Photo: Graham Moomaw, The Washington Independent

The Minnesota Independent’s sister site, the Washington Independent, was on the scene Thursday for U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann’s “House Call” protest against health care reform at the U.S. Capitol.

Here is a video of the rally by TWI’s Graham Moomaw:

Update: This video clip by Moomaw features interviews with protesters:

And here is a slideshow of photos by Moomaw from the event:

The crowd’s chant of “Kill the Bill” was also heard in August from a more confined but no less riled group of protesters at U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum’s St. Paul office (MnIndy video post).

The group said it would support health reform “on the condition that small nonprofit employers receive the same treatment as small businesses.” With the lead of Rep. Betty McCollum, Reps. Keith Ellison, James Oberstar and Tim Walz are urging Congress to include nonprofits in health care reform bills.

“Like other employers, charitable organizations continue to see double-digit premium increases, which is obviously unsustainable,” Jon Pratt, executive director of MCN, said in a statement.

The group noted that one in ten employees in Minnesota work for a nonprofit and that Minnesota’s charitable organizations provide health insurance coverage for 98 percent of their employees compared to 43 percent of small businesses nationally.

“Our standard of care in Minnesota is at the top nationally – to keep it there we need comprehensive reform that will make health care affordable for small employers, including nonprofits,” said Steve Francisco, MCN federal policy director. “Federal health care reform must be affordable and sustainable.”

“This is an exciting first step in this campaign,” Bostrom said in a statement announcing the formation of the “Bostrom for Sheriff” committee. “I am confident that my commitment to professional public service and to the core values of protecting our citizens, partnering with the community, reducing neighborhood crime, practicing fiscal responsibility, and collaborating with other law enforcement agencies are what the citizens expect from their sheriff.”

Bostrom is the son of veteran St. Paul City Council member Dan Bostrom, but is best known for heading up security efforts during last year’s Republican National Convention. Fletcher was critical of security preparations for the national gathering, repeatedly warning that the St. Paul department had failed to recruit enough police officers to ensure that it went off without serious problems.

Fletcher is a polarizing figure. The sheriff’s department drew the ire of social-justice activists last year by infiltrating the (ironically named) RNC Welcoming Committee. A series of police raids in the days leading up to the convention eventually resulted in criminal charges against eight activists who were allegedly plotting to damage property and disrupt the Republican gathering.

The four-term incumbent’s also been at the center of an investigation into the activities of the beleaguered — and now disbanded — Metro Gang Strike Force. Two damning reports released earlier this year alleged that the law enforcement agency routinely seized money from citizens without justification, failed to adequately keep track of its assets and displayed a general disregard for the civil rights of citizens, particularly minorities. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department was the fiscal agent for the gang strike force.

In 2006, former St. Paul Police Chief William Finney took on Fletcher in a bruising political contest, but the incumbent ultimately prevailed by just over 1,000 votes.

Rep. Betty McCollum

Rep. Betty McCollum is spearheading an effort to get nonprofit employees included in the health reform benefits being planned for small businesses. She has penned a letter to congressional leaders urging them to consider nonprofits on a level playing field with small businesses.

A letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer reads, “Nearly all nonprofit organizations are struggling to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. These mainly small employers experience the same higher costs and limited options as their for-profit, small business counterparts.”

The letter has been signed by 22 House members including Minnesota Reps. James Oberstar, Keith Ellison and Tim Walz.

Minnesota’s nonprofits employ nearly 300,000 people, or about 10 percent of Minnesota’s workforce.

Current health care reform plans include tax breaks, subsidies and access to a health insurance exchange for small businesses. If McCollum is successful, those benefits will be extended to nonprofits.

“The millions of Americans who work in the nonprofit sector must be included in health care reform,” McCollum said in a statement. “It’s only fair that nonprofit organizations receive comparable treatment to the small business sector in health care reform legislation. I am encouraged that so many of my colleagues from across the country have joined me in this effort to ensure the benefits of health care reform reach the men and women working for nonprofit organizations.”

The word from Kelley came via Twitter: “I am proud to have earned Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s support in my campaign for Minnesota governor!”

In May, McCollum’s fellow DFLer in Congress, Keith Ellison, endorsed Matt Entenza, another former state legislator seeking the governorship.

In 2008, McCollum endorsed Mike Ciresi over Al Franken in the race among DFLers to replace Republican Norm Coleman in the U.S. Senate, switching to Franken weeks after he received the party’s endorsement.

Paulsen won the Third Congressional District post last year with 48 percent of the vote. He has no announced challengers for next year’s contest. The Cook Political Report classifies the district as “likely Republican” in 2010.

Third quarter filings are due at the FEC today. Fundraising tallies for three other members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation have so far been posted on the agency’s web site. St. Paul Democrat Betty McCollum brought in $136,000 during the three-month period and reported $128,000 in the bank. Fellow DFLers Collin Peterson and Jim Oberstar reported raising $108,000 and $193,000 respectively. Peterson had $547,000 cash on hand at the end of September, while Oberstar had more than $1 million in reserve.

MnIndy file photo

Of 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, only ten have missed more votes this session than Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, according to the Washington Post’s tally. Bachmann has missed 105 votes, or 13.6 percent of all votes. Fellow Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen had the state’s best record, missing only six votes in the 111th Congress, just one less than Rep. Tim Walz missed.

While California Democrat Rep. Hilda Solis had the highest rate of missed votes — she missed 59 of 78 possibles votes — the number of missed votes by party is roughly the same: Democrats missed 3.5 percent of votes, while Republicans missed 3.3 percent.

Another Minnesotan high on the list: At number 23, Rep. Keith Ellison missed ten percent of the votes, casting 695 and missing 78. Here’s how others in Minnesota’s delegation fared:

Rep. Betty McCollum: 16 missed (2.1 percent of all votes), 757 cast

Rep. Collin Peterson: 25 missed (1.9), 758 cast

Rep. Jon Kline: 12 missed (1.6), 761 cast

Rep. James Oberstar: 10 missed (1.3), 763 cast

Rep. Tim Walz: 7 missed (1.3), 766 cast

Rep. Erik Paulsen: 6 missed (0.8), 767 cast

As we reported in July, Bachmann and Ellison’s voting records were affected by personal obligations. Both missed time during the week of June 18, which had a record number of votes: Bachmann was spending time with family after a relative’s death, and Ellison was attending his son’s graduation from his Americorps program.

Via Dusty Trice.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

COON RAPIDS: Why did Tad Hervas die? The National Guard soldier suffered fatal injuries Tuesday in Iraq that were not related to combat and are now under investigation. [Coon Rapids Herald]

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: Stadium gets own jockumentary. The 30-minute video, titled “The Road to TCF Bank Stadium,” premieres today on the Big Ten Network. [UM News]

MINNEAPOLIS: 5,000 zombies. That’s one for every two lakes, but they’ll be staggering between pubs instead this Saturday. [Twin Cities Daily Planet]

DULUTH: How much about candidates’ personal lives should be public? The question elicited more than one “wow” at a city council candidate forum. [Duluth News Tribune]

MINNEAPOLIS: World Series and playoffs called off. The better to savor Tuesday’s Twins-Tigers game. [New Yorker]

AUSTIN: Typhoon in Philippines followed by huge wave of Spam. Hormel’s donation of 30,000 pounds of canned meat is appreciated relief for survivors. [Austin Daily Herald]

Rep. Betty McCollum. Photo: Andy Birkey, MnIndy

At the Bruce Vento Dinner on Sunday, Rep. Betty McCollum lashed out at those who say a health care reform package in Congress should be bipartisan. Hosted by the 4th Congressional district DFL, the dinner remembers Vento’s two decades representing the district in Congress until his death in 2000.

“Now is the time to pass a public health insurance option. Now is the time to expand access to quality health care, control rising costs, keep American businesses competitive, and improve the health of the American people,” she told the crowd of assembled party activists.

“You know there is a lot of talk about how Democrats need to reach out to Republicans and work for a ‘bipartisan’ health care bill. I am sick and tired of talk of a bipartisan health care bill — that’s just a plan for less health care for people in need and more profits for corporations driven by greed,” she said. “Since I’ve been in Congress there have been a number of historic bipartisan bills — historically bad!”

Via the Minnesota Progressive Project, here’s the full text of McCollum’s speech:

Friends, you know Bruce Vento never shied away from a tough vote or an issue of justice or an opportunity to make sure the lives of all Americans was made a little better. As Americans, as Minnesotans, as Democrats – we are in a fight. We are in a fight for justice, for a basic human right, for an opportunity for every American to live a better, healthier life.Fixing our nation’s broken health care system is something I have been fighting for since 2000 when you all worked so hard to send me to Congress.

Friends, now is the moment – no more excuses, no more delays, no more wasting time.

In 2009, with Barack Obama in the White House, with Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken in the U.S. Senate, with 5 DFLers in the U.S. House of Representatives – this is the time to pass health care reform.

Now is the time to pass a public health insurance option. Now is the time to expand access to quality health care, control rising costs, keep American businesses competitive, and improve the health of the American people.

Reforming health care and making coverage available to 47 million uninsured Americans, improving coverage for the under insured, holding insurance companies accountable by eliminating exclusions for pre=existing conditions and caps on payment should not be partisan issues. Republicans get sick too, don’t they?

But sadly, this is not the case.

Republicans in Congress are the party of profits, not working people. And when I say profits, I don’t mean Old Testament “prophets” – I am talking about corporate profits.

They are fighting for the CEOs and the profiteers, not regular folks who can’t afford to fill their prescription or even go to see a doctor. You know there is a lot of talk about how Democrats need to reach out to Republicans and work for a “bipartisan” health care bill. I am sick and tired of talk of a bipartisan health care bill – that’s just a plan for less health care for people in need and more profits for corporations driven by greed. Since I’ve been in Congress there have been a number of historic bipartisan bills – historically bad!

Remember No Child Left Behind? That was bipartisan and it has turned our public schools into testing factories.

Remember the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts? There was bipartisan legislation that succeeded in transforming a projected $5.6 trillion surplus into trillions of dollars of debt while making the rich richer and contributed to the greatest disparity in income in history.

Finally, do you remember that terrific bipartisan success called the Iraq War? That bipartisan resolution authorizing President Bush to invade Iraq has cost our nation thousands of lives and over $1 trillion dollars. So here is my recommendation: Democrats will put a strong bill on the floor of the House in the upcoming weeks with that meets the needs of the children, the families, seniors, and the next generation of Americans – and we will pass it!

If Republicans want a bipartisan bill – they can join us, vote for health care reform, and work with us make America a stronger nation. We have an opportunity to transform our country and take an enormous step towards finally making health care a right rather than privilege. We can not miss this opportunity – millions are counting on us. So, you can count on me to pass the strongest health care bill possible. This is the time for action and courage, not excuses and delay. If Bruce were with us today we know how he would vote and you know how I will vote.

And, I know you will stand with me because together we will make history in 2009 and make America healthier and stronger. Thank you for all of your support now and over the years.

Thank you.

In a statement, McCollum’s office said:

Congress took action to defund one non-profit serving poor Americans — ACORN -– but not against the billion dollar corporations that are actually guilty of felonies. For the 345 Members of Congress who voted to defund ACORN this is [sic] bill is an opportunity to support corporate accountability and responsibility while punishing corporate crime.

Meanwhile, five Republican candidates for governor and Minnesota Majority demanded that Attorney General Lori Swanson launch an investigation of ACORN in Minnesota.