The Fifth District Report

Ellison Votes Against Raising Debt Ceiling

The Congressman's vote was also echoed by other Minnesota members of Congress ... on both sides of the aisle.

After a heated and divided campaign season, Republicans and Democrats from Minnesota found some common ground last week. Reps. Michele Bachmann (R) and Keith Ellison (D) both voted against increasing the government's debt ceiling for four months Jan. 23. DFLer Betty McCollum, who represents Minnesota's fourth congressional district, also voted against the measure. "Giving the president four months of unlimited borrowing authority without a cap on spending is something I cannot support," Bachmann reportedly said. According to the Star Tribune, debt deal proposed by House Speaker John Boehner leaves the $16.4 trillion ceiling where it is, but allows continued borrowing to take place until a new May 18 deadline. Despite the bipartisan …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

The Fifth District Report

Ellison Praises Obama’s ‘Progressive’ Inaugural Address

The 5th District representative liked the speech’s comments on income equality, gay rights and other issues.

Fifth District Rep. Keith Ellison is praising the progressive values he heard in President Barack Obama’s second inaugural address.  “As the co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, it is my considered opinion that this was a progressive speech,” Ellison said Monday on The Ed Show. “It was a speech that any progressive could say, ‘That’s what I’m talking about.’ I found myself spontaneously cheering in the middle of the speech. It was the kind of speech that just made me feel really good because it combined our common humanity, combined our need for economic fairness, combined the idea that better days our coming if we will step up to meet them.” Ellison particularly noted the president’s focus on income inequality, programs like Social …

• Videos (1)

The Fifth District Report

Ellison Named to House Leadership Position

The Minneapolis-area congressman also joined a bus tour calling for foreclosure fairness.

Friday, Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) kicked off the start of the 113th Congress by announcing Rep. Keith Ellison's (D-MN) appointment to a deputy leadership position in the Democratic caucus. As a newly minted Chief Deputy Whip, Ellison joins 9 other leading congressmembers in being the eyes, ears, and hands of Hoyer and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). “I am excited to work with Whip Hoyer and the rest of the Whip team to continue the fight for good jobs for working families," Ellison said in a written statement. "It is more important than ever that we work together to protect the benefits middle class families rely on.” Whips are typically charged with keeping party members onside and enforcing discipline during contentious …

• Photos (1)

The Ellison Report

Ellison: GOP To Blame For S&P Downgrade

Southwest's Rep. Keith Ellison takes to Twitter to express his feelings on who is to blame for U.S. credit reduction.

"The Ellison Report" is a new feature that offers a look every weekday at coverage of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who represents Southwest Minneapolis. Have you seen an interesting news story or blog post about Ellison that you think should be mentioned? E-mail a link to caitlin.burgess@patch.com. A few days after Standard & Poor’s (S&P) announced it had downgraded the United States’ long-term credit rating from AAA to AA+ Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) took to his Twitter page Sunday, tweeting: “How can R(epublican) House/Senate leaders avoid/deny responsibility for S&P downgrade.” Ellison’s tweet early Sunday morning gave way to more reports that Democrats and Republicans were playing the blame game. According to a Politico article, the “…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)

The Ellison Report

The Ellison Report: More Criticism of Debt Deal

A new feature spotlighting coverage of Southwest Minneapolis's congressional representative.

Editor's Note: "The Ellison Report" is a new feature that offers a look every weekday at coverage of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who represents Southwest Minneapolis. Have you seen an interesting news story or blog post about Ellison that you think should be mentioned? E-mail a link to michael.rose@patch.com. Earlier this week, we noted Ellison's displeasure with spending cuts within the new deficit-reduction deal. However, the congressman's criticism of the deal doesn't end with cuts. In a New York Times article, Ellison says he doesn't support the new Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction—a congressional committee created as part of the deal that will recommend major changes in entitlement programs and the tax code. “The joint …

• Photos (1)

Southwest Actor Explains 'Political Kabuki'

Green T Productions specializes in Japanese theater.

As President Barack Obama and Republican legislators argue over the raising the nation's debt ceiling, the president's press secretary accused Republicans of engaging in "political kabuki." "What we are witnessing here with this measure is classic Washington posturing, kabuki theatre," said White House press secretary Jay Carney. That brings a groan from Kathy Welch, a Southwest Minneapolis actress and artistic director of Green T Productions. "It’s a shallow interpretation of what kabuki is about," she said, laughing. "Every time I hear it, I roll my eyes, sigh, and say to them 'You should take one of my classes!'" Welch and Green T specialize in kabuki, a traditional Japanese style of theater combining music and dance that has graced …

• Photos (1)