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 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.
February 23, 2007 - Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann appeared to back away today from comments about Iran she made to a St. Cloud Times reporter. At the time Bachmann said she knew of an agreement allowing Iran to carve out a portion of Iraq which would serve as a terrorist haven. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
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 6, 2007 - Governor Pawlenty is threatening to veto a bill on embryonic stem cell research that hasn't even gotten a hearing in the Legislature yet. The proposal would allow the University of Minnesota to use state funds for embryonic stem cell research. Pawlenty says he backs some forms of stem cell research but also wants some restrictions on the science. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
January 23, 2007 - Governor Pawlenty took his budget proposal on the road today. He held news conferences in Rochester, Duluth, Moorhead and Mankato to outline his 34.4 billion dollar two year budget. House and Senate DFLers have been reacting cautiously to the governor's proposal. Members of Pawlenty's own party aren't as forgiving. They say he is abandoning his conservative principals by increasing spending. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
January 23, 2007 - Governor Pawlenty says tax relief, especially property tax relief, is one of the main priorities in his two-year budget proposal. Pawlenty released his 34.4 billion dollar budget blueprint yesterday . He wants to devote $281 million dollars to tax relief over two years. More than half of that money would be used to put the brakes on rising property tax rates. Both Democrats and Republicans say the governor's plan falls short. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
January 16, 2007 - The Minnesota Legislature will be back at work today after the long holiday weekend. Tomorrow at noon, Governor Pawlenty will deliver his 2007 State of the State address in the House Chamber. Joining us now with more on the week ahead is MPR Capitol reporter Tom Scheck.
January 2, 2007 - at a ceremony in downtown St. Paul. Pawlenty's second term will be considerably different than his first. Both chambers of the Legislature are now controlled by Democrats. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
December 20, 2006 - Martin Sabo, the 28-year congressman from Minnesota's fifth district, which is much of Hennepin county, is leaving after 28 years in office. He has built a reputation among as a strong Democrat, and many are sorry to see him go.