Government & Politics
What’s in Minnesota’s 2023 education bill
The Minnesota Legislature during the 2023 session passed a sweeping education bill that boosted public spending for schools by nearly $2.3 billion. Gov. Tim Walz, a former teacher, has advocated for more school funding since the beginning of his tenure, but he was mostly stymied under a divided government. Education advocates, the state’s teachers’ union […]
U.S. Senate sends Biden debt limit legislation ahead of Monday default deadline
WASHINGTON — The bipartisan debt limit bill is on its way to President Joe Biden after the U.S. Senate voted Thursday to clear the measure for his signature. The 63-36 vote followed several amendment votes, all of which were rejected. Biden is expected to quickly sign the package, preventing a default on the debt that […]
U.S. Senate votes to block student loan relief, White House will veto
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted to overturn the Biden administration’s one-time student debt relief plan that is on hold due to a pending Supreme Court decision. President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the resolution, but the 52-46 vote forced vulnerable Senate Democrats up for reelection in 2024 to take a public […]
Voting rights restored to Minnesotans still on parole, probation
Over 55,000 Minnesotans were granted the right to vote after a law passed by the Legislature this session went into effect Thursday. Minnesotans convicted of a felony who are not incarcerated — whether they are out on probation, parole or work release — are now eligible to vote and can register to do so for […]
What’s in Minnesota’s 2023 tax bill
The Legislature’s $3 billion tax bill was one of the 2023 session’s landmark pieces of legislation, with lawmakers approving rebate checks for over 2.5 million Minnesotans and distributing tax credits to impoverished families to help pay for child care and other necessities. But within the bill there’s also $1 billion in tax increases, not including […]
U.S. House approves debt limit package, sending it to Senate days before default deadline
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House took a broadly bipartisan vote Wednesday night on the debt limit package, sending it to the U.S. Senate where lawmakers are expected to vote quickly to clear the measure. The bill would suspend the nation’s borrowing limit through Jan. 1, 2025 and set caps on discretionary spending for two years. […]
What’s in Minnesota’s marijuana legalization bill
Possession limits, home grow provisions, public health and more.
New work requirements for some SNAP recipients included in debt limit deal
WASHINGTON — The holiday weekend debt ceiling deal struck by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy preserves in part new work requirements for some food stamp recipients but now with exceptions for certain populations, including veterans. The agreement released late Saturday night showed concessions from both sides — from GOP members, who wanted […]
Debt limit deal hits turbulence in Congress as leaders prep for vote
WASHINGTON — Congress began moving the bipartisan debt limit package forward Tuesday, though frustrations with provisions in the bill could make for narrow passage in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Conservative Republicans and progressive Democrats both aired their disappointment with the agreement forged over the weekend, but only GOP lawmakers are looking to possibly […]
Gov. Walz signs bill legalizing recreational marijuana for adults
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday signed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana for people over 21. Walz was joined during the festive bill signing by legal cannabis advocates, lawmakers and a minor celebrity former governor. Beginning Aug. 1, Minnesotans can legally possess up to two ounces of cannabis on their person, two pounds of cannabis […]
A dozen questions for Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman
Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, was first elected to the Legislature in 2004. She’s served as the DFL leader since 2017 and was elevated to speaker after the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party took the majority in 2018, but she helped preside over gridlocked, divided government until this year. Now in her 10th term, she helped […]
Minnesota’s new ‘right to repair’ law is the broadest one yet
Do-it-yourselfers and repair shops are celebrating a victory in Minnesota with the enactment of a new law that requires many manufacturers to share parts and information with tinkerers and small businesses. The so-called right to repair law will allow equipment owners and independent shops to more easily fix devices like phones, laptops, appliances and other […]