By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent 

Although it was a bonding year, the 2008 Legislative session featured a litany of bills ­— more than 4,000.

When all was said and done, some 300 bills were passed that managed to close a nearly $1 billion budget deficit, give additional funding to schools and set forth property tax relief.

By Keighla Schmidt and Shawn Hogendorf, Staff Writers

When the state Legislature recessed last weekend, school districts got an unexpected revenue boost – $51 per pupil unit.

The Prior Lake-Savage Area School District will receive about $412,700 based on the enrollment projections, according to Margo Nash, director of business affairs. The district’s finance committee recommended that the money be designated and held in the hopes that Redtail Ridge Elementary will open, she said.

In the first court action on the issue, Scott County Judge Jerome Abrams ordered a temporary injunction against a Elko New Market bar that was allowing smoking as part of an ongoing "theatrical performance' dubbed "An Unconstitutional Ban." Smoking must cease at the Bullseye Salooon until a trial is scheduled and a permanent decision is made. The state department of health sought the injunction, claiming Bullseye didn't fit the theatrical performance exemption under state law, which now bans smoking in bars and restaurants.

By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent

It almost seemed too good to be true when a provision allowing consideration of commuter rail on the Dan Patch Line sailed through the state Legislature this session.

Given the substantial support for the provision, neighboring state senators Kevin Dahle and Claire Robling were shocked when the proposal was pulled from a transportation policy bill this week.

About 30 minutes ago, State Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, tried to make an amendment that would've added the proposal for a Canterbury Park racino to the omnibus agriculture and veterans policy bill (House File 3683).

It was ruled not germaine to the bill and thus not included.

"Perhaps I went about that last amendment the wrong way," Buesgens said on the House floor. "You have to build a bridge to get across the water."

U.S. Senator Norm Coleman will make an early morning campaign stop Friday, March 28 in Shakopee.

The visit is part of Coleman’s four-day kickoff for his re-election campaign.

The senator, who is running unopposed for the Republican nomination, will appear at Perkins Restaurant, 1205 First Ave. E., at 7 a.m.

-Shannon Fiecke

By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent

Republicans and Democrats have re-endorsed the same candidates for office in House District 35B as they did two years ago.

During the Saturday DFL convention in Prior Lake, delegates from District 35B endorsed Taylor Kristoffe-Jones of Savage for state representative. She was alone in seeking the party nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Mark Buesgens of Jordan. Kristoffe-Jones also faced Buesgens two years ago.

ST. PAUL –To help repair this year’s budget hole and create 1,300 new jobs, State Senator Dick Day (R-Owatonna) and Rep. Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan) have re-introduced their bill authorizing a racino, a racetrack with slot machines, which would generate at least $100 million every year in revenue to the state.

State Rep. Will Morgan was one of 91 members of the State House of Representatives who voted today (feb. 25) to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of a $6.6 billion transportation bill.

The override vote passed on a bipartisan basis in the House by a margin of 91 to 41.

ST. PAUL – With another state budget deficit looming, State Rep.Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, wants to give lawmakers another opportunity to control runaway state spending.