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News Release: Governor Pawlenty still faces moderate primary challenge
Contact: Robert S. Carney Jr., bob@RepublicanContract.com
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For immediate release
No New Texas!
Governor Pawlenty still faces moderate primary challenge
RepublicanContract.com videotapes interviews at GOP convention
Minneapolis, MN, June 5, 2006 – Last Friday and Saturday about 500 delegates at the just-completed GOP state convention were given a handout telling them that if Governor Pawlenty does not agree to most or all of a proposed Republican Governor's Contract with Voters, (the "Governor's Contract") "it is appropriate to take these issues to the voters in the Republican primary." Copies of both of the one-sheet handouts given to the delegates are at the end of this news release.
Both the Governor's Contract and a related Republican State Legislator's Contract with Voters are being promoted at RepublicanContract.com by Bob Carney Jr, who owns and operates the site.
Governor Pawlenty was told by Carney in an April 19th open letter, delivered personally to his office at the Capitol: "...if you do not agree with substantially all of the provisions of the Governor's Contract, I plan to continue to recruit a candidate to challenge you in the Republican primary, and to challenge you myself if I am unable to recruit anyone else." On May 6th Carney personally gave Governor Pawlenty a copy of the Governor's Contract, and the open letter on the floor of the 5th Congressional District Republican Convention. Carney also told Governor Pawlenty about the contingent primary challenge. Governor Pawlenty told Carney he would read the Contract.
RepublicanContract.com videotapes interviews
Carney also conducted videotape interviews near the front entrance of the Convention, using three video cameras and set lighting. Both Congressman Jim Ramstad and former State Party Chair Chuck Slocum participated in 10+ minute interviews. Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum walked by after the set was struck, but agreed to a videotape interview at the Capitol, to be scheduled later. The interviews will be part of a documentary Carney is preparing on the Governor's and Legislator's Contracts.
Carney had called the state Republican Party earlier in the week and told them of his plans, including that he was promoting a Governor's Contract with Voters, that if Governor Pawlenty didn't agree to it he planned to continue to recruit a candidate to run on it in the primary, or to run himself, and that he wanted to videotape for a documentary on the Contracts. The State Party said it would be OK to set up in the hallway.
A quiet and effective campaign, but not a secret one
RepublicanContract.com activities have not been contacted in secret. Local media, including the Star Tribune, have been receiving regular news releases, including a copy of the open letter to Governor Pawlenty, for over two months. In addition to participation at conventions, Carney made about half a dozen trips to the Legislature during the session, passing out information about the contracts, and speaking with Legislators.
"As we move from the Convention to the primary, these activities will of course come to be seen as newsworthy, especially when a moderate files for the primary in the event Governor Pawlenty doesn't agree to most or all of the contract," Carney said. "On the one hand, I think it's unfortunate that the media have not chosen to report anything about these activities so far. However, just looking at the Governor's Contract, a lot of progress has been made. Governor Pawlenty has agreed not to be bound by any special interest pledge for a second term (point three of the contract). Governor Pawlenty also did not use the line item veto in signing the recent bonding bill. Veto restraint is another important element of the contract," Carney added.
Legislative Recruiting Efforts are Disappointing... so far
One point emphasized in the handouts to Delegates was that there are no Republican State Legislators from either Minneapolis or Saint Paul. Carney has argued this geographic split is harmful to Minnesota, especially when combined with highly partisan politics. The handouts highlighted a request to Delegates, especially metro delegates, who are interested in running for the Legislature on the State Legislator's Contract with Voters to contact Carney.
"So far... zip," Carney said.
"However, I'm glad I made some delegates aware of this problem," Carney added. Carney plans to run for State House seat 60B in Minneapolis, if either Governor Pawlenty agrees to all or most of the Governor's Contract, or another moderate candidate can be recruited to run in the Republican Governor's primary. "It's unfortunate that the Governor's office has overshadowed the Legislature in recent years. The Legislature is designed to be the first among equals in a Republican form of Government. A major part of my effort is to increase both the weight and the effectiveness of the Legislature's role in Minnesota government," Carney said. "With Governor Ventura, and until recently with Governor Pawlenty, the Governor's office has almost functioned as a third house of the Legislature. I'm glad to see that Governor Pawlenty has recently moved away from this approach, and has concentrated more on helping Legislators work together," Carney added.
"I haven't given up on recruting legislative candidates," Carney said. The filing deadline is July 18th, and the filing fee is $100 for the State Legislature. "As people start to find out more about this effort, there's still plenty of time," Carney added. More information about running for the State Legislature is available at RepublicanContract.com.
Delegates respond... politely
Although only one delegate agreed to be videotaped, Carney spoke with many delegates over the two days. "Most of them didn't like what I was doing," Carney said. "At the March 18th Republican State Senate District Convention,, I passed out copies of both Contracts to the delegates, and told everyone I would be recruiting and advertising for Republican candidates for Governor based on the Governor's Contract. This could be why I was elected an alternate, and not a delegate," Carney speculated.
"However, some State Convention delegates do like what I'm doing, and every one was polite and respectful," Carney added. "My impression was that Republican delegates tend to be readers, and they tend to like to think things over. When I passed out the second handout on Saturday, I would estimate about a fourth or a third of the delegates said something like 'I've seen it,' or 'I've got one,'" Carney added. "After they're dug out from under the balloons, and after their ears stop ringing, good discussions become possible again," Carney observed.
Moving to a broader base
The convention attendance was relatively low, even given that there were no serious contests. "No contests, a multi-day time commitment, a $35 registration fee, downtown parking and convention hall prices all have their effect," Carney noted. "Bush has been reigning for 5+ years now, but frankly it's still drizzle-down economics for a lot of the delegates," Carney added.
"It's a fair question to ask how much weight should be given to a convention that rests on such a narrow base of support," Carney noted. "It was obvious that Governor Pawlenty is very popular with the delegates, but he needs three orders of magnitude more votes (from about 1,000 to about 1,000,000) to be re-elected. Consider this: if you took the number of expected voters in this Fall's election as the seating capacity of the Metrodome, the people at the convention represent an attendance of about 30," Carney computed. "When you go to a Twins game and see 30 people in the seats, the game hasn't started. That's where we're at now," Carney concluded.
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The one-sheet handouts passed out to delegates are below. The graphic rendering is approximate (they were cut and pasted from OpenOffice into FrontPage, and then re-formatted).
Friday, Front page
Note to State Convention Delegates and Alternates
Below is an excerpt from an info packet I will have available in the hallway (off the convention floor) on Friday, as part of a documentary I am preparing. Please stop by to listen in, discuss what I'm doing, and be interviewed for the documentary. Elected officials and candidates are especially welcome. If Governor Pawlenty stops by to be interviewed, we'll stop whatever we're doing.
Bob Carney Jr., alternate delegate, SD 60
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Information Packet for the Republican State Convention
I am campaigning to turn the Minnesota Republican Party in a more moderate direction.
The focus of my effort is on two contracts with voters, one for a Republican Governor, and the other for Republican Legislators. Both are in this information packet.
I am recruiting candidates for both Governor and the Legislature who agree with these contracts.
If you agree with the one for Legislators, and are interested in running for the Legislature, please e-mail me: bob@RepublicanContract.com. Candidates in Minneapolis and Saint Paul are especially welcome.
I hope Governor Pawlenty will agree with all, or almost all of the points on the Governor's contract for a second term. If he does, I would like to run for the State House in District 60B. However, if Governor Pawlenty significantly disagrees with this contract, I think it is appropriate to take these issues to the voters in the Republican primary. This packet includes my open letter to Governor Pawlenty.
Due to the need for checks and balances at the Federal level, I am disassociating myself generally with Republican Federal candidates. I hope Congressman Ramsted is re-elected.
This packet also includes the text, and an article, on an alternative approach to the “marriage amendments.” I had a meeting with Senator Tom Neuville to discuss this amendment, and he was favorably disposed to it.
Last but not least, this packet contains a four page article called: “How is the Minnesota Republican party becoming un-Republican?” This article presents some of the unifying themes behind what I'm trying to accomplish.
www.RepublicanContract.com
Bob Carney Jr.
bob@RepublicanContract.com
No New Texas!
____________________________________________________________
“The Donut Hole”
The map on the right shows Twin Cities state
house seats by party. There are no Republicans
from Minneapolis or Saint Paul. This kind of
geographic split isn't good for Minnesota.
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Friday, Back page (same for Saturday: Note, this includes a typo correction suggested by a delegate)
A Minnesota Republican Governor's Contract with Voters
1 § "Winner take all," "Take no prisoners" politics has got to stop. The
Governor's job is to help the Legislature agree on a budget and a tax system
that serves all Minnesotans.
2 § Threats of government shutdown are wrong. No tax or spending bill or line item will be vetoed unless total spending increases more than 2% above inflation. Restraint below this limit is both welcome, and up to the legislature.
3 § The Governor will not be bound by any economic special interest pledge.
4 § Administration is to carry out the intent of the legislature, and serve all Minnesotans impartially and efficiently
5 § Because the Attorney General is Minnesota's primary elected legal officer, the Governor's office should rely on the Attorney General's office for legal advice. This is part of our "checks and balances" system.
6 § The Governor is not the “CEO of Minnesota.” Minnesota is a State, not a corporation.
7 § Except for vetoes of non-economic legislation on moral grounds, the
Governor will not use the powers of the office to implement any personal or
special interest agenda.
A Minnesota Republican State Legislator's
Contract with Voters
1§ "Winner take all," "take no prisoners" politics has got to stop. The
Legislature's minimum required task is to agree on a budget and a tax system
that serves all Minnesotans.
2 § The Legislature, with 201 members from all around the State, and a wide
variety of backgrounds, is the branch of a Republican form of Government
responsible and best suited for lawmaking, policy, and oversight. Unless a
claimed right is either explicitly provided for in the Federal or State
Constitution, or has been established by long-standing and reaffirmed precedent,
the Courts should defer to the Legislature for resolving controversies over
rights.
3 § The Legislature works best when it deliberates, not when caucuses collide.
Legislators of different parties need to socialize, and to work together,
especially in committees. Better law and policy results when the core needs of
different interests are accommodated, through compromise whenever possible.
4 § Geographic divisions, (city/suburbs, metro/rural) are not in our best
interest. To avoid this, we understand and accept that Republican legislators
from different districts will represent different interests. We expect this will
also be true of DFL'ers, and other parties.
5 § Special interest money is poison -- it leads to interest group politics and
a herd mentality among legislators. Herds don't deliberate well. However, money
in politics is Constitutionally difficult or impossible to ban. The best option
is public campaign financing, including both income tax check-offs, and the
current Minnesota option for individuals to receive a rebate for their
contribution up to $50. The internet offers a great opportunity to break down
money-driven politics.
6 § Some issues are matters of principle and beyond compromise, while other
issues are not. Legislative candidates should tell their constituents which
issues are, for them, beyond compromise, and which issues are a question of
simply finding a fair and reasonable balance between legitimate competing
interests. It is unreasonable to ask anyone to do either more, or less, than
this.
7 § Minnesota has a history of maintaining a good "public-private mix" -- a
strong private sector combined with an excellent public sector, including
government and non-profits. This mix is the foundation of what is often called
the quality of life -- the Minneapolis park system is an excellent example. We
need to keep asking: what is best done in the public sector? What is best done
in the private sector? Where do public-private combinations make sense?
8 § With today's technology, there is no excuse for a voting process that does
not let the voter rank multiple candidates in order of preference. An "instant
runoff" system can let voters vote first for the candidate they prefer most, and
then have their second, or third choice count when votes are retabulated after
eliminating trailing candidates. Our current system forces an artificial and
unnecessary choice: either a two-party system, or elected officials who don't
represent the choice of a majority of voters.
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Saturday, Front page (Note, this was after Governor Pawlenty's endorsement and acceptance)
Note to State Convention Delegates and Alternates
Today I'll continue to video conversations with anyone who wants to talk about
the two Republican contracts I'm promoting (see the back side). The planned
result is a documentary on the contracts, the ideas behind them, and related
topics.
In addition to the contracts, I'd be happy to talk to delegates and candidates
about these underlying questions:
My positions haven't changed from yesterday -- I still hope Governor Pawlenty
will agree to all or most of the Governor's contract, and I still think a
respectful primary challenge on the issues is appropriate if he doesn't.
Governor Pawlenty's recent statement that he won't renew the “no new taxes”
pledge, and his recent signing of the bonding bill with no line item vetoes are
very encouraging to me.
Yesterday I had some good conversations with a number of delegates, but
unfortunately most of them weren't taped.
Bob Carney Jr., alternate delegate, SD 60
If you agree with the contract for Legislators, and are interested in running for the Legislature, please e-mail me: bob@RepublicanContract.com.
Candidates in Minneapolis and Saint Paul are especially
welcome.
Bob Carney Jr.
bob@RepublicanContract.com
No New Texas!
____________________________________________________________
“The Donut Hole”
The map on the right shows Twin Cities state
house seats by party. There are no Republicans
from Minneapolis or Saint Paul. This kind of
geographic split isn't good for Minnesota.