February 9, 1998 - It's deadline week at the state capitol. Legislators have until Friday to get principal policy committees to pass their pet bills; legislation that doesn't make it through committee is effectively dead for the session. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste joins us from the capitol to take a look ahead at this week's action.
February 9, 1998 - House Republicans today (MON) announced they want to use the money generated by the state's tobacco lawsuit for state-wide tax relief. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin kaste reports the lawmakers aren't waiting to see how the trial ends to consider how to spend the money the state MIGHT win.
February 6, 1998 - Peace activists have gathered in downtown Minneapolis this afternoon to protest any military action against Iraq. About 200 people have gathered outside the Federal Courthouse building. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste joins me on the line now from Minneapolis .
February 6, 1998 - use this edited version Republican gubernatorial candidates made their pitch for the environmentalist vote last night (THURS). State Senator Roy Terwilliger and former State Representative Allen Quist took questions from the League of Conservation Voters, a group that's trying to get all the candidates on the record on issues ranging from nuclear waste storage to wetlands. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: If last night's League of Conservation Voters forum is any indication, urban sprawl and the transportation problems that go with it has become a top-priority issue for Minnesota environmentalists. The audience peppered the candidates with questions about land use planning, mass transit and gridlock -- and the two Republicans offered some surprising
February 4, 1998 - On the Governor's State of the State agenda are the USS Des Moines project in Duluth, the higher education and job training, and improvements for state parks. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports on the governor's priorities for 1998, and how he picked them.
February 3, 1998 - The Twins stadium is alive again at the State Legislature…just two months after lawmakers killed it. The stadium's chief cheerleader this time around is State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Roy Terwilliger, who says he has a plan Minnesotans will like a lot better than anything the Twins proposed last year.
February 2, 1998 - MPR reporter Martin Kaste previews the week ahead at the Capitol.
January 29, 1998 - Senate DFLer are proposing to RESCIND $500-million dollars in rebates on 1998 property taxes. It's part of what they call "Responsible Budget Management" ... but Republicans and HOUSE DFLers say taxpayers are entitled to the money.
January 28, 1998 - Mass transit trains for the Twin Cities will be in the spotlight today (WED) at the state capitol. Committees in both the House and Senate plan to consider light rail and commuter rail projects, and a coalition of interest groups are announcing their support for a bill to raise the gas tax and put some of the money into mass transit -- possibly, RAIL mass transit. Urban lawmakers say they think this may the year for rail transit at the Capitol... but as Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports, they've been optimistic before: The Twin Cities have been on the verge of building a rail system for YEARS... in 1988, then-Hennepin County Commissioner John Derus was SURE a Minneapolis light rail system was just around the corner:
January 28, 1998 - The highway lobby is trying again this year to get the Legislature to raise the state gas tax. The gas tax is constitutionally dedicated to highway construction, and the highway interests have been trying in vain to raise it for ten years. This year, they're hoping a new strategy will make the difference. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: The highway lobby and its rural allies at the Capitol have unable to get a gas tax hike through the Legislature since 1988 because URBAN legislators won't let them. A hard core of urban and a few suburban legislators has held the gas tax hostage for years because the rural lawmakers won't support more funding for mass transit in the cities. The pro-highway interests are now promising something for BOTH sides. They've introduced a bill to dedicate all sales taxes on cars