Clark: We must reform public school funding

At a legislative hearing on Tuesday, educators, parents and citizens from across the state sent a message to state legislators and the Governor: Property taxes cannot fill gaps in state funding for schools.

“On election day, a third of the school districts in the state asked property taxpayers for money to run their schools,” said Senator Clark. “In most places, including St. Cloud, they were asking for funds that should have been coming from the state.”

“Our state constitution says that state government is responsible for providing a ‘secure and thorough and efficient system of public schools throughout the state,’ said Clark. “Instead, Governor Pawlenty has successfully instituted a system that puts local school districts in the business of begging for money from over-burdened property taxpayers. Schools shouldn’t be running campaigns and elections. They should be educating our children.”

Clark pointed out that two-thirds of referenda passed last November. “That shows strong support, given the fact that homeowners are being asked to vote themselves a property tax increase.

“Property taxes are riddled with inequities. They’re not based on the ability to pay, and are particularly rough on seniors and others who live on fixed and reduced incomes. When you add other factors, like a loss of state funding for local police and fire, ballooning mortgage payments for some and a declining state economy, it creates conditions that makes you marvel that 2/3rds of the referenda passed, and many, like St. Cloud, were very close.”

A bipartisan School Finance Reform Task Force is currently at work at the Capitol to design a better funding system. It plans to present its findings to the Legislature in January.

“As co-chair of the education finance bill conference committee that included the task force in this years funding bill, I hope that we can develop a bipartisan proposal that will restore state government’s constitutionally-mandated role as the primary financier of public education in Minnesota,” said Clark.

Clark asked to consider the options.

“On one hand, we have referenda proponents and opponents spending money - even hiring political consultants – to debate paying to operate schools using a manifestly unfair source of funding. In one district, opponents are even suing to throw out a state law that prohibits lying in election materials.”

“On the other hand, we can fund public education in a way that sets high standards for learning, prepares this generation to meet the challenges of the 21st century and is funded by fair means, based on the ability to pay.”

Leo Pusateri said... What is so sad is the fact that you pull out the ever-present strawmen from the Kos-Kids like "illegal wiretapping"-- WHERE?

Waterboarding-- Do you have any other non-lethal ideas as far as getting information so that our servicepeople don't get killed..

War on faulty intelligence? You mean the same intelligence that Kerry, Clinton etc. were privy to when they voted to give the President the power to go to war; you mean the same intelligence that they were privy to when they saw the need to take out Saddam even before Bush became President? Then they do everything in their power since November of 2005 to undermine the war and try to ensure defeat to garner themselves a political victory. There's patriotism for you.

Unwillingness to compromise? You mean when Bush pretty much let the democrats write the education bill?

Yeah, I know--compromise to the democrats means doing everything their way or no way.

But damn it, Bush was so mean spirited as to call the Democratic party the "Democrat party!" For shame!!!

You're right--that's so much more demeaning and mean than the democrats likening Bush to Hitler, or likening our soldiers to the Nazis or Pol Pot.

Calling you "democrats" is so much more partisan than your side calling Bush a liar for acting on the same intelligence they had. It's so much more mean-spirited than Dhimmi Carter labelling Bush as the "worst president ever" (I'll bet ol' Dhimmi never looks in the mirror, does he?)

Yes, the term "democrat party" is so much more hateful than the niceties that the democrats utilize when describing Bush, isn't it?

Yep. Bush said, "democrat." He should have thought about that.

BTW... let me know when you get an original thought in your head.

Should be amusing, to say the least. November 29, 2007 7:52 PM

Bob Olson will appeal to the Klobuchar Republican's in the 6th, those Republican's who voted for Pawlenty and Klobuchar. It's a key demographic that will swing the 6th and a demographic out of reach for Tinklenberg.

Tinklenberg 2.0 appears to be a significant improvement over the 1.0 version. However, apply some mineral spirits to the exterior and the true colors appear once again.

It looks like the same old "good ole boys" network, with backroom deals and flip flopping stances being the status quo.

I'm tired of status quo.

Last night on AM 950, Minnesota Matters was talking about the AFSCME endorsement screening that happened late last night. Mark Heaney only mentioned Elwyn Tinklenberg in is discussion of the 6th.

Thank goodness for Colleen Hogan. Colleen called in and set the record straight, that there is another candidate in the 6th, and the only one viable in the eyes of many.

Bob Olson.

I know some in the 6th will be a bit ticked off that I posted this rant about Elwyn Tinklenberg and his past.

I had hoped that groups that endorse our candidates and others would have properly vetted our candidates.

(CNN) — David McMillan from Los Angeles, California asks: On a variety of specific issues: gay marriage, taxes, the death penalty, immigration, faith-based initiatives, school vouchers, school prayer, many African Americans hold fairly conservative views. And yet, we overwhelmingly vote Democrat in most elections. So my question, to any of the Republican candidates here is, why don't we vote for you?

(CNN) — Leroy Brooks from Houston, Texas asks: What does the confederate flag over here represent? Is it a symbol of racism, a symbol of a political ideology, is it a symbol of southern heritage, or is it something completely different?

Bachmann Balks on RNC Security Request
by: Andy Birkey
Wed Nov 28, 2007 at 12:52:49 PM

Every member of Minnesota's Congressional delegation signed a letter to U.S. Congressional leaders urging them to pass security funding for St. Paul in advance of next year's Republican National Convention.
Except one: Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Headed by Reps. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., and Diana DeGette, D-Colo., the co-signers urge Congress for advance funding to help defray security costs being incurred before the conventions in St. Paul and Denver. Because both cities are smaller than host cities of the past, receiving funding up front is vital to successful security planning, the letter said.
"The host cities are now incurring security-related costs and have stressed the importance of receiving federal funds as soon as possible. Unlike New York and other large host cities for previous conventions, Denver and St. Paul are unable to absorb security costs in their existing budgets and wait for federal reimbursement," the letter said.

Congress is prepared to allocate $100 million between the two cities with $50 million directed to each. Minnesota's Congressional delegation, minus Bachmann, argues that the earlier the funding arrives, the more prepared St. Paul will be for the convention.

Bill Harper, McCollum's chief of staff, told the Associated Press that only two bills may be available this year that could be used to provide the money. "The number of appropriation vehicles are starting to look limited," he said.

Bachmann's absence from the letter is curious given the support of her Republican colleagues, including Rep. John Kline.

Was she left out of the letter signing? According to Byran Collinsworth, press secretary for McCollum, "Rep. Bachmann was presented with the same opportunity to sign the letter as all other members of the Minnesota delegation."

Does she find the dollar amount too high for a party held for herself and her colleagues? Is she concerned that the funding would come too soon?

Is she concerned the money will be contained in a bill that President Bush finds too expensive? Bachmann signed a pledge to Bush to uphold any veto of a bill that spends more than his proposed budget. Kline signed that bill as well, however.

Will anyone ever know? Bachmann's office did not respond to a request for comment. Should she provide one, I will post it here.

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Bachmann reflects on nation’s economy, taxes

Yvonne Klinnert Stillwater Courier
Published Wednesday, November 28, 2007

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann from Minnesota’s Sixth District put the emphasis on the country’s economic health and growth when she spoke to the Stillwater Sunrise Rotary group at Joseph’s Restaurant Tuesday morning.

Bachmann noted the improved health of the country’s economy since tax cuts went into effect in 2003, saying that the country’s economy has tripled its growth rate since then. Previous to the tax cuts, the country was losing jobs; now it is adding jobs to its employment rolls, she said. “That’s what happens when you stimulate the economy from the private sector,” she said.

Such stimulation makes an economy “recession proof,” she said, marked by “competition and prosperity.”

Bachmann said that her next goal, to help continue along that path, is to work to eliminate the alternative minimum tax, a tax that was imposed in 1969 to keep millionaires from paying no income taxes, but which is now snaring middle-income taxpayers. “The bill that ate New York City,” Bachmann called it.

The 2008 House of Representatives is intent on raising taxes, Bachmann told the group, something that she will fight against. “I don’t think that’s the direction we want to go if we want to maintain prosperity.”

Other concerns are an energy bill, and a farm bill, which could be written to increase taxes, Bachman said. “It’s easy to go to look for sources of revenue,” she said, without recognizing the implications of what that would do to the economy.

Rather than look for more revenue, “it’s a matter of priorities,” Bachmann said. “What are we spending money on?”

One question was asked about the national debt, and Bachman responded by noting the difference between the nation’s short-term debt, and its long-term debt, which she defined as the unfunded promises to pay out Social Security and Medicare in the future. “The long-term debt literally keeps me awake at night,” she said.

Bachmann's constituents are still waiting for a public forum where we can ask her questions that evidently reporters aren't willing to ask her-- like why she voted against money to rebuild the 35W bridge. Bachmann has yet to hold a public forum where she can face her constituents. Most of us aren't in Rotary and have to work instead of going out for breakfast. Bachmann asks "What are we spending our money on?" For starters, we're spending billions of dollars a WEEK on the war Bachmann has consistently voted for.
Dwight F
Lakeland, MN
11/28/2007 3:37 PM

Latest: Sauk Rapids Fire Department receives grant
By Jane Laskey jlaskey@stcloudtimes.com

Published: November 27. 2007 12:30AM - Last updated: November 27. 2007 2:30PM

SAUK RAPIDS — The Sauk Rapids Fire Department was awarded a $142,500 grant by the Department of Homeland Security. The City of Sauk Rapids will contribute 5 percent, or $7,500, to bring the total funds to $150,000.

The grant will be presented by Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., in a ceremony at the fire department at 5:15 p.m. today.

The fire department is using the funds in an ongoing effort to update its equipment. The grant will allow the department to purchase 30 sets of self-contained breathing apparatuses and 30 spare air tanks. SCBAs provide firefighters with breathable air in hostile environments and include a high-pressure tank, a pressure regulator and a face mask.

Ms. Laskey,

I just read your piece describing the ceremony at the Sauk Rapids Fire Department with Michele Bachmann. I am curious as to whether anyone asked Michele why she is presenting grant checks that she voted against? Also, how might someone get on a list to be notified of such events involving my Representative?

Thank You,

***********

It’s Looking Like Blue Skies All Over Again
By Bob Benenson and Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff

Just over a year ago, Democrats seized control of Congress because of the voters’ exhaustion with the war in Iraq and disgust at the Republican majority’s increasingly brazen manipulation of the levers of power. Now, less than a year from the next election, little has happened to elevate the voters’ mood — or their impression of the party that ruled the federal government from 2003 through 2006.

Republicans, meanwhile, appear destined for a yearlong internecine battle for the heart and soul of the party. Even if they manage to rally behind a single presidential candidate next spring, it is not at all clear that any of the leading candidates for the nomination can count on the loyal and enthusiastic support of evangelical Christians and other social conservatives who have formed the bedrock of the GOP “base” for more than a quarter-century.

So the Democrats have the institutional numbers in their favor. But do they have the issues on their side and the voting public’s support? Here again, underpinning the Democrats’ advantage are a number of indicators that appear consistently across public opinion polls — even if, in some cases, it’s more a matter of their party being less unpopular than the GOP.

An ABC News-Washington Post survey taken from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 showed Democrats not only leading Republicans by double-digit percentage points on Iraq, the economy and health care, but also leading by 7 points on immigration issues and 6 points on taxes — two matters the GOP is counting on to turn the tide its way. Even on the war on terrorism, the trademark issue for the Bush administration, which Republicans have emphasized since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Democratic Party is now statistically even with the GOP.

But the biggest factor working in the Democrats’ favor continues to be that they are not the Republicans.

The GOP is still reeling from the steep drop-off in public confidence that hurt the party so deeply last November — a result of the waning public support for the Iraq War, economic uncertainties, ethics controversies and other problems that concomitantly turned Bush into one of the most unpopular presidents of modern times.

Republicans have spent much of the year trying to reinvigorate their base by battling Democratic initiatives and are working to polish their “brand” before the election. “We’re in the season of battle and obstruction,” said sixth-term Rep. Charles W. “Chip” Pickering Jr. of Mississippi, who’s one of the GOP incumbents giving up his seat next year but who still harbors statewide political aspirations. “Next year will be the season of defining and developing an agenda.”

Republicans have ballyhooed the universally negative congressional job approval figures as an indication that Democrats are poised for a fall next year. (Congress’ most recent approval ratings were 19 percent in an NBC News-Wall Street Journal survey taken Nov. 1-5, and 28 percent in the ABC-Post poll of the week before.)

Yet in the accompanying questions about how voters view each party in Congress, there is much, much less for the Republicans to cheer about. True, 36 percent in the ABC-Post poll approved of the Democrats, and 58 percent disapproved. But the figures for the GOP were worse: 32 percent approval and 63 percent disapproval. When asked a broader question about the parties, 51 percent said they have a favorable view of the Democratic Party, while only 39 percent said the same about the Republicans.

Monday, November 26, 2007
Class... vs. no class.

From inviting Teddy Kennedy for movie night, to allowing the democrats to write his education plan, President Bush has bent over backward to implement the "new tone" he set to implement in Washington.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Select A Candidate tell me who to vote for?

A: Absolutely not. Its main purpose is to introduce you to the candidates who are running and their positions on the issues.

Q: How did you come up with these questions?

A: The questions mirror the campaign. There might be issues we are interested in that haven't come up in the campaign so far, and those aren't listed here. Should they come up -- and we have a mechanism for your interests to be part of the campaign -- they will be added to Select A Candidate. The choices from each question mirror positions that candidates have stated. If no answer is close to your position, do not answer the question, for there is no candidate with that position.

Q: How does the scoring work?

A: Each candidate gets 1 point for each question that matches your answer. If you indicate that an issue is very important to you, the candidate gets 3 points. If you indicate that the issue is of no importance to you, the candidate gets 0 points. In this way, the "match" is weighted to reflect those issues on which you decide elections.

Your turn: Bachmann chooses Bush over her constituents
By Brian Melendez Minnesota DFL Party

Published: November 24. 2007 12:30AM - Last updated: November 24. 2007 12:47AM

By now, it's a story we're all too familiar with: U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann consistently stands by President Bush at the expense of her own constituents. We've come to expect this kind of bad judgment from Bachmann. But we deserve more from her than hypocrisy.

On Nov. 14, Bachmann once again put Bush and the Republican Party first when she voted against a bill that included the $195 million for rebuilding the Interstate Highway 35W bridge that the federal government has promised to Minnesota.

The bill, H.R. 3074, was a compromise between the House and Senate for funding the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. Minnesota taxpayers have been waiting for this money for months. But Bachmann voted no.

With the same vote, Bachmann also opposed the $55 million needed to finally get Northstar commuter rail under way. The people who drive Interstate 94 every day to work have been waiting to get this project started for years. But Bachmann voted no.

This vote against Minnesota comes as no surprise because we've seen it before. Whether in opposing the renewal of the State Children's Health Insurance Program or in constantly offering Bush a blank check for his failed strategy in Iraq, we've learned we can't count on Bachmann to put Minnesota first.

If these were votes of principle — even if the principle amounts to bad judgment — it might make them easier to understand. But it turns out that these are votes of hypocrisy. And we deserve more.

Bachmann said she voted against the bill with the Northstar and I-35W bridge funding because it contained, in her words, "excessive, pork-barrel spending." This explanation might make sense if she hadn't sponsored "earmarks" of her own in the very same bill. ("Earmarks" are personal requests from members of Congress to fund specific programs in their districts.)

In the transportation bill Bachmann voted against, files from the House Committee on Rules show she sponsored two earmarks: an $820,000 earmark for buses in St. Cloud and a $500,000 earmark for improving Minnesota Highway 241 in St. Michael.

Bachmann must have believed these projects were worthy because she sponsored the earmarks for them. So why did she turn around and vote against her own earmarks?

It looks like an effort to fool her constituents into thinking that she's working for them, while she's really just trying to keep Bush happy. It's giving with one hand, but taking away with the other. And it isn't even the first time this month that she's tried to pull a fast one.

On Nov. 6 and 8, she voted against another bill — H.R. 3043, a House/Senate compromise for funding the departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services — that contained three earmarks she sponsored, including $350,000 to help Northland Medical Center in Princeton buy equipment.

After Bush vetoed that bill, she voted Nov. 15 to uphold his veto, once again voting against aid for her district that she requested. But at least she was keeping her promise to Bush.

On June 13, the right-wing Republican Study Committee announced that Bachmann had signed a letter to the president pledging that she would support his veto of any spending bill that he said was too expensive, no matter what was in it — even help for Minnesota, even help for her own constituents.

So let's try to get this straight: Bachmann had the chance to vote to rebuild the bridge and get Northstar started, but didn't because she said the bill was too expensive — even though she added to the cost of the bill by sponsoring earmarks in it for her district.

And she voted twice against another bill that she put earmarks in, then supported Bush's veto of her own earmarks — because she put a hasty promise to him ahead of her duty to her district.

Bachmann has never seemed to get that Minnesotans elected her to represent them, not George Bush. Bad judgment is one thing. But hypocritically trying to pull a fast one on us is just too much.

This is the opinion of Brian Melendez, chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Letter: Illegal immigrants should not get drivers’ licenses
Julie Larson Otsego

Published: November 23. 2007 12:30AM

Recently, the governor of New York announced that illegal immigrants might be allowed to obtain New York state drivers’ licenses. According to news reports, the only required documentation an illegal immigrant would have to present to obtain the driver’s license is a valid foreign passport.

Like many Americans, I support legal immigration, but I oppose rewarding those who come here illegally. I’m very concerned about the impact of this proposal and the message it sends.

The strain caused by illegal immigration on our social programs is a serious problem. Often, illegal immigrants make the difference — from a cost standpoint — as to the levels of service that can be offered by state and local governments.

The governor of New York is not alone.

Congress just passed legislation eliminating a requirement that applicants for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program prove their citizenship with identity documents, like passports or birth certificates. I was not surprised to learn Sen. Hillary Clinton supports the governor’s plan, or that she supported the SCHIP bill. But I was surprised when local lobbyist El Tinklenberg said in the Times, “Suppose a few children of illegal immigrants manage to slip through the system. Is that a reason for denying millions of U.S. children health care?”

That kind of dismissive attitude is exactly what’s wrong with Congress.

I want real solutions to our nation’s health-care crisis, not political games or policies that open the door to illegal immigrants receiving social services at the expense of Americans in need.

More members of Congress should display the same courage as Michele Bachmann by demanding clean polices that do not reward illegal behavior.

What’s, what’s really been missing, unfortunately, is our ability to be home, in St. Cloud and in our local districts to be able to meet with people, and talk with people. And after all, that’s really where the answers are, is back home, and I’d much rather be able to be home a few days a week and meet with people there, and, um, then when we get to Washington, get down to business and get the work done.

DL: Well, that goes against the philosophy of the left, uh, Michele, they, they think they know everything, and they can do everything from Washington, don’t they?

MB: That’s right, and Don, the other thing they want is they want to make sure that we’re here in Washington where the lobbyists can feast on us all day, and-

DL: I’m a huge advocate of you guys stayin’ home.

MB: That’s right. It’s much better to be with normal people, people back home in our districts.

FreedomWorks fights for lower taxes, less government and more economic freedom for all Americans.

Thursday, November 15

8:30am-9:45
Breakfast and Lobbying Briefing

Speakers: FW Staff
Location: Petits Plats Restaurant
2353 Connecticut Ave, NW
(directly across from Woodley Park Metro)


9:45
Depart for Capitol Hill.

10:30-12:00pm
Guided Lobbying on the House and Senate Sides

12:00-1:00
Lunch at Longworth Cafeteria

1:00-2:30
Lobbying Cont’d

2:30-3:00
Break/travel to Heritage

DFL Misreading the Voters

Tarryl Clark uses this press release to essentially place all the blame on Minnesota’s weakening economy on Gov. Pawlenty’s shoulders. The sad truth is that the DFL should accept responsibility for attempting to ruin Minneosta’s economy by proposing crippling tax increases to pay for their unsustainable spending increases. Here’s one paragraph that got a chuckle out of me:

“Minnesota’s economy continues to struggle, but the governor refuses to do his part to lend a hand,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud. “Each month, Minnesotans are seeing more and more job opportunities disappear. It is imperative that we do whatever we can to jumpstart our state’s economy.”

I emailed Tarryl a couple weeks ago with the suggestion that the DFL work with Gov. Pawlenty to cut taxes next session. I still haven’t gotten a reply from her on that, nor do I expect one considering the subject matter. The DFL hates GOP-proposed tax cuts almost as much as Superman hates Kryptonite or vampires hate wooden stakes.

I’d just like to second Gov. Pawlenty’s quote about maintaining Minnesota’s prosperity:

“What my DFL friends don’t understand is you can’t government your way to prosperity. You have to have a real economy,” he said. “So their answer is ‘We’d have a better economy if the governor would spend more government money on projects and raise taxes’?”

Please tell me how this Transportation Bill will create a net a 60,000 job increase. How will it accomplish that when people will be leaving the state in droves? The message from the school levy elections wasn’t nuanced. It was quite clear. It said that voters were tired of the annual tax increases & that they weren’t going to take it anymore. They were tired of being treated like the DFL’s ATM machines.

The DFL is free to ignore that message but they do so at their own peril. The DFL is attempting to ignore the message that Rockville citizens are sending, too. That’ll lead to their demise:

Last session’s tax bill would’ve created the highest marginal tax rates for small businesses in the nation. It would’ve driven up state commercial property taxes, too. There isn’t any doubt that those tax increases would’ve driven small businesses out of the state, too. Despite all that, Tarryl wants us to believe that the DFL tax increases will create prosperity? I won’t buy into that.

When Bill Clinton increased taxes in 1993, the economy was growing. Increasing taxes when the economy is weakening isn’t smart policy. Increasing taxes at that time will hasten, deepen & lengthen the coming recession.

During W’s first term, Democrats complained about the middle class squeeze. If they were to pass, the DFL’s tax increases on small businesses would be the ultimate middle class squeeze because it’d drive up unemployment. If you want to see what massive tax increases does for an economy, just look at Michigan’s. The only thing preventing Michigan from sliding into a deeper recession is the new $600 million business tax cut to draw new businesses to the state.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Big Lake man files to run against Olson

By Gary W. Meyer
Editor

A Big Lake man this week announced his candidacy for the DFL party nomination to oppose Mark Olson for his Minnesota Legislature position in next November's general election.

Steve Andrews, 47, Big Lake Twp., will seek the DFL District 16B nomination, which if successful would lead to a campaign against Olson, who has announced his intention to run for re-election.

Olson has won election to the local House seat for seven terms. He was first elected in 1991.

Andrews in a prepared statement termed himself a "moderate and committed to effective investment of our tax dollars."

He and his wife of 15 years, Mary, own a Seattle Suttons Healthy Eating outlet in Maple Grove. He serves as vice president of technology at Fintegra Financial Solutions in Minneapolis.

He is a graduate of St. Johns University. The couple has two elementary-age sons.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

BL man seeking Olson's House seat


Steve Andrews announced his candidacy for election to the Minnesota House of Representatives. He is seeking the DFL nomination in District 16B.

"I'm an average person who holds higher than average expectations of the Legislature on behalf of the citizens it serves," Andrews said. "I'm your neighbor, I'm a moderate, and I'm committed to effective investment of our tax dollars."

"Over the next year I am going to speak a little and listen a lot to concerns, ideas and solutions that people offer. We are facing complex issues involving education, health care, the state's transportation infrastructure, and taxes. How are we going to allocate funds the most effectively, without waste? My focus and commitment to the people of 16B is genuine and my agenda will be set by the citizens I will represent at the Capitol," Andrews said.

Andrews has been active in various community organizations, including service on the Monticello Housing and Redevelopment Authority prior to moving to County. He is a graduate of St. John's University, Collegeville, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Government and Social Science and a secondary education minor.

He is employed by Fintegra Financial Solutions in Minneapolis as Vice President of Technology. He and his wife, Mary, are co-owners of a small business, Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating of Maple Grove. The Andrews' have been married for 15 years and have two elementary age sons. They live in Big Lake.

"Because our economy has been enjoying robust health for the last 40 quarters. There’s some segments of the economy that are hurting. Real estate no doubt is hurting right now, sub-prime mortgages and all, all the rest. But for the most part the economy has been booming..."

Between 2000 and 2006, the average income of the lowest fifth is down 4.5%, the middle fifth is down 2.5%, and only the top fifth is up, by 1%. Similarly, today’s report revealed that the share of income going to the top fifth of households was 50.5%, the highest share on record going back to 1967. The middle-income share was 14.5%, the lowest on record. The bottom income share has been 3.4% since 2003, also an historic low.

The study shows that the amount people spend on gasoline as a percentage of their income has about doubled since 2002. In that period, gas prices have tripled and oil prices have soared nearly five-fold. Nationally, Americans spend 3.8 percent of their income fueling one vehicle, versus 1.9 percent in 2002.

The paper reports that while average family income, adjusted for inflation, has continued to advance at a good clip, that has been helped by gains by the top wage earners.

The paper says that about nine out of 10 workers have seen inflation that has outpaced their pay increases over the last three years, according to the Labor Department. That includes workers earning up to $80,000 a year, a level that puts them in the 90th percentile of wage earners.

On Tuesday, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced Minnesota lost 6,600 jobs in October, the fourth consecutive month of job losses in the state. According to DEED, these new figures reveal that between July and October, Minnesota lost nearly 27,000 jobs.

H.R.3915
Title: To amend the Truth in Lending Act to reform consumer mortgage practices and provide accountability for such practices, to establish licensing and registration requirements for residential mortgage originators, to provide certain minimum standards for consumer mortgage loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] (introduced 10/22/2007) Cosponsors (27)
Related Bills: H.RES.825
Latest Major Action: 11/15/2007 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 291 - 127 (Roll no. 1118).
House Reports: 110-441

---

MAJOR ACTIONS:

10/22/2007	Introduced in House
11/9/2007	Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 110-441.
11/15/2007	Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 291 - 127 (Roll no. 1118).

NEW VIDEO: “Joe Is Right”

November 16th, 2007 by Erin Medlicott

Nov. 16: The Democratic presidential candidates agree: “Joe Is Right” Take a look at this quick 1 min. 30 sec. video clip proving they ALL think Joe Biden is right! - with background musical score by Randy Newman.

The video begins: “The Democratic candidates had a lot to say about their friend Joe Biden last night in Nevada…..”