Minnesota Legislature

You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, the front group for the punk rock ministry of Bradlee Dean, took his brand of fundamentalist Christianity to a DFL gubernatorial meet-and-greet several weeks ago to confront Sen. John Marty about his support for “sin” and homosexuals. Dean and fellow group frontman Jake McMillian repeatedly asked Marty about [...]

State Sen. Mee Moua said some who testified at a Mar. 2 hearing on gay marriage were so “fixated on the sex-making aspects” that they missed the spirit of the bill. But here’s another aspect of recent hearings on the topic that hasn’t been examined: Tuesday’s statement by Janet Boynes was nearly identical to one by Barb Davis White. One difference: Boynes didn’t repeat White’s claim that “Rosa Parks didn’t move to the front of the bus to support sodomy.”

For the first time in Minnesota history, a legislative committee contemplated the legalization of same-sex marriage in the state on Monday. And while gay and lesbian families shared moving testimony about the hardships their families face because they cannot marry, a duo of congressional candidates stole the show with controversial commentary on gays and lesbians.

Conservative group Minnesota Majority is launching an attack on 15 Republicans who votes for a $1.1 billion bonding bill in the Minnesota Legislature. Calling them the “Forgetful Fifteen,” the group is urging GOP delegates to think twice about endorsing them at the party conventions this month. The campaign comes after the Taxpayers League of Minnesota [...]

Former House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, said on Thursday that he would not seek reelection no mater the outcome of his campaign for governor. Seifert stepped down as Minority Leader in June when he announced his campaign to replace Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who announced in June he wouldn’t be seeking a third term.

In a tense exchange in the House Tuesday, Rep. Tom Rukavina, author of the medical marijuana bill, responded defiantly to testimony that law enforcement had met with him to voice concerns over the bill. “No member of your coalition has ever talked to me about this bill,” he said. “No one.”

It was tear-filled room at the Health, Housing and Family Security as Senators heard testimony about how medical marijuana had helped loved ones live in less pain during the last few days of their lives. But after those tears, the hearing devolved into a strange round of testimony as opponents pulled out all the stops to blame marijuana for higher crime and the downfall of the family, and one opponent testified that medical marijuana is a scheme by billionaire George Soros to make drugs legal.

Tuesday’s election brought advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality a few steps closer to making gains in the Minnesota Legislature while Minnesota sent a less supportive delegation to Congress. While there is much for them to celebrate, advocates say the path to equality is still an uphill battle. “Change” is on the lips of everyone post election, but what kind of change can LGBT Minnesotans expect at the local and national level?

This month we convened our minds and our hearts
To lovingly practice political arts;
‘Neath the gilded sheen of our Capitol Dome
For the next several months this will be our dear home.

From far and wide ‘cross this great state
We convened in St. Paul to determine the fate
Of many a proposal and many a bill
Till we’ve reached our [...]

This is a continuation of our profiles of the legislative leadership for the 2007-2008 session.  The House Majority Caucus leadership is profiled here, and profiles of the minority leadership will follow this week.