MN’s Gov. Dayton deserves all of our support right now. The state government has shut down because he refuses to let the Republican-controlled legislature use severe cuts in services to its citizens to balance their $5 billion shortfall, he is holding strong on taxing the rich instead while Repubs there are parroting the national GOP, declaring that raising taxes is off the table and the only ones who should sacrifice are the non-wealthy.
It’s a real showdown there and the people are really feeling it with all state parks and facilities shut down possibly for 4th of July. The Repubs need to be hammered there and Gov. Dayton needs all of our support for standing strong against the wealthy’s class warfare against of the middle class.
You can send Gov. Dayton a message of support at his website via this link: http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form/
You can submit a letter to the editor at the main MN papers using the link or email provided:
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/115289839.html
Pioneer Press
Email: letters@pioneerpress.com
Meanwhile, you can also call or send a mass email to the Republican Legislature to let them know how you feel about what they’re doing. Keep in mind, most state pols only care about what their constituents so referring to living out of state would give your statement less impact.
Here is contact info on the Repub leadership in their legislature who need to hear the people’s demand that the wealthy pay their fair share:
SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP:
Majority Leader
Koch, Amy T.
(651) 296-5981
sen.amy.koch@senate.mn
Deputy Majority Leader
Michel, Geoff
(651) 296-6238
sen.geoff.michel@senate.mn
Assistant Majority Leader
Hann, David W.
(651) 296-1749
sen.david.hahn@senate.mn
Magnus, Doug
(651) 296-5650
sen.doug.magnus@senate.mn
Senjem, David H.
(651) 296-3903
sen.david.senjem@senate.mn
Thompson, Dave
(651) 296-5252
sen.dave.thompson@senate.mn
Majority Whip
Gerlach, Chris
(651) 296-4120
sen.chris.gerlach@senate.mn
President of the Senate
Fischbach, Michelle L.
(651) 296-2084
sen.michelle.fischbach@senate.mn
President Pro Tem
Olson, Gen
(651) 296-1282
sen.gen.olson@senate.mn
HOUSE LEADERSHIP:
Zellers, Kurt (R)
651-296-5502
rep.kurt.zellers@house.mn
Dean, Matt (R)
651-296-3018
rep.matt.dean@house.mn
Hamilton, Rod (R)
651-296-5373
rep.rod.hamilton@house.mn
Daudt, Kurt (R)
651-296-5364
rep.kurt.daudt@house.mn
Gunther, Bob (R)
651-296-3240
rep.bob.gunther@house.mn
Hoppe, Joe (R)
651-296-5066
rep.joe.hoppe@house.mn
Kelly, Tim (R)
651-296-8635
rep.tim.kelly@house.mn
Loon, Jenifer (R)
651-296-7449
rep.jenifer.loon@house.mn
Torkelson, Paul (R)
651-296-9303
rep.paul.torkelson@house.mn
Davids, Greg (R)
651-296-9278
rep.greg.davids@house.mn
Holberg, Mary Liz (R)
651-296-6926
rep.maryliz.holberg@house.mn
Lanning, Morrie (R)
651-296-5515
rep.morrie.lanning@house.mn
Westrom, Torrey (R)
651-296-4929
rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn
If we can break the backs of these corporate puppets in MN, it could bust things wide open nationally. Corporate America is orchestrating this campaign in every state and nationally, we have to as well. What happens to the Corporate agenda in MN will affect what happens in your state so you’re invited to take action now and make a real difference.
Please share links to this post and its info with whoever you think may be interested, add it to your Twitter and Facebook, tweet and retweet, get the word out! It’s time for The People to win their first victory in making the wealthy participate in shared sacrifice and standing firm against destroying the middle class instead.
Done, and added Cher’s Bible verses.
Adlib, I filled out my form in support of the Governor.
Happy 4th (or almost 4th) Everyone!
Pictures of the shutdown:
[img]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5317/5890900610_5da4ab0f3a.jpg[/img]
[img]http://images.minnesotaindependent.com/shutdown30Jun11KE410.jpg[/img]
[img]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5890900652_d0a4ef5d96.jpg[/img]
[img]http://images.minnesotaindependent.com/shutdown30Jun11KE213.jpg[/img][img]http://images.minnesotaindependent.com/shutdown30Jun11KE205.jpg[/img]
Done and Tweeted, AdLib. Happy 4th!
Adlib, thank you for all you do. (And everyone else) I responded to the Gov., WI is ramping up for their recall elections, the debt ceiling is coming. Must be time for Paul Revere to warn the Brits we will get them!
I’m too busy with work and broken household things to put the thought into these wonderful articles; I try, but while skimming is informative, it’s not a good place to provide comments. So, I am here in spirit, and, again thank you.
I think a good music weekend would be appreciation of the working man—Woody Guthrie, Seeger, Springsteen, Billy Joel, etc. It seems like the time is near.
Happy $th—funny the difference a capital makes! Happy 4th to all.
Heh! Love the Paul Revere joke!
Whether you’re reading or commenting too, it supports all we do here and is very appreciated!
Thanks for responding to Gov. Dayton’s principled stand!
Have a Happy 4th and let’s hope that soon we can declare independence from Repub Governors, a Repub House and corporate control over our democracy!
You mean the Governor wants to cut spending and raise taxes to fill the budget gap?
What an EXTREMIST.
I hear that he also thinks that you should receive AND give on Xmas! Socialist bastard!
AdLib, done.
First of all, I left Minnesota Wed. night. If I had anything to do with the shutdown, I am very sorry.
The fascist sociopath minions in the statehouses know their days are numbered. They know they need to work quickly and that they have nothing left to lose.
This kind of opponent is dangerous short-term, deadly long term if allowed to stay in power with political victories.
Way to go, Funk!
Next time when people tell you to lock up when you leave, that doesn’t mean the state you’re in.
You’re right, they are trying to shove through all they can before they get tossed out in the next election.
It is dangerous when you play chicken with someone who’s seeking destruction but they can be defeated with the fortification of public support.
I have a tax plan that I think really makes a lot of sense. Everybody who makes more than me should be taxed more. Everybody who makes as much as me or less should be taxed less. This rate would fluctuate, meaning it would change from year to year.
Depending on how much I make.
Perfect but I have one amendment, linking to my income instead. If you don’t agree, I’ll hold my breath, take my ball and go home and refuse to raise the debt ceiling.
I think something can be arranged.
btw, I’ve enlisted the support of Senators Leonard Howe (RI) and Sandra Much (HI), so it’s being called the Howe Much Act.
Hey Leonard Howe is a sponsor on my bill too, along with James Dewey(DE) and Frank Cheatem (NH), it’s called the “Dewey, Cheatem and Howe Act.”
🙂
EXCELLENT! And done.
Cool Cher! You rock!
Most of those Republicans are spiteful and vindictive nihilists who would wreck the country out of spite.
Hey agrippa, I honestly don’t think it has to do with spite, I think it’s all about serving a dogma of greed and the wealthy…who are buying their elections for them. They are corporate employees and serving their employers despite all their vows to serve the public.
Hopefully, voters are really getting it now and will through the bums out in 2012.
Well, adlib, I think that you are being kind to them.
Whatever they may be, I think that the lot of them should be picked up very gingerly with a pair of tongs and dropped out the window.
Done Adlib. I love that verse CL quoted so I told him to quote to the R’s, they should know it anyway
Hi Sue – unfortunately ONLY verses condemning other people’s sexuality count with the Right. Charity, mercy, justice – they don’t know from these! But I bet the Governor knows the verse in principle if not in fact! He seems a very grounded and humane guy.
Well you can’t blame a gal for trying. I know they like the old testament with all the fire and brimstone. It suits their demeanor too.
Amen, my sister, amen! Points for trying – who knows? Maybe you’ll make a change happen???
Great, Sue! He’s got to be strengthened by our emails and support. We really can win this first blow against the corporate steamroller. I’m very excited and optimistic about this (as may be self-apparent).
AdLib – I did it also.
We don’t get very preachy doing our work as people of faith. We tend to talk about moral values not religious ones, and to promote democracy not – NOT – theocratic views. Because we don’t believe literally in “afterlife” or evil as something outside our own selves, we don’t promise heaven. We don’t threaten hell. (I will acknowledge that in the latter case I have to say I miss that tool at my disposal when speaking with the GOP…)
But there IS one Bible verse I use: Luke 12:48: From those to whom much is given, much is required.
It is an issue of honor and fairness: You have been granted gifts by your society? You need to bear your fair share of costs to support that society. If you have a lot – you give more than the widow who has only a mite. Simple justice. Simple equity.
The religious right/Tea Party justifies violating this precept on the grounds that because they are the “elect” (though no one has a certificate from God), they are entitled to everything, and the rest of us are mere lackeys to their bidding who get nothing.
Governor Dayton is upholding basic principles of democracy in asserting that a graduated tax that taps those most able to pay is just and fair.
How did we become so enamored of the lifestyles of the rich and famous that we think like Leona Helmsley – only the little people pay taxes? When did that harridan become a ROLE MODEL????
Go Governor Dayton, GO!!! Back to basic principles of justice and equity. We need a strong person to remind us of our core values. Good for you.
Sing it, sister! I wrote him that in Texas we have a Governor with good hair – all hair and no brains. In MN, they have a Governor with a spine AND brains – they win!
Hey Alpha! So what counts most in the world of GOPers? I think they think good hair is more important than principle and certainly more important than brains.
I totally agree with you – having a Guv with a spine and brains wins every time, no contest.
Someday the GOPers will learn that lesson.
CL: Which is why Rick Scott is no longer so popular, no??
I doubt if the Republicans will ever learn that. Most of them have a flat learning curve.
Well done CL! Pass it along too!
I really don’t understand this deifying of the wealthy and celebrities. No human being is above or superior to anyone else, especially those who have wealth only because their parents had it or those who commit all kinds of injustices and harm to others just to fulfill their greed.
This is exactly the fight Progressives have been clamoring for, we need to rally behind Gov. Dayton, the majority is on our side and that meme needs to be cemented with a win in this conflict.
The thing about the wealthy: They think that they have worked hard for their money and they should not have to give back if they don’t want to – shouldn’t have to contribute to SS, unemployment insurance, etc.
I could live with that, lyne, IF they worked for it at all, if they did not shift ALL the corporate risk onto our backs to pay, if they did not mostly have inherited wealth, and if they saw the people employed by their companies as full human beings who ALSO worked to build that wealth.
But they don’t see things that way, so I don’t see why they should not pay through the nose for the favors we’ve given them.
The truth though is that the work most have done to be wealthy is be delivered by an obstetrician. Most wealth is inherited so such greed and propaganda of theirs, used to avoid contributing back to the society that’s provided them with their wealth, is as much a fraud as they are.
AdLib: done.
Excellent! Cheers AB!