Minnesota Independent

October finance reports show GOP, DFL still in debt

By Andy Birkey | 10.27.11 | 8:49 am

The Republican Party of Minnesota carried a debt twice as large as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party’s.

GOP backs anti-amendment members, won’t change party stance

By Andy Birkey | 10.07.11 | 6:00 am

The Republican Party of Minnesota accused DFLers of abandoning their constituents by not passing equal rights for same-sex couples when the DFL controlled the legislature.

DFL, GOP still in debt, finance reports show

By Andy Birkey | 08.04.11 | 11:17 am

As heated discussions continue over the national debt, two of Minnesota’s major political parties are wresting with significant debts of their own. According to Federal Election Commission reports filed at the end of July, both the GOP and DFL continue to carry debt from the 2010 election cycle. The Republican Party of Minnesota owes the most — more than $600,000 while the DFL owes close to $300,000. The GOP also had a negative cash-on-hand balance.

GOP owes 20 Minnesota counties for Emmer recount costs

By Andy Birkey | 06.07.11 | 4:00 pm

The Republican Party of Minnesota owes nearly 20 counties payment for expenses incurred by the counties during the 2010 recount between Tom Emmer and Gov. Mark Dayton. The fact that so many counties haven’t been reimbursed in seven months led one Republican senator to offer to pay some of the bills out of his own pocket.

As state party protests, SD56 GOP webmaster earns ‘Worst Person in the World’ designation

By Paul Schmelzer | 08.20.10 | 6:00 am

As Randy Brown, the webmaster who posted a sexist video on the GOP’s District 56 website, is dubbed “Worst Person in the World” by MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, the Republican Party of Minnesota demands changes to reports on the incident by the Minnesota Independent, Gawker and Mothers Jones — changes that put distance between the state GOP and the local SD 56 party unit.

Bachmann to give away funds donated by ‘fraudulent’ vets charity

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.29.10 | 1:23 pm

Rep. Michele Bachmann now says she’ll give away a contribution from the United States Navy Veterans Association (USNVA), a group charged with funneling funds intended for vets to GOP candidates and state parties. At least $35,000 of the now-defunct group’s funds came to Minnesota Republicans, including Bachmann, former Sen. Norm Coleman and the state GOP. Bachmann’s campaign told the Star Tribune today that she’ll be giving away $4,800 from the group.

Conservative paper’s partisan links back data requests, despite denials

By Jon Collins | 07.29.10 | 8:19 am

The Minnesota Republic, a conservative student newspaper that filed more than a dozen data requests from state DFLers, blurs line between journalism and politics.

Koering subject of GOP ‘witch hunt,’ according to Republican leaders

By Andy Birkey | 07.20.10 | 8:56 am

The Republican Party of Minnesota is investigating one of its own, and it has GOP leaders a bit uneasy. The party sent a letter to the Morrison County Sheriff asking for records of 911 calls and law enforcement visits…

Vets charity allegedly funneled donations to Minn. Republicans

By Andy Birkey | 07.15.10 | 12:13 pm

A charity under investigation in five states has deep ties to Minnesota, from substantial contributions to state Republicans like former Sen. Norm Coleman and Rep. Michele Bachmann to its employment of a Minnesota lobbyist and a recently closed St. Paul operation. Officials in other states are calling the United States Navy Veterans Association (USNVA) a fraudulent charity, and its founder and sole organizer, Bobby Thompson, has disappeared in the wake of investigations alleging the group diverted charitable donations intended for military veterans to Republican candidates and political action committees.

Minnesotans react to passage of health care reform

By Andy Birkey | 03.22.10 | 7:15 am

Many politicians and special interest groups responded to the passing of health care reform in Congress Sunday night. Reactions fell along party and ideological lines.