Archive for March 2009
What Euphemism For ‘Tax Increase’ Do You Prefer?
“The word-mincing going on around here gets creative.” That was what Republican House Minority Leader Marty Seifert said at a media availability session last Friday in reference to ‘Democratic-speak’ and how he believes the DFL will seek to raise…
Read MoreObama’s New Stem Cell Policy Likely to Have Strong Support in Minnesota
President Barack Obama’s decision on Monday to permit federal funds for a greater spectrum of embryonic stem cell research is likely to be met with overwhelming support in the Gopher State, as well as the Upper Midwest generally. Obama’s directive…
Read MoreSouth Dakota Suffers Record Unemployment Jump in January
Although South Dakota has not yet been hit by the scale of job losses experienced across the nation or the Upper Midwest, the new January numbers released on Friday by the state’s Department of Labor indicate South Dakota, like its…
Read MoreSmart Politics Now on Twitter
A quick blog update: as of today you can now also follow Smart Politics on Twitter….
Read MoreMinnesota Ranks 4th in the Nation in Electing Women to State Legislatures
Unlike its Upper Midwestern neighbors, Minnesota continues to be among the nation’s leading states in electing women to state legislative office, according an analysis by Smart Politics of data compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures. For the second…
Read MorePawlenty Approval Rating Sinks to Lowest Level Since October 2006
Perhaps it is due to the Governor presiding over record spikes in unemployment statewide. Perhaps it is the Governor’s stated opposition to the federal stimulus legislation that landed Minnesota billions of dollars. Or perhaps the Governor is losing his public…
Read MoreWhy (the DFL Thinks) Pawlenty Does Not Want A Structurally Balanced Budget
One of the frequent refrains heard throughout the DFL leadership this session has been a criticism of Governor Tim Pawlenty’s budget as failing to be structurally balanced beyond the 2010-2011 fiscal years, and a disapproval of the Governor’s use of…
Read MoreMinnesotans’ Approval of Obama Holds Steady As Support Wanes Nationwide
Barack Obama began the first week of his presidency with nearly 70 percent of the American public approving of his early job performance. One month later, while Obama’s approval rating has dipped by double-digit margins in many states, Minnesotans are…
Read MoreDemocratic-Controlled Legislatures Overseeing 17 of the 20 Highest State Budget Deficits Nationwide
How are states going to balance the budget deficits that are mounting across the nation? For that answer, you’ll have to ask the Democrats – as they control both the Senate and House in 17 of the top 20 states…
Read MoreLive Blog: House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher
8:05 a.m. Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher is giving a talk at the Humphrey Institute this morning entitled, “Leading for Minnesota’s Future.” 8:08 a.m. Speaker Kelliher compares the time of her childhood in the 1970s and early 1980s to…
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