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State Representative Ryan Winkler
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7026
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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MINNESOTA LEGISLATOR INITIATING NATIONAL EFFORT FOR BETTER DISCLOSURE LAWS
ST. PAUL, MN – State Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley, MN) sent a letter to 329 legislative leaders in 49 states today. Winkler offered his assistance in closing loopholes in state election laws that currently allow corporations and special interests to secretly contribute unlimited financial resources on behalf of candidates for office.
“Following the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision this year, the floodgates of corporate financial influence have poured into elections across the country," wrote Winkler, who authored nation-leading corporate disclosure legislation in Minnesota last year.
“From local and legislative races, to congressional and statewide contests, hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate political donations have been secretly bankrolling campaign advertisements and organizations. As elected leaders we have a responsibility to require genuine transparency and accountability in campaign finance and election laws.”
Winkler’s bill (SF2471) passed unanimously in the Minnesota Legislature and was signed into law last spring by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Minnesota’s new law has received praise from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the New York Times and most recently, the White House – being heralded as a national model for transparency and disclosure.
“The Supreme Court has dramatically altered the landscape of elections in our country. As state legislators, there is little we can do to change that,” Winkler wrote to legislative leaders from both parties. “However, as elected leaders we have a responsibility to require genuine transparency and accountability in campaign finance and election laws. That’s what this legislation does.”
Rep. Winkler, who is considered a leader in election reform in Minnesota, provided state lawmakers with draft language for similar legislation to be considered in upcoming legislative sessions. Winkler offered his personal assistance in helping see the legislation become law in all 50 states.
“Working together,” Winkler said, “we can do the right thing by American voters and bring some sunlight to the influence of special interest money in our elections.”
News Items
- House passes minimum wage increase to raise wages of over 350,000 Minnesotans - (Posted: May 3 2013 4:30PM)
- Select Committee on Living Wage Jobs reviews 30 years of Pay Equity Act and current gender, income and work issues in Minnesota - (Posted: Apr 16 2013 1:56PM)
- Select Committee on Living Wage Jobs to review 30 years of Pay Equity Act and address current gender, income and work issues - (Posted: Apr 15 2013 11:40AM)
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