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State Representative Paul Thissen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5375
For more information contact: Michael Howard 651-296-8873
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GOP presses forward with extreme constitutional amendment agenda
Passes extreme voter ID constitutional amendment on party line vote
Saint Paul, Minnesota – Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers said before the 2012 session began that he “doesn’t like legislating through the constitution." However, Minnesota Republicans did just that, passing a voter ID constitutional amendment on a party line vote. House DFLers unanimously voted against the bill and instead pushed for priorities that are important to Minnesotans – creating jobs, paying back our kids, and providing property tax relief for middle class Minnesotans.
“This year Republicans again told Minnesotans they would focus on jobs and the economy and they have again broken their word,” said House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL – Minneapolis). “It’s time for Minnesotans to come to grips with a cold, hard fact –Republicans are out of touch with your priorities. Republicans would rather pursue constitutional amendments instead of jobs, education, property tax relief or a host of other issues that actually matter to Minnesotans.”
During the debate on the House floor, State Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley) attempted to replace the voter ID constitutional amendment language with different priorities including Governor Dayton’s jobs package, a bill to fully pay back our kids, and restoration of the homestead credit. Republicans ruled these amendments “out of order.” Winkler said the amendments make clear the failed priorities of Minnesota Republicans.
“We had an opportunity to create jobs, pay back our kids, or provide tax relief to Minnesotans tonight but we didn’t do any of those things because they aren’t priorities for Minnesota Republicans,” said Winkler. “This constitutional amendment push shows that Republicans are simply out of touch with Minnesotans.”
State Representative Steve Simon (DFL – St. Louis Park) said that legislating by constitutional amendment was a dangerous precedent for the Legislature to set.
“In the case of voter ID, a reasonable, bipartisan alternative is available and Republicans refuse to even consider it for purely political reasons. That’s not how Minnesotans want their legislators to act,” said Simon. “Using the constitution as a political weapon is a bad idea and I worry this is the sad beginning of a political arms race.”
With the 2012 session more than half complete, Thissen urged the legislature to refocus on bread and butter issues.
“Every second that we spend on these distracting constitutional amendments is a lost moment that prevents us from doing what Minnesotans really want us to be doing,” said Thissen. “I’d encourage Minnesotans who would rather see us spend our time on more important priorities to call their Republican legislator and tell them to start focusing on the jobs, education, and property tax relief. I’d encourage my Republican colleagues to start listening.”
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News Items
- DFL Leaders Eager to Confront Minnesota’s Challenges with Focus on Economy and Middle Class - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 2:21PM)
- State Representative John Persell appointed Majority Whip - (Posted: Dec 21 2012 1:11PM)
- Speaker-designate Thissen to Establish Select Committee on Living Wage Jobs - (Posted: 2012-12-19 00:00:00)
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