The Minnesota Independent

Posts by Jason Hancock

Pawlenty backs push to alter 14th Amendment

By Jason Hancock | 08.09.10 | 11:22 am

Jumping on board with a handful of Senate Republicans, including Iowa’s Chuck Grassley, Gov. Tim Pawlenty tells Bloomberg News that he is in favor of changing the 14th Amendment of the Constitution to prevent the children of undocumented…

Santorum: Pawlenty engaging in ‘class warfare’

By Jason Hancock | 07.29.10 | 11:08 am

Recent statements by Gov. Tim Pawlenty criticizing “country-club elitists” are an example of “class-warfare rhetoric,” former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum said Tuesday in an interview with the National Review.

The cost of unemployment extension delay adding up in Minnesota

By Jason Hancock | 07.14.10 | 9:27 am

The U.S. Department of Labor released state-by-state numbers earlier this month on how many workers have been cumulatively affected by Congress’ inability to extend long-term unemployment benefits. By weeks end, around 21,600 Minnesotans will have lost their benefits,

Pawlenty making campaign stops in Iowa, New Hampshire

By Jason Hancock | 07.06.10 | 2:39 pm

Gov. Tim Pawlenty will make campaign appearances in Iowa on behalf of several legislative candidates later this month. He will also reportedly make several appearances in New Hampshire.

Unemployment extension will pass if Dems can pay for it, Grassley says

By Jason Hancock | 06.28.10 | 11:27 am

The jobs bill, which includes an extension to unemployment benefits among other provisions, could be passed if Democrats would be willing to pay for it with stimulus money and offset other spending, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said in…

Pawlenty takes first step toward 2012 bid

By Jason Hancock | 06.16.10 | 9:43 am

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has formed state-level political action committees in Iowa and New Hampshire, widely considered to be an indication of presidential aspirations in 2012.

Iowa GOP candidate apologizes for ‘microchip the illegals’ comment

By Jason Hancock | 05.04.10 | 9:30 am

After debating whether it was necessary for more than 20 minutes, Iowa 3rd District Republican congressional hopeful Pat Bertroche apologized to anyone he may have offended when he called for microchips to be implanted into those

Video of Iowa GOP hopeful’s call to microchip immigrants surfaces

By Jason Hancock | 04.30.10 | 4:04 pm

Republican candidate Pat Bertroche of Iowa’s Third Congressional District has taken lots of heat for publicly calling for microchips to be implanted into immigrants in the country illegally. Immigrant-rights activists in Iowa and around the nation were outraged, and…

Iowa’s Bertroche named ‘Worst Person in the World’

By Jason Hancock | 04.29.10 | 9:53 am

In response to his comments earlier this week that microchips should be implanted into immigrants in the country illegally, 3rd District Republican Congressional hopeful Pat Bertroche was named “Worst Person in the World” Wednesday by MSNBC host Keith Olbermann.

GOP candidate’s call to microchip immigrants draws backlash

By Jason Hancock | 04.28.10 | 8:45 am

A Republican candidate for Congress in Iowa’s 3rd District calling for microchips to be installed in immigrants in the country illegally is “absolutely appalling” and counter to everything Iowa stands for, several immigrants rights advocates said Tuesday.