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Tony Sertich

Inside the Obama Rally

06/03/08
by Mary Lahammer
Supporters are starting to stream into the arena and fill the floor in front of the podium. Obama's people tell me he won't take the stage before 9pm. An Eden Prairie mom, teacher and former Republican JoAnn Syverson will introduce Obama. She will be the only speaker besides Obama. Her son is an Iraqi war veteran. Michelle Obama will appear with her husbad and then take a seat. Meanwhile local officials are working the press. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is doing interviews. House Majority Leader Tony Sertich will be doing the same later.
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Session Wrapup (05/23/08)

Our Mary Lahammer gives a summary of the achievements of the just-ended legislative session.

Capitol Update - May 19, 2008 (05/19/08)

Headlines (05/14/08)

Finding property tax relief that pleases everyone remains the biggest outstanding issue, funding for the Mall of America expansion is in question and vandals strike the Capitol today, defacing three gubernatorial portraits.

Negotiations Update

05/08/08
by Mary Lahammer
Legislative leaders went in to a meeting with the governor about 8:15am. They came back out at 9:00am. Not much progress to report. House Majority Leader Tony Sertich said they're "trying to get on the same page" which means they have some distance to go. To continue his walzing analogies, he said they are in the "middle of the dance." They are still trying to find out what cuts they have in common and see if they can tackle property tax reform.
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Capitol Update - May 5, 2008 (05/05/08)

Panic or Placid?

05/02/08
by Mary Lahammer
It depends whom you to talk to about end of session negotiations whether it's time to panic or remain calm. The Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem says, "I fear dearly we may simply walk off a cliff this session with no agreement at all." He says Democrats have failed miserably in leadership in specifically addressing a nearly billion dollar budget shortfall.
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Headlines (04/30/08)

Mary talks to Al Franken about his tax troubles, budget negotiations pick up with talk of bringing bonding projects back into the mix, and a Senate committe meeting about the NWA merger turns feisty on the subject of jobs.

Former Lawmakers Grapple (04/18/08)

The Northwest-Delta merger is one of the topics on the minds of our panel of former Republican and Democratic legislators. Fritz Knaak, Phil Krinkie, Wes Skoglund and Ember Reichgott Junge sit on the couch.

Headlines (04/16/08)

Legislative leaders met with the governor to talk about end-of-session negotiations. The Senate gives preliminary approval to a K-12 education bill with some interesting policy changes. A heated debate about surrogate motherhood takes place on the Senate floor. And activists urge lawmakers to make funding for long-term care a top priority.

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