Go to Minnesota's budget shortfall

Minnesota's budget shortfall

Coverage of the debate over Minnesota's $4.6 billion state budget shortfall.
  • House, Senate pass health and welfare bills
    The Minnesota House and Senate have passed separate Health and Human Services finance bills that use federal economic stimulus money to maintain current eligibility for state-subsidized health benefits. Both versions reduce spending, but not by as much as Gov. Tim Pawlenty has called for.April 27, 2009
  • House passes $1.5 billion tax increase
    A bill that increases taxes $1.5 billion dollars over the next two years squeaked through the Minnesota House Saturday night.April 25, 2009
  • Senate passes $2 billion tax increase
    The Minnesota Senate has passed a bill that raises state income taxes by more than $2 billion.April 24, 2009
  • Governor and legislative leaders face Chamber of Commerce
    Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the four top legislative leaders of both parties answered questions about the $4.6 billion budget deficit at a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce event this morning.Midday, April 24, 2009
  • Pawlenty says he'll veto tax increases
    The tough choices keep coming as lawmakers put in long hours to piece together a spending plan that aims to solve the state's worst budget crisis in years.April 23, 2009
  • State employees avoid furloughs in tentative contract
    Minnesota's two largest public employee unions have reached a tentative contract agreement that avoids the possibility of unpaid furloughs.April 22, 2009
  • Residents fight to keep Lindbergh site open
    Residents in Little Falls are sending local legislators letters, e-mails and petitions in a campaign to keep the Charles Lindbergh Historic Site open. It's one of three historic sites that could be shut down because of state budget cuts.April 22, 2009
  • Education Commissioner sets priorities for session
    In the final weeks of the 2009 legislative session, lawmakers are deciding education funding and policy changes. Education Commissioner Alice Seagren joins Midday to discuss the proposals being debated at the Capitol.Midday, April 22, 2009
  • Tax debate pits Senate vs. House vs. Pawlenty
    Senate Democrats want to raise income taxes on every Minnesotan for five years to help balance the state's budget. Their plan differs from a tax increase plan from House DFLers, and both proposals face an almost certain veto from Gov. Pawlenty.April 21, 2009
  • DFLers propose cutting payments to health care providers
    Rep. Tom Huntley, DFL-Duluth, said most provider payments would be cut by 3 percent, but he said no one currently on state subsidized health insurance would lose their coverage.April 21, 2009
  • House DFLers: State 'can't afford' some current tax breaks
    Democrats in the Minnesota House are proposing to raise income taxes for the state's wealthiest residents and scrap many of the tax breaks those same people now enjoy.April 20, 2009
  • Local governments spending more on lobbyists
    Democrats in the House and Senate are scheduled to release their tax bills this week, and a lot of people will be looking to see how those bills impact local governments. Many of them will be lobbyists -- lobbyists who are paid with taxpayer money.April 20, 2009
  • Minn. Historical Society faces drastic budget cuts
    The Minnesota Historical Society said today it may lay off nearly 100 employees, cut the hours of another 220, and close some historic sites in the state as a result of cuts in its state funding and the poor economy.April 16, 2009
  • Senate bill aims to cut prison sentences to save state funds
    A bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate this week would cut prison sentences across the board and lower penalties for specific crimes. The bill's author said she's proposing the changes to help balance the state's budget. But some public safety advocates say the changes go too far and the savings could be found elsewhere.April 16, 2009
  • Little agreement at Capitol as deadlines loom
    The Minnesota House and Senate resumed work Tuesday after a holiday break, and deep disagreements remain over how to erase the state's $4.6 billion budget deficit.April 14, 2009
Photo by AFP/Getty Images

MPR News
Radio

Listen Now

On Air

Midday

Schedule

Shortcuts
Hourly Newscast
Hosts
Station Map

Other Radio Streams from MPR

Classical MPR
Radio Heartland

Services

Become a Sponsor

In The Spotlight

  • Sound Learning

    Looking for ways to ensure your students are doing quality research from credible sources? Sound Learning is a launching point to Minnesota Public Radio's content on the Web.

  • The Current Music Blog

    Your daily note for good music, news and pop culture. With attempted jokes.