Advocates are at the State Capitol today calling on lawmakers to preserve a provider tax on healthcare. Governor Tim Walz says he doesn’t question that Republicans want people to have healthcare but said, “what I do question is if you cannot put forward a plan as solid as the healthcare access fund, and your only […]
Legislative Auditor releases report on childcare fraud investigation (AUDIO)
A report released today by the state Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) sheds light on allegations of fraud involving the Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program or C-CAP. The fraud had been alleged to total as much as $100 million annually, but Legislative Auditor James Nobles says “we couldn’t find evidence to substantiate that there is […]
Amid controversy, MN A-G Ellison calls Rep. Omar “fair-minded person who rejects bigotry of all kinds” (AUDIO)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she doesn’t think statements made by Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar were meant to be anti-Semitic. And Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison whose Congressional seat Omar took over, says there is a lot of scrutiny on Omar and as a freshman in Congress “she has very little room to make mistakes, and […]
Gov Walz signs first 2 bills into law (AUDIO)
Governor Tim Walz today signed his first two bills into law at the State Capitol. One of the bills provides $13 million in critical funding to the state Licensing and Registration System–MNLARS. The second bill funds environmental and infrastructure projects across the state of Minnesota. Walz says the bills are a bipartisan success story. Walz […]
Gov Walz unveils clean energy plan, aims for 100% clean energy in MN by 2050 (AUDIO)
100-percent clean energy in Minnesota by 2050–that’s the goal of a major energy and climate policy plan unveiled today at the State Capitol by Governor Tim Walz. Walz says “the new policies will ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity in Minnesota, they’ll also give the state a cleaner, healthier environment and a strong clean energy […]
Gov Walz releases state budget proposal; GOP sharply critical of the plan
Governor Tim Walz presented his first state budget proposal today. The governor’s nearly $50 million spending plan includes an investment of $733 million in additional preK to 12th-grade education, plus another $158 million for higher education and $1.9 billion in transportation and infrastructure funding. Walz says “not only does our budget make thoughtful decisions when […]
State lawmakers, patients advocate for rare disease advisory council
Republican State Senator Jeremy Miller of Winona has introduced a bill that would create a rare disease advisory council in Minnesota. Miller says “the goal of creating this advisory council is to gather experts from across medical fields and have them come together and use their knowledge and expertise to provide advice, research, diagnoses and […]
Gov Walz to unveil state budget today
Governor Tim Walz is announcing his first two-year state budget proposal today at the State Capitol. The 47-billion-dollar spending plan prioritizes education, health care and community prosperity. The governor has proposed the state cover a greater share of the cost of E-12 education and free tuition at public colleges and universities the first two years. […]
OLA releases report on troubled MNLARS rollout
The Office of the Legislative Auditor today released its review of the troubled Minnesota Licensing and Registration System or MNLARS. The report affirms that the system “did not adequately meet the needs of Minnesota residents and key stakeholders, despite a decade of work and significant state expenditures.” The OLA says the Department of Public Safety […]
Republican state lawmakers tout legalized sports gambling in MN
Republican House lawmakers today unveiled a push to legalize sports gambling in Minnesota. The bill would allow gambling only at established tribal casinos. The tribes have not commented on the bill yet and Republican State Representative Pat Garofalo of Farmington says “if the tribal entities are opposed to this bill, just like any important stakeholder, […]