TO THE EDITOR:

Because of the large number of contacts I have received regarding federal health care reform, I recently joined with a number of other state senators to contact Senators Klobuchar and Franken.

In the letter, we stressed the need for a reduction of premiums on hardworking middle class families, as well as make improvements to quality of care and accessibility. We are concerned that the Senate bill does not move measurably in this direction, while sacrificing care for senior citizens. Furthermore, the bill would likely reduce competition, increases taxes on small businesses, directly or indirectly fund abortions and hurt Minnesota’s medical devices manufacturing industry.

We also strongly appealed to Minnesota’s senators to demand that real reform include true market competition including buying of insurance across state lines, allowing of individuals, small businesses, and trade associations to pool together and acquire health insurance at lower prices, and enacting lawsuit reform.

Writing a letter, like my colleagues and I have done, is something you can do too. I would encourage all Minnesotans who recognize how much this would cost our state to contact our U.S. Senators Klobuchar and Franken and urge them not to support this healthcare plan which would hurt Minnesota.

You can read a copy of the letter at my website: www.senate.mn/senatoringebrigtsen.

State Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen encourages and appreciates constituent input, and can be reached at 651-297-8063, by mail at 123 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155, or via email at sen.bill.ingebrigtsen@senate.mn.

CLICK ON THE TITLE TO THIS ARTICLE AND READ THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

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The Todd County (MN) unemployment rate continues its trend of increases. Over the past three years we have witnessed an alarming acceleration in unemployment from 5.3% in 2006 to 6.6% in 2008.  Estimates of the unemployment rate forecast show current rates in Todd County around 8% for the current year.

SCSU Scholars economist, King Banaian, shows in a recent study (Slowing Layoffs & Fewer Hires) that while there are fewer layoffs than in previous quarters.  The acceleration in hiring for new jobs just isn’t registering.  

In my conversation with local employers and employees this seems to be the case.  An abundance of caution is being taken to figure out a true direction in our economy.  

Accordingly, one executive, representing our areas largest employer referred to the numerous changes that might be occurring at our state and federal levels. (i.e. banking, health, taxes)  He told me their company just cannot make investments or decisions on a large scale until the legislative actions are brought to a definitive conclusion.

Many of you might remember a post on The Policy Bubble (March 2008).  I had warned about this exact circumstance.  What our free market needs is political certainty on the levels of taxation, regulation, and reform.  Right now business cannot resume until elected representatives in Washington & St. Paul get out of the way.

At the local government level it means elected representatives should not be raising taxes at any level.  Relying on reserves and reform resulting in less of a burden on businesses and citizens. It is a correct economic course of action.  Cities need to take a fresh look at what they are mandated to provide and what they should be cutting altogether.  Touch choices but needed choices.

Let's let businesses and people use their money to drive demand and investment.  It is then true recovery and innovation can occur.

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If you do not regularly follow politics you may not know Senator Joseph Lieberman.  He is now an independent (former Democrat) Senator from Connecticut, and was the VP Nominee under the man who created the Internet, Al Gore, in 2000.

In 2006, he was forced out of the Democrat Party for a number of unforgivable party sins that had been adding up over the years.  He was the Senator who broke with his party by pointing out that President Clinton was wrong in his moral character during the Lewinsky affair.    He was highly criticized until Democrats realized he was actually correct, and they needed him on the ticket if they were going to win in 2000.  They rest, as they say, is history.    

However, the unforgivable sin was his support of the war on terror.  It is usually pointed out in the press how Republicans are the ones with a small political tent and the required "litmus test" to join the party.  Here is a high-profile example of how the Democrat Party treats people that are not liberal enough.  They will use your vote and good reputation when they need it, and force you out when they feel they can do without you.  Blue Dog's pay attention here because this is not a conspiracy theory being thrown out at a town-hall meeting!!  It is fact.

Senator Lieberman, whom I do not agree with on a number of fiscal and social issues, has always had my respect for being true to his views and speaking his mind even if it is unpopular.  He's always been willing to call it like he sees it.  He has played the political game very astutely at the risk of his own political longevity, and he's played the game better that most......he is still here.

The Wall Street Journal Online has a great article:"Lieberman Digs In On Public Option".  The point of the article is that Senator Lieberman will kill the Health Care Reform Bill if it contains any form of a public option.  The Public Option is a must of liberals in the party.  Even changing the word (Public Option) to some other name (like Grandma's Apple Pie Option) but still having it really be a public option, Lieberman says, will still result in a dead bill.  In the Senate the Democrats need sixty votes to get a vote on a final bill.  They have to have Senator Joseph Lieberman.  The tables have turned on the Democrats, and It's Gotta Be Good To Be Joe Lieberman.

What it means politically is Senator Lieberman could get a "bridge to know where" if he wanted one.  It could be named after him, paved in gold, and connect Connecticut to Alaska providing Keynesian style jobs for years to come which he would likely be in favor of.  The leadership would give up anything to get that vote that includes the public option.  

Will Lieberman be able to be persuaded to vote "yes" if Connecticut can have everything under the sun?  His past history would indicate that this is not the case, but we will watch the month of December as this bill changes to see who blinks first: Liberals who pushed him out of the party and have a lot to lose, or Joe Lieberman.  Anyway you look at it: It's Gotta Be Good To Be Joe Lieberman.

PS:  I wonder what Minnesota is getting with the votes of our two inexperienced Senators.  Apparently just the satisfaction of knowing how liberal they are, and that they believe in a form of government that takes over a large percentage of the US Economy at the expense of deep cuts to our seniors.  Opinion provided fee and tax free!!!

~ The Mayor

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Thanks to Senator Mitch McConnell for the lead in to my post.  I have cleaned up the farm language here and will let you use your imagination since America's Small City Mayor Blog has obtained the much sought after "Family Approved "G" Rating".  

The revived "public option" under the Democrat Plan is giving a lot of rank and file members in Washington D.C. a bit of heart burn.  

Leadership on the left side of the isle must be in a lot of trouble if they have to bring this unpopular piece back from the grave.  They are trolling for votes on the far left, and have even changed the name I guess thinking voters are as bright as those living in Collin Peterson's district.  The new name is proposed by Pelosi and Reid: "The Competitive Option"...... apparently run by a new breed of super-bureaucrats!) 

(For those of you unaware Collin Peterson thinks the voters in his district are not very bright, and it is why he does not show up at town-hall meetings or debates during election season.  You can do that when you have hundreds of thousands of dollars in special interest money to spend on a campaign!!)

The one poll that points to support for "The Competitive Option" is quite a stretch for most members according to friends in the know.  Hundreds of polls have said over and over again that if the reform is going to come at the expense of senior citizens (which it does by cutting an estimated $100 Billion out of Medicare Advantage), and does nothing to substantially decrease costs (which it doesn't at this point), and threatens competition and choice then the public does not want it!!

I guess the first kick from the public that killed the "public option" months ago was a lesson that cannot be learned by a group committed to an agenda the majority of the public does not want.

Sixty votes to pass the bill is what the Democrats have in the Senate.  My guess is the first kick was a lesson heartland and blue-dog democrats remember and the bill dies or is so watered down no one cares.

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