AM 1240 WJON » King Banaian

Stock Market Soars to Record High [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:22:40 +0000

The Stock Market has been soaring lately. The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit an all-time high this (Tuesday) morning, topping the old record set in October of 2007.

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Winter Institute to Look at Central MN Economic Outlook

Lee Voss — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:52:41 +0000

A two-day conference that gives the economic outlook of central Minnesota enters it's 51st year when it gets underway tomorrow.

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Banaian: Social Security Tax Increase to Have Big Impact Locally [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:25:05 +0000

Most workers will still be paying more in taxes, despite the bill passed by Congress that staves off the "fiscal cliff". That's because the budget deal, which averts widespread income tax increases, does nothing to stop the Social Security tax increase. That means a $1,000 tax increase for someone making $50,000 a year.

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Verso Closing A Big Impact on Local Economy [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:39:13 +0000

The job impact on the closing of the Verso Paper Mill in Sartell will be far more reaching than just the plants workers. St. Cloud State University economist King Banaian says the 259 jobs lost this week, combined with the 175 jobs that were cut at the plant last December, will result in about 680 job losses region-wide.

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Banaian, Gottwalt 'Undecided' on Stadium Bill [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:11:17 +0000

The Vikings Stadium bill will be voted on by the full House on Monday. State Representative King Banaian of St. Cloud says he doesn't support the bill as it's written now.

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River's Edge Left out of Bonding Bill [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:03:55 +0000

St. Cloud lawmakers say they are disappointed money for the River's Edge Convention Center has been left out of the bonding bill. State Representative King Banaian says St. Cloud was promised that money.

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Banaian, Gottwalt Question Latest Vikings Proposal [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:39:21 +0000

Two St. Cloud lawmakers are skeptical of the Vikings stadium proposal that was unveiled yesterday (Thursday). The plan backed by Governor Mark Dayton, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, and the Vikings owners would build a $975 million stadium near the site of the Metrodome. The state would pay for it's portion with electronic pull tabs.

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Pederson, Banaian Hosting Town Hall Meeting

Jim Maurice — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:15:23 +0000

If you have questions about what's happening at the State Capitol, State Senator John Pederson and State Representative King Banaian are hosting a Town Hall meeting today (Friday).

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Banaian Questions Amendment Question Process [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:53:39 +0000

The Republican controlled House and Senate are considering putting a number of constitutional amendment questions on the November ballot. However, Republican Representative King Banaian of St. Cloud is not so sure that's a good idea.

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Banaian: Don't Eliminate State Worker Payouts [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:59:44 +0000

Minnesota lawmakers are floating the idea of eliminating payouts to state workers for unused sick and vacation time. Republican State Representative King Banaian is also a state employee -- he's a professor at St. Cloud State University. He says that benefit should not be eliminated.

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Local Lawmakers React to News of Budget Surplus [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:08:16 +0000

Minnesota lawmakers got an early Christmas present today (Thursday), a budget forecast of an estimated $876 million surplus for the rest of this two-year budget.

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Time Running Out for a Vikings Stadium Deal [AUDIO,POLL]

Jim Maurice — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:53:43 +0000

The clock is ticking, time is running out, forth down -- pick your sports cliche' -- the big question is, "who's going to blink first on the Vikings stadium issue?"

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St. Cloud State Lawmakers Host Town Hall

Jim Maurice — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 05:34:58 +0000

State Senator John Pederson, and State Representatives King Banaian and Steve Gottwalt will host a town hall meeting tonight (Tuesday).

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Stock Markets Continue To Struggle

Jim Maurice — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:49:20 +0000

It's another nervous day for investors on Wall Street. Standard and Poors downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+, which has investors selling off stocks. However, St. Cloud State Economics Professor King Banaian says the bigger picture is the overall global economy, which is also struggling.

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St. Cloud Leaders Want Civic Center, SCSU Included In Planned Bonding Bill

Jim Maurice — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:20:26 +0000

It's expected that a $500 million bonding bill will be part of the deal struck between Governor Mark Dayton and Republican Legislative Leaders. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says he expects St. Cloud to get some of that money for the Civic Center parking ramp.

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Local Lawmakers 'Hopeful' As Budget Talks Begin [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:51:51 +0000

Governor Mark Dayton and GOP Leaders have started an all-day meeting aimed at bridging their state budget differences. And that's given local lawmakers hope that a budget shutdown can still be avoided.

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Several Bills Left In Limbo As Regular Legislative Session Ends

Jim Maurice — Tue, 24 May 2011 18:19:23 +0000

We know the State Legislature adjourned the regular session without getting a deal done on a budget or a Vikings stadium. But there are a lot of other issues that have been left in limbo as well.

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Local Lawmakers Make 'No Per Diem' Pledge

Jim Maurice — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:38:37 +0000

At some point the State Legislature is going to have to go into a special session to complete the budget for the next biennium. Exactly when and how long that special session will is yet to be determined. However, we do know that whenever it happens several of our local lawmakers have pledged to not be paid for it.

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Legacy Amendment Bills Quietly Advancing At State Capitol

Jim Maurice — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:29:43 +0000

As the State Legislature and the Governor continue to spar over high profile issues like the budget, gay marriage, and a Vikings stadium -- there's also bills that have quietly passed that tinker with the State Land and Legacy Amendment. The Land and Legacy Amendment brings in hundreds of millions of dollars, and state lawmakers have been voting on conflicting bills on where that money should go.

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Representative Banaian Not Supportive Of Vikings Stadium Proposal

Jim Maurice — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:46:20 +0000

At least one St. Cloud Republican lawmaker does not support the plan to fund a new Vikings stadium. Two Republican State lawmakers sent a letter outlining the plan to their colleagues last (Thursday) night. It basically calls for the team to pay for one-third, a local government such as Ramsey county to pay for a third, and then the state to finance the final third.

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