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Capitol Comment
Capitol Comment is a podcast focusing on the comments and opinions of legislative leaders on the issues of the day.
Episodes Archive
Gov. Mark Dayton offers $775 million bonding bill
- Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton presented a $775 million bonding bill this week. The bill has projects for a large number of area communities, and Dayton spoke about job creation in presenting the bill. But Republican leaders have been critical.
Senate Republicans elect new majority leader
- Senate Republicans this week elected Sen. David Senjem of Rochester their new Senate Majority Leader. Senjem assumes the post in the wake of the Koch scandal, and indications are Senjem will need to handle lingering aftermath of the scandal.
Mother speaks of school bullying, son's suicide
- Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton recently formed a task force to examine the issue of school bullying. Tammy Aaberg, whose son Justin attended the Anoka-Hennepin School District and was a victim of bullying, appeared with Dayton at the State Capitol.
State human rights commissioner talks funding, leaving messages
- State Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey talks about the state budget battle that threatened his department's funding, and talks further about the proposed same-sex marriage ban amendment.
Rep. Cravaack talks about multi-state family living arrangement
- Congressman Chip Cravaack, R-North Branch, talks about he and his wife's recent decision to have their sons live with their mother at a second family home on the East Coast. The congressman details the emergency that helped cement the decision.
Area lawmakers look to give the Metrodome to Vikings for free
- Rep. Linda Runbeck, R-Circle Pines, and Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, propose solving the Vikings' stadium puzzle by giving the team the Metrodome for free. Runbeck, Marty speak along with NFL official Eric Grubman.
New U of M President Eric Kaler installed as 16th president
- University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler was installed this week as president. Here Kaler talks about himself, and his plans for the great university.
MnSCU has a new chancellor, Steven Rosenstone
- Former U of M dean and political science professor Steven Rosenstone has taken the reins as chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU). Here Rosenstone talks about the challenges before the system, and talks about himself.
Joyce Sutphen named Minnesota's new poet laureate
- Gov. Mark Dayton this week (Aug. 23) named educator, poet, and Chaska resident Joyce Sutphen Minnesota's new poet laureate. Sutphen spoke of poetry and herself during a Capitol press conference.
Chairman Jim Abeler sees political courage in Dayton (Posted July 18)
- House Health and Human Services Finance Committee Chairman Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, sees elements of political courage in Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's recent decision to back off his tax increase proposal and strike a budget deal with Republican lawmakers.
Congresswoman Bachmann runs for president (Posted June 29)
- Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann formally announced her candidacy for president on Monday (June 27) in Waterloo, Iowa. Here's some of what she said.
Dayton, Republicans struggle to find budget compromise (Posted June 23)
- Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican leaders continue to struggle to find a compromise in the state budget stalemate. Dayton this week defended his position, as did Republicans. Now focus turns to intense budget talks as a new tactic.
Republicans push Voter ID constitutional amendment (Posted June 9)
- Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, and Sen. Scott Newman, R-Hutchinson, this week detailed their efforts to place a proposed Voter ID amendment before voters in 2012. Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, and others spoke in opposition.
We're not a bunch of radicals, insist Senate Republican freshmen (Posted May 26)
- Area Senate Republican freshmen were upset over Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's comments this week that Republican legislative leaders were hobbled in budget talks by radical, right-wing caucuses within the House and Senate Republican caucuses.
Use of deadly force legislation could hit governor's desk (Posted May 13)
- Self-defense legislation could soon hit House and Senate floors — maybe be sent to the governor. Speaking on the controversial bill are the St. Paul Police Chief, Dakota County Attorney, a gun owners' rights advocate, and Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton.
Same-sex marriage ban proposed amendment moving at State Capitol (Posted March 2)
- Republican lawmakers are pushing passage of a same-sex marriage ban constitutional amendment. Local senators Warren Limmer and Paul Gazelka speak on the bill. Jeff Wilfahrt of Rosemount speaks about his son, a gay soldier, recently killed in action.
House Tax Committee hears Dayton tax proposal (April 18)
- House Tax Committee Chairman Greg Davids, R-Preston, recently brought Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's tax bill before his committee. Dayton Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans styled the tax proposal as balanced and fair, but Republicans thought otherwise.
House Tax Committee Chairman Davids is fired up (Posted April 1)
- House Tax Committee Chairman Greg Davids, R-Preston, recently spoke of pending negotiations with the Senate on the tax bill. Davids spoke about lawmakers getting along, and the reception Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton might give the Republican tax bill.
Coon Rapids Dam looms large in Gov. Dayton's invasive species proposal (Posted March 18)
- Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton presented his administration's aquatic invasive species initiative this week, steps aimed at preventing Asian carp and other exotics from infesting state waters. A main feature of the proposal centers on the Coon Rapids Dam.
Words heat up at the Minnesota State Capitol (Posted March 4)
- The words used by lawmakers grew a little hotter this week as a vote on Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's tax proposal had the governor and other Democrats charging Republicans were engaging in mock drama. But lawmakers, too, saw progress beyond the words.
Showdown coming in Washington, says Congressman Kline (Posted Feb. 25)
- Republican 2nd Congressional District Congressman John Kline speaks of a perceived showdown with the Democratic U.S. Senate over the federal budget. Kline also talks of the historic changes in the Middle East.
Gov. Mark Dayton on lessons from Wisconsin (Posted Feb. 21)
- Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton talks about lessons from the political unrest in Wisconsin and the nature and willingness of compromise.
Gov. Mark Dayton delivers State of the State Address (Posted Feb. 11)
- Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton gave his first State of the State Address this week, talking about investments, jobs, taxes, hopes for the future. Republican lawmakers offer comment: Barrett, Gerlach and Davids.
Republicans nix Gov. Mark Dayton's bonding proposal (Posted Feb. 3)
- Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton proposed a $1 billion bonding bill this week, talking of job creation. But Republican legislative leaders spoke out against it. Republicans Michel, Dean, and Howes offer comment.
Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer takes a swipe at election reform (Posted Jan. 28)
- Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, presented an election reform bill this week that she believes will make voting faster and protect election integrity. Kiffmeyer, Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, comment along with a DFL response.
Bill to outlaw synthetic marijuana advances in House (Posted Jan. 21)
- A bill to outlaw so-called synthetic marijuana — products such as K2, sold as incense but often smoked to get high — has advanced in the House. Rep. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley, and an Apple Valley police officer and others spoke in favor of the bill.
Gov. Dayton names new DNR commissioner, Tom Landwehr
- Shoreview resident Tom Landwehr, a former DNR biologist and environmental activist, was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. Here Landwehr talks about his love of the outdoors, and the future of his agency.
Minnesota has a new governor, Mark Dayton (Posted Jan. 4)
- Former U.S. senator Mark Dayton became Minnesota's new governor on Monday, placing a Democrat back in the Governor's Office. Here is Dayton's swearing-in at the Landmark Center in St. Paul, and his inaugural address.
Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty not gone quite yet (Posted Dec. 23)
- Outgoing Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty had a few things to say before leaving office. Here the Republican governor talks about LGA and lampoons the idea that personal ambition somehow steered his gubernatorial hand.
Gambling expansion advocates hope to get lucky (Posted Dec. 20)
- RacinoNow frontman former Republican state senator Dick Day is upbeat about the odds of a racino bill passing this upcoming legislative session. But not all Republicans in the Republican-controlled Legislature embrace the idea.
Democrat Mark Dayton wins Governor's Office (Posted Dec. 9)
- Democrat Mark Dayton officially bested Republican Tom Emmer in the twice-counted Minnesota governor's race. Here, Emmer speaks to supporters and the media after conceding on Wednesday (Nov. 8). Dayton is heard later in the day at the State Capitol.
Bakk, Thissen become Democratic minority leaders (Posted Dec. 1)
- Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook and Rep. Paul Thissen of Minneapolis will lead Democrats in the Legislature as minority leaders. Both men recently spoke about their new posts, issues facing them, hopes for the upcoming legislative session.
Sen. Amy Koch elected Senate Majority Leader. (Posted Nov. 15)
- Republican Sen. Amy Koch of Buffalo was recently elected by her victorious Senate Republican caucus the first woman Senate Majority Leader in Minnesota history. Recently Koch spoke about her leadership style. Sen.-elect Benjamin Kruse offers comment.
Alice Seagren - MN Commisioner of Education
- Minnesota recieves $250,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
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