GOP accuses DEED of ‘extravagant waste’

Fire. Ready. Aim … MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports: “Republicans in the Minnesota House are claiming that a reception state economic development officials and the Mayo Clinic are hosting this month in Chicago is an extravagant waste of taxpayer money. They referred to the event several times on the House floor Monday during the debate of the Omnibus Jobs, Commerce and Housing Budget Bill. However, a spokesman for the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) said today that there is no taxpayer money involved. … ‘You might think it’s a good idea for the taxpayers of this state to wine and dine people on Lake Michigan on a luxury yacht, but many of the taxpayers of Minnesota can’t even afford a beer,’ [GOP Rep. Mary Liz Holberg] said. ‘I think this is a wrong use of tax dollars. People can have much less opulent activities.’ DEED spokesman Blake Chaffee said he got a good chuckle listening to the debate. He said private businesses are actually picking up the entire tab. ‘There are no tax dollars,’ Chaffee said. ‘We go out and raise money for it. We have for 10 years.’ “

What we need are cheerleaders, and a mascot, and a gun shooting T-shirts and … Jean Hopfensperger of the Strib writes: “Before Minnesota takes dramatic steps to shore up Vikings stadium funding, it should search for ways to boost public enthusiasm for the electronic pulltab games that were slated to fund it, according to discussion at a key House committee meeting on Tuesday. Can charities or e-game vendors crank up their advertising budgets so bar patrons know where the games are and how to play them? Can bars not be required to also sell paper pulltabs if they want to experiment with the high-tech games?” Can senior citizens be required to play e-pulltabs before getting meals in nursing homes?

Community service?! For knowing his Second Amendment rights and defending his castle? The AP says: “A Rochester minister has been ordered to do community service work for shooting and wounding his granddaughter. A Olmsted County district judge stayed a 91-day jail sentence for Stanley Wilkinson, pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Rochester. … Wilkinson told police that in December, he grabbed his pistol after hearing a noise outside his house and fired two rounds after seeing what he thought was someone trying to open the patio door. It turned out to be his 16-year-old granddaughter, who was struck once in the neck.”

The AP reports that U.S. Bank has consented to process money transfers for Somalis: “U.S. Bank has agreed to open an account that will allow Somalis living in Minnesota to send money to their homeland, reopening a lifeline to relatives living in the war-torn East African country, an advocacy group said Tuesday. Minnesotans for a Fair Economy said U.S. Bank has agreed to open an account with Dahab-shil, a Minneapolis money service business. A spokeswoman for the Minneapolis-based bank confirmed the agreement. … Many big banks have stopped handling the transfers in recent years, saying the federal requirements designed to crack down on terrorism financing are too complex and not worth the risk.”

The liquor lobby is getting its act in high gear. Kyle Potter of the AP says: “Lawmakers’ plan to boost alcohol taxes in Minnesota could add as much as $2 to the cost of a standard 12-pack of beer, local brewers and liquor lobbyists said Tuesday as they tried to rally opposition to the proposed tax spike. … Currently, brewers … pay the state $4.60 for every 31-gallon barrel they brew. Liquors and other spirits are currently charged $1.33 for each liter bottle. For bottles of wine, it varies based on alcoholic content. Those rates haven’t changed since 1987. The House tax bill looks to bump up all of those taxes, by as much as $27.75 for each barrel of beer.”

Nothing to do with the e-bingo glitch, I’m guessing … Christopher Magan of the PiPress says: “Thousands of students across Minnesota could not take the online state math assessment they spent much of the school year preparing for because of a technology failure Tuesday, April 16. A computer problem at testing contractor American Institutes of Research, or AIR, prevented students from beginning or completing the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments online, said Charlene Briner, chief of staff for the Minnesota Department of Education. … Educators like online assessments because they offer immediate feedback, Briner said. Students also are increasingly more comfortable testing on computers, she said. But, Briner said, ‘It is clearly not fail-safe.’ “

What you do is sizzle-grill it on sourdough, or some dense moist bread, in plenty of garlic olive oil … The AP says: “Think you can make a mean grilled cheese sandwich? Here’s your chance to find out. The second annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship will be held April 27 in Mineral Point, in southwestern Wisconsin. The competition has divisions for amateurs, professionals and young chefs ages 12-17. All entries have to use Wisconsin cheese as the primary ingredient, but there’s also room for creativity. The four competition categories include classic bread and cheese; classic plus one ingredient; classic plus extras; and a classic dessert sandwich.”

Not sure what they are, but the new social studies standards are probably going to be more “pro-American.” The AP says: “Minnesota is moving ahead with new standards for teaching social studies. State Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius and Gov. Mark Dayton have approved the standards. That clears the way for the Minnesota Department of Education to complete the remaining steps in the rulemaking process. Once the standards are adopted, teachers and district staff across Minnesota can start implementing them. In March, an administrative law judge mediated a dispute between the state Department of Education and a group made up mostly of conservatives who said the standards reflect an ‘anti-American’ and liberal bias.” Was that according to Bob Davis?

City Pages’ annual Best of the Twin Cities issue is out. In the “People” section, there’ are a couple of notables:
“Best Tweeter — 2013 David Brauer
“With the Twin Cities boasting one of the most vibrant Twitterverses in the country, the competition for this honor is stiff. But longtime Twin Cities journalist David Brauer’s feed is a cut above the rest. … It helps that his interests run the gamut from politics to sports to food and farmers’ markets, making his account a must-follow, one-stop experience for commentary and links about the major news stories of the day. Also helpful is the clout that comes with his gig as MinnPost’s media blogger. … Take it from us: When the Twin Cities’ most respected media journalist tweets at you, you listen, respond, and try to match wits. To Brauer’s credit, the last isn’t an easy task.” Whew! What did that cost you, David? $50?

And …
“Best Blog — 2013 Bluestem Prairie
Let’s all say a little prayer for whichever political figure Sally Jo Sorenson has locked her sights on next. As creator of and primary contributor to Bluestem Prairie, Sorenson is one of the most prolific writers in the blogosphere, and once she digs her teeth into a subject she doesn’t let go. Billed as a “hip (but not cynical)” news magazine for greater Minnesota, Bluestem has gained widespread notoriety, from journalists and politicos alike, over the past few years as a progressive hub for in-depth, witty, and irreverent analysis on rural politics in Minnesota. Sorenson is a master aggregator of news big and small, and she still finds time to beat the mainstream media to scoops. … We particularly enjoy her ongoing series on Mike Parry, a.k.a. Minnesota’s ex-’Emo Senator,’ who can’t keep his racially charged tweets to himself.” Uh, folks, Sally Jo doesn’t like it when you misspell “Sorensen.”