Best of 2012

Proposed Amendments Draw Huge Community Response: No. 5 Story of the Year

One of the most followed stories of the year.

Richfield Patch covered a lot of different stories, topics and events throughout 2012, but there were a few that stood out as the most interesting, important or possibly infamous to our readers. The following is the No. 5 story of the year. *** Election Day 2012 was no doubt a very important day for every Minnesotan. Not only was every Minnesota state legislator up for re-election, but voters were faced with two major constitutional amendments. The marriage amendment would've defined marriage as between one man and one woman, while the photo voter ID measure would've required all to present a valid state ID in order to cast a ballot. Follow Richfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter While …

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New Poll Shows Support Falling for Marriage, Voter ID Amendments

Public Policy Polling suggests both amendments could fail.

With Election Day less than 24 hours away, on Sunday researchers at Public Policy Polling issued the results of a new survey suggesting both constitutional amendments on Minnesota's ballot this year could fail. PPP's poll estimated support for the first amendment, which would write an existing ban same-sex marriage into the state constitution, falling to 45 percent from 49 percent in the Star-Tribune's recent Minnesota Poll. Support for the second amendment, which would require voters show a state-issued photo ID when they vote, was pegged at 46 percent, with 51 percent opposed. That's a significant drop in support since recent polls estimating the amendment would pass with 53 percent of the vote.  The most recent KSTP/Survey USA poll, …

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Letter to the Editor

Veteran Asks Others to Vote 'No' on Proposed Amendments

The following is a Letter to the Editor from a local resident and veteran.

To the Editor, When I joined the military, I took an oath to support and protect the constitution of the United States. In the US Constitution it has a bill of rights and prescribes three branches of the government, Executive, Legislative and Judicial. These branches of government are the first 3 articles of the constitution and is the check and balance system of our government. The Minnesota state constitution is like the US Constitution. The first article is the bill of rights. The third article sets up the same three branches of government. This I swore to protect. We the people elect our legislators, we the people elect the governor, we the people in Minnesota elect the supreme court justices. We already have the power, we do not need …

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AD Resignation, Yoga Pants and the Military’s Budget: Feedback Friday

The most thoughtful, moving, controversial or just plain funny comments from around the west metro between Sept. 7 and Sept. 13.

Each week, Patch users contribute numerous insights, opinions and observations. The following is a collection of the most thoughtful, moving, controversial or just plain funny comments that appeared on Patch sites in Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Richfield, Shakopee, Plymouth, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Click on the headline to read the full story and join in the conversation. (The comments below are not meant to reflect the opinions of Patch or its staff.) *** Volunteers Help Golden Valley Thrift Store Thrive New To You Thriftique is a thrift store in Golden Valley that's run by volunteers. All of the shop's proceeds go toward a tuition scholarship fund at Calvin Christian Schools. Carolyn Kaehr had this to say about her…

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Poll: Is the Voter ID Amendment Necessary, or a Political Ploy?

Minnesota voters will have a chance to vote on the issue in November; Patch readers can debate the issue now.

Should proof-of-identity be required at the voting booth? Republicans, in general, say "yes." They point out that people are often required to show their identification: When purchasing alcoholic beverages, when boarding a plane, when using a credit card, when pulled over by the police for a traffic violation. Why not require positive identification, then, before stepping into the voting both—that most sacred right in a democracy? Democrats, in general, say "no." They say requiring voter ID is a solution in search of a problem. They point out that aside from a few isolated incidents, there's been no evidence of voter fraud, and they worry that such proposals are simply a way of keeping the poor, and ethnic minoriites, out of the voting …

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The Fifth District Report

Ellison: Voter ID Will Keep Snowplows Off the Roads

Packed community forum urged opposition to the proposed amendment, citing impact on poor, elderly, and students.

Speaking to a packed crowd at the Sabes Jewish Community Center in St Louis Park on Monday, Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MN) said a proposed constitutional amendment requiring voters to present government-issued IDs at polling places could cost local governments millions. Ellison claimed the law could cost Ramsey County $2 million alone. He painted this picture of the effects associated with implementing the voter ID amendment: “You’re not getting your streets plowed, so we can stop a fraud that does not exist.”   The ballot question asks: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photo identification to vote and to require the state to provide free identification to eligible voters, effective July 1, …

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