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
October 16, 2009 - Negotiations continue in Washington on how to craft legislation that reforms health care and has enough support to pass. Earlier this week, a reform bill passed out of the Senate Finance Committee. It must now be reconciled with a substantially different health care bill that was approved in July by the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee. Joining us now with her take on how this is playing out is Minnesota's senior U.S. Senator, DFLer Amy Klobuchar.
November 10, 2009 - Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum will be at the Fort Hood Army Base in Texas today for the memorial ceremony for victims of last week's shooting. Among the 13 who died was Kham Xiong from McCollum's St. Paul district. Xiong was 23 years old. He was married and had three young children. McCollum says Xiong's family has a history of serving the U.S. military.
November 10, 2009 - At least three members of the state's congressional delegation traveled to Texas today for the memorial service for the shooting victims at Fort Hood. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken were joined by Congresswoman Betty McCollum. Private First Class Kham Xiong of St. Paul was among the 13 people killed last week. President Barack Obama spoke at the service. He named and described each victim. Obama said Xiong came to the U.S. from Thailand as a small child.
November 16, 2009 - On the 30th anniversary in the United States' post-Vietnam War experience, MPR’s Dan Olson takes a look back. 1979 was the year that the U.S., led by Vice President Walter Mondale, convinced world leaders to come to the rescue of more than a million so-called "boat people."
November 24, 2009 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that two members of Minnesota's congressional delegation urged the Legislature to repeal a law that prohibits the construction of nuclear power plants in the state. DFL Congressman Tim Walz and Republican Congressman Erik Paulsen say allowing new nuclear power plants would give Minnesota more energy options. Critics say the benefits of nuclear power are still in doubt.
November 25, 2009 - A charter school in St. Paul plans to close next month because of financial problems. 'Skills for Tomorrow' school has continually lost enrollment in recent years, which has only hurt finances, but officials say the governor's shifts in education funding this summer also contributed. While "Skills" is the first school to announce its closure since the shifts, advocates for charter schools worry it won't be the last. Tom Weber reports.
December 2, 2009 - Morning Edition gets a Democratic perspective on President Obama's new Afghanistan strategy from DFL Congressman Tim Walz. Walz went to Afghanistan on a fact finding mission in September. Walz is also a military veteran, serving 24 years in the Army National Guard and retiring with the rank of command sergeant major.
December 10, 2009 - Democrats in the U-S Senate appear to be moving toward a health reform bill that would not include a government-run "public option" insurance program. Under the tentative compromise, the federal government would instead negotiate with private insurers to provide non-profit health insurance plans. The compromise would also allow people aged 55 to 64 to "buy into" Medicare. But even if the Senate approves the deal, it would still need to be reconciled with the House-passed version of the bill, which includes a public option. Minnesota DFL Congressman Keith Ellison is an outspoken supporter of the public option, and he joins MPR’s Cathy Wurzer to discuss the subject.
December 28, 2009 - State senator Mee Moua says the government of Thailand violated international law today when it began to move Hmong refugees back to Laos. The Thai military used trucks and soldiers to move nearly 4,400 Hmong refugees back to the country from which they're seeking asylum. Moua says international law forbids forcing people to return to a country where they face persecution and death. Laotian government officials have said the refugees will be unharmed. Moua says the U.S. needs to hold them to that promise.
December 29, 2009 - State senator Mee Moua says the government of Thailand violated international law today when it began to move Hmong refugees back to Laos. The Thai military used trucks and soldiers to move nearly 4,400 Hmong refugees back to the country from which they're seeking asylum. Moua says international law forbids forcing people to return to a country where they face persecution and death. Laotian government officials have said the refugees will be unharmed. Moua says the U.S. needs to hold them to that promise.