In the Hopper: Emphasizing judiciary; protesting dissent; Real ID

Kevin Featherly April 21, 2017 Leave a comment

In a recent interview with Minnesota Lawyer, Chief Justice Lorie Gildea expressed confidence that her full $51.4 million budget increase would be granted before the legislative session ends in late May. (File photo: Kevin Featherly)

Gov. Mark Dayton wants full funding for Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea’s budget request.

In the Hopper: Railroad liability; internet privacy; student press

Kevin Featherly April 7, 2017 Leave a comment

Rep. Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis, offered an unsuccessful House omnibus transportation bill amendment to strip out a $3 million liability cap for railroads sharing corridors with light-rail trains. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

The GOP House is poised to cap at $3 million the damages freight railroad operators would face should a disaster take place along a corridor it shares with light-rail commuter trains.

In the Hopper: Filing fees; flashback; speaking of confrontation

Kevin Featherly March 31, 2017 Leave a comment

Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, said the omnibus public safety/judiciary funding bill presented false choices based on a “ridiculously low target” for agency spending increases.

In the Hopper: Subpoena power; child care rulings; terrorism bill

Kevin Featherly March 24, 2017 Leave a comment

Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, wants administrative law judges to have the final say in disputes between child care providers the state Human Services Department. Her bill, Senate File 1953, was laid over earlier this month for possible inclusion in a Human Services omnibus bill. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

House members are threatening to use their subpoena power over emails related to communications about $105 million in federal transportation funds

In the Hopper: Reinsurance; prison health-cost spike; strangulation bill

Kevin Featherly March 17, 2017 Leave a comment

Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he is chair. His bill to provide $9.2 million in emergency medical funding to the Corrections Department is moving ahead. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

Lawmakers are nearing agreement on $9.2 million in emergency funding to make up for an unexpected spike in Corrections Department medical costs.

In the Hopper: Reinsurance moves ahead; Real (gone) ID; fake cops

Kevin Featherly March 10, 2017 Leave a comment

Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, presides over the House Taxes Committee on March 7. Davids is the author of House File 5, the health care reinsurance bill that was set for a House floor vote Monday. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

A bill to protect health insurers from hyper-expensive individual medical claims cleared its final House committee Wednesday.

In the Hopper: Bye-bye bucks; Sunday sales; ID factoid

Kevin Featherly March 6, 2017 Leave a comment

Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, testifies on Feb. 27 before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of his own bill, House File 600. Garofalo removed two funding provisions after meeting with DFL resistance. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

Two finance provisions meant to mollify House Democrats were taken out of a bill that strips away municipal governments’ power to set local labor rules.