UPDATE: Via the Echo Press's Facebook page, we've learned that the paper has corrected its copy. The message: "Thank you for pointing this out. The story has been corrected to say that no Republican spoke in support of the measure. -- Echo Press News Editor Al Edenloff."
Our original headline for this post read Huh? DL-Online & Echo Press report no MN House GOP spoke on anti-violence resolution [end update]
It's often the little things that count in how the public comes to understand a story, and reporting in two Forum Communications papers in Detriot Lake and Alexandria on Wednesday illustrate how things can go awry.
First, it's important to note a passage in a Mike Cook story in Session Daily, House passes resolution to ‘denounce violence’ and ‘support our democracy’:
No Republicans spoke in support of the resolution.
In State Rep. Steve Green votes against resolution condemning violence and supporting democracy, by Detriot Lakes Tribune editor Nathan Bowe reports:
“The votes and the voices based on the votes of our citizens and our residents should be heard and should be counted. No one should have any fear that their vote won’t be counted and no one should have any fear moving forward that those votes and their right to vote will be suppressed,” said Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope), according to the Session Daily summary. No Republican spoke on the measure.
That copy is recycled in an article that appeared in the Alexandria Echo Press about an hour later. This content appeared up column in State Rep. Jeff Backer votes against resolution condemning violence and supporting democracy; Franson doesn't vote:
State Rep. Jeff Backer, R-Browns Valley, was among just eight members of the Minnesota House of Representatives, all Republicans, to vote against a resolution “condemning violence and violent rhetoric directed at our United States Capitol and state capitols, and affirming support for democracy, rule of law, and the certified results of Minnesota's election and the elections of the other states.”
The resolution passed 111-8 on Monday, Jan. 25, according to Session Daily.
Backer represents District 12A, which includes part of Douglas County.
State Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, did not vote on the resolution. She represents District 8B.
State Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, voted in favor of the resolution. He represents District 12B, which includes part of Douglas County.
That's followed down column with this:
“The votes and the voices based on the votes of our citizens and our residents should be heard and should be counted. No one should have any fear that their vote won’t be counted and no one should have any fear moving forward that those votes and their right to vote will be suppressed,” said Rep. Cedrick Frazier, DFL-New Hope, according to the Session Daily summary. No Republican spoke on the measure.
The Session Daily article includes a brief discussion of Republican amendments that failed.
What's more, Minnesota House Republicans frequently speak up in the Minnesota House Information Services video of the debate. While we don't recall Backer speaking up, Franson speaks at the 43:53 mark. Here's the Youtube, which we'll have to watch again to see whether Green spoke. That's Mazeppa New Republican Steve Drazkowski on the screencap, speaking to his amendment.
We had covered the resolution in MN House passes resolution opposing violence, supporting democracy, some members pass We name the eight no votes, the names of those who passed, and the fact Minneapolis DFL representative Hodan Hassan was excused for the day, so the absence of the vote didn't mean a pass.
Let's hope that both papers correct their copy. Links to the Session Daily article and the video would help readers to understand the story better.
Board screen shot: From Peter Callaghan's twitter feed.
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