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W A M M Legislative Justice Committee Forms
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Anne Newhart, W A M M
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A new WAMM committee—the legislative justice committee—has been established. Its purpose is to bring to the attention of WAMM members legislative bills that are relevant to WAMM’s purpose. This will allow WAMM members to expand their opportunities for learning, empowerment, and action for social change, as well as solidarity with others in the peace and justice community.
Militarism is the enforcer for profiteering corporations, and global oppression is the result of externalizing the costs of this profiteering, while internalizing the benefits for the few. Therefore, the first legislation to be considered by the legislative justice committee is bills in the Minnesota legislature that are directed at corporations chartered in Minnesota, but which have global implications. These bills are a first step in confronting corporate abuse, because they address a root cause of the abuse.
That root cause is a design flaw in the system. The state statutes that charter and govern corporations assert that the only legal duty of the board of directors of a corporation is to the shareholders. In practice, this translates as “the only duty that is legal is to make as much money as possible.” This mandate enables the greedy and constrains the well-meaning within the corporation.
Senate file 1529 and House file 1534, whose chief authors are Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL, Dist. 65) and Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL, Dist. 65B), amend Minnesota State Corporate Law by adding 28 words to section 302a.251. The added clause: Directors and officers would still have a duty to make money for shareholders “. . . but not at the expense of the environment, human rights, the public health or safety, the communities in which the corporation operates, or the dignity of its employees.”
For updates on the bills, relevant articles, and information about how you can make your voice heard, see the Web site www.C4CR.org (which belongs to the grassroots organization, Minnesota Citizens for Corporate Responsibility), or call the WAMM office at 612-827-5364 and ask to leave a message for Anne Newhart. |
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W A M M Action
The Welfare Rights Committee is supporting two bills in the Minnesota legislature:
Fund Human Needs, Not Corporate Greed Bill
SF 1991 and HF 2108
This bill repeals the $125 per person, per month Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) grant cut to families with disabled family members and the $50 per month MFIP grant cut to families in subsidized housing. The bill also restores some benefits and protections to those using Medical Assistance and TEFRA (a program that extends Medicaid to certain disabled children).
To fund these changes, the bill will eliminate loopholes that have allowed Minnesota corporations to avoid paying Minnesota taxes by registering out of state or out of the country. The bill also abolishes a tax loophole on stock options.
The $13 Million Bill
SF 1992 (still waiting on the HF 2438)
In the fall of 2003, the federal government gave the state of Minnesota a $13 million award for the (pre-budget cut) MFIP program. SF1992 proposes that the $13 million be used to undo two of the biggest welfare grant cuts passed in 2003. It will use the money to completely undo the $125 “SSI penalty” for one year. Any leftover money will be used to chip away at the $50 per month grant cut for families in subsidized housing.
For information on how to contact your Minnesota legislators:
www.leg.state.mn.us
House Information
651-296-2146
1-800-657-3550
Senate Information
651-296-0504
651-296-2887
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© 2004 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete April 2004 Index - click here
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