Lobbyist spending reports from this year’s legislative session have been unveiled by the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board (CFPD). But a word of caution is warranted in assessing the numbers: They don’t include lobbyists’ salaries.

Former Iron Range state Sen. George Perpich last night was among the hosts at a fundraiser for DFL Congressional candidate Rick Nolan. Perpich is among a growing number of Iron Rangers supporting Nolan.

Predictably, the downturn has been hard on contract lobbyists who represent clients on real estate and construction matters. Tom Lehman, a health care lobbyist who has his own firm, said the lobbying business these days is depressed in most sectors.

Racino rides again: State Rep. Al Juhnke this morning successfully inserted his proposal to allow slot machines at Minnesota horse racing tracks into a biomass study bill.

Today GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty delivers his state of the state speech. As the Star Tribune‘s Pat Lopez notes, Pawlenty is expected to “call for ...

For lobbyists, the frenzy of influencing lawmakers at the end of the session isn’t exactly a prescription for a healthy lifestyle. “It’s the worst time ...