AM 1240 WJON » State Senate

Pederson: Arden Hills, Fan Tax for Vikings Stadium [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:00:11 +0000

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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Minnesota Senate Votes To Require Photo ID For Voters

The Associated Press — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:43:35 +0000

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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Minnesota Senate Passes Bill Cutting State Workforce

The Associated Press — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:09:20 +0000

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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Minnesota Senate Sends Redistricting Bills To Dayton

The Associated Press — Wed, 18 May 2011 10:23:47 +0000

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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Minnesota Senate Okays 2012 Vote On Gay Marriage Ban

The Associated Press — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:20:18 +0000

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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Gay Marriage Ban Slated For Minnesota Senate Vote

The Associated Press — Wed, 11 May 2011 11:38:15 +0000

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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St. Cloud Senator Proposes Water-Rule Moratorium

Jim Maurice — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:38:30 +0000

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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Deep Cuts For Health, Welfare Programs Pass Senate

Jim Maurice — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:52:37 +0000

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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Minnesota Bill Permitting Sunday Liquor Sales Advances

Jim Maurice — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:11:47 +0000

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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Senators Pederson, Fischbach Vote In Favor Of School Pay Freeze [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:07:02 +0000

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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Senate Vote Set for $900 Million Package Of Budget Cuts

Jim Maurice — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:45:23 +0000

A $900 million package of budget cuts that passed the House is expected to get a vote in the Senate on Thursday. Senate approval would send the bill Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, who has criticized the legislation as a piecemeal approach to Minnesota's $6.2 billion deficit.

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Senate Panel Dismisses Ethics Charge Against Hutchinson GOPer

Jim Maurice — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:43:12 +0000

he state Senate's ethics panel has dismissed a complaint against a Republican senator whose office sent an e-mail saying he wouldn't meet with his election rival's supporters. The four members of the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct voted unanimously Wednesday to dismiss the complaint.

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Senate To Review Ethics Complaint Against Hutchinson GOPer

Jim Maurice — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:44:40 +0000

The state Senate's Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct will review a complaint by several Democratic senators over a Republican colleague's e-mail saying he wouldn't meet with his election rival's supporters. The committee meets Wednesday to review the complaint, which accuses Sen. Scott Newman of Hutchinson of breaking Senate rules and endangering the Senate's reputation.

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Veterans To Lead Pledge In Minnesota Senate

Jim Maurice — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:54:48 +0000

Republicans who control the Minnesota Senate are having military veterans lead the Pledge of Allegiance each Monday. The Senate Republican Caucus announced the plan on Monday, when an Army veteran who enlisted 60 years ago this week led the Pledge.

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Senate Takes $930 Million Whack At Minnesota Budget Shortfall [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:59:46 +0000

Minnesota senators have pressed through a bill to slice $930 million from a much-larger state budget deficit. Senator John Pederson of St. Cloud co-authored the bill.

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