Thursday, May 16, 2013
The bill includes additional money for the Public Defense Board and Minnesota’s background check database system.
Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 46) on Thursday presented a conference committee’s version of the Judiciary and Public Safety Finance Bill on the Senate floor, according to a news release from Latz’s office. The bill, which received yes votes from all but one senator, is the first of many conference committee budget packages. “These are the core functions of government and we have made strategic investments within this area,” said Latz, whose district includes Golden Valley, Hopkins, Plymouth and St. Louis Park. “We have funded the ongoing levels of their services so we will be safer and whenever we access the justice system, on the justice side or the criminal side, we should have an efficient system and one where we will all be treated …
Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature Tuesday didn’t end the heated debate around same-sex marriage.
Whatever side of the debate you fall on, there’s no denying that this week’s passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage was a historical moment. Minnesota became just the 12th state to sanction gay marriage when Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill Tuesday. Patch readers quickly wrote in to share their thoughts on the moment. Eagan Patch reader Kathi Malone echoed the view of legislators who voted yes in seeing same-sex marriage as a civil right: I am so happy that finally gay people will be able to have the civil right to marry. This is truly an American vote for freedom. I applaud Sen Clausen and all other legislators who voted for this historical bill. James N added: Thank you Senator Carlson and the entire MN legislature for extending …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The new law's supporters and opponents traded claims and denials of bigotry.
When—if ever—is it fair to call another person a bigot? Leave your comment below. A flashpoint in the debate over Minnesota's new marriage-equality law was the use of the words "bigot," "bigoted," or "bigotry" in reference to opponents of making same-sex marriages legal. After the state Legislature approved the bill, the group Minnesota for Marriage said in a statement: Over one million Minnesotans will be forced to either affirm what they believe to be false or subject themselves to prosecution and insult as “bigots” ... under our law with the passage of this bill. 'You're a Bigot' On Monday at the state Senate, Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) took exception to accusations that opponents of the same-sex marriage bill are bigots. Sen. Dan…
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…
Monday, May 13, 2013
The DFL legislator—whose district includes Golden Valley, Hopkins, Plymouth and St. Louis Park—appealed to fellow lawmakers to vote their conscience.
Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 46) urged fellow legislators to listen to their own consciences, not their constituents, when deciding how to vote on the same-sex marriage proposal before the Legislature. Latz—whose district include Golden Valley, Hopkins, Plymouth and St. Louis Park—appealed to the inner voice his fellow legislators might be hearing as they wrestled with how to vote on the controversial bill: For those of you who are struggling with a conflict between your conscience and your politics, who know in your own mind and your own heart the right vote is to vote yes, but you’re concerned about offending a close family member or an extended family, let me submit that you’re not alone. But in the end, you will have to live with your …
Friday, May 10, 2013
The bill now moves on to the state senate as Minnesota Democrats hope to make the state the 12th in the nation to legalize gay marriage. Gov. Mark Dayton has vocally supported the legislation.
UPDATE: Minnesota Representatives approved with a 75-59 vote Thursday a bill legalizing same-sex marriages in the state, putting it on the road to become the 12th state in the nation to do so. The vote came at about 3 p.m. Thursday, May 9, about three hours after the bill was introduced. This is about honoring difference," bill sponsor Karen Clark said. "I respect the other point of view. But there is something about being able to marry the love of your life." Clark, a Democrat from Minneapolis, recognized her partner of 26 years in the assembly's audience. The vote came nearly six months to the day after a 2012 vote on a Republican-sponsored amendment item defining marriage as a union between man and woman. That, of course, was …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
During debate on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, the Golden Valley legislator described many of the rights that are off limits.
Many legislators speaking in defense of the bill to legalize same-sex marriage Thursday spoke in sweeping terms about what it would mean for those who can’t marry now. But Golden Valley Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-District 45B) made sure to emphasize concrete examples of the more than 500 rights that gay couples don’t share with heterosexual married couples. He pointed out that they don’t have a right to: “Legislators past and present have decided that being in a committed relationship entitles married partners to an assortment of legal rights,” Freiberg said Thursday on the House floor. “How can we, as representatives of all Minnesotans, deny these rights to a group of citizens whose relationships are as valid and worthy as mine is with my …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Proposed legislation would ban school boards from dropping coaches' contracts 'solely' because of parent gripes.
Do high school coaches need a law to shield their jobs from parent complaints? Leave your comment below. A Minnesota Legislature conference committee is weighing whether to include this sentence in its omnibus policy and finance bill: "The existence of parent complaints must not be the sole reason for a board to not renew a coaching contract." The legislation is in response to increasing non-renewals of coaches' contracts, with as many as 35 percent in one sport (boys' hockey) involving parent complaints, according to a Star Tribune report: “This just came out from athletics directors and coaches who thought something more needed to be done,” said Rep. Dean Urdahl, a Grove City Republican who co-authored the bill. “The problem is … parents…
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Minnesota legislators are debating a new sales tax on licensed clothing, sports memorabilia and luxury suites to cover the state's share of Vikings stadium construction costs.
Do you want to pay sales tax on Twins, Wild and Timberwolves sports memorabilia and licensed clothing to help the State of Minnesota raise money to build the new Vikings stadium? E-pulltab revenues to fund the new Minnesota Vikings stadium have fallen short, so the Minnesota House of Representatives Taxes Committee is considering a new tax on sales of sports-related items to help fill the gap. Watch the House committee debate the issue at its Wednesday meeting starting at 12:30 p.m. above or at TheUpTake.org. The bill (see PDF) by Rep. Ann Lenczewski (DFL-Bloomington) would tax "'Sports memorabilia' ... items available for sale to the public that are sold under a license granted by any professional sports league or a team that is a …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Minnesota Restaurant Association wants tipped employees to remain at the federal minimum wage.
Despite pushback from restaurants, District 46A Rep. Ryan Winkler isn’t backing down from his efforts to boost the state’s minimum wage, including for tipped employees. On Tuesday, the Minnesota Restaurant Association released results of a survey that it said predicted the consequences of Winkler’s proposal nearly $10 over the next two years. The survey found: J.J. Haywood, CEO of Pizza Lucé and president of the association, argued that tipped employees should remain at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 since the industry’s tipped employees average $18 an hour statewide and $22 an hour in the metro, Minnesota Public Radio reported. Winkler, who represents Golden Valley and St. Louis Park, dismissed the association’s proposal as a “tip …
Mike Hindin
12:23 pm on Sunday, May 19, 2013
"MIke B" Please give us a list of ministers defrocked for preforming gay marriages or are you confusing them with clergy defrocked for abusing children? I'm sure you won't. Homosexuals don't have a problem. You do, including compulsive dishonesty.. more ›