Friday, May 17, 2013
Rep. Keith Ellison said Republicans are neglecting other problems by convening numerous votes on legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
On Thursday, 5th District Rep. Keith Ellison cast his 37th vote (depending on how you count) against a proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The legislation has no chance of passing since the Senate will likely ignore it and President Barack Obama has promised to veto it on the off chance it ever reached his desk. Republicans defend the frequent votes by saying they want new legislators to be able to uphold their promise to constituents to try and repeal health care reform, but Democrats accuse Republicans of wasting time for political gain. Ellison released the following statement after Thursday’s vote: Today, for the 37th time in two years, I voted against a partisan attempt by Republicans in Congress to …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The 5th District congressman, who voted for the proposal, thinks now is the time to resurrect it.
Rep. Keith Ellison slammed Republicans critics of the Obama administration’s investigation into AP subpoenas for not backing a law that he said could have prevented it. The Justice Department has come under fire for sweeping subpoenas of Associated Press phone records. On Wednesday, Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank called Attorney General Eric Holder’s testimony an “abdication” of responsibility. But on MSNBC Thursday, Ellison said it’s disingenuous for Republicans to call out the Obama administration when congressmen like California Rep. Darrell Issa voted against a 2007 shield law proposal that would have given them a greater ability to quash subpoenas. “The reality is Congress cannot abdicate its own responsibility,” said the 5th …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
‘Today, I’m prouder than ever to call Minnesota home,’ the 5th District congressman said.
Fifth district Rep. Keith Ellison applauded Minnesota for becoming the 12th state in the country to legalize same-sex marriage. The Democratic congressman released the following statement Tuesday shortly after Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill into law: Today, I’m prouder than ever to call Minnesota home. Last fall, the people of Minnesota stood against discrimination for loving, same-sex couples. Our representatives in the state responded. Today is a great day for those who know love makes a marriage. Once again, equality has found a home in Minnesota. The law will take affect Aug. 1.
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 8, 2013
The 5th District congressman says it erodes protections for American workers.
Fifth District Rep. Keith Ellison slammed the passage of a bill Wednesday that offers private-sector workers the choice of paid time off instead of overtime pay. Supporters say the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013 is a family-friendly bill that would help parents spend time with their children, adult sons and daughters spend time caring for elderly parents and workers of all ages to pursue the activities they want to pursue. But Ellison countered that it removes vital protections for working families and hurts those struggling to get by during the recession. The Democratic congressman released the following statement with fellow Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairman Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ): H.R. 1406, which eliminates …
Monday, May 6, 2013
The online magazine said it’s important to have Muslim-American leaders like Ellison.
Fifth District Rep. Keith Ellison’s received conspicuous praise following his debate on targeting religious groups with Rep. Peter King, a Republican congressman from New York who advocates for increase surveillance of the Muslim community. Salon's Editor at Large Joan Walsh wrote an article for Salon and MinnPost called “The Importance of Keith Ellison” in which she argued for the importance of having Muslims like Ellison in Congress. She wrote: The fact is, we need more Keith Ellisons in Congress. Not just because he’s a great progressive voice, supporting the president but challenging him strongly on his questionable austerity politics, but also because he’s a patriotic American who’s also a Muslim. He’s crucial right now. Deficit …
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 26, 2013
Grace Miller's artwork will represent Minnesota's Fifth District in a yearlong exhibit at the U.S. Capitol. Another Southwest High School student, Marissa Nicol, placed third.
Two Southwest High School students were among the top three in An Artistic Discovery, the annual Congressional Art Competition among students in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District. A Shadow's Offering by Southwest sophomore Grace Miller placed first and will hang on exhibit at the U.S. Capitol for one year. liya Tourville of Fridley High School placed second and Marissa Nicol, also from Southwest High School, placed third. See a gallery of photos from the annual Arts Education Forum and awards reception on Tuesday.
Monday, April 22, 2013
The Fifth District Congressman is one of 24 members of the House and Senate concerned about the health and environmental effects of mining in Appalachia.
On Earth Day, April 22, Rep. Keith Ellison was listed in a story in The Nation about co-sponsors of a bill "to protect Appalachian families and communities from mountaintop removal." Ellison is one of 24 House and Senate members who support the Appalachian Community Health Emergency Act. According to a thenation.com story, "Preliminary laboratory tests, using air samples from areas where people are living in Appalachia, show mountaintop removal mining dust kills heart cells and impairs vascular function." *** On Sunday, Ellison tweeted: 1978–2011, CEO pay grew more than 725%, more than stock market & more than annual pay of private-sector worker, which grew 5.7% What do you think about the Appalachian Community Health Emergency Act and …
mike savick
9:03 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
"Mike B" here you go again. Same old drek,. 37 time consuming costly votes for the same issues!. How about fixing roads and bridges which creates business for construction companies and suppliers? Construction would create jobs for construction trades people, engineering people and all kinds of workers at material suppliers and transporters. Caterpillar would certainly like to make and sell more … more ›