Comments on: Top-spending lobbyists in the Legislature http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:44:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Michael Bryant http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-110 Michael Bryant Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:30:11 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-110 The only other seven figure spenders were Minnesotans against Fraud and Higher Insurance Costs (dba- the Insurance companies) Yep , Good Faith was all about protecting the premium costs. LOL The only other seven figure spenders were Minnesotans against Fraud and Higher Insurance Costs (dba- the Insurance companies)

Yep , Good Faith was all about protecting the premium costs. LOL

]]> By: david http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-47 david Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:45:53 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-47 It appears that Education Minnesota wasn't very successful. A 1% increase in the funding formula. A veto by the Gov. of a state wide health bill for all school employees. Maybe Education Minnesota should have spent the money on a moving van, one that would have moved the biggest obstacle to the students of Minnesota schools , Tim P. It appears that Education Minnesota wasn’t very successful. A 1% increase in the funding formula. A veto by the Gov. of a state wide health bill for all school employees. Maybe Education Minnesota should have spent the money on a moving van, one that would have moved the biggest obstacle to the students of Minnesota schools , Tim P.

]]> By: Gary Krull http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-45 Gary Krull Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:02:03 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-45 IT'S JUST LIKE THE ENERGIZER BUNNY. . . IT KEEPS ON GOING AND GOING AND GOING! HOW CAN WE REGULATE IT WHEN THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LEGISLATION ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING THE MONIES? TALK ABOUT A CATCH-22 SITUATION. YOU NEWSPAPER COLUMNISTS ARE GREAT AT REPORTING THE OBVIOUS BUT YOU NEVER, EVER COME UP WITH ANY TYPE OF SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS YOU OUTLINE. G KRULL IT’S JUST LIKE THE ENERGIZER BUNNY. . . IT KEEPS ON GOING AND GOING AND GOING!

HOW CAN WE REGULATE IT WHEN THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LEGISLATION ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING THE MONIES? TALK ABOUT A CATCH-22 SITUATION.

YOU NEWSPAPER COLUMNISTS ARE GREAT AT REPORTING THE OBVIOUS BUT YOU NEVER, EVER COME UP WITH ANY TYPE OF SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS YOU OUTLINE.

G KRULL

]]> By: Paul B http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-44 Paul B Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:22:57 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-44 MN Teachers spend many times that $1.5m out of their salaries each year to supplement what the state spends for kids in the classroom because the state significantly underfunds k-12 education due mostly to their copious unfunded mandates. Just a thought. Definition of "Recidivism Cycle:" When a self-righteous society ignors the basic needs of students so they don't get the education required to find a job that pays for food, shelter, and taxes. MN Teachers spend many times that $1.5m out of their salaries each year to supplement what the state spends for kids in the classroom because the state significantly underfunds k-12 education due mostly to their copious unfunded mandates.

Just a thought.

Definition of “Recidivism Cycle:” When a self-righteous society ignors the basic needs of students so they don’t get the education required to find a job that pays for food, shelter, and taxes.

]]> By: JL http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-43 JL Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:46:45 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-43 Education Minnesota isn't funded with education dollars. It's paid for by the teachers. Their lobbying is no different from that of any other professional organization. Education Minnesota isn’t funded with education dollars. It’s paid for by the teachers. Their lobbying is no different from that of any other professional organization.

]]> By: Lakelover http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-42 Lakelover Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:42:04 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-42 Teachers pay more than their fair share of educational expenses via personal income and property taxes and the money they spend on their classrooms...that is no longer tax deductable in Minnesota. The fact that their union lobbies for more money and better laws regarding education should impress the public. Teachers pay more than their fair share of educational expenses via personal income and property taxes and the money they spend on their classrooms…that is no longer tax deductable in Minnesota. The fact that their union lobbies for more money and better laws regarding education should impress the public.

]]> By: Mike V http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-41 Mike V Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:32:58 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-41 Depends on what they got out of it. If their $1.5 million got them increased budgets of more than $1.5 million, then it was better spent lobbying than directly on programs. It's an investment. There are some risks, but the possible gains likely outweigh them considerably. It's the same equation for anyone hiring lobbyists, or buying stocks/real estate/futures. X money now might get you 2X later. Depends on what they got out of it. If their $1.5 million got them increased budgets of more than $1.5 million, then it was better spent lobbying than directly on programs.

It’s an investment. There are some risks, but the possible gains likely outweigh them considerably. It’s the same equation for anyone hiring lobbyists, or buying stocks/real estate/futures. X money now might get you 2X later.

]]> By: crazy ideas http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-40 crazy ideas Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:51:31 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-40 Definition of "Vicious Cycle": Tax dollars to teachers to Education Minnesota to DFL legislators to teachers, with interest. Definition of "Virtuous Cycle": Tax dollars to teachers based on merit who educate kids who grow up to be successful and pay taxes to teachers based on merit. Definition of “Vicious Cycle”: Tax dollars to teachers to Education Minnesota to DFL legislators to teachers, with interest.

Definition of “Virtuous Cycle”: Tax dollars to teachers based on merit who educate kids who grow up to be successful and pay taxes to teachers based on merit.

]]> By: Paul M http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-39 Paul M Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:54:59 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/04/22/top-spending-lobbyists-in-the-legislature/#comment-39 Couldn't Education Minnesota used those millions of dollars the last few years to educate the children? Just a thought Couldn’t Education Minnesota used those millions of dollars the last few years to educate the children?

Just a thought

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