Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak traveled to Washington D.C. to urge President Barack Obama to revive the state's request for individual tornado damage assistance Monday. After the White House meeting, the Minneapolis mayor and Minneapolis City Council Member President Barbara Johnson met with U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn., who reiterated his commitment to do whatever he can to help with the recovery process. The May 22 tornado caused millions of dollars in damage in North Minneapolis, resulting in the death of two Minnesotans. Individual disaster assistance was denied by FEMA (Federal Emergency …

State Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Minneapolis) told Republicans who voiced concerns that Gov. Mark Dayton's appointed commissioners weren't negotiating openly enough with Republicans that a "global framework" first needs to be agreed upon by legislative leadership and the governor. In the meeting of the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy Thursday, Berglin also noted that during former Gov. Tim Pawlenty's tenure, commissioners would refuse to give information or fiscal notes to the then-Democratic legislature.

The budget back-and-forth continued as the state hurdles towards a government shutdown on July 1. Republicans said Gov. Mark Dayton hasn't engaged them enough in negotiations. In the meeting of the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy Thursday, House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) disputed Republican claims that Governor Mark Dayton has not been involved in the budget process, citing stacks of correspondence as evidence.

At the start of a Democratic tour around the state following the close of the regular legislative session, House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) said Minnesota voters will now have their chance to weigh in on the government budget impasse.

State Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) spoke in support of Gov. Mark Dayton's symbolic veto of the marriage amendment passed by the legislature, which would allow voters to amend the constitution in 2012 to define marriage as between one man and one woman. "[It] sends a signal to young people who‘ve been so disheartened by the actions of our legislature, who’ve been sent such a negative message, a message of being marginalized, a message that our constitution is not for them," Dibble said. "Our governor is saying, 'That’s not the case.'"

Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) is leading the charge against the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment that will be on the 2012 ballot. Moments after the bill passed the House Saturday, Dibble rallied supporters and vowed that the amendment would fail.

The state Senate passed a transportation finance bill that cuts about $109 million from Metro Transit 36-26, which officials say would force the agency to drastically reduce service. The omnibus bill's cost is $4.53 billion, and includes funding for highways, airports and other state roads. The bill, which also passed the House, will need to make it past Gov. Mark Dayton's veto pen to go into law. Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) said the cuts to Metro Transit are "highly devastating." The bill also includes a small cut to rural transit, $7.6 million. "We look out for the ability of our …

The state government budget bill passed the state Senate Wednesday, 37-29. It also passed the House, although it faces a possible veto from Gov. Mark Dayton.

Debate over abortion again reared its head in the Republican-controlled Minnesota legislature. A Republican bill that would restrict abortions after 20 weeks, except in the case of extreme medical need, passed the Senate Monday 42-24. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to veto the measure. State Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) opposed the bill. He said it's an intrusion into people's private lives.  "We have a proposal here that would substitute government and other people's judgement for those most personal private aspects of people's lives and their families," Dibble said in the …

House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) said Republican budget cuts are "laying waste" to Minnesota seniors, small businesses, school children and homeowners. Thissen said it is "wrong for Republicans to choose to go to special session and inflict unneeded damage on Minnesota's middle class in order to protect special interest friends and the richest two percent of Minnesotans." Democrats prefer Gov. Mark Dayton's "balanced" approach. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-St. Michael) said Republicans promised to hold their ground. The regular session ends this week. If the governor…

A Republican plan to change public employee's eligibility for health insurance passed the state Senate Thursday, 36-28.  Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) said it would bring about a situation like that faced by some school district employees. He said some teachers are held in a captive market that hasn't allowed them to get decent bids on other health care coverage. It's expected to pass the state House soon.

The Senate passed a proposal yesterday that would put a constitutional gay marriage ban in front of voters in 2012. It's expected to pass the state House this week. Thirty-one states have already voted to put gay marriage bans into their constitutions. Dibble and his colleagues vowed to fight the amendment.

After Republicans suggested that Gov. Mark Dayton's proposed budget bill would increase spending by 22 percent during the third reading of the Healthy Minnesota Contribution Program bill (HF0008) Thursday, House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) fired back by telling Republicans to stop lying to Minnesotans. "Until you guys [Republicans] actually get honest in talking with Minnesotans, we are never going to get out of here," Thissen said, citing the near end of the legislative session. "Start telling the truth to Minnesotans and stop lying to them," Thissen added "It's time that …

State Sen. Ken Kelash (DFL-Minneapolis) opposed a Republican proposal to change how prevailing wage is calculated in state projects. Kelash said changes could lead to underbidding.  The bill moved past the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee, and will now go to the Senate Finance Committee.

Southwest Minneapolis lawmakers condemned a Republican plan to introduce a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage at a time when the state is facing massive economic troubles. The plan, which was unveiled Tuesday, is authored by Maple Grove Republican Sen. Warren Limmer. Two other Republicans also offered similar proposals. It would put the issue of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in front of voters in the 2012 election, despite the fact that gay marriage is already outlawed in state statute. Limmer said his proposal ensures the public can decide the issue, rather …

A bill designed to remove all state funding for abortion made it's way through an important state Senate committee today. The bill, which passed the state Senate Health and Human Services Committee, is heralded by supporters for saving the state money, although state Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Minneapolis) said lawsuits could cost the state more than it saves. Raleigh Levine, constitutional law professor at William Mitchell College of Law, said the bill flies in the face of a prior Minnesota Supreme Court decision. Sen. Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville), the bill's author, said it's possible that …

Last week, Repubicans passed the preliminary versions of all their budget bills in the state legislature, only one of which has substantial bipartisan support. House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) said Republican efforts to solve the state budget crisis were like “landing on an aircraft carrier and declaring ‘Mission Accomplished,'” a reference to former Pres. George W. Bush's 2003 speech about the Iraq War. Thissen said there is no Republican budget yet, just a bunch of competing Republican proposals and $1 billion accounting hole. Thissen joked that the GOP banner should say…

Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis) said Republican cuts in the state finance bill, which passed the House 75-61 Wednesday, would degrade the quality of life in the state. “This is some of the smoke and mirrors we see under the guise of reform and efficiency,” said Hornstein. “MnDot is already running on bare bones maintenance budget, [we're] just getting over one of the snowiest winters on record." Hornstein said the cuts would slow down commutes and lead to more congested highays. "That seriously degrades our quality of life,” he said. The legislation includes a major overhaul of state …

State Sen. Scott Dibble and other DFLers challenged Republican cuts to renters credits in the omnibus tax bill, which passed the Senate Tuesday 37-26. “Why would we take this hit against people at the lowest end of the economic scale just to protect tax cuts for the wealthiest in this state”? Dibble asked. “These are dollars that people use for vital and essential needs: medicine, shoes, catching up on rent." An amendment to restore renters credits failed along with an effort to create a fourth tier income tax for the state's wealthiest citizens. The bill would reduce the amount of renters …