June 12 Cambodian Address

Here is the Cambodian Address where MN GOP Chairman Tony Sutton, State Representative Mark Buesgens (on behalf of GOP-endorsed Gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer), candidates SD67 Krysia Weidell, SD65 Rick Karschnia, me, and CD4 US Rep Teresa Collett each spoke briefly before the guest of honor, Sam Rainsy, Cambodian opposition leader, spoke on June 12, 2010 at 7000 Nicollet Ave Mpls MN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcgOS2gsDLE

According to http://www.asianresearch.org/articles/2881.html China’s strongest allies in southest asia are Burma’s General Than Shwe and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hung Sen, leader of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), who is opposed by Sam Rainsy.
Prime Minister Hung Sen and his colleagues are suing political opponents, including Mr Rainsy, for defamation, when the opponents only speak the truth.
As late as 1990 Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot received chinese military assistance along the Thai border.
Vietnam threatens to take Cambodian land in a treaty supported by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Prime Minister Hun Sen entered a disturbing agreement with China called the Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation which included military aid, in 2006.
Hor Namhong, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, on May 2, reported that China offered a modest number of military trucks and uniforms to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to replace US military aid, rescinded because Cambodia deported 20 Muslim ethnic Turks, or Uygur refugees, to China in November 2009, to face government punishment for witnessing and documenting the killing of 197 Chinese in Muslim protests.
In few communities in the world, is it more clear, why the US should maintain relations with it’s allies.
Obama should continue US military aid for allies, even if it’s only 200 surplus trucks and trailers, despite brutal human rights violations by china.
Indeed you might say it is critical Obama should continue US military aid for allies because of brutal human rights violations by China and other communist powers.


In the struggle for freedom, the transition from colonial royalty, and the healing of the country after the 1975-79 genocide, there are 3 things Cambodians might be proud of: your ancient culture, your love of the process, and your treatment of Cambodia’s natural resources

1

Cambodia has a culture they can be proud of dating back to the 9th century and preserved for posterity in stone inscriptions at the base of temples. We in Minnesota yearn for such a provenance, and even created our own in 1898 called the Kennsington Runestone.


2. Cambodians are advancing in the use of, and trust of, the party convention process to elect government leaders. Cambodians have a love of the political party convention process as indicated by the alliance between the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and the Human Rights Party (HRP)
It is noteworthy and instructive, to Minnesotans, that Cambodians are willing to die for a freedom loving party that represents their country – the SRP, and that the SRP’S ally, HRP, is adapting a political party convention system like what we have here in Minnesota (made up of BPOU's - Basic Political Organizational Units).
Some here in MN occasionally dismiss our political party convention system for creating pragmatic and influential political "operatives" and thoughtless "bots" (short for robot). This a short-sighted criticism of a basically transparent and impartial convention system which both Cambodians and Minnesotans value.


3
The 3rd thing Cambodians can be proud of is
The protected Mekong River rain forest and the giant catfish - the world's largest freshwater fish. It is a joy to look at the wonderful pictures of this great fish and it’s beautiful river. I imagine the unique Mekong tributary, Tonle Sap, flow in reverse from june to september, from the royal palace in Phnom Penh, to the site of the ancient Angkor Wat temple, 200 kilometers away.


In conclusion I hope for Cambodians' continued success in Minnesota and in business through hard work, productivity, and commerce.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Party_(Cambodia)

The Uygur refugee issue represents probably the one issue we can potentially agree on with China. China supported us against Islamic terror in the very beginning on UN resolution 1441. We should support them when 197 of their people are killed by Muslim protesters. Obama is 180 degrees wrong on this of course, punishing impartial Cambodia for returning the Uygur refugees. We must however verify that the culprits get a transparent fair trial and are treated according to international standards.

Here's why it is important we support the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2009

Here's why it is important we support the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2009 (USl House HR 1560)

http://www.hawaiisenatemajority.com/2010/03/04/in-support-of-streamlined-sales-tax-proposal/

"In 2003, Hawaii became a participant in the national Streamlined Sales
Tax Project by enacting the Hawaii Simplified Sales and Use Tax
Administration Act (Act 173, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003). In 2009, the
State Legislature passed streamlined sales and use tax legislation by
wide margins (23-2 in the Senate, 42-7 in the House) but Governor Linda
Lingle vetoed the measure. Twenty-three states representing over thirty
percent of the nation’s population have already been certified as being
in compliance with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement:
Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont,
Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin."

http://salestaxbuzz.org/2009/03/27/internet-sales-tax-cowgirls/
The well-established multistate Streamlined Sales Tax Project (“SSTP”)

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=327202
"Minnesota: Similar to Hawaii and New York, there’s the late January
introduction of a Minnesota bill (S.F. No. 282) to tax Internet sales.
Rep. Loren Solberg and Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee
proposed an expansion of the tax on Internet sales that currently
applies to sales of over $770 per year to include all Internet sales.
If this bill passes, it will go into effect June 30, 2009. But will
this one pass? Word on the Sales Tax Street is that Governor Pawlenty
just doesn’t like it very much . . . we’ll have to all wait and see"

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/bs/86/HF0401.html

HF0401 Status in House for Legislative Session 86
Bill Name: HF0401
Bill Text Companion: SF0282
Senate author Tom Bakk
Senate Search Revisor Number: 09-1384
House Authors Solberg ; Lenczewski

The socialist liberals accomplish two things: 1) they establish 33% of the states as having passed something related to an internet sales tax to make it look like widespread support and expectation exists.
2) They talk about existing Use laws such as section 297A.14, subdivision 4, which allows a personal use tax exemption for up to $770 in purchases per year, as if they were ever actually applied which they weren't, because of the 1998, 2001, 2004
and 2007 Internet Tax Freedom Acts (IFTA).
The Federal Internet Tax Freedom Act is set to expire in Nov 2011.
It is important H.R. 1560: Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2009
is passed to renew the Internet Tax Freedom Act permanently.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-1560&tab=summary

H.R. 1560
[Good !!]
Rep. Anna Eshoo [D-CA14]hide cosponsors
Cosponsors:
Geoff Davis [R-KY4]
Virginia Foxx [R-NC5]
Jane Harman [D-CA36]
Lynn Westmoreland [R-GA3]

[Bad !!]
HF0401 Status in House for Legislative Session 86
Bill Name: HF0401
Bill Text Companion: SF0282
Senate author Tom Bakk
Senate Search Revisor Number: 09-1384
House Authors Solberg ; Lenczewski

H.F. No. 401, as introduced - 86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)
Posted on Jan 28, 2009
1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to taxation; sales and use; defining solicitor for nexus
purposes;
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 297A.66, by adding a subdivision.
1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 297A.66, is amended by adding a
1.6subdivision to read:
1.7 Subd. 4a. Solicitor. (a) "Solicitor," for purposes of
subdivision 1, paragraph (a),
1.8means a person, whether an independent contractor or other
representative, who directly
1.9 or indirectly solicits business for the retailer.
1.10(b) A retailer is presumed to have a solicitor in this state if it enters into an agreement
1.11with a resident under which the resident, for a commission or other consideration, directly
1.12or indirectly refers potential customers, whether by a link on an Internet Web site, or
1.13otherwise, to the seller. This paragraph only applies if the total gross receipts from
1.14sales to customers located in the state who were referred to the retailer by all residents
1.15with this type of agreement with the retailer is at least $10,000 in the 12-month period
1.16ending on the last day of the most recent calendar quarter before the calendar quarter in
1.17which the sale is made.
1.18(c) The presumption under paragraph (b) may be rebutted by proof
that the resident
1.19with whom the seller has an agreement did not engage in any solicitation in the state
1.20 on behalf of the retailer that would satisfy the nexus requirement of the United States
1.21 Constitution during the 12-month period in question. Nothing in this section shall be
1.22construed to narrow the scope of the terms affiliate, agent,
salesperson, canvasser, or other
1.23 representative for purposes of subdivision 1, paragraph (a).
2.1(d) For purposes of this paragraph, "resident" includes an
individual who is a
2.2 resident of this state, as defined in section 290.01, or a business
that owns tangible
2.3 personal property located in this state or has one or more employees
providing services
2.4 for it in this state.
2.5 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for sales and purchases
made after 2.6June 30, 2009.

Bill Summary
House Research Department
File Number: H.F. 401 Version: As introduced
Date: March 2, 2009
Authors: Solberg and Lenczewski
Subject: Defining “solicitor” for sales tax
nexus purposes

Analyst: Pat Dalton
"The bill defines a “solicitor” as a person who enters into a contract
to directly or indirectly refer potential customers to a business or
the Web site of the business. States that a business is presumed to
have a solicitor in this state, and therefore has a duty to collect the
state sales tax, if it has at least $10,000 annually of sales into
Minnesota based on referrals from residents of this state or businesses
with a physical presence in the state. Provides for a rebuttal of that
presumption. Effective beginning with sales made after June 30, 2009.
This law is based on a law recently enacted in the state of New York.
The law is aimed at establishing a duty to collect sales tax on
out-of-state Internet businesses, such as Amazon.com, that enter into
contracts with bloggers to put links from their sites to the company’s
website. The contracts often specify payment based on the number of
“referrals” or the amount of sales generated through these links.
Amazon challenged the New York law in a state court as violating the
interstate commerce clause. The New York court upheld that law. "

More caselaw (not part of MN analysis):
http://www.disco-tech.org/2007/01/strengthen_the_internet.php
http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/personal-income-taxes/internet-tax-freedom-act.htm/printable

Pawlenty signs Omnibus pension bill 5/15/10

Pawlenty signs Omnibus pension bill 5/15/10
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/sdaily.asp?sday=5/12/2010
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/sessiondaily.asp?storyid=2277
http://politicsinminnesota.com/blog/2010/05/pawlenty-signs-pension-bill/

Mariani's HF3093 - licensure reform

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessionweekly/art.asp?ls_year=86&issueid_=59&storyid=1892&year_=2010

I support loosening licensure requirements and encourage mid-career changes into education. But I don't support Mariani's HF3093, despite the union opposition, because the licensure reform is too weak.

Additionally:

"Advocates also like a provision allowing school boards to renew expiring levy referenda at the same rate and term by written resolution, without going to voters."

This cannot happen. We deserve a vote on each and every tax increase.

"Rep. Paul Marquart (DFL-Dilworth) successfully offered an amendment May 4 in the House Taxes Committee that would allow a “reverse” referendum. Within 60 days of a school board deciding to extend a levy, 30 percent of voters could sign a petition to revoke the board’s decision and put it before voters."

This is bogus. 5-8% of the voting population, which is what the state-level and municipal-level petition requirements for city charter amendments and initiatives are, is very difficult without a funded year-long effort. 30%, even if it is within one school district, is an unreasonable percent and practically insurmountable in 2 months. For ISD 625 in 2009, which is roughly the city of St. Paul, 30% of the total vote would have been 10,212. This is an example of why we can't trust Democrats on election policy.

We can't trust the democrats on education policy. There are several questionable past policy decisions Mariani has been involved in, including the requirement new charter schools have a "sponsor" school.

This is too restrictive.

But the important education issues today are the education unions' requests for sustainability funds which are basically bailouts, and the evidence provided by the MMB that no healthcare fund was built up over the many years by MN unions. This deserves the same national attention as New Jersey Governor Christie's discovery of that state's unions' outrageous fiscal neglect, and the opposition to his healthcare fund building effort on behalf of state employees. It is ironic a Republican governor is the one standing up for employees' rights and the responsible management of their dues. The unions apparently would continue to use dues proceeds to advocate for their own continued influence on policy and not on building a fund for their members.
Whoever is doing Session Weekly now is doing a really nice job.

Highland Villager Apr 28 2010 - In the School's Best Interest

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Highland Villager Apr 28 2010 - In the School's Best Interest
See page 9 of the April 28 edition of the Highland Villager. My piece entitled "In the School's Best Interest" in the Inbox section was published. It is a rebuttal to Mariani's Mar 31 Viewpoint commentary.
Here it is:

State Representative Carlos Mariani (DFL-District 65B) writes that during the current session of the Minnesota Legislature he is carrying HF 3421, a bill that he claims will transform high school assessment and accountability and better focus state graduation requirements on preparing students for college (Villager Viewpoint, March 31). Mariani has served on and led House education committees for years, yet admits “the number of U.S. high school students prepared for college and the work place is lagging behind other industrialized countries.” Minnesota is now among the worst in the U.S. for performance of students, after several years of liberal control of state education policy.One thing you notice right away when studying Mariani’s legislative record is how combative he is with commissioners in his legislation. For example, he wrote HF 1818 to require “state commissioners to submit poverty-impact statements on bills when requested by a legislator.” And in 2008 Carlos Mariani co-authored HF3316 where he stipulated that the state commissioner of education, Alice Seagren, who is quite competent, “must not implement any element of any recommendation…without first receiving specific legislative authority to do so.”This is exactly the opposite education approach we need. We need to allow the commissioner to implement executive level solutions, not claim that the legislators somehow know best.
Jamie Delton Summit-University
Editor’s note: The writer is the Republican-endorsed candidate for the state House of Representatives in District 65B.

Obamacare must be Repealed

Obamacare funding is a sham; Obamacare will destroy Medicare and private insurers, raise premiums, and hinder reform.

Medicare, employer-based insurance, healthcare reform, and deficit reduction are put at risk by this administration.

http://deltondigest.blogspot.com/2010/03/obamacare-funding-is-sham-will-destroy.html

http://www.weeklystandard.com/print/articles/repeal

65B incumbent Carlos Mariani states he will implement any federal healthcare legislation at the state level:
http://www.progressivestates.org/node/24644

Let's vote him out!
Please vote for me, Jamie Delton, for 65B State Rep this November.

Carlos Mariani ignores emails; Fails to defend Obamacare damage

Carlos Mariani ignores my emails and fails to defend Obamacare damage

The following healthcare update demonstrates why Mariani was wrong to support Obamacare before March 21, when it's final form was passed, to continue to support it as we learn of it's damaging effects on retirees and others, and to "assure you that we will continue to move forward in our 2010 and 2011 sessions to implement whatever federal reforms are finally enacted" in an online petition letter at http://www.progressivestates.org/node/24644.

Op Eds by those Republican legislators in the middle of the fight:
http://spitfiremurphy.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/required-reading-mike-pence-and-paul-ryan-op-eds/

Obamacare costs:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703312504575141642402986422.html

Verizon letter:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YTk1OWNjNGNmYWJiOTIzY2E4YjYyYmJjOTJhMGQwZDg=

Verizon, Medtronic, John Deere, Caterpillar and other companies are rescinding retiree drug benefits because HR3590 removes the 28 percent subsidy.

"Because Verizon offers retiree prescription drug coverage today, the government provides a 28 percent subsidy to help offset the financial burden of offering that coverage. The subsidy was intended to help employers continue to offer prescription drug coverage for retirees so that these retirees would not have to use the Government Medicare Part D program. However, changes affecting the Part D subsidy will make it less valuable to employers, like Verizon, and as a result, may have significant implications for both retirees and employers."

bill text:
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3590/text

Join me in defending retirees and their modest Prescription Drug benefits.
Vote for Jamie Delton in 2010 and help unseat unresponsive incumbent Carlos Mariani in seat 65B in the Minnesota State House.