The Senate amendment, which has a recent House counterpart, would give Congress and states the authority to regulate money spent in federal and state political campaigns.

Franken formally signed on to support the Senate amendment last week. It was proposed at the start of November by Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico.

“Minnesotans’ right to fair and transparent elections have been severely compromised since the Supreme Court held that American corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money on elections ,” Franken told the Minnesota Independent in an email. “This constitutional amendment would authorize Congress to regulate the raising and spending of money in federal and state campaigns, which is why I strongly support it.”

The move comes as a slew of new Super PACs have raised millions of dollars in anticipation of next year’s presidential and congressional races.

The MFC dismissed a press conference held last week by Kriesel (R-Cottage Grove), Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Red Wing), former gubernatorial candidate Wheelock Whitney, members of Log Cabin Republicans and former deputy mayor under Norm Coleman, Susan Kimberly. MFC President Tom Prichard said the Republicans’ opposition to the amendment wasn’t newsworthy, and described the anti-amendment Republicans as “social liberals.”

Kriesel responded today on Twitter:

Same-sex marriage is currently illegal under Minnesota’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). If the amendment fails, same-sex marriage would still remain illegal unless legislators move to repeal DOMA and pass a bill legalizing marriage rights for same-sex couples as has been done in four states and the District of Columbia.

Update:

Rep. Kriesel responded to the Minnesota Independent with a statement expanding on his position.

“There will always be people that scream “the government needs to stay out of our lives,” and “we want less government,” until they find something that fits their agenda,” Kriesel wrote. “Then they are more than happy to expand the reach of government. I completely disagree with such a hypocritical philosophy.”

Kriesel said he rejects the notion that same-sex or other unmarried couples threaten his family life.

“I happen to disagree with Tom Pritchard on the marriage amendment issue. The fact that Tom is quick to label me a “social liberal” based on my position on the marriage amendment is just proof of how divisive and closed-minded an individual can be. What happened to doing what’s best for the people—ALL people? I’m not offended by the label, nor I am concerned about the label,” Kriesel said. “I am concerned about people, and doing what is best for the people—of my district and of this state. That is what I was elected to do.”

Kriesel took a stand against the amendment in the House last year.

“This is not an issue I will hide from, nor an issue I will walk away from, regardless of what category I am placed in or what label I am given,” Kriesel said. ”I’m not in this political arena to make friends, I am in this position to make a difference, to better the lives of my constituents and better Minnesota as a state. I believe defeating the amendment will help accomplish those goals.”

Last week, Republican Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer of Big Lake said that if she couldn’t get her bill to require photo identification at the voting booth passed into law, she would seek a constitutional amendment. She made good on that promise Wednesday when she and 33 other Republicans introduced a measure that if passed would put the issue on the ballot in 2012.

Under the bill, HF1597, the ballot question would read, “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require that all voters present an approved form of photographic identification prior to voting; all voters be subject to identical eligibility verification standards regardless of the time of their registration; and the state provide at no charge an approved photographic identification to eligible voters?”

Kiffmeyer already has a bill, HF210, in the House that is on the move; it’s passed three committees and has the support of the vast majority of Republicans. A companion bill, SF509, is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor. Gov. Mark Dayton has not threatened to veto the bill yet, but said he’d like campaign finance reform to a part of any elections bill.

The constitutional amendment was introduced by Kiffmeyer along with Reps. Mike Benson of Rochester, Kurt Zellers of Maple Grove, Pat Garofalo of Farmington, Matt Dean of Dellwood, Kurt Daudt of Crown, Sondra Erickson of Princeton, Pam Myhra of Burnsville, Ron Shimanski of Silver Lake, Larry Howes of Walker, Steve Drazkowski of Mazeppa, Glenn Gruenhagen of Glencoe, Chris Swedzinski of Ghent, Kathy Lohmer of Lake Elmo, Bruce Anderson of Buffalo Township, Paul Torkelson of Nelson Township, Debra Kiel of Crookston, Pat Mazorol of Bloomington, Steve Gottwalt of St. Cloud, Keith Downey of Edina, Bruce Vogel of Willmar, Andrea Kieffer of Woodbury, Dan Fabian of Roseau, Roger Crawford of Mora, Kelby Woodard of Belle Plaine, Doug Wardlow of Eagan, Mike LeMieur of Little Falls, Tony Cornish of Good Thunder, Ernie Leidiger of Mayer, Duane Quam of Byron, Connie Doepke of Orono, Bob Barrett of Shafer, Paul Anderson of Starbuck, and Greg Davids of Preston.

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.

The filing by Common Cause Minnesota alleges that the Minnesota Family Council — and in particular its lobbyist, Tom Prichard — failed to report lobbying expenses related to several ads. Since the ad urged the public and legislators to act on legislation, in this case a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, it constitutes lobbying, the group argues in the complaint. The ads in question include references to an actual bill, SF120, and were created and distributed in partnership with NOM.

Here’s the ad:

The complaint also addresses three other ads by MFC and NOM, charging that each of the ads, two for radio and one for television, constituted lobbying, yet went unreported:

First, it tells the public to contact DFL lawmakers. The ad states: “Most DFL lawmakers don’t want you to have a say. When they ask for your support, ask them if they will guarantee your right to vote on marriage.” Second, it identified a legislator who could vote on the legislation by specifically mentioning a state representative at the time, Rep. Kelliher. It also included the name of the current governor.

One such ad also featured the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., asserting that he would have wanted a statewide vote on gay marriage.

The complaint, which cites Minnesota Independent’s reporting on the ads throughout the election cycle, asks for a penalty of $3,000.

The filing also notes that Prichard and MFC have been dinged for the same thing in the past: “Considering the nature of the scheme and the fact that this is the second time that Mr. Prichard has violated this very statute by failing to disclose lobbyist expenditures associated with urging public action to influence legislative action, we believe that there is clear intent to violate the statute. Mr. Prichard cannot claim that he did not know about the reporting requirements.”

Common Cause also filed a second complaint that alleges that NOM failed to register as a lobbying group in the state.

“[T]he group should have registered with the Campaign Finance Disclosure Board as a principal lobbyist,” the complaint states. “The Campaign Finance Disclosure Board (‘CFDB’) website clearly states that groups that intend to influence legislative action must register with the CFDB.”

It continues:

On May 18, 2010, the Minnesota Independent ran a story on how the National Organization for Marriage and the Minnesota Family Council were coordinating a $200,000 media buy in Minnesota to oppose legislation to “redefine marriage.” In a press release, the National Organization for Marriage “called on elected officials to let the people vote on this critical issue.” This makes it clear that their intent was to influence legislative action.

Common Cause is seeking specific penalties against NOM. It’s urging the board to fine NOM $1,000 and to conduct an audit of NOM’s financial records to ensure that the reporting requirements are satisfied.

The campaign finance board has accepted Minnesota Common Cause’s complaint and is in the process of investigating.

“Minnesota’s lobbyist disclosure laws are designed to shine some sunlight on how special interests attempt to influence decisions at the capitol,” Mike Dean, Executive Director of Common Cause Minnesota, said in a statement. “Both organizations have attempted to operate in the shadows by failing to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars spent influencing legislators at the capitol.”

The Minnesota Independent raised questions about NOM’s and MFC’s activities in Minnesota last fall, in particular a mailer that attacked openly gay Republican Sen. Paul Koering. He lost reelection in 2010.

Read Common Cause’s complaint alleging failure to register as a lobbyist:

NOM_complaint_FINAL

Read Common Cause’s complaint alleging failure to disclose expenditures:

MFC complaint FINAL2

“I stand with you,” was the message Gov. Mark Dayton had for LGBT advocates on Thursday afternoon at OutFront Minnesota’s LGBT Lobby Day at the Minnesota Capitol. Dayton was the first sitting governor to address the annual rally, which has been held for more than a decade. Dayton said he will block any efforts to curtail LGBT equality.

On same-sex marriage, Dayton said, “I believe that day will come.”

Though the governor will not be able to block a planned constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions, he said that people should be free to marry the man or woman they love.

On school bullying, Dayton said, “I will resist as best I conceivably can to any attempt to take away rights and protections” for LGBT youth.

Here’s video of Dayton’s remarks via Bluestem Prairie:

On the first day of the legislative session, the Republican majority in the Minnesota House voted down an amendment to the rules that would put fixing the state budget deficit before any constitutional amendments. The rule, offered by Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis), was referred to the Rules Committee for further consideration by a vote of 74 to 60. DFL Rep. Ryan Winkler of Golden Valley criticized the vote as an indication that the Republican majority may prioritize delving into divisive social issues over fixing the budget deficit.

“We are facing a budget crisis of serious and historic proportions,” Thissen said on the House floor. “You stated that other more divisive issues should wait until we get that constitutional duty of balancing our budget done. It’s something that I think we’ve all agreed on publicly, and it’s an amendment that says and makes clear to the people of Minnesota what our priorities are.”

Rep. Paul Thissen. Photo: PaulThissen.com

He said, “[The amendment] says that no constitutional amendments will be considered by this body until we actually get our budget balanced and a balanced budget bill signed into law.”

But, Majority Leader Matt Dean moved to have the amendment sent to committee.

“We are focused on moving forward on process and we want to make sure we do this in a thoughtful and in a transparent manner,” he said adding that he wanted members to have a chance to examine the amendment. “However, we want to be able to have our members informed and we want have input from outside the building a well.”

But Thissen said the amendment, which is two sentences long, is self-explanatory.

“It is a straightforward amendment, easily understandable,” he said. “And something we can all agree on is that we should get our budget balanced before we deal with constitutional amendments and other issues.”

The amendment offered by Thissen read:

During an odd-numbered year, a House or Senate bill that proposes a constitutional amendment must not be considered in a committee or on the calendar for the day, the fiscal calendar, or any other floor calendar until bills necessary to provide a balanced general fund budget for the biennium beginning on July 1 of that year have been enacted into law. During an even-numbered year, if the most recent forecast of state revenues and expenditures predicts a deficit for the biennium ending on June 30 of the next odd-numbered year, a House or Senate bill that proposes a constitutional amendment must not be considered in a committee or on the calendar for the day, the fiscal calendar, or any other floor calendar until bills necessary to eliminate that projected deficit have been enacted into law.

Following the vote to send the bill to committee — mainly along partisan lines — Rep. Ryan Winkler released a statement criticizing the move.

“Minnesota is facing historic economic and fiscal challenges. State lawmakers have just a few months to solve a gaping $6.2 billion deficit while preserving essential public services,” said Winkler. “But Republicans in the legislature would rather focus their attention on a divisive social agenda that denies some Minnesotans the right to marriage, denies women the right to choose, and denies seniors the right to vote.”

At the press conference, MFC president Tom Prichard warned of “real dangers to our culture” and said that a bill by Sen. John Marty that would make same-sex marriage legal could become law next year, and to prevent that from happening, Minnesota needs a constitutional amendment.

“What it will do is have a dramatic impact the institution of marriage, right of conscience and freedoms and every aspect of society will be impacted,” said Prichard of same-sex marriage.

Rep. Dan Severson, R-Sauk Rapids, said, “This goes to the structure of power of the people of Minnesota. Allowing them to vote on this important issue is fundamental to our society.”

Marty replied in a press release Monday night saying he has every intention of pushing the bill to legalize same-sex marriage into law next year.

“I stand by my commitment to equality,” he said. “I am confident that we can give Minnesota LGBT families the same rights that other families have — the right to have each other and their children qualify for the health care benefits they get at work; the right to visit each other in the hospital; the right to inherit each other’s property, and hundreds of other rights that other families take for granted.”

Marty said that in 2003 conservatives began the push to ban same-sex marriage in the Minnesota Constitution, often playing to Minnesotans’ prejudices. “Same-sex marriage was a concept most Minnesotans were not familiar with,” he said. “Even so, their efforts failed. Now, after years of public discussion and as more people are getting to know wonderful gay and lesbian families, minds have changed.”

Here’s the full press release by Marty’s campaign for governor:

John Marty Response to Minnesota Family Council’s Call for Constitutional Amendment on Same-Sex Marriage

Yesterday morning, the Minnesota Family Council and several Republican lawmakers attacked Senator John Marty’s comment that a marriage equality law could be signed in Minnesota as early as next year. They urged passage of a constitutional amendment to block such action. Here is Senator Marty’s response to their challenge:

“Seven years ago, Minnesota had a very vocal debate about same-sex marriage. Proponents of a constitutional ban fought hard for its passage. In 2003, the opposition to same-sex marriage was strong, but much of that opposition was based on fear and misunderstanding. Same-sex marriage was a concept most Minnesotans were not familiar with. Even so, their efforts failed.

Now, after years of public discussion and as more people are getting to know wonderful gay and lesbian families, minds have changed. People who opposed marriage equality have been rethinking the issue and the change is happening faster than some politicians realize. Acceptance is growing month by month, not decade by decade.

The proposal for the constitutional amendment is dead. Over numerous conversations in communities throughout the state, Minnesota values have come to the forefront, and Minnesotans are rejecting discrimination against same-sex families.

I stand by my commitment to equality. I am confident that we can give Minnesota LGBT families the same rights that other families have — the right to have each other and their children qualify for the health care benefits they get at work; the right to visit each other in the hospital; the right to inherit each other’s property, and hundreds of other rights that other families take for granted.

The promise of marriage equality for all Minnesota families is within reach. We can pass marriage equality legislation and sign it into law next year.”

Senator John Marty is author of SF 120, the Marriage Equality legislation. He is a DFL candidate for Governor and has committed to signing this legislation in 2011.

The three bills and their sponsors?

HF1824 is sponsored by Dan Severson, R-Park Rapids; Mary Ellen Otremba, DFL-Park Rapids; Lyle Koenen, DFL-Clara City; Dave Olin, Thief River Falls; Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake; Rob Eastlund, R-Isanti.

HF1870 is sponsored by Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake; Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder; Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls; Steve Drazkowski, R-Wabasha; Mark Murdock, R-Otter Tail; Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing; Ron Shimanski, R-Sliver Lake.

1871 is carried by Drazkowski with Shimanski, Kiffmeyer and Dettmer again, and adding Steve Gottwalt, R-St. Cloud.

In 2007, a similar slate of legislators offered five identical bills.

Radio Free Nation’s Marty Owings captured the faith leaders’ press conference where they said that an amendment must pass or the world will be in peril.

(Minnesota Historical Society)

When legislators want to make major changes to law, sometimes they put the law to the voters to decide. This year, legislators want to know where the voters stand on issues like guns, health care and labor unions. There’s even a bill to ask the voters whether the Minnesota Constitution should be amended to change the way the state amends it.

None of these bills has advanced in the Legislature, but if they did, it could mean a crowded ballot in November 2010.

Republicans, and a few DFLers, want to amend the Minnesota Constitution (HF 415, SF 582) with language from the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment would read, “The right of a citizen to keep and bear arms for the defense and security of the person, family, or home or for lawful hunting, recreation, or marksmanship training is fundamental and shall not be abridged.”

Four DFLers have joined a slate of Republicans pushing for the amendment: Reps. Larry Howes, R-Walker; Al Doty, DFL-Royalton; Steve Smith, R-Mound; Mark Murdock, R-Ottertail; John Persell, DFL-Bemidji; Steve Drazkowski, R-Wabasha; Ron Shimanski, R-Silver Lake; Tom Emmer, R-Delano; Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead; Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont; David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake; and Dave Olin, DFL-Thief River Falls; and Sens. Bill G. Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria and Pat Pariseau, R-Farmington.

Another bill has been proposed that would make it harder to amend the state Constitution by requiring a three-fifths majority of the Senate and House in order to put an amendment to the people. The bill (SF 233) is offered by Republican Sens. Chris Gerlach of Apple Valley and Julianne Ortman of Chanhassen, and DFLers Tom Bakk of Cook, John Marty of Roseville and Ann Rest of New Hope.

Sens. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, Amy T. Koch, R-Buffalo, and Rep. Ron Shimanski, R-Silver Lake, want to impose term limits on senators and representatives. If the bill (HF 770, SF 78) passed, the language on the ballot would read, “A person may not be elected more than three times to the office of senator or five times to the office of representative. A person may not be elected more than twice to the office of governor nor more than twice to the office of lieutenant governor. A person may not be elected more than twice to the office of secretary of state, attorney general, or state auditor.”

DFL legislators want the lieutenant governor gone. Reps. Phyllis Kahn of Minneapolis and Mindy Greiling of Roseville join Sen. Ann Rest of New Hope in offering a bill to ask the voters (HF 296, SF 98) to abolish the office.

Republicans have offered a constitutional amendment to “establish a right to work.” In actuality, the bill (SF 439, HF 169) would prohibit an employer from requiring membership in a union as a condition of employment. The bill would ask voters, “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prohibit any person, as a condition of employment, from being required to become a member of a labor union or pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges of any kind to a labor union or to any charity or other third party in lieu of such payments?” It is sponsored by Reps. Tom Emmer of Delano, Mark Buesgens of Jordan, Tom Hackbarth of Cedar, Kurt Zellers of Maple Grove, and Keith Downey of Edina, and Sens. David Hann of Eden Prairie, Chris Gerlach of Apple Valley, Bill G. Ingebrigtsen of Alexandria, and Amy Koch of Buffalo will

No more pluralities. DFL legislators want elected officials to get 50 percent plus one of the vote in order to serve in office. If the bill (HF 440) passes, the voters will be asked, “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require that an executive officer, judge, or legislator must be elected by a majority of the votes cast at the general election for the office sought?”

Legislators sponsoring the bill are: Kent Eken of Twin Valley, Mindy Greiling of Roseville, Bill Hilty of Finlayson, Tony Sertich of Chisolm, Sheldon Johnson of St. Paul, Will Morgan of Burnsville, Brita Sailer of Park Rapids, Lyle Koenen of Clara City, Bernard Lieder of Crookston, Loren Solberg of Grand Rapids and Phyllis Kahn of Minneapolis.

Republican House members are looking to have their Senate counterparts elected in staggered terms, with half up for reelection every two years instead of the full Senate elected every four years. The bill (HF 408) reads, “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require that, as nearly as possible, one-half of the members of the Senate stand for election at each biennial election of legislators, commencing in 2012?”

The Republicans on the bill include: Reps. Laura Brod of New Prague, Bob Dettmer of Forest Lake, Paul Kohls of Victoria, Steve Smith of Mound, Tom Hackbarth of Cedar, Doug Magnus of Slayton; Randy Demmer of Hayfield, Dean Urdahl of Grove City, Tara Mack of Apple Valley, Matt Dean of Dellwood, Kurt Zellers of Maple Grove, Morrie Lanning of Moorhead, Michael Beard of Shakopee, Tim Kelly of Red Wing, and Ron Shimanski of Silver Lake.

A “freedom of choice in health care” amendment has been submitted by Republicans. The bill (HF 171, SF 325) is a clear response to increasing support for the Minnesota Health Plan Act, which would eliminate private health insurance while ensuring doctor and clinic choice.

“Because all people should have the right to make decisions about their health care, no law shall be passed that restricts a person’s freedom of choice of private health care systems or private health plans of any type,” the measure reads in part.

The bill is sponsored by Reps. Tom Emmer of Delan and Mark Buesgens of Jordan, and Sens. Amy Koch of Buffalo, David Hann of Eden Prairie, Chris Gerlach of Apple Valley, Bill Ingebrigtsen of Alexandria and Ray Vandeveer of Forest Lake.

In Minneapolis, lesbian Carla Bates became the only LGBT person elected to the school board at a time when an anti-bullying program that includes education about the LGBT community has generated controversy among conservative religious parents. She was the only out candidate running for the spot.

The Minnesota House saw significant gains in LGBT-supportive candidates. OutFront Minnesota Action, the political wing of the state’s largest LGBT advocacy and policy organization, says that as of Tuesday’s election, a slim majority of House members are supporters. Fifty-one percent of House members vote for pro-LGBT legislation at least 50 percent of the time and 43 percent vote with the community 100 percent of the time. The number of House members who vote against the interests of LGBT Minnesotans has declined markedly in the last three elections. Only 24 percent vote against the community 100 percent of the time, down from 33 percent in 2006 and 50 percent in 2004.

OutFront noted four supportive House members who lost their re-election bids: DFLers Shelley Madore of Apple Valley, Ken Tschumper of La Crescent and Sandy Wollschlager of Red Wing, and Republican-turned-independent Ron Erhardt of Edina.

At the same time, two outspoken opponents of LGBT equality lost their bids for re-election. Republican Lynn Wardlow of Eagan lost to DFLer Mike Obermueller, and Republican Sondra Erickson of Princeton lost to DFLer Gail Kulick Jackson. Wardlow and Erickson were leaders in the push to amend the Minnesota constitution to ban same-sex marriage, and both consistently voted against bills aimed at rectifying inequalities in state statutes for LGBT people.

Minnesota sent a less supportive delegation to Congress. Republican Erik Paulsen replaces Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad. Ramstad supported employment and housing equality for LGBT people, while Paulsen was a leader in the Minnesota House pushing a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The re-election of Republican Reps. John Kline and Michele Bachmann and of DFL Rep. Collin Peterson retains three members who have consistently voted against the community’s interests. DFL Reps. Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison, Tim Walz and James Oberstar won re-election, and each has made contributions to LGBT equality in Congress.

For U.S. Senate, Al Franken and Sen. Norm Coleman face a recount in an incredibly close election. Coleman supported employment and housing protections for lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans, and Franken ran on an unwavering LGBT equality platform. It will be weeks before a decision is finalized in that race.

Barack Obama represents the most LGBT-friendly president in Unites States history. “President-elect Obama included GLBT people in his acceptance speech and supports federal legislation including hate crime and employment protections as well as other measures that will help our families do better,” said OutFront Minnesota Action. “He plans to keep GLBT people and families in mind when creating policy solutions for our country.”