Hundreds of Young People Lobby, Meet with Gov. Pawlenty, Speaker Sviggum
"As the next generation, you need to take the opportunity and pick up the cause as caring, informed, energetic leaders."
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty
Editor's note. The following article appeared in the March issue of MCCL News, the newspaper of MCCL (Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life), NRLC's state affiliate. It is a wonderful account of an incredible outpouring of youth energy.
More than 350 enthusiastic young people, grades 7-12, descended on the state Capitol Feb. 17 to learn about pro-life issues and lawmaking and to lobby their legislators to support pro-life bills. Their pro-life passion made a significant impact on legislators, who ran into groups of students all day long in the Capitol halls and met with others in their offices.
"The turnout of students exceeded our expectations, which showed us that today's young people have a very strong desire to make a difference on behalf of innocent and vulnerable people," said MCCL Executive Director Scott Fischbach. "They were hungry for information and access to public officials, and we provided them with a great deal of both."
Students met Pawlenty, Sviggum
The highlights of the day were meetings with pro-life Gov. Tim Pawlenty and pro-life Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum - - the two most powerful persons in the state. Pawlenty was thrilled to see that almost twice as many young people came to MCCL Student Day as did last year, and he encouraged them all to be actively pro-life.
"One of the greatest values we have is to make sure we do all we can to protect innocent lives," Pawlenty told the students. "The progress the pro-life cause has made in Minnesota in the last few years shows that people can make a difference. As the next generation, you need to take the opportunity and pick up the cause as caring, informed, energetic leaders."
Lobbying encouraged
Both Pawlenty and Sviggum encouraged the students to lobby through calls and e-mails, and to seriously consider future public service in elected or volunteer positions. Sviggum reminded the participants that they are part of the mainstream majority seeking to uphold the constitutional right to life.
"Without life, the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness can't happen - - right?" Sviggum told the students as he met with them in the ornate House chamber. "Just outside the entrance to the House there is a quote on the wall that says, 'Nothing is legally right which is morally wrong.' Don't forget that."
Students learned the facts
Students learned about the devastating results of the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which nullified protective laws in nearly every state and legalized abortion on demand. Many of the young people didn't realize that nearly 15,000 unborn babies are killed each year in Minnesota by abortion, or that many of those abortions are performed as a means of birth control.
"These young people have never known a time when babies in the womb have been safe from abortion," Fischbach said. "They are survivors and they want the world to be safe for unborn children."
Bill passage discussed
MCCL lobbyist Andrea Rau rallied students around MCCL's top two legislative priorities in this session: the Taxpayer Protection Act and the Parental Notification Data bill. She also instructed them as citizen lobbyists by explaining how to ask for a legislator's commitment to support these bills, and how students can actively support pro-life legislation through phone calls, e-mails, and by educating others.
Students lobbied lawmakers
The students met as groups with their own state legislators in the afternoon. The young people were excited to visit the Senate and House offices and lobby their lawmakers on behalf of pro-life legislation.
"I wanted to send a message to others that the youth do care," said Monica Schrader, a ninth grade student at Mississippi Horizons Middle School, Brainerd. "A lot of legislators saw how many students were here and I think it was a good eye-opener for them."
"I'll probably do some lobbying when I get home," said Tony Delzatto, a 10th grader at Mesaba East High School in Aurora.
Youths can make a difference
Students left St. Paul with a new awareness of their ability to influence people involved in public policy and of the great need for protective legislation. They were also encouraged to consider opportunities in MCCL's internship and in-service programs. Legislators can expect to hear much more from these enthusiastic young people in the coming months, and fellow students can expect to be lobbied to attend the 2005 MCCL Student Day at the Capitol.
"I really enjoyed this," said Rebecca Hackenmueller, a 10th grade home school student from Albertville. "Students should definitely plan on coming next year."