Health care providers and other supporters of those on state health programs say they want all of the money from a proposed tobacco tax increase to state health programs. (05/25/2005)

Gov. Pawlenty and legislative leaders on Tuesday threw open the doors to their usually private negotiating sessions. But the budget talks showed little momentum. (05/24/2005)

The Minnesota Legislature moved into special session one minute after adjourning its regular session around midnight on Monday. One of the big unresolved issues is education: how to fund it, how to pay teachers, whether to ban teacher strikes during the school year and whether to enact a voucher program. ( 05/24/2005)

The 2005 legislative session has ended, and the special session has begun. Lawmakers failed to reach agreement on several major spending bills before the constitutional deadline to adjourn. Gov. Pawlenty called them back into session immediately, despite the lack of a budget deal. (05/24/2005)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty wants to prevent Minnesota teachers from going out on strike during the school year. Critics say the plan is unacceptable, because it would significantly alter the collective bargaining process in school districts. (05/23/2005)

The closing hours of the regular legislative session did see agreement on a couple of major bills -- those affecting public safety and state government. (05/23/2005)

It's a Midday tradition: as the Legislature's regular session comes to a close the major players at the Capitol talk about what they've accomplished and the significant work that remains to be done. ( 05/23/2005)

With less than 24 hours to go before the end of the regular legislative session, state lawmakers are still trying to reach agreement on how to balance the state's budget. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Minnesota Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum. (05/23/2005)

Gov. Pawlenty is proposing the state collect an additional 75 cents a pack on cigarettes. He's calling the new money a "health impact fee," and says the money would be used to pay for state health-care costs. Pawlenty insists his proposal is a fee, not a tax. The distinction is critical because a budget deal could hinge on Pawlenty's ability to come away from negotiations saying he's standing by his pledge to not raise taxes. (05/20/2005)

A plan that puts video slot machines in the Twin Cities International airport is making its way through the state House. It would authorize the State Lottery to install the machines so that only ticketed passengers with boarding passes could use them. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, who is the sponsor of the plan. (05/20/2005)

A proposed constitutional amendment, overshadowed by the gas-tax debate and shielded from Gov. Tim Pawlenty's transportation bill veto, will let Minnesota voters decide next year whether to earmark vehicle taxes for roads, bridges and transit. (05/19/2005)

Minnesota lawmakers have yet to hash out how much they'll boost state education spending over the next two years. A look at one school's attempts to deal with tight budgets. (05/19/2005)

A bill allowing more law-abiding Minnesotans to legally carry a handgun easily passed the House on Wednesday and now goes to the desk of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who supports the bill. (05/18/2005)

Senators dared Gov. Tim Pawlenty to make good on his no-new-tax pledge by approving a road-funding bill Wednesday with a dime-a-gallon gas tax increase. (05/18/2005)

For the second day in a row, the House Taxes Committee postponed a hearing Tuesday on a plan to build two casinos at Canterbury Park race track. The bill's backers conceded that they did not have the votes they needed. With a standing pledge to veto statewide tax increases, what will the governor do to balance the budget if his $200 million casino plan fails? ( 05/18/2005)