In November, the Minnesota Department of Human Services hired the Segal Company to audit the state's Medicaid rates from 2003 to 2011. The Atlanta-based company was awarded a $150,000 contract to scrutinize Minnesota's rate-setting methodology.

The Senate on Thursday confirmed five of Gov. Mark Dayton’s cabinet members. Confirmations for Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle and Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius sparked debate before passing.

Governor, legislative leaders want disaster-relief-only special session, but will they get it?

After a pair of marathon floor debates, the House and Senate passed legislation this week authorizing construction of a $975 million stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.

When the sun rose on Tuesday, April 17, the slow death of the Minnesota Vikings stadium bill appeared complete at last.

The Senate Finance Committee turned the Vikings stadium political situation upside down by inserting the controversial revenue source of allowing slot machines at two Minnesota racetracks. The Senate's chief author immediately vowed to have the so-called racino removed from the bill tomorrow in the Taxes committee.

On March 16 last year, Gov. Mark Dayton announced some seemingly excellent news: UCare had decided to make a $30 million “donation” to help solve the state’s $5 billion budget deficit.

U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has scheduled a hearing for next Wednesday to look at concerns about transparency and accountability in how federal Medicaid funds are spent. Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson has agreed to testify about the state's practices in spending nearly $2 billion a year in federal funds to provide medical coverage for poor individuals.

The health and human services omnibus bill is typically among the most contentious and complicated pieces of legislation debated by the Legislature.

Olseen was first elected to the state Senate in 2006, but was dealt significan defeat in 2010 when he lost to GOP Sen. Sean Nienow by nearly 13 points.