will be the hard part of cutting
8:44 comment from the audience 'my son's company is mandating 30% pay reductions for everyone, why don't government employees have to do the same?
8:46 Mike says we need to pay based on performance, that is how he has been successful as a businessman and that needs to be brought into government
8:49 Claire Kennedy from the People's Press is here with camera and video camera, so I will link to the story and video from their site when it is available
8:53 question from the audience, 'do you support Dick's idea to bring in Racino?' answer from Mike- ' I'm all in favor of it! We have Diamond Joe Casino in northern Iowa getting Minnesota residents and Minnesota tax dollars to come across the border'
8:55 comment about the clean water legacy act, Mike responds 'that bill cost us an employee. I own a Godfather's Pizza, and that additional tax meant that we had to back off on one employee to keep our prices from going up'
9:01 Mike comments about the ongoing school teachers negotiations in Faribault, and how the kids will be penalized if the school district doesn't agree to terms quickly. Comment from the audience that the law says school districts lose money if negotiations go too long, but 'why don't unions get a penalty at all?'
Friday, January 8, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Mike Parry for Senate
Here is a collection of the news coverage of Mike Parry, the endorsed candidate for the special election in SD 26 to replace Sen Dick Day.
Waseca County News
Faribault Daily News
StarTribune
WCCO
Republican Party of Minnesota on Facebook
And of course you need to check out Mike's campaign website. Volunteers and donations are needed to keep SD 26 in conservative hands. Door knocking, literature drops and phone calling are being done daily, so if you can donate some tie or money, both would be greatly appreciated.
Waseca County News
Faribault Daily News
StarTribune
WCCO
Republican Party of Minnesota on Facebook
And of course you need to check out Mike's campaign website. Volunteers and donations are needed to keep SD 26 in conservative hands. Door knocking, literature drops and phone calling are being done daily, so if you can donate some tie or money, both would be greatly appreciated.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Special election update
The timeline is set for the special election process to replace Sen Dick Day.
Dec 28th 6pm The endorsing convention will be held at the Elk's Club in Faribault. Each candidate will have a chance to address the delegates and make their case about being the best candidate. It is important to note that the delegates and alternates for the convention will be those elected in Feb 2008.
Dec 23rd-Dec 29th Filing season is open for the race. Candidates need to understand that if more than one candidate files with the Sec State as a Republican, there will have to be a primary election as well. Candidates who file but are not endorsed are strongly encouraged to withdraw their candidacy affidavit with the Sec State.
Jan 12th Primary election only if needed
Jan 26th Special election day
Dec 28th 6pm The endorsing convention will be held at the Elk's Club in Faribault. Each candidate will have a chance to address the delegates and make their case about being the best candidate. It is important to note that the delegates and alternates for the convention will be those elected in Feb 2008.
Dec 23rd-Dec 29th Filing season is open for the race. Candidates need to understand that if more than one candidate files with the Sec State as a Republican, there will have to be a primary election as well. Candidates who file but are not endorsed are strongly encouraged to withdraw their candidacy affidavit with the Sec State.
Jan 12th Primary election only if needed
Jan 26th Special election day
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Special Election
Update-Mike Parry is officially running.
Well, Steele County politics got turned upside down this morning with the announcement by Sen Dick Day that he will be resigning to pursue the Racino idea that he has championed over the last several years. Aside from the political implications of having a dedicated and passionate man like Sen Day spearheading the Racino bill next session, it also means that there will be a special election to fill his seat.
Senate District 26 covers all of Steele County, and part of Waseca and Rice. It also crosses over the 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts, all of which means that this will be an involved process. What we know at this point is this-
-The governor will call for a special election at a date to be determined. State law requires at least 28 days before holding it, but the legislative session starts Feb 4th, which means the election will most likely be held sometime in mid-January.
-Several candidates have expressed strong interest in running for the GOP endorsement so far this morning, which will happen at an endorsing convention.
-This will be the only election happening in Minnesota until next year's primaries, which means we can expect a good deal of media interest from outside the district.
-This election has the potential to be a great organizing event for Steele County Republicans, as we will move from the endorsing convention (early Jan?) to the special election (mid Jan?) to the precinct caucuses to the county convention.
No word yet on any DFL candidates, but I would expect to see them coming out quickly.
More updates will be posted here and on www.steelegop.com as they become available.
Well, Steele County politics got turned upside down this morning with the announcement by Sen Dick Day that he will be resigning to pursue the Racino idea that he has championed over the last several years. Aside from the political implications of having a dedicated and passionate man like Sen Day spearheading the Racino bill next session, it also means that there will be a special election to fill his seat.
Senate District 26 covers all of Steele County, and part of Waseca and Rice. It also crosses over the 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts, all of which means that this will be an involved process. What we know at this point is this-
-The governor will call for a special election at a date to be determined. State law requires at least 28 days before holding it, but the legislative session starts Feb 4th, which means the election will most likely be held sometime in mid-January.
-Several candidates have expressed strong interest in running for the GOP endorsement so far this morning, which will happen at an endorsing convention.
-This will be the only election happening in Minnesota until next year's primaries, which means we can expect a good deal of media interest from outside the district.
-This election has the potential to be a great organizing event for Steele County Republicans, as we will move from the endorsing convention (early Jan?) to the special election (mid Jan?) to the precinct caucuses to the county convention.
No word yet on any DFL candidates, but I would expect to see them coming out quickly.
More updates will be posted here and on www.steelegop.com as they become available.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Congressman Walz and health care
From the Owatonna People's Press-
While the media reports on angry town hall meetings around the country on the health care reform bill, Southern Minnesota residents should be asking one question: Where is our Congressman? With Rep. Walz home for the August recess, it seems logical that we the constituents would have a chance to meet with our congressman and express our opinions on this drastic legislation. But the congressman’s Web site shows no public meetings coming up, and an Internet search shows no public appearances for Rep Walz in the near future.
The proposed health care reform is, to say the least, extremely controversial. It would bring huge changes to the health care industry, and there are dozens of questions that have yet to be answered. The most important such question is this: If this plan is so good for America, why haven’t any congressmen committed to putting themselves and their families on this radical plan? In 17 years in the military, I have learned one rock solid rule about leadership: Never send your soldiers to do a job that you would not be willing to do yourself.
Congressman Walz will vote next month on a health care plan for America that he appears to be unwilling to submit his own family to. If Congressman Walz truly believes in this plan, he should use his experience in the Army to demonstrate his belief, and lead from the front.
Dave Thul
Co-chair, Steele County GOP
Owatonna
While the media reports on angry town hall meetings around the country on the health care reform bill, Southern Minnesota residents should be asking one question: Where is our Congressman? With Rep. Walz home for the August recess, it seems logical that we the constituents would have a chance to meet with our congressman and express our opinions on this drastic legislation. But the congressman’s Web site shows no public meetings coming up, and an Internet search shows no public appearances for Rep Walz in the near future.
The proposed health care reform is, to say the least, extremely controversial. It would bring huge changes to the health care industry, and there are dozens of questions that have yet to be answered. The most important such question is this: If this plan is so good for America, why haven’t any congressmen committed to putting themselves and their families on this radical plan? In 17 years in the military, I have learned one rock solid rule about leadership: Never send your soldiers to do a job that you would not be willing to do yourself.
Congressman Walz will vote next month on a health care plan for America that he appears to be unwilling to submit his own family to. If Congressman Walz truly believes in this plan, he should use his experience in the Army to demonstrate his belief, and lead from the front.
Dave Thul
Co-chair, Steele County GOP
Owatonna
Friday, August 7, 2009
No town hall meetings for Walz?
So says a letter writer to the Austin Daily Herald-
Suddenly, town hall meetings are not constructive? Sounds like someone is afraid to hear what the voters think of Obamacare.
"I called the office of Congressman Tim Walz and learned that he will not be holding town hall meetings during the August recess. Walz’s office said town hall meetings are not constructive; he is holding targeted meetings instead."
Suddenly, town hall meetings are not constructive? Sounds like someone is afraid to hear what the voters think of Obamacare.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Where is Congressman Walz?
The US House of Representatives are on their August recess, home to talk to constituents about important bills, notably the Health Care Reform bill, popularly known as Obamacare.
While other congressmen are holding townhall meetings across the country, Congressman Walz has none scheduled. His website lists no public events coming up, and calls to his Mankato office get a response of 'no information available at this time'.
Congressman Walz has asked residents to call or write him, but given that he is back in Minnesota for almost a month, is it too much to ask to be able to ask him a question in person?
While other congressmen are holding townhall meetings across the country, Congressman Walz has none scheduled. His website lists no public events coming up, and calls to his Mankato office get a response of 'no information available at this time'.
Congressman Walz has asked residents to call or write him, but given that he is back in Minnesota for almost a month, is it too much to ask to be able to ask him a question in person?
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