Topics

Government

• Shutdown would hit health care recipients hard
  As a partial government shutdown looms closer, hospitals and other health care providers are concerned they may be forced to play a greater role in caring for the state's vulnerable. People on state-subsidized insurance will still be able to seek treatment, but the services that help them navigate the health care system will be mothballed.June 27, 2005
• Minneapolis teachers pension fund in a deep financial hole
  There's been a lot of talk about the possible state government shutdown that could happen on July 1. One issue you may not have heard about involves a multi-million dollar fund designed to pay pensions to retired Minneapolis teachers. The pension fund is in serious financial trouble, and lawmakers disagree over how to fix it and even what caused the problem.June 27, 2005
• Profits and poodles: the story of a corporate tax loophole
  A Minnesota Supreme Court decision this month could cost the state up to $300 million in corporate taxes over two years. The decision relates to how Minnesota taxes companies on their foreign operations. While the implications for state revenue are stark, the court decision itself is a thicket of details only an accountant could love. Nonetheless, the loophole opened up by the case is an important one.June 24, 2005
• Lawmakers frustrated at sitting on the sidelines
  As the state prepares for a possible government shutdown next week, frustration is growing among rank and file legislators. Several state lawmakers say they've heard plenty of citizen complaints, and are frustrated themselves that they aren't more involved in the budget process.June 24, 2005
• Budget problems aren't a walk in the park
  State parks might shut down if the governor and legislators don't pass a budget soon. And that has park workers and park visitors worried.June 23, 2005
• Special master appointed to rule on essential services
  A Ramsey County judge on Thursday ordered state officials to fund essential state services if there's a partial government shutdown at the end of the month. If there's any dispute over which services are essential, they will be mediated by former Supreme Court Justice Edward Stringer.June 23, 2005
• Bush promotes Medicare drug plan in Maple Grove
  President Bush made a brief stop in suburban Minneapolis Friday to promote prescription drug coverage options soon to be available to Medicare recipients. Bush appeared at the Maple Grove Community Center before several hundred invited guests. His visit brought out hundreds of supporters and critics for a duel of signs and slogans.June 17, 2005
• Wisconsin lawmakers vote to ban morning-after pill at state universities
  The Wisconsin Assembly voted Thursday to make Wisconsin the first state in the country to move toward banning the so-called morning-after pill on state college campuses. The legislation would prohibit University of Wisconsin System health centers from advertising, prescribing or dispensing emergency contraception.June 17, 2005
• Bush visit comes amid worries over future of Medicaid
  President Bush visits Maple Grove Friday to talk about Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly. The president's visit comes at a time when an even bigger government health care program -- Medicaid -- is on the chopping block.June 17, 2005
• Shutdown preparations in full swing
  Minnesota could stop issuing new drivers licenses, lock up state parks and highway rest stops, and possibly lay off thousands of state workers if a new budget isn't complete by the end of June. Gov. Tim Pawlenty Wednesday outlined preparations for a partial government shutdown.June 15, 2005
• Highway projects would cease under government shutdown
  At least 175 major highway construction projects would be shut down on July 1 if Gov. Tim Pawlenty and state lawmakers fail to agree on a budget before then, Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau said Monday.June 13, 2005
• Berglin, key senator, underestimated at opponents' peril
  Sen. Linda Berglin's refusal to get out of the way of Republicans' plan to eliminate state health coverage for some 30,000 adults is a key to the Legislature's special session, one that could ultimately lead to a partial shutdown of state government.June 12, 2005
• St. Paul is falling short on hiring minority contractors
  The city of St. Paul has had a law on the books for more than a decade to encourage minority and women-owned businesses to work on city-financed projects. Some minority businesses say they aren't getting fair access to lucrative city contracts, and the numbers seem to bear that out.June 8, 2005
• Schools impatient for action on education budget
  School district leaders are relying a lot on guesswork this year as they prepare their annual operating budgets. They still don't know how much state funding is headed their way, because state lawmakers have yet to pass an education finance bill.June 2, 2005
• No signs of an end to budget stalemate
  Senate Democrats say they won't discuss Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposal for a 75-cents per pack cigarette tax until Republicans show they can pass the measure in the GOP-controlled House. The back-and-forth charges continue, as Pawlenty and lawmakers struggle to craft a new state budget.June 1, 2005

• Previous
• 110
• 111
• 112
• 113
• 114
• 115
• 116
• 117
• 118
• 119
• Next