‘It’s time’: How the politics of addressing Minnesota’s opioid crisis changed at the Capitol
Last year, fierce pushback from the pharmaceutical industry mattered. This year, it probably won’t.
State Government
What we learned from Walz’s decision on Line 3
The decision represents only one aspect of larger fights ahead.
Lawmakers propose series of measures to stop march of Chronic Wasting Disease in Minnesota
House DFLers have unveiled a “comprehensive plan” to address the fatal disease, which has been found in isolated pockets of Minnesota but has flourished in Wisconsin and Iowa. Republicans have not supported all of the DFL-led legislation, but have also made battling CWD a priority.
Walz administration to continue legal challenge to Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline project
The governor and his Department of Commerce had been mulling whether to drop the Dayton administration’s appeal after taking office, but ultimately decided to stay the course after the lawsuit was thrown out last week on a technicality.
‘Goofy’ proposal for giving Minnesota’s major parties veto power over primary candidates gets a rewrite
After seeing that the parties could use the authority outlined in the bills to veto mainstream candidates, the bills’ chief sponsor in the state Senate said he reconsidered.
For Walz, Line 3 suit presents first big test of ‘One Minnesota’ philosophy
A judge’s order put new pressure on Gov. Tim Walz to quickly take a side on an issue he has been quietly mulling since taking office in January.
Both sides now: The donors who gave big to Tim Walz … and to Jeff Johnson
For some kinds of donors, it can pay to play both sides.
‘The whole thing is goofy’: Proposal to liberalize rules for minor party candidates in Minnesota would also block some major party candidates from primary ballot
Under a provision in the bills, major parties would be asked for a list of candidates that each party has approved. No approval, no placement on the primary ballot.
The tax that pays for MinnesotaCare is set to expire at the end of the year. So far, legislators can’t agree on a plan to replace it
The provider tax was supposed to become unnecessary as people covered by MinnesotaCare were covered by Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion. There was one small problem.
Republican-linked groups spent millions on the campaign for the Minnesota House. Republicans lost 18 seats
Democratic groups focused their spending on the governor and attorney general races, both of which were won by DFLers.
Can the name ‘Lourey’ keep a reddening 11th Senate District blue?
Like many Greater Minnesota legislative districts held by Democrats, SD11 has increasingly turned toward Republicans.
Lawmaker looks to eliminate one of Minnesota’s peculiar, and possibly illegal, election rules
Current state law says that no one can help more than three voters mark their ballots. A bill recently proposed by Rep. Samantha Vang would change that.
Automated ‘platoons’ of trucks might soon be driving on Minnesota roads
A task force convened last year by former Gov. Mark Dayton has recommended Minnesota allow platooning and has drafted legislation to make it legal.
Some Minnesota lawmakers have a plan to help federal workers — during the next shutdown
Rep. Zack Stephenson’s bill would appropriate $2.5 million to the Department of Employment and Economic Development to oversee the program and guarantee any defaults by workers. No interest could be charged during a shutdown or for 90 days after the end of a shutdown.
Is the legalization of recreational marijuana in Minnesota inevitable?
Recreational marijuana probably isn’t coming to Minnesota this year. But the debate at Legislature has already become largely about when, not if, it will happen.
How new rules for the Minnesota House signal the downfall of democracy. Or not.
The new House DFL majority says the new rules are simply to make things more efficient. Republicans say they’re anti-democratic, and anti-transparency.
Minnesota has done a pretty good job reducing greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. Reducing emissions from transportation could be harder
Transportation is now the largest source of emissions in the state.
Efforts to get ERA bill through Minnesota Legislature complicated by concerns about abortion rights
Abortion opponents say equal rights amendments “have a history of discriminating against less-developed humans; those yet to be born.”
Minnesota Asian Pacific Caucus: Hmong legislators are setting a broad agenda
Initiatives the MAP Caucus has already discussed and hopes to work on include immigration and deportation, education, health, the environment and agriculture.
What the first two weeks of the legislative session say about Minnesota’s approach to addressing climate change
Warnings about climate change are getting more alarming. The GOP-led Senate and DFL-controlled House are offering starkly different responses.
