CommonBlog

Today, Common Cause Minnesota field two major complaints against the American Legislative Exchange Council’s activities in Minnesota. The first complaint was filed with the Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson and alleges that ALEC has engaged in false and deceptive practices. The second complaint was filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board alleging [...]

Corporations funded effort to pass Shoot first/Castle Doctrine bill in Minnesota As protests occur in Washington DC, Minnesota, and other places around the country around the “justifiable homicide” of Trayvon Martin, new information is coming to light about how this legislation spread from Florida to Minnesota. According to documents reviewed by Common Cause Minnesota, the [...]

Report finds that Minnesota ethics laws lack teeth; Awards D+ The State Integrity Investigation project released a national report evaluating “transparency, accountability and anti-corruption mechanisms in all 50 states.” The report awarded Minnesota a D+ for failing to keep pace with reform laws that have been implemented around the country. The report gave Illinois and [...]

Groups failed to disclose all political donors The Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board (CFDB) will proceed with an investigation of the financial activities of Minnesota for Marriage and the Minnesota Family Council. A complaint by Common Cause Minnesota triggered the investigation of both organizations for failing to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in [...]

Complaint asks for Mr. Helmberger to be charged with a Gross Misdemeanor Common Cause Minnesota has filed a complaint with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board against Minnesotans for Marriage and the Minnesota Family Council for failing to disclose campaign donations in support of the so-called “Marriage Amendment.” Minnesota law requires disclosure of campaign [...]