Independence Party of Minnesota >From Wikipedia
The Independence Party of Minnesota (often abbreviated MNIP, IP, or IPM), formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is a _radical centrist_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_center_(politics)) [_citation needed_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed) ] _political party_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party) in the _U.S. state_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state) of _Minnesota_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota) . It is the party of former _Minnesota Governor_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_Minnesota) _Jesse Ventura_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Ventura) (1999–2003), and nominated former _U.S. Representative_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives) _Tim Penny_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Penny) as its candidate in the 2002 gubernatorial _election_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election) . Originally an affiliate of the _Reform Party of the United States of America_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America) , the party was later affiliated with the _Independence Party of America_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Party_of_America) but is no longer affiliated with any national party, focusing exclusively on Minnesota politics. The party has fielded candidates for most statewide races and has been considered a major party by the state since 1994, along with the _Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Democratic–Farmer–Labor_Party) (DFL) and _Republican Party of Minnesota_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_of_Minnesota) ._[1]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Party_of_Minnesota#cite_note-1) The party endorsed _Tom Horner_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Horner) in Minnesota's _2010 gubernatorial election_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_gubernatorial_election,_2010) . Despite its name, the IP is not in any way _separatist_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separatist) and does not support or otherwise call for _secession from the United States_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secession_in_the_United_States) . History The party was formed in 1992 by Minnesota supporters of _Ross Perot_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Perot) , and fielded _Dean Barkley_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Barkley) that year as a candidate for a seat in the _US House of Representatives_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives) . Other supporters led by Don Dow, State Director, and Victoria Staten, Assistant State Director and Ross Perot's spokesperson on NAFTA, worked as part of _United We Stand America_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_We_Stand_America) , and some eventually found their way to the Independence Party after the elections. Over the following years, the party began to field candidates in other state races. In 1995 the IPMN affiliated with the national _Reform Party_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Party_of_the_United_States) and renamed itself the Reform Party of Minnesota. The state party carried that name until it disaffiliated from the national party in 2000 due to factional dissent and the increasing influence of _Pat Buchanan_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Buchanan) . The party immediately changed its name back to Independence Party._[2]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=yes#cite_note -2) Buchanan, his most influential opponents having left the party, went on to become the Reform Party's candidate for president. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IndMNconvention2006.jpg) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IndMNconvention2006.jpg) Independence Party of Minnesota's 2006 convention at _Midway Stadium_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midway_Stadium) . On 2004's _Super Tuesday_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Tuesday) , March 2, the party held _caucuses_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucus) around the state along with Minnesota's other three parties. Since the organization had no national party affiliation, it merely ran a _straw poll_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_poll) to gauge the opinions of members with regard to the available presidential candidates in the _2004 election_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election,_2004) . For the poll, the group used _instant-runoff voting_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRV_implementations_in_United_States#Independence_Party_of_Minnesota_.282004_Pres idential_poll.29) , a voting method that has been gaining interest in the state. Additionally, the party had several fairly progressive agenda items to vote on. For a bit of levity, there was also a vote on the _mascot_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mascot) to use for the party. Three top possibilities were the _bison_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Bison) , _hawk_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawk) , and _white buffalo_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_buffalo) . Technology was also involved in the IPMN's caucusing, as it used the Internet to conduct a two-day online “virtual caucus ” for people who were unable to attend the evening of Super Tuesday. On March 5, 2004, the party announced that the presidential winner was _John Edwards_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Edwards) , who had privately circulated his decision to withdraw shortly before IP members voted. The Super Tuesday ballot was probably the first state-wide experiment in instant-runoff voting. The Bison, to be named Indy, won the mascot vote, out-polling the nearest competitors by a 19% margin. In May 2005, _Peter Hutchinson_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Hutchinson) , who was _Minnesota Finance Commissioner_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Minnesota_Department_of_Finance&action=edit&redlink=1) in the _Rudy Perpich_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_Perpich) administration, announced that he was planning to seek the Independence Party's nomination for governor in the 2006 election. Hutchinson finished 3rd of 6 earning 141,735 votes for 6.4% of the total vote._[3]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=yes#cite_note-3) As of 2006, the party has had two members in the _Minnesota Senate_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Senate) . _Bob Lessard_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Lessard&action=edit&redlink=1) of International Falls, joined the party in 2001 after he was re-elected to the Senate as an independent with 54.3% of the vote._[4]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=yes#cite_note-4) He did not seek re-election in 2002. Also in the 2002 election, _Sheila Kiscaden_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Kiscaden) of Rochester was turned down for endorsement for re-election to the Minnesota Senate by the _Republican party_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_of_Minnesota) . She joined the IP and won re-election, giving the Independence Party its first victory in a Minnesota legislative election. She joined the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in January 2006. There have been no members of the IPM in the _Minnesota House of Representatives_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_House_of_Representatives) . In the 2006 elections IP _5th district congressional candidate_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota's_5th_congressional_district_election,_2006) Tammy Lee received 51,456 votes for 21.01% of the total vote._[5]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable= yes#cite_note-5) Lee's strong showing resulted in part from her unusually strong (for third parties) fundraising, Lee raised $228,938 _[6]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable= yes#cite_note-6) for her run. In May 2008, a "_Draft_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_(politics)) Dean Barkley" movement started _on the web_ (http://www.draftdeanbarkley.com/) to encourage the former senator to run again. He accepted, and _came in 3rd_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Minnesota,_2008) , winning a significant 15% of all votes cast. His candidacy had a significant impact on a race in which the eventual winner _Al Franken_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Franken) and then-incumbent Senator _Norm Coleman_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_Coleman) were separated by only 312 votes. Two other federal candidates, David Dillon in the 3rd congressional district and Bob Anderson in the 6th congressional district, received 10% of the vote in their races. Thus, 2008 is high-water mark for the Minnesota Independence Party in both the number of federal candidates running and the percent of vote received—both key measures of the growing base of support. In 2010 gubernatorial candidate _Tom Horner_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Horner) , a former public relations executive and chief of staff to U.S. Senator _David Durenberger_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Durenberger) received 12% of the vote,_[7]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=yes#cite_note-7) nearly doubling the total of previous IP gubernatorial candidate _Peter Hutchinson_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Hutchinson) . Horner polled as high as 18% in the weeks leading up to the election.,_[8]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=yes#cite_note-8) but was significantly outspent by the GOP and DFL candidates and the third-party expenditure groups supporting their candidacies. Horner did receive endorsement from three of the state's five living ex-governors: Republicans _Arne Carlson_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arne_Carlson) and _Al Quie_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Quie) as well as Ventura. Former U.S. Senate candidate and prominent Minnesota attorney Mike Ciresi also endorsed Horner._[9]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=yes#cite_note-9) Most Minnesota newspapers including the _Star Tribune_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Tribune) , _St. Paul Pioneer Press_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Paul_Pioneer_Press) , _St. Cloud Times_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St._Cloud_Times&action=edit&redlink=1) , _Duluth News Tribune_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duluth_News_Tribune) , and _Rochester Post-Bulletin_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester_Post-Bulletin) , as well as North Dakota's _Grand Forks Herald_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Forks_Herald) endorsed the IP candidate._[10]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=yes#cite_note-10) In 2014 the Independence Party has endorsed several candidates for state and national office. Hannah Nicollet for governor, Kevin Terrell for US senate, attorney Brandan Borgos for MN attorney general, whistleblower Pat Dean for MN state auditor, government worker Bob Helland for Secretary of State, John Denney for US congress CD-6, Paula Overby for US congress CD-2 and Iraq War veteran Dave Thomas for US congress CD-4. Platform The Independence Party of Minnesota tends to lean _conservative_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_States) with regards to taxation and other fiscal matters. For example, "personal responsibility" is a core principle of the party as is a "[G]overnment that is fiscally responsible: equitable in its collection of taxes, careful in its spending, and honest in its financial reporting." _[1]_ (http://www.independenceminnesota.org/about-the-ip/platformprinciples) Many IP candidates have campaigned for tax reform that produces more stable revenues for the state. The IP platform states, "We support government budgets that are structurally balanced and avoid shifting of expenses or borrowing to make them appear balanced." In social policy the party tends to take more _liberal_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_liberalism_in_the_United_States) -_libertarian_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism_in_the_United_States) positions on issues such as _abortion_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion) , _gay marriage_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States) , and civil rights and liberties. One of its core principles is that "All citizens deserve equal rights, protection, and opportunity under the law. In our party and public affairs, we are ever vigilant to promote only those rules and laws which assure equity and freedom for all citizens." _[2]_ (http://www.independenceminnesota.org/about-the-ip/platformprinciples) _Jesse Ventura_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Ventura) described the party, as well as his own personal philosophy, as "_fiscally conservative_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscal_conservatism) and _socially liberal_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_liberalism) ." At the party's state convention in 2012, delegates passed three new resolutions. One addressed the party's opposition to raiding dedicated state funds to balance general obligations. A second expressed frustration with the overuse of constitutional amendments. A third proposed eliminating legislative pay in the event of a state shutdown like the one that occurred in the summer of 2011._[3]_ (http://www.independenceminnesota.org/blog/posts/628-opposition-to-amendments-among-ip-convention-highlights) Party delegates also adopted two standing resolutions against both the marriage amendment and the voter ID amendment on the state ballot in November 2012._[11]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=ye s#cite_note-11) During the 2013 IP convention the body amended the party platform to support the legalization, taxation and regulation of _marijuana_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marijuana) ._[12]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=yes#cite_note-12) Delegates also lifted the party's prohibition on receiving money from political action committees, citing the need to instead fight for transparency and accountability in Minnesota campaign spending in the aftermath of _Citizens United_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._Federal_Election_Commission) ._[4]_ (http://www.mnip.org/news/independence-party-elects-leader-amends-platform-at-state-convention) Partners The Independence Party of Minnesota joined the Minnesotans United for All Families coalition in 2011 after chair Mark Jenkins announced the party's official opposition to the marriage amendment, citing the party's own platform in its opposition._[13]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=yes#cite_note-13) The IP is also a longtime supporter of ranked choice voting (RCV) and FairVote Minnesota, which seeks to expand RCV throughout Minnesota._[5]_ (http://fairvotemn.org/supporters_parties) The party uses RCV to conduct intraparty endorsements including delegates' decision to "not endorse" for U.S. Senate in 2012. Following the party's official vote to oppose the 2012 voter ID amendment, the campaign seeking to defeat the amendment, "Our Vote, Our Future", announced former IP gubernatorial candidate Tim Penny as one of its campaign co-chairs._[14]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=yes#cite_note-14) Another former IP gubernatorial candidate, Tom Horner, was named as a member of the group's advisory committee._[15]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independence_Party_of_Minnesota&printable=yes#cite_note-15) Famous members * _Jesse Ventura_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Ventura) – Governor of Minnesota: 1999–2003. * _Dean Barkley_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Barkley) – U.S. Senator from Minnesota: 2002–2003 (Appointed by Gov. Ventura to fill a vacancy due to Sen. _Paul Wellstone_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wellstone) 's death) * _Mae Schunk_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_Schunk) – Lt. Governor of Minnesota: 1999–2003 * Richard McCluhan – Former chairman of the party (1999–2001) during Jesse Ventura's presence in office. * _Tim Penny_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Penny) – 2002 Independence Party candidate for Governor * _Peter Hutchinson_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Hutchinson) – 2006 Independence Party candidate for Governor * _Tom Horner_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Horner) – 2010 Independence Party candidate for Governor * Jim Moore - 2002 Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, Former chairman of the party (2003 - 2007) -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. 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