May 19, 2003 - With less than 24 hours left in this year's regular legislative session, House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on only two of eight major budget bills. Late last night (SUNDAY), they also resolved several contentious issue surrounding pay and job security for state workers. Negotiators wrapped up their work on bills funding Higher Education and Environment, Agriculture, and Job Development. That leaves six more budget measures to conclude later this week in an expected special session. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
May 19, 2003 - The Minnesota House has voted 81 to 51 on a bill that would allow Xcel Energy to store more nuclear waste at the Prairie Island nuclear facility. Supporters say the 12 additional storage casks would keep the facility running and keep energy costs down. They also say it would require Xcel to spend millions of dollars a year on renewable energy sources. Opponents say the bill is a step back and would take the decision of future storage casks out of the Legislature's hands. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports....
May 20, 2003 - as they head into a special session. Conference committee members are negotiating their differences on several budget bills but legislative leaders say time may be running out. They say they'll intervene by the end of the day if the two sides can't compromise on the remaining bills. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 20, 2003 - Minnesota Lawmakers will return to the Capitol this morning for a special session. They ended the regular session at midnight last night, after passing just a small portion of the state budget. The House and Senate sent two budget bills to the governor, repealed the state's Profile of Learning graduation standards and passed a 2 a.m. bar closing bill. But the final hours of the session were marked by a bitter fight on the Senate floor which prevented a Prairie Island bill from a vote. We've heard from the lawmakers. Joining us now is Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
May 20, 2003 - The Minnesota Legislature's regular session came to a close early this morning (TUESDAY) with a filibuster that blocked final action on expanding nuclear waste storage at Xcel Energy's Prairie Island plant. The power company is seeking to increase waste storage in order to keep the plant operating through the end of its current federal license in 2014. But a handful of Senate Democrats managed to stall action on a measure that they criticized as environmentally unsound. The issue is likely to return in a special session that begins today. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
May 20, 2003 -
May 20, 2003 -
May 20, 2003 - Lawmakers at the state Capitol ran out of time in regular session to finish all their work, including a bonding bill. Senate DFLers wanted the bill this year and Gov. Tim Pawlenty agreed to it when DFLers gave up on their fight to raise some state taxes to limit deep spending cuts. The two sides agreed on a $175 million bonding bill but have yet to develop a plan on what construction projects to include. DFLers hope they can use some of that money for projects former Gov. Jesse Ventura cut from last year's bonding bill. Joining us on the line is DFL Sen. Keith Langseth, chair of the Senate Capitol Investment Committee.
May 21, 2003 - A bill that funds the state courts, public safety and public defense is on its way to Governor Pawlenty. The Minnesota House passed the bill this afternoon (Weds) on a 70 to 62 vote. Supporters say the bill, which is a compromise between the House, Senate and Governor Pawlenty, is the best they can do in difficult budget times. Lawmakers are working to pass a budget that erases a four-point-two billion dollar deficit without raising taxes. Opponents say the bill is filled with fees and is bad public policy. It was the only major piece of legislation to pass on the second day of the Legislature's special session. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 21, 2003 - The cost of going to a public college in Minnesota will likely go up hundreds of dollars this fall. Governor Tim Pawlenty is expected to sign a higher education funding bill that cuts each of the state's public university systems 15 percent. The bill that passed at the end of the regular session provides 10 million dollars more than Pawlenty had proposed. Still, critics say the cuts are short-sighted and will lead to an erosion of quality at the state's colleges. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.