Capitol Letter for May 9

LWV Launches New Campaign to Defend Democracy

On May 1, the League of Women Voters launched 'Unite and Rise 8.5' to Mobilize 8.5 Million voters through Advocacy, Civic Education, and Engagement after they declared that we are in a "Constitutional Crisis".

Members and local Leagues are encouraged to review the Action Toolkit and the May-July Power Playbook for ideas on state and local actions that align with this new initiative. Using Legal & Policy Advocacy, Public Mobilization & Coalition Building, Civic Education & Engagement, and Democracy Resilience, we will strategize, adapt, and sustain our NONPARTISAN work to Defend Democracy. For more resources and opportunities to engage, please visit our Take Action page.

Local Leagues continue to lead in their communities, and LWVMN’s Observer and Lobby Corps and Climate Change Task Force are leading actions during the 2025 Legislative Session. Please tell your elected officials to stand up for healthy communities, and join Clean Elections MN for a webinar on the SAVE Act with Sec. Simon and the ACLU on the evening of May 20.

News from MN State Capitol

The Minnesota Legislature has until May 19 to present a state budget proposal to the Governor. Conference committees began meetings this week to reconcile differences between House and Senate proposals and hear additional testimony. LWVMN is still advocating for a prohibition on bribing voters to be included in the final Elections Omnibus and will have an update next week - action here. Please see below for updates on issues that we are following.

• House News

• State government, elections conferees delve into finance, fraud and absentee voting

• House, Senate find common ground on key housing policies despite $72 million funding difference 

• House, Senate far apart on ag bill, leaving path forward 'clear as mud'

• Minnesota legislators consider rolling back or revising some laws passed by DFL in 2023 (MN Star Tribune)

• Labor fights to preserve recent gains at Minnesota Legislature — and other labor news (Minnesota Reformer)

• Minnesota Senate passes human services budget with nearly $300 million in cuts  (Minnesota Reformer)

• Here’s how the House plans to cut $300 million from the disability services agency (Minnesota Reformer)

• Yuen: Community news is under threat as more Minnesotans cut their cable cords (MN Star Tribune)

• A last-ditch effort to reform Minnesota zoning fails in Senate committee (Minnesota Reformer)

• Minnesota Senate passes bill to establish Office of Inspector General (MPR News)

Please learn more at our Legislative Session 2025 webpage.

News Relating to Federal Action

• AmeriCorps at risk: What federal cuts mean for Minnesota (MPR News)

• Trump v. Rule of Law is a case that is riveting lawyers, judges and legal experts (MinnPost)

• IT’S OVER: Republican Jefferson Griffin Concedes in North Carolina Supreme Court Race (Democracy Docket)

• Federal Court Rules in Favor of Voters in North Carolina Post-Election Disenfranchisement Case

• ‘We always try to maximize federal dollars’: How Minnesota became a national model for Medicaid expansion (MinnPost)

  • Congressional budget agency projects sweeping Medicaid cutbacks in states under GOP plans (Minnesota Reformer)

• U.S. House panel scraps Boundary Waters protection as it works on Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ (MinnPost)

• Trump asks Supreme Court to allow him to end humanitarian parole for 500,000 people (MPR News)

Please learn more at our Take Action webpage plus upcoming webinars, LWV Communications, and tools to “Use Your Voice”.