Jim Abeler throws his hat into 2014 U.S. Senate race

Gay marriage advocates, business groups spend big on lobbying in 2013

The successful effort to legalize gay marriage in Minnesota this session also turned out to be one of the most expensive lobbying efforts in 2013, with advocates and opponents spending nearly $2 million to try an influence legislators votes on the issue.

Dayton asks federal government to help Minnesota livestock farmers

Gov. Mark Dayton has called on the federal government to address the dire shortage of feed for Minnesota livestock. The problem has been created from a series of weather events including a massive winter kill of alfalfa.

Speaker Paul Thissen looks back on session past and ahead to ’14 session, election

Though House Democrats sacrificed some of their key priorities in the budget deal that concluded the 2013 session of the Minnesota Legislature, Speaker Paul Thissen pronounces himself well-satisfied with the achievements of the budgeting session gone by.

Counties get transportation revenue tools

In the aftermath of the 2013 legislative session, transportation advocates have mostly lamented lawmakers’ decision not to increase funding for transit and highway projects. But this year’s transportation finance bill contained a silver lining for greater Minnesota counties that has gone mostly unnoted.

With renovation, Capitol exodus to start soon

Last session’s near-unanimous support for funding a major portion of the Capitol restoration project likely will turn into bipartisan grumbling this fall, as the project moves inside the 108-year-old building.

David Strom: Power and trust

Cognitive dissonance arises when we feel distress at the realization that we hold beliefs that seem to contradict each other. When we experience it, we look for ways to either resolve the contradiction or explain it away.

Miller will not run against Tim Walz in the 1st District

Miller, a two-term senator from Winona, had been considering a run for the seat after being approached by several "major players" in the district over the last several weeks. But with twin sons on the way and responsibilities to run his family's scrap metal processing business, Miller said Friday that "the timing just isn't right for Congress."

Revenue department fills in the details on changes to tax code

Most changes to Minnesota’s tax code that were enacted during the legislative session will take effect at the end of June. But there are some notable exceptions to that rule of thumb.

Tom Bakk: Remembrance of the session past

In the end, the DFL-controlled 2013 Legislature finished its budget work on time — with four minutes to spare, to be exact. It was 11:56 p.m. on adjournment day by the time the Minnesota Senate wrapped up its vote on the tax bill.