Mary Olson

Today’s record-setting chill still won’t be as cold as the water thrown on Republican Steve Sviggum’s plans to run for governor. The former Speaker of the Minnesota House had planned to announce his candidacy any day now, but the U.S. Office of Solicitor General says Sviggum’s oversight of OSHA matters in his current job as state [...]

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Health Plan Act, which would make the state of Minnesota the insurance pool for all residents, passed by a 7-3 margin with no Republican support in the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. The bill advances to the Senate, where its odds of passage this year are slim. But the animated debate put into sharp relief views about health care — as a right or a privilege, a community good or a consumer choice.

As the budget battle at the Capitol gets going, Republicans are promising to obstruct efforts to both cut expenses and raise taxes. DFLers are looking at a pending stimulus plan from the White House in February in order to guide how the budget session takes place. And at least one DFLer thinks that Pawlenty might change his stance on taxes (or “revenue enhancements”) to help fill the historic $4.8 billion deficit.

A new idea to help protect and improve the state’s 10,000 lakes would reward “Star Lake” status to lake associations whose members take extra measures to keep their water healthy.

Sen. Mary Olson, DFL-Bemidji, says she plans to introduce the bill during the 2008 legislative session. The district she represents includes some of the state’s best [...]