Minnesota businesses are starting to organize around their newfound freedom to spend money in this year’s election. In the wake of the Citizens United decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, business groups have assembled two political funds to raise money from coroporate interests directly. The organizers are hoping companies of all sizes will pony up so that they can afford television ads in the current election cycle.

Minnesota's Republican candidate for governor, state Rep. Tom Emmer, missed a vote this afternoon on one of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's signature pieces of legislation, a bill that would encourage participation in ignition interlock programs for Minnesotans convicted of driving while intoxicated.

DFL legislators unveiled a proposal to overhaul the state's campaign finance rules this morning in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that threw out limits on corporate political expenditures. The four-pronged proposal is sponsored by state Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley.

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 million in health and human services cuts. But there's a House DFL leadership contest lurking behind the gubernatorial race to which everyone is now turning their attention.

Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley) glances at Republican members of the House and Senate who stayed to watch his press conference with Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth).

Every GOP state legislator has signed a letter urging Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care bill. Republicans argue that the legislation violates the constitution by requiring individuals to have health insurance or face a financial penalty.

At this moment, the House of Representatives is holding floor debate on HF 1671, the budget deficit reduction bill. Deep in the bill, in the section relating to state government (Article 13, Section 22) lies a provision to rename the accounting and procurement systems (MAPS, to be replaced in 2011 by SWIFT) to "Knowledge, Accountability, and Honest Numbers," or "KAHN."

The debate over gay marriage was back at the Capitol on Monday afternoon. A trio of bills relating to same-sex unions were heard before the House's Civil Justice committee.

Common Cause and DFL legislators today lashed out at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce for filing a lawsuit that strikes down certain state campaign finance laws.

Minnesota will likely be affected by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling handed down this morning that allows corporate spending in elections.