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 31, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews North Dakota poet Larry Woiwode on his dismay over Minneosta Governor Pawlenty’s decision to veto bill that would have established a poet laureate for Minnesota. At least 34 states have poet laureates. Like the majority of those writers, a Minnesota poet laureate would have received no tax dollars. But it wasn't the money that concerned Governor Pawlenty. Instead, he feared that naming a state poet would lead to requests for a Minnesota mime or state interpretive dancer.
June 2, 2005 - DFL State Senator Steve Kelley says he's in the race for governor next year. The Hopkins resident says his campaign will focus on his bread and butter issue, education. He says the state is drifting toward mediocrity under Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty and needs a change. But Republicans says he's not the one to bring that change. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
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June 27, 2005 -
July 9, 2005 - Minnesota state workers are back on the job this morning after Governor Pawlenty and legislative leaders have reached an agreement that ends the state's first ever partial government shutdown. Earlier this morning, Pawlenty and legislative leaders agreed on an overall budget. Pawlenty also signed a temporary "lights on bill" into law after the House and Senate quickly passed the measure. The law allows furloughed state workers to go back to work while lawmakers iron out the final details in the tax and spending bills. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
July 18, 2005 - Governor Pawlenty says he's willing to consider legislation that would prevent another government shutdown. Minnesota was not alone in failing to make a July first budget deadline. But other states that went into overtime have a safety net that keeps government from shutting down, even if the lawmakers can't get their work done on time. That safety net is starting to look good to the governor and some Minnesota legislators. Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter has more.{
July 19, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on brewing battle in Minneapolis mayoral race. The Minneapolis mayor's race has sparked what has already become an intense intra-party feud. R.T. Rybak, current Mayor of Minneapolis; and Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin County Commissioner, have both filed the official paperwork for mayor. The two democrats say public safety and city finances are the top issues in the race for mayor of the state's largest city. The potential influence of unions is highlighted in report.
July 29, 2005 - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's 2006 budget proposal is 1.3 billion dollars - a nearly three percent increase over 2005. Most of that increase will go to adding police officers and funding public safety programs. Public safety is a key issue because this is an election year and violent crime has gone up in the state's largest city. Several city council members say Rybak's budget will reduce crime while others say he should have addressed the city's public safety concerns earlier.
August 18, 2005 - Six of the twelve candidates for Minneapolis mayor debated the causes and cures of homelessness today. An audience of about 200 people attended the forum held at Catholic Charities. The candidates did their best to address the concerns of the homeless community but many in the crowd left the forum disappointed.
August 19, 2005 - Governor Tim Pawlenty says he's been urging both Northwest Airlines and its mechanics to settle their differences, but he says a strike is likely. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {