America's Return to Independence

Deprivation of Individual Rights - The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act On April 19, 2000, the 81st legislature made one of the worst pieces of legislation ever, allowing townships and municipalities outside of the metropolitan area to withhold information from the public.  This led to concealment of information and was a huge blow to transparency.  This was simply government allowing other other government agencies to operate under the radar. The Minnesota Senate -- H.F. No. 3501 (Data Practices Act)  was read the third time, as amended, and placed on its final passage. The question was taken on the passage of the bill, as amended. The roll was called, and there were yeas 61 and nays 0 , as follows [Not a single vote for citizens]:  Those who voted in the affirmative were: Anderson                            ...

Marvin Pirila & Gail Francette 1 N Cloquet Rd W Esko, MN 55733 December 21, 2011 Eric H. Holder Jr, U.S. Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530-0001 Solicitor General of the United States Room 5614, Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20530-0001 Lori Swanson, Attorney General Minnesota Attorney General's Office 1400 Bremer Tower 445 Minnesota Street St. Paul, MN 55101 Attn: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson, Solicitor General of the United States One :   In their petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, petitioners Marvin Pirila and Gail Francette challenge the constitutionality of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act .   This case is Appellate Court Case No. A11-276, Petitioners, Marvin Pirila & Gail Francette vs. Respondents, Thomson Township, Thomson Township Fire Department, John Gulland, Duane Grace, Jeffrey Juntunen. ...

Data Practices Act Defendants in Marvin Pirila & Gail Francett e v. Thomson Township, etal., denied access to relevant information to their legal matter pursuant to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), even after learning it did not apply to them.   The MGDPA does not apply to towns, except those exercising special town powers under Minn. Stat. § 368.01 and located within the 7-county metropolitan area (Minn. Stat. § 13.02, Subd. 11).   Minn. Stat. § 473.121 Subd. 2 defines Metropolitan areas and does not include defendant Thomson Township. Townships are to provide access to public data upon reasonable requests .   In this particular manner, the defendants refused to voluntarily answer information requests, letters, and emails.   Thomson Township attorney David Pritchett interfered with informal discovery by writing plaintiffs and stating they were “… hereby instructed to cease and desist from making contact with such persons for the pur...