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
February 11, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty has plans for another full day in Baghdad today for the second part of his two-day trip to Iraq. Pawlenty is one of six American governors picked by the Defense Department for a surprise visit to the country... the first visit by governors since the occupation began in April. Pawlenty says the group wants to visit troops stationed in Iraq and learn more about the U.S. mission. Joining us now for a political perspective on the trip is Steven Schier, political science professor at Carleton College in Northfield.
February 24, 2004 - Governor Tim Pawlenty says federal concerns won't prompt him to shut down a state website that provides consumer information on Canadian pharmacies. The Food and Drug Administration sent Pawlenty a letter yesterday (MONDAY) calling the website "unsafe, unsound and ill-considered". Attorney General Mike Hatch says the FDA doesn't have any grounds for legal action against the website. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
March 1, 2004 - 15 years after state officials signed gaming compacts with Minnesota's Indian tribes, 18 casinos have been built. They generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, far more than anyone imagined they would. The state of Minnesota gets only a small sliver of that money and it's used to regulate the casinos.
March 2, 2004 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Fred de Sam Lazaro, of Twin Cities Public Television, about his experience with a Minnesota delegation in Thailand. The group is visiting a resettlement camp where 15,000 Hmong refugees are currently living. Because of the large Hmong population here, the Twin Ciites is expected to attract many of the refugees.
March 3, 2004 - The Minnesota State Board of Investment adopted a resolution today that would encourage the drug company, Pfizer, and other drug companies, to change their business practices. Minnesota's pension funds own about 476 million dollars in Pfizer stock. Governor Pawlenty, who sits on the investment board, proposed the resolution after the company cut off supplies to Canadian drug wholesalers that sell to Americans. Some worry that the proposed action could decrease Pfizer's stock price and hurt retirees who depend on the state's pension fund. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
March 4, 2004 -
March 5, 2004 - St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly returned from Thailand where he visited Hmong refugees awaiting relocation to St. Paul and other U.S. cities. The State Department recently declared about 15,000 Hmong refugees eligible to apply for relocation to the U.S., with between 4,000-10,000 Hmong refugees arriving in Minnesota as early as June 2004. Fred de Sam Lazaro, correspondent for PBS's Newshour with Jim Lehrer based at Twin Cities Public Television, traveled with Kelly to Thailand and prepared this report.
March 9, 2004 - Midday presents a report and conversation regarding Minnesota lawmaker’s debate of a bill that could lead to a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The constitution would state: "Only the union of one man and one woman will be recognized as a marriage in Minnesota."
March 12, 2004 -
March 15, 2004 -