Posts by Andy Birkey
Like Maplewood’s Llanas, gay candidates nationwide face anonymous attacks
An anonymous flier in Maplewood last week targeting openly gay city council candidate Jim Llanas has raised a ruckus in advance of Tuesday’s city election. But the situation in Maplewood is not unique: LGBT candidates across the country are facing anonymous attacks. The sad part is, they often work.
The anti-abortion lobby’s full court press against health reform light on the facts
Minnesota’s largest anti-abortion group, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, is vigorously opposing all of the health reform proposals being offered by Democrats in Congress — and it’s not just about abortion. Several Republican talking points have crept into the group’s campaign, and most of them have been debunked by the very fact-checkers the group uses [...]
Obama signs hate crimes bill
President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard Act into law on Wednesday ending a decade of efforts by LGBT and human rights groups to get sexual orientation and gender identity included in federal hate crime laws.
Minnesota’s nonprofits say health reform must include them
The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) announced today that the organization will support the health care reform package moving through Congress, but only if it includes provisions for nonprofit agencies.
Ellison scolds Republicans calling for investigation of Muslim interns
On Monday, Rep. Keith Ellison read a statement condemning the actions of four Republican House members who are calling for an investigation of Muslim interns in Congress. The statement was written by Ellison and supported by the Tri-Caucus, a group composed of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Asian Caucus and the Hispanic Caucus.
Bachmann really likes the “stunning” Rep. Steve King
Rep. Michele Bachmann came out last week as a big supporter of Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King and his potential bid for president in 2012. But Bachmann’s phrasing of her praise for King suggests she likes him more than just a little.
Election shenanigans heat up in Maplewood city council race
With just under a week until the Maplewood city elections, the quirky politics of the suburb just north of St. Paul have taken some interesting turns. Dueling fliers that some residents have found “racist and homophobic” and a 911 recording of a candidate allegedly threatening a neighbor are among the more noteworthy occurrences.
The bank that God built shuttered by state
In 2000, evangelist Chuck Ripka says he had a vision from God: He was to start a faith-based bank in Otsego, and with the backing of the Lord his Riverview Community Bank could not fail. In fact, God told Ripka that he would create such an “acceleration” in the bank’s success that Ripka would be [...]
McCollum: Nonprofit workers should get health reform benefits, too
Rep. Betty McCollum is spearheading an effort to get nonprofit employees included in the health reform benefits being planned for small businesses. She has penned a letter to congressional leaders urging them to consider nonprofits on a level playing field with small businesses.
Hate crimes legislation passes Senate, heads to Obama
The U.S. Senate passed the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act on Thursday with the controversial Matthew Shepard Act attached. The act would add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal hate crimes laws. The bill now heads to the desk of President Obama, who at last week’s Human Rights Campaign dinner promised LGBT advocates he’d [...]









