MPR: Session 2002: Finance

In his State of the State address, Gov. Ventura gave the Legislature until Feb. 5, to act on his budget recommendations or he would begin using "executive powers" to make cuts on his own. The state's latest revenue forecast suggests a budget shortfall of about $2 billion. With a tripartisan government, there is wide disagreement over how to balance the budget - tax increases, cuts in programs, or a combination thereof.

YOUR VOICE

• News Forum "Everyone is ranting and raving, 'no cuts' or 'no tax hikes.' Where does everyone think the money is going to come from?

AUDIO

The budget deal. Guests: Sen. John Hottinger and Rep. Tim Pawlenty. Listen (Midmorning - 5/16/02)

Negotiating a budget deal. Guests: Sen. Roger Moe and Rep. Steve Sviggum. Listen. (Midday - 5/13/02)

Gov. Ventura chides lawmakers for lack of progrress. Listen (4/11/02)

Gov. Ventura speaks to St. Paul Rotary Club about budget woes Listen (3/12/02)

Gov. Ventura vetoes budget deal Listen (2/25/02)

February budget forecast Listen (2/25/02)

Budget talks continue. Guest: Roger Moe Listen. (Midday - 2/25/02)

Ventura on the budget. Listen. (Midday - 2/19/02)

House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty and Sen. Asst. Majority Leader John Hottinger debate budget plans. (Midday - 2/8/02)

Budget cuts. Guest: Nina Archabal, director of the Minnesota Historical Society (Midmorning - 2/6/02)

Sen. Larry Pogemiller discusses tax proposals (Midday - 1/29/02)

Gov. Ventura defends early childhood cuts. (Midmorning - 1/29/02)

U of M President Mark Yudof - Midmorning (1/16/02)

Finance Commissioner Pam Wheelock - Midday (1/11/02)

Gov. Ventura presents budget-cutting proposals (1/10/02)

Reaction to Gov. Ventura's budget proposals - Midday (1/10/02)

RESOURCES AND LINKS

Gov. Ventura's budget cut proposals

DFL budget survey

GOP finances survey

MN Planning Issue Talk

SESSION ISSUES

State Finance

At-A-Glance
Lawmakers voted to override Gov. Jesse Ventura's veto of its budget bill. The House voted 95-38, and the Senate voted shortly afterward 53-14, turning their plan to erase the state's budget deficit into law. In Ventura's veto message, he said lawmakers took the easy way out. The law fills a $439 million hole in the budget mostly by speeding up some tax collections and delaying some payments to schools and counties until the next budget cycle. Lawmakers conceded it wasn't the best plan, but said it got the job done. Earlier in the session, the Legislature had solved the first $1.95 billion shortfall for 2002-03.


	Latest Finance News at the Capitol
	Lawmakers override Ventura veto of budget-balancing bill May 19- The Minnesota Legislature voted late Saturday night to override Gov. Ventura's veto of a budget bill. The bill erases the state's remaining $439 million projected deficit, but Gov. Ventura says lawmakers took the easy way out. While legislators overrode the budget veto in quick order, they struggled to agree on an anti-terrorism bill. Read
	More Reports on Finance
	•Lawmakers override Ventura veto of budget-balancing bill (5/19/02) • Budget deal is on Ventura's desk (5/15/02) •Lawmakers reach budget deal; Ventura 'disappointed' (5/15/02) • Lawmakers race the clock for budget deal(5/13/02) • Ventura's back in budget picture (5/9/02) •Lawmakers vow renewed effort to direct more money toward resources (5/2/02) •Tug-of-war over tobacco money escalates (4/24/02) • Theatrics take center stage at Capitol (4/11/02) • 'Not a dollar of common ground' (3/27/02) • Minus abortion provision, Senate advances budget bill (3/26/02) • Feds drop tax bomb (3/15/02) • Abortion issue tied to budget (3/12/02) • Senate, House far apart on 'phase two' budget fix (3/12/02) • Ventura objects to budget cuts (3/1/02) • Senate follows suits; overrides Ventura (2/28/02) • On second try, House overrides Ventura (2/27/02) •House fails to override Ventura (2/26/02) •Ventura's back in budget picture (2/25/02) • Ventura vetoes budget deal (2/25/02) •Ventura's back in budget picture (2/23/02) •Ventura plays cat-and-mouse with lawmakers over budget (2/22/02) •Budget deal: It's up to Ventura (2/21/02) •Ventura cut out of budget deal (2/19/02) • Ventura orders hiring freeze (2/14/02) •Senate passes budget (2/11/02) •Ventura scolds lawmakers over budget (2/8/02) • House Republicans release budget plan (2/7/02) •No appetite for taxes (2/4/02) •House, Senate disagree over funding unemployment (1/30/02) • Unemployment fund is drying up (1/28/02) • Gas tax proposal panned (1/22/02) • Labor leaders blast tax cuts (1/22/02) • Conservation Corps is target of budget ax The Civilian Conservation Corps put thousands of people to work during the Great Depression. And 20 years ago, the state of Minnesota started a similar program to put young people to work in the outdoors. But this might be the last year for the Minnesota Conservation Corps. (1/23/02) • Lawmakers prepare response to Ventura Gov. Jesse Ventura is challenging critics of his budget proposals to offer alternatives of their own. (1/11/02) • Governor proposes cuts, tax increases Governor Jesse Ventura Thursday proposed spending cuts and tax increases to fix a nearly $2 billion projected state deficit. (1/10/02) • Criticism is immediate in wake of governor's shortfall proposals • Educators react to Ventura's finance proposals • Metro school boards warn against state budget cuts • Large school district faces big budget cuts . • Ventura challenges lawmakers in State of the State address.

	E-mail this page

	Print this page

	Sign up to receive e-mail newsletters

	Audio help

	Text: Sm : Md : Lg