Patricia Lopez

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Patricia Lopez

Political Editor | State and national politics

Phone: 651-2673-7028, cell: 612-599-2654

Email: patricia.lopez@startribune.com

Patricia Lopez is the Star Tribune’s political editor, supervising coverage for state and national politics. Lopez started at the Star Tribune in 1992, as Minneapolis City Hall reporter. She moved to the state Capitol in 1994. Before becoming political editor, Lopez was the Star Tribune’s chief political reporter, covering the governor, U.S. Senate races and the state budget.
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In St. Paul, capitol crowd braces for wild budget ride

"This is not a roller coaster we're on, it's a corkscrew or one of those crazy upside-down rides where everybody gets sick," said House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis.

Updated: March 02, 2009, - 06:07 AM

Showdown could leave our courts in chaos

As Gov. Pawlenty looks to cut budgets, the chief justice he appointed is playing hardball over the justice system's future.

Updated: February 21, 2009, - 09:14 PM

So, how would you fix Minnesota?

That's what we -- and legislators -- asked Thursday of the people in St. Cloud.

Updated: February 20, 2009, - 03:12 PM

Expand sales tax, panel advises

Pawlenty's reaction is said to be cool, and legislators are baffled by proposal to repeal corporate tax.

Updated: February 13, 2009, - 10:47 PM

Stimulus plan could mean $3B for Minn.

It would put money into the state budget and, according to the White House, retain or create up to 66,000 jobs here.

Updated: February 12, 2009, - 10:02 PM

Minnesota's red ink: $7 billion?

Pawlenty warns that next month's economic forecast could show a deficit of $6 billion, or even $7 billion.

Updated: February 11, 2009, - 09:57 PM

Legislators propose 'People's Bailout' to spare the hardest-hit

The Masters of the Universe got their Wall Street bailout, courtesy of U.S. taxpayers. Banks got theirs. Corporations, too.

Updated: February 09, 2009, - 08:10 PM

Pawlenty to attend Munich conference

Gov. Tim Pawlenty will spend the weekend hobnobbing at the Munich Security Conference, a top-level foreign and security policy forum that will include more than a dozen heads of state and delegations from 50 countries.

Updated: February 05, 2009, - 08:34 PM

Pawlenty borrowing proposal off to slow start

Legislators did not like the idea of issuing bonds that would cut the budget deficit but have high interest rates.

Updated: February 03, 2009, - 09:11 PM

Corporate tax: A stinker that pays

Many share Gov. Tim Pawlenty's dislike of business taxes, but his plan to halve them raises questions: Will jobs be created? How will we make up the lost money?

Updated: February 03, 2009, - 08:22 AM