This week, state Democratic parties responded to Jeb Bush’s presidential announcement. Here’s what they had to say:

“Iowa Democrats fight every day to ensure our country is an inclusive place, accepting of all backgrounds and families, where everyone can have access to the ladder of economic opportunity. But Bush’s policies as Governor of Florida and his campaign rhetoric leading up to this announcement give us a clear preview of who Bush would fight for: people like himself, not working Iowans.” – Andy Mcguire, Iowa Democratic Party

“From the middle class to seniors, from women to the LGBT community, Bush’s record of exclusion is nothing but a page from the failed Republican policies of the past. While Bush lays out his backwards and failed policies today, just remember all those he’s left behind.” – Lizzy Price, New Hampshire Democratic Party

“We know what to expect from Jeb Bush because we’ve seen it before – policies that wreck the economy, giving massive breaks to the wealthy and corporations while leaving the rest of the country behind, A third Bush presidency would marginalize so many hard-working Virginians, from single mothers to public school children and LGBT people. Jeb has consistently put himself and people like him over everyday Americans, which Virginia just can’t afford.” – Morgan Finkelstein, Democratic Party of Virginia

“Texas and the rest of the country are still suffering from George W. Bush’s failed economic policies. Jeb Bush is no different than his brother. He opposes policies that help level the playing field for our middle class families. Texas needs a president that will help all Texans and all Americans receive a living wage and have access to affordable health care. Texans deserve a candidate that will champion a strong middle class, quality health care, and smart investments in our children’s future. Jeb Bush is not that candidate.” – Gilberto Hinojosa, Texas Democrats

“His views are vastly out-of-touch with mainstream America and Mainers who believe in equality and empowering all women and families. His policy beliefs aren’t much better. He’s actually endorsed budgets and policies that would slash early childhood education programs, college affordability and Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Bush’s agenda would be disastrous for hard working Maine families, students and seniors.” – Phil Barlett, Maine Democratic Party

2016 election · 2016 elections · 2016 Republican presidential candidate · Jeb Bush

Republican U.S. Senate candidate votes against equal pay, workplace protections for women

Republican U.S. Senate candidate, state Sen. Julianne Ortman proved once again that she’s willing to put her extreme conservative values ahead of what’s best for Minnesota.

Today, Ortman voted against the Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA), a measure to close the gender pay gap and increase workplace protections for women in Minnesota. The overwhelmingly bipartisan bill passed the Senate 51-14.

Ortman even went so far as to write an op-ed against the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill to make it easier for women to fight gender discrimination in the workplace that was recently filibustered in the U.S. Senate.

“Extreme conservative Julianne Ortman strikes again, this time at the expense of women and working families in Minnesota,” said DFL Communications Director Ellen M. Perrault. “Ortman’s opposition to bipartisan, commonsense protections against gender discrimination in the workplace is disgraceful. She is beyond out of touch with Minnesota voters.”

The Women’s Economic Security Act decreases the gender pay gap through the participation of women in high-wage, high-demand nontraditional work, increases enforcement of equal pay laws and allows employees to discuss pay inequities. The measure also expands family leave, provides enforcement of workplace protections for nursing mothers and addresses the economic consequences of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking.

Julianne Ortman · US Senate · WESA · women's economic security act

GOP U.S. Senate candidate says he wants to deregulate the health insurance industry

Investment banker Mike McFadden revealed to Minnesotans his most concrete idea for health care to date: he wants to see the health insurance industry “deregulated,” a move that would let insurance companies have free rein to do whatever they want — no matter the human or financial cost.

At a recent press conference, McFadden was asked to get “a lot more specific” on his “solution to health care.” McFadden, who wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act and said last summer he was “working with a team of [health care] experts,” told reporters he wanted to deregulate the health insurance industry.

MCFADDEN: …The second is there are federal regulations that need to be looked at.  One is insurance, I’d like to see the insurance agency, industry, deregulated.

Watch the video of McFadden’s health care remarks here: http://youtu.be/e_9gV7_pqwg

McFadden isn’t the first politician to call for deregulation of the insurance industry; Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is also a strong proponent for the concept.

Politicians like McFadden and Bachmann who want to deregulate the health insurance industry would allow insurance companies to charge women more than men for coverage, allow them to impose arbitrary annual and lifetime limits, allow them to spend as much or as little of premium dollars on actual health care, and undo requirements that force insurers to cover basic services like mammograms, colon cancer screening, and prenatal care.

“Investment banker Mike McFadden’s idea to let insurance companies do whatever they want might be good for big business, but it’s a disaster for Minnesota families,” said DFL Chairman Ken Martin. “McFadden wants to turn back the clock on commonsense consumer protections that save Minnesotans money and, in some cases, their lives.”

McFadden has also said he wants to let companies sell health insurance across state lines, which according to the Washington Post would “make insurance more expensive for the sick and cheaper for the healthy, and lead to more healthy people with insurance and fewer sick people with insurance. It’s a great proposal if you don’t ever plan to be sick, and if you don’t mind finding out that your insurer doesn’t cover your illness.”

health insurance · insurance deregulation · insurance industry · Mike McFadden · US Senate

Ten Republican activists munched on burgers and sipped beer and soda at a St. Paul bar as Julianne Ortman spent more than an hour on a freezing night trying to convince them she’s their best hope in the upcoming Senate race.

“Al Franken is the yes man for the overreaching liberal agenda of President Obama,” Ortman told the group, most of whom she also buttonholed one-on-one to make her point. The state senator from suburban Carver County is one of six Republicans seeking to run against Franken, the Democratic incumbent, in November.

At dozens of similar gatherings in recent months, Ortman has sought momentum one conversation at a time against fellow Republican Mike McFadden. While Ortman has been going the retail route, McFadden, a businessman from the St. Paul suburb of Sunfish Lake, has so far trained his attention on the fundraising race in his bid to challenge Franken, whose own campaign has been quickly racking up large amounts of cash from contributors.

The Republican field is crowded, but it may turn into a race between Ortman and McFadden that stretches all the way to the August primary.

The two are taking very different routes to the prize. Since joining the race in early August, Ortman has appeared at more than 50 events similar to the Senate District 65/House District 66B gathering at Shamrocks: small gatherings of GOP activists at meet-and-greets, banquets, parades and forums. McFadden, who’s been in the race two months longer, has appeared at just over 20 such events. Both campaigns furnished lists of appearances to The Associated Press. (more…)

Al Franken · Juliann Ortmann · Mike McFadden · Senator Al Franken · Senator Franken · U.S. Senate