U.S. Sen. Al Franken wants to try a successful Iron Range-authored 1980s jobs program to put more Americans back to work.

The Minnesota Emergency Employment Development program, proposed by then-Gov. Rudy Perpich, provided 7,400 jobs its first six months in a public-private partnership that saw wages subsidized for employers who retained workers for a set period of time.

The 19883-87 program was especially useful on the Iron Range to help fill a downturn in the mining industry.

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Kate Krisik of Stillwater, executive director of Stillwater’s Valley Outreach Food Shelf, meets with U.S. Sen. Al Franken recently to discuss the significant increase in the number of people needing help during the current economic downturn. Krisik told Franken that although Washington County is one of the most affluent in Minnesota, it has seen record increases in the amount of food it gives out to area families.

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Being a member of the Alexandria Aces has always had its perks.

The kids who perform with the team not only learn the skills that make them fan favorites; they also get to go to some of the best venues on both the college and professional level.

That benefit reached its pinnacle with the Aces’ most recent trip. The team just returned from an eight-day trip out east that was highlighted by a tour of the White House.

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BLOOMINGTON – Meeting with Transportation Security Administration officers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Monday, Senator Al Franken pledged support for the officers’ organizing drive and said he supports their right to negotiate a union contract.

“You’re doing a fabulous job and you ought to be supported,” the Minnesota Democrat told a gathering of about 25 transportation security officers (TSOs) and representatives of their union, Local 899 of the American Federation of Government Employees.

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Hi Everybody!

I’m happy to be writing from our home in Minneapolis. While we’re back in Minnesota during the recess, I’m joining Al as he travels the state. We’re talking to Minnesotans about the economy, health care, and of course — asking a lot of questions. It’s really important to Al that we get out and have conversations with constituents, face to face, so we know what’s really happening on the ground in Minnesota’s many diverse communities.

I’m writing today to let you all know that I’ll also be spending some time focusing on issues that we think needs more attention than they generally receive – homelessness, mental illness, and addiction. I’ve been given the opportunity to visit Perspectives Family Center in St. Louis Park this week, so I wanted to tell you all a little bit about this valuable organization and the good work they do.

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If at first you don’t succeed…check the rule books.

Sen. Al Franken may have brought the Senate a supermajority this summer, but he and several senators are not letting its death last month stop them from trying to pass a government-run health insurance plan.

Franken signed onto a letter Wednesday calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass a public option through a process called “reconciliation.”

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You might have seen in the news, on Twitter, or on Facebook recently that I’m opposing the NBC/Comcast merger in its current form. I wanted to post something here on Change.org to explain why, and to ask for your help.

I have some experience in this industry, and I flat-out don’t trust Comcast and NBC to operate in the best interest of consumers in Minnesota and around the country when it comes to this merger. Combining a company who provides programming and one who provides the pipes that carry said programming would almost certainly be a raw deal for consumers and independent content producers alike.

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Washington, D.C. — Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken (D-Minn.), Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar, 8th District Representative and 4th District Rep. Betty McCollum all praised the award of $35 million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) funding to the St. Paul Union Depot Multi-Modal Transit and Transportation Hub.

“For decades, the Union Depot served as the transportation hub of the Midwest,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “These funds will bring new life to the historic Depot, create over 1,000 jobs for the region, and, when complete, will provide the multi-modal transportation options Minnesotans deserve.”

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Franken met with leaders of Workforce Development on Tuesday morning to discuss finding people work and his new “Cash for Jobs” bill. Check out this video from KTTC Rochester to learn more:

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While in Rochester this week, Al and Franni visited Women’s Shelter Incorporated. There, they met with program leaders to discuss ending domestic violence. Check out this video about their visit from KTTC Rochester:

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