Jan 6, 2000
Checks & Balances has learned recently part of the reason for opposition to the Ventura administration proposal for merger of the Department of Commerce and Public Service. It seems that one of the real issues at hand in the Senate is the structure of Senate...
Jan 6, 2000
Early indications were that AFL-CIO was prepared to endorse a DFL candidate in the U. S. Senate race. The two candidates actively seeking labor endorsement and seen as most favorable are former US Attorney David Lillehaug and Sen Jerry Janezich (DFL-05, Virginia)....
Jan 6, 2000
Midweek we learned about some of the numbers associated with the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate. Since Tim Penny and Rebecca Yanisch have yet to announce there isn’t any information for these expected candidates. Michael Ciresi led the field with $320,000...
Jan 6, 2000
The DFL Party Chair Mike Erlandson is up in arms at the decision by Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer (R) to forego recognition of the new DFL precinct caucus process. In the recently published state brochure about the precincts caucuses, Kiffmeyer failed to provide...
Jan 1, 2000
Sen Dean Johnson (DFL-16, Willmar) announced today that he will be leaving the Republican Party and joining the DFL. Johnson has been at odds with the Republican Senate Caucus since his ouster as Minority Leader. The reward for the change will result in his chairing...
May 20, 1999
The DFL House Media and Research brought forward a 1999 Mini Session Wrap-Up for their members to take home to prepare for explaining this legislative session from the DFL perspective. Topics contained in the booklet run the gamut from Agriculture to Transportation....
May 20, 1999
Rep Alice Seagren (R-41A, Bloomington, had a negotiating advantage over her counterpart Sen. Larry “Poggie” Pogemiller (DFL-59, Minneapolis) she was a mother and a grandmother. many have used the term “saint” when describing Seagren. She was...
May 20, 1999
The big catchall bill this legislative session was the Deficiency Bill. The last item passed in the 1999 House was one few legislators knew what was all inside. The rapid pace of the final hours called upon legislators to maximize their use of technology and read...
May 20, 1999
Former Governor Arne Carlson is said to have been burning up the phone lines in the early morning hours the last day of the session. He put in calls to everyone from his state Representative, Ray Vandeveer (R-51B, Forest Lake) to House Majority Leader Tim...
May 20, 1999
The lighthearted credit given to Governor’s bulldog, Franklin for helping solve the budget impasse is not the only faithful companion who played a role this legislative session. We would be remiss if we forgot about the tragic demise of Rep. Tom Rukavina’s...
