Federal Budget

Surly responds to proposed beer tax increases

On Tuesday the folks over at Surly Brewing Co. took the time to issue their response to the proposed tax increase on Minnesota-made alcohol. In a lengthy blog post that details their multiple issues with the proposed excise tax increase, Surly makes it clear that this legislation can only hurt Minne ... More >>

Michele Bachmann says she cares about the poor, gets another "Four Pinocchios" rating [VIDEO]

During a floor speech last Friday, Michele Bachmann mangled an attempt at a Shakespeare quote (She said "Thou protesteth too much" -- the actual quote is "The lady doth protest too much"). But that's not significant here.SEE ALSO: Michele Bachmann's 'I do not do political speech' line draws loud lau ... More >>

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 >>

MNGOP blames DFL for wasteful spending approved by MNGOP

Yesterday, the MNGOP's official House caucus Twitter account wanted you to ponder this thought as you tried to stay warm while April snow fell outside:ICYMI: While you sit inside today, remember $840k in taxpayer $ went to overseas trips for artists. on.fb.me/XutxBD#DFLWaste #mnleg-- MN House Republ ... More >>

DFL Rep. Karen Clark wants to raise taxes on barrels of beer from $4.60 to $16.17

Rep. Karen Clark, D-Minneapolis, is one half of the tandem leading the push for marriage equality. She's also leading the push to increase taxes on beer, wine, and liquor.SEE ALSO: Sunday liquor sales seem to be dead on arrival yet againYesterday, Clark's proposal to increase taxes on 31-gallon barr ... More >>

Minnesota will be one of the states least affected by sequestration, but it's still going to suck

Barring a last-minute deal in D.C., this Friday will mark the beginning of $1.2 trillion in federal budget cuts that will be gradually implemented over the next decade.SEE ALSO: Minnesota's economic recovery driven by McJobs, not middle-class jobsAll states will be affected, some more than others. A ... More >>

Steve White

President Obama offers Michele Bachmann a raise she doesn't want

When he signed an executive order calling for an end to a longstanding pay freeze for members of Congress and other federal employees last Thursday, President Obama essentially offered Michele Bachmann a $900-a-year raise. But Bachmann and a majority of her colleagues in the GOP-controlled House wan ... More >>

Allen Quist ignores facts, alleges food stamp program discriminates against married couples

SEE ALSO:-- Allen Quist flip-flops about his research in a Mankato "anonymous sodomy" adult bookstore-- Allen Quist under renewed fire for 'men are genetically predisposed to lead family' remarkWith his gaffe-fest primary against Mike Parry in the rear-view mirror, you might've expected Republican U ... More >>

MNGOP, $2 million in debt, decries Obama's "out of control spending"

​Pot, meet kettle. Late last year, figures released by the MNGOP's own Internal Finance Review revealed that the party is about $2 million in debt. Review committee chair Jeff Johnson characterized the MNGOP's balance sheets as containing "some ugly stuff."Yesterday, President Obama released his p ... More >>

Supervalu focusing on record number of food stamp recipients

Food stamps account for 40 percent of sales at Supervalu's Save-A-Lot stores.​Eden Prairie-based Supervalu is one of a handful of grocery chains changing the way it operates to accommodate the record number of food stamp recipients. From opening supermarkets at midnight, when government benefits a ... More >>

Insights Design Series: Kevin Quealy

Michele Bachmann lives in the real world: Video of the day

​The president hates America. We live in a socialist state. Shutting down the government isn't shutting down the government. That's reality for Rep. Michele Bachmann. Everything else is just fantasy, she told Harry Smith on "Face the Nation" yesterday.

Michele Bachmann: "Porking has gotten way out of control"

Like her Muslim friends, Bachmann has no pork on her fork.​Michele Bachmann has a message for America this afternoon: "Recently, porking has gotten way out of control."It's a provocative statement, and one that certainly lends itself to interpretation. But based on context, our best guess is t ... 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.

Tim Pawlenty spouts "bull" on healthcare, Dave Durenberger says

Tim Pawlenty, health care expert.​Tim Pawlenty, sorta-kinda running for president maybe, has been working hard on his Fox News soundbites. "I think Obamacare is one of the worst pieces of legislation passed in the modern history of the country," he told the fair and balanced network last week ... More >>

Bill Clinton makes good on Bachmann smackdown

Clinton: Use your brains before voting for Bachmann​Bill Clinton picked a lousy night to be a Vikings fan, but he rallied the faithful for Tarryl Clark anyway, and got in a few hits on Michele Bachmann while the hometown crowd cheered.

Joe Biden death threat from Blaine's Barry Vincent Ardolf

Ardolf was allegedly gunning for Biden and Obama​Is federal deficit spending worth taking the vice president's and president's llives? Ask Barry Vincent Ardolf, a 45-year-old Medtronic employee from Blaine with, apparently, no criminal record. He's accused of using someone else's computer in ... More >>

Tim Pawlenty's unallotment appeal tossed by state Supreme Court

​In a ruling that could suddenly pitch Minnesota into the uncharted territory of a $3.4 billion deficit, the Minnesota Supreme Court today said that Gov. Tim Pawlenty went above his authority by trying to use unallotment to unilaterally cut $5.3 million from a state program. Pawlenty's reacti ... More >>

Michele Bachmann repeats debunked economics

​To borrow a phrase from Ronald Reagan: There she goes again. Preaching to the converted at yesterday's downtown Minneapolis GOP money-grubbing love-in with Sarah Palin -- check out our slideshow -- Michele Bachmann told a bunch of whoppers. Her call for nuking cyberattackers was an especial ... More >>

Michele Bachmann fisked by CBS News after "Face the Nation" appearance

The congresswoman keeps insisting that the federal government now controls 51 percent of the U.S. economy.

Minnesota shortchanged by federal funding for disease and injury prevention programs

Minnesota ranked 41st out of 50 states in the amount of federal funding it received from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Michele Bachmann's "wean 'em off Social Security" speech prompts radio ad

A Washington, D.C. activist group is using her words against her, via radio ads that started running in her district today.

Pawlenty launches online balanced budget amendment petition

Dick Cheney once famously said that Ronald Reagan proved "deficits don't matter."

Court, Congress deal blows to Bachmann's ACORN agenda

A vote in the House and a decision by a U.S. District Court judge in Brooklyn suggest she's lost a couple of rounds.

Pawlenty's a no-show for his own rally; Bachmann takes stage

The Republican faithful come to praise the governor' proposed constitutional amendment, but he's nowhere in sight.

Franken's first amendment passes Senate

The amendment stops defense contractors from receiving federal funding if they use mandatory arbitration clauses that prevent victims of assault from going to court.

Pawlenty calls out Chris Matthews's 'Man-Crush' on Obama

But does the MSNBC host have Hardballs for 44?

Klobuchar wonders if Cornyn knows what it feels like to be alone

Sen. Amy Klobuchar appeared on MSNBC Wednesday to talk about how lonely and tough it is being the only Minnesota senator in Washington, D.C.

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?

Pawlenty raiding the stimulus plan buffet

Don't worry Minnesotans. Pawlenty can't resist grabbing for the stimulus plan's "meandering buffet".

Bush's parting gift: no morning-after pill for you!

Midtown Bike Center makes "most outrageous federal spending" list

Eat lead, robots!

Military recruiters and Minneapolis schools

West Wing and a prayer

Congressman Walz raises concerns about funding for VA medical care

5/18: Morning Communique

The Billion Dollar Bash

Minneapolis moves toward a final 2006 city budget

Kennedy's Voting Record

One Hand Washes the Other

Are the state GOP and an antiabortion group conspiring against runoff voting?

Marry or Burn

The White House's new anti-poverty program: Shotgun weddings

George W. Bush and the Real State of the Union

How's the president doing?

Austerity Forever

Health care took the most visible hits at the Legislature this year, and the future only looks bleaker: Linda Berglin, the only DFLer who stood and fought Pawlenty's cuts.

Prison Math

Thanks to census counts, inmates are bringing big money to small towns

Payback Time

Minnesota's success in providing health care to children is about to cost the state millions in federal funds

The End of Welfare as we Know it

The outlook for Minnesota

Under Fire

Morning in America

A nation of trolls under the bridge to the 21st century

Welfare as We've Never Known It

Calculating the real impact of the welfare bill for Minnesota.