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.
MINNESOTA SENATE VOTES TO LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE
The Minnesota Senate, after four hours of floor discussion Monday, joined the state House of Representatives in approving same-sex marriage.
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.
The Minnesota House passes gay marriage bill 75-59
The Senate will vote on the companion bill on Monday.
(Photo via MinnPost reporter James Nord.)
Watch the gay-marriage House floor debate live | MinnPost
Follow along this afternoon with live video from The Uptake.
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.
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.
Launching the Minnesota Legislative Bill Tracker - from Source: An OpenNews project
Feeling some data journalism warm fuzzies over here thanks to the fine folks at Source, who spoke with us about how we built our legislative bill tracker.
![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.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/d5ed11a8613f1b902a43127468bacb44/tumblr_mkl2bgJpJL1qzdjk0o1_1280.png)
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.
Senate bill sponsor Sen. Scott Dibble testifying on Tuesday in support of gay marriage.
Read more: Marriage bill advances after emotional day of hearings
It was possibly the most emotional moment of one of the Legislature’s most emotional days. One after another, married couples, partners who’d like to be married, parents, children, clergy and others testified at twin hearings Tuesday on the proposed legalization of same-sex marriage.
Partway into the proceedings, a slender woman stepped to the front of the room and took a seat next to Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, the bill’s chief author in the House of Representatives. Lynne Osterman introduced herself to the members of the Civil Law Committee — and promptly burst into tears.
Struggling, Osterman explained that she served a single term in the House as a Republican elected in New Hope. During her 2002-2004 term, she cast what she called a “politically expedient vote” in favor of Minnesota’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), banning gay marriage.
“I regret it,” Osterman said. “I can tell you from experience that you will have to live knowing that a no vote is not fair, it’s not respectful and it’s not equal.”
Read more: Marriage bill advances after emotional day of hearings | MinnPost
