The Minnesota Independent

Legislation - Latest Stories

Franken, White House urge Senate GOP to drop net neutrality repeal

Franken 80
By Andy Birkey | 11.09.11 | 10:44 am

Sen. Al Franken said many Republicans want to change the internet so that large corporations can increase their profit margins at the expense of small businesses and consumers.

(video) Franken pushes anti-bullying amendment to education bill

franken 80
By Andy Birkey | 10.24.11 | 7:45 am

Franken spoke of several recent suicides of LGBT students around the country, including Justin Aaberg who attended the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

(Video) Labor ad targets Cravaack on jobs bill

cravaack 80
By Andy Birkey | 10.13.11 | 2:10 pm

Earlier this week, 8th Congressional District residents held a “jobs vigil” to pressure Cravaack to vote for the jobs bill.

Photo: AnyaLogic, Flickr

MCCL slams Republicans for not passing anti-abortion measures

By Andy Birkey | 09.20.11 | 6:00 am

The group also said that they spent a lot of money in the 2011 legislative session and appealed for donations.

walznra500x171

Walz joins repeal of Defense of Marriage Act

Walz 80
By Andy Birkey | 09.13.11 | 12:26 pm

Walz joins all his Minnesota DFL colleagues in Congress except U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson in support of the repeal.

cornish500

Rep. Cornish’s ‘rude’ emails anger gay marriage supporters

Cornish 80
By Andy Birkey | 05.23.11 | 9:59 am

A vote by Rep. Tony Cornish to put a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on the 2012 ballot has brought a flurry of emails into the Good Thunder Republican’s inbox expressing disappointment. The responses he’s been sending back — “Give it a rest!!!!!!!!!” and “try writing a sane letter,” among others — have only served to fan the flames.

Photo: Kellie Parker, Flickr

In close vote, anti-gay marriage amendment moves to House floor

By Andy Birkey | 05.18.11 | 10:00 am

On Wednesday morning, the House Committee on Rules and Administration approved an amendment that would codify a ban on gay marriage within the Minnesota Constitution by a vote of 13 to 12. One Republican, Rep. Tim Kelly of Red Wing, joined the DFL in voting against the measure. The bill heads to a House floor vote. The committee took no public testimony before the vote.

Source: DennyMcNamara.com

Republican Rep. McNamara undecided on marriage amendment

By Andy Birkey | 05.17.11 | 8:00 am

Rep. Denny McNamara, R-Hastings, told the South Washington County Bulletin on Monday that he hasn’t yet decided which way he will vote on a proposal that would codify a ban on same-sex marriage into the Minnesota Constitution. McNamara sits on the House Committee on Rules and Administration, which is set to vote on the bill on Wednesday and is the last committee before the bill reaches the House floor.

Photo: Richard Settle, Flickr

DFLers offer bill to repeal state Defense of Marriage Act

same-sex-marriage-80
By Andy Birkey | 05.16.11 | 9:00 am

Minnesota Democrats introduced a bill on Monday that would repeal the state’s Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits same-sex couples from benefiting from the rights and responsibilities of marriage. The bill, the Marriage and Family Protection Act, was offered just as heated debate at the Capitol continues over a proposed constitutional amendment that would write a ban on gay marriage into the state constitution.

NOM ad 500

Religious conservatives press GOP to pass gay marriage amendment

equality 80
By Andy Birkey | 05.16.11 | 8:30 am

Religious conservatives are stepping up the pressure on Republicans legislators as the final week of the legislative session approaches and a proposed amendment to add a ban on gay marriage to the Minnesota Constitution appears stalled. The Minnesota Family Council threatened Republicans that any effort to stall the bill will be redefined as a vote against the bill, while the National Organization for Marriage pleaded that if the bill doesn’t go forward it will encourage “gay marriage activists.”