December 1, 2012 - MPR’s Rupa Shenoy looks at what’s next in efforts to bring about same-sex marriage legislation in Minnesota. Shenoy collects various commentary from numerous activists and politicians.
December 10, 2012 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on healthcare controversy surrounding Steve Gottwalt, a Republican state representative; and David Hann, a Republican state senator. Gottwalt, who steered legislation through the House to drop people from the state-run MinnesotaCare program, is an independent contractor for an insurance brokerage firm that lobbied for the change.
December 20, 2012 - On this Daily Circuit segment, MPR’s Mark Zdechlik interviews U.S. Representative Tim Walz, who says he thinks Congress could act relatively soon on legislation aimed at preventing gun violence following the horrific school shooting in Connecticut. Walz, a gun owner, hopes there will be an attempt to solve gun issue and find balance between personal liberties and safety.
January 8, 2013 - MPR’s Sasha Aslanian reports that with the defeat of the marriage amendment and the Republican majorities that sponsored it, DFLers who favor marriage rights for same-sex couples see their opening in new legislative session. But opponents say the defeat of the amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman does not necessarily add up to support for same sex marriage.
February 27, 2013 - MPR’s Mark Steil investigates DNR records that show scores of water permit holders in Minnesota are illegally using billions of gallons more water then they're supposed to, at a time when drought threatens state water supplies.
April 1, 2013 - MPR’s Jess Mador reports that Minnesota lawmakers Tim Walz and Amy Klobuchar are pushing legislation they say will help thousands of military veterans who were wrongly denied Veterans Administration benefits. They say thousands of veterans who may have had post-traumatic stress disorder were wrongly diagnosed.
May 1, 2013 - The Minnesota Congressional delegation is in state due to congressional recess. The Daily Circuit checks in with Congressman Walz about current budget activity, The Stock Act, background checks on guns, and other federal legislation affecting the state or region. Walz also answers listener questions.
May 9, 2013 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports that six months after Minnesotans rejected a constitutional amendment that would have banned gay marriage, the Minnesota House made an historic turn, voting to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota.
May 10, 2013 - MPR’s Tom Scheck looks at the quick turnaround in political efforts on same-sex marriage. Just two years prior, Republicans, who then controlled the Legislature, thought it would help them politically to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would ban same-sex marriage. That failed on the ballot, and now with a push from Democrat legislators, an amendment allowing same-sex marriage is poised to become law.
May 13, 2013 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports on the Minnesota Senate passage of bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state by a vote of 37-30, after more than four hours of debate. Only one Republican joined Democrats on the prevailing side, and three DFLers opposed the bill.