A KSTP-TV investigation has revealed that mistakes were made in the counting of absentee ballots in the 2008 election. Numerous ballots were counted that should have been rejected due to missing information on the ballot.  When Secretary of State Mark Ritchie was confronted with the findings of the investigation, he was evasive, refusing to examine sample ballots or respond with direct answers to the reporter's questions.  KSTP's findings support allegations that have been made by Minnesota Majority in the past that there appear to be many irregularities in ballots and voter registration information from the 2008 election.  Minnesota Majority has repeatedly called for a formal investigation by law enforcement officials. However, to date, our requests have been largely ignored.

No Cap and Trade Advertisement

At a press conference this morning, a number of business and interest groups announced the formation of a new coalition to oppose cap-and-trade public policy. The No Cap-and-Trade Coalition says it will kick-off its campaign with a new advertisement and website (NoCapAndTrade.com).

The website includes a petition that visitors can sign to express their opposition to the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill and the United Nation's proposed climate treaty expected to be debated in Copenhagen this December. The group is also bringing a localized educational program to areas of the state, featuring the new global warming documentary film, "Not Evil, Just Wrong."

The coalition's website also includes a campaign to boycott 20 organizations that are supporting cap-and-trade. Companies that are part of the boycott include Starbucks, The Gap, ebay, Levi's and Nike amongst others.

The No Cap-and-Trade Coalition consists of several non-partisan, non-profit organizations who are concerned about the devastating impact a cap-and-trade scheme could have on American families and the faltering US economy. "We need energy to turn things around," explained Linda Runbeck of the Minnesota Free Market institute, "a massive new tax on energy is the last thing we need right now. Cap-and-trade would be destructive to our economy."

At the onset, cap-and-trade is projected to cost the average family over $1,700 per year in new energy costs, growing to over $6,000 per year by 2035. Independent analyses of cap-and-trade proposals project the loss of millions of additional jobs and trillions of dollars out of the nation's GDP. "Cap-and-trade is a huge tax on everything," said Minnesota Majority president Jeff Davis.

Proponents say that cap-and-trade will prevent 1/10th of a degree of warming in 100 years. "That doesn't seem like a very worthwhile investment," said Phil Krinkie, president of the Taxpayer's League of Minnesota. "We'd be making extraordinary sacrifices over unproven, contested theories and even if you buy into carbon-driven global warming, the pay off is insignificant. It's not worth the cost."

Current members of the No Cap-and-Trade Coalition include Associated Builders and Contractors, Freedom Foundation, Minnesota Free Market Institute, Campaign for Liberty, Taxpayer's League of Minnesota, Minnesota Majority and Minnesota Family Council among others. The coalition is open to any organization that supports the mission of defeating cap-and-trade public policy.

Take Action: Visit www.NoCapAndTrade.com to sign the petition, participate in the boycott and find more information.

Please consider making a contribution to help us fund the "No Cap And Trade" ad on TV and radio.

Minnesota Majority Report Special Edition Featuring Lord Christopher Monckton Pt. 2

Drew Emmer's Interview of Lord Monckton Continues.

In this installment, Lord Monckton discusses the dangers of the Copenhagen climate treaty, and cap and trade legislation. He also exposes some of the financial motive behind the climate scam.

Visit GlobalClimateScam.com and NoCapAndTrade.com for more information.

Related Resources:

Minnesota Representatives Erik Paulsen, John Kline and Michele Bachmann have all commented on their recent vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2647). This is the bill that is used each year for appropriating funds for our military. This year, leaders in the House took the unprecedented step of attaching a “hate crimes” provision to the bill. This action resulted in considerable consternation, especially amongst Republicans, as to whether members of Congress should vote in favor of the legislation.

Representative Erik Paulson was the only Republican from the Minnesota delegation to vote in favor of the bill. In a letter addressed to Minnesota Majority, he offered an explanation for his vote.

Representative John Kline voted against the bill. This was the first time that Kline, a former Marine, has ever voted against a defense authorization bill.  In a press release issued last week, he offered this explanation for his vote.

Representative Michele Bachmann also voted against the bill.  Her reasons for doing so can be found here.

There’s no doubt this was a tough vote for many members of Congress. But that’s the job we have elected them to do. Review the explanations offered by these three members of Congress and decide for yourself who made the right decision.

The State Business Tax Climate Index produced each year by the Tax Foundation measures the competitiveness of the 50 states' tax systems and ranks them accordingly based on the taxes that matter most to businesses and business investment: corporate income, individual income, sales, property and unemployment insurance taxes.

This year, Minnesota once again ranks near the bottom at #43.  With South Dakota, our next door neighbor, being ranked as #1, it seems Minnesota's message to business is "Go west young man!" 

2009 Minnesota Majority Legislative Scorecard

Minnesota Majority tracked 17 House votes and 13 Senate votes in the 2009 legislative session, spanning a wide range of issues including taxes, government spending, election integrity, property rights, health care, education and energy policy.  In many ways, these votes represent the front-line in the battle to defend traditional values in Minnesota’s public policy.

We have scored each state legislator on how well they supported the “traditional values” position on the issues.  24 House members and 3 senators earned a perfect 100% score and were our top “Heroes.” An additional 9 House members and 4 senators supported “traditional values” positions 90% of the time or better in 2009.

Unfortunately our heroes were outnumbered by the “Zeros” – legislators who more often than not voted against the interests of everyday Minnesotans.  Instead, these legislators supported policies that would raise your taxes, expand government and reduce your freedoms.  A total of 29 House members and 22 senators were perfect “Zeros”.  An additional 29 representatives and 8 senators scored 10% or less.

Career Heroes and Zeros

5 representatives have a lifetime score of 100%. That means that for as long as Minnesota Majority has been keeping track, these legislators have unfailingly supported Minnesota Majority’s traditional values positions. They are Bruce Anderson (19A), Mark Buesgens (35B), Steve Drazkowski (28B), Tom Emmer (19B), and Kurt Zellers (32B)

Sadly, 4 representatives in the house have made a career of consistently working against Minnesota’s traditional values. They each have lifetime scores of 0%: Margaret Kelliher, Alice Hausman, Frank Hornstein and Sheldon Johnson.

Take Action:

Download the Scorecard - print copies or forward it to your friends and neighbors.

Contact your legislator and tell them how you feel about their score.  

Register to receive our email updates and help hold our elected officials accountable.

Law Enforcement, Media Asleep - Add Your Voice

Yesterday, Minnesota Majority, together with 8 Minnesota gubernatorial candidates, issued a letter to Attorney General Lori Swanson calling for a formal investigation into potential illegal activities on the part of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) in Minnesota. 

Recent news stories have revealed evidence of apparent systematic corruption within the ACORN organization.  At least 15 other states have launched investigations into potential election law and other violations on the part of ACORN.  A report issued earlier this year by the US House of Representatives Oversight Committee stated that “ACORN has repeatedly and deliberately engaged in systemic fraud. Both structurally and operationally, ACORN hides behind a paper wall of nonprofit corporate protections to conceal a criminal conspiracy on the part of its directors, to launder federal money in order to pursue a partisan political agenda and to manipulate the American electorate."

Yet here in Minnesota, where we have just had a US Senate race decided by fewer than 400 votes, incredibly there has been no official statewide investigation into the ACORN organization.  Senator Al Franken, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and Attorney General Lori Swanson were all endorsed by ACORN and elected to their offices with their help, but it is our hope that they will place the execution of the duties of their offices ahead of any political allegiances. These officials can prove their loyalty to the voters of Minnesota by responding to your call for an official statewide investigation into ACORN's activities in Minnesota.

It is an unfortunate fact that most Twin Cities reporters have been derelict in their duty to get to the bottom of ACORN and Minnesota's election issues. In Ramsey County alone, 18 individuals have been indicted for voter registration fraud and 5 people have thus far been convicted. Election records indicate that at least two of the five also voted in 2008. There's been no reporting on these convictions and there's been no reporting on the apparent illegal votes. What has been reported in the past is that there's no evidence that fraudulent voter registrations have resulted in fraudulent votes. But now that there's evidence suggesting that illegal votes have indeed resulted from improper registrations, the press is mysteriously silent.

Take Action:

Take Action: Sign the petition calling for a formal investigation into ACORN's Minnesota activities.

Additional Resources:

• Video: O'Reilly Calls on Governor Pawlenty to Initiate Investigation.
• State Senators Call on AG Swanson for ACORN Investigation.

On Tuesday, September 29, Minnesota Majority hosted a Tele-Town Hall Meeting for its members on the topic of Health Care Reform.  Representative Michele Bachmann from Minnesota’s 6th District and Representative Michael Burgess, MD of Texas’ 26th District were our guests for the call.

Rep. Bachmann warned that current health care reform legislation amounts to a government takeover of our health care industry.  As a medical doctor, Rep. Burgess expressed his concerns about what this legislation might mean to the doctor-patient relationship.

Both Rep. Bachmann and Burgess urged individuals to get involved in trying to shape the ultimate outcome of this debate.  You can listen to a recording of the 1-hour Tel-Town Hall by clicking on the play button below:

TAKE ACTION: Sign our petition calling for common-sense health care reforms.  Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to help educate your community on the health care issues.  Learn more about the truth behind ObamaCare by visiting www.HealthReformScam.com.