HATCH IS BACK!

Subject:: Mike and Patti Hatch endorse Hilstrom for Secretary of State From: Hilstrom for SOS <hilstromforsos@gmail.com> Date: Jan 27, 2014 2:37 PM To:: ben@golnikstrategies.com CC:

Dear Ben:
Patti and I strongly support Debra Hilstrom for Secretary of State (SOS). We live in an age where too many Democrats, once elected, turn out to be Corporate Democrats who are too eager to march to the beat of the corporate drum and who may embrace some of the progressive social causes but ignore the needs of people who are trapped in the wide gulf of economic disparity that divides our society. Deb is a true progressive when it comes to taking on issues of economic disparity. Debs record as a legislator and as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee makes us proud: Homeowner Lender Mediation Law. Deb authored and secured passage of a bill to require banks to mediate with homeowners prior to foreclosing on a home. The bill was modeled after the farmer-lender mediation law from the 1980s and would have helped keep a lot of people in their homes during the housing crisis. Deb got the bill passed only to for it to be vetoed by Governor Pawlenty. Annuity Rip-off Bill. Twenty-five years ago, as Minnesotas Commerce Commissioner, I secured passage of a law that required insurance companies to rescind the sale of highsurrender charge, low-performing annuities that were unsuitable for senior citizens. Over the next 20 years, tens of millions of dollars of unsuitable annuities sold to seniors were rescinded by insurance companies in Minnesota. Last year, the industry proposed to gut the law. Debra fought against this. She is the only candidate for Secretary of State to oppose it. Unfortunately, corporate Democrats, capitulating to pressure from the insurance industry, gutted the law. Corporate Soire Bill. Prior to the 1990s, lobbyists and the corporations they represented held Corporate Soires in which legislators were invited to sports stadiums, to country clubs, and to hotels to be entertained with food and drink while the lobbyists and corporations pressured them to do their bidding. In 1994, these corporate soires were deemed to be shady and prohibited by law. Last year, the Corporate Democrats extended the Citizens United influence of corporations over the legislative process by repealing the prohibition, thus allowing corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money entertaining legislators and their staffs. Deb was one of only 16 House DFL legislators to oppose the repeal. She is the only SOS candidate who opposed the bill. Citizens United Reforms. Deb is a voice for reason when it comes to curtailing the influence of Citizens United and Corporate America on the political process. As a

candidate for SOS, she has proposed the following measures to restore parity in the election process:

Require any corporation desiring to make a political contribution to first obtain a resolution from a majority of its shareholders authorizing the contribution. Require 24 hour notice to the Campaign and Finance Board after such a donation is made. Enact a law to make sure that corporations can only use after -tax money to make donations, as is the case with our individual contributions. Require officers of corporations that receive state and local government contracts to certify that they will not make political contributions to candidates seeking office at the same level where the contract was issued. (This is similar to the prohibition on military contractors, mutual funds, etc.)

Deb has been at the forefront of addressing the number one issue of our country: the great income disparity that is dividing our nation and producing two communities that have little contact with each other. It is ironic that so few benefit from a hot stock market at a time when the vast majority of Americans express so little confidence in our economy. Patti and I believe that Debra Hilstrom is a Peoples Democrat, not a Corporate Democrat, who will make Minnesota proud. We are having a fundraising reception for Debra at the Minneapolis Club in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 30, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. The Minneapolis Club is located at 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis. The suggested contribution is $50 to $100 per person. Our goal is to join with others to raise $100,000 for Debra over the next three months, and this kickoff reception is critical to achieving this goal. Even if you cannot make it to the fundraiser, I hope that you will consider sending a donation to Hilstrom for SOS." Please remember: your contribution to Debra is eligible to receive a dollar-for-dollar refund from the State of Minnesota (up to $100 per couple or $50 per person per candidate per year.) I hope you can help Debra out with a contribution. With the Corporate Democrat money going to other candidates, it is important that we chip in now to help out Debra. Very truly yours,

Mike Hatch