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
March 14, 2002 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports that a Twins ballpark bill has limped across the finish line in the Senate. It's the first time a stadium bill has succeeded in the House or Senate since 1997. The bill survived several potentially lethal amendments and passed only after lawmakers scaled back a proposed statewide tax on sports memorabilia.
March 14, 2002 - MPR’s Tom Scheck report that a Senate committee chairman looking into the cost of Governor Ventura's executive protection has postponed hearings originally scheduled. Senator Dean Johnson says he still expects the Transportation and Public Safety Budget Committee to take up the issue, but he hasn't decided on a date.
March 14, 2002 -
March 15, 2002 - Governor Jesse Ventura enters the Twins ballpark debate with a plan of his own. Ventura's proposal avoids any new taxes, user fees, or surcharges, and relies strictly on a multi-part financing plan to shift the costs entirely onto the team. Lawmakers say the plan shows promise, but the package requires a substantial upfront investment by the Twins. The team has recently balked at paying cash upfront.
March 18, 2002 - St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly convened a conference today designed to find out what the city can do to facilitate better cultural relations. The Mayor's Summit on Cultural Relations brought people who live in St. Paul together with city and state officials to discuss issues like economic development, education, public safety and health care. Kelly says the summit is a first step toward making the city a place where people of diverse backgrounds can live together in unity.
March 19, 2002 - Longtime DFL State Senator Doug Johnson is retiring after more than 30 years in the legislaure. Johnson made his announcement yesterday, one day before a court-appointed panel was to issue a redistricting plan. Johnson is one of the state's most powerful lawmakers, having chaired the Senate Tax Committee for 21 years and more recently headed the Senate Finance Committee. Political observer Wy Spano has been watching Senator Johnson for many of those years. Spano is the Editor of Politics in Minnesota, and he's on the line now. That's Wy Spano, the co-editor of "Politics in Minnesota." For more information on Doug Johnson's retirement go to our web site, MinnesotaPublicRadio.org. That's also the place to look for the details of the redistricting plan when it comes out at 1:00 today.
March 19, 2002 - Governor Jesse Ventura is coming back from Germany later today. His trip was intended to promote tourism in Minnesota and to build relationships that could result in more trade. On his trip, he made several speeches, and he met with the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, and with a number of business groups. Joining us on the line is Anneliese (ANN-uh-leese) Sullivan, president of the American German Business Club in Berlin. That's Anneliese (ANN-uh-leese) Sullivan, president of the American German Business Club in Berlin.
March 19, 2002 - For the latest on what's happening at the Capitol, go to the Session 2002 page on our web site, MinnesotaPublicRadio.org. Minnesota will get a new political map this afternoon. A five-judge panel will release new congressional and legislative district boundaries. The boundaries will reflect changes in population in the 2000 census, and could have a significant effect on this fall's elections. The panel of judges is determining the boundaries because Democratic, Republican, and Independence Party officials could not agree on a plan. We spoke with Mike Erlandson, who is the chair of the Minnesota DFL party, and Bill Walsh who oversees redistricting for the state Republican party. Walsh says he's hoping for a long-overdue correction in the district boundaries.
March 20, 2002 -
March 20, 2002 - The legislative redistricting map released by the court yesterday (TUESDAY) pits 52 incumbents - more than a fourth of the Legislature - against one another in the 2002 election. The plan also reflects the growing political clout of the suburbs. Under the plan, rural Minnesota and the inner cities lose some legislative seats, while suburban areas gain seats. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...