Friday, July 22, 2011
Despite being unhappy with the overall budget, the Richfield Legislator remained grateful that Gov. Dayton 'hung tough.'
Rep. Linda Slocum (DFL-Richfield) was at the Capitol earlier this week to vote on budget bills which ended the 20-day government shutdown in Minnesota. She spoke with Richfield Patch about her experience at the Capitol this week and her constituents' response to the shutdown. Richfield Patch: Beginning Tuesday afternoon the House and Senate speedily voted on budget bills which allowed the state to get back to work by Wednesday morning. What did you vote for and against? Rep. Linda Slocum: I voted for the bonding bill and I voted for the pensions bill and that was it. I thought about voting for the legacy bill, but then a colleague pointed out that none of us [Democratic representatives] should be voting for it. The metro puts in 65 percent…
Thursday, July 21, 2011
A press conference on the new legislation is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
Now that the shutdown officially ended with Gov. Mark Dayton signing all 12 bills Wednesday morning, many may be asking, “What happens now?” Well for one thing, Republican senators will hold a press conference regarding new reform legislation to prevent a future shutdown in the event of a budget impasse at 2 p.m. Thursday. Sen. Ted Lillie (R-Lake Elmo), Sen. Paul Gazelka (R-Brainerd) and Sen. Ted Daley (R-Eagan) will lead the conference in Room 125 at the State Capitol. Stay tuned for more information on the new legislation after the press conference.
The House Minority Leader reported that special interests and the richest Minnesotans came away winners as the state gets back to work.
Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Richfield/Minneapolis) issued a press release Tuesday expressing his disappointment in the final budget which was then poised to be signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton. He also expressed his distaste for the job Republicans had done in 2011 prior to voting on the omnibus tax bill. As the state prepared to get back to work after Dayton signed a series of budget bills ending the government shutdown Wednesday morning, Thissen reiterated his disappointment in the final budget during an interview with Richfield Patch. Richfield Patch: Now that negotiations are over and the state is getting back to work, what are your thoughts about the final budget for the next two years? Rep. Paul Thissen: The bottom line is the governor…
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Gov. Mark Dayton has signed all bills into law to end the shutdown.
Insults were hurled. Accusations were made. Pleas were ignored. But in the end, the people’s business was finished. Gov. Mark Dayton just signed into law all 12 budget bills passed in the middle of the night Wednesday by the Minnesota House and Senate. Dayton’s signatures ended the shutdown of Minnesota government—at 20 days, it was the longest continuous shutdown of any state government in United States history. In the end, Dayton kept his promise that he wouldn’t sign any of the bills until all 12 had passed through both houses of the legislature. At the start of the marathon special session, it seemed as though the process would be over quickly. In its first hour, the Senate passed six of 12 bills while the House passed five. But by 1 a…
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The Minnesota Historical Society announces it will reopen its 26 historical sites and museums, including Fort Snelling. A week late for the Gonzales-Hanneman wedding; other couples planning weddings at state venues also out of luck.
Now that legislators are working to end the state shutdown during a special session Tuesday, the Minnesota Historical Society announced it will reopen all 26 of its historical sites and museums throughout the state Saturday. Including Fort Snelling, where Rachel Gonzales and Adam Hanneman were supposed to get married July 16. Unfortunately, this news comes a little too late for the newlyweds, who found an alternate location to continue with the Saturday wedding. "I'm actually extremely angry," Gonzales told Patch Friday after hearing the news that shutdown was nearing its end. "They shut it down just long enough to keep us out of our venue and didn't accomplish anything!" Unfortunately, this couple wasn't the only one planning a wedding …
Now in the 19th day of the state shutdown, a special session has been called.
Minnesota legislators have been called back to their seats and an end to the government shutdown appears just hours away. Gov. Mark Dayton called for a special legislative session to begin 3 p.m. today—19 days into the shutdown of Minnesota government—after approving preliminary versions of nine legislative bills totaling $35.4 billion over the 2011-2013 biennium. Legislators have resolved some of the session’s more contentious bills—on K-12 education, state government, jobs and economic development, taxes and higher education. The public safety/judiciary, transportation and environment bills were given the nod Monday afternoon, a day after legislators agreed in principle on a $11 billion Health and Human Services bill. No mention was …
A budget deal between Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP leaders could be reached as early as mid-day Tuesday.
Just when budget negotiations appeared to be headed toward another impasse, quick work from Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP leaders led to a Monday evening announcement that Minnesota legislators could be back in their seats to confirm a deal as early as mid-Tuesday. The parties gave cursory approval to the Public Safety/Judiciary and Transportation bills Monday afternoon and then, around 8 p.m., approved $664 million for an Environment bill. The fourth approved bill of the day appropriates an estimated $178 million in Legacy funds to outdoor heritage preservation. The four bills worked out Monday are the latest legislative moves in the past two days. MPR News reported Sunday evening that a handshake deal was reached on an $11 billion Health and…
Monday, July 18, 2011
Some retailers, bars and restaurants are in danger of losing their ability to sell liquor.
As many as 700 liquor stores, bars and restaurants that failed to renew liquor licenses before the July 1 government shutdown could find themselves unable to sell alcohol after Aug. 1, a judge ruled Monday. Ramsey County District Court Judge Kathleen Gearin ruled against a petition filed by the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) to allow Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety to issue “Buyer’s Cards” to licensed alcoholic beverage retailers. According to Richfield Liquor Stores manager Bill Fillmore, his card is valid until the end of 2011, which is good news for any Richfield libation connoisseurs. A Buyer’s Card would allow the retailers to continue purchasing and selling alcoholic beverages “necessary to the ongoing …
Special session is coming.
Last Update: Monday, July 18 at 10 p.m.: A special session is imminent, according to Assistant Senate Majority Leader Geoff Michel. “I think we are ready to go. It’s time to get Minnesotans back to work,” Michel, a Republican who represents Edina and West Bloomington, told WCCO radio on Monday afternoon. “It is up to the governor to decide that, though,” he said. Michel also pointed to the release of preliminary versions of the Public Safety/Judiciary and Transportation bills as evidence of Monday's progress. “I think there is more progress to talk about today,” Michel said. “(The two bills) are part of the framework that we talked about with the governor.” Negotiators appropriated $4.7 billion for the Transportation bill and $1.9 billion …
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Legislators report progress in weekend budget negotiations.
Gov. Mark Dayton, House Speaker Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-Buffalo) report reaching “considerable progress” during weekend budget negotiations. The parties struck a positive tone with their joint statement, released at in the early evening Sunday. MPR News reported on Sunday evening that a handshake deal has been reached on an $11 billion Health and Human Services bill. But despite any supposed progress—and contrary to Dayton’s intent, the governor won’t call a special session on Monday morning. “Work on the detailed budget bills continues to move in a positive direction, with an urgent focus on getting Minnesotans back to work,” the joint statement read. “A special session will be called as …
Kevin O'Donovan
11:44 pm on Thursday, July 28, 2011
Dear Linda, Thanks for your effort. When you were persuaded that the Twin Cities was being shorted on the Legacy Funds were you hoping for more camping, fishing , hunting, and canoeing in Minneapolis? Maybe you didn't get any messages because, in case you haven't heard, the State switchboard and internet were shut down. Doesn't Dayton think policy has an effect on the budget? Do you? It does! more ›