Minnesota Independent

Minnesota Capitol. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

GOP pushes tenther amendment to ban ‘Obamacare,’ DFLers call it the Southern Strategy

By Andy Birkey | 04.08.11 | 8:35 am

Republicans in the Minnesota House have included an amendment to the health and human services omnibus bill that would ban the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the state of Minnesota because legislators believe it to be in violation of the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. On Wednesday night, Republicans argued that “Obamacare” would “eviscerate” state sovereignty, while DFLers made comparisons to the Confederacy and the arguments used by secessionists during the Civil War. One legislator even proposed changing the state song to “Dixie.”

School voucher debate riles Minnesota Senate

By Andy Birkey | 04.06.11 | 8:11 am

On Tuesday, Minnesota Senators debated whether taxpayer funds should be used to pay for private religious school tuition as part of an omnibus tax bill. Republicans hope the proposal, which is modeled after one in Arizona and has been dubbed a “backdoor voucher” system by some, will pass constitutional muster. The U.S. Supreme Court released a decision on Arizona’s system on Monday that could boost state Republicans’ hopes, but DFLers say regardless of the measure’s constitutionality it represents the GOP’s ultimate goal of “dismantling” public education altogether.

Minnesota Capitol. Photo: Paul Weimer, Flickr

In wake of Citizens United, Dems seek constitutional amendment to define ‘natural person’

By Andy Birkey | 03.16.11 | 1:57 pm

Following last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, Minnesota Democrats are proposing a constitutional amendment to define an individual as a “natural person.” The 2010 ruling gave corporations certain rights as “persons” and allowed them to engage in new levels of political activity. Sen. Scott Dibble of Minneapolis said the DFL bill is aimed at curtailing the idea that corporate entities have the same rights as human beings.

Ellison: Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from health care cases

By Andy Birkey | 02.14.11 | 8:15 am

Rep. Keith Ellison is among 74 members of Congress who called on United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Friday to recuse himself from hearing any cases that have to do with health care reform after revelations that Thomas’ wife makes a living from organizations that oppose the implementation of health care reform.

Minnesota joins Supreme Court suit to stop Great Lakes carp invasion

By Andy Birkey | 01.04.10 | 2:25 pm

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has added Minnesota’s support to a lawsuit by the state of Michigan against the state of Illinois to force the closure of a canal connecting the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan. Unless the…

Sotomayor-empathy carping makes Klobuchar ‘put pillow over my head’

By Chris Steller | 08.05.09 | 11:02 am

Updated: U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar woke up today to a colleague’s voice on her clock radio, sounding off against the Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor because of “the empathy standard.” On the floor of the Senate she told…

SCOTUS also-rans carried more campaign-donor baggage

By Chris Steller | 05.28.09 | 11:31 am

Barack Obama’s White House would rather not fight or switch when it comes to making nominations to the U.S. Supreme Court. So it wouldn’t be surprising if Sonia Sotomayor’s clean slate on political campaign contributions weighed in…

Coleen Rowley mentioned as Supreme Court dark horse

By Chris Steller | 05.22.09 | 8:40 pm

Minnesotan Coleen Rowley has emerged in the last few days as a potential “off-the-grid” nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. Rowley’s addition to unofficial SCOTUS “long lists” (as opposed to shortlists) comes as U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar downplays chatter that she might be tapped to replace retiring Justice David Souter.

Franken camp confident of victory

By Paul Demko | 04.14.09 | 2:19 pm

Al Franken will be the next senator from Minnesota. That’s the message conveyed by Marc Elias, the Franken campaign’s lead recount attorney, on a conference call Tuesday afternoon. Not surprisingly, Elias…