Publications Archive for All
May 10, 2012
First reactions to President Obama’s newly announced approval of same-sex marriage bespeak shaky mirror imaging. While folks on the right are routinely critical of its very core, they’re rejoicing in what they see as its politics.
May 9, 2012
Here is a public pension update as we await the end of session. The pension bill was passed by both houses and will be presented to the governor. I have been told that Dayton does not care about the bill. (I kind of felt the same way, mostly, so I kept looking for some kind of trade for passing it but got one.) The pension system is underfunded by at least $13.7 billion.
May 6, 2012
We've got a vivid picture of the Republicans and conservatives in our midst. They're a sour, dour lot—close-minded, tight-fisted and intolerant. Some are businesspeople, greedy and self-interested. Others are rednecks, poorly informed, clinging to their guns and religion.
May 4, 2012
Otto von Bismarck, famous for unifying Germany in the 19th century, is famously quoted as saying, “Laws are like sausages; it is better not to see them being made.”
May 3, 2012
American Experiment presentation to the Met Council makes recommendations on the 2040 Regional Development Framework
Apr 27, 2012
We believe that the MnPASS HOT lanes proposed to be included in the I-35E corridor upgrades would be a cost-effective tool to relieve congestion along the corridor.
Apr 23, 2012
Chuck Colson’s life, as many people will recall, was entwined in Al Quie’s, about whom I was privileged to write a book four years ago. As very much continues to be the case with Minnesota’s former governor, Nixon’s uncelebrated “hatchet man,” who later founded Prison Fellowship following his own Watergate prison stint, was an American original. Better than that in regards to Chuck, who died Saturday at 80, it’s fair to say that few people ever make contributions so important following prologues so problematic. With a salute to what turned out to be a life invaluably lived, you may be interested in this excerpt from the Quie book, Riding into the Sunrise about how the two first became friends and brothers in Christ.
Apr 20, 2012
There is nothing politicians hate more, and few things the public benefits from more, than divided government.
Apr 18, 2012
Once upon a time responsible citizen oversight and engagement in local government was considered the cornerstone of a successful democracy. In the 1930’s this notion wasn’t just a philosophical exercise—it had real practical relevance. The great depression was creating extraordinary economic stress on citizens, and local government spending—pretty much the only government that mattered back then—demanded careful citizen attention.
Apr 18, 2012
Gov. Mark Dayton, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and DFL legislators have repeatedly said that passing a constitutional amendment requiring people to show photo ID to vote would end "same-day" voter registration. This is completely untrue.
