
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Congressman decries GOP efforts to freeze funding
Hours before President Obama arrived at the Capitol Tuesday for the State of the Union address, Elmo made an appearance on the floor of the U.S. House as a guest of Minnesota Democrat Keith Ellison, who was there to make a point about Republican efforts to freeze Palestinian aid. According to Ellison, U.S. funds help underwrite Simsim, a Palestinian version of Sesame Street. Without it, he says Palestinian kids will be left watching mouse-like figures like Farfour, the main character on a Hamas TV show for children. (Who knew?) "That means no Elmo," Ellison said. "Only Farfour teaching extremism."
The lifelong northeast Minneapolis resident led a one-vote majority through the landmark 2023 session.