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Melissa Hortman

Oct 18, 2010

House DFLers say leadership talks can wait

Trolling through the House chamber Monday to get comment on the developing DFL caucus leadership picture was like pulling teeth. Most legislators were focused on the task at hand - passing a flood and tornado relief bill - and wanted to reserve talks of leadership until the general election passed.

Oct 13, 2010

Gearing up for the election after the election

Capitol Report has learned that House Democrats will gather to caucus just two days after the election, and the central agenda item will likely be to choose new leadership.

Oct 1, 2010

Sales tax: Don’t ask, don’t tell

State House candidate Tom Heyd doesn't relish the idea of extending the state sales tax to clothing. And from what he's heard door-knocking in the conservative District 16B, voters aren't excited about it either.

Sep 10, 2010

PCR is sorely missed in lege races

Two weeks before Minnesota's political contribution refund (PCR) program expired, Rep. Julie Bunn, DFL-Lake Elmo, and about nine volunteers unleashed a full-tilt fundraising drive.

Jul 2, 2010

House GOP looks to make up ground in districts they lost narrowly in ‘08

The power divide between DFLers and Republicans in the Minnesota House may look daunting on its face, but not so long ago the GOP held a similarly imposing majority.

Jun 16, 2010

In the age of social media hype, direct mail still a pivotal part of campaigning

Back in the 1990s, in another political lifetime, political operatives like Mark Penn and Karl Rove made names for themselves by exploiting the advantages of closely defined messages to specific groups of voters via direct mail.

Jun 2, 2010

IP sees chance at legislative inroads

As Minnesota’s Republican Party was giddily tweeting the news that the party had fielded candidates for all 201 seats in the state Legislature for the first time in 30 years, the Independence Party of Minnesota was quietly celebrating its own milestone: 16 candidates for the Legislature in 2010, seven in Senate districts and nine in House districts.

Apr 7, 2010

Campaign finance omnibus bill: State Fair doughnuts, contribution limits and other mischief

The state House on Wednesday launched into the turbulent skies of campaign finance policy.

Apr 7, 2010

House DFL contemplates a world after Margaret

As the 86th Minnesota Legislature commences its last lap, most members think the session is likelier to end with a whimper than a bang. Barring the unexpected — the undoing of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s $2.7 billion in unallotments by the Minnesota Supreme Court, or a holdup in the federal passage of additional FMAP health care dollars — all that’s really left is the resolution of another $155 mi[...]

Feb 28, 2008

Several bills seek to broaden the state sales tax, thus easing Minnesota’s budget volatility

Trolling through the House chamber Monday to get comment on the developing DFL caucus leadership picture was like pulling teeth. Most legislators were focused on the task at hand – passing a flood and tornado relief bill – and wanted to reserve talks of leadership until the general election passed. “I’ve been suggesting to people ...

Sep 21, 2007

The 3rd: Ramstad Retires

Trolling through the House chamber Monday to get comment on the developing DFL caucus leadership picture was like pulling teeth. Most legislators were focused on the task at hand – passing a flood and tornado relief bill – and wanted to reserve talks of leadership until the general election passed. “I’ve been suggesting to people ...

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