Hometown Source

Washington, D.C. – Vice President Joe Biden yesterday (Tuesday, Feb. 21) met with first responders to thank them for their service and to discuss the new nationwide public safety broadband network included in the Payroll Tax Extension legislation. In addition, he announced the release of a new report from the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), [...]

By T.W. Budig ECM Capitol Reporter A number of area incumbent lawmakers are pitted against each other in the court redistricting plan released on Tuesday, Feb. 21. In redistricting the state’s 134 House districts, the court created 15 open seats and 15 seats containing two incumbents. Six of these pairings are Democrats versus Democrats; six, [...]

By T.W. Budig ECM Capitol Reporter Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, no longer lives within the 6th Congressional District. The Minnesota political landscape changed on Tuesday afternoon with the release of a redistricting plan crafted by a five-judge, court redistricting panel. Because the legislature failed to produce a redistricting plan, the court took on the task [...]

St. Paul, MN —The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State is providing redistricting information at www.sos.state.mn.us. The online information includes: •             State redistricting maps •             Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) •             Redistricting timeline •             2011 Redistricting Guide “All Minnesotans appreciate the excellent work done by these judges who are devoted public servants,” said Secretary of [...]

by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol reporter A bipartisan group of lawmakers today (Feb. 21) called for the creation of new corporate structure in Minnesota, the B-Corp, or public benefit corporation. It’s “a wonderful hybrid,” said Rep. Linda Runbeck, R-Circles. Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee Chairman Chris Gerlach, R-Apple Valley, views the B-Corp as filling [...]

Washington, D.C. – As part of the Obama Administration’s “We Can’t Wait” efforts to strengthen the economy, create jobs and support business growth, Administration officials announced three significant actions to expand the government’s purchase of biobased products, promote regional rural job creation efforts, and develop a rural health care workforce, all of which build on [...]

St. Paul, MN—Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie announced that his office has contacted local governments to award the 2012 Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (EAID) grants for polling place accessibility improvements. “I am pleased that we were able to offer these EAID grants again this year to local jurisdictions to improve polling place [...]

By T.W. Budig ECM Capitol Reporter The House on Monday, Feb. 20 rushed through a sex offender bill dealing with community notification — it passed the body with a single dissenting vote. The legislation is a response to the pending provisional release of sex offender Clarence Opheim to a metro area halfway house. Under current [...]

By T.W. Budig ECM Capitol Reporter Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, at her first press conference since announcing her intentions to seek a fourth term said she would introduce legislation to provide more stringent oversight of Medicaid spending. “We are not here today accusing any of the HMOs, nor are we accusing the State [...]

St. Paul, MN -– As set forth by Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea in a June 1, 2011 order, the Minnesota Special Redistricting Panel, “…shall order implementation of judicially-determined redistricting plans for state legislative and congressional seats only in the event that the Legislature and governor have not in a timely manner [...]