politics

Rep. Drazkowski: Action awaits budget targets

May 11, 2016

With roughly two weeks remaining in the 2016 legislative session, we are once again in a holding pattern when it comes to the two most significant areas of discussion – tax relief and supplemental transportation funding. This is because we do not have budget targets. At this stage of the game,...

First district DFL to endorse Walz on May 14 in Worthington

May 11, 2016

The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in Minnesota’s First Congressional District will hold it’s biennial endorsing convention on Saturday, May 14 at 1 p.m. at the Worthington Event Center, 1447 Prairie Drive in Worthington. Democrats (DFLers) from across southern Minnesota will gather for the...

Letters: Understand and appreciate opposing points of view on Lake City's future

May 4, 2016

To the editor: We all bemoan the fact that America has become polarized on almost every issue with both sides issuing viscous and vitriolic diatribes against the opposing viewpoints and engaging in mean-spirited name calling instead of serious debate. It seems like the “Great Middle Majority” has...

Rep. Drazkowski: I disagree with Gov. Dayton on surplus spending

Mar 31, 2016

Recently, Minnesota’s state economists projected that our state would have a $900 million budget surplus to allocate before the 2016 legislative session ends. Because of this, Gov. Dayton recently released a supplemental budget proposal outlining what he’d like to do with this money. In short, his...

Rep. Drazkowski: Budget surplus means it's time for tax cuts

Mar 9, 2016

On Feb. 26, state economists revealed our state’s latest fiscal numbers. They found Minnesota has a $900 million budget surplus, down from a previous budget projection of $1.2 billion, but a significant budget surplus nonetheless. So what should be done with your money? Last session, we approved...

Local Republicans pick Trump

Mar 2, 2016

Local Republicans went against the statewide trend and followed national trends in a presidential preference poll Tuesday night at Bluff View Elementary School. Donald Trump received 36 votes from local Republicans. Mark Rubio had 32 votes, Cruz 13, Dr. Ben Carson 12 and Ohio Gov. John Kasich 5....

Rep. Tim Kelly's retirement leaves open race for house seat 21A

Feb 24, 2016

State Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing, has announced he will not seek re-election to the District 21A seat in the state House of Representative. Kelly will serve out his fourth two-year term this year. Almost immediately, a Republican candidate for the seat, Barb Haley of Red Wing, announced she will...

March 1 precinct caucuses to include presidential straw polls

Feb 17, 2016

Two Wabasha County residents who have been participating in precinct caucuses since the early 1970s are now leading organizational efforts for this year’s caucuses. Precinct caucuses will be held Tuesday, March 1, throughout the state. The caucuses will give local citizens and others around the...

Caucusing in Minnesota: a Q and A

Feb 17, 2016

Everything you wanted to know about Minnesota caucuses but were too uninterested to ask. Q. What important event is taking place on March 1? A. Precinct caucuses at 7 p.m. Q. How often do they occur? A. Every two years in an even year. The date is set by the secretary of state. Sometimes they are...

Rep. Kelly: Tax relief should trump spending of projected surplus

Dec 17, 2015

The arrival of December means different things for different people. Nearly everyone recognizes this time as the beginning of the holiday or Christmas season. But inside the State Capitol, early December marks the time where the first piece or our upcoming session’s roadmap session is unveiled –...