Political Affairs Report - January

MAPE Day on the Hill will be February 14th at 9AM

• Please register at MAPEPAC.com
• We are encouraging all prospective attendees to register by January 31st

In addition to the traditional Day on the Hill activities, the MAPE GRC is also planning a “virtual” Day on the Hill which will facilitate and encourage MAPE members to contact their elected officials during Day on the Hill week. Sample letters and talking points will be provided. We will also utilize our online tools such as CapWhiz and Get Active to coordinate this effort. The “virtual” Day on the Hill will provide Greater Minnesota locals and members with a way to participate in this important event.

Action Training
Staff is supporting efforts to initiate a grassroots focused action team that aims to have members on the ground in legislative districts taking the lead in localized government relations and electoral action. Currently, we are working with Erik Peterson of Wellstone Action to finalize our training manual. The first round of trainings, including approximately 40 participants, will take place in late March.

Government Relations
The legislative session kicked off early this month. Staff is attending key committee meetings, following legislation that is of importance to MAPE members, and initiating meetings with legislators. We are also working with other labor and progressive groups to support collaborative legislative proposals.

Electoral Action
Our success in the November elections will have a positive effect on our legislative efforts.

• MAPE allied majorities will now control both legislative houses for the first time in eight years
• Approximately two-thirds of the legislators in both houses are projected to be supportive of MAPE government relations initiatives
• MAPE PAC endorsed legislative candidates won 73% of their races
• MAPE PAC financial and volunteer efforts assisted the election of 23 “pickups;” meaning a non-MAPE supportive legislator was replaced by a MAPE allied candidate.
• Only two MAPE PAC endorsed incumbents lost their races
• 100% of the “open” districts previously held by MAPE allied legislators were “held;” meaning they will still be held by MAPE friendly legislators

Coordination with partner organizations
The Political Affairs team is continuing to represent MAPE through strategic affiliations, such as America Votes, Alliance for a Better Minnesota and Take Action Minnesota. These groups had a tremendously successful election year and will continue to operate throughout the down cycle. Our membership in these groups is vital to the continued success of the progressive and labor movements in Minnesota.

In solidarity,

Kendal Killian
MAPE Political Affairs Coordinator