Minnesota State Senate

Michele Bachmann isn't really leaving Minnesota over the gay marriage vote

Sorry, Minnesota, but Michele Bachmann is not fleeing to Oregon over Monday's vote to legalize same-sex marriage. Not because she was bluffing, but because the Daily Currant -- the news site that published the report -- is satirical. SEE ALSO: Michele Bachmann falls from grace Minnesota Senate app ... More >>

Minnesota Senate approves marriage equality

This afternoon, the Minnesota Senate followed the House and approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage with a 37-30 vote.HAPPENING TOMORROW: Love is the Law concert celebrating marriage equality announced Gov. Mark Dayton is reportedly wasting little time and planning to sign the legislation into ... More >>

Senate passes bill to help convicted criminals land job interviews

On Saturday, in a 44-16 vote, the Minnesota Senate passed a bill intended to make it easier for convicted criminals to land job interviews.SEE ALSO: MNGOP Sen. Dan Hall suggests gay marriage supporters are unpatrioticThe so-called "ban the box" bill would require most private employers to follow the ... More >>

DFL cuts MNGOP Senate staffers' salaries; Bakk cites cost of Brodkorb lawsuit

The repercussions from the Michael Brodkorb-Amy Koch sex scandal will felt in the bank accounts of MNGOP Senate staffers this legislative session.SEE ALSO: Last year, MNGOP Senate staffers couldn't even eat lunch without getting in troubleYesterday, the DFL-controlled Senate approved new pay rates t ... More >>

Michael Brodkorb gloats over MNGOP's money woes

SEE ALSO:-- MNGOP scandal: "Smoking gun" email suggests alleged recount scheme was just the beginning-- MNGOP: Alleged recount debt conspiracy could mean jail time for Sutton, dissolution of party-- Michael Brodkorb files lawsuit against Minnesota SenateThe MNGOP and DFL released updated financial s ... More >>

Michael Brodkorb files lawsuit against Minnesota Senate

See also:--The Amy Koch Affair--Michael Brodkorb created a hostile work environment, GOP senator says--Michael Brodkorb wants to settle invasion of privacy lawsuit with Senate--Michael Brodkorb's attorney "blindsided" by meeting with senators--Michael Brodkorb domestic dispute Minnesota Republicans' ... More >>

Unemployed Brodkorb seeks government bailout, gets denied, alleges invasion of privacy [UPDATE]

The Amy Koch-Michael Brodkorb sex scandal is like the gift that keeps giving richer and richer ironies.The latest? MPR reports that Brodkorb's application for unemployment benefits was denied by the Department of Employment and Economic Development. He's appealing the decision.In other words, the su ... More >>

Michael Brodkorb files paperwork to begin lawsuit against Minnesota Senate

​Michael Brodkorb declined to take questions at a press conference this afternoon announcing that he has filed paperwork with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to begin a lawsuit against the Minnesota Senate. Through his attorney Gregory Walsh, Brodkorb announced that he will be suing S ... More >>

Controversial pro-gun "deadly force" bill approved by Senate, likely headed to Dayton

​Yesterday, with a mostly party-line 40-23 vote, the Minnesota Senate approved the controversial Defense of Dwelling and Person Act, a bill that broadens the rights of property owners to use deadly force. Since the House passed a version of the bill last year, the legislation should soon reach the ... More >>

Amy Koch had "inappropriate relationship" with senate staffer. Was it Michael Brodkorb?

Amy Koch resigned over an "inappropriate relationship" with a staffer. Michael Brodkorb was her staffer and resigned today. Coincidence?​Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch resigned her leadership position Thursday after fellow Republicans confronted her about an "inappropriate relations ... More >>

Bill Ingebrigtsen carries English-only bill into state Senate

Bill Ingebrigtsen wants you to speak English only.​State Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, a guy with enough Scandinavian in his surname to qualify as a character in an O.E. Rolvaag yarn about immigrant hardship on the prairie, is carrying the flag for English-only into the Minnesota Senate. Yah. He wa ... More >>

Minneapolis Fire Department would lay off eight under GOP plan

Years of cuts have already left the department below industry standards.​If Minnesota Senate and House Republicans get their way, the Minneapolis Fire Department is in for even more bad news. Republicans announced a budget proposal yesterday that recommends cutting Local Government Aid to hel ... More >>

George Soros hosting Mark Dayton fundraiser with Bill Clinton

Photo: WikipediaGeorge Soros, moneybags.​George Soros, the fantastically rich financier and current muse of Glenn Beck's darker paranoias, is all set to host a fundraiser for not-yet-Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton in New York on Dec. 12. Former President Bill Clinton is the guest of honor. Dayton ... More >>

Luke Hellier Out, Andy Post and Ryan Lyk in at Minnesota Democrats Exposed

Former John Kline staffer Andy Post is one of two new bloggers for MDE.​Right-wing watchdog website Minnesota Democrats Exposed has two new voices as of this week. University of Minnesota alumnus Andy Post and Ryan Lyk, currently a student at U of M-Duluth, took over the blog yesterday, succe ... More >>

Mee Moua is homeless

Mee Moua surprised local politicos when she announced her retirement from the Minnesota Senate​When Mee Moua announced last May she was retiring from the state Senate, no Hmong American held a higher elected office in the country, and the news caught a lot of people by surprise. But what no o ... More >>

State Sen. Satveer Chaudhary admits $251K tax delinquency

Photo: Minnesota SenateMore bad news for Chaudhary​First, the DFL withdraws its endorsement of state Sen. Satveer Chaudhary over his fishy environmental measure protecting a lake by his cabin up north. Now he's in more hot water. The Duluth News Tribune is out with a story this morning repor ... More >>

Satveer Chaudhary stripped of DFL backing over fishy vote

Photo: Minnesota SenateThe senator won special fishing protections for a lake at which he owns a cabin​So state Sen. Satveer Chaudhary gets language inserted into an omnibus game and fish bill in the waning days of the legislative session in St. Paul; he wants additional measures to protect th ... More >>

John Harrington confirms run for Mee Moua's Senate seat

Mee Moua retirement announcement was a surprise​John Harrington, who's hanging up his handcuffs as the St. Paul Chief of Police on June 30, has ended the speculation and confirmed he's going to run for the Minnesota Senate seat being vacated by Mee Moua. A DFLer in good standing, he's already ... More >>

Domestic abuse pet protection bill passes Minn. Senate

Sen. Sandy Pappas of St. Paul proposed the legislation. She says many abused women will stay in dangerous situations because of their companion animals.

State senate bill would ban data on Minnesota gangs; Metro Gang Strike Force blowback

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher is none too happy about the proposal. (Surprise!)

Medical marijuana bill passes Minn. Senate

The Minnesota Senate approved a state medical marijuana bill with a 36-28 vote. The legislation now heads to the state House before hitting Gov. Tim Pawlenty's desk for a likely veto.

Coleman appeal: Partisan lines drawn

We might not have any actual news in the never-ending fight for Minnesota's U.S. Senate race until next week when Norm Coleman actually files an appeal, but the partisan hacks will continue to milk this over-dramatic issue for all it's worth.

Let really old Minn. Grandmas fish for free

Monday's five most fascinating stories printed on wood pulp.

Kids under 8 in car booster seats? It could be the law

Children would be legally required to sit in car seats for twice as long under a current bill in the Minnesota Legislature.

Proposed ban on smoking in cars with kids: racist?

Earlier this week, a bill that would outlaw smoking in cars with passengers under the age of 18 came cleared a hurdle after Minnesota Senate panel gave it the green light. At least one lawmaker is wondering if the law's passage would lead to an increase in racial profiling.

GOP not complaining about Minnesota's empty seat

Those silly Republicans are finally admitting what we knew all along: They don't mind having Minnesota's Senate seat empty for now.

Perfect Senate Storm: Sen. Oprah and Sen. Franken?

Minn. Senate recount was unconstitutional, St. Thomas prof says in WSJ

Michael Stokes Paulsen, formerly an associate dean of the University of Minnesota Law School, called the recount "unconstitution ... More >>

Minn. Supreme Court rejects Coleman's request to count more absentee ballots

The decision puts Al Franken another step closer to winning Minnesota's open Senate seat.

Klobuchar: Seat the certified winner before court battles

Franken leads by 48, Star Tribune says

Franken had a 251-vote lead at the end of the day Friday with more challenges unresolved.

Coleman takes 'duplicate ballot' issue to court

Norm Coleman's campaign filed a suit with the Minnesota Supreme Court to stop the board from including what they are calling "do ... More >>

Pawlenty on Blagojevich, Franken stealing Senate seat

Minn. Senate race results wouldn't change if election held today, poll says

If you had to revote today in the Minnesota Senate race, would your vote change? Apparently not, says a new KSTP Survey USA pol ... More >>

Minn. recount resumes today, state begs for this to end

After a long Thanksgiving weekend break, the recount to determine Minnesota's Senate seat winner resumes today.

Klobuchar's advice in recount: Become her best friend

If Minnesota's Senate recount stretches into January and you are itching for a ticket to President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in ce ... More >>

Could Ramstad be the U.S. drug czar?

Rep. Jim Ramstad's name is being mentioned as a possible pick for the head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Polic ... More >>

Franken has recount advantage, Dartmouth study says

A Dartmouth study of the Minnesota Senate recount shows more evidence that undervotes in the race could favor Al Franken in his ... More >>

NRA aims for a Coleman win

Longtime state senator Allan Spear dies

We read it so you don't have to: U.S. News on Al Franken/Norm Coleman race

He's serious, already!

CQ on senate race: Klobuchar favored

Primary results

Borene drops out of legislative race

5/12: Morning Communique

Minnesota by the numbers: Senate expense report edition

Taxes and Minnesota's Wealthiest: Heads They Win, Tails You Lose

The rich are different from you and me: They pay less in taxes

Off Beat

High Expectations

Paranoia causes the Legislature to do an about-face on industrial hemp production.