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Paulsen allies with medical device industry to relax FDA oversight

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By Jon Collins | 10.26.11 | 1:53 pm

Rep. Erik Paulsen saw a steep increase in donations from venture capitalists with an interest in health care after he testified to Congress in June that FDA processes should be streamlined, according to the New York Times.

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The Money Trail: Erik Paulsen gets financial jolt from medical tech industry

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By Jon Collins | 10.21.11 | 12:31 pm

Medical device companies and executives have repaid Paulsen’s “tireless support” of their industry with hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.

Parry to challenge Walz in 2012, DFL slams him as “angry, ultra-conservative” tea partier

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By Andy Birkey | 10.10.11 | 10:25 am

In his short time as a legislator, Parry has had a penchant for getting into hot water, including posting comments on Twitter calling Pres. Barack Obama a “power hungry arrogant black man.”

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Minn. delegation absent in new bipartisan HIV/AIDS caucus

By Sofia Resnick | 09.16.11 | 9:52 am

Fifty-nine members of Congress joined up with the HIV/AIDS caucus.

Rep. Keith Ellison. Photo: Kathy Easthagen for the Minnesota Independent

Keith Ellison calls Lynne Torgerson’s campaign one of ‘hate, division, and fear’

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By Andy Birkey | 06.28.11 | 7:53 am

Rep. Keith Ellison sent a fundraising pitch to supporters on Monday calling out his newly announced challenger Lynne Torgerson for her comments calling him a “radical Muslim fundamentalist.” Torgerson, who announced her campaign at Tea Party Nation on Thursday, garnered only 3 percent against Ellison’s 69 percent in the last election.

Lynne Torgerson. Photo: Facebook

Lynne Torgerson to again challenge ‘radical Islamist’ Keith Ellison

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By Andy Birkey | 06.24.11 | 11:00 am

Lynne Torgerson announced on Thursday that she intends to challenge Rep. Keith Ellison for Congress in 2012 and noted that she based her decision on Ellison’s Muslim faith. Torgerson became a lightning rod in the 2010 campaign cycle for her controversial statements about Islam. Calling Ellison a “radical Islamist” yesterday, she announced her intention to run for the seat on Tea Party Nation.

Photo:  jcolman, Flickr

Americans for Prosperity protests lame-duck Congress in Washington

By Luke Johnson | 11.16.10 | 8:00 am

Conventional wisdom says the lame-duck session of Congress will not produce any legislation of consequence. Regardless, speakers and activists at an Americans For Prosperity-organized protest outside the U.S. Capitol railed Monday against the prospect of the outgoing Democratic Congress trying to pass anything.

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Confirmed: Bachmann seeking GOP leadership post

By Andy Birkey | 11.03.10 | 1:40 pm

Rep. Michele Bachmann confirmed on Wednesday that she’ll seek a leadership post in Congress following the GOP takeover of the U.S. House. On her Facebook page, she announced she’ll be going after the number four spot in the leadership, Chairman of the House Republican Conference.

Walz, Demmer post similar fundraising for the quarter

By Andy Birkey | 07.09.10 | 8:00 am

Rep. Tim Walz and his GOP-endorsed opponent, Randy Demmer, posted similar fundraising number for the second quarter, though Walz leads handily in terms of cash on hand. Demmer raised $303,641 and has $251,000 cash on hand. Walz raised $381,000 and…

Congress ends abstinence programs, allows needle exchanges

By Andy Birkey | 12.17.09 | 2:58 pm

An appropriations bill passed by Congress last weekend is being hailed by public health advocates for ending funding for abstinence-until-marriage sex education and eliminating the ban on federal funding for needle exchange programs.