TAKE TEN MINUTES FOR MN DEMOCRACY TODAY: SUPPORT HF1605


Hello! We have a shot at real nonpartisan redistricting in Minnesota. Let me break this down into as simple terms as possible.

GOOD: A new nonpartisan redistricting bill called HF1605 is making its way through the state legislature, and needs our support. This bill is a true bipartisan effort, protecting the process from partisan interests and allowing direct participation by public members as commissioners. It does not protect incumbents..

NOT SO GOOD: A competing bill has been introduced that creates a commission consisting solely of five retired judges, excluding any other members of the public, and containing principles that ultimately protect incumbents. Senator Ann Rest and Representative Jennifer Schultz have introduced the bill, SF582 in the Senate and HF1018 in the House. You can link to their bill here.

For more background on this issue, see this blog's previous entry.

TAKE ACTION

1. CALLS

Please call Reps. Dehn, Freiberg, and Hortman and tell them you want HF1605 to be sent to the Government Operations Committee. Time is of the essence, and pressure is needed. Contact info below. Note: if you email them, cc their legislative assistants (also listed below).

Rep. Dehn tel: 651-296-8659 rep.raymond.dehn@house.mn
Legislative Assistant: Yingya Vang 651-296-1761 yingya.vang@house.mn

Rep. Freiberg tel: 651-296-4176 rep.mike.freiberg@house.mn
Legislative Assistant: Colette Millard 651-296-5807 colette.millard@house.mn

Rep. Hortman tel: 651-296-4280 rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn
Legislative Assistant: Haley Cobb 651-296-7142 haley.cobb@mn.house

2. ATTEND THE HEARING FOR SF2255 (the not-good bill)

Plan to attend the first hearing of Senator Kiffmeyer's bill this coming Wednesday, 3/13 at 5 pm. Details will follow; follow Echo Base on social media (links below) for more info. Wear purple! We want to pack this hearing like we did the last one.

= = = = =

Echo Base on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/echobaseblog

Echo Base on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EchoBaseBlog

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