Mar 16, 2001
There is still talk in the halls and offices of the State Office Building about a possible coup against House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-28B, Kenyon). We aren’t quite sure of the source, but the whispers are occurring. We also will believe it when we see it. The...
Mar 16, 2001
Checks & Balances has to give credit to Rep Mark Gleason (DFL–63B, Richfield) in his bid to become the next State Auditor. We understand Gleason already has literature for the race, which he is distributing at the municipal ward endorsing conventions in...
Mar 16, 2001
AFL-CIO President Bernard Brommer made it official this week announcing his retirement. We have been discussing the possibility since the early part of the year and it is good to have been right. The 34 members of the Executive Council will make the decision on his...
Mar 16, 2001
Some buzz around the State Capitol is that Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Karen Studders is involved in conversations with the federal Environmental Protection Agency about a possible job. This would be a significant coup for the Bush Administration...
Mar 16, 2001
Every year in the legislature one issue seems to rise to the fore; which few people thought would not be a major issue before the start of the legislative session then suddenly captures a large share of the attention. This may be the case regarding casino...
Mar 16, 2001
The clear lack of camaraderie between US Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and Governor Jesse Ventura (IP-MN) is taking on a personal tone. It appears that neither one likes the other. Last year when discussions were taking place about Wellstone’s interest in...
Mar 16, 2001
An idea being offered by Minnesota Planning Director Dean Barkley in the redistricting debate of competitiveness may have an interesting result. If competitiveness becomes a new criterion in the determination of factors used to decide the configuration of political...
Mar 16, 2001
The timing of the Tax Bill will be an interesting clue to where the legislature is heading for a number of different issues. If it occurs before the passage of any spending bills, it seems the session will move forward more smoothly than many anticipate. The later...
Mar 13, 2001
Director of Minnesota State Planning Dean Barkley confirmed to Checks & Balances yesterday that they are in the process of determining a criterion for redistricting, which includes a district political index. The problem Barkley admitted, is trying to decide...
Mar 13, 2001
The Rural DFL members of the House are trying to coalesce with their Republican colleagues but without much success. Originally, the two sides were to sit down with each other at a meeting called by Rep Richard “Doc” Mulder (R–21B, Ivanhoe), but the...
