Minnesota’s soon-to-be law allowing recreational marijuana, explained
The bill sponsors said they think they still have enough DFL votes to approve the final bill and expect some Republicans to support it.
Economy
Democrats go light on Greater Minnesota infrastructure, weigh cash bill as bonding talks break down
Sen. Sandra Pappas, a St. Paul DFLer who chairs the Senate’s Capital Investment Committee, last week said “it’s only fair that we focus on funding the projects for members that are willing to be partners and that are voting for the bill.”
Risk of debt default and its hit on jobs, economy nears as GOP, White House play game of political chicken
“This would be a good time to batten down the financial hatches. Not because a recession is at hand, it’s not. And not because the banking system is set to unravel, it won’t. It’s because of a politically manufactured crisis …”
Fed researchers: $15 minimum wage in Minneapolis and St. Paul boosted pay — but cost jobs
Many economists have reached similar conclusions about minimum wage increases in the past, but some progressives and labor groups argue $15 still isn’t high enough to ensure working class families can make ends meet.
Minnesota legislative ‘big, big deal’ spends $1B on affordable housing, adds metro sales tax
The tax hike, which would raise $200 million a year for housing projects and programs in the seven-county area, is part of a $1 billion investment in affordability that sponsors and advocates are calling historic. It would be the first-ever tax dedicated to affordable housing.
Minneapolis’ mayor wants workers downtown three days a week — and other takeaways from the State of the City address
You know how Al Gore “invented the internet?” Minneapolis’ 48th mayor just “invented” Tuesday.
Will Democrats approve a tax credit to ‘make a dent’ in the cost of child care? It’s a point of contention
Even as Democrats coalesce around a series of tax cuts and credits, the child care credit is one of a few significant differences the House and Senate will need to reconcile. It’s also one of few major DFL tax plans to benefit middle class residents.
What the heck is ‘worldwide combined reporting’ and why do DFLers think it can raise hundreds of millions?
Experts say Minnesota would be the only state to adopt a measure targeting corporations that have subsidiaries overseas.
DFL tax plans split over taxing Minnesota’s wealthy but agree on some cuts and rebates
House and Senate leaders also agree on a partial rollback of the state’s tax on Social Security benefits.
A full repeal of Minnesota’s Social Security tax now unlikely after Senate DFL concedes to a partial cut
DFL Senate leaders say they are mostly aligned with DFL House leaders on the size of the Social Security tax cut.
St. Paul wants more ‘missing middle’ housing. Will it make the city a more affordable place to live?
A change to the city’s zoning laws, which could take effect later this year, could soon allow triplexes on single-family lots.
Minneapolis mayor and city staff oppose rent control. Can supporters move ahead without them?
Council members who support rent control hope to convince the mayor to at least let the issue pass through to the voters if they couldn’t muster a veto-proof majority.
‘Exactly the right moment.’ House DFL wants tax on top earners, corporations amid budget surplus
The House tax bill released Monday represents House Democrats’ view that wealthy individuals and corporations don’t pay their fair share and that any tax relief should be aimed at those at the lowest incomes.
In Hennepin County, has a new application process made it harder to access social safety-net programs?
Since the pandemic, demand for food, cash and health programs has surged. But applicants have faced long waits on phone hotlines — and when they show up for help at a county office, workers say they often must turn them away.
Food shelves facing greater pressure with the end of additional SNAP benefits
About 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits, according to the USDA. In 2022, it helped 435,900 Minnesotans or 8% of the state’s population.
Sales tax for affordable housing? No, say metro cities and Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
The proposed quarter-cent sales tax would raise around $200 million a year with the money being sent in three directions: seven counties, cities and a state rental assistance program.
With copper-nickel mining uncertainty, how long will mining be a steady economic driver in Minnesota?
Despite setbacks, the mining industry has not given up hopes of establishing a new era of mining in the state to extract nickel, copper, cobalt and perhaps other metals, incentivized by the prospects the United States will need more of these materials to shift to clean energy and a greener economy.
Legislative proposal would add fees to Uber rides, Amazon deliveries to fund Minnesota transportation
Such rideshare and delivery fees are among a series of taxes moving through the House Transportation Committee to supplement traditional sources of money that pay for roads: gasoline taxes, tab fees, sales taxes on car parts and special transportation sales taxes.
Minnesota lawmakers likely to spend $100 million on broadband. How far will that go?
Gov. Tim Walz and some legislators had originally proposed $276 million in state spending on broadband this year.
Settlement will wipe $6 billion in student loan debt — but not for these borrowers
Students with private loans were left out of a recent loan cancellation settlement.
