AM 1240 WJON » State Legislature

Cost of New Minnesota Top Income Tax Rate? It Depends.

The Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:12:16 +0000

A narrow band of Minnesotans will pay a higher income tax under the new state budget. How much more? That depends. Officials say the average cost of the new tax for 54,400 filers is just shy of $7,200.

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Minnesota House Defeats Construction Projects Bill

The Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:43:27 +0000

The Minnesota House has defeated an $800 million construction projects bill that failed to win a needed super-majority. The bill is a rare area where Republican held veto power. Because it involves long-term state debt, it required 81 votes to pass.

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Minnesota Senate to Vote on Minimum Wage Bump

The Associated Press — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:54:50 +0000

The Minnesota Senate is ready to vote on a bill to bump up the state's minimum wage, although not as fast as House lawmaking counterparts want. The Senate plan due for action Wednesday would bring the wage floor up to $7.75 per hour by August 2015 and then make annual adjustments based on inflation.

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DFL Swing Vote on Gay Marriage Says He'll Support It

The Associated Press — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:49:26 +0000

A Democratic state senator seen as a swing vote on gay marriage says he'll vote to make it legal in Minnesota. Sen. Kent Eken represents a northwestern Minnesota district that backed last fall's gay marriage ban by 53 percent.

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House Committee Approves Changes to State Election Laws [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:53:14 +0000

There could be a couple major changes to our election system in Minnesota. The House Elections Committee yesterday (Thursday) passed two bills out of committee.

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Minnesota House Committee Approves Minimum Wage Hike, O'Driscoll Votes 'No' [AUDIO]

The Associated Press — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:19:56 +0000

A bill that would raise Minnesota's minimum wage to more than $10 an hour by 2015 is moving through the Legislature. The House Labor, Workforce and Regulated Industries Committee on Thursday passed a bill to increase to the minimum wage in three steps until it hits $10.55.

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Lawmakers Start Debate over Minnesota's Minimum Wage

The Associated Press — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:58:20 +0000

From a small tick up to a big bump, Minnesota lawmakers anxious to boost the state's minimum wage start making their case to colleagues this week. A Minnesota House panel opens its discussion of a probable hike to the floor wage Monday by reviewing presentations on the economic impact of the minimum wage.

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Mayo Plan Gives Rochester Lobby Day Rallying Point

The Associated Press — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:58:16 +0000

A wave of Rochester residents is descending on the Minnesota Capitol for an annual lobby day that takes on extra importance this year. Rochester officials are aiding the Mayo Clinic in its push for state help toward a multi-billion dollar expansion.

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Minnesota House Kicks Off 3 Days of Hearings on Guns

The Associated Press — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:53:12 +0000

The growing debate over gun control is taking center stage at Minnesota's Capitol this week as lawmakers take up a handful of proposals that would limit access to guns for some individuals.

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Gay Marriage Group Says Effort Needs Capitol Votes

The Associated Press — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:46:28 +0000

The group pushing a state Capitol vote to legalize gay marriage says a bill to do so currently lacks the votes to pass. The admission came in a fundraising pitch Thursday by Jake Loesch, the communications director for Minnesotans United.

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Minnesota Senate Committee Backs Jury Bias Ban

The Associated Press — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:29:35 +0000

A Minnesota Senate committee has passed a bill to prohibit lawyers from dismissing potential jurors based solely on their sexual orientation or marital status. The Senate Judiciary Committee backed the bill Tuesday on a split voice vote.

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Lawmakers Want Faster Payback of Minnesota School IOUs

The Associated Press — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:27:19 +0000

House Democratic and Republican leaders have come to early agreement on the state budget: Both want the final product to repay IOUs to Minnesota schools faster than Gov. Mark Dayton has proposed.

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Democratic Leaders Want Gun Laws Evaluated

The Associated Press — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:39:26 +0000

Democratic leaders assuming control of the Minnesota Legislature say now is the time to take a closer look at the state's gun laws. The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut has been a catalyst across the country for discussions of gun regulations.

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Capitol's DFL Leaders must Guard Against Overreach

The Associated Press — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 22:12:48 +0000

The two Democrats who will lead the Legislature starting in January will have to manage Democratic ambitions as the party takes full control of the Capitol for the first time in over 20 years.

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Minnesota Lawmakers Ease Off Constitutional Changes

The Associated Press — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 20:30:30 +0000

Democrats are taking over the Minnesota Legislature, but leaders are cool to any move to change the state constitution. That has something to do with voters' rejecting two constitutional amendments earlier this month — one to ban gay marriage and one to require photo ID to vote.

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Deal Reached for $167 Million in Flood Relief

The Associated Press — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:52:49 +0000

Minnesota lawmakers have agreed on a relief package for northern Minnesota communities hit hard by flash-flooding in June. The package is for $167 million.

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College Auto Body, Truck Programs Getting an Overhaul [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:26:21 +0000

Calling it a "big deal" for Central Minnesota, officials at the St. Cloud Technical and Community College are excited to get started on renovations to their Auto Body and Medium-Heavy Truck Programs. The school received $4 million in bonding money passed by the State Legislature this week.

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Vikings a Vote Away from New Stadium

The Associated Press — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:16:12 +0000

A fast-moving Minnesota Vikings stadium bill is just a successful state Senate vote away from reaching the desk of a supportive Gov. Mark Dayton. The Minnesota House voted 71-60 early Thursday on a reworked $975 million stadium bill.

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State Legislature Finalizes New Tax Bill

The Associated Press — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:49:44 +0000

A conference committee has finalized a new tax policy bill with breaks for businesses, but less than they would have gotten in a tax bill vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton last week.

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Senate Gives Vikings Stadium 2nd Big Victory

The Associated Press — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:12:49 +0000

The Minnesota Senate has approved a plan to build a $975 million stadium for the Vikings, another big step toward the new facility it's chased for more than a decade. The Senate vote Tuesday came a day after the House approved its own stadium bill.

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