We recently celebrated Viola Maehren’s 100th birthday outside her residence in St Paul.
Viola Maehren was an early organizer of LEA , and on the LEA board for many years. LEA has been informing voters since 1972 on the basis of its Credo, supporting American founding principles and ideals. On the left, she is animated at the 2016 LEA Awards Banquet.
Viola is one of those high-energy, highly principled, enthusiastic citizens with the passion to makes things happen. She Viola was an election judge for many years for Ramsey county, and is an active volunteer making the altar breads at Saint Agnes Church. She helps prepare 2,000 hosts each week.
Our Zoom webinars stream live to the Alpha News Facebook page& later on YouTube Wednesday October 28 3:00 pm John Augustine VP for the Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota. John will discuss the 2020 LEA Report and Scorecard. Click here for Video
St. Paul, MN, September 30, 2020 — Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota (LEA) is releasing its evaluation of the Minnesota legislature’s extraordinary 2020 sessions. The 2020 LEA report highlights key legislative decisions, from the measures quickly taken in the first days of the pandemic, to the belated confirmation vote taken on a troublesome cabinet member during the third special session. LEA notes a shift in perceptions of government’s proper role. “Government’s function should be limited to protecting our rights and our freedoms while we otherwise go about our business. “ says LEA president Don Lee. “In 2020, limited government was almost abandoned amidst efforts to impose arbitrary government responses to announced crises.”
A few legislators stood against this overreach and abdication of legislative responsibility. We salute these few by naming them as honorees in our report.
Seventeen House floor votes and sixteen Senate floor votes, with impact on important principles in lawmaking, are summarized in the 2020 LEA Report. They deal with topics such as the legislature’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to the Governor’s executive orders and emergency declarations. Diverse issues such as the 2nd amendment, tobacco legislation, cosmetology regulation, racism, drug policy and police reform are also covered.
2020 Honorees: Representatives Cal Bahr, Steve Drazkowski, Eric Lucero, and Jeremy Munson. (No Senate honorees.)
Honorable Mention: Representatives Steve Green, Matt Grossell, John Heinrich, Josh Heintzeman, Jerry Hertaus, Shane Mekeland, Jim Nash and Anne Neu.
Glen Lewerenz, the network news anchor for 1330AM Relevant Radio says he interviewed John Gizzi. (our speaker at our banquet on Feb 18th) The interview will air twice on Monday the 17th :
Tune in Monday at 8:30am or 6:30pm. You can also stream it live or access the archives at http://www.KYESradio.com
Hear from our 2020 banquet speaker, John Gizzi on local podcasts.
On Jan 26 Mitch Berg of The Patriot Northern Alliance Radio Network (AM1280) interviewed John Gizzi. Click here , then go to 1/26/20, Hour 1 (interview begins at the 33:30 minute mark)
On Feb 7 Jack Tomczak interviewed John Augustine. The podcast link: Click Here (John’s segment begins at the 9:30 mark)
St. Paul, MN, October 22, 2019 — Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota (LEA) has completed its evaluation of the 2019 Minnesota legislature’s performance. In its report, released today, the LEA criticizes the growing role of “omnibus” bills derived through non-transparent, unaccountable legislative processes.
“Good lawmaking requires an open and accountable process,” says LEA president Don Lee. “Minnesota’s constitution requires each bill to embrace one subject, a requirement flouted in 2019. The house speaker and senate majority leader met with the governor behind closed doors to make deals, which they expected to be rubber-stamped by legislators without amendment or debate. The result was over 2100 pages of legislation and nearly all of the biennial budget contained in 13 ‘omnibus’ bills, passed in a one-day special session.”
Come to the 2019 Awards banquet, where we honor the top scoring legislators in the 2018 LEA report. Meet the honorees, and hear Teresa Collett discuss interpretation of the Minnesota constitution. HONORING: Representatives Cal Bahr, Steve Drazkowski, Jerry Hertaus, Eric …Continue reading →
