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Midday
Midday
Archive for January 10 - 14, 2005
 [ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
Monday, Jan. 10, 2005
Hour 1 (11 a.m.)
Audio Rep. Jim Ramstad
Minnesota Rep. Jim Ramstad was named last week to chair the Oversight Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. This year the subcommittee plans to investigate ways to reform the tax code and Social Security--two of President George W. Bush's top legislative priorities. Why have these major parts of the federal government been marked for an overhaul, and what sorts of changes are on the table?
Guests:
Rep. Jim Ramstad represents Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District.

Related Links:
Document Web Resource: Congressman Ramstad's official Web page
Document Share your views in the News Forum.
Hour 2 (12 p.m.)
Audio A plan to change the pension system
Thanks in part to pensions problems at United Airlines and US Airways, the federal government's pension insurance program is running into the red, itself. U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao proposes changes to the government's Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation live from the National Press Club in Washington.
Related Links:
Document Web Resource: National Press Club
Document Web Resource: U.S. Department of Labor
Document Share your views in the News Forum.
Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005
Hour 1 (11 a.m.)
Audio Will voting quell the violence in Iraq?
Violence in Iraq continues leading up to the national parliamentary elections scheduled for Jan. 30. Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said Tuesday that "some pockets" of the country would likely be too unstable to participate in the vote, but that the elections would go on as scheduled. Will an election amid violence be viewed as legitimate? Will it bring stability to the country?
Guests:
Rick Stoll, associate dean of the School of Social Sciences at Rice University in Houston.

Related Links:
Document Share your views in the News Forum.
Hour 2 (12 p.m.)
Audio Crime and Punishment: Federal Sentencing Guidelines
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule any day now on the future of Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Last June, the court struck down Washington State's sentencing scheme, deciding that too much decision-making was being passed from jury to judge. Now the court must decide whether it must extend that logic to federal rules. National Public Radio's Justice Talking program examines the impact sentencing guidelines have had in the 27 years since Congress first signed them into law.
Related Links:
Document Web Resource: Justice Talking online
Document Share your views in the News Forum.
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005
Hour 1 (11 a.m.)
Audio What will 2005 hold for Minnesota's schools?
As expected, Minnesota's Senate Education Committee cleared the way on Tuesday for Education Commissioner Alice Seagren's confirmation. While the Republican Seagren enjoys bipartisan support in the Legislature, she still faces a difficult job in reconciling educators' calls for increased funding with a looming state budget deficit. What can students, teachers, parents and taxpayers expect from Minnesota's Department of Education this year?
Guests:
Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren.

Related Links:
Document Seagren confirmation sails through education committee
Document 2005 Legislature could provide funding boost to education
Document Minnesota teachers join the call for more school funding
Document Web Resource: Minnesota Department of Education
Document Share your views in the News Forum.
Hour 2 (12 p.m.)
Audio Kennedy has a plan for Democrats
In light of its electoral defeats in the House, Senate and the presidency, the Democratic Party is looking for ways to recapture the hearts of American voters. Democratic leader and eight-term Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy outlines his vision for the party in a live speech from the National Press Club in Washington.
Related Links:
Document Sen. Kennedy's official Web site
Document National Press Club
Document Share your views in the News Forum.
Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005
Hour 1 (11 a.m.)
Audio Minnesota cities want more money
A coalition of Minnesota cities released a report Wednesday calling for more money from the state and more flexibility in local tax collection. The report alleged that the "current system is not serving Minnesotans well or ensuring the state's competitiveness in an increasingly global economy." What's the best way to make certain that citizens get the best city government services at the best price?
Guests:
Plymouth Mayor Judy Johnson, president of the League of Minnesota Cities, and St. Cloud Mayor John Ellenbecker, president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities.

Related Links:
Document Capitol Notebook from the Associated Press
Document Web Resource: Financing Local Government Task Force Report
Document Share your views in the News Forum.
Hour 2 (12 p.m.)
Audio No Place to Hide
In the 1990s, the data industry mushroomed. Vast computer systems quietly gathered staggering amounts of personal information about virtually every American adult, mostly for business and marketing purposes. After the 9/11 attacks, national security officials reached out to data companies for help in finding potential terrorists. "No Place to Hide," a new documentary from American RadioWorks, tracks the dawning of this brave new world of private and government surveillance.
Related Links:
Document American RadioWorks
Document Share your views in the News Forum.
Friday, Jan. 14, 2005
Hour 1 (11 a.m.)
Audio Evaluating the governor's education proposal
Gov. Tim Pawlenty released his plan for increasing K-12 education funding two percent a year over the next two years on Thursday. Pawlenty's proposal also included incentives for schools to scrap their seniority-based teacher compensation plans in favor of performance pay. Democrats and school officials called the proposed funding increase a good start, but insufficient.
Guests:
Reps. Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville, and Barb Sykora, R-Excelsior. We also hear from Judy Schaubach, president of the statewide teachers union Education Minnesota.

Related Links:
Document Governor's education budget pushes changes in teacher pay
Document Share your views in the News Forum.
Hour 2 (12 p.m.)
Audio Why are bad movies made?
Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan says that movie production houses have figured out how to minimize the impact of bad reviews and even old-fashioned word of mouth. Using mass marketing blasts to pack theaters on a film's opening weekend, Turan says the big studios can make most of their money before word gets out about how bad a movie is. In this speech from the Commonwealth Club of California, he argues that this strategy of cashing out quick has led to lower standards in cinema.
Related Links:
Document 2004 Holiday Movie Reviews
Document Share your views in the News Forum.
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