The Minnesota House Rules Committee takes up the proposed anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment starting at 8:30am. This is the final committee to hear the bill before the House votes on it. The Senate has already approved putting it on the general election ballot in 2012.
Minneapolis, MN, May 17, 2011. New presidential candidate Newt Gingrich was in town to address The Minnesota Family Council, an anti-gay action group and for a book signing,
His book signing was showered with glitter by Minnesota’s irrepressible street theater impresario, Nick Espinoza.
Later, Newt was all smiles as supporters clamored for pictures with him.
Senator John Harrington (DFL-St. Paul) is a religion major and a victim of laws that prevented interracial marriage. He says a proposed anti-gay marriage amendment to Minnesota’s constitution appears to be based on religious reasoning from the book of Leviticus, which makes mentions of homosexuals. Senator Harrington says basing legislation on Leviticus worrys him since that book of the bible also says slavery is OK. Senator Harrington happens to be black.
Video by Bill Sorem
St. Paul, MN, May 11, 2011. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual (LGBT) groups and Minnesota’s handicapped joined forces at the Minnesota State Senate session to protest the proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and a number of cuts to services as part of the GOP Cuts Only Budget.
The protest against the amendment was very emotional and principled, but the effort failed as the Senate passed the Constitutional Amendment by a vote of 38 to 27. It now goes to the House before it will be placed on the 2012 state ballot. There was no further action on social service cuts, but the senate session was interrupted by noisy acts of civil disobedience in the senate gallery. Four people were removed from the building, but none were arrested. See more : I’d Rather Go To Jail Than Die In A Nursing Home.
As the Minnesota Senate debated an anti-gay constitutional amendment today, Senator Scott Dibble (DFL) talked about how hurtful such an amendment would be to him and his husband. After the 38-28 Senate vote approving the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment, Senator Dibble and other DFLers talked about the vote. Senator Dibble called it the “politics of resentment” that will unleash an “ugly vile slanderous” campaign between now and the 2012 election. Dibble said today is “a shameful day for Minnesota”.
Senator Al Franken announces the “Understanding The True Cost Of College Act” that would require colleges to use easier to understand language in their financial aid package offers to students.
Hindia Ali, Youth Leadership Development Coordinator at Somali Action Alliance is a delegate the the 2012 National Democratic Convention, the first Somali-American to be a delegate.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, President Obama ripped into Republicans for their lack of compromising and for the first time mentioned his likely Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, by name.
Minnesota women in healthcare predicaments met with with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Sen. Al Franken, Rep. Betty McCollum and Governor Mark Dayton on Friday — the two year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.
President Obama says many of the factors that are driving up gas prices are out of our control such as unrest in the Middle East. However, he points out there are some things that are in our control such as fraud and manipulation that can cause prices to spike even further.
President Obama talks about an all-of-the-above American energy strategy at a Daimler manufacturing plant in North Carolina that’s making trucks that run on natural gas.
Senator Al Franken is used to close elections. This time he didn’t beat his opponents, but had to settle for a tie with Representative Chip Cravaack in the second annual Minnesota Congressional delegation hotdish cookoff.
President Obama would like to reform taxes so we reward companies that invest in the US, not ones that send jobs overseas. But there are some barriers, such as Congress.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu uses his photo op with President Obama today to talk up how the US and Israel are united against Iran, which is suspected of trying to create a nuclear bomb.
President Obama warns that “loose talk” of war was only helping Iran, while pushing back against charges from GOP presidential contenders that he has been less than a loyal ally to Israel.
One year after the tornado that ravaged North Minneapolis, things are looking up for Anthony and Shemeika Strong. The absence of the Broadway Liquor Outlet has also been a blessing for their neighborhood.
Occupy coalesced activists from many neighborhood and civic groups to protest bank actions: Home foreclosures, refusing Somali funds transfer, voter photo ID, anti-immigrant actions.
Members of the Welfare Rights Committee disrupt the signing of the Vikings Stadium Bill. They claim, “Vikings Got Bailed Out, We Got Sold Out!”
Somali women and men gather to discuss the many aspects of female infertility with medical and social experts.
3M shareholders at annual meeting were asked to stop all corporate contributions to political campaigns and to disclose corporate political lobbying efforts. As expected, the resolutions were voted down, but the activists pledged to continue efforts.
Occupy backed homeowner successfully re-negotiated her loan with MN based US Bank.
After the six-week US-Dakota War of 1862, 38 Dakota men were hung in one of the largest mass executions in US History. Many argue that the trials were a sham, that is was the largest injustice in the nation’s history. Today, Representative Dean Urdahl, Chair of the Legacy Committee in Minnesota and the Civil War Task Force, seeks to, “rub a little salve in the wound,” by seeking a pardon for one of those warriors who was hung on that fateful December day. His name is Chaska.
Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL) decides to support the Vikings stadium because of the jobs it will create.
The Minnesota House and Senate have each approved different versions of a Vikings stadium proposal. So now it is up to a conference committee to reconcile the differences.
Principle or politics? On Friday, Governor Mark Dayton went heavily with principle and imperiled the politics of his top legislative priority — thousands of jobs from building a new Vikings football stadium.
One year after the tornado that ravaged North Minneapolis, things are looking up for Anthony and Shemeika Strong. The absence of the Broadway Liquor Outlet has also been a blessing for their neighborhood.
Occupy backed homeowner successfully re-negotiated her loan with MN based US Bank.
Nearly a year after the tornado that ripped through North Minneapolis, opinions vary greatly on what the poverty-stricken community needs most from local and state government. Should the City introduce “pie in the sky” ideas or focus on more immediate problems?
Representative Bobby Jo Champion talks about the challenges facing some of his constituents in North Minneapolis almost a year after a devastating tornado.
Rebuild It Right, an organization made up of architects and designers from Minneapolis, is helping homeowners advocate for quality design in the wake of the May 22nd Tornado.
The Vikings stadium deal got the support of Minneapolis City Council members. Council member Don Samuels says that this is a good deal for his constituents. It will provide jobs to a part of the city that has the highest rate of unemployment.
Local, Minneapolis non-profit Urban Homeworks works with banks and other community organizations to fight foreclosures.
Embattled homeowner Monique White took one more step Friday toward what could become an improbable victory that would let her stay in her North Minneapolis home. Judge Mark Labine will decide on Monday whether White will get a jury trial in District Court.
The Northside Economic Opportunity Network works with small businesses and micro-businesses in North Minneapolis to help them achieve success.
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