Apr 4, 2000
State Sen Gary Laidig (R–56, Stillwater) survived a disappointing weekend. The five-term incumbent failed to receive the endorsement from his fellow Republicans on Saturday. This was not an April Fool’s joke that was visited upon the Senator – it really...
Apr 4, 2000
Well, the proposals and counterproposals have been exchanged via fax between state Sen Leo Foley (DFL 49, Coon Rapids) and Rep Barb Sykora (R 43B-Excelsior), over the Safe Place for Newborns. The two sides seem to be locking in on their positions and even before the...
Apr 4, 2000
It is hard to measure the success of an event during any legislative session. We at Checks & Balances will use our measures if the people had a good time and by most accounts they did. In attendance were Attorney General Mike Hatch (DFL-MN) and State Auditor Judi...
Apr 4, 2000
Checks & Balances Publisher Shawn Towle presents Orator Award to Rep Tom Rukavina Checks & Balances Publisher Shawn Towle presents Orator Award to Sen Roger Moe. Checks & Balances Publisher Shawn Towle presents Orator Award to Rep Tim Pawlenty Senate...
Apr 4, 2000
After the event started other people started to trickle in they included a large class of elementary students and various onlookers from other Capitol offices that came to see the assembled throng. The highlight of the event occurred when Governor Jesse...
Apr 4, 2000
On Friday, the State Supreme Court sent more than a warning shot over the bow of the state legislature and the target was the ever-present Omnibus Bill. The court is further tuning in the focus on this issue and went so far as to strip a provision out of a bill passed...
Mar 30, 2000
Well, tonight’s the night of the Checks & Balances Session Stress Reliever. It is occurring at the Rathskeller of the Minnesota Brewing Company located at 882 W. 7th Street in St. Paul. There has been some confusion people are thinking it is in the Rathskeller of...
Mar 30, 2000
By statute, the legislature is allowed to be in session for 120 legislative days each biennium. The definition of a legislative day is when either body meets. Historically, the session lengths were 100 days in 1991-92, 106 days in 1993-94, 113 days in 1995-96 and 109...
Mar 30, 2000
Two interesting rule changes in the State House have caught our attention lately. The first is the expansion of the number of authors on any piece of legislation. Previously, the number was limited to 5 and now that has been opened up. We came across some interesting...
Mar 30, 2000
There is some speculation about the constitutionality of the Omnibus Bill passed last week in the state House. The Bill has been called the “mother of all garbage bills” and may impinge on the close of the legislative session. The short description in the...
