Then go have a good laugh. That’s an order!

(Closed circuit to spurringirl: This one is prime for G to watch!)

Tim O’Brien at the Strib did another Blog House today and in it he throws in a parting shot via the Pooplus lads at Rep. Bachmann. I’ve submitted a letter to the editor which I think he may run to respond or at least provide a bit of balance.

Stay tuned, whether or not he runs it I will post it here on RF.

So Al Gore is now going to try to shame people into submission on Global Warming.

(CBS) Self-avowed “P.R. agent for the planet” Al Gore says those who still doubt that global warming is caused by man - among them, Vice President Dick Cheney - are acting like the fringe groups who think the 1969 moon landing never really happened, or who once believed the world is flat.

And to that, I Andy Aplikowski, one who he is attacking, would respond by saying:

People who think man has and will destroy the planet Earth in a matter of a few years are just like those that thought the Earth is the center of the Universe.

I should note that I just put my GlobalClimateScam.com sticker on my truck about an hour ago after washing her.

(picture coming soon) Just to make Al Gore proud.)

It is high time that the liberal, left-wing leaders and elected officials of the DFL be made to state whether they approve or disapprove of America’s heroes and soldiers being disrespected in such ways.

A group calling itself the Anti-War Committee says 13 protesters entered and disrupted an Army recruiting office on Washington Avenue, though police didn’t immediately confirm that claim.

Police officers on bicycles and horseback arrested at least six protesters and briefly shut down traffic in both directions on Washington Avenue, between Oak and Ontario Streets.

Macalester College students also gathered at the recruiting center, using bike locks to chain themselves to the door.

I’ve heard that it is a felony to disrupt a recruiting office.

Will the Twin Cities media finally get around to asking Democrats whether or not they will distance themselves from this behavior?

ABC Newspapers has a write-up about the Anoka County vote from Tuesday. I was at the meeting and let me tell you the good old boys network was in rare, er usual, form.

What Anoka did vote for (5 to 2) is an increase in the County Sales Tax for the sole purpose of choo choo trains, as well as  to join the new shadow bureaucracy created by willing Metro counties dubbed a Joint Powers Board. But it is far from a joint venture and soon Anoka residents will see that their County Board sold them out to Hennepin and Ramsey county. There is no equality in the voting strength of the Board, so Anoka tax dollars sent in do not have to come back.

The ABC story has some very nice quotes that Anoka County citizens need to remember.

“This is really the first time we’ve had the option to pay for it other than property taxes,” [Chair] Berg said.

That’s an all out lie. Yes, a big fat lie. The County could have increased the sales tax to pay for the Northstar stations at any time previous. They have the power to raise their own sales taxes. They just need to have the voters approve the action first. That’s the representation before taxation. They know their socialistic planning would fail overwhelmingly if voters had their say.

The Board is controlled by 5 men who have lost sight of the fact that they are there to serve the public not dictate to them on how they shall live their lives.

“We keep saying we need to find a better way than property taxes, and this is a way to do it.” [Berg]

During the meeting Berg and the other men on the Board refused to commit to lowering property taxes due to this new revenue. They repeatedly argued against measures to reduce taxation in equal amounts to this new tax increase.

Operating costs for Northstar Commuter rail will shift from property taxes to the new sales tax in 2009.

Property taxes for mass transit will not go down. You can quote me on that.

“If we don’t pass this, then it’s only going to property owners,” Commissioner Scott LeDoux said, referring to transit funding.

If you read through the story you can get the gist of how un-Democratic this Joint Powers board is. I have the powerpoint presentation used at the meeting and will get it posted asap.

Also key to the meeting is that a number of the Commissioners actually said they don’t see roads as part of the solution to congestion, in not so many words. Comm. Erhart went so far as to say he wants to create an Anoka County where citizens no longer need to have a car. They are committing their time and our money toward building Northstar and another commuter rail line to Duluth. That is their plan to solve the congestion we all face on a daily basis.

One last thing of note for citizens of Anoka is that the majority of the Board members refused to allow any public comments or input on the tax increase and Joint Powers before they voted. They are on record saying you shouldn’t have any input.

Before the vote on the joint powers agreement and sales tax increase, Sivarajah made a motion to table board action on the resolutions to allow time for a public hearing on the proposed sales tax increase.

“We’re really trying to push this through,” she said. “This is a major issue and I think we should set the public hearing.”

The motion failed on a 5-2 vote, with Sivarajah and West voting for the public hearing.

Sivarajah then made a motion to allow public comment at the county board meeting.

That motion also failed by a 4-3 roll call vote, with Lang, Sivarajah and West voting to hear public comment.

The Commissioners who support rail over road and who thrive under the shadow the DFL Legislature gave them by waving the referendum requirement were terrified of having the public show up and find out what they were really up to. The County does not broadcast or promote their meetings and citizens have to contact the local cable station themselves to get tapes of the working hour meetings where those of us struggling to get along don’t have time to come. Other municipalities now have meetings on demand.

It is just disgusting the way these 5 men abused their power this week.

Stay tuned, my company got our letter from MN Chamber where they defended their actions to create one of the biggest tax increases in MN History by blaming us. I’ll be posting on that as well.

In an attempt to reverse the stupefying move by the dim bulbs who wrote and supported the energy bill, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R MN6) is authoring a bill to bring back the light bulb.

Bachmann also voiced her opposition to an item in the Energy Bill which will ban incandescent light bulbs by the year 2012 in an effort to get more people using a more energy-efficient fluorescent model.

“I am carrying legislation to bring you back your light bulbs,” Bachmann told the group. “This forces people to spend more money on light bulbs.”

In case you didn’t know, the recent energy bill has put the incandescent light bulb on the endangered species list and will ban the sale of them altogether in the very near future. Bachmann opposed the social engineering Energy bill which actually created no new energy and, in fact, was designed to make it harder and more expensive to get reliable and abundant energy.

Bachmann shared her views on a number energy and environmental matters.

“We are in a country abundantly rich in natural resources,” she said. “Energy should be the least of our problems. If we extract 20 percent (of the oil) we know is off the coast of Virginia we can replace what we import from Saudi Arabia.”

Local oil, along with more nuclear power, are part of her solution to the energy crisis and $4 a gallon gasoline.

“We have got almost unlimited availability of energy in the United States but we have restricted our ability to use it,” she said. “It’s like we have a pantry stocked to the roof with food and we’re sitting here with empty plates and the door is locked.”

Unfortunately she is the only person who represents me in Washington DC who has a clue on how to lower energy prices and the courage to stand up to the environmental special interests. (Yes that is a shot at someone.)

The above story is from ABC Newspapers who covered a business forum Bachmann held yesterday.

You can donate to Bachmann’s campaign here.

As noted, Bob Collins of MPR was at the Anoka County Government Center today. Here’s his story which includes yours truly. The selling of a tax increase  I was quoted in it and there is also a link to an audio interview with me here. But the creme de la creme is the one he did with Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah. You can listen to that one here. Make ure you read the whole article.

3 Metro Counties took up the Joint Powers Agreement and Transit Sales Tax Increase today.

Ramsey County - passed 6 to 1 - Tony Bennett was the lone no vote. I’ve had numerous conversations with him about this, and I am thrilled to see him come around to my way of thinking on this one.

Anoka County - passed 5 to 2 - Robyn West & Rhonda Sivarajah were the 2 nays. As suspected, the good old boys network doesn’t give a rip about the citizens. They refused any public commentary, and sold out the Anoka County citizens today. (See liveblog in previous post)

Carver County - defeated 5 to 0 - Unanimously voted against the tax increase and joining the Joint Power bureaucracy. I heard some great audio clips on the radio from the Commissioners.

Thank you to the brave 8 who tried to make up for the 6 (R)epublicans in the MN House who allowed this travesty in Democracy happen in the first place.

One of them, Rep. Jim Abler, was at the Anoka meeting and he sat behind me for portions of the meeting. I could hear him bragging to someone in the audience about the grand compromizes they made to get the bill through. Unfortunately, he wasn’t looking out for the taxpayers or citizens. Shame on you Jim! You should the right thing and retire just like Tinglestad. I’m sure all those businesses you say are supporting you could give you a nice fat salary to thank you properly for throwing the citizens under the train.

It was a travesty in Democracy today in Anoka. We will be sold under the train tracks that all lead to Hennepin County. Anoka’s board gave away the power to decide for itself, the future of the county’s transportation. They have now handed over the keys to the County to the Met Council and Hennepin County.

I was interviewed by Bob Collins of MPR and will try to get a link to the audio if and when it becomes available. Since the board did not allow any public input, I was the lone voice of the people there today.

9:20 AM : I’m here at the Anoka County Government Center, in the Board room. Chair Berg and LeDoux are working a media person to spin the tax. Berg is once again trying to say that this will lower Property taxes, but then he said we wouldn’t really see a drop. LeDoux chimes in and says with this new sales tax increase, which both of them had to correct saying it wasn’t really an increase since we are already taking the money, all the 4 million people who visit the National Sports Center every year will “chip in” to paying for the NorthStar Commuter Railline stations.

Folks, Northstar isn’t going anywhere near the Sports Center, and neither is a lightrail line, yet to be dreamed up.

I also heard a couple Sherriffs who weere standing near the elevators joking about being here for all the irate taxpayers.

9:27 - Rep. Jim Abler is here in the gallery, and the grin on his face is ear to ear.

9:32 - Here we go. Or rather there goes our money. Abler is now giving a few last words to the Commissioners before the meeting begins. (And he is now sitting right behind me.)

9:33 - A few people seem to be taking note of my typing away here, and now Abler is in the gallery again.

9:35 - Comm. Erhart is in the gallery and we’re waiting for him to begin.

9:36 - And we beging with the Pledge. Abler is now behind me again.

We’re doing routine public meeting info like Minutes and such. It sounds like we’re going to bring Item #9 A & B (the transit tax & Joint Powers Agreement. 2 parts. Chair Berg moves the resolution to join the Board.

Mary Richardson is presenting the info on the Statute that allows the Tax Increase and also on the Joint Powers board. She is with the firm that helped craft/research the the original bill.

The Met Council Chair is on this board.

(This is a crude live blog of items as they happen. Please bear with the fragments. )

Policy decisions for Joint Powers Board: Weighted voting, super majority, process for late joining counties to get in, responsibilities for withdrawal.

The statute also requires weighted voting, meaning it is an unequal representation. There is also a way for counties to opt out of the Joint Powers Board.

Weighted voting: 95 votes based on 50% population & 50% tax revenue contributed. 5 votes go to the Met Council Chair! One member may cast all the County’s votes!

9:48 Anoka COunty 13% of board & 8% of the sales tax. 10 votes

Dakota 13; Hennepin 47; … (missed the rest. I will try to get a copy of the powerpoint.)

63% of the votes and a majority of the Counties must be present to take almost any action. 75% vote is required for major projects over 5 years and the estimated 12 month revenue.

9:52 - 3 years notice required to leave the board and remove the tax, plus all obligations (money) must be sent in prior.)

(Flow Charts!!!! Kinda looks like a 4 headed snake!) Met Council will review the projects to make sure it fits into their regional model. Plus the Legislature will be reported to as well. So this new taxing bureaucracy is not autonomous)

9:54 - New money can’t be used for existing bus lines! 10% local match for capital costs of transitways! (no-state or federal!)

Grants- May not supplant 50% Met Council share of operating costs of LRT & Commuter rail.

“Geographic equity over time”

“benefits to Anoka County”:

‘Property Tax relief” Operating costs can no longer be placed on Property taxes after Jan 2009. $4 million per year once built for just Anoka County.

“Easier to leverage federal funds’ Northstar was hard to fund (since it didn’t make any sense what-so-ever - ED)

Projects- Northstar operating costs; Fridley FOley & Ramsey stations; Duluth passenger rails; extra cars for Northstar in case it is successful ; Rush line land acquisition an other theoretical rail lines.

10:03 - Questions from board members.

LeDoux brings up the Sports Center again. 3M Championship. Using the typical line of getting visitors to the County to pay, “instead of sticking it to the Property Owners only”.

Berg: $8.1 million levied on the property taxes, only a “significant portion” may be removed, not all.

(Once again, Northstar will not be going to Blaine!!!!!!!!!!! LeDoux just said they’d be using it)

Berg just said that this new tax, allowed by the Statute, is the only way for funding this besides Property Taxes. (Lie! They could levy the tax, but they could do this with a voter levy!)

Comm. Rhonda S. just asked to table the motion until a public hearing can be held. 2nd by Comm. West. (not debatable) Failed by voice vote. (Pretty sure it was 5-2 against)

Chair Berg is refusing to allow public comments.

10:10 - Kordiak giving statements: Will support it. “Can’t build our way out of transportation problems.”

10:13 Rhonda move to allow public to speak and a roll call vote. (clarify to allow public who is here to speak for 2 minutes.)

Failed Lang, Rhonda, West voted to allow public comments. (needed 4 votes)

Comm. Rhonda is questioning the weighted voting and how Hennepin and Ramsey could run over Anoka with the 63% vote. Moves to amend the Joint Powers agreement to remove the weighted votin. “Votes would be equally divided between the Counties and Met Council.” 2nd’ed by West. (Berg is trying to outfox Rhinda on the founding father’s vision for a representative government. WRONG move Berg!)

Berg is bringing up taking this off the property tax again. The motion is simply to give Anoka an equal representation on the Joint Powers board. (Does he know that this deal would fall apart if all Counties are represented equally??????)

Failed by voice vote. Sounded like 5 to 2 again.

We’re now debating the original motion to approve the Joint Powers Agreement.

Erhart is givig a prepared speech about the congestion. Talking about the congestion in Anoka County. States that this bill will help relieve that congestion.

(The Rail to Salvation That is the T-Shirt I want to make and snd these COmmissioners right now. They have YET to mention building or expanding one single road to help congestion. They have no intentions to build any new roads to help citizens commute. They are only entering this Joint Powers bureaucracy to build rail lines. )

10:38 - Comm. Rhonda is giving a great speech just shredding this whole deal. She’s exposing the sham it is. (I will try to get a copy of her remarks to post. )

10:41 - Rhonda made a motion to reduce the Rail Athority levy dollar for dollar with the revenue from this tax increase. 2nd’ed by West. This was made to offset the Property taxes, and that is key because all those who support this say they do so  to reduce property taxes. Berg says it isn’t dollar for dollar.

Erhart wants us to get out of our automobiles. He wants to build all these ‘transitways’ so people don’t have to own a car. He says that it is silly to have this debate here today. Calls it silly and claims that ‘it is the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer”.)
Motion fails by voice vote.

Berg is now cutting off debate and calling the vote on the Joint Powers.

Passes passes 5-2 West and Rhonda voted against it. We’re in the Joint Powers now)

And now on to the Sales Tax increase.

Rhonda moves to table it pending public hearings.

Failed by voice vote.

Vote on the Tax Increase

Passed 5-2 West & Rhonda voted against the tax increase.

And there you go. So much for Democracy.

Pat Shortridge of The Majority Project has exposed another big whopper of a bill that is aimed at further insulating the DFL’s union base from any free market and honest competition.

In a move that will further destroy jobs and deepen Minnesota’s economic slump, DFLers in the Minnesota House and Senate are moving a bill that will decrease the take home pay of hard working independent contractors in Minnesota’s trucking industry. Despite the good faith efforts to “fix” the bill, the final product proves the old adage “there’s no right way to do the wrong thing.”
By saddling MN employers with burdensome new regulations and subjecting them to litigation and government harassment while removing the certainty that employers rely on, HF 3296 will all but eliminate the ability of many Minnesotans to work as independent contractors in important parts of the trucking industry.
Independent contractors work on their terms. If a driver needs to be home at 3:15 to meet the bus, she can do that as an independent contractor. If a driver has a sick child and needs to take time in the morning to provide care, he can do that without fear of being written up for punching in late. Need a Friday off? It’s your choice.
In addition to work hour flexibility, a motivated driver can earn significantly more, two or three times more, than a standard hourly driver. Yet, despite all human experience, some politicians just don’t get that when a person is allowed to reap the benefits of their work effort, they are happier and more motivated.

Read the rest then Take Action to stop the bill here.