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BREAKING NEWS FROM FROM THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS: “SEIFERT ANNOUNCES NEW REPUBLICAN LEADS”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | February 26, 2008
I just received this press release from the House Republican Caucus. The Override Six have been removed from their leadership positions within the House Republican Caucus.
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SAINT PAUL — (February 26, 2008) — State Representative Marty Seifert today announced the six Republicans who voted to override Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto have been removed from their leadership positions.
"I have spoken with all six members and received their resignations from their lead positions on House committees and in the Caucus," said House Republican Leader Marty Seifert. "I respectfully ask the House Democrats to respect our decision on this internal caucus matter."
Seifert announced the following members as the new Republican leads:
Representative Dean Urdahl – Agriculture, Rural Economies & Vets Affairs
Representative Larry Howes – Capital Investment
Representative Matt Dean – Health Care and Human Services
Representative Sondra Erickson – K-12 Finance
Representative Morrie Lanning – Property Tax Relief & Local Sales Taxes
Representative Pat Garofalo was named Assistant Minority Whip.
Topics: Marty Seifert, Override Six | 18 Comments »
February 26th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Before all of the libs start bashing the Republicans for removing the six members from their leaderships posts we must remember we are a team, and these six members decided in the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs and the clear possibility to support what the party stands for that decided hey what the heck they were going to switch teams and support the other guys. This doesn’t work! Why do you think the two dems who voted against this bill voted to override the veto? Not that they liked the bill but because they wanted their team to win. It is time for these members if they want to make real change they need to work as a team not slap the people that elected them in the face.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Now that Abeler has some free time, he should look into finding a barber!
February 26th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
If the Override Six think that things are bad now, just wait until they try and run for re-election.
The Republican Party is following the stated wishes of the constituents that put the six turncoats in office in the first place.
The day that a Republican office holder buys into the Democrat “I know what’s best for you” hubris is the day that Republican is free to excersize their right to change party affiliation.
And good riddance.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Matt Dean will make a great new lead! He comes from Bachmann Country:)
February 26th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
It’s a start. Maybe their next action will be they voluntarily won’t run for reelection so we can nominate and get elected real republicans from these districts!
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
February 26th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
gld,
Don’t pick on Abler’s hair cut. There’s a story behind that. Abler was at the bedside of Moe Howard (of Three Stooges fame) just before Moe’s death. Moe made Abler promise that he (Abler) would keep Moe’s hair style in fashion.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
We can blame, all day long, the six that voted with the DFL, but who is ultimately responsible in making sure the party sticks together! We need changes and term limits!
February 26th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Since those 6 members do not want to represent the Republican party, let’s get some real Republicans elected in those districts. It is time to get back to being the party of fiscal responsibility, lower taxes and limited government. To steal a line from Hillary Clinton, “Shame on you” to those 6 who raised our taxes.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
It’s always a good idea to eat your young.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Maverick Republican’s overturn Pawlenty VETO…. Irony breaks out at Minnesota State Capital!!
Startribune
By Mark Brunswick, Star Tribune
Last update: February 26, 2008 – 5:20 PM
“These are people who are good Republicans who left the reservation on this issue. This was a critical watershed issue, this is the largest tax increase in the history of the State of Minnesota. To have Republicans not stand against the largest tax increase that’s really baffling. It should have been an easy vote for these Republicans to have taken.”
Rep. Bud Heidgerken, R-Freeport, said he would have stepped down if he believed he did anything wrong but believes he did right for his district.
“The message they are sending to me is that ‘We don’t want any independent minded people,’” Heidgerken said. “I’ll always stand up for what’s right. If that means my election than I don’t deserve to be here.”
February 26th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
*Montgomery Burns voice*
Excellllent!!
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MDE, electing Democratic Candidates one veto at a time!!
February 26th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
First, I wasn’t aware of the big majority in the House that the dems have. That being the case, if GOP House leaders handle this right, which so far they have, republicans may come back stronger.
If the GOP people all around the state are as into this as those folks reportedly are in the Override Six’s districts, that’s good. That means the GOP will be energized this November, and that’s what we need.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Isn’t it interesting. Howes threatens to override the veto, gets major pressure from his district, vote to sustain and gets a committee lead – big reward. Ain’t Politics Grand
February 27th, 2008 at 7:16 am
[...] There’s plenty of internal party discussion on what to do about the 6 (R)s who raised taxes $7 Billion. Overnight a group of us in CD6 had the MDE post on the Seifert presser yesterday sent to us with a request for comments. [...]
February 27th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Why don’t we just unravel the list of companies and individuals that stand to be enriched with the money from the transit tax bill. Of the people, by the people and for the people has been supplanted by the new mantra:
Of the special interests, by the special interests and for teh special interests.
We either need to get heard for standing on principle or find a way to get in on the cash grab. Let’s try principle one more time before we all sell out.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Maybe it would have helped had the Governor not told members to “vote their conscious”.
February 27th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Flash is funny. Wrong, but funny.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Ron Erhardt is being challenged for the Republican endorsement by Keith Downey, http://www.keithdowney.com. Keith’s campaign was launched last fall, well before Ron’s latest shenanigans. But, Ron has been a loose cannon for a while now. After 18 years, he was asked to retire and refused.
We are hopeful that Keith will get the party’s endorsement at the district convention on March 8th. Nevertheless, Erhardt has expressed interest in running as an Independent if he loses the endorsement.
I think he should just slide a bit more left and run on the DFL ticket.
We need a delegate from the West Bloomington area to make a floor motion at our convention not to endorse Neil Peterson. Peterson is not being challenged for the endorsement but you can choose not to endorse at your convention like they did with Tinglestad last weekend.