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 20, 2007 - DFLers Larry Pogemiller: Senate majority leader; and Larry Pogemiller, Speaker of the House, provide a Capitol progress report on where things stand almost two months into the session.
February 21, 2007 - MPR’s Mark Steil reports on local discussions on federal farm dollars and how subsidies are spent. Southern Minnesota farmers told Minnesota 1st District Representative Tim Walz they want changes made in the legislation to help small farmers. The meeting in Worthington is one of several Walz will hold. It's a discussion which touches just about anyone who owns farmland anywhere in the U.S.
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.