Denise and Lyle

Monday, 23 May 2011

The big local political news today is that, in the wee hours during the past weekend, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed a bill that will put same-sex marriage restrictions on the state constitution.

Here’s an article about that.

From a law-changing standpoint, this is a completely useless amendment to propose to voters. Minnesota state law already defines marriage between same-sex couples as illegal, so whether voters decide to add this to the constitution or not, same-sex marriage will still be illegal.

But there’s another standpoint to consider: the political one. The religious conservatives who came out for the 2010 election and gave Republicans control of both the Minnesota House and Senate for the first time in decades are going to be needed again to maintain that advantage. Adding an emotionally charged amendment to the ballot is sure likely to get more people to the polls than, say, if Mary or Greg should be State Auditor.

Additionally, conservative congresspeople were voted in on a platform of balancing the state’s budget and bringing Minnesota closer to a theocracy. So, in that way, these Senators and Representatives are only doing what they promised they’d do. Maybe this will help their constituents to remember them fondly in 2012 when their names again come up for a vote.

Though I am not a fan of either of the two controlling political parties in our state, it’s pretty easy to see which is the greater of two evil regarding human rights when we look at the voting roll call for this proposal:

Legislator
Party
District
Vote
Tom Anzelc
DFL
03A
AGAINST
Joe Atkins
DFL
39B
AGAINST
John Benson
DFL
43B
AGAINST
Kathy Brynaert
DFL
23B
AGAINST
Lyndon Carlson
DFL
45B
AGAINST
Karen Clark
DFL
61A
AGAINST
Jim Davnie
DFL
62A
AGAINST
Denise Dittrich
DFL
47A
FOR
Kent Eken
DFL
02A
AGAINST
Andrew Falk
DFL
20A
AGAINST
Patti Fritz
DFL
26B
AGAINST
Kerry Gauthier
DFL
07B
AGAINST
Marion Greene
DFL
60A
AGAINST
Mindy Greiling
DFL
54A
AGAINST
Rick Hansen
DFL
39A
AGAINST
Alice Hausman
DFL
66B
AGAINST
Jeff Hayden
DFL
61B
AGAINST
Debra Hilstrom
DFL
46B
AGAINST
Bill Hilty
DFL
08A
AGAINST
Frank Hornstein
DFL
60B
AGAINST
Melissa Hortman
DFL
47B
AGAINST
Larry Hosch
DFL
14B
AGAINST
Thomas Huntley
DFL
07A
AGAINST
Sheldon Johnson
DFL
67B
AGAINST
Phyllis Kahn
DFL
59B
AGAINST
Kory Kath
DFL
26A
AGAINST
Kate Knuth
DFL
50B
AGAINST
Lyle Koenen
DFL
20B
FOR
Carolyn Laine
DFL
50A
AGAINST
Ann Lenczewski
DFL
40B
AGAINST
John Lesch
DFL
66A
AGAINST
Tina Liebling
DFL
30A
AGAINST
Leon Lillie
DFL
55A
AGAINST
Diane Loeffler
DFL
59A
AGAINST
Tim Mahoney
DFL
67A
AGAINST
Carlos Mariani
DFL
65B
AGAINST
Paul Marquart
DFL
09B
AGAINST
Carly Melin
DFL
5B
AGAINST
Rene Moran
DFL
65A
AGAINST
Terry Morrow
DFL
23A
AGAINST
Joe Mullery
DFL
58A
AGAINST
Erin Murphy
DFL
64A
AGAINST
Mary Murphy
DFL
06B
AGAINST
Michael Nelson
DFL
46A
AGAINST
Kim Norton
DFL
29B
AGAINST
Michael Paymar
DFL
64B
AGAINST
Gene Pelowski, Jr.
DFL
31A
AGAINST
John Persell
DFL
04A
AGAINST
Sandra Peterson
DFL
45A
AGAINST
Jeanne Poppe
DFL
27B
AGAINST
Tom Rukavina
DFL
05A
AGAINST
Bev Scalze
DFL
54B
AGAINST
Steve Simon
DFL
44A
AGAINST
Nora Slawik
DFL
55B
AGAINST
Linda Slocum
DFL
63B
AGAINST
Paul Thissen
DFL
63A
AGAINST
Tom Tillberry
DFL
51B
AGAINST
Jean Wagenius
DFL
62B
AGAINST
John Ward
DFL
12A
AGAINST
Ryan Winkler
DFL
44B
AGAINST
Jim Abeler
Republican
48B
FOR
Bruce Anderson
Republican
19A
FOR
Diane Anderson
Republican
38A
FOR
Paul Anderson
Republican
13A
FOR
Sarah Anderson
Republican
43A
FOR
King Banaian
Republican
15B
FOR
Bob Barrett
Republican
17B
FOR
Michael Beard
Republican
35A
FOR
Mike Benson
Republican
30B
FOR
Kurt Bills
Republican
37B
FOR
Mark Buesgens
Republican
35B
FOR
Tony Cornish
Republican
24B
FOR
Roger Crawford
Republican
08B
FOR
Kurt Daudt
Republican
17A
FOR
Gregory M. Davids
Republican
31B
FOR
Matt Dean
Republican
52B
FOR
Bob Dettmer
Republican
52A
FOR
Connie Doepke
Republican
33B
FOR
Keith Downey
Republican
41A
FOR
Steve Drazkowski
Republican
28B
FOR
Sondra Erickson
Republican
16A
FOR
Dan Fabian
Republican
01A
FOR
Mary Franson
Republican
11B
FOR
Pat Garofalo
Republican
36B
FOR
Steve Gottwalt
Republican
15A
FOR
Glenn Gruenhagen
Republican
25A
FOR
Bob Gunther
Republican
24A
FOR
Tom Hackbarth
Republican
48A
FOR
Rod Hamilton
Republican
22B
FOR
David Hancock
Republican
02B
FOR
Mary Liz Holberg
Republican
36A
FOR
Joe Hoppe
Republican
34B
FOR
Larry Howes
Republican
04B
FOR
Tim Kelly
Republican
28A
AGAINST
Andrea Kieffer
Republican
56B
FOR
Debra Kiel
Republican
01B
FOR
Mary Kiffmeyer
Republican
16B
FOR
John Kriesel
Republican
57A
AGAINST
Morrie Lanning
Republican
09A
FOR
Mike LeMieur
Republican
12B
FOR
Ernie Leidiger
Republican
34A
FOR
Kathy Lohmer
Republican
56A
FOR
Jenifer Loon
Republican
42B
FOR
Tara Mack
Republican
37A
FOR
Pat Mazorol
Republican
41B
FOR
Joe McDonald
Republican
19B
FOR
Carolyn McElfatrick
Republican
03B
FOR
Carol McFarlane
Republican
53B
FOR
Denny McNamara
Republican
57B
FOR
Mike Murdock
Republican
10B
FOR
Rich Murray
Republican
27A
AGAINST
Pam Myhra
Republican
40A
FOR
Bud Nornes
Republican
10A
FOR
Tim O’Driscoll
Republican
14A
FOR
Joyce Peppin
Republican
32A
FOR
Branden Petersen
Republican
49B
FOR
Duane Quam
Republican
29A
FOR
Linda Runbeck
Republican
53A
FOR
Tim Sanders
Republican
51A
FOR
Joe Schomacker
Republican
22A
FOR
Peggy Scott
Republican
49A
FOR
Ron Shimanski
Republican
18A
FOR
Steve Smith
Republican
33A
AGAINST
Kirk Stensrud
Republican
42A
FOR
Chris Swedzinski
Republican
21A
FOR
Paul Torkelson
Republican
21B
FOR
Dean Urdahl
Republican
18B
FOR
Bruce Vogel
Republican
13B
FOR
Doug Wardlow
Republican
38B
FOR
Torrey Westrom
Republican
11A
FOR
Kelby Woodard
Republican
25B
FOR
Kurt Zellers
Republican
32B
FOR

What’s really strange is that two Democrats voted in favor of putting the amendment on the ballot. While I whole-heartily endorse political drones breaking ranks whenever they feel the need to (I hate the slavish adherence to party policy), it’s tough to see what these Democrats hope to gain.

Presumably, since they’re both religious, they must feel that their imaginary friend wants them to make sure same-sex marriage becomes, um, illegal-er. Presuming to know what a supernatural deity desires is, of course, megalomania. But I suppose if they lacked any predilection towards megalomania, they wouldn’t have sought political office in the first place.

I say they “presumably” voted on the bill for religious reasons, because I would certainly think this squashes any chance of reelection they may have been entertaining.

Denise Dittrich, from Champlin, barely squeaked by in her latest election. Despite being the incumbent, and winning with a 19% margin back in 2008, she won with only a 1.9% margin in 2010. When Champlin residents go to the polls in 2012, I would imagine that most Democrats would no longer support her. Meanwhile, conservatives – who may have approved of her vote regarding this amendment – will likely just stick with the Republican nominee for that district.

Lyle Koenen was the other Democrat to vote in favor of the amendment.

Anyway, with a governmental shut down looming, it’s good the Representatives were able to find time late at night on the weekend to put civil rights up for legislation. Thank you, elected officials, for not shattering any of the stereotypes I have about you.

If you live in Minnesota and plan to vote “Yes” on this proposal come Election Day 2012, I would enjoy your logical arguments on why this is a fair amendment and how it will help the citizens of our once great state.

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1 Response to Denise and Lyle

  1. Mike says:

    Nice job on this post, James. I did not realize the whole thing was meaningless. Having not followed this particular piece of legislation very closely I am surprised. It is beyond ludicrious that with the budget problems the state is having they can find time to debate this issue. They are not in their jobs to tell us how to relate to one another. End of story.

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