Mar 5, 1999
The body with the greatest amount of impact and the least amount of accountability is the Metropolitan Council. They are only accountable to the governor. He can appoint and remove at his discretion. With Ted Mondale at the head of the quasi-government Governor Jesse...
Mar 5, 1999
Attorney General Mike Hatch is able to use his office to challenge a number of ills that exist in society. Currently, he is taking on a number of the institutions that generate a visceral response of disgust. Insurance companies, HMO’s and the banking industry...
Mar 5, 1999
The Governor Jesse Ventura (RP-MN) will set the dates. The parties are scrambling for candidates and the opportunity for the Governor get a Reform Party candidate elected is nigh. With the resignations of Senators Tracy Beckman (DFL-26, Bricelyn) and Steve Morse...
Mar 5, 1999
The activity in the State House seems to be a futile expense of energy. House Republicans are drafting and passing bills out of committee and on the House floor that lack Senate companions. DFLers are vigorously trying to amend legislation on the floor that is being...
Mar 5, 1999
Initially, House Speaker Speaker Swiggum (R-28B, Kenyon) challenged the message in the State of the State as “…great on rhetoric, short on details.” Although his description of government as a “three-way street” seems to grasp the essence of...
Mar 5, 1999
There were two specific times during the Governor Jesse Ventura’s (RP-MN) State of the State address that generated a visceral response from the elected officials present. The first point was when he pointed out directly that he was in conflict with the House...
Feb 25, 1999
The latest political campaign button to be seen was worn by Ted Grindal and Joan Anderson Growe at the Andrew event. They were sporting the latest ad”Vance” of this political fashion season. These are not in mass production yet but are expected to be...
Feb 25, 1999
There are more reasons in politics to have a party than in any other profession. First, you have a series of fundraisers, a primary party, an election night party, then a reelection party, and then a retirement party. The place to be for politicos on Tuesday night was...
Feb 25, 1999
The contest for Hennepin County District 3 looks to be a three-person race going into the primary. The three candidates Checks & Balances feels are the real contenders are former TCF executive Peter Bell, St. Louis Park Mayor Gail Dorfman, and Minneapolis School...
Feb 25, 1999
The Minnesota Government Relations Council held a program last Thursday at the Sheraton Plaza (Midway). The event was intended to introduce the Governor Jesse Ventura’s (IP-MN) Government Relations Team to the lobbying community. The Director of Government...
