A Republican lawmaker has asked the Sherburne County Board of Commissioners to declare itself Minnesota’s first “Second Amendment sanctuary county.”
Read MoreMinnesota Republicans Ask County to Become State’s First ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary’
Tag: Kurt Daudt
DFL Lawmaker Cleared of Wrongdoing in Accepting University of Minnesota Position
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).
Read MoreLawmakers Say Minnesotans Are ‘Overtaxed’ and ‘Fed Up’ After Release of Budget Forecast
An economic forecast released Thursday predicts Minnesota will have a budget surplus of $1.3 billion for the 2020-21 biennium, setting up debates between state lawmakers about what their budgeting priorities will be when they return for session in February.
Read MoreFellow Republicans Call on Kurt Daudt to Resign After Accepting Position with Lobbying Firm
Some Minnesota Republicans are calling on House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) to resign from the Minnesota House after he accepted a position with a lobbying firm while still serving as a legislator.
Read MoreHouse GOP Leader Criticized for Joining Lobbying Firm While Still a Legislator
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.
Read MoreRepublicans Accuse Melissa Hortman of Anti-Police Bias for Removing State Rep from Committee Assignments
Republicans are criticizing Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) for her decision to remove Rep. Matt Grossell (R-Clearbrook) from his committee assignments following his drunken arrest in May.
Read More70 Minnesota Lawmakers in Support of PolyMet Issue Letter Criticizing ‘Ideological’ Efforts to Stop Project
A group of 70 Minnesota lawmakers have issued a letter to Gov. Tim Walz in support of PolyMet’s efforts to open the state’s first copper-nickel mine in northern Minnesota.
Read MoreCommissioner Tony Lourey Abruptly Resigns from ‘Dumpster Fire’ at Minnesota DHS
Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Tony Lourey abruptly resigned Monday, making him the third top DHS official to step down in just a few short days. “I believe a new leader is necessary to best execute your vision for human services and continue the critical work of improving…
Read MoreInvestigation Into Minnesota Inspector General Carolyn Ham Hasn’t Even Started Yet
Minnesota Department of Human Services Inspector General Carolyn Ham was placed on “investigative leave” in March, but reporters learned Friday that the investigation into Ham’s conduct hasn’t even started yet. Ham, however, continues to be paid while she’s on leave and has earned $42,000 since her leave first began,…
Read MoreMinnesota GOP House Leader Calls 2019 Session ‘Least Productive’ and ‘Least Transparent’ in History
House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) had some harsh words for his Democratic colleagues in the Minnesota House after the 2019 legislative session came to an official close Monday at midnight. Party leaders and Gov. Tim Walz agreed on a $48.3 billion biennial budget on Sunday, giving lawmakers hardly…
Read MoreWalz’s Revised Budget Proposal Still Includes 20-Cent Gas-Tax Increase
Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) was forced to reexamine his budget proposal “line by line” after the state’s budget forecast came up $492 million short of November’s estimated $1.5 billion surplus. But his recently released revised budget recommendations still include a 20-cent gas-tax hike. “The governor recommends the state commit to…
Read MoreRed Flag Bill and Universal Background Checks One Step Closer to Becoming Law in Minnesota
DFL lawmakers are closer than ever before to passing multiple gun-control bills in Minnesota as a Republican-controlled Senate stands in the way. A universal background checks bill and a “red flag” law both advanced out of committee this week. The former was approved by the House Public Safety Committee late…
Read MoreWalz Will Reexamine Budget Proposal ‘Line By Line’ After Forecast Comes Up $492 Million Short of Previous Estimates
Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) will have to reexamine his budget proposal “line by line” after Thursday’s budget forecast came up $492 million short of November’s estimated $1.5 billion surplus. It’s only been nine days since Walz unveiled his first budget proposal for the 2020-2021 biennium, which capped out at $49.5…
Read MoreNearly 700 Bills Are Under the Control of One DFL Rep in the Minnesota House
There are currently 690 bills in the Minnesota House that have been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, whose Democratic chairman can move bills between subcommittees with just his signature. As The Minnesota Sun previously reported, the Democratic-controlled House kicked off the 2019 session by passing a set…
Read MoreGovernor Walz’s $49 Billion Budget Proposal Will Make Minnesota a ‘Cold California’
Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) unveiled his highly anticipated budget proposal for the 2020-2021 biennium at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. When all is said and done, the two-year budget registers at $49.5 billion with no cuts to any existing spending. “I’ve often said that a budget is far more than…
Read MoreMinnesota GOP Has Harsh Words for Walz After Pipeline Appeal: ‘This Is a Big Mistake’
Republican members of the Minnesota House and Senate called a joint press conference earlier this week to condemn Gov. Tim Walz’s (D-MN) decision to re-appeal the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline replacement project. “The science is sure that this would be environmentally much safer to replace a 51-year-old pipe with a…
Read MoreWalz Joins ‘Extreme Environmentalists’ in Petitioning Line 3 Project
Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) announced Tuesday morning that he would refile an appeal against the controversial Enbridge Line 3 replacement project. Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) unanimously approved of granting Enbridge a certificate of need to move forward with the project last summer. But former Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN) made…
Read MoreConfusion Surrounds New Minnesota House Rules as Democrats Face Backlash for Jamming Through Legislation
A major opioids bill in Minnesota, House File (HF) 400, was introduced Monday at 3:30 p.m. House members and the public then had until Tuesday at 2:30 p.m., less than 24 hours, to offer any changes or amendments before the bill went to a hearing Wednesday at the Health and…
Read MoreProfessors Call Line 3 Pipeline ‘Science Denial’ During Protest at the Minnesota Capitol
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…
Read MoreMassive Crowd Gathers at Minnesota Capitol for Annual March for Life
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…
Read MoreWalz Won’t Rule Out Gas-Tax Increase Despite $1.5 Billion Budget Surplus
Minnesota Management and Budget released its Budget and Economic Forecast report Thursday, estimating that the state will have a $1.5 billion surplus for the 2020-21 biennium. According to the report, an additional $491 million will be added to the state’s budget reserve, or “rainy-day” fund, which now totals $2.075 billion—a…
Read MoreWhat’s Wrong with the Minnesota GOP?
The Minnesota Republican Party continued its 10-year statewide losing streak Tuesday, but party leaders are hesitant to accept any blame for the disastrous performance. State Republicans lost up and down the ballot in both local and federal elections, losing races for the governorship, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor,…
Read MoreTim Walz And House Democrats Plan to Renew Gun-Control Efforts in Minnesota
With the help of a new Democratic majority in the Minnesota House, Gov.-elect Tim Walz is expected to renew efforts to pass gun-control legislation in the state. In response to Wednesday night’s mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California, Walz and Rep. Melissa Hortman (D-Fridley), who was elected this week to…
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