Baird Helgeson

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Baird Helgeson

Reporter | Politics and government

Phone: 651-925-5044

Email: baird.helgeson@startribune.com

Baird Helgeson covers all aspects of Minnesota politics, the state budget, the administration and state agencies.
Follow @BairdStrib

Secret GOP meetings spelled the end for Koch

As Sen. Amy Koch tries to hang on to her last year in elective office, rumblings of an ethics investigation have begun.

Updated: December 20, 2011, - 06:44 AM

Dec. 17: State GOP staggered by debt, scandal

One Republican activist decries “our own little soap opera.” But it is only one of many problems facing the party ahead of 2012.

Updated: December 17, 2011, - 11:05 PM

State pension investment under attack

A Minnesota human rights group filed a lawsuit last week to stop the state from investing pension money in Israeli construction bonds, a move that offered an interesting chance to peek inside the state's investment portfolio.

Updated: December 17, 2011, - 07:26 PM

Walker recall petition gains ground in Wis.

Setting the stage for what could be a historic gubernatorial recall election, a group trying to oust Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says it has collected nearly enough signatures to force a vote on the Republican leader.

Updated: December 16, 2011, - 05:21 AM

Sutton resigns as state GOP leader

Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Tony Sutton abruptly resigned his post on Friday, one day before a leadership meeting in which GOP activists planned to scrutinize the party's budget and its mounting debt.

Updated: December 03, 2011, - 06:50 AM

Surprise $876 million state surplus raises Capitol spirits

$876 million eases deficit fears but makes small dent as it must go to reserves, while schools are still owed.

Updated: December 02, 2011, - 07:37 AM

State may face new big deficit

Legislators are bracing for an estimated $500 million to $1 billion in red ink when state budget officials release the November economic forecast Thursday.

Updated: November 30, 2011, - 08:59 AM

Nov. 22: Government shutdown didn't scar Minn. budget

The economic effect of the 20-day government closure was a slight savings so far for taxpayers, a new report finds.

Updated: November 22, 2011, - 09:27 PM

State lottery dips into Web sales

Without a single press release or announcement, the Minnesota State Lottery is nearly a year into an experiment to get more Minnesotans to gamble online through a subscription lottery service.

Updated: November 22, 2011, - 10:24 AM