Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008

TTT#0805-RacialJusticeRptCard

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LEGISLATIVE REPORT CARD ON RACIAL JUSTICE: Racial disparity in public policy.

Why can’t we get it right? Despite individual legislators with A’s and B’s, the Governor and Legislature overall earn but a “D” in racial equity for their lack of support for examining race and equity in passing important bills. Can we get past this plague on our culture? GUESTS: •Racial Justice "Champion" Rep. Jim Davnie •Jermaine Tony and Beth Newkirk of the Organizing Apprenticeship Project

Posted by Truth to Tell at 11:38 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008

TTT#0804-Caucuses

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As we approach February 5th caucus night, dwindling attendance and citizen disgust with the sometimes labyrinthine processes that make up the very cautious caucus agenda once spelled doom for Minnesota’s system for picking party nominees and hading down endorsements. But, since 2000, especially among DFLers, the disgust grew greater for the president and his administration, for the war and health care deficits that anger drove thousands more to these meetings in 2004 than at almost any time in history. Now, another important election looms. Will we see a repeat of 2004’s multi-candidate crowds at this year’s caucuses, anxious to install change in DC politics?

TTT's ANDY DRISCOLL and LYNNELL MICKELSEN will question nonprofit organizers and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie on the legalities and politics that go into this ancient grassroots start to the candidate selection season for all partisans and the state’s electoral machinery.

GUESTS: MARK RITCHIE, MN Secretary of State; • SHARON SUDMAN, Steering Committee, Peace in the Precincts/Friends for a Nonviolent World; • MONICA MEYER, Policy Director, OutFront Minnesota/Human Rights Campaign; • DAVE BICKING, MN State Green Party spokesperson; • SHAWN TOWLE, Checks&Balances electronic magazine

Posted by Truth to Tell at 6:29 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008

TTT#0803-Teaching

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The national education magazine, Education Week, has issued the latest in a multi-year report card on state education systems entitled, “Quality Counts.” While there may be serious questions about Minnesota’s commitment to educational excellence overall, what should be the criteria for judging the success of our system and is it fair to compare states at all with their diverse sets of laws, rules, regulations, governance structures, and labor contracts, and, if it is what does a “D+” in the Teaching Profession category even as we receive a B+ in Chance for Success. TTT's ANDY DRISCOLL and LYNNELL MICKELSEN talk with education professionals, a legislator, teacher reps and a parent on the credibility and ideas contained in “Quality Counts” and whether or not the media is overblowing report card grades given out by what is essentially another media outlet. GUESTS: MAUREEN PRENN, Acting Dean, College of Education, Minnesota State University at Mankato; KATE TOWLE, Active Parent and Member, Minneapolis District Parent Advisory Council; REP. MINDY GREILING, Chair of Education Finance Committee, MN House and former Teacher, St. Paul Public Schools; TOM DOOHER, President, Education Minnesota; DARYL PARKS, Urban Teacher Ed Program, Metropolitan State University.

Posted by Truth to Tell at 11:00 AM |   

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008

TTT#0802-Utilities

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Despite early frigid temperatures and the Cold-Weather rule designed to prevent heat and electric shut-offs for those unable to pay rising energy bills, the rule is proving cold comfort to many families who either don’t know or can’t afford even the modest payment plan required to prevent the shut-off. Energy Assistance plans are running way short of the money needed. Customers who come back on line after shut-offs and acquiring new living spaces are being dunned for earlier delinquencies even after utilities have charged off their losses to other ratepayers.
TTT's ANDY DRISCOLL and LYNNELL MICKELSEN talk about consumers with bad luck, bad finances and cold weather with regulatory officials and advocates to see why Minnesota should allow any exceptions to the cold weather rule, why energy utilities are allowed to double-charge rate-payers for their delinquent dollars, and if policymakers, consumer advocates and energy companies can agree on designing so-called affordability plans to keep costly disconnections/reconnections to a minimum while getting low-income consumers to pay what they can afford.
GUESTS: LEROY KOPPENDRAYER, Chair, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission; PAM MARSHALL, Executive Director, Energy Cents Coalition; PATRICK BOLAND, Credit Policy & Compliance Manager, Xcel Energy

Posted by Truth to Tell at 11:00 AM |   

Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008

TTT#0801-Labor

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The same movement conservatism that led to the contemporary slide into blatant racism, sexism, widening economic disparity, severe educational deprivation, a moribund healthcare system, and unprecedented political corruption also trained its guns on collective bargaining over the last 60 years.

Some say the movement has suffered a mortal blow by union-busing tactics and a corporate compliant administration; others insist a resurgence of organization and representation is under way in all the new sectors of the economy. Which is true? Or are we truly getting it both ways?

Joining TTT's Andy Driscoll is guest co-host and labor scholar, Tom O’Connell to talk with seasoned labor leaders, historians and new movement organizers about the history and future of union organizing, membership, and working conditions.

Posted by Truth to Tell at 11:00 AM |