DFL legislators have been on the warpath for years. So the newly passed ban on using Native American names and mascots in public schools undoubtedly ranked as one of the…
The first post I did (Nov. 2021) in my latest stint with the Center cataloged the $3,000 plus in unpaid court fines racked up by then-state Rep. John D. Thompson…
Pending a lawsuit against a recent provision that bars certain religious institutions from participating in Minnesota’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program, the state recently issued an injunction that prevents “state…
The Minnesota Legislature appeared to address one of our most vexing criminal issues this past legislative session: carjacking. However, it’s turning out to be an inconsequential move. You can help change that…
You need a program to keep up with the intramural warfare in the Minneapolis Democratic (DFL) party these days. The official party logo: All thirteen seats (representing individual wards) on…
Yesterday, I wrote about the Chamber of Commerce’s new 2023 state of business retention and expansion in Minnesota report which identified “Minnesota’s high state tax rates and lack of available workers…
Talk about voter suppression. The whole idea behind holding an operating levy referendum is to leave the decision up to local taxpayers on whether to raise their property taxes to…
Economic growth Star Tribune: Job market remains resilient, despite layoffs, leaving Minnesota planners scratching their heads Duluth News Tribune: Our View: Ensure Minnesota businesses grow in Minnesota MPR News: Downtown…
Now we know where the surplus went — staff raises and member per diems. Yesterday the House Rules Committee met and voted to increase their per diem payments from $66…
As I noted last month, the state government voted to waste $200 million on a train running between Minneapolis and Duluth. The media is now — belatedly — asking “How…
Despite facing an $18 billion budget surplus, the legislature has slapped Minnesotans with about $9 billion in tax hikes in the just-ended legislative session. But unfortunately for residents in some…
And a well-connected local political nonprofit is driving the agenda. In settling a lawsuit brought in 2022 by a Minnesota prison inmate, the state just discovered a new constitutional right…
On May 24, 2023, Gov. Tim Walz held an elaborate bill-signing ceremony on the steps of the Capitol to celebrate his “One Minnesota” budget. Beyond the substance of the event,…
Beyond the big-ticket items that got most of the press attention such as abortion, transgender rights, tax rebates and gun control, the 2023 legislature made several dramatic policy changes that…
In recent days we have heard from a disgruntled conservative who is leaving Minnesota and a liberal bidding him “good riddance.” But there is another view: those conservatives who are…
After E-12 Education, Health and Human Services, and Property Tax Aids and Credits (PTAC), Higher Education is Minnesota’s fourth biggest expenditure. In the 2022-2023 biennium, for example, a little over…
The governor’s fishing opener just hasn’t been the same since Tim Walz took office. The governor missed the 75th anniversary of the once highly touted public event a couple of…
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has produced its 2023 state of business retention and expansion in Minnesota report. Described as “an initial attempt to collect data andinsights on Minnesota’s business…
One of DFL’s signature public safety initiatives this legislative session was to legalize “recreational adult use” marijuana. Governor Walz signed the legislation into law on May 30, making Minnesota the…
Now that the dust has settled on this whirlwind of a legislative session, it’s time to unpack several key provisions in the education omnibus bill and what they mean for…
State and local taxes and spending Minnesota Reformer: A breakdown of tax increases, cuts Minnesota lawmakers intend to pass WCCO: Lawmakers reach deal on rebate checks for Minnesotans Duluth News…
With Gov. Tim Walz and DFL legislators patting themselves on the back, taking selfies and firing up the marching band, most Minnesotans in the latest Thinking Minnesota poll were telling…
After E-12 Education, Health and Human Services (HHS) is Minnesota’s next biggest general fund expenditure. In the 2022-2023 biennium, for example, HHS took up nearly thirty percent of all general…
Since the end of last week, the DFL has been celebrating the passage of their $3 billion tax relief plan, calling it the biggest tax cut in Minnesota’s history. But…