Sen Franken in the HELP Committee – A waste or Not?

As many remember Senator Franken who was a comedian and a Hollywood darling won the senate seat with ONLY 312 votes in 2008, after a contentious fight with incumbent Sen Coleman.

Sen Franken has been a member of the HELP Committee in the Senate since then. Now, this is probably the most important committee there in terms of Health, Education, Labor and Pension. Yet, Sen Franken has failed, flipped and flopped here similar to a Saturday Night Live Sketch.

Let’s dig deeper;

When Sen Franken very narrowly won over our favorite Senator Coleman, we went to his office and asked if he would continue the great work started by Sen Coleman who was the first person that recognized our autism concerns and not wrote a letter to Gov Pawlenty, but to CDC and NIH. It was very surprising to see Sen Franken’s staff to be mighty arrogant for winning by just 312 votes. First, they ignored us then they said Gov Pawlenty is a different party so whatever Sen Franken asks will not be listened to. Then they told us Sen Franken is simply too busy for autism and the Somali community issues.

Then after Gov Dayton won in 2010, we went back and asked again if they would write letters on our behalf and ask the new health commissioner to address autism by continuing the previous commissioner’s work. And this time we were told – wait for it….

Ah, we think Gov Dayton’s administration is doing a good job for autism. Now what now?

Then they finally allowed us to meet Sen Franken who promised lots of things including writing a letter to Sec Sebelius to assure diversity in IACC. Sadly, most of his promises have been ignored by his arrogant staff again.

Fast forward to 2013, I hear Sen Franken is going around the Somali community businesses, shops and stores bragging how his office helped with autism. Now what now?

I even got a letter congratulating me when I was appointed to IACC. What – Sen Franken had nothing to do with it. Yet, he wants to take credit. In fact, it was Congressman Kline who wrote a letter to Sec Sebelius. But that does not stop Sen Franken claiming credit for things his staff ignored, disregarded and dismissed.

In addition, when we asked them to hire Somalis, we were told they just are not qualified, even though many of the applicants were highly qualified. By the same token, they keep hiring staff of minimum effort with careless attitude.

Further, many have heard the difficult times HBCU’s are having with Sec Duncan and the U.S Dept of Education, yet Sen Franken is MIA in helping them so that these historic Black Universities don’t close where thousands of students have suffered. See more here.

So, what can we do now? Well – thankfully Sen Franken is up for re-election again next year and we should do everything we can to make sure we get someone who will represent all of our concerns in Congress. Someone who will not play partisan politics and will just represent us. Unlike his SNL character I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me. It seems to me that minorities are not good enough or smart enough to be Sen Franken’s policy advisers or hold important positions. I think it has been a waste to have Sen Franken in such important committee and accomplish so little for Minnesotans.

The time to defeat Sen Franken is now. We need a real leader in Congress.

Thanks!