Matt Kramer

Sep 25, 2015

Tax bill is a key soccer stadium goal

When it comes to the tricky tale of the attempts that Minneapolis and St. Paul have made to land a Major League Soccer team, plenty of soccer metaphors present themselves. The shot, the save, the called foul, the pass and/or assist; take your pick. But the more accurate example might be the “dead-ball” circumstance of ...

Jun 8, 2012

$50 million in DEED fund sets off lobbying push

Last week the Department of Employment and Economic Development sent out a call for grant applications to spend almost $50 million. At stake was the latest pot of economic development dollars DEED will disburse this year, just another funding stream to be doled out to projects around the state.

May 18, 2012

Business lobby gives mixed marks to GOP majorities

The change in Minnesota politics wrought by the 2010 election created equal measures of optimism and concern among the business groups that lobby state lawmakers.

Apr 15, 2011

Conflicts strain relations between business, GOP

Political action committees funded by the state's pre-eminent businessmen were an important part of last year's election that saw Republicans flip both houses of the Legislature and come within a hairbreadth of holding onto the governor's office.

Nov 17, 2010

Gubernatorial transitions are fire drills even under the best of circumstances

Members of Minnesota's next gubernatorial administration could be excused for moving into the west wing of the Capitol under cover of night and locking the door behind them. Besides the small matter of an estimated $5.8 billion budget deficit, there is also the likelihood - if, as expected, Democrat Mark Dayton prevails in a pending recount - that the new governor will face a Legislature controlle[...]

Jun 23, 2010

Matt Kramer named head of St. Paul Chamber

Matt Kramer, a former commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and a former chief of staff for Gov. Tim Pawlenty, has been named president of the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce.