ALEC likely violated state campaign board ruling
By Jon Collins |
08.11.11 | 9:45 am
The organization held an event without registering as a state lobbyist, as a Minnesota board ruled was necessary in 1995.
Mary Kiffmeyer - Latest Stories
Kiffmeyer: 30 Minnesota legislators are ALEC members
By Jon Collins |
08.05.11 | 6:30 am
“About 30″ Minnesota legislators are members of a controversial nonprofit that critics say allows corporate members to lobby lawmakers and write bills without disclosure, according to the American Legislative Exchange Council’s state chair, Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer.
Minnesota Reps. Kiffmeyer, Shimanski attend ALEC conference in New Orleans
By Jon Collins |
08.04.11 | 12:48 pm
Two Minnesota lawmakers — Republican Reps. Mary Kiffmeyer and Ron Shimanski — are attending a conference hosted by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a controversial corporate nonprofit that critics say allows corporations unrestricted access to state lawmakers, as well as the ability to draft business-friendly bills without public disclosure.
House Republicans introduce anti–gay marriage bills
By Andy Birkey |
04.28.11 | 3:48 pm
Republicans in the Minnesota House introduced three bills on Thursday that would put a ban on same-sex marriage into the Minnesota Constitution. The bill is a companion to the bills offered in the Minnesota Senate on Tuesday. Rep. Steve Gottwalt, R-St. Cloud, liked the idea so much, he’s offered two additional identical bills of his own.
Republicans introduce voter ID constitutional amendment
By Andy Birkey |
04.28.11 | 9:15 am
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.
Kiffmeyer wants voter ID on the ballot in 2012
By Andy Birkey |
04.15.11 | 9:18 am
Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, told Minnesota Public Radio on Thursday that if Gov. Mark Dayton vetoes a controversial voter ID bill, she will seek to put it on the ballot in 2012. The bill, which is currently winding its way through the Legislature, would require photo ID of all voters. Dayton hasn’t indicated whether he’ll veto such a measure, but election integrity advocates say the proposal could run into constitutional problems.
Voter ID proponents point to beer, tobacco and plane tickets to bolster case
By Andy Birkey |
03.15.11 | 8:30 am
Is the right to vote the same as the right to buy beer, cigarettes and airline tickets? That seemed to be the argument made by proponents of a bill seeking to mandate photo identification for voters that was heard Monday afternoon in the Senate Committee on Local Government and Elections.
Voter ID could disenfranchise voters, groups tell committee
By Andy Birkey |
02.04.11 | 11:15 am
A bill requiring voter identification cards, electronic rosters and a slew of other changes to election laws was heard in the House Government Operations and Election committee Thursday. A large number of groups testified that the bill would disenfranchise voters, especially students, the elderly and the disabled, while several testified that the bill is needed to prevent voter fraud. A presentation by Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer on the technological improvements her bill would make to the voting process was derailed when the hearing room technology failed.
GOP offers major overhaul to Minnesota’s voting system
By Andy Birkey |
01.26.11 | 1:00 pm
Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer of Big Lake and Sen. Warren Limmer of Maple Grove unveiled the Republican plan to overhaul the state’s voting system at a press conference on Wednesday. Among the proposed changes are the elimination of vouching, implementation of a photo identification system, a ban on health care workers assisting voters in the booth, and massive changes to the recount process. Most of the changes reflect complaints by the conservative group Minnesota Majority, which Kiffmeyer ran several years ago.
Republicans aim to bring ‘Choose Life’ license plates to Minnesota
By Andy Birkey |
01.14.11 | 9:00 am
More than a dozen Republicans introduced a bill in the Minnesota House Thursday aimed at authorizing the sale of “Choose Life” license plates in Minnesota, with sales revenue going to groups that oppose abortion. The bill is nearly identical to one passed in 2003 in Florida, one of 23 states that produces the plates. But as the Florida Independent found, tracking where funds raised through the license plate sales wasn’t an easy task.
