Why Betty Folliard Backed Brian Melendez

The answer is on this week's Inside Minnesota Politics.
Host Peter Idusogie also interviews US Senate Candidate Amy Klobuchar. She tells Peter what her daughter fears most from Republicans, and under what conditions it might happen.

DFL State Chair Election Coverage

"Inside Minnesota Politics" has an exclusive interview with the new state chair Brian Melendez. The podcast also has an interview with Josh Syrjamaki who narrowly lost the race to Melendez.

No DFL Endorsement for Minneapolis Mayor

Delegates are heading home after 13+ hours and five ballots. Neither R.T. Rybak or Peter McLaughlin got 60% of the vote. Here's the result of the 5th ballot:

Rybak: 653 (45%)
McLaughlin: 765 (52.8%)
No Endorsement: 32 (2.21%)
Total votes: 1450

McLaughlin told "Inside Minnesota Politics" this week that he would consider a no endorsement a "win" for him since he is running against an incumbent mayor

Nebraska law bad? Minnesota's could be worse!

If a judge found problems with Nebraska's same sex marriage constitutional amendment because it was "too over reaching", then Sen. Michele Bachmann's proposed constitutional amendment for Minnesota doesn't stand a chance of passing judicial review.

Here is the text of Nebraska's Constitutional Amendment

"Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in Nebraska. The uniting of two persons of the same sex in a civil union, domestic partnership, or other similar same-sex relationship shall not be valid or recognized in Nebraska."

It's reasonably clear that it's talking about same sex relationships, but the judge says it is too over reaching because, among other things, it would include adoptions.

Bachmann's amendment is even more over reaching:

Sec. 13. Only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota. Any other relationship shall not be recognized as a marriage or its legal equivalent.

It's encouraging to see that eventually such a law would be struck down. However, we should all be smart enough not to write such discrimination into our constitution in the first place.

Podcast:Minneapolis Mayoral Race

On this week's podcast:
Showdown at the Minneapolis DFL Convention

Minneapolis DFLers are not all one big happy family these days. The two DFL candidates for Mayor are ripping into each other over education, crime and the city budget.

Challenger Peter McLaughlin says Mayor R.T. Rybak "has been essentially missing in action" when it comes to education and "has allowed the violent crime genie back out of the bottle."

Rybak says McLaughlin is trying to scare people so they'll vote for him and McLaughlin's proposals are "budget busters"

Who should be Mayor of Minneapolis? Listen and decide for yourself. The DFL decides this Saturday May 14th.

If you're attending the Minneapolis DFL convention call and give us your opinion on the convention and the outcome. We've set up a hotline you can call. Record a comment, give us your opinion or report on an issue. We may use your comment on our next podcast. Call 206-33-TALKS or 206-338-2557. It is a long distance call.

Or you can email us at insidemnpolitcs@mac.com.

Next week: DFL State Chair Mike Erlandson on what he's accomplished and what the party still needs to do when he steps down.

Erlandson: Media Report On Candidacy Is "Premature"

A report in Sunday's Star Tribune gives the impression that outgoing DFL Party Chair Mike Erlandson is running for Secretary of State. At his going away dinner on Saturday night, Erlandson said that he has not made any decisions about his next steps and any speculation about his running for Secretary of State was "premature".

Entenza says how he'll pay for increased spending

Listen to the "Inside Minnesota Politics with Peter Idusogie" Podcast for the exclusive interview.

On this week's show: Community First vs. “It’s All About Me”

That’s how House DFL leader Matt Entenza explains the difference between the DFL and the Republicans. He says “no new taxes” is a “bankrupt pledge” since Minnesotans are being “nickeled and dimed to death” by millions of dollars in “fees”.

He also spells out how the DFL plans to pay for the spending increase it has proposed. You might be surprised at his solution.

Plus… what do paper corporations in Bermuda have to do with increased class sizes in Minnesota?

Peter asks Representative some pointed questions – is he running for Governor? Who is he supporting in the DFL State Chair race?

And Peter explains the hard truth about campaign financing. Why in the end it doesn’t matter that DFL US Senate candidates are financed by individuals, while the Republican candidate is largely funded by Political Action Committee money.

Next weeks show: A preview of the showdown for Minneapolis Mayor. R.T. Rybak and Peter McLaughlin vie for DFL backing at the May 14^th convention.

Talk back to "Inside Minnesota Politics"
We've set up a hotline you can call. Record a comment, give us your opinion or report on an issue. We may use your comment on our next podcast. Call 206-33-TALKS or 206-338-2557. It is a long distance call.

Or you can email us at insidemnpolitcs@mac.com