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
January 17, 2001 - Some Minnesota lawmakers are looking for someone to blame for soaring natural gas prices. At a Senate committee hearing Tuesday, several Senators questioned whether consumers are getting gouged. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports, the reasons for the high prices aren't that simple...
January 17, 2001 - The Star Tribune reports this morning that Senator Paul Wellstone is expected to announce today that he will seek a third term in the U-S Senate. When he was first elected in 1990 Wellstone pledged that he would serve only two terms. He was also considering a run for Governor in 2002. Chris Gilbert, Chair of the Political Science department at Gustavus Adolphus College says he's not surprised that Wellstone is planning to run for the Senate again.
January 17, 2001 - Term limits have been set for Minnesota politicians since 1990.
January 17, 2001 - Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone ended months of speculation by announcing he will run for a third term in 2002. Wellstone says the political climate has changed since he pledged to serve only two terms. Wellstone's decision was praised by Democrats and panned by Republicans.
January 18, 2001 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone about his decision to run for re-election and the political environment. Wellstone also answers listener questions.
January 22, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Laura McCallum, MPR’s capitol bureau chief. McCallum previews Governor Ventura’s budget address and probable abortion topic in legislature.
January 23, 2001 - Seventh district D-F-L Congressman Colin Peterson was among a group of democratic and republican lawmakers who met with President Bush this afternoon. Peterson says the new administration invited lawmakers it views as policy-minded rather than partisan-minded for a get-to-know-you session. He says he came away from today's meeting with a good feeling about Bush.
January 24, 2001 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews John Brandl, dean of the Humphrey Institute, about his take on Governor Ventura's two year budget plan. It has been drawing mixed reaction from citizens and lawmakers. Many Democrats are concerned about Ventura's minimal spending increase, and some Republicans have echoed similar concerns. Brandl says Ventura's desire to hold the line on spending is flawed.
January 24, 2001 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports on reaction to Governor Ventura’s released budget plan which tightens the fiscal reins. When Governor Jesse Ventura took his first stab at the budgeting process two years ago, he acknowledged many of his proposals were based on former-Governor Arne Carlson's work, but Ventura is describing his latest effort as entirely his own. The plan calls for more than a billion dollars in tax relief and holds spending to about the level of inflation.
January 24, 2001 - Later today, the St. Paul City Council will meet with St. Paul police chief William Finney to discuss racial profiling. Two weeks ago, the police department released preliminary data on who officers stop on the streets. The data showed that African-Americans and Latinos were more likely to be stopped, AND more likely to be searched, than whites. Joining us on the line is St. Paul City Council member Jerry Blakey, who represents Ward One, just to the west of downtown St. Paul.