What the $^@# is Wrong?

Shortly after the news broke that Chip Cravaack moved his family to New Hampshire, it made me think…. is he using the taxpayers to secure his retirement?  I think yes.

To receive a pension for life in congress, members must serve a total of 5 years. (source) However, the exact amount is not listed on the official site.  It does state that the salary must not exceed 80% of the final salary, which is currently $174,000.

So, it is obvious that Chip will try to reach that 5 year goal to ensure health benefits and a pension for his family.  That  explains perfectly why he is running for another term in 2012.

Mind you, this will be on top of the disability that Chip is currently receiving from Northwest Airlines, which totals $92,273/year due to the disability benefits he receives from Northwest Airlines. (source) He is receiving this disability until 2024 for a treatable condition, sleep apnea.  Treatment for this condition is as easy as wearing a mask while you sleep at night.  Can you say “Thank You Union?” Ironically, Chip has been standing along with his party to try to squash unions (source), while a lot of his main constituents in Northern Minnesota are hard-working, union iron workers that have put many hard years in the mines. Mind you, he was also the union steward while he was with Northwest. (source)

Add onto this, his Navy retirement for his 24 years of service.  He currently does not receive these benefits, due to him being a member of congress.  But he will start getting these benefits after he is done with being a representative.  This salary can vary, and it is not clear on how much he will get.  But I do know it is comfortable enough for a modest living in our area. (source).

Adding it up: He might get a congressional salary (if he serves 5 years), keep getting his disability, get his Navy retirement, and get health benefits for him and his family for life.  Most of which, will be paid for by us, the tax payers.

Chip – you are welcome and congrats on setting yourself up for a healthy retirement on my back.

Hopefully you will have a nice retirement in New Hampshire.  I know I will be paying for it.

Last night marked the last day of the 2011 Legislative Session in Minnesota.

This legislative session has been full of promoting bigotry and hate towards women and gays by passing bill after bill against abortions and also attempting to ban gay marriage through the state constitution.

The MN GOP also attempted to redistrict the state of Minnesota to solidify the conservative voting districts that have been close in votes the last few year, which would have affected 5 democratic disricts and only one republican district.

My state senator, Roger Reinert, said it best on Facebook:

It’s 10pm. There are 2 hours left in the 2011 Legislative Session. And the Minnesota Senate has been in for a total of two hours today.

Closing speeches are being made. It’s now official. The 2011 Legislative Session failed to do Job #1 – balance the state budget.

After November 2nd, most people thought that the red wave would be sweeping the nation, but yet again, it’s recount season in Minnesota and the red tide looks like it is seceding away as Democrat Mark Dayton has a near 9000 vote lead. The state is mandating a automatic recount due to the % of votes different is only .42% which is under the state’s .5% threshold.  The last recount happened in 2008 with the Franken/Coleman race which left Minnesotans without a senator for some time. You know… that whole taxation without representation thing.

Democrats in Minnesota can thank Tom Horner for taking a lot of the conservative votes away from Tom Emmer.  Thank you Mr. Horner.  Thank You.  If it wasn’t for Tom Horner, Minnesota would be in another 4 years of cutting funding for education, non-profits, and the state’s infrastructure.

Despite the almost 9000 vote difference, Tom Emmer stated that he will take the office if the recount goes in his favor and he will not concede.  Not the most honorable thing to do, is it?  Well there is a simple reason for him not to.  It will keep current republican governor Tim Pawlenty in office until the recount is complete.  Not to mention that this would be wasting tax payer money on performing this recount.  The last recount cost around $175,000, but that did have more ballots and involved more people that this recount would.  Money is money.  A simple concession would save tax payers money.  Isn’t that what the tea party members are crying for all across the nation?

Tom Emmer, do the right thing and concede.  It will save Minnesotans time, money aggravation, and put Minnesota in the right direction.