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Government

• Minneapolis, Hennepin County approve budget cuts
  A divided Minneapolis City Council approved a series of job cuts Tuesday to account for a proposed $21 million cut in state aid. At the same time, Hennepin County officials approved $27 million in cuts to their budget, reducing more than 300 jobs, mostly at the county's hospital.April 2, 2003
• Vehicle registration fees would rise under road plan
  Vehicle registration fees, which were cut three years ago, would climb under an ambitious road-building plan backed by big-name Democrats and Republicans. The chairmen of House and Senate transportation committees are co-sponsors of the proposal that would pump $2.5 billion into road and transit projects over the next seven years.April 1, 2003
• Abortion measure passes House easily
  The Minnesota House has passed a bill that would require abortion providers to give women seeking an abortion 24 hours before the procedure is done. Supporters say the measure will ensure that women have all of the available information before they have an abortion. Opponents say the bill is filled with bad information and is an attempt to restrict the procedure in the state.April 1, 2003
• St. Paul's budget challenges
  The St. Paul city council will meet Wednesday to talk about Mayor Randy Kelly's proposed budget for the next fiscal year, anticipating a $33 million cut in local government aid.April 1, 2003
• "T" word surfaces at Capitol
  The debate over taxes at the state Capitol is heating up on several fronts. A key Republican lawmaker is proposing a $1 increase in the state's cigarette tax. Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he'll consider the idea, because the money would be used to offset another tax. And the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is the first interest group to come forward with a specific proposal to raise taxes since Pawlenty released his budget.March 31, 2003
• Role reversal ahead in budget debate
  The tables begin turning this week in the budget debate. After a month of dissecting - and in many cases denouncing - Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget proposal, legislators will provide a hint of what they'd do differently.March 31, 2003
• "Target Market" targeted to disappear
  Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been clear that he intends to use the three anti-tobacco endowments to help bridge the state's more than $4 billion deficit. The Legislature must still approve the plan, but using money from the state's tobacco settlement is likely to pass if other states' actions are indicators. While the governor says there will still be money appropriated for helping those addicted quit smoking and preventing others from starting, there's one group that'll disappear: "Target Market," a program for teenagers.March 31, 2003
• Senate gives heave-ho to Pawlenty's health, higher ed budgets
  In the first votes testing parts of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget, two Senate committees on Thursday rejected his plans for the state's welfare and health programs and his proposals for higher education.March 27, 2003
• Taxpayer group gives Pawlenty's plan a boost
  Minnesotans behind Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget plan gave him a hero's welcome Wednesday at a Capitol rally. A few hundred people attended the event, dubbed Taxpayer Day at the Capitol, and gave Pawlenty's no-tax-increase budget a strong endorsement.March 19, 2003
• House speaker uneasy with key features of Pawlenty budget
  The leader of the Republican House majority is cool to features of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget that are touted as safeguards against soaring local property taxes. House Speaker Steve Sviggum said Monday that he won't back a directive that would freeze wages of public employees at the local government and school district levels. And he said he is uncomfortable with so-called levy limits that would cap property tax increases imposed by county and city officials.March 17, 2003
• Pawlenty releases highway plan
  Gov. Tim Pawlenty has released a five-year transportation package that he says will jumpstart road and bridge projects across the state. The plan relies on borrowing $550 million for highway construction and seeks an equal amount in advance funds from the federal government. Critics say the plan is shortsighted and makes almost no allowances for public transit.March 14, 2003
• State employees rally against pay freeze
  More than 1,000 public employees converged on the state Capitol Thursday to demonstrate against proposed budget cuts and a plan to freeze public sector pay. Gov. Tim Pawlenty has fashioned a $4.2 billion deficit reduction package that relies heavily on spending reductions, and offers no new tax increases. Pawlenty has also proposed a wage freeze that would extend from state employees down to the city, county, and school district level.March 13, 2003
• Minneapolis Council approves budget cuts
  Minneapolis officials say layoff notices could be sent out to city employees by the end of this week, following a City Council vote to cut the city budget $20 million. The cuts are in response to proposed reductions in local government aid from the state.March 13, 2003
• Minneapolis prepares for cuts, while neighborhoods worry about public safety
  Minneapolis officials are clearing the way for upcoming staff layoffs. Employee reductions are in response to anticipated cuts in state aid that could trim the city's coffers by more than $40 million over the next two years. The council vote is expected to trigger quick action to lay off workers, even though many city leaders won't know the exact amount of state cuts until at least May.March 13, 2003
• Revised budget contains more fees, cuts, shifts
  Income tax preparers, political contributors and candidates, public broadcasters and health maintenance organizations are among those pinched by a revised budget plan released Wednesday. Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration detailed $148.5 million in additional spending cuts, increased fees and accounting shifts. He's recommending the moves to deal with a bigger projected deficit through mid-2005 and to further stock state reserves.March 12, 2003

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