Politics + Public Policy

Pharma has become such an inviting target that in a Legislature that can't agree on anything, multiple bills taking on the industry are still alive in both the DFL-controlled House and a GOP-controlled Senate.

The St. Paul Saints, the minor league baseball team that plays home games at the heavily public subsidized CHS Field in Lowertown, is 1.2 miles away from the state Capitol.

One proposal, which has bipartisan support, would allow those who donate to affordable housing projects to take a dollar-for-dollar credit off of their state income tax bill.

Municipal IDs are aimed at providing identification to people who are unwilling or unable to get state driver’s licenses or IDs, often because they are undocumented immigrants.

The Equity and Opportunity Scholarship Act would allow donations to scholarship foundations to be credited against state income taxes. The foundations would use the money to give private school scholarships to low- and middle-income students.

Preemption was a more potent issue over the last four years, when Republicans controlled both the House and Senate.

A Senate bill to partially legalize sports books in Minnesota narrowly passed out of its first committee Thursday, but the Senate majority leader isn’t keen on the idea, and the state’s 11 Native American tribes are opposed.

Republicans in Minnesota often focus on the state’s high taxes, while DFLers focus on all the services the state delivers for that money — a divergence was put on display at the Minnesota Capitol this week.

DEED Commissioner Steve Grove said there was a move away from putting more money into grants he described as “siloed, carve-out programs,” but instead to “bring the philosophy of equity to all that we do.”

Part of Klobuchar’s case to win the Democratic nomination for president is her ability to appeal to Trump voters. How strong is that ability?

What you should know about Klobuchar’s politics and finances as the senator announces her presidential run.

The DFLer lays out political strategy to win support for his agenda in a divided Legislature.

Recreational marijuana probably isn’t coming to Minnesota this year. But the debate at Legislature has already become largely about when, not if, it will happen.

Rep. Zack Stephenson’s bill would appropriate $2.5 million to the Department of Employment and Economic Development to oversee the program and guarantee any defaults by workers. No interest could be charged during a shutdown or for 90 days after the end of a shutdown.

Alec Smith’s parents were on hand at the Minnesota Capitol earlier this week to tell his story one more time, part of an effort to pass a package of bills to stop price gouging and bring some transparency to the insulin market.

The shutdown has cost University researchers $10 million in unreimbursed expenses, caused facilities to be shuttered, and is getting in the way of some students’ financial aid.

Education was featured prominently in Gov. Tim Walz’s remarks, but he also highlighted a theme that was a big part of his campaign — that the state has addressed tough problems in the past and can do so again.

A look at why a recently launched petition to “give the Northwest Angle back to Canada” to “correct a critical survey error” will never be successful, and why Angle business owners would never want it to be.

When the Legislature begins its work Jan. 8, a battery of lobbyists for Greater Minnesota interests will be there, arguing for a variety of proposals that they believe will boost the rural economy.

The Third District’s new congressman reflects on challenges and priorities as his government-repair mission prepares to enter action mode.