Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The students stopped by the Plymouth legislator’s office during a tour of the Capitol.
Providence Academy students and teacher Bill Fedock got to experience the excitement of the Legislature’s waning days last week. The class met with Plymouth Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-44A) during a tour of the State Capitol on May 13. "It’s always great to have area students express an interest in state government and are willing to learn more about the political process firsthand," a release quoted Anderson.
45.043173
-93.46992
Providence Academy
15100 Schmidt Lake Rd, Plymouth, MN
/articles/providence-academy-students-meet-with-rep-sarah-anderson
1757637
/locations/9409692
What's your take on Minnesota's higher cigarette and income taxes, same-sex marriage law, all-day kindergarten funding, gun control measures, minimum wage and more?
What do you like—or dislike—in what the Minnesota Legislature did or didn't do? Leave a comment below. The Star Tribune posted a handy list of issues the Minnesota Legislature did and didn't tackle in the session that ended Monday at midnight. Love 'em? Hate 'em? Leave a comment below. DID: DIDN'T DO: See the full post at startribune.com. Which actions the Minnesota Legislature took do you support or oppose? Leave a comment below.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The bill includes additional money for the Public Defense Board and Minnesota’s background check database system.
Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 46) on Thursday presented a conference committee’s version of the Judiciary and Public Safety Finance Bill on the Senate floor, according to a news release from Latz’s office. The bill, which received yes votes from all but one senator, is the first of many conference committee budget packages. “These are the core functions of government and we have made strategic investments within this area,” said Latz, whose district includes Golden Valley, Hopkins, Plymouth and St. Louis Park. “We have funded the ongoing levels of their services so we will be safer and whenever we access the justice system, on the justice side or the criminal side, we should have an efficient system and one where we will all be treated …
Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature Tuesday didn’t end the heated debate around same-sex marriage.
Whatever side of the debate you fall on, there’s no denying that this week’s passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage was a historical moment. Minnesota became just the 12th state to sanction gay marriage when Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill Tuesday. Patch readers quickly wrote in to share their thoughts on the moment. Eagan Patch reader Kathi Malone echoed the view of legislators who voted yes in seeing same-sex marriage as a civil right: I am so happy that finally gay people will be able to have the civil right to marry. This is truly an American vote for freedom. I applaud Sen Clausen and all other legislators who voted for this historical bill. James N added: Thank you Senator Carlson and the entire MN legislature for extending …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The new law's supporters and opponents traded claims and denials of bigotry.
When—if ever—is it fair to call another person a bigot? Leave your comment below. A flashpoint in the debate over Minnesota's new marriage-equality law was the use of the words "bigot," "bigoted," or "bigotry" in reference to opponents of making same-sex marriages legal. After the state Legislature approved the bill, the group Minnesota for Marriage said in a statement: Over one million Minnesotans will be forced to either affirm what they believe to be false or subject themselves to prosecution and insult as “bigots” ... under our law with the passage of this bill. 'You're a Bigot' On Monday at the state Senate, Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) took exception to accusations that opponents of the same-sex marriage bill are bigots. Sen. Dan…
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 DFL legislator—whose district includes Golden Valley, Hopkins, Plymouth and St. Louis Park—appealed to fellow lawmakers to vote their conscience.
Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 46) urged fellow legislators to listen to their own consciences, not their constituents, when deciding how to vote on the same-sex marriage proposal before the Legislature. Latz—whose district include Golden Valley, Hopkins, Plymouth and St. Louis Park—appealed to the inner voice his fellow legislators might be hearing as they wrestled with how to vote on the controversial bill: For those of you who are struggling with a conflict between your conscience and your politics, who know in your own mind and your own heart the right vote is to vote yes, but you’re concerned about offending a close family member or an extended family, let me submit that you’re not alone. But in the end, you will have to live with your …
The Minnetonka state senator said she planned to vote yes on gay marriage for all the people who couldn’t vote themselves on the Senate floor.
Sen. Terri E. Bonoff (DFL-District 44) was unquestionably conscious of the historical nature of Monday’s same-sex marriage vote in the Senate—and its echoes across the country. “I am so honored to speak on the Senate floor on this issue because I know that I’m not standing up here as me, as Terri Bonoff, state senator. I’m standing here to bring a voice for all of those who are not standing on the Senate floor but feel so strongly,” Bonoff said. “I’m standing here for my family, for my friends, for constituents—but really people all over the state, all over the country and even around the world. Because this conversation we’re having today is not an isolated conversation. In chambers like ours around the country—and in places around the …
Friday, May 10, 2013
The bill now moves on to the state senate as Minnesota Democrats hope to make the state the 12th in the nation to legalize gay marriage. Gov. Mark Dayton has vocally supported the legislation.
UPDATE: Minnesota Representatives approved with a 75-59 vote Thursday a bill legalizing same-sex marriages in the state, putting it on the road to become the 12th state in the nation to do so. The vote came at about 3 p.m. Thursday, May 9, about three hours after the bill was introduced. This is about honoring difference," bill sponsor Karen Clark said. "I respect the other point of view. But there is something about being able to marry the love of your life." Clark, a Democrat from Minneapolis, recognized her partner of 26 years in the assembly's audience. The vote came nearly six months to the day after a 2012 vote on a Republican-sponsored amendment item defining marriage as a union between man and woman. That, of course, was …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The Minnesota House of Representatives passed the bill 75-59 on Thursday, May 9, 2013.
Watch a replay of the Minnesota House of Representatives debate and vote on a bill to make same-sex marriage legal on Thursday, May 9, 2013. The bill passed after three hours of debate by a vote of 75-59. The YouTube above has all the action from the House floor via The UpTake. Do you want to urge your fellow Patch readers to support one side or the other of this issue? Write up your take on this in our Local Voices section! Email your editor for how to get started (look for their email address in the top-right corner of this page).
Lisa
10:38 pm on Friday, May 24, 2013
The second "Did" bullet,"Let home child-care providers and personal care assistants unionize" is incorrect. Daycare Providers across the State of MN, prior to this Bill becoming law, had the right to unionize. In fact, there are a few providers, mostly in Northern MN, who belong to a union. This bill, in simple terms, outlines the steps union organizers need to complete to form a union that will … more ›