Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Defeats False Campaign Material Claim.

A three-judge panel of the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings has upheld the validity of pro-life organizations holding candidates to their commitment to protect and defend human life. The decision is expected to impact NRLC affiliates across the nation.

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) State PAC successfully defended its 2006 pre-election postcard that endorsed incumbent Paul Koering for Minnesota Senate District 12. His challenger, Terry Sluss, sued MCCL after losing the election to pro-life incumbent Koering by 55% to 43%. Sluss main-tained that MCCL had disseminated false campaign material.

"This ruling is a justification of MCCL's pledge to inform voters about the positions candidates hold on life issues," said MCCL Executive Director Scott Fischbach. "Like many state NRLC affiliates, the MCCL State PAC devotes a great amount of time and money to providing credible information to voters, and the court has recognized the integrity of our work."

The MCCL State PAC provides a voter's guide prior to each primary and general election to millions of voters across Minnesota. The voter's guide is based on the MCCL Candidate Questionnaire, which is sent to each candidate several months before publication.

Refused Candidate Survey

In the spring of 2006, Sluss refused to answer a candidate survey from MCCL State PAC. When MCCL contacted Sluss several times by telephone to follow up, he explained that he didn't believe in responding to PAC surveys. However, he admitted to having filled out various candidate surveys for environmental and labor union groups.

MCCL State PAC distributed a postcard endorsing his opponent, Paul Koering, an incumbent with a 100% pro-life voting record and a 100% score on the questionnaire.