Minnesota politics shaped by grassroots involvement
What a difference one election can make.
The list of populist achievements in this year’s legislative session is long and impressive. Marriage equality. A new health care exchange free of insurance industry conflicts of interest. “Ban the box” legislation opening up access to employment for ex-offenders and moving us one step forward to closing the racial jobs gap. There will be fairer taxation, all-day kindergarten, and a stronger MinnesotaCare.
It’s a day-and-night difference from the last Legislature, whose Republican majorities refused to raise taxes and caused a state government shutdown. They placed the anti-marriage-equality and photo ID amendments on the ballot, and used Obamacare as a political football.
On Election Day 2012, both amendments were defeated and the DFL won the triple crown of state government by taking control of the state House and Senate.
