Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Legislation to allow gay marriage in the state cleared its final hurdle Monday, May 13. With Gov. Mark Dayton expected to sign the bill as soon as tomorrow, Minnesota will become the 12th state in the country to allow same-sex couples to marry.
The Minnesota Senate approved H.F. 1054 Monday, May 13, clearing the way for Minnesota same-sex couples to marry in the state. The 37 to 30 vote, which was seen as the last hurdle for the legislation, makes Minnesota the 12th in the United States to recognize same-sex marriages in state law. Gov. Mark Dayton's office announced a signing ceremony set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. Democrats, known locally as the DFL party, hold a 39-28 advantage in the Minnesota Senate. Debate began shortly after noon Monday, with the Republican Party introducing a pair of amendments to the bill, both of which were voted down by state Democrats, who control the Senate. It quickly moved to speeches invoking personal feelings and relationships surrounding the…
Monday, May 13, 2013
The congressman from Minnesota's Third District ruled out running for anything other than re-election.
U.S. Sen. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) said in a statement Monday that he will not run for another office than the one he holds in 2014. With his Facebook posting, Paulsen takes him out of consideration as a Republican challenger to U.S. Sen. Al Franken or Gov. Mark Dayton, both DFL Party members up for re-election that year: "After thinking carefully about how I can best help my fellow Minnesotans, I have decided to not seek election for a different office in 2014. If the people of the Third Congressional District will allow me, I hope to continue my work in the U.S. House of Representatives, where I can be most effective, in the years ahead. The warm encouragement from many people to run for U.S. senator or the governorship was deeply humbling. …
Monday, May 6, 2013
After Gov. Mark Dayton called a recent town hall audience rude, Patch wants to know what you think is acceptable behavior.
A week ago, an audience at Shakopee High School responded with laughter, head nods and interruptions when Gov. Mark Dayton said that the state's legislators are underpaid. In a Tuesday press conference, Dayton said the behavior was juvenile and reminded him of his ninth grade general science classes in New York City. Such responses are hardly unknown. As debate heated up on health care reform a few years ago, protests often greeted Democratic members of Congress trying to sell the legislation to constituents in Town Halls. More recently, Nick Espinosa and Sam Richards dumped glitter on presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the beginning of a speech in Eagan in February 2012. Such outbursts aren’t confined to the United States either. In …
Sunday, May 5, 2013
This week's compilation includes a Red Cross Hero, 'unemployment is a very boring existence,' MCA issues, profitable liquor store, superintendent search and light rail.
Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Brooklyn Park Man Pulled From Maple Grove Pond Dies The 20-year-old man was pulled from the pond near the 12300 block of Elm Creek Boulevard. Freshwater Society Officially Declares Ice Out on Lake Minnetonka The call came at 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning; Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol uses a different standard. Dayton Heckled in Shakopee, Calls Audience 'Rude' and 'Juvenile' Gov. Mark Dayton told a Shakopee audience that "I’ve been all over the state and I’ve …
Friday, May 3, 2013
The Republican Hennepin County Commissioner for Plymouth, Maple Grove, Mound and other cities has set the announcement for Sunday, May 5, 2013.
The west metro could have its second Republican candidate for governor, if speculation is correct about his "special announcement" set for Sunday. See the Storify above (use the scroll bar at right) or at Storify.com. The event announcement posted on Johnson's Facebook page on April 27 reads: Join Jeff Johson for a special announcement on his future political plans. Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson welcomes neighbors, family and friends of all political persuasions to this special event. Sunday, May 5th, 2013, 1:00 p.m. Hamel Community Building, 3200 Mill Drive, Hamel, MN 55340 Johnson is a Plymouth resident whose district includes northwestern Hennepin County cities from Mound to Maple Grove and Rogers. Orono resident Scott …
Sunday, March 17, 2013
State Representative Sarah Anderson represents District 44A, which includes the city of Plymouth.
by State Representative Sarah Anderson Taxing snacks, unionizing privately owned daycare providers, and creating a health insurance exchange were the legislative priorities of the Democrat-controlled legislature this week. Below are details on these bills and the Governor's new tax and spending plan. Brown Bag Lunch Tax: This week Democrat Representative Jerry Newton (Coon Rapids) presented his bill on taxing snacks in the House Tax Committee. Much like when Governor Dayton proposed taxing lunch meats, this snack tax bill opens the door to taxing food overall in Minnesota—something I oppose. Under Newton's proposal, families would pay taxes on nuts, seeds, popcorn, pretzels, chips, cookies, ice cream novelties and so on. Even those …
Friday, March 8, 2013
Find out what the governor said he will change next week that will benefit area businesses.
On Friday morning, Gov. Mark Dayton told TwinWest Chamber of Commerce members that he will take a business-to-business sales tax plan out of his revised budget next week, according to media reports. MPR reported the governor "has heard a lot of concerns about his proposal to add sales tax to the services business sell each other." Last month, a tax policy expert told minnpost.com that extending sales tax to these services—such as accounting, advertising and legal—was not a good idea. “It is very rare when all economists agree,” said John Spry, a professor of business economics at the University of St. Thomas and an expert on state tax policy. “But I am still trying to find an economist who studies this area who thinks taxing business-to-…
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Watch Dayton address the full Minnesota Legislature Wednesday
See what was said Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, as Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton delivers his State of the State Address to a joint session of the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate. Read excerpts from Dayton's prepared remarks. Video via The UpTake and the Minnesota House of Representatives. Related:
Monday, January 28, 2013
More than 100 reader comments have been made since governor's plan unveiled last week.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Gov. Mark Dayton, in his first appearance since having back surgery late last year, will outline his proposed budget for the next two years.
Laying out financial plans for the next two years, and with a Democratic controlled Legislature out in front of him, Gov. Mark Dayton will address both the public and public servants at the Minnesota State Capitol this morning. You can watch streaming video, live, courtesy of the UpTake right here as Dayton will lay out a series of tax hikes, line-item increases and an expected payment shift for Minnesota schools in his address. It's the first public appearance for Dayton since he had back surgery in Rochester, MN last month. Media outlets such as Minnesota Public Radio are saying the budget could have a big impact on Dayton's political future. The first-term governor has not hinted whether or not he will run again for the state's top seat…
Mike Hindin
9:37 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
Try anything with John Wane in it. I don't care about Hollywood past or present. more ›