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.

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!" 

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.

Republished from OneNewsNow.com

A surprising revelation from a homosexual activist over the purpose of the "hate crimes" bill is drawing kudos from at least one pro-family spokesman.

The activist is Andrew Sullivan, one of the movers and shakers in the international homosexual movement. "The real reason for hate crime laws is not the defense of human beings from crime. There are already laws against that," Sullivan writes on his blog, "and Matthew Shepard's murderers were successfully prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in a state with no hate crimes law at the time."
 
Sullivan continues: "The real reason for the invention of hate crimes was a hard-left critique of conventional liberal justice and the emergence of special interest groups which need boutique legislation to raise funds for their large staffs and luxurious buildings. Just imagine how many direct mail pieces have gone out explaining that without more money for [Human Rights Campaign], more gay human beings will be crucified on fences. It's very, very powerful as a money-making tool -- which may explain why the largely symbolic federal bill still hasn't passed."

Results from a related poll

What's the primary motivation behind 'hate crimes' law?

Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel read the blog entry and offers this take on Sullivan's comments on Senate Bill 909.
 
"He is to be commended for his candor," says Barber. "He has admitted publicly now that the hate crimes bill...is, among other things, simply a money-making scheme drummed up by the organized homosexualist lobby."
 
S. 909 is called the Matthew Shepard Act to honor a young homosexual man who was tortured and killed in 1998 not because of his sexual orientation, but during the course of a robbery. As Barber notes, the murder has been used as a money-raiser, too.
 
"Andrew Sullivan points this irony out and points out how ridiculous it is that they are using [Shepard's] name, exploiting this poor young man's horrible death to try to push a money-making scheme...a social ponzi scheme," says Barber.
 
"The cat's out of the bag," he continues. "Sullivan's admission...is both refreshing and stunning at the same time."
 
The hate crimes bill, which has already passed the House, would add sexual orientation to other protected classes.

On Thursday, Governor Tim Pawlenty held a press conference at the State Capitol saying that "“Politics as usual around this place is over. The people of Minnesota expect and deserve timely and decisive action. I will not let the legislature’s work spill over into a special session. We are not going to waste taxpayer money with a costly overtime or have a state government shutdown, especially in this economy. My preference would be for DFL legislators to work with me on a reasonable budget solution, but if they can’t get that done I will take executive action to balance the budget.” (click here to read the full press release from the governor's office).

Democrats in the state legislature ignored reform ideas such as that offered by the Minnesota Budget Solution Coalition that balanced the state budget without increasing taxes.  Insteady, DFL leaders worked to pass budget bills that raises taxes and leaves a $3 billion shortfall between anticipated revenue and spending. “If the DFL cannot balance this budget without reaching into Minnesotans’ pockets and increasing our already uncompetitive taxes in ways that will kill job growth, I’m prepared to make the tough decisions they’ve avoided and take action to balance the budget.”

The response from Democrats was swift and harsh. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher says that Pawlenty's move is "bullying" and called him "Governor Go It Alone." Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller said the governor could take that approach “if he thinks he’s king."  Eliot Seide, the head of AFSCME Council 5, the largest union representing state workers, said "we just saw the suspension of democracy today."

The session is scheduled to end on Monday, May 18 at midnight.  Liberal special interest groups will now be mounting a frontal attack on the governor's office to try to convince him to change his mind and support a tax increase.

TAKE ACTION:  Call Governor Pawlenty NOW and tell him to stand strong against liberal pressure to increase our taxes. 

Hi there,

Jason Lewis here with a quick reminder to be sure to attend Saturday's Tax Cut Rally.  The rally is being held at the State Capitol from 11:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. The weather forecast is outstanding -- sunny with temperatures in the mid-60s.

As I'm sure you are aware, Minnesota is facing a record $6.4 billion state budget deficit in the next biennium.  We are also in the middle of an economic recession.  But that hasn't stopped the "tax and spenders" in our state legislature from proposing over $2 billion in new tax increases.  This is on top of the $6 billion increase they passed last year!

Minnesota really needs you and your neighbors to show-up in force on Saturday so that the "tax and spenders" get the message loud and clear -- CUT SPENDING and NO NEW TAXES!

These are tough economic times and many Minnesota families are hurting.  That is why we are encouraging you to bring a non-perishable food donation to the rally.  Food donations will be collected by Hope for the City for distribution to metro-area food shelves.

Here are some links to additional details about the rally:

Directions and Parking

Rally Schedule

Contests

I look forward to seeing you all at the Tax Cut Rally this Saturday.

Regards,

Jason Lewis

According to a recent article in the Washington Examiner, President Barack Obama has rolled out the most aggressive domestic spending proposals in American history.