October 15, 1975 - MPR’s Dick Daly interviews U.S. Representative Jim Oberstar about his proposed idea to expand the Boundary Waters Canoe Area that would comprise both a wilderness and a national recreation area by act of Congress.
October 16, 1975 - MPR’s Tom Steward reports on Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar's proposed bill prohibiting the removal of natural resources in BWCA, including logging. It also states no snowmobiling except in designated areas. A similar bill was submitted by Representative Doug Johnson.
October 16, 1975 - A presidential primary bill passed the House but did not receive a hearing in the Senate. It would have set April 6 as a primary date. Rick Scott (title unknown) says a primary comes too early, but the caucus system works well. Senator Skip Humphrey offered a bill to create a "regional" primary, grouping Minnesota with WI, the Dakotas and Iowa. Also in capitol news, a bill was passed restricting commercial development in the BWCA.
October 16, 1975 - A presidential primary bill passed the House but did not receive a hearing in the Senate. It would have set April 6 as a primary date. Rick Scott says a primary comes too early, but the caucus system works well. Senator Skip Humphrey offered a bill to create a "regional" primary, grouping Minnesota with WI, the Dakotas and Iowa. Also in capitol news, a bill was passed restricting commercial development in the BWCA.
October 17, 1975 - Cases of nine people convicted for roles they played in Wounded Knee occupation come before appeals court. The appeal is a consolidated one, with two lines of attack: one on US jurisdiction (the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty guarantees sovereign rights of Lakota people), the other, government misconduct (the FBI paid informant Doug Durham to infiltrate AIM). The appeals court many not act on treaty issues, so the case may be sent to the Supreme Court. Lawyer Vine DeLoria says for too many years the government has treated Indian tribes as sovereign some of the time and wards of the state at other times. She wants an unambigious ruling on what the relationship is, which has implications for Pine Ridge Reservation. A ruling expected in two and a half months. Martin Bunzl and Bob Potter report.
October 17, 1975 - Minnesota Senator Robert North says a domed stadium is "out of the question." Citizens do not want to be "held up" for the building cost of $60 million. Instead, he proposes improvements be made to Met Stadium and Memorial Stadium.
October 17, 1975 - An unknown speaker, who appears to be a representative for a Minnesota longterm care organization, says legislators need to visit nursing homes and talk to staff before instituting state laws. Presently, some laws impinge on residents' rights. Steven's Square administrator, Karen Stuvey, who appears to be speaking at a long term care conference, gave some examples of laws that don't work, like state inspectors going through residents' drawers and closets without permission.
October 17, 1975 - Minnesota legislative pay raises are needed to allow ordinary citizens to serve. So says Charles Baxtrom of the Citizens' League. He says it should be in the form of salary, not "per diem." House Majority Leader Martin Sabo agrees that compensation should be higher, considering how much time lawmakers spend attending meetings, meeting with constituants, etc.
October 17, 1975 - State Representative Fugina says the University of Minnesota Board of Regents tends to act on its own initiative without consulting the Legislature first. U. of M. President C. Peter McGraw disagrees. He says the appropriation process assures the Legislature sufficient control. A bill is in committee that would merge a Legislative "superboard" and the Board of Regents.
October 18, 1975 - Columnist Marianne Means speech on women in public life, at Worthington Community College. Means critiques how public perceptions impact the treatment of women, and the changes in women's rights created by ERA and women's movement.