Jan 15, 1999
The Administration has a couple of avenues for maintaining contact with the legislators during the legislative session. First, is through the various departments that are headed by Gubernatorial appointees. Second, by direct contact with the Governor’s Office...
Jan 15, 1999
Generally, in politics, it is the elected official who receives all of the credit for work done by their staff on matters of public policy. That is not the case in the office of Congressman Bill Luther. Luther’s Chief of Staff Ted Thompson has emerged as a...
Jan 15, 1999
The DFL Central Committee is set to meet tomorrow at Anoka Hennepin Technical College. They are set to discuss a vast array of process questions, which honestly help the Party work more efficiently. The problem is they won’t pass. The Central Committee is...
Jan 15, 1999
DFL members of the State House had the opportunity to play their own version of the Cervantes’ play Don Quixote. The item before the bodywas the passage of the newly proposed Permanent House Rules which required passage under the old rules. The debate was long and...
Jan 15, 1999
During the 1998 legislative session, the legislature passed legislation to place a ban on snowmobile studs. The idea passed fairly easily through the process. Those who consider themselves to be fiscally responsible argued for the cost-savings for counties who needed...
Jan 11, 1999
There is a new style of lobbying that is starting to take hold in our nation’s capitol. Small organizations and associations are figuring out that using the Internet and e-mail is a cost-effective way to convey their message to elected officials. In a recent...
Jan 11, 1999
To some, the announcement of US Sen Paul Wellstone’s (D-MN) decision not to seek the Democratic nomination in 2000 came as a serious let down. To others it came as a relief. The former Carleton professor has not made clear his plans for life after public...
Jan 11, 1999
The trickling out of commissioner appointments carries it own level of intrigue. The close lips of the Ventura transition team are a credit to the people involved in the process. Of course should anyone be interested in leaking any information we will take it here...
Jan 11, 1999
Did Rep. Sheri Broecker (R-53B, Vadnais Heights) get special treatment for shoplifting at a grocery store? Did Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-28B, Kenyon) use his influence to protect one of his members? Did Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher (R) come to aid of a fellow...
Jan 11, 1999
There has been talk in many DFL circles about the need for a think tank to create a voice external to the political process like that of Progressive Policy Institute which is closely tied to the Democratic Leadership Council. The need is even more evident in light of...
