January is generally not the time of year for four-hour committee hearings at the Capitol. But Wednesday’s gathering of the House Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee nearly reached that dubious mark.

Key question: Does Minnesota want to be more like Massachusetts or Utah?

The National Federation of Independent Business, the state's largest small-business advocacy group, is backing Republican Tom Emmer in the governor's race.

Prior to the 2006 elections, the people of Senate District 56, which covers much of Woodbury and north-central Washington County, had an entirely Republican delegation in St. Paul. But when the votes were counted that year, the district's Republicans - two representatives and one senator -had all been swept out of office, victims of a pro-DFL swing that averaged 11 points in each of the area's three legislative races.

Tom Emmer appeared this morning before the National Federation of Independent Business' meeting at the Capitol to accept an award and take some questions from business owners about his plans for the state.