Jan 8, 2003
Governor Tim Pawlenty declared a vacancy for district 40A and called for a Special election on February 03, 2003. The vacancy occurred with Rep. Dan McElroy’s selection as Commissioner of Finance. If needed a primary will occur on January 17th. Candidates need...
Jan 8, 2003
When Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-59B, Minneapolis) called former Governor Wendell Anderson to suggest the inclusion of women onto his hockey team for play against then Governor-elect Tim Pawlenty, she didn’t expect the volume of excuses. When a female goalie was...
Jan 8, 2003
There are some feelings in the DFL community of a bargaining underway between the various minority groups. With the rise in the profile of the Hmong community, their strong turnout numbers at the polls and a perceived stronger work ethic choosing this community over...
Jan 8, 2003
Today, there is a seminar co-sponsored by the Republican House Caucus and the Minnesota Taxpayers League Foundation. The seminar entitled The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Budget-Cutters. With all the discussion of the Taxpayers League holding sway with the...
Jan 8, 2003
With the Start of the session, we thought it would be good to remind people, which lobbyists are carrying water for which organizations. The most recent additions are: Joseph Bagnoli Metropolitan Radio Board, Minnesota Golf Assn, Greater Minneapolis Building Owners...
Jan 8, 2003
As the session opened protestors greeted legislators. People carrying pink signs lined the stairway into the Senate Chamber. This was a gathering of anti-gun protestors who seek to prevent conceal and carry legislation. With the change in the make-up of the...
Jan 8, 2003
The December receipts should be available shortly and we will be able to see how the end of the year numbers square with projections and past years. The sales tax collections and the end of the year dividends will add up to show what is in state coffers. This will...
Jan 8, 2003
The legislative session opening is always ceremony and procedure. Each body must elect its leadership for the forthcoming biennium and install the chamber officers. Families join the new and returning legislators for the swearing-in ceremony and there rarely is any...
Jan 7, 2003
A few weeks after I was born, a young president stood in the bright sunshine of a Washington January afternoon and he said these words: “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation...
Jan 7, 2003
The Tim Pawlenty (R) inauguration is the start of a new Administration facing a steep budget deficit, but ripe with promise. In his speech, Pawlenty laid out a broad set of principles and goals long on rhetoric and short on specifics. The even only had one hitch and...
