2012 Latino Legislative Day @ the Capitol

We would like to thank all who participated in advocating for both the Latino Community and the CLAC organization in the event.

 

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Sunset Review Update

We received good news you will find of interest! The Sunset Commission’s final report 1/31/12 (to download a PDF copy of the report, click here) is recommending to the Legislature that CLAC and two other Councils continue active. See excerpt below with only the items that relate to our Councils.

Also, Rep. Joe Mullery introduced today HF2048 (to download a PDF copy of HF2048, click here) which calls for all the Councils’ continued existence.

We need your support to take advantage of the momentum created by these recommendations. Please write to legislators and the Governor’s Office to convey your interest in the services we provide the Latino community.

We look forward to a successful 2012.

Thank you very much!

Chicano Latino Affairs Council

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NEW LEAF SERIES
for Former Offenders

Minneapolis Workforce Center
777 East Lake Street
Corner of Lake & Chicago
On #5 and 21 bus lines
Free parking

The  NEW  LEAF  SERIES  for Former Offenders is a free series of classes offered Monday through Thursday afternoons at 12:30 – 4:30 PM over a two week period at South Minneapolis Workforce Center.

Topics covered include

PARTICIPANTS MUST BE ON TIME AND ATTEND ALL 8 SESSIONS TO CONTINUE IN, OR TO GRADUATE FROM THE PROGRAM!

Applications for the NEW LEAF SERIES are accepted ONLY at the Minneapolis WorkForce Center (North and South) in the Orientations offered daily, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:00 PM - Space is limited.   Accepted applicants will be notified by telephone prior to the beginning of the NEW LEAF SERIES.
           
**2012 Series dates:     May  7 - 17      Jun  (no classes)

**Schedule subject to change

 

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Capitol Notes:

 

Voter ID amendment approved by first committee
Minnesotans could vote on whether to amend the state constitution to require voters to show a government-issued photo ID card. (view full story) Published 3/8/2012

Dayton unveils supplemental budget plan
Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled a $60 million supplemental budget plan that would fund a new jobs tax credit and human services programs by closing corporate tax loopholes. (view full story) Published 3/12/2012

Committee approves spreading out vehicle lease tax
Committee approval was given to a bill that would allow customers to pay the sales tax on certain rent-to-own and lease-to-own used motor vehicles incrementally. (view full story) Published 3/12/2012

Efforts proposed to make buyout agreements public information
Bill would address buyout and settlement agreements of more than $10,000 of public money making the reasons for the agreement public information. (view full story) Published 3/12/2012

House passes Voter ID bill

published 3/21/2012

Members of the House voted 72-62 to put a question on this November’s ballot asking Minnesotans whether government-issued photo ID should be required for voting.
Sponsored by Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake), HF2738 proposes amending the state’s constitution so that voters would have to present an approved photo ID card at their polling place on Election Day. The bill now moves to the Senate, where Sen. Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson) is the sponsor.
After more than 9 hours of floor debate, all Republican members voted for the bill and all DFL members voted against it. As in previous debates on the issue, Republicans said photo ID is needed to prevent voter fraud while DFLers argued it will disenfranchise voters. Both sides accused each other of having no evidence to back their claims.
Rep. Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers) said the issue is a “no-brainer” for most Minnesotans.
“Frankly, most people are shocked when the go to the polls and they pull out their driver’s license and the election judge says, ‘Oh, that’s okay, that’s not required,’” she said.
Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-St. Louis Park) warned that Republicans were igniting an “arms race” of partisan constitutional amendments.
“We are putting policy preferences into the constitution on a whim because one political party can, because they have the votes,” he said.
The Legislature passed a voter ID requirement in 2011, but Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed it. Kiffmeyer’s bill would put the question directly to voters, thereby avoiding the governor’s desk.
As written, the bill would allow absentee voting to continue using the same process that’s already used. It would also allow voters to use photo IDs that don’t show their current address as long as they have some other way to prove their residency.
If a majority of voters approve the constitutional change, the details of how to implement it would be left to the next Legislature, which would have to pass enabling legislation.
The bill would pose the following question to voters:
“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photo identification on election day and that the state provide free identification to eligible voters?”
Last year, the Legislature passed a bill that will ask voters whether to define marriage as being only between one man and one woman. The question will appear on the ballot in November.
- Nick Busse