Tag: DFL

Minnesota Lawmakers Unveil $300M Plan to Rebuild from George Floyd Riots

The Associated Press

Democrats who control the Minnesota House announced a $300 million economic aid proposal Monday for businesses that were damaged or destroyed during the civil unrest over the death of George Floyd.

The legislation is aimed at commercial corridors in lower income neighborhoods that were hardest hit as protests over Floyd’s May 25 death while in Minneapolis police custody turned violent. Many of the affected small businesses along Lake Street and Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis, and University Avenue in St. Paul, are owned by people of color and immigrants.

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DFL Lawmaker Wants Portrait of Lincoln Removed from Minnesota House Chamber

Anthony Gockowski

A DFL lawmaker revealed on Twitter this week that she’s “tried a bunch of times” to get a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln removed from the Minnesota House chamber.

State Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL-New Brighton) said it’s “hard to look at” House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) when she’s “standing in front of Lincoln.”

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DFL Lawmakers Want State and Federal Aid to Rebuild Minneapolis

Anthony Gockowski

DFL lawmakers want the state and federal governments to chip in to help repair the estimated $55 million in damage caused to Minneapolis in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and the Legislature’s People of Color and Indigenous Caucus called for “immediate legislative funding for Minneapolis and St. Paul rebuilding efforts” in a joint statement.

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After Backing Alleged Domestic Abuser Keith Ellison, Minnesota Dems Say State Rep Is ‘Trivializing’ Domestic Abuse

Anthony Gockowski

The Minnesota DFL Party, which supported accused domestic abuser Keith Ellison in his run for attorney general, criticized a Republican lawmaker Thursday for “trivializing the severity of domestic abuse.”

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Keith Ellison Stands by Omar After Strong DFL Challenger Emerges

Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has endorsed Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) for a second term in Congress.

“I see U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar as a leader who is disrupting conventional wisdom and challenging 50 years of thinking that has brought us stunning inequality, weakened public institutions and an utter lack of preparedness for a global pandemic,” Ellison said in an endorsement of Omar in The Star Tribune.

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After Mocking ‘Liberate Minnesota’ Protest, State Media, Politicians Silent on Minneapolis Gun Violence Demonstration

Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota’s political establishment and mainstream media mocked and condemned the Trump-backed protesters who gathered outside the Governor’s Residence Friday, but were silent just two days later when hundreds gathered for a demonstration in Minneapolis.

According to the St. Paul Police Department, an estimated 800 people were in attendance at Friday’s “Liberate Minnesota” protest, which called for an end to Gov. Tim Walz’s stay-at-home order issued in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

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What Is the Minnesota DFL Party?

Anthony Gockowski

Since many of our stories receive national attention, readers are often confused by the odd acronym frequently appearing in our headlines. What the heck is the DFL? And who is a DFLer?

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Keith Ellison Goes on Rant Against Voter ID Laws: ‘Clearly a Bad Thing’

Anthony Gockowski

  Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said laws requiring voters to present a photo ID are “clearly a bad thing” in a Sunday Twitter rant. “If you believe that elections should be decided by We the People, then photo ID is clearly a bad thing. In Minnesota, we beat the…

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DFL Lawmakers Announce ‘Religious Freedom Day’ Resolution Condemning ‘Islamophobia,’ Promoting ‘Religious Pluralism’

Anthony Gockowski

Two DFL lawmakers plan to introduce a “Religious Freedom Day” resolution that condemns “Islamophobia” and celebrates “religious pluralism.”

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Minnesota State Senator ‘Deeply Disturbed’ by DFL Leader’s Threat to Cut Funding from County Over Refugees

Anthony Gockowski

A Minnesota senator said he is “deeply disturbed” by House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler’s (DFL-Golden Valley) threat to cut state aid from Beltrami County after it voted to opt out of refugee resettlement.

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Omar Says She Feels ‘Stricken with PTSD’ Over Iran Tensions, Then Laughs and Jokes While Colleague Discusses Dead Soldiers

Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) said she feels “ill” and “stricken with PTSD” in response to the conflict with Iran before she laughed and joked with her peers while a colleague discussed U.S. casualties in Iraq just moments later.

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DFL House Leader Threatens Minnesota County for Voting Against Refugee Resettlement

Anthony Gockowski

A high-ranking Minnesota lawmaker is threatening to withhold state aid from Beltrami County after it became the first county in the state to opt out of refugee resettlement.

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Minnesota Senate GOP Announces Plan for ‘Clean Energy First’ Legislation

Anthony Gockowski

  Minnesota Senate Republicans said they plan to introduce a “Clean Energy First” bill during the upcoming legislative session that will “prioritize clean energy” and “modernize Minnesota’s energy resources.” According to the Associated Press, several different versions of the “Clean Energy First” legislation were introduced during the last session, but…

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Minnesota Teachers Union Plans to ‘Defeat Trumpism,’ Get Out ‘100 Percent’ of Teacher Vote in 2020

Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota’s largest teachers union has named “defeating Trumpism” and getting out 100 percent of the educator vote as some of its goals for the 2020 election cycle.

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DFL Lawmaker Cleared of Wrongdoing in Accepting University of Minnesota Position

Anthony Gockowski

A report released Monday “completely exonerates” Minnesota Rep. Jamie Long (DFL-Minneapolis) from allegations of illicit lobbying activity, according to House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park).

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DFL Accuses Senate Republicans of Holding ‘Fake Hearing on Gun Safety’

Anthony Gockowski

A recent Minnesota Senate hearing reignited the debate surrounding the state’s firearm laws and prompted DFL lawmakers to renew their calls for red flag legislation and universal background checks.

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Republicans Slam Minnesota Sentencing Commission for Plan to Cap Probation for ‘Heinous Crimes’

Anthony Gockowski

Republican lawmakers say an expected cap on probation in Minnesota would result in lenient sentences for a number of “heinous crimes like domestic assault, sex trafficking, and gang-related crimes.”

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DFL Chair Says Trump Left the House ‘With No Possible Alternative’

Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Ken Martin applauded the U.S. House for voting to impeach President Donald Trump, but claimed that it brings him “no joy.”

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Justice Democrats Candidate for Minnesota House Wants to Pass ‘Sanctuary State’ Law, Says Cars Aren’t a ‘Long Term Transportation Plan’

Anthony Gockowski

A graduate of the Justice Democrats’ “Movement School” recently launched a campaign for Minnesota House District 60A, which was left vacant after the passing of Rep. Diane Loeffler (DFL-Minneapolis).

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Child Protection League Denied Booth Space at Minnesota School Boards Conference

Anthony Gockowski

A Minnesota nonprofit seeking to protect children from “exploitation, indoctrination, and violence” was denied booth space at the Minnesota School Boards Association’s (MSBA) annual “Leadership Conference.”

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House GOP Leader Criticized for Joining Lobbying Firm While Still a Legislator

Anthony Gockowski

House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) caused an uproar Friday when it was announced that he would be working for a lobbying firm as its director of public affairs while still serving in the Minnesota Legislature.

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House DFL Wants to Raise Taxes on Tobacco Products, Ban All Flavored Products, Prohibit Online Sales and Raise Purchasing Age to 21

Anthony Gockowski

The Minnesota House DFL Caucus accused JUUL and other e-cigarette companies of targeting kids and communities of color at a Monday press conference where a number of new policy initiatives were announced, including a proposal to raise the age to purchase tobacco to 21.

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Walz Administration Framing Gas Tax Increase as ‘Debt Service Fee’

Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Margaret Anderson-Kelliher is pushing a combined gas-tax increase along with what she’s calling a “debt-service fee” that would raise fuel prices by up to 15 cents per gallon, according to interviews with local news outlets.

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DFL Cheers on Franken at Private Fundraiser After Ninth Sexual Misconduct Allegation

Anthony Gockowski

Disgraced former Sen. Al Franken was invited to speak at a DFL fundraiser in Hibbing Saturday less than two weeks after he was accused of sexual harassment by a ninth woman. DFL Chairman Ken Martin was in attendance and praised Franken when addressing the crowd of supporters.

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Minnesota Democrats React to Trump Rally: ‘Off the Rails,’ ‘Demeaning,’ ‘Gross’

Anthony Gockowski

President Donald Trump has left the building, but Minnesotans are still reacting to and recovering from Thursday night’s riotous events in downtown Minneapolis.

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Iconic First Avenue Plans to Donate Profits to Planned Parenthood on Day of Trump Rally

Anthony Gockowski

First Avenue, an iconic music venue in downtown Minneapolis, says it’s “not a political organization,” but plans to donate all profits from its Thursday events to Planned Parenthood in a rebuke of President Donald Trump.

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