One million Minnesotans now covered by domestic partner registries

By |

While Minnesota bans same-sex marriage, civil unions and domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples working for government offices, there is one way same-sex couples can be recognized: through domestic partnership registries. On Tuesday, the city of Richfield became the ninth Minnesota city to approve a domestic partner registry, and today LGBT advocates say that 1 million people live in cities across the state that recognize same-sex relationships. The registries have little legal force – state law and a Minnesota Supreme Court decision bar cities from providing benefits to same-sex couples – but the registries are important for businesses that offer benefits. Same-sex couples can use their registry certificates to prove their relationship is valid for human resource purposes and the couples have married status in city facilities. The Richfield City Council passed the ordinance on Tuesday by a vote of 3 to 2 and joins Minneapolis, Duluth, St. Continue Reading

GOP’s Beard wants more coal plants because God will fix global warming

By |

Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee) is pushing for more new coal-fired power plants in Minnesota, but the Shakopee Republican is undeterred by reports about the effects of carbon-emitting energy production on global warming. His reason: He believes God will prevent the planet from running out of fossil fuels while also eliminating the harms associated with climate change. While Beard speaks from his religious tradition, many others in Minnesota’s faith communities believe it’s dangerous to wait for divine intervention to solve our environmental problems – and they say it’s the duty of people of faith to preserve the planet for future generations. In an interview with MinnPost’s Don Shelby on Tuesday, Rep. Beard explained his recent push for new coal-burning power plants in Minnesota. In the Minnesota House, Beard has taken aim at clean air standards – in particular those that curb carbon dioxide emissions by power plants. Continue Reading

Dayton unveils budget with program cuts and tax increases

By |

Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget proposal, unveiled Tuesday, includes a tax hike for the wealthy, cuts to health care for 7,200 low-income adults, an increase in spending for K-12 education, a 6 percent decrease in the state workforce,and steady funding for local governments. “I have always said that a budget is about values and priorities, as well as dollars and cents,” Dayton said. “My budget represents my values and priorities, one of which is to keep my promises that I made to the people of Minnesota last fall.”Detailed budget statements at Minnesota Management and Budget office website. Dayton’s budget would cap state subsidized health insurance at 200 percent of the poverty level, a 75 percent reduction, and would result in 7,200 adults losing state health care services. The Department of Human Services would see a 2.8 percent decrease. Continue Reading

Ellison: Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from health care cases

By |

Rep. Keith Ellison is among 74 members of Congress who called  on United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Friday to recuse himself from hearing any cases that have to do with health care reform after revelations that Thomas’ wife makes a living from organizations that oppose the implementation of health care reform. Virginia Thomas received nearly $700,000 from the Heritage Foundation between 2003 and 2007 – and that income was not disclosed on Justice Thomas’ financial disclosure forms as required by law. The Heritage Foundation opposes health care reform, and the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court. In addition, Virginia Thomas recently started a lobbying firm and will serve as an “ambassador to the Tea Party movement.” In their letter, the House members, all Democrats, also noted that Virginia Thomas and her Liberty Central stood to benefit from the Citizens United decision in 2010 in which Justice Thomas sided with corporations making independent political expenditures. Continue Reading

Guns, Tucson shooting raise ire in Iron Range special election

By |

A special election to replace former House Majority Leader Tony Sertich in Chisholm has reignited the debate over civility in politics following the Tucson shooting that injured Rep. Gabriele Giffords. The Republican Party of Minnesota released a mailer targeting DFLer Carly Melin that features a hunter taking aim and the words “Take your best shot.” It also states that Melin’s campaign is “full of holes.” Iron Range Democrats sasy it comes too close to overheated rhetoric, while GOP chair Tony Sutton argues it’s simply a mailer about hunting and Second Amendment rights. The ad is in support of Republican candidate Paul Jacobson, who’ll face off with Melin during the special election on Feb. Continue Reading

Republican bill seeks to ban immigration ‘sanctuary cities’

By |

Minnesota House Republicans introduced a bill Monday that would prevent cities, counties and other local governments from making laws related to immigration enforcement. St. Paul, Minneapolis and Worthington have ordinances on the books that direct city employees to check the immigration status of their residents only in certain instances and instead leave immigration enforcement to federal officials. These “sanctuary cities” are the target of HF348, which would invalidate those local ordinances. The bill, introduced by Republican Reps. Continue Reading

Voter ID could disenfranchise voters, groups tell committee

By |

A bill requiring voter identification cards, electronic rosters and a slew of other changes to election laws was heard in the House Government Operations and Election committee Thursday. A large number of groups testified that the bill would disenfranchise voters, especially students, the elderly and the disabled, while several testified that the bill is needed to prevent voter fraud. A presentation by Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer on the technological improvements her bill would make to the voting process was derailed when the hearing room technology failed. “You need a photo ID to buy alcohol, cigarettes, drive a car to the polling place,” said Rep. Mike Benson, a Republican from Rochester. Benson is the author of one of two bill introduced in the Minnesota House that would require photo identification for voting. Continue Reading

Republicans propose repeal of fair pay laws for women

By |

Minnesota Republicans have introduced legislation that would repeal the 1984 Local Government Pay Equity Act (LGPEA), which directs local governments to ensure that women are paid the same as men. While local governments say reporting requirements are costly, equal rights groups say the law needs to stay intact in order to ensure fair pay, especially for women of color. HF7/SF159 would repeal a laundry list of mandates on local governments – including regulations on part-time police officers, agricultural programs for low-income farmers and grants for libraries – but buried in the bill is a full repeal of the LGPEA. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is pushing the repeal. In a December report on public employee compensation, the group wrote, “State pay equity/comparable worth law should be repealed. Continue Reading

DFL wants ethics hearing on Sen. Scott Newman

By |

Senate DFLers are seeking an ethics investigation on Republican Sen. Scott Newman of Hutchinson whose legislative assistant sent an email to the Minnesota Nurses Association stating that he would not meet with groups who backed his opponent, Hal Kimball. The DFLers claim that Newman violated Senate Rule 56.3, which prohibits senators from limiting access only to those who have made political contributions. “Requesting an ethics hearing is a very serious matter, and we spent considerable time reviewing the facts and public comments made by Sen. Newman,” said Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul. “We still have many questions regarding this incident, and we hope that a complete and full investigation by the Senate ethics subcommittee will provide Minnesotans with some much-needed answers.” Continue Reading

Anoka-Hennepin changes Snow Days coronation over lesbian students’ election

By |

After the student body at Champlin Park High School voted two lesbians as royalty for the Snow Days coronation, the school district changed a longstanding protocol for the event, telling student they couldn’t walk into the celebration in pairs, because for two girls to do so might offend some students. Unlike past years, this year all royalty must walk in separately. The school is part of the Anoka-Hennepin School District, which has become ground zero in Minnesota in the battle over anti-LGBT bullying. LATE BREAKING: Students will be allowed to walk together. “Less than 24 hours after filing a lawsuit to restore the rights of two lesbian students at a high school in Minnesota, the Southern Poverty Law Center, along with their co-counsels, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Faegre & Benson, LLP, reached an agreement with the Anoka-Hennepin School District and Champlin Park High School.”The agreement ensures the students, Desiree (“Dez”) Shelton and Sarah Lindstrom, will be able to participate as a couple in their school’s Snow Days winter event. The agreement was explained in a joint press statement from Sarah Lindstrom, Desiree Shelton, their counsel, and the Anoka-Hennepin School District, Champlin Park High School, Principal Michael George, Superintendent Dennis Carlson, and their counsel.”We feel this decision is more respectful for all students,” Anoka-Hennepin spokesman Brett Johnson told KSTP.Steve Shaw of KSTP said, “The district says that it arrived at its decision to have the students enter the Snow Days coronation separately because there are also students that don’t agree with two girls walking in together.”Despite that, the report notes that the student body voted the two girls in as a couple.Staff received this email from the district on Thursday evening:There have been some rumors about our upcoming Snow Days Pep Fest on Monday. Continue Reading