Minnesota Independent

Poll: Bachmann is GOP favorite to take on Klobuchar in 2012

By Andy Birkey | 12.14.10 | 10:42 am

Public Policy Polling released results of a survey on Monday showing that Republicans overwhelmingly support Rep. Michele Bachmann to take on Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2012. Of eight theoretical Klobuchar opponents, Bachmann got the top spot with 36 percent of Republicans. Bachmann’s support came mainly from conservative GOPers. A poll by PPP last week showed Klobuchar would beat Bachmann by 54 to 39 percent.

Franken, Klobuchar back unemployment extension/tax-cut compromise

By Andy Birkey | 12.14.10 | 10:00 am

Supporters of President Obama’s tax cut compromise with GOP Senate leadership defeated a threatened filibuster by mostly liberal Democrats through the use of cloture Monday evening. Minnesota Democratic Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar were among those voting for cloture. The bill could see an up or down vote as soon as today. Klobuchar said she voted to advance the bill because of the middle-class tax cuts contained in it. Franken said he supports the measure reluctantly, citing an extension of unemployment benefits as a key reason for his support.

Following Kelliher concession, GOP pounces on Dayton

By Andy Birkey | 08.11.10 | 2:13 pm

Just hours after Margaret Anderson Kelliher conceded the DFL primary race to Mark Dayton, the Republican Party of Minnesota released a new ad targeting the former U.S. Senator. The ad, title “Erratic,” takes on some of the well…

National media reflect on Franken’s first year: ‘quiet,’ ‘low-key’

By Andy Birkey | 07.06.10 | 7:49 am

The Associated Press and Newsweek posted articles Monday reflecting on Al Franken’s first full year as a U.S. Senator, and both say he’s upended expectations that he’d be loud, brash and comical. Franken told…

Franken homeowner amendment passes Senate

By Andy Birkey | 06.17.10 | 8:26 am

The U.S. Senate approved an amendment sponsored by Sen. Al Franken that would create an office to investigate complaints by homeowners who believe their mortgage handlers are breaking the law. The amendment would create an Office of the Homeowner…

Bachmann for Senate?

By Andy Birkey | 06.14.10 | 5:00 am

Users signing up for Rep. Michele Bachmann’s congressional campaign website got a surprise this weekend: the website thanked them for signing up for “Bachmann for Senate.” Martiga Lohn, state capitol reporter for the Associated Press found the typo and…

Klobuchar pushes prohibition on ‘murderabilia’

By Andy Birkey | 06.10.10 | 11:14 am

Sen. Amy Klobuchar teamed up with Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas on Wednesday to introduce legislation that would make it illegal for prisoners to sell ‘murderabilia.” The Stop the Sale of Murderabilia to Protect the Dignity of Crime Victims…

Klobuchar: Cell phone fees like a ‘rigged carnival game’

By Andy Birkey | 06.01.10 | 9:10 am

Sen. Amy Klobuchar continued to press for reform in the telecom industry late last week following a report by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) showing concern by Americans over cell phone billing practices. Klobuchar has introduced legislation…

Klobuchar criticizes Supreme Court double standard

By Andy Birkey | 05.28.10 | 11:44 am

Sen. Amy Klobuchar took to the Senate floor to decry the double standard that critics have applied to Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Members of the media in recent weeks have criticized Kagan’s wardrobe, her softball batting stance and…

Franken takes on credit rating industry

By Andy Birkey | 05.10.10 | 8:45 am

Sen. Al Franken is gearing up to take on the credit rating industry, which he says is too big and too closely tied to the financial industry. An amendment to the…