Friday, May 17, 2013
Lucid, Badger Hill and Bad Weather Brewing say the increase would hurt growing companies.
Lucid, Badger Hill and Bad Weather Brewing warn that an increase in the alcohol tax could slow plans for an expansion to the facility that the three breweries share, according to a Wednesday Star Tribune report. One budget proposal calls for hiking the alcohol tax from $4.60 per barrel to $27.75 per barrel, although a House proposal would only apply those taxes to breweries producing more than 50,000 barrels per year. The newspaper quoted Lucid Brewing co-owner Jon Messier as saying: This bill goes right after the guys that are growing, which is the dumbest thing in the world, in my opinion. … This bill tells me, ‘Don’t grow your business here,’ and I don’t know why you would do that to anyone. Click here to read the full story.
The congressman representing Minnesota's Third District questioned IRS and Treasury Department officials at the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Friday.
U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) spoke out on the scandal involving the IRS giving extra scrutiny to conservative groups Friday. Paulsen tweeted: This is a bad week for America, that's the bottom line. #IRS needs to be held accountable. At a U.S. House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the matter Friday, Paulsen zeroed in on how long the IRS kept lists of donors it had collected from citizen groups, and whether it was common practice for the IRS to ask groups about connections to particular individuals. See a YouTube clip of Paulsen at the hearing here at the Patch desktop site or at YouTube.com.
The Eden Prairie legislator condemned taxes like the proposed tax on business-to-business services.
Sen. David Hann (R-District 48) on Thursday criticized DFL tax proposals that he said would hurt Minnesotans and only chip away at the state’s budget problems. At a press conference, the Senate minority leader, whose district includes Eden Prairie, rejected measures like the proposed tax on business-to-business services. “These are taxes that are going to hit everybody in the State of Minnesota—and they’re unnecessary,” he said. “We’ve got a $600 billion problem. You don’t need to raise $2 billion to $3 billion in revenue to solve a $600 billion problem. So with all respect to the governor and his plan, yeah he’s keeping a commitment but it’s not anything that’s going to be good for the people of the state.” Hann also said legislators are …
City seats that will be on the November 5 general election ballot include the mayor and two at-large council seats.
The city of Minnetonka will hold a municipal election this fall. City seats that will be on the November 5 general election ballot include the mayor and two at-large council seats. Filings for these offices open Tuesday, May 21, and remain open through Tuesday, June 4. Interested persons may file for these offices during regular city hall hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The filing fee is $5. Please note city offices will be closed for Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. To be eligible for office, candidates must be at least 21 years of age upon assuming office, and be a resident of Minnetonka for at least 30 days prior to the general election. A primary election will be held Tuesday, August 13, if more than two people file for…
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Scott Colehour and others disagree with a senior housing proposal for Minnetonka Blvd. because of the size of the facility. A revised plan will make it's way to the Planning Commission on May 23.
As the population of Minnetonka grows older, the city continues to receive proposals for senior housing complexes. And although there is a need for the housing, it can cause an uproar in the neighborhood. Scott Colehour is fighting a housing proposal at 17113 Minnetonka Blvd by Doran Companies. Colehour has even created a website, including a 3D map, that helps citizens understand the impact of the project. "Our neighborhood is being invaded by an unwanted development project," Colehour said. An important note: The neighborhood is not against senior housing. The issues come in with the size of the proposed facility. The original proposal was three stories in height with an underground parking garage containing 116 units of independent …
A contingent of day care providers and families with children who use that care protested against Senate File 778. But the DFL-controlled Senate approved the measure with a narrow, 35-32 vote after 17 hours of debate.
UPDATE (9:40 a.m., Wednesday, May 15): It took 17 hours of debate and more than a little arm-twisting from bill author Sen. Sandy Pappas, but the bill allowing day care providers to unionize in Minnesota passed the State Senate early Wedneday by the narrowest of margins. The DFL, which has a nine-member majority in the Senate, had a few members vote "no" on the unionization bill, approving it with a 35-32 vote. Sen. Terri Bonoff of Minnetonka, Greg Clausen of Apple Valley, Bev Scalze of Little Canada and Melisa Franzen of Edina broke ranks with the DFL and voted against the measure. The bill will now move to the House floor, where it will most likely replace a similar bill, H.F. 905, before it could move to Gov. Mark Dayton's desk. …
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
The Minnesota Senate passed the gay-marriage bill on Monday, May 13, 2013. The Minnesota House approved it last week, so Senate approval sends it to the governor's desk.
The Minnesota Senate debated and voted to pass a bill making gay marriage legal in Minnesota on May 13, 2013. Watch full video of the debate and vote here or at The UpTake. See more local coverage: Minnetonka, Eden Prairie State Senators: One Votes For, One Against Same Sex Marriage Bonoff: I'm Standing Here for My Brother, My Friends, My Constituents Hann Says He’s Not a Bigot Because of Gay Marriage Opposition Loon Endorses Measure to Remove Marriage from State Law Franzen Votes Yes on Gay Marriage to Pave Way for ‘Happily Ever After’
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…
AlPatch
4:59 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
Because you are growing, people want free stuff and you can pay for it...that's why they raise your taxes. Don't grow your business here....that is the message. more ›