More than a hundred people rallied outside of Hennepin County Medical Center against Gov. Pawlenty's elimination of General Assistance Medical Care. The cut doesn't hit until March and the state has started moving patients onto MNCare. But that may not be a good fit [...]
Here's the word from both sides:
Minnesota House Rules Committee approves resolution regarding unallotment lawsuit
[...]
Gov. Pawlenty and lots of elected officials are recognizing Veterans Day in a variety of ways. One odd choice may be guest hosting the local TV talk show Twin Cities Live. But the governor did note all of us should "stop and pause" and [...]
It's not often we see press release photos this strong, but I love photography and these images from the House of Representatives caught my eye. Here's the news release:
This week, a Minnesota legislative delegation led by Rep. Frank Hornstein touring Israel and the [...]
With Brian Sullivan definitely not running, it keeps Marty Seifert in a more comfortable position as the presumed front-runner on the Republican side of the race for governor. Seifert told me Sullivan would have "been a formidable candidate." Sullivan issued a statement saying:
“In [...]
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By being extra high profile this week, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has become [...]
There's a lot of talk (PIM and MPR) that businessman Brian Sullivan may indeed enter the race for governor. Earlier this summer he told me "now more than ever in this economic climate there's going to be an interest in someone [...]
After spending a couple of weeks in Europe touring historic sights and visiting family (my mother-in-law is British) besides seeing the expectedly awesome castles and Big Ben hovering over the Houses of Parliament, we saw something that surprised us: Obama everywhere.
[...]
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Chris Coleman surprised the entire political establishment by announcing he is not running for governor. The St. Paul Mayor was scheduled to be in next week's first gubernatorial debate featuring leading Democrats and Republicans sponsored by Hunger Solutions and held in his hometown.
At [...]
After the Republican State Convention straw poll, I only got one press release from a candidate in my email box. It was from poll winner Marty Seifert. It shows the organization that probably propelled him to the top spot. We should see some of the lower finishers [...]
Twin Cities Public Television had a great night at the Regional Emmy Awards. Almanac won for best Public Affairs show, David Gillette won for Commentator and Senate Race MN: 3 Big Moments the biographies we did of Al Franken, Norm Coleman and Dean Barkley [...]
As the dozens of candidates for governor try to stand out in a crowded field, Republican Pat Anderson has done so by taking the first public swing at a fellow candidate. On the GOP side, it seems Anderson, Marty Seifert and now Tom Emmer [...]
Fresh off a solid win in a DFL straw poll, the DFL House Speaker launched her campaign for governor at her family's farm in southern Minnesota with signs saying "Margaret." Her campaign added this:
(Mankato, Minn) – Today, Minnesota Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson [...]
Politicians here in Minnesota are racing to respond to Obama's health care speech and get [...]
Here's the photo Virginia candidate for governor Bob McDonnell posted on his Twitter page, proudly posing with Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Multiple topic tweets include:
Just finished talking to reporters with Gov.Pawlenty. [twitpic.com]
In Richmond about to hold a press conference with @TimPawlenty
Minnesota Governor [...]
Former Republican Governors Al Quie and Arne Carlson sit next to DFL Gov. Wendell Anderson along with many other House and Senate leaders at the Minnesota Leadership Summit at the State Capitol. One early quote of note from former Republican Speaker David Jennings: "The [...]
From MN House:
2009 State Fair Poll Results
By slight margin, budget cuts favored over tax increases
Medical marijuana use, open budget talks both get high marks
Following a contentious 2009 legislative session that ended with Gov. Tim Pawlenty balancing the anticipated $4.8 billion state [...]
We now know Gov. Arne Carlson wanted the meeting closed, but it's still a great point made by the respected dean of the Capitol Press Corps:
In case you missed it, this meeting about very important public policies is closed to the press and the public. It [...]
I've had many viewers asking for information about later this month when Ken Burns presents another masterpiece that we're sure Minnesotans will embrace. In fact some local folks recently gathered with us here at Twin Cities Public Television to get a sneak preview of [...]
Locally grown food was the story today at the Minnesota State Fair and politicians and media folks alike were happy to show up for the cause. Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar (who were both really funny) and Twin Cities Mayors R.T. Rybak and [...]
Last night more than 200 young professionals gathered at a hip hotel in downtown Minneapolis to talk conservative politics. It's a fascinating combination. Gov. Pawlenty was there. Republican Andy Brehm has been a leader in the effort. Here's his invite (and photos):
You are invited [...]
As people around the world remember Sen. Edward Kennedy, the image that came to mind was him here in Minnesota when Sen. Paul Wellstone's plane crashed weeks before the election in 2002.
Kennedy was in the state campaigning for Wellstone and spoke from campaign headquarters [...]
With tornadoes striking the Twin Cities this week, it's a good time to take a look at the historical context of twisters in our state. This summer we have been working on a project called "Minnesota's Deadliest Tornadoes." Tonight, on Almanac viewers will get their first look [...]
Labor and Industry Commissioner Steve Sviggum will not run for governor. This week the Republican got a letter from the Solicitor General saying the federal Hatch Act prohibits him from being a candidate because of his day job with the Pawlenty administration overseeing federal [...]
Monday the University of Minnesota will host a dedication for the Gopher football stadium's "Minnesota Tribal Nations Plaza." This week, we got a special tour in a rare and exclusive interview with Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Chairman Stanley Crooks. The Chairman reminded me [...]
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Congressman Jim Oberstar knows the chances are slim for getting his big transportation bill past President Obama. The transportation chair joked "the administration is either going to come along or we'll roll them." Oberstar also acknowledged "there is uneasiness over extending" the gas tax [...]
With Elwyn Tinklenberg out of the 6th District congressional race, it leaves a two woman DFL contest to replace the current congresswoman. Tinklenberg said "While the image of the next campaign against Michele Bachmann is certainly energizing, the path to that campaign is becoming increasingly improbable."
[...]
Fascinating story in Washtingon Post about McCain's quest for a runningmate:
At that point, there seemed to be only two realistic finalists: Pawlenty and Palin, although media speculation focused mostly on Pawlenty and Romney. Romney's star had risen over the summer. He was [...]
Lawmakers at the Coalition of Greater MN Cities meeting in Brainerd on both sides of the aisle said they didn't like the way the session ended and challenged their own parties' leadership. The group passed a resolution urging lawmakers to roll back Gov. Pawlenty's unallotment cuts to [...]
It's official, DFLer Tarryl Clark is running for Congress. And she seems to be trying to make a new media splash based on a video announcing her run taped in Anoka. Her announcement on Twitter read: "It's Official! I've filed the papers to pursue [...]
DFL legislative leaders Larry Pogemiller and Margaret Anderson Kelliher have sent a letter to all living governors, former Senate Majority Leaders and former House Speakers for a first-ever "Minnesota Leadership Summit" to be held in early September.
In the letter Pogemiller and Kelliher say [...]
Since the Almanac political panel spent most of the time on-air on the Obama health care proposal, we ran out of time to get to the governor's race. But Republicans David Strom and Andy Brehm and Democrats Ember Reichgott Junge and Judy [...]
Sen. Al Franken has introduced his first piece of legislation, here's info from his office:
WASHINGTON DC [7/22/09] – Today Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-G.A.) introduced the Service Dogs for Veterans Act, which will set up a pilot program within the [...]
From the Gov's office:
Landstuhl, Germany –Governor Tim Pawlenty spent two days in Afghanistan this week meeting with military leaders and Minnesota military troops on the second leg of an overseas trip that also included stops in Iraq and Kuwait.
“The men and [...]
He was the candidate most feared by Democrats and Republicans and he is not running. Here is the press release:
RAMSTAD NOT RUNNING FOR GOVERNORAfter a big first week in Washington, Sen. Al Franken's staff is fanning out around the state to hear from you:
TIME
LOCATION
July 14
9:00AM - 11:00AM
Rogers Community Room, Rogers Fire Station, 21201 Memorial Drive, Rogers, MN 55374
July 14
1:00PM - [...]
Sen. Al Franken looked emotional and excited as he was sworn in as Minnesota's second official senator. As we documented in doing a deep biography of the candidates during the campaign, Franken is not afraid of his emotions (here's an excerpt). Here are some images from [...]
As Sen. Al Franken prepares to be sworn in on the Senate floor, it signals a huge political week. One week ago, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of Franken setting up today's swearing in. I was on a technology-free vacation in and around the BWCA. [...]
As new House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers took over the corner office of former Minority Leader Marty Seifert we were there. It was a very friendly transfer of power to say the least with Seifert leaving voluntarily to run for governor. Seifert plans to [...]
The former Minority Leader Marty Seifert's staff has created a list of the "Top 100 Seifertisms" and we thought we'd share some highlights for inspiration to the new minority leader:
“When the waterhole shrinks, all the animals look at each other differently.”
Seifert at a [...]
Minority Leader Kurt Zellers held his first official press conference today and it was by no means his first press conference, but it certainly felt different than when he was just a regular lawmaker. People held doors open for him and eagerly shook his [...]
