Capitol Report
163 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingJoin Shannon Loehrke for Capitol Report, a weekly public affairs program featuring Minnesota state policymakers' perspectives on pressing state issues and pending legislation.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Previewing the 2020 Legislative Session
February 07, 2020 18:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBGovernor Tim Walz, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler preview the 2020 legislative session and present their respective legislative goals.
Proposing Changes to State Gun Laws
January 23, 2020 23:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBThe Senate Judiciary Committee hit the road this week, holding an informational hearing at the Crown Ballroom in Hibbing on a half-dozen proposed changes to Minnesota gun laws. On this week's program, we present highlights of the testimony supporting and opposing the expansion of criminal background checks to include online and private sales and transfers. Also, Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke talks with committee chair Senator Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, and lead DFL member Senat...
Presenting 'Vision 2020' Agenda, Reducing Prescription Drug Prices
January 16, 2020 22:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBOn this week's program, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to provide an outline of the Republican Caucus priorities for the 2020 session. Plus, Governor Tim Walz emphasizes improvements to local water supply and waste water treatment as priorities among his $2 billion dollar bonding proposal. Also on the program, Senate Health and Human Services Chair Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake, and Senator and physician Matt Klein, DFL-Mendota He...
Preparing for Minnesota's Energy Future
January 10, 2020 17:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBThe energy needed to heat and cool our homes, turn on our lights, power our vehicles and drive our technology is growing in demand and efficiency. Senator David Osmek, R-Mound, and chair of the Senate Energy Committee, joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke as he prepares to bring his committee to Minnesota’s communities to discuss Minnesota's energy future. Senator David Senjem, R-Rochester, is the author of the Clean Energy First Act, a member of the transportation committee and c...
Challenges Facing Higher Education
December 20, 2019 16:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBThe landscape of higher education in Minnesota is shifting due to a number of factors, including declining enrollment, technological advances, the need for workers in the trades and the level of state support. DFL Senator Erik Simonson represents Duluth, where the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) has run a structural deficit since 2011. He, along with Senator Paul Anderson, R-Plymouth, who chairs the Senate Higher Education Committee, join Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to d...
Assessing Minnesota's Economy; Evaluating State Spending
December 13, 2019 17:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBThe Department of Human Services has garnered troubling headlines over the last months, prompting lawmakers to review how that agency, and other agencies, are spending taxpayer money. Senate Finance Chair Julie Rosen joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to offer her assessment of the budget forecast and what steps lawmakers can take to ensure fiscal integrity among state agencies. The recent state budget and economic forecast shows Minnesota with a projected $1.3 billion dollar su...
Changing Landscape of Higher Education; Addressing Climate Change
December 06, 2019 17:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBAs chair of the Higher Education Committee, Senator Paul Anderson, R-Plymouth, toured the Iron Range and areas surrounding the Twin Cities this fall to learn more about ways of preparing and training today’s students for tomorrow’s workforce needs through partnerships between businesses and higher education. He joins moderator Shannon Loehrke to feature the benefits garnered through the unique educational approach. Policies to slow or even avert potential climate change are on the minds of ...
Lowering Prescription Drug Costs, Reducing Teen Vaping, Governor's Reception Room
November 22, 2019 16:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBLast summer, the Trump administration announced a dual-pronged plan that could lower the cost of prescription drugs. This fall, Senator Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake, chair of the Health and Human Services committee, held listening sessions around the state to hear from Minnesotans directly about managing their prescription needs. She joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to provide details on how the new plans may help curb prescription drug costs. Also on the program, one of the ...
Curbing Youth Access to Tobacco Products, Compensating College Athletes
November 15, 2019 18:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBThe trend of declining youth tobacco use has reversed with the rise in vaping and flavored products. Today, according to the Pioneer Press, five million kids in the United States are addicted to e-cigarettes. Senator Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to talk about legislation, with bipartisan support, to curb youth access to tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, by banning kid-friendly vaping flavors and raising the age to purchase tobacco products...
Assessing the Welfare of Minnesota's Fish, Wildlife and Natural Resources
November 08, 2019 17:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBWith the opening of the Minnesota deer hunting season and ice beginning to form on Minnesota's lakes, Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke gauges the health and welfare of Minnesota's game, fish and natural resources with two avid outdoorswomen, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen and Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chair Carrier Ruud.
Improving MN's Vehicle Registration System, Examining Violence Against Indigenous Women
November 01, 2019 17:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBThe Vehicle Registration Task Force and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force resulted from the 2019 legislative session. This week, Senator Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, chair of the vehicle registration task force, and Senator Patricia Torres Ray, DFL-Minneapolis, a member of the MMIW task force, join Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to outline the work before their respective groups. Also this week, Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles appeared before the Legislative Audi...
Serving People with Severe Disabilities
October 25, 2019 14:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBFamilies who are struggling daily to provide care for their loved ones with severe disabilities face annual uncertainties of whether public support will continue. This financial aid, known as Medicaid waivers, are at times denied and at other times approved. Senator John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, and Senate Human Services Reform Chair Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, both long-time advocates for people with disabilities, join Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to share their concerns over the problem...
Delving Into Proposals Addressing Insulin Affordability
October 17, 2019 21:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBMinnesota Senate Republican and House DFL lawmakers have yet to reach an agreement on a solution to address insulin affordability and access. The issue came to lawmakers' attention following the death of Alec Smith, a 26 year old man who died in 2017 while rationing his insulin until his next paycheck. On this week's program, moderator Shannon Loehrke delves further into the differing proposals with the Senate and House authors. The Senate plan, sponsored by Senator Eric Pratt, R-Prior Lake...