Articles

Bachmann won't seek re-election to U.S. House

ST. PAUL — Eight is enough. That is the message Tea Party darling and Republican U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota delivered Wednesday when she announced that she will not seek re-election next year, leaving the U.S. House after eight years. In a video message, she gave no hint about her future, but said she could have won re-election.

Bachmann says she won't run for re-election

UPDATE: U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, who serves the area north and northwest of the Twin Cities, surprised the Minnesota political community by posting a video announcing her decision.

• Michele Bachmann

Dayton vetoes two projects from Legacy bill, rebukes House panel

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed two provisions of a bill funding outdoors and arts projects, saying a House committee ignored a citizen advisory panel.

Capitol, flooding, vets, disaster end session of Minnesota Legislature

The Minnesota Legislature decided to renovate the state Capitol building, help communities fight floods, give veterans a new facility and provide disaster assistance Monday night as it ended its 2013 session.

Capitol repair, disaster assistance end Minnesota legislative session

The Minnesota Legislature decided to renovate the state Capitol building, help communities fight floods, give veterans a new facility and provide disaster assistance Monday night as it ended its 2013 session.

• End of session discussions

House OKs $2 billion tax bill, Senate backs Capitol repair

UPDATED: The keystone of Minnesota Democrats’ budget plans, $2 billion in tax increases, won House approval early today and the Senate pulled a surprise in the early morning hours by approving money to fund state Capitol building renovations.

• Minnesota legislature provisions include paint, bees, farmers
• Legislature puts $485 million more into public schools

Legislature puts $485 million more into public schools

Minnesota Democrats say new money they are putting into education will boost the economy by giving the state a better-educated work force.

Minnesota legislature provisions include paint, bees, farmers

Paint will cost more and be recycled. Bees will be protected. Financially troubled farmers will be able to access state aid. Those are a few of the impacts from a diverse environment, natural resources and agriculture funding bill headed for Gov. Mark Dayton’s expected approval.

Loud union dispute joins Minnesota legislative budget debate

Several hundred people exercised their lungs and freedom of speech in the Minnesota Capitol on Saturday, awaiting a hot House debate about whether child care providers and personal care attendants should join unions.

• Heather Falk

Minnesota House defeats bonding bill — for now

The Minnesota House defeated a public works funding bill this afternoon, but even with a Monday adjournment deadline looming it still could come back up.

Columns

Capitol chatter: Jaws drop as Koch announces resignation

Amy Koch’s resignation as Minnesota Senate majority leader came like a lightning bolt out of the blue.

• Don Davis
• Amy Koch

Capitol Chatter: Two bright spots in otherwise nasty political time

This year will go down as one of the most contentious in Minnesota government history, so exceptions to that attitude are notable.