Minnesota State Legislature

Public notice is vital to newspapers, which are vital to communities

Apr 24, 2024

Efforts are underway in the Minnesota Legislature to further damage the future of the state’s community newspapers. The Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) has proposed last-minute legislation allowing school districts to publish their public notices on school websites rather than in their...

State legislators sworn in

Jan 11, 2023

State legislature members representing the area have been sworn in. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) was officially sworn in as a Minnesota State Senator on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Sen. Drazkowski represents Senate District 20, which includes communities in Dakota, Goodhue, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona...

Goggin - State should renew insurance fix

Mar 10, 2021

One of the promises I made during my first campaign was that I would fix MNsure, which was causing double-digit premium spikes every year and brought our individual health insurance market to the brink of collapse. The solution we came up with was reinsurance. It stabilized the market and helped...

Goggin: Budget, COVID-19 response likely to dominate legislative session

Jan 6, 2021

As I write this, we are about one week away from the new legislative session. After four years, it continues to be an amazing privilege to serve as your voice in the senate. I love hearing your feedback, your ideas, and your concerns, and I apply them to every decision I make. I hope you know that...

Join us in voting Kaehler for state senate

Oct 21, 2020

My wife Joanne and I have already voted for Ralph Kaehler to become the only active farmer in the Minnesota Senate. Joanne grew up on a dairy farm and she recognized the qualities of sincerity and honesty in Ralph that convinced her to vote for him as she served as a delegate to the Wabasha County...

Senators hear city's bonding pitch

Nov 13, 2019

City representatives kept what they hope is a winning formula for their second presentation to lawmakers with sway over the city’s request for about $3.4 million from the state for waterfront and infrastructure improvements. The location, the speakers, the speeches, even the local baked goods were...

Rep. Haley: Highs and lows of the 2019 sessions

Jun 12, 2019

Last week, Minnesota’s new, two-year state budget was signed into law. Prior to the governor’s signature, each component of the budget received the legislature’s approval during a one-day special session last month. With this year’s divided legislature, both sides worked to find compromise to pass...

Letter: Keep Haley working for us

Oct 25, 2018

To the editor: Just two short years ago Rep. Barb Haley was able to convince the state legislative bonding committee to stop in Lake City while on a bus tour from Red Wing to Wabasha. (This was a big deal for them to stop here; it had never been done before). They had lunch at the Marina while...

Letter: Clark will put people over party

Oct 18, 2018

To the editor: Lori Ann Clark was raised on a Minnesota farm, studied and received a MBA in Venture Management and started and now runs a successful small business in Cannon Falls. She is also running to represent her neighbors as their state representative. Lori Ann believes strongly that our...

Letter: Beware of big money in local politics