Jasinski: a transportation funding recap

Friends and neighbors, This year’s transportation budget totals more than $9.9 billion across various transportation-related funds. It includes $650 million in federal money for the Blatnik Bridge in Duluth, $454 million for state road construction,…
Rarick

A Bipartisan Bonding Package

A Bipartisan Bonding Package by Senator Jason Rarick Every year, it seems like bonding legislation is a big part of the end of session negotiations, and this year was no different. In recent years we’ve…

How we can honor Rep. Hortman and Sen. Hoffman

By: SENATOR CARLA NELSON Like many of you, I have been shaken by the horrific attacks on two Democrat lawmakers recently. Former Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were taken from this world in…

Heintzeman: New laws that took effect July 1

Friends and neighbors, A number of new state laws officially took effect on July 1, including several tied to Minnesota’s recently passed $66 billion budget.  Among them: $100 million to reimburse school districts for unemployment…

Sen. Draheim June 2025 Update

Senator Rich Draheim Friends and neighbors,  It’s been a strange summer at the Capitol. First came the 21-hour Special Session, followed by a tragedy none of us could have imagined. The assassination of Speaker Emerita…

Heintzeman: Minnesota needs permitting reform!

Friends and neighbors, One of the biggest challenges Minnesota is facing has been this state’s confusing, convoluted, and excessive permitting process. Over the last several years there have been attempts to improve our broken permitting…

A Tribute to Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman

By Senator Andrew Lang Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman was one of a kind. She carried herself with a presence that earned both respect and admiration. She was principled in her politics, but more than that,…

Draz: Shotgun zone eliminated!

Friends and neighbors, One significant victory from this year’s legislative session was that we successfully eliminated the archaic shotgun-only hunting zone for southern Minnesota. Hunters here will finally be treated fairly with the rest of…

Draz: Overview of the new state budget

Friends and neighbors, Bad news for Minnesotans hoping to rein in unsustainable state spending: the new budget is $66 billion. While slightly lower than the $70 billion budget passed two years ago, it remains dramatically…

Lieske: We can, and must, disagree without violence

By Senator Bill Lieske By now, you are all aware of the tragedy that took place early on June 14, when Minnesota was rocked by unimaginable violence. A masked gunman, posing as a police officer, visited…

Remembering Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman

By Senator Julia Coleman Speaker Hortman was the kind of person who could command a room both when she spoke and when she listened. That balance, leading with strength while remaining fully present for others,…