May 7, 1975 - Debate over the Berglin bill, a bill that would change evidentiary hearings in rape cases, is debated here. While agreement was generally seen over the main focus of the bill, debate ensued from the Republican side over whether or not removing codes regarding sodomy and adultery would contribute to the further decline of the nation's moral standing.
May 7, 1975 - Jerome Blatz, a Republican Minnesota State Senator from Edina, voices his displeasure with the 1975 tax bill under debate on the Senate floor. Reporter Dulcie Lawrence adds that Blatz proposed amendments to the bill, but minority requests would probably be rejected.
May 9, 1975 - Property tax increases average 15 to 20 percent across the state and substantially higher in some cities. John Weston, Duluth city assessor, thinks his city is absorbing all the property tax it can, around 6 percent. He doesn?t think the tax was ever designed to carry such things as welfare, it was meant to take care of a municipality, it has been overused. U of M extension economist Arlee Waldo says for autonomy local governments need their own source of taxed revenue. State law prohibits local sales and income tax. A tax other than property tax would be worse because of variability. The property tax provides a smaller portion of government revenue than it used to. In 1971 it accounted for 47 percent, last year it dropped to 34 percent.Allen Boyce of the Citizen?s League Committee favors a gradual decrease in revenue from property tax to 25 percent. He says the overall level of tax is determined by how much money govenment spends. Every man?s tax break is another man?s tax burden. One problem facing cities is inflation and government method of funding projects.
May 13, 1975 - Nearly 300 gather for the first annual Seven County Senior Federation meeting in Northern Minnesota. Senior citizen activism spreading across the state, outward from the Twin Cities. Clausen says older people have clout and they should use it at the Legislature to lobby for senior issues. Discount prescription drug program announced. Adolf Tobler speaks on seniors being pushed aside. Another speaker talks about how he got an itemized bill from hospital. The Gray Panthers, as they?re called in parts of the country, hope the six existing senior groups will expand into a powerful statewide orgainization.
May 13, 1975 - Senate passes workman?s compensation increase and unemployment compensation bills. Metropolitan planning bill goes back to committee. Would require local governments and school districts to follow Metro Council growth plan. with coordination among adjacent communities for services.
May 15, 1975 - A Midday presentation of speeches by environmentalist and author Sigurd Olson, and former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall at the annual meeting of the Northern Environmental Council in Superior, Wisconsin.
May 15, 1975 - A Midday presentation of speeches by environmentalist and author Sigurd Olson, and former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall at the annual meeting of the Northern Environmental Council in Superior, Wisconsin.
May 22, 1975 - Judge Lisa Richette, author of "The Throwaway Children", speaking on children's rights at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
May 24, 1975 - In this MPR Special, State Capitol reporter Dulcie Lawrence summarizes some of the highlights of the session, with commentary and taped excerpts from floor sessions, committee meetings, and interviews.
May 29, 1975 - Don Kendall, Chairman of Pepsi Cola, one of the first firms to become involved with trade between the U.S. and Russia, talks about detente and trade with the communists.