Earmark ban leaves MN water project high and dry

By   /  May 9, 2013  /  City Government, County Government, economic development, Featured, Minnesota, News  /  1 Comment

Earmark Ban: Water pipeline left high and dry with cutoff of federal funding.

WORTHINGTON, Minn. — When Congress banned earmarks, few anticipated the $560 million Lewis and Clark Regional Water System would become a national poster child for the unintended consequences of the politically popular measure.

Read More →

MN local governments spend $1.1 million on lobbying Washington

By   /  May 6, 2013  /  City Government, County Government, Federal Government, Lobbying, Local Government, Minnesota, State Government  /  No Comments

Loophole lets more than $1.1 million in local government spending on lobbyists go under the radar.

By Tom Steward | Watchdog Minnesota
ST. PAUL — Minnesota governments and other entities spent at least $1.1 million on taxpayer-funded lobbying in Washington, D.C., in 2012, according to a Watchdog Minnesota analysis of federal disclosure information.
The findings, in combination with the State Auditor’s annual report on local government lobbying in St. Paul, put the total cost of [...]

Read More →

MN counties brace for ‘not so Affordable Care Act’

By   /  May 1, 2013  /  County Government, Health Care, Minnesota, News, Obamacare  /  6 Comments

Anoka County Board chair man says health care mandate "not so affordable for local property taxpayers".

ANOKA, Minn. — After years of rhetoric and rulings out of Washington, D.C., reality is hitting home as Minnesota counties scramble to implement and pay for what one frustrated county board leader calls the “not so Affordable Care Act” for local property taxpayers.

Read More →

Taxpayers who put up $63 million for new courthouse must park elsewhere

By   /  April 16, 2013  /  City Government, County Government, Featured, New Mexico, News, Public Safety, Wasteful spending  /  No Comments

NO PARKING FOR YOU: Citing security concerns, Santa Fe's county commissioners have ruled the public cannot use the 40 parking spaces in the underground lot of the new $63 million courthouse downtown. New Mexico Watchdog photo.

It has run $25 million over budget, it’s way behind schedule and, now, the new courthouse downtown has merchants worried that a decision to prohibit public parking will translate hurt their businesses.

Read More →

‘Voter catastrophe’ prompts Republicans to sue for new election

By   /  March 27, 2013  /  County Government, Featured, New Mexico, News  /  No Comments

LONG LINES AND HOT DEBATE: A federal lawsuit filed by three Republicans who lost close races in Rio Rancho, NM, insinuates that election officials intentionally tried to suppress GOP votes. New Mexico Watchdog photo, 11/6/12.

Three Republican candidates who lost close races in November say Democratic election officials intentionally tried to inhibit voting in this GOP stronghold.

Read More →