Minnesota Independent

Klobuchar missing from DOMA repeal bill

By Andy Birkey | 03.21.11 | 8:03 am

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is one of only two Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee who have not signed on to a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, and that committee is only two votes away from passing the bill out of committee. Klobuchar and Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl are seen as the two key votes on the committee and both have said they haven’t decided which way they will vote when the bill is taken up in the coming weeks.

Walz, Paulsen join calls to lift Minnesota’s nuclear moratorium

By Andy Birkey | 03.03.11 | 9:07 am

DFL Rep. Tim Walz and Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen (pictured) have joined together to urge Gov. Mark Dayton to sign a bill that would lift Minnesota’s moratorium on new nuclear power plants. The moratorium repeal is currently in conference committee after passing the House and is likely to end up on Dayton’s desk this legislative session.

Pawlenty ties for first in Beltrami County straw poll

By Andy Birkey | 02.22.11 | 8:38 am

While still a year out from Super Tuesday, Republicans in the northwoods held a straw poll over the weekend to gauge interest in the 23 Republicans rumored to be mulling a presidential bid in 2012 or a campaign against Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Beltrami County Republicans picked former Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Mike Huckabee for the GOP nomination while Rep. Michele Bachmann was the favorite to take on Klobuchar.

Minnesotan DFLers call for civility in wake of Arizona shootings

By Andy Birkey | 01.10.11 | 9:00 am

At the inauguration ball celebrating newly elected Gov. Mark Dayton on Saturday night, DFL members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation weighed in on the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the deaths of six people at a constituent meeting at a Tucson, Ariz., grocery store. The members sent their prayers to Giffords and the other victims of alleged shooter Jared Loughner and called for civility in political rhetoric. None blamed specific political movements or ideologies for the shooting.

Franken, Klobuchar offer filibuster fixes

By Andy Birkey | 01.06.11 | 2:28 pm

Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken are offering their own ideas to fix the filibuster, a Senate procedure that often results in gridlock in the upper chamber. Klobuchar is a cosponsor of a comprehensive filibuster reform bill introduced by Democratic Sens. Tom Udall of New Mexico, Tom Harkin of Iowa and Jeff Merkley of Oregon. The trio said that since 2006, “there have been more filibusters than the total between 1920 and 1980.” Franken is offering a change to the filibuster process as well: Instead of taking 60 votes to break a filibuster, he wants 41 votes to maintain a filibuster.

Klobuchar launches filibuster reform effort

By Andy Birkey | 01.04.11 | 12:39 pm

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is a part of a movement in the Senate to reform the use of the filibuster, and together with Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York she’s circulating a petition urging changes to the Senate rules.

Klobuchar among most popular senators

By Andy Birkey | 12.30.10 | 8:47 am

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the most popular U.S. senator, according to surveys by Public Policy Polling. The pollster looked at the approval ratings of 59 senators over the past several months and found Klobuchar with a net favorable rating…

Bachmann for Senate? Or president?

By Andy Birkey | 12.20.10 | 9:00 am

In two separate statements this weekend, Rep. Michele Bachmann left the door open on whether she would seek higher office in 2012. The Hill reported Sunday that Bachmann hasn’t said for certain whether she wants to challenge Sen. Amy Klobuchar, but has the resources and party backing to make the challenge. Republican blogger Ryan Lyk, noting Bachmann’s large amount of spending in Iowa, spoke with Bachmann’s chief of staff, who said she “hasn’t ruled anything out” anything — including a run for president.

Minnesotans laud passing of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal

By Andy Birkey | 12.20.10 | 8:00 am

The U.S. Senate passed a repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy on Saturday, paving the way for gay, lesbian and bisexual servicemembers to serve openly in the armed forces. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken were among the 65 Senators voting to repeal the measure.

Klobuchar: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal vote will succeed Saturday

By Andy Birkey | 12.17.10 | 9:30 am

Sen. Amy Klobuchar appeared on the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC on Thursday evening to share her support for a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Klobuchar said there are enough votes to pass a standalone bill in the U.S. Senate on Saturday. Maddow was cynical about the possibility for Democrats to pass the remaining parts of their agenda, but Klobuchar said the likely passage of the DADT repeal is something to celebrate.