Scott Dibble

Shut outs, snubs, and CSI

MNGOP might be full of spite, Minneapolis loses a bike title, and the FBI checks out Bachmann

MNGOP runs out the clock on anti-bullying bill

Salon's headline says the "GOP actually bullies an anti-bullying bill." We wouldn't go that far, but however you want to describe it, MNGOP senators did whatever it took to prevent an anti-bullying bill from coming up for a vote.OUR COVER FEATURE: Gay bullying: In wake of suicides, schools face fede ... More >>

MNGOP Sen. Pratt: Gay marriage ceremony had nothing to do with move to lock Senate doors

Just as Tuesday's marriage equality bill-signing ceremony was about to begin, a group of MNGOP senators invoked an obscure rule to lock the Senate doors. The upshot was that some gay marriage-supporting senators weren't able to be in attendance for the historic occasion on the Capitol steps.THE BACK ... More >>

MNGOPers blocked some senators from attending marriage equality bill signing [VIDEOS]

Yesterday, Sen. Scott Dibble, D-Minneapolis and chief sponsor of the gay marriage bill signed into law by Governor Dayton on Tuesday, criticized his Republican colleagues for using an esoteric procedural rule to prevent some of his colleagues from attending the bill-signing ceremony.SEE ALSO: MNGOP ... More >>

Mark Dayton signs gay marriage bill into law

Gov. Mark Dayton signed the gay marriage bill on the Capitol steps Tuesday evening, officially making Minnesota the 12th state to allow same-sex couples to wed. Thousands gathered on the Capitol lawn on this sweltering evening to witness the historic moment, many wearing orange t-shirts -- the colo ... More >>

DFL leaders say they have votes to get marriage equality done this week

Before this weekend is in the books, marriage equality might be approved by the Minnesota House and Senate.SEE ALSO:-- MN for Marriage: "Don't let the metro area force gay 'marriage' on the rest of the state"-- Minnesota for Marriage's Hinckley rally was the biggest megafail in the history of megafa ... More >>

Mary Franson co-authors civil unions bill months after saying being gay isn't "normal"

We'll say this about Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria -- at least her views are evolving.SEE ALSO: Scott Walker says it's time GOP concedes defeat on gay marriage During a debate in September, Franson infamously said she "personally" doesn't believe homosexuality is "normal behavior." But barely ... More >>

Gay marriage advocates not happy about MNGOPer's last-minute civil unions bill

Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing, will hold a press conference this afternoon to discuss his late-breaking plan to legalize civil unions instead of gay marriage this legislative session.SEE ALSO: Gay marriage opponents waved bizarre signs during yesterday's Capitol rally [PHOTOS]But the legislators who ar ... More >>

MNGOP Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen on being gay: "It's an unhealthy, sexual addiction" [VIDEO]

In response to the introduction of marriage equality bills in the House and Senate yesterday, Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, took the opportunity to point out his belief that being gay is a form of mental illness.SEE ALSO: National Organization for Marriage issues $500k threat to gay-friendly MNG ... More >>

National Organization for Marriage issues $500k threat to gay-friendly MNGOPers [UPDATE]

:::: UPDATE ::::Sen. Petersen says he's not worried about NOM's threat."Regardless of the amount, whether it's $500,000 or $50 million, my vote is not going to [be] bought either way. I'm going to do what's right," Petersen told the Pioneer Press. "If they want to throw away $500,000 then that's the ... More >>

Anti-gay marriage group pleads for last-ditch support of "God's definition of marriage"

The past few days haven't been good ones for gay marriage opponents here in Minnesota.First came news that DFLers planned to introduce marriage equality bills before this week is through. Then came Republican Sen. Branden Petersen's unprecendented and perhaps unnecessary announcement that he's plann ... More >>

Sen. Branden Petersen becomes first MNGOP legislator to support gay marriage bill

Sen. Scott Dibble, D-Minneapolis, thinks the to-be-introduced-any-day-now marriage equality bills could get through the Legislature without any MNGOP votes. Turns out he'll have at least one.SEE ALSO: Dayton's State of the State gay marriage endorsement: A picture tells 1,000 words [PHOTO] Sen. Bran ... More >>

Gay marriage bills reportedly to be introduced this week

A big step in Minnesota's remarkably quick march toward marriage equality will reportedly happen this week. During a conversation with WCCO's Esme Murphy yesterday morning, Sen. Scott Dibble, D-Minneapolis, said he plans to introduce a gay marriage bill this week.SEE ALSO: Dayton's State of the Stat ... More >>

Dayton's State of the State gay marriage endorsement: A picture tells 1,000 words [PHOTO]

During last night's State of the State address, Gov. Dayton once again went on the record in support of marriage equality.SEE ALSO:-- MN for Marriage's concession: "God has defined marriage as between one man and one woman" -- Senate Majority Leader Bakk responds dismissively to pro-marriage equalit ... More >>

Abortion foes don't want Dems spending money on bust of Harry Blackmun, Roe v. Wade author

Yesterday, a bill was introduced to use an as-of-yet-undetermined amount of taxpayer funds on a Capitol bust of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun.SEE ALSO: Women can't get non-surgical abortions in Wisconsin Blackmun was boyhood buddies with fellow St. Paul native and future Supreme C ... More >>

Sen. Scott Dibble says Legislature can pass gay marriage without GOP votes

Sen. Scott Dibble hopes a few Republicans will come out in favor of legalizing gay marriage this year, but if they don't, he believes a bill can still pass. Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, plans to introduce a marriage equality bill into the Senate this session, he says. There hasn't been an internal vot ... More >>

When will gay marriage be legal in Minnesota?

After 42 years, the same-sex marriage debate in Minnesota might finally come to a close

Archbishop John Nienstedt crusades against gay marriage

But increasingly, his flock of Minnesota Catholics isn't following

Senate rejects effort to block tax dollars from being used for ex-gay therapy

Here's a head-scratcher: Yesterday, Sen. Scott Dibble, D-Minneapolis, introduced an amendment that would've blocked tax dollars from being used to fund the type of controversial ex-gay therapy practiced at Marcus Bachmann's clinics.The motion failed after senators like David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, ra ... More >>

Senate passes bill to limit Minneapolis Civilian Review Authority's power

​It's no secret that the Minneapolis Civilian Police Review Authority doesn't have a lot of influence these days. Since Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan took over, he's rarely disciplined officers based on the CRA's recommendations, causing no small amount of frustration from board members ove ... More >>

Shutdown will end with Dayton's signature

America's longest state shutdown could finally end.​By signing his name 12 times, Mark Dayton could end the shutdown this morning. It took six months of arguing and 19 days of shutdown, but the legislature's special session finally passed 12 budget bills, with the last of them passing at around 3: ... More >>

Minnesota senate votes to put anti-gay amendment on the ballot

The majority of these guys, today, are totally the worst.​You can't marry your gay partner in Minnesota. It's illegal. But for a majority of Minnesota lawmakers, it's not illegal enough. State Republicans want gay marriage to be unconstitutional, and today the Senate voted to put that constituti ... More >>

Should Sunday liquor sales be allowed?

Currently, you can order this beverage in a bar on Sundays, but not buy it in a store.​A bill to allow Sunday liquor sales, SF 197, is being introduced in the Senate today by Sens. Scott Dibble, Linda Scheid, and Roger Reinert of the DFL and Republican Sen. John Howe. How would you like your ... More >>

Krissy Bates: Murder victim remembered in vigil

RIP Krissy Bates​Many LGBT activists eulogized slain transgender woman Krissy Bates at Minneapolis Community and Technical College on Friday night. Bates, 45, was found dead in her apartment on Jan. 11. She'd been stabbed four times in her torso, once on the left side of her neck. Her boyfriend, ... More >>

Scott Dibble's Tic Tac Tobacco Act signed into law

Screengrab via YouTubeMelts in your mouth, not in your hand​The Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010, sometimes called the Tic Tac Tobacco Act, has been signed into law by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. It got its nickname because some of the products it seeks to control are really just cand ... More >>

Scott Dibble takes aim at tobacco products

​If you've been smoking "little cigars" like the classily-advertised Remington Good Times brand, your life may be about to get more expensive.DFL state Sen. D. Scott Dibble of Minneapolis has introduced legislation that will update the state's laws to include tobacco products currently exempt from ... More >>

Bowfishing: Catching carp with a bow and arrow

Should Minn. drivers be required to learn 'EcoDriving' skills?

Most of us know the common sense ways we can save gas while out driving our cars, but should new Minnesota drivers be required to learn these skills in driver's ed?

Minnesota lobbyists rank Twin Cities legislators

The brightest stars and dimmest hacks in the Capitol

Kelley next among DFL trio to announce his LG

The Content of His Character

Why is Gregory Gray so important to Paul Wellstone?

Sacred Cow Tipping

'Lavender' quibbles with Dibble

The Candidate

When did U.S. Senate hopeful Rebecca Yanisch get the idea to make affordable housing a top priority? It sure wasn't while she was running the Minneapolis Community Development Agency.

Party Games

In the rush to endorse school-board candidates, city pols may have forgotten to ask a few minor questions--like "What the heck do you stand for?"