Articles

Minnesota Political Notebook: Baby boomers make writing Minnesota budget difficult

ST. PAUL - Baby boomers will make writing the state budget harder, reduce the Minnesota labor force and cause state health care spending to soar, State Demographer Susan Brower said.

• Don Davis

Sequestration could cost Minnesota more than $90M

Schools, health programs could be among most affected, committee finds
ST. PAUL – The federal government’s failure to agree on how to fix its debt problem could cost Minnesota more than $90 million this year.

Some Minnesota lawmakers push civil unions versus same-sex marriage

Distinction would matter if federal ban overturned
ST. PAUL – Civil unions would give gay couples the same rights as married couples, says the sponsor of a Minnesota House proposal that is a step short of full marriage.

A look at Minnesota legislative issues

ST. PAUL – Here is where some issues stand as the Minnesota Legislature enters its home-stretch before a May 20 or earlier adjournment:

Gov. Dayton hears about smoking border battle

MOORHEAD – Frank Orton made sure Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton understands problems he faces in competing against North Dakota stores.

• Gov. Mark Dayton in Moorhead

Committee sends gun bill to full Minnesota House

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota House will debate guns. The House public safety committee passed a watered-down gun regulation bill on a 10-8 vote Thursday night, with the House the next stop for the controversial issue.

Senate budget does not include surcharge

ST. PAUL - Senate Democrats would not go as far as their House colleague in raising taxes in a budget framework they announced this morning.

Minn. House Dems to seek tax surcharge on rich

ST. PAUL – Minnesota schools would be the biggest beneficiaries of a state House Democratic budget proposal that goes beyond the governor’s plan to increase taxes on the rich.

• Minnesota Rep. Paul Marquart

Health insurance marketplace only needs Dayton signature

ST. PAUL -- Minnesota senators approved 39-28 a health insurance marketplace along party lines this morning, leaving only Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature as the final step.

Gov. Mark Dayton delays budget

ST. PAUL – Wrangling the numbers in a revised budget proposal forced Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton to postpone its release.

Columns

Minnesota Political Notebook: DFL likely to challenge selection of regents

St. Paul - Monday night’s selection of new University of Minnesota regents could be contentious.

• Don Davis

Minnesota Political Notebook: Dayton blames budget woes on Pawlenty

ST. PAUL - Gov. Mark Dayton took on former Gov. Tim Pawlenty in his State of the State address.

• Don Davis

Minnesota legislative notebook: Effort afoot to pare down government

ST. PAUL – Minnesota state boards, commissions and even entire agencies could begin disappearing if legislators agree to bills making their way through the Legislature.

Minnesota political notebook: No major clashes yet between GOP, Dayton

St. Paul - It’s a month into Minnesota’s new political world, and the kind words keep flowing.

• Don Davis

Minnesota Political Notebook: Bachmann response draws lots of attention

St. Paul - No one can say that Michele Bachmann is shy. The Minnesota Republican congresswoman often dives into controversy, but her State of the Union response drew the most attention yet.

• Don Davis

Minnesota Political Notebook: GOP, Dayton ‘disagree without being disagreeable’

ST. PAUL - Early indications are that Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Laborite governor and Republican legislative leaders are doing as the old saying goes: “Disagree without being disagreeable.”

Minnesota Political Notebook: No one knows who’s carrying at state Capitol

St. Paul - Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton’s meeting with legislative leaders over security issues has been pushed back a few days, but some lawmakers feel pretty safe in the Capitol as it is.

Minnesota Political Notebook: Business gets some legislative loving

ST. PAUL - Republicans who control the Minnesota Legislature are showing the importance they place on businesses.

Minnesota Political Notebook: Minnesotans should not expect quick legislation

May 23 is the date Minnesotans interested in following the Legislature should remember.

Minnesota political notebook: Klobuchar once wrote about Metrodome

‘Neighbors peered out of frosted windows, watching the (snowstorm) victims across the street futilely slip and slide, wheels grinding up and down the icy incline of their driveways.