State Senate

Potential sites for a new Vikings stadium are the focus of a state Senate hearing today (Tuesday) at the Capitol. Senator John Pederson of St. Cloud is not at the meeting, but he says he supports the hearing -- and a new stadium.

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Legislation that would require voters to present photo identification before casting a ballot has cleared the Minnesota Senate. The GOP-controlled Senate approved the bill on a party-line 37-25 vote early Thursday, with Republicans supporting the proposal and Democrats opposed.

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The Minnesota Senate has passed a funding bill for state agencies and programs that would freeze state employee pay and reduce the size of the state workforce. The Senate voted 37-29 on Wednesday for the $600 million state government bill.

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The state Senate has sent Gov. Mark Dayton bills that alter the boundaries of Minnesota's eight congressional districts and 67 legislative districts, but they are likely to draw a veto from the Democratic chief executive.

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The state Senate has approved a statewide vote in 2012 on whether the Minnesota Constitution should be amended to ban gay marriage. Wednesday's vote of 38-27 was on amendment wording that would define marriage as between one man and one woman.

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For the first time, Minnesota's Senate plans to vote on a ballot measure aimed at banning gay marriage in the state Constitution. The vote scheduled for Wednesday would put the proposal half way toward the November 2012 ballot, where a majority vote would enact it.

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Environmentalists fear a St. Cloud lawmaker's proposals would weaken protection of Minnesota's natural resources. Republican Sen. John Pederson has proposed halting creation of new state water rules for two years.

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A Republican plan to overhaul Minnesota's health care programs and cut into services for the poor and disabled has cleared the Senate. The bill passed on a 37-26 vote Wednesday.

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Legislation allowing Minnesota liquor stores to open on Sundays has moved along in the state Senate despite opposition from the dominant liquor lobby. The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection voted 8-7 on Wednesday to advance the bill to another committee.

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The Minnesota State Senate has approved a two-year pay freeze for employees in Minnesota public and charter schools. Local State Senators John Pederson of St. Cloud and Michelle Fischbach of Paynesville both voted in favor of the bill.

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