Mark Dayton Archives - The Minnesota Sun

Republican Lawmakers Respond to Fundraising Efforts to Resettle Up to 1400 Afghan Refugees in Minnesota

January 25, 2022January 25, 2022 Hayley Feland

Minnesota Republican lawmakers criticized the new Afghan refugee resettlement programs by the Minneapolis-based social welfare group Alight, formerly known as the American Refugee Committee, which was announced at a Saturday press conference by former Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), where the two asked for donations to support the effort.

“My hope is that we have improved the process, learning from our failings of the past. The conflict in Afghanistan was our nation’s longest,” said State Representative Jeremy Munson (R-Lake Crystal) to The Minnesota Sun.

FLASHBACK: Mark Dayton Tells Minnesotans to ‘Find Another State’ If They Aren’t Happy

July 24, 2019July 23, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Former Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, once told a crowd of frustrated residents to “find another state” if they weren’t happy with Minnesota. The comments were made during an October 2015 forum in St. Cloud hosted by the local chapter of the NAACP. Dayton was responding to concerns…

Elections Omnibus Bill Would Make Minnesota Member of National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

March 31, 2019March 30, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

An omnibus bill that could radically transform elections in Minnesota recently passed out of committee and is making its way through the Minnesota House. Among the most drastic proposals in the bill is one that would make Minnesota a member of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which is an…

Professors Call Line 3 Pipeline ‘Science Denial’ During Protest at the Minnesota Capitol

January 25, 2019January 25, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Climate activists are continuing to pressure Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) against approving Enbridge’s Line 3 replacement pipeline, and on Thursday protested in the governor’s reception room of the Minnesota State Capitol. In November, the Public Utilities Commission unanimously voted in favor of green lighting the project, but former Gov. Mark…

Massive Crowd Gathers at Minnesota Capitol for Annual March for Life

January 23, 2019January 22, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A massive crowd gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol Tuesday for the 46th annual statewide March for Life on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The march began with a prayer service up the hill from the Capitol Building at the Cathedral of St. Paul, which was packed full and…

Walz Declares Healthcare a ‘Basic Human Right’ in Inaugural Address, Vows to Make Minnesota the ‘Education State’

January 8, 2019January 8, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota’s newly elected constitutional officers were sworn in Monday, including now Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D-MN), and Attorney General Keith Ellison (D-MN). All five officials inaugurated are members of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, a grim reminder to the Minnesota GOP that it failed to win a…

Mark Dayton Slams Trump’s ‘Destructive Nature’ in Final Interview As Governor

January 8, 2019January 8, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Now former Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN) officially left office Monday afternoon as moving trucks were spotted outside the Governor’s Mansion over the weekend. In his final exit interview with TPT Almanac, Dayton was asked by host Mary Lahammer for his opinion on the divisiveness in American politics today. “So much…

Tim Walz’s Christmas Wish List

December 25, 2018December 24, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Gov.-elect Tim Walz (D-MN) still has a few weeks to go before he’s sworn in as the next governor of Minnesota, but he’s already made several indications as to what voters can expect in his first budget proposal due early 2019. Since defeating Republican Jeff Johnson in the November midterms,…

Enbridge Responds to Dayton’s ‘Erroneous’ Appeal of Line 3 Pipeline Replacement

December 23, 2018December 22, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved permits to replace Enbridge’s aging Line 3 Pipeline in November, but departing Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN) is now appealing the decision. The Public Utilities Commission’s November vote to approve the replacement project was protested and disrupted by environmentalist activists who have opposed the project…

Dayton Indifferent About ‘Sky-High’ Government Employee Raises

December 22, 2018December 22, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

“Sometimes people do things without my full knowledge.” That was Gov. Mark Dayton’s (D-MN) response Thursday to news that his Minnesota Management and Budget commissioner, Myron Frans, had recommended massive government pay raises. “It’s embarrassing to admit after eight years but it happens,” Dayton added. Current Minnesota law caps salaries…

Gov. Dayton Lists ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ Among Top Accomplishments of His Tenure

December 21, 2018December 21, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN) and his staff released a list of his “top 25” major accomplishments as governor on Wednesday as he prepares for the end of his eight-year stint in the governor’s mansion. “When Gov. Mark Dayton took office, he promised to build a better Minnesota. Eight years later,…

Walz Administration Will Push for MinnesotaCare Buy-In Option

December 2, 2018December 1, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Lt. Gov-elect Peggy Flanagan (D-MN) told the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Wednesday that the incoming administration plans to push for a MinnesotaCare buy-in option. The public health insurance option was widely criticized by Republicans on the campaign trail, including Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson, who criticized Gov.-elect Tim Walz (D-MN)…

St. Cloud Elects Council Members Who Support Stalling Refugee Resettlement Program

November 26, 2018November 26, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

St. Cloud elected two new conservative members to its city council who support efforts to slow down the influx of refugees settling in the community. The issue became a hot topic in Minnesota after Council Member Jeff Johnson (not related to the Republican gubernatorial candidate) introduced a measure to temporarily…

Jeff Johnson Also Received More Votes Than Any Previous Gubernatorial Candidates

November 24, 2018November 24, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Gov.-elect Tim Walz (D-MN) has frequently boasted of historical victory in the Minnesota gubernatorial race, but the numbers were unprecedented on both sides of the ticket as the state saw record-setting voter turnout. “Peggy [Flanagan] and I are humbled by the support for One Minnesota. We received more votes than…

Gov. Dayton’s Staff Waited A Month to Reveal He Was Still Hospitalized

November 21, 2018November 21, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN) underwent back surgery at Mayo Clinic in October in what was the latest in a series of health scares, but his staff took a month to inform the public that he was still hospitalized. “Governor Dayton’s doctor is pleased with how Friday’s surgery went and believes…

Minnesota Receives Approval to Begin Construction on $2 Billion Light Rail Extension

November 16, 2018November 16, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

The Twin Cities Met Council announced Wednesday that it has received approval from the federal government to begin construction on its controversial $2 billion Light Rail extension. In a Wednesday press release, the Met Council announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has granted it a Letter of No Prejudice,…

Twin Cities Met Council to Undergo Federal Review Over its Unelected Board

September 30, 2018September 29, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota’s Met Council is now under federal review by the U.S. Department of Transportation after facing years of criticism over its undemocratic structure. The Twin Cities Met Council consists of 17 unelected officials, including its chair, all of whom are appointed by the state’s governor to oversee several of the…

Gov. Mark Dayton Lashes Out at Constituents During Mining Town Hall

September 27, 2018September 26, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Gov. Mark Dayton lashed out at constituents Monday night during a town hall meeting on the Iron Range to discuss a controversial mining project in the region. At the center of the Monday night’s discussion was a mining site previously owned by Essar Steel that was opened up for bidding…

‘Abortion Senator’ Tina Smith Spent Years Lobbying Against ‘Commonsense’ Abortion Laws

September 19, 2018September 18, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) spent years as an abortion lobbyist fighting against “commonsense” legislation throughout the Midwest before she ever entered politics. From 2003 to 2006, Smith served as Planned Parenthood’s vice president for external affairs for Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota, where she fought against informed-consent laws as…

Minneapolis Uses Backdoor Tactic to Transform Area Into a Sanctuary City

September 4, 2018September 3, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

A new “municipal ID” program will effectively transform Minneapolis into a sanctuary city as early as 2019 in order to “further advance the city’s racial equity goals.” According to the city’s website, the “municipal identification card” will be available to all “residents ages 14 and up” regardless of “immigration status,…