May 1, 2000
Rep David Bishop (R-30A, Rochester) told House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-28B, Kenyon) that he was not seeking reelection just for effect. The Dean of the House is staying put. He was emboldened in his decision after he received a favorable medical report. During the...
May 1, 2000
Sen Linda Runbeck (R-53, Circle Pines) was able to withstand the MCCL onslaught and cruised easily to a 3rd ballot endorsement. This may bolster her campaign onto the general election. If she has taken on Jackie Schweitz and company and survived, her campaign is worth...
May 1, 2000
The House Government Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee is scheduled to meet at 1:30 pm on Monday to once again discuss House Speaker Steve Sviggum’s (DFL-28B, Kenyon) Unicameral proposal. This bill is now entering the category of the...
Apr 27, 2000
Ron Dicklich left the state Senate in 1992 after a public airing of a number of personal domestic issues that made there way on to the pages of the local newspapers. He represented Senate District 05 and resided in Hibbing serving in the state Senate since 1980. He...
Apr 27, 2000
There is some talk in the halls of the Capitol about calls made from the Vikings organization to the legislative caucuses. The intent of the calls was to downplay any idea that the Vikings are interested money for a new stadium. The approach will probably backfire. In...
Apr 27, 2000
The issue that is coming forward and will be hard for members to vote against will be Sen Bob Lessard’s (I -03, International Falls) constitutional amendment which dedicates three-sixteenths of 1 percent of the state sales tax, the number comes is around $112 million...
Apr 27, 2000
The St. Paul Pioneer Press took an interesting stance in support of five candidates seeking to replace Congressman Bruce Vento (D_MN04). The paper supported three women and two men, four DFLers, and one Republican. The sole Republican is a candidate who doesn’t even...
Apr 27, 2000
The approvals from the federal government of Light Rail Transit (LRT) are now finalized. This will shore up the Governor Jesse Ventura (RP-MN) position on the extraction of the repeal language in the Ominous Omnibus bill. If we pay attention to the budget/tax...
Apr 27, 2000
A new political drama has begun. Scene one a married legislator is arrested for an alcohol-related driving incident. He is driving a vehicle owned by a single legislative campaign staff person Anna Youngerman, and because she is female and now the rumors commence....
Apr 27, 2000
If the legislative session were to come to an impasse, there will be plenty of blame to pass around. The air will be filled with rhetoric and the political spin. The legislative leaders will return to their homes leaving the Governor alone in the State Capitol with...
