Minnesota Independent

Tim Walz to head House National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus

By Andy Birkey | 12.22.10 | 10:57 am

Rep. Tim Walz will be the new co-chair of the National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus at the start of the new Congress in January. Walz, the highest ranking enlisted soldier to ever serve in the House, will share the post with Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter of California. Walz will join several other members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation who also serve as chairs of caucuses in the House.

Ellison confronts King on planned Muslim investigations

By Andy Birkey | 12.21.10 | 12:35 pm

Republican Rep. Peter King of New York says he wants to hold investigations into the “radicalization” of American Muslims in his new position as chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, but Rep. Keith Ellison said on Monday that targeting one community would hamper homeland security efforts.

Minnesotans laud passing of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal

By Andy Birkey | 12.20.10 | 8:00 am

The U.S. Senate passed a repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy on Saturday, paving the way for gay, lesbian and bisexual servicemembers to serve openly in the armed forces. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken were among the 65 Senators voting to repeal the measure.

Walz speaks out on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

By Andy Birkey | 12.15.10 | 4:43 pm

Rep. Tim Walz, the highest ranking enlisted soldier to ever serve in Congress, spoke on the House floor on Wednesday urging his colleagues to pass a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Walz said that comments from Republicans that soldiers on the ground could not handle serving with fellow gay and lesbian soldiers were offensive. The House voted on Wednesday evening to repeal the law which prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in all branches of the military 250 to 175.

Mall of America, Walmart: New homeland security fronts

By Paul Schmelzer | 12.06.10 | 1:56 pm

The Mall of America — along with hundreds of Walmart stores nationwide — is teaming up with the Department of Homeland Security to deliver a simple message: If you notice anything weird, report it to law enforcement.

Bachmann calls for Eric Holder’s resignation over Wikileaks

By Andy Birkey | 12.02.10 | 1:00 pm

“The time has come for Eric Holder to step down as Attorney General of the United States,” Rep. Michele Bachmann wrote Thursday, expressing concern over the release of thousands of cables by Wikileaks earlier this week. “As a member of Congress and a mother of five children, I am concerned about the very real threats facing our country.”

Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Photo: IowaPolitics.com, Flickr

Pawlenty calls on Attorney General Holder to resign

By Andy Birkey | 11.19.10 | 4:00 pm

In an interview with Hugh Hewitt at the Republican Governor’s Association convention in San Diego on Friday, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said that Attorney General Eric Holder should resign because he wasn’t able to prosecute a Guantanamo Bay prisoner effectively in civil court.

Franken, Klobuchar, Madia press for DADT repeal

By Andy Birkey | 11.19.10 | 11:31 am

Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar pushed for a repeal of the military’s ban on openly serving gays and lesbians on Thursday and urged the U.S. Senate to pass a defense authorization bill that contains a repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” At the same time, former congressional candidate Ashwin Madia is using his new position as head of VoteVets to get a ban passed during the lame duck session.

Bachmann on Iran: U.S. needs to do more than talk

By Andy Birkey | 11.18.10 | 9:51 am

Speaking at a conservative symposium on Iran at the National Press Club Wednesday, Rep. Michele Bachmann called Iran “a danger to every nation in the world” and said “we know that they [Iran] already have a nuclear capability.” She said Iran has “crossed the line” and that the United States “needs to do more than the simple engagement strategy of talking.” She did not elaborate on what that new strategy might entail.

Franken urges Obama administration not to appeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal

By Andy Birkey | 10.13.10 | 1:00 pm

Sen. Al Franken is urging Attorney General Eric Holder not to appeal a United States District Court decision on Tuesday that ruled the military’s ban on openly serving gay and lesbian servicemembers unconsitutional. In a letter, signed with 18 other senators, Franken wrote that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell “not only weakens our military, but neither is it an effective use of our government resources or taxpayer monies.”