Archive for February 2009
Marijuana Arrests Decline As Legislative Support for Medicinal Use Builds
A bipartisan group of Minnesota legislators made an impassioned plea last week, hoping to build political momentum for the legalization of medical marijuana in the Gopher State. While neither Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher nor GOP Minority Leader Marty Seifert have…
Read MoreMarty Seifert Not Impressed with DFL ‘Mavericks’ Nor Their Party’s ‘Sloppy Majority’
In a media availability held at the Minnesota House Minority Leader’s office Friday morning, Republican Marty Seifert expressed great ‘disappointment’ that voter ID, his caucuses’ top priority on election reform, failed to get out of committee this week. Seifert…
Read MoreDFLers in Safe Districts Shoot Down Voter ID Bill
To the surprise of few, the House State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections Committee voted down Republican Tom Emmer and Mary Kiffmeyer’s “Voter Integrity Act of 2009” on Thursday morning by a vote of 11 to 8….
Read MoreKiffmeyer Challenges DFL on Voter ID: ‘What Are You Afraid Of?’
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie outlined a long legislative ‘wish-list’ at a press conference Wednesday morning to improve the state’s electoral process: · Permitting early voting of 15, 30, or even 45 days before an election to alleviate the…
Read MoreWhy Governor Pawlenty’s Criticism of the Federal Stimulus Bill Is Smart Politics
A recent article at MinnPost explores how Governor Tim Pawlenty is out of step with many state leaders, and governors across the nation, in taking a “hands-off” approach when it comes to lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill to pass federal…
Read MoreIs Coleman’s Hands-On Approach to His Court Challenge Going to Backfire?
Norm Coleman is leaving no doubt to the public or the press that he stands firmly behind his decision to launch his U.S. Senate recount legal challenge. Coleman has drawn significant attention for his frequent courtroom appearances and the Senator…
Read MoreWhy the Minnesota Senate Recount and Court Challenge Is Helping the Federal Budget Deficit
While Minnesota taxpayers are on the hook for approximately $200,000 to pay for its 62-day U.S. Senate race recount, that long process, and Norm Coleman’s subsequent court challenge, is saving taxpayers’ money nationwide as Minnesota’s Class II Senate seat remains…
Read MoreColeman Says ‘God Wants Me to Serve’
While Al Franken remains fairly elusive, Norm Coleman is keeping a high profile these days as his court challenge of the Minnesota U.S. Senate recount plods along. Coleman is adept, somewhat too adept, his critics might say, at skillfully tailoring…
Read MorePawlenty Approval Rating Stable Through Good Times and Bad
Even though Minnesota is experiencing unprecedented month-to-month increases in unemployment and a $5 billion budget deficit, Governor Tim Pawlenty’s political stock has not (yet) been devalued in the Gopher State. A Smart Politics analysis of more than 5-dozen public opinion…
Read MoreNo Excuses? Minnesota’s Unemployment Rate Less Tied to National Economy Than That of Wisconsin and Iowa
As December’s unemployment numbers demonstrate, Minnesota continues to endure a skyrocketing rate of job losses, especially when compared to its neighbors to the south and west. To the west, North Dakota and South Dakota have the second and third lowest…
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