Access To Democracy

Professor David Schultz, our own “legal eagle,” from Hamline University and the University of Minnesota Law School, sits down with host Steve Francisco to discuss his new report, The Price of Injustice. This report reveals that Minnesota paid out an estimated $60.7 million for alleged police misconduct over a ten-year period from 2010 to 2020.

The City of Minneapolis alone paid out an estimated $36.5 million. Professor Schultz explains that his new report is “neither pro- nor anti-police” but is meant to reveal the scope of payments. He also notes that total allegations of misconduct by police are small when compared to millions of police-citizen interactions over the decade studied.

He also calls for legislation to mandate reporting about police misconduct in a standardized format to help policymakers address this issue.

Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Paul Thissen joins host Steve Francisco for an informative discussion about the work of the MN Supreme Court and the state’s lower courts.

Appointed to the Supreme Court in 2018 by former Gov. Mark Dayton, Justice Thissen also discusses his previous career as an attorney and his tenure in the Minnesota Legislature, including serving as Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. The interview also touches upon the Supreme Court’s role in disciplining attorneys for misconduct, ranging from reprimands to suspensions to disbarment.

Finally, Justice Thissen shares his thoughts about the politicization of some courts and the danger that this poses to the public perception and acceptance of judicial decisions.

Marty Kelly, Executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer at TruStone Financial Credit Union, joins host Bill Raker to discuss the mission and accomplishments of Credit Unions for Kids. Marty begins by explaining how credit unions, as financial cooperatives, differ in philosophy and purpose from other financial institutions.

He then discusses how Credit Unions for Kids, a committee of the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, raises funds in support of its sole beneficiary Gillette Children’s Hospital. The events and activities Marty describes have raised some $5 million for Gillette during its 30+ year history. Hear the personal story of how one child benefitted from the program. Learn how you can help support Credit Unions for Kids and Gillette Children’s Hospital.

Former state legislator and attorney
Matt Entenza sits down with “Access to Democracy” host Steve Francisco to talk about his experiences as an election monitor in El Salvador, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and twice in Ukraine.

Before going abroad, Matt received formal training to become an international election monitor at the European University for Democracy and Human Rights in Venice.

In this interview, Matt shares his insights about free and fair elections abroad and also explores the current state of our own American democracy in the midst of unprecedented challenges from the January 6 insurrection to continuing election denials, restrictions on voting, new limitations on absentee ballots and limits on voting locations and hours and the impacts of radical redistricting schemes are discussed.

Minnesota State Senator Jim Carlson, representing District 52, with parts of Eagan, Burnsville, Mendota Heights, and Mendota, joins Access to Democracy host Steve Francisco to examine some of the key bills that passed in the 2023 legislative session.

Highlights included a $72 billion two-year budget, including a $3 billion tax cut aimed at working families, as well as $2.6 billion for infrastructure projects, $2.2 billion for schools, and more than $1 billion for human services. Senator Carlson explains how DFL’s control of the governor’s office, and the House and Senate, led to a landmark session full of accomplishments. Republicans remain skeptical and claim that voters will render a negative judgment in 2024. This interview also examines what issues may be back before the Legislature next year.