Apr 7, 2022
Minnesota Report Legislators will take an extended break after this week and return to their respective districts across the state, away from the Capitol. Historically, this is a common time that results in a level of course correction, or reality check. When this...
Apr 4, 2022
Federal and Minnesota Report On Friday, the US House of Representatives passed a bill for cannabis decriminalization on a mostly party line vote 228-164. We argue this is probably the most impactful vote of the entire legislative session, politically. This removes...
Apr 4, 2022
Minnesota Report We spoke with a seasoned veteran lobbyist Bill Amberg who has a law firm and runs his own shop, about how he sees the legislative session playing out. He is often a political source with a good read of the tea leaves. Amberg said, he envisions a...
Apr 4, 2022
Minnesota Report The announcement last week that Enbridge pipeline Number 3 pierced the watershed, three different times, comes as no surprise to us. The fact it occurred and was actually report, well reported well after the occurrence, isn’t a surprise either. The...
Apr 4, 2022
Minnesota Report The idea of a Gas Tax Holiday this summer is a worthwhile concept. If a short-term fix to soaring gas prices is what Republicans want, then extract a large amount in response Governor Tim Walz (D-MN). In exchange demand the largest Bonding Bill in...
Apr 4, 2022
Minnesota Report On Saturday, at a small gathering of friends and supporters, Checks & Balances Publisher Shawn Towle, got humble and discussed his recent history of living three years on a friends couch and another six months in another friend eldest son’s...
Mar 25, 2022
Minnesota Report On Monday, 4th term Rep Jennifer Schultz (DFL-7A, Duluth) will announce her desire to retain the title Representative, but this time it will be at the federal level in Virginia. She announced she would not be seeking reelection earlier in the...
Mar 25, 2022
Minnesota Report We recently had a conversation with former DFL Minority/Majority now Independent Sen Tom Bakk (I-MN) about the possibilities of a run for governor. He said, he had an email from someone who would write a check for the first $1000 just that day. He...
Mar 25, 2022
Minnesota Report While watching the tally board on SF3372, a bill inspired by Sen David Tomassoni (I-06, Chisholm), to fund ALS research, commonly known as Lou Gherig Disease, and economic support for families yesterday on the House Floor, we were perplexed when we...
Mar 25, 2022
International and Minnesota Report Yesterday, on House Floor the body moved to divest from Russia and Belarus, of which we were the first to call for state divestiture from Russia in February with the Budget Forecast announcement. On a vote of 126-0 the House passed...
