Almanac: At the Capitol

As the Post Bulletin noted yesterday, this amendment was anticipated to make its way into the legislation without much trouble. The Winona Daily News covered the story today in Interstate Bridge closure spurs Walz amendment to bridge bill:

Cities such as Winona could more easily mitigate the effects of critical bridge closures under a bill amendment proposed by Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Minn.

A federal bill that would increase funding for America’s deficient bridges, scheduled for a vote today, could include a proposal by Walz to require the Secretary of Transportation to report to Congress whether a federal-aid bridge is closed because of a critical inspection finding.

The report, which would be due 15 days after a bridge closure, would assess and recommend actions to mitigate the impact of the closure on the local economy and transportation patterns, Walz spokeswoman Meredith Salsbery said.

From the congressional office:

WALZ AMENDMENT ADDED TO HOUSE-PASSED BRIDGE INSPECTION BILL
Walz provision ensures prompt federal response to situations like Winona's bridge closure

(Washington, DC) - Just weeks after the Highway 43 bridge in Winona, MN was closed, causing significant problems for local commuters and area businesses, Congressman Walz successfully added an amendment to a federal bridge inspection bill to help address some of the problems that arose from that closure. 

Walz's amendment to H.R. 3999, the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act, requires the Secretary of Transportation to report to Congress on the economic impact and affect on regional transportation patterns when a bridge is closed for emergency repairs.  Walz's amendment also requires the Secretary to suggest steps to lessen the impact of the economic and transportation problems that the bridge closure may cause.

"The sudden closure of the Highway 43 Bridge in Winona caused extreme hardship for many hard-working families, employers and businesses," said Walz. "People were faced with detours of up to 100 miles round-trip, which was especially difficult during this time of record-high gas prices.  In the first week alone, the bridge closure cost the city of Winona $95,000, which doesn't even begin to address the incalculable expenses that area residents and businesses incurred to navigate around the closed bridge. My amendment will help ensure that the Department of Transportation plays an active role in finding ways to lessen the economic impact and transportation problems that will arise from future bridge closures."

The National Highway and Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act will improve the safety of Federal-aid highway bridges such as Winona's Highway 43 Bridge, will strengthen bridge inspection standards and processes, and increase investment in the reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System. The bill also revises national bridge inspection standards to provide for annual inspections of structurally deficient highway bridges, including biennial inspections of those bridges that have not been determined to be structurally deficient.

Walz's congressional office has issued the following statement about the emergency housing bill, for which the congressman voted yesterday:

PASSAGE OF EMERGENCY HOUSING BILL CRUCIAL TO SHORING UP MORTGAGE CRISIS
"The emergency facing our nation's economy warrants extraordinary action to protect the public's interest" says Walz

(Washington, D.C.) - Yesterday, Congressman Tim Walz voted for the most comprehensive housing bill yet that will assist families facing foreclosure keep their homes and help the economic recovery of local communities harmed by abandoned houses caught up in foreclosure. The bill passed the House last night with a vote of 272-152 and is now working its way through the Senate.   

To restore market confidence, the bill gives the U.S. Treasury Department emergency and temporary financing authority for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which hold or back half of the national mortgage debt and are about the only source of money still available for mortgage lenders.  Most Americans' primary investment is their home-and home values have plummeted by a record 15% in the last year.  Ending the foreclosure crisis is vital to the American economic recovery. 

"The American people know things are very serious when a free marketeer like U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, a man who has long been a proponent of limited government, comes to Congress and the American people asking for immediate authority to step in and help address the deepening housing and financial problems strangling our economy," said Walz.   "From home foreclosures to sky rocketing gas prices, hard-working American families are being squeezed.  This emergency housing bill can help turn things around."   

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae hold guarantees for roughly $5 trillion in U.S. mortgage debt. To stabilize the housing finance market and make sure that affordable home loans continue to be available, the measure included in H.R. 3221 gives the Secretary of the Treasury stand-by authority in the unlikely case that the Government Sponsored Enterprises (Fannie and Freddie as well as Federal Home Loan Banks) require temporary federal financial intervention.

The Congressional Budget Office reports "There is a significant chance-- probably better than 50 percent -- that the proposed new Treasury authority would not be used before it expired at the end of December 2009."

"Let's hope the Treasury Department doesn't need to use this new authority," said Walz.  "But if conditions worsen the Treasury Secretary will have new financial tools to act in the public's interest."   

Additional measures in the bill would shore up the housing market and ensure the availability of affordable home loans, by putting in place a tough, independent new regulator in charge of the housing Government Sponsored Enterprises, which are vital to both the financial markets and American homeowners. 

Just in from the Walz Congressional office:

WALZ AMONG BI-PARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS PROMOTING COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS TO ENERGY CRISIS

Walz champions Wind Production Tax Credit bill as part of the answer

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Congressman Tim Walz announced that he has been working with a group of Republican and Democratic lawmakers in an effort to develop a bipartisan, common-sense solution to America's energy crisis. 

Walz joined the House Energy Working Group, lead by Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) and Congressman John Peterson (R-PA), to promote a comprehensive solution to  the escalating energy crisis and address sky-rocketing gas prices facing Americans when they pull up to the pump. He has encouraged Republican and Democratic leaders in Washington to end the partisan bickering and finger-pointing on this serious problem.

"Whether in the military or in our public schools, I've found throughout my life that working together and finding common ground is essential," said Walz.  "So far, the leadership on both sides of the aisle in Washington has at times taken a partisan approach to addressing our energy crisis.  I'm not satisfied with that. This bipartisan energy working group is developing a more comprehensive approach.  As I have said before, I am open to expanding domestic drilling and increasing oil production at home in a responsible manner so long as it is a part of a short and long term strategy that includes conservation, speeds up development of affordable new fuels and cracks down on speculation.  I am championing my Wind Production Tax Credit bill to be a part of the comprehensive approach."

Walz continued, "As a part of our common-ground package, I'm encouraging my colleagues to consider the Wind Production Tax Credit bill that I introduced last year.  The bill expands the tax credit so that entrepreneurs and residents in rural America can join together to tap into American home grown ingenuity by investing in wind energy.  It is critical that our local residents reap the financial rewards as wind energy becomes a larger part of our nation's energy future." 

The House Bipartisan Energy Working Group is currently developing legislation.  Membership is comprised of rank-and-file Republican and Democratic Members who are committed to accomplishing one goal: A comprehensive, responsible energy plan for the American people.

The working group was formed in mid-July and had planned build its membership slowly.  More about the group here and here.  The author of the Hill article does seem to have confused the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) with ANWR.

Update: Walz's membership in the Working Group is noted on Rep. Abercrombie's web site.

Photo: Trimont Wind Farm.

At his recent press conference at a Shell station in Mankato, we heard Congressman Walz talk about the need to expedite exploration, drilling, and production of gas and oil in offshore areas and public lands that are already open and leased. Those areas should be tapped--along with other open areas not yet leased--before Congress lifts moratoria on other offshore areas. Walz called upon the president to "jawbone" oil companies to do more to extract oil and natural gas in leased areas.

Thus, yesterday's report from the U.S. Geological Services, Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal: Estimates of Undiscovered Oil and Gas North of the Arctic Circle [pdf format] comes as welcome news for those who want to encourage drilling in areas that are currently open.

That's because there is no drilling moratorium now covering any of Alaska's offshore areas that are at or above the Arctic Circle. Period.That's what we took away from looking at a map of the Alaska Coast [pdf] issued by the Department of Minerals Management Service and this map at CNN.

Just in case we were reading the document incorrectly (some news articles about the USGS report claimed that Alaskan waters were off limits), we called the public information office for the Alaska OCS Region of the MMS. Robin Cacy, a thoroughly professional spokesperson for the regional office, confirmed that none of Alaska's offshore water were off-limits because of either Congressional or executive edicts, although some areas had not been included in the current five-year leasing plan.

Since Alaska's arctic waters are open for potential leasing, we laughed out loud at this passage in the most recent Brian Davis attack release that a kind friend forwarded to us:

" . . . [I] am very encouraged by yesterday's report from the U.S. Geological Survey that estimates there may be up to 90 billion barrels of oil in the arctic that are in unexplored areas, mostly offshore."

Davis continued, "Congress should let the moratoria on offshore drilling expire on September 30 as scheduled and not renew it.  We are the only major industrialized country in the world that has the majority of offshore areas off-limits to oil exploration." . . .

Nice try, but the truth is that the American share of those 90 billions barrels are in waters where there is no ban on drilling (whether it will be economical to extract them awaits another report). News stories peg the American share of the resources at one-third, or 30 billion barrels.

We do see some faint progress on Dr. Davis's relation to the facts in his latest press release. While he told MPR a couple of days ago that:

"We are the only country in the world that does not allow off-shore drilling, and yet we're the largest consumer of oil and the third largest producer," he says

now he is able to recognize that some areas are indeed open for drilling (the MMS says that they contain all but 18 billion barrels of oil out of 80 billion barrels).  Perhaps he simply didn't understand that Alaska's arctic waters are open.

Who knows? Maybe Davis will be someday learn to look beyond the headlines, read government reports, check out the map, and call a government agency to double check the information. After all, it only took five years and exposure in the national and local media for him to figure out he has to go back to a work related automatic payment system that would make sure his property taxes got in on time.

That's a steep learning curve. And since the facts once more might get in the congressional candidate's NRCC sock puppet talking points, we're not holding our breath.

Image: Yes, sea monster, NRCC sock puppets are pretty alarming. Would they be less so if they could read a map?

The Rochester Post-Bulletin picks up on the story about GOP-endorsed candidate Brian Davis's habitual property tax lateness.  This time, Davis excuses himself by saying that everybody does it:

Davis said he didn't think the issue would hurt his campaign.

"Apparently, there are several other candidates running for office in Minnesota who've had a similar problem. I think it's a very human problem, and I don't claim to be anything different from other people in that regard," Davis said.

Since Davis doesn't supply the details, we will. When it comes to property taxes, the issue has been brought up in Minnesota's Sixth.  Congresswoman Bachmann missed one payment, while her DFL and Independence Party opponent El Tinklenberg missed two--and his tardy payments came in 1999 and 2005. Both situations are in a different league than the Davis household's eleven late payments, one year after another.

Or maybe Davis is talking about some other candidate with a tax problem. Does his appeal to his own frail humanity signal a coming truce between the parties on this sort of issue? Or is he just finding another way to excuse himself?

The PB reports:

Brian Davis, the GOP-endorsed candidate who is challenging DFL Rep. Tim Walz for Congress, was late in paying property taxes on his Rochester home every year since 2003 and has paid more than $1,300 in fines, fees and interest to Olmsted County, property tax records show.

Davis' property tax delinquency came to light when Politico ran a story Wednesday highlighting candidates who failed to pay their property taxes on time. The story mentioned Davis, who records show paid tax penalties on his house every year from 2003-2007.

The story prompted the DFL Party to obtain Davis' public tax records and discover that Davis had also missed the May 15, 2008, property tax deadline. He paid his first-half taxes on June 17, along with an $86.80 late fee, property records show. The DFL posted Davis's tax records on its Web site.

We have pointed out that Davis's tax tardiness isn't an isolated bookkeeping bungle. His boffo bookkeeping during his abbreviated stint as Olmsted County Republican treasurer (paperwork for $13,000+ in contributions went missed; the mess was still being unsnarled at the time posted) and what looks to be his tardiness in paying a ticket for failure to register a vehicle. The lack of payment resulted in a suspended drivers license.

And then there's the serial exaggeration, use of discredited, dated or dubious sources to make his policy points, and wavering on energy subsidies for renewables.

Why are Southern Minnesotans being asked to support this fresh face? From the picture that's emerging, we'd have to guess that the "foo-foo dust" Senator Day ocassionally mentions in state senate debates might have been at work on the Owatonna Republican's misled pachyderm peers when they endorsed this clown.

The Star Tribune picks up on yesterday's Politico story in Candidate was late with property taxes, report says. Davis is elaborating on his "oversight":

Davis said Wednesday night that while he hasn't yet reviewed his tax records, he knows he has been late in paying taxes in the past and called it "an unfortunate oversight" for which he has no good excuse.

"I wish it hadn't happened, but I also emphasize that this wasn't a refusal to pay taxes, it was a matter of getting a bill in the mail, of not recognizing that it was a bill, and not paying it," he said.

Davis doesn't think it's important:

"It's the rare individual that hasn't missed a payment. . ."

We suspect that individuals who miss payments regularly and repeatedly are actually fairly rare. He then goes on to excuse himself by noting that his employer had once handled the matter for him:

Before 2003, Davis said, he and his wife used a system set up through work to have their property taxes automatically paid before the twice-a-year deadlines of May 15 and Oct. 15. That system was changed, he said, setting them up for the late payments.

"My wife and I are now reminded that it might be good to return to that status," he said.

That only took five years.

Image: Brian Davis has the money-- guess he just doesn't have the stamps to mail his payments. We know he doesn't like government much, but we recommend the Post Office.

In Coleman Ad Implies Brian Davis Unfit For Congress, Blueman blogger Hal Kimball lays out some prime snark:

With the revelation yesterday that Brian Davis was fined $1,237.05 for late property taxes every year between 2003 and 2007, Davis continues his downward spiral in the 1st Congressional "race".

"It's something that has come in the mail, and between my wife and [I] it's taken a while to pay it," said Davis. 

Perhaps Davis or Biers ought to call the Bachmann people. Instead of wasting her time on postage stamp analogies of ANWR, she could actually send him some postage stamps to pay his property taxes.

Charlie Quimby, who ripped the analogy yesterday in Postage Stamp on a Football Field? More Like a Pile of Horsepuckey, would likely agree.  Go read the rest at Blueman.

We do have one caveat to the Blueman's post: the $13,000+ in contributions wasn't missing from the Olmsted County RPM treasury during Davis's watch, just the paperwork that documented it. "Incomplete bookkeeping" subsequently required the committee's next treasurer to work with Minnesota Campaign Finance staffers to clean up the records.

But we do have to agree with Hal about something. Between the late tax payments (because they "come in the mail"), the calamity of service as Olmsted County RPM treasurer, Davis use of dubious facts and exaggeration, and the failure to register a vehicle and to pay the ticket--leading to a suspended drivers license--we second the Blueman's questions about Davis's readiness for federal office.

Update: The Locust of Evil post about the issue in Brian Davis - Property Tax Challenged.

Photo: BFF Michele Bachmann and Brian Davis. Congresswoman Bachmann, please send Brian some stamps.

In Windmills on the rise by Elm Creek, Ryan Brinks at the Jackson County Pilot looks at the 66-turbine Elm Creek Wind Farm project, which should be completed by the end of the year.

He drops in a quote by Tim Walz that had been included in a company press release on the project:

“In southern Minnesota, we are showing the rest of the nation what is possible in renewable energy development,” said Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn. “With skyrocketing energy prices, it is imperative that we work together to ensure that our growing wind industry remains strong.”

One of the policy developments that has helped spur the growth of Minnesota's wind industry was the passage of renewable energy standards in early 2007. This project helps put energy co-op Great River Energy over the top:

When finished, electricity from the Elm Creek Wind Farm is anticipated to be enough to power 29,000 homes annually and bring Great River Energy’s wind power total to 300 megawatts.

“This puts us in a position to meet and exceed the Minnesota Renewable Energy Standard,” [Great River Energy's renewable energy project leader Mark] Rathbun said.

Regardless of party, all of Southern Minnesota's legislators, including GOP 1st District congressional challenger Dick Day, voted for the renewable energy standards, which were signed into law by Governor Pawlenty. The bill enjoyed broad support, from environmental groups to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

As for Brian Davis? Who knows? He and his canned letter-to-the-editor senders are now touting his support for "alternative" energy. This week, Davis told the Strib he supports subsidizing the wind industry, right after he told MPR that subsidies for wind energy should be cut. Back in January, he was firmly against the standards, which he condemned as "mandates." Where is he now? What compelling policy reason would dictate cutting standards?

Photo: Sunset at the Trimont Area Wind Farm, the first project from local landowners and Iberdrola Renewables (formerly PPM). Read more about the Trimont Area Wind Farm in this 2006 article;  PPM has since changed its name to Iberdrola Renewables.

CQ Politics takes a look at Democratic efforts for ethics reform in Congress and judges the performance as a "mixed bag."  Walz agrees:

Yet the lawmakers who ought to be most nervous about facing the voters — the “majority maker” House freshmen — say they think they can campaign on their party’s successes on ethics improvements.

“I think we have a good record to stand on,” said Rep.  Jason Altmire , D-Pa., who defeated three-term GOP incumbent Melissa A. Hart in 2006. “Ethics is a key issue for what we want to be judged by, and certainly there is more to be done.

“I think it would be difficult for someone to characterize us as being inactive on that issue,” he said.

“I think we’ve made great strides. But I would be the first to say there is much more to go,” said Rep.  Tim Walz , D-Minn., who made it into the freshman class by ousting Republican Gil Gutknecht, who served six terms.

More on that freshman class:

Many of the freshmen said they’re trying to go the extra mile on ethics. Many of them post their requested earmarks on their Web site — when the rules only require them to reveal the ones they get written into legislation or committee reports, not everything they seek.

Congressman Walz is one of those who goes the extra mile by disclosing his earmarks, a fact duly noted by the Sunlight Foundation's Earmark Disclosure Project.

The article does point out a development that must be a disappointment to Walz: the slow pace at which new House ethics panel has been seated. It was created by a House rules resolution Walz and a handful of freshman legislators proposed and shepherded toward passage in March 2008. Walz had hoped that the panelists would be picked in two months.

According to today's CQPolitics article, current freshman Class Paul Hodes hopes that Charlie Rangel's request for an investigation of his own office will goad leadership into seating the ethics panel.

Back on July 13, in Horse apples from a NRCC sock puppet: another Davis talking point bites it, we wrote about how GOP congressional candidate Brian Davis likes to cite a long-discredited study that found that drilling in ANWR might create 700,000 jobs. Davis mentions Teamsters' support for drilling in the same breath.

Looks like the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters just took a closer look at drilling in ANWR--and the job creation potential for green jobs. The Gristmill blog reports:

For years, the  Teamsters have supported opening the Arctic Refuge and other protected areas to oil drilling; they ran ads bashing John Kerry on it in 2004. So it is a Very Big Deal that the Teamsters have just come out and rejected drilling as a solution to the energy crisis.

At an event in Oakland, Calif., Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said that drilling won't do anything to help; he announced that the Teamsters are withdrawing from the coalition pushing for Arctic drilling; and he stressed that pushing for "alternate energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power" will revitalize the economy and create jobs.

It looks like reality is finally starting to bite in American politics.

UPDATE: Kate called up Teamsters spokeswoman Leigh Strope for more on the move.

"Americans are suffering in this difficult economy," said Strope. "[President Hoffa] really realized, like a lot of people have, that there needs to be a long-term energy solution. Like he said, we can't drill our way out of this problem ... We need a comprehensive energy policy to deal with this crisis."

"It's important to our members," Strope continued. "There's an opportunity to really explore the whole issue of green jobs, and that would obviously benefit Teamsters and all Americans."

One more talking point for NRCC sock puppet Brian Davis crashes and burns.

MPR reports in Congressional candidate late paying taxes:

Rochester, Minn. — First District Republican candidate Brian Davis has paid his property taxes late every year for the last five years.

Davis's Rochester home was assessed $1,400 in penalties, fees and interest charges for late payments. On average he made each payment three and a half months late.

Davis says the late payments were an oversight.

"It's something that has come in the mail, and between my wife and I it's taken a while to pay it," said Davis. "It's not been a problem of us having the funds to pay it. It's just been a problem of us paying it late. I don't know how many times we've paid them late."

Update: UPI picks up on the Politico story in US House candidates dogged by tax liens; Brian Davis is mentioned:

In another case, Minnesota Republican candidate Brian Davis paid tax penalties on his Rochester, Minn., home every year from 2003 to 2007, Olmsted County property records indicate. [end update]

This just came in from the DFL [update: link to DFL press release]:

A national story in this morning’s edition of the Politico revealed that Republican 1st-District congressional candidate Brian Davis was delinquent in paying the property taxes on his Rochester home every year since 2003. According to the newspaper and Olmsted County property records obtained by the DFL Party, Davis has paid more than $1,300 in penalties and fees to the county beginning in July of 2003. Since that time, Davis has paid his taxes late during 10 out of the last 11 tax periods.

The newspaper failed to note that most recently Davis missed the May 15, 2008 property-tax deadline, finally paying his bill on June 17.

Between May of 2003 and June of 2008, Davis has gone a cumulative total of 720 days — nearly two years — without paying his fair share of property taxes.

While Davis failed to pay his 2007 and 2008 property tax on time, however, he contributed to and loaned his campaign a cumulative $160,900.

State DFL Chair Brian Melendez released the following statement:

“Many families throughout the 1st District are struggling to play by the rules and pay their bills on time. Some have even lost their homes to foreclosure in these difficult times. But Brian Davis isn’t struggling: he wrote a six-figure check to his own campaign in 2008.

“Brian Davis owes the voters an explanation. How does a millionaire doctor who can contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to his own campaign miss the property-tax deadline — not just once, or even twice, but over and over again? Every Minnesota property owner knows that property taxes are due on May 15 and October 15. More to the point, every Minnesota property owner knows that they must pay their taxes by the due date. Apparently, Dr. Davis believes that he can live by his own set of rules.

“We already know that Davis tends to spout some pretty out-of-touch positions on issues like global warming, renewable energy and gas prices. He also likes to cite very questionable sources in backing up his faulty rhetoric. But his liberties with the facts pale in comparison to his inability to play by the rules and pay his bills on time.

See supporting details beneath the fold.

The rest of the release:

According to the Politico, Brian Davis has failed to pay property taxes on time on his Rochester home from 2003 to 2007. “Minnesota Republican Brian Davis, who is challenging freshman Democratic Rep. Timothy J. Walz, paid tax penalties on his house in Rochester, Minn., every year from 2003 to 2007 — a combined total of $1,237.05 in fines, fees and interest — according to Olmsted County property records.” [Politico, 7/23/08]

He was also late in paying his taxes in 2008, adding up to 720 days, nearly two years of delinquency. With the exception of the May 15, 2004 tax deadline, Davis has paid his taxes late in every tax period between 2003 and today. As a result, Davis has paid more than $1,300 in fines to the county.

Due Date

Date Paid

Number of Days Late

Interest and Penalty Accessed

5/15/03

7/31/03

78

$95.05

10/15/03

2/6/04

115

$224.95

5/15/04

4/2/04

0

0

10/15/04

3/22/05

159

$231.17

5/15/05

6/30/05

47

$76.12

10/15/05

1/5/06

83

$207.74

5/15/06

7/5/06

52

$102.60

10/15/06

12/11/06

58

$164.78

5/15/07

5/31/07

16

$42.66

10/15/07

12/31/07

78

$170.64

5/15/08

6/17/08

34

$86.80

[ Olmsted County Property Records]

Far from struggling financially, Davis has contributed $160,900 to his own campaign. In 2007, Davis contributed $36,900 to his own campaign for Congress. So far in 2008, he has loaned the campaign $124,000 from his personal funds. [ Davis FEC Reports, 2nd Quarter 2007, 3rd Quarter 2007, 1st Quarter 2008, 2nd Quarter 2008

Image and update: We swapped out an original Chance card with the new version we've updated for Dr. Davis.

Over at Minnesota Independent, Paul Demko briefly surveys the story snippet about Brian Davis's tax penalty. He wonders:

Perhaps he uses the same accountant as Al Franken.

That's got to bruise Ron Carey's hide--and make Davis's primary opponent, Senator Dick Day, laugh outloud.

The Post Bulletin reports in Federal bridge bill would send $7.3 million to Minnesota:

The House this week is to take up a bill targeting $1 billion for the repair and rehabilitation of the nation's problem bridges, including more than $7.3 million for Minnesota. . . .

. . .Rep. Tim Walz, D-Mankato, a member of the House Transportation Committee, is set to offer an amendment inspired by the closing of the Minnesota Highway 43 bridge over the Mississippi River at Winona, his spokeswoman said. The bridge re-opened to truck traffic on Monday; bicycle and pedestrian access is still banned.

Walz's amendment would require the federal Transportation Department, within 15 days of the closing of a federal-aid highway bridge due to a critical finding, to report on the expected economic and regional transportation effects and recommend solutions. . . .

The paper reports that the amendment is expected to not ruffled any feathers:

The amendment is expected to be noncontroversial, she said, along with the full bill, which was crafted by the transportation committee's chairman, Rep. James Oberstar of Minnesota, D-Chisholm. Troy Young, spokesman for Rep. John Kline, R-Lakeville, said he supports the bill.

From Politico's article In campaigns, tax liens emerge as issue:

A review of public records compiled by outside campaign operatives and independently confirmed by Politico suggests that there will be more of the same before voters go the polls in November:

• Minnesota Republican Brian Davis, who is challenging freshman Democratic Rep. Timothy J. Walz, paid tax penalties on his house in Rochester, Minn., every year from 2003 to 2007 — a combined total of $1,237.05 in fines, fees and interest — according to Olmsted County property records.

This hasn't been on anybody's radar in Minnesota, but we suspect it will be now, especially since the NRCC MDE had scolded El Tinklenberg over his two late payments, which were years apart in 1999 and 2005.  Davis looks a bit more habitual in his behavior.

What is it about paperwork and Brian Davis? His stint as Olmsted County PRM treasurer is discussed in Olmsted County RPM: Just who was that treasurer who quit in 2007?; he lost or destroyed paperwork for over $13,000 in contributions. His drivers license was also suspended for failure to pay a ticket, according to Blueman, who first picked up the tip from an anonoblog.

And that doesn't even include the many horse apples Davis has lobbed about energy policy, his brief career as an engineer....

Second Update 7/24: Davis tells MPR that he didn't pay his property tax bills on time because "it's something that comes in the mail":

"It's something that has come in the mail, and between my wife and I it's taken a while to pay it," said Davis. "It's not been a problem of us having the funds to pay it. It's just been a problem of us paying it late. I don't know how many times we've paid them late."

Since he has no financial worries, why not pay the bill on time?  An oversight once or twice, as was the case with Congresswoman Bachmann and El Tinklenberg, her challenger,  is understandable,  but paying late year in, year out looks to be a habit, not an oversight. [end update].

Update: According to Polinaut, the DCCC had fired back when when news of Tinklenberg's tardiness hit the Minnesota blogosphere in May:

The DCCC issued this news release:
Bachmanns Who Live in Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones
Bachmann fined for paying property taxes late in 2003

National and State Republicans attacked Elywn Tinklenberg for paying his property taxes late without doing their homework. In 2003, Michele Bachmann paid her property taxes late and was fined $156.72.

"While spending so much time trying to defend President Bush's failed agenda, Republicans neglected to do their homework on their own candidate's poor tax filing record," said Carrie James, regional press secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Instead of paying her property taxes on time, Michele Bachmann is too busy following around President Bush and introducing the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act.”

Frankly, the dueling property tax penalties in the Sixth haven't come to much. Michele was late once; El was late twice. The exact number of times Davis was late (and if late payment was the problem) isn't clear from the Politico article. Since property taxes are due twice a year,  the minimum number of times Davis paid penalties has to be five, and the maximum, ten.  The tax records for Olmsted County aren't freely available online; a LandShark account costs $300 for set-up and the monthly fee.

It is surprising that the Republicans played offense on this one in May. But then, just as he's not mayor of Minneapolis, Brian isn't a DFLer running in Minnesota's Sixth.

And since there's a primary in the First, the dirt could have come from either side of the aisle.

The Cottonwood County Citizen reports in Red Rock Rural Water to host water, ag field day:

Red Rock Rural Water is getting set to host an event that focuses on area drinking water as it relates to agriculture.

The event, which is slated for July 29, is called "Drinking Water Resources & Agriculture Field Day."

Red Rock Rural Water General Manager Domnic Jones recently pointed out that water and agriculture are two highly-valued local resources.

"This event invites all owners of property within the DWSMA, better explained as the Drinking Water Source Management Area," Jones said. "It is our goal to further educate the public on the importance of groundwater protection, acknowledge the sensitive areas and increase the awareness of how proper nutrient management helps the bottom line of our area producers."

This event is an opportunity to learn more about rural water issues in southwestern Minnesota.

In April 2007, the Morris Sun Tribune ran a pretty good feature on the development of rural water systems in southwest Minnesota, Blueprints for success?. Poor quality drinking water stymied economic growth; some farm well water wasn't suitable even for livestock. A Minnesota Department of Health newsletter article focused on RRRW in 2003.

Photo: Some of the water system's namesake red rocks in Cottonwood County.

Another Southern Minnesota newspaper chimes in on Congresswoman Bachmann's silliness about drilling. In Oil is where you find it, the New Ulm Journal editorial board says:

U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann has joined the growing list of those who insist we must drill for oil wherever it may be in order to lower fuel prices.

Bachmann, after a tour of energy sites in Colorado and Alaska with other Republican members of Congress, says we can cut our gas prices in half if we tap our own energy sources more completely.

Well, a lot of oil experts dispute that. The easy-to-reach oil has been tapped, they say. If we do drill everywhere we can, the U.S.'s oil supply is still on a downward turn.

We've heard others who make a lot of sense when they say the best way to reduce our dependence on oil is to simply use less of it. If Americans can reduce their consumption of oil, and we are by far the world's leading consumer, it would have an immediate impact on supply and demand - not by increasing supply but by lowering demand - and that should affect the prices. . . .

The paper suggests some common-sense measures for energy conservation.  Speaking of common sense, our friend Charlie Quimby at Across the Great Divide looks at Bachmann's load of horse apples in Postage Stamp on a Football Field? More Like a Pile of Horsepuckey, and Andy Birkey at the Minnesota Independent scrutinizes her claims in Gassy: Adding up Bachmann's $2-per-gallon promise. 

Both cite Bluestem Prairie for posts in which we debunked malarky in these claims when Brian Davis--and his letter-writing camp followers--made them earlier. Now  Brian's BFF Bachmann and the Boehner Bunkum Brigade are recycling  this rot. We're all for composting and fertilizer, folks, but it's the middle of the summer, folks, and broadcasting it this time of year defies the best practices for manure management.

After reading our post this morning about the three First District congressional candidates' positions on energy policy, a kind friend pointed out the absurdity of something Brian Davis told Minnesota Public Radio in the story to which we linked. Davis claimed:

"We are the only country in the world that does not allow off-shore drilling, and yet we're the largest consumer of oil and the third largest producer," he says.

These pearls of wisdom about how the U.S.A. doesn't allow off-shore drilling will come as a shock to the folks working at the U.S. government's Minerals Management Service. Its website outlines its mission:

The dedicated men and women of the Minerals Management Service regulate domestic energy production off America’s coast on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). We also collect and disburse royalty revenue generated from energy production on all Federal and American Indian lands. In our short, 25-year history, we have disbursed more than $176 billion to states, American Indians, and the U.S. Treasury.

We, the people at MMS, oversee an offshore energy program that provides about 27 percent of America’s domestic oil production and about 15 percent of our domestic natural gas production. Without MMS’s hard work, our nation’s reliance on foreign sources of oil would likely be even higher than it is today.

We noted yesterday in our bulletin on there's something about Brian....:

. . .we've repeatedly documented Davis's own loose relationship with facts. Now, we see signs that this disorder may be contagious. Editors: fact check those stories if your staff writers have gotten near this campaign. The journalistic reputation you save may be your own.

Image: When Brian Davis is around, facts fly out the window. Ouch!

Third update: The answer below didn't satisfy Hailperin, who asked in an email for examples of actual drilling going on.  We located a July 22, 2008 press release from the MMS, Tropical Storm Dolly Activity Statistics Update:

Offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf  of Mexico are evacuating platforms and rigs in the path of Tropical Storm Dolly. The Minerals Management Service has activated its Continuity of Operations Plan team to monitor the operators’ activities. This team will be activated until operations return to normal and the storm is no longer a threat to the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activities.

Based on data from offshore operator reports submitted as of 11:30 a.m. CST today, personnel have been evacuated from a total of 49 production platforms, equivalent to 6.8 % of the 717 manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Production platforms are the structures located offshore from which oil and natural gas are produced.These  structures remain in the same location throughout a project’s duration unlike drilling rigs which typically move from location to location.

Personnel from 6 rigs have also been evacuated; this is equivalent to 4.9 % of the 123 rigs currently operating in the Gulf. Rigs can include several types of self-contained offshore drilling facilities including jackups, submersibles and semisubmersibles.

Hope the presences of 123 rigs is good enough (the MMS was kind enough to provide definitions of production platforms and drilling rigs, which we have highlighted).

If Dr. Hailperin wants us to make sure everyone of them is actually in the process of drilling, we suggest he buy us a plane ticket to the Gulf, charter a nice yacht, and we'd be happy to spend the rest of the summer checking each and every rig out. [end update].

Second update: Max Hailperin wonders in the comments section if it would be possible to have production without any new drilling.  A good question which can be answered by looking at the lease sales pages on the MMS's website. Lease sales are ongoing in open areas.  The final proposal for the 2007-2012 program, for instance, included only one currently area now off-limits, in the Mid-Atlantic off the coast of Virginia. According to page 69, this now-forbidden area is a small piece in the 5-year plan.  Should the moratorium not be lifted:

Only a small level of activity and production was estimated to occur as a result of including the area off Virginia; therefore, the level of impacts that would not occur without a sale and resulting activity would be small as well.

As readers can see, lease sales are taking place in open areas in the Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska. Since leases are regularly offered up, drilling--and that production the MMS touts--are indeed allowed offshore in these areas. We thank Dr. Hailperin for posing the question. Davis is still simply wrong: drilling is allowed in open areas. [end update]

Update:  Looks like we're not the only one to notice this latest gaffe. We had just posted this entry, only to find a scathing press release in our inbox from Eric Fought, the new kid on the block at the state DFL's communications office:

Brian Davis: Fighting for Big Oil

Davis energy plan puts oil companies over middle-class families, still distorts truth

(July 22, 2008) — Republican First District Congressional candidate Brian Davis continues to demonstrate that his energy plan puts Big Oil companies over middle-class families.

In a July 21 Star Tribune chart on energy policy, Davis stated that he opposes increased restrictions on speculation in oil markets. Many reports argue that speculation plays a significant role in driving oil prices higher worldwide.

In addition, Davis continues to distort the truth on energy policy. In another recent example, Davis claimed in a July 20 interview with Minnesota Public Radio that “[w]e’re the only country in the world that does not allow off-shore drilling.” Facts from the Minerals Management Service ( MMS ), the federal agency that oversees off-shore drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), directly contradict Davis’s claim, showing that the OCS accounts for about 27% of America’s domestic oil production.

DFL Party Associate Communications Director Eric Fought released the following statement:

“While many Minnesotans would agree that we need to stop oil speculation from unfairly driving up the price of oil, millionaire Dr. Brian Davis wants to give the oil speculators and his friends in Big Oil free reign to increase prices and make record profits.

“From his support for oil speculators to his false statements on off-shore drilling, Dr. Davis continues to fight for the oil companies over working families, taking outlandish positions and distorting the truth.”

Brian Davis: Putting Big Oil First

In a Star Tribune chart on the energy positions of Congressional candidates, Davis states that he opposes increased restrictions of speculation in oil markets. [Star Tribune website, accessed 7/22/07]

The facts show that oil speculation has driven up the cost of oil, by as much as $20-$60 per barrel.The International Monetary Fund states: “t is critical for the American people paying a record $4 per gallon and the integrity of the oil futures market to curb the excessive speculation, which experts testified this week may be responsible for inflating prices by as much as $20 to $60 more per barrel. The International Monetary Fund recently concluded that, “speculation has played a significant role in the run-up of oil prices.”[International Monetary Fund, Regional Economic Outlook, Middle East and Central America , p. 28, 5/08]

Brian Davis: Spreading Misinformation on Energy

In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Davis made outlandish claim about off-shore drilling. In a story placed on the MPR website, Brian Davis stated that “while he lacked political experience, he says he knows what needs to be done to lower gas prices.” Davis continued, “We’re the only country in the world that does not allow off-shore drilling.” [ Minnesota Public Radio, 7/20/08]

According to federal agency tasked with overseeing off-shore drilling, plenty of drilling is taking place. “The OCS is a significant source of oil and gas for the Nation’s energy supply. The approximately 43 million leased OCS acres generally accounts for about 15 percent of America ’s domestic natural gas production and about 27 percent of America ’s domestic oil production. The MMS’s oversight and regulatory frameworks ensure production and drilling are done in an environmentally responsible manner, and done safely.” [Minerals Management Service Website, accessed 7/21/08]

Read the rest at the DFL's web site.  We'll supply a precise link when the press release is posted. [end update]

The Pioneer Press reports City officials: Road upgrades in southern Minnesota lose under 20-year plan. Highway 14 improvements west of Mankato look to be the big loser. The Free Press says in Road upgrades lose to 20-year plan:

"Mankato-area highway improvements — including new interchanges on Highway 14, expansion of that highway to four lanes to New Ulm, a Highway 169 bypass in St. Peter and other Highway 169 upgrades — will all be losers under a 20-year plan state highway officials will unveil next Monday."

Go read the rest, and attend the meeting next Monday at 12:30 p.m. if you are able.

A letter writer to the Winona Daily News points out EFCA does not take away secret ballots.

KAAL-TV reports Klobuchar Presses Republicans to crack down on gas speculators.

Speaker Pelosi's aide weighs in on action the leader wants taken on gas prices, according to the Washington Post's Capitol Briefing Blog:

Gas Prices
• Republicans have blocked comprehensive legislation that would have increased oil production here at home and forced oil companies to use the land they control or lose it. The legislation also would have accelerated production in the 20 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA) that could produce 10.6 billion barrels of oil -- more oil than is in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

• Democrats will continue to call on the president use the full powers of his office to expedite construction of natural gas and oil pipelines from Alaska as soon as possible and fight to bring transparency to the markets and to end speculators' ability to artificially inflate the price at the pump.

• Action can be taken right now to reduce the price of gas right away - releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. There is nothing new or untested about releasing oil from the Reserve or deferring purchases during times of economic instability. Presidents Bush, Clinton, George H.W. Bush have all released oil from the SPR.

The final suggestion has been bashed by many conservative bloggers, even though a much greater sell-off has been proposed Newt Gingrich.  It's funny how much wrath has been generated by Pelosi's suggestion to release ten percent v. Gingrich's plan to put fifty percent of the SPR on the market as we posted in Things that make you go hmmm: speculators, oil reserves, and Republican talking points. Minnesota's conservative bloggers scolded Pelosi, but not a peep that we know about Gingrich's modest proposal.

The Strib has posted a chart called "Points of view: Energy," in which:

"The Star Tribune asked members of Minnesota's congressional delegation and congressional candidates a number of questions regarding energy policy."

It's interesting to go through the chart to compare and contrast the positions Southern Minnesota's three congressional candidates take on the laundry list of questions.

The three First District contenders agree that federal fuel taxes shouldn't be increased, Congress shouldn't reduce speed limits and that the government should increase the number of refineries. Nor do they favor a windfall profits tax.

One surprise area of agreement is on subsidies for "alternative" energy sources (we favor the term "renewable"); Walz, Day, and now suddenly Davis, all favor subsidies for wind, solar and biofuels. This marks a change for Davis, who has spoken out against subsidies for wind and biofuels in the past. In fact, on July 20, MPR reported:

Davis wants to cut subsidies for ethanol and wind. 

We're curious about the time frame for Davis's answers, since the Strib chart is dated July 21. Was the Rochester Republican providing one answer to the Strib questionnaire and a different take to Minnesota Public Radio? Or where the questions simply worded differently?

The Strib apparently didn't ask about renewable energy standards and biofuel mandates. Walz and Day have voted for such measures on the federal and state level, respectively; Davis opposes them. Walz and Day also agree about increasing fuel efficiency standards; the chart shows Davis in opposition. Unless he has changed his stance on this issue as well, Davis actually favors eliminating fuel efficiency standards completely.

Walz and Day favor placing restrictions on speculation in oil markets; Davis does not. This is a distinctly minority position on the issue in Minnesota, with only the GOP candidates in the Fourth and Fifth districts joining Davis in simple opposition to the idea. Endorsed Third District GOP candidate Erick Paulsen and Seventh district DFL Collin Peterson gave answers that " added comments or otherwise qualified answer, a response that did not lend itself to a simple yes or no."

All of Paulsen's responses fell into that category; hopefully, he'll release his answers to the public, so voters in the Third will be able to gain a clearer view on where he stands.  Congressman Walz also gave  qualified answers to questions about deep-sea drilling and oil shale fields, so we hope he will do the same for those questions.

Walz parts company with both Republican primary opponents on drilling in ANWR, as well as subsidizing the nuclear power industry and so-called "clean coal" to liquid technology.

In a fair and just world, the cottontail munching on our kale would soon be hassenpfeffer.

Good chicken wire makes good neighbors, especially when cucumbers are involved.

That Japanese eggplant has more purple fruit on it than Carmen Miranda's hat.