Minnesota Legislature
2008 Session Weekly
Session Weekly is presented here electronically as printed and distributed from the House Public Information Services (175 State Office Building). The electronic versions are not updated but contain exactly the same information as the printed copies.The Session Weekly has been posted as Portable Document Format (PDF) files. It can be
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Features a First Reading story recapping the 2008 Session � all sides declare victory; an At Issue story about how the deficit is fixed for now; Resources: House of Representatives roster; People: Sesquicentennial Minnesota House of Representatives; an At Issue story about how a new park, Central Corridor and veterans building cap off state�s bonding; an At Issue story about how schools given a little breathing room; an At Issue story about how the omnibus game and fish law holds a few surprises; an At Issue story about how Minnesota looks to set the national stage for health care reform; an At Issue story about how weeks of negotiation result in levy caps, tax reform and new credits; an At Issue story about how concern over REAL ID makes for strange bedfellows; an At Issue story about how bridge collapse report criticizes MnDOT; an At Issue story about how taming the �wild west�; People: Members say goodbye; Resources: Governor�s Desk; Resources: Come to the Capitol; Resources: Minnesota State Agencies; the Minnesota Index: Session 2008
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Features a First Reading story about product stewardship for a cleaner environment; an At Issue story about how the education policy bill veto puzzles House sponsor; an At Issue story about how despite veto, supporters of remain optimistic about health care reform; People: Berns steps down to focus on his family; Resources: Laws provide a window to history; the Minnesota Index: Experiencing Minnesota�s outdoors; and more.
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Features a First Reading story about how Reps. Lenczewski and Simpson offer conflicting visions to attain best tax policy; an At Issue story about how biofuel, veterans and livestock make for a memorable bill; an At Issue story about how the omnibus energy policy bill aims for small changes, big impacts; an At Issue story about how the variety of topics offered in the higher education bill; an At Issue story about how the omnibus public safety policy bill puts focus on future workers; an At Issue story about how the safety-first provisions highlight transportation omnibus bill; Resources: What you should know first about your legislator�s vote; the Minnesota Index: Gardening in Minnesota; and more.
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Features a First Reading story about how nuclear power is given a second look; an At Issue story about how merger talk has legislators asking Northwest Airlines to live up to its word; an At Issue story about how unallotment � a little-used tool in budget-balancing toolbox; an At Issue story about how the conferees hope to quickly complete work on E-12 education bill; an At Issue story about an office to raise awareness of early learning; People: Paulsen leaving House with hopes of moving to a new one; a Feature about how legislators find political refuge in fellowship; a feature about Minnesota celebrating 150 years of statehood; the Minnesota Index: Elder Minnesotans; and more.
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Features a First Reading story about how public money is being sought for Mall of America expansion; an At Issue story about rethinking property taxes; an At Issue story about how the House and Senate butt heads over survivor compensation; an At Issue story about how hospitals face nursing shortage; an At Issue story about how food vs. fuel drives ag and veterans affairs debate; People feature: Moe to go back to Bemidji; the Minnesota Index: Minnesota nonprofits; and more.
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Features a First Reading story about how Stranger-Originated Life Insurance policies raise questions; an At Issue story about how legislators disagree over ethanol�s impact on the environment; an At Issue story about the controversial �No Child Left Behind� has lawmakers looking for alternatives; an At Issue story about how food shelf needs are growing across the state; an At Issue story about tapping the high caucus turnout for new volunteers; Resources: Constitutional Officers; the Minnesota Index: Waste management; and more.
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Features a A First Reading story about how the clock is ticking on a proposal for a new state park in northern Minnesota; an At Issue about how the Bovine TB problem could define an industry and a community; an At Issue story about how the California �clean car� emissions bill faces opposition from ethanol, auto industries; an At Issue story about how an omnibus bill can be one legislator�s junk, another�s treasure; an At Issue about preparing youth for a world that�s flat; an At Issue story about the JOBZ program � some want it scrapped, others expanded; Resources: How a Bill Becomes Law; the Minnesota Index: State parks; and more.
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Features a First Reading story: Could an 1812 budget battle loom ahead; a feature about how a picture says a thousand words; an At Issue about how the capital investment bill is now in the hands of the governor; an At Issue story about how the state�s initiatives to address climate change may wait for another day; an At Issue story about how a new way to help homeowners and the neighborhood; an At Issue story about how the House is moving to help with mortgage foreclosure crisis; a People feature: Stepping Down � Tingelstad; Resources: Directions for coming to the Capitol; Resources: Tracking bills is just a mouse click away; the Minnesota Index: Tax collections, disbursements; and more.
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Features a First Reading story about how public TV stations look to state for help with digital conversion; an At Issue story about how psychiatric beds are full, but solutions are as complex as the problem; Resources: Contact information for constitutional officers; a People feature: Stepping Down � DeLaForest, Finstad, Kranz, Ozment and Walker; the Minnesota Index: Crime and Punishment; and more.
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Features a First Reading story about how small communities struggle for solutions to wastewater woes; an At Issue about how veterans cemeteries provide for a burial close to home; an At Issue about a heath care proposal that lays out an aggressive timeline; an At Issue about peak oil; Resources: Roster of the Minnesota House of Representatives; the Minnesota Index: Perils of poverty; and more.
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Features a First Reading story about the how governor�s budget reduction plan gets a lukewarm reception; an At Issue about how emergency responders are pushing for new training centers; an At Issue about how the omnibus game and fish bill is full of policy changes; the Minnesota Index: On guard; and more.
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Features a First Reading story about a bill for jobs and infrastructure; an At Issue about hope the tax bill will bypass veto pen; an At Issue about how the state is forced to put a price on clean drinking water; an At Issue about Primary Care � Your life depends on it; a Feature about a summer road trip was all about visiting projects; the Minnesota Index: State of employment; and more.
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Features a about First Reading story about how legislators prepare to tighten the belt; an At Issue about how the transportation plan becomes law; a People feature about political problems for six defectors; Resources: Roster of House members; the Minnesota Index: Are you covered?; and more.
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Features a First Reading story about how a capital crisis intersects with capital investment; Late Action about passage of the transportation bill; a Note: one member to step down, another apologizes; the Minnesota Index state roads; and more.
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Features a First Reading story about how the legislature sets out on the fast track; an At Issue about the Governor�s State of the State address; an At Issue about how Minnesotans could pay more in taxes for transportation; a feature about Session Weekly magazine's 25th anniversary � rooted in a commitment to keep the public informed; a People feature about how special session delivers for Drazkowski�s district; a feature about how a gas tax increase may be seen as palatable; the Minnesota Index: Session 2008; and more.