Lawmakers take off for spring recess

Posted on March 22, 2013 at 3:56 pm

by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol reporter Lawmakers departed from the Capitol last week for holiday break, with the legislative session …

Gun bill approved by committee, moving on to House floor

Posted on March 22, 2013 at 10:31 am

by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol reporter A sleeker gun bill cleared a House committee on Thursday, March 21, after a …

House minority leaders fight to find common ground

Posted on March 21, 2013 at 3:35 pm

Political Tidbits by Howard Lestrud ECM Political Editor Bop! Bam! Wham! Slam! They may be in the minority, but …

Zoo animals visit the State Capitol and legislators

Posted on March 21, 2013 at 2:30 pm

A delighted Rep. Anna Wills, R-Apple Valley, watches a slow loris, an animal native to Thailand and Vietnam, live …

Senate budget focuses on property tax relief

Posted on March 20, 2013 at 4:55 pm

by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol reporter A key theme of the Senate Democratic budget is property tax relief, with another …

Minnesota health insurance exchange is signed into law

Posted on March 20, 2013 at 4:21 pm

by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol reporter Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton touched pen to paper and made history. Flanked by a …

DFL House members want take from rich and give to schools

Posted on March 20, 2013 at 9:14 am

by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol reporter House Democrats propose to pay back the school shift, fully fund all-day kindergarten and …

Governor tells ECM he’ll present a bonding bill this session

Posted on March 19, 2013 at 5:14 pm

by Howard Lestrud ECM Political Editor Gov. Mark Dayton will present a bonding bill proposal in the $750 million range …

New fishing regulations to help rebuild Mille Lacs Lake’s fish population

Posted on March 19, 2013 at 3:19 pm

by Howard Lestrud ECM Political Editor Despite what the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) calls a low walleye population, department …

Mayo Clinic seeks expansion project, faces scrutiny in committees

Posted on March 19, 2013 at 2:29 pm

by Howard Lestrud ECM Political Editor Minnesota’s largest private employer, the Mayo Clinic of Rochester, has been flexing its muscles …

First-term Republican takes a stand for same-sex marriage bill

Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:01 am

by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol Reporter Sen. Branden Petersen sat against a flat-white office wall last Friday, March 15, talking …

Senate Democrats want to fund all-day kindergarten statewide

Posted on March 19, 2013 at 10:58 am

by Howard Lestrud ECM Political Editor With the Minnesota health insurance exchange passing the Senate and now on its way …

Bachmann, north-metro officials want I-94 and Hwy. 10 improvements

Posted on March 18, 2013 at 5:13 pm

by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol reporterSixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann visited the State Capitol on Monday (March 18) to hawk …

Wolf hunt moratorium bill advances in Senate

Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:07 pm

by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol Reporter She grew up in the field, Sen. Chris Eaton, DFL-Brooklyn Center said. “I have …

Governor’s revised budget less bold and less controversial

Posted on March 14, 2013 at 4:02 pm

by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol reporter Democrats lauded Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposed state budget as the boldest seen in decades. …