| Franni pointed out that Minnesota is the window manufacturing capital of the US and this bill would stimulate growth for these companies.
"Plus you need to consider the ripple effect," she said. When contractors are installing windows and more people are employed building windows, it just means a whole lot more cash being spent in local businesses.
Turning to the other HUGE issue in DC these days, healthcare reform, I asked what she thought was going to happen.
"We're just waiting to see what the final deal will be," she replied.
"I should tell you that I joined a new club," Franni said. "The International Club IV. It's about neighbors meeting neighbors in DC. It's diplomats and their spouses meeting with politicians and their spouses. The idea is so that these diplomats and their spouses meet with a wide variety of American women."
"So they had a party and at this party we did karaoke and learned line dancing," she continued. "And I learned how to line dance. Of course, I then embarrassed my kids in absentia by showing the staff in the office my new dance moves the next day."
Franni and Joyce Bennett, Sen. Bob Bennett's (R-UT) wife, will be emceeing the First Lady's Luncheon this year.
Also, Franni is involved with the National Arboreteum's Celebrating Minnesota. Each year they celebrate a state's food and culture.
"Jean Kurth, Jim Oberstar's wife, submitted Jim's wild rice hotdish," she said. "Plus they'll have lefse, Nut Goodies (Pearson's is headquartered in MN), pizza and there will be a MN wine-tasting event."
Finally, Franni and Al will be back in Minnesota this weekend for a bunch of events.
"I'm staying for the week," she said. "I'll go to caucuses, but Al has to get back."
"I have a number of meetings with local organizations during the week," she said. "I always ask how Al can help on the Federal level. I'm really there to listen." |
"Let me tell you, I had a very nice seat at the State of the Union address," Franni Franken began. Franni is Sen. Al Franken's wife. "As I was walking to it I saw a young man sitting in the aisle on the steps. Because I visit Walter Reed (Army Medical Center), I have met many, many wounded warriors and I could tell that he had a prosthesis (prosthetic leg). By the way, they make them so well these days that's it's pretty hard to tell, but I could because of all the wounded warriors I've met."
