Republican candidates for governor are unified in disliking MNsure, but each candidate has taken a different tack in criticizing the exchange.

The increase would cost about $86 million in the current budgeting period, and advocates are hoping there will be extra cash in the state’s coffers after the November and February budget forecasts.

Sen. Vicki Jensen, DFL-Owatonna, didn’t get much of a chance to speak her piece on the final version of the tax bill. There literally wasn’t any time. The DFL majority’s omnibus tax bill passed the Senate with minutes to spare before the session’s predetermined end date of midnight on Monday, May 20.

Dave Brown and Iris Freeman.

The perennial bill to install slots in the state’s two racetracks was yanked from its first hearing in the Senate Education Committee amid fear that the committee’s conservative members would kill it early in the session.

The Minnesota Senate Republican caucus is in disarray after a tumultuous few days that saw Majority Leader Amy Koch suddenly step down following allegations of an “inappropriate relationship” with a direct subordinate on the Senate staff.

A lot of things are changing for Dick Day. The former Senate Republican minority leader made a legislative career out of supporting slot machines at racetracks — better known as racino — during his 19 years in the chamber.

As the Minnesota Vikings worked through preseason practice last week in Mankato, Ramsey County commissioners and team officials were doing intensive work on the specifics of a proposal to help build a new football stadium for the team in Arden Hills.

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.

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.