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
March 17, 1999 - Governor Ventura told economically distressed farmers in southwest Minnesota today he'll try to help them but could not offer any guarantees. Ventura and the farmers meet at the Jim Joens farm near the town of Wilmont.
March 18, 1999 - A "Talk of Minnesota" program, presenting the views of MPR listeners on the role of big time athletics at a university. Wendell Anderson, former Governor, University of Minnesota regent Gopher hockey player, joins the conversation.
March 18, 1999 - Hundreds of non-profit leaders spent MOST of the day at the capitol today to asking lawmakers to restore more than 60-million dollars in cuts proposed by Governor Jesse Ventura.
March 19, 1999 - The Academy Awards ceremony takes place this weekend, and Governor Jesse Ventura is heading to hollywood to lure more movie production to Minnesota. Minnesota landscapes and crew members have played a supporting role in a number of successful hollywood productions, and Jack Nicholson and Sean Penn recently met with the governor as part of a scouting trip to Minnesota. But some of the 5 thousand people who work in the industry here say Minnesota's film business is in a downward spiral.
March 19, 1999 - Today Governor Jesse Ventura told teenage boys at the Minnesota Correctional facility in Red Wing, they need to make better decisions to avoid getting caught up in the adult prison system. Juvenile justice officials say the Red Wing facility plays an important role but some want more emphasis on community-based programs.
March 29, 1999 - Governor Ventura spent part of the weekend back on the campaign trail, barn-storming through south-central Minnesota in support of senate candidate Terry Anderson. Anderson is the Reform Party candidate in the special election in district 26, and the party's leaders consider this their first realistic chance at winning a legislative election. As Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports, the party wants to prove Ventura's upset victory in November was NOT an isolated event.
March 29, 1999 - Senate Democrats and House Republicans called on each other today to give in and break the deadlock over tax rebates before the Easter break. Each side accuses the other of being inflexible, and neither shows signs of giving in.
March 30, 1999 - For Tuesday A legislative change gives Governor Jesse Ventura a chance to put a new face on the Metropolitan Council by naming up to sixteen new members at once. The speculation is that he make announce the names as early as today. The council is in charge of such mundane metropolitan matters as treating sewage and making sure the buses run on time. But it is also has the power to regulate Twin Cities development. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson talked to three people who have ideas for how the reconstituted Council should do it's job.
March 31, 1999 - Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura spent much of the day in East Grand Forks. The Governor heard about the destruction caused by the flood of 1997, and saw the rebuilding still underway. The Governor left a trail of one liners, and a ray of hope for residents looking for financial help from the state.
March 31, 1999 - Minnesota U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone and attorney general Mike Hatch held roundtables in Rochester, St. Paul, and Duluth today to push proposals that would give patients more abilitiy to fight their health maintenance organizations. The two Democrats say they're responding to horror stories of people who've been denied treatment or doctors who are paid not to refer patients to specialty care. However business groups contend the proposals will lead to higher health insurance costs and less coverage for people who need it.