Domestic Policy

House DFLers propose 7-cent tax increase on beer pints, 84-cent hike on 12ers

Today, House DFLers unveiled their proposed tax bill, and it's bad news for those of you who like to drink.SEE ALSO: The "I hate the Pedal Pub" Facebook page is hilarious [IMAGES]House DFLers are proposing the first increase in the state's liquor tax in years. It'd add roughly seven cents to the cos ... More >>

Minnesota cafe offers discounts for gun owners on "conceal and carry" Thursdays

While legislators locally and nationally debate gun control, a diner in the Minnesota town of Brownsdale is taking its own stance on the second amendment. At the Langtry Cafe, Thursdays are conceal and carry day.See Also: - Minnesota lawmakers propose gun control legislation [VIDEO] - Pro-gun group' ... More >>

Gov. Dayton calls death of gun background checks bill "very disappointing," blasts NRA

Last night, a bill calling for backgrounds checks on all firearm purchases in Minnesota died in a House committee, meaning any gun control legislation approved this legislative session will be watered down at best.SEE ALSO: MNGOP Rep. Tony Cornish says Jesus would pack heat if he were alive today Th ... More >>

North Dakota moving to ban all abortions with "personhood" bills

North Dakota is establishing itself as the most anti-abortion state in the nation with "personhood" bills that are working their way through the GOP-dominated Legislature.SEE ALSO: North Dakota Capitol reporters repeatedly warned about wearing revealing clothing If either of the measures are ultimat ... More >>

Rep. Tony Cornish wore a semi-automatic rifle pin to today's gun control hearing [PHOTO]

This morning the legislature kicked off three days of gun control hearings, starring Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder.SEE ALSO: Minnesota lawmakers propose gun control legislation [VIDEO] Cornish has emerged as the legislature's staunchest gun rights advocate -- a title he wore proudly, literally, ... More >>

Obama in Mpls: "Law enforcement officers should never be outgunned on the streets"

President Obama traveled to North Minneapolis this afternoon to deliver a speech in support of his new gun control proposals. His remarks didn't contain anything anything distinct from what he laid out on January 16, but he did offer up some praise for what the city of Minneapolis has gone to r ... More >>

Andy Parrish says he has "no intention of abiding" by Obama's proposed gun restrictions

Just over a month after the Newtown school shooting, President Obama today revealed his ambitious gun control proposal.SEE ALSO: Michele Bachmann's favorite gun is the Bushmaster AR-15 used in Newtown [VIDEO] But a day before the president announced what some are calling the "most expansive gun-cont ... More >>

Rybak in D.C. to support, lobby for Obama's proposals on gun reform

When Obama announced his gun law reform agenda this morning, R.T. Rybak was at the White House.The Minneapolis mayor, who co-hosted a Regional Gun Summit here just last week, is in D.C. for the day to lobby in support of the president's proposal.See Also:- Andy Parrish says he has "no intention of a ... More >>

Al Franken didn't want to talk gun control on Friday; Betty McCollum did

In the wake of a tragedy, when is it appropriate to start talking about its political implications?SEE ALSO:-- Betty McCollum speaks out on Arizona shootings [VIDEO]-- Al Franken doesn't want mobile app companies to sell your location data without permission Unfortunately, that's a question electe ... More >>

Rep. Chip Cravaack says guns in the audience would've prevented Aurora shootings [VIDEO]

For the second time in a week, a local Republican offered up a head-scratcher of a response when asked about gun control by debate moderator Gary Eichten.SEE ALSO:-- WCCO scrubs attack ad against Chip Cravaack [VIDEO]-- Chip Cravaack: Taxpayers are paying more than $1,000 a month for his 2011 Chevy ... More >>

Mark Dayton gets F grade in Cato Institute's 2012 governor fiscal policy report card

The D.C.-based Cato Institute is a conservative think tank co-founded by Charles Koch, so of course researchers there and Gov. Mark Dayton weren't destined to be bosom buddies.SEE ALSO:-- Mark Dayton rips Paul Ryan for fudging Grandma's Marathon time... by over an hour-- Mike Parry says Governor Day ... More >>

Amy Klobuchar "surprised" after Kurt Bills throws Bush tax cuts under the bus [VIDEO]

BREAKING NEWS: Republicans don't like tax increases, whether they're a result of new legislation or simply allowing tax cuts to expire. SEE ALSO:-- Kurt Bills, GOP Senate candidate, says he'd support tax increase, fight Grover Norquist-- Obama up 7 in Minnesota, Klobuchar up 19, says new poll-- Mich ... More >>

Kurt Bills, GOP Senate candidate, says he'd support tax increase, fight Grover Norquist

The stress of a moribund U.S. Senate campaign might be getting to Kurt Bills.SEE ALSO:-- Michael Brodkorb hates Kurt Bills, wants write-in MNGOP U.S. Senate candidate-- Kurt Bills' new ad takes Klobuchar's joke out of context, but what else do you expect? [VIDEO]-- Dave Wellstone calls Kurt Bills' h ... More >>

Dayton vetoes "smokin' hot" MNGOP-crafted tax cut bill

An exchange on the House floor Tuesday night succinctly captured the difference of opinion between MNGOP and DFL lawmakers about a tax bill vetoed this morning by Gov. Mark Dayton.House Taxes Committee Chairman Greg Davids, R-Preston, described the legislation as a "smokin' hot tax bill." In reply, ... More >>

Everyone in Wisconsin wants to walk around with a gun

Wisconsin is preparing to star in a big-budget Western. ​This morning, Wisconsin began taking applications for the state's brand new concealed carry gun law. By this afternoon, every single person in Wisconsin will be armed to the teeth. Shoulder holster, one at the hip, little one down by the ank ... More >>

PolitiFact: Pawlenty mostly honest about Obama on health care

​When we hear the words "PolitiFact" and "Minnesota" in the same sentence, it's usually because Michele Bachmann has scored another "Pants On Fire" award for spouting more unbelievable crap about Barack Obama. Today is different. Even though he's getting tepid reviews for his debate with the ... More >>

Tim Pawlenty attacks Obama's healthcare as "one of the most flawed and misguided laws in modern history"

Matt VisionquestBravepaw tweets his feelings on Obamacare.​Tim Pawlenty just excitedly tweeted that we should all check out his statement on the "1 yr anniversary of Obamacare."For such a momentous twitterduction, the statement is decidely brief--just about three tweets worth of text. In it, Pawle ... More >>

Al Franken rips into FCC approval of Comcast-NBC merger

Al Franken loses the Comcast-NBC merger fight.​The Comcast-NBC Universal merger got an official green light today from the Federal Communications Commission, paving the way on a 4-1 vote for another major consolidation in the telecom industry. It's a merger that Al Franken has battled from th ... More >>

Return to Sender

What Would Comprehensive Immigration Reform Look Like If the Feds Got Off Their Duffs?

Fair-y Tales

Michele Bachmann caught spreading tax lies on "Good Morning America"

Bachmann vs. Stephanopoulos: No contest.​Never letting the facts get in the way of a good soundbite, Michele Bachmann's been caught with her pants on fire by PolitiFact again. George Stephanopoulos, on "Good Morning America," asked her why it was okay for the wealthy to get tax breaks, but no ... More >>

Michele Bachmann likes earmarks. Just call them something else

This woman wants a bridge.​Tim Pawlenty got away with not raising taxes by redefining a "tax" as a "user fee." Now Michele Bachmann supports a redefinition of earmarks she likes, because those earmarks aren't really earmarks. They're, well, something else.

Michele Bachmann was for the stimulus while she was against it

Bachmann: Saddling our kids with the fedeal debt is OK when she does it.​Remember the Fox News gabfests, the D.C. rallies and the campaign ads where Michele Bachmann brags about voting against President Barack Obama's stimulus bill? Too much federal spending, she says. Turns out she had her h ... More >>

Seized: Inside the brutal world of America's kidnapping capital

Part of the Amongst Us series

Michele Bachmann revives BP, death panel bunk

​Up for re-election in November, congresswoman Michele Bachmann must figure it's time to haul out the scare tactics again. Two weeks ago the White House was fomenting socialism and One World Government. Now, we're back to Obama creating death panels with health care reform and opening a politi ... More >>

Shooting Straight: Letters to the Editor

Testing Minnesota's gun show loophole

How easy is it to buy a firearm in the Twin Cities?

Michele Bachmann calls net neutrality an Obama censorship plot

​Black is white. Peace is war. Up is down. Michele Bachmann is now asserting that the issue of Internet network neutrality, known as "net neutrality," is an evil Obama administration plot to censor the Internet. But it's exactly the opposite: Network neutrality (also net neutrality, Inter ... More >>

Tony Sutton rips into Collin Peterson

​Here's the issue: Democratic U.S Rep. Collin Peterson, who represents the 7th congressional district, voted against the health care reform bill. Later, he said that since it had become the law of the land, he would work with it. To Republicans who have made "repeal and replace" their new batt ... More >>

Farming for Federal Dollars

Meet the Minnesotans who receive subsidies for not growing anything

Tim Pawlenty dismisses federal Medicaid money he uses to balance the state's budget

The federal stimulus is being used to prop up Medicaid payments, which Pawlenty needs to balance the state budget.

Al Franken, Amy Klobuchar, Keith Ellison, Jim Oberstar backing health care public option

The public option in the Democrat's health care reform package, known to Michele Bachmann as a communist conspiracy, looks like it may have risen from the dead.

Al Franken, reproductive rights, and a debate that goes nowhere

This is not news: Both sides of the abortion debate are dug in tighter than a stubborn mule. Here's a perfect example.

Marijuana steadily creeps toward legalization

Is D.C. finally ready to let us toke up?

Crop subsidy data suggests Michele Bachmann is a welfare queen

As Michele Bachmann rails against government handouts, some of her critics point out she's feeding at the government trough.

Minn. Republicans, Blue Dogs stand up against Obama health care plan

Republicans and some Democrats spoke out this weekend against the plan, citing lack of details or unease with the public option.

Bachmann featured in new "real" death panels ad by Dems

Americans United for Change released a new ad attempting to turn the tables on the much-debunked Republican claim that President Obama's health care reform plan would create death panels.

Taxpayer's League names Pawlenty a "Hero of the Taxpayer"

The Taxpayer's League released their 2009 Minnesota Legislative Scorecard and guess who they gave a standing ovation to?

Legal medical marijuana in Minnesota closer to becoming reality

Sick patients' loved ones hopeful for additional relaxation of the law

Bachmann: The DCCC is after me again!

Bachmann responded today with a fundraising email of her own to counter the Democrats. Are we back in election season or what?

Minnesota snags $9 billion in stimulus aid, 66,000 jobs

So what will you get out of this stimulus package? A lot, analysts say.

Bachmann: How about a giant personal stimulus check instead?

Rep. Michele Bachmann, our favorite lawmaker by far, is actually talking some sense lately when it comes to the stimulus plan. Well, sort of.

Minnesota benefits in economic stimulus package

The U.S. House passed the more than $800 billion stimulus package this week. So what will Minnesota get out of it?

Franken calls for Congressional hearings on bailout cash

Dude, where's my stimulus check?

Coleman top for donations from financial sector, taking down economy

Bachmann conveniently misses flight home and cancels debate

Pawlenty flip-flops on Cuba just in time to cozy up to McCain

Is Gov. Tim Pawlenty's change of heart politically motivated?

Michele Bachmann calls John McCain a tax-and-spend liberal

Leading the fight for farm welfare