Recent Articles from Paul Demko and Briana Bierschbach
House passes minimum wage increase off the floor
A bill that would bump the state minimum wage up to $9.50 an hour has cleared the floor of the Minnesota House.
Economic forecast: Budget deficit down to $627 million
**UPDATED**Minnesota's latest economic forecast predicts a $627 million deficit over the next two years, a more than $400 million improvement from the last forecast in November.
State’s unclaimed property cache grows
The state of Minnesota has a potential pool of revenue at its disposal that many lawmakers may not know about. Over the last decade, the value of assets held by the state as unclaimed personal property has more than tripled.
Democrats dominate in spending by party units
When it comes to spending by Minnesota’s political parties, the state DFL has emerged as the No. 1 player in the 2012 battle for control of Legislature.
The top 25 Minnesota political donors of the past decade
Matt Entenza and his wife, Lois Quam, aren’t exactly the first names that pop up when Minnesota politicos talk about heavy-hitter political donors.
Minnesota’s top donors skew DFL
DFL candidates and causes have received a disproportionate share of contributions from the state’s biggest political givers over the last decade
Capitol awaits final stadium vote
After a pair of marathon floor debates, the House and Senate passed legislation this week authorizing construction of a $975 million stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.
State GOP financial report finds no illegal activity
A financial report released by the Republican Party of Minnesota on Monday found that there was no theft or illegal activity by former party officers but did point to a pattern of fiscal mismanagement that has left the party about $2 million in debt.
State GOP served with eviction papers for its St. Paul office space
Massachusetts-based Hub Properties Trust filed paperwork in Ramsey County on Wednesday to evict the debt-ridden Republican Party for failing to pay more than $96,000 in rent over the last year.
Legislative map: All shook up
The most anticipated political event of the year at the Capitol — the unveiling of court-drawn state legislative and congressional districts that will be used for the next decade — arrived at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Political giving by tribal gaming PACs reflects new GOP order at Capitol
With the tribal monopoly on casino gambling at risk, the nine tribal PACs took a much more bipartisan approach to political giving last year. DFL candidates and causes received contributions of $176,200, while their GOP counterparts took in $152,150.
Something old, something new: Veteran Howes, freshman Kriesel are PIM’s politicos of the year for 2011
Rep. Larry Howes helped broker the end of a three-week government shutdown and Rep. John Kriesel took political risks and emerged as an important new presence at the Capitol.
Top News
- Target faces ‘non-drowsy’ meds suit
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- Hashtag rates higher libel protection
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Expert Testimony
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- Quandaries & Quagmires: Advance waivers: Lessons from Paul Hastings vs. Coca Cola
- Perspectives: Recent cellphone ruling recalls high court cases