Give to the Max Day countdown: 6 days to go!

Minnesota has come a long way in developing better transportation options: (more…)

With less than four days to go until the current Minnesota budget expires, a state government shutdown is looking more and more likely. If Governor Dayton and the legislature fail to reach an agreement on spending by the end of the day on June 30, most state agencies will find themselves without the statutory authority to continue operating. A shutdown would severely limit the availability of many basic services, like education and health care, that Minnesotans rely on. (more…)

Twin Cities Metro Transit would be cut $109.44 million and transit in greater Minnesota cut $7.62 million under the transportation finance bill that is likely to go to Governor Dayton tomorrow. According to the Metropolitan Council, which oversees Metro Transit, the cuts would mean a 50 cent fare increase and 22 percent service cut – a devastating outcome that they estimate would mean a loss of 22 million transit rides a year and pink slips for 450 transit employees. (more…)

April 21, 2011

I am writing this report on Thursday this week! The Legislature met on Monday and took the rest of the week off for the Holidays. It is like spring break without the beach!  (more…)

This Earth Day (April 22), the Living Green Expo is challenging each Minnesotan to take a personal pledge to make at least one change that will positively impact the earth.

“As the world around us is turning green with spring, it’s an ideal time for Minnesotans to think about ways to live a little greener,” says Steve Morse, executive director of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP), a nonprofit coalition of more than 80 conservation and environmental organizations that produces the Living Green Expo.  (more…)

[Editor's note: In an effort to help inform our members about state and federal budget issues, Minnesota Environmental Partnership is working with the Minnesota Budget Project to cross-post updates about the budget.]

Transit is a basic public service, getting people to and from work and school, and reducing congestion and pollution. Public transit helps the downtown office commuter avoid rush-hour headaches and high parking fees, but it is particularly important for those who either can’t afford a car or who can’t drive. (more…)

March 26, 2011

This week included the first day of spring, the latest snow storm, and the consideration and action on many, many budget bills from the Minnesota House and the Senate!

Late this week the House Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee and the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee passed out their versions of the omnibus budgets for the Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, and other parts of state agencies and divisions. (more…)

The proposed new St. Croix River bridge south of Stillwater has been back in the news recently, given Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s bill to override the National Park Service and allow construction of a massive, expensive bridge on our unique and fragile St. Croix Wild and Scenic River that Congress designated for special protection in both 1968 and 1972.  Minnesota and Wisconsin confirmed that special status for the lower St. Croix in 1973.  The current freeway-style design is a four-lane bridge costing at least $640 million – almost five times the estimated cost to replace the Lafayette Bridge on highway 52, across the Mississippi in St. Paul. (more…)

From the Minnesota Budget Project

The primary task of the 2011 Legislative Session is to pass a two-year state budget that will set funding levels for critical state investments from health care to education to affordable housing to environmental protection…all while tackling a $6.2 billion budget shortfall. These budget decisions will have a profound impact on our communities and Minnesota’s future. (more…)

Jan. 8, 2011

I am writing this article late Saturday afternoon. This past week was indeed a busy one with the new governor taking office on Monday and the new legislature getting started on Tuesday. MEP held its legislative reception Wednesday night, the Legacy Amendment organizations had a forum on Thursday, and the DNR just held its annual roundtable on Friday and Saturday!

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