Tag: Ken Martin

Today marks the 15th anniversary of Senator Paul Wellstone’s tragic death

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement honoring the legacy of the late Senator Paul Wellstone. Today marks the fifteenth anniversary of Wellstone’s tragic death:

“I was only a senior at Eden Prairie High School when I joined Paul Wellstone’s first campaign for U.S. Senate. And as he did for many people, Sen. Wellstone inspired me to pursue a political career dedicated to the principle that ‘we all do better when we all do better.’”

“Paul never separated the life he led from that iconic ideal. He represented the good of politics and the joy of politics. He always came back to the fact that politics is about one simple thing: improving people’s lives.”

“In these troubled times, we must remember Paul’s legacy. We must seek common ground and work together to improve the lives of Minnesotans. We must stand up, and we must keep fighting.”

DFL Chairman Statement on Disrespectful Comments about Minnesota Workers in New York Times

[ST. PAUL, MN] – Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement today in response to disparaging comments made about Minnesota workers in a recent New York Times Magazine story on mining:

“My brother, Trevor, is a hardworking carpenter. Every morning before the sun comes up, he wakes up, packs up his tools in his truck, and drives through Minnesota to a job site. He works long hours performing back-breaking work to put bread on his table for his family. When I read the disrespectful remarks made about workers in the New York Times article on mining, I immediately thought of Trevor.”

“These judgmental comments wrongfully disparage thousands of hard-working Minnesotans. There’s no question that the issue of mining in Northern Minnesota is a contentious one. But there’s no room in the debate for sharp-tongued attacks on Minnesotans who work hard every day to provide for their families and support our state’s economy.”

“As the campaign manager for the landmark Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment in 2008, I know firsthand how important it is to protect our natural resources for future generations. I also know that there are few people who value the environment more than the men and women who hunt, fish, and hike outside their homes on the Iron Range.”

“Here in Minnesota, we value civility. We treat each other with respect. We must keep this debate healthy, productive, and focused on the issue at hand. Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing: a better life for our family and a brighter future for our state.”

DFL Chair Martin Calls on Republicans to Restore CHIP Funding

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Chairman Ken Martin wrote the following column in the St. Cloud Times calling on Republicans to restore funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Amid frantic efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress missed the deadline to renew funding for this critical program, which provides health coverage to 125,000 children in Minnesota.

Republicans must restore CHIP funds

While Republicans temporarily called off efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, they unfortunately still managed to jeopardize the health care of millions of Americans.

They were so busy trying to ram through a repeal bill that they dropped the ball on providing health coverage for nearly 9 million kids. The Republican-controlled Congress failed to renew funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program by its Sept. 30 deadline.

This program provides comprehensive, affordable health insurance for low-income children not covered by Medicaid. CHIP is one of the few federal programs that has enjoyed strong bipartisan support since its creation in 1997.

Minnesotan families count on CHIP. The program helps pay for doctor’s visits, immunizations and dental care for more than 125,000 children in Minnesota. It provides parents with the relief that comes from knowing their child can see a doctor and lead a healthy life. The program’s funding also pays for care for roughly 1,700 low-income pregnant women in our state.

Congress was closing in on a deal to extend CHIP funding last month. But all that work came grinding to a halt as Republicans fixated on ramming through a health care repeal bill before Sept. 30. The health of millions of children fell to the wayside.

If funding isn’t restored soon, doctors will have to start turning young patients away. The situation is particularly dire here in Minnesota. Our state’s program is already running dry. Minnesota’s Department of Health Services reports it will have to take “extraordinary measures” to continue providing children coverage through October.

The health of thousands of Minnesota kids hangs in the balance. Democrats stand ready to work with the Republican majority to fund this critical program. Republicans must make up for the time they wasted, do the right thing, and take immediate action to protect Minnesota kids.

DFL Chair Statement on Fifth Anniversary of DACA

 

[ST. PAUL, MN] – Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement on the fifth anniversary of the enactment of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). There are about 800,000 DREAMers in the U.S., including about 6,000 here in Minnesota.
 
“In Minnesota, we have seen firsthand how our communities are strengthened by welcoming immigrants and refugees. Five years ago today, DACA gave thousands of young immigrants in our state a fair chance at the American dream. These DREAMers, many who were brought here as children, were given the opportunity to come out of the shadows, contribute to their communities, and stand up proudly as the Americans they are.”

Continue reading “DFL Chair Statement on Fifth Anniversary of DACA”

Statement from Chairman Ken Martin on Trump Banning Transgender People from Serving in the Military

 

DFL Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement in response to Donald Trump’s twitter announcement that he will ban transgender people from the military:

“In the middle of Trump’s ‘American Heroes Week’, the president took to twitter to announce his plan to ban transgender Americans from serving in the military. Trump’s decision not only puts our country at risk but also humiliates real American patriots protecting American people around the globe.

“The DFL is proud to stand with the brave transgender service members and we will continue to stand with the transgender community against this administration’s bigotry.”

DFL Chair Ken Martin on the Republican Officials Attempt to End DACA

 

Ten Republican officials signed a letter and asked Donald Trump to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program put in place by former President Obama. DFL Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Donald Trump’s presidency has been anti-immigrant from the very beginning. His brazen hatred toward immigrants and refugees has caused an un-American attitude within local and national governments across the country. Continue reading “DFL Chair Ken Martin on the Republican Officials Attempt to End DACA”

DFL Chair Ken Martin denounces Trump plan to abandon Paris Climate Agreement

May 31, 2017

ST. PAUL, MN — Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Chair Ken Martin released the following statement in response to reports today that President Donald Trump plans to pull the United States from the Paris Climate Accord.

“President Trump’s plan to abandon the Paris climate agreement is an affront to Minnesotan values, an embarrassing blow to U.S. leadership, and a grave threat to the future of our earth. Minnesota is on the cutting edge of clean energy development, and this decision would jeopardize the good-paying jobs this innovative industry creates in our state. While the Administration may turn its back on the fight against climate change, Minnesotans never will. DFLers across the state are more committed than ever to advancing policies that protect our planet, support clean energy, and preserve our state’s natural resources.”

 

DFL Chairman Ken Martin’s Statement on the Passing of Former DFL Chairwoman

C. Delores Tucker, President of the Federation of Women and Koryne Horbal, Presidential appointee to the Commission on the Status of Women and National Committee of Women in Minnesota, at the Democratic National Mini-Convention in Washington, D.C.

“The DFL was very sad to learn of the passing of former DFL Chairwoman Koryne Horbal yesterday evening. Koryne was a giant in the DFL having founded the DFL Feminist Caucus in 1973 and later serving as a United States Representative on the Commission on the Status of Women of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

“Koryne mentored many young women thinking about running for office long before there was an Emily’s List or womenwinning. She was a passionate advocate for Equal Rights and for reproductive rights who never stopped fighting for the women in our society. Continue reading “DFL Chairman Ken Martin’s Statement on the Passing of Former DFL Chairwoman”

Chair Martin’s Response to Trump’s Tax Plan

 

“Today, Donald Trump’s team outlined his tax cut proposal. Just as we expected, Trump’s tax plan prioritizes corporations over the American people.

“The Trump Administration can’t help but put wealthy special interests ahead of American families. Worst still, is while he favors his corporate buddies, his proposed budget cut critical funding for education, life-saving medical research, job training, and health care.

“Trump and his partners in Congress have wasted his first 100 days in office on making the rich richer and cutting opportunities for hardworking Americans to succeed. I wish I could say I was surprised.”

Statement from DFL Chair Ken Martin on the Republicans Going Nuclear

“Today, Republicans chose to change a 200-year old Senate rule to ram through a Supreme Court nominee for a president whose campaign is under investigation by the FBI. In an effort to give Trump and his cronies the appearance of a win, Sen. McConnell compromised our country’s democracy to clear the path for Judge Gorsuch’s confirmation.

“This process, which began two years ago when the GOP refused to give Judge Merrick Garland a hearing, ended today when the Republicans failed to break the Democrat’s filibuster and sacrificed the future of America for generations to come.

“Shame on Republicans for compromising our country’s democracy and establishing a dangerous precedent for executing Trump’s agenda.”