Franken challenges Hudson Institute’s Dr. Furchtgott-Roth to compare bankruptcies due to health care cost in the US vs. other western countries.

She tries to say “I’ll get that number to you later” congressional hearing dodge move.” He gives her the answer (Sweden – 0, Germany – 0, etc) and she tries to make a hollow tangential point about cancer survival rate studies while never addressing Franken’s issue.

Senator Al Franken (Official Portrait)

Remember when one of his future colleagues said Al Franken was going to be a clown? Even though it may be a surprise to the pundit class, those who actually paid attention to Al Franken’s campaign and not old YouTube clips wouldn’t be surprised that Franken would try to do some work in Washington, DC.

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) proposed an amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that would withhold defense contracts from companies like KBR “if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court.”

via Think Progress » Franken Wins Bipartisan Support For Legislation Reining In KBR’s Treatment Of Rape

Defense contractors required all workplace discrimination, sexual assault and/or safety issues  had to be dealt with in private arbitration and could not be taken to court. So if a worker was sexually assaulted, discriminated, at risk due to unreasonably unsafe work environments or harassed, the victimized employee (or their families in case of unlawful death on the job), were required to sign away all rights to due process. Franken’s amendment basically ends these violations of their citizen’s rights.

The “clown’s” Amendment passed 68-30. Kudos to Senator Franken.

Franken, at the state fair holds a 10 minute, plain talk, off the cuff Q&A with his constituents concerning health care in our country. Along with Rep. Anthony Weiner’s media blitz, this is one of the best engagements of the health care reform debate by an elected official.

Juxtapose the reality of Senator Franken with how the media and his current colleagues across the aisle regarded Franken’s successful bid for the US Senate.