The Met Council is government that thinks it knows better how to live your life than you do
Many thanks to Jeff Johnson who spoke to the group today. His message: resistance to the Metropolitan Council is NOT Futile!
In 15 years planning the Southwest LRT, $250 Million has been spent so far with nothing to show for it but studies and more PLANs to spend $2B total on the project (if ever built). When people find out that the Federal government is NOT paying for all of it and that it will not clear up traffic congestion on the roads they start to understand that the cost far outweighs the benefit. Taxpayers would pay for the operation and upkeep endlessly and, at best, only 2-3% of traffic would be removed from the roads. So why do it? They want to tell us how to live (get out of our cars and live in cities). However, there is hope that the SWLRT will not ever happen because of Trump who de-funded both Bottineau LRT and SWLRT in his budget, along with Congressman Jason Lewis who hammered the issue to make sure it was zeroed out.
Since the Met Council was created in the 60’s there has been mission creep to where they now define their mission as: increasing trains and density, telling poor people where to live and spreading the wealth around. MN Met Council is the biggest in the US with a $1B operating budget and $8B capital budget, plus 4,500 employees. Johnson would like to see the council eliminated then start over – even Democrats are fed up with it.
Finally, Johnson gave an example of the “nanny state” gone wrong explaining how millions were wasted on Mpls Washington Ave ‘improvements’, supposedly to reduce terrible traffic congestion, only to have the congestion made worse, when instead of adding lanes, they eliminated a lane each way and put bike and pedestrian lanes there instead. Go figure!
We elected new officers today! Thanks to everyone for stepping up.
We will not meet in July and August – see you Sept 9 or at the Washington Co Fair Republican Booth – Aug 2-6
Met Council, Light Rail and the Nanny State: Is Resistance Futile?
***We will be taking a collection for area food shelves during the winter and spring meetings. If you are so inclined please bring a non-perishable food donation*** Thanks to everyone for contributing to the food drive thus far!
You’re invited – Sat. June 10, 2017 from 9 – 11:00 am
Lake Elmo Inn, RSVP by Thurs June 8, 2017
Speaker: Jeff Johnson, Hennepin County Commissioner, former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and a candidate for Minnesota Governor.
He will speak on: “Met Council, Light Rail and the Nanny State: Is Resistance Futile?“
*We will also be electing new officers and are still looking for a treasurer, if you are interested contact Linda at: [email protected] or 651-428-7770.
To reserve contact: Brian at: 612-462-2163 or email him at: [email protected]
Cost: $20. non-member; $16. members and $10. Students. Join for the year: $25 and it will pay off in 5 meetings.
Each attendee will be eligible for the drawing for a door prize!
This will be the last meeting until September. We hope you can come!
Who really makes education policy in school districts?
We had a delightful time with Annette Meeks, of the Freedom Foundation, today who discussed:” Who really makes education policy in school districts?” Listeners were interested to know the history of Depts. of Education from 1890 with only 2 employees. As elections to school boards began in the 60 and 70’s politicization of boards began and Unions (looking for protection from all the entities telling them how to run schools) pushed for a US Dept. of Education. After the NEA endorsed their first Presidential candidate in 1976, Jimmy Carter, they succeeded two years later to overcome opposition and have the US Dept. of Ed established. This empowered Unions tremendously. In 2016 alone Unions spent $2.7 Million lobbying and collected $27 M in dues, not to mention all the campaigns they donate to (almost all supporting Democrats). Meeks feels the end is near of Union dominance of school board policy because teachers are tired of it. In addition, parents often feel schools don’t fit their needs and are moving their kids to charter, private and home schooling. The one size fits all approach will fail in years to come allowing for increased freedom of choice for all parents and students. We appreciate Annette’s knowledge on this subject very much.