Minnesota Independent

Minnesota Capitol. Photo: Paul Weimer, Flickr

Drazkowski offers GOP’s fourth bill to repeal women’s pay equity act

By Andy Birkey | 02.24.11 | 3:41 pm

Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, has introduced another version of his bill to repeal the Pay Equity Act (PEA), a program started in the 1980s that ensures that women are paid a comparable wage to men in local government jobs. As of Thursday, when Drazkowski introduced his new bill, Republicans have authored four bills this session aimed at repealing the Pay Equity Act. Twenty-two Republicans are sponsoring the legislation; 21 of the sponsors are men.

As DFLers blast women’s pay repeal, GOP introduces Senate version

By Andy Birkey | 02.09.11 | 8:31 am

Members of the DFL House caucus chastised Republicans Tuesday for introducing legislation in the House that would eliminate the 1984 Pay Equity Act. At a press conference, Democrats said the law is still necessary to ensure women are paid the same as men in local government units. But just as they were rallying against the bill, Republican Sen. Mike Jungbauer introduced a bill — the third GOP bill on the issue — to repeal the law in the Senate.

Minnesota Capitol. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Republicans propose repeal of fair pay laws for women

By Andy Birkey | 02.01.11 | 8:49 am

Minnesota Republicans have introduced legislation that would repeal the 1984 Local Government Pay Equity Act (LGPEA), which directs local governments to ensure that women are paid the same as men. While local governments say reporting requirements are costly, equal rights groups say the law needs to stay intact in order to ensure fair pay, especially for women of color.

NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota backs Dayton

By Andy Birkey | 09.03.10 | 8:28 am

NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota endorsed Mark Dayton, DFL candidate for governor this week. NARAL is a political action group that “uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices.”…

Pawlenty forgoes $850,000 in federal sex ed funds for strings-attached abstinence dollars

By Andy Birkey | 08.31.10 | 9:21 am

Reproductive rights groups chastised Gov. Tim Pawlenty Monday for refusing federal money for comprehensive sex education in exchange for abstinence-education funds that will cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars. Advocates say Pawlenty’s decision to opt for the more expensive — and controversial — program arises from his presidential ambitions and not the best interests of the state.

‘Condoms everywhere!’ Dayton’s Planned Parenthood endorsement riles religious right

By Andy Birkey | 08.27.10 | 1:45 pm

DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton got the endorsement of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund on Wednesday, sparking a harsh response from local religious right outfits — including the Minnesota Family Council, which says a Dayton…

Obama to sign Native law enforcement act Thursday, Minnesota law prof to attend

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.28.10 | 1:12 pm

The Tribal Law and Order Act will be signed into law by President Obama Thursday afternoon at 4:45 pm Eastern, according to one Minnesotan who’ll be present for it. Sarah Deer, an assistant professor at William Mitchell College of Law,…

Bachmann votes against act to help Native American police combat rape ‘epidemic’

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.28.10 | 11:03 am

A bill aimed at helping Native American law enforcement investigate rape and other crimes by non-Indians on tribal lands passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week with overwhelming bipartisan support, and now it heads to President Obama’s desk where it’ll be signed into law. Only one Minnesotan — Rep. Michele Bachmann — voted against it.

Klobuchar criticizes Supreme Court double standard

By Andy Birkey | 05.28.10 | 11:44 am

Sen. Amy Klobuchar took to the Senate floor to decry the double standard that critics have applied to Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Members of the media in recent weeks have criticized Kagan’s wardrobe, her softball batting stance and…

Women’s rights advocates say parts of health reform bill a step backwards

By Andy Birkey | 03.25.10 | 2:35 pm

Shannon Drury, president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Organization of Women, tells the Minnesota Independent that some of the compromises made in the health care bill are unacceptable and that leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were too eager to reach that compromise.