• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Freedom Foundation of Minnesota

  • About
    • Founder and CEO
  • Research
  • News
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Donate

March 9, 2011 By Annette Meeks

FFM News Update 3/9/11


This week from Minnesota State News


Late last month the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota launched our Capitol news bureau: Minnesota State News– a non-profit, non-partisan media entity aimed at creating a more well-informed citizenry by providing quality, real-time news to Minnesotans. Reporter Jon Miltimore has launched this web-based news site, already covering numerous stories from the Capitol.  Read some of highlights from this past week:


  • Dayton’s top economist says tax cut responsible for improved forecast

    Gov. Mark Dayton credited President Obama this week for the state’s improved economic forecast, but the state’s chief economist suggests credit might lay elsewhere. Read more…
  • Dayton signs alternative teaching bill, seeks compromise

    Though lawmakers remain sharply divided on the budget, a chord of bipartisanship was struck for the second time in a week Monday as Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law a bill providing an alternative pathway for public school teachers. Read more…
  • Report: State faces billions in unfunded pension liabilities

    Lawrence Martin, Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirements Executive Director, says he doesn’t lose sleep over the state’s $15 billion unfunded pension liability, but he cautions lawmakers not to take it too lightly. Read more…

FFM in the news


The St. Cloud Times featured an op-ed from FFM Investigative Director Tom Steward on rail projects (like the Northstar Commuter Rail) being imposed on states by federal transit officials. President Obama has proposed $53 billion over the next six years to connect more taxpayers to these one-size-fit-all rail projects. But as Steward asks: How much should taxpayers be asked to subsidize?

 

FFM was featured in a 5 Eyewitness News investigation into potential capital projects financed through the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. In 2008 Minnesota voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment aimed at providing constitutionally mandated funding for the outdoors and arts. Legacy Amendment funds have become a controversial and highly sought after source of funds for environmental, land stewardship and arts groups from across the state. The fund is not meant for “bricks and mortar” projects, as one lawmaker explained. Said FFM’s Tom Steward, “It’s absolutely outrageous that all of these are on the table.”

 

Last week, FFM CEO Annette Meeks was featured on Fox 9 News for a segment on proposed gambling expansion in the failed Block-E development in downtown Minneapolis. The discussion also featured Frank Ball from Profit Minnesota, a group that lobbies for slot machines in bars and restaurants. The entire video can be seen on our website.

Top Obama official leaves Administration


In case you missed our last Special Edition E-update, the White House announced that Cathy Zoi, President Obama’s number two official at the Department of Energy, abruptly resigned last week. Zoi was the subject of an extensive investigation by the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota that began in 2009 for a potential conflict of interest.



Zoi’s resignation marks a victory for a more transparent and accountable government. Thanks to all who assisted in bringing this story, and FFM’s, investigation to light.



Read more on Zoi’s resignation on John Stossel’s blog, and view ouroriginal video on Cathy Zoi.

FFM announces semi-finalists for A Legacy of Leadership: The Ronald Reagan Essay Contest


The Freedom Foundation of Minnesota (FFM) announced the semi-finalists of this year’s A Legacy of Leadership essay contest.  This contest encouraged high school students to research the leadership, policies and values of America’s 40th President, Ronald Wilson Reagan.

 

The 100 semi-finalists were chosen from 100 different schools across the state by a panel of judges and will move on to the next round of judging. Semi-finalists will be invited to the Award Banquet later this spring where the Grand Prize, and second and third place winners will be announced. The Grand Prize winner will receive a $5000 scholarship and the two runners up will receive $1000 and $500, respectively.

 

“We are excited that so many high school students from across the state entered the contest and explored the legacy of one of our nation’s greatest leaders,” said Annette Meeks, CEO of the Freedom Foundation.  “President Reagan is still considered a bold and unwavering champion of freedom and liberty. It’s great to see so many Minnesota high school students interested and passionate about the lasting effects of his presidential policies.”



Below are all semi-finalists (in alphabetical order) and their respective high schools:



Courtney Arnquist – Armstrong High School

Luke Baker – Yellow Medicine East High School

Bryant Baker – Jordan High School

KaLeigh Berg – Minnesota Virtual High School

Amy Berning – Springfield Public School

Matthew Beutz – Albany High School

Grace Brennan – Home School

Ben Brogard – Pine Island High School

Charles Butterworth – Saint Paul Academy and Summit School

Beau Buysse – Minneota High School

Kammi Casci – Stillwater Area High School

Laura Crabb – Benson High School

Chelsea Dale – Blake School

Caitlin Daley – Rochester Mayo High School

Holly Mae Drewelow – St. Michael-Albertville High School

Kyle Evans – Park High School

Scott Foley – Schaeffer Academy

Justine Gelineau – Home School

Samuel Gesko – Minnetonka Senior High School

Christopher Giuffre – Proctor High School

Nicholas Greatens – Brainerd High School

Christopher Greenwood – Grand Meadow High School

Andrea Gruver – Roseville Area High School

Jordan Hanson – Lakeville North High School

Angela  Hasek – Fairmont Senior High School

Joseph  Heimerl – New Prague High School

Jadelyn Hoang – Totino Grace High School

Emily Hodgell – Lincoln High School

Rebekah Holten – Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School

Thomas Holton – Mounds Park Academy

Hannah Houle – Home School

Renee Hubner – Pipestone Area High School

Jackson Jaro – Home School

Alyssa Jensen – La Crescent High School

Brian Klein – United South Central High School

Joel Klein – Northfield High School

Hillary Kletscher –  Wabasso High School

Jacob Klingensmith – Irondale High School

Martha Koehl – Morris Area High School

Patrick Krieger – Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School

Taylor Leick – Legacy Christian Academy

Stacie Lewis – BlueSky Charter School

Christian Lopac – Home School

Catherine Lovrien – Jefferson Senior High School

Carol Luedeman – Orono High School

Spencer Lund – Prior Lake High School

Brandon Madner – Lakeville South High School

Timothy Madzey – Eveleth-Gilbert Sr. High School

Conner Mars – Mahtomedi High School

Nicholas McIntyre – Coon Rapids High School

Karissa Meyer – Caledonia High School

Grace Miner – Belle Plaine High School

Elizabeth Minneman – Lakeville North High School

Sarah Moechnig – East Ridge High School

Brady Morgan – Pelican Rapids High School

Sophie Morris – Cambridge Christian School

Jack Mullaney – East View High School

Mitchell Nelson – Becker High School

Tri Nguyen – Cooper High School

Natalia Nguyen – Eagan High School

Alexander Nicol – St. Paul Central High School

Kayla Nyegaard – Clearbrook Gonvick

Jenna Petersen – MACCRAY High School

Alisha Peterson – Chisago Lakes High School

Brooke Powell – Riverway Learning Community

Eric Rauvola – Hermantown High School

Jessica Reagan – Apple Valley High School

Kelly Reller – Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa High School

Brian Reuland – John Marshall High School

Stacey Rhyner – Grand Rapids High School

Rebecca Rieland – Century High School

Eva Rodriguez – Shakopee High School

Trevor Rohloff – Pillager High School

Matthew Runck – Red Rock Central

Meghan Schaumberg – Beacon of Hope

Josie Schmit – AFSA

Paul Schmitt – Sebeka High School

Isabella Sewart – Academy of Holy Angels

Robert Sexton – Plainview Elgin Millville High School

Thomas Shellum – Mayo High School

Nathan Shrader – Wayzata High School

Katie Sibbet – Blaine High School

Jordan Slaughter – Moorhead Senior High School

Nathan Stanelle – Greenbush Middle River High School

Mariah Steenerson – Lincoln Senior High School

Mitchell Stendal – Chanhassen High School

Caitlyn Stenerson – Home School

Corey Stephan – Marshall College Preparatory School

Sarah Stevens – Denfeld High School

Josephine Stracek – Esko High School

Matthew Terhaar – Stewartville High School

Emma Thofson – Medford High School

Meredith Turner – Underwood High School

Katya Vant Hof – Lafayette High School

Nick Voight – Mankato West High School

Amy Waananen – Maple Grove High School

Ashley Wright – Schaeffer Academy


Print

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPrintFriendlyEmail

Filed Under: News

Footer

Contact Us

Freedom Foundation of MN
Medical Arts Building
825 Nicollet Mall, Suite 815
Minneapolis, MN 55402

FFM Tipline

We will do our best to uncover the wasteful spending you report.

Send a Report

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 Freedom Foundation of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Log in