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 22, 2007 - Minnesota has a new law establishing one of the most aggressive standards for renewable energy in the country. Governor Pawlenty signed a bill that would require utilities to generate more of their power from renewable sources over the next two decades. Pawlenty and others say they hope the bill is the first of many energy initiatives to reach the governor's desk this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
February 26, 2007 - Republican Norm Coleman, Minnesota's senior U.S. Senator, discusses the war in Iraq and other major issues facing Congress. He also takes questions from MPR listeners.
March 7, 2007 - Minnesota 1st District Representative Tim Walz, a member of the House Veterans Affairs committee, reacts to revelations about the medical care of wounded soldiers in the wake of the Walter Reed Medical Center scandal.
March 8, 2007 - Should Minnesota legalize medical marijuana? Eleven other states already allow marijuana for medical uses, and the Minnesota Legislature has debated it in years past. But this year it looks like a bill may actually pass.
March 9, 2007 - Governor Pawlenty is due back to Minnesota this weekend after spending the week in the Iraq and Afghanistan. Pawlenty held a conference call with reporters this afternoon from Germany and says he will return to Minnesota on Sunday. Pawlenty says the trips are a way for him to visit with the 2,600 Minnesota National Guard troops stationed in Iraq and Minnesota soldiers stationed in Afghanistan. But others speculate that he's burnishing his foreign policy credentials with an eye on higher office. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
March 15, 2007 - Governor Tim Pawlenty is in Iowa today, helping Senator John McCain in his presidential bid. The governor is a national co-chairman of McCain's exploratory committee. Pawlenty and McCain appeared together in Ames with an event scheduled this evening in Mason City. Reporter Tom Scheck has been traveling with the Governor.
March 15, 2007 - Governor Tim Pawlenty is in Iowa today campaigning for Senator John McCain, the Republican from Arizona who's a likely presidential candidate for 2008. Pawlenty is the co-chair of McCain's presidential exploratory committee. The governor spoke about the trip earlier, and said it's a chance to support the senator. Minnesota Public Radio Capitol reporter Tom Scheck joins from Iowa, where he's following the governor.
March 16, 2007 - Governor Pawlenty is back in Minnesota this morning fri after spending the day yesterday campaigning in Iowa for Arizona Senator John McCain. Pawlenty is the co-chair of McCain's presidential exploratory committee and says he made the trip to give McCain encouragement. Pawlenty's latest trip increases speculation and criticism over his national ambitions. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports from Mason City.
March 20, 2007 - The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul are hoping that people all around the country will begin thinking about these Twin Cities as a single destination. Last night, Mayors Rybak and Coleman announced that they are going to work together to re-brand Minneapolis and St. Paul. The hope is, by creating a shared brand, the cities may be able to stop competing against each other to attract businesses and events. The plan is, to use the best of both cities to lure people to the metro area. MPR’s Tom Crann interviews Karyn Gruenberg, vice president of marketing and communications for Meet Minneapolis, formerly known as the Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Bureau. She talked about the launch of the cities' branding campaign with the mayors last night.
April 6, 2007 - Stalemate at the Capitol. Broadcast: Midday, 04/06/2007, 11:06 a.m. Two former Minnesota politicians will be Gary Eichten's guests to offer some perspective on the divergent views that are clashing at the state capitol between the Republican governor and the DFL Legislature. Guests: Al Quie: Former governor of Minnesota. He held office from 1979 - 1983. Roger Moe: Former state senate minority leader. He currently runs the consulting firm National Strategies, Inc.