Gov. Tim Walz’s voice on the Sentencing Guidelines Commission is so out of the mainstream that she’s been kicked out of some of Minnesota’s most liberal organizations. Tonya Honsey describes…
Economic growth Star Tribune: Supply chain trouble takes big bite out of Minnesota’s small food producers Minn Post: Long-term thinking is they key to Minnesota’s economic prosperity KPVI: Minnesota is…
Minnesota’s record-breaking budget surplus has induced mixed reactions from state leaders. But among those celebrating the surplus as a testament to our growing economy and effective handling of COVID-19 is…
Weather forecasts indicate some parts of the state could get six to eight inches of snow between Friday night and Saturday morning, meaning that many Minnesotans will be firing up…
There’s a double whammy hitting Minnesota taxpayers. Gov. Tim Walz and many legislators are dreaming up new ways of burning through a record $7.7 billion state budget surplus, rather than…
At the beginning of his prepared remarks about the budget surplus this week, Gov. Tim Walz referenced a story in the press about past Minnesota governors putting together economic councils,…
**UPDATE** The state announced a budget surplus today of $7.7 billion! This represents the largest surplus in state history and is 15% of the state’s two-year budget. It’s a projected…
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Minnesota last year, the virus and the state government’s response to it wrought havoc with our state’s economy. The unemployment rate rocketed from 3.5 percent…
The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission is a sleepy little agency with a very important job — they determine the presumptive sentences for felony offenses committed in Minnesota. From their website:…
State and local taxes and spending Star Tribune: Minnesota’s economic forecast coming after higher-than-predicted tax collections The Neighbor: New Minnesota budget expands low-cost child care Fox 9: Gov. Walz announces…
A poorly planned park and ride facility in Newport that cost $6.45 million to build and sits empty just five years after opening won the third Golden Turkey Award, given…
Tuesday, Nov. 23 marks the 15th anniversary of the day then-Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed off on his renewable energy mandate, the Next Generation Energy Act (NGEA). Today is also…
Throughout the pandemic, American Experiment research has warned against closing schools in an effort to address the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to school closures being ineffective at stopping COVID, we…
Coal supplies at American power plants have reached a 24-year low, according to a report from Bloomberg. Coal is in short supply for many reasons, but much of the blame…
I’ve written before about a ‘War on Public Safety’ being waged by some of Minnesota’s non-profits, District Attorneys, and judges, all of which are contributing to the explosion of violent…
In our new Policy Briefing ‘Minnesota should join the national Nurse Licensure Compact,’ we explain why state policymakers should sign our state up to this arrangement. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit,…
In response to Minnesota’s growing COVID-19 cases, reporters asked Gov. Tim Walz whether he would consider enacting a state of emergency that would enable him to enact some restrictions like…
In our new Policy Briefing ‘Minnesota must lift its hospital moratorium,’ we explain why state policymakers should repeal this law that restricts hospital capacity for no good reason. This law, which…
The Duluth News Tribune recently ran a story on the proposed Tamarack nickel mine near Tamarack, Minnesota. Talon Metals, which owns a majority stake in the project, told investors a…
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed some state policies in urgent need of reform. In the field of healthcare, two stand out. First, Minnesota should join the national Nurse Licensure Compact.…
The press is bending over backward today to provide context to the number of people dying from COVID who are fully vaccinated. They provided no such context last year when…
A popular narrative around the state Capitol is that Gov. Tim Walz is politically vulnerable on the crime issue because of his weak response to the riots last year, but…
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…
While holding a press conference encouraging more parents to vaccinate their kids –– in light of the FDA’s decision to approve the Pfizer vaccine for kids aged 5 to 11…