April 9, 1998 - The Governor and top legislators have a hand-shake agreement to resolve the impasse over the St Paul hockey arena. The all-encompassing, late-night deal also settles how much tax relief Minnesotans can expect, and it guarantees extra financial help for the state's schools. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: ((Up polka music)) The ten members of the Bonding Conference Committee played polka tapes to pass the time last night. They were supposed to be the ones resolving the stubborn St Paul hockey arena issue, but the REAL negotiations were taking somewhere else, between Senate Majority Roger Moe, House Sp
April 9, 1998 - SOME POLITICAL ACTIVISTS SAY THE INTERNET MAKES AVERAGE CITIZENS MORE POWERFUL BECAUSE ELECTRONIC MAIL CAN BE A DIRECT PIPELINE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS. HOWEVER, SOME LAWMAKERS SAY THE ELECTRONIC VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS JUST ANOTHER VOICE TO IGNORE. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S JON GORDON REPORTS. AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS BUILT AROUND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, THROUGH VOTING, TOWN MEETINGS, CAUCUSES AND GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES. POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ARE CONCERNED THAT FEWER PEOPLE ARE GETING INVOLVED, BELIEVING THEIR VOICE DOES NOT MATTER. BUT SOME POLITICAL ACTIVISIST SAY THE INTERNET HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RE-INVIGORATE DEMOCRACY. THE WORLDWIDE WEB IS A CHEAP PLATFORM TO PUBLISH POLITICAL VIEWS. DISCUSSION LISTS GENERATE HEALTHY POLITCAL DEBATE. AND E-MAIL IS A CHEAP, EFFECTIVE WAY TO CO
April 10, 1998 - State lawmakers passed a health and human services spending bill early this morning after a compromise on abortion. The bill funds millions of dollars worth of health care and social service programs. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports from the capitol: The impasse over the Health and Human Services bill broke when abortion opponents dropped their demand that the bill include a ban on partial-birth abortions. Jackie Schweitz, of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life says she realized the Senate, led by Roger Moe, would not approve the ban, so her group settled for stronger abortion reporting
April 10, 1998 - The Minnesota Legislature wrapped things up late last night in a spirit of cordiality -- at least between DFLers and Republican Governor Arne Carlson. House Republicans were less pleased with the session's outcome, and they're promising to take their complaints to the voters this fall. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Governor Carlson wasn't able to stick around the capitol long enough to hear the final gavel of the legislative session -- he had to turn in early, to catch an early-morning flight for New Orleans. But he did take time to look in on both the House and Senate... and he assured lawmakers that he was finishing his last legislative session as Governor with no hard feelings: ((I know there are time when
April 10, 1998 - Governor Arne Carlson signed a bill this week to allow citizens, doctors, social workers, and law enforcement officials to report pregnant women who abuse alcohol. The purpose of the new law is to reduce the number of cases in which babies are born with brain damage or birth defects caused by excessive drinking of alcohol, a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports on the new law.
April 10, 1998 - SEVERAL OF SAINT PAUL'S CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE HAPPY TO HAVE FUNDING OF A NEW DOWNTOWN HOCKEY ARENA RESOLVED. MOST SAY THE DEAL MINIMIZES THE CITY'S FINANCIAL RISK IN THE 130 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S WILLIAM WILCOXEN REPORTS... IN THE WANING WEEKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION - WITH A REQUEST FOR HOCKEY ARENA FUNDING LANGUISHING BEFORE LAWMAKERS - SOME OF SAINT PAUL'S ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE SOBERED BY THE PROSPECT OF HAVING TO COME UP WITH NINETY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THE RIVER CENTRE ARENA. BUT A LATE-NIGHT LEGISLATIVE BREAKTHROUGH AND A REVISED DEAL WITH THE MINNESOTA WILD HOCKEY TEAM NOW HAVE CITY HALL DENIZENS CELEBRATING. CONGRATULATORY REMARKS AND BACK-PATTING MAR
April 13, 1998 - A special Talk of Minnesota call-in related to the Minnesota Citizens Forum on public financing of sports. Program begins with a report summary of forum; then MPR listener’s views are presented.
April 13, 1998 - MPR political commentators Bob Meek and Tom Horner will be in the studio to assess the Wellstone Presidential bid, the governor's race and other political issues. Program begins with report from Mark Moran in Iowa.
April 13, 1998 - Saint Paul for Monday--prior to the midday call-in at 11am AND note anncr; tag!!!!!!! Minnesota's gubernatorial candidates are finding that public financing of sports teams is one of the top political issues on the minds of voters. A cross-section of concerned citizens are participating in the SERIES of public forums sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio--the Star Tribune and KTCA-TV. They recently gathered in Saint Paul, Duluth, and Rochester for a teleconference on the issue of public financing of sports. Judging from their comments, MOST Minnesotans oppose such government funding: Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: ANNOUNCER TAG: TUNE IN TO MIDDAY THIS MORNING AT 11, FOR MORE ON PUBLIC FINANCING OF SPORTS AND THE GOVE
April 14, 1998 - MPR Senior Business and Economics Editor Chris Farrell, and State Senator Doug Johnson, who has chaired the Senate Tax Committee since 1980, discuss taxes and the political and financial trade-offs between "fairness" and "simplicity", as well as various proposals to change the tax system. Farrell and Johnson also answer listener questions.