A year has passed. A year ago, we were focused on demonstrations and rallies supporting gun control safety legislation following the killing of 17 people at a Florida high school. Skeptics doubted the public support would result in laws such as universal background checks, bans on assault-style weapons or high capacity magazines. These measures are widely supported, for example, more
Finish the job: bring Northstar to St. Cloud
Question: When is a subsidy not a subsidy? Answer: When the money is used to support public transit, such as Northstar Commuter Rail, Republicans in the state Legislature call the money a subsidy. When it’s used to build highways, the money is an investment. Ten years after the first trains rolled, there’s a serious effort to extend Northstar Commuter to
Voters asked for results instead of deadlock; will legislators deliver this time?
There’s a new look at the Capitol. Tim Walz replaced fellow Democrat Mark Dayton in the governor’s office, while Democrats won control of the House of Representatives. Thirty-nine new members, including 35 DFLers, entered the 134-member House. Over in the Senate, Republicans hold a 35-32 advantage. In addition to how to spend the state’s money and balance the budget, the
During extreme cold, more chilling news for Minnesotans
In the midst of the coldest weather in 25 years, Minnesotans heard more chilling news on Jan. 29 from the country’s top spies. Buried in the national intelligence chiefs’ 42-page assessments of worldwide threats were several paragraphs that demand urgent attention. The report says Russia and China have the ability to cripple gas and electric supplies now. Utilities and government
Sartell-St. Stephen: Contact your elected officials before it’s too late
With a new year comes a new team of elected leaders and a list of issues for them to tackle. Some of those issues linger from year to year, unsolved because politicians couldn’t agree, the solutions cost too much or because there’s not enough pressure from voters to find an answer. One way individual voters can act is to contact
St. Joseph: Contact your elected officials before it’s too late
With a new year comes a new team of elected leaders and a list of issues for them to tackle. Some of those issues linger from year to year, unsolved because politicians couldn’t agree, the solutions cost too much or because there’s not enough pressure from voters to find an answer. One way individual voters can act is to contact
Agreement on voting measure could give both parties an early win
When the Minnesota Legislature convened this week, legislators focused on how state government will deal with a $1.5-billion budget surplus. Democrats will demand increased funding for programs such as education and health care and Republicans will urge a tax cut. A Democrat sits in the governor’s office and Democrats control the House, but the Republicans hold a one-seat majority in
Protect Minnesota voters’ secret ballot
The secret ballot may not be so secret if Minnesota’s presidential preference primary goes ahead as planned. The presidential primary law requires separate ballots for each political party, requires that all voters disclose to election officials the party ballot they choose and makes that data public record. The primary will take place on the first Tuesday in March 2020. The