DFL Senate District 36

On Thursday July 16th, at 6:00 pm, Senate District 36 DFLers will be sharing in a potluck and enjoying the company of a special speaker, gubernatorial candidate Paul Thissen.

The potluck will begin at 6:00 at the Rambling River Center, 413 3rd Street in downtown Farmington. It will be great time to meet and interact with other progressives in our district. Please bring something to share, but show up even if you don’t want to eat, it will be a fun time, and a great way to meet other progressives in the area.

Paul Thissen will be joining us to discuss the recent legislative session, as well as his vision for the state when he becomes governor. I’m sure he will have something to say about the current governor too. It should be an interesting evening, and it will be a great chance to really get some one-on-one face time with a candidate in a small group setting. Everyone is welcome! Bring some questions for Rep. Thissen, and bring some food to share with Paul and other local progressives.

The Central committee meeting will follow at 7:30, an agenda will be distributed soon.

Paul Thissen (pronounced TEE-sen) has served in the State Legislature since 2002. He is a life long resident of Minnesota, and grew up in the southern suburbs. He is a graduate of Harvard and The University of Chicago Law School. Paul is married with three children.

Paul was the Chief Author of the Children’s Health Security Act, which resulted in nearly 40,000 children getting access to health care. He was also instrumental in passing the 2008 Health Reform Act.

Paul’s hopes for Minnesota are simple and reflect the basic Minnesota values instilled in him since childhood. He wants to make sure that our state continues to be a place where our kids have the same opportunity to learn, grow and succeed that we did and where our parents can live their lives with independence and dignity. He will continue to fight for those values now and in the future.

Learn more about Rep. Paul Thissen on his website.

I little something about what you missed at the June 9th, CD2 Central Committee Meeting. 

The little Savage Library meeting room was packed.  All the seats were full, a few people stood and a few people sat on window ledges to discuss the happenings of CD2.

It becomes old hat for regular meeting attendees to visit with candidates, and this meeting was no exception.  Candidate for Governor, Senator John Marty was the main speaker, but the Central Committee also heard from Senator John Doll of SD40, who wasn’t speaking as a candidate, but was prodded to the front of the room in Senator Marty’s absence.  CD2 Congressional candidate Dan Powers spoke for a couple minutes about his personal history.  Candidate Mike Germain running for State Senate in SD37 spoke for a minute, followed by an opponent also seeking the DFL senate endorsement in SD37, Roberta Gibbons.

There was also a speaker representing the Young DFL, but the headliner was Senator John Marty.  He stood in front of the room, looking both casual and gubernatorial in a blue blazer and khaki pants.  He addressed his loss in 1994, quieting those concerns by pointing out that the themes in his 1994 campaign, equality, healthcare and the environment did not match the Newt Gingrich “Contract On America” which dominated the political spectrum that year.  His themes are much more relevant today.

Senator Marty’s presentation centered on the idea of looking ahead 20 years.  He stressed that he stands up for what is right, even if it is unpopular, and pointed out that in 1999 and 2000, he was the only Senator to vote no on the state’s tax cuts.  Sen. Marty said He didn’t vote no because he loves taxes.  He voted no because he didn’t believe the tax cuts were sustainable.  To read more about his presentation, visit www.MNDem.com. 

Gubernatorial candidates are all over right now.  If you are interested, candidates for Governor Susan Gaertner and Steve Kelley are speaking this Friday night, June 12 at Open Circle Church (2400 Highland Drive, Burnsville) at 7:00 pm.  They will be answering questions and discussing their visions for our state.  The meeting is sponsored by mnpACT!

Paul Thissen is considering attending the next SD36 meeting in July.  So keep watching for posts on that, and other presenters.  In addition, the next meeting will probably include an election or two so be sure to attend if you are on the central committee.   Feel free to attend even if you are not on the committee.

In a June 3, StarTribune article, 36A Rep. Mary Liz Holberg said of Governor Tim Pawlenty’s years at the state’s helm:

“I think he’s one of the best, and I think the Democrats would say that too.”

He just might be the best at recklessly cutting spending on education and healthcare, increasing property taxes and increasing college tuition.  If that is what Rep. Holberg is talking about, she could be right.  But if she is talking about one of the best Minnesota governors, she has lost her marbles and should follow the Governor’s lead and let somebody who has some willingness to tackle the State’s tough problems serve.