State Feed: Minnesota

Citizens' Rights Safe in Many States as State Legislatures End Sessions

Tue, 18 May 2010 14:23:59 -0400

Of the 45 states whose legislatures hold sessions in 2010, 27 of them have adjourned for the year, and 5 more will wrap up before the end of the month. Of the more than 80 bills dealing with the initiative and referendum process in various states, 51 of them would have reduced citizens’ initiative rights. Thanks to the work of activists in our coalitions, only 3 bills reducing citizen’s rights have passed and become law.

Voter ID petition drive launched

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:48:54 -0500

A group that says it wants to “empower the electorate” is gathering signatures in St. Paul and Duluth to seek a charter change that would require voters to show photo identification before casting ballots. The Minnesota Voters Alliance has about 500 signatures so far in St. Paul and needs 7,100 to get a charter amendment on a future ballot, said Andy Cilek, director of the group.

Read the story from Minn Post

Duluth voters to decide on charter amendments

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:57:26 -0400

The City of Duluth is looking to fill two positions which have stood empty for over a year. And your vote could help determine how it’s done. The communications officer would work directly with the city council on policy issues and do lobbying on the city’s behalf. The community relations officer would focus more on connections with local organizations and neighborhood initiatives. Mayor Ness says the community relations job will likely stay open for awhile due to budget constraints, but the communications position will soon be filled one way or the other.

Opposing sides on St. Paul ballot measure organizing

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:12:54 -0400

A St. Paul group called No Bad Ballots has formed to opposed ranked voting, or Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) in city elections. Another group called St. Paul Better Ballot Campaign — which includes many prominent local politicians — strongly supports the voting method. St. Paul residents will vote on a ballot initiative in November on whether to adopt the voting method, which will be used for the first time this fall in Minneapolis.

Park Board will likely rule on ballot measure next week

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:23:44 -0400

Voters likely will know next week whether they’ll get to weigh in on the expansion of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s financial independence, according to an attorney close to the initiative. Brian Rice on Aug. 28 filed a lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis on behalf of a citizens’ group after the City Council voted 11-2 to not place on the fall election ballot a question regarding the Park Board’s autonomy.

Minneapolis initiative has more than enough signatures to make ballot

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:56:21 -0400

If signatures hold up, it’s all but certain that voters in November will decide whether to make the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board financially independent from City Hall. Supporters of a petition drive collected 17,086 signatures by Aug. 10. They needed 10,449. The effort drew out several well-known local political figures, including a former City Council member (Pat Scott) and a former Park Board president (Scott Neiman), to form a petitioners’ committee.

Minneapolis residents may get chance to vote on ballot measures

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:21:28 -0400

Minneapolis residents will find out today whether they will be given the opportunity to fundamentally change the way their city government operates. Members of the city’s Charter Commission are scheduled to vote this afternoon on placing three questions on the November ballot.

Read the story from the Star Tribune

Minn. House passes plan with $1.5B in new taxes

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:03:44 -0400

The Minnesota House on Saturday got behind $1.5 billion in assorted tax increases affecting smokers, drinkers, homeowners, high-end income earners and others. The vote was 68-65, with all Republicans and some Democrats in opposition.

The weekend debate occurred a day after the state Senate narrowly voted to boost taxes by $2.2 billion, mainly through the income tax. Both House and Senate bills are running headlong into Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s promise to veto any tax increase that reaches him.

1,100 SIgnatures Submitted to Put MN Bonds to Vote

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:56:24 -0400

A petition to put $18 million in bonds for a new justice center in Austin, MN to a vote was submitted with 1,100 signatures yesterday. The county attorney has claimed that the petition is not valid because the law which authorized the bonds is not subject to a vote. Petitioners have vowed to pursue the matter with the state if necessary.

Read the story and watch the video from KAAL-TV

Colorado GOP alternative takes easement funds for roads

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:47:32 -0500

A group of Republican lawmakers want to eliminate Colorado’s conservation easement tax credit to funnel roughly $100 million a year into highway improvements.

Conservation easements are used to protect private land of historic or environmental importance.

House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, and Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, said Thursday their ballot measure to suspend the credit is a sensible way to avoid levying new fees on Colorado drivers and repair the state’s roads.

Minnesota Outdoors, Arts Groups Start Campaign

Wed, 28 May 2008 11:11:02 -0400

Minnesotans worried about the future of the state’s natural resources and its cultural institutions will pay more to protect them, predicted advocates of a constitutional amendment directing new tax revenue to those areas.

Appearing at a picturesque lakeside park southwest of Minneapolis, the Vote Yes Minnesota coalition Tuesday kicked off its five-month campaign to build support for an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution raising the state sales tax to pay for outdoors initiatives and arts programs.

A reconciling way to talk about abortion

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:34:45 -0400

South Dakota’s 2006 campaign could be a harbinger.