tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post6697518409935744956..comments2024-03-29T06:41:16.038-05:00Comments on Give2Attain: The Money TreeJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-61621808270967930082016-12-02T20:31:13.252-06:002016-12-02T20:31:13.252-06:00I think you have different kinds of meetings. e-m...I think you have different kinds of meetings. e-meetings can be held with some number of active participants and others simply monitoring. Those where public testimony is taken would need to at least have the testifiers included as "interactive" participants. Those who insist on open meetings so they can harangue and intimidate the politicians, well who cares about them. And some meetings don't really need to be open, say for example formulating legislative strategy or electing leadership.jerrye92002https://www.blogger.com/profile/01858692298982859775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-77289834299469754332016-12-02T13:37:34.266-06:002016-12-02T13:37:34.266-06:00I am fine with the committee members all being in ...I am fine with the committee members all being in the room... But 7 politicians and a web cam don't need a very big room.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-10849904501974558792016-12-02T12:06:28.808-06:002016-12-02T12:06:28.808-06:00Or perhaps let me clarify: the officials should al...Or perhaps let me clarify: the officials should all be in a public location. Unless there is some sort of emergency, we shouldn't have legislators taking votes from their basements.<br /><br />Why? There's all sorts of reasons, including the fact that legislators should have to appear in public and actually interact with constituents. Seanhttp://brickcityblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-52967264357935589182016-12-02T11:44:26.250-06:002016-12-02T11:44:26.250-06:00Back to the details Page 6 -7
"Meetings may...Back to the <a href="http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/openmtg.pdf" rel="nofollow">details</a> Page 6 -7<br /><br />"Meetings may be held by interactive television if specified conditions are met to ensure openness and accessibility for those who wish to attend.24 The Commissioner of Administration issued an opinion in 2013 that attending a meeting using a web-based technology like Skype is like attending by interactive TV and is allowed as long as the requirements for attending by interactive TV are met."<br /><br />Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-14210429503967878542016-12-02T10:58:02.464-06:002016-12-02T10:58:02.464-06:00Why?
Why?<br />jerrye92002https://www.blogger.com/profile/01858692298982859775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-60535517292352705222016-12-02T10:36:28.337-06:002016-12-02T10:36:28.337-06:00"WEBEX is the best kind of open meeting."..."WEBEX is the best kind of open meeting."<br /><br />Utilizing that sort of technology would be great for encouraging public participation in hearings. But the actual officials themselves need to be in one location accessible to the public.Seanhttp://brickcityblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-57211409705285264802016-12-02T09:11:49.347-06:002016-12-02T09:11:49.347-06:00WEBEX is the best kind of open meeting.
People fr...WEBEX is the best kind of open meeting.<br /><br />People from all over the State could attend by just logging in.<br />It could be recorded and speakers are identified by log in.<br />It can not be disrupted by protesters standing up in the middle of it.<br />etc...Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-67464297957235483932016-12-02T09:05:23.271-06:002016-12-02T09:05:23.271-06:00"Have they never heard of WEBEX and Virtual M..."Have they never heard of WEBEX and Virtual Meetings?"<br /><br />Have you ever heard of open meetings laws?Seanhttp://brickcityblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-40958707077225701552016-12-02T08:21:53.858-06:002016-12-02T08:21:53.858-06:00It looks like the State does operate quite a few b...It looks like the State does <a href="https://mn.gov/admin/government/buildings-grounds/building-management/buildings/mnsenate.jsp" rel="nofollow">operate quite a few buildings</a>.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-91662532303477342012016-12-02T08:19:40.199-06:002016-12-02T08:19:40.199-06:00Office Building Opens<a href="http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/3921999-minnesota-senate-building-quietly-opens" rel="nofollow">Office Building Opens</a>Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-44278965052427611002016-12-02T08:18:43.377-06:002016-12-02T08:18:43.377-06:00Hiram, The money is already spent... Why wouldn&...Hiram, The money is already spent... Why wouldn't they move into it?<br /><br />The question is was it worth removing $90,000,000 from the pockets of us citizens to give part time legislators nicer offices?Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-44920375795587693272016-12-02T07:26:09.192-06:002016-12-02T07:26:09.192-06:00Why again after 100+ years did they need more offi...Why again after 100+ years did they need more office space?<br /><br />Because senators had makeshift offices all over the capitol.<br /><br />But now that Republicans are in control of the legislature they can do anything they want with the building they believe is unneeded for legislative purposes. So why don't they find a better use?<br /><br />--HiramAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-51175110851429997112016-12-02T06:39:21.057-06:002016-12-02T06:39:21.057-06:00The general perception out there is that the new S...The general perception out there is that the new SOB was NOT necessary, and certainly didn't need to be the "palace" that it is.<br /><br />Then why are Republicans moving into it? Why are they not taking my suggestion and turning it into a U of M facility or use it for office space generally?<br /><br />The point of having legislative offices is to have some place where constitutents can meet with legislators. Strewing them all over St. Paul would hardly serve that purpose. <br /><br />--HiramAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-57586335652445491652016-12-01T19:18:32.650-06:002016-12-01T19:18:32.650-06:00The general perception out there is that the new S...The general perception out there is that the new SOB was NOT necessary, and certainly didn't need to be the "palace" that it is. There is plenty of empty office space in StP that could have been used on a temporary basis for a LOT less money, until their capitol offices had been renovated. jerrye92002https://www.blogger.com/profile/01858692298982859775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-67682037691917558752016-12-01T16:45:19.532-06:002016-12-01T16:45:19.532-06:00Look at Dayton's Big Smile<a href="https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2013/05/vikings-stadium-backup-funding-controversy-general-funds-or-not" rel="nofollow">Look at Dayton's Big Smile</a>Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-4640542975455182892016-12-01T16:42:55.993-06:002016-12-01T16:42:55.993-06:00Why again after 100+ years did they need more offi...Why again after 100+ years did they need more office space?<br /><br />Did our Legislative bodies grow in size?<br /><br />Did technology slide backwards so that more people were needed to do the same job?<br /><br />Have they never heard of WEBEX and Virtual Meetings?Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-85647635094649052672016-12-01T14:06:40.173-06:002016-12-01T14:06:40.173-06:00And I am certain the Senate office building was se...And I am certain the Senate office building was seen as mark of government waste.<br /><br />The senate needed an office building. It wasn't wasteful. And the proof I would offer for that is that Republicans intend to move into it now that the election is over. My longstanding suggestion is that the Senate Office Building be turned over to the University of Minnesota's political science department, but that one seems to have been mostly ignored.<br /><br />--Hiram Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-78658807783888113172016-12-01T14:03:13.082-06:002016-12-01T14:03:13.082-06:00I think of the stadium as Mark Dayton's baby..... I think of the stadium as Mark Dayton's baby...<br /><br />Mark's not running for anything. Julie wants to run for governor. And she was the stadium's principal supporter; if it's an occasion for blatant political corruption as now seems to be the case, she will bear part of the responsibility for it.<br /><br />Personally, I don't understand why any politician, but especially a DFL politician would ever take the enormous political risk of being seen in a luxury suite. For myself, I would never even attend a game at Vikings Stadium out of concern that someone might see me there. For the average Minnesotan, Vikings Field is just a football stadium, but for a politician, it's a minefield.<br /><br />--HiramAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-9933099918671244582016-12-01T13:03:19.024-06:002016-12-01T13:03:19.024-06:00I really don't think the stadium has any legs ...I really don't think the stadium has any legs as an issue that moves voters. Plenty of rural GOPers voted for the stadium, and they aren't paying price for it.<br /><br />The GOP did an expert job of framing up the Senate office building -- which, of course, was jammed through by a guy from a town with 574 people -- as some grand urban conspiracy to screw the rural folks.Seanhttp://brickcityblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-1947677904220275572016-12-01T12:20:07.405-06:002016-12-01T12:20:07.405-06:00And I am certain the Senate office building was se...And I am certain the Senate office building was seen as mark of government waste.<br /><br />I mean everyone else is using technology and automation to make work forces more efficient / effective. And for some reason government needs even more people and buildings to do the same things...Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-5973935087529642982016-12-01T12:15:25.804-06:002016-12-01T12:15:25.804-06:00Nah, I think of the stadium as Mark Dayton's b...Nah, I think of the stadium as Mark Dayton's baby... He signed the paperwork.<br /><br />Personally I don't think it is jealously as much as... <b>Why do you keep raising my taxes to buy that unnecessary stuff???</b><br /><br />Remember that a lot of them are very conservative with their money, and not prone to spending on extravagant things.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-14057205790615332592016-12-01T10:00:00.239-06:002016-12-01T10:00:00.239-06:00And you forget the urbanites imposing their enviro...And you forget the urbanites imposing their environmental sensitivities on those who need the jobs in outstate MN.<br /><br />I don't forget that at all, actually, it's a big issue, and one where the conflict is genuine. Lots of stuff Republicans talk about in rural areas, the Senate Office Building for example, seem to me to be appeals to jealousy or envy, but environmental issues and the conflicts they entail are real.<br /><br />--HiramAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-15455211163506294272016-12-01T09:06:33.050-06:002016-12-01T09:06:33.050-06:00I assume the mega spending the cities has been doi...I assume the mega spending the cities has been doing has not helped the perception of our rural cousins.<br /><br />That's the argument they seem to buy certainly. They seem to be saying why aren't you spending more of your money on us? Instead of responding to your transportation needs, why aren't you doing more for ours? Hence the gridlock.<br /><br />Stadium wise, let's always remember that it was forced on the city of Minneapolis by outstate legislators who wanted the benefit of a stadium without paying for it. Vikings Stadium will always be Julie Rosen's baby.<br /><br />--HiramAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-39060684020830057552016-12-01T09:01:53.148-06:002016-12-01T09:01:53.148-06:00And you forget the urbanites imposing their enviro...And you forget the urbanites imposing their environmental sensitivities on those who need the jobs in outstate MN.jerrye92002https://www.blogger.com/profile/01858692298982859775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193628934721963907.post-59106773513723986012016-12-01T07:56:20.565-06:002016-12-01T07:56:20.565-06:00I assume the mega spending the cities has been doi...I assume the mega spending the cities has been doing has not helped the perception of our rural cousins. (ie multiple stadiums, billions in Light Rail, that fancy new Senate office building, etc)<br /><br />They just get care for the elderly and children... And Minneapolis gets all that + a shiny Billion dollar stadium... Perception is reality.<br /><br />And passing the LGBT marriage law within a year of that part of our population voting to ban it...<br /><br />There is definitely a divide that will need to be resolved.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991027705809503541noreply@blogger.com