Minnesota Independent

Sharon Sund campaigns to break GOP stranglehold in 3rd Congressional District

By Andy Birkey | 08.26.11 | 8:00 am

Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses the wealthy suburbs west of Minneapolis, should be competitive. Political strategists have often rated the district a tossup, but Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen has managed to keep the district in Republican hands following the 2008 retirement of moderate Rep. Jim Ramstad, even winning by double digits in 2010. As district resident Sharon Sund aims to change that, Paulsen is getting renewed attention from national Democrats, who are launching a new round of ads against him.

County GOP auctions legislators off to lobbyists

By Andy Birkey | 08.25.11 | 10:08 am

The Carver County GOP took heat this week over a fundraiser that featured an auction that guaranteed face-time with legislators for the highest bidder.

ALEC likely violated state campaign board ruling

By Jon Collins | 08.11.11 | 9:45 am

The organization held an event without registering as a state lobbyist, as a Minnesota board ruled was necessary in 1995.

Protesters at the Minnesotans for a Fair Economy rally

Protesters decry Wells Fargo political affiliations

By Sam Lane | 08.11.11 | 7:25 am

Protesters at a Wednesday Minnesotans for a Fair Economy rally outside Wells Fargo’s Minneapolis office donned huge puppet masks bearing the faces of Reps. Michele Bachmann, John Kline and Erik Paulsen, claiming they’re killing jobs and refusing to give up their “piece of the pie.”

Sharon Sund and family. Photo: SharonSund.com

Sharon Sund to challenge Erik Paulsen

By Andy Birkey | 08.04.11 | 7:30 am

Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen has drawn his first challenger for the 2012 campaign cycle in Plymouth resident Sharon Sund. Sund is seeking the DFL endorsement in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District.

Minnesota bills traced to controversial corporate group ALEC

By Jon Collins | 08.03.11 | 1:36 pm

A conservative national nonprofit that’s drawn criticism for allowing corporations to write legislation directly with state lawmakers can be traced to bills introduced in Minnesota last session. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has been involved in the developing language here that would shield large corporations from consumer lawsuits and undermine greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Minnesota’s delegation split on debt compromise

By Jon Collins | 08.01.11 | 12:44 pm

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum called it a “terrible bill” that hurts the economy.

U.S House passes deadline bill for Keystone pipeline decision

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.27.11 | 9:33 am

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would require the Obama administration to make a final decision on the expansion of the Keystone XL pipeline by Nov. 1. The vote was 279-147, with Minnesota’s delegation voting along party lines, with two exceptions: Democrat Collin Peterson voted with Republicans, and Rep. Michele Bachmann did not vote.

Rep. Paulsen tied to controversial corporate group ALEC

By Jon Collins | 07.25.11 | 4:03 pm

Minnesota Rep. Erik Paulsen is listed as a member of a controversial corporate and state legislative collaboration called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), according to recently leaked documents. The group includes thousands of members of state legislatures and representatives of corporations who draft legislation that is then introduced at the state level without acknowledgement that it was written with the help of corporations it might benefit.

Minnesota lawmakers who voted against consumer agency are flush with banking cash

By Jon Collins | 07.22.11 | 1:14 pm

Minnesota members of the U.S. House of Representatives who voted to restrict the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Thursday received three times as many donations from banking industry supporters of the legislation as those who voted against the restrictions.