June 19, 2008 NewsletterIn this issue:Oberstar Calls for Unity in Address to State DFL ConventionUpcoming Summer Events Candidate Spotlight: Gail Kulick Jackson, MN 16A Oberstar Calls for Unity in Address to State DFLDFL Congressman Jim Oberstar delivered a rousing speech to delegates at the DFL State convention on Saturday morning, addressing his work in Congress and calling for Democrats to unite around presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama and work to elect Democrats across Minnesota. "This year, our Democratic Party is now led by a man who 50 years ago could not sit at a lunch counter,” Oberstar said about Obama to cheers from the audience. “Let’s elect Barack Obama to the presidency,” he shouted. Oberstar, Chair of the House Transportation Committee and Dean of Minnesota’s Congressional Delegation, spoke about the issues he has spent much of this year - and much of his career - talking about and working towards in his Committee. "I promised we would complete the unfinished agenda of the past 12 years," Oberstar said, referring to the work of the Transportation Committee. He then listed a slew of recent accomplishments aimed at furthering his goal of modernizing our transportation infrastructure and fulfilling those promises. "I said we’re going to turn the lights on at the Department of Energy with solar power. Well, in December the lights will turn on with photo voltaic cells on the roof; they’ll reduce their energy costs [by] 90 percent," Oberstar said. "We’re going to turn the lights of America on with solar power." While Oberstar had no official DFL business in Rochester - he received a unanimous endorsement at his 8th District Convention last month - he was welcomed by delegates eager to celebrate Minnesota’s DFL Congressional Delegation: Reps. Jim Oberstar, Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison, Tim Walz, and Collin Peterson, and Senator Amy Klobuchar. Following is a statement from Congressman Jim Oberstar on the DFL U.S. Senate Nominee, Al Franken:
We stand united with Al Franken, the Minnesota DFL's candidate for U.S. Senate. He understands the issues, and knows that we need to invest in the future of America. He will fight for the needs of working families; he will invest in good paying jobs, universal health care, affordable education, and he will support our troops by bringing them home with the honor they deserve. Al Franken knows how important it is to diversify our region's economy. He understands helping aviation manufacturing grow in Duluth, to ensure companies like Cirrus Aviation expand and create jobs, he would be a partner in making sure that taconite from Minnesota iron ore is competitive in the global marketplace, and he knows that timber technology and tourism must continue to grow to keep our economy healthy and strong. Republicans are out of touch with working class families. Democrats have a vision for the future of this country, but we know that our work has just begun. Our party is unified, and our base is energized, and we know just what is at stake. We need to elect Barack Obama to the White House, we need to increase our majorities in Congress, and we need to send Al Franken to the United States Senate. Upcoming Summer EventsHere are a few upcoming DFL events in the area to check out. Be sure to visit www.oberstar.org/events to stay updated on other fun upcoming events. Chisago County DFL 2008 BBQ PicnicWhere: North Branch Central Park When: Sat., June 28. 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Join the fun at the 4th Annual Chisago County DFL BBQ Fundraiser on Saturday, June 28th from noon to 3 pm. The year’s festivities are at Central Park located in downtown North Branch along Hwy 95. For a suggested donation of $10 or $25 for a family, you will get food, music and lots of politicians. The menu is your choice of hamburgers or hot dogs along with other picnic food and beverages. Listen and dance to swinging sounds of the White Bear Big Band. Talk with both Rep. Jeremy Kalin and Senator Rick Olseen, who will have your undivided attention. Other invited guests include US Rep. Jim Oberstar, US Senator Amy Klobuchar, State Auditor Rebecca Otto, Senator Tony Lourey, Jim Godfrey, Al Franken and more. Enjoy the music, food, politicians and camaraderie at this fun filled event. Proceeds raised from the event help to support local DFL candidates in the upcoming 2008 elections. For more information, check out the Chisago County DFL web site at www.chisago-dfl.org We also encourage you to please bring food donations for our local food shelves. Cambridge Office Grand OpeningWhere: Cambridge, MN. 237 2nd St. SW When: Sat., June 28. 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Join Congressman Jim Oberstar, Representatives Tim Faust and Jeremy Kalin, and Candidates Jim Godfrey and Gail Kulick-Jackson and fellow DFLer's as we open our office in Cambridge. The event starts at 3:00 pm with a quick door knock for Jim Godfrey and other DFL candidates. Independence Day Iron Range ParadesJim will be up on the Range again this year, doing the 3rd and 4th of July parades. Here's a list of the parades: Thursday, July 3rd 6:00 p.m., Aurora 7:30 p.m., Gilbert Friday, July 4th 9:30 a.m., Eveleth 12:00 p.m., Nashwauk 2:00 p.m. Keewatin 7:00 p.m. Biwabik Candidate Spotlight: Gale Kulick JacksonNext in our series of 8th District DFL candidate profiles is Gail Kulick Jackson running against Republican Rep. Sondra Erickson. Candidate: Gail Kulick JacksonDistrict: 16A, Cities: Milaca, Princeton, Onamia, and surrounding area. --Not sure what district you're in? Just visit the Minnesota District Finder on the State Legislature's official website. Website: http://gailkulickjackson.homestead.com/index.html Gail Kulick Jackson is running against forth-term Republican incumbent Rep. Sondra Erickson in District 16A promising to bring fairness and opportunity through a more accountable government to central Minnesota. Jackson, who lives in Page Township in rural Mille Lacs County, was born in Minnesota and is married with three children. Upon receiving the DFL endorsement in district 16A, she shared a story about growing up with the challenges and financial limitations her family faced and how those experiences have informed who she is today and help us understand how she would legislate in the Minnesota House. "These experiences inspire me to want to solve problems and make me committed to getting everybody in our district the same opportunities provided by the government that I had," Jackson said. Gail practices law in the area of real estate, probate, estate planning, and Medical Assistance eligibility. That work has given her valuable skills that she can take to St. Paul. "When people come to me with problems, issues, or conflicts, it's my job to come up with cost-effective ways to bring people together to solve them. I plan on doing the same thing for Minnesota," said Jackson. She strongly believes that bringing change and new leadership to the communities in her district means ending unfair property tax hikes and helping to relieve the burdens that end up hurting Minnesota families. Gail will also work to bring new jobs to the area as part of the investments she wants made in creating a green economy. "Minnesota should be the wind capital of the U.S., and working towards that goal will bring local, green-collar jobs to the area." The rising cost of healthcare is another one of the issues Gail is eager to address. She will work to bring quality, affordable healthcare to the people of Minnesota. "Affordable healthcare should be the right of every Minnesotan and not a privilege for the well-off," Jackson said. But ultimately this campaign is about fairness and opportunity, she says, and creating a Minnesota that will keep up with the demands of the 21st Century. "In 15 years when there will be more senior citizens than school children, we will need to have best education system, job-training, and overall workforce that Minnesota has ever seen, and we better invest in that now." For information about contributing to Gail Kulick Jackson's campaign, visit her contribution page at http://gailkulickjackson.homestead.com/contribute.html |
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