Well-to-do, white, male DFL legislators argued that voter ID would disenfranchise minority groups. Maryland “Lucky” Rosenbloom, a respected leader in the black community refuted that notion in his testimony. He said current document requirements for identity verification are confusing, poorly understood and difficult for many to meet. He argued that everyone knowing that photo ID is the standard would simplify the process and eliminate confusion. He held up a utility bill addressed to “Lucky” Rosenbloom, noting “I can vote with my nickname using this utility bill, but this ID has my full legal name,” and “I'm gong to have my ID in my pocket, every day. I don't keep this utility bill in my pocket every day. It's very empowering to walk in and say, here's my ID. You can't turn me away now.”

Take Action: 

Join in the fight to protect our wallets and reduce state government spending. Minnesota Majority, together with like-minded organizations, is sponsoring the Budget Hawk’s Jam & Bash at Trocadero’s Night Club in Minneapolis on Thursday, February 5 from 5:00 - 8:00p.m.

Gather together with like-minded neighbors, have some refreshments, and meet political leaders. Learn more about what you can do to fight liberal lawmakers who want to increase spending and raise our taxes.

Click here to see a flyer for the event.  Here’s a link with a map to Trocadero’s and  here’s a link with a map for parking.  Hope to see you Thursday night.

While the governor’s recent proposals to solve the looming $6 billion state budget deficit do not include any tax increases, as he promised, his plan comes up short on lasting solutions. The governor’s plan relies on one-time (and indeterminate) bailout money from the federal government, borrowing and tapping the cash reserves of the Health Care Access fund. These are all stopgap measures that may or may not help solve the current biennium’s budget woes, but do nothing to provide needed long-term stability in the state's finances.

While the governor’s plan relies heavily on these one-time stopgap solutions, there are some spending reductions in the package. The governor has proposed approximately $2.3 billion in spending cuts. All major areas of the state budget are slated to be scaled back except the two largest budget items, K-12 education and Health & Human Services. Those two items combined make up almost 70% of the general fund budget and the governor proposes increased spending in each. K-12 education is slated for a funding boost above and beyond the current budget plan. Governor Pawlenty proposes a permanent per-pupil formula increase of $300 or 5% to get districts not utilizing his performance pay plan, “Q Comp,” on board with that program. He’d also like to give high-performing districts a 2% bump in the general education funding formula. Health & Human Services would get a 9.6% increase over the current biennium.

$287 million in tax cuts are also included in the governor’s plan, with the objective of creating and preserving jobs. He proposed a reduction in the state’s highest corporate tax rate, providing an up front sales tax exemption for new business equipment purchases and accelerated write-off of the depreciation tax deduction on such equipment. These seem like good ideas to try to stave off or reduce the impact of rising unemployment (presently projected to exceed 10% by the end of the year).

There are some positive aspects of the governor’s budget proposals, but the overall plan misses an opportunity to examine the entire state budget situation and make permanent reforms to create a common sense and sustainable budget that wouldn’t go out of whack every other biennium. It’s a temporary political move designed to, as much as possible, maintain the status quo without hiking taxes. Even if all the what-ifs fall in to place and the current budget crisis is dealt with by these proposals, the same ugly problem will resurface in the 2012-2013 biennium. In that respect, the governor’s critics are justified in accusations of band-aid solutions and budgetary gimmicks.

It’s past time Minnesota face reality and wrestle with our out of control spending problem. Budget increases are on auto-pilot, and growing at a rate that far outpaces normal inflation. The present course is unsustainable. The sooner we can change the budget’s tack, the better.

Take Action: Submit your budget-balancing ideas and comments at MinnesotaBudgetSolutions.com.

Additional Resources

• Click here to listen to former state audior, Pat Anderson discuss the budget situation on the Dan Conry Show (MP3).
• Press Release: Governor Pawlenty Presents Balanced Budget that sets Priorities and Positions Minnesota for Success.

Several House lawmakers gathered for a press conference on Monday to introduce HF 57, a new bill that will require Minnesota voters to provide picture identification before receiving a ballot. Representatives Tom Emmer, Paul Kohls, Dan Severson and Mary Kiffmeyer authored the bill.

The bill also includes provisional ballots for those who may have forgotten their ID, or need more time to obtain proper identification and a clause that will provide free ID for voters who do not have and can’t afford state-issued Identification.

This bill is one great step towards improving confidence in the integrity of Minnesota’s elections. A recent survey found that 85% of Minnesotans favor the photo ID requirement that will be established by this legislation. Dozens of supporters turned out with signs advocating election reform and packed the House Press Conference Room.

The bill will be heard first in the House State and Local Government Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee.

Take Action: Three Ways to Get Involved

• Sign the Election Integrity Petition and tell your legislators to support voter Photo ID.
• Write a letter to the editor in support of voter photo ID.
• Click here to contribute to Minnesota Majority and help advance election integrity.

Additional Resources: Click here to listen to the podcast of Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer discussing the voter ID bill on the Dan Conry show.

A group of non-partisan, non-profit organizations have formed a coalition that will be gathering suggestions to solve Minnesota’s current $4.8 billion shortfall.  The coalition is seeking methods that can solve the states budget problems without adding to the tax burden of families and small businesses.

The coalition is asking for proposals from policy experts and ordinary citizens in order to begin a constructive dialogue for real budget solutions.  A new website has been launched at MinnesotaBudgetSolutions.com where anyone can help identify opportunities to restructure state spending and comment on budget proposals. 

"The partners in this coalition range include members of the construction industry to family advocacy groups," said Pat Anderson, President of the Free Market Institute.  "Our goal is to make sure that during the state budget process that the day to day challenges of average families are considered when proposed tax increases and spending reductions are offered up."

Members of the coalition include; Associated Builders and Contractors, Minnesota Family Council, Minnesota Free Market Institute, Minnesota Majority, the Minnesota chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Taxpayers League of Minnesota, and Campaign for Liberty.

"Our object is to understand and develop opportunities to better allocate state funds, and then seek common sense solutions that won’t add to the burden Minnesota families already bear," said Jeff Davis, President of Minnesota Majority.  "Minnesota is home to some of the best and brightest individuals.  If we roll up our sleeves and work together, we can accomplish this goal."

Take Action: Visit MinnesotaBudgetSolutions.com to add your ideas about how to balance the state's budget.

Courtesy of MCCL press release: Nearly five thousand Minnesotans marched at the State Capitol today to urge lawmakers not to cut the crucial Positive Alternatives program providing practical, essential help for pregnant women in need. They also called for an end to coerced abortions in which women experience pressure or physical violence. The annual Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) March for Life commemorates the millions of lives lost to abortion.
The 2009 MCCL March for Life marked the 36th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that have resulted in the deaths of more than 530,000 unborn Minnesota children, and more than 50 million unborn babies nationwide. In addition, recent research from the Elliot Institute shows that nearly two-thirds of post-abortive women report that coercion was a factor in their abortions.

“No woman should ever be forced into abortion—not by relatives, the child’s father or abortionists,” MCCL Legislative Associate Jordan Bauer told the huge crowd of citizens from across the state. “We have legislation this year to stop coerced abortions. Abortion is not a choice, because no baby would ever choose to die.”

MCCL called upon lawmakers to preserve full funding for Positive Alternatives as they deliberate over the budget deficit. Passed in 2005, this legislation provides grants to organizations that help pregnant women successfully face the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth. More than 12,000 women received critical help in the program’s first two years. “Positive Alternatives saves lives,” Bauer explained. “We must save the Positive Alternatives program!”
MCCL’s 2008 legislative agenda also calls for a ban on sex-selection and saline abortions, as well as a ban on taxpayer funding of abortion. In 2006 (most recent figures), Minnesotans were forced to pay $1.6 million for elective abortions, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Taxpayers now fund 28 percent of all abortions in the state.

MCCL will oppose the Reproductive Privacy Act, S.F. 115, which would nullify virtually all protective laws, including informed consent under Woman’s Right to Know and the state’s parental notification provision. Several of Minnesota’s pro-life elected officials offered words of support to the state’s pro-life majority. Prolife Gov. Tim Pawlenty told the crowd that he was proud to stand with them in “the noble cause of affirming the culture of life.” Pawlenty also urged the Legislature to maintain full funding for Positive Alternatives. “We should all be able to come together to promote positive alternatives to abortion in Minnesota and America.”

The Hon. Norm Coleman spoke to the thousands of pro-life citizens, saying that Roe v. Wade “compromised” the right to life guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence. “Every nation is defined by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens,” Coleman declared. “Who is more vulnerable that the unborn?”

TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition calling for an end to taxpayer-funded abortions in Minnesota

Common Sense Radio returns to Minnesota's airwaves on Monday, January 19th. Dan Conry's new syndicated show will be broadcast live weekday mornings from 7:00 to 9:20 on KRWC, Radio for Wright County AM 1360.

Conry's new program based on common-sense conservatism and having a good time while discussing the issues of the day will be streamed live on the internet and podcast from DanConry.com.

Raised in Flatbush Brooklyn in what he calls his crazy Irish family, Dan developed his street smarts & well known self deprecating sense of humor on the streets of New York. Dan joined the NYPD in the 1980s. After several years as a street cop in Brooklyn, he became an undercover narcotics Detective in Manhattan. Dan retired from the NYPD and moved to Minnesota after an injury in the line of duty.

Dan says he's bringing some familiar characters to the new program. Super Dave Harrigan will produce the show and Bill Snyder will be sitting in from time to time.

Minnesota Majority is happy to have Dan as a new neighbor in the bunker. The Dan Conry Show will be broadcast from the brand new Minnesota Majority studio. Don't miss it!

Take Action: Tune in to Dan Conry Monday, January 19th from 7:00 to 9:20 AM.