March 1, 2010 — Meet the candidates: Independence Party candidates for governor. Broadcast: Midday, 03/01/2010, 11:00 a.m. Three Independence Party candidates for governor join Gary Eichten on Midday to discuss issues facing the state and take questions from listeners. Guests: Rob Hahn: Owner of Hahn Publications, a publishing company based in St. Paul. Hahn is also a former radio producer and author of "The Funeral Home Murders." Tom Horner: Co-founder of Himle Horner, a public relations and public affairs firm based in Minneapolis. Horner served as press secretary and chief of staff to former Republican U.S. Sen. David Durenberger. Horner was also a longtime Republican commentator on MPR. John Uldrich: Longtime businessman and military veteran.
February 26, 2010 — A day after President Barack Obama gathered top lawmakers in Washington for a bipartisan summit on health care, former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger, Chair of the National Institute of Health Policy, assesses the ideas and accomplishments of the all-day session. Guest: David Durenberger: U.S. Senator, (Republican-MN) from 1978-1995. Author and co-author of major health legislation 1980 to 1993. Chair of the National Institute of Health Policy at University of St. Thomas. Gary Eichten hosts.
October 16, 2009 — Thirty-three thousand of the poorest Minnesotans may lose state health coverage sooner than expected. Earlier this year, Governor Tim Pawlenty cut the General Assistance Medical Care program, which provides coverage for adults without dependents who don't qualify for other healthcare assistance. The program was originally projected to end in March. But now estimates show funding may not last that long. Rupa Shenoy reports that has advocates scrambling to find another option.
September 26, 2009 — More than a thousand people rallied last night at a Minneapolis town hall meeting hosted by Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and Texas Congressman Ron Paul. reporter Jess Mador has more.
September 9, 2009 — Tonight at 7:00, President Obama will address a joint session of Congress about his health care reform proposal. Obama is promising to offer more details about his vision for overhauling the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare system. Minnesota Public Radio News will provide live coverage of the address. One of the people who will be in the audience tonight in Washington is Jeffrey Korsmo, the Executive Director of the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center. He was invited to attend the speech by DFL Congressman Tim Walz. Korsmo says he's eager to hear more about Obama's plan. That is Jeffrey Korsmo, Executive Director of the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center. He will be in the Capitol tonight when President Obama makes his health care reform speech.
June 19, 2009 — Congressional Democrats stumbled out of the starting blocks unveiling their healthcare reform bills today. They're struggling to find ways to pay for insuring the nation's uninsured. The House bill would create a federal plan to compete with private insurers. The Senate's proposal would create non-profit insurance co-ops that provide coverage. But, an advocacy group representing 14-thousand doctors says a "single payer" health insurance program would cover every American without adding costs.
May 18, 2009 — Minnesota's safety net hospitals are sifting through their options after Governor Pawlenty eliminated public insurance coverage for up to 35,000 of the state's poorest adults to balance the budget. The cuts don't take effect until the middle of 2010. But hospitals say they will have to start making some tough decisions now to make up for the expected *reductions*. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports. {
March 17, 2009 — Two senior statesmen reflect on public life and civic engagement. Former Vice President Walter Mondale and former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger discuss their experiences in public life and the need for civic engagement. The discussion was sponsored by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at St. John's University. Midday host Gary Eichten moderated the discussion.
March 4, 2009 — Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing costs for Minnesota government. Governor Tim Pawlenty says it's critical to slow the growth in healthcare spending. He wants to reduce the cost of Minnesota Care, the state-funded insurance program. He's also proposing cuts to medicaid reimbursements. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is exploring the effects of the state budget crisis from the perspective of one community, Fergus Falls. It's the largest city in Otter Tail County. This is the latest installment in our series, "The State Budget in Your Backyard." As Dan Gunderson reports, balancing the state budget could mean big changes for the people covered by Minnesota Care and the hospitals that treat them.
February 13, 2009 — The Pawlenty administration says Minnesota is on track to meet its ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Officials reported to a legislative committee Thursday, as required by state law. Some legislators aren't so sure emissions are improving, and they said the governor should be providing more leadership. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.