Minnesota Legislature

An overwhelming majority of Minnesotans surveyed favor showing photo identification at the election polls. The Minnesota Poll says 80 percent of respondents support the idea. Both houses of the Legislature have ready passed a bill that requires identification, but a veto from Gov. Mark Dayton is anticipated.

A gay marriage ban has cleared a House panel as Republican lawmakers move the proposal closer to next year's ballot. The potential constitutional amendment passed the House Civil Law Committee on Monday on a 10-7 party-line vote after winning approval from a Senate panel last week.

A Republican lawmaker who plans to sponsor Minnesota Vikings stadium legislation says most pieces of the bill are in place. But Sen. Julie Rosen said Tuesday she hadn't settled on a day to introduce the bill nor would she discuss aspects of it ahead of time.

Gov. Mark Dayton is working to renew interest in a $1 billion plan for publicly financed building projects in Minnesota, saying the construction industry faces an "emergency situation." Dayton met Tuesday with architects, contractors and construction workers about the proposal, which stalled after he introduced it in January.

The Minnesota Legislature has passed a bill that would maintain access to longer unemployment benefits for the state's jobless. The bill cleared the Senate unanimously Monday after passing the House last month. It now heads to Gov. Mark Dayton's desk. The legislation makes a technical adjustment to state law to allow unemployed Minnesotans to continue collecting unemployment benefits for up to 86 weeks.

Two Minnesota lawmakers are seeking stricter CPR training requirements for child care centers after a tragedy involving a 4-year-old girl in North Mankato. The bill unveiled Tuesday by Rep. Mary Liz Holberg and Sen. Dan Hall would require the training for all teachers and assistant teachers in child care centers.

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.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The first bills through the gate in the 2011 Minnesota Legislature will be aimed at speeding up regulatory permitting and breaking down what newly empowered Republicans say are burdens to business expansion and job growth...