Maplewood, Minnesota, city councilmember James Llanas (DFL-endorsed) reads a letter from a young constituent, and shares his thoughts about bullying and the example set by adults in our community, at the May 23, 2011, city council meeting.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
House has drawn new districts but where is the map?
Join us at the Committee Hearing at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 3rd in Room 10 in the State Office Building.
Even for those of us closely monitoring the redistricting process, the release tonight of a map by the House Redistricting Committee is something of a shock. Notice of the hearing was put out Friday afternoon, with a bill number, and no map. We have been told by the GIS office that the map is completed, but they have been told not to post it on their website until 6:30 pm, which is the last possible time it can be posted to abide by House Rules.This gives individuals, organizations, and communities who care about how their boundaries are drawn, just 24 hours to evaluate, prepare testimony, and respond at tomorrow's hearing!
Just last week in the committee, committee members voted on the principles to guide the drawing of maps, including straight party line votes against a number of amendments that would increase the time and opportunity for the public to review the map. Draw the Line Minnesota strongly advocated for the adoption of principles. But how meaningful could they have been when a map was finalized less than a week late? Chair Rep. Sarah Anderson also told other committee members last week that she did not have any idea when a map would be ready -- and dodged questions of whether the committee would be drawing a map as a group. The message was clear: each party was to create their maps behind closed doors and introduce them to the committee. We are not sure how this reflects the "open, fair redistricting process for all Minnesotans" she promised in March.
Draw the Line Minnesota has been strongly advocated for an open and transparent process! This is clearly not it. We have been advocating for increased public participation. A 24 hour period to examine the map is clearly not enough.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
What's at Stake? Or Why Redistricting Matters to St. Paul, April 7
What's at stake when it comes to how political district lines are drawn? The answer is simple: your voice in our democracy. The process that occurs in Minnesota every 10 years following the national census is the foundation for how our representative democracy operates. Ultimately, the redistricting process determines how your community is defined, who you have the opportunity to vote for, what kinds of policies and issues get debated, what happens to your tax dollars, and how the complex set of challenges we face are handled.
Speakers will provide background information, current status of redistricting, and how people can have an impact on the process. The event is sponsored Draw The Line Minnesota and co-sponsored by Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties. While not required, please RSVP to help us with our planning.
Date: Thursday, April 7 from 7 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: League of Women Voters Minnesota, 550 Rice St, St. Paul
RSVP online
Speakers will provide background information, current status of redistricting, and how people can have an impact on the process. The event is sponsored Draw The Line Minnesota and co-sponsored by Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties. While not required, please RSVP to help us with our planning.
Date: Thursday, April 7 from 7 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: League of Women Voters Minnesota, 550 Rice St, St. Paul
RSVP online
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
DFL launches video series highlighting the success of the Affordable Care Act in the week of the historic law’s one-year anniversary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Real Stories of Health Reform
DFL launches video series highlighting the success of the Affordable Care Act in the week of the historic law’s one-year anniversary
St. Paul (March 21, 2011) — Today, the DFL Party launched the "Real Stories of Health Reform" series to highlight the successes of the Affordable Care Act one year after it was signed into law.
"For decades, Democratic leaders worked to reform America’s health-care system to make coverage more affordable for American families and small businesses, to extend coverage to uninsured Americans, and put an end to the worst practices of the insurance industry," said DFL Chair Ken Martin. "One year ago this Wednesday, President Obama and our Democratic leaders in Congress made that long-held dream a reality and the historic reforms in the Affordable Care Act became law. Now, Minnesotans are feeling the benefits every day, and that's something we can all celebrate and be proud of."
Each day this week, the DFL will post a new health-reform-success story at www.dfl.org/RealStoriesHCR. The first video highlights the Ihle family from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota:
March 21, 2011
The Ihle Family
Not long after their son William was born, Justin and Kari Ihle of Brooklyn Park, MN found out their son had Tuberous Sclerosis. It's a genetic condition that affects William's major organs, his brain, and recently has caused seizures. William regularly sees 6-7 specialists and takes medication to help control the seizures. His condition is something that will need to be monitored for his entire life. And until the passage of the Affordable Care Act, it was a pre-existing condition that would have made it impossible for him to be approved for health insurance if his father had ever changed jobs, lost his job, or once William was too old for his parents' insurance. Watch the Ihles tell the story in their own words, and describe the real way the Affordable Care Act has helped their family.
Minnesotans can find more information on the Affordable Care Act or submit their own health care stories at www.dfl.org/RealStoriesHCR.
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