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
June 11, 1999 - The Reform Party and the Republican Party are both holding all-day conventions on Saturday, and both plan to elect new chairmen and party executives. One potential new leader says it's time for his party to grow up a little; another says "stay the course."
June 11, 1999 - Governor Ventura says his new radio show "Lunch with the Governor" is his chance to "correct the media." The weekly, hour-long show premiered today on commercial radio stations around the state, and Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has the story.
June 14, 1999 - A campaign oversight panel says the company selling Jesse Ventura merchandise will be allowed to operate as a private corporation instead of a political committee. The company, "Ventura For Minnesota Incorporated" has said the money will be used to fund charitable activities and constituent services for the governor. The board's ruling means V-M-I won't have to report what it earns or how it spends the money, which political committees must do.
June 14, 1999 - Delegates to the Minnesota Reform Party's annual convention elected Mankato businessman Rick McCluhan as their new party chairman on Saturday. McCluhan says the insurgent third party is at a turning point in its history, and has to prove to voters that it's more than a "one-trick pony," as he puts it.
June 15, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura says state government needs to do everything it can to help Minnesota farmers and to prevent an economic collapse in rural areas. Last night, the governor participated in the first of four forums on agriculture this summer. He says he's open to several ideas including an anti-trust investigation of large farming conglomerates and the elimination of the state inheritance tax.
June 16, 1999 - St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman has formally launched his bid to bring the Minnesota Twins to downtown St. Paul. Yesterday, volunteers armed with petitions began collecting signatures to put a ballpark question on the November ballot. The proposal, however, is already drawing stiff opposition.
June 17, 1999 - Some regional legislators say they're feeling betrayed by Governor Jesse Ventura's liberal use of line-item vetoes for rural projects. Items receiving a gubernatorial veto include a new boiler at Winona State; and money for the flood control project near Willmar that's already received one million dollars in federal matching funds. And then there's the veto of a little-known adult education program in central Minnesota that helps rural immigrants get their high school equivalency degree or GED.
June 17, 1999 - Talk of Governor Ventura's presidential qualities was in the air at the state capitol yesterday after the San Francisco Chronicle ran a story claiming more Californians knew and like Ventura than their own governor. It turns out the newspaper story over-stated the case a little, but it forced Governor Ventura to explain once more that he has no intention of running for president in 2000.
June 17, 1999 - Today, June 17th, is the 90th birthday of former Minnesota governor Elmer L. Anderson. Few Minnesotan's who held public office are held in as high esteem as the 90-year-old Arden Hills resident.
June 18, 1999 - Governor Ventura today invited people who support public financing for a new Twins stadium to donate their own money to the effort. On his weekly radio show today, Ventura said he intends to set up a state-run gift fund for new sports stadiums. Some state leaders have dismissed the surprise proposal as a joke, but the donation fund may undermine the current effort by Minneapolis and St Paul officials to build a new stadium with tax dollars.