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Frank Hornstein

Jul 12, 2013

Transportation funding headed for ‘cliff’

State lawmakers and transportation advocates have their summer homework cut out for them in crafting a politically feasible way to begin addressing a projected $20 billion shortfall in the state’s transportation funding over the next two decades.

Jul 2, 2013

Standing up for students

Meet Sarah Clarke, of the Minnesota State Colleges Student Association.

Jun 14, 2013

Counties get transportation revenue tools

In the aftermath of the 2013 legislative session, transportation advocates have mostly lamented lawmakers’ decision not to increase funding for transit and highway projects. But this year’s transportation finance bill contained a silver lining for greater Minnesota counties that has gone mostly unnoted.

May 29, 2013

2013 session leaves unfinished business

Whether the 2013 legislative session in Minnesota was a successful one depends on which Democrat you ask. While many long-sought DFL priorities were achieved at the end of the five-month session, including gay marriage and increased spending on education, a handful of high-priority issues were ultimately shelved in 2013 in the hustle and bustle of crafting a $38 billion budget.

May 17, 2013

Bell tolls for the gas tax

DFL legislative leaders have taken a proposed increase in the state’s per gallon gasoline tax off the table. Although nothing at the Legislature is ever truly dead until adjournment, the fate of the gasoline tax appears to be sealed, according to news reports and the House and Senate transportation chairs.

May 16, 2013

Zelle floats bonding for transportation

Gov. Mark Dayton’s administration on Thursday for the first time floated an idea to House and Senate transportation negotiators for funding highway construction. Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle told the House and Senate transportation conferees that $300 million in trunk highway bonding would be a way to pick up the pace on improving the state’s transportation[...]

Apr 12, 2013

Gas tax standoff threatens transportation bill

Everyone expected a bumpy road en route to a politically viable 2013 transportation bill, but the events of the past week have suggested that it may be entirely impassable.

Feb 13, 2013

Transit: To tax or to bond?

The battle over transit funding that’s brewing at the Capitol this year has its roots in the 2008 transportation bill that ultimately saw the Legislature override Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto.

Dec 26, 2012

Minnesota’s DFL majorities face social issues pressure

As they prepare to take the reins of state government starting in 2013, Minnesota Democrats are attempting to strike a delicate balance between erasing a projected budget deficit and handling pent-up demand to tackle liberal social issues after two decades of divided control in St. Paul.

Nov 9, 2012

DFL majorities pick their leaders

Close on the heels of Tuesday’s election, members of the new DFL House and Senate majorities gathered behind closed doors on Thursday to elect their leaders. As expected, the minority leaders who helped steer Democrats back into control — Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, and Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook — were elevated to House speaker and Senate majority leader.

Jun 19, 2012

MN United raises more than $3 million to fight gay marriage amendment

Minnesotans United for All Families -- the primary group opposing the gay marriage amendment -- has raised $3.1 million so far this year, with roughly 90 percent of that money coming from in-state donors.

May 25, 2012

How the stadium deal was done

Left for dead in April, the Vikings stadium bill sprinted to passage in the session’s closing days. What happened?

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