This past election marks the first time in history that the State of Minnesota has elected a woman to the U.S. Senate. That woman is former Hennepin County District Attorney Amy Klobuchar whose office recently issued the following press release:
"Washington, DC (January 4, 2007) - As the 110th Congress convened today, Amy Klobuchar was sworn in as Minnesota's new United States Senator. Klobuchar was joined at the swearing-in ceremony by family, friends and supporters from Minnesota, including former Vice President Walter F. Mondale. Klobuchar said she brings to Washington the Minnesota values of hard work, fair play and responsibility, as well as a mandate to push for change and a new direction in Washington. "The people of Minnesota and across America sent a message of change to Washington," said Klobuchar. "From this day forward, our leaders in Washington must begin to deliver on that message. That's why I'm here, and that's what I'll fight for." Klobuchar said that some of her first priorities as Senator will include:
- Ethics reform to restrict the influence of powerful special interests in Congress;
- Authorizing Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs;
- A change of course in Iraq;
- Greater support for homegrown renewable energy, including ethanol, biomass fuels and wind power; and
- Tax relief for the middle class, including tax deductions for higher education.
"There are few things more precious in a democracy than the public's trust in our government and our leaders," Klobuchar said. "The people of Minnesota have put their trust in me. In everything I do as Senator, I will be guided by that trust. I'm coming to do the people's work."
As Senator, Klobuchar will serve on four committees: Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and the Senate-House Joint Economic Committee. Klobuchar is the first woman in Minnesota history to be elected to the U.S. Senate. She now occupies the Senate seat held most recently by Mark Dayton, who did not seek re-election. Earlier in history, this Senate seat was held by David Durenberger, Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy and Frank B. Kellogg. In November, Klobuchar was elected to the Senate with a 20-point margin of victory over Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy. For the previous eight years, Klobuchar was the elected Hennepin County Attorney, serving as chief prosecutor for Minnesota's most populous county."
It's hard, if not impossible, to imagine Klobuchar failing the people of Minnesota. In addition to doing her job and keeping her promises she stands poised to set a precedent in Washington D.C. - a precedent for women to not just run for office, but to succeed in changing the course of history by changing the course in politics. There are now 16 women in the Senate, including Klobuchar, and a record-breaking 74 women in the House.
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Comments: 31
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This is certainly a sign of the times worth watching! Thanks, Susan.
Minnesota is a great state. Politics there is more civil than in other places in the US.
Pelosi had to be elected. The party could have presented anyone for the position of Speaker and they chose to endorse her.
The fact that she is a woman shouldn't necessarily make her a better choice than a man, but conversely - the fact that she is a woman should not make her an inviable choice either.
Now I hope that a similar woman from Minnesota will run against that ass, Norm Coleman !
I for one am delighted to see more women in politics, especially at the national level....The good old boy network just isn't cutting it.....
Maybe this is the answer....Lets face it, could anything be more screwed up than what our male dominated government has been responsible for over - my God - the last 40 years....
Your article just made me try to think back to when our government last conducted itself properly and in the interests of the people - wow - How depressing....
Go girls
We women we'll be the ones to show people how we can work with the Republicans & Independents. Our only agenda is to make our state & our country a better piece for ALL
to live. TY. for this very informative piece.
I sure hope she does better than Ms. Pelosi.
I wonder when NPR will pick this up? Think they will make a big deal of it? If it were a Republican doing this they would. Or are the standards different for Democrats?
Why hasn't the media asked Amy about what she thinks will happen to Iraq if we pull out too fast? What will Iran do? What will the rest of the Suni world do with Iran(Shia) as the aggressor?
No, the minimum wage is not about the people making that wage. Very few people in the workforce that make that wage are actual bread winners for their family. Most low end jobs exceed that wage or that wage is an introductory wage. Many union contracts have stipulations in their contracts that if the minunum wage goes up, their union contracted wage goes up also. It is done to reward the unions for their political support. But you would think that some "Woodward and Bernstein" type reporter to report this. But then, the standards are different for Democrats.
As far as the union workers go, it would actually be illegal for her or her family to talk with a union about a contract until workers had voted to organize.
Many union contracts both in the private and public sectors have stipulations for automatic increases if the minimum wage goes up. Many unions will also use the increase in the minumum wage as a bargaining chip in getting a raise. Just ask them, it's no conspiracy.