January 29, 1999 - Governor Ventura's budget is getting higher marks from Democratic lawmakers than from Republicans. Senate DFL'ers generally like Ventura's stance on taxes and tobacco money, while House Republicans question whether the Governor is living up to his fiscally-conservative campaign rhetoric.
January 26, 1999 - City workers in Minneapolis and St. Paul would be able to live wherever they want, under a bill passed by the Minnesota House. For the past few years, both cities have had residency requirements for new employees. The issue sparked heated debate between urban and suburban House members, and prompted Speaker Steve Sviggum to threaten to remove disruptive lawmakers from the House Chamber, a comment he later reversed.
January 20, 1999 - The debate over how to spend Minnesota's six-point-one billion dollar tobacco settlement is heating up at the state Capitol. Legislative leaders are proposing that a chunk of the money be set aside for smoking prevention, and a coalition of consumer and health groups is calling for ALL of the money to be dedicated to health care.
January 19, 1999 - The House Tax Committee got its first chance to examine Governor Ventura's sales tax rebate today. Republicans - who would prefer an income tax rebate - are poking holes in the plan. DFL'ers on the committee like the idea.
January 18, 1999 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on Jesse Ventura’s lively inaugural bash as the 38th governor of Minnesota. Segment includes sounds and music clips from the event.
January 14, 1999 - The 1999 Minnesota House includes 21 freshmen, 14 of them Republicans, who helped their party gain the majority for the first time in thirteen years. Most of the Republican gains came from suburban districts, although one D-F-L'er won a traditionally-Republican suburban seat. Ann Lenczewski of Bloomington is considered a moderate Democrat. She's landed a plum assignment on the House Taxes Committee.
January 14, 1999 - The state chair of the Minnesota DFL is calling for a major party overhaul, in the wake of November election losses. Dick Senese's plan would streamline the caucus system, gut the party endorsement, and even change the party's name. Some party activists are already raising objections over the proposal.
January 13, 1999 - A Senate committee today approved a repeal of Minnesota's contentious ban on snowmobile studs. Angry snowmobilers warn of more accidents and lost tourism dollars if they can't use the carbide-tipped studs, while trail users argue studs will hack up the state's paved trails.
January 12, 1999 - A conflict of interest allegation against a state Senator today focused on taped phone conversations. A Senate ethics panel is looking into whether a consulting fee the University of Minnesota paid DFL Senator Dallas Sams of Staples amounted to a "kickback".
January 5, 1999 - (For Tuesday a.m. - Pair with Martin's piece) For the first time in Minnesota history, the two new caucus leaders in the House both hail from the suburbs. But it's even more unusual that the two grew up on the same street in South St. Paul. Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty (puh-LEN-tee) of Eagan and Minority Leader Tom Pugh (PEW) of South St. Paul also share a similar style - less partisan, more moderate - and the two attorneys remain friends, despite their political differences. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... Tim Pawlenty and Tom Pugh grew up seven houses apart o