The People’s Party will celebrate the accomplishments of this legislative session and the grassroots volunteers, leaders, and organizations that made them happen. This is casual, fun, family-friendly event. Think more mingling and chatting than listening to speakers speak.

RSVP here if you can make it Thursday. All are welcome!

This is event is co-sponsored by: Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless * Sierra Club * St. Paul Federation of Teachers * Land Stewardship Project *Headwaters Foundation for Justice* Education Minnesota * SEIU * OutFront Minnesota * Communications Workers of America (CWA) * NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota * Minnesotans for a Fair Economy * Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC) * Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota * TakeAction Minnesota * Minnesota AFL-CIO * AFSCME Council 5 * Jewish Community Action * Line Break Media * Want to add your organization to this list? Let us know.

None of it would have been possible without you. Here are just a few of the accomplishments:

· Passing a strong Homeowners’ Bill of Rights, giving homeowners some of the strongest foreclosure protections in the country

· A fair and balanced budget that raised taxes on the top two percent and closed corporate tax loopholes so that the richest among us will now pay their fair share

· Historic investments in education, including funding for all-day Kindergarten, a two-year freeze on tuition at state schools, beginning to pay back the money borrowed from our schools and a boost in support for K-12 education

· Homecare workers were given the right to vote and decide whether they want to form a union

· Creation of a consumer-driven health exchange that allows individuals and small businesses to have access to affordable health insurance AND the strengthening of MinnesotaCare

· Extending “Ban the Box” policies to private employers, allowing workers to be judged on their skills and qualifications, not simply on their past

Even with these victories, there is still work to be done. There will be more battles to be won in the coming months, both in the streets and at the Capitol. Follow our Facebook page, Twitter feed and sign up for text alerts on our home page for updates as we continue to stand up and fight for an economy that works for ALL Minnesotans!

Thank you for your work.

ST. PAUL (May 19, 2013) — On Sunday the Minnesota House of Representatives passed H.F. 1377, the Minnesota Homeowners’ Bill of Rights, on a bipartisan vote of 123-0. The bill, authored by Representative Melissa Hortman, now heads to Governor Mark Dayton’s desk for signature. A companion version of the bill, authored by Senator Patricia Torres Ray, passed in the Senate Thursday evening.

“We’re grateful to Rose McGee and other homeowners who courageously told their stories, and who along with the members of faith, labor and community organizations lifted up support for this bipartisan legislation in communities throughout Minnesota and at the legislature,” said Donna Cassutt, Director of Minnesotans for a Fair Economy. “And we are incredibly grateful for the leadership of Representative Melissa Hortman for her perseverance to pass the Homeowners’ Bill of Rights, with significant provisions to protect homeowners, this year.”

This legislation is aimed at protecting consumers facing foreclosure in the following ways:

• Requiring loan servicers to communicate ALL options to homeowners.
• Requiring loan servicers to offer loan modifications to all eligible homeowners.
• Banning “dual tracking,” preventing servicers from foreclosing without a clear yes or no on loan modification.
• Requiring servicers to assist homeowners in submitting documentation regarding the foreclosure process.
• Allowing homeowners to take the servicer to court to stop foreclosure if the servicer fails to comply with any aspect of the law. Lawyer’s fees and court costs would be covered should the homeowner prove their case. This is commonly referred to as “private right of action.”

Throughout the state, more than 150,000 Minnesota homeowners have lost their homes to foreclosure since 2006. In 2012, there were three times more foreclosures in Minnesota than in 2005, continuing to have a disastrous effect on Minnesota communities. These foreclosures can and should be avoided.

The campaign to pass the Minnesota Homeowners’ Bill of Rights has been led by leaders and members of ISAIAH, Jewish Community Action, MN Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC), Occupy Homes, andMinnesotans for a Fair Economy.

ST. PAUL (May 16, 2013) — On Thursday evening the Minnesota State Senate passed the Minnesota Homeowners’ Bill of Rights (S.F. 1276), authored by Senator Patricia Torres Ray, with broad bipartisan support. The final vote tally of 61-1 shows the strength of the legislation, which will curb foreclosures throughout the state and offer specific tools to Minnesotans facing foreclosure.

The bill now heads to the Minnesota House of Representatives for an expected hearing and vote Saturday. The House companion bill is H.F. 1377, authored by Representative Melissa Hortman.

This legislation is aimed at protecting consumers facing foreclosure in the following ways:

• Requiring loan servicers to communicate ALL options to homeowners.
• Requiring loan servicers to offer loan modifications to all eligible homeowners.
• Banning “dual tracking,” preventing servicers from foreclosing without a clear yes or no on loan modification.
• Requiring servicers to assist homeowners in submitting documentation regarding the foreclosure process.
• Allowing homeowners to take the servicer to court to stop foreclosure if the servicer fails to comply with any aspect of the law. Lawyer’s fees and court costs would be covered should the homeowner prove their case. This is commonly referred to as “private right of action.”

Throughout the state, more than 150,000 Minnesota homeowners have lost their homes to foreclosure since 2006. In 2012, there were three times more foreclosures in Minnesota than in 2005, continuing to have a disastrous effect on Minnesota communities. These foreclosures can and should be avoided.

The campaign to pass the Minnesota Homeowners’ Bill of Rights has been led by leaders and members of ISAIAH,MN Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC), Occupy Homes, CTUL, SEIU and Minnesotans for a Fair Economy.

 ST. PAUL (May 15, 2013) — Earlier today more than 200 Minnesotans filled the rotunda of the State Capitol urging legislators to bring a strong Homeowners’ Bill of Rights to the floors of the House and Senate for a vote before the end of the session. Community leaders from throughout Minnesota were joined by State Representatives Melissa Hortman, Raymond Dehn, John Lesch, other legislators, members of the clergy and homeowners facing foreclosure.

It is still possible for the Legislature to pass a strong Homeowners’ Bill of Rights, comprehensive legislation that will protect Minnesotans from unfair and unnecessary foreclosures. Today’s strong showing of support indicates that Minnesotans want to see passage of the bill this year.

Throughout the state, more than 150,000 Minnesota homeowners have lost their homes to foreclosure since 2006. In 2012, there were three times more foreclosures in Minnesota than in 2005, continuing to have a disastrous effect on Minnesota communities. These foreclosures can and should be avoided.

Rose McGee, a Golden Valley homeowner who was facing foreclosure as the result of a banking practice known as “dual tracking” spoke to the crowd. Just yesterday, McGee received word that loan servicer Fannie Mae agreed to a settlement after a yearlong campaign to stay in her home. McGee’s story was one of many that provided inspiration for this legislation.

“We must not give up,” McGee said. “I will be staying in my home, but nobody should have to fight this hard for something so simple. The legislature must immediately pass a strong Homeowners’ Bill of Rights as a small step towards making sure no one else has to go through such an arduous journey.”

U.S. Representative Keith Ellison was in Washington during the time of the event and sent a message of support, which was read by a staff representative. “I want to send my sincere appreciation and gratitude to each one of you who are involved in this movement to protect homeowners,” Ellison said. “I stand with each of you who are fighting to pass legislation that puts our community and homeowners first.”

A vote on a strong Homeowners’ Bill of Rights could come as early as tomorrow in either the House or the Senate. Today’s rally was sponsored by ISAIAH, MN Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC), Occupy Homes,CTUL, SEIU and Minnesotans for a Fair Economy.

more than 200 Minnesotans filled the rotunda of the State Capitol urging legislators to bring a strong Homeowners’ Bill of Rights to the floors of the House and Senate for a vote before the end of the session. Community leaders from throughout Minnesota were joined by State Representatives Melissa Hortman, Raymond Dehn, John Lesch, other legislators, members of the clergy and homeowners facing foreclosure.

It is still possible for the Legislature to pass a strong Homeowners’ Bill of Rights, comprehensive legislation that will protect Minnesotans from unfair and unnecessary foreclosures. Today’s strong showing of support indicates that Minnesotans want to see passage of the bill this year.

Throughout the state, more than 150,000 Minnesota homeowners have lost their homes to foreclosure since 2006. In 2012, there were three times more foreclosures in Minnesota than in 2005, continuing to have a disastrous effect on Minnesota communities. These foreclosures can and should be avoided.

Rose McGee, a Golden Valley homeowner who was facing foreclosure as the result of a banking practice known as “dual tracking” spoke to the crowd. Just yesterday, McGee received word that loan servicer Fannie Mae agreed to a settlement after a yearlong campaign to stay in her home. McGee’s story was one of many that provided inspiration for this legislation.

“We must not give up,” McGee said. “I will be staying in my home, but nobody should have to fight this hard for something so simple. The legislature must immediately pass a strong Homeowners’ Bill of Rights as a small step towards making sure no one else has to go through such an arduous journey.”

U.S. Representative Keith Ellison was in Washington during the time of the event and sent a message of support, which was read by a staff representative. “I want to send my sincere appreciation and gratitude to each one of you who are involved in this movement to protect homeowners,” Ellison said. “I stand with each of you who are fighting to pass legislation that puts our community and homeowners first.”

A vote on a strong Homeowners’ Bill of Rights could come as early as tomorrow in either the House or the Senate. Today’s rally was sponsored by ISAIAH, MN Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC), Occupy Homes,CTUL, SEIU and Minnesotans for a Fair Economy.

 ST. PAUL (May 6, 2013) — Minnesotans for a Fair Economy was awarded the 2013 Public Sociology Award at the 23rd annual Sociology Research Institute event on Friday, May 3 in Minneapolis. The award is given yearly at the academic gathering hosted by the University of Minnesota Department of Sociology. The award was accepted by Melissa Hysing of Minnesotans for a Fair Economy and Jordan Ash of SEIU Local 26, an MFE partner. Previous winners include Wilder Foundation Research and Professor Phyllis Moen.

In presenting the award, the school noted that Minnesotans for a Fair Economy has “produced and utilized original research analyzing the root causes of social and economic disparities in Minnesota in the areas of employment, health, incarceration, and housing.”

Reports produced by Minnesotans for a Fair Economy, an alignment of labor, faith and community groups, include “The Wall Street Wrecking Ball: What Foreclosures Are Costing Minnesotans and What We Can Do About It” and “Expect More: How Target Choose to Shortchange Minnesota’s Communities of Color.”

“We are incredibly proud that Minnesotans for a Fair Economy’s team of researchers has been acknowledged for their outstanding work with receiving the Public Sociology Award,” said Donna Cassutt, Director of Minnesotans for a Fair Economy. “We have seen firsthand the immense value our research team brings to making progress in our advocacy work to reduce income inequality, promote social justice and close the racial jobs gap.”

ST. PAUL — Earlier this week, Minneapolis-based Target Corporation announced plans to hold its annual shareholders’ meeting on June 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. This is the eighth-straight year that the retail giant has held its meeting outside of the Twin Cities. This year, other large corporations such as U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo have followed Target’s lead holding their shareholders’ meetings in locations other than their home base.

Community leaders in Minnesota who have been working together to hold Target accountable for their actions which shortchange the state’s communities of color held a conference call this morning with reporters to release a report which highlights these concerns. In addition, those on the call will announce plans to travel to Denver for the shareholders’ meeting in June.

A PDF of the report is available here: http://bit.ly/13QGXKK

You can’t really talk about poverty and rebuilding wealth without talking about the practices of the big banks—from predatory payday lending, to unnecessary or even illegal foreclosures, to borrowing money at zero percent interest from the Federal Reserve and then lending it to state and local governments at much higher rates, all while lobbying to avoid paying taxes.

That’s why I thought the alliance between activists from Idaho, Minnesota and Oregon—all coming together to challenge US Bank at its shareholder meeting in Boise this week—was so important. On Tuesday, they called on US Bank to pay its fair share in taxes; write-down mortgages to help stem the foreclosure and underwater mortgage crisis; and end payday loans with exorbitant interest rates.

“We’re standing with the people of Idaho and folks across America who want US Bank to do the right thing,” said Rob Sisk, president of SEIU 503 and a groundskeeper at the Oregon State Capitol. “We want US Bank to stop predatory lending, whether it be to individuals or our state and local governments. US Bank needs to pay its fair share in taxes to fund critical services.”

Inside the shareholders meeting, a case was made for comprehensive foreclosure legislation that would: require banks to assign struggling homeowners a single point of contact; ban the practice of “dual tracking” where the bank is working with the homeowner on a solution while also pursuing a foreclosure; and create a mediation program to bring banks and homeowners together to discuss alternatives to foreclosure.

“A US Bank customer shouldn’t have to buy a share and drop everything to go to a shareholders meeting and demand to be treated fairly,” said Eric Fought, communications director of Minnesotans for a Fair Economy. “These banks hope that no one will fight back and for too long that was the case. In Minnesota and throughout the country, we’re making sure those days are over.”

US Bank had moved its shareholders meeting from Minneapolis—home of its corporate headquarters—to Boise, because activists dominated the meeting in Minnesota last year, too. This Tuesday, Wells Fargo will attempt to hide out in Salt Lake City after thousands of protesters descended upon its shareholders meeting in San Francisco last year.

The courageous people participating in these actions aren’t waiting on change to come from Washington—they’re leading change and calling on us to join them.

Greg Kaufmann writes a weekly column on poverty in America for The Nation. 

What: Rally in response to college administration’s decision about Wells Fargo

Where: Weyerhaeuser Hall (outside on campus side), Macalester College, 62 Macalester Street, St. Paul, MN

When: Tuesday, April 23, Noon

On Tuesday, students at Macalester College will mark the conclusion of an unprecedented campaign against one of the giants of the financial system.

At noon outside of Weyerhaeuser Hall, the administrative office building, Macalester students will either celebrate the college’s decision to cut ties with Wells Fargo or protest the college’s decision to continue working with the bank. The rally comes just weeks after four Macalester students were arrested in an act of civil disobedience near Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

“The housing crisis has left families homeless and drained our communities of wealth,” said Rebecca Hornstein, who was arrested in February with three other Macalester students protesting Wells Fargo’s policies. “In Minnesota, Wells Fargo has foreclosed on more homes than any other bank. Instead of implementing common sense solutions to end the housing crisis, Wells Fargo continues to make record profits while refusing to give back to the community that bailed them out.”

The student campaign is linked to Occupy Homes MN’s efforts to organize homeowners to defend homes from foreclosure by banks like Wells Fargo. The students are also members of Minnesotans for a Fair Economy, a coalition that brings together faith, labor, and community groups who recognize that big banks stand in the way of every Minnesotan’s future.

Last year, Macalester students joined the fight for housing justice in Minnesota by launching a campaign demanding the school cut its ties with Wells Fargo. Currently, Macalester College runs its purchasing card system through Wells Fargo. Students and administrators have been meeting for months to explore feasible banking alternatives, and have identified a community bank that reflects Macalester’s values and can handle the school’s business.

Now the administration has agreed to make a final decision on the Wells Fargo purchasing card contract in a meeting with students on Monday.

After the meeting students will be demonstrating outside of the administration building to celebrate or protest the decision made by the administration. Either way, students will be fired up and ready to make some serious noise.

Kick Wells Fargo Off Campus is a coalition of Macalester College students dedicated to ending their school’s relationship with Wells Fargo. The campaign is part of Minnesotans for a Fair Economy and the national student group United Students Against Sweatshops.

ST. PAUL (April 17, 2013) — Yesterday at the U.S. Bank shareholders meeting in Boise, Idaho, five Minnesota community leaders asked questions directly of U.S. Bank President and CEO Richard Davis. Many of the comments and questions focused on the ongoing foreclosure crisis and its national impact. One member of the Minnesota delegation, Ann Haines of St. Paul, is facing foreclosure and eviction after U.S. Bank told her to stop making payments when she asked how she could reduce her monthly mortgage payments in 2011. A bank representative told her that she couldn’t help her unless she was delinquent.

“Now Freddie Mac is trying to evict me from my house,” said Haines. “I came to Boise to help open the eyes of people who aren’t aware of the magnitude of the damage banks are wreaking on homeowners and their children.”

Inside the shareholders meeting, Haines reminded Davis that he was questioned at last year’s meeting in Minneapolis by another homeowner unnecessarily facing eviction, Monique White. As a result of her direct appeal to Davis, White reached a modification agreement with the bank. Haines asked Davis if he’d rather continue facing angry homeowners or support commonsense foreclosure-related legislation currently being considered by the Minnesota Legislature.

“We need broad solutions, not one-by-one decisions for homeowners being victimized by big banks,” said Donna Cassutt, Director of Minnesotans for a Fair Economy. “Stories like Ann’s are driving our work to pass comprehensive foreclosure legislation at the State Capitol. Each day we talk to Minnesotans facing the threat of losing their home, we hear more and more stories of banks acting in bad faith with unfair and unnecessary foreclosures. It’s time for a solution that stabilizes families, communities and Minnesota’s economy.”

Minnesotans support a legislative solution that would aim at curbing the foreclosure crisis in Minnesota in four ways. We support a strong bill which would: require banks to assign struggling homeowners a single point of contact; ban the practice of dual tracking; enforce the ban on dual tracking by ensuring homeowners can stop a wrongful foreclosure in court; and create a mediation program to bring banks and homeowners together for a face-to-face conversation about alternatives to foreclosure.

Throughout the state, more than 150,000 Minnesota homeowners have lost their homes to foreclosure since 2006. In 2012, there were three times more foreclosures in Minnesota than in 2005, continuing to have a disastrous effect on Minnesota communities. These foreclosures can and should be avoided.