Jan 30, 2003
Advocates for wine sales in grocery stores have asked Rep. Bob Gunther (R-24A, Fairmont) if he would carry the bill and he declined. As one of two grocers in the State House, new Rep. Dean Simpson (R-10B, New York Mills) being the other, many of Gunther’s colleagues...
Jan 30, 2003
Rep. Rich Stanek’s (R-32B, Maple Grove) last vote on the House Floor will be on the Visa expiration legislation. As he moves on to the Department of Public Safety his last act will be passage of House File 1. … This content is for Monthly General...
Jan 30, 2003
It is an ambitious approach Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) and Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke are undertaking to reform the Profile of Learning into a new academic standard. They are setting up a panel to recommend a set of standards and the deadline for...
Jan 30, 2003
Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks and his response was , “That’s where the money is.” State Auditor Pat Awada (R) will announce the results of a study on Local Government Aids (LGA) support and spending early next month. We understand there will...
Jan 30, 2003
We are not saying it is easy, but dealing the projected budget shortfall for fiscal year 2004-05 using simple math shows a reduction of a significant portion. Interestingly enough the reasons for a large part of the deficit are the changes in tax law last legislative...
Jan 29, 2003
Interestingly enough Rep. Eric Lipman (R-56A, Lake Elmo) is sponsoring a “Learning Lunch” on Wednesday, January 29th in room 500 South of the State Office Building from 12:00 to 12:30 PM on Tort Reform. He is promoting the seminar with a slogan Come and...
Jan 28, 2003
The DFL Education Foundation heads down a perilous path. They are holding three seminars in the next three months focused on DFL political opportunities in the suburbs. It is our understanding this is a 501C3 nonprofit organization and if they engage in partisan...
Jan 28, 2003
In Maple Grove District 32B, the DFL may actually have a candidate able to make in roads. Mick Ganley is the past President of the Minneapolis Police Officers Federation. As a cop Ganley is a good fit for the district. The past State Senator is Pat McGowan the current...
Jan 28, 2003
We are watching with great interest the Special Elections in Burnsville, Stillwater and Maple Grove. These are three suburban districts, which many expect the DFL to perform poorly. If as we expect there is an election in Bloomington this will be a focus as well....
Jan 28, 2003
Lobbyists are frequently commenting on the lack of sophistication in the House with the new freshmen members. Unlike the belief “There are no stupid questions,” people in the business of educating legislators on issues feel they have their work cut out for...
