The Senate Finance Committee turned the Vikings stadium political situation upside down by inserting the controversial revenue source of allowing slot machines at two Minnesota racetracks. The Senate's chief author immediately vowed to have the so-called racino removed from the bill tomorrow in the Taxes committee.
by Briana Bierschbach
Published: April 13, 2012
Tags: Amy Klobuchar, Amy Koch, Ann Lenczewski, Barb Goodwin, Brita Sailer, Carol McFarlane, Claire Robling, Connie Bernardy, Frank Hornstein, Jen DeJournett, John Marty, Julianne Ortman, Kate Knuth, Ken Kelash, Kevin Masrud, Kim Norton, Linda Slocum, Marion Greene, Mary Jo McGuire, Matt Dean, Meagan Bachmayer, Melisa Franzen, Melissa Halvorson Wiklund, Michelle Benson, Mike Jungabuer, Mindy Greiling, Minnesota Nurses Association, Pam Wolf, Patricia Torres Ray, Phyllis Kahn, Sandy Pappas, Scott Dibble, Shannon Savick, Stonewall DFL, Terra Cole, Terri Bonoff, Tom Tillberry
It was one of those votes no one wanted to take. The state’s new maps dropped DFL senators and allies John Marty and Mary Jo McGuire into Senate District 66, forcing activists in the area to pick between them at a recent endorsing convention.
Connie Bernardy, who retired from the House in 2006 after five years in the chamber, bested Tom Tillberry after only one ballot at a gathering of delegates at Columbia Heights High School. Tillberry replaced Bernardy in the House after she retired.
by Briana Bierschbach
Published: March 28, 2012
Tags: Ann Lenczewski, Barb Goodwin, Barbara Yarusso, Bev Scalze, Bobby Joe Champion, Connie Bernardy, David Boyd, David Younk, Ellen Anderson, Frank Hornstein, Jason Isaacson, Joe Mullery, John Marty, Jon Olson, Josey Warren, Kate Knuth, Ken Kelash, Ken Lawrence, Linda Higgins, marcus harcus, Marion Greene, Mary Jo McGuire, Melissa Halvorson Wiklund, Michael Jones, Mindy Greiling, Nancy Pomplun, Nick Tamble, Pam Wolf, Paul Gardner, Peter Strohmeier, Raymond Dehn, Scott Dibble, Sheila Kelly, Tammy Pust, Terra Cole, Tom Tillberry, Willie Dominguez
Minneapolis DFLers lost another legislator last weekend. Freshman Rep. Marion Greene, who replaced former DFL House Speaker and gubernatorial candidate Margaret Anderson Kelliher in the chamber, fell in an endorsement contest against DFL House colleague Frank Hornstein.
by Paul Demko and Briana Bierschbach
Published: February 22, 2012
Tags: Alice Hausman, Andy Parrish, Barb Goodwin, Branden Petersen, Carly Melin, Carolyn McElfatrick, Connie Bernardy, Gary Kubly, Gen Olson, Glenn Gruenhagen, Gregg Peppin, John Marty, John Persell, Kathy Saltzman, Ken Kelash, Larry Howes, Mark Murdock, Mary Jo Maguire, Michele Bachmann, Mindy Greiling, Pam Wolf, Paul Torkelson, Peggy Scott, Ray Vandeveer, redistricting, Ron Shimanski, Scott Dibble, Steve Smith, Ted Lillie, Tom Anzelc, Tom Rukavina, Tony Cornish
The most anticipated political event of the year at the Capitol — the unveiling of court-drawn state legislative and congressional districts that will be used for the next decade — arrived at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
by Briana Bierschbach
Published: January 4, 2012
Tags: Amy Koch, Barb Goodwin, Bill Ingebrigtsen, Cullen Sheehan, Dave Senjem, ethics, Geoff Michel, Gretchen Hoffman, MN Senate, Scott Newman, Tom Bakk
In its first year at the helm of the chamber, the Senate Republican caucus has faced two ethics complaints and could be looking at a third in the wake of former Majority Leader Amy Koch’s sudden resignation after being confronted about an inappropriate relationship with a male staffer who reported to her.
by Paul Demko
Published: November 22, 2011
Tags: 2012 legislative races, Al DeKruif, Al Juhnke, Andrew Reinhardt, Anne Nolan, Barb Goodwin, Bruce Vogel, Chris Cousins, Connie Doepke, Dan Skogen, Denny McNamara, Eric Stommes, Erin Murphy, Gretchen Hoffman, Joanna Bayers, Karin Housley, Kathy Lohmer, Kathy Sheran, Katie Sieben, Kevin Dahle, Mary Sawatzky, Melissa Hortman, Norann Dillon, Steve Gottwalt, Terri Bonoff, Todd MIkkelson, Tom DeGree
Nobody knows what the legislative maps will look like in 2012. The politically charged redistricting process will almost certainly be decided by the courts, most likely in February. But that uncertainty over legislative district boundaries hasn’t stopped numerous challengers on both sides of the aisle from declaring their candidacies.
by Briana Bierschbach
Published: August 10, 2011
Tags: Ann Rest, Barb Goodwin, Ben Golnik, Bill Ingebrigtsen, Gretchen Hoffman, Mark Buesgens, Mark Dayton, Michael Brodkorb, Paul Gardner, Sean Kershaw, Tom Emmer
Nationally, the social networking site was the catalyst for the recent Anthony Weiner scandal and his ultimate resignation, after the seven-term Democratic congressman from New York accidentally tweeted a lewd image of himself he had meant to send as a direct message to a woman.
GOP Senate Ethics Chair Michelle Fischbach issued a letter Tuesday saying Hoffman has fulfilled the requirements set by the committee and the complaint has been dropped. Last Monday the committee ruled that Hoffman must issue a written apology to Goodwin, delete the original tweet, and post the committee resolution on her Twitter account.
Following a ruling from the Senate Ethics Committee, freshman Republican Sen. Gretchen Hoffman has sent a written apology to DFL Sen. Barb Goodwin for a tweet she sent out in the midst of a heated health and human services debate last session.
