Homeowners across Minnesota face significant double-digit increases in county government valuation of their properties. The huge hikes, which factor into next year’s property tax bills, came out of the blue…
The most important address in Minnesota politics is located in St. Paul, but it’s not the state capitol building. The most important address is 1600 University Avenue. This glass office…
Tattersall Distilling, one of the jewels in the crown of Minnesota’s craft distilling industry, announced last March that they were opening “a destination distillery and second production facility in River…
What to do with Minnesota’s historic surplus of $9.3 billion? That is the question dominating the Legislature. But from Minnesotans, the answer is clear: they want the state government to…
Rochester officials must be fans of the “if you build it, they will come” way of doing things. They’re racing to fill in the blanks on a vaguely defined $65…
Sen. Eric Pratt lost the Republican endorsement to a candidate backed by Action For Liberty over the weekend. First-time candidate Natalie Barnes won more than 60% of the vote on…
Broad agreement exists that we suffer an affordable housing crisis in Minnesota — especially in the Twin Cities. The cause is no mystery. Affordable housing is scarce here because state…
What to do with Minnesota’s historic surplus of $9.3 billion? That is the question dominating the Legislature. Some are advocating for tax relief through permanent rate cuts, and our state…
Rep. Mike Howard (DFL-Richfield) has surged ahead of Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart (DFL-Minnetonka) in the race to see who could have the biggest conflict of interest at the state capitol.…
In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal this weekend, Grover Norquist noted that “eight states have no personal income tax” and that: Two more states have already enacted laws…
The current Feeding Our Future alleged scandal — in which no person has been arrested or charged — has parallels to another alleged scandal from just a few years ago.…
The $2 billion Southwest Light Rail Transit Line is the most expensive public works project ever undertaken in Minnesota. Besides that, it also holds the potential to be the state’s…
About one in every five Minnesotans has an occupation that requires a license. According to a 2017 report by the Institute of Justice (IJ), Minnesotans spend an average of $238…
Just about everyone would consider registering a vehicle and obtaining a driver’s license from the Department of Vehicle Services an essential service. That explains why a few weeks after shutting…
Northstar Commuter Rail never did hit the rosy ridership projections officials promised at the line’s inception in 2009. But even Northstar’s most ardent critics must find it hard to believe…
The Heartland Institute’s Donald Kendal is joined by Isaac Orr (Center of the American Experiment) and Jason Hayes (Mackinac Center for Public Policy) for episode #315 of the In The…
In June, a bill passed in St. Paul waiving taxes owed on 2020 unemployment benefits and, something we argued for, payroll loans. Incredibly for a state government that is so…
It took Gov. Tim Walz well over a week to see how Rep. John Thompson’s latest brush with the law played out with the press and public. But the governor…
State and local taxes and spending Associated Press: Walz celebrates budget as House leaders credit ‘win-wins’ Southernminn.com: Legislature passes final budget bills Star Tribune: Minnesota’s new budget includes major spending…
If the COVID-19 pandemic was really ever an emergency, that time has long passed. Walz does not need to keep his emergency powers.
Thirteen local chambers of commerce have signed a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to stop, or at least delay, the administration’s plan to force California car mandates on Minnesota…
State and local taxes and spending The Globe: Column: Budget agreement supports Minnesota families, doesn’t raise taxes The Center Square: Combined capital gains tax rate in Minnesota to hit 53.3%…
State and local taxes and spending WCCO: How To Spend Federal COVID Relief Hangs Over Minnesota Legislature Minn Post: Legislature agrees to deal on exempting unemployment, PPP payments from Minnesota…
Legislative leaders and Gov. Walz all but admitted they can’t get the budget done without a real deadline, and apparently the constitutional deadline of May 17th isn’t enough. June 14th…