Time to celebrate!  Minnesotans Against Common Core has reached 1500 members!

Thank you for inviting friends and family.  As we grow, more Minnesotans learn about the devastating effects of Common Core and the restrictive requirements of the grants – Race to the Top and No Child Left Behind Waivers.

Our mission here at MACC is to repeal the Common Core Standards reform system.

A great way to organize for the coming Legislative Session is to put together a small notebook that you keep by your phone. As a constituent, your own personal senator and representative are key in voicing your concerns.  Each senator and representative has a legislative assistant who handles scheduling and other matters.  The Education Committee Chairs are responsible for working on education resolutions and, in the end, the committee will vote either up or down on the resolution.  If the resolution passes out of committee (approved), it formally becomes a bill.

Add your personal state senator and state representative to your notebook and/or speed dial.  Additionally, add the names of the Education Committee Chairs and their Legislative Assistants.  Add all six e-mails to your e-mail box.  Phone and E-mail information on senate and house members can be found in our Minnesota Specific file tab (above).  Here is the information on the Education Committees.

Senate Education Policy Committee

Senator Patricia Torres Ray (DFL, District 63)  651-296-4274;  651-296-5312

Legislative Assistant:  Blanca Martinez Gavina  651-296-4274

E-Mail:  sen.patricia.torres.ray@senate.mn

Senate Education E-12 Finance Committee

Senate Charles Wiger (DFL, District 43)  651-296-6820

Legislative Assistant:  Kate Lynne Snyder   651-296-6820

E-Mail:  sen.chuck.wiger@senate.mn

House Education Policy Committee

Representative Charles Mariani (DFL, District 65B)   651-296-9714

Legislative Assistant:  Jamael Lundy  651-296-9676

E-Mail:  rep.carlos.mariani@house.mn

House Education Finance Committee

Representative Paul Marquart  (DFL, District 4B)    651-296-6829;  800-551-5520

Legislative Assistant, Joe Gould  651-296-5380

E-Mail:  rep.paul.marquart@house.mn

As we find out legislative positions pro and con, you will have easy access to phone your legislators.  Send them an e-mail a week based on that week’s happenings within the committees.

We need your help on February 4^th.  We will be posting the information this week on a resolution for you to bring to your party’s caucus with wording against Common Core.  Please get involved that night by reading the resolution to your precinct and becoming a delegate for your BPOU Convention in March. 

For the future, attend your BPOU, CD and State Conventions by becoming a delegate for each one and bringing the resolution up the ranks.  Also understand as a delegate for your party, you hold a higher importance to your legislator as you will be part of the endorsing process in his/her campaign.  Please read the information below to help you understand the process.  

Here is where you find your local caucus for the Republican and DLF parties:

http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us/

If you are part of the Independent Party, there is an online caucus here:

http://www.mnip.org/get-involved/caucuses/live-online-caucus

 

Precinct Caucuses serve several purposes:

1. It’s The Start Of Choosing Candidates
Caucus attendees will elect delegates who will endorse individuals to become your Party’s candidates at the BPOU, CD and State level.

On caucus night, you’ll be able to cast a straw ballot to indicate your preferred candidate for Governor and for US Senate.

2.  It’s Where Precinct Leaders Are Elected
Local, grassroots leaders are the backbone of politics in Minnesota. A commitment to advance your principles qualifies you to accept this leadership role.

3.  It’s the Base of Grassroots Efforts
Precinct caucus attendees make great volunteers for candidates and the State Party in the coming months. We cannot move forward without your involvement.

4.  It’s The Start Of The Platform Process
The resolutions that are passed at caucuses are the starting point for changes to your Party’s standing platform, which states the Party’s principles and beliefs.

While the political process starts February 4th, it does not end there. Over the next several months, there will be a variety of opportunities for you to support your candidates and your State Party.

 Caucus Terminology:

BPOU: Basic Political Organizing Unit. The local party unit which may be a county, state house district or state senate district.

Call: The official notice of a party convention or meeting.

Convention: A party meeting of party leaders who have been elected by fellow activists.

Delegate/Alternate: A person elected to represent their group at higher party meetings. Delegates and alternates are usually elected based on the candidates or positions that they support.

Endorsement: When the delegates vote as a party unit to support a candidate, the endorsed candidate may then receive party resources to support his or her election efforts. However, endorsed candidates must still win the party’s nomination at the primary election.

Nomination: Candidates must be nominated before their names will be listed on the November election ballot. Major party candidates are nominated by winning the state primary election in August.

Party Platform: The statement of principles and issue positions that guide candidates, workers and members of a political party.

Precinct: A voting district containing one polling place.

Resolution: A written statement of an idea, issue, concern or action for people to consider at a caucus for possible addition to that party’s platform.

General Tasks at Caucuses and Conventions:

• Election of local party leaders
• Election of delegates and alternates to the next level of conventions in the DFL structure
• Discussion of proposed resolutions to the DFL platform and Action Agenda
• Endorsement of Candidates
• Deliberation of party unit constitutional changes

The Four Levels of Caucuses and Conventions:

Precinct Caucuses

The precinct is the first level of the Party structure. A precinct is comprised of the voting precinct which can be a township, an entire town, or a voting precinct within a larger community. The precinct caucuses are a foundational pillar to the Party’s grassroots history because all Minnesota constituents have the ability to participate at this level.

Those in attendance have an opportunity to speak with candidates, participate in a preferential ballot, and compose resolutions that have the potential to be forwarded to their local unit conventions and the state convention for deliberation for acceptance to the official party’s Ongoing Platform and Action Agenda.

Have a scheduling conflict on caucus night? Know your rights: Minnesota Statutes Section 202A.19 permits Minnesota residents to take time off from work without pay to attend precinct caucuses provided they give their employer written notice at least 10 days in advance. State universities, community colleges, and public schools may not hold classes or events after 6:00 p.m. on the evening of precinct caucuses. State agencies, school boards, county boards, township boards, city councils and all other political subdivisions may not conduct meetings after 6:00 p.m. on caucus night.

Organizing Unit Conventions

The Organizing Unit is the second level of the Party structure. Delegates are elected to their Organizing Unit conventions at their local precinct caucuses. Then, these delegates will endorse candidates for the state legislature and choose delegates to move on to the state and congressional district conventions.

Like at the state party level, organizing unit and senate district conventions are generally held on even-numbered years, with a few exceptions. The organizing unit central and executive committees are the governing bodies of the organizing unit between conventions. 

Organizing Unit/Senate District Convention Tasks:

• To endorse candidates for State Senate and House
• To conduct local party unit business
• To present and consider platform resolutions

Congressional District Conventions

The congressional district, an area established by law for the election of representatives to the U.S. Congress, is the third level in the structure. The boundaries of congressional districts are determined by State legislature and are dependent on the population of the state and the number of U.S. representative seats given to Minnesota. In general, each congressional district is to be as equal in population to all other congressional districts in the State.

Between conventions, the congressional district central and executive committees are the governing bodies of a congressional district party unit. On even numbered years, Congressional district conventions are held with delegates who have been elected at the party’s organizing unit conventions.

Congressional District Convention Tasks:

• To endorse Minnesota candidates for U.S. Congress
• Elect members to State Commissions and committees for the State Convention

 State Convention

At the State Convention, Party members:

• Endorse candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state auditor, and U.S. Senate.
• Elect Party officers
• Present and deliberate proposals to the State Party Constitution and Bylaws
• Consider proposed resolutions to the Party Platform and Action Agenda