Minnesota Somalis And Jihad

Several young Somali males, anywhere from 15 to 20 in recent months, have been leaving Minnesota without notifying family or friends. Many are concerned that these Somalis are being recruited in the U.S. to return to Somalia to join Islamic terrorists. One of those Somalis, Shirwa Ahmed, was a suicide bomber who took part in a coordinated terror attack that killed more than 20 people in northern Somalia four weeks ago.

One of the men who disappeared from Minneapolis is believed to have killed himself in an Oct. 29 suicide bombing in northern Somalia, according to a U.S. law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly about the case. That official confirmed that the FBI and Justice Department were investigating.

Another U.S. law enforcement official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said authorities are calling it one of the first instances in which a U.S. citizen has acted as a suicide bomber. [...]

"We're aware of the circumstances in Somalia right now, and the events of the Oct. 29 bombings. And we are aware that a number of individuals from throughout the U.S., and Minneapolis, have traveled to Somalia to potentially fight for terrorist groups," said Special Agent E.K. Wilson, an FBI spokesman in Minneapolis. He did not confirm or deny whether there was an ongoing investigation.

I can't say that I'm surprised at this. Minnesota has a large Somali population, and the famous "Minnesota nice" attitude has allowed the Somalis to take up residence here without assimilating. The Somali parents have not become part of our culture, activists such as Omar Jamal continue to pound a victim mentality into the Somali youth, and a politically correct local media is not willing to take the Somali community to task.

Crime in the Somali community, especially violent crime, has been rising here in Minnesota lately. While the Somali-on-Somali crime has been heavily covered by the local media, usually replete with handwringing over why Somali youth would throw away the American dream, the Somali-on-non-Somali crime doesn't garner similar headlines.

In mid-August, just weeks before the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, two non-Somalis were attacked separately in the Twin Cities by a group of three Somali teens. One of the Somalis involved in the attacks stated that he does not like "white Americans." Switch the backgrounds of the attackers and victims here, and this would have been a much more publicized story; especially with RNC just weeks away.

Last week Minneapolis Police arrested four Somalis for their string of armed robberies of women near the University of Minnesota. Again, switch the backgrounds and the P.C. Twin Cities' media becomes much more interested in "in-depth coverage" and "special reports."

So, what is the connection with Somali crime in Minnesota and some young Somalis leaving Minnesota to go fight in jihad in Somalia? Well, those criminal elements tend to regularly cross paths with the extremist elements. They are both dealing in an underground economy, weapons, and a disdain for the people and rules of our local culture.

The jihadists need to finance the travel of their new recruits to Somalia. Selling weapons to local Somali gangs, and helping to move stolen goods for local Somali criminals could go a long way in making that travel happen. The jihadists may even find themselves fresh recruits among the Somali youth that they may be doing business with.

The FBI and Homeland Security continue to investigate the possibility of terrorist recruiting networks in the Twin Cities which may have been developed by a Somali who lived in Minnesota for over a decade before returning to Somalia to blow himself up in a terror attack. The local Somali youth going abroad to commit terror is disconcerting, but the concern that some of those same local Somalis might be recruited for jihad right here in the U.S. is what really makes me worried.

Think about that the next time you see the lines of Somali driven taxis waiting outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.

USMC 9971 OUT

Franken Challenged In MN Senate Primary

Al Franken, the leading DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) candidate, won the primary yesterday. While the votes aren't completely tallied yet (83 of 87 counties are completed), Franken has pulled in about 65% of the Democrat vote so far.

His closest competitor, Priscilla Lord-Faris, has earned about 30% of the Democrat vote. Lord-Faris was a late challenger to Franken, and she argued that Franken is not representative of Minnesotans and their values. From her campaign website:

• His coarse humor and language is demeaning to women and minorities.

• His tax problems and questionable financial transactions are not consistent with the way most Minnesotans view their responsibilities.

• He has lived in New York almost all of his adult life and has moved to Minnesota just to run for office.

• Most of his funding comes from his Hollywood and entertainment business contacts.

• He has demeaned and insulted other Senators and office holders, the very people he will have to work with to accomplish anything in Washington.

• In his own words he is an angry man, and he screams profanities and insults to those who disagree with him.

• He says he would not be a good person to hold political office because he is "indecisive" and he views politics as interesting only because the election races are interesting.

• He is behind Coleman by 15 points in the polls.

Franken's DFL competitor took nearly a third of the primary votes, and she has not put anywhere near as much time and money into her campaign as he has into his. It will be interesting to see how many of those Lord-Faris voters continue to not vote for Al Franken in the November election.

USMC 9971 OUT

Car Thief Kills Woman, Somali Community Blames Police

What a screwed-up world. Two days ago, Minneapolis police attempted to pull over a driver in a stolen vehicle, and they gave chase when the car thief took off at high-speed. The chase was called off after twelve blocks due to concerns for public safety, but unfortunately the car thief kept speeding along and crashed into a car with a woman and two children in it half-a-mile after the police stopped their chase. From the Star Tribune:

As Hanna Abukar was laid to rest Monday, members of the Somali community were questioning the police chase that preceded her death a day earlier in south Minneapolis.

"There's anger and a total lack of understanding what happened and why did it happen," Omar Jamal, executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center, said following Abukar's funeral. "It's a very difficult situation right now."

Minneapolis police are still investigating the pursuit in which a 15-year-old boy who had been fleeing officers at high speeds in a stolen vehicle crashed into a car driven by Abukar at Lake Street and Stevens Avenue S. around 8 a.m. Sunday morning.

A police supervisor had called off the 12-block chase for public safety reasons about a half-mile before the crash that killed Abukar, 26, and injured her son and another boy as they were heading to Sunday school at a mosque. The boys remain hospitalized in critical and stable conditions, respectively. [...]

Jamal said he's received countless calls from local Somalis and others wondering if such a pursuit was necessary.

"That's what the community is asking," Jamal said. "We will deal with that soon."

The police just can't win. If the police hadn't pursued the teen who stole the car, and he caused a crash that resulted death and/or bodily harm, then people would likely be screaming about how the police should have done something to stop him. When the police do pursue the thief, and then stop the pursuit on the grounds of public safety (at 8:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning), the necessity of even beginning the pursuit is questioned.

The fact of the matter is that the police are not responsible for this; the car thief is. The teen didn't leave the private property of other people alone; he chose to steal the vehicle. The thief didn't stop when lawfully ordered to do so by police; instead he chose to speed up and flee. The thief didn't stop being reckless after the police stopped the chase; he chose to continue driving recklessly. The murderer didn't check on the victims in the car he smashed into due to his reckless behavior; he chose to run away from the scene.

One woman is dead and two children are in the hospital because to the very bad choices of one selfish fifteen-year-old, not because of a twelve block pursuit by local police who were doing their job on a Sunday morning. Period. End of story.

Of course, Omar Jamal can't make political hay from those cold hard facts, so he will do what he does best: stir up anger against, and suspicion of, the authorities in the hearts and minds of the Somali community. And, unfortunately, the Somali community and the media seem to be far to willing to go along with him.

USMC 9971 OUT

Smoking Ban Showdown

Minnesota passed a smoking ban that went into effect in October 2007, effectively ending smoking in all but a few places in Minnesota. This February, however, some creative individuals found a loophole in the new statutes.

The resulting brainstorm, "The Tobacco Monologues" debuted at a Lake Mille Lacs bar last weekend when patrons ponied up a buck for a button that identified them as actors, with a license to light up.

More bars are expected to stage the performances this weekend. [...]

[Sheila] Kromer [owner of Barnacles Resort and Campground in Aitkin, MN] said her January liquor sales are down about 26 percent from last year, in large part because of the smoking ban. The bar clears out by 10:30, she said, as smokers seek a warm place for a cigarette.

"They might go out once," she said. "But when they head out a second time for a smoke, they just leave."

But last weekend, the "play" kept the bar full until it closed at 1 a.m., Kromer said. "People had fun and they had a smile on their faces."

A sheriff's deputy showed up after someone complained but left without issuing a ticket because the bar seemed to be following the letter of the law.

Since then, Kromer said, she's received about a dozen calls and e-mails from other bar owners interested in directing similar "theater nights."

Kromer said she'll be staging a repeat performance of the Tobacco Monologues and [Mark] Benjamin [creator of the Tobacco Monologues], a Sunday school teacher, will be there in full garb: black velvet tights, white puffy shirt, black velvet hat complete with a plume and enormous black leather boots.

Well, it didn't take long for some to complain that the spirit of the law wasn't being followed. The state's health department is now threatening to fine bars that don't stop holding "theater nights."

State health officials are trying to pull the curtain down on bar owners who are staging "theater nights" to get around the state smoking ban.

Health Department officials issued an ultimatum on Wednesday: The bar owners are violating the state's smoking ban and will be fined if they don't stop. Hanging up a playbill and dubbing bar patrons actors doesn't constitute a theatrical production, which is exempted from the smoking ban, state officials said. [...]

[Rob] Fulton [director of St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health] said his department employees don't initiate visits to bars but have responded to a couple of complaints about "theater nights." "We pick up a copy of the script and the playbill and then we pass it on" to the Minnesota Department of Health, Fulton said.

"On the face of it, it's utterly ridiculous to think you can invite a whole bunch of people to a bar and call it a theater," he said. [...]

"These bars are attempting to circumvent the Freedom to Breathe Act," state Health Commissioner Sanne Magnan said Wednesday. "The law was enacted to protect Minnesotans from the serious health effects of secondhand smoke. We expect all establishments to comply with the law."

Sanne said the theatrical exemption was never intended to fill up a whole public room with smokers. And the state can fine violators up to $10,000, she said.

Sanne said her department issued its statement on Wednesday to make it clear that "theater nights" in bars aren't going to be tolerated. "We hope they will comply with the law," she said.

The government is stating that "hanging up a playbill and dubbing bar patrons actors doesn't constitute a theatrical production," that "it's utterly ridiculous to think you can invite a whole bunch of people to a bar and call it a theater," and that "the theatrical exemption was never intended to fill up a whole public room with smokers." So, what does the actual law state? Here is the theatrical production exemtion in Section 144.4167 Subdivision 9.

144.4167 Subd. 9. (PERMITTED SMOKING - Theatrical productions)
Sections 144.414 to 144.417 do not prohibit smoking by actors and actresses as part of a theatrical performance conducted in compliance with section 366.01 [see below]. Notice of smoking in a performance shall be given to theater patrons in advance and shall be included in performance programs.

366.01 Subd. 2. (TOWN BOARD POWERS LISTED - Amusements, performances; pets, firearms)
They may by ordinance prohibit or license and regulate the keeping of billiard, pool, and pigeonhole tables, games of amusement, games of skill, juke boxes, roller skating rinks, bowling alleys, circuses, shows, and theatrical performances. They may fix the price and duration of the license. When in their opinion the public interest requires it, they may revoke the license. Within any platted residential area of the town, they may license and regulate the presence or keeping of dogs or domestic animal pets and regulate or prohibit the discharge of firearms, when deemed to be in the public interest.

I'm not an attorney, but I'm not seeing how the government can argue that the theater nights are not in compliance with the law. The new smoking ban clearly exempts "smoking by actors and actresses as part of a theatrical performance conducted in compliance with section 366.01," and Section 366.01 Subsection 2 simply states that town boards may either prohibit or regulate theatrical performances. If the local government hasn't banned theatrical performances in bars, and as long as the bar owners are complying with any local regulations regarding theatrical performances, then those who are actors and actresses in the theatrical performance are exempted from the smoking ban.

The government can argue that the theatrical performance exemption wasn't intended to allow bar owners to turn their places of business into centers of interpretive and improvisational theater, but the government did allow the exemption to be written into law. There was nothing more than the Town Board Powers section of the state statutes provided to define compliance for a theatrical performance, so it seems to me that the government will have two choices if this ends up in court: 1) the government can attempt to define in the law what is and isn't considered art, or 2) the government will need to amend or strike Section 144.4167 Subdivision 9 of the state statutes.

I'd love to see the Minnesota Legislature define art, because it wouldn't be long until some performers wouldn't be in compliance with the legal definition of "art." If that were to happen, you can be certain that the section of the statute that defined a "legitimate performance" would be challenged on first amendment grounds. Amending the current exception in the law would likely provide similar challenges.

The strangest part of all of this is the fact that the theatrical performances exception actually was put in the new smoking ban to begin with. Members of the arts community didn't want the "integrity" of their performances diminished by prohibiting actors and actresses from smoking when a script called for it. In essence, they didn't want performers to have to act as if they were smoking while they were doing that thing called acting.

One needs to wonder how this will affect the incumbents in the elections this fall. The government puts a referendum on the ballot for a constitutional amendment to add a special tax for the environment and the arts, then they pass major new taxes and fees in a transportation bill, there is talk about removing the sales tax exemption from clothing, and now they may be looking at fining bar owners up to $10,000.00 for performances that appear to be in compliance with the law.

When Minnesotans are cutting back their family budgets to allow for the higher taxes and resulting higher prices, and when those same Minnesotans can't even go down to their local bar for a beer and a smoke because the government has banned the activity or tried to fine the establishment out of business, the "vote the bums out" mentality will likely take hold quick, fast, and in a hurry.

The state should not be able to take away private property rights as they have so far to date. Once we have no right to our own property, or the free use thereof, then we basically become nothing more than dependent wards of the state.

Good luck to the bar owners and others on their side in this fight.

USMC 9971 OUT

Minnesota's Senate And House Want To Take More Money

This is from about a week-and-a-half before the multi-billion dollar tax increase that the DFL and a few Republicans pushed through via a veto override on Monday, but it is indicative of what the DFL seems to want to do to us Minnesotans. This one is a referendum for a constitutional amendment for a twenty-five year 0.375% sales tax increase.

Minnesota voters will get to decide if the state sales tax should rise to guarantee money for programs that protect wildlife habitat, drinking water and the state's cultural heritage.

The House and Senate gave final authorization Thursday to a November ballot measure known as the Legacy Act. It seeks to amend the state constitution and earmark more money for natural resources and arts programs.

The 3/8ths of 1 percent increase to the tax -- a tad below 4 cents on every $10 purchase -- would take effect in July 2009 and remain in place for 25 years. It is projected to raise $276 million by 2011, the bulk of which would go for environmental conservation.

Another attempt to increase the sales tax. In this post I noted that the 0.25% sales tax increase, which was tentatively pushed through by the veto override, would pull in over $88 million from the seven county metro area based upon 2006 Minnesota Department of Revenue figures. Well, if you tack on an additional 0.375% increase to that 0.25% increase already passed by the state (but still able to be blocked by the seven metro area County Boards), then you will be looking at an additional $132 million in tax revenue just from those seven counties. The two increases combined would impose an additional 0.625% sales tax, or an additional $220,740,911.33 in sales tax revenue in the seven county metro area alone (based again upon 2006 Minnesota Department of Revenue figures).

We need to vote NO against this referendum. I'm already telling charities that they need to ask the state for my money since the DFL is legislating that my money is no longer mine to distribute as I see fit. The more that comes out in taxes, the less many will give to charity.

Oppose these tax increases, Minnesota!

USMC 9971 OUT

Angry About Minnesota's Latest Tax Increase?

The Minnesota Senate and House recently overturned Governor Pawlenty's veto of a bill that increases the current state gas tax by 42.5% by 2014, removes the caps on license tab taxes, adds a new $20 excise tax on motor vehicle purchases, increases existing motor vehicle rental taxes, increases the sales tax in the seven county metro area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington) by 0.25%, and allows outstate counties to impose an additional 0.5% sales tax.

There is a $25.00 offsetting gas tax credit. Single individuals earning less than $22,390.00 per year, or married individuals earning less than $32,720.00 per year, would be eligible. One would not need to own or lease a car to qualify for this "gas tax credit," so it has less to do with offsetting the impact of the gas tax increase for those who are saddled with it, and more to do with redistributing wealth.

But there does appear to be an opportunity for those in the seven county metro to stop the additional sales tax in their respective counties. The 0.25% sales tax increase will not go into effect in counties where that county's County Board rejects tax. If enough of us in the metro area let our commissioners hear how displeased we are with this new tax, then we may be able to spare ourselves from one of the new taxes. Minnesota Majority has a page with the contact information for all of the county commissioners in the metro area.

I have heard some people mentioning that a 0.25% increase to the sales tax is no big deal. It's only an additional dollar out of our pockets for each $400.00 that we spend. That's true, but that doesn't make it chump-change either. It hits low-income and fixed-income Minnesotans the hardest, and if you look at the taxable sales in the metro area, the money generated would be what the Democrats would label as "windfall profits" if it was to be done by private enterprise. Look at the following:

COUNTY	TAXABLE SALES	SALES TAX	ADDITIONAL 0.25%
Anoka	$2,800,453,803.00	$187,809,576.00	$7,001,134.51
Carver	$581,237,368.00	$38,650,849.00	$1,453,093.42
Dakota	$4,354,237,004.00	$287,558,053.00	$10,885,592.51
Hennepin	$18,785,499,316.00	$1,249,135,940.00	$46,963,748.29
Ramsey	$5,897,581,391.00	$389,490,358.00	$14,743,953.48
Scott	$1,072,517,680.00	$71,100,644.00	$2,681,294.20
Washington	$1,827,019,251.00	$121,281,549.00	$4,567,548.13
TOTAL	$35,318,545,813.00	$2,345,026,969.00	$88,296,364.53

Source: Minnesota Department of Revenue - 2006 Sales and Use Tax Revenue by County

That's over an additional $88 million taken from just seven counties with just one of the newly imposed taxes. And when one considers the fact that the new gas tax is going to increase the cost of anything that is moved over the road (which is how just about everything that is sold is moved), the taxable sales should at least remain constant, even if Minnesotans limit their spending to offset government greed.

If you are in one of the above counties, be sure to contact your commissioner to express your displeasure at being gouged for more of your hard-earned money to build an overpriced light rail line between two cities that most of us will rarely (if ever) use, and to help cover existing mass transit that fails to even come close to paying for itself annually. If we don't speak-up now, we can all but guarantee that we will be paying millions of dollars more to the state each year.

It's interesting that the DFL (Minnesota's Democrat Farmer and Labor Party) increased taxes under the guise of being responsible. Instead of cutting state spending and living within their means, they have forced that responsibility on the average citizen. Joe Sixpack will need to cut his family's budget so that the "responsible" DFL majority doesn't need to be inconvenienced by cutting the pork out of their state budget.

Our Minnesota Government: Extortion You Can Vote For!

USMC 9971 OUT

Minnesota's Taxes Are Going Up

Here is the breakdown of how the Minnesota Senate and House voted on Monday, 25 February 2008, in regards to the override of Governor Pawlenty's veto of one of the biggest tax increases in state history.

Minnesota Senate Roll Call For Veto Override On SF2521

Voted Yes (For The Tax Increase)

Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL - SD66 St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-5537
Sen. Thomas Bakk (DFL - SD06 Cook) Phone: (651) 296-8881
Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL - SD61 Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-4261
Sen. Don Betzold (DFL - SD51 Fridley) Phone: (651) 296-2556
Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL - SD43 Minnetonka) Phone: (651) 296-4314
Sen. Jim Carlson (DFL - SD38 Eagan) Phone: (651) 297-8073
Sen. Satveer Chaudhary (DFL - SD50 Fridley) Phone: (651) 296-4334
Sen. Tarryl Clark (DFL - SD15 St. Cloud) Phone: (651) 296-6455
Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL - SD64 St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-5931
Sen. Kevin Dahle (DFL - SD25 Northfield) Phone: (651) 296-1279
Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL - SD60 Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-4191
Sen. John Doll (DFL - SD40 Burnsville) Phone: (651) 296-5975
Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes (DFL - SD31 Winona) Phone: (651) 296-5649
Sen. Leo Foley (DFL - SD47 Coon Rapids) Phone: (651) 296-4154
Sen. Linda Higgins (DFL - SD58 Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-9246
Sen. Gary Kubly (DFL - SD20 Granite Falls) Phone: (651) 296-5094
Sen. Keith Langseth (DFL - SD09 Glyndon) Phone: (651) 296-3205
Sen. Dan Larson (DFL - SD63 Bloomington) Phone: (651) 297-8061
Sen. Ron Latz (DFL - SD44 St. Louis Park) Phone: (651) 297-8065
Sen. Tony Lourey (DFL - SD08 Kerrick) Phone: (651) 296-0293
Sen. Ann Lynch (DFL - SD30 Rochester) Phone: (651) 296-4848
Sen. John Marty (DFL - SD54 Roseville) Phone: (651) 296-5645
Sen. James Metzen (DFL - SD39 South St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-4370
Sen. Mee Moua (DFL - SD67 St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-5285
Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL - SD28 Red Wing) Phone: (651) 296-4264
Sen. Rick Olseen (DFL - SD17 Harris) Phone: (651) 296-5419
Sen. Mary Olson (DFL - SD04 Bemidji) Phone: (651) 296-4913
Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL - SD65 St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-1802
Sen. Lawrence Pogemiller (DFL - SD59 Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-7809
Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon (DFL - SD07 Duluth) Phone: (651) 296-4188
Sen. Ann Rest (DFL - SD45 New Hope) Phone: (651) 296-2889
Sen. Sandy Rummel (DFL - SD53 White Bear Lake) Phone: (651) 296-1253
Sen. Kathy Saltzman (DFL - SD56 Woodbury) Phone: (651) 296-4166
Sen. Tom Saxhaug (DFL - SD03 Grand Rapids) Phone: (651) 296-4136
Sen. Linda Scheid (DFL - SD46 Brooklyn Park) Phone: (651) 296-8869
Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL - SD23 Mankato) Phone: (651) 296-6153
Sen. Katie Sieben (DFL - SD57 Newport) Phone: (651) 297-8060
Sen. Rod Skoe (DFL - SD02 Clearbrook) Phone: (651) 296-4196
Sen. Dan Skogen (DFL - SD10 Hewitt) Phone: (651) 296-5655
Sen. Dan Sparks (DFL - SD27 Austin) Phone: (651) 296-9248
Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL - SD01 Plummer) Phone: (651) 296-8660
Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL - SD05 Chisholm) Phone: (651) 296-8017
Sen. Patricia Torres Ray (DFL - SD62 Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-4274
Sen. Jim Vickerman (DFL - SD22 Tracy) Phone: (651) 296-5650
Sen. Charles Wiger (DFL - SD55 North St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-6820
Sen. Steve Dille (R - SD18 Dassel) Phone: (651) 296-4131
Sen. Dennis Frederickson (R - SD21 New Ulm) Phone: (651) 296-8138

Voted No (Against The Tax Increase)

Sen. Dick Day (R - SD26 Owatonna) Phone: (651) 296-9457
Sen. Michelle Fischbach (R - SD14 Paynesville) Phone: (651) 296-2084
Sen. Chris Gerlach (R - SD37 Apple Valley) Phone: (651) 296-4120
Sen. Joe Gimse (R - SD13 Willmar) Phone: (651) 296-3826
Sen. David Hann (R - SD42 Eden Prairie) Phone: (651) 296-1749
Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R - SD11 Alexandria) Phone: (651) 297-8063
Sen. Debbie Johnson (R - SD49 Ham Lake) Phone: (651) 296-3219
Sen. Michael Jungbauer (R - SD48 East Bethel) Phone: (651) 296-3733
Sen. Amy Koch (R - SD19 Buffalo) Phone: (651) 296-5981
Sen. Paul Koering (R - SD12 Fort Ripley) Phone: (651) 296-4875
Sen. Warren Limmer (R - SD32 Maple Grove) Phone: (651) 296-2159
Sen. Geoff Michel (R - SD41 Edina) Phone: (651) 296-6238
Sen. Gen Olson (R - SD33 Minnetrista) Phone: (651) 296-1282
Sen. Julianne Ortman (R - SD34 Chanhassen) Phone: (651) 296-4837
Sen. Pat Pariseau (R - SD36 Farmington) Phone: (651) 296-5252
Sen. Claire Robling (R - SD35 Jordan) Phone: (651) 296-4123
Sen. Julie Rosen (R - SD24 Fairmont) Phone: (651) 296-5713
Sen. David Senjem (R - SD29 Rochester) Phone: (651) 296-3903
Sen. Ray Vandeveer (R - SD52 Forest Lake) Phone: (651) 296-4351
Sen. Betsy Wergin (R - SD16 Princeton) Phone: (651) 296-8075

Minnesota House Of Representatives Roll Call For Veto Override On HF2800

Voted Yes (For The Tax Increase)

Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL - HD03A Balsam Twp) Phone: (651) 296-4936
Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL - HD39B Inver Grove Heights) Phone: (651) 296-4192
Rep. John Benson (DFL - HD43B Minnetonka) Phone: (651) 296-9934
Rep. Karla Bigham (DFL - HD57A Cottage Grove) Phone: (651) 296-4342
Rep. David Bly (DFL - HD25B Northfield) Phone: (651) 296-7065
Rep. Robin Brown (DFL - HD27A Austin) Phone: (651) 296-8216
Rep. Kathy Brynaert (DFL - HD23B Mankato) Phone: (651) 296-3248
Rep. Julie Bunn (DFL - HD56A Lake Elmo) Phone: (651) 296-4244
Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL - HD45B Crystal) Phone: (651) 296-4255
Rep. Karen Clark (DFL - HD61A Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-0294
Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL - HD62A Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-0173
Rep. David Dill (DFL - HD06A Crane Lake) Phone: (651) 296-2190
Rep. Denise Dittrich (DFL - HD47A Champlin) Phone: (651) 296-5513
Rep. Augustine Dominguez (DFL - HD58B Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-8659
Rep. Al Doty (DFL - HD12B Royalton) Phone: (651) 296-4247
Rep. Kent Eken (DFL - HD02A Twin Valley) Phone: (651) 296-9918
Rep. Tim Faust (DFL - HD08B Mora) Phone: (651) 296-0518
Rep. Patti Fritz (DFL - HD26B Faribault) Phone: (651) 296-8237
Rep. Paul Gardner (DFL - HD53A Shoreview) Phone: (651) 296-2907
Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL - HD54A Roseville) Phone: (651) 296-5387
Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL - HD39A South St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-6828
Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL - HD66B St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-3824
Rep. Larry Haws (DFL - HD15B St. Cloud) Phone: (651) 296-6612
Rep. Debra Hilstrom (DFL - HD46B Brooklyn Center) Phone: (651) 296-3709
Rep. Bill Hilty (DFL - HD08A Finlayson) Phone: (651) 296-4308
Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL - HD60B Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-9281
Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL - HD47B Brooklyn Park) Phone: (651) 296-4280
Rep. Larry Hosch (DFL - HD14B St. Joseph) Phone: (651) 296-4373
Rep. Thomas Huntley (DFL - HD07A Duluth) Phone: (651) 296-2228
Rep. Mike Jaros (DFL - HD07B Duluth) Phone: (651) 296-4246
Rep. Sheldon Johnson (DFL - HD67B St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-4201
Rep. Al Juhnke (DFL - HD13B Willmar) Phone: (651) 296-6206
Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL - HD59B Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-4257
Rep. Jeremy Kalin (DFL - HD17B Lindstrom) Phone: (651) 296-5377
Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL - HD60A Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-0171
Rep. Kate Knuth (DFL - HD50B New Brighton) Phone: (651) 296-0141
Rep. Lyle Koenen (DFL - HD20B Clara City) Phone: (651) 296-4346
Rep. Scott Kranz (DFL - HD51A Blaine) Phone: (651) 296-4226
Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL - HD50A Columbia Heights) Phone: (651) 296-4331
Rep. Ann Lenczewski (DFL - HD40B Bloomington) Phone: (651) 296-4218
Rep. John Lesch (DFL - HD66A St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-4224
Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL - HD30A Rochester) Phone: (651) 296-0573
Rep. Bernard Lieder (DFL - HD01B Crookston) Phone: (651) 296-5091
Rep. Leon Lillie (DFL - HD55A North St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-1188
Rep. Diane Loeffler (DFL - HD59A Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-4219
Rep. Shelley Madore (DFL - HD37A Apple Valley) Phone: (651) 296-5506
Rep. Tim Mahoney (DFL - HD67A St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-4277
Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL - HD65B St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-9714
Rep. Paul Marquart (DFL - HD09B Dilworth) Phone: (651) 296-6829
Rep. Sandra Masin (DFL - HD38A Eagan) Phone: (651) 296-3533
Rep. Frank Moe (DFL - HD04A Bemidji) Phone: (651) 296-5516
Rep. Will Morgan (DFL - HD40A Burnsville) Phone: (651) 296-4212
Rep. Terry Morrow (DFL - HD23A St. Peter) Phone: (651) 296-8634
Rep. Joe Mullery (DFL - HD58A Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-4262
Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL - HD64A St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-8799
Rep. Mary Murphy (DFL - HD06B Hermantown) Phone: (651) 296-2676
Rep. Michael V. Nelson (DFL - HD46A Brooklyn Park) Phone: (651) 296-3751
Rep. Kim Norton (DFL - HD29B Rochester) Phone: (651) 296-9249
Rep. Dave Olin (DFL - HD01A Thief River Falls) Phone: (651) 296-9635
Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba (DFL - HD11B Long Prairie) Phone: (651) 296-3201
Rep. Michael Paymar (DFL - HD64B St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-4199
Rep. Gene Pelowski Jr. (DFL - HD31A Winona) Phone: (651) 296-8637
Rep. Aaron Peterson (DFL - HD20A Appleton) Phone: (651) 296-4228
Rep. Sandra Peterson (DFL - HD45A New Hope) Phone: (651) 296-4176
Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL - HD27B Austin) Phone: (651) 296-4193
Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL - HD05A Virginia) Phone: (651) 296-0170
Rep. Maria Ruud (DFL - HD42A Minnetonka) Phone: (651) 296-3964
Rep. Brita Sailer (DFL - HD02B Park Rapids) Phone: (651) 296-4265
Rep. Bev Scalze (DFL - HD54B Little Canada) Phone: (651) 296-7153
Rep. Anthony Sertich (DFL - HD05B Chisholm) Phone: (651) 296-0172
Rep. Steve Simon (DFL - HD44A St. Louis Park) Phone: (651) 296-9889
Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL - HD55B Maplewood) Phone: (651) 296-7807
Rep. Linda Slocum (DFL - HD63B Richfield) Phone: (651) 296-7158
Rep. Loren Solberg (DFL - HD03B Grand Rapids) Phone: (651) 296-2365
Rep. Marsha Swails (DFL - HD56B Woodbury) Phone: (651) 296-1147
Rep. Cy Thao (DFL - HD65A St. Paul) Phone: (651) 296-5158
Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL - HD63A Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-5375
Rep. Tom Tillberry (DFL - HD51B Fridley) Phone: (651) 296-5510
Rep. Ken Tschumper (DFL - HD31B La Crescent) Phone: (651) 296-9278
Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL - HD62B Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-4200
Rep. Neva Walker (DFL - HD61B Minneapolis) Phone: (651) 296-7152
Rep. John Ward (DFL - HD12A Brainerd) Phone: (651) 296-4333
Rep. Andy Welti (DFL - HD30B Plainview) Phone: (651) 296-4378
Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL - HD44B Golden Valley) Phone: (651) 296-7026
Rep. Sandy Wollschlager (DFL - HD28A Cannon Falls) Phone: (651) 296-8635
Rep. Jim Abeler (R - HD48B Anoka) Phone: (651) 296-1729
Rep. Ron Erhardt (R - HD41A Edina) Phone: (651) 296-4363
Rep. Rod Hamilton (R - HD22B Mountain Lake) Phone: (651) 296-5373
Rep. Bud Heidgerken (R - HD13A Freeport) Phone: (651) 296-4317
Rep. Neil W. Peterson (R - HD41B Bloomington) Phone: (651) 296-7803
Rep. Kathy Tingelstad (R - HD49B Andover) Phone: (651) 296-5369

Voted No (Against The Tax Increase)

Rep. Bruce Anderson (R - HD19A Buffalo Twp) Phone: (651) 296-5063
Rep. Sarah Anderson (R - HD43A Plymouth) Phone: (651) 296-5511
Rep. Michael Beard (R - HD35A Shakopee) Phone: (651) 296-8872
Rep. John Berns (R - HD33B Wayzata) Phone: (651) 296-4315
Rep. Mark Buesgens (R - HD35B Jordan) Phone: (651) 296-5185
Rep. Tony Cornish (R - HD24B Good Thunder) Phone: (651) 296-4240
Rep. Matt Dean (R - HD52B Dellwood) Phone: (651) 296-3018
Rep. Chris DeLaForest (R - HD49A Andover) Phone: (651) 296-4231
Rep. Randy Demmer (R - HD29A Hayfield) Phone: (651) 296-9236
Rep. Bob Dettmer (R - HD52A Forest Lake) Phone: (651) 296-4124
Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R - HD28B Wabasha) Phone: (651) 296-2273
Rep. Rob Eastlund (R - HD17A Isanti) Phone: (651) 296-5364
Rep. Tom Emmer (R - HD19B Delano) Phone: (651) 296-4336
Rep. Sondra Erickson (R - HD16A Princeton) Phone: (651) 296-6746
Rep. Brad Finstad (R - HD21B Comfrey) Phone: (651) 296-9303
Rep. Pat Garofalo (R - HD36B Farmington) Phone: (651) 296-1069
Rep. Steve Gottwalt (R - HD15A St. Cloud) Phone: (651) 296-6316
Rep. Bob Gunther (R - HD24A Fairmont) Phone: (651) 296-3240
Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R - HD48A Cedar) Phone: (651) 296-2439
Rep. Mary Liz Holberg (R - HD36A Lakeville) Phone: (651) 296-6926
Rep. Joe Hoppe (R - HD34B Chaska) Phone: (651) 296-5066
Rep. Larry Howes (R - HD04B Walker) Phone: (651) 296-2451
Rep. Paul Kohls (R - HD34A Victoria) Phone: (651) 296-4282
Rep. Morrie Lanning (R - HD09A Moorhead) Phone: (651) 296-5515
Rep. Doug Magnus (R - HD22A Slayton) Phone: (651) 296-5505
Rep. Carol McFarlane (R - HD53B White Bear Lake) Phone: (651) 296-5363
Rep. Denny McNamara (R - HD57B Hastings) Phone: (651) 296-3135
Rep. Bud Nornes (R - HD10A Fergus Falls) Phone: (651) 296-4946
Rep. Mark Olson (R - HD16B Big Lake) Phone: (651) 296-4237
Rep. Dennis Ozment (R - HD37B Rosemount) Phone: (651) 296-4306
Rep. Erik Paulsen (R - HD42B Eden Prairie) Phone: (651) 296-7449
Rep. Joyce Peppin (R - HD32A Rogers) Phone: (651) 296-7806
Rep. Marty Seifert (R - HD21A Marshall) Phone: (651) 296-5374
Rep. Dan Severson (R - HD14A Sauk Rapids) Phone: (651) 296-7808
Rep. Ron Shimanski (R - HD18A Silver Lake) Phone: (651) 296-1534
Rep. Dean Simpson (R - HD10B Perham) Phone: (651) 296-4293
Rep. Steve Smith (R - HD33A Mound) Phone: (651) 296-9188
Rep. Dean Urdahl (R - HD18B Grove City) Phone: (651) 296-4344
Rep. Lynn Wardlow (R - HD38B Eagan) Phone: (651) 296-4128
Rep. Torrey Westrom (R - HD11A Elbow Lake) Phone: (651) 296-4929
Rep. Kurt Zellers (R - HD32B Maple Grove) Phone: (651) 296-5502

Did Not Vote

Rep. Laura Brod (R - HD25A New Prague) Phone: (651) 296-4229
Rep. Connie Ruth (R - HD26A Owatonna) Phone: (651) 296-5368

Be sure to let your Senator and/or Representative know how much you appreciate the ability to be forced to pay more if they voted yes. Also be sure to thank your Senator and/or Representative if they voted no.

USMC 9971 OUT