Minnesota Independent

House Speaker Zellers: Voting is ‘a privilege, it’s not a right’

By Andy Birkey | 04.22.11 | 8:04 am

House Speaker Kurt Zellers said that voting is not a right, but a privilege Wednesday evening, the Star Tribune reports. Zellers is not the first conservative to make that claim during the debate over voter ID which is heating up the Minnesota Legislature. Republicans and voter ID advocates have compared showing identification for voting to everything from cashing a check to boarding a plane to buying cigarettes.

Minnesota Capitol. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Rep. Buesgens stopped in possible violation of probation

By Andy Birkey | 03.18.11 | 8:37 am

Rep. Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan) was stopped by a Scott County sheriff’s deputy on Wednesday night and blew a 0.008 on a breathalyzer test. Buesgens is on probation for a DWI conviction last summer that occurred on the same day he was representing the campaign of gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. According to the Shakopee Valley News, Buesgens allegedly violated his probation by drinking and driving.

Dayton signs GOP’s environmental petition reform into law

By Andy Birkey | 03.04.11 | 8:17 am

Gov. Mark Dayton signed a controversial bill into law on Thursday that would reform the environmental permitting process in Minnesota. Environmental groups had slammed the bill; but despite that, Dayton signed an executive order implementing most of the reforms. Republicans offered Dayton faint praise Thursday evening after Dayton made their bill the law of the land.

Gov. Mark Dayton. Photo: Kathy Easthagen, Minnesota Independent

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.”

Winkler wants quick vote on ‘jobs before gay marriage ban’ amendment

By Andy Birkey | 01.07.11 | 9:24 am

DFL Rep. Ryan Winkler of Golden Valley sent a letter to Majority Leader Matt Dean on Thursday pressing for a hearing on an amendment that would direct the Minnesota House to pass a budget bill before it can deal with constitutional amendments such as one banning marriage rights for same-sex couples. Republicans had promised to put the deficit ahead of divisive social issues but religious conservatives have already begun a campaign to get them on the ballot.

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.

Corporate-funded MN Forward endorses more candidates

By Patrick Caldwell | 08.05.10 | 4:05 pm

Independent expenditure committee MN Forward issued a slew of new endorsements earlier today. MN Forward has previously only supported GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, but their new docket of local endorsements

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Panel dismisses GOP complaint against progressive ad campaign

By Andy Birkey | 05.05.10 | 9:05 am

The Alliance for a Better Minnesota (ABM) was cleared in a complaint by the House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) that an ABM ad earlier this year was false. The online ad criticized Reps. Tom Emmer, Marty Seifert and Kurt…