A bi-partisan group of 31 legislators sent a letter to Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday urging him to raise funds for a Minnesota Vikings stadium by allowing full-fledged casinos at the state's two horse racing tracks. It was signed by 27 Republicans and 4 DFlers.

Officials from MMB had some worrisome news on the state's fiscal future in light of the still-struggling economic recovery and increasing chance that the U.S. will face another recession.

The University of Minnesota’s recently inaugurated President Eric Kaler wants Minnesota business leaders to ask what the university can do for them. But he also wants them to ask what they can do for the university — including helping the U secure more state funding.

Tax reform became an unlikely elephant in the room during the contentious 2011 Minnesota legislative session.

Ever since the latter days of the 2011 regular session, it was clear to lobbyists, staffers and other Capitol watchers that the main limitation on the ability of GOP legislative leaders to cut a budget deal was the hard line on spending adopted by numerous members of their freshman-dominated majority caucuses.

Republican Senate Finance Chair Claire Robling had a tough job this session -- she was the first Republican to chair the top budget committee in the Senate in nearly 40 years and took charge facing a historic multi-billion budget deficit. Now that it’s over, Robling says she is glad, not to mention tired.

At an appearance to support Canterbury racetrack -- which is near closure because of the state government shutdown -- Republican Senate Finance Chair Claire Robling said she supports revenue from a racino to help solve the budget deficit.

Since May, when state lawmakers passed a ballot question that will ask Minnesota voters next year whether marriage should be defined solely as a union between one man and one woman, Minnesota has found itself a key battleground in a campaign finance legal battle that is playing out across the United States.

Republicans have introduced a spate of constitutional amendments in recent weeks - ranging from photo identification at the polls to a ban on gay marriage - that they want to see in on the ballot in 2012. Powerful Republican Senate Taxes Chair Julianne Ortman added another to the mix on Tuesday to limit state spending.

Campaign finance litigation in other states is prompting Minnesota legislators to consider increasing the monetary threshold that triggers when independent expenditure and ballot initiative groups are required to register with the state.