Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Redistricting will have deep impacts on Richfield's legislative field.
Editor's Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Of Richfield’s three state legislators, State Sen. Kelash (DFL-63) faces the most significant decision in the months ahead. Following the release of a 10-year state redistricting map, Kelash’s current Minneapolis home—located just a few blocks north of Richfield's border—now resides in District 60. Because Minnesota law requires that state legislators reside within the district they represent, should Kelash decide to run for office again in 2012, he would be forced to either run against fellow Minneapolis Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-60) or move from …
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
With the passing of the gay marriage amendment bill, legislators and Patch readers respond.
For the last few weeks Richfield Patch has been covering the gay marriage amendment issue as it passed through the Minnesota House and Senate. Our coverage began with a Letter to the Editor from domestic partners Philip Lowe, Jr. and Jason King, detailing what a detriment the passing of the amendment would be to the LGBT community. The letter received a lot of attention and comments from readers, some for and some against the amendment. The Senate passed their version of the bill 38-27 May 11. After its passage, Richfield Patch spoke with State Sen. Ken Kelash (DFL-Richfield) and Rep. Linda Slocum (DFL-Richfield) to get their reactions to the passage of the bill. Kelash said he didn't feel it was the government's place to tell someone who …
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Minnesota State Legislature is in session.
Editor's note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Richfield Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review. Here's what bills were authored and co-authored by Richfield representatives last week: House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) State Rep. Linda Slocum (DFL-Richfield) State Sen. Ken Kelash (DFL-Richfield) Come back every Monday for another Capitol Review.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Minnesota State Legislature is in session.
Editor's note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Richfield Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review. Here’s what happened this past week with some of the bills authored or co-authored by Richfield's legislative representatives: House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL- Minneapolis) State Rep. Slocum (DFL- Richfield) State Sen. Ken Kelash (DFL-Richfield)
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Minnesota State Legislature is in session.
Editor's Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Richfield Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review. The budget battle continued at the capitol last week as House Minority Leader Paul Thissen called for Republican's to submit their "all-cuts" budget proposal. While Thissen and the minority are anxiously awaiting the Republican budget proposal, Thissen said the all-cuts budget approach won't work. "It’s the very approach that made our great state perform below average over the last decade. Case and point - between 2002 and 2010, Minnesota ranked 15th from the bottom of states in…
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Minnesota State Legislature is in session.
Editor's note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Richfield Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review. While all of Richfield's representatives, including U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, made stops in town last week, they also worked on a variety of new bills as well. Here’s what happened this past week with bills authored or co-authored by Richfield's legislative representatives: House Rep. Linda Slocum (D-Richfield) House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (D-Minneapolis) State Sen. Ken Kelash (D-Richfield)
Monday, February 21, 2011
Richfield Patch talks with State Sen. Ken Kelash about the recent happenings in the Minnesota State Legislature.
Richfield Patch briefly talked with the city's representative, State Sen. Ken Kelash (D-Richfield), about the passing of SF 56, which would freeze public school workers salaries for two years, and Gov. Mark Dayton's budget proposal from Feb. 15. Richfield Patch: What is your overall opinion about the governor's 2011 budget he presented on Feb. 15? State Sen. Ken Kelash: The number one thing for me is that he's making the adult effort to get some of the structural problems of the state budget under control. Some of his tax increases were higher than I would've liked to see, but his options on cutting are limited. He's not happy with the budget, because he’s cutting stuff he believes in, and its unfortunate we have to do this. Richfield …
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Minnesota State Legislature is in session.
Editor's note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Richfield Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review. Here’s what happened this past week with bills authored or co-authored by Richfield's legislative representatives: State Sen. Ken Kelash (D-Richfield) State Rep. Linda Slocum (D-Richfield) Rep. Paul Thissen (D-Minneapolis)
Monday, January 31, 2011
The Minnesota State Legislature is in session.
Minnesota House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (D-Minneapolis), and one of Richfield's representatives, once again referred to Republican legislators’ agenda items as unfocused last week, according to a nonpartisan Public Information Services press release. After a bill that would cut local government aid (LGA) was approved on the House floor and Republicans presented another bill that would repeal state background checks before purchasing a gun, Rep. Thissen expressed his concerns about jeopardizing public safety and putting a greater “economic squeeze” on those with fixed incomes. LGA cuts have historically increased property taxes and those one fixed incomes and seniors tend to be hit the hardest, Rep. Thissen said in the release. Further…
Monday, January 17, 2011
The Minnesota State Legislature is in session.
Minnesota House of Representatives Minority Leader Paul Thissen (D-Minneapolis) continued to insist the state’s budget was the number one priority of the Legislature last week, according to a press release from the House nonpartisan Public Information Services. Gov. Mark Dayton has less than a month to present a balanced budget to the Minnesota State Legislature and with the state facing a projected $6.2 billion deficit, Rep. Thissen said he would like to get to the specifics. Thissen continued to push for focus on the budget after a bill requiring a photo ID to vote was brought to the floor. He said the bill as unnecessary and not a priority, according to the release. In other Legislative business, Sen. Kenneth Kelash (D-Richfield) co-…
Kevin O'Donovan
1:48 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
Voter ID is going to happen. Stay where you are. more ›