The next frontier in the battle over tax increases emerged subtly, almost imperceptibly, at the tail end of a Monday evening floor session.

Even though Minnesota faces a $1.1 billion budget deficit, there are still some much-coveted pots of money up for grabs in 2013, thanks to the Legacy amendment’s provisions for spending on outdoors and cultural projects.

After several years spent patching up the state’s ailing public pensions, lawmakers have another pension fund bailout to weigh, as underfunding threatens long-range stability for 9,000-plus.

Minnesotans United for All Families -- the primary group opposing the gay marriage amendment -- has raised $3.1 million so far this year, with roughly 90 percent of that money coming from in-state donors.

Left for dead in April, the Vikings stadium bill sprinted to passage in the session’s closing days. What happened?

With momentum building to finish off the 2012 legislative session, the House and Senate spent hours on the floor last week debating bills.

It was one of those votes no one wanted to take. The state’s new maps dropped DFL senators and allies John Marty and Mary Jo McGuire into Senate District 66, forcing activists in the area to pick between them at a recent endorsing convention.

Eight-term DFL Sen. John Marty prevailed in an endorsement contest against fellow senator Mary Jo McGuire after only one ballot.

Rep. Frank Hornstein narrowly defeated Rep. Marion Greene in a DFL endorsement contest Saturday for a South Minneapolis seat. Greene conceded defeat after the third ballot.

The so-called Surly bill was among the most high-profile accomplishments of the 2011 legislative session. That legislation allowed breweries to operate bars on their premises.