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 5, 2001 - Governor Jesse Ventura told the Willmar Chamber of Commerce that he's committed to his plan of property and income tax cuts while expanding the state's sales tax to include services. The governor says he won't bargain with the Legislature, which hasn't been enthusiastic about his plan. He says if lawmakers don't follow his proposals, including on education, he'll be very difficult to deal with.
April 5, 2001 - Governor Jesse Ventura says he isn't giving up the fight for campaign finance reform this session. In the previous month, a key House subcommittee dealt Ventura's reform bill a major setback by laying the plan over until the next year. But new legislation has emerged with many of the same provisions and supporters say it's not too late for action.
April 5, 2001 - St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman. He will be meeting with President Bush later today.
April 9, 2001 - MPR's Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum details bills and budget talks at the State Capitol. One includes a plan to build a new Minnesota Twins stadium with partial state funding. The proposal would provide $150 million in state money, which would cover half of the total stadium cost; the other half would come from the Twins and private sources.
April 12, 2001 - Residents in Fargo Moorhead are breathing a bit easier today after the National Weather Service lowered the projected river crest there by one foot. The crest forecasts were also reduced in Breckenridge and Grand Forks East Grand Forks,on the Red River, and at Granite Falls and Montevideo on the Minnesota River. Governor Jesse Ventura and Senator Paul Wellstone are touring the state today. Both made stops in Moorhead.
April 13, 2001 - Mainstreet Radio's Dan Gunderson reports that Governor Jesse Ventura wrapped up his two-day flood tour in East Grand Forks. The governor says he's pleased with how the flood fight is going all across the state. The lower flood crests predicted at most locations on the Red, and the Minnesota rivers, are allowing many communities a break for the Easter weekend.
April 17, 2001 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports on Governor Jesse Ventura criticism of Senate Democrats for not passing a tax rebate bill this year, despite an April 15th deadline for taking action. Appearing on MPR's Midday program, Ventura said the failure to act means the Senate will have to accept his proposal, shared by the House, which returns the entire current year surplus. But Senate leaders say they plan to remain at the bargaining table.
April 18, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson interviews State Patrol Chief Anne Beers about overtime being offered in fulfilling security of the governor. Some of Jesse Ventura's State Patrol security officers are earning nearly as much per year as the governor.
April 18, 2001 -
April 18, 2001 - U-S Senator Mark Dayton has spent much of his spring recess touring flood-stricken areas of the state. Today on Minnesota Public Radio's Midday program the freshman DFLer said he'd use his congressional influence to try to restore federal emergency aid President Bush has proposed cutting.