Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
As you give your child an extra hug, send out your thoughts to Oklahoma and share what makes the educators in your child’s life special.
Last week, I had the opportunity visit with a few children at the Excelsior Farmers Market. Not surprising, they knew the exact number of days left until summer break. While many of our kids in Minnesota are eyeing the calendar with anticipation for summer break, I was reminded this week how much we owe our educators. As parents, we send our children off to school each morning expecting another typical school day until we pick them up. It becomes a parents worst nightmare when unexpected tragedies and circumstances hit a school – situations that seem to have been all too common nationwide during the 2013-2013 school year. Yet, time and time again, we hear about educators that put their life on the line to save those students they are …
Monday, May 20, 2013
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-…
Friday, May 17, 2013
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.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The Philadelphia doctor was found guilty of murdering three babies after botched late-term abortions and was given life in prison Tuesday.
A Philadelphia doctor found guilty of murdering three babies born alive in an abortion clinic serving low-income women agreed to two life sentences Tuesday, and was sentenced to a third Wednesday. Dr. Kermit Gosnell, 72, agreed to his sentences and waived his right to an appeal in order to avoid the possibility of being condemned to death. According to ABC News, prosecutors were seeking the death penalty, but because of Gosnell's advanced age it was deemed unlikely that he would live long enough for death penalty appeals which can last decades. According to Reuters, Gosnell was convicted of first-degree murder Monday after he reportedly delivered the live babies during late-term abortions and then deliberately severed their spinal cords. …
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 …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
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…
Leave your comment of appreciation for local law enforcement.
Wednesday, May 15 is National Peace Officers Memorial Day. From postal inspectors to small-town sheriffs, Congress has dedicated the week of May 15 to honoring America's law enforcement officers, especially those killed in the line of duty, each year. How have local law-enforcement officers made the community a better place to live? Leave your comment below. Commenters at Maple Grove Patch's Facebook page expressed their appreciation for local law enforcement officers:
Monday, May 13, 2013
Comments from the Twitter community on comments made by Sen. Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) during the same-sex marriage debate in the Minnesota Senate.
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The congressman from Minnesota's Third District also spoke on the House floor about charter schools.
U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) answers consituent questions each week by way of a YouTube clip (watch at the first YouTube thumbnail or at YouTube.com): This week on Erik’s Correspondence Corner, Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03) answers questions sent in from Lindsay in Wayzata and Allen in Chaska. Lindsay joined Rep. Paulsen on his live telephone town hall on Monday, and although she didn’t get a chance to ask her question during the event, Rep. Paulsen wanted to be sure she got an answer. Her question was about the need to give control and flexibility back to families and small businesses. Also this week, Rep. Paulsen answers a question on education from Allen, a local teacher from Chaska. Charter Schools Paulsen devoted a House floor speech to …
Lisa
10:38 pm on Friday, May 24, 2013
The second "Did" bullet,"Let home child-care providers and personal care assistants unionize" is incorrect. Daycare Providers across the State of MN, prior to this Bill becoming law, had the right to unionize. In fact, there are a few providers, mostly in Northern MN, who belong to a union. This bill, in simple terms, outlines the steps union organizers need to complete to form a union that will … more ›