tom Hackbarth

May 13, 2011

Rank-and-file House Republicans press their case for limiting spending to $34B — no matter what

Republican Rep. Steve Drazkowski and others say they have accepted the $34 billion number. But in their eyes, this means that they have already “compromised” on the budget — even if it’s only with other Republicans.

May 11, 2011

One-time conservative gadfly Mary Liz Holberg now pivotal player in budget showdown

Just weeks after the party swept both chambers in last fall's historic election, then-House Speaker-elect Kurt Zellers and soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch took the podium at a press conference to announce the first-ever full slate of Republican committee chairs. Only one legislator - Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, the incoming chairwoman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee - joined t[...]

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 1, 2011

Board plays a critical role in keeping GOP together

Former Republican Rep. Dave Bishop remembers sitting in the office of then-House Speaker Steve Sviggum, trying to calm him down. Sviggum was fuming, as Bishop recalls, because he had just been voted down on an issue by the executive board, a small group of GOP representatives that serve as caucus advisers to the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Feb 4, 2011

If Dayton won’t push gambling, who will?

Gov. Mark Dayton stirred the pot last week when he acknowledged he will not include revenue from gambling ventures in his budget presentation on Feb. 15. The news left disappointed advocates of gambling expansion fretting that the DFL governor may be yielding to his party's long-standing alliance with tribal gaming interests - which have given lavishly to DFL party units and campaigns in the past [...]

Jan 28, 2011

Well-known environmentalist named to state energy post

The new head of the Energy Division of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, who will have significant influence on state energy policy, is the well-known environmentalist Bill Grant.

Jan 20, 2011

Hackbarth backing amendment protecting right to bear arms

Rep. Tom Hackbarth is proposing an amendment to the state's constitution that would explicitly guarantee the right to bear arms. The proposal would essentially mimic the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in ensuring gun rights.

Dec 30, 2010

House GOP shapes key committees for budget battle

There were few surprises when the Minnesota House GOP released committee rosters last week. Legislators, Republican and Democrat alike, landed in spots where they've sat before, or - in the case of new lawmakers - where they have accrued relevant experience in their professional and personal lives.

Dec 21, 2010

Lanning to chair House State Govt. Finance Committee

State Rep. Morrie Lanning will now chair the House State Government Finance Committee after concerns from other representatives caused Rep. Mark Buesgens to step down.

Dec 17, 2010

Buesgens gives up chairmanship, citing concerns of colleagues

State Rep. Mark Buesgens has resigned as incoming chair of the State Government Finance Committee. In an email to incoming GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers and incoming House Majority Leader Matt Dean, Buesgens cited opposition from unnamed colleagues to him assuming a leadership post.

Dec 10, 2010

Hackbarth will not face criminal charges

Despite a strange incident that put state Rep. Tom Hackbarth at the Highland Park Planned Parenthood parking lot after hours with a loaded gun at his waistband, and a story about searching for an woman he met online that turned out to be inaccurate, the St. Paul City Attorney, Sara Grewing, said her office will not file charges against the eight-term Republican represenatative.

Dec 2, 2010

Hackbarth faces possible criminal charges

State Rep. Tom Hackbarth is not out of the woods yet. He faces possible criminal charges for inconsistencies in his story about why he was armed in a Planned Parenthood parking lot after hours.