Myhra on Same-Sex Marriage Bill: Kids Won't Be Able to 'Have a Mom and a Dad'

Burnsville's state Rep. Pam Myhra spoke against the legislation to legalize same-sex marriage on the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives Thursday.

State Rep. Pam Myhra (R-56A) spoke against the same-sex marriage legislation on the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives Thursday afternoon. The full House is debating the bill and is expected to vote Thursday. If the bill passes the Minnesota Senate will take it up on Monday. Some of what Myrha said in her brief speech: "With this bill, adults will choose a same-sex marriage while children will lose their opportunity to have a mom and a dad. ... "Where is our focus? Is it on immediate demands ... or are we looking to the future? ... "I will be a voice in this debate for [children]. I will advocate for them to have both a mom and a dad." WATCH LIVESTREAM VIDEO of the House debate and vote on Thursday. See also: House Members …

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How Much Did Burnsville Candidates Raise, Spend in Months Before Election?

Check out the campaign finance reports for local candidates.

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter| Blog for us Election season has come to a close. Want to see which of Burnsville's candidates won the fundraising race? Check out the most recent finance reports recorded by the state's Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.  Some candidates have raised tens of thousands of dollars during the election cycle. Here's a look at the pre-election totals through Oct. 22 for candidates for Senate District 51, House Districts 51A, Senate District 56, House District 56A and 56B. To view the full campaign finance reports, click on the candidate's name. Special notes: *—Denotes incumbent candidate  $2,420

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DFL Chooses Challengers to Face Hall, Myhra

Last week, the DFL endorsed three candidates in their quest to take Senate District 56, which covers Savage, Burnsville and northern Lakeville.

Local DFL delegates have rounded out their roster in the party's bid to take the legislature. Leon Thurman, an educator, will face off against GOP Sen. Dan Hall  in the fight for Senate District 56, while Dave Jensen, a nurse practitioner, will take on Rep. Pam Myhra (House District 56A). The party also gave its formal stamp of approval to Will Morgan, a former representative who entered the race for House District 56B early in the game. Morgan is vying for the seat against Lakeville's Roz Peterson.  The DFL is hoping to reclaim the Minnesota Legislature in 2012 and reverse the GOP's stunning sweep of 2010, which brought the Republican Party control of both the House and the Senate. The GOP's victory in the senate races signalled a major …

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Letter to the Editor: Local Legislators Colluding with ALEC to Strip Us of Democracy

Letter writer says the ALEC is quietly driving legislation to subjugate us and our government to the capitalists, and local legislators are complicit.

To the editor: Subduing the general population presents tremendous profit potential. That’s why the secretive American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) was organized. The ALEC is quietly driving legislation to subjugate us and our government to the capitalists. ALEC designed the overall plan, has a staff writing model legislation and has puppet lawmakers implementing laws. To achieve full domination, evade taxes and maximize profits. Twenty-six major corporations such as General Electric, Boeing, Verizon, and Mattel paid no taxes for the last four years, despite billions in profits. ALEC ensures tax cuts and subsidies to big oil and pushes the XL Keystone pipeline so the capitalists can make money exporting jet fuel and diesel while …

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MinnPost: Corporate Influence Afoot Behind Myhra's Online Learning Bill

A recent article by MinnPost discusses what for-profit online education companies stand to gain by House File 2127, a bill sponsored by Burnsville Republican Rep. Pam Myhra.

House Passes Voter Photo ID Constitutional Amendment

While many DFLers spoke out against the measure, the bill moves on to the Senate.

The Minnesota House of Representatives passed a bill early Wednesday morning to put a Constitutional amendment on the ballot next November requiring voters to show photo ID when they vote. The City of Burnsville has taken a position against the proposal, citing a burdensome increase in the cost of conducting elections which city officials argue will be borne by local government. The vote, like most others Tuesday on proposed changes to the bill, was along party lines, 72-62. All local representatives from south of the river voted for its passage: Pam Myhra, Diane Anderson, Pat Garofalo, Mary Liz Holberg, Tara Mack, and Mark Buesgens all voted in the affirmative. To see the vote and some of the failed amendments to it, click here. Richfield…

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Brenda Daly

4:03 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Carol, why do you make up stories to support your position? Voter fraud is almost nonexistent in this state   more ›

Shutdown recap: Q & A with Rep. Pam Myhra

After pulling an all-nighter in St. Paul, the Republican rep called Patch to give us the lowdown on the conclusion of the state's longest budget battle.

At 9 a.m. today Gov. Mark Dayton signed the state's budget into law, thus ending the longest standoff and subsequent shutdown in the state's history. During the 20 days of deadlock, partisan rancor flared, at least 20,000 workers temporarily laid off and many day-to-day services were abruptly cut off. The impasse was finally resolved during a special session that lasted into the wee hours of last night. At the time of the interview, Rep. Pam Myhra (R-Burnsville) was working on five hours of sleep. Patch: Were you surprised by how quickly the budget resolved itself after the governor extended his the olive branch on Thursday? Myhra: I guess I expected it. Leadership said that if there was an agreement that we could override the rules. By …

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48 Legislators Decline Pay for Shutdown

Find out who did and who didn't.

State workers are not the only ones who are going without pay because of the shutdown: According to a report by City Pages, Gov. Mark Dayton and 48 legislators in the Minnesota House have declined pay for the duration of the budget crisis, which is now into its second week. Burnsville’s own representatives — Republicans Pam Myhra and Diane Anderson — are not among them. However, the two freshmen are hardly in the minority. Just 35.8 percent of house members opted for a pay cut, ostensibly out of solidarity with the 20,000 state workers who have been laid off because of the budget impasse between the two parties. Myhra said she will continue to collect pay on principle. “My job is to be here for regular session, which I faithfully did, and …

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Capitol Review

Capitol Review: Gambling, Health Insurance and the Cedar Avenue Bridge

Burnsville legislators have been busy working for their community. Here is what they've been doing:

Editor's note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Burnsville Patch every week for a new Capitol Review. Have a look at what Burnsville legislators have been doing recently: Rep. Pam Myhra (R-District 40A) of Burnsville Email: rep.pam.myhra@house.mn Phone: 651-296-9895 Representative Myhra is a retired CPA and teacher. She serves on the committees for Capital Investment, Education Finance, Education Reform and Taxes. Co-authored a bill relating to taxes (HF1598) The bill proposes an amendment to Article 4 of the Minnesota Constitution. If passed it would require a three-fifths vote …

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Burnsville Legislators Urge Caution in Wake of Bin Laden Death

Burnsville Sen. Dan D. Hall and State Rep. Pam Myhra praised the military and President Obama but also offered condolences for those lost in 9/11

In separate statements Monday evening, Burnsville legislators Senator Dan D. Hall (R-District 40) and State Representative Pam Myhra (R-District 40A) commended the efforts that led to the death of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and urged all Americans to remember those lost on Sept. 11, 2001. While their messages praised the U.S. military and President Obama, the legislators were adamant that the "War on Terror" is far from over.    “I commend the courageous dedication of our military that brought Osama bin Laden to justice and I am grateful for their faithful service to our country as they fight terrorism to protect our freedoms," Sen. Hall told Patch. "Yet despite this success, we must remain vigilant in our pursuit to end the threat …

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