Chump Change

Chump Change? (0.00 / 0)

It's ironic that they depend entirely on taxpayer dollars  and turn down $300,000 a year from a private source.  They also have taxing authority over the entire Hennepin county area yet only those in Minneapolis can vote for the board members. Can you say "taxation without representation"

They have their own police force.  Why do they need that and why are all of us paying for it?

We should all contact our Senators and House members and demand some kind of accountability from them.  St. Cloud, Big Lake, Becker and every other town up here would kill for this type of project but the Mlps. Park board has so much money they can thumb their noses at this kind of money.

$300,000 buys 6 teachers or 4 cops- Chump change to the park board.  $300 k pays for all the life guards at their pools, lots of soccer balls, baseball bats, uniforms and coach's.

Brian Rice is paid $300 k or more to lobby for the Mlps park board.  All taxpayer dollars. So we pay lobbyist to lobby our representatives to send even more money to the Mlps park board so they have the ability to think that $300 k/year is not worth looking into.

It's time for greater Minnesota to just say no to the Minneapolis park board.  

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by: taxpayingliberal @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 11:47:29 AM CST

MPRB's Lobbyists and Lobbying Expenses (0.00 / 0)

Interesting comments, TaxpayingLiberal.

I just looked through the Mpls Park Board's website and couldn't find out how much money the Park Board is spending on Lobbyists and Lobbying Expenses.  So, I just sent the following e-mail to the Park Superintendent:

Mr. Gurban, my name is Tommy Johnson; I'm a blogger at www.MnProgressiveProject.com

I'm looking into and writing about the Crown Hydro project and the MPRB, and I have some questions; for instance, what are the annual expenditures for lobbyists and lobbying activities at the State Legislature.  I can't seem to find that information on the MPRB website.

Who is the MPRB's media contact person?

Tommy Johnson

Just how much is spent on lobbying and associated expenses is a very good question.

"Those that forget the lessons of history, tend to vote GOP"

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by: TwoPuttTommy @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 13:21:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Linda and Bobby Joe (0.00 / 0)

It's not just the jobs that the $300 k will provide; it's also the $15 mil in union construction jobs to get this underway.

Why do Bobby Joe Champion and Linda Higgins oppose this when they are supposed to represent a district that has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country?

So Bobby Joe Champion and Linda Higgins are actively working against Jobs, clean energy and $300 k/yr for their district.  

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by: taxpayingliberal @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 12:54:59 PM CST

Crown Hydro's Lobbying Expenses (0.00 / 0)

Crown Hydro spent a total of $139,050 in lobbying expenses during 2007.  In contrast, the Minneapolis Park Board spent only $120,000.

The information is public data and is easily available on-line at the Minnesota State Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

Lobbying Expenses 2007  (Hopefully the link works!)

Where are you getting the numbers you are throwing around?

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by: bigmuddy @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 07:36:46 AM CST

Nice catch, BigMuddy! (0.00 / 0)

The link you provided works; the info is on page 125 of the report.  However, the 2007 Annual Principal Annual Report; does that include all of the monies paid to the Park Board's three registered lobbyists?

The reason I ask, is because on page 4, it states (and I quote):

Lobbyists are not required to disclose their salaries.

OK, I get that.  But, does that "Principal" column reflect total payments to lobbyists?  I simply don't know.

So, I called the Campaign Finance Board, to clarify exactly what that $120,000 listed actually means; what it actually includes.

And when I get a response, I'll post that response.

It's important to be factual - and I try; I really try.

The discussion - any discussion - will go no where, when people aren't debating facts.

"Those that forget the lessons of history, tend to vote GOP"

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by: TwoPuttTommy @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 10:49:09 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Ust got called back by the campaign finance board... (0.00 / 0)

and was told that the $120,000 is indeed the total lobbying expenses reported by the MPRB - everything from fees to lobbyists to paperclips that related to lobbying.

Well, maybe not each and every paperclip....but, that $120,000 is indeed what the MPRB reported.  

And the nice and helpful person that called, also told me another link; a link that shows what organizations have spent for the years 2002 through 2007:

http://www.cfboard.state.mn.us...


"Those that forget the lessons of history, tend to vote GOP"

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by: TwoPuttTommy @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 13:45:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

here a link (0.00 / 0)

http://mplsparkwatch.org/node/360

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by: taxpayingliberal @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 18:20:49 PM CST

OK, looks like that $300K claim might have some basis in fact. (0.00 / 0)

After all, BigMuddy -  add what the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board paid for lobbying - as reported to the Mn Campaign Finance Board, and then take into account what was reported way back when, according to the ParkWatch.org link supplied by TaxpayingLiberal, and that $300,000 per year to Brian Rice doesn't seem so far fetched - does it?

"Those that forget the lessons of history, tend to vote GOP"

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by: TwoPuttTommy @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 20:59:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]