May 15, 2003 - Legislative leaders are still trying to negotiate an overall budget deal. They're saying it's unlikely they'll finish by next Monday's deadline and believe they'll need at least a short special session to complete their work. One of the major differences between Senate DFLers and House Republicans is on the health and human services budget. The two sides are hundreds of millions of dollars apart and differ on several policy issues. The House is proposing cuts to state subsidized health insurance programs and childcare assistance to help balance the budget. Senate DFLers are proposing a cigarette tax increase to offset the proposed cuts. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
May 16, 2003 - A medical mistake has propelled a Wisconsin woman into the national debate over lawsuits over pain and suffering. Linda McDougal, who underwent an unnecessary double mastectomy at a St. Paul hospital, is campaigning against a federal move to cap lawsuit damages on pain and suffering. Supporters of the cap say multi-million dollar verdicts are driving up the cost of malpractice insurance and forcing physicians out of high-risk medicine. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
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 20, 2003 - Minnesota lawmakers are back at the Capitol in special session, just hours after the regular session adjourned. Legislative leaders hope to finish passing a budget by this weekend. They say if informal conference committees don't wrap up a couple of major spending bills shortly, leaders will step in and resolve their differences. However, two key Senate DFL negotiators object to the leadership intervention. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
May 21, 2003 - Lawmakers will be back at the Capitol this morning in special session after failing to finish their work by the end of the regular session Monday night. Lawmakers aren't the only ones putting in long hours. There are about 1300 registered lobbyists at the Capitol -- and they, too, are staying up late these days. John Knapp is a longtime lobbyist. He says the days are hard, and stressful.
May 21, 2003 - Minnesota lawmakers will be back at the Capitol this morning for day two of the special session. Conference committees are working out the details of the next two-year budget, but five of the nine major spending bills are still unfinished. One of those is the contentious Health and Human Services bill, which provides funding for a wide variety of social programs, including health care and childcare subsidies. Joining us now are two lawmakers, Republican Representative Fran Bradley, who is chair of the Health and Human Services Committee in the House, and DFL Senator Linda Berglin, who chairs the same committee in the Senate.
May 22, 2003 - In day three of a special session, legislative leaders say they're making progress on a couple of fronts. They agreed on a bill funding K-12 schools early this morning THURSDAY, and say they're close to finishing a health and human services bill. They reached agreement on more money for state troopers, so Governor Pawlenty says he'll sign a bill for 2 a.m. bar closing times. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
May 23, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty is putting pressure on Senate DFLers to accept his transportation funding package. The Legislature is in the fourth day of the special session and leaders are working to resolve their differences on the three remaining budget bills and a bonding bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 26, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders have made a major breakthrough in budget negotations. Negotiators met late last night and into the morning to craft agreements on transportation funding, aid payments to local governments, and state borrowing. Lawmakers are expected to return later today to tackle the final piece of the puzzle the health and human services budget. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
May 27, 2003 -