OBL is dead, thank you Navy Seals!  I celebrated late last night (after getting the news from Twitter before it hit the networks.....) with a Sharia-non-compliant glass of champagne.

Mitch Berg makes a brilliant point about  how the left is in a bit of predicament "celebrating" this American ahievement in his post today "Where Credit is Due"

Thank you to the men who did the job- and thank you to the men who held the hose.

Bin Laden had sworn to his followers "not to die but a free man" but his life ended face to face with an American hero serving justice.

Thank you to Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama for pursuing this evil man.  Thank you to our military with almost ten years of sacrifice withstanding the criticism by a left-leaning media and a public with short-memories.  United we stand today. 

Bin Laden's end-- in a mansion compound-- brings to mind Don Giovanni and the Commendatore scene....except Don was a peach by comparison.

Just 17 days until the end of this legislative session and it's gay marriage, gambling, and local government aid that are seizing the headlines. But there's something afoot at the Capitol which seems to have escaped any media scrutiny.

My jaw dropped when I read this little piece of news from the conservative Freedom Foundation of Minnesota's State News site last week "House Republicans advance bill skirting electoral college"

In a surprise twist, a House committee on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a bill that would require the state to cast its ten electoral votes to whoever wins the popular vote nationally.

If passed, the law would not go into effect until enough states pass similar resolutions that the 270 electoral votes required to become President were achieved.

The legislation passed the House Government Operations and Elections Committee by voice vote before an empty hearing room. A lone lawmaker dissented.

“I have concerns that if we shift to a straight popular vote we dilute some of the powers of the state and the integrity of the republic,” said Rep. Duane Quam (R-Byron).

Ding, Ding, Ding!

 ........

To date, seven states (and the District of Columbia) with a total of 77 electoral votes have joined the compact. The most recent addition was Vermont, where Gov. Peter Shumlin signed a bill Friday.

Several more states are expected to approve similar measures this year, including New York (29 electoral votes) and California (55 electoral votes), where in 2009 bills passed both legislative chambers before being vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Each of the seven states that have enacted popular vote resolutions—Washington, Vermont, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Illinois—are considered “blue states,” but the House bill comes on the heels of a Republican takeover of both legislative chambers last November.

But lawmakers said the legislation was not about political parties.

Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington), the bill’s author, said democratic principles should be placed ahead of partisanship. He noted the state would retain the right to opt out of the pact at a future date if lawmakers desired.

“Quite simply, this says that whoever gets the most votes wins,” Garofalo said. “We retain, for the lack of a better word, our sovereignty and rights on this.”

So Minnesota-- with its Republican majorities-- is about to push national template ie Copy/paste legislation that's been passed in states like Vermont and Illinois and is on its way to passage in New York and California. Hello McFly!  I mean, wake up and smell the coffee.  Who's lobbying here?  What's going on?  What an odd piece of legislation to bring forward if you want to be considered-- in any way-- conservative.  " I realize the word can mean many things in politics, but an unescapable underlying tenet of conservatism is most certainly tradition.

How exactly does Minnesota retain it's sovereignty, Representative Garafalo, when we will be handing over our electoral votes to multi-state compacts and handing them over based on the national popular vote rather than the vote of Minnesotans?  I mean- hey --I'm still embarrassed about 1984-- but Minnesota voted for Mondale and needed to be that sad-little blue on the big map because of that fact.

For those seeking to understand the issue more completely, The CATO Institute has a recent debate on the issue here. 

Don't these committees and legislators have staff that are familiar with google?

Liberals have been fighting non-stop since Bush's win in 2000 to change to a National Popular Vote, but in order to change the Electoral College, they would need a Constitutional Amendment...too high of a threshold for the activists pushing this....so they've moved the efforts back to the states.

From the 2008 book Rethinking American Electoral Democracy

Recently, a new proposal to "amend" the Electoral College has received some support. I put the word "amend" in quotations because the proposal is essentially a backdoor way to abolish the Electoral College without having to change the Constitution.  An organization named FairVote, which has former presidential candidates Jon Anderson and Birch Bayh among other known politicians on their advisory board, has pushed an interesting plan-- if you are opposed to the Electoral College- to enact a national pupular vote.  Briefly, this is how the plan works.  Remember that the Constitution mandates that state legislatures determine how electors will be selected.  Every state but Maine and Nebraska relies on the popular vote within the state to determine which candidate's electors are seated.  Under FairVotes's plan, the state legislature would ignore the state popular vote and choose electors based on the national popular vote.  Let's use the 2000 presidential election as an example.  Pretend that the state of Florida adopted FairVotes's plans.  The controversy surrounding the FLorida election would be moot since Al Gore won the national popular vote.  Instead of choosing Bush electors, because he won the popular vote in the state, Florida would have chosen Gore electors, because he won the popular vote nationally.  This would have allowed Gore to win the electoral vote and, hence, the election.

The aspect of FairVote's plan that is so unique is that, as I said earlier, the Electoral College will not be abolished; therefore the proposal does not require a constitutional amendment.  If FairVote can get enough states to pass the policy, then it will guarantee that a popular vote winner will not lose the electoral vote.  In a sense, the Electoral College is abolished while still remaining on the books.

So National Popular Vote is partnered with FairVote.  Jonaton Soros (George's son) is an active supporter and major donor to FariVote.  Here's his commentary in-- of all places-- The Wall Street Journal. Dec, 15 2008  "It's time to junk the electoral system and we don't need an ammendment to do it"

The Constitution is no longer in line with our expectations regarding the role of the people in selecting the president. Yet several previous attempts to eliminate the Electoral College through a constitutional amendment have failed, scuttled by the difficulty of the process itself and the tyranny of small-state logic.

Fortunately, a constitutional amendment is not necessary. Rather than dismantling the Electoral College with an amendment, we can use the mechanisms of the Electoral College itself to guarantee popular election of the president.

Under the proposed National Popular Vote compact, state legislatures would agree to choose electors who promise to support the winner of the nationwide popular vote. For example, if a Republican were to win the overall national popular vote, even if New Yorkers favored the Democrat, New York's Electoral College votes would go to the Republican. The compact will go into force when states representing 271 Electoral College votes have entered into it to guarantee that the winner of the popular vote will become president.

The first line is just scary.  Obviously it didn't scare former Minnesota rep (and Aspen Institute superstar,) Laura Brod who promoted National Popular Vote in a HotAir blog post last fall.  You can read that post and Ed Morrissey's response here. 

Look, there's no way around this fact:  The state-by-state push for National Popular vote is designed to circumvent the United States Constitution....and it is wholly unconstitutional.   The Constitution gives the States the FREEDOM to choose it's electors and our electors represent the people of Minnesota and our will.  In theory, they could (as our elected Representatives can) reject the will of the people and cast their vote for somebody other than the winner of Minnesota's popular vote.  But now-- we are putting them in a position to cast a ballot to represent the will of the people of New York? 

The argument that smaller states will "finally get the attention they deserve" doesn't hold water.  Rural areas will be completely ignored and campaigns will put those hundreds of millions of dollars into large urban and suburban areas only.  The next step will be a push to a national primary election.  There will be no diner hand-shaking or Iowa straw-polling.  Or-- if there is-- it will be mere frivolity.  Person-to-person campaigning reduced to a gimmick like the Presidential pardon of a turkey.  This will do absolutely nothing to help change the dynamics of modern day elections and it will only serve to push us further in the direction of "pop-culture" politics (and governance.) 

Are we this dumbed down? Do these legislators have any idea what they're doing?   This isn't about political party, this is about the Constitution!  This is about America!  No matter how hard the public school system tries to indoctrinate children otherwise, We ARE NOT a direct democracy, we are a constitutional Republic.  "Power to the people" pure populism sounds wonderful, but it is not how American democracy is designed.  The House of Representatives was to reflect this will (with it's abrupt shifts.)  The Senate was to be appointed by the legislatures.  Progressives changed that in 1913-- the same time they gave us the federal income tax incidentally.  Back then the argument was that Senators would be too prone to bribery and in the pockets of big business....gee, that problem was really addressed by the Constitutional change, don't you think?

It is critically important to keep the "character" of state elections .  Minnesota is a caucus state, Georgia is a primary state...and so on.  The people of that state decide those laws that impact elections, not the federal government. 

But the most obvious reason why a national popular vote should be scrapped is that the United States is at a tipping point.  In fact, we've already tipped.  Over Half the country (51%) has NO federal income tax liability, and tying electoral votes to the national popular "will of the people" may very well be the final nail in our coffin where majorities vote themselves benefits seizing the freedom of the minority. 

Nasty liberals are decrying "Tenthers" these days-- people who dare to advocate for state's rights.  But without the 10th Amendment, we might as well be Canada.  (One-world global thinkers would love it!) No thank you. 

This is not Europe with it's 27 parties and factions fighting, this is not some third-world country with coups and mob rule....our election system was set-up brilliantly by our founders and very intentionally and we have people who want to make "good enough" "better".  Nothing is perfect, but America-style Democracy is AS PERFECT AS IT GETS.  (And don't go there with original voting rights, or I'll school you on that too.)  

And can you imagine a National Recount? How would that work? 

Hit the phones and give your Representatives and ask them where they stand on this vote!  Based on only ONE dissenting vote in committee, I'm afraid it's well on it's way to passing and no doubt Governor Dayton will proudly sign this into law quickly.  If THIS is the type of legislation that Minnesota Republicans are going to tout as "bipartisan" at the end of session, then what a ship of fools we've helped push out to sea.

This is truly astonishing to me and it must be STOPPED or Minnesota Republicans will be responsible for handing over Minnesota votes for "the common good"-- and baby, those two words together ain't in the Constitution.  Thank goodness the Freedom Foundation "caught it"-- hopefully before it's too late.

File under:  You have got to be kidding me.

According to the Eden Prairie News, Eden Prairie police are cracking down on distracted driving.  Not only texting (which is illegal in MN) but they're pulling people over for EATING in their car or for turning their heads to address a child seated behind you.

Wow.

"Distracted driving" is such a ridiculous nanny state issue.  It's the government trying to read your mind.

I was the most distracted driver when I was commuting daily to Mayo Clinic for my mom's cancer treatments.  Many days I was in full-blown tears....other times I was simply lost in thoughts of "what if" and my mind was certainly more distracted than it is on a typical cell phone call these days.  (But, what was I supposed to do?   I mean, there's no light rail to Mayo.

I use my iPhone for navigation all of the time.  What's the difference between looking at my phone for the next step in my route and the olden days when I used to glance over at the map next to me?  How does an officer know if I'm doing that or if I'm texting? 

And Lord knows I eat in my car, I can pass back an entire Happy Meal, one french fry at a time, to two kids in the back, while driving (without turning my head-- a neat trick I think.)  Of course Nanny State liberals would love to see a double-citation for such a horror....passing the french fry to the kid ($50 for distracted driving) and feeding the french fry to the kid ($150 for terrible parenting.)

I drink coffee, Diet Coke, I eat Taco Bell Tacos (very messy.)  I don't put on lipstick, but I do put on Chapstick.

I had a speeding ticket a few years back on the RIDICULOUS speed trap known as Anderson Lakes Parkway.  I was indeed talking to one of the kids in the back when it happened, but that wasn't why it happened.  It happened because I always tend to drive over the speed limit on that road because as a road-- with no driveways entering onto it-- that connects Hwy 169 to Flying Cloud Drive, the 30 MPH speed limit is painfully (and I'd argue purposely) slow.  It is right by my house, I drive it every day, and always try to be cognizant of my speed.  But, sometimes I look down and still find I'm over the limit.  When you keep right to 30, people are always right on your tail.  You feel like using sign language in the rear-view mirror to signal, "Hey Man, I'm doing you a favor, this is a speed trap!"  My other  trick is driving 25 MPH when a police officer is behind me--they're also right on your bumper when you do this.   You will see their unmarked cars speeding on that road ALL OF THE TIME.  In fact, I'd bet good money that the officer who cited me was also speeding coming from the opposite direction.  Hey- I'd whip out my iPhone and videotape it when these things happen, but I'd probably get arrested.

There are some terrible drivers in Minnesota-- in fact, I think they're some of the worst drivers in the country--but being "distracted" has nothing to do with that.

I'm joking about all of this, but people should really start to worry when the government is pulling you over for eating in your car or turning your head momentarily (while going 25 MPH on Anderson Lakes Parkway without another car in sight,) to tell a kid- "Knock it off."

To quote a friend, "Grow up, the Government isn't your mother"

Where has common sense gone?

We all know "I'm just a bill" from Schoolhouse Rock and understand how a bill becomes a law....it's a pretty simple process and it's a time-tested process.  The exact same things need to happen in the exact same way in order for legislation to pass through the Legislative branch and be signed into law by the Executive branch.  (Nevermind the aberration of Obamacare.)

In St. Paul, the Republicans control the House and the Senate....each legislative body has passed all of the necessary Omnibus spending bills in each of the budget areas that make up a full and complete biennial budget for the State of Minnesota.

Governor Dayton has put forth a budget....and it's his job and his party's job to put forth the bills that comprise HIS budget.  Yet instead of doing this in a timely manner (the session started January 4th,) they decided to skip the deadlines for this task and so far, only one bill (his tax bill) has had hearings.....and a vote in the House.  Not a single member -- of either party-- supported the Governor's tax bill. So, isn't it fair to ask:  Why introduce the bill at all if it had no support?

As for the other spending bills that comprise the rest of the budget...the DFL is just holding onto the ball right now.

So, while the Republican legislature is AT LEAST ONE MONTH ahead of schedule, they now have to sit back and wait for the DFL to put forth the Governor's bills.

WHY?  Why are we wasting taxpayer time and money?

I understand politics, I understand political theater.  For the last few sessions under Governor Pawlenty it has always come down the dramatic end-of-session floor speeches and saber rattling.

It's so old!  Can we PLEASE for the love of Peter, Paul and Mary....Grow up?  Debate!  Have hearings!  Duke it out!  Get mad, get busy and then get-together and get-er-done!

I had the opportunity to speak with Mary Liz Holberg, the Chairperson of the House Ways and Means Committee, the other day.  Mary Liz has been in St. Paul through Ventura and both Pawlenty terms and she said that they've "never" had wait this long.  Mary Liz shared her frustration that goes back to mid-February when she was sent a letter by the Governor's office that said "go to our website" when Republicans were requesting the Governor's budget.

Go to their website?  This is the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee...and the Governor we're talking about.  It's unacceptable.  

Why is it that Republicans always have to be the adults in the room and do really crazy things like PUT TOGETHER BUDGET BILLS!

What's going on in Minnesota is exactly what's going on in Washington.  The reason we're facing the dramatics of "a government shutdown" is because the DEMOCRATS (who had The White House, House AND Senate at the time,) FAILED to produce a budget bill in 2010.  Remember in December?  They punted.  They decided that they'd rather wait until the new GOP House came in (where the spending bills must originate) so that they'd be the ones doing the work, crafting the solutions, and taking the blame.  Is it any wonder that the last time we were talking about government shutdowns Bill Clinton was in office? 

This is exactly what we're seeing with Obama now...Paul Ryan crafts a long-term serious budget and the President acts like a child with grandiose campaign speeches attacking the merits of something he couldn't create in his wildest dreams-- a comprehensive long-term budget proposal.  (Well, he could...but it would require that he put all his cards on the table and show all marginal tax rates going up by 20%.)

Seems to me that Mark Dayton learned some tricks of his own from his unsuccessful term as a U.S. Senator.

It must be nice to be a Democrat.  All emotion.  "Tax the rich".....Don't offer any thoughtful solutions to problems other than SPEND MORE MONEY!  Offering garbage like "You're poor because this person is oppressing you....if we could just take more of their money, your life would be better."

In fairness, it's true that the Executive in charge (President/Governor) GETS to be the "big dog" they get to be "visionaries"-- but it is their STAFF and their PARTY who are obligated to take that vision and craft it into a budget so that it can be properly debated and voted on.  So, how does Governor Dayton get away with this exactly?  I mean- it's mid April now.  Tick tock.

Well, when you see this fluff story this week on Mark Dayton's "First 100 Days" from WCCO's political reporter Pat Kessler, you start to understand a big part of the problem:  The lightweight Minnesota Media establishment.  They should offer to trim the Governor's cuticles and buff his nails while they're at it.....

It's not campaign time-- we just had a campaign, Pat.  Tom Emmer lost and yet he's featured in this report.  Tom Emmer has no part to play in this budget negotiation.  Of course this is the same media who gave Dayton a hall pass during the campaign as he never produced a vetted budget in the first place.

And YES we know Mark Dayton was inspired by Robert Kennedy, Pat.  I mean, COME ON!  Kessler also covers that Dayton moved his desk into a closet in the Governor's office-- because he "likes things simple."  Uh, how about asking this question:  If you moved into a closet, and moved all your staff into your office to be more comfortable....then can you get within kicking distance of said staff and boot their butts over to the Capitol to work on some legislation with YOUR party, Governor?

Just like Obama- the media is obsessed with campaigns....they're all about winning/losing/keeping score because it's more "fun" to report.  Hey- I'm with you.  But I'm a stay-at-home mom and casual blogger, you're the professional journalists.  Can we please stop with the silly "human-interest" pieces and explain to the people of Minnesota what's going on in St. Paul?

Because we're worried.  We're really worried.  The uncertainty is what's hurting people and businesses the most.   While Governor Dayton may enjoy telling the (half) story-of-his-life over and over again...frankly, we don't care.

Look, I can't get overly excited about the concept of "government reform"....I'll take out my pom-poms when there are real budget cuts on the table.  There are not.  There are very modest tax cuts for the 1st and 2nd tier state income tax brackets (they left the top "rich" tier alone which actually makes the tax code more progressive which is not my cup of tea.)

There are, however, some great ideas like the opportunity scholarships to help kids in failing schools in the Education bill. I also really like the 15X15 plan of Representative Keith Downey's to reduce the size of the state workforce by 15% by 2015 through attrition and retirement in state agencies, (rather than automatically filling spots that are duplicative or redundant.) 

This is a budget that any Moderate or Independent Minnesota voter would consider fair and reasonable that looks to bring spending to '08-'09 levels.  Of course, this is called "extreme" if you're a liberal.  It's called "compromise" if you're a Republican. 

Get moving on the budget Governor Dayton.  I understand that you've never had a real job in your life.  I understand that little things like "deadlines" don't mean much and that you're used to skipping out of work for more enjoyable endeavors.  Hard work-- with people who are not paid to tell you what you want to hear-- is indeed difficult.  But, it is a job requirement and you're needed on the job.