Dayton's snowbird tax plan may be hard to enforce A key part of Gov. Mark Dayton's plan to balance Minnesota's budget is a provision designed to collect state income taxes from snowbirds -- people who flee the state in the winter for warmer weather elsewhere.March 8, 2011
For Minnesota cities, uncertainty in the face of tight budgets As the state tries to solve the $5 billion deficit, most cities across Minnesota face higher taxes or reduced services. What changes will local residents see as city lawmakers deal with tighter budgets?Midmorning, March 7, 2011
Little progress on job creation goals for Dayton or GOP Two months after Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders said job creation was a shared priority, neither of their competing strategies has made much headway.March 3, 2011
Lawmakers consider sales tax on all Internet retailers Members of the Senate Taxes Committee heard testimony from supporters and opponents of the measure Wednesday.
Several companies, including Best Buy, argue the tax is needed for a level playing field.March 2, 2011
Wis. gov's budget propsoal at a glance Gov. Scott Walker's two-year budget
released Tuesday calls for a wide range of cuts, but no tax
increases, to balance a $3.6 billion shortfall while also
eliminating a number of Democratic-backed laws enacted in recent
years.March 1, 2011
No sign of compromise despite smaller deficit forecast Now that the state's budget forecast shows Minnesota with a $5 billion deficit for the next two years, Gov. Mark Dayton and state lawmakers will sharpen their talking points to make their case to the general public.March 1, 2011
State economist: Federal action buoyed state finances Minnesota's economic outlook has improved since the state's last budget forecast in November, but state officials continue to caution that the recovery will be slow-going, and various events could throw it off course.March 1, 2011
Dayton drops 'surcharge' on rich plan as deficit shrinks Gov. Mark Dayton said Monday he will restore proposed cuts to nursing homes and eliminate a temporary surcharge on the state's wealthiest after a new budget forecast showed the state's deficit should shrink by $1 billion.February 28, 2011
Wisconsin stalemate: labor's future As Wisconsin politicians navigate their next moves, the outcome of the budget-labor battle may impact the labor movement for the next generation. Will unions, and public opinion of them, become weaker or stronger?Midmorning, February 24, 2011
Wisconsin stalemate: Who will blink first? Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker appears on TV to try to end the budget-labor standoff. Will his appearance change the dynamic in Wisconsin? Plus, what would it take to force a compromise?Midmorning, February 23, 2011
Minn. lands $187M under federal health care law Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's push to involve Minnesota in the federal health care overhaul has resulted in a $187.4 million grant to keep elderly and disabled Medicaid patients out of institutional care.February 22, 2011
Wealthy Minnesotans react to Gov. Dayton's tax plan In his budget address this week, Gov. Mark Dayton asked the state's top earners to help erase a $6.2 billion deficit, but wealthiest five percent of Minnesotans have plenty to say about the governor's proposal to raise taxes on them, and only them.February 18, 2011