Gov. Dayton, DFL legislative leaders have tax deal for budget The package includes a fourth-tier income tax hike and a $1.60-per-pack cigarette tax increase, ends some corporate loopholes, and extends the sales tax to certain business services.
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Gov. Dayton, DFL legislative leaders have tax deal for budget

The package includes a fourth-tier income tax hike and a $1.60-per-pack cigarette tax increase, ends some corporate loopholes, and extends the sales tax to certain business services.

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Is Gay Marriage Legal in Minnesota?

With Dayton’s signature today, the bill has been passed into law and will go into effect on August 1.

Same-sex marriage: Celebration, anticipation fill Capitol in hours before Senate vote It seems the entire state of Minnesota is waiting in anticipation for the Senate vote today on gay marriage.
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Same-sex marriage: Celebration, anticipation fill Capitol in hours before Senate vote

It seems the entire state of Minnesota is waiting in anticipation for the Senate vote today on gay marriage.

But let’s be honest with ourselves, heterosexuals. We are playing a small supporting role in this freedom to marry movement. The real heroes are not the heteros. The real heroes are the people who had the courage to speak truth to power when it was difficult and dangerous: “We’re here, we’re queer, get over it.” That, much more than straight people’s belated courage, is at the core of what is changing America.
Joe Loveland, in The real heroes of the gay marriage debate (from Minnesota Blog Cabin)

If gay marriage bill passes Minnesota House, Senate will take it up Monday | MinnPost

Minnesota state Senate leaders said that they plan to hold a floor debate and vote on the gay marriage bill Monday if the state House passes the measure today.

A vote on the bill is likely to be close in the House, although DFL state House leaders have said they wouldn’t bring it up for a floor vote unless they had the votes.

Some expected amendments — which would add some protection for churches and possibly include the words “civil marriage” in the proposed law’s wording — may bring some Republican yes votes.

DFL state Senate officials have indicated that they have enough votes to pass the measure, and the governor has said he’ll sign it if it gets to him.

A few fun moments from MinnRoast 2013. We especially love that top picture of Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak with his mom.

All photos by Julie Thorleifson

I submitted an application for January 2015 to be a waiter at the Bachelor Farmer.
Gov. Mark Dayton, talking his future career plans at MinnRoast.
MinnPost’s interactive team and political reporters have joined forces to track the most important legislative bills during the 2013 session. Follow legislation throughout the session, and read our reporters’ straight-forward descriptions of why these bills matter to you. Think we’re missing a vital bill? Let us know: data [at] minnpost . com.
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MinnPost’s interactive team and political reporters have joined forces to track the most important legislative bills during the 2013 session.

Follow legislation throughout the session, and read our reporters’ straight-forward descriptions of why these bills matter to you.

Think we’re missing a vital bill? Let us know: data [at] minnpost . com.

We launched a new interactive project today! Go get your Budget 101: A graphic primer to Dayton’s budget proposal
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We launched a new interactive project today! Go get your Budget 101: A graphic primer to Dayton’s budget proposal

Dayton’s controversial ‘snowbird tax’ may not fly A new Dayton income tax proposal would hit residents who escape harsh Minnesota winters for warmer environs, as well as other part-time residents.
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Dayton’s controversial ‘snowbird tax’ may not fly

A new Dayton income tax proposal would hit residents who escape harsh Minnesota winters for warmer environs, as well as other part-time residents.

Minnesota leaders off to a rocky start at legislative ‘preview’

David Hann, the Senate minority leader-designate, arrived at the media session with Gov. Mark Dayton and other legislative leaders with a weird smile on his face that looked a whole lot like a smirk. Hann’s look and comments were so biting that Dayton and House Speaker-designate Paul Thissen both felt it necessary to smack him down.

“This state is one of the models because of so many of the things you all are doing,” Michelle Obama said to the table of participants. “And I want to make sure that the rest of the nation understands how you work as a state, how your organizations come together, the needs of our military families and how organizations can serve them.”Read more at “Visiting Michelle Obama praises Minnesota’s community programs for military families” by James Nord
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“This state is one of the models because of so many of the things you all are doing,” Michelle Obama said to the table of participants. “And I want to make sure that the rest of the nation understands how you work as a state, how your organizations come together, the needs of our military families and how organizations can serve them.”


Read more at “Visiting Michelle Obama praises Minnesota’s community programs for military families” by James Nord

People have the right to defend themselves but this would give citizens the right to use weapons even law enforcement doesn’t have and would make prosecution almost impossible.
Gov. Mark Dayton, responding to the Minnesota Senate’s passage of a ‘Castle bill’, which would expand gun owner rights by allowing them to use deadly force virtually anywhere if they perceive a threat of bodily harm.

Dayton and Koch 'open' to Legacy money for Vikes stadium

Today in political waffling, Dayton is keeping his options open.