Minnesota Independent

Minnesota Capitol. Photo: Paul Weimer, Flickr

In wake of Citizens United, Dems seek constitutional amendment to define ‘natural person’

By Andy Birkey | 03.16.11 | 1:57 pm

Following last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, Minnesota Democrats are proposing a constitutional amendment to define an individual as a “natural person.” The 2010 ruling gave corporations certain rights as “persons” and allowed them to engage in new levels of political activity. Sen. Scott Dibble of Minneapolis said the DFL bill is aimed at curtailing the idea that corporate entities have the same rights as human beings.

IRS complaint filed against Norm Coleman’s American Action Network

By Andy Birkey | 03.08.11 | 11:42 am

Citizens for Ethics in Washington filed an IRS complaint against former Sen. Norm Coleman’s American Action Network Tuesday alleging that the group violated its 501(c)4 status by working to elect Republicans. CREW posits that AAN used its tax status to protect Republican donors from disclosure and spent the majority of its resources on political campaigns instead of educational activities, as required under the law.

Target changes political expenditures in wake of MN Forward flap

By Andy Birkey | 02.18.11 | 9:00 am

In the wake of a controversial donation to MN Forward that riled LGBT activists and sparked boycotts cross-country, Target has changed its process for making corporate independent expenditures. The retail giant will now run its political donations through a policy committee that would determine if the donations “advance issues that are important to our business.” But will the change be enough for LGBT community members still hurt by Target’s 2010 donations?

Bush White House used taxpayer money to campaign for Mark Kennedy

By Andy Birkey | 01.25.11 | 10:17 am

In 2006, the Bush White House used taxpayer money to campaign for Republican candidates across the country, and George W. Bush took a particular interest in Minnesota, according to a report released Monday by the Office of Special Counsel. Former Rep. Mark Kennedy, who ran for the seat vacated by former Sen. Mark Dayton, benefited from a number of campaign appearances by Bush cabinet members, and those appearances were illegally paid for with taxpayer money, the report found.

Pawlenty PAC spent big on Iowa state races

By Andy Birkey | 01.20.11 | 12:05 pm

Tim Pawlenty’s Freedom First PAC spent a significant amount of money on state-level candidates during the 2010 election in Iowa: $34,000 on candidates, including $7,000 on behalf of the new Speaker of the Iowa House.

The Minnesota Judicial Center. Photo: Wikipedia

MCCL sues to stop campaign finance disclosures

By Andy Birkey | 01.18.11 | 2:40 pm

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, the state’s largest anti-abortion group, is challenging Minnesota’s campaign disclosure rules that relate to corporations. The group lost a court case in September but has appealed the case in federal appeals court. State Solicitor General Alan Gilbert argued that the group is trying to gut disclosure laws.

Emmer, Senjem fined for campaign finance violations

By Andy Birkey | 01.11.11 | 3:42 pm

Sen. David Senjem and former GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer were fined by the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board on Monday. The board reviewed complaints stemming from the Nov. 2 election: Emmer’s campaign was fined for accepting illegal corporate contributions while Senjem was found to have violated campaign laws when he gave money to former Sen. Paul Koering.

Bachmann’s PAC doled out money to state candidates in Iowa

By Andy Birkey | 01.11.11 | 10:54 am

Politico reports that Rep. Michele Bachmann’s political action committee gave $27,500 to candidates in Iowa — out of a total of $33,700 that the PAC disbursed in the weeks ahead of the November elections — further fueling speculation that Bachmann is considering a run for president in 2012. The donations went largely to state candidates who would have little impact on her work in Washington, but could be important allies on the ground in Iowa come caucus time.

Campaign Finance Board rules in favor of RGA and Minnesota’s Future

By Patrick Caldwell | 12.10.10 | 12:04 pm

Minnesota’s Campaign Finance Board issued their finding Thursday for Common Cause’s complaint against Minnesota’s Future and the Republican Governors Association (RGA). The Board’s report — published online Friday afternoon — essentially goes with the principal of ‘no harm, no foul,’ noting that Minnesota’s Future and the RGA may not have strictly complied with Minnesota law initially but that the offense did not merit any fine.

Supreme Court rejects GOP-aligned challenge to campaign disclosure laws

By Andy Birkey | 11.01.10 | 8:59 am

In the wake of Citizens United, a trio of groups supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer sued the state of Minnesota for the right to contribute directly to his campaign without setting up a political action committee. In September, a U.S. District judge upheld the law Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, the Taxpayers League of Minnesota and Coastal Travel Enterprises challenged. The groups then took their complaint to the United States Supreme Court, but on Friday the nation’s highest court rejected their case for an injunction.