The dust is finally settling on the 2013 legislative session. Though session adjourned almost a month ago, Minnesotans are just now getting a clearer view of what one-party rule has wrought. And the view is not pretty.

The extraordinary union power grab underway at the State Capitol is breathtaking, especially in light of the prevailing trend of Midwest states enacting positive, taxpayer-friendly collective bargaining reforms. The Minnesota power grab is perhaps best exemplified by, but unfortunately not limited to, the attempted unionization of independent childcare providers and personal care assistants (PCAs) that unions are ramming through the legislature. The proposal is the culmination of a years-long or...

Moody’s Investors Service is changing the way it assesses local government pension liabilities "to reflect the rating agency’s view that pension obligations are a significant source of credit pressure for governments and warrant a more conservative view of the potential size of the obligations." The new ratings rules could lead to downgrades for some cities, counties, and school districts. Moody’s has placed 29 local government ratings from across the country under review, a possible precursor t...