|
September 6th, 2019
Quote of the Week: “After much consultation and prayer with my family, I have decided to run for Congress. Western Minnesota families deserve a representative who will fight for their values in Washington and support President Trump’s agenda – not the socialist agenda of Nancy Pelosi, Ilhan Omar, and the rest of the squad. People here believe in our constitutional rights. They believe in the right to life. They believe in making sure the next generation has the opportunity to pursue the American dream right here in Western Minnesota.”
In This Issue:
FISCHBACH THROWS IN HER HAT Former state senator, lieutenant governor, and Pawlenty running mate Michelle Fischbach of Paynesville this week announced her congressional candidacy for Minnesota’s Seventh District. Her announcement is noteworthy because she is the first “tier 1” candidate to run for the seat in some time. Moreover, the district is interesting because it is one of those rural districts that has seen a political re-alignment in recent years, with Donald Trump taking the district by a whopping 31 points in 2016. On top of that, the district has been represented by a moderate “blue dog” democrat, Colin Peterson, for many years. This race will be one to watch for sure. First, Fishbach is an excellent candidate, experienced, articulate, and dialed into both the Minnesota donor base and sure to receive attention from national GOP and aligned groups. Second, as mentioned, the district has become distinctly red over the years. The district boasts the biggest winning margin for Trump in a district won by a democrat in 2016 – by far. Will Colin Peterson yet again defy the district’s GOP margin, especially now that he faces a serious, credible challenger? In Peterson’s favor is his long history in the district, giving him name recognition and relationships that have in the past overcome the low DFL index, making him “bigger” than the DFL in the district. Next, 2020 isn’t 2016. Will Trump remain highly popular? Clearly, the tariff issue is hurting farmers across the district, much like the rest of the nation. Moreover, presidents running for re-election often see a dip in popularity, as the burden of governing weighs on favorability ratings. This race will be one of the most closely watched in the country, much like Minnesota’s Eighth District in 2018, where Republican Pete Stauber took over a district that turned from deep blue to red over the years. With the Trump campaign team already targeting Minnesota, it appears that our state will once again be a battleground, which is amazing considering that we were a bit of a political backwater for so many years. DOWN-BALLOT MATTERS Don’t forget that the stakes are higher than normal at the legislative level. The legislature elected in 2020 will be charged with re-drawing legislative district maps for the next decade. Governor Walz won’t be on the ballot, so the DFL already has a leg up on the GOP. If the DFL further succeeds in retaining their House majority and then flipping the senate, where the GOP has a slim 35-32 majority, the DFL will draw the maps as they please, subject only to potential litigation. While the unfortunate fact is that every election matters, thanks to government’s size and scope, this one matters in a big, big way. CALIFORNIA KOO-KOO One advantage that the GOP will have in 2020 is that the Democrats are in full-tilt crazy mode, promulgating ideas and policies that are way, way out of step with main street America. The Green New Deal, reparations, free college, free health care, climate change as a national security threat, confiscating guns, abortion-cum-infanticide, impeachment, no plastic straws, banning meat, no reliable electricity, and on and on. As they say, fads all start on the west coast. The latest from Crazy California comes from the epicenter of insanity, San Francisco. This week, their board of supervisors (city/county council) unanimously passed a resolution labeling the National Rifle Association (NRA) a “domestic terrorism organization.” That’s right, America’s premier firearms advocacy organization has been labeled a bunch of terrorists. The resolution, of course, if filled with hyperbolic tripe wholly unsupported by fact. "The National Rifle Association through its advocacy has armed those individuals who would and have committed acts of terrorism." There apparently isn’t anything going on in San Francisco these days that demands attention. Never mind that the city resembles a Dark Ages city-state, with ruling elites bathed in opulence while legions of citizens contend with homelessness, malnutrition, and health issues that have been eradicated in the vast majority of First World countries. The city may be the only one in America that has smartphone apps that pinpoint areas of human excrement, so the well-heeled may avoid it and allow the city’s dedicated team of human pooper scoopers to pick it up. San Francisco is clearly pointing out the sliver in the NRA’s eye while ignoring the log in its own. STATE FAIR POLL The always popular, although unscientific, state fair poll results have been released. So how do Minnesotans feel about the issues of the day? Here you go: FULL RESULTS (All percentages are rounded to the nearest one-tenth. Totals are for those who actually voted on the question.) 1. Should Minnesota residents be required to provide proof of citizenship or lawful presence in the country to obtain a state driver’s license or identification card? Yes — 42.6% (4,738) No — 50.4% (5,607) Undecided/No opinion — 7% (774) 2. School districts are prohibited by state statute from beginning classes before Labor Day. Should that prohibition be repealed? Yes — 41% (4,547) No — 42.4% (4,699) Undecided/No opinion — 16.7% (1,847) 3. Should criminal background checks be required on all gun sales, including private transactions and at gun shows? Yes — 89% (9,914) No — 9% (998) Undecided/No opinion — 2% (219) 4. Should the state provide a tax credit for donations that fund scholarships to private K-12 schools? Yes — 36% (3,974) No — 52.3% (5,763) Undecided/No opinion — 11.7% (1,292) 5. Should high school students be required to take a class in personal finance, even if it means they have to give up another elective or postsecondary enrollment course option? Yes — 70.1% (7,781) No — 18.9% (2,101) Undecided/No opinion — 11% (1,211) 6. Should the state ban abortions for women who are more than 20 weeks into their pregnancy? Yes — 29.9 % (3,316) No — 61.7% (6,847) Undecided/No opinion — 8.4% (932) 7. Should Minnesota allow the recreational use of marijuana for those age 21 and over? Yes — 56.3% (6,272) No — 33.8% (3,761) Undecided/No opinion — 9.9% (1,102) 8. Would you support a quarter-cent sales tax increase in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area to fund transit improvements and expansions? Yes — 65.5% (7,264) No — 26.8% (2,972) Undecided/No opinion — 7.8% (862) 9. Should the state create an insurance program to provide workers with up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, to be funded by a new tax on employers and employees? Yes — 53.3% (5,899) No — 31.7% (3,504) Undecided/No opinion — 15.1% (1,666) 10. A person convicted of a felony is not eligible to vote while serving any part of their sentence, including time in a correctional facility and while on probation, parole or other supervised release. Should the law be changed so a person convicted of a felony regains their right to vote immediately upon release from a correctional facility? Yes — 60.3% (6,699) No — 32.5% (3,607) Undecided/No opinion — 7.3% (807) 11. Should Minnesota ban “conversion therapy” for vulnerable adults and those under the age of 18 by prohibiting mental health practitioners or professionals from seeking to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity? Yes — 74.4% (8,200) No — 16.7% (1,844) Undecided/No opinion — 8.9% (979) 12. Should elementary school students be required to learn cursive writing? Yes — 55.1% (6,135) No — 28.7% (3,194) Undecided/No opinion — 16.2% (1,798) |
 Harold Hamilton
Welcome to my web site!
I created this website in response to governmental waste and abuse in Anoka County. Many taxpayers don’t know that our local governments spend millions of tax dollars every year on things like public relations teams, lobbyists, and junkets to places like Hawaii. Since there seemed to be no place to turn for the “other side” of these issues, I created the Anoka County Watchdog. My intent is to create a one-stop-shop where concerned taxpayers can find fact-supported information and other resources to counter the governmental machine. Many people want to confront their elected officials regarding waste and abuse but feel they don’t have the information they need to make an effective argument. This web site offers that information. Some of our elected officials in Anoka County have become arrogant and unresponsive, forgetting that they work for the very people who put them in office. It’s high time to hold them accountable for their decisions. Sincerely, Harold E. Hamilton (harold@anokacountywatchdog.com) Email: harold@anokacountywatchdog.com
US Mail: Anoka County Watchdog C/O K Solutions LLC 3083 Victoria Street Roseville, MN 55113 (Anonymous submissions accepted!) |
