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
August 12, 2003 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews Wendell Anderson, former governor of Minnesota; and Chuck Ruhr, a Minneapolis advertising executive, as they look back at the 1973 Time magazine issue that highlighted the state of Minnesota. Anderson and Ruhr discuss the Minnesota reflected in those pages and how things have changed.
August 13, 2003 - California voters will get a taste of Minnesota in their gubernatorial recall election campaign. Dean Barkley, who founded Minnesota's independence party and orchestrated Jesse Ventura's 1998 election win, has been brought on board to direct California independent candidate Arianna Huffington's campaign. Barkley also served as interim senator after the death of Paul Wellstone last fall. He says he intends to pattern Huffington's run after Jesse Ventura's miracle victory.
August 13, 2003 - A behind-the-scenes feud between Governor Tim Pawlenty and DFL Attorney General Mike Hatch spilled into the open today (MONDAY) as House Republicans called for an investigation of Hatch. In response Hatch released letters detailing sharp disagreements between his office and the Pawlenty administration over how to appoint an independent counsel to investigate possible campaign finance abuses. The spat is the latest round in an ongoing series of recriminations between DFL and GOP officials at the state Capitol. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
August 14, 2003 - MPR’s Jayne Solinger interviews R.T. Rybak, Mayor of Minneapolis. Rybak delivered a 1.2 billion-dollar 2004 budget this afternoon. The mayor proposes to avoid further layoffs by drawing down the city s rainy day fund. He plans to rehire thirty-four firefighters laid off this year and add a class police recruits, which had been cut from the last budget. The budget isn't painless by any means. Most Minneapolis homeowners will see their property tax bills rise 18%. Rybak calls the budget the "Light at the end of the tunnel."
August 15, 2003 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on the Minneapolis city budget, which continues to drop by millions of dollars. Mayor R.T. Rybak says he sees some reason for optimism. Rybak delivered his 1.24 billion-dollar budget proposal for 2004, saying there will be no more layoffs. In fact, he says the city will hire more police and firefighters. But the strain of debt and the second round of cuts from the state mean property taxes for Minneapolis homeowners will continue to rise. Report includes commentary form various city officials.
August 20, 2003 - California Governor Gray Davis was on statewide TV last night in his political fight for survival. Challenger Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the first candidates running television ads, and a judge today may rule on whether to delay the recall effort. Two Minnesotans, well known in political circles, are helping California gubnatorial candidate Arianna Huffington. Dean Barkely is her campaign manager, and Bill Hillsman is heading up the ad campaign. Hillsman is known for his creative ads for the late Senator Paul Wellstone and former Governor Jesse Ventura. Hillsman says the biggest reason he's working for Huffington is that they are friends.
August 21, 2003 - In a live broadcast from the Minnesota State Fair, Midday’s Gary Eichten interviews Amy Klobuchar, district attorney for Hennepin County; and Susan Gaertner, district attorney for Ramsey County, about current events and major issues of fighting and preventing crime in the Twin Cities and Minnesota. Klobuchar and Gaertner also answer audience questions.
August 27, 2003 - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak says he wants a police chief who keeps city streets safe, but also holds officers accountable and can be creative with the department's complex budget. Rybak makes his comments as the search for a replacement for Police Chief Robert Olson gets started in earnest.
September 5, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty said today FRIDAY the state will seek a federal disaster declaration because of drought conditions. He says it appears about 50 of the state's 87 counties qualify for disaster assistance because of the late-summer drought. Some House Democrats say the governor should also start putting together a state disaster relief package. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
September 9, 2003 - A day-long session in Duluth kicks off five regional public programs scheduled around the state this month to discuss identity theft. Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar is the president of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association, who along with AARP is sponsoring the forums. Klobuchar says identity theft in on the rise both across the country and in Minnesota.