Minnesota Independent

DFL, GOP still in debt, finance reports show

By Andy Birkey | 08.04.11 | 11:17 am

As heated discussions continue over the national debt, two of Minnesota’s major political parties are wresting with significant debts of their own. According to Federal Election Commission reports filed at the end of July, both the GOP and DFL continue to carry debt from the 2010 election cycle. The Republican Party of Minnesota owes the most — more than $600,000 while the DFL owes close to $300,000. The GOP also had a negative cash-on-hand balance.

Political leaders, donors among those financing push for same-sex marriage ban

By Andy Birkey | 07.21.11 | 9:44 am

A number of leaders from conservative nonprofits have donated to the campaign to get a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on the ballot in 2012. In addition to religious leaders and prominent business owners, the list of contributors to the Minnesota Family Council’s lobbying campaign includes a candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court, leaders of anti-abortion groups and major donors to Republicans, specifically Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Meet the top donors who helped get the marriage amendment on the 2012 ballot

By Andy Birkey | 07.05.11 | 9:13 am

Minnesota’s strong disclosure laws already reveal many prominent movers and shakers behind the seven-year battle the Minnesota Family Council has waged to get the amendment on the ballot in 2012.

Tom Prichard of the Minnesota Family Council. Image: The UpTake

Backers of gay marriage ban seek to prevent disclosure about campaign spending, donors

By Andy Birkey | 06.14.11 | 12:34 pm

The groups behind a ballot measure that would put a ban on same-sex marriage in the Minnesota Constitution urged the state campaign finance board on Tuesday to retain a rule that would allow corporations to make unlimited contributions in support of the ballot measure. The Minnesota Family Council testified that it shouldn’t have to disclose any of its donors in the campaign to pass the amendment, while Minnesota for Marriage brought in attorneys from the Citizens United Supreme Court case to argue that political spending by corporations on the amendment push should be shielded from disclosure laws.

Community wants answers from Target on marriage amendment

By Andy Birkey | 06.13.11 | 8:30 am

Twin Cities Pride is asking the LGBT community for feedback over the decision by Target to stay neutral on an anti–gay marriage amendment that will appear on the ballot in 2012.

Pawlenty’s ties to Morgan Stanley execs scrutinized

By Andy Birkey | 06.08.11 | 11:00 am

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s presidential campaign and political action committee has benefited from a large amount of money from top executives of Morgan Stanley, a global financial services corporation which has been implicated in the financial and mortgage meltdown that brought about the Great Recession. A report by the Center for Public Integrity released this week scrutinized Pawlenty’s ties to top executives at the company, finding that he’s raised more than $800,000 in the last month with their help.

Complaint: Nat’l Organization for Marriage, Family Council violated lobbying laws

By Andy Birkey | 04.20.11 | 10:52 am

When the National Organization for Marriage and the Minnesota Family Council spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads promoting a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions last fall, the groups should have reported those expenditures, according to a complaint filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board earlier this month. The complaint, which focuses on ads launched throughout the 2010 campaign cycle in support of gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, asks for financial penalties as well as an audit of NOM’s spending in Minnesota.

‘You go, girl!’ Bachmann could raise $52 million in 2012 congressional cycle

By Andy Birkey | 04.19.11 | 8:45 am

The Humphrey Institute’s Smart Politics notes that if Rep. Michele Bachmann’s fundraising pace continues — and if she opts not to run for president — she will raise nearly $52 million by November 2012. That would be a record for a House candidate should her fundraising prowess hold up. In her presidential exploration tour, Bachmann’s been bragging about her fundraising ability, noting that she’s broken the record for fundraising in an election cycle. At a South Carolina Golden Corral restaurant on Saturday she took the news as evidence that a broad section of America is saying to her, “You go girl.”

Franken, Senate committee tackle campaign reform in wake of Citizens United

By Andy Birkey | 04.14.11 | 2:34 pm

Would public campaign financing help make Washington less corrupt? That was Wednesday’s topic at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee as the committee debated the Fair Elections Now Act, which would create a system where candidates can volunteer to get matching federal funds for small donations received from constituents. Sen. Al Franken, a member of the committee, grilled the only testifier that spoke against the bill.

Dayton, legislators propose campaign finance reform

By Andy Birkey | 03.22.11 | 1:00 pm

Gov. Mark Dayton and DFL legislators announced a push on Tuesday to beef up Minnesota’s campaign finance disclosure laws. Specifically, the bill would require quarterly reporting for campaigns that raise more than $5,000. Current law does not require campaigns to report in off years even though campaigns are taking in funds and spending funds on political campaigning.