Ten Minnesota legislators — nine DFLers and one Republican — leave for nine days in Israel on Wednesday. They’ll return Nov. 13, says Politics in Minnesota/Saint Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report.
Said PIM:
According to a press release, the group wants to “foster stronger Minnesota connections to the region, learn more about Israeli clean and high-tech businesses, explore the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and visit religious and historical landmarks.”
The group will tour the Holocaust memorial and museum Yad Vashem. Hornstein’s late father, Stephen, was a holocaust survivor.
Rep. Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis, is leading the group.
Others are: Rep. Sarah Anderson, R-Plymouth, Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka, Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, Rep. Jeremy Kalin, DFL-North Branch, Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester, Rep. Bernie Lieder, DFL-Crookston, Rep. Sandra Masin, DFL-Eagan, Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, and Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-St. Louis Park.
At whose expense? If this trip is at taxpayer’s expense my response is “Oy vey.”
Don’t ‘ya just love it?? How many Minnesotans or for that matter, Americans, can afford to go on a trip like this? One goal is to “foster the connections between MN and the region”! That’s a line of bull… The trip should be cancelled stat! I will not vote again for anyone on this list who goes on the trip. Their judgement is unfair and self serving. Who needs that in a representative. Why aren’t they mortified?? THIEVES!! Disgusting!
I spoke with Rep. Anderson’s legislative aide, Diana Stepanek this morning.
According to Diana, this trip is being funded by the legislators themselves.
I think this trip is a great idea that would be improved by also visiting Gaza City to see the results of last year’s war and Israel’s continuing blockade, and visit the West Bank to see the walls blocking Palestinians from some parts of Jerusalem and the illegal settlements throughout the countryside.
If we want real peace in the Middle East, we need to see it all in order to understand both sides of the ongoing conflict more fully.