Frank Hornstein

Mar 23, 2011

Minnesota’s budget battle starts in earnest

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton said that it is a "fantasy island" scenario for Republicans to believe that the state will receive a waiver from the federal government in time for the start of the next biennium in July.

Mar 23, 2011

House government bill retrenches on cut levels

Dogged by allegations of politically motivated cuts - and beset by criticisms and questions about some of its funding mechanisms - the House State Government Finance bill has become a controversial and complex affair.

Dec 29, 2010

Susan Haigh named Met Council chair

Gov.-elect Mark Dayton has picked Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity CEO Susan Haigh to lead the Metropolitan Council. She will juggle her executive role at Habitat and serve as council chairwoman.

Dec 10, 2010

Stormy session ahead for Met Council

Transportation policy wonks wondering how the new Republican legislative majority will approach the Metropolitan Council can find a hint in the state GOP platform. The party's position is succinct and seemingly unambiguous:

Aug 25, 2010

A look at legislative audit reports that will help shape the 2011 session

As usual, Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles and his staff have spent much of their summer preparing a raft of reports on state government programs for release this fall and winter. Ranging in subject matter from transit planning in the metropolitan area to the state’s sex offender civil commitment program, the forthcoming reports are sure to engender battles when the 87th Minnesota Legislature conv[...]

Aug 11, 2010

Kelliher looked primed for upset victory – until the numbers headed south

As the election results began rolling in on Tuesday night, the mood was ebullient at Jax Café in Northeast Minneapolis. Even as torrential rains swamped Minneapolis, soggy, red-shirted supporters of House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher filed into the banquet room and bars of the renowned steakhouse. House Majority Leader Tony Sertich repeatedly took to the podium to offer updates on the Minne[...]

Apr 27, 2010

House Taxes Committee lays over FOC repeal legislation

In the face of opposition from the state's largest business association, the House Taxes Committee on Tuesday night laid over a proposal to eliminate so-called foreign operating corporations (FOC) for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Apr 21, 2010

The battle of Duluth

Pretty much anything could happen in Duluth. That’s how wide open the DFL gubernatorial endorsement contest remains as party activists gather this weekend to select the party’s nominee. There are two clear frontrunners — House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak — but also a trio of other serious challengers for the endorsement.

Mar 15, 2010

Total ban on cell phones in cars? Not yet

In the wake of an emotional hearing on the dangers of distracted driving, Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) crafted a bill that would completely ban cell phone usage in motor vehicles.

Mar 3, 2010

Legislators ponder perils of distracted driving

Is Minnesota headed towards a total ban on cell phone usage while driving? That seems likely after a hearing today before the joint House and Senate transportation committees. Legislators heard a litany of statistics describing the dangers associated with distracted driving.

Mar 3, 2010

Photo of the Day – Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) and Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis) share a laugh at the adjournment of their joint Transportation hearing on distracted driving.

Feb 24, 2010

Existing facilities could be exempted from garbage burning, landfill gas ban

Following last week’s introduction of a bill that would scrap municipal garbage burning and landfill gas as renewable energy sources, the chair of a Minnesota House of Representatives panel said existing burners may be exempted from a proposed ban.