Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*
Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol
Already have an account?
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?

Capitol View®

Reporting on State Politics and Government

Buckle up!

For the first time ever, the Minnesota House passed a bill that allows law enforcement to pull over a motorist for failing to wear their seat belt. The issue has created strange bedfellows over the year with civil libertarians teaming up in opposition to the bill with lawmakers worried about racial profiling. The bill is…
by Tom Scheck

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Sales tax deal headed for conference committee

A pair of DFL senators say there’s a deal on the table for doling out the proceeds from the new 3/8 cent sales tax. It’s the only bright spot in an otherwise gloomy scenario this session. The tax is expected to raise about $234 million in the next fiscal year, starting in July. Tom Saxhaug,…
by Tim Pugmire

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

The Daily Digest: 5-18-09

It’s the last day of the legislative session and Governor Pawlenty and DFL legislative leaders are no closer to a budget deal. House Democrats failed in their attempts to override Gov. Pawlenty’s line-item veto of General Assistance Medical Care and a veto of a bill that increases taxes by $1 billion. They fell several votes…
by Tom Scheck

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Minnesota House fails to override veto of Tax bill

The Minnesota House failed to override Gov. Pawlenty’s veto of a tax bill that increased $1 billion in taxes. DFL Rep. Gene Pelowski and DFL Rep. Jeanne Poppe of Austin joined every Republican to vote against the motion to override. So what’s next? Not sure. Democrats could try to negotiate a budget deal with Pawlenty…
by Tom Scheck

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Choi takes steps to run for Ramsey County Attorney

MPR’s Laura Yuen has the scoop: St. Paul City Attorney John Choi is expected to take the first step in exploring a run for Ramsey County Attorney. Choi, 38, plans to file papers Monday to form an exploratory campaign committee. The current county attorney, DFLer Susan Gaertner, is planning her own bid for the governor’s…
by Tom Scheck

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

House fails to override veto of GAMC

The Minnesota House failed to override Governor Pawlenty’s veto of funding for General Assistance Medical Care in FY 2011. The vote fell along party lines, 87-47. DFLers needed 90 votes to override the veto. The House is now trying to override Pawlenty’s veto of a Tax bill that increases taxes $1 billion.
by Tom Scheck

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Override anticipation builds at the Capitol

Union workers greeted legislators today with chants of “override” outside the Minnesota House chamber. Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 5 were anticipating a vote to try to overturn Governor Tim Pawlenty’s recent veto of a $1 billion tax bill. Democrats say the revenue is needed to help erase…
by Tim Pugmire

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Governor’s latest offer

Here’s the latest offer from Gov. Pawlenty: Governor’s Offer Sunday, May 17, 12:30 a.m. Close as much of the remaining $2.7B gap (after line item vetoes) as possible through mutually agreed upon items with the goal of making as much progress as possible and limiting the size of potential unallotments. Categories of agreement could include:…
by Tom Scheck

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Pawlenty line-item vetoed $85 million from bonding bill.

Governor Pawlenty line-item vetoed $85 million from a $300 million bonding bill. Here are the victims: $24 million for U of M’s Bell Museum, $11 million for Health and Science Center addition at Lake Superior Community and Technical College $5.25 million for Carpentry and Industrial Mechanical Technology and Shops and Mesabi Range Community and Technical…
by Tom Scheck

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

DFL counter offer

Here’s the counter offer from the DFL legislative leaders. I rewrote the sheet they gave out but added some context from follow-up interviews with DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller: Legislative Offer Saturday, May 16, 2009 9:30PM Close remaining $2.7 billion gap (after line-item vetoes) K-12 shift (temporary…
by Tom Scheck

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.