Minnesota Independent

Abortion bill that redefined rape to be changed by author

By Andy Birkey | 02.03.11 | 11:33 am

A bill that would ban taxpayer funding to clinics that perform abortions — and caused significant controversy over the definition of rape — has been changed by the bill’s author, Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey. The bill is sponsored by Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann, Chip Cravaack and John Kline, as well as DFL Rep. Collin Peterson, among many others. The bill sought to provide exception for incest and “forcible rape,” which opponents said would not cover statutory rape or instances where force could not be proven.

The House wing of the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Jim Armstrong, Flickr

Bachmann, Cravaack, Kline and Peterson back bill that redefines rape in publicly funded abortion cases

By Aaron Sarver | 01.31.11 | 11:25 am

Republican U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, Chip Cravaack (pictured) and John Kline and Democrat Collin Peterson are among 173 congressional co-sponsors of H.R. 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Federal law prohibits government funding of abortions except in some cases including incest and rape, but H.R. 3 seeks to limit the exceptions to cases of “forcible rape.”

House passes health care reform repeal

By Andy Birkey | 01.20.11 | 9:00 am

House Republicans passed a repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by a vote of 245-189, mainly along party lines — only three Democrats joined with the Republicans. The vote prompted sharp reactions from all sides of Minnesota politics: Rep. Michele Bachmann called for the repeal of President Obama, while Rep. Keith Ellison said that Republicans voted dump 32 millions Americans’ health coverage.

House passes DREAM Act

By Todd A. Heywood | 12.09.10 | 10:21 am

The DREAM Act — the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act — passed the House by a 216-198 margin Wednesday. CNN reports the vote was mostly along partisan lines. In Minnesota that was true, except in one case: Blue Dog Democrat Collin Peterson sided with Republicans Michele Bachmann, John Kline and Erik Paulsen in opposing the bill.

Kline, Paulsen, Peterson vote against middle-class tax relief

By Andy Birkey | 12.03.10 | 9:21 am

Democrat Collin Peterson joined Republican Reps. John Kline, Erik Paulsen and Michele Bachmann in voting against an extension of the Bush tax cuts for those making less than $250,000. The middle-class tax relief measure passed the U.S. House on Thursday by a vote of 234 to 188. Although Bachmann didn’t vote, she had plenty to say about the bill.

Peterson cruises to win in Minnesota’s 7th

By Andy Birkey | 11.02.10 | 11:05 pm

Blue Dog Democrat Collin Peterson won his U.S House contest in the northwestern corner of Minnesota, but he’s likely to lose his chairmanship of the House Agriculture Committee as Republicans are poised to take over that chamber. Peterson bested Republican Lee Byberg, and when the Associated Press called the race Monday night, Peterson was leading 52 percent to 40 percent.

Ellison, McCollum and Kline win handily

By Andy Birkey | 11.02.10 | 10:10 pm

None facing a serious challenger, Reps. Keith Ellison (D), Betty McCollum (D) and John Kline (R) will all be returning to Congress after the Associated Press called those contests early Tuesday night. Following heavy losses by Democrats around the country, Kline is expected to ascend to chairman of the House Education Committee as Republicans assume leadership of that chamber.

Bachmann votes against act to help Native American police combat rape ‘epidemic’

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.28.10 | 11:03 am

A bill aimed at helping Native American law enforcement investigate rape and other crimes by non-Indians on tribal lands passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week with overwhelming bipartisan support, and now it heads to President Obama’s desk where it’ll be signed into law. Only one Minnesotan — Rep. Michele Bachmann — voted against it.

Ellison poorest, Oberstar richest among Minnesota Congress members

By Andy Birkey | 06.29.10 | 8:12 am

The U.S. House of Representatives released personal financial disclosures of its members last week in a process intended to announce possible conflicts of interest and to provide a glimpse at the relative wealth of each legislator. A review of Minnesota’s delegation finds Rep. James Oberstar is the state’s wealthiest representative, while Rep. Keith Ellison the poorest. Rep. Bachmann benefited the most from special interest–funded travel, while neither Rep. Tim Walz nor Rep. Betty McCollum traveled on trips paid by interest groups.

Minnesota representatives call for Armenian refugee relocation

By Andy Birkey | 05.18.10 | 1:12 pm

Democratic Reps. Tim Walz and Betty McCollum are asking Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to commit funds for the relocation of Iraqi Armenians — who, as Christians, face persecution — back…