March 12, 1998 - Minnesotas House of Representatives is expected to take up its largest bonding bill ever today or tomorrow (Thursday or Friday). The package of capital projects weighs in at just under a billion dollars, but it doesnt contain key items the governor wants. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen report: The House capital investment bill is different from the one passed by the state Senate last week. At $945 million dollars, its a little smaller than the Senate package. It uses bonds to pay for the bulk of projects, while the Senate version would spend almost entirely cash. It includes state money for a St. Paul civic center and hockey arena that the Senate version doesn't, and doesnt include a major University of Minnesota research facility that IS in the Senate plan. Neither version is well received in governor Arne Carlsons
March 11, 1998 - The Minnesota Senate has approved a graduated drivers license system for teen-age drivers, but it doesn't have nearly the bite its author wanted. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports from the Capitol.
March 10, 1998 - Just as momentum seems to be building behind a constitutional amendment to preserve hunting and fishing in Minnesota the chief author is considering pulling it. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports from the Capitol.
March 5, 1998 - Minnesota's state senate has approved nearly a billion dollars in cash payments for parks, roads, college buildings and other capital investment projects. Todays passage of a capital budget bill puts the Senate in direct opposition with the House and Governor Arne Carlson, who say bonds should pay for long-term projects: Minnesotas Senate has passed a $954-million-dollar capital budget bill, following a lengthy argument over whether to pay for major projects with cash or on credit.
February 27, 1998 - The state Senate has passed a tax bill that would lower taxes for some Minnesotans, but Republicans say in a year with a huge surplus, the tax relief doesnt go anywhere near far enough. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports from the Capitol.
February 27, 1998 - Next Tuesday night, Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for Governor. This afternoon, political reporter Eric Jansen profiles a Republican candidate who has not held any political office before, Waverly businessman Dick Borrell. St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman is not the only GOP governors candidate w
February 27, 1998 - The Minnesotas Senate has passed a supplemental education funding bill that kicks an additional $163 million dollars into local public schools. Passage of the bill was nearly unanimous, but there was considerable debate over graduation standards. From the Capitol, Minnesota Public Radios Eric Jansen reports.
February 27, 1998 - Next Tuesday night, Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for Governor. State politics reporter Eric Jansen interviewed DFL candidate John Marty, a fourth-term state senator who lost a bid for governor four years ago. John Marty says a key difference between him and most (other) politicians is his refusal to take money from lobbyists and political action committees. He says that's why he can, as he puts it, fight the tough fights, like defeating plans to publicly finance a new ball park for the Mi
February 25, 1998 - Attorney General Skip Humphrey survived attacks by Republican lawmakers when the State Senate today debated a budget bill to fund government operations. Minnesota Public Radios Eric Jansen reports from the Capitol.
February 24, 1998 - Next Tuesday night, Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for Governor. Political reporter Eric Jansen prepared this profile of DFL candidate Ted Mondale: BackAnnounce: Our series of candidate profiles continues tomorrow morning on Morning Edition when Karen Boothe follows the Mike Freeman campaign. And at this time tomorrow evening, we'll hear about Republican Alan Quist.