Where will some of the Federal stimulus money be spent here in Freeborn County
The Albert Lea Tribune has this article
Get ready for additional local road construction
Two highway projects in Freeborn County are tentatively scheduled to be constructed in 2009 with federal economic stimulus funds, while one is tentatively scheduled for 2010.
Interstate 90
The first, which involves the bituminous overlay on westbound Interstate 90 from Minnesota Highway 13 to Alden and then unbonded concrete overlay on Interstate 90 eastbound from Alden to Highway 13, would cover 12 miles in each direction.
The improvements would not only benefit people from Freeborn County who drive on I-90, but also motorists passing through, said Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever.
“I think anybody who’s driven that portion of I-90 understands the need that’s out there on that particular stretch,” Kluever said.
Kristine Hernandez, public affairs coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, said the I-90 project was originally scheduled for 2011 but got moved up two years.
While it is under construction, there will be ramp closures at the state Highway 109 and Highway 13 exits, and MnDOT will set up head-to-head traffic in the westbound lanes while contractors work on the eastbound lanes. Then it will switch when crews are working on the westbound lanes.
She estimated the cost for the project at $13.6 million. MnDOT will open bids March 13 with work tentatively scheduled to begin in May.
“That’s the nice thing about this economic recovery package,” Hernandez said. “We have five jobs scheduled on I-90 that wouldn’t have happened this year. It was a good thing because our interstate is more than 50 years old.”
County Road 46
Piggybacking on the I-90 project will tentatively be the overlay of County Road 46 from Lake Chapeau Road in Albert Lea to Freeborn County Road 6, which is 8.7 miles.
Kluever said this is a project Freeborn County Engineer Sue Miller worked diligently to obtain funds for.
“This is a project that needed to be done and probably would have gotten done at some point in time, but now it’s in a more timely fashion,” Kluever said. “It’s a direct big benefit for the residents of Freeborn County.”
Miller said she worked to submit the project starting in mid-December when there was talk of stimulus funds and about standards projects would need to follow to qualify for funds.
She worked to package the county’s project with MnDOT’s project on I-90 to try to save money for both parties, she said.
Bids for the County 46 project are also tentatively scheduled to be opened March 13. Like many county roads, it is considered a state-assist route. If the project comes to fruition, it would be under a MnDOT contract but would be run by Freeborn County. The estimated cost is $4 million.
Miller said obtaining funds for the project would be of great benefit to the county, as the project costs more than one year of the county’s entire construction budget. As a small county, she said, she looks for grants and other opportunities wherever she can.
“We were all very excited we were able to fold our plans in with MnDOT,” she said.
Minnesota Highway 13
Tentatively scheduled to be completed in 2010 is a project on state Highway 13, starting north of Interstate 90 to state Highway 30 near New Richland, Hernandez said.
It will cover almost 15 miles and will include culvert replacement, mill and overlay, turn lanes and guard rail, she said.
The estimated cost is $3.5 million.
Another project that will affect all of the counties in District 6 is the installation and replacement of various guardrails. Hernandez said the project will cover a span of 12 miles and will include 184 guardrails. It may also involve temporary lane closures.
“These are some very worthwhile projects,” state Sen. Dan Sparks said. “It’s even more important than ever to get these contractors to work.”
District 27A Rep. Robin Brown echoed those comments.
“I’m very pleased there will be stimulus money coming to the Albert Lea area,” Brown said. “I look forward to seeing these projects up and running.”
The translation of the project will mean more jobs for contractors and hopefully more for area businesses too, she said.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation Web site, state projects were selected for the economic recovery funds based on the following criteria.
•Project readiness: MnDOT’s top priority is to use the available funds, so it looked for projects that are ready to start, according to the site. A project’s readiness was assessed based on the status of criteria such as environmental review and percent of right of way purchased.
•Consistency with performance-based needs: MnDOT is giving priority to projects with a demonstrated performance need so that it can meet its commitment to make a lasting transportation improvement, the site continued.
•Statewide coverage: Because the intent of the economic stimulus bill is to create jobs statewide, MnDOT wanted to ensure that the program would do just that.
•Balanced program: Using the entire capacity of Minnesota’s highway construction industry.
•Project advancement: For projects to be funded with economic recovery funds, the projects have to be advanced within the State Transportation Improvement Program.
Minnesota is expected to receive more than $596 million for state and local highway and transit projects over the next two years as a result of the federal legislation, according to a news release. About 30 percent of the highway funds are available for local governments, with the remaining 70 percent for MnDOT projects.
I am glad to see this work being done. One project I have not heard about for a while now is the replacement of the dam on Albert Lea lake. this is a project that needs to get done. It might be time for the public to put some pressure on your county commissioners!
Click here for contact info for your commissioner. Please tell him to get this job done !!!!!!!!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Earmarks
I have been ran over the coals over the years by my Republican friends for promoting legislation that would put people to work.
But it looks like my GOP friends have to mentality of "do as I say and not as I do"
I found this on "The Hill" Website
Some GOP critics love their earmarks
By Alexander Bolton
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and other Republicans are drawing criticism for sponsoring hundreds of millions of earmarks in the $410 billion omnibus that they themselves have blasted as fiscally irresponsible. Vitter is the most obvious target because he holds himself a fiscal conservative, a position that often serves him well. In the midst of a heated debate over earmarks, however, Vitter finds himself ducking charges of hypocrisy
The criticisms undercut the GOP’s weekend effort to frame omnibus as a Democratic Christmas tree. “Even though Vitter has been styling himself as a fiscal conservative he has been more willing to team up with [Democratic Sen. Mary] Landrieu [La.] and belly up to the bar and take more than his fair share of earmarks,” said Steve Ellis, the vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a group that tracks earmarks.Vitter, for example, threatened to hold up Senate action on the omnibus unless Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) promised him a vote on an amendment to eliminate automatic pay increases for lawmakers. “In a lot of ways he’s trying have his cake and eat it too,” said Ellis. “He talks about being fiscal conservative and then brags back home what he was able to deliver to the state.”John Alyosius Farrell, Tip O’Neill’s biographer, singled Vitter out for ridicule on the Thomas Jefferson Street blog. “The self-righteousness among Republicans on the issue of government spending is rank and overwhelming. The GOP is acting as if federal spending is a Democratic monopoly.” The Huffington Post, a liberal-leaning online publication, ran an article discussing Vitter’s earmarks entitled, “Red States Gobble Up Omnibus Earmarks.” This barrage of criticism comes as a surprise considering that Vitter has positioned himself as one of the staunchest fiscal conservatives in the Senate. Vitter, however, defends his actions even while he criticizes the torrid spending pace Congress has set in the last six months.“I have strongly supported fundamental spending reform, including complete openness and transparency and significantly lower budget number,” Vitter told The Hill in a statement. “As I do that, though, I am proud to stand by my specific funding requests for critical transportation, law enforcement and hurricane recovery needs.” “These represent serious Louisiana needs, which have not been met even as Congress has passed trillion dollar spending and bailout bills,” said Vitter.
Vitter, of course, represents New Orleans, which is still recovering from the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina. A study of nearly 9,000 earmarks in the omnibus showed that showed that Vitter is the fifth-biggest recipient of earmarked funds in the Congress.Vitter has sponsored or cosponsored nearly $250 million in earmarks, according to the study by Taxpayers for Common Sense. Two other Republicans topped the list of biggest earmarkers: Sen. Thad Cochran (Miss.), senior Republican on the Appropriations Committee; and Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss). Of the ten lawmakers who sponsored or cosponsored the largest sums of earmarked funds, 6 were Republicans. Several of them, such as Cochran and Sens. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), are members of the Appropriations panel. This has caused grumbling on conservative Websites. A contributor to a discussion forum on conservative television host Sean Hannity’s website lamented that Cochran, Wicker and Vitter were three of the biggest sponsors of earmarks in the omnibus.“So much for GOP fiscal responsibility,” griped the anonymous commentator. "Leading Republicans in the House and Senate pushed for a better solution: a spending freeze that would strip the omnibus bill of all its airdropped earmarks and hold government spending at current levels,” House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio), wrote in an opinion editorial published Saturday. “Democratic leaders in both chambers scoffed at this common-sense proposal.” Vitter managed to steer hundreds of millions of dollars to his home state despite not serving on Appropriations by teaming up with a Democrat, Landrieu, his home state colleague. As a member of the Appropriations panel who faced a difficult re-election last year, Landrieu received special consideration from Democratic leaders who ultimately control Congress’s purse strings. Landrieu sponsored more money in earmarks than any Democrat in Congress. Nevertheless, Vitter told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he would vote against the omnibus because it is “just too expensive.”Vitter claimed it is not inconsistent to win money for projects in a bill likely to become law but vote against it because of broad fiscal concerns.
Seems the Republicans have a fondness for earmarks.
But it looks like my GOP friends have to mentality of "do as I say and not as I do"
I found this on "The Hill" Website
Some GOP critics love their earmarks
By Alexander Bolton
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and other Republicans are drawing criticism for sponsoring hundreds of millions of earmarks in the $410 billion omnibus that they themselves have blasted as fiscally irresponsible. Vitter is the most obvious target because he holds himself a fiscal conservative, a position that often serves him well. In the midst of a heated debate over earmarks, however, Vitter finds himself ducking charges of hypocrisy
The criticisms undercut the GOP’s weekend effort to frame omnibus as a Democratic Christmas tree. “Even though Vitter has been styling himself as a fiscal conservative he has been more willing to team up with [Democratic Sen. Mary] Landrieu [La.] and belly up to the bar and take more than his fair share of earmarks,” said Steve Ellis, the vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a group that tracks earmarks.Vitter, for example, threatened to hold up Senate action on the omnibus unless Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) promised him a vote on an amendment to eliminate automatic pay increases for lawmakers. “In a lot of ways he’s trying have his cake and eat it too,” said Ellis. “He talks about being fiscal conservative and then brags back home what he was able to deliver to the state.”John Alyosius Farrell, Tip O’Neill’s biographer, singled Vitter out for ridicule on the Thomas Jefferson Street blog. “The self-righteousness among Republicans on the issue of government spending is rank and overwhelming. The GOP is acting as if federal spending is a Democratic monopoly.” The Huffington Post, a liberal-leaning online publication, ran an article discussing Vitter’s earmarks entitled, “Red States Gobble Up Omnibus Earmarks.” This barrage of criticism comes as a surprise considering that Vitter has positioned himself as one of the staunchest fiscal conservatives in the Senate. Vitter, however, defends his actions even while he criticizes the torrid spending pace Congress has set in the last six months.“I have strongly supported fundamental spending reform, including complete openness and transparency and significantly lower budget number,” Vitter told The Hill in a statement. “As I do that, though, I am proud to stand by my specific funding requests for critical transportation, law enforcement and hurricane recovery needs.” “These represent serious Louisiana needs, which have not been met even as Congress has passed trillion dollar spending and bailout bills,” said Vitter.
Vitter, of course, represents New Orleans, which is still recovering from the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina. A study of nearly 9,000 earmarks in the omnibus showed that showed that Vitter is the fifth-biggest recipient of earmarked funds in the Congress.Vitter has sponsored or cosponsored nearly $250 million in earmarks, according to the study by Taxpayers for Common Sense. Two other Republicans topped the list of biggest earmarkers: Sen. Thad Cochran (Miss.), senior Republican on the Appropriations Committee; and Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss). Of the ten lawmakers who sponsored or cosponsored the largest sums of earmarked funds, 6 were Republicans. Several of them, such as Cochran and Sens. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), are members of the Appropriations panel. This has caused grumbling on conservative Websites. A contributor to a discussion forum on conservative television host Sean Hannity’s website lamented that Cochran, Wicker and Vitter were three of the biggest sponsors of earmarks in the omnibus.“So much for GOP fiscal responsibility,” griped the anonymous commentator. "Leading Republicans in the House and Senate pushed for a better solution: a spending freeze that would strip the omnibus bill of all its airdropped earmarks and hold government spending at current levels,” House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio), wrote in an opinion editorial published Saturday. “Democratic leaders in both chambers scoffed at this common-sense proposal.” Vitter managed to steer hundreds of millions of dollars to his home state despite not serving on Appropriations by teaming up with a Democrat, Landrieu, his home state colleague. As a member of the Appropriations panel who faced a difficult re-election last year, Landrieu received special consideration from Democratic leaders who ultimately control Congress’s purse strings. Landrieu sponsored more money in earmarks than any Democrat in Congress. Nevertheless, Vitter told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he would vote against the omnibus because it is “just too expensive.”Vitter claimed it is not inconsistent to win money for projects in a bill likely to become law but vote against it because of broad fiscal concerns.
Seems the Republicans have a fondness for earmarks.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Thumbs Up!!
There seems to be a buzz in the air these days as the news broke about the possibility of a VA clinic coming to town
The Albert Lea Tribune ran this story
Albert Lea is in the running for VA outpatient clinic
The Albert Lea City Council voiced its unanimous support Monday to have a Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic come to the city.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced it plans to open two new community-based outpatient clinics in Minnesota, one of which is planned for the south central portion of the state. Albert Lea is one of the locations in the running.
Albert Lea City Manager Victoria Simonsen said because of the city’s location along Interstate 35 and Interstate 90 — in that it would provide easy access for people in both southern Minnesota and northern Iowa — city staff are supportive of the outpatient clinic coming to Freeborn County.
The city support comes after Freeborn County commissioners voiced their support for the outpatient clinic at their most recent board meeting..... here is a link to story click here
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced it plans to open two new community-based outpatient clinics in Minnesota, one of which is planned for the south central portion of the state. Albert Lea is one of the locations in the running.
Albert Lea City Manager Victoria Simonsen said because of the city’s location along Interstate 35 and Interstate 90 — in that it would provide easy access for people in both southern Minnesota and northern Iowa — city staff are supportive of the outpatient clinic coming to Freeborn County.
The city support comes after Freeborn County commissioners voiced their support for the outpatient clinic at their most recent board meeting..... here is a link to story click here
Then in the Sunday Albert Lea Tribune we saw this in there editorial page
Thumbs
UP - To the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Albert Lea would be a great place for a VA outpatient clinic. Not only is our city at the crossroads of I-35 and I-90, it has great support for veterans from strong veterans organizations. And our city has well-supported medical and senior communities and nice places to get exercise. Pick Albert Lea.
Albert Lea would be a great place for a VA outpatient clinic. Not only is our city at the crossroads of I-35 and I-90, it has great support for veterans from strong veterans organizations. And our city has well-supported medical and senior communities and nice places to get exercise. Pick Albert Lea.
We agree Albert Lea would be a great place for a new VA outpatient clinic. This would be a win win for everyone. This would be a desperately need boost to the local economy.
Good Luck Albert Lea I sent my e-mail in support to Rep. Walz I would like to ask everyone to do the same.
The Man
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Feel the pain
Well we see that Governor Tim Pawlenty is at it again . Wanting to balance a project 4.8 billion dollar deficit on the backs of middle and low income Minnesotans.
here is a couple of cuts that Gov. Pawlenty is proposing:
a 10 to 15 percent reduction in projected subsidies known as local government aid to counties, cities and townships
this could mean that Potholes will not get fixed roads might not get plowed or sanded and loss of local services.
In the area of health and human services
84,000 adults will lose their state-subsidized health coverage
cuts millions of dollars in payments to hospitals
Long-term care providers will take a 3 percent rate hit in the governor's budget.
It is interesting that Patti Cullen, President and CEO of Care Providers of Minnesota, said that you can only draw one conclusion after reading the Governor's budget plan.
Quote
The Governor's proposal could mean a $146 million cut in the MnSCU budget over the next two years
This could mean laying off hundreds of employees, cut programs and classes, and close some MnSCU campuses
In the 21 century We need an educated work force This proposal will force colleges to increase tuition cost and will put out of reach a college education for many children from middle and low income families.
Well we at Talk the Talk have a proposal for the Governor to consider. We understand that Governor Pawlenty is a big proponent for pay-for-performance structure known as Q Comp for teachers.
Maybe it's time that Q comp be installed in figuring the salary for the Governor! After six year with Tim Pawlenty in the Governors office and two diferent Billion dollar deficits I propose that the Governor Pawlenty cut his salary by 50%.
It's time that you feel some of the pain that you are willing to inflict on the citizens of Minnesota.
here is a couple of cuts that Gov. Pawlenty is proposing:
a 10 to 15 percent reduction in projected subsidies known as local government aid to counties, cities and townships
this could mean that Potholes will not get fixed roads might not get plowed or sanded and loss of local services.
In the area of health and human services
84,000 adults will lose their state-subsidized health coverage
cuts millions of dollars in payments to hospitals
Long-term care providers will take a 3 percent rate hit in the governor's budget.
It is interesting that Patti Cullen, President and CEO of Care Providers of Minnesota, said that you can only draw one conclusion after reading the Governor's budget plan.
"Don't be poor and old unless you have loved ones to take care ofIn a recent letter to the editor in the Albert Lea Tribune the writer said
you,"
Quote
We need to keep funding programs that helps to keep our elderly out of nursingMNSCU
homes. It’s far cheaper for the state to provide a couple hours of care for an
elderly living in their own homes than to have to pay the cost of residing in a
nursing home. Likewise, let’s not forget that Human Services provides care for
those with mental illnesses. Without this care, many would be living on the
street — without medicine. Think of the repercussions of cutting Human Services!
The Governor's proposal could mean a $146 million cut in the MnSCU budget over the next two years
This could mean laying off hundreds of employees, cut programs and classes, and close some MnSCU campuses
In the 21 century We need an educated work force This proposal will force colleges to increase tuition cost and will put out of reach a college education for many children from middle and low income families.
Well we at Talk the Talk have a proposal for the Governor to consider. We understand that Governor Pawlenty is a big proponent for pay-for-performance structure known as Q Comp for teachers.
Maybe it's time that Q comp be installed in figuring the salary for the Governor! After six year with Tim Pawlenty in the Governors office and two diferent Billion dollar deficits I propose that the Governor Pawlenty cut his salary by 50%.
It's time that you feel some of the pain that you are willing to inflict on the citizens of Minnesota.
every little bit helps
I wish to say thank you to Rep Tim Walz for again giving pack his congressional pay raise. Rep Walz has returned his salary increases to the U.S. Treasury each year since he was first elected in 2006
The Star Tribune story says that
Walz, realized a few thousand dollars wouldn't fix the economy or pay down the country's $10 trillion debt. "But every little bit helps," Walz added "We're all in this together and now is not the time for a pay raise"
Thanks Rep. Walz
The Star Tribune story says that
Walz, realized a few thousand dollars wouldn't fix the economy or pay down the country's $10 trillion debt. "But every little bit helps," Walz added "We're all in this together and now is not the time for a pay raise"
Thanks Rep. Walz
Friday, January 2, 2009
It's Possible
While surfing the web tonight I ran into a nice piece on mnpACT! on the Top 10 Worst Political Persons in Minnesota in 2008
Their's a couple that really caught my eye
Then there was #2
Since Tim Pawlenty was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1992 and was chosen House Majority Leader in 1998 the state has gone for having billion dollar surpluses to mufti Billion dollar deficits. The latest could grow to over $6 billion by February forecast. With that kind of leadership could we see the first elected DFL Governor in 20 years in 2010!
Its possible!!!!
Their's a couple that really caught my eye
#5 Marty Seifert. The golden tongued House minorityWith Marty coming back as Minority Leader for the next two years could the House become veto proof in 2011. ?
leader had some great moments in 2008. He managed his job as obstructionist
quite well and I am sure we can expect more of it in the future. Relishing his
role as Governor Pawlenty's "firewall" in the legislature, Marty got a little
overzealous in control of his troops. The break by the "override six" on the
transportation bill caused one of the more unusual legislative retributions that
anyone can remember. Doling out committee sanctions against those who would dare
break with his wall of obstruction, he managed to fuel a conservative backlash
that savaged these members of his own party. One retired and two others will not
be coming back. In the 2008 election, the House lost two more seats and a
reflective Seifert has said that type of tactic will be dispensed with in the
future. Still, with the Senate in veto-proof DFL control, Rep. Seifert will be
looking for "automaton-like" control of the remainder of his troops. Governor
Pawlenty is counting
Then there was #2
2. Tim Pawlenty.
Now how in the world could a governor with a 55+% approval rating be on this
list? Well, let's see. He has overseen Minnesota's worst economic
performance in
recent memory, with thousands of jobs lost. He had a major
bridge fall down on
his watch. He has had 2 commissioners removed, either by
resignation or the
State Senate. The legislative auditor has criticized his JOBZ program. The DNR partied on the
state
dole. An employee in charge of dealing with disasters is AWOL on the
biggest
one. And he will soon be dealing with the largest per capita state deficit in
the nation. Pawlenty
always has a good excuse for all that
negative stuff. It is always somebody or
something else's
fault. From
high taxes to gusset plates to DFL irresponsibilty to local government largesse to an economy out
of his control. Governor Pawlenty has done a "great" job....he just has had
too many others messing it all up. For years we have heard the excuses. And
for
years we have watched Minnesota decline. Pawlenty almost parlayed that "aw shucks" style into
a Vice Presidential bid...but he got outgunned by Sarah Palin. Maybe that speaks
volumes by itself.
Since Tim Pawlenty was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1992 and was chosen House Majority Leader in 1998 the state has gone for having billion dollar surpluses to mufti Billion dollar deficits. The latest could grow to over $6 billion by February forecast. With that kind of leadership could we see the first elected DFL Governor in 20 years in 2010!
Its possible!!!!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Nice work if you can get it
I saw this little tidbit on the MPR website. Pawlenty leaves on trade trip to Israel
Here is the story if you missed it.
Minneapolis — Gov. Tim Pawlenty is traveling to Israel today for a four-day trade mission.
Pawlenty is leading a delegation of 37 business executives, community leaders and government officials, with stops planned in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
State officials say 100 Minnesota companies are currently doing business in Israel. During an airport news conference before his departure, Pawlenty said he hopes to expand exports to the Middle East country.
"We want to make sure we open as many doors and as many eyes to future trade and future friendship between Israel and Minnesota, both economically, culturally and otherwise," said Pawlenty.
Pawlenty is leading Minnesota's second trade mission to Israel. Gov. Arne Carlson traveled there in 1993. Israel is Minnesota's 21st largest trading partner.
I just have to wonder How much this trip is going to cost the citizens of Minnesota.
We as a state are looking at a 5.2 Billion Dollar deficit over the next 2 1/2 years. the Governor is talking about unallotment and cutting LGA to cities and counties which will cost the Tax payers more locally. Yet Gov Governor Pawlenty is able to find money to go to Israel with some of his Friends at the Minnesota taxpayers expence during the holiday season?
Give me a break!!!!
Here is the story if you missed it.
Minneapolis — Gov. Tim Pawlenty is traveling to Israel today for a four-day trade mission.
Pawlenty is leading a delegation of 37 business executives, community leaders and government officials, with stops planned in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
State officials say 100 Minnesota companies are currently doing business in Israel. During an airport news conference before his departure, Pawlenty said he hopes to expand exports to the Middle East country.
"We want to make sure we open as many doors and as many eyes to future trade and future friendship between Israel and Minnesota, both economically, culturally and otherwise," said Pawlenty.
Pawlenty is leading Minnesota's second trade mission to Israel. Gov. Arne Carlson traveled there in 1993. Israel is Minnesota's 21st largest trading partner.
I just have to wonder How much this trip is going to cost the citizens of Minnesota.
We as a state are looking at a 5.2 Billion Dollar deficit over the next 2 1/2 years. the Governor is talking about unallotment and cutting LGA to cities and counties which will cost the Tax payers more locally. Yet Gov Governor Pawlenty is able to find money to go to Israel with some of his Friends at the Minnesota taxpayers expence during the holiday season?
Give me a break!!!!
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