Minnesota State Capitol ST. PAUL, Minn. — The plan by Republicans to pass budget bills despite veto threats by Gov. Dayton is on hold. The House and Senate passed a handful of budget bills last night after backing away from negotiations with the Democratic governor. They had planned today to finish up those bills. But a Senate Republican’s absence to…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Dayton is criticizing Republican legislative leaders for moving forward on several budget bills without reaching an agreement. The governor and caucus leaders had been meeting over the past week to resolve differences over how to spend a $1.65 billion budget surplus. But, Republicans are already taking steps to send their preferred budget bills to…
BISMARCK, ND — As Gov. Burgum prepares to give the commencement address at NDSU on Saturday, legislators could be headed back to Bismarck. Legislative leaders will decide this week whether to return to and attempt to override a veto by the governor. He vetoed a $16 million appropriation that would have provided each non-oil producing township $10,000. Burgum said…
Minnesota State Capitol ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota lawmakers are moving to levy harsh penalties on parents who subject their children to genital cutting after a Detroit-area doctor was charged. Dr. Jumana Nagarwala was charged last week with female genital mutilation and other crimes for allegedly performing the procedure on two seven-year-old Minnesota girls. The manager of the clinic and…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota’s Republican Legislature isn’t backing down from Gov. Dayton’s veto threats as lawmakers finalize their budget offer. The Legislature started piecing together budget bills Monday as legislative leaders prepared to head into negotiations with the Democratic governor. The environmental funding bill would delay Dayton’s initiative requiring buffers between cropland and waterways until 2019. Dayton has vowed…
BISMARCK, ND — After four months and 77 days in session, the North Dakota legislature has adjourned the 2017 session. Leaders thanked members in each party and their staffs for all of their work to get the session done before the mandated 80-day cutoff. Gov. Burgum thanked the legislature for “working with the executive branch and other state agencies…
NORTH DAKOTA — North Dakota lawmakers have approved a measure that states students cannot be stopped from participating in any “student-initiated prayer” at public or non-public schools. Supporters of the measure said it’s in response to an incident at a football game two years ago between two parochial high schools during a playoff game. Because the playoff game was hosted…
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Legislature is racing to finish its work five days before the constitutional 80-day limit. This is day 72, and lawmakers may meet Saturday as they work to resolve remaining bills and agree on a budget. The session opened in January with more than 800 measures. Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner says there were…
BISMARCK, N.D. — Lawmakers have also approved a bill that would extend criminal penalties for anyone who attacks health care and emergency workers with a bodily fluid. Violators could face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. They have also approved the creation of a 19-member commission to study the state’s initiated and referred measure process….
BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota legislators have approved changes to the state’s medical marijuana bill which was passed by voters last November and Gov. Burgum said he’ll sign it. Senators approved regulations to the bill with a two-thirds majority vote. Under the changes, North Dakota can have up to two growers and eight dispensaries statewide. The organization in charge of…
