Sen. Julianne Ortman of Chanhassen earned praise for the Log Cabin Republicans on Friday after she was the lone Republican to vote to table a bill that adds a constitutional ban on gay marriage to the 2012 ballot. The motion to table was brought by Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook. Ortman had previously spoke in favor of rights for same-sex couples.

“Minnesota Log Cabin Republicans wishes to express its thanks to Senator Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) for her vote today in the Senate Rules Committee to table a bill that would allow for the Minnesota state constitution to permanently ban same sex marriage,” the group wrote in a statement. “While we are saddened that the committee ultimately voted to send the bill to the full Senate for passage, we are hopeful that there are Republicans like Senator Ortman who are willing to stand up for fairness and against discrimination.”

The Log Cabin Republicans also included a speech that Sen. Ortman gave to the group last year.

…when I first heard marriage bills in this committee in 2003 and 2004 and they were the most painful hearings at the capitol that I recall. When the whole discussion was about whether the constitution should be amended to become a sword, to hurt people, to identify people as different and create disparities. And it was a terribly painful conversation for us to have around here and one that was very difficult to hear…I hear a very hopeful debate, hopeful that the state will recognize folks with a change in the law.

…the whole debate has changed 180 degrees and for that I’m so grateful; I’m certain that you all must be….And I see that minds and hearts are changing on this issue every single day. I don’t know when the majority of Minnesotans will switch, will change, will support your views. I don’t know that. But I know minds and hearts are changing on this issue every single day.

“Minnesota Log Cabin Republicans believes there are other GOP legislators who believe as Senator Ortman does,” the group added. “We ask them to stand up for equality and against discrimination.”

Republican Rep. John Kriesel of Cottage Grove has also come out strongly against the amendment in the House.

The Minnesota Senate passed a sweeping voter identification bill Thursday that would require voters to present a government-issued photo ID card in order to vote in the state. Republicans said the measure is intended to prevent voter fraud, which they say has disenfranchised legitimate voters, while Democrats countered that it would be a travesty to democracy if even one voter was disenfranchised because they didn’t have an ID.

“Our freedom and democracy is at stake,” exhorted Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, in urging members to vote for the bill.

Maple Grove Sen. Warren Limmer brought up a familiar refrain among Republicans: “You need to use a photo ID to make a bank transaction, to rent a movie, to buy a drink at a bar, and to get on an airplane. But heaven forbid we ask someone to show an ID to vote and maintain integrity in our election system. If any illegitimate voter votes, it disenfranchises a legitimate voter, and this is a cure for that.”

Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, said there’s a lot of misinformation floating around and pointed to the controversy surrounding President Barack Obama’s birth certificate.

“This bill won’t stop the .0001 percent of voters who were felons in the last election. It doesn’t indicate felon status on a driver’s license,” he said. “It doesn’t stop non-citizens from voting. It doesn’t have your citizenship status on an ID.”

He criticized Republicans’ argument that only 144,000 Minnesotans don’t have photo identification.

“Our gubernatorial race was decided by 9,000 votes; 144,000 is insignificant?,” he said. “This is as bizarre as asking the President of the United States to produce a birth certificate after two years in office. This is bizarre.”

Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said, “We just went through very intensive voter recounts in this state in 2008 and 2010. The whole country was watching. There were no cases of voter impersonation in those elections,” he said. “This bill is about putting roadblocks up to the ballot box.”

Sen. Linda Higgins, DFL-Minneapolis, said, “This voter ID bill is a bad bill. It’s disenfranchisement.”

She said the provision would keep low-income people, individuals living in battered women’s shelters and elderly citizens from voting.

“We should be proud of the system we have now,” she said. “If we pass a bill that prevents one person from voting we should be ashamed of ourselves.”

With that, the Senate voted along party lines to pass the bill. A companion bill has passed through three committees in the House and will have another committee hearing this week.

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate introduced three bills on Tuesday that aim to put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage before voters in 2012. Minnesota law already outlaws same-sex marriage. State Democrats say the bill is a distraction from the economic crisis — and a state budget that the GOP has yet to pass.

Maple Grove Republican Sen. Warren Limmer, the measure’s chief author, said the bill was not about putting forth an issue that’d boost voter turnout for the GOP in 2012. “Quite honestly, it could cut both ways,” he said at a press conference. “We believe we owe the public the opportunity to be engaged.”

When asked about the timing of the bill and if he thought there would be a backlash, he said, “Personally I don’t think there’s going to be that much backlash on this. We want to give the public as much time as possible to consider it.”

The bill will be fast-tracked to meet Friday’s committee deadline for bills, Limmer said, and it will receive a hearing this week.

Sen. Paul Gazelka of Brainerd was questioned by reporters about whether his district is open to such an amendment considering he defeated the state’s only gay Republican, former Sen. Paul Koering, in the 2010 primary.

“The district, which I think reflects the state, wants gays and lesbians to live how they choose, but doesn’t want to redefine marriage,” he said.

Since the bill is a ballot initiative, it will bypass Gov. Mark Dayton’s veto pen should it pass both chambers of the Legislature, which — since both bodies are controlled by Republicans — it seems likely to do.

The ballot question would read, “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?”

DFLers called the amendment push a distraction.

“It’s disturbing that Republicans want to use one of the last weeks of the legislative session to marginalize one group of people and divide our state,” Sen. Scott Dibble of Minneapolis said. “We are facing a $5 billion budget shortfall, yet Republicans believe the biggest threat to our state’s welfare is who is allowed to be married.”

He added, “For same-sex couples, marriage is about economics; it’s about allowing families to take responsibility for each other and support their loved ones, creating strong households throughout our state. For this reason, there is significant evidence that the states that do the best economically are the ones that embrace diversity, not shut it out.”

“With this amendment, we are taking Minnesota in exactly the opposite direction of where we should be headed – toward a stronger economy that welcomes the contributions of all people,” he said.

Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook said, “Prior to the Easter recess, I told the Republican leadership when we got back there would be four weeks left to the session,” said Bakk. ” I don’t know if they don’t understand the budget challenges they face. It is time to get to work on these budget bills. These policy type issues can wait until next year.”

“When we reach May 23 with no budget deal, I will say to them, ‘I told you back in April, I told you to start focusing on the budget every day,’” he added.

Dibble said he expects that the Mormon Church and the Catholic Church to step in and spend tens of millions of dollars on a campaign to pass the amendment.

“The archbishop is probably going to try and raise millions of dollars on this,” he said. “We already saw his DVD campaign last year.”

In addition to Limmer and Gazelka, the bill was introduced by Sens. David Hann of Eden Prairie, Benjamin Kruse of Brooklyn Park, David Brown of Becker, Mike Parry of Waseca, Dave Thompson of Lakeville, Sean Nienow of Cambridge, Dan Hall of Burnsville, Pam Wolf of Spring Lake Park, Gretchen Hoffman of Vergas and Bill Ingebrigtsen of Alexandria.

The watchdog group Americans United for the Separation of Church and State sent a letter to Minnesota Senate leadership Monday warning the chamber that Pastor Dennis Campbell‘s prayer last week was unconstitutional. Addressed to Senate President Michelle Fischbach, Majority Leader Amy Koch and Minority Leader Tom Bakk, the letter also urged the leaders to either refrain from allowing prayers in the Senate or to ensure that if it continues to do so it does in a way that respects other traditions.

The letter — which was signed by Ayesha N. Khan, Americans United’s legal director; Gregory M. Lipper, the group’s litigation counsel; and staff attorney Ian Smith — stated that numerous courts have ruled the type of prayer that Campbell gave, one that quotes Christian scripture and invokes Jesus Christ, unconstitutional.

“Pastor’s Campbell’s prayer was unconstitutional because it was sectarian and proselytizing,” the letter states. “The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the Constitution permits prayers at the beginning of legislative sessions if those prayers do not contain language or symbols specific to one religion.”

The letter, which cites reporting by the Minnesota Independent, goes on to state that several lower courts have allowed even broader leeway than the Supreme Court, and the type of prayer given by Campbell was of the sort that those lower courts have ruled against.

“Pastor Campbell’s prayer was unconstitutional even under the more permissive standard adopted by” other courts, wrote the attorneys.

The letter concluded, “Because the Senate is designed to represent all Minnesota citizens, regardless of faith, we urge you to refrain from opening future sessions with any type of prayer. If the Senate does continue open meetings with prayers, however, the Constitution requires you to ensure that they do not advance any particular religion.”

The prayer raised the ire of non-Christian senators and departed from longstanding tradition that allowed clergy from different faiths to offer prayer so long as the prayer is inclusive of all senators’ beliefs. Over the weekend, Campbell addressed those concerns, especially by Jewish lawmakers who commented, stating that he wasn’t “seeking to offend anybody but seeking to show respect for Jesus Christ, the creator, redeemer, savior and one day our judge, and we know the founders of the constitution were very supportive of Jesus Christ and the Bible.”

The letter, which appears below, echoes sentiments shared with the Minnesota Independent last week by Rob Boston, senior policy analyst at Americans United:

2011-03-21-minnesota-senate –

Republican legislative leadership unveiled its budget targets on Thursday. Most government departments would see a cut under the budget proposals from the last two years, while a few, such as education and health and human services, would see a modest increase from the last biennium. Democrats immediately blasted the proposal, which will spend $34 billion in the 2012–2013 biennium — $3 billion less than the budget proposed by Gov. Mark Dayton.

Republican leadership set targets for committees as they begin to create the budgets for their respective policy areas. The numbers account for the difference in spending from the last budget cycle and don’t account for the automatic increases that most state agencies build into their budgets.

In the Senate, education would see an 2.5 percent increase with an accounting shift that puts off paying schools.

There’s a 16 percent cut to higher education proposed as well as an 11.4 percent cut to agriculture and rural economics. Energy, environment and commerce would see a 29 percent cut compared to last budget cycle, and jobs and economic growth would get a 47 percent cut. Sixteen percent is proposed to be cut from transportation, while other cuts will hit the judiciary and public safety (3.5 percent), state government and veterans (53 percent) and tax aids and credit spending (9.6 percent).

Debt service and capital projects would see a 35 percent increase, and the Senate proposal would include a 5.9 percent increase to Health and Human Services.

House leadership posted a similar level of cuts and increases.

The budget targets prompted strong reactions from many quarters.

“Much of it is continuing down the road of failed policies of Gov. Pawlenty,” Minority Leader Tom Bakk said at a press conference Thursday afternoon. “With $1.4 billion in additional cuts over what [Gov. Dayton] proposed, what is that going to look like?”

Bakk predicted three impacts if the Republicans’ budget became law: property taxes will go up, tuition will go up, and health care is going to be more expensive and cover less Minnesotans.

“My hope is that they give the public the opportunity to participate in this process,” Bakk said.

“Middle class families looking for relief from sluggish job growth and regressive property taxes will be sorely disappointed with the Senate Republicans’ budget targets,” said Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson in a statement. “Draconian cuts to job creation tools and our colleges and universities are job killers that take Minnesota backwards.”

The Republican Party of Minnesota praised Republican legislative leadership for the budget targets.

“Republican leaders in Minnesota are working hard to reign in auto-pilot spending increases and to make government live within its means,” said party chair Tony Sutton. “The budget targets released today protect essential services, including education, public safety, the judiciary, and health and human services, all without raising taxes.”

Gov. Mark Dayton’s office was less enthusiastic about the targets.

“Earlier today the governor reiterated his belief that budgets are a reflection of values and priorities and the decisions we make about the budget affect people’s lives,” Katharine Tinucci, Gov. Mark Dayton’s press secretary, said in a statement. “Based on the spreadsheets the GOP put out today it appears those values and priorities are cutting education, cutting health care, cutting jobs, cutting veterans, and raising property taxes. These cuts will hurt school children, tax payers, businesses and seniors.”

Senate Republicans sent a letter to Gov. Mark Dayton Thursday stating that all 37 members of the GOP caucus have taken a “no-tax pledge” in response to the governor’s proposed budget which would increases taxes for the wealthiest Minnesotans. Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk responded with a letter of his own questioning the pledge and its implications, while Dayton told the GOP to stop “the game-playing” and come up with a budget of their own.

“We write to make perfectly clear… that we all are opposed to raising taxes to balance the 2012-2013 $6.2 billion deficit,” the 37 GOP senators wrote. “We are all opposed to your budget that increases state spending by 22 percent.”

They added, “We do not have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem.”

Bakk, in a letter to Majority Leader Amy Koch “questioned the wisdom of staking out a narrowly-focused position this early in the budget process” and asked the GOP for specifics on their no-tax pledge.

Do all 37 members of your caucus commit to opposing cuts to Local Government Aid , which the Department of Revenue has stated will increase property taxes on Minnesotans?

Do all 37 members of your caucus agree with Rep. Davids, the House Tax Chair, that ending specific tax breaks would represent a tax increase?

Does your pledge prohibit your caucus from exploring any sort of tax reform that involves broadening a tax’s base to lower its overall rate?

Do all 37 members of your caucus oppose any effort to create or extend local option sales tax in Minnesota communities, such as the proposals introduced by Sen. Hoffman, Sen. Miller, Sen. Dahms and Sen. Newman?

In a conference call with reporters, Dayton took a shot at Republicans who have not developed a budget.

“They continue to be in denial over the direct impact of decisions made in St. Paul on property tax increases,” said Dayton. “The time for this rhetorical game playing is over. I’ve submitted by budget, and now it’s their responsibility to develop their budget. Where is their budget?”

The GOP’s letter and Bakk’s letter are below:

49500970-GovDaytonLetter02242011

Feb24_Ltr

Minnesota Republicans unveiled their “Phase I” plan to reduce Minnesota’s $6.2 billion budget deficit by maintaining unallotment levels of government aid and higher education spending. The plan would direct state agencies to find $200 million in savings. DFL leaders and Mayors RT Rybak and Chris Coleman quickly criticized the plan as hurting the middle class while giving big breaks to corporate CEOs.

The GOP outlined its plan in a statement on Monday.

“We need to prevent automatic spending increases that are included in the state government budget, and passing this budget bill will keep some of state government’s expenditures at current levels,” said House Ways and Means Committee Chair Mary Liz Holberg of Lakeville.

“In light of the large forecasted budget deficit, I believe most cities, counties, and public higher education institutions have been expecting these budget reductions to continue,” said Senate Finance Committee Chair Sen. Claire Robling of Jordan. “This action should not come as a surprise to them or to the majority of legislators who voted for these reductions last year.”

But that prediction rang hollow with many DFLers.

“The Senate Republicans’ proposal is a one-legged stool of cuts only, with no new reform and no new revenue,” Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak said. “We’ve seen this movie before: they would simply continue a deeply misguided policy that passes the State’s fiscal problems onto communities, is directly responsible for driving property taxes higher statewide and has hampered our ability to keep people safe.”

He said that cuts will lead to layoffs of police and firefighters.

“Minneapolis and communities across Minnesota are willing to do their fair share to help solve the State’s budget crisis and put people to work — but over the last eight years, we’ve already done much more than our fair share,” he added. “Minnesota’s taxpayers have a right to expect more out of the Legislature’s new majorities than just more passing the buck.”

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said the plan would create higher taxes for property owners.

“The Republicans at the Capitol are suggesting we do nothing more than continue the failed policies left behind by our previous Governor which is to shift the funding burden for police, fire and public infrastructure to property owners in cities across Minnesota,” he said.

Gov. Mark Dayton said he isn’t interested in partial solutions to the budget deficit.

“I will not agree to piecemeal cuts and partial solutions eliminating the $6.2 billion deficit in the next biennium,” he said. “I will propose a reasonable, balanced and complete budget solution on February 15th, and I ask the legislature to do the same thereafter, with citizen participation through hearings and very careful consideration of the effects of their decisions on people’s lives.”

Senate DFL Caucus Leader Tom Bakk of Cook said the GOP’s plan amounted to tax breaks for corporations and tax increases for the middle class.

It is telling… to note what is included in the first round of budget cuts offered by the Republican majorities: cuts to state colleges and universities, cuts to property tax relief programs, and cuts to health care for working families,” he said. “Despite the Republican rhetoric around ‘reform’ and ‘redesign,’ it’s clear that an all-cuts budget is going to have a dramatic impact on Minnesota families.”

He added, “It also points to the irresponsibility of the Republican proposal to offer millions of dollars in tax breaks to large corporations during these difficult times. The question is: should we really be raising taxes on working families at the same time we’re cutting taxes on out-of-state corporations?”

DFL Sen. John Marty of Roseville echoed that sentiment.

“Just one week ago, the Republicans introduced their top priority, Senate File 1, which contained as much as $200 million in tax cuts for corporations, including corporations based in other states and countries. Remember that many corporations are currently seeing historic profit margins,” he said. “I question the Republicans’ logic, and the fairness, of cutting taxes for corporations while raising taxes on homeowners and renters who are struggling to make ends meet.”

Image: Kevinzhengli

Rasmussen Reports released some of the first polling numbers on Minnesota’s gubernatorial race on Thursday, finding that for the most part Minnesotans are undecided about who they like for governor. And with a diluted field for the DFL, no candidate did well against both of the top Republican candidates, Tom Emmer and Marty Seifert.

Mark Dayton and R.T. Rybak fared the best against Emmer, both beating him 38 percent to 35 percent. None of the DFL candidates bested Marty Seifert, though, but Rybak tied him at 38 percent.

Among Republicans candidates, Emmer had the best net favorable rating — 38 percent favorable and 26 percent unfavorable — but 36 percent said they weren’t sure how they felt about him. Seifert garnered the support of 41 percent polled, but 33 percent found him unfavorable. Twenty-seven percent were undecided.

Among DFLers, only Rybak (49 to 37 percent) and Tom Bakk (27 to 22 percent) had a net positive rating. Mark Dayton had the highest favorable rating with 44 percent, but an even higher unfavorable rating at 45 percent. Of those polled, 39 percent liked Margaret Anderson Kelliher, but 41 percent didn’t. Matt Entenza had similar numbers with 27 percent and 31 percent. Tom Rukavina had an even split with 27 percent approving and the same disapproving.

Clockwise from top left: Bakk, Rukavina, Rybak, Pawlenty, Emmer and Seifert

A straw poll results from Tuesday night’s political caucuses continue to trickle in, gubernatorial candidates RT Rybak and Margaret Anderson Kelliher are taking the top spot in the DFL, while Marty Seifert is garnering a large number of votes on the Republican side. Early results for the Independence Party show Tom Horner taking the lead, but voting for that straw poll will continue online until Feb. 28.

Turnout was generally low despite a large number of candidates vying for the seat soon to be vacated by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. But DFL turnout was a bit higher than the GOP’s, bucking pundits’ expectations that an energized GOP base in the wake of the Tea Party movement and a win by Scott Brown in the Massachusetts Senate race last month would deliver more GOP caucus-goers.

A number of the 26 or so gubernatorial candidates have responded to the straw poll results.

Iron Range DFLer Tom Bakk maintained a positive outlook despite placing 7th in the poll (8th including uncommitted) out of 11 candidates. “My campaign has continued to build momentum throughout the last year,” he said in a statement. “We have worked hard to gain the support of Minnesotans across the state and from Hallock to Houston County we are seeing the results. The straw poll results reinforced what we have known for months. There will be a number of strong candidates vying for the DFL endorsement at the convention in April.”

Tom Rukavina, who shares an Iron Range background with Bakk, fared a bit better in the straw poll, coming in 4th.

“I’m humbled and energized by last night’s results,” he said in a statement. “This goes to show that a little money and a big, refreshingly honest message has made me a contender at the DFL convention. When I entered this race last November, few people gave me a chance. Last night, we exceeded expectations, and I’m just getting going.”

Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak said his campaign appeared to be the straw poll winner with 80 percent of DFL caucuses reporting by mid-afternoon Wednesday. The campaign released a statement saying that Rybak had done well outside Minneapolis.

“[I]t shows that people are connecting with us in every corner of Minnesota, from Duluth to Hutchinson to Minnetonka to Eagan,” said Rybak. “We’ve been out meeting folks in every corner of our state, talking honestly about what we can accomplish together when we change our politics and put people and jobs first.”

Among GOP candidates, Marty Seifert barely won a majority votes among caucus-goers at 50.03 percent.

Seifert used the opportunity to slam DFLers:

It is amazing that nearly as many Republicans turned out for caucuses as Democrats last night. Just two years ago, DFL turnout was three times higher than Republican turnout. As I travel the state, it is clear that the DFL message of higher taxes, increased spending, and more government intrusion is falling flat with Minnesotans. Last night’s DFL caucus turnout confirms this.

He doesn’t note that a heated primary between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama may have had something to do with the record-breaking 2008 turnout.

Seifert continued, “At this point in the race, our campaign is the only GOP campaign with a statewide grassroots network and the financial resources necessary to wage an aggressive campaign for the endorsement and for the general election.”

Seifert’s primary competition, Tom Emmer, got 40 percent of the Republican vote. The Emmer campaign noted that “Emmer actually polled four points better than Governor Pawlenty did in 2002, going on to win the nomination against a better funded opponent.”

Emmer Campaign Manager David FitzSimmons said, “The race begins today. We are closing the gap and feel really good about our momentum as we head to the all-important delegate phase. These results exceeded our expectations.”

Photo: MNHS.org

The Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition released a questionnaire on Monday polling candidates for governor on their stance on single-payer health care (pdf). All DFLers and one Republican responded. The majority support a single-payer health plan in Minnesota.

The survey asked, “As governor would you sign the Minnesota Health Care Act if it passed in the Legislature?” The Minnesota Health Care Act would create a single-payer health care system in the state.

Only Republican Pat Anderson and DFLer Steve Kelley said they wouldn’t sign the bill. DFLers Tom Bakk, Mark Dayton, Matt Entenza, Susan Gaertner, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, John Marty, Tom Rukavina, RT Rybak, and Paul Thissen all said they would sign such a bill.

The survey also solicited responses from the candidates on how they foresee fixing the health care system if they are elected governor. Here’s a sampling of those responses:

Mark Dayton:

Currently, there is a significant difference in access to health care between rural and urban Minnesota. Rural Minnesota is home to 13% of the state’s population but just 5% of all doctors. This gap creates shameful inequality and needs to be fixed.

Tom Bakk:

Changing both the way physicians are reimbursed and the current pricing mechanisms of drugs would be good steps in the right direction toward removing inefficiencies from our health care system.

Pat Anderson:

Essentially less government, not more government is the route to expanding access, increasing quality and lowering costs of health care – recognizing that there are always tradeoffs among those characteristics.

Margaret Anderson Kelliher:

Minnesota can and should be the healthiest state in the country, and that starts with preventative care. As Governor, I will support funding for our public health system that focuses on providing information that keeps Minnesotans healthy.

Tom Rukavina:

If we can’t pass a full single payer health plan right off the bat, I will work towards opening the state health plan to people without insurance because Minnesotans are entitled to health care coverage that’s as good as what their Governor has.

Paul Thissen:

We need a comprehensive approach that tackles expanded access, improved quality, reduced cost increases and creating healthy communities in the broadest sense. We need to move away from an employer-dependent health care system, eliminate denials for preexisting conditions and, above all, return decision-making in health care back to the patient and medical provider.

RT Rybak:

[W]e need national health care reform. It is becoming increasingly clear that national health insurance reform will not be perfect, but it will advance some important goals: that people never lose access to health care if they move, change their job or get sick; that people with pre-existing conditions can get affordable coverage; that young adults can stay their parent’s insurance plan; and that health insurance costs come down.

John Marty:

The solution to this problem is to develop a health care system that works. This is what I have been working on. The Minnesota Health Plan (MHP) is designed to address the health needs of people, keeping them healthy so they need less medical care, and delivering the health care in a rational, efficient, cost-effective manner.

Steve Kelley:

Our moral obligation is to make sure that every Minnesotan has access to affordable, quality care. Minnesota can build on the federal plan using state savings to ensure all of us are covered. Universal coverage is attainable in Minnesota in conjunction with (not opposition to) federal plans.

Susan Gaertner:

As governor I will fight for a system of universal coverage based on public/private partnership that recognizes our changing workforce, ensures Minnesotans have a choice in coverage, and is financed in a way that works for both businesses and individuals of all income levels.