MN Forward, the independent-expenditures committee backed by the Minnesota Business Partnership and Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, announced it is backing a bipartisan group of six state legislators in the upcoming general election.
Because of its support of GOP-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer and controversial contributions from companies such as Target, Best Buy and Pentair, MN Forward has been identified with the Repubican Party.
But MN Forward Executive Director Brian McClung announced this afternoon that direct mail pieces backing three DFLers — Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka, Sen. Jim Metzen, DFL-South St. Paul, and Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona — will be be arriving at homes in their respective districts soon.
The Republican legislators garnering MN Forward support are Rep. Doug Magnus, R-Slayton, Rep. Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, and newcomer Doug Wardlow, R-Eagan.
Said McClung: “This group of candidates has varied backgrounds and positions on many issues, but they all have been focused on making Minnesota a better place to grow jobs.”
To view the direct mail pieces — and why MN Forward is backing each of the candidates — go here.
Not hard to see why MNForward would help a few DFLers: Bonoff – opposes teachers unions; Pelowski – opposes restoration of progressive tax rates; Metzen – chairs Senate Business committee. I don’t think this will change very many minds about support of MNF by Target, Holiday, et al.
I believe most Americans would like corporations to stay out of elections.
Endorsing Democrats in the legislature gives them the political cover they need for their intervention in the governor’s race.
“Pelowski – opposes restoration of progressive tax rates”
I would be happy if Minnesota tax rates were simply made less regressive.
No DFL’er of gubernatorial stature, I notice. And, when you look at their records the DFLer’s are definitely right of center and do not adhere to the DFL platform though they each claim the DFL label.
Add to that the score is still uneven: 4 GOP, 3 DFL; a TV ad is worth a great deal more than home mailers; and these contributions don’t even rate mentioning.