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LIVE: MN political improv show to skewer pols in real time
Do you enjoy topical political humor presented in the form of improvisational sketches focused on the civic events and traditions of the nation’s 32nd state, which happens to be named Minnesota? If you do, well, big news. Tonight, the UpTake will present a live video feed of the Theater of Public Policy’s improv show at the…
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New MN House bills checking regulators would benefit mines
When Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) announced the formation of the Mining and Outdoor Recreation Policy Committee, and then stacked it with GOPers and mining-focused Iron Range DFLers it was plain Republicans had plans to advance pro-mining legislation this session. I commented on this for a Briana Bierschbach story today in MinnPost. I’ve also argued that such legislation will not likely…
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Tomassoni declines RAMS job amid controversy
This morning State Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm) announced that he would decline the position of Executive Director of the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools amid the continuing controversy over potential conflicts of interest. Sen. Tomassoni issued this statement: “Today the Campaign Finance Board issued the advisory opinion I requested relating to my role at RAMS.…
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‘Symptom of a corrupt system, but a public symptom’
The following is a guest post sent to me by Paul Ojanen, a longtime reader of the blog and Iron Range environmental scientist for St. Louis County. He’s been involved with local DFL politics off and on for a long time. I’m sharing Paul’s op-ed at his request because it takes a broader point of view…
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MN House hearing on non-ferrous mining today
Today at 2:45 p.m., the House Committee on Mining and Outdoor Recreation will hold an “informational hearing” on non-ferrous mining. When Republicans took over the State House after the 2014 election, some questioned the name and unusual structure of this committee. As I wrote, it appeared designed to serve the specific political aims of putting Republicans…
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On ‘Transportation Monday,’ a call for reform
Later this morning, Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN) will introduce his transportation proposal for this year’s legislative session. In the new Minnesota legislature — now featuring a Republican House and a returning DFL Senate — transportation was one of the issues some believed could unite the two parties. The new GOP majority in the House was…
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President Obama’s State of the Union deserves attention
Two of the biggest domestic policy proposals that President Obama plans to introduce in his State of the Union address tonight are right in my wheelhouse: community and technical college being affordable for all, and broadband infrastructure throughout rural America. Their connection to one another? Both involve investing in people and their own ability to access…
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Cliffs CEO strikes positive tone with Range lawmakers
According the reports I’ve read and gathered on my own, Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves had two goals for the private meeting he held Monday night, Jan. 12, with Iron Range lawmakers: 1) to stress his company’s commitment to its Iron Range operations, and 2) to vehemently oppose state funding of the Essar Steel plant near Nashwauk.…
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Minnesota DNR to sell CL-215 water bombers
One summer afternoon my boys and I walked down the hill to the lake. I heard a low rumble out of sight. The sound grew louder. Soon enough I could feel the vibrations as well as I could hear them. Then I saw one of my life’s truly memorable scenes: a twin-engine CL-215 “scooper” plane used to fight…
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The intrigue, impact & warning of lower gas prices
I live in the woods of Northern Minnesota’s western Mesabi Iron Range, 27 miles from the town where my kids go to school and 27 miles from the town where I work. That was a choice. We live on old family land. Nevertheless, public transit is not available and the cost of gasoline is a significant part…
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LIVE: Gov. Mark Dayton, constitutional officers sworn in today
Today at noon, Gov. Mark Dayton, Lt. Gov.-elect Tina Smith, Secretary of State-elect Steve Simon, State Auditor Rebecca Otto and Attorney General Lori Swanson will all be sworn in. The Uptake is providing live coverage, followed by an archived link if you care to see the ceremonies and remarks: As an interesting aside, Lori Sturdevant…
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Half and half; Minnesota’s greater metro divide
I think I’ll enjoy reading the work of new Pioneer Press reporter and veteran political data journalist Derek Montgomery. Today he’s up with a blog post showing the urban-rural divide in Minnesota. Simply put, he generated a graphic displaying population split using State Senate districts. What’s striking about this exercise is that the divide here is roughly half…
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Loving and loathing where we’re from
If you’re interested in the survival and development of small towns and rural places, you’d be well served to follow my friend Chuck Marohn, CEO of the nonprofit Strong Towns, a firm helping smaller cities make good decisions with their money. Chuck’s a big advocate of the notion that many expensive infrastructure investments that small…
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In the South, the politics of culture still show ‘Huey Long’ gap
I’ve always found the story of the late Louisiana Gov. and U.S. Sen. Huey P. Long to be a fascinating tale of the shifting power and potential of America in the early half of the 20th Century. My favorite book is “All the King’s Men” by Robert Penn Warren and, while I agree with Warren…
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Mining debate geared up for new political terrain
This winter, Minnesota’s state legislature will convene with divided leadership — Democratic-Farmer-Laborites, under Iron Range Sen. Tom Bakk as majority leader, still control the Senate; while Republicans, under Speaker-designate Rep. Kurt Daudt of Crown, have taken over the House. Gov. Mark Dayton, a DFLer, will remain in the executive office after a decisive re-election campaign. A…