The Fifth District Report

Are Republicans Wasting Time on Obamacare Votes?

Rep. Keith Ellison said Republicans are neglecting other problems by convening numerous votes on legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

On Thursday, 5th District Rep. Keith Ellison cast his 37th vote (depending on how you count) against a proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The legislation has no chance of passing since the Senate will likely ignore it and President Barack Obama has promised to veto it on the off chance it ever reached his desk. Republicans defend the frequent votes by saying they want new legislators to be able to uphold their promise to constituents to try and repeal health care reform, but Democrats accuse Republicans of wasting time for political gain. Ellison released the following statement after Thursday’s vote:  Today, for the 37th time in two years, I voted against a partisan attempt by Republicans in Congress to …

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Matt Murphy

8:15 am on Monday, May 20, 2013

Please do . . . I love reading talking points from individuals who are on the wrong side of history.   more ›

Controversial Quilt, Bad Bus Driver Decision and Frankenstein: Pick of Our Patches

This week's selection includes a new gallery/gift shop, a levy rejected, school boundaries issue, DFL wins and good news for Southwest Light Rail Transit.

Editor’s Note: Every week we will bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Richfield, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, and St. Michael. District 281 Bus Driver Asks Student to Pick Up Gun A Robbinsdale Area Schools spokesperson said a bus driver asked a seventh-grade boy to pick up a gun he spotted along the road. The district is shocked by the incident and has communicated with parents and students. Bus Driver Fired After Asking ISD 281 Student to Pick Up Gun The incident occurred on Nov. 8 around 8 a.m. The district immediately took action after the driver notified school employees about the weapon. A Hillary-…

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Voting Va-Va-Voom: Craigslist 'Missed Connections' at Polling Places

Voters in and around Fridley cast glances along with their ballots.

Judging from Craigslist, the election wasn't the only thing on voters' minds at Fridley-area polling places Tuesday. At the Fridley Community Center polling place: I'm the guy in the "Caterpillar" jacket. We spoke briefly. You thought I may have known you from the Maple Lanes Bowling Alley. Please reply to this ad if you see it. Dan To the north (Coon Rapids VFW polling place): Cure redhead at Coon Rapids VFW - m4w - 30 (Coon Rapids) Saw you voting at the Coon Rapids VFW on Tuesday, around 5 PM. Think we shared a glance or two. You were really cute, but I didn't really have a chance to say hi. If this is you, hit me up. To the south (St. Hedwig Catholic Church polling place, northeast Minneapolis): St Hedwig polling place - m4w - 42 (Mpls…

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Updated: What Do YOU Think About Election Results in Fridley-area School Districts?

Do you agree with voters in Spring Lake Park, Fridley, Anoka-Hennepin districts?

What is your reaction to the results of Tuesday's elections in three local school districts—Fridley, Spring Lake Park and Anoka-Hennepin? Did you support the levies that passed? How do you feel about the school boards in Spring Lake Park, Fridley and Anoka-Hennepin? What did you think about the turnout at the polls? Leave a comment below. Here are a few responses to start off the discussion. Union Leader Julie Blaha, president of Education Minnesota's local for teachers in the Anoka-Hennepin school district, said in an interview late Tuesday night: I'm relieved and grateful to the community for renewing our levy. I'm really grateful we can keep our head above water. ... Question 3 [which didn't pass] was harder to understand for people. …

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Amy Paddock

5:59 am on Friday, November 11, 2011

It was great to see that so many people got involved and actually voted. It was also very easy to walk in, vote and out again. Loved that part. And Fridley Patch sending out "tweets" and other information was also very helpful. Thanks Patch!   more ›

Fridley Voter Turnout 'Crazy—In a Good Way'

Levies and school board seats on Fridley, Spring Lake Park, Anoka-Hennepin school district ballots.

Voters streamed into polling places in Fridley Tuesday in numbers great enough that one election judge likened the crowd to what she sees in a national election year. Polls remain open until 8 p.m. Tuesday. For information about where to vote and what's on the ballot in different parts of Fridley, click here. "It's been crazy—in a good way," said Kathy Svandy, head election judge at Fridley High School, the one polling place for residents of the Fridley School District. "It's just as busy as in a presidential election." The polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday. By 1:30 p.m., more than 800 people had voted at Fridley High School, Svandy said. "That's a lot," she said, adding that the polling place had long since passed the 300 or so voters they …

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Fridley Residents in Anoka-Hennepin School District to Vote on 3 Levies

The third referendum question is contingent on the first one passing.

Fridley residents in three school districts—Fridley (District 14), Spring Lake Park (District 16) and Anoka-Hennepin (District 11)—will be voting on school tax levies on Nov. 8. This is the third in a series on those levies and highlights information from the Anoka-Hennepin School District. On Nov. 8, Anoka-Hennepin School District residents will be voting on three levy questions. The first would maintain a 2007 voter-approved levy that is expiring in 2013. It would maintain class size and educational programs and prevent layoffs that would total 20 percent of Anoka-Hennepin’s teaching staff, according to the district. There would be no tax increase with this levy. The second is a technology levy. It would improve technology by providing …

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