More ACORN Fallout

Now that ACORN has been revealed as an insidious organization (funny thing how offering to aid someone in trafficking 13 year olds for prostitution will tarnish your reputation) people are starting to look at ACORN's other activities. Kathy Kersten suggests voter registration should be an area of interest (in a rare fit of non-Michele Bachmenesque batshit insanity). It isn't such a massive stretch to think that some of these fraudulent voter registration drives might have yielded...voter fraud, which in the context of an election decided by 380 votes is troubling.

Wackjob

So I was looking on drudge and I saw a curious headline: Congresswoman Refuses To Complete 2010 Census.... Immediately I thought there could only be two people in congress that crazy and stupid to do something like this: Michelle Bachman and Maxine Waters. Then I saw another headline immediately below it: Fears ACORN collecting data.... Then I knew it must be Michelle Bachman. And sure enough, I was right. What a wackjob. She is a joke.

Bachman=Batshit Crazy

I tend to agree with Michelle Bachmann, we really need to investigate some of these anti-American politicians. The Committee on Un-American Activities was a great success, if only marred by its limited nature. It sought only those who were commies, in a sense undermining its stated purpose. It was not the Committee on Commie-Activities, rather, Un-American activities. Anti-American activities encompasses people of so many different walks of life and persuasions, not just commies. Go Bachman, Go! Fight the good fight!

Bullshit aside, it has long been the official view of this blog that Bachmann is absurd, though I do think she is a fox. See this brilliant post by my estranged co-blogger, Anti.

Update: Here is Powerline trying to rationalize Bachmann's statements. And yet again.

Franken Leading

It looks like sixty is within reach.

If Your State Was A Country

This map attempts to show what each state's GDP is relative to the rest of the world. Thus, if California were its own country it would have the 8th largest GDP, roughly equal to that of France. But what tickled me was that the map has pegged Norway's GDP as the equivalent of Minnesota's. Having gone to St. Olaf College (AKA University of Oslo-USA) I found it particularly appropriate.

Senate Debate from the Great Minnesota Get-Together

Shorter Mark Kennedy:

"Amy Klobuchar is negative and made me feel bad....Oh, and she is a bad person and will do a bad job and everything is bad about her."

Attention: Xtra's Endorsement for the Minnesota AG

Thanks to Anti's recent post, I feel adequately informed now to endorse Steve Kelley as the Democratic Nominee for Minnesota's Attorney General. Not that I would advise anyone to actually vote for him in the general election, he is a Democrat, and thus a National Socialist. In fact, I read a study that said all Democrats are Nazi's, and that explains a lot.

Attorney General Maelstrom: The Day that was Yesterday

The epicenter of yesterday's local political earthquake was the steps of the State Capitol, the time just before noon. Matt Entenza, former minority leader of the Minnesota House and DFL-endorsed candidate for Minnesota Attorney General, dropped out of the race. This move set off a chain reaction, a mad scramble, and will prove to be a defining moment of Election 2006.

As a resident of Entenza's district - 64A in Saint Paul - I can tell you that I am more than a bit sad about this news. Despite the ridiculous assertions by Nick Coleman - what exactly do you know about conflicts of interest, Nick? - Entenza is a stand-up guy who honestly believes in Minnesota. I don't blame him for pulling out of the race; the accusations and insinuations over the past two weeks have been deafening, and I know I would not want to put my family through another four months of that. And Entenza's responses to those accusations were not what they should have been. But alas...

After the annoucement, however, came the craziness. The filing deadline was also yesterday, and Entenza's annoucement gave potential candidates just five hours to decide whether to run or not. Almost immediately, rumors circulated throughout the Minnesota political landscape. Who would step up to the plate? Some said Mike Freeman, others Steve Kelley, Bill Luther, David Lillehaug, Lori Swanson. Some lesser-knowns showed up also at the SecState's office. When the dust settled the only candidates with statewide recognition and the moxy to really pull through were Steve Kelley (who recently lost the endorsement for governor to Mike Hatch) and Bill Luther. Now, the state central committee must decide who gets the endorsement.

My personal endorsement goes to Steve Kelley. A patient, down-to-earth politician, Kelley has proved himself wise at the Capitol and willing stay above politics in favor of his constituents. A good Attorney General needs to be someone trustworthy, competent, and capable of skilled leadership. Kelley has proven this time and time again.

Also, as opposed to Coleman's baseless assertions, Kelley was not hand-picked by party elites. This was a mad dash, where candidates had to decide for themselves whether to shoot for the moon or not. That takes guts. Coleman, however, would have us all voting for Jennifer Mattson, who just finished law school three years ago. I'm sorry, Nick, but you need to know the law and how to lead in order to be AG.

Guv's Race: The Hutchinson Effect

Just a quick follow-up to the my post below about the governor's race. The Independence Party of Minnesota (aka the Party of the Body and the Mind, Jesse Ventura; aka the Party of the Buffalo) has put ex-Democrat Peter Hutchinson in the race. While Hutchinson's (and the rest of the Independence Party's) numbers are anemic, especially compared to the heyday of Ventura and Tim Penny, they are worth mentioning. Hutchinson currently polls at around 5 percent. That 5 percent is taken primarily out of anything Hatch musters. The word around town is that if Hutchinson secures 5-7 percent of the electorate in November, Pawlenty wins. If Hutchinson's support falls below that 5 percent, Hatch wins. Buckle your seatbelts, PePpers...it's going to be one heckuva fall.

(I'd also like to mention that the Green Party comes in at less than 2 percent, offering Ken Pentel, of Election 2002 fame, once again. I wouldn't mind seeing their numbers drop even further, as after this weekend I have lost considerable respect for one of their candidates, Jay Pond, who is running for the 5th Congressional seat. Pond is bar-none one of the most obnoxious human beings I've ever met. Pentel, on the other hand, is quite a decent chap.)

Hatch and Pawlenty: Neck-and-Neck

The same Minnesota Poll referenced below by Anti-Everything also showed the-one-the-only Teflon Tim Pawlenty running just about dead even with DFL challenger Mike Hatch. The spread is 43% Pawlenty and 41% Hatch. A few interesting things to note about these numbers:

• As Lori Sturdevant noted in yesterday's Strib, the DFL candidates have had a rocky start this summer. From the inimical Keith Ellison, to the dust-up over a Hatch-Entenza feud, to the Ember Reichgott-Junge bitch-slap, us DFLers have not made things easy on ourselves, per usual. The poll, however, was conducted July 6-11, which was right in the thick of some of this bad press. Being that voters typically respond more negatively to candidates and parties in the throes of negative news, the numbers for Hatch and Klobuchar are helpful.
• I'm very interested in the comparison of these two races. A lot of people support Klobuchar not only because of party, but because of profession (prosecutor) and gender (female). Both bode very well for her, especially against Kennedy, who the entire state watched demonize one of its most beloved icons, Patty Wetterling, two years ago. Hatch and Pawlenty, on the other hand, are both shrewd, seasoned politicians, who've already won statewide races. That may prove to be more of a slugfest.
• It's also interesting to note that the Strib Minnesota Poll is one of the most accurate in the country. For whatever that's worth...

You think this weather is hot?

As Governor Pawlenty and others make heavy weather about how hot it has been in Minnesota this week, we should bear in mind what excessive heat can really do to men:

Moreover, is it not a fact that excessive heat has brought men to such extremity of thirst that they have drunk human urine, and even their own?
(St. Augustine, City of God, Book XXII, Chapter 22)

Pawlenty & Higher Ed: Merits vs. Politics

Some time ago, our esteemed contributor Xtra commented under my Economic World Cup post about providing incentives for college students to study math and science as a way to improve American competitiveness in the global economy. I've been meaning to revisit the subject, and lo and behold, your favorite governor and mine, Teflon Tim Pawlenty has opened the pathway to such a discussion.

This week, Teflon Tim announced a proposal that would offer two years of free tuition at the University of Minnesota, or other colleges in the MnSCU system, to students in the top 25% of their class and come from families making less than $150,000 a year. Students receiving the assistance must attend full-time and maintain a B-average, and students are eligible to attain two more years of free tuition if they major in math or a science. The rationale behind this is purported that it would keep Minnesota's best and brightest in-state while boosting our enrollment in math and science.

Politics aside, this is worthy start. This being a politically-charged election year, however, I think we must examine the proposal both on the merits and on its political nature.

Merits

On its face, Pawlenty's proposal fulfills, or seems as though it would fulfill, the objectives set forth in my previous post. We need an increasing number of young people who are trained and can work in math and science fields, and who are educated with an eye toward America's (and Minnesota's) global competitiveness. It seems both reasonable and fair; it targets mostly middle- and low-income students; it offers incentives to study math or science.

Detractors (including Brian Melendez, DFL state party chair) have claimed that the proposal gives unfair advantage to those students already doing well, while leaving others behind. Call me elitist, but I don't see a huge problem with that. If we are to do anything, it is encourage and reward those who perform. Unfortunately, however, we do not have an secondary education system set up to provide a level playing field. For example, Minnesota ranks near the bottom of states in African-American graduation rate (a dismal 44 percent), while posting one of the highest overal graduation rates in the country. Therefore, not all of the kids who could potentially achieve status within the top 25 percent of their class are afforded that opportunity based on our malnourished schools, which are primarily based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, but also exist throughout rural Minnesota. Ultimately, the bulk of students that will be able to take advantage of this proposal are those in property-tax-rich municipalities, located primarily throughout the inner- and outer-ring suburban school districts. Without investment in quality secondary education, this proposal unduly rewards those who already have the advantages of a high-performance education. But, I do agree, that this is a good starting point for further discussion on that subject.

The additional math and science incentive is another topic. Unfortunately, "math and science" are about as ill-defined subjects as one can find on a college campus. Is leisure studies a "science"? Is nursing? Is dental hygiene? The question is: Where do we draw the boundaries? Math and science are terms of art that can fit practically any individual definition. Also, who will decide what math and science are? The governor? Legislators? Educators? We don't know...

Another question here is why just math and science? I think the aim should instead point toward the goals of improving Minnesota's competitiveness on a global scale, and preparing (many) students for the economy of the present and future. This does not mean only providing incentives to math and science majors, but rewarding future educators who will instruct and develop the economic leaders of the next generation. Why not provide an additional two free years to education majors? What about areas of the local economy where there are shortages, such as in nursing?

There is also the matter of private colleges and universities that award a full 25 percent of all the bachelor's degrees in Minnesota. Students attending those institutions are left out in the cold as well.

Politics

No matter what the merits of this proposal, the real story here is in the politics behind it. I have to hand it to Teflon Tim; this was an incredibly shrewd move that has put his most likely opponent, Mike Hatch, on his heels fresh after his DFL endorsement.

The beauty of this move is that is completely deflates the legitimate point that Teflon Tim has moved the state backward in higher education. He has overseen the largest increases in state college tuition, hiked student fees, and has ignored faculty salaries. And now, with a Jedi wave of the hand, he can deflect all of that criticism with this proposal.

And what's better, he doesn't actually have to do anything with it. This is less than a campaign promise, it's merely words. Teflon Tim comes off looking like a moderate (even David Strom, Grand Poobah of the MN Taxpayer's League is in a huff over this thing) and if he does win re-election, he won't actually have to follow through on it. Why? Two likely scenarios:

1. Democrats retain the State Senate and win a majority in the State House. They follow up on Pawlenty's proposal, and make amendments to it similar to what I described above. The proposal passes and goes to Teflon Tim's desk. He refuses to sign it, because the DFL has "distorted" his intent and it's no longer fit for the state. Period. End of discussion.
2. Democrats retain the State Senate and Republican retain a majority in the State House. The proposal passes with amendments similar to my descriptions above. But, the proposal fails in the State House because Dr. No Phil Krinkie and his Zero-Tax Clan tie it up in committee, the necessary Republican votes do not materialize on the floor, or the proposal is gutted in a conference committee.

As a result, the criticism for not seeing the proposal through slides right off Teflon Tim and sticks somewhere else. Timmy gets a winning campaign message, and no blame when it blows up after the election. I'm awestruck.

The other question I'd like to ask here is: Why doesn't the DFL ever make proposals like this sooner? Instead, we fritter around with code words - health care, education - but we rarely present voters with something concrete. Is it fear? Are we inept? My suggestion and my hope is that Hatch comes out with something bold - most likely something to do with health care since that's the feather in his cap - and run with it. We need to beat Pawlenty back or else he'll run roughshod right over us with his folksy Minnesota smile and his in-the-closet extremism.

O Cruel Mistress, MNSpeak

If the Twin Cities bloggerdom were a mafia family, MNSpeak would be the Don. While serving as a blog itself (although, I must admit, I have never found the conversation as enlightening as that found on the PeP Network) it's most important function is through The Aggregator, a feature that classifies and previews blog posts for 200-odd Minnesota blogs.

MNSpeak, however, has played a cat-and-mouse game with the PeP for much of its stormy history. Sometimes we've been including in The Aggregator, other times we've been left in the cold. It's as if we are courting a fickle lover, one whose heart belongs to no one, yet belongs to everyone. Admittedly, I can understand MNSpeak's neglect during the Pie-Eyed Dark Ages (circa Dec. '05 to April '06), when nary a peep was heard from the PeP. But now, as the Pie-Eyed Picayune has blossomed into a Renaissance, we receive the same treatment. Today, we are included in The Aggregator. Tomorrow, we shan't even contemplate.

Tell us, MNSpeak, what must we do to remain forever in your good graces?

Minnesota's environment: "nothing less is at stake than everything"

I was accused - amicably - of entering this blog with a manifesto clutched in my earth-stained hands. Dennis Anderson, in his recent Star Tribune article on the status of conservation funding and efforts in Minnesota, brought that manifesto home to the state. He blasted local politicians for ignorance and general mishandling of environmental issues, but some of the harshest criticism was reserved for the weak-kneed approach of some local conservation groups. "Conservation is and always has been a contact sport" and those working to conserve the incredible natural history of Minnesota must be willing to fight as such.

He also called for a wholesale redefinition of conservation in Minnesota, and pointed out that the faults of those in power likely reflect the faults of those whose who voted for them. Indeed, he described a "matrix" of elements in our human society that have lead to both a) the need for conservation efforts and b) the current failures of such efforts.

Anderson closed by saying:

"The challenge, bit by bit, year by year, is to change this matrix - at the Legislature, in publishing and broadcasting, and among Minnesotans at large."

"In the case of the state's lakes, rivers, forests, prairies - and us - nothing less is at stake than everything."

What he described were the symptoms of merely and strictly 'politicizing' environmental awareness. If all those players - senators, representatives, citizens, maybe even the conservation groups - considered and understood our environment in an immediate, personal fashion, before considering and understanding it in a removed, political fashion, Anderson would not have to decry the relegation of conservation in Minnesota.

EATS: Don't go to Chatterbox II if you want Chatterbox I

There's been a lot of buzz surrounding the new Chatterbox Pub location in St. Paul's Highland Park. My special ladyfriend and I went last night to check it out and compare Chatterbox II to Chatterbox I, a well-loved locale.

First things first: The new Chatterbox is nothing, nothing like the original. Some may think that's a travesty, some may call it a blessing. Personally, I don't see any problem with establishing a new ambience around the same concept. After all, the physical structure itself is not a hole-in-the-wall nestled away in a South Minneapolis neighborhood. It's in a converted Perkins (one of the best Perkins ever, mind you), and smack dab in the middle of a high-traffic commercial area. So if you're looking for, or expecting, Chatterbox I when you walk into Chatterbox II, don't bother.

As for the restaurant itself, both of us gave favorably reviews. We were a bit disoriented walking in, because there was actual natural light in the new joint. Also, there is a family-friendly aspect to the place, at least during the day. The decor is quite reminiscent of Chatterbox II's neighbor the Highland Grille, with futuristic furniture. Of course, you can still order board games at your table; there are a number of casual, comfy looking couches, and there's also original Nintendo on flat-screen TVs. I watched a nine-year-old try to figure out Mario 3 for a few minutes, then left with disgust when he didn't even know to go into one of the mushroom huts.

The food and drinks were classic Chatterbox. I had a delectable Inferno Hellcat Burger on ciabatta with deep-fried pickles and great fries. With a name like Inferno Hellcat, though, I expected some more heat, but alas, that's the problem anywhere in Minnesota. There's a huge bar with a decent selection, including it's own Chatterbox Lager (a fine brew).

All in all, you need to check it out for yourself. It's definitely worth it.

Teflon Tim and the Mystery of Marconi's Invention

MPR has a nice little article on the conflict of interest/just plain bad form of the Best Governor Currently Residing in Minnesota. It seems that Pawlenty still holds his radio show every Friday morning, same as he's been doing since he took office. Problem is--according to his opponents--that he's a candidate in an election year and he's getting a free hour to shoot the breeze with his potential voters while they're forced to hoof it from door-to-door in Uptown to get some face time with the locals. Do the locals ever invite them in for soup and biscuits? No, never.

Now, as the article points out, Tim hasn't declared his candidacy, and thus is legally okay. He doesn't need to give up the show--or at least provide an extra hour for the whole "equal time" thing--until he officially enters the race. From a legal standpoint, I suppose, Tim's ass is covered. But ethically? It's strange, but while you'd think that ethics and the law would go hand in hand, it's often not the case. Ethically, Tim's treading on some thin ice. Getting a free propaganda hour every Friday while Kelly Doran has to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars whiting-out "For Senate" and plastering "For Governor" over his "Kelly Doran for Senate" signs is hardly fair.

A Vampire Sets His Fangs On The Governor

In an interesting turn in Minnesota politics Jonathon “The Impaler” Sharkey, a former wrestler, a Satanic Dark Priest, Sanguinarian Vampyre and a Hecate Witch, has announced his candidacy for the governors office. According to Sharkey his Magikal Path name is Lord Ares.

If I were the governor I would watch out, it has been my experience that you don’t want to mess with angry Satan worshiping vampires. But check out “The Impaler’s” website it is pretty funny. Make sure to take a look at Jonathon's Darkside section and check out the picture of him and Jeb Bush. I guess the Bush family really is evil since they associate themselves with a Satanic Priest.

Election 2006: Genesis 1:1

Ok, so the final embers of Election 2005 have fully combusted, and all the Rybak-crowd-diving has come and gone. What to do now? Well, look toward 2006...you know, the elections that really matter. Minnesota has some great races coming up, and it will be a crazy, no-holds-barred affair. While some candidates have been campaigning for a while, others are just throwing throwing their hats into the ring. So let's ring in 2006 more than a month prematurely with a look at some of the key races that will provide loads of hilarity and shame in the coming year:

• US Senate: Mark Dayton, that lovable, tongue-tied, liberal bombthrower, has (thankfully) relinquished his seat, leaving what will no doubt be the most contentious race of 2006. On the Republican side, everyone is lining up behind Mark Kennedy, who narrowly beat Patty Wetterling for the 6th District House seat in 2004. The DFL - surprise, surprise - is split between Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar and Mother Minnesota Patty Wetterling. Both have large resources that will they will spend attacking each other while Kennedy waits in the wings to throw his GOP blood-money at one of them after the primary. The Klobuchar-Wetterling race certainly will be interesting for operatives I've talked to in both campaigns. I have a feeling it will be a disheartening urban (Klobuchar)-rural (Wetterling) divide. Luckily, much of Minnesota thinks Kennedy is an opportunistic straw man, but, then again, we did elect Norm Coleman.
• Governor: Last year at this time one would have said there was no competition capable of dethroning Teflon Tim Pawlenty. Remember when his national aspirations (Vice President shortlist, anyone?) seemed a matter of fact, rather than a dim reminiscent chuckle? Well, a government shutdown, minced language over his no-tax "pledge," and continuing furor and frustration over under-funding successful programs (not to mention the question mark hanging over all the damn stadium proposals), has left some crud sticking to Pawlenty's normally non-stick exterior. Thus far, no fewer than four DFLers have stepped up to the Pawlenty challenge. Current AG Mike Hatch has been picking up endorsements left and right, but he'll face strong opposition from Becky Lourey (DFL-Kerrick), better known as Cindy Sheehan's mid-wife. The left-wingers will certainly come out for Lourey, as will the Iron Rangers. But will she be able to withstand the Hatch juggernaut? Stay tuned...
• Attorney General: Probably one of the most overlooked races will be the position that Hatch currently holds: Attorney General. Think about it, outside of the Senate and the governor's, it's the only other statewide campaign. It's also a high-profile race, which will be even more high-profile with Matt Entenza (DFL-St. Paul), who was minority leader in the Minnesota House during the past session, and undoubtedly wants the position to diversify his resume. His competition will be a spry Jeff Johnson, who was a GOP representative out of Plymouth. Johnson has to be the underdog in this race, what with Entenza's name recognition, not to mention his vast superiority.
• All US House seats: Of course, all the US House seats will be up for grabs. If the Democratic Party wants to accomplish its goal of retaking the House, they will have to win some tough races in traditionally Republican parts of the state. With Kennedy boosting out of his 6th District seat, there'll be an open contest up near St. Cloud, and if a strong (moderate) DFLer steps up to the plate, the Democrats could just take it. Most other seats seem a pretty safe bet for the incumbent, except for the 2nd District, which turned slightly bluer in 2004. John Kline, whose main credentials seem to be that he carried the nuclear trigger box for Ronald Reagan back in the day, may be vulnerable, but his main competition is Colleen Rowley, better known as the FBI 9/11 whistleblower and another Cindy Sheehan sister souljah. If the DFL wants it, they're going to have to go after it hardcore.
• Minnesota Legislature: There are too many races to count for the Minnesota Legislature, but I will say this: the DFL stands to make some even bigger gains than they did in 2004 (they retook the Senate and reached near-parity in the House in 2004, if you'll recall). The hottest races will be in the inner-ring suburbs - think Edina, Eagan, Woodbury, etc. - where moderate Republicans have traditionally held sway. Many of those moderate voters feel uneasy with the arch-conservative vector of recent years, a la Michele Bachmann and her ilk, and may be looking to bat for the other side...so long as they feel comfortable with the candidate. In some of the races I've looked at so far, the DFL is putting up strong candidates who will give the GOP a run for their money in those districts. The North Metro continues to mystify and puzzle me.

So there you have it, PePpers. Be prepared. It could get ugly.

Hatch drops the hatchet

With his official campaign barely a week old, Minnesota Attorney General and governor-wannabe Mike Hatch released an e-mail to some listserv, which my address was apparently appended to.

In it, Patti Hatch - the wife - details a number of endorsements Hatch has received thus far. (For those waiting with bated breath: yes, Roger Moe is on the list.) The endorsements include a few DNCers, more than 50 members of the state legislature, and some notable notables from days of yore. They also mark an aggressive, and surprisingly rapid, entrance into a race that has nowhere near taken off yet.

I can only surmise that this is an attempt by the Hatch campaign to portray him as a galvanizing force within the DFL, which may or may not be true. It also hints of the "electability" debacle that gave us Kerry-Edwards 2004.

Also, I can only imagine the Hatch campaign included me, the PiedPiper himself, on the e-mail list as a not-so-subtle attempt to woo the endorsement of the Pie-Eyed Picayune. Well, Hatch, you're going to have to do better than that. We at the PeP only release endorsements after conducting greasy, back-alley 20-dollar handshakes. Besides, giving an endorsement more than a year before the election would really harsh our mellow cynicism.

Where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average. Er...

The National Assessment of Educational Progress was released the other day, and Minnesota once again proved to be ahead of the pack as far as achievement goes, ranking in the top 5 in both reading and math. I'm sure Armstrong Williams, sipping Chardonnay in his bathtub full of taxpayer money, is delighted that "No Child Left Behind is working". Not so fast, propoganda man. As the Daily Howler notes, the real gains nationwide are minimal, if any. In fact, though Minnesota ranked highly in both reading and math, the percentage of 8th graders passing the math test actually dropped 3 percentage points, from 82 to 79. This drop knocked us off our 1st place perch and down to a lowly 5th. Still, Minnesota did achieve at a very high level.

Well, most of Minnesota. As the Strib and the PiPress report, the achievement gap between white and minority students has widened since the last test, in 2003.

Now, here at the PeP we like to keep things rational. We could go all Bell Curve, a la Andrew Sullivan. It's the kiddies fault--well, not their fault, but their genetics. But that's probably not the reason.

So...um...what is the reason? Is there a reason for this large achievement gap in the Land of 10,000 Lakes? It's my duty, I suppose to provide a couple of semi-lucid explanations, though I plan to get throughly thrashed once the critical thinkers come out of hiding.

Explanation 1: The large influx of non-English speaking immigrants has created a language gap that is hard to surmount, especially on a standardized test. Instruction is focused more upon bringing English speaking skills up to par than getting students ready to take standardized tests with long reading passages (check the copyright on the passage...spooky and conspiracy-tastic).

Explanation 2: The minority population of Minnesota, for the most part, is concentrated in the Twin Cities Metro Area. This area is also home to some of the poorest schools in the state. As is often the case, lower-income students are also lower-achieving, and this test is no exception.