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State Representative Paul Thissen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5375
For more information contact: Carrie Lucking 651-296-4169
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RATHER THAN SOLVING A PROBLEM, GOP CREATES ONE Statement from Minority Leader Thissen on House Voter ID bill
Today, Republicans are spending money we don’t have, adding millions to a deficit that they can’t even solve, in order to create problems in a voting system that works well now.
We have one of the cleanest, fairest, and best election systems in the country right now. Instead of protecting that clean and fair system and keeping our nation-leading voter turnout, Republicans are going to spend millions of dollars to put monkey wrenches into our best-in-the-nation voting system.
Indeed, rather than solving a problem, the GOP creating one.
No matter what political party you are in, where you grew up, or how hard you had to fight to be able to vote; It is your right and no one can take it away. No one should put up barriers to our exercising their inviolate right to vote – a right that Minnesotans take very seriously because we show up to vote more than anyone in any state.
Earlier this spring, I had the honor to travel to Alabama to meet John Lewis and a number of Freedom Riders. These were men and women who were physically beaten. They risked their lives because they were denied their basic rights – including and perhaps foremost, the right to participate in our society – the right to vote. Even today, over a half century later, their strength of character and belief that the basic right to vote was worth their lives is inspiring to all of us.
This country was founded on the idea that individual citizens should have the right to influence the decisions that affect our lives. Indeed, the history of this country – and the measure of its greatness – could be seen as the story of how that basic idea of having a voice has grown and expanded to include more and more people. Unfortunately, this bill is a u-turn on the road to full equality and full participation in democracy.
Members, we have 19 months until the next time Minnesotans will vote with or without a photo ID, but only 19 days to solve the budget crisis. Today, the GOP will worsen that budget deficit by millions while making sure that thousands upon thousands of Minnesotans no longer have the right to vote.
If your priority is solving the budget deficit – vote no.
If you believe that the right to vote cannot be taken away – vote no.
If you think it’s time to get our priorities in order – vote no.
News Items
- Speaker Thissen to Establish Select Committee on Controlled Substances and Synthetic Drugs - (Posted: May 29 2013 1:15PM)
- Minnesota House Finishes 2013 Session with Balanced Budget, Historic Investments in Education, Job Creation, Property Tax Relief - (Posted: May 21 2013 12:44AM)
- Governor Mark Dayton & DFL Legislators Hold Invest in Education “Pep Rally” with Minnesota teachers, parents and students - (Posted: Apr 21 2013 4:21PM)
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