Topics

Government

• Iron Range cities feeling singled out
  Cities on the Iron Range say they're getting a double dose of cuts from the Legislature, just when the Range is facing more mine closures. But the Pawlenty administration says the Iron Range has been getting more aid than it deserves for years.June 5, 2003
• House, Senate play cat and mouse with bonding bill
  One week into the special session, the Minnesota House has passed a transportation bill that could put as much as $900 million into road projects over the next four years. The bill would borrow for projects and use an advance of federal money, an approach criticized by Democrats as short-sighted. Senate DFL leaders say they won't take up the transportation bill until the House also passes a capital investment bill.May 28, 2003
• Last mile is the longest one for lawmakers
  The Legislature's extended stay at the Capitol was extended indefinitely Tuesday when new issues entered the picture and old ones wouldn't fade. By late afternoon, no votes had been taken on major budget issues, and negotiations on a $7.4 billion health and human services bill were still not completed.May 27, 2003
• Theater companies wait for final vote on bonding bill
  The bonding bill agreed to by legislative leaders provides money for a new Guthrie Theater and an expansion for the Children's Theatre Company - two flagship playhouses that are basking in recent national attention.May 27, 2003
• Health care for the poor
  The handful of hospitals caring for the majority of people without private health insurance insist the public should help cover the bills. But the costs of providing health care for the poor keep rising beyond what states like Minnesota are willing to pay.May 23, 2003
• Last minute lawmaking
  The Legislature is hoping to wrap up the special session by the end of this week. A team of Capitol reporters and experts evaluates the work of the lawmakers.May 23, 2003
• Blame game begins over slow pace at Capitol
  After two days of a special session, lawmakers have sent just two budget bills to the governor. The pace is slower than legislative leaders had hoped -- and the largest spending bills are still unresolved. One key lawmaker indicated the session could drag on past the self-imposed deadline of the end of the week.May 21, 2003
• Tax tug-of-war
  The Bush Administration will continue to negotiate for a larger tax cut than passed by the Senate. Bush and conservatives from his party say permanent elimination of a tax on dividends and other changes are needed to stimulate the economy.May 19, 2003
• Lawmakers getting close to special session
  Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he'll call state lawmakers back for a special session immediately if they don't reach agreement on a state budget by next Monday. Pawlenty and House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, say they're concerned that there won't be enough time to finish all of their work even if an overall budget framework is agreed upon soon.May 13, 2003
• Budget, potential death penalty and other top stories
  Host Mike Mulcahy and guests look at a range of top news stories including the latest on the state budget and what may become the first death penalty case in Minnesota in a century.May 9, 2003
• Pawlenty urges Republicans to stand tough on budget
  Gov. Tim Pawlenty told House and Senate Republicans Wednesday to stick to their principles and not raise taxes to erase the state's $4.2 billion deficit. "We are at a crossroads in this legislative session," he said during a sort of pep rally before the House went into session for the day.May 7, 2003
• Senate taps tobacco tax to keep safety net
  Continuing to play good cop to the House's bad, the Senate approved a health and human services spending bill that contains few of the cuts to social service programs in the version passed by the House. The $8.5 billion bill, which also funds prisons, passed early Saturday 38-27.May 3, 2003
• House bill to fund bureaucracy freezes wages, cuts cars
  Hold the phone, park the car and forget about a raise. That's the message the House sends to state workers with a $412 million finance bill that limits government-issued cell phones, reduces the vehicle fleet and freezes employee wages and health benefits for the next two years. It also would curb employees' ability to strike.May 2, 2003
• House passes 'tough but fair' human services budget
  Minnesota would be far less generous in subsidizing health insurance, helping with child care or giving cash grants to welfare applicants under a $7.1 billion budget bill the House passed early Friday. "The results were tough but fair," said Rep. Fran Bradley, R-Rochester, chairman of the health and human services finance committee.May 2, 2003
• Senate DFLers haven't backed off tax increase plan
  Senate Democrats began discussions Thursday on proposals for more than $1 billion in new taxes over the next two years. DFLers say the extra revenue is necessary to blunt the spending reductions outlined in proposals favored by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and House Republicans. But Pawlenty says he'll stand by his pledge to reject any new tax increases, and a key DFL lawmaker says it's likely the governor will carry the day.May 1, 2003

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