Thursday, May 16, 2013
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 …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
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…
Monday, May 13, 2013
The Minnesota Senate is expected to begin debate of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage at noon on Monday.
Last Thursday, the Minnesota House of Representatives voted 75-59 to legalize gay marriage after two hours of emotionally exhausting—but civil—dialogue. Now, it's the Senate's turn. At noon on Monday, the Minnesota Senate is expected to begin debating the issue. If the Senate passes the measure, Gov. Mark Dayton has said he will sign it into law. If the law is approved, Minnesota would be the 12th state in the nation—and the first in the Midwest—to pass legislation legalizing gay marriage. Iowa allows gay marriage as the result of a 2009 court ruling. The State Senate will begin its debate and hold an eventual vote on the same bill that cleared the State House last week, H.F. 1054. The bill was cleared by the Senate General as a substitute…
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Each Sunday, Eagan Patch takes a moment to look back at the headlines from the previous week.
BLOGS: BUSINESS: COMMUNITY: GOVERNMENT: PUBLIC SAFETY: SCHOOLS:
Friday, May 10, 2013
The bill now moves on to the state senate as Minnesota Democrats hope to make the state the 12th in the nation to legalize gay marriage. Gov. Mark Dayton has vocally supported the legislation.
UPDATE: Minnesota Representatives approved with a 75-59 vote Thursday a bill legalizing same-sex marriages in the state, putting it on the road to become the 12th state in the nation to do so. The vote came at about 3 p.m. Thursday, May 9, about three hours after the bill was introduced. This is about honoring difference," bill sponsor Karen Clark said. "I respect the other point of view. But there is something about being able to marry the love of your life." Clark, a Democrat from Minneapolis, recognized her partner of 26 years in the assembly's audience. The vote came nearly six months to the day after a 2012 vote on a Republican-sponsored amendment item defining marriage as a union between man and woman. That, of course, was …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Reactions ranged from outright rejection and concern to celebration. No matter the views, it was an emotionally intense debate, legislators said.
District 51B Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL) drew on her own non-traditional family for inspiration while speaking in favor of same-sex marriage legislation on the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives Thursday afternoon. "Families don’t all look the same, and I truly believe that by working for equality today, we’re saying that all families really do matter," said Halverson, who noted that her family was created through adoption, not biology. "When we come together and decide to create policies that support all families ... we’ve done well for our state. Halverson's comments came during a two-hour debate on the House floor. In the end, the full House voted 75-59 to approve the measure. The Minnesota Senate is expected to take it up …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The Minnesota House of Representatives takes up the bill at noon on Thursday, May 9, 2013.
Roughly six months after Minnesotans struck down a statewide constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, the Minnesota House and Senate seem poised to legalize gay marriage. House Speaker and District 61B Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL) said Democrats have secured enough votes to push Clark's bill through, according to a report in the Pioneer Press. If the bill passes in the House on Thursday, Senate legislators may vote on it as early as Monday. Gov. Mark Dayton has said, unequivically, that he would support and sign the bill. If the measure, sponsored by District 62A Rep. Karen Clark (DFL), is approved, Minnesota would become the 12th state in the nation to legalize gay marriage. On Tuesday, Delaware became the 11th state to approve it. …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The bill is poised to move to the floors of the Minnesota House and Senate.
Update: The same-sex marriage bill passed the Minnesota Senate Finance Committee on a voice vote just after noon on Tuesday. Check above for a replay video. The Minnesota House of Representatives will vote on the bill on Thursday. Original post: Watch a video livestream of the Minnesota Senate Finance Committee Tuesday as the committee debates and votes on a bill that would make same-sex marriages legal in Minnesota. It is the fourth item on the committee's Tuesday morning agenda. The video in the window above (or at The Uptake) will show first the Minnesota Senate Education Committee discussion of another bill addressing the problem of bullying.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Each week, Patch takes a closer look at the activities of Dakota and Rice Counties' legislators as part of our Capitol Review.
Dakota County's newest regional park, Whitetail Woods, could get an infusion of cash under a plan backed by District 51B Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL) and a handful of other legislators. The bill, HF 1119, would appropriate a total of roughly $6.4 million for the restoration and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat in the metropolitan regional parks system. That amount would include $500,000 to convert agricultural land and low-quality woods and grassland in Whitetail Woods Regional Park to prairie and oak savanna. Another $60,000 would be earmarked to protect the Miesville Ravine Park Reserve with earth shaping and slope stabilization. In other political news around the county: District 20B Rep. David Bly (DFL) wants to appropriate …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The wide-ranging bill would prohibit law enforcement agencies from using unmanned aircraft to gather information or evidence. Private drone surveillance use would also be banned.
Don't like the idea of government drone surveillance of American citizens? Neither does District 51A Rep. Sandra Masin (DFL). Masin and more than two dozen Minnesota legislators have thrown their support behind a bill prohibiting law enforcement from using unmanned aircraft in to gather evidence or other information, with several exceptions for emergency situations. The proposal, authored by District 60B Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL), would also prevent private residents from using a drone for surveillance purposes and prohibit federal agencies from operating drones in Minnesota airspace. The bill was introduced on March 18 and referred to the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. "It is the purpose of this act to protect personal …
Mike Hindin
12:34 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
Hey we agree on something! Heterosexual males or homosexual males (or females) must not be allowed to prey on teenagers or anyone else. Remember that that representative was forced to resign by his own caucus. Illegal activity should not be tolerated by the outliers of either group. more ›