Ranked-Choice Voting Push Continues at Minnesota Capitol

MN RCV

A pair of DFL lawmakers who fell short last year of gaining enough support in the legislature to turn Minnesota into a ranked-choice voting state aren’t giving up on their goal. They’ve just scaled back their efforts to more incremental steps.

On Wednesday, a committee in the state House approved a bill that would make it easier for cities across the state to implement ranked-choice voting as a method of electing local representation.

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Minnesota GOP Representative Calls for Investigation into ‘Cover-Up’ Allegations from Feeding Our Future Leader

Lisa Demuth

Republicans are calling for an investigation into allegations that Gov. Tim Walz’s Department of Education “engaged in deceptive practices” in order to conceal records in a lawsuit related to the Feeding Our Future case.

Aimee Bock, the founder and executive director of the defunct nonprofit, claimed in a court filing last month that the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) “intentionally deleted and hid documents from discovery” when her organization sued MDE in November 2020.

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Minnesota GOP Accuses DFL of Illegally Allowing Felons, Non-Citizens to Participate in Caucus Process

The Minnesota Republican Party accused the DFL Party of breaking the law when they allowed felons and non-US citizens to participate in their caucus process.

The party pointed to the state’s voter eligibility requirements as cause for their concern.

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Minnesota State Senator Jeremy Miller Elected to Replace Former Senate Majority Leader Gazelka

State Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) was elected to replace former Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka on Thursday. In a press conference announcing the decision Miller said, “I’m certainly not the only one that could be standing up here today because of the amount of talent we have but I did it because I know I have the opportunity to unite our caucus and at the same time work together with colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate to get things done.”

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Jennifer Carnahan, Minnesota GOP Chair, Resigns over Allegations of Harassment, Abuse, Ties to Alleged Sex Trafficker

Jennifer Carnahan

Jennifer Carnahan, the Chair of the Minnesota GOP, resigned Thursday night after allegations of harassment, abuse and ties to a child sex trafficker came to light. Carnahan is the wife of Representative Jim Hagedorn (R-MN-01).

Allegations harassment and workplace abuse began being anonymously posted on social media after the indictment of Anton Lazzaro, a long-time GOP donor and political activist, on child sex trafficking charges. Reportedly, Lazzaro had a long time relationship and friendship with former GOP Chair Carnahan, and was even invited to Hagedorn and Carnahan’s wedding.

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New Executive Director of Minnesota GOP Told Trump to ‘Get the F— Out of the White House’

The new executive director of the Minnesota Republican Party once called on former President Donald Trump to “get the f— out of the White House.”

Minnesota GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan appointed Andy Aplikowski as the party’s new executive director, she announced in an email Tuesday.

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Republicans, Business Industry Express Dismay with Minnesota Gov. Walz’s Proposed Spending and Tax Increases

While Minnesota is recovering from a 2020 budget deficit and public health hangover, Gov. Tim Walz proposed a $52.4 billion budget – a $4 billion spending increase from the prior biennium budget and the largest proposed spending plan in state history.

“As a result of rising costs and inflation, it is expected that budgets will increase biennium to biennium,” Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) spokesman Chris Kelly told The Center Square in an email.

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GOP Says DFL Candidate Should Apologize for Mocking Rep. Stauber’s Use of Hearing Aid

The Minnesota Republican Party is calling on DFL congressional candidate Quinn Nystrom to apologize for seemingly mocking U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber’s use of a hearing aid.

Nystrom is the DFL-endorsed candidate challenging Stauber in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District, which Republicans flipped in 2018 after the retirement of former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan.

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Candidate Kendall Qualls Outraises Incumbent Dean Phillips, Again

Republican candidate for MN’s 3rd Congressional District Kendall Qualls has outraised incumbent Dean Phillips (DFL-MN-03) once again. According to the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) July pre-primary reports released last Thursday, Qualls accumulated significantly more campaign contributions and cash-on-hand than Phillips.

In total, Qualls raised over $106,000 more than Phillips, and has about $68,000 more cash-on-hand. Representative Phillips’s $250,000 debt from his previous campaign was also listed on the report.

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Minnesota GOP Chairwoman Calls for Resignation of Mayor Frey, Governor Walz

Minnesota Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan called on Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to resign for their “failed” leadership during last week’s riots.

“Gov. Walz and Mayor Frey have been largely silent, other than a handful of unhelpful tweets and press conferences blaming everyone but themselves. Minneapolis is decimated. Minneapolis is damaged to a level we never could have imagined. The destruction caused this past week will unfortunately live in our memories forever. It’s a dark stain on our state,” Carnahan said in a statement released over the weekend.

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Minnesota’s Senate Republicans Unveil 2020 Agenda, Includes Consideration of Red Flag Laws, Clean Energy Proposals

Minnesota Senate Republicans unveiled their “2020 Vision” agenda during a Monday press conference, highlighting their priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

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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).

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State Senator Highlights Enormity of DHS, Calls for Breaking Up Agency in New Letter

State Sen. Jason Rarick (R-Brook Park) thinks breaking up Minnesota’s Department of Human Services into smaller agencies is the “only reasonable option” and highlighted just how enormous the scandal-plagued agency really is in a new letter.

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Fellow 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.

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Minnesota Republican Called ‘Dangerous’ for Revealing That Walmart Sells Cheap Insulin 

A Minnesota Republican lawmaker was called “dangerous” and “reckless” for suggesting that diabetics purchase a cheaper insulin from Walmart instead of rationing the newer and more expensive analog insulin products.

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Republicans 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.

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Jason Lewis Announces Candidacy for U.S. Senate at Minnesota State Fair: ‘I’m Going to Fight Back’

Jason Lewis, a former congressman from Minnesota’s Second Congressional District and popular conservative radio host, announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate Thursday.

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Minnesota Republicans Submit Request for IRS Investigation Into Omar’s Fraudulent Tax Returns

State Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) announced Tuesday that he is submitting formal requests to the IRS and the Minnesota Department of Revenue for a full investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN-05) fraudulent 2014 and 2015 tax returns.

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Commissioner 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…

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Another Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Official Reprimanded for Anti-Military Comments

  A DFL official has resigned after writing a “reprehensible tweet” directed at Rep. Tom Emmer’s (R-MN-06) son, who recently completed basic training to become a U.S. Marine. “Can’t wait to hear about all the Iranian civilians he murdered after you and the GOP finish the garbage kabuki theatre false…

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Minnesota Teachers Union Calls for Voting in a ‘New Senate’ After Education Budget Released

  Education Minnesota, the state’s largest teachers union, urged Minnesotans to “vote in a new Senate” after an education budget agreed to by party leaders was released. “This is a lukewarm outcome to a legislative session that had a lot of potential for Minnesota students,” Education Minnesota President Denise Specht…

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Minnesota House DFL Rejects Amendment to Crack Down on Female Genital Mutilation

  The DFL-controlled Minnesota House blocked an amendment to its omnibus public safety bill that would have expanded the criminal penalties for subjecting children to the practice of female genital mutilation. The amendment was offered by Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) during a Monday night House session. Franson has been a…

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Minnesota House Approves 20 Cent Gas Tax Hike, Likely DOA in Senate

  The Minnesota House approved a 20-cent gas tax increase Monday in a vote along party lines, but the proposal is likely dead-on-arrival in the Republican-controlled Senate. “We’re not going to do a gas tax. I’ve made it very clear that is not a direction we’re going to go,” Senate…

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Governor 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…

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Minnesota’s Republican-Controlled Senate Introduces 91 Bills, Seeks to Punish Sanctuary Cities

Minnesota’s Republican-controlled Senate hit the ground running Thursday by introducing 91 pieces of legislation. Many of the items correspond with the top five priorities Republicans outlined at a Tuesday press conference, though there were several noteworthy outliers. Senate File (SF) 80, for instance, would impose “aid reductions” on sanctuary cities…

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Minnesota GOP Unveils Top Priorities As Legislative Session Kicks Off, Vows to Fight Child Care Fraud

Minnesota Senate Republicans unveiled their top five priorities Tuesday as the new legislative session kicked off, promising a platform of “equity, fairness, and common sense.” “It’s a new opportunity. We have a new governor. We have new House leadership, but we’re still the same. You know what we’re going to…

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