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

Tagged with: Dave Brown Jeff Johnson Jim Abeler Keith Downey Kent Eken Kurt Zellers Mark Dayton Marty Seifert MNsure politicsinminnesota R.T. Rybak Scott Honour Tom Huntley

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.

Tagged with: 2014 session budget Dave Brown David Hann Health and Human Services Jerry Newton Jim Abeler Kent Eken Mark Dayton Mary Kiffmeyer politicsinminnesota Steve Larson Tom Huntley

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.

Tagged with: Dave Brown Dave Senjem John Cooney Melisa Franzen Paul Rosenthal politicsinminnesota Ron Erhardt Susan Kent Terri Bonoff Vicki Jensen Yvonne Selcer

Dave Brown and Iris Freeman.

Tagged with: Dave Brown Iris Freeman politicsinminnesota

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.

Tagged with: Al DeKruif Benjamin Kruse Bill Ingebrigtsen Chris Gerlach Claire Robling Dave Brown Dave Senjem Dave Thompson David Hann Dick Day Gen Olson Gretchen Hoffman Julie Rosen Mike Parry Paul Gazelka politicsinminnesota racino Roger Chamberlain Ron Rosenbaum Rules Committee Ted Lillie Warren Limmer

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.

Tagged with: Amy Koch Bill Ingebrigtsen Carla Nelson Chris Gerlach Dan Hall Dave Brown Dave Senjem Dave Thompson David Hann Dean Johnson Geoff Michel Joe Gimse John Howe Julianne Ortman Mike Jungbauer Paul Gazelka politicsinminnesota

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.

Tagged with: Canterbury Park Dave Brown Dick Day James Clark Jeremy Miller Matt Dean Pat Anderson politicsinminnesota Quinn Cheney racino Racino Now Randy Sampson Ron Jerich Running Aces Valerie Jerich

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.

Tagged with: Bud Nornes Dave Brown Dave Thompson Gretchen Hoffman Metro Gang Strike Force Minnesota Vikings politicsinminnesota Susan Haigh Tea Party Ted Mondale Vikings Stadium Zygi Wilf

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.

Tagged with: Amy Koch Claire Robling Dave Brown Dave Thompson David Hann Doug Wardlow Jeremy Miller Jim Abeler Kurt Zeller Mark Dayton politicsinminnesota Steve Drazkowski Ted Lillie Tim Pawlenty

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.

Tagged with: Claire Robling Dave Brown Kelby Woodard Mary LaHammer politicsinminnesota racino