The Independence Party of Minnesota, one of three political parties in Minnesota with major party status, announced on Tuesday that it is joining the campaign to defeat a ballot measure that would place a ban on marriage for same-sex couples in the Minnesota Constitution if passed by the voters in 2012. The party announced shortly after the Minnesota Legislature passed the ballot initiative that it opposed the amendment, but the new announcement means party activists will actively campaign against the measure.

“Our platform declares that ‘We oppose having the government impose state-sponsored morality or values on people of good conscience with differing views,” chair Mark Jenkins said in a statement. “This is a perfect example.”

The Independence Party has joined with Minnesotans United for All Families, a coalition of groups working to convince voters to defeat the amendment.

“The campaign is thrilled to have the support of the Independence Party. It is clear that Minnesotans from across the political spectrum agree that government should not be deciding which Minnesotans have the opportunity to marry,” said Donald McFarland, a spokesperson for Minnesotans United.

The party came out with a video earlier this year in opposition to the amendment.

Jenkins said that the party’s officers and members will volunteer to defeat the amendment and will hold events around the issue leading up to November 2012.

The DFL has already come out against the amendment. The Republican Party of Minnesota has passing the amendment as part of the party platform.

The Independence Party of Minnesota is the latest political party in Minnesota to oppose a proposed ballot initiative that would write a ban on same-sex marriage into the Minnesota Constitution, and it’s the second party with major party status here to oppose the measure.

IP leaders released a video explaining their opposition to the amendment, and the chair of the party released a statement urging Minnesotans to vote “no” in November 2012. Already, the DFL and Libertarian Party have called on voters to reject the amendment, while the Green Party of Minnesota has long supported full marriage equality for same-sex couples.

IP chair Mark Jenkins cited the party’s platform: “We oppose having the government impose state-sponsored morality or values on people of good conscience with differing views.”

“This is why I oppose legislation or a constitutional amendment that puts any government imposed definition on a religious sacrament.”

The Independence Party, always seeking the middle ground, spelled out the reasons why the “radical right” and “liberal left” are not being reasonable on the issue of gay marriage.

“If we can focus our attention on the issues of civil rights instead of marriage, we may extend the rights all of our citizen’s deserve without threatening the sacrament of marriage,” wrote Jenkins. “I’m pretty optimistic that this could work. I hear that individual rights have a big following in conservative circles. If conservatives stay true to their beliefs, gays may just find conservative allies in the pursuit of their individual rights.”

Jenkins said, “I ask members of the Independence Party, and all Minnesotans, to oppose and work to defeat an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that outlaws same sex marriage.”

The party also put out a video opposing the amendment:

The DFL has come out against the amendment and the party’s chair, Ken Martin, released this video promising the DFL would fight the amendment “with everything we have.”

While the Green Party of Minnesota has not yet weighed in on the amendment, it has a meeting this weekend. Its platform has traditionally supported marriage equality for same-sex couples: “We support legalizing marriage for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons by applying the same standards, requirements, privileges, and responsibilities as applied to different-sexed couples.”

The Libertarian Party of Minnesota came out against the amendment during the heated debate in the legislative session.

“The proposed Gay Marriage Ban would expand government control and restrict the freedom of consenting adults to live their own lives as they choose. Libertarians believe that marriage is a private matter between individuals,” the party wrote. “We believe that marriage is a fundamental human right, and that all personal relationships, including marriage, should be at the sole discretion and agreement of the individuals involved, as well as any family, friends, or religious institutions they may choose to involve.”

Tom Horner

The Office of Administrative Hearings on Thursday dismissed a complaint filed against Independence Party candidate Tom Horner by the Republican Party of Minnesota. The GOP alleged that Horner accepted information about a poll done by Horner’s friend at Decision Resouces Ltd., in violation of campaign finance rules. Judge Manuel J. Cervantes said the poll data was already public and had no value when Decision Resources gave the Horner campaign the results.

Judge Cervantes wrote:

The Administrative Law Judge concludes that the Complainant has failed to establish probable cause to believe DRL provided Mr. Horner and his campaign committee with a prohibited corporate contribution when it gave Mr. Horner and his committee polling data that it had already provided to the Pioneer Press. As of June 7, 2010, the date Mr. Horner received the data, the polling data was public and available upon request. In fact, it is undisputed that DRL provided the poll results to Margaret Anderson Kelliher’s campaign as well as to the Star Tribune, Associated Press, and MinnPost on June 8, 2010. Because the polling data was public and free of charge to anyone upon request, it had no monetary value by the time it was provided to Mr. Horner and it cannot form the basis of a Minn. Stat. § 211B.13 or § 211B.15 complaint.

The Complaint is dismissed.

The GOP said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that they would appeal the ruling:

“The Republican Party of Minnesota will appeal today’s decision from the Office of Administrative Hearings. By failing to hold Tom Horner accountable for his acceptance of what we believe is clearly an illegal corporate contribution, Judge Cervantes has created a loop hole the size of Lake Superior which will lead to a wild west situation in which anything goes in our state’s elections. We believe Judge Cervantes has committed a ‘clear error of law,’ and we will begin immediately begin crafting our appeal this afternoon.”

“In Jim Mulder, Minnesota has a candidate of substance, vision and innovation,” Horner said in a statement. “I invited him to join the ticket because he is the best person for the job, not because of political considerations.”

Said Mulder, “As part of the campaign, and as lieutenant governor, my role will be to listen to the concerns of local government elected officials. I will be the point of the spear for local government in the Horner-Mulder campaign and will be meeting with commissioners, mayors and city councilmen, town supervisors and school board members to share ideas and solutions to the challenges we face.”

Also: yaks!

—Rep. Paul Thissen, (DFL-Minneapolis), District 63A

—Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul), District 66A

—Independence Party

—Rep. Laura Brod (R-New Prague), District 25A

— Kevin Watterson, public affairs director, House Republican Caucus

—Minnesota Department of Agriculture

“I managed to reach about 20 of the approximately 30 delegates and alternates on the phone Thursday and Friday night ahead of Saturday’s Independence Party nominating convention, but it was clear that most of those planning to attend already had their minds made up,” Immelman said in a comment at the Minnesota Independent. “Not one of the individuals on the delegate list offered me a pledge of support.”

Anderson won 10 percent of the vote in the 2008 election as an unendorsed independent.

“I will represent my constituents free from the partisan politics of the Democratic and Republican Parties,” Anderson posted on his website following the endorsement. “I ask if you truly want change, try something different. You have the control.This is a two year position, if you are not satisfied with my job performance you can vote me out!”

Last July, Anderson told the Minnesota Independent that he’d only consider running if the Independence Party did away with its policy of cross-endorsing. In November, it did. But now Anderson tells the the St. Cloud Times his entry into the race hinges on whether he lands the IP endorsement.

“I want to see where I stand with the party,” Anderson said. “If I can secure that endorsement, I’m moving forward.”

He’s the only candidate vying for the Independence party endorsement, and party officials say he is likely to get it.

(Hat tip: Paul Demko)

“I consider myself a political revolutionary, and therefore, I am one of you! I created the Independence Party in MN, and I have a plan,” Barkley wrote. “If enough tea partiers join the Independence Party, it becomes you! Think of it. YOU run the Independence Party, not the other way around! With all of the legal and political infrastructure elements it has. This will save lots of time and trouble.”

In a shift from the party’s more progressive background, the Independence Party has already garnered the support of a number of former Republicans running for governor, including Tom Horner and, until recently, Col. Joe Repya.

Barkley was a founder of the Reform Party, which later became the Independence Party. He was appointed by Ventura to fill the seat of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone in 2002.

Here’s Barkley’s full statement:

Dear Fellow Patriots!

Do you want the conservative movement to create real change? Then it must take the next step. Only by electing decent people who believe as you do, can our nation transform itself.

Hello, my name is Dean Barkley. I have spent the last twenty years trying to change the ways things are done by our corrupt two party system. I began by forming the Reform Party in Minnesota. Later, we changed the name to the Independence Party, ran candidates, and eventually elected Jesse Ventura as the most widely known governor in America. Like you, the traditional political parties hated us. I just ran for the US Senate, and received 15% of the vote – with no money! The point it: change can happen!

People nationwide understand how bankrupt the two party system is (and has bankrupted America, too!). To be effective, this movement must transform into being a real political force and fast. To do so, it must create the legal, financial, and staffing infrastructure that a real political party has. The Republican Party is trying to lure some of you into its folds with pretty promises. But don’t be fooled. They just want your time, money, and votes. And they will continue business as usual – and run things their way!

I consider myself a political revolutionary, and therefore, I am one of you! I created the Independence Party in MN, and I have a plan. If enough tea partiers join the Independence Party, it becomes you! Think of it. YOU run the Independence Party, not the other way around! With all of the legal and political infrastructure elements it has. This will save lots of time and trouble. The scattered tea party people become The Tea Party – in name as well as fact. A real party – that can change things. You can do this in two weeks. Register online at MNIP.org. If three hundred do, and become delegates, they will own the Independence Party. They can change its name to Tea Party – and inherit all the party structure you need! Register to be a delegate. You can do it online. But hurry, the online caucus closes on 2/28/2010.

Let’s get back to the future and back to the United States Constitution, limited government, and the fiscal common sense of living within our means.

Sincerely,

Dean Barkley

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I regret to inform you that as of Sunday, February 21, 2010, I am suspending my campaign for Governor of Minnesota under the Independence Party. I do not take this decision lightly, but I must stand on my principles. If I didn’t, I’d be no different than the countless career politicians who seek to advance their own ambitions over the best interests of this state. In short, it has become clear to me that, much like the DFL and GOP parties in this state, the IPM fails to stand by its own rules and principles. At issue – the party’s decision today to essentially nullify the state convention and endorsement process and to provide proprietary delegate data to candidates who will not abide by the state convention. This may not sound like a big deal on the surface, but it is. This action, in my opinion, severely damages the IPM’s chances of truly becoming a viable and strong third party option in Minnesota politics. The Independence Party stood on the doorstep of doing some great things for Minnesotans, but instead chooses to change its rules to satisfy the needs of a few, rather than looking out for what’s best for the party and for the state. Their action will further erode and tarnished the IPM brand while relegating it to a permanent position of political “spoiler.” I know that many of you will be as disappointed as I am with this decision. Most of you know me as a man of honor and principle. This decision should also be disappointing to the tens of thousands of Minnesotans who have been looking for a better representation, better candidates and better leadership. My sincere appreciation to all of you for your support and encouragement.

Via Polinaut.

“It is time to hear the people of Minnesota,” Repya said in a statement. “It is time to put an end to political party divisiveness in St Paul. I am not a career politician, driven by the desire to be re-elected. Being a Politician does not necessarily give one the experience to be a leader, as demonstrated by our current budget crisis. My motivation for being governor is simple: I want to do what is best for Minnesotans—they are the only special interest group I am representing.”

In 2009, Repya, who had been an active member of the GOP and ran for chair of the party in Minnesota, announced in the Pioneer Press that he was leaving the Republican Party to become a member of the Independence Party.

“After years of ineffective party leadership resulting in a record number of defeats, lack of transparency in party dealings, alleged financial impropriety by former party employees, and numerous Federal Election Commission problems, can you really blame the electorate for abandoning the Minnesota GOP?” Repya wrote. “In my opinion, the new party leaders are rabid, power-hungry ideologues and the former attack dogs of the previous party chairman. They will not provide a message of inclusiveness or willingness to discuss contrary opinions. Honest, open and transparent party operations will not exist.”

In addition to Repya, former Republican staffer Tom Horner said on Monday that he will be leaving the Republican party to run under the Independence Party banner. Also filed to run for governor under the IP, Rob Hahn of St. Paul, John Uldrich of Minneapolis, and Rahn Workcuff also of Minneapolis.