Senate Majority Leader

New Minn. Cigarette Tax Unlikely To Exceed Wis.

Minnesota’s cigarette tax is about to go up, but a top lawmaker says the new rate won’t be more than Wisconsin’s. Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says the final tax could match the $2.52 per pack rate charged in Wisconsin. That’s $1.29 more than Minnesota assesses now.

2013/05/13

Bakk Says Wide Expansion To All-Day K Planned

The budget Minnesota lawmakers expect to pass will contain funding for all-day kindergarten at state expense. Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said Monday that any district that wants to offer it will have the cost fully reimbursed.

2013/05/13

Dayton, Minn. DFL Leaders Reach Budget Deal

Gov. Mark Dayton and the Legislature’s top Democrats announced an agreement Sunday to raise taxes on Minnesota’s wealthier residents and cigarette sales and to spend the extra money on public schools and colleges, as well as on other areas.

2013/05/12

Top Minn. Dem Doubts Expanded Gun Checks Can Pass

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says a proposal to require background checks on all firearm purchases probably lacks support to become Minnesota law.

2013/03/01

Amy Koch Breaks Her Silence After Affair, Resignation

Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch is breaking her silence about her resignation.

2013/01/28

Ex-Minn. Senate Leader Koch Speaks Out On Downfall

Former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch is striking back at top Republicans over her 2011 resignation after an affair with a staff member, accusing them of pledging to give her time to talk to her family and then promptly leaking word of the affair to media.

2013/01/27

Ex-Aide Meets Privately With Top Minn. Senators

The former aide threatening to sue the Minnesota Senate over his firing related to a high-level affair has met privately with top GOP senators.

2012/06/25

Lawmakers: House Will Vote On Stadium Bill Monday

The Minnesota Senate’s top Republican says a financing plan for a new Vikings stadium won’t be part of a construction projects package.

2012/05/03

New Senate Majority Leader Senjem On Scandal, Stadium

Minnesota Republicans are still reeling from the scandal that forced Senator Amy Koch to resign as Senate Majority Leader last month.

2012/01/22

WCCO Interview: Sen. Koch On Stepping Down, Aftermath

In her first television interview since she stepped down as Minnesota’a Senate Majority Leader, Amy Koch is rethinking her decision not to run for reelection after admitting she had an inappropriate relationship with a Senate staffer.

2012/01/21

Minn. Senate Leader: No Complaint In Koch Matter

New Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem says he doesn’t plan to file an ethics complaint against Sen. Amy Koch or other senators in connection with events leading up to Koch’s abrupt resignation as majority leader last year.

2012/01/19

GOP Calls New Major Leader A ‘Great Collaborator’

New Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem says he’s planning to push the legislative agenda championed by his ousted predecessor, including a focus on creating jobs.

2011/12/28

Minn. Senate GOP To Choose New Leader Today

Minnesota Senate Republicans met Tuesday to choose a new majority leader to replace Amy Koch, who resigned amid revelations she had an inappropriate relationship with a Senate staffer.

2011/12/27

Minn. Senate GOP Secretive In Picking New Leader

The contest among state Senate Republicans to replace fallen majority leader Amy Koch is happening behind closed doors at the State Capitol, with most of the leading candidates not willing to publicly announce their intentions as of Thursday even as next week’s election approaches.

2011/12/22

Sen. Koch Issues Statement On Relationship With Staffer

Former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch says she’s “deeply sorry by engaging in a relationship with a Senate staffer” in a statement issued Wednesday.

2011/12/21

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