With less than a month to go before the Legislature is constitutionally required to adjourn, the GOP-controlled House and Senate find themselves fundamentally at odds with DFL Gov. Mark Dayton on the role of new tax revenues in fixing the state's $5 billion deficit. Dayton is pushing for about $2.5 billion in tax increases to help close the budget deficit, while Republicans are continuing to espouse an all-cuts budget.

Only one of Gov. Mark Dayton's commissioners has been approved by the Senate so far. But as session draws closer to the adjournment date, sources say to watch for committee hearings to take up commissioner appointments, and some more controversial picks could be taken up on the floor. Why? The Republicans may use some appointments as leverage in the looming budget showdown.

Former DFL Rep. Mary Jo McGuire will return to the Capitol - this time in the upper chamber - after winning the special election for Senate District 66 Tuesday evening.

Ahead of next Tuesday's DFL special primary in Senate District 66, the statewide teachers union Education Minnesota has endorsed Rep. John Lesch to succeed former Sen. Ellen Anderson.

St. Paul Rep. Alice Hausman is backing former state Rep. Mary Jo McGuire in the Senate District 66 special election. Hausman's decision pits her against current House colleague John Lesch, who is also seeking the seat.

Former DFL state Rep. Mary Jo McGuire has filed to run in the special election for the Senate seat being vacated by Ellen Anderson. McGuire spent more than a decade in the House representing Falcon Heights, but opted not to seek re-election in 2002 after redistricting pitted her against fellow DFL Rep. Alice Hausman.

Ellen Anderson's announcement that she is resigning from the Minnesota Senate to chair the state's Public Utilities Commission left potential candidates for her old job less than a week to make up their minds. The filing deadline arrives on Tuesday, with the primary election slated for two weeks later.

Sen. Ellen Anderson does not expect to have any serious problems being confirmed as the next chairwoman of the state's Public Utilities Commission.

Rep. John Lesch will seek the Senate District 66 seat being vacated by Ellen Anderson. Gov. Mark Dayton announced today that he is appointing Anderson to chair the Public Utilities Commission.

Gov. Mark Dayton has selected Sen. Ellen Anderson to chair the Public Utilities Commission. The St. Paul DFLer, current serving her sixth term, will step down on March 20 to take over the regulatory agency.