Jim Abeler

Jan 22, 2014

The Capitol Note: Supreme Court rejects Vikings stadium lawsuit

The finding clears the path for the state to sell bonds that will help finance the stadium construction.

Nov 22, 2013

Standoff over MSOP at a critical juncture

After years of inactivity punctuated by sporadic talks at the Legislature, the issue of Minnesota’s civil commitment of the sexually dangerous seems to be coming to a head. The question now is whether a judge will intervene to force changes in the Minnesota Sex Offender Program before the 2014 Legislature even convenes.

Nov 14, 2013

DHS rescinds exemption offered to Amplatz hospital

In a statement issued to Politics in Minnesota on Thursday afternoon, Fairview argued that it still felt that it qualified for the exemption.

Nov 13, 2013

The Capitol Note: Bill authors defend Ritchie’s online voter registration

The issue of voting registration apparently did not arise during the debate over the legislation's passage more than a dozen years ago.

Nov 12, 2013

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.

Nov 12, 2013

The Capitol Note: MMB plans to go forward with stadium bond sale

Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter rejected calls from American Indian activists who were pushing for the delay of bond sales on the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, the Star Tribune reports. The activists are trying to get assurances that the word "Redskins," the' nickname for the Washington, D.C. NFL team, will not be displayed inside the stadium.

Nov 6, 2013

Bob Johnson: The weather man

Johnson’s line is insurance, and that has placed him smack in the center of Minnesota’s climate change debate

Oct 31, 2013

PPP: Dayton, Franken lead GOP opponents head-to-head

Among Republican gubernatorial candidates, Rep. Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, had the greatest name recognition.

Oct 27, 2013

Scenes from the GOP straw poll

Republican candidates and activists filed into the National Sports Center in Blaine on Saturday to participate in a preliminary straw poll of candidates in the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races. Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson won the gubernatorial poll with 35 percent of the vote, and state Sen. Julianne Ortman won the U.S. Senate poll with 37 percent of the vote.

Oct 26, 2013

Johnson, Ortman win GOP straw polls for governor and U.S. Senate

Johnson, a Hennepin County Commissioner, and Ortman, a state senator from Chanhassen, placed first in candidate straw polls cast by Republican Party of Minnesota activists gathered at the National Sports Center in Blaine on Saturday. Johnson beat five other Republican candidates for governor with 35 percent of the vote, with state Sen. Dave Thompson coming in second with 27 percent of the vote.

Oct 18, 2013

U.S. Senate race looks to be a high-dollar affair

The modern Congress is often faulted for its inability to actually accomplish much. Even still, the members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are as good as ever in at least on area: Raising money toward their own re-election. In keeping with that trend, third-quarter Federal Elections Commission (FEC) reports find Minnesota’s delegation is pretty good at collecting checks, with at[...]

Oct 11, 2013

Abeler campaign cuts against the grain

Jim Abeler is not running a traditional campaign for the United States Senate. Instead of spending hours making fundraising calls to beef up his campaign war chest, Abeler has spent most of his time in his car, driving from city to city to meet with Republican activists.