Political Affairs Report - May

Grassroots Action Impacts Legislative Outcomes
The unprecedented amount of grass-roots action MAPE members have generated this session (more than 2,000 letters, emails and phone contacts have been sent to legislators and over 100 face to face meetings) has had a SIGNIFICANT IMPACT on the success of our legislative agenda. This is the bottom line: Through our coordinated and relentless legislative action, we earned a 3% compensation supplement! This supplement has already been included in two omnibus bills and signed by the Governor.

MAPE Action Team Training
On the heels of our successful March Action Team training, MAPE is planning a second training this fall. We will once again work Erik Peterson from Wellstone Action to implement this training. For more information please contact Political Affairs Coordinator Kendal Killian at kkillian@mape.org.

MAPE goes to the Humphrey Day dinner MAPE PAC was a keystone sponsor of the 2006 DFL Humphrey Day dinner. Key member activists and staff were in attendance to hear from dignitaries such as Senator Amy Klobachar, Congressman Jim Oberstar and Senator Tom Harkin. The event is also a great opportunity to monitor campaign activity for future elections.

MAPE PAC
The MAPE Political Action Committee board met recently to lay out plans for the two-year election cycle. Officer elections were held and the ground-work was set for election success in 2008. The PAC will be operating on a quarterly meeting schedule in 2007 to conserve funds. Three PAC board members stepped forward to head up core tasks: budget, fundraising and communications. Look for a revamped MAPE PAC website as well as a renewed emphasis on fundraising and PAC membership recruitment. The MAPE PAC will be working hand-in-hand with the Action Team on these initiatives.

Looking ahead to 2008
The number one campaign priority for the MAPE Political Action Team in 2008 will be to maintain the MAPE allied majority in the Minnesota House. Currently, MAPE has about 90 members in this body that we can count on to support of MAPE friendly legislation. Because of the high number of supportive incumbents, our 2008 campaign strategy will by focused mostly on “defense,” defending the seats of vulnerable legislators. Based simply on the 2006 margin of victory, the table to the right lists the most vulnerable MAPE allied candidates in 2008. MAPE will work deliberately to organize members in these districts in support of these candidates.

If you have any questions about the MAPE Action Team, MAPE PAC or our legislative efforts, feel free to call or email me at any time at 651-270-3832 or kkillian@mape.org. Also, if you know of juicy political gossip, please share!

In solidarity,

Kendal Killian
MAPE Political Affairs Coordinator