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Who's Ahead?
2004 Video Archive
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WEDNESDAY, May 12, 2004
HEADLINES
Legislative leaders spar as an end of session deal eludes them, a Senate committee continues gambling hearings and people opposed to a constitutional amendment defining marriage rush the governor's office.
WEEK IN REVIEW
Lawmakers are close to a deal, no wait it fell apart, they got close again, and melted down again. The gambling discussion reaches a new level as senators grill Caesar's Palace from Las Vegas.
HAIL TO THE CHIEF
After spending hours trying to mediate a deal Pawlenty's Chief of Staff Dan McElroy gives us the skinny on the unprecedented stalemate.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Sgt. Mike Parker tells us how he keeps the peace and deals with different administrations at the Capitol.
LAUGHS WITH LAWMAKERS
Oh the things they'll say, we look back at some of the wacky moments on the House and Senate floor.
WEDNESDAY, May 5, 2004
HEADLINES
Gay marriage debate heats up again, stadium bills in the Senate and gambling bills in the House.
MINUTE MAN
Cedar Ave. Rapid Bus Transit talks for 60 seconds to tell us why the state should fund its project.
WEEK IN REVIEW
The Senate threatens to go home, the House gets mad, the governor and lawmakers sign a Defense of Marriage pledge, the Senate releases its bonding bill and a House committee passes the stadium bill.
BIG DOGS
Speaker Sviggum and Majority Leader Johnson join Mary live to see if they can broker an end of session deal in a rare joint appearance.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Susan shows us how she juggles scheduling all the rooms in the Capitol with a school of Guppies looking on.
WEDNESDAY, April 28, 2004
HEADLINES
People on opposing sides of the gun issue celebrate and mourn the one year anniversary of the passage of concealed weapon legislation. We'll take you there for two different perspectives. The House spars over action or lack of action on solving the budget. Lawmakers continue to beat up a stadium bill in committee.
MINUTE MAN
We go back in time for 60 seconds with the Historical Society's bonding proposal.
WEEK IN REVIEW
A Senate committee votes to reject Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke. A House Committee takes funding for Northstar Commuter Rail out of the bonding bill. A liberal religious group and a conservative tax group join forces to talk about the costs of gambling. Hearings begin for a stadium bill and senators sound off about being behind schedule.
STADIUM SQUABBLE
Rep. Doug Stang and Rep. Alice Hausman square off on the stadium bill while the bill gets put the ringer in a tough House committee.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Colleen from the Attorney General's office tells about dealing with the public and what you can learn about people from their shoes.
WEDNESDAY, April 21, 2004
HEADLINES
The governor tries to get Twins games back on TV to help the stadium bill stay alive at the Capitol. MnDOT releases stats on snow removal while Democrats quickly criticize the numbers. A House committee hears testimony on leaving out money for the homeless in their bonding bill.
MINUTE MAN
Big dogs talk biosciences as two of the top names at the U of M and Mayo get 60 seconds to ask for bonding money.
WEEK IN REVIEW
The House approves a mourning dove hunting season while their tax bill comes together with questions about gambling. The House bonding bill is out with surprising money for Northstar commuter rail, a casino bill hits a snag, the Senate Tax Committee also talks gambling and lawmakers want to stop people suing food companies for obesity.
TAX CHAIRS
Two Harvard grads give you a reason to care about AMT, FOC and SUV changes in tax laws. Rep. Ron Abrams and Sen. Larry Pogemiller join Mary to debate live in the House Gallery.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Rema shows us why Legislative Assistants help lawmakers try to show up on time and much more
WEDNESDAY, April 14, 2004
HEADLINES
Attorney General Mike Hatch files a lawsuit against a company selling bullet proof vests to Minnesota law enforcement that he says aren't always bullet proof. Top Republicans (Pawlenty, Coleman, Kline, Kennedy) talk tax relief while leading Democrats blame the aforementioned for increased property taxes.
MINUTE MAN
Our most elaborate, entertaining 60 seconds brought to you by the Department of Corrections!
WEEK IN REVIEW
There's a tentative agreement in the bus strike, the Senate passes a bill to increase the minimum wage, both chambers move on reforms to the State Lottery and Hispanic Media Day is declared in Minnesota.
MINORITY LEADERS
Sen. Dick Day and Rep. Matt Entenza always provide a candid, even humorous take on all things political. Get their reaction to dueling tax press conferences and developments on the gambling issue.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Don Gemberling ends a 36 year career in state government. Find out why public information is his passion.
WEDNESDAY, April 7, 2004
HEADLINES
After about 12 hours of debate the Senate passes its huge budget bill. The House is dealing with one budget subject at a time and it passed bills dealing with transportation, state government, jobs and the environment. The gay marriage debate continues with the formation of a new interest group.
MINUTE MAN
The DNR talks flood mitigation in 60 seconds.
WEEK IN REVIEW
MnDOT announces its summer construction projects, Scots celebrate at the Capitol, the House passes more budget bills but runs out of time to vote on controversial English only drivers tests, meanwhile Republican woman stand up for embattled commissioners.
PRINT POLITICAL REPORTERS
The Star Tribune's Dane Smith and Pioneer Press' Jim Ragsdale get candid on gay marriage, boring budget bills, and predictions on confirmations and special sessions.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
The House mail man tells his heroic story of escaping Laos and becoming on the first permanent pages hired at the Capitol.
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 31, 2004
HEADLINES
It's a very busy day for big bills on the House floor. Late at night the House approves a K-12 and higher education bill with controversial language about shifting segregation money. An omnibus crime/judiciary bill passes with life in prison without parole for the worst sex offenders. And the House gives the nod to lowering the drunken driving limit to .08, but implementation doesn't happen until 2007 while the Senate's bill calls for 2004. Finally, on the eve of Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke's confirmation hearing, school board leaders line up behind her.
MINUTE MAN
We take you where few get to go, the Capitol catwalk inside the Rotunda's dome, to hear the pitch for fixing up the state's building.
WEEK IN REVIEW
A Senate committee rejects Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau's job as Transportation Commissioner. Another House committee sends the governor's stadium bill along, a deal is reached on conservation reserve land and Hmong leaders want to stop normalized trade relations with Laos.
HEALTH CARE CONCERNS
Sky-rocketing insurance rates, nursing home cuts, prescription drug costs--all fodder for the chairs of Health and Human Services Sen. Linda Berglin and Rep. Fran Bradley.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Joe the Janitor shows us how he cleans the Capitol with a smile. We promise that this is one real character!
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 24, 2004
HEADLINES
The full House approves a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, a first Senate committee kills a plan to bring back the death penalty, the business community joins forces to support a transit line between the Twin Cities and the governor weighs in to discourage some outsourcing of jobs overseas.
MINUTE MAN
Greater Minnesota gets 60 seconds to pitch its projects.
WEEK IN REVIEW
The largest rally of the session supports banning gay marriage meanwhile the Senate stops an effort to vote on the bill that thousands rallied for, lawmakers have a plan to get the buses running again while a committee hears about the impact of the strike and the governor's stadium bill passes its first House committee.
GAY MARRIAGE DEBATE
Just hours after the House voted in favor of banning gay marriage, we have the two leading interest groups debate Ann DeGroot from Outfront Minnesota and Tom Prichard from the Minnesota Family Council.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
John shows us how he runs the best snack shop at the Capitol without his vision.
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 17, 2004
HEADLINES
House Republicans release their shortfall fix, the Senate hears about the effects of the governor's budget, Republicans respond to a DFL ad blaming the governor for releasing sex offenders, a Senate committee starts to put together its sex offender bill and a final House committee votes on a ban of same sex marriage.
MINUTE MAN
The Pollution Control Agency gets 60 seconds to show us why they want state money for clean water.
WEEK IN REVIEW
Governor Pawlenty releases his long-awaited stadium plan, a senate committee passes a bill to make seat belt use a primary offense, a tobacco memorial wall is unveiled, the annual potluck celebrates an attempt to repeal a ban on pickles, DFLer launch an attack ad against Pawlenty, a new state building will be named for Gov. Elmer L. Andersen and lawmakers move closer to a racino.
STADIUM SQUABBLE
Two Democrats spar on stadiums, Sen. John Marty and Sen. Steve Kelley join Mary live in the House Gallery.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Dan Israel talks about being Clark Kent in his day job in the Revisor's office and Superman in his night job as a rocker.
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 10, 2004
HEADLINES
A border battle erupts over hunting in North Dakota as Attorney General Mike Hatch files suit, hunters in Minnesota are glad a bill passed committee to dedicate some of the sales tax to the environment, lawmakers say piles of old computers and electronics are hurting the environment and the wine in grocery stores debate is back.
MINUTE MAN
A masked man tells us why Minnesota State Colleges and Universities should get their bonding money in 60 seconds.
WEEK IN REVIEW
A House committee passes a ban on same sex marriage, senators debate sex ed and family planning, 1,000 Native Americans rally at the Capitol against a slot machine ban, Dru Sjodin's family and friends testify to get tough on sex offenders and senators want to raise the minimum wage.
GOVERNOR LIVE
Gov. Tim Pawlenty joins Mary for a live discussion on the hottest topics: border battle, environment, stadiums, gambling and more.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Glen the Senate electrician is the guy who keeps things running at the Capitol he also keeps things running as mayor of his town.
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 3, 2004
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HEADLINES
Big news day: lawmakers threaten to outlaw slot machines if tribes don't renegotiate the gaming compacts, Hatch and Pawlenty join forces on prescription drugs, a committee tries to deal with the alarming threat of meth, Democrats and Republicans want to help soldiers.
MINUTE MAN
The U of M takes us in to an old lab to show us why the state should give them bonding money.
TRAIN TUSSLE
It's an intra-party debate between Republican Reps. Krinkie and Tingelstad on Northstar commuter rail.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Art has the rare pleasure of watching his daughter do her work on the House floor as this 70-something keeps a pace that would tire a 30-something.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2004
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HEADLINES
Nursing homes drowning in regulations, State Auditor investigating schools, citizens rallying to protect water, lawmakers standing with ambulances, and more...
MINUTE MAN
Our intrepid photographer gives Northstar commuter rail 60 seconds to argue for state money.
WEEK IN REVIEW
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle want to restore LGA cuts, soldiers from Bosnia testify about taking college classes while overseas, criticisms abound on the governor's health care commission, senators struggle with how to track homeless sex offenders, Gov. Pawlenty hosts a hearing in Washington D.C. while AARP rallies for more prescription drug coverage back home, lawmakers want to commit pregnant women who abuse alcohol and students who skip school could lose their drivers licenses.
DEATH MATCH
On the eve of the death penalty bill's first hearing the bill author Rep. Tom Hackbarth and his opposition Rep. Keith Ellison square off on the divisive issue.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
The man with all the info, Scotty who runs the Senate Information Office, shows us why he's the hardest working man at the Capitol.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18, 2004
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HEADLINES
Education is the news with the state trying to opt out of No Child Left Behind with the U.S. Education Sec. in town, threats to reject Education Commissioner Yecke and new social studies standards.
MINUTE MAN
Our photographer gives the Planetarium 60 seconds to beg for money.
WEEK IN REVIEW
Lawmakers raise questions about casino inspections, state and federal education policy is debated and some want a law repealed that allows the state to put liens on homes and farms to pay for medical assistance.
GIRLS DISH THE DIRT
Three women who run three Capitol bureaus take you behind the scenes of covering the Capitol. Laura McCallum from MPR and Kerri Miller from KARE11 join Mary Lahammer live in the House Gallery.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Michael the Capitol tour guide gives us his story.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11, 2004
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HEADLINES
Students, sex offenders, stadiums and some other news...
WEEK IN REVIEW
The governor slips off to Iraq, pharmacists protest importing prescription drugs, senators want to change K-12 funding, lawmakers hear about Indian gaming, the Senate starts to approve Pawlenty's appointments, while a committee grills a commissioner and a group urges legislators to fund schools instead of stadiums.
MINUTE MAN
We kick off our new segment with the Minnesota Zoo's 60 second pitch for bonding money complete with lots of live animals!
MINORITY LEADERS
Sen. Dick Day and Rep. Matt Entenza are two of the most colorful, quotable characters at the Capitol. We'll tackle some of the session's biggest issues with these leaders.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Back by popular demand and because we had technical difficulty last week, Juanita the beloved Capitol Cafe Clerk will tell us all about herself.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4, 2004
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HEADLINES
A Senate committee ponders what to do with sex offenders, a new Bureau of Criminal Apprehension lab opens, lawmakers learn about the dangers of meth and Democrats detail their prescription drug plan.
WEEK IN REVIEW
The session opens with a Senate scuffle, the stadium screening committee releases its final results, people try to repeal the concealed weapon law, senators talk future education plans, the governor talks bioscience, the U of M appeals for more money, environmentalists ask for some of the sales tax and non-profits demand a better Minnesota.
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
Newly crowned Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson and House Speaker Steve Sviggum square off live in the House Gallery to cover the major issues of the session.
CAPITOL CHARACTER
Our new, most talked about feature profiling people from the Capitol kicks off with "Juanita" the famous Capitol Cafe cashier. (NOTE: There was an audio glitch in the broadcast. Click here to see this segment.)