13 Arrested Protesting Pre-Emption Bill In Rep. Garofalo's Office By Text By Dane Smith - MN Poor People's Campaign, Video By Will Hommeyer | May 15, 2018 Arrests are made as the Poor People’s Campaign, founded 50 years ago by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., protest a bill that would prevent local governments from raising the minimum wage.
Criminal Justice Simon Urges MN Legislature To Invest In Democracy By Michael McIntee | January 3, 2019 Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says the state can do more to insure voting rights. He and legislative leaders unveil a plan to increase voting security; decrease barriers to voter registration; restore of voting rights for those who were formerly incarcerated; and protect voter privacy.
Minnesota Reinvestment Urged in Program Providing Food to Underserved Minnesotans By Eric Tegethoff - Minnesota News Connection | January 2, 2019 The Good Food Access fund will expire next year without renewal from Minnesota lawmakers. The program funds projects that help communities lacking access to healthy, affordable food.
Gun Violence Students’ “Nightmare” Fails To Sway MN GOP On Gun Violence Prevention Bills By Michael McIntee | March 1, 2018 On a mostly party line vote, a pair of gun violence prevention bills are stalled in a Minnesota House committee. Advocates of the bills aren’t giving up.
Gun Violence MN GOP Reps Won’t Promise A Hearing On Gun Bills By Michael McIntee | February 22, 2018 Two GOP committee chairs are put on the spot and asked if they will give bills aimed at reducing gun violence a hearing this session. Neither will commit to a hearing. The bills have been in their committees for about a year.
Minnesota DFL On MN Deficit: “Elections Have Consequences” By Michael McIntee | December 6, 2017 Governor Mark Dayton is not laying the blame for the state’s projected $188 million dollar deficit over the next 18 months. However, House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman (DFL) was quick to blame the GOP.
Minnesota Court: Gov Dayton Veto Of Legislative Operating Budget Constitutional, Mediation Ordered By Michael McIntee | September 8, 2017 Minnesota’s Supreme Court says a move by Governor Mark Dayton to bring Republican legislative leaders back to the bargaining table is constitutional and has ordered the two sides into mediation.
Minnesota On 10-Year Anniversary of Bridge Collapse, Safety Of Other Bridges Still A Concern By Laurie Stern- Minnesota News Connection | August 1, 2017 On the 10th anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse, a former Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) bridge inspector has an important caution about the future.
Minnesota MN Supreme Court Fast Tracks Dayton Veto Power Case By Michael McIntee | July 26, 2017 An August 28 Minnesota Supreme court date has been set in the constitutional battle between Governor Mark Dayton and the legislature. Both sides say they’d like the balance of power issues over budgets settled.
Minnesota Dayton To Appeal To MN Supreme Court To Overturn Ruling Limiting His Veto Power By Michael McIntee | July 19, 2017 Ramsey County District Court judge has ruled that Governor Mark Dayton’s line-item veto of funding for the legislature is unconstitutional. Dayton will appeal the ruling to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Minnesota MN Mom: Health Care Costs Driving Families to Poverty By Veronica Carter - Minnesota News Connection | July 17, 2017 Minnesotans are speaking out about how the latest Republican plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act will hurt them.
Minnesota Funding Order Language May Be Bad News For Dayton Says Law Professor By Michael McIntee | June 27, 2017 A judge has signed off on an order that temporarily funds Minnesota’s legislature, but the way it is written may indicate that judge may ultimately rule against Governor Dayton according Hamline law professor David Schultz.
Minnesota Politics Behind Silencing Voice For Women At MN Capitol By Veronica Carter - Minnesota News Connection | June 27, 2017 The state office that informs Minnesota lawmakers about the job and pay-related challenges faced by women in the state has been eliminated. Minnesota lawmakers outlawed staffing the Office on the Economic Status of Women and eliminated all its funding.
Minnesota Speaker Daudt Plans Appeal If Legislature Loses Case Vs. Dayton By Michael McIntee | June 26, 2017 Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt says the Legislature will appeal its case over Gov. Mark Dayton’s line item to the Minnesota Supreme Court should it lose in Ramsey County District Court.
Minnesota Video: MN Legislature Vs. Gov. Dayton In Court By Michael McIntee | June 26, 2017 A Ramsey County Judge hears the legislature’s case against Governor Mark Dayton’s line-item veto of their funding. Both sides what the judge to decide the constitutionality of the veto so they can negotiate.
Minnesota Gov Dayton Vetoes Legislature’s Funding To Force Special Session On His Terms By Michael McIntee | May 30, 2017 Gov. Dayton says Republicans used a “sneak attack” and he won’t fund the legislature unless GOP leaders agree to his five conditions.
Minnesota Retirees Hope For Tax Relief In MN Budget Agreement By Veronica Carter - Minnesota News Connection | May 19, 2017 Retired folks in Minnesota hope they’ll be included in any tax breaks state lawmakers and Gov. Mark Dayton agree on during a final budget plan. Only a dozen other states tax Social Security benefits.
Education Walking 100 Miles for Higher Ed By Jeff Achen | May 11, 2017 As lawmakers present their respective proposals for higher education funding, students representing a handful of Minnesota State universities, from Mankato to Moorhead to Bemidji, completed a 100-mile walk Wednesday.
Environment MN Lawmakers Risking Millions in Environmental Settlement By Veronica Carter - Minnesota News Connection | May 2, 2017 Advocates warn the Minnesota could lose it $47 million in settlement money from Volkswagen because too many people want control of the purse strings.
Immigration Resisters Go Big Despite MN Lawmakers’ Attempts To Silence Them By Cirien Saadeh | May 1, 2017 Many groups are organizing to resisting a GOP legislative agenda, but they say rules are being twisted to silence them at the Minnesota Capitol and on the streets.
Minnesota Hortman: Not Time For Texas Hold ’em, GOP Needs To Show Respect For Dissent By Michael McIntee | April 6, 2017 Respect is needed says Minnesota House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman who isn’t ready to play cards yet with her Republican detractors.
MN House MN GOP Protests Over Dem Leader’s “White Male Card Game” Comment By Michael McIntee | April 4, 2017 House Majority Leader says both parties, both genders guilty of not listening to House floor debate. “At some point there’s not a lot of new issues, it’s just new stories about how a certain thing impacts them,” says Rep. Joyce Peppin.
Minnesota “100% White Male Card Game” Ignoring Speeches By Women Of Color At MN Legislature, Says DFL House Leader By Michael McIntee | April 3, 2017 DFL House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman was not about to apologize for saying that white males at the legislature were ignoring what women, particularly women of color, had to say on the House floor.
Minnesota Consumer Advocates: Don’t Hang Up on Internet Phone Protections By Mona Shand - Minnesota News Connection | April 2, 2017 A bill before the Minnesota Legislature would eliminate some consumer protections to an increasingly-popular telephone service known as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), which many believe could leave older Minnesotans and those in rural parts of the state hanging.
Environment Wolf Supporters Rally For Hunting Ban By Video by Bill Sorem, Text by Mary Turck | March 24, 2017 Defenders of wolves raised a howl at the Capitol for Wolf Day 2017. They want the legislature to repeal the wolf hunting law and to ban snaring of all wild animals.
Economy/Jobs Minnesotans Struggle to Find Healthy Food By Veronica Carter - Minnesota News Connection | March 23, 2017 Lawmakers are considering funding the Good Food Access Program. It was approved last year to help end some of the food deserts in the state.
