“We’re sending welfare money to people that are turning it around and pumping it into their veins.” (Winona Daily News)

Draz’s bill and that quote prompted an Op/Ed in the Winona Daily News, and you really, Really, REALLY need to go read the whole thing: the author really, Really, REALLY rips “Mazeppa’s Mr. Family Values” a new one!

Drazkowski has no shame, but we should
Jerome Christenson Wednesday, February 16, 2011 7:00 am

I want Steve Drazkowski to pee in a cup before he draws his state paycheck. What’s sauce for the goose …

If Team Draz figures it’s vital to the state’s fiscal health that an overstressed, out-of-work single mom pass a pee test to qualify for survival support under the Minnesota Family Investment Program, shouldn’t the same standard be placed on all those who lay claim to taxpayer dollars – including self-righteous legislators?

(snip!)

Once again, Mazeppa’s Mr. Family Values paints the poorest and most vulnerable as the social villains responsible for running the state budget into the red. Clearly, in his view, if the 166 adults drawing assistance in Winona County got off the dole, Minnesota’s $6 billion deficit would vanish. By Draz’s figuring, getting them to pee in a cup is the first step to that glorious goal.

Y’know, if the aim of this bill was to identify poor people with drug and alcohol problems so they could get the treatment they need there might be some merit to it.

That’s not the case. Flunk the pee test and they’ll be cut off without a dime. Just what we need – more homeless, penniless, hungry drug addicts out on the street. If one of them were to slip up next to Steve on a dark street corner, and relieve him of his wallet, he might be a victim of more than just a crime. He might then be a victim of his own legislation. (more, here)

Hey, I agree with Mr. Christensen, Draz should have to whip it out before he cashes his next check – and Brodkorb needs to be standing “right” next to him.

After all, what’s good for the goose….

(H/T to Uncle Al)

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

By Eliot Seide

It’s no surprise that president wannabe Tim Pawlenty urged governments to take on their unionized employees in Monday’s Wall Street Journal. He wants government to lead a race to the bottom that’s bad for our economy and bad for the entire working class.

In Minnesota, it’s unionized public workers who come to the rescue when victims of the poor economy need help. We’re the life preserver for workers who are losing their jobs, their homes and their health care.

We’re the blue-collar workers who take care of South St. Paul, while Gov. Pawlenty cuts his hometown. We keep motorists safe, while he lets their bridge collapse. We feed grandma, while he forces her nursing home to close. We staff the emergency rooms, while he cuts hospitals to the bone. We help minds soar, while he crowds classrooms, hikes tuition and closes libraries. We do our jobs, while he leaves Minnesota to crusade for his next job.

Hot on the campaign trail, Pawlenty blames us for his budget mess. He writes, “Unionized public employees are making more money, receiving more generous benefits and enjoying greater job security than the working families forced to pay for it with ever-higher taxes, deficits and debt.”

Let’s bust the myths behind Pawlenty’s propaganda.

Myth: Compensation for public employees is the cause of the state’s deficit. In fact, if Gov. Pawlenty fired all state employees, the cost savings would erase only 21 percent of the state’s $6.2 billion budget deficit.

Myth: Public employees are overpaid. In fact, AFSCME Council 5 is a union of 43,000 public and non-profit workers, who earn $38,000 a year on average. Most of us are struggling paycheck to paycheck with frozen wages, just like the average Minnesota worker who also earns $38,000.

Myth: Public employees earn more than private-sector employees. In fact, public workers in Minnesota earn 4 percent less than their counterparts in the private sector, when matched by education and experience. That’s because public workers have sacrificed wages for better benefits.

Myth: Public pensions are extravagant. In fact, AFSCME retirees have modest pension benefits of about $13,000 a year. Combined with Social Security, it’s the difference between dignity and poverty. Ninety percent of retired public workers stay in Minnesota; their pensions fuel the local economy and keep seniors self-sufficient.

Myth: Public employees drag down the economy. In fact, public employees buy necessities, not luxuries, and that’s the kind of spending that will pull Minnesota out of this consumer-driven recession. Every time Gov. Pawlenty cuts a public employee’s job, Main Street loses a customer. As more stores shutter their doors, the last thing we need is more layoffs.

Myth: Public employees are lazy. Minnesota’s state workforce is the 10th leanest and one of the most productive in the nation. Minnesota has 71 public workers for every 10,000 residents, according to the U.S. census. We’re tied with conservative Florida.

Myth: Government is growing. In fact, our state government is shrinking. Yet middle-income taxpayers are frustrated that they’re paying more and getting less. That’s because they’re subsidizing tax breaks for the richest Minnesotans. The wealth of Minnesota millionaires has doubled under the Pawlenty administration, as their state and local tax rates have decreased by 4 percent.

Pawlenty marches lockstep to the drumbeat of cheap-labor conservatives, who pit private workers against public workers. Their real agenda is to strip all workers of their wages, benefits and retirement. They want to gut the essential public services that workers need, while protecting Wall Street and greedy CEOs. Their failed plan puts the rich in lifeboats as everyone else sinks.

All workers deserve the benefits that unionized public workers enjoy. When people work union, they live better. That’s why AFSCME advocates for ALL WORKERS – not only our members. We strive for a Minnesota where all labor is rewarded with wages that can raise a family, health care if people get sick, and a retirement that’s dignified.

Workers rise or fall together. People who pit private workers against public workers are trying to divide and destroy the working class. We must recognize our common interest and stand together to fix the mess created by corporate greed.

Eliot Seide is executive director of AFSCME Council 5, Minnesota’s largest union of public employees.

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

Mitch Berg is taking a turn carrying water for Boardroom Tycoons over at his blog; “right” now the water he’s carrying has to do with LGA (local government aid).

And there’s no point in trying to refute Berg with “facts.” After all, Reagan told the faithful that “Facts are stupid things” – and Berg is nothing if not faithful. IOW – Reagan said it; Berg lives it.

“Facts” simply won’t change the minds of those that couldn’t care less.

Instead, let’s take a look at what then-candidate Tim Pawlenty said while running for the corner office at the Capital, and what’s happened (can you say “Flip-Flop”?) since TBag moved into it:

It’s really rather pathetic, how low today’s Greed Over Principles party has sunk.

Reasonable people no longer can reasonably assume GOPers are telling the truth.

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Meahwhile, Erik Hare will be joining yours truly, the ol’ TwoPutter, tomorrow (Saturday, May 15th) as I Guest Host “Radio Cafe with Cathy Hauser” from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on AM950 – KTNF. We’ll be talking about Professor Frankfurt’s book (“On Bullsh*t”), Erik’s post over at Barataria, this post (and the subsequent comments!), the media’s role in propagating/covering BS, and how BS seems to be the modus operandi of today’s Republican Party.

For more on the media’s role on propagating BS, check out this post, over at The Cucking Stool.

We’ll be giving away one copy of “False Witness! The Michele Bachmann Story (Volume 1)“, to one lucky listener — courtesy of AM-950 KTNF sponsor Common Good Books – so, pay attention and call in when asked!!!

Of course, you can always just look over to the “far right” column, click on the link, and buy a copy now…

As always, call 952-946-6205 to join the conversation!

So tune in your radio to AM-950 KTNF, or listen live on your computer, here!

Also, I’d like to note that Professor Frankfurt’s Book, “On Bullsh*t”, is available locally through Common Good Books in St. Paul; if you can’t make it in to the shop, you can order on line and they’ll ship.

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Is it really a lie when the person making an outrageous statement doesn’t actually care if it’s the truth or not?

Simply not caring explains Michele Bachmann, a Finalist for Politifact.com’s 2009 Lie Of The Year. In fact, Politifact.com has examined 9 – NINE – statements from Bacnmann, and found all – ALL – of them “False” (four of those claims were actually rated “Pants On Fire” – as in “Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire”).

Bachmann still doesn’t care; just last month, as noted here, Bachmann went on a Sunday TV show and said some (stuff) that prompted a Pat Kessler “Reality Check”.

As noted:

And in Kessler’s “Reality Check” – on Bachmann’s outrageous fabrications concerning the economy – Kessler found Bachmann’s claims, and I quote: “That’s factually WRONG” and “This is FALSE” and “This starts with a kernel of truth, but is OUT OF CONTEXT” and “This is NOT TRUE.” (emphasis NOT added) (MnProgressiveProject.com)

So, what did Bachmann do, after getting Reality Checked by Pat Kessler? Went on stage at a GOPer rally with Sarah Palin, and repeated that same (stuff) Pat Kessler had found to be: “WRONG”, “FALSE”, “OUT OF CONTEXT”, and “NOT TRUE”.

That’s what BSers do, because they simply don’t care if something is true or not – they only care that the listener (in Bachmann’s case, “voter”) thinks it’s true.

Erik Hare will be joing The Big E and yours truly, the ol’ TwoPutter, this Saturday (May 15th) as I Guest Host “Radio Cafe with Cathy Hauser” from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on AM950 – KTNF. We’ll be talking about Professor Frankfurt’s book (“On Bullsh*t”), Erik’s post over at Barataria, this post (and any subsequent comments!), the media’s role in propagating/covering BS, and how BS seems to be the modus operandi of today’s Republican Party.

There’s a video interview of Professor Frankfurt discussing his book below the fold, plus an added bonus – a link to Jon Stewart interviewing Professor Frankfurt on “The Daily Show”!

Professor Frankfurt’s Book, “On Bullsh*t”, is available locally through Common Good Books in St. Paul; if you can’t make it in to the shop, you can order on line and they’ll ship.

A little bit about Emeritus Professor Harry G. Frankfurt of Princeton University, from Wikipedia:

On Bullshit is an essay by philosopher Harry Frankfurt. Originally published in the journal Raritan in 1986, the essay was republished as a separate volume in 2005 and became a nonfiction bestseller, spending twenty-seven weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list.[1]

In the essay, Frankfurt defines a theory of bullshit, defining the concept and analyzing its applications. In particular, Frankfurt distinguishes bullshitting from lying: while the liar deliberately makes false claims, the bullshitter is simply uninterested in the truth. Bullshitters aim primarily to impress and persuade their audiences. While liars need to know the truth to better conceal it, bullshitters, interested solely in advancing their own agendas, have no use for the truth. Thus, Frankfurt claims, “…bullshit is a greater enemy of the truth than lies are,” (Frankfurt 61).

This work laid the foundation for Frankfurt’s 2006 follow-up book, On Truth.

For a more entertaining, less scholarly interview of Professor Frankfurt, here’s the link to The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart!

The Daily Show – Professor Frankfurt

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

(photo by TPT)

They think the likes o’ “Billion Dollar Bill” McGuire and Stephen Hemsley of United Healthcare fame (not to mention former @MNGOP Party Chair Bill Cooper of TCF Bank) simply can’t afford an income tax increase so they pay the same effective tax rate that the vast unwashed pay.

The DFL has proposed a new tax rate of 9.15% -applied to the likes o’ the above named BoardRoom Tycoons.

Actually, it would apply to all married-joint filers declaring more than $200k in net income; income after all deductions and credits are taken.

Maybe that $200k – NET – number is too low a threshold – MAYBE.

What/where is the counter offer from The Party Of No?

Don’t hold your breath; today’s GreedOverPrinciples Party is more interested in helping the haves and have mores.

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

But, this one is too good NOT to!!!

For far too long, Democrats have deferred from hitting back and pushing back against the distortions and lies from the GreedOverPrinciples party.

Not today!

Full presser, below the fold – and TBag’s Emergency Executive Order 10-07, too!!!

Here’s the Press Release:

Subject: NEWS STATEMENT: SPEAKER KELLIHER COMMENTS ON GOVERNOR’S CABINET MEETING

Margaret AndersonKelliher
NEWS STATEMENT
Minnesota House of Representatives
District 60A (651) 296-0171
463 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
May 7, 2010

SPEAKER KELLIHER COMMENTS ON GOVERNOR’S CABINET MEETING

Governor is in a fiscal straightjacket of his own making

ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Tim Pawlenty met with his cabinet this morning to discuss the recent budget developments. Speaker of the House Margaret AndersonKelliher had this to say about the ongoing budget work at the state Capitol:

“The Governor’s irresponsible and illegal actions created this financial mess and now he refuses to come to the table and negotiate a responsible way to clean it up. His refusal to compromise on a balanced budget is a fiscal straightjacket of his own making. The state can’t afford to default on payments, and Minnesotans won’t stand for it.

“Let’s be clear: the government is not in shutdown mode. It will only shut down if the Governor wants it to – if he is unwilling to work with the Legislature on a balanced budget solution in the best interest of Minnesotans.

“The Governor must continue making payments as required by law until the state runs out of money. The Governor has no authority to pay some bills and not others – that’s what the Supreme Court clearly stated in the unallotment ruling.

“It’s time for the Governor to come to the table, and finally do the work he was elected to do: work with the Legislature to balance the state budget.

“If the governor is unwilling to put his political ambitions aside this week, we are prepared to do what’s necessary to stand up for Minnesotans.

Our schools,nursing homes, and hospitals are more important than scoring political points.”

-30-

Here’s TBag’s Emergency Executive Order 10-07 – I got it from TheUpTake.org:

EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE ORDER 10-07

DIRECTING THE COMMISSIONER OF MINNESOTA MANAGEMENT & BUDGET TO UNDERTAKE EMERGENCY CASH MANAGEMENT PLANNING FOR PRIORITIZATION OF CORE GOVERNMENT SERVICES

I, TIM PAWLENTY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the applicable statutes, including Minnesota Statutes 2009, Section 4.035, do hereby issue this Executive Order:

WHEREAS, Article XI of the Constitution of the State of Minnesota requires that the State balance its budget for each fiscal biennium; and

WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature has not enacted an acceptable and appropriate balanced budget for the current Fiscal Year 2010-2011 biennium; and

WHEREAS appropriations enacted for the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 biennium during the 2009 legislative session were $2.7 billion in excess of available revenues for the biennium; and

WHEREAS, continued deterioration of the fiscal climate as a result of the historic economic challenges facing the nation have resulted in an additional deficit of $536 million for the current biennium; and

WHEREAS, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued on May 5, 2010, its opinion in the matter of Brayton et al. v. Pawlenty et al., Appellate Court File No. A10-64, which stated that “[b]ecause the legislative and executive branches never enacted a balanced budget for the 2010-2011 biennium, use of the unallotment power to address the unresolved deficit exceeded the authority granted to the executive branch by the [unallotment] statute” and thus held that the unallotment authority in Minnesota Statutes 2009, Section 16A.152 cannot be used to address the budget deficit created by the appropriations enacted by the Minnesota Legislature during the 2009 legislative session; and

WHEREAS, individuals and organizations seeking the restoration of government funding affected by the 2009 unallotment actions have threatened to seek litigation for a restoration of the unalloted funds in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brayton v. Pawlenty; and

WHEREAS, restoration of the previously-reduced allotments would result in payment obligations for the current fiscal biennium greatly in excess of the State of Minnesota’s ability to pay for them; and

WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota is facing an imminent and severe cash flow crisis as a result of the potential restoration of previously-reduced allotments; and

WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature is scheduled for adjournment on May 17, 2010, but has still not enacted an acceptable and appropriate balanced budget plan for the biennium; and

WHEREAS, the Ramsey County District Court’s 2005 order in In re Funding of Core Functions of the Executive Branch of the State of Minnesota, District Court File No. C9-05-5928, directed that the State of Minnesota prioritize performance of core functions of government during the 2005 government shutdown when state obligations exceeded appropriated spending authority; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that Minnesota Management & Budget identify and develop comprehensive criteria to guide in the prioritization of payment of State obligations, including those relating to the life, health, and safety of Minnesota citizens, in the event that appropriated and allotted obligations continue to exceed the ability of the State of Minnesota on a cash-flow basis to pay for those obligations.

NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby order that:

1. The Commissioner of Minnesota Management & Budget is directed to undertake emergency cash management planning as necessary to plan for the prioritization of core government services.

2. The Commissioner of Minnesota Management & Budget shall immediately prepare and review its operational plans for the identification of core government functions which would be funded on a funds-available basis should the current fiscal crisis result in appropriated and allotted spending obligations continuing to exceed funding available in the State general fund.

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2009, Section 4.035, Subdivision 2, this Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the conclusion of the emergency.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have set my hand this 7th day of May, 2010.

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

And, to no surprise, we’ll be talking about The State Supreme Court’s spanking of Gov. TBag for creating a problem by 1- signing the next biennium’s spending bills into law and then 2- vetoing the revenue bill to match “income” to said lawfully-enacted spending bills (“balance the budget”) and then 3- violating state law by unilaterally slashing spending on bills TBag just signed; which, of course, was 4- BEFORE the start of the next biennium.

Spot has several great posts over at The Cucking Stool on TBag getting spanked; you’ll want to listen in to Spot’s take on this! As always, call 952-946-6205 to join the conversation!

As always on Friday’s Edition of Quick On The UpTake, we’ll also be getting a call from Dane Smith from GrowthAndJustice.org.

And just because we can, we’ll be giving away one copy of “False Witness! The Michele Bachmann Story (Volume 1)“, to one lucky listener — courtesy of AM-950 KTNF sponsor Common Good Books – so, pay attention and call in when asked!!!

Tomorrow (Saturday, May 8th), the ol’ TwoPutter will be Guest Hosting Radio Cafe with Cathy Hauser from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on AM950 – KTNF. I’ll be joined in-studio by Dusty Trice!

And we’ll be talking with Matt Entenza!

So, again, tune in the radio today and tomorrow to AM-950 KTNF, or listen live on your computer, here!

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

And I say that for the old-fashioned reason; it’s true.

For today’s example of “morally bankrupt” – just go google “George Rekers RentBoy” and see what you come up with – here’s but one that demonstrates “morally bankrupt”:

FL (GOP!)* Atty General Bill McCollum’s “Expert” Witness Caught with Male Prostitute
Filed by: Nadine Smith
May 4, 2010 7:00 PM

George Rekers, the “expert” witness hired by Attorney General Bill McCollum to defend Florida’s anti-gay adoption ban has been caught with a male prostitute at the Miami airport, according to the Miami New Times.

Rekers was one of only two witnesses McCollum called in an effort to reverse a Miami judge who ruled Florida’s adoption ban- the only one in the country- is unconstitutional. (more, here)
* (GOP!) added

For today’s example of “institutionally corrupt”? Jack Abramoff. The Documentary is coming out tomorrow; for but one true and sordid tale of the depravity of the GOP party, go back and re-read “Paradise Lost – Greed, Sex Slavery, Forced Abortions and Right-Wing Moralists”. Tom DeLay, R=Corrupt, described this abomination as “a perfect petri dish of capitalism”.

And have no doubt – in today’s GreedOverPrinciples party, the misery inflicted on a place where the American Flag flies, that’s EXACTLY where their brand of “capitalism” leads to.

Locally, the simple fact that FEC Tony is “in charge” of the State Republican Party gives credence, too. Does everyone remember “The Tostenson Memo”?

For today’s example of “intellectual dishonest” I’m going to look locally at yesterday’s post by Andy Aplikowski, “MN Budget Is Too Big To Succeed – Why Emmer’s Gonna Win”

Now, remember what I recently said, about Andy Aplikowski:

Now, earlier today, I said this, about GOPer Sheila Kihne:

Now, first I’d like to say that I’ve met Sheila; and I find her to be a very bright, intelligent, and passionate individual devoted to her cause: “conservatism.”

Now, I’ve met AAA too; and I say the exact same about Andy that I said about Sheila – except for the “very bright” and “intelligent” part. (“Today’s Example of GOP Idiocy – AAA, At Residual Forces!”

And I stand by that.

Here’s where the “intellectual dishonesty” part comes in – AAA rips the state government for what he (probably correctly) considers excessive leases entered into by the state; EXCEPT AAA doesn’t blame Pawlenty’s Administration for “another skeleton filled closet full of Government waste,…” – no, not AAA! AAA uses GOPer Pawlenty’s waste to advocate for electing another GOPer when Pawlenty’s term expires not soon enough next January.

Let’s look at what AAA cites:

In Duluth, the state will pay $2.3 million over the next few years to rent offices in Canal Park for the Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Labor.

OK, who is in charge of the Department of Labor and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency? Pawlenty appointees Steve Sviggum and Paul Eger.

And BOTH of them are responsible for the actions of their agencies; BOTH of them report to TBag.

But AAA is using that “..skeleton filled closet full of Government waste,…” to advocate for more of the same Tom Emmer’s election??!?

If anything, based on the years and Years and YEARS of Republican cronyism – see the above links regarding Abramoff if you have any doubts this is true – AAA would be demanding an investigation into the relationship between those agency leases and those that entered into them – and so would Tom Emmer.

If AAA were intellectually honest (which he obviously isn’t) he’d be laying blame where blame belongs – his own party, of which Tom Emmer is part of and had oversight duty as a member of the legislature. Indeed, Emmer, as Deputy Minority Leader, had more than a duty – but sadly, today’s GOPers look the other way when it comes to their own party’s problems.

Tom Emmer isn’t part of the solution; Tom Emmer is part of the problem.

That’s today’s example of “intellectual dishonesty.”

If you’d like another, Jeff Rosenberg at MnPublius.com has a post on how GOPers are deliberately lying rewriting history about the timeline concerning TBag’s getting spanked by the State Supreme Court.

I’ve said it before, I said it today, and I’ll continue to say it again:

“Republicans are morally, bankrupt, intellectually dishonest, and institutionally corrupt.”

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

Friday was a lot of fun; expectations were high and it was great seeing friends and meeting new ones. A highlight was hanging out at the booth for StopBachmann.com; a picture of their button, that a whole bunch of folk were wearing, is below the fold! Of course, Friday night was a blast; simply too many parties to attend but the ones attended were unforgettable. It was great to go to Ruk’s party, and hear John Marty give the intro to Ruk! Two old friends, competing, but still staying friends – that’s what it’s all about. Plus, Ruk had Paul Metsa playing!!!

Saturday brought the honor of attending the UMD Air Force ROTC Spring Awards Ceremony for luncheon. It’s always moving, watching the Cadets perform the POW/MIA Table Ceremony before dining; for the significance, link here.

Back at the Convention, State Senator Mee Moua called all the veterans on the floor to join her on stage – and the stage was soon packed with DFL Veterans!

And MAK won – congratulations to her and her team; they had a great plan, worked smart and worked hard, and locked up the convention in a lot fewer ballots than I expected.

Sunday brought breakfast at Uncle Loui’s Cafe (best hangover breakfast in town, according to college kids!) and the slow ride back to the cities – and strangely (appropriately?) enough, Pink Floyd’s “A Momentary Lack Of Reason” was bein’ played.

Sure, there were SNAFU’s at the Convention, some things were completely FUBAR (“hey, is the WIFI on yet?”), some folk said some incredibly stupid things (“activists are a dime a dozen” being one that particularly stood out), and some folk did some incredibly stupid things (is it really possible that Ole Savior was allowed to speak, but former Minnesota Department of Energy and Economic Development Commissioner; former Minnesota State Auditor; former US Senator Mark Dayton wasn’t even allowed on the floor??!?) but overall, it was a great convention and filled out the roster for the DFL team for November.

Well, except for that pesky little primary MAK has to survive, that is….

Here’s that StopBachmann.com button:

OK, I know the image is a little blurred, so: here’s what that button says: –

“When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” – Sinclair Lewis

Which, of course, is an appropriate quote to put on a Bachmann button.

And since we’re on quotes, and the GreedOverPrinciples party has their convention this weekend, here’s two more:

_ Tom Emmer quote: “I don’t think you can call yourself a freedom-loving American and be a Democrat.” Marshall Independent, Sept 2009

_ Tim Pawlenty quote: “Children who are victims of failed personal responsibility are not my problem, nor are they the problem for our government.” — Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty, April 2001 – as quoted in the Aitkin Independent Newspaper

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)