Al Franken's Blog, page 68
February 19, 2013
Northlands NewsCenter: Sen. Franken Fights to Save Postal Service
Washington D.C. (NNCNOW.com)– The past week has brought continual bad news for the U.S. Postal Service, including a negative impact here in the Northland. However, federal lawmakers are hoping to turn things around for the struggling mail delivery service.
Eight Senators, including U.S. Senator Al Franken introduced a bill that would modernize the postal service and repeal the law passed by Congress that the Senators say is largely responsible for the postal service’s financial problems.
© U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website, 2013. |
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February 15, 2013
Post Bulletin: Our View: If a tax has bipartisan opposition, Obama should listen
Quick quiz: What aspect of the Affordable Care Act — aka “Obamacare” — is under attack by Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Democratic Sen. Al Franken and Third District Republican U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen?
Answer? The Medical Device Tax, which took effect Jan. 1.
Essentially, it’s a 2.3 percent manufacturers excise tax that is projected to raise $30 billion over the next 10 years. The new revenue will pay part of the government’s cost of subsidizing health insurance for 30 million people who currently have none.
© U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website, 2013. |
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Mille Lacs Messenger: At Sen. Franken’s Invitation, Central Lakes College President Addresses Senate Meeting
WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/13/13] – Today, at the invitation of U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), Central Lakes College President Dr. Larry Lundblad spoke at a Senate meeting on effective ways to create jobs and put people back to work. Dr. Lundblad, who is a statewide leader in forging partnerships between schools and businesses to make sure students are prepared to join the workforce, addressed the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee.
Sen. Franken also spoke about the need to close the skills gap during today’s meeting. He will be pursuing legislation on workforce development that will strengthen the relationship between colleges and businesses to help ensure students get the education they need to fill open jobs in Minnesota and across the country.
“Dr. Lundblad has been an effective leader in closing the skills gap in Minnesota, and it was very helpful for my colleagues to hear from him,” said Sen. Franken. “As I’ve traveled around Minnesota, I’ve been astounded by how often I hear from businesses that they want to expand and hire more workers, but they can’t find applicants with the right training and skills. Dr. Lundblad’s work is preparing our students and our workers for the jobs of the 21st century, and I’m grateful for his leadership.”
© U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website, 2013. |
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February 13, 2013
Austin Daily Herald: Franken talks farming in Albert Lea
ALBERT LEA — Farmers, residents and local leaders met with Sen. Al Franken Saturday to discuss various agriculture issues during the legislator’s visit to Albert Lea.
Franken discussed the farm bill issue in both Albert Lea and St. Charles Saturday, though the talks also touched on other agriculture issues like conservation and biodiesel. Franken said he enjoyed that other topics came up and said he enjoys speaking with constituents in informal settings.
“The reason I’m here today is to hear from you,” Franken said. “There’s very little that doesn’t impact people in rural areas.”
© U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website, 2013. |
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February 12, 2013
Brainerd Dispatch: Lundblad will attend State of Union address
Central Lakes College President Larry Lundblad will be the guest of Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., at Tuesday’s State of the Union address in Washington, D.C.
A statement from Franken’s office on Monday identified Lundblad as a leader in Minnesota for fostering partnerships between business and education that are designed to make sure workers have the right training and skills for available jobs.
“His efforts to close the skills gap are already helping students find unemployment and Minnesota manufacturers fill job openings,” Franken said in a statement.
© U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website, 2013. |
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February 5, 2013
MinnPost: Dayton, Franken, Kluwe scheduled to appear at MinnRoast 2013
Gov. Mark Dayton, Sen. Al Franken and Vikings punter Chris Kluwe don’t often appear in the same sentence, but they’re all scheduled to appear in MinnRoast 2013.
Dayton is returning for his third performance as governor, and Franken for his third as senator, at MinnRoast, MinnPost’s annual event gently skewering politicians, journalists and people in the news. This year’s date is Friday evening, April 26.
Kluwe is scheduled to make his first appearance. Salon’s No. 1 sexiest man of 2012, Kluwe was covered by MinnPost and other media for his vigorous arguments against the marriage amendment.
© U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website, 2013. |
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February 4, 2013
StarTribune: Shootings stir action on Wellstone legacy
WASHINGTON – More than a decade after Sen. Paul Wellstone’s death in a plane crash — and more than four years after Congress passed a landmark mental health law bearing his name — the signature achievement of his political career remains unfinished.
Until now.
With the nation reeling over the shootings of elementary school students by a deranged gunman in Newtown, Conn., Wellstone’s family and friends say they are close to completing his mission of expanding coverage for people with mental health or substance abuse problems.
© U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website, 2013. |
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February 1, 2013
KARE 11: Calls for more mental health counseling for students
Senator Al Franken introduced a bill on Thursday that would provide federal grants to school districts to raise the level of access for students needing counseling services.
Minnesota ranks 48th among U.S. states providing counseling services for students, according to Franken.
“I always say both counseling and psychiatry services are really lacking in the rural areas,” said Katie Newton, Ph.D., L.P., who treats youngsters with mental issues at Pediatric Consultation Specialists of Plymouth. “The Twin Cities, in my experience, has been fairly good in terms of availability and access. I think that tends to get less and less as you get further outside of the metro.”
© U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website, 2013. |
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Monticello Times: Sen. Franken puts spotlight on school mental health access
Minnesota Sen. Al Franken held a media call today (Thursday, Jan. 31) to discuss the Mental Health in Schools Act, which he introduced to expand access to mental health services in schools for kids who need help.
Franken’s legislation authorizes $200 million in grant funding per year over five years, and eligible schools may apply for up to $1 million per grant year, based on the size of their student population.
Franken was joined on the conference call by Minnesota mental health expert Sue Abderholden, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Katie Johnson, a mom from Shoreview, whose young son Cameron’s life has been transformed by in-school counseling.
© U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website, 2013. |
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January 31, 2013
ThinkProgress: During Gun Violence Hearing, Senator Warns Against Stigmatizing Mental Illness
During a Senate hearing on gun violence prevention on Wednesday, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) issued a stark warning: don’t stigmatize Americans suffering from mental illnesses.
Since December’s mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, lawmakers have been engaged in a debate over the best ways to curb gun violence. Much of that debate has centered on America’s expensive and inaccessible mental health care system, since several perpetrators of mass shootings in recent years have also had mental illnesses. But the conversation has veered wildly off-course — stigmatizing Americans suffering from mental disorders as dangerous, and turning them into the scapegoats for gun violence, as the NRA’s Wayne LaPierre did during his bizarre press conference in reaction to the tragedy at Sandy Hook.
© U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website, 2013. |
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