In light of claims that the campaign of state Sen. Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) paid a rival candidate to endorse her for governor at the Republican State Convention in May, DFL Chairman Ken Martin is calling for an ethics complaint to be filed with the Minnesota Senate.

“Sen. Ortman admits to a wrongdoing that brings dishonor to the Senate,” Martin said. “She should be held accountable by her colleagues.”

Martin said that only through an ethics complaint and Sen. Ortman taking responsibility for the action can she and other senators regain the public’s trust.

Martin also called on Senate Minority Leader David Hann to support any complaints filed against Sen. Ortman.

“Sen. Hann has a track record of being concerned about the integrity of the Senate and actions of members of the Senate majority,” Martin said. “We’ll see if that concern includes the conduct of his caucus members, especially one who admits to questionable campaign practices or if Hann was using the Senate Ethics Committee only to score political points.”

David Hann. Sen. Hann · DFL Party Chair Martin · Julianne Ortman · Ken Martin · Sen. Ortman

It’s no secret that investment banker Mike McFadden has spent the last year going out of his way to avoid answering questions — whether that’s skipping debates, running away from voters or just simply refusing to answer questions.

But exactly one year after formally entering the U.S. Senate race and just days before the Minnesota Republican Party State Convention, Minnesotans are still waiting for McFadden to be honest about where he stands on the issues.

Mike McFadden refused to tell Minnesotans whether he’d sign Grover Norquist’s radical tax pledge.

McFadden refused to be honest with Minnesotans and answer “yes or no” when asked if he would sign Grover Norquist’s radical tax pledge. After refusing to answer the question during a radio interview on WCCO, the host said, “I think in this one, people do want a specific answer.” McFadden again refused to answer the question.

After McFadden refused to answer the question, State Sen. Julianne Ortman, another Republican running for the U.S. Senate and a signer of Norquist’s pledge, released a radio ad questioning why every U.S. Senate candidate hasn’t signed the pledge:

ORTMAN: “I was proud to sign the Taxpayers Protection Pledge, a promise never to vote to raise your taxes. It seems like common sense to sign this pledge, so why hasn’t every Senate candidate pledged to protect Minnesotans from Washington’s excessive spending?”

Mike McFadden won’t tell Minnesotans whether he believes in man-made climate change.

McFadden is the only Republican in the U.S. Senate race who has not told Minnesotans whether or not he believes in man-made climate change. At a Republican debate in Rochester, which McFadden refused to attend, every candidate in the race said they did not believe in man-made climate change.

MODERATOR: Do you believe in man-made climate change?

PHILLIP C. PARRISH:  (laughs) growing up on a farm…

MODERATOR: it’s a yes/no

PARRISH: Oh. No.

JULIANNE ORTMAN: Nope.

MODERATOR: Oh, that was quick.

CHRIS DAHLBERG: No.

MONTI MORENO: No

JIM ABELER:  Actually cows make a lot of Methane.

MODERATOR: [laughs] I’ll take that as a no.

Bonus Question #1: Does Mike McFadden agree with extreme conservative State Sen. Julianne Ortman that we should abolish the U.S. Department of Education?

At a South West Metro Tea Party meeting last week, Ortman said she wants to abolish the U.S. Department of Education. Watch Ortman’s extreme comments here.

Bonus Question #2: Does Mike McFadden agree with extreme conservative State Sen. Julianne Ortman that we should defund all family planning programs in Minnesota?

In 2011, Ortman voted for a Health and Human Services budget that defunded all family planning programs in the state, mirroring a push at the federal level to defund Planned Parenthood.

Grover Nordquist · Julianne Ortman · Mike McFadden · Sen. Julianne Ortman

Minnesota U.S. Senate candidate follows in footsteps of Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann

Extreme conservative U.S. Senate candidate, State Sen. Julianne Ortman told Minnesotans at a local GOP meeting that she would abolish the U.S. Department of Education — proving days before the GOP State Convention just how out of touch she is with Minnesota values.

At a South Metro Tea Party meeting last week, Ortman was asked whether she would support legislation that would abolish the U.S. Department of Education and she said “yes.”

MODERATOR: Will you support and vote for legislation that will abolish the federal Department of Education?

ORTMAN: That is a goal of mine. I don’t support Common Core, and I don’t believe we need a Department of Education.

MODERATOR: That’s a yes?

ORTMAN: That’s a goal of mine, yes.

Watch Ortman’s extreme comments here:

Ortman’s radical plan to abolish the Department of Education would be a kick in the gut to working families. It would mean the elimination of Pell Grants, a program that helps low-income college students afford an education; Head Start, an early childhood education program for low-income children; and Title I, a program that helps school districts with high numbers of low-income students. It would also mean the elimination of the Federal Direct Loan and Federal Work-Study programs, which help students afford a higher education.

“State Sen. Julianne Ortman is wildly out of touch with Minnesota voters and this proves once again just how willing she is to put her extreme conservative values ahead of everything else,” said DFL Chair Ken Martin. “Ortman is no different than Michele Bachmann. Minnesotans don’t want a representative who is going to represent some extreme conservative agenda and not them.”

Department of Education · Julianne Ortman · Sen. Ortman · South Metro Tea Party

The Tea Party Express rolls into town for Ortman rally on Thursday

The Tea Party Express – an infamous right-wing group – is barreling into Minnesota to campaign for state Sen. Julianne Ortman – a sure sign that her extreme positions are at odds with the average Minnesotan.

The Tea Party Express – which has endorsed extreme conservatives like Ted Cruz and Michele Bachmann – is bringing their “Fighting for Liberty” bus tour to Minnesota on Thursday for a “Rally with Julianne Ortman.”

“Julianne Ortman’s decision to stand with right-wing extremists like the Tea Party Express is a testament to how out of touch she is with Minnesota voters,” said DFL Chairman Ken Martin. “Ortman is far too extreme a conservative and just plain wrong for Minnesota.”

 Ortman has consistently proved that she’s willing to put her extreme conservative values ahead of what’s best for Minnesota. Last week, Ortman voted against a measure in the State Senate to help close the gender pay gap and increase workplace protections for women in Minnesota. She’s also doubled down on her attacks on women’s reproductive health, her opposition to the overwhelmingly bipartisan Senate immigration bill and her promise to repeal Obamacare.

The Tea Party Express is the latest standard bearer from the conservative community to embrace Ortman. She’s also been backed by extremists like Sarah Palin, Citizens United Political Victory Fund, TEA Party Nation, the Conservative Campaign Committee, and SHE-PAC.

Citizens United Political Victory Fund · Julianne Ortman · Minnesota · Sarah Palin · SHE-PAC · Tea Party Express

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