December 18, 2000 - Minnesota's ten electors will assemble at the Capitol in Saint Paul today to cast their votes for Vice President Al Gore. The state's "winner-take-all" system gives the winner of the popular vote the entire slate of electors. But nationally and in Minnesota, pressure is building to rethink the electoral college status quo. In Minnesota, House Republican Marty Seifert will propose a bill in the upcoming legislative session that would allocate electoral votes by election results in each congressional district. Observers across the political spectrum say the bill may get a respectful hearing, but they say it's chances of passing into law are slim. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
December 18, 2000 - Everybody will be watching the Federal Government talking about finances. Chris Farrell talks about the meeting, Alan Greenspan, and what would be best for citizens.
December 18, 2000 - One of Minnesota's ten Presidential electors is Minneapolis City Council member Joan Campbell. She says like most electors, she was selected at a Democratic Party convention.
December 26, 2000 - During this legislative session tax cuts, education and redistricting will be the main focus for lawmakers. But anti-abortion legislation will also come up again this year. Both chambers in the Minnesota legislature are controlled by legislators opposed to abortion. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
December 26, 2000 - Since his days on the campaign trail Governor Jesse Ventura has railed against the state's local property tax system, calling it unfair, confusing, and in urgent need of reform. As a candidate Ventura had few hard proposals for reform, and his first budget as governor lacked any radical changes. But after studying the issue for two years Ventura and his top aides say they're now ready for a major change in property taxes. They propose taking general education funding completely off the property tax rolls, a nearly 1 billion dollar bite. Replacing that revenue with other taxes or spending cuts will involve tricky budget negotiations, and the plan is already facing tough questions at the Capitol. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has this preview of Ventura's property tax initiative.
December 26, 2000 - In this era of low unemployment, employers are having a difficult time hiring and retaining skilled workers. In the health care sector, where lives are at stake, the hiring crunch is even more severe. Hospital administrators say the nursing shortage comes at a time when the population is growing older and the need for care is growing. Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Doctor's Offices all say the biggest workforce shortage is on the frontlines of medicine: Nurses. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
December 27, 2000 - Remember your census form? The first results from the national headcount should arrive this week. Those numbers and the data that follow will lay the groundwork for a once-in-a-decade political battle. State lawmakers will examine hundreds of thousands of census blocks next year, all part of redrawing legislative and congressional boundaries to match shifting populations. Drawing a map is the easy part, but since the new districts will affect the balance of political power until 2010, drawing a map that all parties can accept may take years. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has this preview of the redistricting process.
December 28, 2000 - When lawmakers gather at the Capitol for the 2001 session, their main purpose is to pass a two-year state budget. Governor Jesse Ventura will reveal his budget in late January, a budget he's spent months preparing. Political observers say the Governor's second budget will define his administration by showing his top priorities. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
December 28, 2000 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Neva Walker, who was elected to represent District 61B in South Minneapolis. In a weeks time, she will be sworn-in as the first African American state legislator. Walker is a DFLer who, like all new legislators, will have to transition into her new job.
December 28, 2000 - In Minnesota the population grew by more than 12 percent in the last decade, enough for the state to hang onto all 8 congressional seats. The growth rate far outpaced the previous two decades, when the rate was closer to seven percent. Tom Gillaspy is the Minnesota State Demographer. He says the impressive increase wasn't impressive enough for Minnesota to hang on to its rank as the 20th most populous state: