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
May 16, 2001 - President Bush will be in Minnesota tomorrow to release the Republican administration's new energy policy. Political analysts say it's no coincidence the president is coming to St. Paul given the city's mayor Norm Coleman has all but OFFICIALLY launched a campaign to unseat DFL Senator Paul Wellstone. They also say Minnesotans can expect a steady stream of big name Democrats AND Republicans and almost certainly more visits from President Bush leading up to next year's election. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
May 16, 2001 - House and Senate committees will vote today (WEDNESDAY) on legislative redistricting proposals designed to account for population shifts in the 2000 census. Senate D-F-L'ers released their plan yesterday (TUESDAY), and Republicans immediately attacked it as blatantly partisan. The posturing comes as time is running short for a redistricting agreement yet this session. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
May 17, 2001 - With the dedication of Mondale Hall at the University of Minnesota Law School, MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki profiles Walter Mondale’s law career. Mondale has been most noted for his career in politics, virtually nothing has been written about his time at the University of Minnesota law school and how his education and contacts there shaped his future and ultimately the future of Minnesota and the nation. Segment includes numerous interviews.
May 17, 2001 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on dedication of Mondale Hall at University of Minnesota Law School, which naked its building complex after its most acclaimed alumnus, Walter Mondale. Former President Jimmy Carter spoke at the dedication and praised Mondale as a man of integrity.
May 17, 2001 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports that it's unrealistic to expect the House and Senate to be settled on big bill items by June 30th. Governor Ventura said that he is not going to bail them out by allowing for a special session.
May 18, 2001 - (NOTE: THIS IS A NEW VERSION OF YESTERDAY'S ATC PIECE. IT HAS NOT BEEN RE-EDITED). Prospects for an orderly resolution to this year's legislative session have grown dimmer. Yesterday (THURSDAY), Governor Jesse Ventura warned lawmakers he has no intention of calling a special session if they're unable to pass major spending bills by Monday's adjournment deadline. But after a second late night of negotiations, House and Senate leaders failed to reach agreement. And House Republicans say they're skeptical about a Senate contingency plan to avert a government shutdown if a deal isn't forthcoming. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
May 18, 2001 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports that another day of budget negotiations passed at the Capitol with no deal. Legislative leaders have been meeting on and off with aides to Governor Ventura to try to break a logjam over major tax and spending issues. With less than four days left until Monday's adjournment deadline, a special session seems inevitable, and there's plenty of finger-pointing going on.
May 23, 2001 - Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone is cautiously optimistic about news that Senator James Jeffords of Vermont is leaving the Republican party. Jeffords' aides say he'll announce tomorrow that he's becoming an independent. Wellstone says the switch would be good for Democrats AND Minnesota:
June 6, 2001 - In the US Senate, Democrats are in control today for the first time in seven years. The switch means Minnesota Senators Paul Wellstone and Mark Dayton move from working in the minority... to the majority. The switch is a result of Vermont Senator Jim Jefford's decision to leave the Republicans, and declare himself an Independent. Joining us on the line to talk about the switch and what it means for Minnesota is Senator Mark Dayton.
June 7, 2001 - Hubert Humphrey's former press secretary Norman Sherman told the audience at today's Mondale lecture that Humphrey's personality played a key role in his success as a Senator. Sherman remembered how Humphrey instructed his staff to be nice to their political opponents - key Southern senators angry at Humphrey for his support of civil rights.