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 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.
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.