The news conference will be at 4 PM today, at Minneapolis city hall, by Father of Waters

Carney is not calling for Governor Pawlenty's impeachment, but sees a potential need to begin studying impeachment provisions

Carney is organizing a second "Citizens' Petition for a Redress of Grievances -- Unallotment", this may or may not advance very far before Tuesday's election.  A copy of the e-mail that was sent to candidates, and the petition, follows this news release, and is well worth reading

Carney is writing a book on unallotment

Other Mayoral candidates have been invited, and may or may not come -- the issues are not as central to their campaigns

Carney will also attempt to file his second ballot dispute lawsuit Monday; he anticipates a Constitutional challenge based on both the Court's attempt to collect a "filing fee", and on other First Amendment grounds.  The city of Minneapolis rejected Carney's first Affidavit of Candidacy, which stated "Moderate Progressive Republican" as his political principle; Carney was forced to re-file, and chose "Moderate Progressive Censored"; filed under protest

UPCOMING -- A joint news conference of "insurgent" Minneapolis Mayoral candidates will almost certainly be announced for Monday, at city hall, time to be determined 

UPCOMING -- A singing event is also being organized for Monday

Contact: Bob Carney Jr.
bob@republicancontract.com

cell: 612-803-9084

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Following is an e-mail Carney sent to Minneapolis Mayoral and City Council candidates regarding the Second Citizens' Petition for a Redress of Grievances -- Unallotment

Dear fellow candidates:

I've launched a second Citizens' Petition drive, and I'm asking you to sign it (just confirm with a “yes” by return e-mail). This one challenges the Pawlenty administration's “unallotment”.

The basic idea behind Minnesota's unallotment law is clear and simple. Unallotment allows the Governor to unilaterally reduce spending when an economic downturn throws the budget out of balance.

Minnesota's unallotment was designed to provide for a kind of “mid-course correction” during an economic dip. The law requires at least one hearing by the Legislative Advisory Commission – Legislative leaders and key committee chairs.

Here's the “spirit of the law”: The Governor and Legislative leaders are supposed to talk, and agree on where to trim, to get the state through an economic dip. Unfortunately, there always seems to be a battle between the “spirit of the law” and the “devil in the details.”

What we've got today is no dip – it's more like a depression than a recession.

And Governor Pawlenty's unallotment is no “mid-course correction.” It's a power grab.

In Minnesota, we've always started a biennium with a balanced budget (sometimes a little late, after a special session).

Not this year – the current biennium was launched with a $2.7 billion deficit.

And it was launched with no special session.

I'm for the “spirit of the law”. But so far this year, the “devil in the details” seems to be winning.

I testified at the June 30^th Legislative Advisory Commission hearing. I warned the Pawlenty administration that unless they reconsidered, and stopped the attempt to use unallotment to “eliminate” (their word) the Political Contribution Refund program, I would sue. They didn't stop, and I did sue. Here's one preliminary result: we have, in writing and in court, a record of the sweeping unallotment powers Governor Pawlenty is claiming. Progress is being made.

I use quote marks around “Republican” when talking about “Pawlenty Republicans”. As a Moderate Progressive Republican -- a real Republican, as in “...republican form of government,...” – I'm appalled as I witness what is emerging. Here's what I told the Legislative Advisory Commission in an October 5th letter calling on them to hold another hearing:

We should expect a future “Republican” candidate for Governor to campaign along this line – maybe not with these words, but with this message:

“This Bud's for YOU! Elect me... I'll use my action figure unallotment super power to unilaterally balance the budget on my pinky. Makes you feel good to elect DFL'ers to the Legislature? Wife wants you to vote for 'em -- put out a sign? Go ahead! Let 'em play their games. It don't matter what they pass for spending – Gov has the checkbook – I'll be the decider for Minnesota on what's spent and what's not spent. But listen – you gotta give me this: 'boots on the ground' -- one third plus one in one house of the Legislature. That's all we need".

According to this plan, there won't be any deficits – the Governor will just slash programs as he sees fit. Governor Pawlenty claims the power to cut or even eliminate programs for a biennium.

This is what's coming -- to a political theater near you.

Unless we stop it now.

Fortunately, next week this issue is also coming to a voting booth near all of us.

Here's why this is a city election issue:

• Local Government aid has been cut 42% in five years.

• Our state is becoming polarized on a rural/urban divide. With a 1/3 + 1 rural legislative base, the Pawlenty “Republicans” can and will use unallotment to fuel a divide between big city Minnesota and Rural Minnesota.

• And, oh yes... did anyone mention that Mayor Rybak is running for Governor?

  Our Legislature has always been the “network hub” of the state – the place where people representing different interests come together with this basic instruction from the Citizens: compromise,... yes compromise,... (but never on fundamental principles), to enact a budget and a tax system that is fair to everyone.

Governor Pawlenty wants to downsize and micromanage this network hub – using just his cell phone.

If he succeeds, it literally won't matter what Citizens of Minneapolis tell the Legislature. A “Republican” Governor and his Legislative “boots on the ground” will decide what to spend. And they won't have to listen to anyone who's not on their side (of the trenches).

Here are the questions our Governor has put to the Citizens of Minneapolis:

• Do we want to EFFECTIVELY ABOLISH the Legislature's authority to set our state's budget? Please answer Yes or No.

• Should it matter AT ALL what we tell our representative in Saint Paul? Please answer Yes or No.

This is a City of Minneapolis election issue.

I'm asking Minneapolis Mayoral and City Council candidates to join in signing this second Citizens' Petition before the election. Beyond that, I think we should launch this as a petition drive for all Citizens of Minneapolis, and Minnesota.

Here's my one campaign promise in this campaign: “If elected Mayor of Minneapolis, I will run against Pawlenty for President, and show the people in Iowa what a real Minnesota Moderate Progressive Republican is.”

I want you to know that I see this second Citizens' Petition drive partly in the context of my own effort to move the Minnesota Republican Party in a more moderate and progressive direction. But it goes beyond that. I want to work with people of all parties, or no party, who are independent thinkers – candidates who are not a part in a Party Machine.

Here's a summary of what you are being asked to agree to in the second Citizens' Petition:

• The Legislative Advisory Commission must hold another hearing, to question the Pawlenty Admnistration about the sweeping unallotment power they have now claimed in writing and in court.

• After this hearing, the Legislative Advisory Commission must consider whether to recommend a second hearing, to study whether Governor Pawlenty's unallotment actions, “when considered separately, or when viewed in combination with Governor Pawlenty's other political, fundraising and/or campaign-related activities, may or may not rise to the level of an impeachable offense against the Citizens of the State of Minnesota.”

Please call me or e-mail me if you have any questions. I'm asking all candidates (even the machine candidates) to sign this before the election next Tuesday. I will send out news releases on the progress of this second Citizens' Petition. If you agree, the news releases will name you, and announce your support of of the petition.

Sincerely,

Bob Carney Jr.

Moderate Progressive Republican candidate for Mayor of Minneapolis

cell: (612) 803-9084

Here is the second Citizens' Petition:

Second Citizens' Petition for a Redress of Grievances -- Unallotment

Whereas:

The current Minnesota fiscal biennium began with an unprecedented $2.7 billion deficit, and,

Whereas:

No known previous Minnesota biennium, after the completion of any needed special session, has ever commenced with a deficit, and

Whereas:

Governor Pawlenty has claimed, in writing and in court, sweeping unallotment powers in the case: Carney v. State of Minnesota, apparently extending to the unchecked, unilateral power of the Governor to spend any amount, from zero to the full legislative appropriation, for almost all categories of Legislative appropriations, and

Whereas:

Such sweeping claims of executive power appear to fundamentally usurp the Constitutional role and authority of the Legislature, and

Whereas:

Courts are justifiably reluctant to attempt to resolve “political questions” if this can be avoided, and where individual standing to sue is not clear, now

Therefore, We, the undersigned Citizens of Minnesota do Petition our State Legislature, and demand:

First,

that the Minnesota Legislative Advisory Commission study the court record of Carney v. State of Minnesota, and hold a hearing to question Governor Pawlenty, and/or Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Tom Hanson, regarding whether the Pawlenty administration's claimed powers are proper, consistent with Minnesota statutes, or even Constitutional, and

Second,

that the Legislative Advisory Commission consider, subsequent to the hearing, whether or not to recommend that a further hearing be conducted by a Legislative Committee, Subcommittee, or Task Force, to study the meaning of the phrase “corrupt conduct in office”, as found in Article VIII of the Minnesota Constitution, with regard to whether the nature and scope of Governor Pawlenty's unallotment actions, although not criminal, when considered separately, or when viewed in combination with Governor Pawlenty's other political, fundraising and/or campaign-related activities, may or may not rise to the level of an impeachable offense against the Citizens of the State of Minnesota.