Monday, April 15, 2013
Each week, Patch takes a closer look at the activities of Dakota and Rice Counties' legislators as part of our Capitol Review.
Civil unions accomplish the same thing as marriage, without getting into matters of faith or sacrament, according to District 58B Rep. Pat Garofalo (R), one of several Republican legislators backing a new bill to legalize civil unions in Minnesota. Under the proposal, authored by District 21A Rep. Tim Kelly (R), any two consenting individuals 18 years old or older could obtain a civil union. On Wednesday, Kelly told reporters that the civil union bill would give gay couples all the benefits of marriage but keep government out of the debate, according to a KSTP report. Also, District 20B Rep. David Bly (DFL) has joined a crowd of Minnesota legislators in their support for a bill prohibiting law enforcement from using unmanned aircraft in to…
Monday, March 18, 2013
Also, an Eagan legislator has backed a proposal that would allow municipalities to post public notices online, rather than paying to have them placed in local newspapers.
The Minnesota Legislature has too many politicians, according to District 58B Rep. Pat Garofalo (R). The legislator has authored a proposal that would cut the number of House representatives from 134 members to 50 members, and the number of Senators from 67 to 25. If passed, the law would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. Under the proposal, the state would be divided up into 25 senate districts and 50 House districts. Like looking through the foreclosure notices, public meeting announcements and meeting minutes in your local newspaper? Those days may soon be at an end, if a bill co-sponsored by District 51B Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL) is signed into law. The bill, HF 1286, would allow municipalities, like your local city or county …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The modified bill that upped the Vikings contribution by more than $100 million was passed 74-56 after hours of debate.
After months of wrangling, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Vikings stadium bill Monday evening. Rep. Mary Liz Holberg (R-District 36A), of Lakeville, voted against the bill, but Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B), of Farmington, whose amendment significantly altered the bill, voted in favor. Locally, Garofalo's GOP colleagues joined Holberg in opposition of the measure with Reps. Pam Myhra, Diane Anderson, Mark Buesgens, Tara Mack, Kurt Bills and Doug Wardlow all voting no. The original bill called for $427 million from Vikings, $150 million from Minneapolis, $398 million from state via expansion of charitable gambling, to build the stadium. But Garofalo's amendment was overwhelmingly supported in the House, and calls for…
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Reps. Mary Liz Holberg and Pat Garofalo will both receive more than than the budgeted $5,412 this session.
Minnesota's House is still in session, flying past a self-imposed April 30 deadline to wrap up business. And as a result, House members have received more for per diem—the daily expense payments local representatives receive—than the legislature had budgeted for 2012. Reps. Mary Liz Holberg (R-District 36A), of Lakeville, and Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B), Farmington, were slated to get $5,412 this session in per diem payments. Garofalo is also scheduled to receive $528 extra dollars incurred from last year's special session. Holberg will receive $264 extra per diem dollars. The House, for 2012, budgeted $663,095 for per diem, and as of May 2, had already spent $669,257, according to the Star Tribune. House Republican spokesman Jodi Boyne…
Monday, April 23, 2012
Letter writer says the ALEC is quietly driving legislation to subjugate us and our government to the capitalists, and local legislators are complicit.
- OPINION
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Monday, April 23, 2012
To the editor: Subduing the general population presents tremendous profit potential. That’s why the secretive American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) was organized. The ALEC is quietly driving legislation to subjugate us and our government to the capitalists. ALEC designed the overall plan, has a staff writing model legislation and has puppet lawmakers implementing laws. To achieve full domination, evade taxes and maximize profits. Twenty-six major corporations such as General Electric, Boeing, Verizon, and Mattel paid no taxes for the last four years, despite billions in profits. ALEC ensures tax cuts and subsidies to big oil and pushes the XL Keystone pipeline so the capitalists can make money exporting jet fuel and diesel while …
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Jim Arlt, who served the Minnesota law enforcement community for more than 30 years, was endorsed unanimously by House District 58B Democrats on Thursday.
- ELECTIONS
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Thursday, April 5, 2012
Editor's note: This is a press release submitted by Steve Quist, chair of DFL Senate District 58. Jim Arlt, who served the Minnesota law enforcement community for more than 30 years, was endorsed unanimously by House District 58B Democrats on Thursday, April 5. He will challenge the long-serving Farmington incumbent, Republican Pat Garofalo, in the November elections. Jim, a political independent, decided to seek the DFL endorsement for House after meeting with legislators on issues related to his work in law enforcement. Members of the local DFL group who have gotten to know Jim recently are very excited to support him. Jim, a Hastings area resident for over 20 years, has served as a police officer in the City of Northfield, as a deputy…
Familiar names will appear on the GOP side of the ballot, but just one Democrat has entered the ring to face a candidate.
Lakeville's Republicans are all set for the November election. Well, other than the campaigning. And for voters, it means a lot of familiar names on the GOP side of the ballot. The newly renamed District 58—formerly District 36—held its endorsing convention on March 31, and incumbents State Sen. Dave Thompson, of Lakeville, and Rep. Pat Garofalo—running in District 58B—were each endorsed without opposition. State Rep. Mary Liz Holberg—vying for District 58A—was also endorsed, though she's not technically an incumbent. Holberg lives in the new House District 56B but announced last month that she would run in 58A, which includes the vast majority of her former district—36A. Meanwhile, things are bit less clear for Democrats. The party held …
Thursday, March 15, 2012
State Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B) of Farmington's most recent newsletter.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, March 15, 2012
Editor's note: State Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B), of Farmington, represents a portion of Lakeville. This is his most recent newsletter. BUDGET IMPROVES - MY PLAN TO PAY BACK SCHOOLS The February budget forecast showed an improvement in our state's fiscal situation. Because of this improvement the state will have over $1 billion dollars cash on hand and will automatically pay back the debt to schools by $318 million dollars. I think it's reasonable that the state use some of the extra cash on hand to further pay down this debt to our schools. I introduced a bill last week to reduce the debt by over $430 million dollars. This bill passed the education committee with both Republican and Democrat support on a 14-5 vote. I've …
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The state representative expressed his opinions regarding the budget surplus and Vikings stadium.
The Minnesota State Legislature reconvenes Jan. 24. To prepare for the upcoming session, Patch gave Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B) a call to discuss the state’s $876 million budget surplus, the construction of a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings and expectation for the coming months. Patch: How do you think the surplus should be used? Garofalo: It’s no secret that the Republicans didn’t like the education shifts and we didn’t want to do it and now that the money’s there, this gives us the opportunity to pay it back. I would say filling up the budget reserves and paying back the shifts, and absolutely not using it to grow or expand government. Patch: For you, what are the biggest items on the agenda for this upcoming session, aside …
Garofalo, R-Farmington, and Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, say the Dayton administration is proposing changes to the state's education system in ways that don't follow current law.
terry
8:06 am on Monday, March 18, 2013
Cheers for Pat Garofalo. We can see the reason. All these politicians are copying the US House and Senate role models of bringing in more pork projects like the stupid half million dollars for more bike paths. We can't even maintain our roads and we continue to spend millions on bike paths. Enough already. And the idiot who wants to ban tar sealant in Minnesota - another dumb idea that results in… more ›