The Savage Republican

As many of you heard, 203 of Minnesota's wealthiest signed an ad that ran in the Star Tribune last week, stating that Minnesota isn't taxed enough and that the wealthiest (according to their plan that is anyone who makes over $45,000 a year) should be taxed more. Well Mitch (over at Shot in the Dark) challenged readers to research the signatories - find out what (if any) political affiliations that they have...to see if the group responsible for the ad are as non-partisan as they claim to be. Mitch challenged and I answered. Rather than get into a long preamble, I'll cut right to the chase.

Burt Cohen - President and former Publisher of MSP Magazine. According to the Open Secrets search, Mr. Cohen has donated over $11,000 to Democratic candidates and campaigns between 2001 and 2004. According to the Cunningham Group profile of Mr. Cohen:

" Prior to MSP Communications he was the President of Modern Medicine Publications, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Health Care Publications and Vice President and Director of The New York Times Media Company.

Burt has been active in the Twin Cities for years. Community activities include sitting on the Board of Directors for various organizations including Medica; the Minneapolis Foundation; Minneapolis Midtown Community Works; University of Minnesota Foundation; Minnesota Zoo Foundation; and the One Percent Club. In addition, Burt has served on a number of committees such as the Children’s Theatre Capital Campaign Steering Committee, the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts Advisory Committee and the Committee on Giving Organizing Committee." (emphasis added)

According to the filings listed at Open Secrets, Rusty Cohen is an Consultant/Volunteer. He is listed on the masthead of Mpls St Paul Magazine as a consultant. While he has not been a prolific contributor to Democratic candidates, he has given solely to Democrats. According to an article here, he is also a co-founder (with Burt Cohen) of MSP Publishing.

Bert and Suzi Colianni - Mr. Colianni is the executive vice president and COO of Marquette Financial (along with co-signatory Jim Pohlad). There was no record of any political contributions at Open Secrets, but Mr. and Mrs. Colianni were listed as contributors to Common Bond Communities (a non-profit that helps the homeless find housing).

Julie Corty lists her occupation as "retired" although she is listed on this newsletter as a member of the advisory board of a group called Wilderness Inquiry. Wilderness Inquiry is a non-profit organization that focuses on getting people from all walks of life to personally experience the natural world. She only had one listed donation from 2001 to 2004 and that was to John Kerry's presidential campaign.

John and Sage Cowles - John Cowles Jr is the former publisher (President of Cowles Media Group) of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, a position that he assumed after his father retired. They currently hold the Lewis W. Hill Fellowship on Philanthropy at the University of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey Institute. Mr. Cowles political donations have been to Democratic candidates and committees exclusively. Mrs. Cowles (whose occupation is listed as retired) has donated to Democratic candidates, committees and organizations such as America Coming Together and Emily's list.

Dan and Cassie Cramer - I couldn't find a lot of data on the Cramer's so I have no idea (yet - still looking) what the Cramer's do for their money. What I did find is that they have donated moeny to an organization called Admission Possible, which helps disadvantaged students get prepped for college and helps them find grants etc. Mr. Cramer had donated to the Progressive Politics Network - formerly known as the Wellstone for Senate campaign. Mrs. Cramer is also listed on the campaign website of current DFL endorsed candidate (for MN Secretary of State) Mark Ritchie as a supporter.

Kim Culp - FINALLY a Republican donor! Mr. Culp is a banker from Eden Prairie. He is the chairman of the Minnesota region of M&I Bank and former President of Century Bank. His political donations have been exclusively to Republican candidates Norm Coleman and Jim Ramstad.

Susan Cushman is an OB/GYN doctor from Wayzata. Open Secrets shows no record of political donations, but Dr. Cushman is a patron of the Walker Arts Center.

Teresa Daly is (as I stated here) a former DFL candidate for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District. She is a consultant by profession - employed by Right Management, an employment transition consultant. Her political donations have been to DFL candidates and to Democratic aligned PAC's like Emily's List.

Cross posted at Ladies Logic