Ellison Pushes for More Public Scrutiny of Drone Strikes

Rep. Keith Ellison is urging voters to step up pressure on legislators over the use of drones.

The 5th District congressman hosted a forum with about 120 people Wednesday in North Minneapolis to discuss the ethical implications of drone strikes and surveillance, according to Minnesota Public Radio.

MPR quoted Ellison as saying:

If we weren't talking about technology, we're just soldiers on the ground walking around with M16s. People who get hit by drones -- just a flash and boom, and it's all over.

Ellison Calls for Federal Housing Finance Agency Director’s Firing

During a rally to support Golden Valley homeowner Rose McGee’s fight against foreclosure, Ellison called for the firing of acting Federal Housing Finance Agency director Ed DeMarco.

The Raw Story quoted Ellison as saying:

We need to be finding ways to keep people in their homes, not kicking them out. Ed DeMarco has consistently refused to write down these loans to make them affordable. Other members of Congress and I have taken the extreme but reasonable step of calling for him to be fired. Big banks need to change the way they’re doing business in our communities. Enough is enough.

McGee lost her job and has not made a mortgage payment for more than a year. She’s since been trying to work with Citimortgage and Fannie Mae to modify her loan terms and has filed a lawsuit to keep them from foreclosing on her home.

Her lawyer told the judge that the mortgage companies didn’t follow the procedures required under Minnesota law. The mortgage companies say she wants to live in the home for free.

Fields Named to State Party Leadership

Chris Fields, who challenged Ellison for the 5th District seat in the 2012 election, has been selected as the new secretary of the Minnesota Republican Party, Minnesota Public Radio reported.

Fields ran an aggressive campaign but Ellison easily won re-election in the heavily DFL district, securing nearly three-quarters of the vote.