Monday, May 20, 2013
The 5th District Congressman also wants to ban the herbicide atrazine and add a right to vote amendment to the Constitution.
Gas Prices Rep. Keith Ellison argued last week that tougher rules on oil speculation and an end to subsidies for oil companies would help curb the recent hike in gas prices. The 5th District congressman last year introduced the “End Polluter Welfare Act," which would eliminate more than $110 billion in fossil fuel subsidies every 10 years. Ellison released the following statement Friday: A week before one of the busiest car travel weekends of the year, millions of Minnesotans are suddenly having to pay more for gas than ever before. This takes money out of the pockets of working people in the middle of a slow recovery, and causes real economic pain for Minnesotans already struggling to get by. There are meaningful steps Congress can take …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Also: The 5th District congressman has an autobiography coming out Sept. 24.
Rep. Keith Ellison continues to fight against a plan to use the new inflation formula as a way to compromise with Republicans and resolve a budget impasse. During a Wednesday summit on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans benefits, the 5th District congressman pledged to combat a proposed “chained consumer price index” would grow Social Security benefits at a slower rate than they grow under the current formula. “I don’t care who is talking about cuts to Social Security, we’re going to fight back,” Ellison said. “I don’t care what office they occupy. I don’t care what party they’re in. Because I’m in the Social Security Party.” Autobiography Ellison will be pitching his personal narrative to readers this fall in an upcoming …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Obama plans to nominate Rep. Mel Watt to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Fifth District Rep. Keith Ellison is praised the president’s selection of Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency—which supervises Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Ellison, a Democratic member of the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement Wednesday after a White House official announced that President Barack Obama planned to nominate Watt: Mel Watt is a strong housing and community development advocate. If confirmed by the Senate, working families in Minnesota will have an ally leading the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Since the Great Recession, there have been more than 4 million foreclosures and American homeowners lost more than half the value on their …
Monday, April 29, 2013
The 5th District congressman argues that law enforcement efforts shouldn’t concentrate on the Muslim community.
Rep. Keith Ellison is pushing back against calls from Rep. Peter King (R-NY) to focus surveillance efforts on the Muslim community. King, who chairs the House subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, argued in the National Review that police have to build up sources in the community and increase surveillance there. The magazine quoted him as saying: We can’t be bound by political correctness. … I think we need more police and more surveillance in the communities where the threat is coming from, whether it’s the Irish community with the Westies [an Irish-American gang in New York City], or the Italian community with the mafia, or the Muslim community with the Islamic terrorists. On Meet The Press Sunday, Ellison countered that …
Friday, April 19, 2013
The 5th District congressman worries that the ‘Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act’ could infringe on people’s right to privacy.
Rep. Keith Ellison was among the 127 representatives who voted against the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) that the House passed Thursday. The bill aims to make it easier for the government and private sector to share information on cyber threats, but critics like the 5th District congressman worry that it infringes on privacy The bill received support from 92 Democrats, but Ellison said it didn’t provide sufficient protection for individuals. He released the following statement: The threat of cyber-attack is real. As we have seen repeatedly, both public and private networks are under constant threat, and Congress has a responsibility to address these threats. However, CISPA in its current form would violate Americans…
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Vic Edgerton will start with Ellison’s office in Washington, DC, April 24.
Nearly two weeks after Rep. Keith Ellison announced a new district director, the 5th District congressman has named his new legislative director. Vic Edgerton, who was Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s chief of staff for the past three years, will join Ellison’s office April 24, his office announced Tuesday. He replaces Jamie Long, who will be moving to Minnesota to become district director at the end of the month. Long replaces current District Director Will Hailer, who’s leaving to become executive director of the Texas Democrat Party on April 26. Ellison said he’s happy to have Edgerton coming on board. “I am proud to have Vic lead a legislative team that is responsive to the needs of Minnesota’s 5th District and our nation,” a news release …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The 5th District congressman has nearly $87,000 cash on hand for the 2014 election.
Fifth District Rep. Keith Ellison raised $185,600 in the first quarter of 2013 and has nearly $87,000 cash on hand, the Star Tribune reported Tuesday. The report was the first filing of the campaign season and comes 18 months ahead of the election season. Minnesota’s congressional delegation raised a combined $4.2 million. Democratic Sen. Al Franken topped the list with $1.985 million raised in the first quarter and $2.03 million cash on hand. Click here to read the full Star Tribune story. Sixth District Rep. Michele Bachmann raised the most among Minnesota’s representatives—and fourth overall in the U.S. House, according to USA Today. The $679,522 she raised in the first quarter of 2013 was behind only House Speaker John Boehner, …
Monday, April 8, 2013
The 5th District congressman is also calling for the firing of acting Federal Housing Finance Agency director Ed DeMarco.
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 …
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Current Legislative Director Jamie Long will replace District Director Will Hailer, who’s leaving to become executive director of the Texas Democrat Party.
Rep. Keith Ellison announced Thursday that current Legislative Director Jamie Long will become the 5th District congressman’s new district director May 1. Long will replace current District Director Will Hailer, who’s leaving to become executive director of the Texas Democrat Party on April 26. A news release quoted Ellison as saying: Will has been an invaluable part of my team, both as Campaign Manager for Ellison for Congress, and as District Director for my Congressional Office. As campaign manager, Will helped turn out an unprecedented number of voters to defeat an anti-marriage amendment and voter restriction amendment. As District Director, he has made sure our office is in constant communication with Minnesotans, and responsive to …
Monday, March 25, 2013
The 5th District congressman shot down Bill O’Reilly’s claims that the Congressional Progressive Caucus wants to end capitalism.
Fifth District Rep. Keith Ellison went on MSNBC Wednesday to counter Fox talk show host Bill O’Reilly’s claims the night before that members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) are “far-left kooks.” O’Reilly criticized the proposals for decreased defense spending and increased spending on job creation, science, energy, the environment and education—adding “some conservatives claim that’s what the far-left wants: a collapse of the entire capitalist system.” On MSNBC’s Martin Bashir’s show, CPC co-chairman Ellison said the proposals enjoy widespread support and that he isn’t pushing for a collapse of capitalism. Watch the full interview in the video above. Iraq War Ellison also released the following statement on the 10th …
Lynn B
4:09 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
I have dubbed the entity "Gordy." Much easier than Mike b. Gordy is a bore and a dementor. I don't respond to it anymore. If we don't respond to it, it will float to another spot. Poor Gordy. No one takes it seriously. more ›