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| Date: | July 17, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Neil Pursley | | Contact Phone: | (651) 296-4915 | | Contact Email: | neil.pursley@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SENATOR NEWMAN DEFENDS MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE’S AUTHORITY TO PUT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT |
ST. PAUL) – Today, the Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case brought forth by the League of Women Voters Minnesota, Common Cause, Jewish Community Action and attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union.
The purpose of the suit is to block placement of the Voter ID Constitutional Amendment on the 2012 General Ballot and deny the people in Minnesota their right to vote on the question.
The Minnesota Legislature intervened on behalf of the state and the voters in Minnesota when the Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and Attorney General Lori Swanson, in a partisan political decision, refused to defend the State of Minnesota despite the fact that it is their constitutional responsibility to do so.
Senator Scott Newman (R- Hutchinson) and Representative Mary Kiffmeyer (Big Lake), the chief authors of the legislation in the Senate and House, both presented amicus curiae briefs to the Supreme Court.
“The substance of this suit directly challenged the Minnesota Legislature’s authority to pass constitutional amendment legislation and have the Secretary of State present it to the voters.
The suit is an attempt by certain groups to prevent the electorate from deciding whether to require photo identification in order to vote,” said Senator Newman.
Senator Newman continued, “What is more disturbing is the Secretary of State and Attorney General’s refusal to complete their responsibilities to the people of Minnesota.
“The Secretary of State and the Attorney General refused to respond to the charges of these groups leaving the constitutional authority of the Minnesota Legislature and the constitutional right the people open to attack.
“If not for the Minnesota Legislature’s role in today’s proceedings the constitutional rights of the people of Minnesota would have been completely abandoned by two of our constitutionally elected officials, all for partisan political purposes.
“Secretary of State Ritchie’s conduct regarding the constitutional amendments that are to be voted on this November is reprehensible. He is a constitutional officer whose duty is to put these questions, as titled by the Minnesota Legislature, on the ballot for the people to decide.
“Instead, throughout the entire legislative process, he has behaved in an inappropriate partisan manner by promoting his personal views to disrupt the constitutional process by which these questions are to be put before the voters.
“Attorney General Lori Swanson has also been derelict in her duty to defend the people and the Minnesota Constitution by not answering these charges. She is the state’s attorney and has the constitutional responsibility to defend the state in all legal proceedings.
“Secretary of State Ritchie and Attorney General Swanson may not like these particular amendments, but allowing their personal political feelings to stop them from doing what the people of this state elected them to do, is inexcusable.”
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