Central Minnesota Political

The Blanchard dam on the Mississippi, near Bowlus, is one of four nearly century old hydroelectric dams that Minnesota Power operates in Minnesota Senate District 9 here in Central Minnesota. There are two on the Crow Wing River. One of those is just outside of Pillager and the other is in Camp Ripley. Then there are also two on the Mississippi. One in Little Falls and the Blanchard dam is to the south of Little Falls. Blanchard Dam - Photo by Jan King The dams are licensed to Minnesota Power by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Since the rivers belong to all of us, F.E.R.C. requires Minnesota Power to provide both access to the rivers near the dams as well as recreational opportunities. I spoke to  Chris Rousseau, Manager of Minnesota Powers Hydro Operations this summer. Here's what he said: "The recreational opportunities we provide across our hydro system are in place to provide the public with an opportunity to use and enjoy the land and water assoc

I had an interesting dialogue with Representatives Ron Kresha, who represents the Long Prairie and Little Falls areas, Rep. Dave Baker from Willmar, and Annie Levenson-Falk, Executive Director of the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) last August. For me, there were three take-aways from the discussion; Sometimes even experienced legislators get confused by the legislative process. 2.   We can provide assstance to confused legislators if we inform ourselves. 3.   We can’t do number two by ourselves. It started with a letter to the editor that I sent to the Little Falls based Morrison County Record. Bear with me. This is a bit long. Here’s the letter: Dear Editor: Representative Ron Kesha and Senator Paul Gazelka voted to take away the rebates that people who live in small towns get when they purchase efficient electrical appliances. The program is called the Conservation Improvement Plan (CIP) and it saves people money and keeps pollution out of the air. But the

Alexandria area State Representative Mary Franson has been in the news this week regarding her refusal to meet with a group of well mannered Alexandria high schoolers. My brother John sent the letter below to the Long Prairie Leader. It makes you wonder how many other politicians believe they represent only part of their constituency. -- ed. Dear Editor, It's a good idea to keep an eye on the legislators in order to see what kind of mischief they are up to.  Even if they are not from your district. You may remember Mary Franson; she was our representative until a few years back when things were redistricted and she was sent across the county line to Douglas County to represent the folks over there. So I have more or less kept my eye on Mary. She caught my attention this week with a Twitter exchange she had with the Student Democratic Society at Alexandria High School.  The students wanted to meet with her at her office out of a sense of civic responsibility and a les

In 2014 the Obama administration had a bright idea. They proposed raising the federal tax on tobacco and they planned to use the revenue to increase in early childhood education.  It was a stroke of genius. On the one hand, by raising the tobacco tax they’d reduce rates of smoking and, as a consequence, smoking related illness and deaths. On the other hand, they’d create funding for an education program known for fostering children to grow into a healthy and prosperous adulthood.  There is a direct evidence based link between early childhood education and success later in life. There is also irrefutable scientific evidence of the positive connection between higher tobacco taxes, reduced rates of tobacco use, and reduced illness. Frank J. Chaloupka, of the University of Illinois, and his colleagues reported on their review of over 100 studies across the globe in their 2012 study called “Tobacco taxes as a tobacco control strategy.”  http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/21/

Five years ago I spent several months helping about a  dozen young people apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. As you know, that’s generally abbreviated D.A.C.A. These were all youngsters that we’d met in school and who we were impressed by or, in some cases, we knew their parents. Generally, I went up to the trailer court where they lived to work through the paper pile that included an application for deferred action on their potential deportation and an application to get a Social Security card. Sometimes I translated their birth certificates from Spanish to English. I did the work for free because I did, and do, love these kids. Well, they’re  not kids anymore but their well articulated dreams, their decency, their respect and love for their parents, and their vulnerability stole my heart. Like young people do, many of the DACAmented youngsters have left the community but a few are still here. Occasionally I see those who have moved away when I attend fiestas. Thos

Last spring, when Representative Melissa Hortman complained that her card playing white male colleagues were not doing their jobs she also complained that Representative Ilhan Omar, a black female, wasn’t being shown the respect due her. When the accusations of sexual harassment against Representative Cornish and Senator Schoen were first made last fall there was a chorus of women who work in the legislative environment who complained about the pollution of disrespect and harassment at the Capitol.  That made me think of the last spring’s card game. It seems like the card game was a symptom of a broader systemic problem of disrespect for women and even for the democratic process. This polluted environment is older than the current Republican control of the House and Senate. However, the current Republican leadership is responsible now. What will Kurt Daudt, Ron Kresha and Paul Gazelka do to clean up the mess that they have both inherited and fostered. They are part of the prob