Minnesota
Minnesota Unemployment Rate Drops for First Time Since May ’08
On the heels of the positive developments in South Dakota, which also saw its unemployment rate drop in April, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced on Thursday morning that the Gopher State’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate fell…
Read MoreThe ‘W’ Word: Seifert Says DFL Ran the Legislature Like Democrats in Washington
In his final media availability at the Capitol for 2009, House GOP Minority Leader Marty Seifert cast a very critical look in his (Tuesday) morning quarterbacking of the 86th Legislative session for 2009. Calling it “a session of lost opportunity,”…
Read MoreMinnesota Legislature on Pace for Most Days in Session by Decade
One of the reasons cited by Governor Tim Pawlenty in his recent declaration that there will be no special session this year to resolve the state’s budget crisis, is that he does not believe residents of the Gopher State should…
Read MoreRepublicans in Competitive Districts Opposed Pogemiller Redistricting Bill; Safe GOPers Supported Reform
When DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller saw his redistricting reform bill (SF 182) pass on a 39-28 roll call vote last Friday, he nearly needed one of the five votes cast by Republicans in favor of the bill. While…
Read MorePogemiller Delivers on Redistricting Reform; SF 182 Passes Senate Floor Vote
While the thunder of Governor Tim Pawlenty’s new unallotment strategy drew all the attention of Capitol watchers on Thursday and Friday, the Senate, under the leadership of DFL Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller (SD59-Minneapolis), passed a redistricting bill that will perhaps…
Read MoreA Historical Snapshot of Minnesota’s Legislative Special Sessions
Governor Tim Pawlenty delivered a shot across the DFL’s bow Thursday afternoon, or perhaps it was the dropping of an A-bomb, when he declared there would be no special sessions to resolve the state’s budget matters and that, if need…
Read MoreShould Minnesota’s Corrections Budget Be Increased?
The passage of public safety legislation this week in the Senate (SF 802) and House (HF 1162) included a reduction of approximately $100 million of the base budgets across more than a dozen departments – the largest being a $34.2…
Read MoreGovernor Pawlenty: Good for Minnesota Twins Baseball?
While Tim Pawlenty struggles to deal with soaring budget deficits and historic rates in the increase of unemployment statewide, there is at least one positive issue he can take to the electorate should he seek an unprecedented third four-year term…
Read MoreJesse Ventura Lobbies for Ambassador Post to Cuba
Former Governor Jesse Ventura appeared on Larry King Live Monday evening to promote the paperback release of his latest book, Don’t Start the Revolution Without Me, and offered his trademark rapid-fire quips on a range of subjects, from Barack Obama’s…
Read MorePawlenty Delivers on Veto Pledge; Override Season Opens
Governor Tim Pawlenty’s veto this weekend of a legislative bill (HF 885, SF 681) that would raise approximately $1 billion in revenue through income and alcohol taxes and a surtax on credit card companies, marked the official opening of Override…
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