So much for not being political. MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports: “Republican Doug Wardlow told supporters at a private fundraiser this week that he plans a mass firing of Democrats that work in the state attorney general’s office if he wins in November. … In remarks during a fundraising event Monday in Shakopee for Congressman Jason Lewis, Wardlow described plans for a partisan purge.”
Uh oh. The Star Tribune’s Emma Nelson report: “Jessica Kingston, the former St. Paul human rights director who received a $250,000 settlement from the city in exchange for leaving her job, said she repeatedly raised concerns that the police department was blocking investigations of officer misconduct.”
The religious left. MPR’s Briana Bierschbach writes: “Churches turned Minneapolis minister Doug Pagitt away, so on Wednesday, he delivered a sermon of sorts outside in the frigid rain. … He didn’t quote heavily from scripture or hold up the Bible. Instead, he asked the more than 100 people gathered in a park in Richfield to get out and vote this fall — and vote for Democrats.”
Some love for the ’dome. Deadspin’s Neil Demause writes: “Whenever professional economists are asked about stadium and arena deals, they invariably explain, for the hundredth time, that these “almost never” work out to the benefit of the public. … Between the price tags in the hundreds of millions of dollars and the feeble economic returns that sports venues generate—pro sports teams, economists like to note, do about the same amount of annual sales as a large grocery store—it’s settled science that it’s nearly impossible for taxpayers to come out ahead. … … But nearly impossible isn’t completely impossible. In a vanishingly few cases since the dawn of the Age of Sports Subsidies, pro sports team owners in the U.S. have managed to build new homes for their franchises in ways that don’t entirely suck, even in the eyes of the most jaundiced skeptics.”
In other news…
Imagine being upset by this: “Local meteorologist gets mixed reviews for wearing her son during on-air forecast” [Pioneer Press]
For now: “Air quality remains good in N.D./Minn.” [Fargo Forum]
Controversy: “Members of Prince’s estate ask President Trump to not use his music at rallies” [Star Tribune]
Bummer: “St. Paul leather handbag brand closing its local manufacturing facility” [Pioneer Press]
If canoes could talk: “‘No way!’ Lake Superior spits back Duluth man’s long-lost canoe” [MPR]
What this Wardlow dude is proposing sounds like it’d be illegal. Employers can’t ask you what you party affiliation is so finding and firing Democrats might not be as easy as it sounds.
And will he take experienced competent employees and replace them with inexperienced Republicans? Is this affirmative action for Republicans?
“…Wardlow described plans for a partisan purge…”
If true, and it sounds like it is, Mr. Wardlow has just disqualified himself for statewide office, and especially a statewide office that purports to serve the interests of everyone in Minnesota. I’m not a lawyer, but Henk Tobias may be correct in saying it’d be illegal – not a good position for the supposed chief law enforcement officer of the state to be taking.
As economists and lawyers like to say, it depends. Are they civil service employees? Or political appointees?
As to how well the office would run after the putsch, the GOP likes to say gubmint can’t do anything right. And when they get in office, they prove it. See “Katrina, Hurricane”.