Capital Chatter: Comments from Maple Grove Legislators

Here’s a look at some of the topics Maple Grove Legislators commented on recently. 

Click on the bold headline to read the full story.

Same-sex marriage debate returns to Capitol (MPR News minnesota.publicradio.org) – Feb. 14, 2013 

"I think the promoters of same-sex marriage are overly ambitious," State Senator Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) said. "To read into something whether or not a definition of marriage should be written in the state constitution and equate that with this new policy to define marriage between two individuals — whether they're the same sex or not — would be a major mistake. It's not one issue that follows the other." 

Gay-marriage foes vow to 'take out' GOP opponents (StarTribune.com) – Feb. 26, 2013 

State Senator Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) commented to the StarTribune about the National Organization for Marriage’s announcement to spend $500,000 to defeat any Republican Minnesota legislator who votes to legalize same-sex marriage. 

“They have deep pockets and they will use the tools they can,” Limmer said. “I don’t think it’s just bluster. They are in it for the long haul and put their money where their mouth is.” 

Small businesses seek to address trademark bullying  (Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services) – Feb. 25, 2013 

In many cases, large, well-funded companies are using expensive trademark lawsuits to intimidate smaller businesses, Rep. Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers) told the House Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee at an informational meeting Monday. 

Peppin said that she is currently working on bipartisan bill that will prevent trademark bullying. 

Preventing Fraud in the Collectable Coin Industry (Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services) – Feb. 27, 2013 

A bill introduced to prevent fraudulent activity, HF157, would provide several regulatory measures for the collectable coin industry. 

Rep. Joyce Peppin (R- Rogers) questioned why any felony could bar an individual from becoming a registered dealer and raised concerns that the bill “gives the Department of Commerce unlimited restriction on what the application to register dealers can include,” according to Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services.