Vets’ housing report draws immediate fire
Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Shellito blasted the decentralized approach recommended by the Select Committee on Veterans Housing, which would shift the state away from the current system in favor of smaller home- and community-based care settings.
The Capitol Note: Forecast points to big surplus
Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowaler said the Legislature and the administration should use a projected surplus to build up the state's reserve accounts.
Disability groups rally for 5 percent funding increase in 2014
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.
Group homes to push for 5 percent hike next year
A new coalition of advocates for the elderly and disabled in Minnesota is planning an aggressive campaign to persuade legislators to pass a 5 percent increase in their budget next session, which would cost the state an additional $86 million in the current budgeting period.
Conference committees on key finance bills take shape
With most major finance bills clearing the House and Senate floors, attention will now turn towards conference committees this week. Conferees on several bills have already been appointed by legislative leaders.
Meet the Freshmen: House GOP (part 2)
The election of Steve Green marks one of the few bright spots for the Republican Party of Minnesota from the 2012 legislative elections. Facing a fundraising disparity and an uphill battle in terms of name recognition, Green managed to defeat former DFL Rep. Brita Sailer for the open seat in House District 2B.
Meet the freshmen: House DFL (part 1)
As he talked about meeting with thousands of potential voters on the campaign trail, Jason Metsa found himself using a certain word, and paused to acknowledge what it meant. “Those people are now my constituents,” he said.
In swing races, ground battle intensifies
For better or worse, Michael Brodkorb was back on the campaign trail last week. This time, however, the former GOP attack dog, deputy Republican Party chair and Senate communications guru who helped mastermind the 2010 GOP takeover of the chamber has materialized in a glossy pink and blue mailer that’s being used to attack Republicans.
DFL Party mounts Wolf hunt in SD 37
Pam Wolf is not easily deterred. She first ran for the Legislature in 2004, losing a House race to incumbent DFL Rep. Connie Bernardy by 13 percentage points. Two years later, Wolf took on DFL Sen. Don Betzold, losing that time by 9 percentage points.
Election strategists sort out House swing races
The last two election cycles have witnessed wave elections for both parties that tilted the Minnesota House of Representatives in polar opposite directions.
Predicting 2012
n the four months since legislative maps were released, political strategists and journalists have been scrutinizing the new House and Senate districts to determine which ones favor Republicans or Democrats and where the key battlegrounds will be in 2012.
Several DFL legislators defeated in 2010 are getting back in the saddle
For former DFL Sen. Jim Carlson, it was a matter of a little reflection and time to “lick my wounds” before he knew he was ready to run again for the state Senate. Carlson, who served one term in the chamber, was ousted last fall by Republican newcomer Ted Daley as part of a massive GOP wave that saw the party take control of both the House and Senate for the first time in nearly four decades.
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