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In early 2008, our legislative allies re-introduced a bill to
allow (but not require) local governments to offer domestic partner
benefits to their employees. Your voice needs to be heard on this
legislation! Ever since a 1995 Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling, no
local government in Minnesota has been allowed to offer domestic partner
benefits. A Minneapolis man had sued the city, not wanting taxes paying
for domestic partner benefits. His lawsuit ended up at the Court of
Appeals, which ruled that the legislature did not intend to include
domestic partner benefits when it allowed local governments to begin
offering employee benefits. The legislation currently introduced would
allow local governments to offer these benefits. Complete contact information for your
representative and
senator is available at the
Minnesota State Legislature,
but the addresses below are all you need to write your legislators. When writing your
Senator:
The Honorable [first name] [last name]
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 When writing your Representative:
The Honorable [first name] [last name]
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
Tips For Writing Your Legislators:
- Be sure you're writing your legislator! Legislators often pay far
less attention to letters they receive from people who do not live in
their districts.
- In a brief first paragraph, introduce yourself and identify yourself
as one of the legislator's constituents.
- In a more substantive second paragraph, identify the specific issue
you are writing about, and your basic position on it ("I support/oppose
… "). Identify any facts or figures that support your position. If you
have a personal story that illustrates why you take this position, share
it in enough detail to communicate its importance to you, but not in so
much detail that you lose your reader.
- In a brief third paragraph, identify what it is you want your
legislator to do in response.
- Thank your legislator for their consideration of your viewpoint. It
is often helpful to offer to provide more information if the legislator
wants it.
- Sign your letter, and include your mailing address. Feel free to
include an email address and/or phone number if you wish.
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