by Briana Bierschbach
Published: May 3, 2013
Tags: Deb Hilstrom, gun control, Gun Violence Prevention Act, John Lesch, Michael Paymar, Minnesota House of Representatives, Paul Thissen, Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, Twin Cities Public Television, U.S. Senate
DFL House Speaker Paul Thissen said Wednesday that the proposal lacked the necessary support to pass this session and would not be brought to the chamber floor.
by Briana Bierschbach
Published: April 10, 2013
Tags: Ann Lenczewski, Brad Narr, Destination Medical Center, Greg Davids, John Lesch, John Noseworthy, Mayo Clinic, Pat Garofalo, Ron Erhardt, Tina Liebling
After a rocky few weeks for the bill, Mayo CEO John Noseworthy told the National Press Club on Tuesday that there are “49 states” that are eager to have Mayo invest $3 billion if Minnesota does not sign on.
by Briana Bierschbach
Published: April 5, 2013
Tags: Andrea Kieffer, civil unions, Denny McNamara, Greg Davids, Jake Loesch, Jim Abeler, John Lesch, Karen Clark, Kim Norton, Mary Franson, Pat Garofalo, Steve Simon, Tim Kelly
Republican Rep. Tim Kelly is one of the last GOP legislators you’d expect to find on the bad side of gay marriage advocates. The three-term member from Red Wing is well-known for bucking his own caucus in 2011 as Republicans worked to pass a controversial constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
by Paul Demko
Published: March 20, 2013
Tags: Jeffrey Dion, John Lesch, Minnesota Child Care Association, Minnesota Religious Council, Minnesota School Boards Association, National Center for Victims of Crime, Steve Simon
Legislation eliminating restrictions on when lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse can be filed is headed for floor votes in the House and Senate. The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-Hopkins, cleared the Judiciary Finance and Policy Committee on a voice vote Wednesday.
by Paul Demko
Published: February 13, 2013
Tags: Anne Marie Rasmusson, Chuck Samuelson, data privacy, Dennis Flaherty, John Lesch, Mary Liz Holberg, Pam Myhra, Scott Dibble, Warren Limmer
In recent months the headlines have been filled with stories that raise concerns about invasion of privacy, and legislators from both parties are taking notice.
by Paul Demko
Published: May 25, 2011
Tags: Amy Koch, Geoff Michel, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, John Lesch, Kurt Zeller, Kurt Zellers, Mark Dayton, Tom Bakk
In the closing days of the 2011 legislative session, Republican legislative leaders repeatedly stated that they were optimistic about reaching a solution to the state’s $5 billion budget deficit. “We can get this done,” said Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch with a week left in the session.
by Briana Bierschbach
Published: May 6, 2011
Tags: Al Quie, Alice Hausman, Arne Carlson, Bob Gunther, Gary Kubly, Geoff Michel, Gregg Peppin, Jesse Ventura, John Lesch, John Persell, Ken Kelash, Larry Howes, Larry Pogemiller, Mark Dayton, Mary Jo McGuire, Paul Torkelson, Peter Wattson, Roger Moe, Sarah Anderson, Scott Dibble, Tom Gillaspy
Tempers flared and debates grew heated around the Capitol over the past week as Republicans in the House put their controversial legislative redistricting map on the table. The map carves up a new political landscape that pits 26 incumbents against one another - 20 in the House and six in the Senate - and all but one of the matchups put a DFLer, or two, in peril.
by Paul Demko
Published: May 3, 2011
Tags: Alice Hausman, Bob Gunther, Geoff Michel, John Lesch, John Persell, Ken Kelash, Larry Howse, Linda Berglin, Patricia Torres Ray, Paul Torkelson, redistricting, Sarah Anderson, Scott Dibble
Rep. Sarah Anderson has released the first plan for redrawing legislative districts based on 2010 Census figures. The proposed map would pit 20 current House members against each other and six sitting senators, according to an analysis by Minnesota Public Radio.
by Paul Demko
Published: March 30, 2011
Tags: Alice Hausman, John Lesch, Mary Jo McGuire, Steven Marchese
Former state Rep. Mary Jo McGuire won the special primary election in Senate District 66 by racking up huge vote margins on her home turf of Falcon Heights. In the two precincts covering the Ramsey County suburb, she received 508 votes -- compared to just 53 votes for Rep. John Lesch and 28 votes for attorney Steven Marchese.
by Paul Demko
Published: March 29, 2011
Tags: Alice Hausman, John Lesch, Mary Jo McGuire, Steven Marchese
Former state Rep. Mary Jo McGuire won the DFL primary election in Senate District 66 with 54 percent of the vote, according to the Ramsey County Elections division. She handily defeated current state Rep. John Lesch, who garnered 36 percent of the vote. Attorney Steven Marchese finished well back with just under 10 percent of the vote.
