The Minnesota Independent

paul koering - Latest Stories

AM.MN: ‘Go ahead and laugh’ — Pawlenty’s doing his job, in Texas

By Chris Steller | 01.14.10 | 8:15 am

am.mn logo
“The governor is a very compassionate man, trying to do the best job he can. He’s doing his job,” insisted state Sen. Paul Koering at a hearing Wednesday into Tim Pawlenty’s health-care cuts to

Koering decides against run for governor, cites fundraising and sexual orientation

By Andy Birkey | 08.12.09 | 8:13 am

koeringSen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, abandoned his exploratory committee for governor yesterday, citing fundraising difficulties and a refusal of many Republican activists to support an openly gay candidate, ECM Publishers reports.

Who’s in for 2010: GOPers eyeing the governor’s mansion

By Paul Demko | 06.22.09 | 3:47 pm

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s announcement earlier this month that he will not seek a third term has unleashed a political gold rush among Republican politicians in the state. Minnesota’s current political landscape includes an eye-popping 18 declared and possible gubernatorial contenders.

Bakk officially enters the fray

By Paul Demko | 06.08.09 | 10:22 am

bakkDemocrat Tom Bakk is running for governor. The state senator from Virginia made it official yesterday. Bakk originally set up an exploratory committee and began raising money roughly a year

Gay Republican Sen. Koering eyeing governors seat

By Andy Birkey | 06.04.09 | 6:18 pm

12koeringSen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, told the Pioneer Press he’s thinking about jumping into the race for governor in 2010. Koering, a gay man, opened up about his sexual orientation…

Anti-bullying bill passes in state Senate

By Andy Birkey | 04.17.09 | 7:15 am

Carl Walker-Hoover, an 11-year old charter school student from Massachusetts, took his own life last week after incessant taunting by fellow students. His story served as an example of the eminent danger some students face as the Minnesota Senate debated — and passed on Thursday — a measure to guide school districts in addressing bullying. It’s a measure that Senate Republicans vociferously opposed.

Sen. Koering explains his opposition to gay marriage bill

By Andy Birkey | 03.10.09 | 7:47 am

12koeringState Sen. Paul Koering took a lot of flack from marriage equality advocates and progressive bloggers in recent weeks because he says he won’t vote for a bill to extend marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples. In…

Minnesota Log Cabin Republicans respond to Koering flap

By Andy Birkey | 03.03.09 | 11:14 am

12koeringThe Minnesota chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans, an organization dedicated to working within the Republican party to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, responded to reports that…

What’s more important than gay marriage? English as the state language

By Andy Birkey | 02.25.09 | 4:57 pm

A statement by state Sen. Paul Koering raised eyebrows two weeks ago when the gay Republican indicated he would vote against the Marriage and Family Protection Act, a bill to make Minnesota’s marriage laws gender-neutral, allowing same-sex couples to…

Gay Republican responds to criticism: Same-sex marriage is a ‘pointless issue’

By Andy Birkey | 02.19.09 | 11:33 pm

The office of state Sen. Paul Koering, a gay Republican representing a district near Brainerd, Minn., is responding by e-mail to criticisms over his decision not to vote for the Marriage and Family Protection Act, a bill that would make gay marriage legal in Minnesota. The gist? Legislators can’t “waste their time” with “pointless legislation.”