From our friends at Minnesota Majority...

Governor Dayton's Veto of Voter ID 

Just before the Memorial Day weekend Governor Dayton vetoed the Voter ID bill, despite overwhelming public support, including nearly two-thirds of voters in his own Democrat party and an unprecedented 80% of voters at large. 

Governor Dayton's rationale for vetoing the Voter ID bill doesn't stand scrutiny for even a second. His veto letter recycles discredited talking points circulated nationally by leftist organizations like Common Cause, MoveOn.org and the League of Women Voters who are opposed to Voter ID. The points aren't grounded in reality, especially as they relate to Minnesota's own unique 21st Century Voter ID bill (SF509). 

Between the governor's ill-composed veto letter and executive order establishing a commission to ostensibly recommend improvements to Minnesota's election system fully two months after the 2012 presidential election, one may wonder what he's really thinking. 

Click on the following link to read an analysis of the governor's veto letter and what his motivations may be: 
  http://www.minnesotamajority.org/Home/tabid/112/EntryID/355/Default.aspx 

TAKE ACTION: Contact Governor Dayton now and tell him what you think of his veto of Voter ID: 
http://www.capwiz.com/mnmajority/callalert/index.tt?alertid=37519516&type=SW 

End of Session Update: Click on the following link for a quick status update on some of the major legislation from the 2011 session: 
http://www.minnesotamajority.org/Home/tabid/112/EntryID/354/Default.aspx 

Subject: TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HEARING, APRIL 18, 2011

Date:       April 19, 2011

To:          Representative Michael Beard
Chair, House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee

From:      Greg OConnor
Republican Liberty Caucus
Director, Legislative Affairs

Subject:  Hearing for HF 210, Voter ID, April 18, 2011


Chairman Beard,

Thank you for a well run hearing and the opportunity to testify in support of HF 210 - Voter Photo ID.  I need to follow up with you and members of the committee to emphasize several points I made during my remarks.

To begin, let me say how painful it was to sit and listen to concerns about college students casting their vote, with NO debate or discussion on the role of personal responsibility.  Question: When exactly do we require students to demonstrate the responsibilities of citizenship?

Secondly, the suggestion that in today's political environment we don't need to take all possible steps to assure a citizen's vote is cast and counted properly, belies an awareness of the daily news concerning the massive and growing illegal immigrant population and the activities of well financed organizations like ACORN.  With the prize being the control of State and Federal governments spending trillions of taxpayer dollars, the temptations toward fraud are obvious.  With the voting system Minnesota now has in place ...no photo, same day registration and vouching ...fraud is nearly impossible to detect and prosecute.

Finally, to the important concerns identified by Ms. Sherri Knuth of the League of Women Voters MN dealing with the elderly, disabled, low-income, homeless veterans and those in nursing homes, I would like to re-state my offer.  It is, that we the Republican Liberty Caucus would be happy to join with the League in their efforts to provide education, transportation and assistance to those she has identified, in acquiring their photo ID.  This type of service fits perfectly with the Mission Statement of the League, and there are already in existence other non-profit organizations who could assist in these services.  If the League, with our help, would accept this challenge ...problem solved.

If it's appropriate for this follow-up testimony to be placed in the record I would ask that you do so.

Thank you, and all the committee members, for taking the time to consider these thoughts.

Sincerely,  Greg OConnor

by Greg OConnor
Director, Legislative Affairs

ITEM : Legislative Recess for Easter and Passover Holidays

OBSERVATION :  Only one day of hearings this week on Monday April 18th.
I testified before the House Transportation and Finance Committee concerning HF 210 ("A bill for an act relating to elections"), lead authored by Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, 16B.

The liberals on the committee used the same old arguments I've heard at all the previous meetings:

• denying the vulnerable of their right to vote, and
• "no one has ever been charged with fraud under the present system, why this need to provide a solution in search of a problem."

Yet they couldn't refute the evidence of fraud brought forward by other testifiers nor did they offer any suggestions on how to assist "the vulnerable" with this new idea on how to improve the integrity of our voting system.  What really caught my attention was the amount of time DFL Reps. Morrow and Nelson spent on wanting to discuss EVERY POSSIBLE EXAMPLE of how a "Voter ID" bill might present an inconvenient obsticle to a STUDENT wanting to vote!  None of which made any sense, even to a student, who embraces personal responsibility.

As a result of that, click HERE, to see a copy of a letter I emailed to Rep. Michael Beard - Chair, and all the members of the committee.

The Legislature returns Tuesday April 26 when I will be testifying before the Senate Finance Committee on behalf of Sen. Limmer author of SF509 - Voter ID.  From this committee it will go, finally, to the Floor.

by Greg OConnor
Director, Legislative Affairs

ITEM:  VOTER  ID legislation.   Senator  Warren  Limmer,  SF509

OBSERVATION:

I testified before two Senate Committees: State Government Innovation and Judiciary and Public Policy.  SF 509 passed out of both committees and will now go to the Senate Finance Committee  before (finally) heading to the floor.  Opposition is down a little as the bill came out of Judiciary on an 8 - 1 vote.

At the Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Julianne Ortman, Sen. Dave Thompson, Sen. Scott Newman  and Sen. Michael Jungbauer presented very strong, supporting, Constitutional arguments.

ITEM:  Proposal to create legislation to Abolish the Federal Department of Education
Budget Savings:   $71 Billion Dollars
(Read the argument at Downsizing Government for an excellent case in support of this legislation.)

OBSERVATION:

As you read here in my March 28th report, I have approached Congressman Kline about drafting legislation to abolish the Department.  His office contacted me and the long and short of the discussion was that the Congressman can't do it but will give his full support, as Chair of the Education and Labor Committee, to see it has a hearing if I can find a Congressman to author it.

On Saturday I met briefly with Congressman Chip Cravaak at the State Central Committee meeting and he wants me to contact his Administrative Assistant for Education matters, which I will do in the coming week.

I will also be contacting Congresswoman Michele Bachmann for the same purpose. Knowing this will be a several year process I thought it important to get the debate started. Based on what I'm reading Senator Rand Paul would likely carry a companion bill in the Senate.  I will be in touch with his office.

BEST  WISHES  TO  ALL  OUR  READERS  AND  SUPPORTERS  OVER  THE  EASTER  AND   PASSOVER  HOLIDAYS.