Peterson's announcement was hailed by DFL Party chair Ken Martin, who called Peterson a "true champion for farmers."

The Minnesota Legislature may yet extend a program that loosened property tax rules to stimulate construction and development — though the legislation in its present form does not require reporting on how many jobs are created.

For many lobbyists, working the Legislature is as much about the bills they are able to stop as the bills they are able to pass. That’s why Friday’s final deadline for policy measures to pass through committees in both chambers will be cause for either celebration or relief for Minnesota’s Capitol lobbying corps.

A ten-member conference committee has been named to hash out differences between the House and Senate versions of the health insurance exchange bill.

With DFLers back in control of the House and Senate, many familiar faces will be wielding key gavels when the Legislature convenes on January 8.

Key question: Does Minnesota want to be more like Massachusetts or Utah?

Close observers and key players in Minnesota’s project to create a health insurance exchange have some advice for those who want to follow the process: Pay close attention, and don’t blink.

There was no audible dissent from Democrats as the committee voted to approve the additional $90,000 in fees, pushing total legal costs in the case over the $200,000 mark. Brodkorb is suing the chamber after he was suddenly fired last December. Brodkorb was having an affair with his boss, former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch.

While seniority ruled in the majority's selections for committee chairs, a number of newly elected senators will serve as committee vice-chairs.

Thursday morning's meeting of the legislative Subcommittee on Employee Relations gave legislators a chance to sound off on the terms of two recently negotiated public sector union contracts -- and, not incidentally, to seize the moment for a bit of political grandstanding.