December 23, 2010 — Barack Obama signed a landmark healthcare overhaul into law back in March, but throughout the year the measure didn't appear to win the hearts and minds of Americans. Republicans seized on discomfort with the reforms to make significant gains in November's mid-term elections, and many of the Congressional winners have promised to push for repeal. A number of states are also fighting the law in courts. We discuss the reform, and the likelihood it will remain the law of the land.
December 6, 2010 — There's just over a week left in the Minnesota Governor's race recount, and Democrat Mark Dayton's lead still stands at nearly 9,000 votes. Republican Tom Emmer's odds are dwindling. This past weekend, party leaders directed their frustration at Republicans who supported Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner. The Republican State Central Committee enacted a two-year ban on 18 prominent Republicans who publicly endorsed Horner. Former Republican Governor Al Quie was one of them, and he joins us this morning on the phone.
November 4, 2010 — Tuesday's election was historic for the Republican takeover of the state legislature for the first time in 38 years, but it was significant in St. Paul for another reason: The Capitol City elected its very first African American lawmakers to both the House and Senate. They won the seats vacated by the state's first two Hmong lawmakers.
October 9, 2010 — Gov. Tim Pawlenty repeated his opposition Friday to so-called "insurance exchanges," a key piece of health care reform. He said exchanges amount to government interfering with the free market. That's a reversal from 2007, when Pawlenty proposed his own insurance exchange program for Minnesota businesses. Pawlenty says his opposition to exchanges is the reason he declined to send the US Government a state response to questions about exchanges. Three prominent Minnesota health groups secured a copy of the response and sent it anyway. Former GOP senator Dave Durenberger, a health policy expert, says their move was understandable. Pawlenty says a 2008 state analysis of exchanges found they'd be ineffective at reining in costs.
October 8, 2010 — Gov. Tim Pawlenty repeated his opposition Friday to so-called "insurance exchanges," a key piece of health care reform. He said exchanges amount to government interfering with the free market. That's a reversal from 2007, when Pawlenty proposed his own insurance exchange program for Minnesota businesses. Pawlenty says his opposition to exchanges is the reason he declined to send the US Government a state response to questions about exchanges. Three prominent Minnesota health groups secured a copy of the response and sent it anyway. Former GOP senator Dave Durenberger, a health policy expert, says their move was understandable. Pawlenty says a 2008 state analysis of exchanges found they'd be ineffective at reining in costs.
October 8, 2010 — Gov. Tim Pawlenty is standing by his decision to ignore a federal request for input on a key piece of health care reform. The Department of Health and Human Services had asked states for their recommendations on "insurance exchanges." These are online marketplaces where consumers can compare and buy health plans. Pawlenty opposes health reform. He said today (Friday) exchanges are big government interfering with the free market. But three years ago, Pawlenty advocated a similar idea. Elizabeth Stawicki reports: During his radio show today, Gov. Tim Pawlenty expanded on why he decided against sending in a Minnesota health department report about health insurance exchanges. He said the best insurance exchange is the free market:
August 17, 2010 — The upcoming retirements of St. Paul lawmakers Mee Moua and Cy Thao means there won't be a Hmong legislator at the Capitol next session -- for the first time in about nine years. Last week, four candidates of Hmong descent tried to succeed Moua in the DFL primary election on St. Paul's East Side. But they lost to former St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington. Some political watchers predict it could be a while before the next Hmong-American is elected to the Legislature. Reporter Laura Yuen examines the future of Hmong politics in Minnesota.
August 5, 2010 — A state Senate primary on St. Paul's East Side is shaping up to be a political battle royale. Nine DFL candidates are competing for the chance to run for the District 67 seat being vacated by DFL Senator Mee Moua. Jess Mador introduces us to some of the DFL contenders.
July 6, 2010 — Senator Al Franken is in Southeast Asia where he says Laotian officials prevented him from seeing first-hand how 4,500 forcibly repatriated Hmong refugees there are living. Minnesota has one of the largest Hmong populations in the nation. Franken traveled to Laos to check on the refugees and their living conditions. Franken told reporters on a conference call that he did meet with about 150 refugees and got a helicopter tour but Franken says that's not enough.
June 29, 2010 — Minnesota Senator Mee Moua will always be remembered as the nation's first Hmong-American elected to a state legislature. And over the past several years, Hmong Minnesotans could proudly point to not one but two of their own holding office at the Capitol. But now that both Moua and Representative Cy Thao have decided not to run for re-election this fall, the number of Hmong-American lawmakers could dwindle to zero. Reporter Laura Yuen recently caught up Moua to find out what her departure means for the Hmong politics in Minnesota -- and what's next in life for her.