Dayton Makes His Push for More Progress on Oct
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(ISSN 0023-6667) Dayton makes his push for more progress On Oct. 14 the Duluth Century fund. said MnDOT issues the bonds Playhouse hosted the third Dayton said Johnson says and 20% of the state’s revenues debate between DFL Gov. he’s for the middle class but are already going to pay for Mark Dayton and his Repub- would lower taxes on the super interest on those bonds. lican opponent Hennepin rich rather than raise the mini- “A short term boost equals County Commissioner Jeff mum wage. Johnson said his increased interest, which takes Johnson before a sparse crowd. focus is on “maximum wage away from other projects,” Dayton is endorsed by the jobs” that can be careers and Dayton said. “Maurices built in Minnesota AFL-CIO and every accused Dayton of being out of Duluth because of bonding.” An Injury to One is an Injury to All! union that has entered the fray. touch for believing that mini- On railroads being jammed WEDNESDAY VOL. 121 There’s a reason for that and mum wage jobs will lead to the with North Dakota oil at the Dayton told the audience why middle class. expense of grain, coal, OCTOBER 29, 2014 NO. 9 in his opening remarks. He said Dayton said the minimum propane, even taconite, Dayton he was worried about where wage increase he signed into said railroads have been oper- the state was heading in 2009 law will lift 300,000 families, ating any way they want for during the economic slump so who will still be living at 80% 150 years even if the federal he ran for governor. of federal poverty lines after government tells them what to “We had a $6.2 billion increases in the next two years. do. That makes pipelines a deficit and owed the schools $2 He said the minimum wage is a good choice for oil if they are billion,” Dayton said. “We floor that will also benefit those done right. have 162,000 more jobs today, workers making more than Johnson said Dayton’s we balanced the budget and that. Public Utilities Commission have a surplus, paid back the “If you want to restore the and other regulatory agencies schools, increased taxes on the middle class you allow people are killing projects like the wealthiest two percent, have all to earn money at the work- Sandpiper pipeline and copper day kindergarten, tuition place,” Dayton said and that nickle mining on the Iron freezes at the University of money will return to grow the Range. He accused Dayton and Minnesota and MNSCU sys- economy as they spend it. his appointees of “hiding tems...” He said Minnesota is Johnson said Dayton tries to behind the process” to kill proj- outperforming all its neighbor- paint a rosy picture but the state ects. ing states and has a per capita is moving in the wrong direc- Dayton said he appoints income $6,000 to $7,000 better tion. PUC members but he also than Wisconsin. Dayton said he’s not saying appoints judges and he doesn’t Johnson said Dayton does- things are rosy...they’re better, tell them how to rule. n’t understand the middle class. including job growth and “They follow rules and But as a former member of unemployment of 4.3% in the statutes to make decisions,” the state House of Represen- state and Duluth. Dayton said. tatives Johnson took many “Economists call that full On Polymet copper nickle votes that proved he wasn’t for employment,” Dayton said. mining, Dayton said you don’t the middle class Dayton said. “We can do better and we will exempt a project from the envi- Among them were votes to cut work at it.” ronmental review process in its education funding, not bond Johnson spoke often about last months unless you’re pan- for infrastructure projects, cut under employment which he dering to northern Minnesota Dan Hill, a USW #6860 Millwright at United Taconite in local government aid, and take said means people are making voters. Eveleth, attended the Duluth gubernatorial debate Oct. 14 money from the IRRRB 21st 50% of what they did a year “I’ve worked for 37 years to show that Gov. Dayton, left, is “Fighting for our Jobs.” ago. for northeastern Minnesota,” Dayton said under employ- Dayton said. “I’ve seen huck- Franken fires up doorknockers for GOTV ment was prevalent before he sters who say they’ll build It was a predominately Scholastica and UMD to get “We call it the Buffet rule came to office under Gov. chopsticks factories.” He said young crowd so when Senator out the vote. because Warren Buffet found Pawlenty. “Two thirds of col- there are 1,000 more mining Al Franken told them he was “This election is about the out his secretary was paying lege graduates are not under- jobs and 70 permits issued for born in 1951, a groaning “wow, middle class, which has been higher taxes than he was,” employed.” Using Johnson’s the Range since he took office. you’re old” was heard in the under assault for 30-some Franken said. The bill would statistics half of police and On health care Dayton said Labor Temple. There were a years,” Franken told the crowd- require that after the first mil- nurses would be underem- those who think the Affordable few people in the room older ed room after their training. lion anyone makes, on the rest ployed Dayton said. Care Act and the exchange than Franken and he took the “We’ve seen 55 straight of their income they would pay Transportation and infra- See Dayton...page 8 insult better than most. months of private sector job the same as the median structure led to more sparring. Franken attended the DFL growth but it all goes to the American wage earner pays on Johnson said Dayton’s pri- training in the Labor Temple top.” Since 2001 there has been their taxes. That drew applause. orities aren’t on roads and Oct. 20 to fire up students and a flattening in earnings for the “Remember Romney was bridges but on rail and bike other volunteers before they middle class because “the sys- taxed at 13 or 14 percent,” he trails. He said the state needs to did a “Dorm Storm” at St. tem is rigged for those at the asked about the Republican do more bonding and borrow- top” which makes for a huge presidential nominee in 2012. ing to pay for roads and bridges contrast in opportunities for all Franken said it’s wrong that while he said Dayton wants to he said. corporations can reduce their raise gas taxes for it. He addressed the $1.5 tril- taxes by shutting down facto- Dayton said he would raise lion in student loan debt in ries in America and shipping taxes on wholesale gasoline in America that affects every age jobs overseas. order to go after some of the $6 group and 560,000 Minne- “And I’m attacked by my billion gap in infrastructure Please VOTE sotans. The federal government opponent for voting for higher needs just to maintain the status next Tuesday, made a profit of $66 billion on taxes,” Franken said. quo. those loans from just 2010 to He spoke of growing up in “Let’s get real here, Nov. 4! An updat- 2012 Franken said. That’s not the middle class in St. Louis Commissioner, the feds won’t right and so he and Sen. Park even though his father be any help and we can’t allow ed list of Labor- Elizabeth Warren have intro- hadn’t graduated from high things to get worse. It will take endorsed candi- duced a bill to allow refinanc- school and worked as a sales- 10 years if we act now to see ing of student loans. See Franken...page 6 any results,” Dayton said. He dates is on page 12 Help others in need enjoy the holidays with a donation to food basket program The Duluth AFL-CIO Unions refer members’ fam- Nov. 7. are being fed and can feel bet- 110, 2002 London Road, Community Services Pro- ilies that have fallen on hard “Hunger is a terrible prob- ter about the holidays.” Duluth, MN 55812. gram’s Holiday Food Baskets times to the programs. lem for too many of our fami- The success of the program Lynette Swanberg can be to help less fortunate union Depending upon donations to lies,” said Community Services and the number it can serve is reached at commservices@ families will have a menu the program, Holiday Food Director Lynette Swanberg. “It dependent upon donations unitedwayduluth.org or 218- change this year that will be baskets will be delivered to really hurts them during the received. 726-4775. Committee co- more nutritious and more unemployed union members holidays when they should be Donations to Holiday Food chairs are UFCW 1189’s expensive. For the effort for who have no benefits, injured enjoying time together. Our Baskets can be sent to Duluth Tamara Jones, 391-2733, and Thanksgiving and Christmas workers without compensation, Holiday Food Basket program Central Labor Body, Attn: Laborers 1091’s Dan Olson, holidays this year the commit- people battling illness, or oth- is so rewarding because people Holiday Food Baskets, Room 728-5151. tee will create their own bas- ers with unusual hardships. kets with more fresh food and Names, addresses, and tele- We Accept the Bring a toy/gift to Central nutritious options to stretch the phone numbers of families food into several meals.