Tuesday, September 6, 2011
A record 12,549 fair-goers participated in the poll this year.
Of a record 12,549 participants in this year's House of Representatives State Fair Poll, nearly 70 percent said the state constitution should not be amended to define marriage as only a union of one man and one woman. That was just one of the interesting results from the annual poll, which also showed that Minnesotans appear to be basically split on whether voters should be required to show photo ID before voting. The recent state government shutdown was also fresh on the mind, and roughly 69 percent of polltakers said current levels of state funding should remain in effect if the governor and legislators cannot agree on a state budget for an upcoming biennium—an approach that would prevent future shutdowns. Here are the full results from …
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The St. Louis Park legislator is critical of the deal that ended the state shutdown.
After a 20-day state government shutdown that forced thousands of employees out of work and cost the state millions of dollars, Senate Republicans finally passed a two-year spending plan on July 19 that borrows nearly $3 billion to cover the majority of the state’s $5 billion deficit. While I’m disappointed that Republicans’ refusal to compromise resulted in such a fiscally irresponsible budget solution, I respect Gov. Dayton for doing everything in his power to end this shutdown and get Minnesotans back to work. Unfortunately, we will be paying for the Republicans’ beg, borrow, and steal budget for decades to come. I was not happy with the overall budget deal, particularly how the additional revenue was obtained. I did, however, vote for …
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Nearly one week later, news outlets across the country are still analyzing the closure.
It's been nearly a week since Minnesota's state government re-opened, and residents are still trying to sift through all the effects. Here's a look at coverage throughout the closure: July 25: Duluth News Tribune: First campers return to find Jay Cooke State Park in good shape MinnPost: New budget fails to take on Minnesota's long-term problems MinnPost: Dayton talks about the pivotal meeting with supporters that helped end the shutdown Star Tribune: Tobacco bonds in Minnesota budget deal come at hefty price to future state budgets Star Tribune: Empty campsites at Jay Cooke State Park for reopening weekend St. Cloud Times: Minnesota budget: A closer look at the deal to end the shutdown July 24: National Review: Minnesota Isn’t America …
Friday, July 22, 2011
As of Thursday, 11 state parks are fully open and 15 are partially open.
“Welcome back. We missed you.” That was the first thing Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr said before announcing that the reopening of Minnesota state parks, forests and facilities following the state shutdown is ahead of schedule. Originally scheduled to open at 8 a.m. Friday morning, Landwehr reported that as of 11 a.m. Thursday, 11 state parks are fully open, with an additional 15 parks partially open. (Check out this link for a list of the operational status of all DNR facilities.) While more than 2,700 DNR employees returned to work Thursday morning, Parks and Trails Director Courtland Nelson explained that the most pressing job is still assessing the condition of the parks. “We’ll be checking water and …
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Proposal calls for spending to continue at current levels if future budget impasses arise.
St. Louis Park Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 44) said a Republican plan to avoid future shutdowns is "a farce" that abdicates responsibility for enacting a new budget. "They are choosing to punt," he said. "In effect, this would enact a budget for those who do not want to increase spending one cent." Lake Elmo Sen. Ted Lillie (R-District 56)—joined by Lake Elmo Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R-District 56A), Brainerd Sen. Paul Gazelka (R-District 12), Eagan Sen. Ted Daley (R-District 38) and Burnsville Sen. Dan Hall (R-District 40)—announced a plan Thursday that would effectively prevent future state government shutdowns. Under the proposal, if a budget agreement isn’t reached by the end of a legislative session, funding for state services would …
They say the state is delaying the inevitable by borrowing to balance the budget.
“Disappointing.” “Irresponsible.” That was the overall reaction from St. Louis Park's three legislators toward the legislation that concluded the state government shutdown. Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-District 44A), Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-District 44B) and Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 44) are glad the shutdown is in the past but unhappy with the way the final budget relies so heavily on cuts and borrowing. “This is regrettable because there were better ways to do this fiscally,” Latz said. “The reduction is two-thirds cuts and one-third borrowing, and to me, this is like paying your bills with a very high interest credit card.” Simon called borrowing from the state’s tobacco fund and delaying part of the line-item budget for public schools a “…
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
DFL Rep. Ryan Winkler said the state government shutdown was irresponsible of legislators and says the current budget being passed in the special session is the most irresponsible in state history.
DFL Rep. Ryan Winkler explained during a recess of the special session Tuesday why he voted against the budget bills.
Lawmakers worked late into the night Wednesday.
Insults were hurled. Accusations were made. Pleas were ignored. But in the end, the people’s business was finished. At 9 a.m., Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law all 12 budget bills passed in the middle of the night Wednesday by the Minnesota House and Senate. Dayton’s signatures ended the 20-day shutdown of Minnesota government. Dayton kept his promise that he wouldn’t sign any of the bills until all 12 had passed through both houses of the legislature. At the start of this special session, it seemed as though the process would be over quickly. In its first hour, the Senate passed six of 12 bills while the House passed five. But by 1 a.m. Wednesday, just eight bills were ready to be sent to the governor, with the House passing an additional…
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
A special session to pass a budget and end the state shutdown started Tuesday afternoon.
Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly identified Linda Scheid's political party. She was a member of the DFL. The story has been edited to reflect this. It took less than an hour’s work for Minnesota lawmakers, who reconvened this afternoon, to pass five bills, the first of several that Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to sign. The House and Senate took their seats in the legislature at around 3 p.m., opened the special session, observed a moment of silence for the late Sen. Linda Scheid (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and then recessed for more than three hours. When they reconvened at around 7 p.m., they got to work. Within an hour, the Senate had passed six bills; the House had passed five. The legislature then went into recess …
The state government shutdown will end if nine budget bills are approved.
Minnesota legislators have been called back to their seats and an end to the government shutdown appears just hours away. Gov. Mark Dayton called for a special legislative session to begin at 3 p.m. today—19 days into the shutdown of the Minnesota state government—after approving preliminary versions of nine legislative bills totaling $35.4 billion over the 2011-2013 biennium. Legislators have resolved some of the session’s more contentious bills—on K-12 education, state government, jobs and economic development, taxes and higher education. The public safety/judiciary, transportation and environment bills were given the nod Monday afternoon, a day after legislators agreed in principle on a $11 billion Health and Human Services bill. No …
John Anderson
7:54 am on Saturday, July 23, 2011
GOP legislators should honor their oaths of office and non their "no tax pledge" to Grover Norquist. more ›