Thomas Huntley

Apr 9, 2014

Owl paparazzi, beware — you could be looking at a misdemeanor

In an effort to capture the most vivid images, contemporary bird photographers sometimes go to elaborate lengths to draw their subjects close. Some of those methods—specifically, those used to efforts to lure wild owls into the range of a shutterbug’s viewfinder – could soon be illegal.

May 17, 2013

House passes HHS finance bill on party line vote

The House passed a health and human services finance bill that reduces anticipated spending by $50 million on a 73-61 party line vote on Friday night. The legislation, which includes a 5 percent rate increase for nursing homes, is now headed to the Senate.

Apr 29, 2013

Conference committees on key finance bills take shape

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.

Mar 11, 2013

Conference committee for health exchange bill named

A ten-member conference committee has been named to hash out differences between the House and Senate versions of the health insurance exchange bill.

Dec 28, 2012

Committee rosters set for 2013-14 Legislature

With DFLers back in control of the House and Senate, many familiar faces will be wielding key gavels when the Legislature convenes on January 8.

May 19, 2011

Passage of HHS finance bill caps another marathon House session

The House passed a flurry of finance bills in the early morning hours of Thursday, including the health and human services conference report. The chamber also passed legislation appropriating funds for state government and jobs and economic development.

May 4, 2011

Conference committees get little done as Legislature, Dayton remain at loggerheads

On Tuesday morning, members of the Health and Human Services conference committee met for the eighth time since forming last month to merge the House and Senate proposals. But that busy schedule shouldn't be seen as an indication that the committee will soon be forwarding a bill to Gov. Mark Dayton for consideration.

Apr 7, 2011

Huntley voted for HHS finance bill, but only to permit seat on conference committee

The House health and human services finance bill passed in the wee hours of the morning on a nearly party-line 70-62 vote. But four legislators strayed from their party's voting block.

Apr 5, 2011

Revamped HHS finance bill on its way to floor

The $10.6 billion health and human services finance bill cleared the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday morning. The revamped proposal -- which repeals the early expansion of Medicaid for roughly 90,000 poor, childless adults -- passed on a largely party-line 16-11 vote.

Mar 21, 2011

GOP House leaders unveil HHS budget blueprint

House GOP leaders released "phase one" of their proposed budget for health and human services on Monday morning. The proposal calls for spending $10.7 bill during the next biennium, a reduction of $1.6 billion from the projected health and human services budget.

Feb 18, 2011

Nursing homes would take big hit in Dayton budget

Randy Hagemeyer has run the Birchwood Care Home in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis for more than two decades. During that time, the 60-bed nursing home for individuals with chronic mental and physical health problems has averaged 98 percent capacity.

Dec 1, 2010

Republicans preparing to take over the Legislature

Sen. Amy Koch has just one quibble with her new office on the third floor of the state Capitol: the pencil that's improbably stuck in the ceiling some 20-plus feet above the floor.