March 8, 2002 -
March 8, 2002 - A plan to fund a new Twins ballpark -- and possible a Vikings stadium -- is on its way to the full Senate for consideration. On a 17-to-10 vote the Senate Tax Committee approved the measure which draws on user fees and a variety of specialized taxes to finance the plan. The legislation also requires a referendum before the facility's host community could impose local sales taxes to support construction. Even as the package is picking up steam, however, it's getting mixed reactions from the teams that would benefit. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
March 12, 2002 -
March 12, 2002 -
March 13, 2002 - BENSON: The Senate this afternoon passed a Twins stadium bill after seven hours of debate and legislative maneuvering. The plan is now on hold until the House takes similar action -- and ballpark supporters acknowledge significant obstacles remain. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo followed today's debate and joins us now from the Capitol. Michael, why did it take so long for the Senate to reach a decision? KHOO: Lorna, ballpark legislation comes with considerable baggage from past debates -- and supporters of the current bill had to navigate some tricky waters to create a deal that enough lawmakers could support. As a result, amendment after amendment was offered to make the bill more palatable -- including diverting some funding to affordable housing or transportation or airport noise mitigation or requiring the pledge of allegiance before games are played. Most of those attempts failed, but the bill did pick up what Dean Johnson calls "barnacles" relating to housing and airport noise. Johnson's a DFLer from Willmar and the bill's sponsor. The bill also had to appease legislators from St. Paul and Minneapolis and ensure both sides that NEITHER was favored in terms of where a ballpark might be sited. BENSON: There were several close calls -- and more than once it seemed like the bill might fail. What happened? KHOO: Well, at one point, the bill was amended to give St. Paul more or less the right of first refusal if a ballpark is ever built. That would have cost the support of Minneapolis lawmakers and almost certainly would have sunk the bill. But after more maneuvering and some changed votes, that pro-St. Paul provision was neutralized. On final passage, however, the bill failed to get the three-fifths supermajority needed to pass a statewide sports memorabilia tax. That seemed to doom the package for good -- but it was revived and the statewide tax was reduced to a metropolitan-only tax. That meant the bill could proceed on a simply majority. It did: 37-to-30.
March 13, 2002 - For the first time since Jesse Ventura took office more Minnesotans dissapprove than approve of his performance. In a poll released today, 43 percent approved of the governor's performance while, 49 percent disapproved. Approval of the Legislature was higher, at 55 percent. Craig Grau is an associate professor of political science at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He says he thinks the public is judging Ventura more on his attitude than his record:
March 13, 2002 -
March 14, 2002 - A relatively small, regional railroad, the Dakota Minnesota and Eastern, has a bold plan to expand its range. The proposal takes the DM&E into the Powder River Basin coal fields and requires more than 250 miles of new track in Western South Dakota and Eastern Wyoming. Opponents have sprung up along that new section of railway. They are ranchers concerned about tracks cutting through their land and Native Americans who say the project will trample all over treaty rights. As our series "Tracking the Plains" continues, South Dakota Public Radio's Joshua Welsh reports another point of opposition may be found just under the surface of the ground.
March 14, 2002 - The Minnesota House has spent most of the day debating budget-cutting bills. The bills are part of so-called "phase two," the Legislature's attempt to plug the remaining 439-million dollar projected hole in the state's two-year budget. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum joins me now from the Capitol with an update. How far along are House members with this plan? Just about done - today passed four of five budget-cutting bills most controversial - and the bulk of the cuts are in health and human services bill - nearly 62-million dollars this biennium - repeals the expansion of health insurance for children - reduces eligibility for general assistance and general assistance medical care programs - low-income adults - many Democrats - including Representative Tom Huntley of Duluth - criticized the cuts in the bill... "This bill goes specifically after our most needy citizens - those in regional treatment centers, those with mental illness, and balances the budget on their backs."
March 14, 2002 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports that a Twins ballpark bill has limped across the finish line in the Senate. It's the first time a stadium bill has succeeded in the House or Senate since 1997. The bill survived several potentially lethal amendments and passed only after lawmakers scaled back a proposed statewide tax on sports memorabilia.