April 21, 1998 - The special legislative session is over, as far as the Minnesota Senate is concerned. Yesterday (MON), the Senate approved legislation meant to help the Marvin Windows company win a lawsuit, as well as legislation allocating $12 Million dollars in extra spending on social programs. Members of the Minnesota House, on the other hand, are stuck at the state capitol for at least another day -- maybe two. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste explains why: --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 4284 | TIME: 2:51 | OUTCUE: "...soc --------------------------------------------------------- The Legislature could have wrapped up its special session agenda in one day. It won't, because House Republicans are out to make a point. It's the same point they made all throughout the regular session, and their leader, Steve Sviggum, welcomes the chance to make it one more time:
April 20, 1998 - The special session is over for the Minnesota Senate. It's approved the twelve million dollar social spending bill, and approved a bill to help out Warroad-based Marvin Windows with a change in the state law governing certain kinds of lawsuits. Marvin asked for the change to make it easier to win a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against one of its suppliers...a lawsuit company officials say they NEED to win. The House has yet to take up either bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste joins us now from our state capitol bureau.
April 20, 1998 -
April 17, 1998 - Governor Arne Carlson is calling lawmakers back to the Capitol on Monday morning for a special legislative session to help out the Marvin Windows & Doors company. Most legislators want to help Marvin... but that does NOT necessarily mean the session will go smoothly. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Legislators generally agree that it's a good idea to help Marvin Windows with a small change in the wording of state law. That change would make it easier for Marvin to sue one of its suppliers for fraud... Marvin says it bought a defective wood sealant from PPG Industries of Pennsylvania, and four-years-worth of wooden window and door frames are now rotting away as a result. Marvin's lawyers say if the company isn't allowed to sue PPG for fraud, it might not be able to handle the cost of
April 10, 1998 - A pile of bills including the largest bonding bill in the state's history is on its way to the Governor's desk. Legislators wrapped up the '98 session in the wee hours this morning, carving up the 1.9-billion dollar projected budget surplus into tax breaks and lots of public works projects. I asked capitol reporters Eric Jansen and Martin Kaste who the big winners were this session.
April 10, 1998 - The Minnesota Legislature wrapped things up late last night in a spirit of cordiality -- at least between DFLers and Republican Governor Arne Carlson. House Republicans were less pleased with the session's outcome, and they're promising to take their complaints to the voters this fall. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Governor Carlson wasn't able to stick around the capitol long enough to hear the final gavel of the legislative session -- he had to turn in early, to catch an early-morning flight for New Orleans. But he did take time to look in on both the House and Senate... and he assured lawmakers that he was finishing his last legislative session as Governor with no hard feelings: ((I know there are time when
April 9, 1998 - The State Legislature appears to be on track to adjourn tonight, thanks to a last-minute agreement with Governor Carlson on key bills. But rank-and-file members still have some long hours ahead of them to make the agreement a reality. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has been following their progress, and joins us live from our Capitol Bureau.
April 9, 1998 - The Governor and top legislators have a hand-shake agreement to resolve the impasse over the St Paul hockey arena. The all-encompassing, late-night deal also settles how much tax relief Minnesotans can expect, and it guarantees extra financial help for the state's schools. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: ((Up polka music)) The ten members of the Bonding Conference Committee played polka tapes to pass the time last night. They were supposed to be the ones resolving the stubborn St Paul hockey arena issue, but the REAL negotiations were taking somewhere else, between Senate Majority Roger Moe, House Sp
April 8, 1998 - Saint Paul city officials are negotiating with the state Senate to salvage state support for the Minnesota Wild hockey arena. The city had asked the state to contribute $65 million dollars for the arena, but the city is now considering a Senate offer that negotiators have characterized as "half a loaf." Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste joins us from the Capitol.
April 8, 1998 - Governor Arne Carlson has backed off his threat to veto a billion-dollar tax relief bill... for now. Carlson and legislative leaders reached a tentative deal last night (TUESDAY), but the truce is shaky. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: DFL leaders are trying to win Carlson's support for the tax relief plan by making a ten-percent increase in a program he likes -- one-time rebates for property taxpayers -- and by cutting out a few tax breaks he thinks are unnecessary, like a $20-million credit for higher education expenses. The Governor said those changes might be enough to earn the bill his signature... but he warned DFLers not to go through with a plan to earmark FUTURE state budget surplus monies to building pr