Friday, May 17, 2013
The congressman representing Minnesota's Third District questioned IRS and Treasury Department officials at the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Friday.
U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) spoke out on the scandal involving the IRS giving extra scrutiny to conservative groups Friday. Paulsen tweeted: This is a bad week for America, that's the bottom line. #IRS needs to be held accountable. At a U.S. House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the matter Friday, Paulsen zeroed in on how long the IRS kept lists of donors it had collected from citizen groups, and whether it was common practice for the IRS to ask groups about connections to particular individuals. See a YouTube clip of Paulsen at the hearing here at the Patch desktop site or at YouTube.com.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The Philadelphia doctor was found guilty of murdering three babies after botched late-term abortions and was given life in prison Tuesday.
A Philadelphia doctor found guilty of murdering three babies born alive in an abortion clinic serving low-income women agreed to two life sentences Tuesday, and was sentenced to a third Wednesday. Dr. Kermit Gosnell, 72, agreed to his sentences and waived his right to an appeal in order to avoid the possibility of being condemned to death. According to ABC News, prosecutors were seeking the death penalty, but because of Gosnell's advanced age it was deemed unlikely that he would live long enough for death penalty appeals which can last decades. According to Reuters, Gosnell was convicted of first-degree murder Monday after he reportedly delivered the live babies during late-term abortions and then deliberately severed their spinal cords. …
Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature Tuesday didn’t end the heated debate around same-sex marriage.
Whatever side of the debate you fall on, there’s no denying that this week’s passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage was a historical moment. Minnesota became just the 12th state to sanction gay marriage when Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill Tuesday. Patch readers quickly wrote in to share their thoughts on the moment. Eagan Patch reader Kathi Malone echoed the view of legislators who voted yes in seeing same-sex marriage as a civil right: I am so happy that finally gay people will be able to have the civil right to marry. This is truly an American vote for freedom. I applaud Sen Clausen and all other legislators who voted for this historical bill. James N added: Thank you Senator Carlson and the entire MN legislature for extending …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The new law's supporters and opponents traded claims and denials of bigotry.
When—if ever—is it fair to call another person a bigot? Leave your comment below. A flashpoint in the debate over Minnesota's new marriage-equality law was the use of the words "bigot," "bigoted," or "bigotry" in reference to opponents of making same-sex marriages legal. After the state Legislature approved the bill, the group Minnesota for Marriage said in a statement: Over one million Minnesotans will be forced to either affirm what they believe to be false or subject themselves to prosecution and insult as “bigots” ... under our law with the passage of this bill. 'You're a Bigot' On Monday at the state Senate, Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) took exception to accusations that opponents of the same-sex marriage bill are bigots. Sen. Dan…
Monday, May 13, 2013
The congressman from Minnesota's Third District also spoke on the House floor about charter schools.
U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) answers consituent questions each week by way of a YouTube clip (watch at the first YouTube thumbnail or at YouTube.com): This week on Erik’s Correspondence Corner, Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03) answers questions sent in from Lindsay in Wayzata and Allen in Chaska. Lindsay joined Rep. Paulsen on his live telephone town hall on Monday, and although she didn’t get a chance to ask her question during the event, Rep. Paulsen wanted to be sure she got an answer. Her question was about the need to give control and flexibility back to families and small businesses. Also this week, Rep. Paulsen answers a question on education from Allen, a local teacher from Chaska. Charter Schools Paulsen devoted a House floor speech to …
What about your life would change if same-sex marriage became legal?
A bill that would legalize same-sex marriage is expected to head to the governor after a vote in the Senate on Monday. DFLers hold a 39-28 majority, and Senate leaders predict that the bill will successfully move forward, Reuters reported. Before then, though, several legislators on the floor—from both sides of the debate—will likely offer personal anecdotes about what passage would mean to them. That’s to be expected; the issue is, at its core, a personal one. It touches on our relationship to those we love the most, our relationship to society and our relationship to God. That’s why Patch wants to know how passage would affect you. What about your life would change if same-sex marriage became legal?
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Breakfast in bed? Dinner at a nice restaurant? Going to a concert or play? What can your family do to show their appreciation?
The gifts range from breakfast in bed to nothing—with flowers, manicures and greeting cards in between. Moms, perhaps your families have been thinking about your big day for the past month or maybe Sunday will be the first they hear of it. Regardless of your family's style of celebration, Sunday is Mother's Day. And with more than $17 billion expected to be spent on the day this year, it is a highly consumer-driven holiday as well. Now's your chance to tell us what you really want. Would you like a clean house? Expensive jewelry? Maybe the day away from all of them? Or maybe, you'd like to buck the tradition and have a donation made in your name, from an organization like World Vision. For $75, your kids could buy a goat for a familiy in a…
Thursday, May 9, 2013
If so, a Parenting.com article says you can take steps to reverse any mistakes you've made as your kids have grown. We want your tips for how to raise empathetic, polite children.
I'm sure you've all met your fair share of spoiled children. I know I have. They don't share, they are disrespectful to adults—including their parents—and they regularly throw fits in public. My husband and I are parents to a cat, and we've been blessed with loving, respectful nieces and nephews. I remember being pleasantly surprised when my friend's four sons shook my hand, looked me in the eye and introduced themselves. It seems in recent years, however, I'm seeing more monster children when I go to restaurants or the mall. The good news is anyone with a difficult child can reverse any bad parenting, according to Dr. Phil, Happiestbaby.com and Parenting.com. Their tips include: Those are tips from the professionals, but I want to hear …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
A bill to let states impose sales tax on big online retailers passed the U.S. Senate Monday. Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken voted for the Marketplace Fairness Act, as did many Republicans.
Why should online shoppers pay sales tax? Why or why not? Leave a comment below. You could pay the same sales tax for online purchases as you do for shopping at a physical store if a bill that passed the U.S. Senate Monday becomes law. The Marketplace Fairness Act would allow states to collect sales tax from retailers with more than $1 million in annual gross sales to out-of-state customers. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken (both DFL-MN) voted yes, joined by 67 other senators including 21 Republicans. Minnesota Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans praised the Senate action in a press release: "This legislation levels the playing field for all those Main Street businesses in Minnesota and across the country. It also helps large retailers like…
Monday, May 6, 2013
After Gov. Mark Dayton called a recent town hall audience rude, Patch wants to know what you think is acceptable behavior.
A week ago, an audience at Shakopee High School responded with laughter, head nods and interruptions when Gov. Mark Dayton said that the state's legislators are underpaid. In a Tuesday press conference, Dayton said the behavior was juvenile and reminded him of his ninth grade general science classes in New York City. Such responses are hardly unknown. As debate heated up on health care reform a few years ago, protests often greeted Democratic members of Congress trying to sell the legislation to constituents in Town Halls. More recently, Nick Espinosa and Sam Richards dumped glitter on presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the beginning of a speech in Eagan in February 2012. Such outbursts aren’t confined to the United States either. In …
Al Anderson
9:07 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
Agreed. The most divisive, least transparent, anti freedom administration in this country's history needs to go. This is also why government needs to be downsized (especially federal and state). This is also why the 1st and 2nd Amendments are so vitally important. more ›