Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota

AgriNews: MMPA shares priorities during Franken visit

drew — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:22:20 +0000

FAIRFAX, Minn.— Brad Nosbush gave U.S. Sen. Al Franken a private tour of his family’s dairy farm in Fairfax Aug. 24.

He wanted the senator to have a personal connection with the dairy industry while showing him the care they give to their cows and environment.

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Hometown Source: Sen. Franken urges FCC to keep Internet free and open

drew — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:02:39 +0000

Op. Edit. by Sen. Al Franken — If we learned that the government was planning to limit our First Amendment rights, we’d be outraged. Well our rights are under attack – not from the government but from corporations seeking to control the flow of information online.

I believe that net neutrality, preserving a free and open Internet, is the First Amendment issue of our time.

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Huffington Post: Why Al Franken Was Right About Net Neutrality

drew — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:57:08 +0000

Last week Senator Al Franken made an important speech, calling Internet neutrality “the First Amendment issue of our time.” If I had heard that claim a few years ago, I would have thought it verged on political hyperbole. But after reading the comments filed by major ISPs in the FCC’s net neutrality proceeding, I think Franken is right. For many members of Congress net neutrality isn’t a polling point heading into the November elections, but few other issues hold significance for the future of speech and the democratic exchange of ideas in this country.

Lost amid the intrigue of the Internet neutrality negotiations at the FCC, the announcement of the Google-Verizon proposal, and the wonky terminology of the debate (How many people outside the Beltway actually know what “Title II re-classification” means?) is one simple fact: The Internet is at a crossroads. The FCC’s net neutrality proceedings have exposed two competing visions for the future of the network that the Supreme Court has called “the most participatory form of mass speech yet developed.” Here’s the brutal truth: when the dust from rulemaking and the inevitable court battles to follow has settled – the Internet that we have come to know and love may no longer exist.

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Public News Service: Healthier Eating Proposed for 800,000+ MN School Kids

drew — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:58:33 +0000

ST. PAUL, Minn. – September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and new federal standards being proposed this fall could make for healthier eating for more than 800,000 Minnesota school kids. Senator Al Franken confesses to indulging in the occasional bake sale purchase himself, but says he doesn’t want sugary snacks to be the norm when studies show one in three American kids is either overweight or obese. That’s why he supports reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act and is introducing legislation to help ensure healthier foods will be served before, during and after the school day.

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Park Rapids Enterprise: Franken tours Wadena tornado damage, vows D.C. help for city

drew — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:15:39 +0000

“What I see here is an incredible spirit. I see a spirit of rebuilding,” Senator Al Franken (D-Minn) told Wadena city leaders at M State on Wednesday.

The destruction in west Wadena was far from the halls of Washington, D.C.

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Huffington Post: Most Impressive Democrat of the Week

drew — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:53:20 +0000

The battle looms. It is, in fact, right over a hill right in front of us. So, are Democrats girding their loins for the fight, and roaring their defiance at the opposition?

Um, well, not that I’ve noticed. Sigh. Instead, loins un-girded and roars muted to the level of squabbling jaybirds, Democrats are once again acting like Democrats.

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DOTmed: Minnesota senators focus on FDA medical device approval

drew — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:38:35 +0000

Minnesota Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar have both recently addressed the challenges facing medical device manufacturers in the FDA approval process.

Last month, Klobuchar met with FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to discuss the need for balance in the 501(k) program. On Monday, Klobuchar continued her advocacy for improving the device approval process in a keynote address to a conference for members of the medical devices and health care industries. The conference in Minneapolis was sponsored by LifeScience Alley, a trade association.

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Brainerd Dispatch: Franken gets an earful about Brainerd’s problems

drew — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:25:36 +0000

Brainerd’s high unemployment numbers were the focus of a fast-paced roundtable discussion led by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn.

Speaking Wednesday at Central Lakes College’s Business and Industry Center, the senator was mindful of Brainerd’s 13.6 percent unemployment and its school district’s struggles since an operating levy referendum failed in 2007.

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West Central Tribune: Franken hears pitch for local, co. renewable energy plans

drew — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:46:50 +0000

WILLMAR — When Sen. Al Franken goes back to Washington, D.C., local energy leaders hope he has Kandiyohi County at the top of his list when it comes to renewable energy projects that need federal funding.

During a 1½-hour meeting Tuesday in Willmar, Franken heard presentations from six area individuals heavily involved with a unique variety of renewable energy projects. Some of those projects are already in place and some are just in the feasibility stage.

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Brainerd Dispatch: Initiative Foundation to receive $750,000 in federal funding

drew — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:00:04 +0000

LITTLE FALLS – U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., and U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., announced $750,000 in funding for the Little Falls-based Initiative Foundation.

The funds are administered by the Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. This funding will allow the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund to continue to support small businesses on the Iron Range by providing financing that is otherwise difficult to secure.

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