Sen. Ken Kelash: Thissen best prepared to lead

For Immediate Release

March 30, 2010

Thissen earns superdelegate endorsement

State Representative Paul Thissen, DFL candidate for governor, announced on a live webchat last night that State Senator Ken Kelash is endorsing his campaign for Governor.

Kelash is a long-time member of the Carpenter’s Union and Building Trades.  He’s been active in the AFL-CIO and is known as a labor leader in Minnesota.  He’s served in the Minnesota Senate since 2008.

Full text of Kelash’s statement is as follows:

Dear DFLer,

Dealing with Minnesota’s budget crisis next year will require a strong pragmatic leader, with a proven record of hard work and understands the challenges we face.  Rep. Paul Thissen’s experience and talent are more than enough to meet the difficult problems the next Governor will face.

I appreciate the work of all my DFL friends who ran in the crowded field for Governor.  Rep. Paul Thissen stands out as the leader in that field. Paul is the kind of leader that Minnesota needs right now.  He’s got a proven ability to get things done in the hyper-partisan environment at the state capitol.  He listens to Minnesotans and he works hard on behalf of working class Minnesotans – last session providing an extension in health insurance coverage for those who lose their jobs, making sure that government is being more efficient, and earning top ratings from labor organizations.

Paul understands that jobs for hard working Minnesotans drives our State’s economic engine.  That’s who Paul represents in the Legislature and it’s who he will serve as governor.  And Paul works for all Minnesotans, not just those at the top.

I urge you to join me in supporting Paul Thissen as the next governor of Minnesota.

Thank you,

Sen. Ken Kelash

Thissen adds this endorsement to his current superdelegate supporters and a growing list of high-profile endorsers like Former Minneapolis Mayor and Congressman Don Fraser.  He also has endorsements fro the Minnesota Nurse’s Association, Take Action Minneosta, and eQuality Giving.

“I am honored to have Ken’s support.  It is heartening to know that pragmatic leaders who care about working families, like Ken does, see my candidacy as the best chance to take back the Governor’s office,” Thissen said of the endorsement.

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Paul Thissen represents Richfield and South Minneapolis in the Minnesota Legislature.  He is a DFL candidate for Governor.

Thissen makes campaign stop in Morton

Marshall Independent

Candidates, legislators speak at DFL event

By Deb Gau

MORTON – The campaigning for Minnesota gubernatorial and legislative candidacy is already under way for 2010. But no matter the final choices, candidates visiting a Senate District 21 DFL fundraiser Saturday said it was important that Democrats stand united…

…Thissen said another challenge to rural Minnesota is how to encourage agriculture when fewer and fewer young people are becoming farmers, and high land prices provide an obstacle to getting started. Thissen said he is working on legislation that would provide tax credits or other incentives for buying farmland or transferring it to a new owner.

Thissen said he also had some concerns about health care. While the passing of the national health care bill was a positive thing for many people, he said, “I worry we’re not going to be able to maintain the system” financially. That system might need further regulation, he said.

Thissen wasn’t the only official to mention the health care bill Saturday. U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson addressed his voting against the bill during a short speech at the fundraiser.

“I’m aware people are very much disappointed in my vote,” Peterson said, citing thousands of phone calls and e-mails at his office. “There are reasons for it,” although he said it would take more time than he had to explain them all. Now that it has passed, however, Peterson said, “I will support it, and I will work to make this work.”

Full text is available at www.marshallindependent.com

Live Webchat TONIGHT!

For Immediate Release

Contact: Carrie Lucking

March 29, 2010

Bloomington, MN

Thissen holding live webcast tonight, announcing superdelegate support

State Representative Paul Thissen, DFL candidate for governor, announced today that he will hold a live webchat tonight from 7-8pm.

The webchat will take place at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/thissen-netcaucus. This is the Thissen campaign’s third webcast.  The last webcast was targeted at college students.  Thissen announced support from a young DFL activist and superdelegate, Dan Weinand, during his campaign’s first webchat in November 2009.

Tonight’s webcast is for DFL activists, delegates, and alternates to the DFL State Convention.  Thissen will also announce the support of a superdelegate on the webcast this evening.

Paul Thissen represents Richfield and South Minneapolis in the Minnesota Legislature.  He is a DFL candidate for Governor.

Thissen proposes health care solutions

Lawmaker, candidates look for extra health care money

Associated Press
ST. PAUL — A Democratic state lawmaker and gubernatorial candidate says Minnesota could get extra federal health care dollars for moving ahead with plans to coordinate medical care for those with chronic conditions.

Rep. Paul Thissen of Minneapolis is pushing state human services officials to ask for more money for tracking patients through clinics designated as medical homes.

He wouldn’t estimate Wednesday how much the state could get.

Thissen is one of 11 Democrats running for governor.

Forty Minnesota clinics are in the process of becoming certified as medical homes under a 2008 state law.

The federal government pays 90 percent of medical home care for subsidized Medicaid patients with chronic conditions or serious mental illnesses under the new health law.

Thissen rallies with labor activists in Rochester

Rochester Post-Bulletin

Swanson, Dayton and Thissen pay a visit

Rochester is proving to be a popular spot today for DFL candidates…

…This afternoon, the Southeast Minnesota Area Labor Council is organizing a march and rally that starts at 4 p.m. at the Labor Temple in Rochester and will stop at Wells Fargo at 21 1st St. S.W. The march is part nationwide protests by labor groups focused on banks that took bailout money. They want these banks to loosen tightened lending restrictions to help average citizens. The march will end at the Kahler Grand Hotel at 20 2nd Ave. S.W.

DFL gubernatorial candidates Mark Dayton and Paul Thissen are expected to attend and address the crowd. Thissen is also having a meet and greet from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dos Amigos Restaurant, 20 4th St. S.E.