Capitol Letter for February 21, 2025

Knowing the facts from trusted, nonpartisan sources is a first and ongoing step in our advocacy work. While the news below can feel overwhelming, our LWV network is strong and ready to take action. Please download and share this one-pager on how we can advocate effectively.

Nearly 70 League members joined our Fired Up Friday call this week to be in community and act together on a very concerning issue. As soon as next week, the US House could vote on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote despite the fact that voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering. This bill could disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters who don’t have these documents readily available, according to an analysis from the Brennan Center. Moreover, if signed into law, the bill “would obliterate or upend” popular forms of voter registration including registering online, automatic voter registration, and voter registration drives. With this easy to use tool from LWVUS, tell our members of Congress to oppose the SAVE Act in less than 60 seconds. For more timely actions and resources to use your voice, visit our Take Action webpage!

  • Join us for a webinar on Tuesday, February 25 at 7 pm to better understand executive powers and state protections. University of Minnesota Law School Professor Alan Rozenshtein will break down how our federalist system balances power and how we can use state and local authority to safeguard an inclusive democracy.

LWV File Photo

 
 

Observer Reports

  • LWVMN Observer & Lobby Corps Member Amy Caucutt

    This was the day for 'fraud" bills: HF 1 (Patti Anderson) developing an inspector general within the Office of Legislative Auditor, and HF 2 (Ben Davis) requiring whistle blowing by state employees and a host of required unannounced verifications and access by state to all records of non-profits.  I cannot help comparing and contrasting these bills with similar ones in the Senate. Without impugning motives, because everyone at the legislature wants to root out fraud, the methodology of bill development and presentation is strikingly different. Both Rep. Anderson and Senators Gustafson and Kreun have gathered info from other states and from various departments in MN government, and both state they are "works in progress and open to changes"; but only the Senate is working with members of both parties. Rep. Anderson (R), did invite Rep Klevorn (DFL) to attend a meeting this evening with some stakeholders, when pressed.

    This committee hearing was fraught with partisanship, unlike a similar stop for the fraud bill in Senate State Government Committee. There will be good one-liners for future campaigns on both sides, even though both sides do want to solve a problem. Democrats introduced a series of amendments...all voted down...to expand the reach of the new inspector general in HF1 or the whistleblowers in HF2, to labor law, business grants and subsidies as well as tax breaks....not just nonprofits. Democrats also worried about data privacy and employee classification rights and brought up the Elon Musk example in Washington DC multiple times. Although Chair Nash commented that the Democrats had run a number of "incomplete” bills through this committee last session, Democrats were still concerned. They noted especially the lack of fiscal note for HF2 which will be sent without cost estimate to Ways and Means despite its requirement for costly immediate enforcement with monthly verifications by state staff of all grants to non-profits. Some of their worries were glossed over by Rep Anderson who admitted that "most of that section is coming out in the next committee (Human services)". Rep. Davis, however, made no such promise to continue to work on his bill, stating he liked it as is.

    Testifiers from Minnesota Managment and Budget (MMB), Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE), and Office of Legislative Auditor (OLA) added a few concerns to which Rep Anderson said she was working on it.

    Additional Coverage from MN House News

 
Capitol LetterLWV MinnesotaSF4432, SF3555, SF3616, HF3651, HF3783, SF4785, HF4043, HF3389, SF3964, HF3276, HF4728, HF4287, HF4745, HF3682, HF4598, HF4593