Minnesota Independent

Video: Sen. Hall on Minneapolis and integration funding

By Andy Birkey | 04.01.11 | 3:07 pm

The DFL has released a video of this week’s statement by Burnsville Republican Sen. Dan Hall on school integration. “I watched Minneapolis get destroyed, so I not only didn’t want my kids in the school system,” he said. “I took them out of Minneapolis because they ruined our neighborhoods with integration and [de]segregation.” Hall made his remarks during debate about a move by Minnesota Republicans to repeal school integration laws, specifically a decades-long program that aims to diversify schools in the Twin Cities metro area and Duluth.

Dayton renews call for higher taxes on the wealthy

By Andy Birkey | 02.09.11 | 1:02 pm

During his State of the State address on Wednesday, Gov. Mark Dayton renewed his call for higher taxes on wealthy Minnesotans, a central position of his successful campaign for governor in 2010. He quoted the Bible in urging the rich to support his proposal for more progressive taxation.

Minnesota GOP introduces three more bills to ban state funding for abortion

By Andy Birkey | 02.07.11 | 2:33 pm

Two weeks ago, Republican leadership in the Minnesota Senate introduced a bill to ban state funding for abortion, and on Monday, two more bills with identical language were introduced in the Senate and another in the Minnesota House.

Minnesota Capitol. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

DFL wants ethics hearing on Sen. Scott Newman

By Andy Birkey | 01.27.11 | 2:21 pm

Senate DFLers are seeking an ethics investigation on Republican Sen. Scott Newman of Hutchinson whose legislative assistant sent an email to the Minnesota Nurses Association stating that he would not meet with groups who backed his opponent, Hal Kimball. The DFLers claim that Newman violated Senate Rule 56.3, which prohibits senators from limiting access only to those who have made political contributions.

Family Council to spend $4.71 million to ‘ignite’ gay marriage battle

By Andy Birkey | 01.27.11 | 9:00 am

The Minnesota Family Council has launched its “Ignite” campaign to “achieve cultural transformation” over the next two years. According to a brochure put out by the group, MFC plans to spend $4.71 million with the main aim of getting a constitutional amendment banning relationship rights for same-sex couples onto the ballot and passed by Minnesota voters.

State senator says he won’t meet with groups that backed his opponent

By Andy Birkey | 01.25.11 | 11:55 am

Republican Sen. Scott Newman of Hutchinson told the Minnesota Nurses Association late last week that they would not get a meeting with him because they endorsed his DFL opponent Hal Kimball, according to DFL-leaning blog, Bluestem Prairie. In fact, Newman’s office said that no groups who supported his opponent will get a meeting and, according to the Associated Press, Newman said he will not speak to the media regarding his office policy. Update: The Star Tribune spoke with Newman who said the policy was a mistake.

Minnesota Catholics unveil legislative agenda: Ban on gay marriage, help for the poor

By Andy Birkey | 01.19.11 | 2:17 pm

The Minnesota Catholic Conference, an organization representing “the united voice of the Catholic bishops of Minnesota on public policy matters,” has released its legislative priorities for Minnesota’s 2012 session. At the top of the list is a constitutional amendment banning relationship rights for same-sex couples. The group also says it will work to protect the safety net for the poor, even advocating tax increases if necessary.

Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council

Minnesota Family Council to hold marriage amendment course for legislators

By Andy Birkey | 01.06.11 | 10:50 am

When state legislators checked their office mailboxes Wednesday, they found an invitation to attend a Minnesota Family and Marriage Summit featuring a group that the Southern Poverty Law Center identifies as a hate group. The summit, to be held next week, is organized by the Minnesota Family Council and the Family Research Council and will teach legislators how to pass a constitutional amendment banning rights for same-sex couples.

Rep. Gruenhagen brings controversial views to Health and Human Services Committee

By Andy Birkey | 01.05.11 | 8:30 am

With the new Legislature sworn into session on Tuesday, one new official is coming under scrutiny for opinions he’s shared in the letters pages of local newspapers. Republican Glenn Gruenhagen, elected to the Minnesota House in November to represent Glencoe after Rep. Laura Brod retired, has been assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee. His controversial public statements about welfare, anal sex, abortion and alcoholism — areas the committee oversees — could make for interesting political theater in the months ahead.

Koering quits politics citing GOP swing to the right

By Andy Birkey | 08.12.10 | 11:00 am

Minnesota’s only elected openly gay Republican is calling it quits following a primary loss on Tuesday. Koering was defeated by fellow Republican Paul Gazelka for the Minnesota Senate seat encompassing Brainerd. Koering, who came out in 2005,…