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Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's goal of enacting a bill cutting and repealing taxes by next Friday appears unlikely to be met. Assistant Majority Leader Katie Sieben said Friday it will be "difficult" for that chamber to pass a plan by then. The House voted 126-2 on Thursday for $500 million in tax reductions on businesses and for state income tax filers.
This year it's not a matter of if there will be tax cuts for Minnesotans; the only question is by how much. Lawmakers are busy coming up with ways to use the state's billion-dollar-plus surplus. Minnesota's economy this election year is generating the kinds of jobs and tax revenues not seen in years.
A court ruled that a man who snapped secret pictures up a woman's skirt on a Boston subway train did not violate the state's Peeping Tom law. The practice known as "upskirting" has exposed loopholes in current laws. Minnesota statutes that tackle the issue were written years ago. But that was before everyone had cell phones.
Hundreds came to the State Capitol Thursday to ask legislators to give $100 million to provide shelter for the homeless. The money would go to pay for 5,000 units across Minnesota, and supporters say it would keep Minnesota on track to be first state to eliminate homelessness for veterans. According to Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul), 14,000 people are homeless on an average night in the state.
The Minnesota House has given overwhelming approval to a $500 million package of tax cuts and repeals. Thursday's 126-2 vote comes just more than a week into the legislative session. The bill heads to the Senate, where leaders haven't publicly embraced the plan.
A bipartisan pair of lawmakers to unveil new plans to repeal a source of annoyance to many Minnesotans -- the Sunday prohibition on liquor sales. Sen. Roger Reinert of Duluth and Rep. Jenifer Loon of Eden Prairie are introducing a range of bills, from full repeal to more measured steps.
Gov. Mark Dayton is proposing to use half of Minnesota's projected $1.2 billion surplus to cut taxes, with another big chunk going to fill reserve accounts. Dayton outlined his supplemental budget plan Thursday, the day the House was planning to vote on a slightly smaller tax bill.
Minnesota lawmakers have a difficult job ahead. They must decide what to do about the Minnesota Sex Offender Program, now that a federal judge has ruled that it is broken and in need of repair.
Most of the doctors polled at a Minnesota Medical Association forum oppose the legislation that legalizes medical marijuana. The bill passes a Minnesota House committee Wednesday, but still has a long road ahead in the Legislature.
Barely a week into the legislative session, a $500 million package of tax cuts and repeals is being put to a vote in the Minnesota House. The Legislature is racing to undo some business sales taxes adopted last year, including one on warehousing services that will kick in April 1.
As the boys state hockey tournament skates into the Xcel Energy Center, it's another showdown in St. Paul that some high school athletes are fighting to win. Lawmakers are wondering if some students and their parents are going too far to gain a competitive edge.
A controversial DVD delivered to Minnesota lawmakers is raising eyebrows at the Capitol. It's a 27 minute video making the case against an anti-bullying bill from a group called the Minnesota Child Protection League.
Legislation giving military veterans a legal right to Veterans Day off from work is advancing in the Minnesota Legislature. The bill cleared a state House committee on Wednesday and was also getting consideration in the Senate.
A federal judge has asked the American Civil Liberties Union to reconsider its request to temporarily block Wisconsin's gay marriage ban. The American Civil Liberties Union wants U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb to issue a temporary order nullifying the ban while she weighs the organization's lawsuit challenging it.
A Minnesota House committee has approved a plan that would legalize medical marijuana, but it still faces a long road in the Legislature.
