Articles

Bakk out of governor's race

ST. PAUL -- Tom Bakk dropped out of the Democratic governor's race Saturday, saying he did not think he would have enough delegates to win the party's endorsement.

Veterans support license fund use

ST. PAUL — Minnesota veterans took aim at legislators and media accounts critical of the governor’s office using veterans’ funds to pay a staff member, and during a Thursday committee hearing senators apologized to veterans.

Legislative Briefs: Bill allows family to care for dead

ST. PAUL — Tears flowed as senators heard about a proposal allowing Minnesotans to take care of dead family members.

Pawlenty cuts $313 million from bonding bill

ST. PAUL — Fifty-two public works projects across Minnesota such as college building renovations and state trails fell victim to Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto pen Monday, and legislative leaders say there is little chance lawmakers will send any more projects to him before he leaves office early next year.

Supreme Court question: Who decides budget?

ST. PAUL — In the simplest terms, Minnesota’s seven Supreme Court justices are deciding if the Legislature has full control of state spending, or if the governor has a role once a budget is approved.

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Capitol Chatter: Pawlenty cuts down bonding bill

Gov. Tim Pawlenty this morning trimmed a nearly $1 billion public works funding bill down to $680 million, saying the one passed by legislators was too big. While the Republican governor's spokesman said the administration is willing to take a look at a second public works bill, also known as a bonding bill, Democrats in charge of the legislative bonding process said they could not get the votes to pass another one and do not trust Pawlenty. Click here to read the Capitol Chatter blog.

Ag panel struggles show budget problem

ST. PAUL — Members of the Minnesota House Agriculture Finance Committee looked through their budget for any place to cut.

Legislature passes bonding bill despite gripes

ST. PAUL — Republicans blasted a public works funding bill as being too expensive, but as the Minnesota House and Senate passed a revised measure Thursday, a Democrat delivered the most stinging speech against the plan written by his own party members.

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• Local projects remain in bonding bill

Beltrami County inclued in ag disaster declaration

ST. PAUL — Farmers in 16 Minnesota counties, including Beltrami, will be eligible for emergency loans and other help after dealing with multiple weather problems.

Pawlenty ‘can work with’ bonding bill

ST. PAUL — Gov. Tim Pawlenty is looking at ways to chop a public works funding bill down to size and how to expand a sex offender facility on the cheap.

Columns

Regular candidates tough to judge

ST. PAUL – Ole Savior’s big issue was opposing nuclear weapons, but he ran for governor, where nuclear weapons seldom come into play.