thru a blue filter

>>Dayton’s budget proposal to raise taxes

thruabluefilter — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:00:43 +0000

The state shutdown is fast approaching and the negotiations between the Governor and legislative leaders are still stuck on fundamental principles. All along we have argued for some portion of the budget solution to come from new revenues in order to stave off the most damaging budget cuts.

We just received data from the Minnesota Department of Revenue on the Governor’s proposal to raise income taxes. These data project which taxpayers will pay more and how the proposal affects tax fairness across income groups. JRLC worked up this chart from the data; it shows the effective tax rates for all state and local taxes on income groups — poorest to richest, left to right, with and without the Governor’s income tax proposal.

The data show that with the proposed income tax increase, the richest 10% (tenth decile) would still not reach the rate shouldered by the middle class (fifth decile), nor the rate paid by the average household (11.5%), nor the rate paid by the vast majority of households.

ACTION: Forward this to your friends and colleagues. Print and show it to people who otherwise won’t believe it unless they see it. Clip this chart and send to your legislator. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper — express your opinion!

Misc Photos

thruabluefilter — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 21:20:23 +0000

State Fair 2010

Franken vs Coleman: 2008 election in the courts

thruabluefilter — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:48:52 +0000

Franken vs Coleman: The post-election legal battle

Twin-Cities.com, the Saint Paul Pioneer Press website has been carrying a detailed review of the long legal battle that finally established Al Franken as Minnesota’s senator. The series is a walk through a slice of Minnesota history.

CHAPTER 1

· Part I: The story of the 2008 Minnesota Senate race

· Part II: The long, brutal fight to Senate Election Day in Minnesota

· Part III: Election Night — the end was just the beginning for Franken, Coleman

CHAPTER 2

· Part I. For Franken, Coleman, lawyers, “things are going to get really ugly”,

· Part II. The ballots in the trunk and other myths, exposed

· Part III. “Punch them in the nose”

· Part IV. Ballots disappear: And so does Coleman’s lead

· Part V.“This is going to be more intense than I thought”

· Cast of characters: Chapter 2

CHAPTER 3

· How Al Franken’s attorneys turned a tight senate election into a courtroom rout

What’s going on in America?

thruabluefilter — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:53:29 +0000

Here we are, a country in more trouble than it has been since the Civil War, and what’s going on in Washington??? Well,

“…on one hand we’ve got a president and congressional majority who are heeding the urgent desire of working Americans to kick-start the economy,

and on the other, we’ve got a rump minority that patterns itself after guerrilla jihadists who tried to send their country back to the 10th century.”

Markos Moulitsasof thehill.com pretty well summed it up.

Obama – Eternal optimist; but not a sap

thruabluefilter — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:01:04 +0000

“…Obama… flexible about tactics and unwavering in his goals. He signaled that he’s open to consultation, compromise and readjusting his course to build inclusive coalitions, but fixed on the results he intends to produce. “My bottom line is not how pretty the process was,” he said, looking back at the congressional fight over his economic recovery package. “My bottom line was: Am I getting help to people who need it?”

For full read, click here

A new GOP leader?

thruabluefilter — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:05:19 +0000

Is Eric Cantor the new Newt Gingrich? Will he lead the Republicans out of the swamp to the promised land?

The last time Congressional Republicans were this out of power, they turned to a college professor from Georgia, Newt Gingrich, to lead the opposition, first against President Clinton in a budget battle in 1993, and then back into the majority the following year.

As Republicans confronted Pesident Obama in another budget battle last week, their leadership included another new face: Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia…

Read Adam Nagourney’s take on this from the Feb 13 NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/us/politics/15cantor.html?_r=1&hp

MN Health Plan Hearings Feb 10 and 25

thruabluefilter — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:00:53 +0000

Alert 3

The Minnesota Health Plan (MHP) Will Have 2 Hearings in February! Feb. 10 & Feb. 25

The Minnesota Health Plan is a comprehensive single-payer health plan for all Minnesotans

What can you do?

Attend the hearing of the MHP in the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, Tuesday February 10th, 12:30-2:45 in Room 112 of State Capitol, Sen. Linda Scheid, Chair.

It is particularly important that you contact the members of the Senate Commerce Committee that aren’t marked with an asterisk as soon as possible to ask them to vote in favor of the Minnesota Health Act (SF 118) at their February 10th committee hearing.

Members of the Senate Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee:

Chris Gerlach (SD 37) 651-296-4120 sen.chri.gerlach@senate.mn
Debbie Johnson (SD 49) 651-296-3219 sen.debbie.johnson@senate.mn
James Metzen (SD 39) 651-296-4370 sen.jim.metzen@senate.mn
Dan Sparks (SD 27) 651-296-9248 sen.daniel.sparks@senate.mn
Ray Vanderveer (SD 52) 651-296-4351 sen.ray.vandeveer@senate.mn

*Kevin Dahle (SD 25) 651-296-5975 sen.kevin.dahle@senate.mn
*John Marty (SD 54) 651-296-5645 sen.john.marty@senate.mn
*Mary Olson (SD 04) 651-296-4913 sen.mary.olson@senate.mn
*Yvonne Prettner Solon (SD 07) 651-296-4188 sen.yvonne.prettner.solon@senate.mn
*Linda Scheid (SD 46), Chair 651-296-8869 sen. http://www.senate.mn/senatorscheidemail
*Dan Skogen (SD 10) 651-296-5655 sen.dan.skogen@senate.mn

The legislators marked with an asterisk (*) are co-authors of the Minnesota Health Act, SF 118; they have signed on in support of the bill. If you get a chance contact them to thank them for their continued support.

Stay tuned for more information about the February 25th hearing in the House; Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee, Rep. Paul Thissen, Chair: Wednesday February 25th, 2:45 in Room 200 of State Capitol.

Forward this email to your friends by clicking the “Forward to a Friend” link at the top of this email, and ask them to take action on the Minnesota Health Act (SF 118 / HF 135).

It is critical that we pack the rooms with supporters, and that each legislator is flooded with calls, letters, and visits in support of the MN Health Plan!

Lee Graczyk, Director of Public Policy, Minnesota Senior Federation
1885 University Avenue – Suite 190, St. Paul, MN 55104,651-783-5028

Dougnut Hole leads to health concerns

thruabluefilter — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:34:01 +0000

Alert

“Doughnut Hole” in Medicare Part D Leads to Health Concerns for Seniors

Results from a study at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health implicate the coverage gap, or “doughnut hole,” in Medicare’s Part D coverage as cause for concern about seniors’ health. Enacted three years ago, the Part D plan is intended for those seniors who face extremely high prescription drug costs. The plan requires beneficiaries to pay an initial deductible for prescriptions, followed by a 25 percent co-payment on further medical charges up to $2,250. The coverage doughnut hole comprises the subsequent payments in-full that seniors must make until a $5,100 total is reached. The studies showed that the seniors who hit this coverage gap have a 14 percent drop in medication usage to offset the costs.

…from Alliance for Retired Americans Friday alert.

Lawmakers seek input on budget

thruabluefilter — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:26:28 +0000

Alert

Lawmakers will be visiting communities on Feb 19th and 20th to get input on the governor’s budget recommendations and listen to the public’s ideas to address the state’s $4.8 billion budget deficit.

Please show up and carry the message that we should not balance the budget by cutting 113,000 people off health care, nor by shredding the safety net during a recession. If we are considering such inhumane cuts, then revenues, raised fairly, are clearly needed as an alternative. We need hundreds of people at these meetings to carry this message. The dates and times for metro meetings will be released in the near future.

Schedule for Thursday, Feb. 19:

Mankato: 6 p.m. at the Mankato Intergovernmental Center, Mankato River Room, 10 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato.

Rochester: 6 p.m. at the Rochester Community and Technical College, Heintz Center Commons Area, 1926 Collegeview Road SE, Rochester.

St. Cloud: 6 p.m. at the St. Cloud City Hall Council Chambers, 400 2nd St. S., St. Cloud.

Willmar: 6 p.m. at Kennedy Elementary School, 824 7th St. S.W., Willmar.

Schedule for Friday, Feb. 20:

Albert Lea: 10 a.m. at the Albert Lea City Hall Council Chambers, 221 E. Clark St., Albert Lea.

Winona: 3:30 p.m. at the Winona City Hall Council Chambers, 207 Lafayette, Winona.

Marshall: 2:30 p.m. at the Southwest Minnesota State University Lecture Hall, 1501 State St., Marshall.

Worthington: 10:30 a.m. at the Worthington City Hall Council Chambers, 303 Ninth St., Worthington.

Little Falls: 9:30 a.m. at the Morrison County Government Center, Garden Level Meeting Room, 213 1st Ave. S.E., Little Falls.

Alexandria: 2 p.m. at Alexandria City Hall, 704 Broadway, Alexandria

Duluth: 9:30 a.m. at the Duluth City Hall Council Chambers, 411 W. 1st St., Duluth

Virginia: 1:30 p.m. at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, Small Auditorium,1001 Chestnut St. W., Virginia.

Brainerd: 10:30 a.m. at Washington Educational Services Building, Boardroom, 804 Oak St., Brainerd.

Bemidji: 3:30 p.m. at Bemidji State University, American Indian Resource Center Gathering Place, 1620 Birchmont Dr., Bemidji.

Moorhead: additionally, the Senate Tax Committee will meet at 12:30 p.m. at Minnesota State University Moorhead, Comstock Union, 1104 7th Ave. S., Moorhead.

Budget Presentation in Duluth Feb 20

thruabluefilter — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:21:24 +0000

Alert

Upcoming Minnesota Budget Project Presentation in Duluth on State Spending on Key Areas in the 2000s

Join Twin Ports area nonprofits at the Twin Ports Area Nonprofit Coalition (TPANC) monthly lunch for a discussion with Minnesota Budget Project staff on trends in state investments in the 2000s, drawing from key findings from our recently released report, The Lost Decade.

This is an opportunity to come together and share information, ideas and questions in an informal setting. Bring your lunch and join other people who work for or with nonprofits and share what is on your mind. All TPANC Network meetings are free and no RSVP is necessary, just bring your lunch and be ready to participate.

Time and Location:
12:00 noon, Friday, February 20
Ordean Building, room B/C
424 West Superior Street, Duluth
Google directions