Minnesota Independent

Ellison offers emotional testimony during Muslim ‘radicalization’ hearing

By Paul Schmelzer | 03.10.11 | 1:00 pm

Rep. Keith Ellison is known for his impassioned speeches, especially when it comes to religion. At last summer’s General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association in Minneapolis, his fiery speech about Christianity touched on themes of unity and love. But today he testified not with bravado but through tears at New York Republican Rep. Peter King’s controversial Homeland Security Committee hearings on Muslim-American radicalization. Ellison, Congress’ first Muslim member, broke down while telling the story of 23-year-old Muslim American paramedic Mohammad Salman Hamdani, who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

Bipartisan bill aims to aid economy with hemp production

By Andy Birkey | 03.02.11 | 9:03 am

A bipartisan slate of 30 legislators — from liberal Minneapolis Rep. Phyllis Kahn to conservative Rep. Mark Buesgens of Jordan — are proposing legislation to allow Minnesota farmers to grow industrial hemp. The Industrial Hemp Development Act would legalize hemp plants while maintaining strong restrictions on marijuana possession. The bill even includes the collection of fees from farmers as revenue to run the program; during time of budget deficits, it won’t cost the state anything.

Legislators want medical marijuana farming in Minnesota

By Andy Birkey | 02.24.11 | 3:04 pm

A bill introduced in the Minnesota Legislature on Thursday would make it legal for farmers to grow medical marijuana and sell it to dispensaries in states where marijuana can be legally used for medicinal purposes. The Medical Marijuana Production and Export Act would direct the state government to develop a strict licensing plan for the potential grower and cites a positive economic benefit for the state’s agricultural sector.

Bong water is back at the Minnesota Capitol

By Andy Birkey | 02.15.11 | 8:24 am

Nothing brings together Republicans and DFLers at the Minnesota Capitol like bong water. A new bipartisan bill would exclude a specific amount of water from a bong, or water pipe, from the weight of drugs calculated when someone is charged with possession. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a similar bill last year after legislators overwhelmingly passed the measure in response to a high profile Minnesota Supreme Court case.

Conservative paper’s partisan links back data requests, despite denials

By Jon Collins | 07.29.10 | 8:19 am

The Minnesota Republic, a conservative student newspaper that filed more than a dozen data requests from state DFLers, blurs line between journalism and politics.

Kahn dings Pawlenty on Daily Show ‘bong water’

By Andy Birkey | 06.11.10 | 2:01 pm

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s interview on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show included a segment on “bong water,” an issue that sprang up at the Minnesota Legislature this spring after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that bong water could be considered…

Minnesotans can’t smoke medical marijuana, but could they grow it?

By Andy Birkey | 02.18.10 | 9:00 am

A bipartisan bill introduced in the Minnesota House on Monday could give the state’s agricultural sector a boost in the form of a new cash crop: medical marijuana. Gov. Tim Pawlenty last year vetoed an effort to legalize medical cannibis,…

Gay marriage could get a hearing in 2010 session

By Andy Birkey | 01.27.10 | 12:12 pm

It’s unlikely same-sex marriage will become law in Minnesota this year — Gov. Tim Pawlenty will undoubtedly veto it and skittish DFLers may vote against it in an election year — but the bill’s chief author in the Senate says it could get a hearing and possibly make it out of committee.

Marriage equality bill still alive in Legislature

By Andy Birkey | 01.18.10 | 1:16 pm

The Marriage and Family Protection Act is still alive in the Minnesota Legislature, but Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, the bill’s chief author in the House, says it’s unlikely it’ll make it far this session. But with same-sex marriage legal in Iowa and domestic partnerships protected in Wisconsin, pressure is building in the DFL controlled Legislature to deliver some relationship rights for the key LGBT constituency.

AM.MN: Will Quist make Walz quake? Will Wilf make Lege quake?

By Chris Steller | 11.19.09 | 8:30 am

Republican Allen Quist has been angling to get back in elective office since 1994 — about the same length of time the Minnesota Vikings have spent angling to get a new taxpayer-funded stadium. Now both are making dramatic moves.…