
NEWS
Republicans stand by Pete Hegseth amid text dispute as Democrats call for his resignation
By Sydney Kashiwagi, The Minnesota Star Tribune
“Rep. Betty McCollum, who serves as a ranking member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, also called for a congressional investigation, seeking an understanding if ‘the inappropriate use of Signal is a widespread practice within the Trump Administration, whether the Espionage Act was violated, and how this security lapse impacts our relationships with intelligence-sharing partners around the globe,’”
Lawmakers demand investigation into group chat on Trump administration's war plans
By Caitlin Yilek, CBS News
“Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat from Minnesota, raised the question of whether the officials violated the Espionage Act. “
Dems Aghast After Trump Brass Accidentally Texted War Plans To Reporter
By Ryan Grenoble, HuffPost
"Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, went beyond simply expressing outrage and zeroed in on the group’s use of Signal, a self-deleting messaging app, as particularly worrying:
'The Republican majorities in both the House and Senate must immediately launch Congressional oversight investigations into this outrageous incident to understand if the inappropriate use of Signal is a widespread practice within the Trump Administration, whether the Espionage Act was violated, and how this security lapse impacts our relationships with intelligence-sharing partners around the globe,' she said in a statement."
Como Park Senior High School news
By Eric Erickson, Park Bugle
"Congresswoman Betty McCollum, D-Minnesota, hosted a 45-minute policy meeting for the Como students in her office. She shared her views on the current situation in Washington and the federal government. Students were grateful for her insights and how she addressed their inquiries about climate change, Israel and Gaza, the actions of DOGE and education."
New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern Spoke Locally About Leadership and Hope
By Ella Stern, Minnesota Women’s Press
“On Friday, March 7, the eve of International Women’s Day, former New Zealand Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern, gave a lecture to an almost-full house at St. Catherine University’s O’Shaughnessy theatre. After the lecture, Ardern engaged in a Q&A with Rep. Betty McCollum. Over the course of the hour-long event, the former prime minister discussed the doubt she faced during her path to office, her COVID-19 response and other accomplishments of her administration, and her opinions on leadership and current world issues. She returned time and time again to the importance of hope.”
METRO Gold Line opens in east Twin Cities metro
By Babs Santos, FOX 9
"‘This is a win-win-win folks, and every single one of you played a part," Rep. Betty McCollum said, "We’re on schedule, and we’re under budget.’”
Which members of the Minnesota congressional delegation are holding town halls this week?
By Sydney Kashiwagi, The Minnesota Star Tribune
“Rep. Kelly Morrison will host her first in-person town hall in Bloomington on Thursday evening and Rep. Betty McCollum will host a virtual town hall on Wednesday evening.”
Klobuchar and Smith vote no as U.S. Senate passes continuing resolution
By Sydney Kashiwagi, The Minnesota Star Tribune
“Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota joined Democratic colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee in a letter to Senate Democrats urging them to oppose the bill.”
The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern highlights “moral courage” of optimism in 2025 Kelly Lecture
By St. Catherine University
“After delivering her lecture, Ardern spoke with U.S. Congresswoman and St. Kate’s alumna Betty McCollum ’87 in a Q&A session, for which attendees submitted questions ahead of the event. The two leaders each spoke about their experience as women in government, and the need to approach the work with confidence.”
Minnesota cities, towns and nonprofits denied millions of dollars in earmarks
By Ana Radelat, MinnPost
“‘Republicans in Congress had eighteen months to finish their work on the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations bills,’ Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th District, said in a statement. ‘By putting forward a full year Continuing Resolution, Congressional Republicans have failed miserably. They have abdicated their constitutional responsibilities to fund the government to Donald Trump.’”
Workforce cuts raise concerns over national park upkeep
By Mike Magner, Roll Call
“‘The short-sighted decision by DOGE to fire Park Rangers and other staff under false pretenses has created a situation in which our National Parks will not have the personnel necessary to provide the services that visitors have come to expect,’ McCollum said.”
Politics Friday: Moves in Washington hover over state budget outlook
By Brian Bakst and Matt Alvarez, MPR News
“MPR News senior politics editor Brian Bakst discussed how deeply intertwined the state and federal actions are and the challenges that lay ahead. U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat, and state Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, a Republican, joined the conversation.”
Live updates as Canada fights against 25% U.S. tariffs and braces for economic pain
By Sylvia Thomson, CBC News
“Speaking to CBC News inside the Capitol building, one U.S. Congresswoman said her constituents were outraged when it became clear a few weeks ago that Trump would impose tariffs on Canadian goods. 'The only thing I want to argue with Canadians about is maybe a hockey score and maybe how many fish we can bring back,' said Betty McCollum, a Democratic representative from Minnesota. 'We are with Canada … The bullying needs to stop. We need our friends and colleagues with us.'”
Which Minnesotans will attend Trump’s joint address to Congress?
By Sydney Kashiwagi, The Minnesota Star Tribune
"McCollum will bring Ramsey County Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire, a former state lawmaker and former president of the National Association of Counties. 'Commissioner McGuire is in Washington to advocate on the national stage for the issues that are critical to our constituents, including access to health care and nutrition assistance for children, seniors, and working parents,' McCollum said in a statement."
Budget bill’s potential cuts to Medicaid threaten Minnesota’s budget and hospitals, health care for thousands
By Ana Radelat, MinnPost
“‘House Republicans are using their majority to serve their wealthy donors at the expense of working families,’ Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th District, said after approval of the budget blueprint. ‘The budget they passed tonight cuts Medicaid by $880 billion, cuts SNAP by $230 billion and balloons the deficit by $4 trillion to extend tax breaks for giant corporations and billionaires like Elon Musk.’”
Tribal leaders from northern Minnesota testify in D.C. against Trump’s funding cuts
By Kim Hyatt, The Minnesota Star Tribune
“In the face of sweeping changes in the federal workforce by the Trump administration, their testimony Tuesday stressed the need for full funding at the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health Services (IHS), especially given adverse and disparate health outcomes for Native Americans. Speaking to Chair Mike Simpson, the Republican representative from Idaho who leads the House Interior and Environment Subcommittee on Appropriations, and U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., the tribal leaders also called on continued and increased funding for environmental protections and public safety initiatives.”
DCCC announces leadership roster for 2026 cycle
By Mary Ellen McIntire, Roll Call
"Washington Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, and Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum are returning as defense council co-chairs."
A Round-up of Political Pushbacks and Explainers
By Mikki Morrissette, Minnesota Women’s Press
“After the U.S. House Republicans passed a federal budget resolution on February 25, one of the public dissensions came from Minnesota’s U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, who said: ‘House Republicans are using their majority to serve their wealthy donors at the expense of working families. The budget they passed tonight cuts Medicaid by $880 billion, cuts SNAP by $230 billion, and balloons the deficit by $4 trillion to extend tax breaks for giant corporations and billionaires like Elon Musk. The so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ does nothing for Minnesota families looking for help with the rising cost of living. In fact, it adds more burden for middle-class families. Nearly 1.3 million Minnesotans — about one quarter of our state — rely on Medicaid. A cut of this magnitude would have severe consequences for our entire population. Here in the Fourth District, 54,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP to put food on the table. 172,000 rely on Medicaid for healthcare access, including nearly 90,000 children on CHIP. The health and well-being of our communities are under attack by this Republican majority. I will continue to oppose all Republican efforts to take away food, healthcare, and basic government services that Minnesotans rely on.’”
Tim Walz won’t run for U.S. Senate, weighs seeking third term as governor
By Sydney Kashiwagi, The Minnesota Star Tribune
“Minnesota’s two other Democratic representatives in Congress, Betty McCollum and Kelly Morrison, will not run for the U.S. Senate seat.”
Minnesota Republicans ask Minnesota Republicans to spare Medicaid
By Christopher Ingraham, Minnesota Reformer
“‘Thanks to the 14 GOP Minnesota legislators who recognize the damage the U.S. House GOP budget would cause,’ said Democratic U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota’s Fourth District. ‘It’s wrong to cut Medicaid — a health care lifeline for over a million Minnesota seniors, disabled, and children — to give more tax breaks to billionaires like Elon Musk.’”