Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota

2014 Report on MN Legislature Released

The Grim Results of Unchallenged Control of State Government

Contact: John Augustine (651) 398-9316 (Discussion on 1280 Radio)(Discussion on the Sue Jeffers show)
president@lea-mn.org

Honorees Announced

Eleven members of the Minnesota House of Representatives have been honored in the Legislative Evaluation Assembly’s 2014 Report on the Minnesota Legislature. Six legislators received an honorable mention.

Honorees: Representatives Mike Benson, Bob Dettmer, Steve Drazkowski, Sondra Erickson, Tom Hackbarth, Jerry Hertaus, Ernie Leidiger, Jim Newberger, Joyce Peppin, Cindy Pugh, and Duane Quam.

Honorable Mention: Senator Bruce Anderson; Representatives Daudt, Dean, Howe, Loon, and Myhra. Continue reading →

2013 Awards Banquet Video Coverage

The 2013 Report on the MN Legislature results are presented at the LEA 2014 Award Banquet Video

On this video, LEA President John Augustine introduces the event. This is followed by handing out awards in person to the following MN Legislatures. Senate: Bruce Anderson LEA score 89%, Dan Hall 89%, and Bill Ingebrigtsen 85%. House: Steve Drazkowski 92%, Sondra Erickson 86%, Tara Mack 86%, and Linda Runbeck 86%.
www.LEA-MN.org

Katherine Kersten Keynote Speech on Anti-Bullying Legislation

Bob Odden, who hosts the Libertarian Viewpoint cable TV show, voluntarily recorded the LEA Awards Dinner and used this segment on his show. Thank you Bob for doing this.

The complete Kersten speech segment, including the intro and the Q-and-A

Highlights of the 2014 LEA Awards Dinner

by LEA President John Augustine

NOTE: A more detailed account and video will soon be available at this website.

Over 50 people gathered on March 3, 2014 for the occasion of the 41st annual Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota Legislative Awards Banquet. Keynote speaker Katherine Kersten from the Center of the American Experiment talked about the efforts to enforce cultural conformity under the guise of “anti-bullying” measures. The event was held at the Kelly Inn next to the MN State Capitol.

Representative Steve Drazwowski, highest scoring legislator, receiving his award from LEA President John Augustine

Four state representatives (Steve Drazkowski, Sondra Erickson, Tara Mack, and Linda Runbeck) and three state senators (Bruce Anderson, Dan Hall, and Bill Ingebrigtsen) were honored for their voting records in the 2013 Minnesota legislature. Six of the seven were able to give remarks to the crowd while picking up their awards.
Continue reading →

2014 Board Nominations Extended

At our meeting this evening, Febriary 19th, we reviewed our candidates for the open board positions, and took a decision to extend the deadline for nomination to the board.

Nominations will remain limited to LEA mebers in good standing on Feb 25th, but board membership is open to any current member. Your nominations for board positions are welcome. Please contact me, using the contact info below, or use the contact form or info on the MN LEA web site:

http://www.mnlea.org/index.php/contact

Share your thoughts with us. If you have not yet registered for the annual awards banquet, please visit the web site:

http://mnlea.org

where you can now register for the banquet on-line. Help us grow, by spreading the word. Share our web site, and invite your friends. We’ll see you at the banquet on March 3rd.

Thank you for your support.

-Don Lee

LEA vice chair

2014 Annual Awards Banquet

The Annual LEA Legislative Awards Banquet will be held on Monday, March 3rd, 2014, at the Kelly Inn, St. Paul (161 St. Anthony Avenue, St. Paul. – near Rice Street next to Sears, free parking on site)

We will be honoring Senators: Bruce Anderson, Dan Hall and Bill Ingebrigtsen and Representatives: Steve Drazkowski, Sondra Erickson, Tara Mack and Linda Runbeck

The banquet social hour and registration will begin at 5:30 P.M., with dinner at 6:30 P.M.

Our Featured Speaker is Katherine Kersten, who will talk to us about “The Agenda of ‘Anti-Bullying’ Councils: Enforcing Cultural Conformity”

If you would like to attend the banquet, please contact us at:

Legislative Evaluation Assembly, P. O. Box 25803, Woodbury, MN 55125, or click here.

Or pay directly through PayPal:

2013 Report on MN Legislature Released

“TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY” IN FULL EFFECT
Contact: John Augustine (651) 398-9316 president@lea-mn.org (.pdf press release)

Honorees Announced
The Legislative Evaluation Assembly congratulates the four members of the Minnesota House of Representatives and three members of the Minnesota Senate that have been honored in the 2013 Report on the Minnesota Legislature.

Continue reading →

Using Legal Definition to Fund Special Interests

The use of legal definition has become a common strategy for legislatures to fund special interests that contribute to political parties. Most people became aware that legal redefinition was going on at some level when marriage was redefined from its biological definition of a union of male and female, to a social definition of two individuals committed to a partnership. This legal redefinition of marriage was defended on the basis of equal rights, but it was pushed hard by people who sought government financial redistribution and benefits to the new class of people included in the definition.

Much legislation, like Minnesota’s 2013 aid and tax omnibus bill (HF677), uses new definitions to target funding for special interests that is opposed to equal treatment under the law:

the bill defines a “medical business entity” as a business that “collectively employs more than 30,000 persons in the state.

Continue reading →

John Augustine Publishes Commentary on Primary Elections

LEA President John Augustine has published a commentary on moving up primary elections in the St. Paul Pioneer Press: http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_23251645/john-augustine-minnesota-why-i-oppose-an-earlier

(Disclaimer: The article represents the views of the author and not necessarily the views of LEA)

Highlights of the 2013 LEA Awards Dinner

by John Augustine

Over 60 people gathered on Feb. 21 for the occasion of the 40th annual Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota Legislative Awards Banquet. Keynote speaker Anthony Sanders from the MN chapter of the Institute for Justice (IJ) talked about the merits of judges taking action to preserve our constitutional framework, and IJ’s role in the legal battles for economic freedom. The event was held at the Kelly Inn next to the MN State Capitol.

Award Presentations Video (click for video)

Nine people (Reps. Steve Drazkowski, Sondra Erickson, Kathy Lohmer, Duane Quam, Linda Runbeck, and Peggy Scott; also, former Reps. Mark Buesgens, Keith Downey, and Doug Wardlow) were honored for their voting records in the 2012 Minnesota House. Eight of the nine were able to give remarks to the crowd while picking up their awards.

Rep. Mark Buesgens holds up the LEA 2012 report on the legislature. LEA President John Augustine standing to his left.

One of the most memorable acceptance speeches came from Mark Buesgens, who retired from the MN House after the 2012 session. He was even more blunt than usual about the leadership opportunities that were squandered: “A plethora of political consultants are going to take a lot of money from a lot of very wealthy people to figure out what went wrong in 2012—I can answer that. [Last biennium], the state of Minnesota for the first time had a GOP-led Senate. How many Senators are in this group of LEA honorees? It’s not too hard to figure it out.” Continue reading →

Waging the Battle for Economic Freedom

By John Augustine, President of the LEA of MN

Invitation letter, p. 1

Members and guests will honor and hear from people committed to waging the battle for economic freedom at the 40th annual Legislative Evaluation Assembly legislative awards banquet on Thursday night, Feb 21, at the Kelly Inn next to the MN state capitol. Nine legislative defenders of freedom will be awarded plaques honoring their outstanding 2012 voting records as members of the Minnesota House. The keynote speaker will be Anthony Sanders, who is an attorney with the MN Chapter of the Institute for Justice (IJ), a legal organization that has been successfully fighting to protect ordinary citizens from governmental attacks on their economic freedom. Since the start of the year, tree trimmers and motel owners have won legal victories with the help of IJ.

The LEA members’ meeting and awards banquet will also include a tribute to Walter Klaus and K. J. McDonald, two conservative statesmen and important figures in LEA’s history that passed away during the past year. Click here for the full announcement and registration information (print and mail the registration form). Advance registration must be received or postmarked by February 14.