Category: State Issues

Republican transportation proposal imperils future LRT projects

Even though in the recent Star Tribune poll, a majority of Minnesotans support light rail, the Republican majority in the state legislature continue to try to pull the state back to the 1950s or earlier.  The following article by Janet Moore was posted on the Star Tribune website May 2, 2017:

Transportation plan’s funding limitations would imperil Southwest, Bottineau lines.

DAVID JOLES, STAR TRIBUNE
Riders take the light-rail during morning rush hour.

Both the Southwest and Bottineau light-rail lines are imperiled by a nearly $1 billion transportation proposal being considered by Minnesota lawmakers.

A number of provisions adopted by the Republican-led Transportation Conference Committee late Monday would prohibit counties, cities, regional railroad authorities and the Metropolitan Council from spending money on new light-rail projects. Any proposed LRT project would have to gain legislative approval first. Continue reading “Republican transportation proposal imperils future LRT projects”

Internet privacy measure removed as lawmakers debate budget

The following article by Erin Golden was posted on the Star Tribune website May 2, 2017:

Both Senate and House had given overwhelming support to the legislation.

An internet privacy measure that won broad backing from Minnesota lawmakers has been yanked from consideration at the Capitol with little explanation.

The provision had been crafted in response to a recent action by the U.S. Congress and President Donald Trump to loosen online privacy regulations, potentially opening the door for internet service providers to sell the browsing data of customers. It would have prohibited internet providers in Minnesota from collecting personal information without permission from customers.

The state Senate approved the measure by a 66-1 vote in March, attaching it to a broader spending bill covering state jobs, commerce and energy programs. The House also approved a similar measure as part of its own jobs budget bill. Continue reading “Internet privacy measure removed as lawmakers debate budget”

Minnesota Poll finds broad approval of Dayton

The following article by J. Patrick Coolican was posted on the Star Tribune website May 3, 2017:

Minnesota Poll: Approval rating of 62 percent is highest of governor’s political career.

Gov. Mark Dayton enters his final 18 months in office with the highest job approval rating of his tenure, according to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll.

More than three out of five Minnesotans — 62 percent — approve of Dayton’s performance, according to the poll. It’s the DFL governor’s highest approval rating in a Minnesota Poll since he took office at the beginning of 2011, and also higher than he ever scored in the poll as a U.S. senator from 2001 to 2006.

(See the poll results here.)

That’s likely to embolden Dayton as he grapples with the Republican-controlled Legislature over the state budget. Clashes over taxes and spending, transportation, health care and early education are certain to accompany the closing days of a session that ends on May 22. Continue reading “Minnesota Poll finds broad approval of Dayton”

Senate DFL Week in Review: April 28, 2017

Two weeks after spring break ended, joint budget targets are still not in sight. Senate Republicans set a date of April 28 to achieve joint targets with the House. Legislators and staff are still waiting.

In the meantime, conference committees have been keeping a fairly busy schedule, taking a look at items that are similar in both House and Senate bills. But without a target of how much money to spend, the bulk of the work of crafting a bill both bodies can agree on must wait. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: April 28, 2017”

It’s time to move forward on Southwest line

The following commentary by Hennepin County Commissioner Jan Callison appeared in the April 27, 2017 issue of the Eden Prairie News and other publications in Hennepin County:

As them their plain.  You know, the folks who write the editorials and sign the letters.  As them, after they stop Southwest Light Rail Transit, how the propose to address Twin Cities transportation needs.

As them how they intend to alter our road system to accommodate the 700,000 new residents who are expected in the region by 2040.

Ask them about their commitment to economic competitiveness, and their proposal to attract young workers who strongly desire transit options or to accommodate older residents who no longer wish to drive. Continue reading “It’s time to move forward on Southwest line”

It was a sad day for public education

The following column by Sen. Steve Cwodzinski was posted on the Eden Prairie News website April 19, 2017:

One of the saddest days of my teaching career was having to walk through the doors of Eden Prairie High School the day after the community defeated a referendum. The defeat told me that as a teacher, I wasn’t valued. That feeling permeated the classrooms of the school that week.

And, recently, that feeling has come back after seeing the lack of investments in the Senate education bill. While there were a lot of good items in the bill, such as language on suicide prevention and streamlining teacher licensure, I still chose to vote no.

Minnesota has historically valued public education — and the Legislature has put its money where its mouth is by making important investments that have helped our state achieve great things. Even our state constitution explicitly states that it is the duty of the Legislature to establish a general and uniform system of public education.

Continue reading “It was a sad day for public education”

Reality Check: The Cost Of Subsidized Transit

The following article by Pat Kessler was posted on the WCCO TV website April 12, 2017:

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The Minnesota Legislature is preparing deep budget cuts to Twin Cities transit systems, especially light rail.

Critics say taxpayers pay millions of dollars a year to subsidize every passenger.

While it’s true that taxpayers subsidize every passenger on the light rail, it’s less than you think and less than other common transit systems, like suburban buses.

The Met Council crunched the numbers at the request of the House Transportation Policy Committee. It figured in the operating expenses, passenger fares, the number of passengers, and the hours of service. The results might stop you in your tracks. Continue reading “Reality Check: The Cost Of Subsidized Transit”

Leader Hortman’s “White Male” Comments on the Minnesota House Floor

We guess that “snowflake” term being tossed about on the conservative side of the political mindset in this country could well be applied to these white, male Minnesota state legislators who seem to have no clue of what racism — or sexism for that matter — is. Their own words clearly show that lack of understanding and compassion along with a firm belief that white males are above others in the social strata.