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Articles by Ricardo López
Grassroots Legalize Cannabis Party Besieged
To counter GOP meddling, some cannabis activists pushed effort to change party name These days, Oliver Steinberg, chair and co-founder of the Grassroots Legalize Cannabis Party, is feeling besieged on multiple fronts. Since the party became one of two marijuana legalization parties to achieve major party status in 2018, interlopers have sought to use the Grassroots Legalize Cannabis Party to influence the outcome of competitive races.
Senate ethics subcommittee votes to continue investigation of Sen. Omar Fateh
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Senate ethics subcommittee votes to continue investigatio...
A Minnesota Senate ethics subcommittee on Wednesday authorized an investigation of a two-count ethics complaint against Sen. Omar Fateh, DFL-Minneapolis, and will subpoena two people, including Fateh’s former legislative aide and campaign manager. The Senate Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct, a bipartisan four-member panel, continued its hearing on whether enough probable cause existed to conduct a formal review of the complaints, and voted unanimously to continue the investigation.
Sen. Omar Fateh says he paid for Somali TV political ads at center of ethics complaint
DFL Sen. Omar Fateh of Minneapolis, facing allegations that he sought state grant money for a TV station after it ran free ads for him, said he actually paid $1,000 to Somali TV for a handful of political advertisements.
Senate DFL wants action on gun control measures in special session
A group of DFL state senators on Tuesday called on their Republican colleagues to take action on long-stalled gun control legislation in a special session. In recent weeks, two 18-year-old gunmen using AR-15 style rifles separately killed 10 Black people in Buffalo, N.Y., and 21 elementary school students and teachers in Uvalde, Texas.
To counter GOP meddling, some cannabis activists pushed effort to change party name
▪ You must give Minnesota Reformer credit, including https://minnesotareformer.com and author. ▪ If you publish online, include the links from the story, and a link to Minnesota Reformer. ▪ Stories may be edited for in-house style or to shorten. More substantial changes should be noted as additional and conducted by your publication. ▪ You can publish our graphics and any photos that are credited to Minnesota Reformer with the stories with which they originally appeared.
To counter GOP meddling, some cannabis activists pushed effort to change party name
These days, Oliver Steinberg, chair and co-founder of the Grassroots Legalize Cannabis Party, is feeling besieged on multiple fronts. Since the party became one of two marijuana legalization parties to achieve major party status in 2018, interlopers have sought to use the Grassroots Legalize Cannabis Party to influence the outcome of competitive races.
Public defenders, court staff call for a special session to approve funding for raises
Teamsters Local 320, the union representing the state’s public defenders, court reporters and other court staff, is calling on Gov. Tim Walz and lawmakers to return to the Capitol to approve a public safety budget and fund a contract with pay increases or risk further strain on the judiciary branch.
Lawmakers approve $93 million for mental health funding in final minutes of legislative session
Though unable to pass major education and public safety bills, lawmakers on Sunday approved nearly $93 million for mental health initiatives just minutes before adjourning. “Addressing the mental health crisis facing our communities, especially in our youth, has been a bipartisan priority all year and after working around the clock in the final hours of this session, we were able to pass a strong bill that will make an impact in the lives of Minnesotans across the state,” Sen.
GOP senators want ethics review of Sen. Omar Fateh effort to give nonprofit a $500,000 grant after it endorsed him
A group of Republican state senators on Tuesday filed an ethics complaint against a DFL colleague, Sen. Omar Fateh of Minneapolis, requesting a review of Fateh’s sponsorship of legislation to give a nonprofit a $500,000 grant after it endorsed him, potentially in violation of its nonprofit status.
Billions left unspent as divided Legislature scramble to finish budget flounders in final hours
In the end, the Minnesota Legislature ran out of time early Monday to strike deals on how to spend the state’s historic budget surplus, leaving billions on the state’s bottom line unless DFL Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders finish the work in a special session. Lawmakers blew past a midnight deadline, failing to pass new spending for public safety, schools, health and human services, tax cuts and a capital infrastructure bill.
Billions left unspent as divided Legislature flounders in final hours
In the end, the Minnesota Legislature ran out of time early Monday to strike deals on how to spend the state’s historic budget surplus, leaving billions on the state’s bottom line unless DFL Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders finish the work in a special session. Lawmakers blew past a midnight deadline, failing to pass new spending for public safety, schools, health and human services, tax cuts and a capital infrastructure bill.
Lawmakers scrambling to finish writing budget bills on time
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Lawmakers scrambling to finish writing budget bills on time
Minnesota lawmakers on Friday were still working through several sticking points in budget negotiations for transportation, education and public safety spending, even as they struck deals on other legislation, including drought relief and allowing some breweries to sell growlers. House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, made her first appearance with reporters since quarantining with COVID-19 last week, though she’s appeared in negotiations remotely.
Deadline looming for lawmakers to finish writing budget bills
Quarreling lawmakers, who have been slow to fill in details on a compromise $8 billion package of tax cuts and new spending, threaten to derail an on-time end to the legislative session. Just six days remain until the divided Legislature has to adjourn, but lawmakers have less than that to reach compromises, draft bills and bring them up for floor votes in both chambers. Monday started on an optimistic note, as DFL Gov.
Time scarce for lawmakers to write budget bills as governor, top leaders set framework
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Time scarce for lawmakers to write budget bills as governor, top leaders set framework
Lawmakers learned late Sunday night they have two days to put the pieces together of a multi-billion dollar spending and tax cut plan, leaving much left to do with little time. DFL Gov. Tim Walz, House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park and Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, signed a “broad framework” of their spending plan, casting it as a compromise all sides were happy with, despite unease about details causing further hiccups.
Minn. House Speaker ‘feeling fine’ after learning of COVID-19 infection, will negotiate remotely
End-of-session legislative negotiations are being upended as House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, announced Wednesday she has COVID-19. “My allergies seemed a little bit worse this morning than a normal spring day so I thought it would be prudent to check,” Hortman tweeted, adding she was “feeling fine” and is fully vaccinated and had received a booster shot, too. She said she would participate in budget negotiations remotely while she quarantines and recovers.
Minn. House Speaker 'feeling fine' after learning of COVID-19 infection, will negotiate remotely
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Walz, legislative leaders are meeting regularly as committees debate budget bills
Around the Capitol, no news tends to be good news when it comes to legislative negotiations, as tight-lipped lawmakers usually means progress behind closed doors. Two weeks remain until the Legislature adjourns, with a long to-do list and busy schedule of committee meetings that aim to settle the vast differences between the GOP-led Senate and the DFL-majority House. DFL Gov.
Senate majority leader's family ties to deer farming under scrutiny in CWD vote
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Senate majority leader’s family ties to deer farming under scrutiny in CWD vote
During a recent debate on an agricultural budget bill, Sen. Karla Bigham, DFL-Cottage Grove, won five votes from GOP colleagues to amend the bill and impose regulations on deer farms to combat chronic wasting disease, including a moratorium on new operations. It was an unusual show of bipartisan support for a DFL-led amendment in the GOP-controlled Senate, illustrating the deep concern of many hunters and their allies in the Legislature about the disease that threatens the deer population.
Minnesota unaffected if Roe v. Wade struck down, but GOP majority could change that, Walz warns
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Minnesota unaffected if Roe v. Wade struck down, but GOP majority could change that, Walz warns
Minnesota DFL leaders are pledging to preserve abortion rights in the state, repudiating a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion obtained by Politico that would strike down Roe v. Wade. “Not on my watch,” Gov. Tim Walz tweeted Monday night when Politico first published the 98-page opinion written by Associate Justice Samuel Alito. Abortion access in Minnesota would not be affected if Roe v. Wade is struck down.
Legislative leaders broker tentative deal on pandemic hazard pay, unemployment insurance fund
Legislative leaders on Thursday announced a deal on a long-stalled issue to award pandemic hazard pay to frontline workers and replenish the state’s unemployment insurance fund to avert steep tax increases on employers. House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, said they brokered a tentative agreement late Wednesday night with the governor’s office.
Legislative leaders broker tentative deal on pandemic hazard pay, unemployment insurance fund
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DEED Commissioner Steve Grove plays hardball with Hilton after contentious call
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Senate approves ‘tough on crime’ bill with bipartisan support
The Republican-controlled state Senate on Monday approved a $200 million public safety and judiciary budget bill that creates harsher penalties for carjackers, institutes new mandates on judges and prosecutors for sentencing and prosecution decisions, and weighs in on sentencing guidelines. The bill passed with a bipartisan majority but won’t become law without the assent of the Democratic-controlled House and signature of DFL Gov. Tim Walz.
Push to ban private, members-only club for lobbyists, legislators gains bipartisan support
The push to ban the creation of a private, dues-based club for legislators and lobbyists has gained bipartisan support. A budget bill advancing in the GOP-led Senate includes a provision that would bar lobbyists and other political groups from making contributions for a membership to a private club during the legislative session to meet with lawmakers. Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, is author of the state government budget bill.
Push to ban private, members-only club for lobbyists, legislators gains bipartisan support
The push to ban the creation of a private, dues-based club for legislators and lobbyists has gained bipartisan support. A budget bill advancing in the GOP-led Senate includes a provision that would bar lobbyists and other political groups from making contributions for a membership to a private club during the legislative session to meet with lawmakers. Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, is author of the state government budget bill.
In endorsement race for western suburban district, Rep. Kelly Morrison wins over Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart
State Rep. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, won the DFL endorsement in her bid for the Minnesota Senate, beating freshman state Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart, DFL-Minnetonka. Under new legislative maps, Johnson Stewart moved into Senate District 45, which encompasses a large western suburban district and cities like Minnetonka, Orono and Mound.
In endorsement race for western suburban district, Rep. Kelly Morrison wins over Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart
State Rep. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, won the DFL endorsement in her bid for the Minnesota Senate, beating freshman state Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart, DFL-Minnetonka. Under new legislative maps, Johnson Stewart moved into Senate District 45, which encompasses a large western suburban district and cities like Minnentonka, Orono and Mound.
Senate approves $8.4 billion in tax cuts, and adjourns for Easter Break
The GOP-led Senate approved an $8.4 billion tax cut package on Thursday, 42-24, setting up negotiations with the House DFL, which would use money to bolster child care and education while offering a smaller, targeted tax cut. Billed as tax cuts for Minnesota families, Republicans argue the state’s projected $9.3 billion budget surplus is evidence the state over collected tax revenues.
House DFL moving to cut costs of child care, housing and prescription drugs
House Democratic leaders on Tuesday outlined plans intended to reduce the costs of child care, housing and prescription drugs, setting up their negotiating position with Senate Republicans as the legislative session enters its final stretch. With a projected $9.25 billion budget surplus, House DFL leaders also proposed targeted tax changes they say are aimed at workers and Minnesota families.
House DFL ditches Walz checks in favor of refundable child tax credit
House DFL and Senate GOP lawmakers appear to have killed a plan from Gov. Tim Walz to give Minnesotans direct payments of up to $1,000. On Monday, the two legislative caucuses published their competing tax plans and neither contains the so-called “Walz checks,” which the Democratic-Farmer-Labor governor had proposed recently. Direct payments to Minnesotans would have cost $2 billion of the state’s projected $9.25 billion budget surplus.
House DFL ditches Walz checks in favor of refundable child tax credit
House DFL and Senate GOP lawmakers appear to have killed a plan from Gov. Tim Walz to give Minnesotans direct payments of up to $1,000. On Monday, the two legislative caucuses published their competing tax plans and neither contains the so-called “Walz checks,” which the Democratic-Farmer-Labor governor had proposed recently. Direct payments to Minnesotans would have cost $2 billion of the state’s projected $9.25 billion budget surplus.
Andy Luger confirmed to serve a second time as U.S. Attorney for Minnesota
Andy Luger received bipartisan confirmation from the U.S. Senate on Thursday and will return as U.S. Attorney for Minnesota. Luger, 62, previously served in the role from 2014 to 2017 when President Donald Trump’s administration asked him and dozens of other federal prosecutors to resign. The confirmation vote was 60-to-36. He was among three finalists named for the nomination after a selection committee vetted potential candidates.
Rep. John Thompson faces challengers Hoang Murphy, Liz Lee in endorsement race
The governor and the speaker of the Minnesota House called for him to resign. His party caucus ousted him. But embattled Rep. John Thompson is running for reelection. To win a second term, he’ll need to defeat two challengers in the strongly Democratic East Side St. Paul district. Hoang Murphy, founder of the St. Paul-based nonprofit Foster Advocates, and Kaozouapa “Liz” Lee, a nonprofit consultant and former Washington, D.C., staffer, are both in the race.
Rep. John Thompson on Hugo protest: 'That's something I really regret'
7:00 News Story Government & Politics Thompson gave an hour-long interview ahead of an endorsement convention where he faces two challengers Rep. John Thompson, the St. Paul lawmaker who was banished by his Democratic-Farmer-Labor colleagues and now caucuses as an Independent, said he regrets the Hugo protest that first made him a political albatross for fellow Democratic elected officials, including Gov. Tim Walz.
Rep. John Thompson on Hugo protest: ‘That’s something I really regret’
Rep. John Thompson, the St. Paul lawmaker who was banished by his Democratic-Farmer-Labor colleagues and now caucuses as an Independent, said he regrets the Hugo protest that first made him a political albatross for fellow Democratic elected officials, including Gov. Tim Walz.
Senate DFL outlines $500 million public safety plan
Minnesota Democratic senators on Tuesday outlined a $500 million public safety plan they say will help curb violent crime, provide resources to police officers and help address the root causes of the increase in gun violence and carjackings. The proposal contrasts with Republican bills that would enact tougher criminal penalties and promote the law enforcement profession. Democrats say their plan is more comprehensive and will have a longer term impact.
Senate DFL outlines $500 million public safety plan
Minnesota Democratic senators on Tuesday outlined a $500 million public safety plan they say will help curb violent crime, provide resources to police officers and help address the root causes of the increase in gun violence and carjackings. The proposal contrasts with Republican bills that would enact tougher criminal penalties and promote the law enforcement profession. Democrats say their plan is more comprehensive and will have a longer term impact.
Sen. Tom Bakk announces retirement from Senate, after nearly 30 years as influential lawmaker
Sen. Tom Bakk, the Democratic senator turned Independent from Cook, is retiring from state politics, nearly 30 years after he was first elected to the Legislature. One of the staunchest supporters of the Iron Range, its mining and its idiosyncratic culture, Bakk, 67, developed a reputation for being a master of the inside game, always finding a way to put himself at the center of Minnesota state politics and government.
Sen. Tom Bakk announces retirement from Senate, after nearly 30 years as influential lawmaker
Sen. Tom Bakk, the Democratic senator turned Independent from Cook, is retiring from state politics, nearly 30 year after he was first elected to the Legislature. One of the staunchest supporters of the Iron Range, its mining and its idiosyncratic culture, Bakk, 67, developed a reputation for being a master of the inside game, always finding a way to put himself at the center of Minnesota state politics and government.
GOP bill would grant medical board discretion to investigate doctors over social media comments
A Republican Senate bill would give the state medical practice board discretion to turn down investigations of complaints made against doctors for comments made on social media, as long as they are not directly related to patient care. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake, comes as former Sen. Scott Jensen, R-Chaska — a family doctor with outspoken views about COVID-19 — runs for governor.
GOP bill would grant medical board discretion to investigate doctors over social media comments
A Republican Senate bill would give the state medical practice board discretion to turn down investigations of complaints made against doctors for comments made on social media, as long as they are not directly related to patient care. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake, comes as former Sen. Scott Jensen, R-Chaska — a family doctor with outspoken views about COVID-19 — runs for governor.
Former MNGOP chair Jennifer Carnahan, widow of U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, running for late husband’s seat
Jennifer Carnahan, the former Minnesota GOP chairwoman and widow of U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, is running for her late husband’s seat in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, hoping to move past her controversial and polarizing record as party leader. Carnahan joins a crowded field of candidates running in a special election called after Hagedorn died of kidney cancer Feb. 18.
Former MNGOP chair Jennifer Carnahan, widow of U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, running for late husband’s seat
Jennifer Carnahan, the former Minnesota GOP chairwoman and widow of U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, is running for her late husband’s seat in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, hoping to move past her controversial and polarizing record as party leader. Carnahan joins a crowded field of candidates running in a special election called after Hagedorn died of kidney cancer Feb. 18.
GOP lawmakers, businesses want vote on unemployment insurance fund replenishment
House and Senate Republicans on Thursday warned that businesses will start paying higher payroll taxes next week if lawmakers do not approve a bill to replenish the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund. The GOP-led Senate, which has already approved a bill to replenish the UI trust fund and pay back the federal government, says the House DFL is stalling by not acting to advance the legislation.
GOP lawmakers, businesses want vote on unemployment insurance fund replenishment
House and Senate Republicans on Thursday warned that businesses will start paying higher payroll taxes next week if lawmakers do not approve a bill to replenish the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund. The GOP-led Senate, which has already approved a bill to replenish the UI trust fund and pay back the federal government, says the House DFL is stalling by not acting to advance the legislation.
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