NEWS

Scott Petty Scott Petty

Low-income Minnesotans likely to be the first to feel impact of government shutdown

By Ana Radelat, MinnPost

“U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th District, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, said GOP leaders in Congress should not have been surprised that Democrats wanted concessions for their support.

‘The Republicans have known for nine months that the Affordable Care Act tax credits are an issue for us … and they also knew that Medicaid cuts were a huge problem for us,’ McCollum said.”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

What the Minnesota delegation has said about the federal shutdown

By Sydney Kashiwagi and Emma Ritter, The Minnesota Star Tribune

“Rep. Betty McCollum

McCollum said in a statement that she didn’t want government to shut down and criticized Republicans in the House for leaving Washington after passing their bill.

‘I have been in Washington since Sunday, working together with my Democratic colleagues doing all we can to prevent a shutdown,’ she said. ‘But without cooperation from Speaker [Mike] Johnson — who cancelled votes and has refused to call Republicans and Democrats back to Washington — we will not be able to avert a shutdown.’”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

Hot Dish: The federal shutdown begins

By Ryan Faircloth, The Minnesota Star Tribune

The Dem perspective. ‘It is unfortunate that my Republican colleagues do not share those priorities. I have been in Washington since Sunday, working together with my Democratic colleagues doing all we can to prevent a shutdown,’ Rep. Betty McCollum said on X. ‘But without cooperation from Speaker Johnson – who cancelled votes and has refused to call Republicans and Democrats back to Washington – we will not be able to avert a shutdown.’“

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

lunch take | MN Delegation on Shutdown + MOA Water Park Plan Advances

By Blois Olson, lunch take

MORE: From Rep. Betty McCollum via X, VERBATIM: ‘President Trump and Congressional Republicans have forced our country into a government shutdown, but my office remains open, and my staff will continue to serve the people of Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional district. However, some constituent service requests will be delayed as federal agencies are forced to furlough workers. East Metro residents and all Minnesotans have my word that I will do everything within my power to work across the aisle to end this shutdown as soon as possible.’”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

Mining the Truth: Cases for and against mining near the Boundary Waters

By Chris Hrapsky, KARE 11

“‘Right now it's just too big of a risk,’ said U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), who has tried to permanently ban mining near the Boundary Waters. ‘Just because economically right now we put a big price tag, in this state and in this country, on copper, wars will be fought over water.’

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

Simone Senogles, Indigenous feminist and environmental advocate, dies at 54

By Kim Hyatt, The Minnesota Star Tribune

“U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, in a tribute online, wrote that her heart went out to Senogles’ family and friends. She said Senogles ‘made Minnesota a safer and more just state thanks to her many years of leadership in addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.’”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

Lake Elmo celebrates 100 years with street dance

By Taylor Kiel, The Stillwater Gazette

“Congresswoman Betty McCollum, on Sept. 18, also gave a speech recognizing Lake Elmo’s milestone.

‘Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the City of Lake Elmo, Minnesota. On Saturday, September 13th, residents of Lake Elmo kicked off a month of celebrations with family, friends, and neighbors at Lions Park,’ she stated. ‘Lake Elmo has played a special role in Minnesota as a place of historic significance and great natural beauty.’”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

D.C. Memo: Trump executive order targets left-wing groups

By Ana Radelat, MinnPost

“U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th District, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, also condemned the move.

‘Donald Trump and Russ Vought’s threats to fire public servants who deliver services that Americans rely on are another escalation of the administration’s efforts to undermine and demoralize those who serve all of us,’ McCollum said. 

She also said ‘Congress and the courts have a duty to hold this administration accountable and prevent their illegal efforts to erode the services that Americans rely on.’”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

morning take | Special Session on Guns Eludes Walz

By Blois Olson, morning take

PEACE CORPS: via a Rep. Betty McCollum press release, VERBATIM: ‘Congresswoman Betty McCollum introduced the Peace Corps Congressional Gold Medal Act on Tuesday, coinciding with the 64th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s signing of the Peace Corps Act. The legislation, which is co-led by Congressman John H. Rutherford (R-FL), would bestow the highest civilian award given by the United States Congress to over 250,000 Americans who’ve volunteered for the Peace Corps since its inception.’”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

Olson’s Cheer’s & Jeers: All aboard the Minnesota Lynx bandwagon — including Bon Iver

By Rochelle Olson, The Minnesota Star Tribune

“Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., also sought to strip Omar, the Democrat who represents the Minneapolis-based Fifth District, of her committee assignments for her comments after the killing of Charlie Kirk. In a televised interview, Omar said the news of Kirk’s death and the images were mortifying. She also talked about how his death is being weaponized by conservatives to silence the left. Mace’s motion failed because four Republicans joined Democrats against it. (Jeers to the four Minnesota Republicans who voted to censure Omar.) Mace wasn’t done. She has continued to incite conservatives with vile and dangerous rhetoric about Omar. Although Omar’s exceedingly skilled in the sharp clapback, the attacks on her are unwarranted and far too dangerous. Cheers to Omar’s congressional colleagues who publicly defended her, including Reps. Angie Craig, Betty McCollum and Sen. Tina Smith.”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

Democrats block GOP effort to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar for Charlie Kirk comments

By Sydney Kashiwagi, The Minnesota Star Tribune

“DFL Rep. Betty McCollum said in an interview that the censure effort was being deliberately used to intensify the divide between Democrats and Republicans.

‘She was expressing what many people were expressing — shock, sadness and grief that political violence is now becoming commonplace in this country,’ McCollum continued, ‘and some of my Republican colleagues have chosen to just take other remarks and add to them.’”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

Tim Walz Seeks Third Term as Governor of Minnesota

Ernesto Londoño, The New York Times

“U.S. Representative Betty McCollum, a Democrat, said the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions showed Mr. Walz's willingness to act boldly when he had political capital to spend.

‘He accomplished a lot of great things that I wish we were doing in Congress,’ she said.”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

Bill in Congress would expand federal benefits to firefighters diagnosed with cancer

By Danny Spewak, KARE 11

“Klobuchar said Senate leadership is interested in passing the bill and that lawmakers will work to include the proposal in either a larger defense bill or another budget bill at the end of the calendar year. The bill also has broad bipartisan support in the U.S. House, including from Minnesota Democrats Rep. Angie Craig, Rep. Betty McCollum and Rep. Kelly Morrison and Republican Rep. Pete Stauber.”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

morning take | Will Suburban GOPers vote for gun control?

By Blois Olson, morning take

TRIBES: via a Rep. Betty McCollum press release, VERBATIM: ‘Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Co-Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Native American Caucus, [has] reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act (IPAAA) to authorize advance appropriations in order to avoid lapses in funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). These agencies fund critical public services for Tribal Nations, including hospitals, schools, law enforcement, and child welfare programs, among other services.’”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

D.C. Memo: Kirk shooting ignites partisan rancor in Washington

By Ana Radelat, MinnPost

“‘I hope there isn’t a shutdown and there shouldn’t be a shutdown,’ said Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th District, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.

But she said this about her Republican colleagues if there is a shutdown: ‘They own it.’”

Read More
Scott Petty Scott Petty

Minnesota lawmakers react to shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk

By MPR News Staff

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum

‘I am disgusted and horrified by the shooting of Charlie Kirk that took place this afternoon in Utah. We must unite as a nation to condemn this and all political violence. Americans must come together to stop the epidemic of gun violence in the United States.’”

Read More