Over the decades, MPR has presented the many different perspectives of Minnesota politics and politicians. This collection is home to a multitude speeches, interviews and debates on the issues of the day. Important topics of civil rights, environment, crime, budget, legislation, and campaigns are addressed.
Click on link to these well-known figures to see audio segments directly related to them: Michele Bachmann Arne Carlson Keith Ellison Hubert Humphrey Amy Klobuchar Eugene McCarthy Walter Mondale Tim Pawlenty R.T. Rybak Jesse Ventura Paul Wellstone
April 18, 1996 - Minneapolis officials say they're outraged by Governor Carlson's veto of funding for expansion of the city's convention center. The $12-million dollar convention center cut was the project in the $38-million dollars Carlson trimmed from the half-billion dollar bonding bill.
April 24, 1996 - State senator Skip Finn will resign. The Cass Lake DFLer awaits sentencing on charges related to taking money from a tribal insurance fund he set up for the Leech Lake Band of Chippewa. But no sooner did legislative leaders close the book on one legislative ethics case, they re-opened another.
May 1, 1996 - MPR’s Gar Eichten interviews U.S. Senator Rod Grams about raising gas taxes across the country and discussion of repeal of federal gas tax increase.
May 2, 1996 - No simple slogan has emerged yet, characterizing the issues of the 1996 presidential campaign. Back in 1992 it was about "The Economy Stupid!" But as Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, a group of policy makers, pundits, journalists and community leaders is attempting to define the issues this campaign season.
May 2, 1996 -
May 2, 1996 - State Republicans say correspondance obtained from inside the Wellstone re-election campaign suggests the U-S Senator has violated the spirit of campaign finance laws. They say Wellstone appears to be depositing contributions that would exceed federal limits on his campaign with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. A campaign finance watchdog group says the Republican charges don't appear to hold much water.
May 6, 1996 - Congressman Bruce Vento has introduced legislation to provide greater wilderness protection for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyaguers National Park. The bill is intended to counter legislation introduced by Representative James Oberstar to increase motorized use of the two areas.
May 20, 1996 - Midday speaks with Minnesota 8th District Congressman Jim Oberstar, whose in the studio to talk about aviation safety, the BWCA, the congressional debate over the budget, and more. Oberstar, the senior member of Minnesota's congressional delegation, also answers listener questions.
May 27, 1996 - A strong majority of voters surveyed in the Minnesota Public Radio/Pioneer Press/Kare 11 say the legal or ethical transgressions of DFL lawmakers last session will affect how they vote in statehouse races. That could mean trouble for the DFL, which is trying to hold on to majorities in the House and Senate.
May 28, 1996 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, along with leaders of "Common Cause" the state Independence Party and leaders of "United We Stand," is in Minnesota today promoting a campaign finance proposal pending in Washington.