It’s time to ACT on behalf of our children!

Hundreds of MACC members and friends became delegates in all parties and across Minnesota on February 4th. You should have gotten an email about your upcoming SD (BPOU) Convention. It is usually on a Saturday and runs for about 6-8 hours.  Get ready to read the Whereas/Resolutions again and become delegates for the Congressional District Conventions. If there is a fee for your convention, you can turn it into the state for reimbursement through the PCR program. It is up to $50/person.

PCR Information
Individuals who contribute after June 30, 2013, to a registered political party or to a state level partisan candidate who has agreed to limit expenditures are eligible to apply for a refund of their contribution. For purposes of the political contribution refund (PCR) program, only monetary contributions qualify for the refund. Receipts forms may not be issued to contributors who donate goods or services.

The maximum refund contributors may receive is $50 per person or $100 for married couples. The program is available to individuals who are eligible to vote in Minnesota. Those individuals may file only one refund application per year and there is no opportunity to amend the PCR.

To receive a refund, a contributor must:

1. Get a receipt from the political party or candidate to whom the contribution was made.
2. Fill out Form PCR (for the year in which the contribution was made), which can be obtained from the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
3. Attach the receipt to the application (Form PCR) for the appropriate year.
4. Mail the application form and receipt to the Minnesota Department of Revenue at:

Minnesota Political Contribution Refund
Minnesota Department of Revenue
St. Paul, MN 55146-1800

The refund program is not tied to the state income tax form. PCR forms must be filed separately. A taxpayer may file a claim for the PCR immediately after making the contribution. Claims for contributions made during one calendar year may be filed during that calendar year and must be filed not later than April 15th of the next calendar year.

Call Joyce Larson at 651-539-1188 or 800-657-3889 if you have questions about the PCR program.

The upcoming SD Convention:
Organizing Unit Conventions or BPOU
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.
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
• Election of delegates and alternates to the next level of conventions

The Step After
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 party 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 DFL 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
• Election of delegates and alternates to the next level of conventions
• To present and consider platform resolutions

Last Step:
State Convention
The State Convention is the supreme governing body of the party. 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 Constitution and Bylaws
• Consider proposed resolutions to the Platform and Action Agenda
State Conventions are held on even-numbered years with over 1,300 voting delegates in attendance. The convention is open to the public, and is held in different parts of the state every two years. The State Central Committee is the governing body of the party between conventions.

MACC Political Contribution form