Free Republic

Sen. Amy Klobuchar has asked the U.S. Department of Energy to investigate the steep increase in Minnesota gas prices over the past few weeks. Gasoline industry officials say regional gas prices have jumped 80 cents in the past month and 30 cents in the past week because of both unexpected and planned shutdowns at gasoline refineries. But Klobuchar said the impact of temporary closures shouldn't have so much impact on the price consumers have to pay. In a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, the Democratic senator called on the Department of Energy to thoroughly examine the closures and timing...

Kurt Bills' campaign released an online ad Monday, July 30, that mimics nearly shot for shot the landmark 1990 campaign ad entitled "Fast Paced Paul." That offbeat ad introduced Wellstone, then a virtually unknown college professor, to Minnesota voters. Initially seen as a sure loser, Wellstone upset incumbent Republican Rudy Boschwitz that year. Bills -- a high school economics teacher also largely unknown to state voters -- is encouraging a comparison as he challenges the popular and well-funded Democratic incumbent Amy Klobuchar. The version from Bills, "Quick Kurt," can only be viewed online.