Minnesota Independent

Minnesota Capitol. Photo: Paul Weimer, Flickr

Mondale/Carlson budget solutions fall flat

By Jon Collins | 07.08.11 | 7:45 am

Leaders on both sides of the aisle balked on a bipartisan proposal to end the Minnesota budget stalemate through a combination of across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts Thursday. The commission, led by former Democratic Vice President Walter Mondale and former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson, was praised by Democratic leaders, although Gov. Mark Dayton ultimately rejected their proposal of a tax increase for everyone, rather than just the very wealthy, which Dayton has proposed.

Cravaack, Clark, Walz pick up major endorsements

By Andy Birkey | 10.25.10 | 8:18 am

With a week before the election, major daily newspapers and high-profile officials are making their picks for Nov. 2. Democratic state Sen. Tarryl Clark and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz both grabbed endorsements from the state’s largest newspaper on Sunday, while Independence Party candidate for governor Tom Horner gained the support of the Pioneer Press. Walz also got the nod from Republican former Gov. Arne Carlson over the weekend, while GOP candidate Chip Cravaack picked up the endorsement of the Duluth paper.

Former Gov. Arne Carlson and Tom Horner in late September. Photo: Facebook

Veterans respond to GOP chair’s comment about ‘quisling’ Horner supporters

By Paul Schmelzer | 10.07.10 | 2:59 pm

Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner has been picking off endorsements from former Republican legislators, from past Gov. Arne Carlson and former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger to a slate of 13 former statehouse legislators who yesterday announced their support for his candidacy. That announcement drew the ire of state GOP Chair Tony Sutton, who responded by stating, “There’s a special place in hell for these quislings.” Two of those former legislators — veterans of the Korean War and World War II — responded to Sutton today in a letter, writing that they found it “demeaning” that their choice to support Horner drew comparisons to Nazi sympathizer and traitor Vidkun Quisling.

Tom Horner releases new television ad, radio ads featuring Gov. Carlson

By Andy Birkey | 10.04.10 | 9:05 am

In a new television ad released Friday, Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner touts his experience running a small business. The campaign also says it has two new radio ads, including one that features former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson.

Former Gov. Carlson: Pawlenty ‘avoiding the law’ on budget

By Andy Birkey | 05.31.10 | 10:30 am

Former Gov. Arne Carlson, Republican governor from 1991 to 1999, is launching a “Paul Revere Tour” to spotlight Minnesota’s budget problem and what he sees as a lack of courage from state leaders. While Carlson is hitting DFLers and…

Quist eyeing Walz challenge?

By Paul Demko | 10.13.09 | 1:06 pm

Allen Quist has been largely out of the political spotlight for roughly a decade. But according to a recent report on Bluestem Prairie, the conservative Republican is mulling a run at U.S. Rep. Tim Walz in the First Congressional District.

Pawlenty radio hit-list consists of enemies, not songs

By Chris Steller | 09.25.09 | 11:52 am

There’s nothing subtle about Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s (popular?) radio show: He makes the most of the hour WCCO-AM gives him every Friday to broadcast his political views, boldly and baldly. But beneath the banter and…

AM.MN: Against Arne Carlson’s urgings, Pawlenty’s packin’ for Mackinac

By Chris Steller | 09.24.09 | 8:30 am

After former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson chastised Gov. Tim Pawlenty for traveling when he should be governing, T-Paw’s spokesman grumbled, ”Some people apparently don’t know when it’s time to leave the stage.” But the guv knows…

Molnau finds something to get re-elected to

By Chris Steller | 08.22.09 | 10:17 am

Carol Molnau, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor and former transportation commissioner, has been re-elected chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association’s (NLGA) Midwest Region.

Redistricting draws reformers but some say process worked fine last time

By Chris Steller | 05.22.09 | 12:08 pm

Legislation to rejigger the state’s redistricting system passed the state Senate last week. Stakes are high, as the state may lose a congressional seat after the 2010 U.S. Census, and whether it’s Michele Bachmann’s in the Sixth District or someone else’s will be decided during redistricting. But some people closest to the work of shaping Minnesota’s political boundaries last time around say the system worked pretty well.