Topics

Government

• The high cost of health care
  A new national report shows huge increases in health care costs nationwide. Americans spent 8.7 percent more on health care in 2001 -- the biggest jump in a decade. Prices surged for everything from prescription drugs to hospital stays. The report, issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, says that the nation's health care budget totaled $1.4 trillion in 2001. Why is this happening? And what are the possible solutions?January 8, 2003
• First battle at Capitol is over terrorism
  Before the opening gavel of the 2003 legislative session, lawmakers were already testing their political messages. House DFLers Tuesday floated a pair of themes linking state assistance to cities and counties with terrorism preparedness.January 7, 2003
• Higher education weighs budget challenge
  With a projected state budget deficit much larger than anyone thought, officials at the University of Minnesota and MnSCU are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.January 2, 2003
• Legislators will tackle standards and school funding
  Legislators' promises to protect K-12 education in the 2003 session have not been enough to ease the budget fears in Minnesota school districts.December 30, 2002
• No more boatload of money
  When the 2003 Legislature convenes Jan. 7, the main task facing lawmakers and Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty is how to deal with a $4.5 billion budget deficit. The financial squeeze will affect almost every decision they make in the next few months. Yet just a couple of years ago, state officials were swimming in a sea of cash. What happened?December 30, 2002
• Pawlenty names heads for agriculture, commerce
  Two more cabinet positions were filled Friday, when Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty named Gene Hugoson the commissioner of agriculture and Glenn Wilson the commissioner of commerce. The two appointments bring Pawlenty's cabinet to eight. He earlier named commissioners of finance, human services, pollution control, administration, revenue and labor and industry.December 27, 2002
• Paying county commissioners: How much is too much?
  Olmsted County commissioners recently voted themselves a 26 percent salary increase. It's the largest pay hike for commissioners in the county's history. Critics question the increase when the state and county are facing tough economic times. Supporters say higher salaries will encourage more citizens to participate in the political process.December 24, 2002
• Pawlenty names top tax collector, workplace safety official
  The executive director of a business-backed think tank signed on Monday as Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty's chief tax collector. The Republican governor-to-be named Dan Salomone to lead the Department of Revenue, one of the key posts in his administration. Pawlenty also tapped private attorney Jane Volz to run the Department of Labor and Industry, which handles workers compensation claims and workplace safety matters.December 23, 2002
• Ventura rejects Pawlenty plea to withhold aid to cities and towns
  Rejecting a plea from Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty, Gov. Jesse Ventura will make the state's full $544 million payment to local governments as scheduled Dec. 26. Pawlenty met with Ventura on Thursday to ask him to consider the idea, billing it as one of the state's only tools to fix a bigger-than-expected deficit.December 20, 2002
• Budget chief eyes arts for state cuts
  Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty's finance commissioner says state funding for the arts and humanities could be cut to balance the budget. Dan McElroy told the Twin West Chamber of Commerce on Friday that spending cuts have to be fair, and Pawlenty won't balance the budget on the backs of poor people.December 13, 2002
• U of M may go it alone in stadium chase
  The University of Minnesota should study building a Gophers-only football stadium now that the Minnesota Vikings have rejected a proposed shared stadium on campus, university president Robert Bruininks said Friday.December 13, 2002
• Pawlenty says deficit won't stall transportation plan
  Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty says he won't let a massive budget deficit prevent him from proposing a transportation plan next year. The state faces a budget hole of $4.5 billion over the next two-and-a-half years. Pawlenty says his transportation plan won't be as large as he'd like, but he says he can't ignore the state's transportation crunch.December 6, 2002
• Work begins on divvying up the pain
  Nearly every group that depends on state funding is nervous, in light of the $4.5 billion projected budget deficit announced Wednesday. And some groups say they have reason to be worried. Nursing homes, cities and counties say if their funding is cut, Minnesotans will feel the impact.December 5, 2002
• Minnesota's economy
  The reports of the state's anticipated deficit are out, and now it's time to look at what's going to be done about it. Host Gary Eichten is joined in the MPR studios by state economists to discuss what the next move could be, the condition of Minnesota's economy, and the revenue and budget situation.December 5, 2002
• Staggering Shortfall
  Minnesota's budget officials project a shortfall of $4.5 billion over the next two fiscal years. Government leaders have few places to look for funds to reduce a deficit. Current and past state leaders tell what can be done about a pending budget crisis.December 5, 2002

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