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Legislator pay issues fester – quietly
Fritz Knaak remembers tripling his billings at his law firm in 1992, the year the Republican state senator from White Bear Lake decided to retire from politics.
Meet the freshmen: Senate DFL (part 1)
Of the 38 seats won by DFLers in reclaiming control of the Minnesota Senate on Nov. 6, no fewer than 14 will be filled by members who were not part of the caucus in 2011-12. But in several cases, the newcomers will hardly be strangers.
DFL majorities pick their leaders
Close on the heels of Tuesday’s election, members of the new DFL House and Senate majorities gathered behind closed doors on Thursday to elect their leaders. As expected, the minority leaders who helped steer Democrats back into control — Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, and Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook — were elevated to House speaker and Senate majority leader.
DFLers exult over reclaiming legislative majorities
Before closing his victory speech after winning back the DFL majority in the Minnesota Senate, a teary-eyed DFL Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk grabbed the arm of one of his first-time candidates and lifted it high. “I want to introduce you to Senator-elect Melisa Franzen,” Bakk shouted to an exuberant crowd of DFLers gathered in downtown St. Paul at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. “They didn’t lo[...]
Senate President Fischbach to make final campaign push
Senate President Michelle Fischbach has set a campaign schedule that’s heavy on greater Minnesota districts in the days leading up to next Tuesday’s general election.
DFL raises, spends millions in push to regain majority in Legislature
The DFL and its caucus units have spent more than $5.4 million during 2012, and have a combined $2.32 million cash on hand.
Majority math figures in northwestern MN races
Senate Districts 2 and 4 in northwest Minnesota form a band that stretches from Moorhead to the Northwest Angle on the Canadian border. Along that path lie a few legislative races that figure to have an impact on the larger partisan tussle for control of the state House and Senate.
Dayton: Campaigner in chief
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton managed to draw a large crowd to a restaurant in downtown Minneapolis just ahead of the annual Twin Cities Pride Festival. The purpose was to raise money for Minnesotans United for All Families, the main campaign in opposition to a proposed ballot initiative.
Former NFL star Hansen presents sizeable challenge for DFL Rep. Kent Eken in an open Senate district
In football, you ride in a parade to celebrate your victory. In politics, you clamber on to the flatbed of that trussed-up truck over and over again and wave to the people as part of a ritual for trying to attain victory.
Money magnets: Some candidates have significant financial advantage over rivals
The Senate District 49 race has resulted in the largest haul so far with more than $100,000 in political contributions. Campaign finance reports have revealed this and a lot more, including some notable financial mismatches as well as challengers bringing in more than incumbents.
White Earth pitches state-tribal casino to fund Vikings stadium
A bill introduced in the House this week seeks a 50-50 tribal and state split on revenues generated from a casino in a yet-to-be determined location in the metro-area. Tribal leaders and other advocates introduced the proposal at a Capitol news conference on Thursday.
Copper mining bill’s prospects for hearing in 2010 session are uncertain: Rep. Eken
The chairman of a key House environmental committee says he hasn't decided if he will hold a hearing in the 2010 legislative session on a bill that would require new financial assurances from the companies that mine copper and other nonferrous minerals in Minnesota.
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