NFWL Chair Elect Senator Carrie Ruud’s participation in Constitution Day recognized!
“The Aitkin County Republicans on Thursday gave a platform for state and federal candidates to politick the day before early general election voting begins in Minnesota.
The group organized an event at V.F.W. Post 1727 celebrating the 229th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution, with GOP candidate speeches and a silent auction fundraiser.
After being introduced by Rep. Josh Heintzeman, R-Nisswa, Rep. Dale Lueck, R-Aitkin, spoke about some of the rights enshrined in Minnesota’s constitution. He highlighted the portion that reads “all political power is inherent” in the state’s people.
“It’s basically restating the same thing the U.S. Constitution says: that we give power to government, the government doesn’t give us power,” he said.
Sen. Carrie Ruud, R-Breezy Point, talked of her work to get an amendment to the state constitution that would take away legislators’ power of setting their own pay and replace it with an appointed citizen commission. She said she discovered the idea through her involvement with the National Foundation for Women Legislators, after a delegate from the state of Washington told her about it. It’s a good solution to break the legislative gridlock around the issue, she said. The fear of political blowback effectively shuts down any hope of a frank discussion on legislator pay.”