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 5, 2005 - Governor Tim Pawlenty today (THURS) blasted a Senate DFL plan to raise taxes on upper-income Minnesotans. The Senate tax bill would create a temporary eleven percent top income tax rate. Senate Democrats who support the plan say it asks Minnesotans who benefitted from the economic boom of the 90s to help balance the budget. But not all Senate Democrats back the plan, as Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
May 12, 2005 - Despite pressure from party leaders, a handful of House Republicans who broke party ranks on the gas tax late last night held firm today (Thu) when the plan came up for final approval. The gas tax would go up ten cents a gallon under the transportation bill the Minnesota House passed on a 72 to 61 vote. The move is in open defiance of Governor Pawlenty's "no new taxes pledge." Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 12, 2005 - (NOTE FROM KHOO: As of 10:30pm last night, the governor and Sviggum were planning to reconvene budget talks at 10am Thursday. It's not clear whether Johnson will attend or will continue with his fly-around. The governor's office says Johnson has been invited to attend the meeting, but they haven't heard yet whether he'll accept. Johnson himself and his staff had left by the time the meeting broke up last night, so he wasn't able to answer the question directly. I point all of this out because this story indicates Johnson WILL stick to the tour, and that may no longer be accurate.) With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, Governor Pawlenty is urging legislative leaders to reach a budget deal. The call came as the House was passing a vastly different tax bill than the one that passed the Senate last week. And taxes aren't the only issue on which the House and Senate are far apart. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
May 15, 2005 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on Minneapolis DFL convention results. A 12-hour convention for the Minneapolis DFL party over the weekend failed to produce an endorsement for either Mayor R.T. Rybak or challenger Peter McLaughlin. After five ballots, McLaughlin was leading 53 percent to Rybak's 45 percent before the delegates voted to award no endorsement. The two candidates now head for the primary.
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May 20, 2005 -
May 20, 2005 - Governor Pawlenty today (FRIDAY) proposed that the state collect an additional 75-cents a pack on cigarettes. He's calling the new money a "health impact fee," and says the money would be used to pay for state health care costs. Pawlenty insists his proposal is a fee, not a tax. The distinction is critical because a budget deal could hinge on Pawlenty's ability to come away from negotiations saying he's standing by his pledge to not raise taxes. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
May 20, 2005 - Former Vice President and Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale shares his thoughts about Nixon’s trip to China in 1972, and of Minnesota Opera's performance of "Nixon in China" by John Adams.
May 25, 2005 - Health care providers and other supporters of those on state health programs say they want all of the money from a proposed tobacco tax increase to state health programs. Governor Pawlenty wants to charge cigarette wholesalers an additional 75 cents on every pack of cigarettes sold in Minnesota. Pawlenty's calling the charge a "Health Impact Fee." But critics say they're not happy that the so-called "health fee" wouldn't be spent entirely on health care programs. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 26, 2005 - Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the 2.8-billion dollar higher education funding bill today (THURSDAY) in Rochester. It's the first major budget legislation to pass in the regular session. Lawmakers continue to meet in special session to patch significant gaps in the remaining two year state budget. The state's college and university leaders say the recent session was much better for higher ed than past efforts. But students and others say the progress isn't enough. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.