Good morning, and happy Tuesday.
Republican state Sen. Gene Dornink filed a declaration with the Minnesota Supreme Court Monday saying that he bought a new home in a new district in March and moved into it in early May. In the signed statement he denies he still lives in a prior residence. Dornink was responding to a challenge to his residency raised by Judy Olson of Glenville. Under state law, Minnesota legislators must live in the district they seek to represent at least six months prior to Election Day. In addition to saying Dornink did nothing wrong, his attorney contends the residency challenge came too close to the election and should be tossed. Secretary of State Steve Simon also contends the challenge was filed too late. A lawyer for Olson says she alerted local officials to the issue in June but was given incorrect information on where to file a complaint. The attorney said in a filing that Dornink would face a similar eligibility challenge from the DFL if he wins the Aug. 9 primary.
One of the key matches next week is the Republican primary to decide who gets the party nomination to run against DFL Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.The Star Tribune has a look at the matchup between the party-endorsed candidate Jim Schultz and the candidate Republicans chose four years ago, Doug Wardlow: The GOP hopefuls see this election year as a key opportunity to take the state's top legal office and they say with increased crime and potential abortion legal battles, the stakes are particularly high… On paper, the two Republican attorneys appear similar: they are both from Minnesota, attended law school on the east coast and live in the suburbs with their young families.
The Prairie Island Community is seeking to disentangle itself from a nuclear power plant it never wanted.MPR’s Catharine Richert has the story: It’s created a $46 million plan to produce net zero carbon emissions within the next decade. Xcel Energy’s Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant is just 700 yards from a community of 100 homes. Tribal Council Vice President Shelley Buck said the energy plan is an ambitious step toward being a sovereign nation that’s energy sovereign, too. “To do a big project like net zero really helps us change that narrative into something positive showing how energy can be used as a positive force,” she said. “By offsetting or eliminating the carbon that we produce, it's a positive for everybody.” But here’s the twist, and it’s an important one: Through all these years of living with a nuclear power plant next door, Prairie Island hasn’t been powered by the energy generated there, said Buck. The community just recently started getting natural gas from Xcel. It’s a logistical detail that she said prevented the tribal community from being eligible for the Renewable Development Fund, a pot of state money financed by Xcel customers for renewable energy projects for Xcel service areas, she said. Then in 2020, a legislative change allowed Prairie Island to tap $46 million from the fund for the project.
Gov. Tim Walz assured school administrators Monday that he hasn’t given up on a plan to steer more money to schools, reports MPR’s Brian Bakst. Supplemental funding for education was among the spending priorities sidelined by a Capitol deadlock this spring. The tentative deal among Walz and legislative leaders included about $1 billion from the state budget surplus for schools. Walz is considering calling a special session to reboot the agreement that failed to pass by the Legislature’s adjournment deadline. He said the surplus presents ‘a golden opportunity’ to give students and schools a lift after difficulties during the pandemic. “Not just to tread water,” Walz said. “Not just to survive but the term we use is how do we make our schools thrive.” The DFL governor spoke to a conference of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. He said the coming school year offers a fresh start after the last three were marked by COVID-19 disruptions.
One of the more colorful legislative primary campaigns is playing out in Shakopee between incumbent Republican Rep. Erik Mortensen and former Rep. Bob Loonan. They are running against each other for the third time. Deena Winter at the Minnesota Reformer has a look, including this account of a recent debate: “They’d had enough of his antics and showmanship,” Loonan said. “I’m the only actual Republican running.” Loonan said Mortensen was so ineffective he passed no bills and so toxic that other lawmakers didn’t want him cosponsoring their bills. “I don’t like politicians, so I can live with that,” Mortensen replied, and said he has cosponsored bills that passed. “I get things done because I work with people,” Loonan said. Loonan said rather than social media bloviating, he has built relationships on Main Street, where he’s owned an insurance agency for 40 years. Mortensen said he connects with people through town halls, like his virtual town halls where nurses talked about what it’s like to be an anti-vaxxer and a nurse. “Bob is a coward,” Mortensen said during the debate. “He has nothing to say about vaccine mandates.” Mortensen predicted huge Republicans wins this November, but not for candidates like Loonan. “He’s a RINO through and through,” said Mortensen, referring to “Republicans In Name Only,” though Loonan has a conservative voting record. “People are sick of all his squawking and chest beating,” Loonan said, noting that Mortensen pushed for lawmakers to get back to work in the capitol during the pandemic, and then rarely showed up. | 