What Passed and What Didn't

After rushing through a bill to build the Minnesota Vikings a new stadium and passing a half-billion-dollar bonding bill, the state legislature adjourned the 2011-2012 session on Thursday.

Many initiatives of the Republican majority in both chambers were stymied by vetoes issued by Democrat Governor Mark Dayton, but it wasn’t complete gridlock.

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment of the legislature this year was passage of the Voter ID Constitutional Amendment. Governor Dayton did issue a “symbolic veto” of the bill, but under Minnesota’s Constitution, the governor actually has no authority to sign or veto proposed amendments. Once passed by both chambers of the legislature, the question is put directly to the People of Minnesota. Thus, the question, “Shall Minnesota’s Constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photographic identification to vote and to require the state to provide free identification to eligible voters, effective July 1, 2013?” will be on the ballot this November.

The legislature attempted to finish what Governor Jesse Ventura started during his gubernatorial campaign way back in 1998: Legalize fireworks in Minnesota. In 2002, then Governor Ventura managed to get a modest bill through the legislature that allowed small, ground-based fireworks and sparklers to be sold and used in Minnesota, saying that it was a first step toward his goal of legalizing most consumer-grade fireworks. 10 years later, the legislature took a crack at giving Minnesotans the freedom to use rockets and other, larger fireworks Ventura originally envisioned, but despite strong, bipartisan support in the legislature, Governor Dayton vetoed the bill, saying, “They may be fun, but they’re also dangerous. I don’t want somebody’s eye put out, somebody’s hand blown off.”

After a few strong attempts, Republicans in the legislature ultimately threw in the towel on passing a “Right to Work” amendment that would have made union membership and payment of dues or “fair share” fees optional for employees of all stripes. The bill was strongly opposed by labor and government employee unions, but it’s expected to be raised again next year.

The Republican majority did something curious. They pushed and passed a bill to increase fees for hunting and fishing licenses. It was signed by the governor.

Governor Dayton  vetoed a bill that would have prohibited labor unions from skimming dues or “fair share” fees from child care assistance payments paid to providers on behalf of low-income families.

A bill to give more weight to teacher performance than seniority in determining layoff schedules was passed by both chambers. Despite support from many education groups, Education Minnesota, the DFL’s largest contributor opposed the bill and the governor vetoed it.

Republican “reform 2.0” initiatives that focused on job-creation, tax reductions and streamlining government mostly died on the governor’s desk, victim to his veto pen.

Now that the session is officially over, campaign season will begin in earnest. Because of redistricting the entire Senate is up for reelection along with the all members of the House of Representatives this year. Governor Dayton doesn’t face reelection until 2014, however.

The legislature will reconvene in January of 2013.

Look for Minnesota Majority’s 2011-2012 Legislative Scorecard this summer to see how lawmakers representing you voted on key issues this session.

Here is the Minnesota segment of the Fox News special on voter fraud that aired this past weekend.  Click here to view the full program.

Learn more and see what you can do at ProtectMyVote.com

Minnesota Majority's Research Revealed to the Nation

On Saturday, April 21st, Fox News Channel will air "Stealing Your Vote," a one-hour documentary special on voter fraud. Minnesota figures prominently in the production and Minnesota Majority is featured in the final segment.

The documentary is hosted by Fox News correspondent Eric Shawn who has been investigating and reporting on voter fraud for Fox for three years.

The program will air on Saturday at 2:00 PM, Central Standard Time and on Sunday at noon, 2:00, 8:00 and midnight.

Be sure to tune in.

Get an inside look at "Stealing Your Vote." at Fox News Insider.

Judge Dale Lindman today struck down Governor Dayton’s executive order calling for a unionization election among independent, home-based childcare providers.

A group of 11 childcare providers filed a lawsuit seeking to enjoin the order, claiming the election and potential involuntary payment of “fair share” fees to the unions violated their rights. The lawsuit asserted that the governor lacks the legal authority to order a unionization election and the judge ultimately agreed.

In the final order, Judge Lindman wrote that the governor has exceeded his authority by attempting to implement Executive Order 11-31. The judge said the governor was improperly attempting to circumvent the legislative process and violated the separation of powers as set forth in the Minnesota Constitution.

The order permanently enjoins the unionization election and bars the governor from any attempt to implement the executive order. It also awards the plaintiffs court costs and attorney fees.

The childcare providers who took part in the suit are thrilled. Plaintiff Hollee Saville said it was a great Easter present. “I can't think of a better way to celebrate Easter than knowing that Judge Lindman upheld our rights and freedoms as independent licensed family child care providers. I'm jumping up and down right now and am thrilled that the time and efforts that childcare providers have dedicated to this very important cause over the past several years have paid off. We're so grateful for the support of the majority of Minnesotans. Thank you!”

Take Action: Contact Governor Dayton's office and tell him not to waste more of the taxpayers' money by appealing this ruling! Call Governor Dayton and say "no appeal!" Call 651-201-3400 or see here for more contact options.

Check out the new ProtectMyVote.com

With yesterday’s passage of the Minnesota Voter ID Amendment in the State Senate, Minnesota voters will finally get the chance to vote on the issue in November. A ballot question committee in support of the Voter ID amendment has been formed. ProtectMyVote.com is chaired by Dan McGrath of Minnesota Majority.

“We thank Senator Newman, Representative Kiffmeyer and everyone who worked so hard to write and pass this crucial election integrity measure,” said Dan McGrath.

Since polling consistently shows public support for Voter ID in the 80% range, the ballot committee will focus on countering the misinformation expected from opposition groups rather than putting an emphasis on building support for the amendment.

“We’re confident that if voters have all the facts about how the Voter ID amendment will improve Minnesota’s election system, it will be ratified with overwhelming support in November,” said McGrath.

ProtectMyVote.com plans television and radio ads, a statewide speaking tour and other events to support passage of the Voter ID amendment. The committee’s website has just gone live and contains a wealth of information about election integrity issues and the Voter ID amendment.

Check it out now! www.ProtectMyVote.com.

"I think we clearly won on this point, but the ACLU isn't willing to concede it. "

Minnesota Majority’s executive director, Dan McGrath today issued the following statement in response to the ACLU-MN’s refusal to pay their offered reward for proof of voter fraud:

“I’m not at all surprised that the ACLU isn’t willing to concede that their publicity stunt offering a $1,000 reward for proof of a charge, indictment or conviction for voter impersonation backfired. It was a big gamble they were taking, even if disingenuous and the irrefutable court documents produced by Minnesota Majority shortly thereafter must have been an embarrassment for the ACLU’s board.

“The ACLU and Minnesota Majority were both trying to make a point. I think we clearly won on this point, but the ACLU isn’t willing to concede it.

“The real issue isn’t one random case of voter impersonation, however. As much as the ACLU would like the press and voters to focus on that, there are bigger issues with Minnesota’s election system, such as over 6,000 unverifiable Election Day registrants from 2008 and nearly 200 recent convictions of ineligible voters.

“Minnesotans deserve confidence in our election system. The Voter ID amendment will give voters the final say and if ratified in November, will restore that essential confidence in our democratic process.”

Read more about it:

• Pioneer Press: ACLU Says No Proof of Voter Impersonation, Conservative Group Disagrees
• MPR: Voter ID Supporters, Opponents Trade Barbs

From The Blaze

A Minnesota man was arrested and thrown in jail — all because city officials said he had not properly put up siding on his house.

Officials in Burnsville, Minn. cited Mitch Faber with “having an unfinished exterior” when, nearly four years after he started it, his home’s stucco project was not complete, Fox News reported.

Faber told Minneapolis ABC affiliate KSTP-TV he always intended to finish the project, but that he ran into financial trouble when the economy took a turn.

Read more here.

From the March 20, 2012 edition of the O'Reilly Factor.

Support the Voter ID Amendment

The Minnesota House of Representatives will take up Representative Kiffmeyer’s Voter ID Constitutional amendment (HF2738) on the floor for a vote at 5:00 PM, Tuesday.

The companion bill in the Senate (SF1577), authored by Senator Newman is awaiting action by the Senate Rules committee before being sent to the Senate floor.

If the House bill is passed, it will be sent to the Senate where it may be accepted or rejected. The House and Senate bills are not identical, so if the Senate does reject the House language, there will be a conference committee to iron out differences between the two bills.

Anti-ID protestors are expected outside the House Chamber this evening.

Take Action: Attend the House Session and wear a We Want Voter ID button and/or bring a sign in support of Voter ID. Signs are allowed outside the House Chamber as long as they have no sticks. Signs are not allowed in the House gallery and visitors in the gallery must remain quiet.

Minnesota Majority Position Memo: Why Can't Felons Vote?

In 2008, after the US Senate race was ultimately decided by just 312 votes, it was discovered that over 1,000 ineligible convicted felons had unlawfully voted in the general election. Nearly 200 have since been convicted and approximately 100 more are awaiting trial. Most ineligible felon voters were never charged because they pled ignorance of the law and in Minnesota’s election statutes, this is actually a valid defense. The standard for conviction is “ineligible voter knowingly votes.” If an ineligible voter maintains ignorance, it’s very difficult to prove otherwise beyond a reasonable doubt. No one is convicted for “accidental” voter fraud.

Now that the problem of ineligible voters has been discovered by a non-governmental non-profit group, some see
legalizing felon voters as the solution. This is akin to determining that too many people are robbing banks and solving the problem by legalizing bank robbery.

Why are felons denied the right to vote?

Article VII of Minnesota’s Constitution is explicit that people convicted of felonies are not to be entitled or permitted to vote in any election in the state. It states in part, “The following persons shall not be entitled or permitted to vote at any election in the state… a person who has been convicted of treason or felony, unless restored to civil rights; a person under guardianship, or a person who is insane or not mentally competent.” The framers had good reasons for this.

1. Felons are the most anti-social of all criminals. Their crimes are of the worst, most harmful and offensive nature. Murder, rape, robbery, gross fraud and conspiracy are examples of felony crimes. People who have demonstrated such gross disregard for the law, society and government should not be allowed to participate. They are outlaws, living outside the law and thus should not be allowed a hand in creating the laws that the law-abiding live under.
2. Besides lawmakers, Judges, county prosecutors and sheriffs are elected positions. It is in the felon’s interest to elect lenient judges and incompetent or corrupt prosecutors and law enforcement officers. Candidates for sheriff should not be in a position to try to solicit the votes of felons under the supervision of the Department of Corrections.
3. Deprivation of rights is the primary means of punishing and deterring crime in the United States. Felons on probation are prohibited from carrying a firearm, associating with certain people, entering certain establishments, may be subject to curfews and prohibitions of drug and alcohol use in addition to being prohibited from voting, until they have demonstrated their rehabilitation by successful completion of their sentence. At that point, they are considered to have “paid their debt to society” and are welcomed back into the civic process and their rights are restored. Many convicted felons never serve a day in jail. The deprivation of rights while on probation is the entirety of their punishment – should felons be punished for their crimes at all?
   Even if the legislature determined that restoring voting rights to convicted felons prior to the completion of their
   sentence was desirable, it would likely require an amendment to Minnesota’s Constitution.

The way to prevent corruption of our election process through the participation of ineligible voters, including felons and also non-citizens is to require all voters be subject to equal verification standards before voting. Currently, people who register more than 20 days before an election are verified as eligible before voting. Election Day registration currently requires no verification of eligibility, however, allowing may invalid votes to be cast and counted.

Minnesota is a forgiving state that leaves open the possibility of redemption. Convicted felons are restored to their
rights immediately upon successful completion of their sentence, including supervised release or probation. Our
probation system offers felons a chance to demonstrate their rehabilitation and integration into society. If they can do that, they can vote again. That’s current law and the mandate of the Constitution. It may not be easy, but it’s just.

Download the printable 1-page policy position memo (pdf).