Legislative & Political Affairs Report - October

Legislative & Political Affairs Report

October, 2007

• MAPE Action Team Training – November 9th-10th
  MAPE will once again be working Erik Peterson from Wellstone Action to implement an Action Team training November 9th and 10th to be held at MAPE HQ in  Shoreview. This training is based on the Camp Wellstone model and is an excellent entry point into legislative and political involvement. To sign up, please CLICK HERE. For more information please contact Political Affairs Coordinator Kendal Killian.
• Introducing TeamMAPE.org!
  TeamMAPE.org is now up and running and fully functional. The new site utilizes robust, interactive technologies and will provide a more transparent one-stop-shop for legislative and political information. Members of Team MAPE can use TeamMAPE.org to sign-up for news alerts, contact their legislators, donate to MAPE PAC, sign-up to attend Day on the Hill and learn about endorsed candidates. This is an exciting new development in the evolution of our political program. TeamMAPE.org was paid for by MAPE PAC and will be shared by the PAC and GRC.
• Delegate Assembly Passes 2008 Legislative Priorities and Positions
  The Delegate Assembly ratified MAPE’s 2008 Legislative Priorities and Positions. The DA did amend the document slightly, specifically stating our support for the development of a single payer universal health care system. The 2008 Legislative Priorities and Positions will provide the blueprint for the bills MAPE drafts and supports next year. For more information please visit TeamMAPE.org/issues.html.
• Legislative Award Winners
  Annually at the Delegate Assembly Awards Dinner, MAPE presents achievement awards to Legislators and Legislative Staff members that greatly aided the progress of MAPE legislative agenda through their work at the Capitol. Our staff members of the year were Kathleen Lonergan in the Senate and Brian Shekleton in the House. Our Legislators of the Year were Sen. Sandy Pappas from SD 65 and Rep Steve Simon from HD 44A. Our New Legislator of the Year award went to Rep. Ryan Winkler from 44B. In order to further recognize his on-going support of MAPE friendly legislation, MAPE awarded our Better Government Service Award to Rep. Leon Lillie HD from 55A.
• Attend Your Precinct Caucus February 5th
  Minnesota’s 2008 Precinct Caucuses will be held Tuesday February 5th. Coined “Tsunami Tuesday,” due to the approximately 18 primaries and caucuses being held on that day nation-wide, it is possible that the Republican or Democratic parties may chose their Presidential candidate on that very night. Precinct caucuses provide a tremendous gateway into grass-roots politics for MAPE members. For more information, please visit TeamMAPE.org.
• Day on the Hill
  MAPE Day on the Hill will be Wednesday March 12th. Stay Tuned for more information.