While the odds may be against her ("It's Lourey against Hatch, history," June 22), I'll be casting my vote for Becky Lourey for governor in the upcoming primary election. The same 1,300 or so state delegates to the DFL convention have consistently endorsed losing gubernatorial candidates over the last 20 years. Clearly, they don't represent the other 5 million of us in the state. Lourey is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stagnant DFL party.

CARLA JOHNSON

St. Paul

The writer has volunteered for Becky Lourey's campaign. Source: Pioneer Press, June 28, 2006

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch

"Today I find myself having to decide between abiding by the endorsement process and an intimate friendship. I have chosen to continue to work with the Lourey campaign because of my comitment and loyalty to progressive issues and my relationship with the Lourey's(sic). I also respect my party and the requirements of office. I therefore am resigning my position as State Party Treasurer. It is my hope that you and members of the DFL Party understand and respect my decision." Source: Rambling from the North, June 26, 2006

Tags: Becky Lourey

How the hell can Rebecca Otto claim she can "serve as a watchdog for the citizens of Minnesota" when she lists a convicted felon who pleaded guilty to financial crimes on her website as a "supporter"? 

Pat Forciea pleaded gulity to felony theft, bank fraud and wire fraud.

Pat Forciea pleaded guilty to taking $10,000 from a corporate sponsor to promote University of Minnesota football. He admitted in court that he never performed any of the duties he had promised in return for the money. Source: Associated Press, January 12, 2005

Pat Forciea admitted that he lied to get more than $5.6 million in bank loans to buy two minor league hockey teams. Forciea also admitted he defrauded two Twin Cities partners of $400,000 during the hockey team purchases and embezzled $750,000 from other associates in a separate scheme. Source: Pioneer Press, July 31, 2004

Who's watching Rebecca Otto while she's watching the watchdog? 

Tags: Becky Lourey, Pat Anderson

I want to thank the dedicated reader of Minnesota Democrats Exposed who sent me this material.

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch

Without DFL blessing, primary odds are against her

Minnesota's primary elections have produced some big political surprises, but they have been few and far between.

While Sen. Becky Lourey could pull off an upset victory in the Sept. 12 Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary for governor, the odds are stacked against her.

In her race with Attorney General Mike Hatch, the DFL-endorsed candidate, Lourey faces many challenges, not the least being a rush by Democratic leaders, activists and donors to unite behind the endorsee in hopes of ending their party's 20-year losing streak in gubernatorial races." Source: Pioneer Press, June 22, 2006

Click here for complete story.

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch

After all, a fight within the party is bound to drain resources from the Hatch gubernatorial campaign. And if the two candidates are fighting each other, Hatch would not be able to fully concentrate on beating Pawlenty. As one DFL State Convention delegate said about primaries: 'One candidate is always better than two.'" Source: Park Rapid Enterprise, June 21, 2006

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch, Uncategorized

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch, Uncategorized

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch

Senator Sheila Kiscaden

Senator Becky Lourey

Former state auditor Judi Dutcher

UPDATE: This blogger posted Judi Dutcher as a potential Hatch running mate before me.  Nice work!

Tags: Becky Lourey, Judi Dutcher, Sheila Kiscaden

Lourey: Investing in Rochester Vital to Minnesota's Success

A major swing in support heading into the state DFL convention week was announced today (Saturday) as Rochester Rep. Tina Liebling shifted her endorsement to Becky Lourey in the Democratic race for Governor.

A major swing in support heading into the state DFL convention week was announced today (Saturday) as Rochester Rep. Tina Liebling shifted her endorsement to Becky Lourey in the Democratic race for Governor.

"I am here today to announce I am endorsing Senator Becky Lourey for Governor," Liebling said. "Sen. Lourey will be an effective governor who will give Rochester and the state the effective, common-sense leadership we deserve."

"Investing responsibly in Rochester's economic potential is vital to Minnesota's long-term success," Lourey said. "Rep. Liebling not only understands the right economic priorities for Southeastern Minnesota, she has already moved forward effectively on that agenda. It is a great honor to have Tina's endorsement, and I hope to be working with her in St. Paul next year."

Lourey will return to Rochester along with thousands of other Democrats at their 2006 state convention set for June 8-11 at the Mayo Civic Center. Sen. Lourey, a business owner and former farmer from Kerrick, faces two major challengers for endorsement in the Governor's race – Attorney General Mike Hatch from Burnsville, and Hopkins Sen. Steve Kelley who is an attorney. Liebling had originally endorsed Hatch.

"World class health care, biotech research, computing and results-oriented higher education come together in Rochester, and expanding those successes will be a high priority from day one in my administration," Lourey said. "A shared vision, consistency and follow through on the region's long-range economic goals will move us forward to greater prosperity. Frankly, good-faith cooperation is the key — not short-term partisan calculations or divisive rhetoric."

Lourey and Liebling share concerns about the economics of the proposed Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E) Railroad expansion. Lourey attended a town meeting in Rochester last month called by Liebling to discuss the $2.5 billion federal loan approved earlier this year by Congress.

"Legitimate safety and economic concerns raised by the Mayo Clinic, the Rochester business community and citizens have not been adequately answered by the DM&E and other supporters of routing heavy, long-haul coal train traffic directly through Rochester," Lourey said. "Now is the time to start a constructive discussion of alternatives that will serve the best interests of all concerned – the Rochester community, farmers who need to move product to market efficiently, and the DM&E."

Lourey is particularly concerned that taxpayers could be left with a huge debt to pay if the $2.5 billion loan to DM&E is not adequately secured.

"This huge, earmarked Congressional loan simply does not qualify as fiscally responsible," Lourey said. "The private market was not interested; the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) frowned on it; and yet Congress slipped it through without the requisite public scrutiny or debate. We cannot allow any shifting of this potentially heavy debt burden onto state taxpayers. All Minnesota policy makers should speak out loud and clear on this point."

Liebling expressed appreciation to Lourey for her courage to speak out and her desire to protect the interests of taxpayers.

"To protect the taxpayer and to protect the citizens of Rochester, we need allies at both the state and federal levels," Liebling said. "Becky Lourey understands the need to position Minnesota for the future with world-class education and affordable health care to ensure our competitiveness. She knows that for our economy to continue to flourish, we need effective transportation, sustainable energy, and a healthy environment as part of a renewed commitment to leave our children a clean, strong, prosperous Minnesota. As a business owner, legislator, farmer and mother, she knows how to get things done. Becky Lourey has the experience, the vision, and the leadership to make Minnesota an even better place to live and work."

-30-

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch, Tina Liebling

## 

St. Paul- Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey today issued the following statement regarding Becky Lourey's selection of Tim Baylor as her running mate.

"In spite of today's Hail Mary pass from Becky Lourey, the race for governor will continue to be a clear choice between four liberals and one common sense leader, Governor Pawlenty.

"When it comes to cracking down on illegal immigration, reforming education, protecting traditional marriage and opposing job killing tax increases, Governor Pawlenty represents a clear contrast to the tired liberal policies of Becky Lourey, Steve Kelley, Mike Hatch and Peter Hutchinson."

Tags: Becky Lourey, MN GOP, Tim Baylor

Tags: Becky Lourey, Tim Baylor

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch, Steve Kelley, Tim Pawlenty

Baylor, 52, couldn't be reached for comment. He is a former member of the Minneapolis Planning Commission; past president of the West Broadway Area Coalition, a business group in north Minneapolis, and a principal with JADT Development, which produced the Riverview Homes housing subdivision in north Minneapolis.

In addition, Baylor owns two McDonald's fast-food franchises and other commercial properties." Source: Star Tribune, May 31, 2006

I wrote a previous post about a Lourey-Baylor ticket: 

CONFIRMATION OF LOUREY-BAYLOR?

Tags: Becky Lourey, Tim Baylor

## 

"Referring to rumors that Hatch is ambivalent about his gubernatorial ambitions and is considering seeking reelection as attorney general, Lourey urged him to do so and said playfully, 'What a team we would make.'

Hatch unequivocally said he will not seek reelection. 'I love being attorney general. But I'm running for governor.'" Source: Star Tribune, May 27, 2006

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch, Uncategorized

Tags: Amy Klobuchar, Becky Lourey, Debates, Ford Bell, Mike Hatch, Steve Kelley

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch

Baylor is a former Minnesota Vikings player who also serves on the West Broadway Area Coalition board with Patterson and is the owner of two McDonald's franchises in Minneapolis and a principal developer along the north Minneapolis riverfront. Source: Star Tribune, April 27, 2006

I discovered www.loureybaylor.org, www.loureybaylor.org, www.timbaylor.com, and www.timbaylor.org were all registered on May 10, 2006.

I will be contacting Becky Lourey's campaign for comment on these domain purchases.  Please check back for updates.

Tags: Becky Lourey, Tim Baylor

##

"Minnesota NOW (National Organization for Women) this week announced an 'A' rating and endorsement of Becky Lourey for Governor. The Lourey campaign will receive a political action committee donation and in-kind assistance from the group. No other candidate for Governor has received the Minnesota NOW endorsement or an A rating" Source: Becky Lourey for Governor e-mail, May 9, 2006

Tags: Becky Lourey, NOW

Tags: Becky Lourey, Uncategorized

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch, Sheila Kiscaden, Tim Pawlenty

## 

In 2002, Pam Neary was Becky Lourey's campaign manager.   "[Becky] Lourey's campaign manager, Pam Neary, said the senator also plans to abide by her promise not to mount a primary challenge or to run for governor under another party label. On Monday, Lourey was noticeably absent from a DFL unity celebration at the Capitol. At the news conference were all of the DFL-endorsed candidates for statewide office, including gubernatorial candidate Roger Moe and one of the two candidates he defeated for endorsement, state Auditor Judi Dutcher.  Lourey also was absent from the stage when Moe accepted the endorsement Saturday evening. Neary said the senator was at her home in Kerrick on Monday, about a two-hour drive north of St. Paul, and did not attend in part because DFL officials had told her that the unity showing was scheduled for next week." (“Happenings at the Minnesota Capitol,” Associated Press, May 7, 2002)

Now in 2006, Pam Neary is Peter Hutchinson's campaign manager.  "'It's a sad state of affairs to come to this point again,' said Pam Neary, a former legislator who is Hutchinson's campaign manager. 'We were at a point where we didn't allow money to be the loudest voice in the campaign, and unfortunately now the established parties have figured out a way around it.'" (Dane Smith, A No-Limit Run For Governor?" Star Tribune, October 31, 2005)

Tags: Becky Lourey, Pam Neary, Peter Hutchinson

##

Flip-Flop of the Week: Volume 1, Issue 23

Mike Hatch Flip-Flops on For-Profit HMOs 

1998: Hatch Supported Introducing For-Profit HMOs Into State. "Lillehaug took a swipe at Hatch, saying he represents as a private attorney an 'overdog,' Aetna U.S. Healthcare.  He also criticized him for wanting to let for-profit HMOs into the state.  Hatch said he supports competition."  (Rochelle Olson, "Three DFLers Attorney General Candidates Bicker At Fair Debate," The Associated Press, September 5, 1998)

2001: Hatch Opposed Introducing For-Profit HMOs Into State.  "Most Minnesotans get their health care from the three companies – Allina Health System, HealthPartners and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Minnesota.  Through the state's integrated service network health care model, clinics and hospitals are put in the hands of a small number of very large providers. Instead of controlling costs through competition, the model tries to control costs by allowing a few huge not-for-profit corporations to rely on economies of scale.  'I hope there will be some hearings on it,' said Hatch, a Democrat.  'I hope we’ll be talking about maybe some break-ups … you know you’re not going to get another company to come into this state, not with the concentration that exists today. It's too hard to compete.  I don’t want to change it to a for-profit state, because then you’d have companies like Aetna coming in and simply buying one of these three companies, and that's not healthy,' he added."  (Brad Swenson, “Hatch questions some Allina Health premiums," [Bemidji] Pioneer, September 23, 2001)

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch, MN GOP, Sheila Kiscaden, Steve Kelley, Tim Pawlenty

Mike Hatch Flip-Flops on Task Forces 

1990: Hatch Attacked Rudy Perpich Over Government Task Forces. "'Rudy Perpich has appointed a lot of commissions and a lot of task forces when it comes to health care in this state,' [Hatch] said, adding 'the reality is that this administration refuses to adopt a comprehensive plan on health are, and as a result, health costs are soaring, employers drop coverage, and more people join the ranks of the uninsured.'" ("Hatch Says Heath Care Top Priority If He Wins Election," UPI, July 10, 1990)

2003: Hatch Established "Approximately 25 Working Groups" As Attorney General. "It was a staple in small-town newspapers from Stillwater to the South Dakota border last year: a local activist appointed to a task force formed by Attorney General Mike Hatch to study health care or other consumer issues. In each case, the appointee was a legislative candidate from Hatch's DFL Party. … Hatch spokeswoman Leslie Sandberg responded then that the attorney general had established 'approximately 25 working groups to discuss issues affecting the state." (Conrad deFiebre, “Hatch, GOP Are At Odds Again,” Star Tribune, October 2, 2003)

2003: Hatch Praised Task Forces As Important Part Of Democratic Process. "At least 16 DFL candidates for the Legislature last year asserted in campaign literature that they served on one or more of seven task forces Hatch created. … In response to a similar Republican complaint last year, Hatch wrote that the task forces consider important public policy issues. 'There is no better time to discuss legislative issues affecting the people of this state than with citizens who may be called upon to deliberate on such issues as a legislator,' he wrote." (Bill Salisbury, “GOP Chairman Calls For Probe Of Hatch,” Pioneer Press, October 2, 2003)

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch, MN GOP, Steve Kelley, Tim Pawlenty

Common Sense Minnesota: "Lourey Campaign Goes From Sad To Pathetic To Spiteful"

Rambling from the North: "Lourey Challenges Kelley's Numbers"

Minnesota Campaign Report: "Waiter! More Salt!"

Tags: Becky Lourey, DFL, Mike Hatch, Steve Kelley, Tim Pawlenty

I thought I would point out that Lourey Republican Watch isn’t watching any Republicans. 

Tags: Becky Lourey

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch

“Dr.” appeared before Hatch’s name during an interview today on CNBC.

Tags: Becky Lourey, Mike Hatch, Sheila Kiscaden, Steve Kelley, Tim Pawlenty