Two bills made fast progress this week in the Minnesota House and appear to be on a collision course if they both become law. The first grants driver’s licenses to…
State and local taxes and spending Minn Post: Will Minnesota taxes from legal marijuana help pay for education, social programs? Probably not U.S. News: Minnesota Governor Still Wants Tax Rebates…
As reported by the Star Tribune here, the DFL is leading a push for juvenile justice reform this legislative session. At first blush, such efforts appeal to most anyone who has…
House and Senate DFL legislators convened last week to outline their priorities for the new legislative session. A key healthcare priority would set price controls on big pharmaceutical companies to…
According to the Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), combined tax revenues in the months of November and December exceeded the November forecast by over $200 million — or 4.4 percent.…
State and local taxes and spending Duluth News Tribune: State Senator’s View: With so many challenges, now is the time to invest in one another Grand Forks Herald: Surplus, Social…
Among the DFL’s priorities to move Minnesota forward in the upcoming legislative session is the idea to increase funding for early care and learning. Specifically, the DFL wants to: Help…
The Minnesota DFL, now holding a trifecta in state government, released their legislative priorities yesterday: These are aspirations, ends rather than means. We should ask, 1) Is there a problem?…
Minneapolis school finance officials gave a very sobering presentation to board members recently, warning that enrollment losses coupled with district spending will bankrupt the district in two short years. There…
State and local taxes and spending MPR News: Minnesotans to avoid inflation-driven tax sting with huge bracket tweak Duluth News Tribune: Paid family and medical leave may have its chance…
One of the likely recipients of a chunk of Minnesota’s forecast budget surplus of $17.6 billion is a scheme for paid family and medical leave. You might ask yourself, ‘What’s…
State and local taxes and spending The Globe: Worthington City Council talks budget ahead of December certification deadline Alexandria Echo Press: Douglas County commissioners approve 2023 budget of nearly $64.6…
Capitol Watch is a weekly update sent to thousands of Minnesotans during the legislative session. Click here to get it sent right to your inbox. The state has a surplus…
Walker Orenstein of MinnPost wrote an article detailing the energy and climate agenda of key Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota now that the DFL has total control of the House of…
In political science, it’s very difficult to conduct controlled experiments. However, in this month’s general election, a natural experiment appears to have occurred in Edina, MN. Statewide, Democrats swept to…
It’s been almost a month since the 2022 election, so it’s time for your esteemed editors at Capitol Watch to provide our expert analysis about what happened.
Education Minnesota’s Political Action Committee (PAC) spent nearly $4 million this year leading up to the statewide general elections, according to its 2022 Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure report through…
Gov. Tim Walz dedicated a new statue of Nellie Stone Johnson today at the State Capitol. The press fawned over the ceremony, calling her an “iconic civil rights and labor…
The 2022 mid-term elections gave Minnesota Democrats complete control of the Governor’s mansion, the House of Representatives, and the State Senate. With the clean sweep in all three of these…
For many years prior to the mid-term elections, the lack of affordable high-quality childcare has been one of the biggest issues plaguing Minnesota families. The coronavirus pandemic has merely worsened…
Last week, Minnesota Democrats won the Governor’s mansion, the House of Representatives, and the State Senate, giving them unified control of the legislature for at least the next two years.…
At last week’s election, Minnesotans handed the DFL control of the governor’s mansion, the state Senate, and state House. What fiscal measures might they get in return for this vote?…
Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, donated to both Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig and Sen. Tina Smith this election cycle. According to records at the Federal Election Commission…
On Tuesday, Minnesota Democrats won control of the Governor’s mansion, the House of Representatives, and the State Senate, giving the DFL unified control of the legislature for at least the…