Should Voters be Required to Show Photo Identification to Vote?

Boutwells Landing in Oak Park Heights will be the site for the first public debate in Washington County about the proposed Voter ID amendment. The debate will take place on May 9 at 2 p.m.

The first public debate in Washington County on the proposed Minnesota constitutional amendment requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls will take place next week in Oak Park Heights. The debate will be held Wednesday, May 9 at 2 p.m. at Boutwells Landing. The event is free and open to the public.   The debate, moderated by Sally Prill, Boutwells Landing resident, will ask representatives of local civic organizations advocating for and against the amendment to respond to the question: “Should voters be required to show photo identification to vote?” In the upcoming November general election the statewide ballot asks voters whether the constitution should be amended to "require all voters to present valid photo …

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Susan

4:23 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012

If that is the case for my dad, then that would solve our individual problem, but there are many more that would be affected for other reasons. I also fear (as I stated above), that the state would then claim poverty when it comes time to get people like my dad a photo ID.   more ›

Michele Bachmann Endorses Mitt Romney for President

Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann today endorsed Mitt Romney for President of the United States.

Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann today, May 3, endorsed Mitt Romney for President of the United States. Bachmann issued the following statement on her endorsement of Romney: "This November, Americans will be at the polls with a serious choice- they can vote for more of Barack Obama's transformation of America, with more joblessness, higher energy prices, fewer opportunities for our children, more government controls, bailouts, and failed economic policies, or they can vote for a new vision of prosperity and liberty. I'm honored to announce that today, I am endorsing Governor Mitt Romney for President of the United States, a man who will preserve the American dream of prosperity and liberty. We've had a hard fought battle …

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Letter to the Editor: A Positive Legislative Experience with Lohmer

Sheryl Grassie of Edina writes a letter to the editor about her experiences initiating legislation with Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R-Lake Elmo).

This year I had a very unexpectedly pleasant experience with initiating legislation and trying to get a couple of Bills passed regarding autism housing. As the director of a local non-profit The End of the Spectrum, I had no experience with government at this level and was told it was very unlikely I could get anything passed. I was referred to Kathy Lohmer and she listened patiently and sympathetically to the plight of the families I work with. She also very enthusiastically committed to helping in any way she could. We constructed two bills to address the problems, and Kathy was my driving force, especially with the more controversial bill to start an autism campus. She continually held firm to the belief that this was everyone’s issue, …

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Letter to the Editor: Lohmer's New Bill Would Make Couples Wait to Divorce

Mary Harrison, of Lake Elmo denounces Rep. Kathy Lohmer's sponsorship of a bill requiring a two-year waiting period for divorce if the dissolution of a marriage is disputed and there is a child in the home.

Do we really need government to be so involved in our relationships they can decide when it is time to break up? With only a few weeks left in the session, Kathy Lohmer is championing a new bill to make couples wait two years in order to get a divorce. This amount of meddling in people's personal lives has really gotten out of control. Divorce is a terrible and painful thing. People do not break up their marriages lightly. I know personally that people will fight to stay together, especially if there are children involved. It is not the government's place to decide we haven't worked hard enough, in fact it isn't their place to dictate our marriages at all. When a couple finally makes the decision to divorce, it is time to let them get on …

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Tony Hernandez Gets GOP Nod to Face Betty McCollum

Tony Hernandez got the Republican endorsement to run for the U.S. House in the 4th Congressional District Saturday, April 21.

Michele Bachmann: Minnesota's Pain at the Gas Pump is Real

High gas prices affect everything – from the price of goods and services to business investments and leisure travel, Rep. Michele Bachmann says. Every time the price of gas goes up 10 cents, it costs the American economy $14 billion.

The rising price of gasoline has Minnesotans, faced with having to choose between filling their gas tanks and scrimping on other necessities, demanding answers from Washington and the White House. Gas prices have risen over 110 percent since President Obama’s inauguration and are up 30 cents a gallon just this month. A recent Reuters poll verifies what we already knew, 68 percent of Americans are unhappy with the way President Obama is dealing with high gas prices. High gas prices affect everything – from the price of goods and services to business investments and leisure travel. Every time the price of gas goes up 10 cents, it costs the American economy $14 billion. But more importantly, when gas goes up 10 cents, it costs the average …

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Markus

5:48 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

If you want to argue that we need a safety net then let's go back to the days when the counties took care of the truly indigent. We can cooperate at the local level to provide for those who truly cannot provide for themselves. Our definition of need is subjective at best. Let's define what need really is and act on it. Most people including conservatives and libertarians are compassionate and are…   more ›

UPDATED: Minnesota Senate Passes Voter ID Bill

Barring any legal challenge, the Voter ID amendment will be on the November general election ballot.

After passing the Minnesota House in the dark of night, the Republican-backed voter ID constitutional amendment passed on a party line vote in the Minnesota Senate. Barring any legal challenge, the amendment will be on the November general election ballot. Here is the proposed voter photo ID constitutional amendment and ballot question UPDATED FROM: Wednesday, 10:40 a.m. At 11 a.m. today, the Minnesota Senate will debate and vote on a controversial constitutional amendment requiring a state-issued photo ID to vote in a Minnesota election. If approved as expected, this will be the final vote on the bill and will put it on the November ballot. Related Posts: Minnesota Voter ID Amendment Close to Landing on the November Ballot Minnesota House…

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Minnesota Voter ID Amendment Close to Landing on the November Ballot

If the Voter ID lands on November's ballot and is approved by a majority of voters, the next Legislature would pass enabling legislation spelling out exactly how the photo ID requirement would be implemented.

A plan to require voters to show government-issued photo ID might be just a couple of floor votes away from being placed on this November’s ballot. Members of a conference committee reached an agreement for a proposal amending the state’s constitution so that voters would have to present an approved photo ID card at their polling place on Election Day. If approved by a majority of voters, it would fall on the next Legislature to pass enabling legislation spelling out exactly how the photo ID requirement would be implemented. Conferees voted to adopt a conference report that contains some key differences from the versions passed by the House and Senate. These include: • Removing language added on the Senate floor that would have allowed for…

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Senate District 39 Democrats Endorse Bunn, Bruno and DeGree

Democrats endorsed Julie Bunn, John Bruno and Tom DeGree during the Senate District 39 Convention Saturday night at Stillwater Junior High School.

Democrats in new Senate District 39 endorsed three candidates by acclamation at its District Convention at Stillwater Junior High School Saturday.  Delegates endorsed former state legislator, Julie Bunn, of Lake Elmo, for the State Senate; John Bruno, of Lindstrom, for House seat 39A and Tom DeGree, of Lake Elmo, for House Seat 39B.  The new District 39 includes Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, Franconia Township, Shafer, Forest Lake, Scandia, May Township, Marine on St. Croix, Grant, Pine Springs, Lake Elmo, Baytown Township, Bayport, West Lakeland Township, Lakeland, Lakeland Shores, Lake St. Croix Beach and St. Mary’s Point.  A part of District 39 is now in the new Fourth Congressional District and U.S. Representative Betty McCollum …

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Sade

5:57 pm on Wednesday, April 4, 2012

I agree with you Renee, "let's move minnesota forward" with our DFL endorsed candidates. Also I attended the DFL convention on march 31,the enthusiasm and overwhelming support of the candidates said to me, we are going to win ! All the candidates are highly educated,along with proven work experience.   more ›

PHOTOS: Hundreds Turn Out for Hudson's Santorum Rally

GOP Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum spoke to hundreds of supporters Friday afternoon at the Hudson Golf Club.

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The Lazy Man

6:11 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012

I get confused...I thought it was 53% of the people actually pay taxes. That means the other 47% don't. But AtHomeMom says 1% pay for the other 99%. Did you know that it was Ronald Reagan who is cut out a large percentage of the 47%'ers who don't pay taxes? Many of those are elderly...like the majority of people at the Santorum rally.   more ›