Thursday, May 16, 2013
Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature Tuesday didn’t end the heated debate around same-sex marriage.
Whatever side of the debate you fall on, there’s no denying that this week’s passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage was a historical moment. Minnesota became just the 12th state to sanction gay marriage when Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill Tuesday. Patch readers quickly wrote in to share their thoughts on the moment. Eagan Patch reader Kathi Malone echoed the view of legislators who voted yes in seeing same-sex marriage as a civil right: I am so happy that finally gay people will be able to have the civil right to marry. This is truly an American vote for freedom. I applaud Sen Clausen and all other legislators who voted for this historical bill. James N added: Thank you Senator Carlson and the entire MN legislature for extending …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The new law's supporters and opponents traded claims and denials of bigotry.
When—if ever—is it fair to call another person a bigot? Leave your comment below. A flashpoint in the debate over Minnesota's new marriage-equality law was the use of the words "bigot," "bigoted," or "bigotry" in reference to opponents of making same-sex marriages legal. After the state Legislature approved the bill, the group Minnesota for Marriage said in a statement: Over one million Minnesotans will be forced to either affirm what they believe to be false or subject themselves to prosecution and insult as “bigots” ... under our law with the passage of this bill. 'You're a Bigot' On Monday at the state Senate, Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) took exception to accusations that opponents of the same-sex marriage bill are bigots. Sen. Dan…
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Legislation to allow gay marriage in the state cleared its final hurdle Monday, May 13. With Gov. Mark Dayton expected to sign the bill as soon as tomorrow, Minnesota will become the 12th state in the country to allow same-sex couples to marry.
The Minnesota Senate approved H.F. 1054 Monday, May 13, clearing the way for Minnesota same-sex couples to marry in the state. The 37 to 30 vote, which was seen as the last hurdle for the legislation, makes Minnesota the 12th in the United States to recognize same-sex marriages in state law. Gov. Mark Dayton's office announced a signing ceremony set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. Democrats, known locally as the DFL party, hold a 39-28 advantage in the Minnesota Senate. Debate began shortly after noon Monday, with the Republican Party introducing a pair of amendments to the bill, both of which were voted down by state Democrats, who control the Senate. It quickly moved to speeches invoking personal feelings and relationships surrounding the…
Monday, May 13, 2013
The Minnesota Senate takes up bill at noon Central Time on Monday, May 13, 2013. The Minnesota House approved it last week, so Senate approval sends it to conference committee and the governor's desk.
A bill to legalize gay marriage in Minnesota is set for debate and a vote in the Minnesota Senate starting at noon on Monday, May 13, 2013. Watch livestream video here or at The UpTake. Related at St. Michael Patch:
Friday, May 10, 2013
The bill now moves on to the state senate as Minnesota Democrats hope to make the state the 12th in the nation to legalize gay marriage. Gov. Mark Dayton has vocally supported the legislation.
UPDATE: Minnesota Representatives approved with a 75-59 vote Thursday a bill legalizing same-sex marriages in the state, putting it on the road to become the 12th state in the nation to do so. The vote came at about 3 p.m. Thursday, May 9, about three hours after the bill was introduced. This is about honoring difference," bill sponsor Karen Clark said. "I respect the other point of view. But there is something about being able to marry the love of your life." Clark, a Democrat from Minneapolis, recognized her partner of 26 years in the assembly's audience. The vote came nearly six months to the day after a 2012 vote on a Republican-sponsored amendment item defining marriage as a union between man and woman. That, of course, was …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The freshman state representative for St. Michael and Albertville proposed adding the word 'civil' before the word 'marriage' wherever it appears in Minnesota law.
State Rep. David FitzSimmons (R-Albertville) made a splash in his first speech on the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives Thursday. His amendment to the same-sex marriage bill passed on a voice vote after a brief debate. Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Minneapolis), the bill's co-author, spoke in support of the amendment. FitzSimmons, who represents both St. Michael and Albertville, proposed that the phrase "civil marriage" take the place of "marriage" wherever it appears in the statutes of Minnesota. He began his floor speech by saying he'd been in the Legislature for five months and that this was his first time speaking on the House floor. "I am actuallly supposed to be here on the floor, in case you were wondering," he quipped. More …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Changing how all state laws refer to marriage would offer 'further reassurance' to religious organizations wary of being sued for not sanctioning same-sex marriages.
Minnesota state Representative David FitzSimmons (R-Albertville) will propose changing all references to "marriage" in state law to "civil marriage," according to media reports. He will propose the change as an amendment to the same-sex marriage bill set to hit the House floor Thursday. "What this does with placing 'civil' in front of 'marriage' is that it only highlights again that this is not talking about is necessarily the marriage that's takes place in your church or synagogue," Fitzsimmons told MPR. "This bill is about the civil aspects and the government relations aspects of marriage." Fitzsimmons' change has the support of Minnesotans United, the main organization advocating for same-sex marriage, the Star Tribune reported, and …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Proposed legislation would ban school boards from dropping coaches' contracts 'solely' because of parent gripes.
Do high school coaches need a law to shield their jobs from parent complaints? Leave your comment below. A Minnesota Legislature conference committee is weighing whether to include this sentence in its omnibus policy and finance bill: "The existence of parent complaints must not be the sole reason for a board to not renew a coaching contract." The legislation is in response to increasing non-renewals of coaches' contracts, with as many as 35 percent in one sport (boys' hockey) involving parent complaints, according to a Star Tribune report: “This just came out from athletics directors and coaches who thought something more needed to be done,” said Rep. Dean Urdahl, a Grove City Republican who co-authored the bill. “The problem is … parents…
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Minnesota legislators are debating a new sales tax on licensed clothing, sports memorabilia and luxury suites to cover the state's share of Vikings stadium construction costs.
Do you want to pay sales tax on Twins, Wild and Timberwolves sports memorabilia and licensed clothing to help the State of Minnesota raise money to build the new Vikings stadium? E-pulltab revenues to fund the new Minnesota Vikings stadium have fallen short, so the Minnesota House of Representatives Taxes Committee is considering a new tax on sales of sports-related items to help fill the gap. Watch the House committee debate the issue at its Wednesday meeting starting at 12:30 p.m. above or at TheUpTake.org. The bill (see PDF) by Rep. Ann Lenczewski (DFL-Bloomington) would tax "'Sports memorabilia' ... items available for sale to the public that are sold under a license granted by any professional sports league or a team that is a …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Peppin: "The Governor also proposes to increase taxes by an even greater degree on small business owners, top income earners, snowbirds, people who smoke, and consumers in the metro area."
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Thursday, March 21
The following was provided by Rep. Joyce Peppin (R 34A) in her March 18, 2013 email newsletter. Peppin represents a portion of Maple Grove and Rogers. Dear Neighbors, In this edition: 1) Governor’s New Budget: Increases Spending, Drops Some Taxes The big news at the State Capitol last week was the release of Governor Dayton’s new budget proposal. To his credit, the Governor conceded that his business-to-business tax and expansion of the sales tax would have negative consequences on working families and stifle job growth and business expansion. He dropped both of those proposals in his updated budget. While these proposals are gone from the Governor’s budget, some Democratic legislators have indicated that they may consider adding these …
Mike B.
8:45 pm on Sunday, May 19, 2013
Dan Johnson- you are trying to impose your view of morality on other people, regarding your comment on public accomodations. If a black person wanted to deny me (a white) service, that's okay with me. It's a free country and he should have that right, even though I believe he's wrong. Or if someone wanted to deny me service because I'm a Catholic. So what, I am not so thin-skinned like the P.C. … more ›