Dear Fellow Minnesotans:

The Citizens' Petition for an Impeachment Investigation of Governor Pawlenty is below this cover note.

If you agree, please copy and e-mail this petition to your State Senator and Representatives.  If you don't know who they are, you can enter your address at: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/

Please forward this to all your friends.  Let's make this a virus (but a good virus)!  Whatever party you caucus with, please bring this to your caucus on February 2, 2010, and introduce it as a resolution.  If this e-mail is sent by an individual, the return e-mail address indicates signing the petition.  Otherwise, a group of signers can be included at the bottom of the e-mail.

I am trying to track how many people are joining this petition drive.  Please copy me on your e-mail.  My e-mail address is: bob@republicancontract.com.  I will add you to the count.  Please also indicate in your e-mail if I have your permission to follow up with e-mails to you. I will use your e-mail information only for the purpose of this petition drive, and will take reasonable steps to prevent your e-mail address from being distributed.

News of the progress of this petition drive will be posted regularly at www.republicancontract.com

If you have a web site, please include a link to my web site, www.republicancontract.com, either to the home page, or to this page.

If your precinct caucus approves of this resolution, please also let me know that by e-mail.

I am sending this petition to my State Legislators.  I hope impeachment will be unnecessary, but we need to be prepared.  To learn more, please read my article:  State Budget a puzzle that can be solved, published on the op-ed page of the Star Tribune January 13, 2010. 

Sincerely,

Bob Carney Jr.

Moderate Progressive Republican candidate for Governor
bob@republicancontract.com
Home and business phone: (612) 824-4479

Citizens' Petition for an Impeachment Investigation of Governor Pawlenty

Whereas:

Governor Pawlenty has claimed, in writing and in court, sweeping unallotment powers, extending to the unchecked, unilateral power of the Governor to spend any amount, from zero to the full legislative appropriation, for almost all categories of Legislative appropriations, and to use unallotment at the commencement of a biennium with an anticipated deficit, and

Whereas:

Such sweeping claims of executive power fundamentally usurp the Constitutional role and authority of the Legislature, and violate the separation of powers requirements of Article III of the Minnesota Constitution, and,

Whereas:

It is the sworn duty of every Legislator to support the Constitution of the United States and the Minnesota Constitution, and,

Whereas:

Courts are justifiably reluctant to attempt to resolve “political questions” if this can be avoided, now,

Therefore, By return e-mail or signatures below, the Minnesota State Legislature is presented with this demand:

That Impeachment Investigation Hearings be convened to study the meaning of the phrase “corrupt conduct in office” as found in Article VIII of the Minnesota Constitution, and to determine whether the nature and scope of Governor Pawlenty's unallotment actions, although not criminal, when considered separately, or when viewed in combination with Governor Pawlenty's other political, fundraising and/or campaign-related activities, may rise to the level of an impeachable offense against the Citizens of the State of Minnesota.