March 14, 2002 - The Senate stadium bill includes an access fee which would be paid by the media to broadcast or cover games at the stadium. The stadium bill that the House is considering includes a special sales tax on newspapers and magazines. Lucy Dalglish is a former Pioneer Press reporter and Executive Director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in Washington, DC. She says taxes and fees that target the media have consistently been found to be unconstitutional. That's Lucy Dalglish with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in Washington, DC.
March 14, 2002 - The President of the Dakota Minnesota and Eastern Railroad was in Rochester last evening making the case for a 1and half billion dollar expansion. A few hundred people turned out to hear him defend a plan that could bring as many as 3-dozen high-speed coal trains through town. Two months ago a federal regulatory board approved the DME's upgrade. Rochester and the Mayo Clinic responded by filing suit in federal court arguing the ambitious project will hurt the city. Last evening's forum made it clear, this is an issue that will most likely be resolved in court. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports
March 14, 2002 - MPR’s Tom Scheck report that a Senate committee chairman looking into the cost of Governor Ventura's executive protection has postponed hearings originally scheduled. Senator Dean Johnson says he still expects the Transportation and Public Safety Budget Committee to take up the issue, but he hasn't decided on a date.
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March 15, 2002 -
March 15, 2002 -
March 15, 2002 - Governor Jesse Ventura enters the Twins ballpark debate with a plan of his own. Ventura's proposal avoids any new taxes, user fees, or surcharges, and relies strictly on a multi-part financing plan to shift the costs entirely onto the team. Lawmakers say the plan shows promise, but the package requires a substantial upfront investment by the Twins. The team has recently balked at paying cash upfront.
March 18, 2002 - Minnesota lawmakers are preparing for a busy week at the capitol. They have yet to agree on a bonding bill, phase two of balancing the budget, or a stadium bill. Legislative leaders say they hope to finish their work and adjourn by Easter. Joining us now is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief, Laura McCallum.
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March 19, 2002 - Longtime DFL State Senator Doug Johnson is retiring after more than 30 years in the legislaure. Johnson made his announcement yesterday, one day before a court-appointed panel was to issue a redistricting plan. Johnson is one of the state's most powerful lawmakers, having chaired the Senate Tax Committee for 21 years and more recently headed the Senate Finance Committee. Political observer Wy Spano has been watching Senator Johnson for many of those years. Spano is the Editor of Politics in Minnesota, and he's on the line now. That's Wy Spano, the co-editor of "Politics in Minnesota." For more information on Doug Johnson's retirement go to our web site, MinnesotaPublicRadio.org. That's also the place to look for the details of the redistricting plan when it comes out at 1:00 today.