In the annual St. Cloud State University Survey, 55 percent of Minnesotans surveyed say the state is on the wrong track, down one percent from last year.

About 22 percent of Minnesotans said unemployment and jobs were the biggest problem, with another 14 percent pointing to the economy. The survey found that most respondents thought Democrats could do a better job with the economy, while they trusted Republicans to fix the budget.

Despite their trust in Republicans to fix budgets more than 54 percent of those surveyed blamed the Republican-dominated legislature for this summer’s government shutdown, with a little more than 18 percent laying full blame at the feet of DFL Gov. Mark Dayton. Event those who identified as Republicans blamed the legislature at a higher proportion, according to survey results.

About half of all respondents want to see state budget solutions that rely only on spending cuts, while a little more than a quarter of those surveyed want both.

The survey also found that U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann was the most unpopular figure of the 11 surveyed, with those surveyed giving her a rating of 33 out of 100. It also found that even in her home state, Bachmann would perform much worse in a hypothetical match-up against Pres. Barack Obama than either Herman Cain or Mitt Romney. Obama won in all three hypothetical match-ups.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) is responsible for monitoring and enforcing environmental standards in the state. For the final quarter of 2010, the PCA had an accounts receivable balance of $8.2 million, with errors of $6.2 million.

Auditors found that the PCA hadn’t created adequate controls to monitor regulatory fines or penalties the agency received. Because the PCA didn’t safeguard or keep daily logs of receipts, auditors found that checks could have been lost or stolen without the agency’s knowledge.

The PCA also failed to “redact not public information, such as bank routing and account numbers.” The agency allowed employees without a business need to access the information, which auditors said employees could use to “commit fraud against the check writer.”

The PCA also neglected to safeguard non-public data, which was available for all agency employees to view, and which 52 employees could edit, auditors found.

The lax financial controls led to errors in the PCA’s quarterly report, the audit found.

“For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, the agency reported about $8.2 million of accounts receivable to the Department of Management and Budget; however, the report had significant errors and concerns, totaling about $6.2 million.”

Those errors included an overstatement of superfund receivables by $4.5 million, including $3 million where the agency had already either settled and failed to adjust the balance or didn’t post the payments to the debtor’s account.

The report concludes that the agency was ultimately unable to substantiate hundreds of thousands of dollars in regulatory penalties due to the lax controls.

Auditors recommend that the PCA institute safeguards for its accounts receivables, limit the workers who have access to view and edit non-public data and that Office of Management and Budget provide more oversight for all state agencies on dealing with account receivables.
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With the 2012 elections looming, states have passed a slew of laws making voting more difficult, including voter ID laws. Opponents of the new laws say the rules will make it harder for minorities and young people to vote in the upcoming elections.

The office of Democratic Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., announced that the letter urges secretaries of state across the country “to oppose new state measures adopted over the last year that would make it harder for eligible voters to register or vote.”

“A year from now, millions of Americans will head to the polls to exercise their most fundamental right—the right to vote,” Hoyer said in a press release. “Unfortunately, in states across the country, partisan measures have been adopted that would make it more difficult for nearly five million voters, particularly the poor, young people, the elderly, and minorities, to register and vote.”

House Democrats signing onto the letter said voter restriction laws were a “disturbing trend.”

“Election legislation and administration appear to be increasingly the product of partisan plays,” the letter read. “It is critical for our democracy that this does not continue. Voting hours, voting sites, identification requirements, voter registration regulation and access to mail ballots should not be used as weapons to achieve a preferred electoral outcome.”

The letter asked secretaries of state to “be vigilant in protecting against fraud but equally vigilant in protecting the franchise for all our citizens.”

“History has taught us that our democracy has suffered far more from elected officials who chose to deny some of our citizens the opportunity to vote than from any other cause,” the letter reads. “There is no greater threat to our democracy than a diminished belief that the rules are fair and fairly administered.”

The letter is signed by Rep. Collin Peterson, Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Betty McCollum and Rep. Tim Walz.

A voter ID law was vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2011, although Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake) has said she plans to pursue a voter ID law in 2012 as a constitutional amendment.

Jacob Frey, a Minneapolis attorney and organizer of the Big Gay Race against the proposed constitutional marriage ban, declared his candidacy last week.

Then late this weekend, Peter Wagenius, the policy director for Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak and son of Rep. Jean Wagenius, announced his candidacy.

In a statement, Wagenius energetically condemned cuts to jobs, schools and services by the Republican legislature.

“The people of Senate District 59 want to know that state government is on their side, that action is being taken to improve the economy for everyone.  But instead they see cuts to jobs, schools and services that people depend on. They see a tax system that tilts more and more against the middle class,” Wagenius said. “That’s wrong–and we need to stand up and fight.”

District 59 covers the area around the University of Minnesota and Northeast Minneapolis. The special election primary will take place on Dec. 6, with the special election taking place on Jan. 10, 2012, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State.

There’s also an election planned on those days to fill House seat 61B vacated by Jeff Hayden when he was elected to the Senate last month in another special election. There are currently three DFL candidates filed in that race: Susan Allen, Josh Bassais and Nelson Inz.

Former Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller will resign from the legislature to take the head position at the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Gov. Mark Dayton announced Pogemiller’s appointment Thursday in a news release. Pogemiller said in the release that he’s honored to be offered the position.

“I’m extremely excited by the opportunity and cognizant of the challenge of making quality post secondary education affordable,” Pogemiller said. “I want to add though, how difficult it is to leave the Minnesota Senate—an institution I love, and a group of people I admire and deeply respect.”

Pogemiller has served in the legislature since 1980, first in the House, then in the Senate. The Minneapolis lawmaker was known at the State Capitol for his willingness to scrap, and presided over budget and policy battles with former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Politics in Minnesota reports that his move will trigger the third Minneapolis special election in recent months. Sen. Linda Berglin also resigned, and Rep. Jeff Hayden won her seat in a special election, meaning his House seat is now also up for grabs.

The MFC dismissed a press conference held last week by Kriesel (R-Cottage Grove), Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Red Wing), former gubernatorial candidate Wheelock Whitney, members of Log Cabin Republicans and former deputy mayor under Norm Coleman, Susan Kimberly. MFC President Tom Prichard said the Republicans’ opposition to the amendment wasn’t newsworthy, and described the anti-amendment Republicans as “social liberals.”

Kriesel responded today on Twitter:

Same-sex marriage is currently illegal under Minnesota’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). If the amendment fails, same-sex marriage would still remain illegal unless legislators move to repeal DOMA and pass a bill legalizing marriage rights for same-sex couples as has been done in four states and the District of Columbia.

Update:

Rep. Kriesel responded to the Minnesota Independent with a statement expanding on his position.

“There will always be people that scream “the government needs to stay out of our lives,” and “we want less government,” until they find something that fits their agenda,” Kriesel wrote. “Then they are more than happy to expand the reach of government. I completely disagree with such a hypocritical philosophy.”

Kriesel said he rejects the notion that same-sex or other unmarried couples threaten his family life.

“I happen to disagree with Tom Pritchard on the marriage amendment issue. The fact that Tom is quick to label me a “social liberal” based on my position on the marriage amendment is just proof of how divisive and closed-minded an individual can be. What happened to doing what’s best for the people—ALL people? I’m not offended by the label, nor I am concerned about the label,” Kriesel said. “I am concerned about people, and doing what is best for the people—of my district and of this state. That is what I was elected to do.”

Kriesel took a stand against the amendment in the House last year.

“This is not an issue I will hide from, nor an issue I will walk away from, regardless of what category I am placed in or what label I am given,” Kriesel said. ”I’m not in this political arena to make friends, I am in this position to make a difference, to better the lives of my constituents and better Minnesota as a state. I believe defeating the amendment will help accomplish those goals.”

Photo: Chisholm's Iron Man Statue; Source: Flickr, jimmywayne

Minnesota’s Executive Council voted Wednesday for a six month delay on the lease of mineral rights on privately-held land in northeast Minnesota.

A handful of non-ferrous mining companies are seeking the 77 leases, but landowners, some of whom attended Wednesday’s meeting, are unhappy with the process and the prospect of pollution by non-ferrous mining.

“I’m not anti-mining, it’s part of our lifestyle in northern Minnesota,” said Charlie Chernack, a real estate agent in Ely. “It does have an effect on value, it does have an effect on clientele. [...] I think the DNR ought to look a little closer in terms of leasing divided lands.”

Frank Ongaro, executive director of industry group Mining Minnesota, pushed the council to pass the leases: “[We] urge you to make a motion and approve those today with no further delay and send a positive message to investors looking to invest in mining in the state of Minnesota that Minnesota is open for business and wants to move forward with mineral development.”

Environmentalists have also vocally opposed the leases. There are currently no working non-ferrous mines in Minnesota, although a few companies are nearing the end of the permitting process. The mining technique, which differs from the iron mining that’s taken place in the state, results in minerals like copper and silver. It’s been controversial because its basic byproduct is sulfuric acid—a substance that has contaminated water supplies in the past—which leads opponents to refer to the process as “acid rock mining.”

Revenues from the leased lands help pay for public schools. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said mineral leases brought in $1.1 million for fiscal year 2011.

The state Executive Council is made up of Gov. Mark Dayton, Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon, Attorney General Lori Swanson, State Auditor Rebecca Otto and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

Dayton called the law about leasing divided lands “outdated” and “antiquated.” He proposed a motion to delay the decision for six months in order to give the legislature the opportunity to reconsider the notification process and lease rates for land. Dayton’s motion passed unanimously.

“We did pass all of the pro-life legislation that we thought was very important whether it be fetal pain, whether it be stem cell research, whether it be human cloning,” Zellers told Minnesota Public Radio. “A lot of these things we passed. Gov. Dayton vetoed those bills.”

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) President Leo LaLonde sent a fundraising letter to supporters last week that lambasted Republican leaders for not pushing pro-life policies hard enough.

“[We] felt confident that House and Senate leaders would insist that at least some of our protective measures would be included in the final budget,” LaLonde’s letter read. “Senate Majority Leader Koch and Speaker of the House Zellers quickly struck a deal with Gov. Dayton, and in the blink of an eye all five pro-life measures that has been passed by nearly two-thirds, veto-proof margin during the legislative session were negotiated away.”

Zellers said the legislature passed the bills desired by pro-lifers, but that Dayton insisted the social issues not be included in the final bills.

The courts have taken on Minnesota’s redistricting process after the State Legislature’s failure to get a plan past Gov. Mark Dayton. But groups from right and left are raising money from undisclosed donors, hoping to influence redistricting by bringing court challenges and giving other support.

Shared address with a GOP Minnesota think tank
Minnesotans for a Fair Redistricting shares the same address and some staffers as the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota, a conservative think tank, according to a ProPublica report. Fair Redistricting’s address is listed as that of Annette and Jack Meeks, a husband and wife duo active in Republican politics who work for Freedom Foundation. Annette Meeks was on Tom Emmer’s Republican ticket for lieutenant governor in 2010.

Freedom Foundation has worked with the Cato Institute on research and events, which was founded by Charles Koch. It is also part of the State Policy Network, a network of 59 state-based conservative think tanks. Freedom Foundation is listed as a “regular member,” while other Koch-backed groups such as Americans for Prosperity are listed as “associate members.”

Neither group legally needs to disclose donors. As ProPublica noted in their research, there is no direct evidence that either group is directly funded by the Koch brothers, who have bankrolled libertarian and conservative causes across the country. Annette Meeks denied any connection. Jack Meeks, who also serves on the board of the Freedom Foundation, did not return requests for comment by ProPublica.

But Freedom Foundation and Fair Redistricting are indeed very connected. In addition to sharing an address with the Meeks, the groups share staff.

Fair Redistricting is registered under Jack Meeks’ name; Jack is a member of the Freedom Foundation board. Chris Georgacus is heading up the Fair Redistricting effort and is also member of the Freedom Foundation board. Also working on redistricting for Republicans is lawyer Tony Trimble, who also sits on the Freedom Foundation board.

No donors disclosed in Democratic effort either
On the Democratic side, the DFL has enlisted the National Democratic Redistricting Trust. The Trust is controversial in it’s own right. The Federal Election Commission decided last year to allow members of Congress to solicit unlimited, undisclosed donations for the trust,” according to ProPublica.

The Trust took the DFL side in a lawsuit filed in January by a half dozen Republican voters. Former recount attorney for Sen. Al Franken, Marc Elias, is leading the legal effort along with DFL lawyer David Lillehaug.

A handful of DFLers also sued in January, saying that they didn’t feel that the Legislature was able to draw a nonpartisan map.

The Trust is closely affiliated with the national Democratic Party and last week hired former Former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee National Field Director Casey O’Shea as executive director.

State Sen. Roger Reinert (DFL-Duluth) and state Rep. Carly Melin (DFL-Hibbing) will support Duluth City Council Member Jeff Anderson in his bid for the DFL nomination for the 8th Congressional District.

Reinert said in a statement that Anderson’s experience as a businessman, soldier and elected official qualified him to serve northeast Minnesota in Congress.

“Jeff isn’t trying to rekindle the past, or get a fresh start in a new district. Jeff is a Northlander,” Reinert said. “He understands the challenges and opportunities that we all face, and I know he will use this firsthand knowledge to put northern Minnesota back on track to prosperity.”

Melin, a freshman lawmakers from the Iron Range, said Anderson could bring the region together due to his roots on the Iron Range and public service in Duluth.

“This election is about middle class families, taking care of our senior citizens, and making sure future generations have the same opportunities that Jeff and I enjoyed growing up in Northeastern Minnesota,” Melin said. “I am confident in his ability to fight for the future prosperity of our region. Jeff Anderson is, and will continue to be, a tireless advocate for northern Minnesotans.”

Former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan is also running for the DFL nomination, and has so far garnered a slew of endorsements from the Iron Range old guard. Former state Sen. Tarryl Clark is also competing for the DFL nomination to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack.