John Benson

Mar 17, 2014

The Capitol Note: House targets include tax cuts, education and capital investment spending

House Majority Leader Erin Murphy said the budget plan would "build on our historic investments in education.

Mar 6, 2014

The Capitol Note: House schedules floor vote on tax cuts

The package carried by committee chair Ann Lenczewski includes a move to full federal income tax conformity.

Feb 7, 2014

State House candidates build war chests

With big piles of money and high stakes, candidates for governor, Congress and the U.S. Senate have so far absorbed most of the attention when it comes to fundraising. But they aren’t the only politicos who turned in fundraising disclosures in January after clamoring for donations in 2013.

Jan 22, 2014

The two Jons square off for Benson seat nod

When DFL State Rep. John Benson announced in December that he would not seek a fifth term representing District 44B — a suburban legislative tract comprising northern Minnetonka, southern Plymouth and Woodland — two young men who’d been itching to run for office got their chance.

Dec 19, 2013

The Capitol Note: New MNsure head apologizes, promises improvements

MNsure board chair Brian Beutner told reporters that he was sad to see Todd-Malmlov leave.

Feb 8, 2012

Racino push may wither again

There was little fanfare when not one but two racino bills surfaced in the Minnesota Legislature last week. The perennial proposal to install slot machines in racetracks usually enters into the political milieu with news conferences and headlines.

Jan 30, 2012

GOPer eyes Minnetonka’s House District 43B

David Lloyd, owner of a financial advisory practice, has registered to challenge DFL Rep. John Benson in House District 43B, a seat the benson won with about 51.5 percent of the vote in 2010.

Aug 24, 2011

Will marriage amendment make trouble for suburban Republicans?

In the wealthy swing districts of Minneapolis’ western suburbs, the gay marriage amendment that will appear on the 2012 ballot lands outside voters’ chief concerns of taxes, education and the overall health of the economy.

Jun 2, 2010

Endorsed candidates in 3 districts opt not to file for office

Endorsed candidates in three Minnesota legislative districts missed the deadline this week to file to run for the Legislature.

Jan 27, 2010

9 more candidates line up to challenge legislative incumbents

Nine more Minnesotans have registered with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to run for seats in the state Legislature this fall.

Jan 11, 2010

Republicans have fared poorly in recent special elections

On January 26 a special election will be held to fill the Senate seat vacated by Republican Dick Day. The contest has attracted three challengers: Republican Mike Parry, Democrat Jason Engbrecht and Independence Party candidate Roy Srp.

May 8, 2006

Swing Seat

1.) The House DFL caucus published its budget targets on Friday, releasing a plan that couples $550 million in tax cuts with a number of priorities for new spending, MPR reports. The proposal includes $172 million for capital investment and economic development and $92 million in new spending for education funding; notably lower is the ...