For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

EMILY’s List Endorses Margaret Anderson Kelliher for Governor of Minnesota

WASHINGTON, D.C. – EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest financial resource for women candidates, today announced its endorsement of Margaret Anderson Kelliher for Governor of Minnesota.

“EMILY’s List is proud to endorse Margaret Anderson Kelliher for Governor,” said Ellen R. Malcolm, President of EMILY’s List. “As Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Margaret has earned a reputation as a coalition builder, reaching across the aisle and working to make life better for all Minnesotans. She is a champion for women and families and has exactly what it takes to be elected Minnesota’s first female Governor. EMILY’s List is thrilled to support Margaret’s campaign and stand with her as she makes history in 2010.”

“I am honored to receive the EMILY’s List endorsement,” said Kelliher. “Their members support will be critical to help me build a strong and winning campaign across Minnesota.”

Kelliher was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1998. In her first term, she was named “Freshman Legislator of the Year.” Kelliher guided the passage of a nation-leading renewable energy standard. When the safety of Minnesota roads and bridges was at stake, Kelliher built the coalition of Democrats and Republicans that overrode Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s transportation bill veto. Over the course of the past three legislative sessions – all of which ended on time – Kelliher oversaw an agenda that provided health care coverage for 40,000 uninsured children, provided for property tax relief for Minnesota families, and fulfilled a commitment to increase school funding.

In the face of historic economic challenges, Kelliher created a Jobs Task Force, recognizing the need to invest in job creation and training skilled workers for the new economy. She has been a relentless leader on choice, reproductive rights and women’s health.

In 2006, EMILY’s List helped elect Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota’s first woman U.S. Senator. In 1998, EMILY’s List helped elect Congresswoman Betty McCollum the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the state.

EMILY’s List is the nation’s largest financial resource for women candidates. In the 2007-2008 cycle, EMILY’s List raised more than $43 million to support its mission of recruiting and supporting women candidates, helping them build strong campaigns, and mobilizing women voters to turn out and vote. With more than 100,000 members across the country, EMILY’s List is one of the largest political action committees in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY’s List has worked to elect 80 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 15 to the U.S. Senate, nine governors, and hundreds of women to the state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices.

For more information on EMILY’s List and Margaret Anderson Kelliher, please visit www.emilyslist.org.

Monday, Former Gov. Wendell Anderson came out as an Anderson Kelliher supporter. “Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher is the leader we need to steer us through these troubled times,” stated Anderson in an email to supporters. “I am proud to add my name to the over 1,000 people who have publicly pledged their support to Margaret for Governor.”

And today, the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers Minnesota chapter gave the Speaker their endorsement as well. Via the Star Tribune: “Our members, from Rochester to the Twin Cities to Moorhead to Duluth and the Iron Range, need a governor who will get electricians off the bench and back on the job,” said Tom Koehler, President of the IBEW Minnesota State Council. “Minnesota needs a peoples-leader and we believe that person, that peoples-leader is Margaret Anderson Kelliher.”

This puts Speaker Anderson Kelliher at four endorsements, leading all of the other DFL governor candidates.

Today economists delivered a grim financial forecast – we face yet another budget deficit. This on-going budget crisis must be resolved. It is time for Minnesota to break this cycle. We need a Governor who will level with Minnesotans. We need a Governor who does not rely on cuts alone to balance the budget. Solving our current economic shortfall and creating economic security will take a balanced approach and require the right mix of spending cuts and revenue increases.

Today’s budget forecast is a reminder that Governor Pawlenty’s unallotment did not balance Minnesota’s two-year budget. It was a quick political fix that solved nothing. Governor Pawlenty, Rep. Seifert and the House Republicans chose politics over the best interest of Minnesotans. I will be a very different kind of Governor.

The next session is going to be a challenge. Focused on his national ambitions, Governor Pawlenty appears determined to keep his “no new taxes” pledge regardless of the toll it takes on the people of Minnesota. However, our challenges can become new opportunities. With bold new leadership in 2011 and beyond, we can take the opportunity to reform the way Minnesota does business by implementing an economic development plan that will create jobs and improve our economy, balance our budget, and invest in education and health care.

To make these opportunities a reality, Minnesota needs a proven leader. The next Governor will have only twelve weeks from the day she is elected to propose a full budget, with progressive tax reform. Minnesota needs a leader who has stood up and fought for what is best for our state—someone who understands the difficulties Minnesotans face, and who will bring people together to create long term solutions and secure our future.

I have a track record of bringing people together to solve problems and resolve issues. I’ve taken on the partisan forces in state government and won. After the 35W bridge collapse, Governor Pawlenty told me he would never sign a transportation reform bill. I knew what I needed to do: I brought together a broad coalition that worked together to make Minnesota’s roads and bridges safer, and we overrode the governor’s veto.

In the 2010 election, we have the chance to work together again and ensure that Minnesota has the Governor it deserves. It will take another broad, strong and diverse coalition and I need you to be part of that effort.

Please join me in this campaign. Become part of the coalition by visiting my website and signing up as a Grassroots Endorser. You can also sign up to join our team of amazing volunteers and pledge to caucus for me on February 2, 2010. I also hope you will consider making a financial investment in the campaign – your contribution of $50, $100 or $250 will help build a people-powered campaign to identify caucus attendees and allow me to bring the message about my candidacy to Minnesotans in every corner of our state.

1. Margaret Anderson Kelliher (formerly #2): With multiple union endorsements in hand, MAK is moving into a strong position for convention endorsement. Women’s groups and Union support are golden and Kelliher is getting solid marks on those fronts. One more big endorsement by SEIU or Education MN and it could give her hard to beat momentum. Her biggest challenge going forward will be the legislative session. The success or failure of the 2010 version is squarely on her shoulders. Can she successfully challenge Pawlenty and push a Democratic agenda, via compromise or override? Or will she end up on the short end of more vetos? Her strength as a governor candidate is riding on the outcome.

Kelliher will be speaking at mnpACT’s candidate forum with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak on December 11th.

Be sure to check out the entire list here.

However, Pawlenty has chosen to not run for re-election, possibly hoping instead to position himself as the GOP nominee for President. In the wake of his announcement, 11 democratic candidates have filed to run for governor. Of those 11 candidates, ten came to speak with reporters, bloggers, and advocacy groups at an event called “Netroots Nation, Minnesota.” At a Q&A session, I submitted the following question:

Tim Pawlenty has used his 8 years as governor to roll back women’s access to reproductive health more than any governor in recent history. Despite heavy DFL majorities in in the legislature, there has been no effort made to change this via legislation. If you are elected governor, will you make it a priority to remove such roadblocks to abortion access such as the 24 hour waiting period, the state based gag rule, or the sometimes factually inaccurate information provided in the “women’s right to know” information act?

Although the question was edited slightly, it was asked of the panel. The following video shows their answers.

Gubernatorial candidate Margaret Anderson Kelliher received her third union endorsement last week, this time from the Greater MN AFSCME Council 65. She then capped off last week by winning the DFL side of the gubernatorial straw poll at the Minnesota Farmer’s Union’s yearly meeting.

MnpACT has an interview with Dr. Maureen Hackett, DFL Candidate in CD 3. Among the standard questions, they delve into the controversy surrounding her previous donations to non-DFL candidates. Hackett addresses the scandal, stating, “I’m a Democrat and have overwhelmingly given to Democrats and Democratic causes, both locally, other state races, and nationally. On some occasions I have given to promote ideas. I have also given money to have access to events.”

Smart Politics takes note of the percentage of female donors contributing to the two women vying for the DFL endorsement in the 6th CD congressional race, with both State Senator Tarryl Clark and former IP Lt. Gov. candidate Maureen Reed receiving almost 50% of their campaign contributions from women.

And, speaking of Smart Politics, a post I have been meaning to link to for weeks now, “When Will Minnesota (or Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota…) Elect a Woman as Governor?” The summary? In Minnesota and/or Wisconsin, 2010 may finally be the year.

But one of the highlights will likely be the DFL gubernatorial panel held Friday night. If you have a question you would like to see answered, you can tweet it with the hashtag #nmn09gov, or, if you are like me and need more than 140 characters, you can send an email to: questionsATnetrootsminnesotaDOTorg

Or, maybe you would like to make sure my question gets asked? If so, please consider emailing or tweeting the above contacts and tell them that you support women’s choice in Minnesota, and would like to know how the candidates would answer the following:

Tim Pawlenty has used his 8 years as governor to roll back women’s access to reproductive health more than any governor in recent history. Despite heavy DFL majorities in in the legislature, there has been no effort made to change this via legislation. If you are elected governor, will you make it a priority to remove such roadblocks to abortion access such as the 24 hour waiting period, the state based gag rule, or the sometimes factually inaccurate information provided in the “women’s right to know” information act?

Four months after entering the governor’s race, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, had no union endorsements. Now she has two.

Today, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 endorsed the Kelliher’s bid for governor. Last week, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees announced it would back her.

In a news release, Local 49 business manager Glen Johnson praised Kelliher’s role in the 2008 override of Gov. Pawlenty’s veto of a gas tax bill.

“The transportation bill override was the largest job-creating bill in decades, and Margaret made it happen,” he said.

Wendy Stuhr, a crane operator and endorsement committee member, said Kelliher was the unanimous choice.

There are still some major union endorsements yet to come — including those from Education Minnesota and Service Employees International Union.

Polinaut
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MAPE backs Kelliher for governor

Posted at 11:48 AM on November 12, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Minnesota Governor

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Minnesota’s second largest public employee union is backing DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher in her 2010 bid for governor.

Officials with the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) screened all of the DFL candidates and one Republican earlier this week. But the union’s executive director, Jim Monroe, says Kelliher stood out with her proven leadership skills. During a State Capitol news conference today, Monroe also described Kelliher as the most electable candidate in the field.

“Speaker Kelliher is willing to bring people together to solve problems in a crisis,” Monroe said. “She has a history of respect for state workers and the work that they do.”

MAPE is Kelliher’s first labor endorsement. The state’s largest public employee union, AFSCME Council 5, is backing Mark Dayton for governor.