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MinnPost: Short term, Congress’ ‘edujobs’ funding package could ’save’ or hire 2,800 Minnesota educators

Posted in News Clips on August 6th, 2010

Next week, members of the House of Representatives are expected to take the unusual step of interrupting their August recess to return to the Capitol to vote on a $26 billion economic stimulus package their Senate counterparts approved 61-39 earlier this week.

The urgency?

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Talking Points Memo: Franken, Progressive Groups Begin Whip Campaign For Elizabeth Warren

Posted in News Clips on August 5th, 2010

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee and it’s new affiliate, the P St. Project, will launch a public campaign this week with the help of Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) to whip up support in the Senate for Elizabeth Warren’s nomination and confirmation to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

PCCC, in partnership with the progressive group CREDO, rounded up 200,000 petition signatures in support of Warren, and will now team up with Franken to urge members to publicly commit to voting for her.

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CNN: Senator Franken Op-Ed: Net neutrality is foremost free speech issue of our time

Posted in News Clips on August 5th, 2010

(CNN) — If we learned that the government was planning to limit our First Amendment rights, we’d be outraged. After all, our right to be heard is fundamental to our democracy.

Well, our free speech rights are under assault — not from the government but from corporations seeking to control the flow of information in America.

If that scares you as much as it scares me, then you need to care about net neutrality.

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CBS News: Al Franken Leads Campaign to Whip Support for Elizabeth Warren

Posted in News Clips on August 5th, 2010

Thirteen senators have signed on to support the nomination of Elizabeth Warren to head the government’s new Consumer Financial Protection bureau, says a progressive grassroots organization. Now, with the support of Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), the group is starting a campaign to get more senators to make the same pledge.

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Minn Post: Franken: Net neutrality the ‘most important First Amendment issue of our time’

Posted in News Clips on August 5th, 2010

WASHINGTON — Sen. Al Franken today said the principle of net neutrality — meaning that equivalent Internet access is given to all content — is “under assault — not from the government but from corporations seeking to control the flow of information in America.”

In an opinion column published on CNN.com, Franken warned that allowing prioritization online would violate the First Amendment by allowing one set of information to have more priority than another, implicitly shunning those who can’t pay for access. He wrote:

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Star Tribune: Kagan confirmed to Supreme Court

Posted in News Clips on August 5th, 2010

Elena Kagan has been confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Both Minnesota senators, Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, voted in favor of Kagan, who was confirmed on a 63-37 vote.

Franken presided over the senate during the vote and announced the final tally.

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Save the Internet: Sen. Franken Petitions for Net Neutrality

Posted in News Clips on August 3rd, 2010

If we could design an Internet-saving superhero, it might just be in the likes of Minnesota Sen. Al Franken.

The senator has been an outspoken supporter of free speech and the open Internet, saying recently that “Net Neutrality is THE First Amendment issue of our time.” And now, he’s created his own petition and Facebook campaign to fight for it.

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MinnPost: Klobuchar, Franken make closing arguments for Kagan

Posted in News Clips on August 3rd, 2010

WASHINGTON — Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken today made their closing arguments urging the Senate to confirm Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan later this week.

“It’s hard for me to understand how anyone could oppose her,” Klobuchar said late Tuesday on the Senate floor to an audience of a few staffers and a half-full gallery of tourists.

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Solve Climate: Al Franken and Kit Bond Team Up for Combined Heat and Power

Posted in News Clips on August 3rd, 2010

WASHINGTON—For comedian-cum-politician Al Franken, wasting energy is no laughing matter.

That conviction prompted the rookie Minnesota Democratic senator to pair up with a Republican in July to introduce legislation designed to put renewable energy at the forefront for heating and cooling the nation’s homes, businesses and public buildings more efficiently.

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Remarks On The Confirmation of Solicitor General Elena Kagan

Posted in News Clips on August 3rd, 2010

Thank you, M. President.

M. President, above the entrance to the United States Supreme Court are four words, and four words only:

“Equal Justice Under Law.”

M. President, I rise today to support the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

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