Politics

Dayton, DFL Call Legislative Session A Success

Gov. Mark Dayton and Democratic legislative leaders call the just-finished session a success and that they accomplished what they set out to do. Dayton and the lawmakers held a Tuesday news conference at the Capitol, just a few hours after the session wrapped at midnight.

Latest Minnesota Politics

Minn. Lawmakers Take Budget Debate Down To Wire

The final pieces of Minnesota’s next two-year budget were falling into place Sunday amid a time crunch for lawmakers to get it all approved. The House went all night before finally recessing a little after 7 a.m. Sunday. Up for debate but still awaiting a final vote is a controversial bill that authorizes a union organizing drive for home daycare providers and care attendants to the elderly and disabled.

2013/05/19

Lawmakers Debate Until Early Sunday On Daycare, Education

With the session officially ending on Monday, state lawmakers have been debating for the last 16 hours trying to wrap up some of the most contested issues this year.

2013/05/19

Minn. Tax Bill Includes Cap On Property Tax Hikes

Many Minnesota cities and counties will see a big bump in their state aid, and for that they’re being required to tamp down property taxes.

2013/05/19

Minn. Legislature Approves Care Worker Pay Hikes

The Legislature has sent Gov. Mark Dayton a $11 billion package of spending on health and assistance programs that includes a 5-percent pay increase for nursing home workers.

2013/05/18

Esme’s Blog: Is The IRS Corrupt Or Incompetent?

In a congressional hearing into revelations that the IRS targeted conservative groups, one congressman pounced on the agency’s fired chief’s insistence that the targeting was not politically motivated.

2013/05/18

Late-Feb. Start Planned For Minn. Lawmakers In ’14

When Minnesota lawmakers finish their session Monday, they’ll have a full nine months to cook up plans for next year’s session. Legislative leaders on Saturday set their return date. It’s Feb. 25.

2013/05/18

Minn. House Backs Nursing Home Pay Hike

The Minnesota House has voted to give nursing home workers in the state a 5-percent pay increase. The pay hike is included in a broader, $6 billion a year budget for health and human services programs that the House passed Friday night by a party-line vote of 73-61. It’s one of the biggest chunks of state spending and includes funding for services for the poor, elderly and disabled.

2013/05/18

Minnesota House Defeats Construction Projects Bill

The Minnesota House has defeated an $800 million construction projects bill that failed to win a needed super-majority. The bill is a rare area where Republican held veto power. Because it involves long-term state debt, it required 81 votes to pass.

2013/05/17

Minnesota Senate Backs ‘U’ & MNSCU Tuition Freezes

The Minnesota Senate has voted to freeze tuition rates at the state’s public colleges and universities for the next two years. The Senate passed a state higher education budget by a bipartisan, 44-22 vote on Friday that includes a $250 million spending increase.

2013/05/17

Long Fight Forecast Over Minn. Daycare Union Bill

Nearly 100 amendments await Minnesota House lawmakers if they move ahead as planned on a bill that could lead to unionization of in-home day care providers and personal care attendants. The volume foreshadows a long fight should the House brings the bill up on Saturday as planned.

2013/05/17

Minn. House To Debate Lawmaker Pay Hike Panel

The Minnesota House is planning to vote on a constitutional amendment that would take decisions about their own pay out of their hands. The House planned a Friday debate on the amendment.

2013/05/17

Minnesota House, Republicans, GOP, session, 2011

Lawmakers Closing In On Budget Deal

With time running out in this year’s session, Minnesota lawmakers appear to be close to a deal for the next state budget. It doesn’t involve taxing clothing or any changes to the alcohol tax, but there will be some noticeable changes for some people.

2013/05/17

Minn. Lawmakers Sort Out Tax Increase Details

Leading Minnesota lawmakers have sorted out a tax package that is the linchpin of the next state budget. The top two percent of income earners will pay two percent more on a portion of their income. The per-pack tax on cigarettes will rise by $1.60. Some corporate tax preferences will go away. But there won’t be any changes to the alcohol tax.

2013/05/16

Minn.’s Bachmann Sprints To TV With Health Care Ad

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann has rushed out a television ad in hopes of capitalizing on the latest U.S. House vote to undo President Barack Obama’s health care law. The Republican critic of the Affordable Care Act — dubbed Obamacare by foes — was to begin airing the ad Thursday night in Twin Cities market. She put about $85,000 into the TV spot.

2013/05/16

2 Minnesota Women Sentenced In Somali Terror Case

A Minnesota woman was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for sending money to an al-Qaida-linked group in her native Somalia, despite her insistence that she was only trying to help the poor in the war-torn East African country.

2013/05/16