After saying that “prohibition has failed,” Moran declared, “So I say let’s legalize marijuana.”

With most major finance bills clearing the House and Senate floors, attention will now turn towards conference committees this week. Conferees on several bills have already been appointed by legislative leaders.

The House voted after only brief discussion on SF 958, the public safety and judiciary bill, and SF 887, the Jobs bill. Both passed the body on a vote of 71-61.

The 2010 census figures contain some foreboding figures for DFLers looking to regain majorities in the state House and Senate. Of the 21 most populous House districts in the state, all are currently represented by Republicans.

State Rep. Rena Moran, DFL-St. Paul, paid tribute to Vang Pao on the House floor today. The revered Hmong military leader died earlier this month at the age of 81.

New faces fill seats previously held by Kelliher, Prettner Solon, Moua

Following Thao's retirement, district voters will send a new representative to the Legislature in November, and by all accounts that will be the DFL-backed candidate, Rena Moran.

Chaudhary's primary loss made him the body's fifth departing chair

Mark Dayton rode a dominating performance in greater Minnesota to a narrow victory in Tuesday's DFL gubernatorial primary, edging party endorsee Margaret Anderson Kelliher by just over 6,500 votes out of over 440,000 cast. One-time House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, who spent over $5 million on his primary campaign, garnered just over 80,000 votes.

Rena Moran and Jeremiah Ellis are in a tough DFL primary battle to represent House District 65A. Whoever wins the contest will almost certainly become the first African American to represent St. Paul at the Legislatur