At this time of year, as we celebrate our nation’s
Independence Day, it’s a good time to acknowledge the progress Minnesotan’s
have made toward delivering on our nation’s Constitutional promise of Freedom
and Equality for all.
Last November, I was pleased that Minnesota voters rejected a
proposed state Constitutional Amendment which would have written illegal
discrimination into Minnesota’s Constitution.
I was also pleased that in 2013 duly elected politicians in
the State of Minnesota enacted a “Freedom to Marry” law, removing yet another
obstacle to freedom and equality for all. We should celebrate the politicians who
voted in favor of freedom and equality. They deserve praise for their votes,
without needing the “cattle prod” of a Supreme Court decision to force them in
the right direction.
The politicians whose names appear below do not deserve our
respect. They have shown (or, in some cases, have continued to show) that they
are unfit to hold public office anywhere in our great nation. In the year 2013 they
chose to disrespect our nation and our nation’s Constitution. They voted to
deny freedom and equality for all. They voted for illegal discrimination.
Our nation’s Constitution promises freedom and equality for
all - not just for White, Christian, English language speaking, heterosexuals –
but, for all. Attempting to limit the freedom of minority groups only serves to weaken Constitutuional protections for all.
One of the more disturbing elements heard during the
Minnesota Senate “debate” on HF-1054 was when Senator Paul E Gazelka (R-9,
Nisswa) submitted an amendment which would have gutted decades of equal rights
protections by allowing someone with “sincerely held religious beliefs” to deny
services, accommodations, or goods to anyone based on those beliefs. Further,
it would have invalidated the entire “Freedom to Marry Act” if any of its
provisions - such as those contained in the proposed amendment - were found to be
unconstitutional. Rightfully, the amendment was defeated (but, sadly, twenty-six misguided Senators voted to allow illegal discrimination based on religious beliefs).
Religious beliefs should never be allowed to trump the
freedom and equality promised in our nation’s Constitution and laws. While one
of our promised freedoms is freedom of religion, it does not allow the beliefs
of any religion to invalidate our Constitution and laws. We are free to follow
our religious beliefs and customs as long as they don’t conflict with our
nation’s Constitution and laws.
In May, 2013, the
following Minnesota politicians voted against freedom and equality (HF-1054).
They voted for illegal discrimination. As noted below, some of them are two and
three time offenders - having previously voted for the proposed Constitutional
Amendment to add illegal discrimination to Minnesota’s Constitution and/or
having voted for an amendment to allow illegal discrimination based on “sincerely held
religious beliefs.”
Every day they should be reminded by family (especially their
children and grandchildren) and friends that voting against our country is wrong. If they seek reelection or election to another office, voters should think carefully before voting. If these individuals are willing to vote to weaken our Constitutionally protected freedoms, what other bad decisions are they
capable of making?
Rep Jim Abeler (R-35A, Anoka) (x2)
Rep Tony Albright (R-55B, Prior Lake)
Sen Bruce D Anderson (R-29, Buffalo) (x3)
Rep Mark Anderson (R-09A, Lake Shore)
Rep Paul H Anderson (R-12B, Starbuck) (x2)
Rep Sarah Anderson (R-44A, Plymouth) (x2)
Rep Bob Barrett (R-32B, Lindstrom) (x2)
Rep Michael Beard (R-55A, Shakopee) (x2)
Sen Michelle R Benson (R-31, Ham Lake) (x3)
Rep Mike Benson (R-26B, Rochester) (x2)
Sen David M Brown (R-15, Becker) (x3)
Sen Roger C Chamberlain (R-38, Lino Lakes) (x3)
Rep Tony Cornish (R-23B, Vernon Center) (x2)
Sen Gary H Dahms (R-16, Redwood Falls) (x3)
Rep Kurt Daudt (R-31A, Crown) (x2)
Rep Gregory M Davids (R-28B, Preston) (x2)
Rep Matt Dean (R-38B, Dellwood) (x2)
Rep Bob Dettmer (R-39A, Forest Lake) (x2)
Rep Steve Drazkowski (R-21B, Mazeppa) (x2)
Rep Sondra Erickson (R-15A, Princeton) (x2)
Rep Dan Fabian (R-01A, Roseau) (x2)
Sen Michelle L Fischbach (R-13, Paynesville) (x3)
Rep Mary Franson (R-08B, Alexandria) (x2)
Rep Patti Fritz (DFL-24B, Faribault)
Sen Paul E Gazelka (R-9, Nisswa) (x3)
Rep Steve Green (R-02B, Fosston)
Rep Glenn Gruenhagen (R-18B, Glencoe) (x2)
Rep Bob Gunther (R-23A, Fairmont) (x2)
Rep Tom Hackbarth (R-31B, Cedar) (x2)
Sen Dan D Hall (R-56, Burnsville) (x3)
Rep Rod Hamilton (R-22B, Mountain Lake) (x2)
Sen David W Hann (R-48, Eden Prairie) (x3)
Rep Jerry Hertaus (R-33A, Greenfield)
Rep Mary Liz Holberg (R-58A, Lakeville) (x2)
Rep Joe Hoppe (R-47B, Chaska) (x2)
Sen Karin Housley (R-39, Saint Mary's Point)
Rep Jeff Howe (R-13A, Rockville)
Sen Bill G Ingebrigtsen (R-8, Alexandria) (x3)
Rep Brian Johnson (R-32A, Cambridge)
Rep Tim Kelly (R-21A, Red Wing)
Rep Debra Kiel (R-01B, Crookston) (x3)
Sen Mary Kiffmeyer (R-30, Big Lake) (x2)
Sen Lyle J Koenen (DFL-17, Clara City) (x2)
Rep Ron Kresha (R-09B, Little Falls)
Rep Ernest G Leidiger (R-47A, Mayer) (x2)
Sen Warren E Limmer (R-34, Maple Grove) (x3)
Rep Kathy Lohmer (R-39B, Stillwater) (x2)
Rep Tara Kay Mack (R-57A, Apple Valley) (x2)
Rep Joe McDonald (R-29A, Delano) (x2)
Rep Denny McNamara (R-54B, Hastings) (x2)
Sen Jeremy R Miller (R-28, Winona) (x3)
Rep Pam Myhra (R-56A, Burnsville) (x2)
Sen Carla J Nelson (R-26, Rochester) (x3)
Rep Jim Newberger (R-15B, Becker)
Sen Scott J Newman (R-18, Hutchinson) (x3)
Sen Sean R Nienow (R-32, Cambridge) (x3)
Rep Bud Nornes (R-08A, Fergus Falls) (x2)
Rep Tim O'Driscoll (R-13B, Sartell) (x2)
Rep Marion O'Neill (R-29B, Buffalo)
Sen Julianne E Ortman (R-47, Chanhassen) (x3)
Sen David J Osmek (R-33, Mound) (x2)
Sen John C Pederson (R-14, Saint Cloud) (x3)
Rep Joyce Peppin (R-34A, Rogers) (x2)
Rep John Petersburg (R-24A, Waseca)
Sen Eric R Pratt (R-55, Prior Lake) (x2)
Rep Cindy Pugh (R-33B, Chanhassen)
Rep Duane Quam II (R-25A, Byron) (x2)
Sen Julie A Rosen (R-23, Fairmont) (x3)
Rep Linda Runbeck (R-38A, Circle Pines) (x2)
Sen Carrie L Ruud (R-10, Breezy Point) (x2)
Rep Tim A Sanders (R-37B, Blaine) (x2)
Rep Mary Sawatzky (DFL-17B, Willmar)
Rep Joe Schomacker (R-22A, Luverne) (x2)
Rep Peggy Scott (R-35B, Andover) (x2)
Sen David H Senjem (R-25, Rochester) (x3)
Sen Dan Sparks (DFL-27, Austin)
Sen LeRoy A Stumpf (DFL-1, Plummer) (x2)
Rep Chris Swedzinski (R-16A, Ghent) (x2)
Rep Tama Theis (R-14A, Saint Cloud)
Sen David A Thompson (R-58, Lakeville) (x3)
Rep Paul Torkelson (R-16B, Saint James) (x2)
Rep Mark Uglem (R-36A, Champlin)
Rep Dean Urdahl (R-18A, Grove City) (x2)
Sen Bill Weber (R-22, Luverne)
Sen Torrey N Westrom (R-12, Elbow Lake)
Rep Anna Wills (R-57B, Apple Valley)
Rep Kelby G Woodard (R-20A, Belle Plaine) (x2)
Rep Kurt Zellers (R-34B, Maple Grove) (x2)
Rep Nicholas Zerwas (R-30A, Elk River)
(x2) = Two time loser
(x3) = Three time loser (based on the Gazelka amendment vote
- only Senators were eligible; it is unknown how Representatives would have voted if
a similar amendment had been offered in the House)
Note: While every
effort has been made to properly identify the guilty, errors may have
occurred in transcribing the data found on the State of Minnesota web site. Please
let me know if corrections need to be made.
