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News Release: The Minnesota Republican party Constitution should be on the internet 

 

Contact: Robert S. Carney Jr., bob@RepublicanContract.com

(612) 824-4479    News groups: Daily; Law/Politics, College, Neighborhood

For immediate release

No New Texas!

The Minnesota Republican party Constitution should be on the internet

Minneapolis, MN, May 25, 2006 – Minnesota state law requires that "...only those persons who are in agreement with the principles of the party as stated in the party's constitution... may vote at the precinct caucus."  However, at the time of this year's caucuses, and as recently as May 24th, the Minnesota Republican party's Constitution was not published on the party's web site.

Ben Golnik, the Minnesota Republican party's Executive Director, confirmed in a phone conversation May 24th that the Minnesota Republican party currently doesn't publish the party's constitution on the party's web site.  As of May 25th, the Constitutions of the DFL, Independence, and Green parties all were published on their party web sites.

Bob Carney Jr., a Republican State Alternate delegate who is recruiting moderate Republican candidates for Governor and the Legislature, has been advocating a state law requiring the Secretary of State's office to publish and maintain on-line the party constitutions of all major parties in Minnesota.  Carney's resolution (reprinted below) was passed unanimously at the Precinct caucus level, and on a divided vote at the Senate District convention.  Carney was told that all resolutions passed at Senate district conventions are to be published in the program for Congressional district conventions, and voted on by the delegates.  However, Carney was told that no one from his Senate District attended the meeting to prepare the resolutions for the Congressional District convention, and consequently the resolution was not published with the others.  Carney spoke to the Congressional District convention, and told them of the resolution and the reason for it, however, Carney's resolution was not given an up or down vote.

"When you read Minnesota's state law, this puts new political participants at the Precinct caucus level in a ridiculous 'Catch-22' position," Carney said.  "State law requires them to read and agree to the principles of the Party's Constitution to vote at the caucus... but the Constitution isn't available to read."

"This is just one more example of a dangerous trend in the national and state Republican parties, favoring secrecy over openness, and 'get-in-line' conformity over independent thinking," Carney said.  "I will pass out another version of this resolution to delegates at the State Convention, and will try to get it acted on," Carney added. 

Carney's web site, RepublicanContract.com, is promoting a reconsideration of what it means to be a Republican, and a more moderate, deliberative approach to self-government.  The site features a Republican Governor's Contract with Voters, and a Republican State Legislator's Contract with voters. 

On May 6th, on the floor of the 5th District Republican convention, Carney gave Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty a copy of the Republican Governor's Contract with Voters, and told the Governor he will face a Republican primary opponent if he does not agree to most or all of it.  "I'll read it," Governor Pawlenty said.  On April 19th, Carney delivered an open letter to Governor Pawlenty's office, seeking to start a dialogue on the Governor's Contract.  A copy of the letter is at the end of this news release.  "I'm encouraged that Governor Pawlenty will be reading and considering the contract," Carney said.  "This represents a step forward in the campaign."

Carney's position is that if Governor Pawlenty agrees to all, or substantially all of the Republican Governor's Contract, Carney will stop recruiting other Republican candidates for Governor, but will continue to recruit candidates for the legislature, and will seek a State House seat in District 60B.  "However, if Governor Pawlenty has significant disagreements with the Contract, I think it is appropriate to take these to the voters in the Republican primary," Carney said.  "If I can't find someone else to run based on the contract, I'll do it." Carney said.

Carney will be on the floor at the Republican State Convention, passing out copies of the Governor's Contract, and talking about both contracts with delegates.

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Resolution


 

Publication of State Party Constitutions


 


 

Whereas


 

  1. Minnesota Statute 202A.12 Subd. 4. states: “Constitution, Filing. The chair of the state central committee of each party shall file with the secretary of state a copy of the party's constitution and all amendments to the constitution as they are enacted.” and

  2. Minnesota Statute 202A.16 Subd. 2 states: Agreement with party principles. Only those persons who are in agreement with the principles of the party as stated in the party's constitution, and who either voted or affiliated with the party at the last state general election or intend to vote or affiliate with the party at the next state general election, may vote at the precinct caucus.” and

  3. The Minnesota State Republican party web site currently does not publish a copy of the Party's constitution, and

  4. The Secretary of State website currently does not publish state party constitutions,


 

Now, therefore be it resolved:


 

That a Minnesota Statute be enacted requiring the Minnesota Secretary of State website to publish and maintain the party constitutions of all political parties recognized as major parties in Minnesota.


 

___________________________________________________________

Letter to Governor Pawlenty

 

 

Robert S. Carney Jr.
4232 Colfax Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 824-4479 * bob@RepublicanContract.com

April 19, 2006
 

Governor Tim Pawlenty                                 Delivered personally -- This is an open letter; it will
Office of the Governor, 130 State Capitol         be published and distributed to news organizations
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155                                         No New Texas!

Re Minnesota Republican Governor's Contract with Voters; Provisional Candidacy

Dear Governor Pawlenty:

I am advocating both a Minnesota Republican Governor's Contract with Voters, and a Minnesota Republican State Legislator's Contract with Voters. Copies of both contracts are enclosed. The common focus is on the role of each branch of government in a Republican form of government. My emphasis is on the Legislature as the pre-eminent branch of a Republican form of Government -- both responsible and best suited for lawmaking, policy, and oversight. More information on what I am doing is on-line at my web site: RepublicanContract.com

Regarding the Republican Governor's Contract with Voters, (the “Governor's Contract”) it seems clear that you have not followed some of the provisions in your first term. However, times and circumstances change. On the one hand, I don't see why you might not be agreeable to commit to most or all of these provisions during a second term. On the other hand, I think both during and before your current term there has been a significant breakdown in both the Legislative process, and in how the Governor's office, other Constitutional offices, and the Legislature work together. If you significantly differ with the Governor's Contract, I think it is appropriate to take the differences to voters in the Republican primary.

Here is what I plan to do.

First, I will seek to engage in a dialogue with you, initially through someone you designate, to discuss your view on each of the points in the Governor's Contract.

Second, I will continue to recruit Republican candidates for both the State Legislature, and provisionally for the office of Governor, based on agreement with the two Contracts.

Third, if you agree to substantially all of the provisions of the Governor's Contract, I plan to stop recruiting Republican candidates for Governor. I will run for the State House in District 60B

Fourth, if you do not agree with substantially all of the provisions of the Governor's Contract, I plan to continue to recruit a candidate to challenge you in the Republican primary, and to challenge you myself if I am unable to recruit anyone else.

As suggested above, since this effort is new and relatively unpublicized, it would be appropriate at least initially for me to talk with someone you designate. I would welcome the opportunity to do so. I only want to involve you personally when you receive advice from subordinates, Legislators and/or others that the time is right.

Also enclosed is my article advancing an alternative Constitutional Amendment to the “marriage amendment.” Senator Neuville has read this, and discussed it with me, and I think it's fair to say he was favorably impressed with the approach. It may be a preferable option, given that the current “marriage amendments” seem unlikely to win the Senate's approval.

Sincerely,

 

Bob Carney Jr.

enclosures