Al Franken's Blog, page 87
October 11, 2011
Minnesota Indepedent: Massive political operation accompanied Comcast/NBC-Universal merger
The 2011 merger of Comcast and NBC-Universal created one of the largest media conglomerates in American history, which critics warn could limit the variety of voices heard by the public and threaten the internet's role as a forum for free exchange of information.
(...)
Read the rest of Minnesota Indepedent: Massive political operation accompanied Comcast/NBC-Universal merger
© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
Permalink
Post tags:
KSAX: Senator Franken Visits Greater Minnesota; Discusses Health Care
Senator Al Franken stopped in Greater Minnesota to talk about needs and challenges of health care in rural Minnesota.
Franken was recently named Rural Health Care Legislator of the year. Sunday was in Glenwood Glacial Ridge Health System at to accept the award and discuss ways to improve health care in rural areas.
(...)
Read the rest of KSAX: Senator Franken Visits Greater Minnesota; Discusses Health Care
© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
Permalink
Post tags:
October 5, 2011
Washington Post: Franken, Blumenthal bill would allow cell phone users to sue carriers
Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) on Tuesday introduced a bill that would ban wireless carriers from using contract clauses that strip users of rights to sue in court.
The senators said in a release that companies such as AT&T, Verizon and Sprint Nextel regularly include provisions in consumer cell phone contracts that require any complaints to be resolved in arbitration.
They said that leaves consumers with fewer ways to fight back.
© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
Permalink
Post tags:
Savage Pacer: Guest Commentary: Working on behalf of America's veterans
One of the reasons I ran for the Senate was to do right by our veterans. While I've never had the honor of serving in the military, I have been privileged to participate in seven USO tours, including to Iraq and Afghanistan.
I have seen the dedication, the bravery and the sacrifice. I have been humbled and uplifted by my experiences with soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen and sailors. And I'm proud to say that working on behalf of veterans is one of the most important jobs I have as a United States Senator.
That's why I was particularly excited to have the honor of speaking at the American Legion's national convention in Minneapolis in August. It gave me the chance to work with the American Legion – the nation's largest veterans' service organization – and share some of my ideas about how we can better serve our veterans.
© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
Permalink
Post tags:
Richfield Patch: Richfield Public Safety Receives Nearly $250k to Hire More Officers
Sens. Al Franken (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced that Richfield Public Safety along with five other area police departments would receive a portion of $1.2 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to hire additional police officers. Richfield will receive $247,646 of the allotted funds.
"The first responsibility of government is to protect the safety of its citizens," Klobuchar said in a press release. "As a former prosecutor, I understand the strain budget shortfalls place on local law enforcement. This funding will help local governments put officers on the streets and keep our communities safe."
According to the release, the funds, which are provided through the DOJ's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), will cover the full salary and benefits packages for highly trained police officers in each community for three years.
© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
Permalink
Post tags:
October 4, 2011
MyFox9: Hopkins, Richfield Get $500,000 to Hire Cops
U.S. Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar on Monday announced nearly $500,000 in federal funding to hire more police officers in Hopkins and Richfield. The Hopkins Police Department received $242,266 and Richfield received $247,646.
(...)
Read the rest of MyFox9: Hopkins, Richfield Get $500,000 to Hire Cops
© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
Permalink
Post tags:
September 30, 2011
Alexandria Echo Press: Sen. Franken urges service members to claim their retroactive stop loss pay
U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) is urging service members and veterans who had their military service involuntarily extended under the Stop Loss program between September 11 2001 and September 30 2009 to claim their retroactive stop loss pay.
Congress provided more than $500 million for veterans, service members, and primary beneficiaries of servicemembers whose military service was involuntarily extended through the Stop Loss program to receive pay. However, to date only about 40 percent of the funds have been distributed.
(...)
Read the rest of Alexandria Echo Press: Sen. Franken urges service members to claim their retroactive stop loss pay
© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
Permalink
Post tags:
September 26, 2011
Duluth News Tribune: Senators say OnStar invades privacy
The OnStar automobile communication service used by 6 million Americans maintains its two-way connection with a customer even after the service is discontinued, while reserving the right to sell data from that connection.
Some U.S. senators say that's a blatant invasion of privacy and are calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. But OnStar says former customers can stop the two-way transmission, and no driving data of customers has been shared or sold.
"OnStar is attempting one of the most brazen invasions of privacy in recent memory," said Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, a Democrat.
Permalink
Post tags:
Ars Technica: "Three Senators condemn OnStar for tracking former customers"
Three Senators have raised concerns about an announcement by GM's OnStar's subsidiary that it would continue collecting data from customers' cars even after they cancelled their OnStar service. In a Wednesday letter to the company, Al Franken (D-MN) and Chris Coons (D-DE) warned that "OnStar's actions appear to violate basic principles of privacy and fairness."
On Sunday, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) raised objections of his own. He released a letter he has written to the Federal Trade Commission seeking an investigation of OnStar's privacy practices. Schumer described OnStar's new policy as "one of the most brazen invasions of privacy in recent memory."
OnStar is apparently hoping to create a new revenue stream by collecting data about the movements of OnStar-equipped cars. Obviously, this data set will be more comprehensive—and, therefore, more lucrative—if it includes data from former OnStar subscribers as well as current ones. In an announcement e-mailed to subscribers earlier this month, the company said that, starting December 1, it would continue collecting data from subscribers even after they cancel their service. OnStar also said it reserved the right to sell aggregated and anonymized data to third parties.
© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
Permalink
Post tags:
Advocate Tribune: "Working on Behalf of America's Veterans"
One of the reasons I ran for the Senate was to do right by our veterans. While I've never had the honor of serving in the military, I have been privileged to participate in seven USO tours, including to Iraq and Afghanistan.
I have seen the dedication, the bravery, and the sacrifice. I have been humbled and uplifted by my experiences with soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and sailors. And I'm proud to say that working on behalf of veterans is one of the most important jobs I have as a United States Senator.
That's why I was particularly excited to have the honor of speaking at the American Legion's national convention in Minneapolis in August. It gave me the chance to workwith the American Legion—the nation's largest veterans service organization—and share some of my ideas about how we can better serve our veterans.
© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
Permalink
Post tags:
Al Franken's Blog
- Al Franken's profile
- 651 followers
