MN Activists Call on 3M to Remove Corporate Funds From Politics

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3M shareholders attending their annual meeting were met by a group of vocal activists from Public Citizen, Common Cause, Minnesotans for a Fair Economy, Take Action Minnesota and 99% Power. The activists demanded that the Minnesota-based Fortune 500 company keep its money out of politics and called for more transparency in corporate political involvement. Standing in their way is the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 “Citizens United” decision, which ruled that, under the First Amendment, corporations and people have the same rights to free speech and political campaign donations.

Two years ago, 3M and fellow Minnesota-based company Target both came under fire for their political activities. Prior to the 2010 midterm elections, 3M gave $100,000 to MN Forward, a front group backing GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. Target’s $150,000 contribution caused a consumer protest that was credited with hurting Target sales. The protest began with a Target consumer cutting up her Target charge card in a store, followed by a rally at Target’s corporate headquarters, during which activist delivered petitions with 240,000 signatures. Emmer’s pro-corporate position favored repealing corporate taxes, while limiting the rights of gays in Minnesota. Emmer narrowly lost the governor’s race to Democrat Mark Dayton in 2010, following a statewide recount. … Continue Reading

New Sun Country Airline Owners Funded Ads For Anti-Gay Candidate

Anti-Gay Candidate for Governor Tom Emmer benefited from $150,000 the new owners of Sun Country Airlines spent on Political Action Commitees

That’s because Sun Country has been purchased by the owners of Davisco Foods International which donated $150,000 to MN Forward, a Political Action Committee which spent the majority of its money running ads supporting Republican Tom Emmer’s campaign for Minnesota Governor. Emmer publicly supports a state constitutional amendment that prevent gays, lesbians and bi-sexual people from having equal rights.

Target Corporation donated an identical amount to MN Forward in 2010 and ended up losing millions of dollars in sales as GLBT groups and their supporters boycotted the store. Davisco owns counter top manufacturer Cambria, which has not suffered a similar fate, staying largely below the radar of the media.

New owner’s political donations not a one time thing … Continue Reading

The UpTake Honored For Debate Captioning

Last year The UpTake captioned a seemingly endless number of Gubernatorial debates so the deaf and hard of hearing could be better informed. Wednesday, the Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans honored The UpTake with it’s Accessible News Outlet Media Excellence Award. UpTake Executive Producer Mike McIntee, who is a long-time Eagan resident, accepted the award and credited his hard-of-hearing step-father with inspiring him and The UpTake’s volunteers to put in hundreds of hours of work to transcribe and caption the debates.

Captioned video of the full event … Continue Reading

Today’s UpTake: Tax Cuts Pass House, Metrodome Roof Still Not Safe

Following a marathon round of debates late into the night, the House of Representatives approved President Obama’s tax-cut compromise for the middle class and wealthy. Obama will sign the legislation today at 2:50 p.m. Central Time. Yesterday the President also spoke together with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on significant progress made in the war in Afghanistan.

The Metrodome's Ripped Roof

The big story here in Minnesota yesterday emerged during the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission press conference when it became apparent that the Metrodome’s roof wouldn’t be repaired any time soon. We also provided live footage of a gaping hole left by a fourth panel that collapsed Wednesday.

At a press conference yesterday in the State Capitol, GOP state senators Geoff Michel and Amy Koch addressed the Metrodome dilemma, and whether or not that makes the case for a publicly-funded new stadium. Michel and Koch appeared together with Governor-elect Mark Dayton, whose election victory over Tom Emmer was officially certified earlier in the day by Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

We also brought you the news that a $4 million loan approved by a Minnesota state agency for a mining company to purchase land may be illegal, according to an environmental watchdog group. Finally, this video featuring Minnesota Break the Bonds, an organization dedicated to disinvesting in Israeli Bonds until the country obeys international law and stops the apartheid against the Palestinians.

Governor-Elect Mark Dayton Gets An Election Certificate

More than a month after the election, Governor-Elect Mark Dayton is officially certified as the winner of the Minnesota Governor’s race.

Governor-Elect Mark Dayton's Election Certificate Signed By Secretary of State Mark Ritchie

Today’s UpTake: Governor-Elect Dayton Appears with Pawlenty

Today, five weeks and two days after the Nov. 2 election, former Democratic Senator Mark Dayton is now officially Governor-Elect Mark Dayton. As such, he’ll appear today at 2:45 p.m. in the Governor’s Reception Room at the State Capitol with Minnesota’s soon-to-be outgoing Governor Tim Pawlenty. As we have this entire election season, we’ll broadcast Dayton and Pawlenty’s news conference live on The UpTake. When he takes office on Jan. 3, Dayton will become Minnesota’s first Democratic governor since his former boss Rudy Perpich 20 years ago.

This evening, The UpTake will also air the Twin Cities Social Media Awards, from 7-9 p.m. at the Rogue Buddha Gallery in Minneapolis. Forty local movers and shakers, including our own Jason Barnett, have been nominated in 2010 for their impact on society through using social media. These are people who are finding new ways to use social media and pushing the limits of the platforms they are using. Tune into The UpTake at 7 p.m.

And if you missed yesterday’s grand finale of the 2010 election season (unless, of course, you’re still following the Alaskan Senatorial race), you can watch the concession speeches, victory speeches, and final lawyerly scuffles on our website. Shortly after Governor Pawlenty weighed in on the race to determine his successor, Republican hopeful Tom Emmer and his family conceded at a mid-morning news conference outside his home in frigid Delano, Minn. Despite the single-digit temperatures, Emmer was gracious and conciliatory, and willing to answer media questions — and even lavished The UpTake with praise. (Emmer joked that he may pursue a job opening with us!) Emmer’s concession opened the door for Mark Dayton, at last, to deliver his humble victory speech at the State Capitol yesterday afternoon to a room full of over 100 journalists and supporters.

Meanwhile, Emmer’s decision to throw in the towel lightened the load on the State Canvassing Board, which officially certified the results of the 2010 gubernatorial election just after midday. Amidst those proceedings, Justice Anderson explained his decision last week to lecture Emmer’s lawyers on the danger of bringing frivolous ballot challenges before the court. His former colleague on the bench, Eric Magnuson, who represented Emmer in this recount, told the press that the recount worked, despite suggestions to the contrary by other Republicans.

Governor-Elect Dayton Thanks Labor Supporters

Minnesota Governor-Elect Mark Dayton thanks supporters at a labor meeting in St. Paul. Dayton said his 8,770 vote victory would not have been possible without labor’s support. Earlier in the day, Dayton was certified as the winner of the 2010 Governor’s race when Republican Tom Emmer conceded.

Dayton, who will be appearing with Governor Tim Pawlenty at a news conference Thursday, questioned Pawlenty’s assertion that the state’s $6.2 billion deficit is “fictional”. And said Pawlenty’s promise of no new taxes was a myth. Dayton pointed to rising property taxes as evidence.

Magnuson Says the Recount Worked

At the Minnesota State Canvassing Board meeting yesterday, during which the Board certified the gubernatorial election results, Republican Tom Emmer’s attorney Eric Magnuson said that, by and large, the 2010 election recount worked — despite criticism of the recount voiced by others on Emmer’s team.

“Now The Real Work Begins”-Governor-Elect Dayton

Democrat Mark Dayton says the election that has chosen him as Governor of Minnesota and elected a Republican majority in the Minnesota House and Senate had a message. He believes the collective wisdom of the electorate is that they want part of what each party has to offer.

“If we try to make each other look bad, ” said Dayton “we will fail the people of Minnesota.”

“Now the real work begins” said Dayton when asked what happens next.

Dayton said Republican candidate for Governor Tom Emmer called him at 10:10 AM to offer his congratulations. The two will have lunch this week.

Dayton is recruiting for positions within the administration and expects to make announcements about them soon. He says until now he has not been able to offer out positions.
Mark Dayton’s remarks- transcript
… Continue Reading

Why Justice Anderson Lectured Emmer’s Lawyers

Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson explains why he gave such a stern lecture to former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson who was representing Tom Emmer in the Minnesota Gubernatorial recount.