Mike Benson

Apr 7, 2014

The Capitol Note: Lawmakers set to announce a deal on minimum wage hike

Lawmakers are expected to announce a deal on Monday raising Minnesota's minimum wage to $9.50 an hour with inflationary increases thereafter. Negotiations between the Senate -- which has been dragging its feet on the issue -- and the House, have been a major political division this session between the Democrats who control the Legislature.

Feb 12, 2014

Transportation spending picture stays muddled

During the 2013 legislative session, DFL lawmakers and Gov. Mark Dayton settled on a $300 million funding package for so-called Corridors of Commerce. In October, when Dayton announced the awarding of grants for 10 projects spread throughout the state, his announcement was heralded as good news by a number of Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann and Rep. Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove.

Dec 4, 2013

The Capitol Note: Dayton says stadium will boost state economy

Political and ideological opponents did not waste their chance to grab some of the spotlight from Tuesday's groundbreaking.

Nov 12, 2013

The Capitol Note: MMB plans to go forward with stadium bond sale

Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter rejected calls from American Indian activists who were pushing for the delay of bond sales on the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, the Star Tribune reports. The activists are trying to get assurances that the word "Redskins," the' nickname for the Washington, D.C. NFL team, will not be displayed inside the stadium.

Nov 6, 2013

News links: Hodges wins Minneapolis mayoral election

The race had divided many of the city's prominent Democrats.

Oct 30, 2013

NRCC launches Obamacare strike at Walz, Peterson, Nolan

A national Republican group is hammering DFLers in three greater Minnesota congressional districts over the technical failures that have beset the rollout of the federal health insurance exchange.

Sep 20, 2013

Republicans look to Rochester for Walz-beater

After taking a pounding from Congressman Tim Walz in the 2012 general election, Republicans in the 1st Congressional District appear to be dusting themselves off and getting serious about preventing the Mankato Democrat from winning a fifth term.

Sep 13, 2013

Pension board wrestles with long-range returns

State lawmakers who focus on pension issues are faced with the thankless task of trying to predict the financial future as they weigh the health of the state’s public pension plans.

Aug 6, 2013

Aaron Miller in, Al DeKruif out in CD 1 race

Aaron Miller announced on Tuesday that he plans to seek the GOP nomination in the 1st Congressional District. The U.S. Army veteran is the second announced Republican challenger to DFL U.S. Rep. Tim Walz.

Jul 16, 2013

Rick Nolan raises $135,000 in 2Q; Erik Paulsen leads incumbents in cash on hand

Rick Nolan raised $135,000 in the second quarter of 2013 and ended June with less than $200,000 in the bank. The first-term DFL incumbent is expected to face a vigorous challenge in the 8th Congressional District.

Jun 17, 2013

Republicans jump into congressional races

A couple of Republicans in recent days have jumped into 2014 Minnesota congressional races. New entrants got into the 1st and 6th Congressional District contests.

Jun 14, 2013

Counties get transportation revenue tools

In the aftermath of the 2013 legislative session, transportation advocates have mostly lamented lawmakers’ decision not to increase funding for transit and highway projects. But this year’s transportation finance bill contained a silver lining for greater Minnesota counties that has gone mostly unnoted.