December 13, 2000 - If you turned on your television at 9 o'clock last night, you caught sight of an unusual spectacle. Reporters on every major network were already commenting on a complicated Supreme Court ruling they hadn't yet had a chance to read. Many got the story wrong, and only slowly came to realize what the decision really meant. Matthew Felling is Media Director of the Center for Media and Public Affairs in Washington D-C. I asked him what he thought of last night's coverage:
December 13, 2000 - Many are saying it's time for Al Gore to concede after last night's decision by the U-S Supreme Court. Yesterday, Second District D-F-L Congressman David Minge conceded and halted a recount in his race against Republican challenger Mark Kennedy. Minge had called for a recount after the certified vote totals gave Kennedy a victory margin of only 155 votes, but Minge determined yestreday that even if the vast majority of disputed ballots went in his favor, he would not have enough to win. Joining us now is Congress-elect Mark Kennedy.
December 13, 2000 - As the nation prepares for Vice President Gore's speech tonight, Congress is preparing for the transition to a Bush Presidency. Minnesota's Democratic senator-elect Mark Dayton says the Supreme Court's decision was a messy end to a messy process, but it is time to move on.
December 13, 2000 - The Saint Paul city council left most of the city's $44 million reserve fund untouched as it completed work on the 2001 budget today (Wednesday). In doing so, the council rejected mayor Norm Coleman's proposal to refund money to citizens in a one-time buy-down of their heating bills this winter. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
December 14, 2000 - The presidential contest is over, and Al Gore has conceded to George W. Bush. In a speech last night, the Vice President told the country that it's time to come together as a nation, and offered his support to Bush. After Gore's speech, Bush said he will bring a spirit of bi-partisanship back to Washington, and is ready to lead the country. The two speeches last night came a day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 to end manual recounts in Florida. Joining us on the line is Steven Schier, chair of the political science department at Carleton College.
December 14, 2000 - All PC companies are facing problems with sales. It is a good time for buyers, bad time for makers. A civil liberties coalition is fighting the framework for fighting computer crime, saying it would take away individual privacy rights.
December 14, 2000 - A group of civic leaders today released a strategic plan for Minnesota's economy calling for new state spending on merit based scholarships and funding for research. The proposals are part of a report calling for a broad-based effort to promote a state economy fueled by innovation, entrepreneurship and a skilled workforce. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
December 15, 2000 - Steven Schier, chair of the political science department at Carleton College discusses what lies ahead for President-elect George W. Bush and the legacy President Clinton will leave behind.
December 15, 2000 - Rod Grams spent his last day as a Senator preparing to vote on a 450-billion dollar budget bill. Grams has served eight years in Congress, serving one term in the House of Representatives and one term in the Senate. He lost his re-election bid to Democratic challenger Mark Dayton in November. Grams says leaving Congress is bittersweet.
December 15, 2000 - Congress is expected to vote on and pass a 450 billion dollar legislative package today that includes funding for labor, education and healthcare. Minnesota healthcare workers are watching the bill closely, because it contains 100 million dollars for the state's hospitals. The money is intended to make up for cuts in the medicare program after the 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Healthcare officials say its a step in the right direction, but that they'll need more funding to keep Minnesota's hospitals healthy. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post has this report.