MCCL slams Republicans for not passing anti-abortion measures
By Andy Birkey |
09.20.11 | 6:00 am
The group also said that they spent a lot of money in the 2011 legislative session and appealed for donations.
Amy Koch - Latest Stories
Watchdog group sends letter to Senate leaders over Campbell prayer
By Andy Birkey |
03.21.11 | 4:19 pm
The watchdog group Americans United for the Separation of Church and State sent a letter to Minnesota Senate leadership Monday warning the chamber that Pastor Dennis Campbell’s prayer last week was unconstitutional. Addressed to Senate President Michelle Fischbach, Majority Leader Amy Koch and Minority Leader Tom Bakk, the letter also urged the leaders to either refrain from allowing prayers in the Senate or to ensure that if it continues to do so it does in a way that respects other traditions.
Dayton adjusts proposal as budget picture improves by $1.2 billion
By Andy Birkey |
02.28.11 | 2:46 pm
State economist Tom Stinson’s new budget forecast, released Monday, shows Minnesota’s budget deficit shrinking by $1.2 billion, leaving a $5 billion deficit. Citing the improved figures, Gov. Mark Dayton took off the table his proposals for a 3 percent tax on those making $500,000 and for cuts to long-term care for seniors. He says the removal of the tax increase will keep Minnesota’s tax rate below the nation’s highest.
Dayton unveils budget with program cuts and tax increases
By Andy Birkey |
02.15.11 | 1:16 pm
Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget proposal, unveiled Tuesday, includes a tax hike for the wealthiest Minnesotans, cuts to health care for 7,200 low-income adults, an increase in spending for K-12 education, a 6 percent decrease in the state workforce,and steady funding for local governments. “I have always said that a budget is about values and priorities, as well as dollars and cents,” Dayton said. “My budget represents my values and priorities, one of which is to keep my promises that I made to the people of Minnesota last fall.”
GOP leadership offers bill banning state funding for abortion
By Andy Birkey |
01.24.11 | 8:18 am
Members of the Republican leadership in the Minnesota Senate have introduced legislation to ban state funding for abortions, just weeks after saying that creating jobs and fixing the budget deficit would be the party’s top priorities. The bill was offered on the eve of Minnesota Citizens Concerned For Life’s (MCCL) March for Life at the State Capitol grounds.
Republican job creation proposals scrutinized
By Andy Birkey |
01.11.11 | 8:47 am
Republican leadership in the Minnesota Legislature unveiled its job creation proposals on Monday and filed the first bills intended to boost employment and reduce the deficit. The House bills would create “priority-based budgeting” and scale back the environmental permitting process, while the Senate introduced a bill to reduce income and property taxes for businesses. The latter policy drew strong criticism from DFLers, unions and nonprofit groups.
LGBT issues poised to be hot debate at the capitol
By Andy Birkey |
11.17.10 | 1:55 pm
After years as a low-profile issue at the Minnesota Legislature, same-sex marriage is likely to become a source of controversy next session. New Republican majorities in both the House and the Senate bode well for efforts by the Minnesota Family Council and the Catholic Church, both of which hope to place a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on the ballot in 2012. Republican leadership has been mum on the prospect so far, and despite long odds, LGBT advocates hope to advance a few key provisions of their own in 2011.
GOP slashes House committees, claims $800,000 in savings
By Andy Birkey |
11.17.10 | 9:53 am
Republican leaders announced Tuesday that they have greatly reduced the number of legislative committees in the Minnesota House and Senate and that they estimate cost savings at between $750,000 and $800,000. Future House Speaker Leader Kurt Zellers said the new structure will reduce the number of committees from 36 to 24, and future Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch said her caucus has reduced committee from 25 to 16. Zellers said the new structure will make it easier for businesses to navigate the process.
Senate Democrats rebuff proposed postage stamp reduction
By Paul Demko |
01.06.09 | 4:25 pm
How many postage stamps does it take to run a state Senate office? That was the sticky issue debated today during the opening Senate session of 2009. Noting the emergence of email as a tool to communicate with constituents, along with the state’s looming $4.8 billion deficit, Sen. Amy Koch (pictured) proposed that the number of stamps allocated to each legislator be reduced from 5,500 to 3,500. “This is not a big cost savings,” the Republican from Buffalo acknowledged, “but I did a little math and it’s over $56,000.”
