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In rare bipartisan gun vote, House passes domestic violence bill
By a vote of 111-15, the House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would bar suspected domestic abusers who are under active restraining orders from possessing firearms or ammunition.
MN United PAC releases ‘Minnesota 15’ list
On the same day the U.S. Supreme Court struck struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, the Minnesotans United PAC released the full "Minnesota 15" list of pro-gay marriage legislators who will be made "priorities" in their reelection campaigns. That list includes the five legislative Republicans who voted in favor of the bill and 10 rural Democrats serving in the House who could be vulnera[...]
Lawmakers aim to tackle synthetic drug use in Minnesota
DFL House Speaker Paul Thissen this week created a temporary committee on controlled substances and synthetic drugs that will hold hearings over the interim on drug abuse issues. Rep. Erik Simonson, DFL-Duluth, will chair the committee, which has to present a report to the speaker by the time session starts in February next year.
2013 session leaves unfinished business
Whether the 2013 legislative session in Minnesota was a successful one depends on which Democrat you ask. While many long-sought DFL priorities were achieved at the end of the five-month session, including gay marriage and increased spending on education, a handful of high-priority issues were ultimately shelved in 2013 in the hustle and bustle of crafting a $38 billion budget.
DFL Senate + DFL House = 11th hour standoffs
If you ask Gov. Mark Dayton, one-party rule worked out well for just about everyone this session. “I think it worked extraordinarily well for Minnesotans,” the governor said in a celebratory Tuesday morning press conference.
Supreme Court rejects recall efforts against Radinovich, Ward
Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Lori Gildea has ruled that a pair of House DFLers will not be subject to recall elections, rejecting the efforts of a local Republican activist who had claimed that the legislators should face removal from office for voting to legalize gay marriage.
House passes $11 billion HHS budget bill
Democrats in the House have approved an $11.2 billion health and human services budget bill that would trim $150 million from spending over the next two years while also making first-ever investments in mental health programs in schools.
HIX bill nears Dayton’s desk
On Thursday night the Minnesota House of Representatives gave final passage to the bill establishing a state-run health-insurance marketplace, leaving the long-disputed measure just a Senate vote away from reaching the governor’s desk.
House may buck Lessard-Sams recommendations
Even though Minnesota faces a $1.1 billion budget deficit, there are still some much-coveted pots of money up for grabs in 2013, thanks to the Legacy amendment’s provisions for spending on outdoors and cultural projects.
House DFL names assistant majority leaders
On Sunday, incoming House Majority Leader Erin Murphy congratulated the new assistant leaders over Twitter, naming Reps. Carly Melin (Hibbing), John Ward (Baxter), Leon Lillie (North St. Paul), Kim Norton (Rochester), John Persell (Bemidji), Diane Loefller (Minneapolis) and freshman Jacob Isaacson (Shoreview).
A night of surprises
Democrats had an outstanding night on Tuesday. They won back control of the Minnesota House and Senate, picked up a congressional seat, and defeated two contentious amendments that most political observers expected to prevail.
DFL primary looms in CD 8 contest
Next month DFL activists will gather in Duluth to endorse a candidate in the 8th Congressional District. The outcome is in little doubt: Former Congressman Rick Nolan is widely expected to walk away with party backing.
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