Al Franken's Blog, page 60

Southwest Minneapolis Patch: Sen. Al Franken to Donate Pay During Shutdown to Second Harvest Heartland

Sen. Al Franken will be donating the salary he receives while the federal government is shut down to Second Harvest Heartland, a hunger relief organization that works throughout Minnesota.

Franken chose this organization because he said people who rely on the federal government’s safety net programs may need help making ends meet as a result of the shutdown.

“Second Harvest Heartland is a great organization that works throughout Minnesota, providing vital assistance to families who would otherwise go hungry,” Franken said in a news release. “Just as I was prepared to do in 2011 when we faced a possible shutdown, I won’t be taking my salary. I believe that while the government is shut down, donating my salary to charity is the right thing to do, and I’m going to make sure that money goes toward helping people who might be badly affected by the shut down.”

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Star Tribune: The House GOP’s clueless shutdown crusade

The talking-points memo had clearly gone out to Republican members of Congress who came before TV news cameras during this week’s late-night, last-ditch budget maneuvers.

As the federal government careened toward the partial shutdown that began Tuesday morning, GOP representatives one after the other repeated the same two arguments: that their party’s stop-Obamacare-at-any-cost budget strategy reflects the “will of the people,” and that Democrats and President Obama simply aren’t willing to compromise.

The numbers tell a different, more reality-based story, which is why the natural tendency to blame both sides for the budget debacle should be checked as the shutdown and its potentially harmful economic consequences play out. “This is not a ‘pox on both your houses’ moment,” said Michael Linden, a federal budget expert with the Center for American Progress.

In one of the most recent surveys about the shutdown, the respected Morning Consult National Healthcare Tracking Poll found that just 33 percent of voters questioned from Sept. 25-28 agreed that lawmakers should delay, defund or repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

Numbers in the short-term government funding legislation — the measure that if passed, would have kept the government operating for the next several months — also undercut Republican claims that the Democratic-­controlled Senate won’t budge. That measure, on closer examination, reveals a key point too often missing in the budget standoff:

Democrats already have compromised by keeping sequester cuts in place, something many in the party vehemently oppose, until a longer-term agreement can be hammered out. These blunt spending reductions were put in place during the 2011 debt ceiling deal and make more than $1 trillion in cuts to defense and domestic spending over the next decade. The cuts will slow deficit spending, but many economists say they’ll also hinder economic growth.

“Democrats in both chambers of Congress agreed to adopt the lower spending levels that the Republicans asked for as a way to avoid a shutdown. Republicans refused to take yes for an answer,” Linden said.

Continuing the sequester should be a major policy victory for the GOP, especially for budget hawks who won at the polls by promising to cut spending in Washington. But now Republicans in the House want more and have tied government operations — and, potentially, the upcoming vote to raise the debt ceiling — to undercutting the 2010 Affordable Care Act. In doing so, the party set yet another high-water mark in this era of extreme political tactics.

It would be one thing if House Republicans were putting only their political futures at risk. But this political equivalent to civil war will likely cause civilian casualties. The federal government is the nation’s largest employer, and more than 800,000 employees are expected to be furloughed across the nation. Their absent paychecks will have economic ripples that extend far beyond their immediate families, with businesses in their communities taking a quick hit.

Their absence at work will potentially delay loan processing for small businesses and some consumers seeking home mortgages. Medical research dollars may slow, a threat to economic and patient health. Jittery markets could undermine business and consumer confidence, weakening an already fragile economic recovery.

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In Forum: Franken urges Moorhead, D-G-F educators to ‘teach so they can learn’

U.S. Sen. Al Franken gave local educators a laugh and a few verbal pats on the back Thursday before they dove into training sessions to prepare for the school year.

The Minnesota Democrat brought his deft, dry wit to a warm, muggy Moorhead High School auditorium, where he urged teachers and administrators from Moorhead and Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton to make every student feel loved and “teach so they can learn.”

Franken said he isn’t a fan of the federal No Child Left Behind legislation, with its high-stakes testing and single standard for all children.

“Practically the only thing I like about No Child Left Behind is the name,” Franken told the group.

Instead, he wants the nation’s education system to focus on the annual growth in knowledge and ability for each student.

The post In Forum: Franken urges Moorhead, D-G-F educators to ‘teach so they can learn’ appeared first on U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website.

Fergus Falls Journal: Senator Franken pays visit to Veterans Home

On one of the many stops for Al Franken during a tour of the Fergus Falls Veterans Home Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Senator took a closer look at the barber shop inside the facility.

“I’m getting a little shaggy here,” Franken said, as he ruffled his hair with a laugh.

Veterans Home Administrator Jon Skillingstad gave Franken an informal tour of the 106-resident facility. Franken stopped along the way to chat with veterans in the hallway or enjoy some cookies. He thanked them for their service and even joked around a bit.

“It’s an unbelievably wonderful facility,” Franken said. “It really makes me feel good.”

The post Fergus Falls Journal: Senator Franken pays visit to Veterans Home appeared first on U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website.

MPR: Sen. Franken raises concerns about how sequester affects Minnesota seniors

U.S. Senator Al Franken is raising concerns about the effect of sequestration on Minnesota seniors.

Federal across-the-board budget cuts known as the sequester reduced Older Americans Act funding in Minnesota by about six percent, or $1.4 million, from 2012 levels. That money is used for senior services like home-delivered meals and transportation.

At a Monday meeting in St. Paul with about 150 seniors and senior advocates, Franken said providing those services can actually save money.

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Post-Bulletin: Franken, Walz push bill to speed up VA claims

“There are a lot of soldiers and veterans who don’t have that luxury, they are going further into debt, they are having collection issues, they are having foreclosure issues because they are not getting their benefits in a timely manner,” Smith said.

She joined a group of veterans and veterans advocates meeting with Sen. Al Franken and 1st District Rep. Tim Walz on Friday in Rochester to discuss their frustration with how long it is taking the VA to process disability claims.

Earlier this year, the VA’s backlog of cases ballooned to 600,000 disability claims. That number since has dropped to 480,000 claims. Claims are considered backlogged if it takes more than 125 days to process them.

While the situation is starting to improve, Franken and Walz agree that more needs to be done. The Minnesota Democrats have introduced a bill aimed at shrinking the backlog. One of the key provisions would allow veterans to see their local doctors for an initial diagnosis instead of having to go to VA hospitals.

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Austin Daily Herald: Franken on hand for biodiesel reopening, expansion

U.S. Sen. Al Franken congratulated Renewable Energy Group Inc. Friday on the reopening and expansion of its plant near Glenville.

The upgrades allow the 30-million-gallons-a-year facility to make biodiesel from low-grade fats, oils and other natural resources that would normally take longer to refine.

“This facility exemplifies Minnesota’s renewable energy potential,” said Franken during a ceremony at the plant. “You’re helping our nation reduce its reliance on foreign oil.”

REG bought the plant in the summer of 2011 after SoyMor Biodeiesel LLC. suspended production in 2008 due to high prices for soybean oil. The plant, which had begun as a refined oil feedstock biorefinery — started up again in 2011, and construction began in August 2012. The $21 million in upgrades were completed in June of this year.

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The post Austin Daily Herald: Franken on hand for biodiesel reopening, expansion appeared first on U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website.

Buzzfeed: Al Franken’s 13 Reasons Why The Minnesota State Fair Is The Best In The Country

Today marks the first day of the Minnesota State Fair, or what we in the state call the Great Minnesota Get-Together. It began in 1859 and is now the second most-attended in the country (after the fair in some place called “Texas”). And our state fair is better than yours. Here’s why:

1. The mind-blowing creativity of new foods

In addition to standard fair food like fried cheese curds and fresh mini donuts, each year brings the debut of insanely imaginative new dishes. This year you can try wine-glazed deep fried meatloaf, candied bacon cannoli, or cocoa cheese bites. And if you really dig the mini donuts, you can also try the new mini donut batter crunch ice cream. You can read the full list of new foods here.

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The post Buzzfeed: Al Franken’s 13 Reasons Why The Minnesota State Fair Is The Best In The Country appeared first on U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website.

Mankato Free Press: Franken talks football, jobs in local visit

Sen. Al Franken pitched his worker-training bill Wednesday at South Central College, saying it would fund partnerships between businesses and colleges to develop skills needed for in-demand jobs.

“As you all know, I don’t have to tell you, there’s a skills gap,” Franken told a group of about 10 business and government attendees. He said studies in Minnesota have shown that between one-third and one-half of manufacturers have jobs available they can’t fill because they can’t find workers with the right skills.

“It used to be, of course, that most businesses did their own training. That’s a role for business to do,” Franken said. “To me, there is a role for the government to facilitate it.”

His bill would fund competitive training grants that reward colleges and local workforce organizations that more effectively help trainees find permanent jobs. The bill was introduced July 25 in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, of which Franken is a member.

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The post Mankato Free Press: Franken talks football, jobs in local visit appeared first on U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website.

KARE 11: Franken’s part of Affordable Care Act paying dividends

Health insurance refund checks are arriving in mail boxes across the country due to a provision of the Affordable Care Act designed to curb what insurers spend on overhead.

“Health insurance companies had to spend at least 80 percent of their premiums on actual health care,” said Sen. Al Franken, who authored that section of the federal health reform legislation now known to many as ObamaCare.

The “medical loss ratio” may sound complex, but in its simplest terms it requires that 80 percent of premiums must go to direct health care, leaving only 20 percent to go toward administrative overhead, including profits, marketing and executive salaries.

For larger group plans, the threshold is 85 percent to care, versus 15 percent for administration.

“I got this from a Minnesota law, which was passed in 1993,” Franken added.

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The post KARE 11: Franken’s part of Affordable Care Act paying dividends appeared first on U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website.