Pawlenty's Met Council appointees mostly breeze through Senate confirmation hearing

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Metropolitan Council appointees today sailed through pretty calm waters in their confirmation hearings in front of the Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee. But one Met Council member spent some time on the hot seat.

Cash-flow crisis roadshow visits House joint committee hearing

Last Thursday the state issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a loan or line of credit of $600 million to shore up Minnesota's finances. The deadline for those proposals is February 25.

House GOP takes the offensive on jobs during floor debate

House Republicans this afternoon jumped out in front of DFLers who are fast-tracking a nearly $1 billion capital projects bill. They ultimately failed to force a vote on a bill that phases out Minnesota's corporate income tax.

Legislature to the rescue: Lobbyists savor reprieve from the big gubernatorial candidate squeeze

For many a lobbyist, the beginning of the legislative session -- and its attendant ban on fundraising from lobbyists -- inspired the biggest sighs of relief of their professional lives.

Pawlenty vows to 'aggressively' protect unallotment power

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty fired a warning shot over the Legislature's bow Friday afternoon, promising to "aggressively" protect the governor's unallotment authority.

Legislators introduce early-primary bill

Two Minnesota legislators are proposing moving up the date of Minnesota's political primary by a month to ensure that military and overseas voters have adequate time to receive and return their absentee ballots for the general election.

Overheard at the Capitol (and elsewhere): Odds & ends from the week that was

Between the caucuses, the campaign finance deadline, and the reconvening of the Legislature, it's been a rich week under the big top. And before the clock runs out on it, a few notes and observations that we weren't able to wedge in elsewhere.