Dan Larson

The Latest from the Legislature

tptadmin — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:54:09 -0500

Mary Lahammer brings us up to date from the capitol. Here's a preview: The pace is picking up.

So Much for No Stadiums

Mary Lahammer — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:39:41 -0500

With a nearly billion dollar shortfall this was supposed to be the session where stadiums didn't come up. Nope. A Senate Tax Committee added an amendment for the Sports Facilities Commission to study a new Vikings stadium. The amendment sponsored by Sen. Dan Larson (DFL-Bloomington) went on easily 9-4. The Democrat who spoke up against the amendment was Sen. John Marty. He was exasperated that when people are having trouble paying for their homes, transportation and food that the legislature would allow money to be spent studying a professional sports stadium. An amendment was then added to have a sports memorabilia tax to pay for the study. A recent round up of where all the major issues stood at Easter break proclaimed on a Vikings stadium "not a word, not a hearing, not a chance." Not anymore.

Presidential Primary

Mary Lahammer — Wed, 6 Feb 2008 11:06:14 -0600

There's a wave at the Capitol wondering if Minnesota should scrap the caucus system and go to a presidential primary. Sen. Ann Rest apparently has a bill that would retain caucuses for party business but create a presidential primary. Sen. Dan Larson and Rep. Steve Simon both have bills to establish a presidential primary but the bills didn't advance past a couple of committees. After last night with voters being turned away from the polls things could change. Nearly every person I've talked to today wonders if reforms won't be on the way. Last week when I talked to the governor he was saying the Republican caucus system should be examined to at least have binding delegates. MPR had this classic quote from the gov who has no love for the caucus system:

"I lost the caucuses in 2002," Pawlenty said. "If I can't win them for myself, how can I win them for someone else? You'll remember that Brian Sullivan thumped me pretty good in the caucuses. So they're really one step in the process, but they really aren't good predictors of what the outcome will be.

Headlines

tptadmin — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:50:56 -0500

Senators grill the Mall of America, the Senate guts the gov and charter schools in its education bill, bars get exempted from the smoking ban, lawmakers want to know what’s causing deformed frogs and farmers rally.