MINNESOTA BUDGET
STAFF BLOG CAPITOL CHATTER Budget problem 'sinking in slowly'
Minnesota legislators are a month away from their deadline to send all tax and budget bills to Gov. Tim Pawlenty, but there is a doubt whether Minnesotans understand the state faces a serious budget p...
Posted on 4/10/09 at 10:01 AM
Minnesota business tax cuts move ahead 
The fundamental disagreement about how to help Minnesotans financially — cutting business taxes or providing tax relief to citizens — captured the spotlight Wednesday as Republicans push business-tax cut bills through the Minnesota Legislature.
By By Don Davis and Danielle Nordine , March 21, 2012
MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE: Comparing Dayton, House bonding proposals
Here are some highlights of public works funding proposals, to be paid by the state selling bonds, of Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and House Republicans.
By Don Davis , March 20, 2012
Minnesota House GOP bonding bill much smaller than Dayton wants
The GOP plan leaves out or drastically trims most city projects, such as civic centers in St. Cloud and Rochester. Among items not in the House bill is a $4.75 million request to build a wellness center in Wadena to replace facilities destroyed by a 2010 tornado.
By Don Davis , March 20, 2012
MINNESOTA BUDGET: Dayton suggests $60 million budget tweak
Gov. Mark Dayton wants to tweak the state budget to return some funding to emergency health care programs for the poor, enact programs to produce jobs and fight an invasion of Asian carp.
By Don Davis , March 12, 2012
Updated projection on Minnesota's financial health due this week
The state had a modest surplus last December following a tough year with a deficit that topped $5 billion and a fight over how to fix it. That led to a state government shutdown last summer.
By Associated Press , February 27, 2012
Dayton committed to plan to raise taxes on wealthy, despite surplus
Gov. Mark Dayton says he's not giving up his long-range plan to raise taxes on wealthy residents, despite a new revelation of a state budget surplus.
By Associated Press , December 08, 2011
Dayton tells counties budget surplus offers no relief
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton signed off this year on policies that cut aid to local governments and the elimination of a popular tax credit for property owners. He says he didn't want those changes, but says he had to compromise with legislative leaders.
By Associated Press , December 05, 2011
Minnesota House Republican propose refunds to balance property tax hike
Minnesotans whose taxes are soaring would get a larger property tax refund under a bill House Republicans will push in next year’s legislative session.
By Associated Press , November 14, 2011
Minnesota state senator’s questions pause federal spending, draws Dayton's ire
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton this morning criticized Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, for blocking the state from getting federal funds for programs ranging from regulating water wells to those that would keep elderly Minnesotans in their homes longer. Hann had no immediate comment.
By Don Davis , November 08, 2011
$1.1 billion in future tobacco payments tapped for current Minnesota budget fix
Late next week, a newly created state authority expects to finalize a sale of bonds leveraging a portion of its 1998 tobacco lawsuit settlement. But it will deprive the state of a revenue stream, making for future budget headaches.
By Brian Bakst , November 08, 2011
Report: Few Minnesotans like state's one-time borrowing budget deal
A majority of Minnesotans say both tax increases and cuts in state services are needed to fix the state's long-term budget problems, according to a report being released today.
By Bill Salisbury , August 18, 2011
THEIR OPINION: Tobacco settlement spares Minnesota some pain ... again
Twice, money from the state's landmark 1998 settlement of a lawsuit against Big Tobacco allowed deficits to be addressed without cutting more deeply (which DFLers opposed) or raising statewide tax rates (which Republicans opposed.) Once upon a time, the bulk of the settlement money was to go to "permanent" health-care endowments and as continuing yearly payments to the state's general fund. Then the money proved irresistible.
By Pioneer Press Editorial Board , July 21, 2011
At Minnesota State Capitol, secrecy suddenly reigns
Five days after DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican leaders struck a tentative deal to end Minnesota's government shutdown, nearly all of the talks to finalize a budget proposal have taken place in private, blocking out the public and raising questions about whether legislators and the administration are violating the law. "Finally the real work of actually writing the state budget is happening, and it's happening behind closed doors," one DFL legislator said. "It's a pretty pathetic process for spending $35.4 billion."
By Mike Kaszuba and Baird Helgeson , July 19, 2011
Horse tracks to stay closed during shutdown
A judge overseeing appeals about the Minnesota government shutdown said Thursday she won't reconsider her prior orders about Canterbury Park and Minnesota Harness Racing.
By Associated Press , July 14, 2011
Minnesota shutdown forces Georgia-Pacific plant to be idled
The Georgia-Pacific plant in Duluth has been shut down because it can't replenish its water supply from Lake Superior during the government shutdown in Minnesota.
By Associated Press , July 14, 2011
- A. W. Okins, East Grand Forks, letter: Dayton’s Robin Hood approach won’t work
- Dan Bartsch, Thief River Falls, letter: M-a-k-e a b-u-d-g-e-t d-e-a-l o-r e-l-s-e
- John Van Hecke, St. Paul, column: Minnesota GOP budget doesn't match fiscal reality
- SHUTDOWN IN MINNESOTA: Poop among problems piling up at closed state parks
- MINNESOTA SHUTDOWN: Tapped out
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