In the days leading up to a contentious Republican primary contest last year between Connie Doepke and Dave Osmek for a Senate seat in the western suburbs, Americans for Prosperity Minnesota circulated a mailing. Doepke went on to lose the election by just 107 votes.

State lawmakers on Monday sent a campaign finance bill to Gov. Mark Dayton that allows candidates to raise and spend more money. The bill received bipartisan support in the House and Senate but also drew dissent from DFLers in the majority on some provisions.

On the afternoon that the House cast its historic vote in favor of gay marriage — completely monopolizing attention at the Capitol — the Senate quietly debated a bill overhauling the state’s campaign finance rules. Most notably, the bill would significantly increase caps on spending and contributions for political campaigns.

The bills, sponsored by Sen. Ann Rest and Rep. Ryan Winkler, increase state limits on the contributions that candidates can receive and the amount of money they can spend.

Campaign finance legislation that’s proposing to increase fundraising limits for candidates has passed to the House and Senate floors. The House and Senate bills allow spending and contribution increases to give candidates a chance to compete with big-spending outside groups.

If you didn't go to any fundraisers on Monday, then you probably don’t lobby the state Capitol. A torrent of fundraisers marked the last day before the start of the 2013 legislative session, which by law was the last day lobbyists could give money to legislators’ and legislative caucuses’ campaigns.

Here’s a guide to key policy matters that are likely to be addressed and heavily lobbied in the 2013 legislative session.

A glance through the Legislature’s official 2012 Election Directory offers few details on what, exactly, a large number of lawmakers do for a living. Of the legislators who will take a seat in the upcoming session, a dozen list their occupation as “consulting,” and 19 more describe their profession as a “small-business owner,” or, in some cases, simply, “business.”

The path through any budget session leads to a negotiating table at which the governor and legislative leaders work out the most politically palatable taxing and spending deal they can muster. But the budget is never the only game in town. Before the session endgame gets played out, a network of committees will play host to various and sundry dramas involving policy issues before state government.

During the 1992 election cycle, individuals could contribute a total of $2,000 to state House and Senate campaigns. But during the next legislative session, those campaign contribution limits were dramatically reduced. The new caps on individual contributions to state legislative campaigns: $100 in non-election years and $500 in election years.