Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Legislation to allow gay marriage in the state cleared its final hurdle Monday, May 13. With Gov. Mark Dayton expected to sign the bill as soon as tomorrow, Minnesota will become the 12th state in the country to allow same-sex couples to marry.
The Minnesota Senate approved H.F. 1054 Monday, May 13, clearing the way for Minnesota same-sex couples to marry in the state. The 37 to 30 vote, which was seen as the last hurdle for the legislation, makes Minnesota the 12th in the United States to recognize same-sex marriages in state law. Gov. Mark Dayton's office announced a signing ceremony set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. Democrats, known locally as the DFL party, hold a 39-28 advantage in the Minnesota Senate. Debate began shortly after noon Monday, with the Republican Party introducing a pair of amendments to the bill, both of which were voted down by state Democrats, who control the Senate. It quickly moved to speeches invoking personal feelings and relationships surrounding the…
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Here are this week’s blog posts from Woodbury Patch’s Local Voices team.
If you're interested in blogging on Woodbury Patch, email kris.janisch@patch.com. Digging in the Ruins Are we but the poor survivors of a moral cataclysm? (Thomas St Martin) Those Teenagers! After age 25 we get better at integrating memory and experiences into our decisions. Then, it may be safe to let the kids leave the house! (Margaret Wachholz) Woodbury Real Estate Update for March 4, 2013 I congratulate the 34 owners who decided to take advantage of the sellers market but I am somewhat saddened to see our active inventory drop 4% in the last week. (Matthew Johnson) March 18 Legends and Heroes Event Includes United Park, East Ridge and Woodbury Students! A united effort of the community to talk about what make a hero GREAT! (Rebecca …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Gov. Mark Dayton is scheduled to deliver his State of the State address at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the House Chamber.
Gov. Mark Dayton will give his State of the State address Wednesday from the House Chambers at the State Capitol in St. Paul. Dayton is not expected to make any new announcements on Wednesday night, but rather take the opportunity to promote his budget proposal and tax overhaul, the Pioneer Press reports. The governor says his biennial budget proposal will eliminate the state’s $1.1 billion budget deficit and balance government spending and revenue over the next two fiscal years while putting an end to the “fiscal games” and “accounting gimmicks” of the last decade. Dayton’s proposals include cutting the sales tax rate from 6.875 percent to 5.5 percent, while broadening the tax to many goods and services that are currently exempt. He also …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled his budget proposal Tuesday.
Woodbury’s lone Republican lawmaker wasn’t impressed, while the city’s two DFL legislators, part of a new majority at the Capitol, say the governor’s proposed budget is a good starting point. Dayton on Tuesday unveiled a proposed state budget and tax plan that would, among other things, lower Minnesota’s sales tax but broaden it to cover more items such as higher-priced clothing, car repairs and other services. He says it would also eliminate the state’s $1.1 billion budget deficit and balance government spending and revenue over the next two fiscal years. Rep. Andrea Kieffer, a Republican in her second term at the Legislature, said Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget “increases taxes all over the place.” “That’s not a big surprise,” she told Patch…
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Gov. Mark Dayton, in his first appearance since having back surgery late last year, will outline his proposed budget for the next two years.
Laying out financial plans for the next two years, and with a Democratic controlled Legislature out in front of him, Gov. Mark Dayton will address both the public and public servants at the Minnesota State Capitol this morning. You can watch streaming video, live, courtesy of the UpTake right here as Dayton will lay out a series of tax hikes, line-item increases and an expected payment shift for Minnesota schools in his address. It's the first public appearance for Dayton since he had back surgery in Rochester, MN last month. Media outlets such as Minnesota Public Radio are saying the budget could have a big impact on Dayton's political future. The first-term governor has not hinted whether or not he will run again for the state's top seat…
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Patch will pause to remember the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary.
Patch websites in Minnesota will go dark for a moment Friday morning to honor the memory of those killed one week ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. The brief Patch blackout is set for 8:30 a.m. CST on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Gov. Mark Dayton has called for a moment of silence in Minnesota one hour later, at 9:30 a.m. CST. In his statement (click on PDF thumbnail), Dayton also asked places of worship and government buildings that have bells to ring them 26 times "in honor of each life that was taken far too soon at Sandy Hook Elementary School." Twenty children and six adults died in the mass shooting. Newtown Patch's news hub has extensive coverage of the events of Dec. 14 and since, including the names of those who died…
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Too many providers will not get a vote on a decision that will impact them, Woodbury Republican says.
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Wednesday, November 30, 2011
On Nov. 15, Governor Dayton signed an executive order allowing an election to unionize home daycare providers. This election will take place from Dec. 6-20 by mail-in ballot to selected homes. It will be coordinated, paid for, and have its results tallied by the unions AFSCME (Child Care Providers Together) and SEIU (Kids First). Not every provider will be allowed to vote; instead 4,600 will vote for roughly 11,000 Minnesota licensed childcare providers. Only providers who serve families that receive CCAP (Child Care Assistance Program) funding will be allowed to vote. Some providers have said they would accept CCAP families but will still be denied a ballot. As a result, many independent daycare owners have expressed concerns over the …
Monday, July 11, 2011
The governor says he will give his side of the budget debate on a six-city tour that starts Tuesday.
Gov. Mark Dayton is embarking on a statewide journey Tuesday morning to explain his side of the Minnesota budget debate that has resulted in a state government shutdown. In a whirlwind tour that begins in St. Cloud, the governor will also visit Rochester, Winona, Albert Lea and Austin over the next two days. Dayton has preliminary plans to fly to Moorhead later in the week. “I’ll be traveling throughout Minnesota to talk with people about why we’re going through (the shutdown),” Dayton told reporters assembled on the steps of the State Capitol. “The people of Minnesota overwhelmingly want us to compromise. I am willing to consider other possibilities; other reasonable alternatives.” Among the possible compromises Dayton would consider is …
Thursday, July 7, 2011
In a two-page document, the committee outlines a framework for closing the $5 billion deficit by balancing 70 percent of it through spending cuts and the remaining 30 percent by increasing revenue.
And then there were three. An independent panel of Republicans, Democrats and policy experts who came together this week to help solve Minnesota's budget impasse came forth with a plan on Thursday that included $2.2 billion in permanent cuts, $1.4 billion in accounting shifts and $1.4 billion in new revenue—including a temporary, across-the-board 4-percent tax increase on personal incomes. The bipartisan committee tasked with creating a so-called third alternative issued its recommendations Thursday to Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican lawmakers.
In a two-page document, the committee outlines a framework for closing the $5 billion deficit by balancing 70 percent of it through spending cuts and the remaining 30 percent by increasing revenue…
Friday, July 1, 2011
Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP leaders are working toward a budget deal that would end the state-record government shutdown.
(Updated, 5:35 p.m., Tuesday, July 19) The overarching message to Minnesotans is “Be ready.” That comes from Gov. Mark Dayton’s chief of staff, Tina Smith, and Minnesota Management and Budget commissioner Jim Schowalter. Smith and Schowalter sounded cautious optimism in a conference call with media on Tuesday afternoon. “There are a lot of assumptions right now,” Schowalter said. “But it is important to remind everyone that normal operations will not resume immediately. The bills must pass both bodies and then be signed into law by the governor.” Schowalter said that while the timing and enactment of the bills is still uncertain, after Dayton signs them, money will become available to the respective agencies. The money would not be …
Mike Hindin
9:37 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
Try anything with John Wane in it. I don't care about Hollywood past or present. more ›