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 4, 2003 - The Minnesota Twins begin their home season against the Toronto Blue Jays and team officials say they expect a sold-out crowd at the Metrodome. Some Twins boosters had hoped to be laying the groundwork to replace the Dome by this time, but a ballpark bill passed in last session failed to produce a workable solution. So far in 2003, lawmakers have remained relatively mute on stadium legislation.
April 9, 2003 - MPR’s Dan Olson reports from the Mondale Lecture Series. A panel of Democrats, led by former Vice-President Walter Mondale, remember the so-called, "fabulous 89th", the Congressional session where many of this country's most familiar social programs became law.
April 15, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty took his no-new-taxes message to Duluth today. He spoke to a neighborhood business group. Protesters outside and business leaders inside expressed reservations about the governor's plan, but Pawlenty stuck to his message. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
April 16, 2003 - MPR’s Nikki Tundel interviews Chris Pesklo about his attempts to stop University of Minnesota rioting, and of losing a special hat. Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar says more felony charges are likely in connection with Sunday's Dinkytown riot. Prosecutors charged one 19-year-old yesterday with felony property damage. The rioters torched dumpsters and overturned cars after the Minnesota gophers won the NCAA men's hockey championship. Chris Pesklo was one of only a few onlookers who tried to stop the riots. He has lived in Dinkytown for almost 16 years. He says it wasn't hard for him to decide when it was time to step in.
April 21, 2003 - State lawmakers return to St. Paul from the Easter recess tomorrow . They'll spend most of the next month focusing on addressing Minnesota's $4.2 BILLION dollar budget shortfall. Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty is adamant the budget should be balanced WITHOUT raising taxes. Pawlenty campaigned heavily on a no new tax pledge...a pledge originally promoted by an organization called the Taxpayers League of Minnesota. In just a few years, Taxpayers League has become a major force in Minnesota politics.
April 25, 2003 - It's been six months since Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash... and many of his former campaign workers and senate staffers are carrying on his work. The crash near Eveleth killed Senator Wellstone... his wife Sheila... his daughter Marcia... 3 campaign workers and the 2 pilots. For Wellstone supporters... many of the past six months have been spent mourning ALL those who died. But a few weeks ago... a group of them started an effort to carry on his legacy called "Wellstone Action." Joining us on the line is Jeff Blodgett... former Wellstone campaign director... and now executive director of "Wellstone Action." Jeff Blodgett was Paul Wellstone's campaign director and he's now executive director of "Wellstone Action."
May 1, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty has released new guidelines for distributing aid payments to cities across Minnesota. Administration officials say the new local government aid formula eliminates historical inequities in state assistance and focuses exclusively on a city's needs and resources. But city representatives say the formula isn't the point. While the distribution of aid may change, they argue the governor is also slashing the total amount of aid across the board, leaving municipal officials with few options. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
May 6, 2003 - A new Minnesota Public Radio-St. Paul Pioneer Press poll finds about half of those polled think Governor Pawlenty is doing a good or excellent job. That's about the same as in a February poll by the same organizations. But the number of people rating his performance "poor" more than doubled, rising from 8 to 17 percent. Craig Grau is a political science professor at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and he's on the line now. That is Craig Grau, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
May 7, 2003 -
May 7, 2003 - Gov. Pawlenty, former governors Quie and Anderson and Vice President Mondale are all attending a tribute dinner for longtime Sen. Roger Moe. Sen. Moe reflects on his decades at the Capitol, reflecting on a career in public service.