A group of Republican state senators hope to prevent future Minnesota government shutdowns through a plan to continue spending even if politicians can't agree on a budget. The proposal outlined Thursday by Senator Ted Lillie and colleagues would extend current spending levels if the state began a new budget cycle without a new budget in place.
Four Republican senators have asked Minnesota's highest court to prevent the judicial branch from authorizing state spending in a government shutdown. The petition filed Monday says court-ordered funding for critical services would violate the constitutional separation of powers and infringe on the Legislature's power to appropriate money.
Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty is planning next week to detail how he would balance the federal budget and reshape the nation's tax code. An aide to the former Minnesota governor says Pawlenty will outline his proposal Tuesday in Chicago.
A rift among Republicans over a piece of the federal health care overhaul was showing Thursday at a Capitol rally. Several GOP lawmakers spoke against a Republican bill to establish a state health insurance exchange. The federal law requires states to start exchanges for consumers to buy insurance starting in 2014.
Gov. Mark Dayton says he's still waiting for legislative Republicans to send him a budget so they can start negotiating. The Democratic governor held a news conference Friday to push the GOP majorities for their fix for a $5 billion deficit.
The argument over taxes and spending at Minnesota's Capitol this year spilled out in a contentious committee hearing as Democrats and their allies demanded higher state taxes to help fix a budget deficit while Republicans who want more spending cuts beat up on Gov. Mark Dayton's proposed income tax hike.
A court fight over how Minnesota's new political maps get drawn has a new front. Several Republicans on Friday filed a case in state court to go along with one Democrats put in motion this month in federal court.
New Republican majorities come into power at the Minnesota Legislature this afternoon. And with a new DFL Governor and a $6-billion budget shortfall, it's bound to be an interesting session at the legislature.