SAINT PAUL [07/03/08] – U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken today called on Norm Coleman to reverse his position and vote to stop Wall Street speculators and Big Oil manipulators from driving up the price of gas.

Al Franken said:

“Norm Coleman is so desperate to avoid answering the questions swirling about his sweetheart apartment deal that he’s launching more false attacks against me. Norm Coleman is trying to fool Minnesotans once again, pretending that he has a plan to bring down gas prices. But his ‘plan’ won’t impact the price of gas one cent for at least 22 years. The way to bring down gas prices today is to stop the speculators and investigate price gouging. Norm had an opportunity to really do something about gas prices and instead voted twice to stand with Big Oil and Wall Street speculators. But with middle-class families hurting, they need him to stop shilling for the special interests and start working for them. Once again, what Norm says in Minnesota about his record is different than what he has done in Washington.”

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Outlines proposals to immediately address gas prices, long-term plans to meet our energy needs

SAINT PAUL [7/2/08] – DFL-endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken today discussed Minnesota’s energy crisis, outlining his proposals to take immediate action to return sanity to the energy market and put our country on a path to ending our dependence on foreign oil.

The price of gas has increased by 275% since President Bush took office – and the big oil companies are making $1.5 billion every week.

“The high price of gas is contributing to the middle-class squeeze in Minnesota,” said Franken. “And all Norm Coleman has to offer are phony solutions. Experts agree: Opening up drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf won’t have an impact on gas prices this summer, this year, or this decade. I think we should require oil companies to first drill on the 68 million acres they currently control but aren’t using.”

Read the full release after the jump.

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13 Americans Electrocuted at KBR Buildings in Iraq

Saint Paul [07/01/08] – As Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Norm Coleman failed to hold a single hearing on the waste, fraud, and abuse that sabotaged the reconstruction of Iraq. Today, the New York Times reports on yet another Tale from the Oversight-Free Zone.

According to a written statement to Congress by Gen. David Petraeus, 13 Americans – including 10 members of the Army, one Marine, and two contractors – have been electrocuted in Iraq at buildings maintained by Kellogg, Brown, & Root – a subsidiary of Halliburton.

Even worse, we now know that the government knew years ago that KBR had created a dangerous situation for American troops.

Read the full release after the jump…

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SAINT PAUL [6/26/08] - Al Franken, Candidate for U.S. Senate:

One year ago today, Norm Coleman voted against making it easier for workers to organize in the workplace.

Unions are the backbone of this country’s middle class - and middle-class families need their strength now more than ever. But instead of supporting the labor movement, Norm Coleman has sold out to corporate special interests time and time again.

The Employee Free Choice Act is one of those rare instances where the name tells the truth. It offers workers a choice — a choice to be represented by a union that will fight for safe working conditions, fair wages, and a secure retirement.

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Army Official Fired For Daring To Question Bogus KBR Contract

SAINT PAUL [06/18/08] - As Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Norm Coleman failed to hold a single hearing on the waste, fraud, and abuse that sabotaged the reconstruction of Iraq. This week, the New York Times reported on another Tale from the Oversight-Free Zone.

According to Army auditors, Kellogg, Brown, & Root - a subsidiary of Halliburton - “lacked credible data or records for more than $1 billion in spending.”

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