June 10, 2003 - About 47-hundred Minnesota families with disabled children have until July 1st to decide whether to continue participating in a state-sponsored supplemental insurance plan. The Department of Human Services is sending out letters to families notifying them that rates could go up as high as a thousand percent as a result of state budget cuts. Proponents of the new law say the fees are based on a family's ability to pay. But several families say they can't afford the increase. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
June 6, 2003 - A Hennepin County District Court judge has issued a restraining order saying churches don't have to comply with parts of the new concealed carry gun law. The Edina Community Lutheran Church and several other religious organizations have filed a lawsuit against the state. The churches contend it's unconstitutional for the state to require religious organizations to follow certain parts of the lawin order to ban guns on their property. The judge, however, denied other parts of the church's complaint. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
June 3, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty and legislative leaders took their differing opinions of the legislative session across the state yesterday . The Legislature adjourned a ten-day special session on Thursday night by finalizing a budget that erases a four-point-two billion dollar deficit without raising state taxes. Both Pawlenty and Senate DFLers are using their separate tours to differentiate their ideas. Meanwhile, Minnesotans are already forming opinions about the budget. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
May 30, 2003 - A bill that authorizes borrowing of 237 million dollars for capital investments is on its way to Governor Pawlenty. The bill provides funding for statewide projects in the arts, flood relief and higher education. The bill was a top priority of Senate DFLers who said it would stimulate the economy. Opponents say the bill is inappropriate during a budget crisis. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
May 28, 2003 -
May 27, 2003 - Some changes may already be in store for the so-called concealed carry gun law that goes into effect tomorrow (Weds). Republican House Speaker Steve Sviggum says he'd like to make a change to the law in the final days of the special legislative session. The law requires local sheriffs to issue a handgun permit to almost any law-abiding Minnesotan over the age of 21. Both Sviggum and Governor Pawlenty say they'd like to make what they consider a technical correction to the bill. But opponents say the two leaders are backtracking because critics are calling the bill onerous. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 27, 2003 - The Pawlenty Administration and Republican House Speaker Steve Sviggum say they'd be open to considering changes to the so-called concealed carry law. The law takes effect tomorrow . The law requires local sheriffs to issue a handgun permit to almost any law abiding Minnesotan over the age of 21. The Legislature passed the bill earlier this session and within hours, it was signed into law by Governor Pawlenty. Opponents say the governor and the bill's supporters didn't carefully consider some aspects of the bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 26, 2003 - Legislative leaders are meeting again on this holiday in hopes of reaching a deal on the final budget bill. Lawmakers reached a deal early this morning on three of the four outstanding budget items. Leaders say they hope they can compromise on the $7.3 billion health and human services bill today. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
May 23, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty is putting pressure on Senate DFLers to accept his transportation funding package. The Legislature is in the fourth day of the special session and leaders are working to resolve their differences on the three remaining budget bills and a bonding bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 23, 2003 - Three days into their special session, state lawmakers have passed half of the state budget bills. The House and Senate passed a bill last night that funds education from pre-school through grade 12, as well as some adult education programs. The bill now goes to Governor Pawlenty. Supporters say they did their best to continue funding the classroom. Opponents say the bill makes significant cuts to early childhood education, special education funding and english as a second language. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...