May 24, 2011 - The Advocates for Human Rights

The Advocates for Human Rights welcomes Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton's vetos of an array of budget bills passed by the Minnesota Legislature. The bills threatened to seriously erode human rights protections in Minnesota. In his veto letters, Governor Dayton cited concerns over many human rights issues raised by the legislation, including due process and non-discrimination. 

"The Advocates is relieved that Governor Dayton has stepped forward to protect Minnesotans who are most at risk of human rights violations," said Robin Phillips, executive director of The Advocates for Human Rights. "The vetoed legislation would have undermined the ability of every person in our community to live with dignity by taking away access to safety, legal representation, health care, education, and redress for unlawful discrimination."

In his letter vetoing S.F. 958, the public safety appropriations bill, the governor pointed to reductions in funding for civil legal services, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, and the Office of Justice Programs as areas of particular concern. 

Governor Dayton noted that civil legal services "help ensure fair and equal access to Minnesota courts for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, income, or language abilities." In addition to slashing funding for civil legal services, the bill would restrict legal services organizations from using state funds to provide legal services in immigration and other federal matters.

Governor Dayton also objected to the 65% cut to funding for the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, stating that the proposed cuts would "eviscerate" the state's ability to investigate human rights violations. He also rejected the $12 million cut to the Office of Justice Programs, which among other things funds services for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

In addition to dramatic cuts to funding and mandates, S.F. 958 included a provision mandating implementation of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Secure Communities program. Included in the bill without public hearing, Secure Communities is part of the federal ICE's wide array of programs for state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, automatically runs fingerprints of all persons who are booked by the police, sheriff, state patrol, or other law enforcement, against ICE's databases, issuing ICE "holds" or "detainers" automatically. Secure Communities has come under severe criticism since implementation began and is currently the subject of a federal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General. 

S.F. 958 also contained a provision championed by The Advocates for Human Rights which would protect children who are exploited through prostitution from prosecution. The "safe harbors" provision would ensure that sexually exploited children are provided with services rather than with juvenile delinquency adjudication and set Minnesota on a path toward fully implementing a victim-centered approach to sexually exploited children. 

When vetoing S.F. 760, the health and human services appropriations bill, the governor stated "I find it unconscionable that this bill eliminates health care coverage for over 140,000 people." In addition to denying access to health care to thousands of individuals, S.F. 760 would have eliminated medical assistance for legal immigrants in Minnesota. 

Governor Dayton also objected to cuts to education funding contained in H.F. 934, noting that cuts to integration revenue and freezing of compensatory revenue disproportionately affect poor children and children of color.

Governor Dayton is expected to convene a special session next month to pass the constitutionally-required state budget.