Presidential Straw Poll results from Sat. Feb. 13: Ted Cruz with 15 out of 31 votes and Trump 2nd with 6 votes, and Rubio 3rd with 5 votes (Carson got 3 votes and Kasich 2 votes).
Many thanks to Andy Cilek and Susan Richardson for an interesting presentation on voter integrity challenges in MN. Andy has worked tirelessly to improve our system of voting through his work with the MN Voters Alliance. He showed that the Secretary of State actively blocks their efforts and that the law is not adequate to prevent voter fraud. Key areas where fraud occurs is people voting who are prohibited by law: felons who have not completed their sentences, non-citizens and persons under guardianship who are not able to make decisions due to mental incapacity. In addition, same day voter registrations are not confirmed eligible until after votes are counted making a case for provisional ballots. Frequently these voters have given fake addresses. Susan went over the main issues in the historic ISD #833 Bond Question #2 court challenge showing how the canvassing board and judge did not follow the law in reviewing ballots.
You’re Invited – Sat. February 13, 2016 9-11:00 am
Lake Elmo Inn, RSVP by Thurs Feb. 11, 2016
Speakers: Andy Cilek, MN Voters Alliance on Voter Integrity Efforts and Susan Richardson, ISD 833 historic referendum challenge
Come learn what voter integrity means and why it’s important to Minnesota. Also hear about the court challenge in the South Washington Co School referendum vote and why it matters too.
To make a reservation contact: Brian at: 612-462-2163 or email him at: [email protected]
Cost: $20. non-member; $15. members and $10. Students.
Join for the year: $25 and it will pay off in 5 meetings.
***We are having another membership drive this winter and spring for a $100 gift card to the Lake Elmo Inn with the drawing at our June 2016 meeting (details below):
· Every first time visitor or guest, and their host will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to the Lake Elmo Inn. Please note: guests must be Minnesota residents eligible for membership.
· Drawing will be at the June 2016 meeting. So, visit for the first time, invite a friend, family member or neighbor and you could win! Any previous guest who becomes a member and their host will be entered into the drawing.
On Jan 9, 2016 we heard from Scott Fischbach, Exec. Dir. of Mn Citizens Concerned for Life. We learned that the teen abortion rate is down to less than 300 per year in MN. Also that 38% of abortions are taxpayer funded and that 40% of abortions are the 2nd and 3rd time for the mother (repeat). That’s just a tiny bit of the information shared.
In addition, Scott gave us background on assisted suicide and some cases from MN. The William Melchert-Dinkle case where the defendant visited chat rooms and made suicide pacts, then watched the others die by hanging. He was convicted but only served 6 months because his attorney wanted to appeal the case. However, a Court of Appeals confirmed his conviction in Dec. 2015.
Another case was of an Apple Valley woman with multiple debilitating conditions who was helped to commit suicide by Final Exit Network. They deliberately looked for a case in MN. They were convicted and fined $ 30,000 + the funeral expenses, but they are appealing because they want to overturn MN’s law.
Two bills have been introduced: SF 1880 and HF 2095 that would allow for assisted suicide if the person has a prognosis of only 6 months to live. Scott doesn’t know if the bills will be heard this session but thinks that they are unlikely to pass as there is a lot of opposition to making suicide easier. He urged people to tell their stories of recovering from life-threatening illnesses, like cancer, so people will know that healing and recovery are possible. He also said that less than 2% of patients with life-threatening illnesses receive care for their mental health at the time of crisis.
Thanks again to Scott Fischbach, Executive Director of MCCL, for giving a very informative presentation to the group.