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April 30, 2004
April MN Journal now available
The April issue of MN Journal is now available.
Back issues are always available on the MN Journal section of the site.
Posted by Griff Wigley at 08:19 AM | TrackBack
April 21, 2004
Governor and League Announce Higher Ed Co-Chairs
At a press conference this afternoon, Governor Tim Pawlenty and the Citizens League announced the Co-Chairs for the Citizens League's study committee on Higher Education in Minnesota, Rondi Erickson and Vance Opperman. The study will focus on ensuring that Minnesota has a comprehensive, high-quality, sustainable, integrated, and accountable system of higher education that meets current and future needs.
Governor Pawlenty stated, "I'm pleased that the Citizens League has agreed to this significant undertaking. They have a strong tradition of bringing people together to further an agenda of consensus and innovation. I look forward to working with them."
For more information, please view the Governor's press release.
To follow the progress of this study committee, please visit the Higher Education Weblog
Posted by Will Goldstein at 04:15 PM | TrackBack
This Month in the History of the Citizens League
Click here to view April's edition of "This Month in the History of the League" is now available.
If you have a story from League history that you'd like to share, please contact us
Posted by Will Goldstein at 12:50 PM | TrackBack
You are cordially invited to a presentation and discussion of:
THE PRICE OF GOVERNMENT
with co-author Peter Hutchinson
President, The Public Strategies Group
Monday, May 10th
4:30 - 6 p.m.
Cowles Auditorium
Hubert H. Humphrey Center at the
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
Reception and book signing to follow
RSVP 651-227-9774 or bookevent@psg.us
for directions and parking information:
http://www.hhh.umn.edu/about/contact/parking.htm
Sponsored by:
The Humphrey Institute Policy Forum and Center for the Study of Politics, The Public Strategies Group, The Center of the American Experiment, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, The Citizens League, Minnesota Tax Payers League, Minnesota Tax Payers Association, Minnesota Business Partnership
Posted by Will Goldstein at 12:42 PM | TrackBack
April 15, 2004
Dee Long Responds to Star Tribune's Report on League Fiscal Disparity Research
The Star Tribune has published a letter from League board chair Dee Long in response to an earlier report by the Star Tribune on the League's fiscal disparity research. Long states that, "Headlines and lead paragraphs of the Star Tribune's news story "Fiscal sharing statute panned / Citizens League is abashed" were extremely misleading regarding research and a story in the March issue of Minnesota Journal, a publication of the nonpartisan Citizens League."
Long also states that, "The thrust of the story in the Minnesota Journal is to frame the issue and present research that asks important questions and, we hope, begins a discussion that continues to support effective policy. To foster this process is an essential role in our community that the Citizens League has filled and will continue to fill. For the media to draw conclusions and attribute them to the Citizens League is not healthy for the public discourse. "
To read the letter in full, please visit: http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/4714421.html
Posted by Will Goldstein at 01:27 PM | TrackBack
April 14, 2004
Political polarization and “the new segregation in America”
Wonder why we seem to becoming increasingly politically polarized? Wonder why everyone around you either seems to like or dislike existing political leadership?
From the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman comes a fantastic series on "the Great Divide" -- our growing geographic political isolation from each other. The series describes the emerging national phenomenon, and its impact on our politics and political conversation.
It certainly supports the League’s priority to create “common space for the common good” that allows people from different perspectives and opinions to interact and work together on issues. The political price for this segregation is troubling.
The author, Bill Bishop, wrote a fantastic series two years ago about the changing role of cities in America.
Posted by Sean Kershaw at 06:32 AM | TrackBack
April 11, 2004
Star Tribune Posts Letter from League Chair
From last Saturday's Star Tribune, a reply from League Board Chair Dee Long to the story the Strib ran on our recent fiscal disparities report.
Posted by Sean Kershaw at 06:00 AM | TrackBack
April 05, 2004
Join us for our first ever Mind-Blower - April 13
Join us for the official opening of the Mind-Blower series! on April 13 from 4-6:30pm at O'Gara's in St. Paul. The topic for this new style of discussion is "Instant Runoff Voting: Education, Discussion, Action."
The topic of Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is particularly timely. The city of Roseville recently sought authority from the Legislature to use IRV in a special election scheduled for April 20. The Senate passed the legislation, but the House did not. What's to like? What's not to like? Join us to learn more about IRV and its possible effects on voting in Minnesota.
This event will be highly interactive - not only will we learn about and discuss IRV, we'll even try it out ourselves (on a small scale of course). The topic of our instant-runoff vote will be healthcare reform. We will provide information on various proposals for reform of the state healthcare reform system prior to the event (stay tuned to our events page for links to resources), and then vote on the different proposals – first with a conventional vote, and then with an instant-runoff vote.
We will meet in the room that faces the Snelling-Selby intersection. Snacks will be provided. Cost is $10.
To sign up, please fill out our online form, call us at (612)338-0791, or contact us
The Citizens League is proud to partner with Civics, Inc. on this exciting event.
Posted by Will Goldstein at 01:29 PM | TrackBack
Co-chair for higher education committee announced
Dee Long, chair of the Citizens League Board of Directors, announced this morning that Vance Opperman will co-chair the higher education study committee. The announcement came at the Mind-Opener breakfast with U. of M. President Robert Bruininks. Governor Pawlenty has asked the League to undertake a higher education study.
To sign up for the Committee, you can go here. Stay tuned for more information!