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Government

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Hot Topics

They Did What? MN Legislature's Actions You Like ... or Dislike

What's your take on Minnesota's higher cigarette and income taxes, same-sex marriage law, all-day kindergarten funding, gun control measures, minimum wage and more?

What do you like—or dislike—in what the Minnesota Legislature did or didn't do? Leave a comment below. The Star Tribune posted a handy list of issues the Minnesota Legislature did and didn't tackle in the session that ended Monday at midnight. Love 'em? Hate 'em? Leave a comment below. DID: DIDN'T DO: See the full post at startribune.com. Which actions the Minnesota Legislature took do you support or oppose? Leave a comment below.

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Mike B.

6:48 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013

I wish Minnesota could just dis-enfranchise the voters of Minneapolis.St. Paul, and Duluth... we would have a much better informed and responsible statewide electorate. California has the same problem Minnesota has. In California, if the state could just prohibit state and national voting in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California would be much better off. And in Illinois, nullify any statewide…   more ›

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Stuck at Zero: Maple Grove Won't See Cash from New Local Government Aid (LGA) Formula

The Minnesota Legislature has set the dollar amounts cities can expect to get, and Maple Grove is still coming up empty.

Despite changes to the formula state government uses, the City of Maple Grove will still get nothing in Local Government Aid funds in 2014. The omnibus tax bill passed the Minnesota Senate 36-30 just a few minutes before midnight Monday, May 20 —the legislative session's legal deadline. According to Session Daily, "the bill would make changes to the distribution of local government aid through a new formula. Counties and townships would also see an increase in state aid—all in an effort to lower property taxes, supporters say." Maple Grove didn't get LGA money in 2013 either. In fact, the state last certified Maple Grove to receive LGA funds in 2003—but then aid reductions zeroed out the allotted $179,785, according to House Research’s …

Monday, May 20, 2013

Erik Paulsen: 'No American Should Have Right to Free Speech Threatened by IRS'

The congressman for Minnesota's Third District expressed outrage at the IRS scandal on the Hugh Hewitt show.

U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) issued a timely Facebook posting Monday about the tornadoes in Oklahoma: My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Oklahoma and those affected by today’s devastation. Please stay safe. Congress on Your Corner Paulsen held a "Congress on Your Corner" Monday at the Cub Foods store in Maple Grove. (See the Storify above or at Storify.com.) IRS Scandal Paulsen appeared on the Hugh Hewitt Show last week to discuss the IRS targeting of groups based on political affiliation (listen to the program here). Paulsen summarized his position at his blog: It is unconscionable that the IRS deliberately targeted individuals based on their political beliefs. Absolutely no one should come under extra scrutiny from the IRS …

Mike B.

6:21 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Rep. Bachmann is indeed correct when she states that Obama and the Democrats will attempt to deny healthcare to Tea Party members and conservatives under Obamacare. Some people thought such an idea was preposterous. But we have seen the extent of the nefarious schemes of this administration to take away our rights. The IRS scandal, which looks as if it will lead to President Obama's impeachment, …   more ›

How Should Twin Cities Suburbs Respond to Increasing Poverty?

A Brookings Institution study found that the number of poor in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs more than doubled over the past decade.

If the stressed food banks and increasing demand for social services weren’t enough proof, Twin Cities residents now have further evidence that poverty is part of the suburban landscape. A Brookings Institution study released Monday reports that the number of poor in Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs more than doubled between 2000 and 2011. The 127.9 percent increase in the suburbs was well above the 47.7 percent increase in urban areas. Click on the PDF to the right of the article to see a summary of the Twin Cities data. This is a trend providers have been well aware of for some time. Hennepin County's Human Services and Public Health Department is in the process of creating “social services hubs” in the suburbs specifically to create one-…

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Orono

4:53 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Mike B. The liberal belief system puts the job of caring for the needy on the government. Jesus said, love thy neighbor as thy self. I do a very poor job of loving my neighbor but the one thing I do try and do is give back. My wife and I give between 15 and 17% every year. We have been blessed with financial success and try keep that in mind every day. Also though, we give ourselves. Giving …   more ›

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Same-Sex Marriage Decision, Jablonski and New Fast Food: Pick of Our Patches

This week's selections include a new Taco Bell, more on the Buddhist monastery, another attempt at school levies and a healthier sport drink for young athletes.

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Dibble Introduces MN Same-Sex Marriage at MN Senate: 'A Very Simple Bill' Southwest Minneapolis' state representative introduced his gay-marriage bill at the Minnesota Senate Monday. Kiffmeyer: MN Same-Sex Marriage Bill Betrays Vow that 'Nothing Would Change' Minnesota state Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer, who represents St. Michael-Albertville, recalled promise that 'no' votes on constitutional amendment to ban marriage wouldn't lead to legalization. ZipRealty Lists Westonka …

Mike Hindin

10:40 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013

Welcome. I hope to see courses open to the public. A hospice is a wonderful service to our community.   more ›

Friday, May 17, 2013

Erik Paulsen on IRS Scandal: 'This Is a Bad Week for America'

The congressman representing Minnesota's Third District questioned IRS and Treasury Department officials at the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Friday.

U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) spoke out on the scandal involving the IRS giving extra scrutiny to conservative groups Friday. Paulsen tweeted: This is a bad week for America, that's the bottom line. #IRS needs to be held accountable. At a U.S. House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the matter Friday, Paulsen zeroed in on how long the IRS kept lists of donors it had collected from citizen groups, and whether it was common practice for the IRS to ask groups about connections to particular individuals. See a YouTube clip of Paulsen at the hearing here at the Patch desktop site or at YouTube.com.

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Al Anderson

9:07 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013

Agreed. The most divisive, least transparent, anti freedom administration in this country's history needs to go. This is also why government needs to be downsized (especially federal and state). This is also why the 1st and 2nd Amendments are so vitally important.   more ›

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Patch Readers Respond to Passage of Gay Marriage Bill

Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature Tuesday didn’t end the heated debate around same-sex marriage.

Whatever side of the debate you fall on, there’s no denying that this week’s passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage was a historical moment. Minnesota became just the 12th state to sanction gay marriage when Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill Tuesday. Patch readers quickly wrote in to share their thoughts on the moment. Eagan Patch reader Kathi Malone echoed the view of legislators who voted yes in seeing same-sex marriage as a civil right: I am so happy that finally gay people will be able to have the civil right to marry. This is truly an American vote for freedom. I applaud Sen Clausen and all other legislators who voted for this historical bill. James N added: Thank you Senator Carlson and the entire MN legislature for extending …

Dan Johnson

7:21 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013

Anti-gay prejudice is taught early in life before the ability to think critically is developed. That makes assimilation of new and conflicting information difficult, though it can be done. Many have changed their understanding of gay people and positive change continues, though all gay people have lived their entire lives waiting for equal treatment under the law as promised in the founding …   more ›

Environmental Review of Highway 610/County Road 30 Road Extension Project Available

Written comments accepted through June 12, 2013.

Information provided by Minnesota Department of Transportation. The Minnesota Department of Transportation invites the public to review an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) regarding future four-lane divided county road between County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 30 and Highway 610 in Maple Grove and the future interchange at Highway 610 and I-94 in Maple Grove. Copies of the EAW, which document the purpose and need for the project, along with the anticipated social, economic and environmental impacts, are available for public viewing beginning May 13, 2013 during regular business hours at the following locations: Written comments will be accepted May 13 through June 12, 2013. Comments should be submitted to Rick Dalton, Environmental …

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

MN Gay Marriage Raises Issue: When Is It OK to Call Someone a Bigot?

The new law's supporters and opponents traded claims and denials of bigotry.

When—if ever—is it fair to call another person a bigot? Leave your comment below. A flashpoint in the debate over Minnesota's new marriage-equality law was the use of the words "bigot," "bigoted," or "bigotry" in reference to opponents of making same-sex marriages legal. After the state Legislature approved the bill, the group Minnesota for Marriage said in a statement: Over one million Minnesotans will be forced to either affirm what they believe to be false or subject themselves to prosecution and insult as “bigots” ... under our law with the passage of this bill. 'You're a Bigot' On Monday at the state Senate, Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) took exception to accusations that opponents of the same-sex marriage bill are bigots. Sen. Dan…

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Dan Johnson

5:58 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Removing it from the law (which I believe is impossible), denies that recognition for those who don't belong to any religion. It would require them to travel to a different country to get married.   more ›

Two School Levy Requests to be on November 2013 Election Ballot

The Osseo School District 279 School Board voted to request an operating and technology levy from voters in a special election Nov. 5.

After a narrow defeat in the 2012 election, the Osseo School District School Board has decided to ask voters again for approval of an operating and technology levy.  The Osseo School District School Board approved, by a vote of 5-1 at its May 7 meeting, to place two school funding questions on the November 2013 election ballot. The questions will ask, according to the Osseo School District website. In the upcoming months, community members will receive “much more detailed information about these request to our community members” through a “comprehensive education campaign,” District 279 Superintendent Kate Maguire told the school board. If the levy(s) are passed, it would be effective for the 2014-15 school year.   Without additional …

Rick

8:56 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013

To add on to the multiple issue comment, one of the hallmarks of passing levies is to have 3 or 4 issues attached to the levy. So it's not as simple as going to vote for example "$5 million on technology", but it would be $5 million on technology, expanding the distance from school where buses would pick up the kids, keeping teacher/student ratios low by not laying off teachers, expanding the …   more ›

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