Government
Unions react positively to Governor’s budget proposal
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Minnesota unions reacted positively to the budget proposal unveiled Tuesday by Governor Mark Dayton that raises revenue and increases funding for education and other needs.
Government
Ellison introduces voter access legislation
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In the wake of Minnesota’s rejection of a voter restriction amendment and remarkable voter turnout, Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison reintroduced two bills to strengthen voting rights in federal elections.
Government
Labor leaders laud departing Labor Secretary
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Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, who repeatedly declared herself “the new sheriff in town” on behalf of workers the last four years, resigned her position on Jan. 9, after talks with her family over the holiday break about her future.
Government
Labor urging action on jobs, revenue when Legislature convenes
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When the Minnesota legislature convenes Tuesday everything will have changed — and nothing will have changed. What’s changed: for the first time in a generation, the DFL holds majorities in both the Minnesota House and Senate and also holds the governor’s office. What hasn’t changed: the state faces structural budget deficits that the last several legislative sessions have failed to address.
Government
Labor-led coalition pushes for filibuster reform
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Labor law reform, immigration reform and measures to make the economy work for the middle class are all on labor’s legislative agenda for 2013. But whether any or all of those causes succeed depends on success in a fourth labor priority, but the first one to come up next year: Curbing abuse of filibusters.
Government
Michigan House passes right to work law
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Amid uproar, protests, confrontations, arrests, a temporary lockout of workers from the state capitol building and a Democratic walkout, the Republican-run Michigan House passed a so-called “right to work” law.
Government
Congressional cuts to safety net programs would hurt thousands of Minnesotans
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As Congress debates how to prevent the federal budget from going over the “fiscal cliff,” a new report shows nearly 900,000 Minnesotans would be harmed if lawmakers cut Social Security.
Government
Union leaders start planning future priorities
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Fresh off of a consequential U.S. election that saw union members vote by a 2-to-1 margin to reelect Democratic President Barack Obama and retain a Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate, union leaders started planning future legislative priorities for the labor movement.
Government
State workers face another wait for a new contract
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Thursday’s action by Republican legislators to reject new collective bargaining agreements for 27,700 state employees means the workers will have to await action in the next legislative session that starts in January.
Government
Business, Right Wing target takeover of state courts
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Not content with controlling state legislatures and governors – and huge influence in Congress – business and its Right Wing allies are targeting the states’ supreme courts for takeover, too, two new reports and two state judges say.