Minnesota is Watching Coalition is growing force at Capitol A year after its inception, the Minnesota is Watching Coalition has doubled in size, from 40 members a year ago to 80 now. (See complete membership list.) Minnesota is Watching kicked off the 2004 legislative session by sponsoring the Second People's Legislature in the Rotunda at the Capitol in St. Paul. Coalition members met to urge legislators to take a balanced approach to the state's budget crisis. The coalition also reminded legislators that the public service cuts made last year went too far and that we have to protect the quality of life in Minnesota. (See photos from Second People's Legislature.)

MAPE is one of the original founders of the Minnesota is Watching Coalition, along with a few labor organizations and activists. Coalition members quickly realized the huge impact they could have if they invited others to join, and they did. The coalition's membership now runs the gamut of non-profits, labor unions and faith-based groups.

For the initial legislative campaign, Minnesota is Watching adopted the slogan, "REAL CUTS, REAL PAIN, REAL PEOPLE," with the help of a Washington-based pollster and communications consultant. The coalition began a radio campaign aimed at showing Minnesotans how badly the governor's budget cuts would impact "real people."

In addition to the radio campaign, the Minnesota is Watching steering committee crafted a week's worth of events and activities centered around the initial convening of the People's Legislature. Nearly 500 activists packed into the Capitol Rotunda to kick off the final week of last year's legislative session, as the People's Legislature voted against Gov. Pawlenty's budget cuts. Throughout the week, voters representing the coalition turned out at the Capitol to "watch" legislators in action. On the final Saturday, more than 1,500 activists gathered again at the Capitol with activists marching past the Governor's Office to drop off "Quality of Life Bucks."

Coalition members are committed to changing the tide of politics in Minnesota, advocating for a state budget that promotes the common good.