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

State Rep. Jim Abeler announced on Tuesday morning he’s launched an exploratory committee for a 2014 U.S. Senate bid. The expert on health care issues who is in his eighth House term as a Republican from Anoka said he wants to "unlock the stifling stranglehold the federal government holds on Minnesota, and recapture the flexibility we need to run our own state.”


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

State Rep. Jim Abeler announced on Tuesday morning he’s launched an exploratory committee for a 2014 U.S. Senate bid. The expert on health care issues who is in his eighth House term as a Republican from Anoka said he wants to "unlock the stifling stranglehold the federal government holds on Minnesota, and recapture the flexibility we need to run our own state.”

Dayton seeks dismissal of daycare union lawsuit

Solicitor General Alan Gilbert argued that the plaintiffs in the case do not have standing to bring their claim.

Republicans jump into congressional races

A couple of Republicans in recent days have jumped into 2014 Minnesota congressional races. New entrants got into the 1st and 6th Congressional District contests.



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.


THEPOLITICSPORTAL

CAPITOL LIFE

COMMENTARY

  • 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.

ELECTIONS

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

    State Rep. Jim Abeler announced on Tuesday morning he’s launched an exploratory committee for a 2014 U.S. Senate bid. The expert on health care issues who is in his eighth House term as a Republican from Anoka said he wants to “unlock the stifling stranglehold the federal government holds on Minnesota, and recapture the flexibility we need to run our own state.”

BUDGET / TAXES

EDUCATION

  • McHenry, Korte promoted at MN Education Department

    Kevin McHenry has been tapped as a new assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Education. McHenry takes over for Rose Chu, who left the agency to take a job at Metropolitan State University.

ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT

HEALTH CARE

  • Health and human services budget headed to Dayton’s desk

    The legislation, which includes a 5 percent rate increase for nursing homes next year and additional spending for mental health services in schools, passed of the chamber floor on a 39-28 vote. At the start of the debate, bill author Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, said the final budget bill was considerably better than a proposal passed earlier in the year. That’s because both chambers originally faced a $150 million targeted budget cut in health and human services, but that number was scaled back to $50 million when leadership reached final budget targets with Gov. Mark Dayton.