Author: MinnPost

WASHINGTON — Since announcing his candidacy for president two weeks ago, Rep. Dean Phillips has missed votes on a resolution condemning Hamas’ brutal attack on Israeli civilians, a bill that would help fund Israel’s military, a measure that would oust controversial Rep. George Santos from Congress and dozens of other bills and amendments. Phillips has also missed debates in Congress over government spending, the best way to avoid a looming government shutdown on Nov. 17, and whether the United States should push for a pause in the fighting in the Middle East, send more U.S. aid to Ukraine or use…

The Minnesota Supreme Court has dismissed a petition that sought to keep Donald Trump’s name from appearing on the state’s March 5 presidential primary ballot. The court order stated that because the primary is a party function in which the state serves only an administrative function, it is up to the parties only to decide the names on the ballot. But the order signed by Chief Justice Natalie Hudson said the petitioners could try again if Trump wins the Republican nomination next summer. The November general election, being a state election only, might give the petitioners another opportunity to challenge Trump’s appearance…

For 70 minutes, five justices of the Minnesota Supreme Court listened to legal reasons why they should bar Donald Trump from the 2024 state presidential preference primary and why they should not. The case known as Growe v. Simon was filed by a batch of Minnesota voters backed by a national organization called Free Speech for People. It asked the court to order Secretary of State Steve Simon to reject an expected request from the Minnesota Republican Party to include Trump’s name for the March 5 presidential primary. As argued by Ronald Fein, an attorney for Free Speech for People, the court…

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips on Friday officially kicked off his presidential bid in Concord, New Hampshire, yet his challenge to President Joe Biden has not provoked much concern among Minnesota DFLers – at least not publicly. After filing to have his name on the ballot, Phillips held a rally Friday, saying his campaign would focus on the economy, crime and “generational change,” the shifting of political power toward younger people. A self-described optimist, Phillips painted a grim picture of Biden’s America. “A majority of our neighbors live paycheck to paycheck … unable to get ahead and save for their…

So far, the conversation about the future of the Metropolitan Council has been whether it should remain an appointed body or shift to one elected by voters in the Twin Cities region. That is the primary charge of the Metro Governance Task Force, which was commissioned by the state Legislature. It is in the midst of a series of meetings with a deadline of reporting back to the Legislature by Feb. 1. But a decision between two obvious governance choices — appointed or elected — became more complicated after a hybrid idea entered the picture: What if Metro Transit was broken away from…

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said President Joe Biden is not too old for a reelection campaign and cast doubt on the merits of bumping former President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot in Minnesota. “I would say we all get older so be careful what you’re asking,” Walz said of Biden. “A little bit of wisdom is not a bad thing.” The second-term DFL governor answered questions on Saturday about the presidential race, a controversy over school resource officers, the brief tenure of his first cannabis director, and more in an interview with reporter Peter Callaghan at the MinnPost Festival…

The first taxes collected from Minnesota’s new cannabis tax that took effect July 1 show that the hemp-derived market is smaller than estimated, or a lot of people selling edibles and beverages have not yet reported their taxes. In the first month, the 10% sales tax brought in $594,461 from 571 businesses. That means total sales were $5.94 million. Of the total, $119,000 will be distributed to local governments and $475,000 to the state. The Department of Revenue (DOR) notes that those numbers reflect what had been received by Aug. 21, and additional filings are likely. The first month collections…

House Republicans have renewed a call for a special session to fix issues with the legislation that made Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize recreational marijuana. They’re not likely to be successful, partly because majority DFLers don’t often agree to requests made by minority Republicans but mostly because what Republicans see as bugs, DFLers see as features. While there might be fine-tuning needed on the sweeping legalization law, they can wait until the regular session next February, DFL leaders have said. House Republicans have now sent two formal letters to Gov. Tim Walz and the DFL leaders of the House…

Tuesday is MJ Day for recreational cannabis in Minnesota, the day when perhaps the most significant sections of the law take effect. Use and simple possession of the drug is no longer a crime for people 21 and over. Retail sales are still well over a year away, but as of Aug. 1, those over 21 can use cannabis and possess 2 ounces or less in public, 2 pounds or less at home and grow up to eight plants in their homes or yards. But that doesn’t mean that criminal sanctions have been removed from state law regarding marijuana. As…

The federal government spent trillions of dollars providing stimulus checks, increased unemployment and food stamp benefits, provided forgivable business loans, rent and student loan moratoriums and funding for dozens of other programs.