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MN Legislative Leaders React To Dayton Veto

February 10, 2012 by Michael McIntee Minnesota No Comments

This morning Governor Dayton announced he is vetoing a set of Republican authored bills aimed at making it harder to sue in court. Governor Dayton’s veto message on tort reform.

Legislative leaders react to the Governor’s veto. Above we hear from Republican legislative leaders House Speaker Kurt Zellers, Senate Majority Leader David Senjem and Senator Julianne Ortman. Below is DFL House Minority Leader Representative Kurt Zellers.

Read the live Minnesota legislative twitter feed and watch the news conference at the same time.
… Continue Reading

Mental Health Budget Cuts Costing MN More (CC)

February 9, 2012 by Michael McIntee MN House No Comments

Joe Webb says budget cuts are preventing his mentally ill son from moving closer to home

Click photo to hear Joe Webb's story about his mentally ill son.

Joe Webb wants his mentally ill son to live closer to home. But cuts made last year in Minnesota’s mental health budget are preventing that. Webb’s son suffers from schizophrenia, and for the last eight years he’s lived at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter.

Webb’s son is getting better and he’s now able to move to an adult foster home.

“He was accepted for placement,” said Webb. “I was very overjoyed. I want my son closer to home and have an opportunity to begin his life in the community.”

But Webb told the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Finance committee that there’s a problem. The state has told corporate foster homes that anytime someone leaves a home, it cannot accept a replacement resident. The state made the change last July as part of its budget cuts to end the government shutdown.

“Decertification” leaves fewer and fewer foster home beds, costing state more money … Continue Reading

Objections To MN Gun Bill Fail

February 9, 2012 by Michael McIntee MN Senate No Comments

Senator Barb Goodwin objects to gun bill

Click photo to hear Senator Barb Goodwin's objections to changes in gun laws.

Senator Barb Goodwin raises objections to H.F. 1467 Defense of Dwelling and Person Act.

She says it should have another hearing since a New York Times article showed that Minnesota has problems with felons easily getting back their firearms once they are released from prison.

Senator Terri Bonoff concurs saying she’s heard from law enforcement officers concerned about the proposed changes in gun restrictions.

Despite the objections, the bill was sent to the full senate for a vote.

Unsure, MN GOP Senator Votes To Limit Your Right To Sue

February 8, 2012 by Michael McIntee MN Senate No Comments

Senator Julianne Ortman

Click photo to watch Senator Julianne Ortman try to defend her proposal to limit time you have to sue.

Senator Julianne Ortman’s bill to shorten Minnesota’s statute of limitations passes despite her saying some of the issues in it could go back to the Judiciary committee.

DFL Caucus Goers Want Jobs and Personal Freedom

DFL SD 42 Caucus Goer

Click on photo to hear what DFL caucus goers are concerned and optimistic about

DFL caucus attendees in SD 42 (Eden Prairie and south half of Minnetonka) were focused on jobs, keeping the economy growing and saying no to the proposed and threatened state constitutional amendments limiting freedom, disenfranchising voters and attacking unions.

Most of the attention was on the so called Defense of Marriage Amendment that would constitutionally prohibit same sex marriages and the proposed Voter ID Amendment which would disenfranchise 200,000 Minnesota voters, Caucus turnout was less than 4 years ago, but the rooms were filled with enthusiasm.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak remembers what it was like four years ago. … Continue Reading

Vouchers For College? MN Education Head Says Maybe

February 8, 2012 by Michael McIntee Education, MN Senate No Comments

Larry Pogemiller answers questions during confirmation hearing

Click on photo to hear Larry Pogemiller talk about using vouchers for college education.

Vouchers for college? Minnesota’s Higher Education Director Larry Pogemiller says he’s open to the idea.

The former Senator made the comments during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Higher Education Committee after Senator John Carlson, a Republican, raised the question. Pogemiller, who is a Democrat, says he is open to thinking way outside the box.

For 30 years, Senator Pogemiller was the one asking the questions of appointees. Today, Former Senator Pogemiller said it was a little strange to sit “on the other side” of the table during his Senate confirmation hearing.

Pogemiller resigned his Senate seat when Governor Mark Dayton asked him to take the Higher Education position. Senate Republicans recently rejected Dayton’s choice for Public Utilities Commissioner Ellen Anderson, who also was a Senator who resigned her seat to take the job.

The committee voted unanimously to recommend Pogemiller be confirmed as Higher Education Director.

Full video of Pogemiller confirmation hearing: … Continue Reading

Banks Backing GOP Attempt To Suppress MN Votes

February 8, 2012 by Michael McIntee Minnesota, Voter Suppression No Comments

TakeAction Minnesota's Dan McGrath Diagrams how bank money goes to Republican legislators

Click photo to watch TakeAction Minnesota's Dan McGrath diagram how bank money goes to MN Republican legislators

TakeAction Minnesota says bank executives from Wells Fargo, US Bank and TCF Bank are funneling money to Republican legislative candidates to secure a photo ID amendment on the state’s November 2012 ballot.

Executive Director Dan McGrath gives examples of how the money flows from the bank executives through various organizations to the candidates. McGrath says banks may have a broader agenda than voter photo ID, but they need to realize that is what they are funding.

Take Action MN Report on Voter Photo ID Funding

Charts on how the money flows and where it goes … Continue Reading

Religious Leaders Jam Senator’s Office On MN Voter Photo ID

February 7, 2012 by Michael McIntee Minnesota, Voter Suppression No Comments

Pastor Grant Stevens

Click photo to watch Pastor Grant Stevens and others take petitions to Minnesota Senate Majority Leader's office.

Video by Nick Coleman
Senate Majority Leader David Senjem’s office doesn’t get many visits like this says his assistant Beth Kleinboehl. It’s not often that a half dozen religious leaders come calling with a cadre of television cameras in tow.

The cameras were there to watch the religious leaders present Senjem’s office with letters and petitions calling to keep the “voter photo ID” issue off the general election ballot.

The leaders, who come from many faiths, said the Republican backed proposed constitutional amendment would disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans, many who are too poor or too disabled to get a proper government ID. Earlier they had preached to the press about the dangers of the amendment which one religious leader called “a devilish enterprise”.

Senator Senjem was not at his office today, but will be back Wednesday when the legislative session resumes. His assistant said the Senator will respond.

Read the letter and petition that was delivered to Senator Senjem’s office … Continue Reading

Religious Leaders Oppose MN Voter Photo ID

February 7, 2012 by Michael McIntee Minnesota, Voter Suppression No Comments

Religious Leaders Opposing MN Voter Photo ID

Click photo to watch Religious Leaders Opposing MN Voter Photo ID

Religious leaders of various faiths hold a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol voicing their opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID for the purpose of voting.

Following the press conference, those assembled deliver a copy a letter opposing the amendment to House and Senate leadership and co-sponsors of the bill (video here). The letter has been signed by hundreds of interfaith leaders throughout Minnesota.

Video of full news conference: … Continue Reading

Gingrich: Hard Working Dead People Should Keep Their Money

February 6, 2012 by Michael McIntee Minnesota, Newt Gingrich No Comments

Newt Gingrich's strange take on the "death tax"

Yes he said that. Click on the photo to hear Gingrich's strange statement on the "death tax".

Republican Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich tells a crowd of supporters in Minnesota: “In addition on taxes, we would abolish the ‘death tax’ permanently because we believe that it is very, very important that people who work hard are allowed to keep what they earn.”

Gingrich is referring to the inheritance tax. He apparently is asserting that the children of the dead worked hard for their parents money.

Gingrich had some other interesting statements during his speech in Bloomington, MN.

On capital gains he had two plans for capital gains tax rate which right now is about 15%. First cut it to zero… and then reduce it to 12.5%.

More video … Continue Reading

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2012  MN Legislative Session

MN Legislative Leaders React To Dayton Veto

Governor Dayton announced he is vetoing a set of Republican authored bills aimed at making it harder to sue in court. Legislative leaders react to the Governor’s veto.

Joe Webb says budget cuts are preventing his mentally ill son from moving closer to home

Mental Health Budget Cuts Costing MN More (CC)

Joe Webb wants his mentally ill son to live closer to home. But cuts made last year in Minnesota’s mental health budget are preventing that.

Senator Barb Goodwin objects to gun bill

Objections To MN Gun Bill Fail

Senator Barb Goodwin raises objections to H.F. 1467 Defense of Dwelling and Person Act.
She says it should have another hearing since a New York Times article showed that Minnesota has problems with felons easily getting back their firearms once they are released from prison.

Senator Julianne Ortman

Unsure, MN GOP Senator Votes To Limit Your Right To Sue

Senator Julianne Ortman’s bill to shorten Minnesota’s statute of limitations passes despite her saying some of the issues in it could go back to the Judiciary committee

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DFL Caucus Goers Want Jobs and Personal Freedom

Hear what DFL caucus goers are concerned and optimistic about.

Larry Pogemiller answers questions during confirmation hearing

Vouchers For College? MN Education Head Says Maybe

Vouchers for college? Minnesota’s Higher Education Director Larry Pogemiller says he’s open to the idea.

TakeAction Minnesota's Dan McGrath Diagrams how bank money goes to Republican legislators

Banks Backing GOP Attempt To Suppress MN Votes

TakeAction Minnesota releases a report outlining Minnesota-based financial interests behind efforts to secure a photo ID amendment on the state’s November 2012 ballot.

Pastor Grant Stevens

Religious Leaders Jam Senator’s Office On MN Voter Photo ID

It’s not often that a half dozen religious leaders come calling with a cadre of television cameras in tow to Senate Majority Leader David Senjem’s office.

Religious Leaders Opposing MN Voter Photo ID

Religious Leaders Oppose MN Voter Photo ID

Religious leaders of various faiths hold a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol voicing their opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID for the purpose of voting.

Newt Gingrich's strange take on the "death tax"

Gingrich: Hard Working Dead People Should Keep Their Money

“We would abolish the ‘death tax’ permanently because we believe that it is very, very important that people who work hard are allowed to keep what they earn.”—Newt Gingrich

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