For the second year in a row the Minnesota House and Senate agreed on almost all issues including taxes. The main does field was over how much additional money to spend on public schools but there was intense disagreement among legislators from all backgrounds over a bill to cut off almost all state funding of abortions for women on welfare in the Senate opponents of the bill managed to hold up its progress for several weeks by substituting arrival and more liberal Bill one committee voted twice and couldn't decide between the bills a second committee also voted twice before finally sending the more restrictive bill on to the senate floor in the house opponents managed to place liberalizing amendments are in the bill that were later removed supporters of the funding cut off argue that no taxpayer should be forced to contribute indirectly to a practice. They're morally opposed to they successfully fought off all liberalizing amendments except one offered by the bill. Sponsor, Senator Wayne Olaf Olaf said, his bill had only three exceptions in it. It will be a veryPhone number of those individuals who are raped will be reporting promptly and as a result, there will probably be no abortion because of pregnancy will be prevented due to various medical techniques such as giving High potency estrogens in the rape or the incest provision. There just aren't very many be incest ever reported in any case and so again, the number will be small in the third exclusion for the life of the mother again, very very rarely does is a life threatened by pregnancy. And so it be again only a handful of pregnancies cover of Herman and Western Minnesota opponents call the bill discriminatory it because it prevents poor women from getting abortions Senator Emily and Staples of Plymouth said, it wasn't the Senate's business to decide the issue. We're debating tonight.It seems to be very ironic that those of us who are debating this question or 64 men and three women. Very few of us. We're debating this question have ever been in the situation in which we had to make a decision about whether or not to Bear a child. And I really feel in this body. It is absolutely unconscionable for us to make that decision for them. And as we talked about this bill tonight, I have the feeling of total unreality it is as though none of us have ever faced the situation and actually very few of us have it is not the man. We're going to bear the consequences of the vote. We are going to be taking now it is the women because the women are the only ones who are in a position to Bear children Emily and Staples after a long and eloquent debate the bill passed overwhelmingly in the Senate. The margin was just as large in the house the bill leaves Minnesota with more restrictive language down the federal law. No State funds have been spent for abortions since last September when the state welfare department decided to leave the question up to the legislature. The same group that fought over the abortion funding bill also argued intensely over the bill to provide 1.3 million dollars of State funds for Family Planning. They Family Planning bill was sponsored by Senator State and by representative Linda Berglund in the house opponents argue that the money could be diverted for abortions and they claimed it would encourage teenagers to experiment with sex. The bill was modified to prevent the funding from going to organizations performing abortions and to prevent state-funded Family Planning classes in public schools. Also anyone urging sterilization or abortion to a minor must notify The Young Person's parents. Senator Staples said the legislature should pass the Family Planning Bill to balance the restrictive abortion funding bill. Unlike most other sessions the senate in the house didn't fight vigorously over taxes. And for once both parties agreed on an issue that there should be a tax cut however independent Republicans accused the dfl of under estimating the State Surplus and chided the majority party for not giving more of the excess funds back to the people the main argument over the tax cut was between legislative leaders and Governor Rudy perpich aldea fillers before and after approving the cut key dfl legislators said that they wouldn't have considered the matter if Governor perpich hadn't forced their hand Governor perpich began pressuring the legislature for a tax cut last spring when he talked about calling a special session to deal with that one issue. He later backed away from the special session idea, but he told a joint session of the legislature in January that an income tax cut was his top priority for the session should be used to reduce taxes if I thought for one moment. Would have to lower the quality of the services. We now provide I would not stand here advocating that we lower taxes in Minnesota. If I thought it would jeopardize the economic health of our state. I assure you I would not know ask you for a tax reduction, but we can afford a tax cut at this time. We do have more revenues than we anticipated last year. We are finding song ways to save money and I'll free government with greater efficiency in addition tax reduction that this time was spur our economy improved Minnesota's image as a good place to do business. It'll improve our job climate governor for a bitch kept the pressure on the legislature by campaigning around the state for the income tax cut during the session debates throughout the session focus more on how much money would be available for a tax cut then whether a tax cut should be granted in the first place the revenue department initially projected to 76 million dollar Surplus. That was later more than double to nearly 200 million, but send it. 40 liter Robert ashbeck continually claim the real Surplus would be around 300 million by July of 1979 during senate floor debate on the tax bill hatchback tried to persuade tax committee chairman Bill McCutcheon that many items have been left out in calculating the Surplus. Why don't you just show you information that you have with the body so we can make our judgments you keep leaking a little bit of the time. I don't you just blow it all I want to feel good about it was the names of your sources. How much are you allowed in your estimate for the Governor's Waste Control Commission and their mismanagement operation? Senator nothing Call mr. President sent her a spot under your don't you have more confidence and reported that Commission in that send it independent Republican leader, Robert Dash back after considerable grumbling from dfl legislative leaders that the tax cut left too little in the treasury for emergencies and state spending. The tax bill passed almost unanimously in both houses. The total package cost 105 million dollars. All Minnesota taxpayers get at least $10 back for themselves and for each dependent in addition Homemakers with small children and incomes under $25,000 will get a tax credit of $50 that compares to a tax credit of $140 given to active National Guardsmen. In fact, the worst 14 bills introduced this year alone many of them duplicate to give tax breaks to the National Guard business won a major concession with the repeal of the employer's excise tax a special tax levied against large businesses. The sales tax on heating fuel was also repealed. And more relief was given to the so-called Working Poor who are Exempted from state income taxes, if their income Falls below $8,900 income cut-off depends on the number of dependents Governor privilege got most of his tax request. However, instead of reducing the tax rate is the governor wanted the legislature gave Relief by increasing tax credits instead to other of the governor tax proposals also failed to win legislative approval a bill that had hundreds of hours of hearings was lost in the Senate on the last night of the session. It would have restricted the use of tax increment financing that the Redevelopment tool favored by some cities to revitalize blighted areas. The measure went down after intensive last-minute lobbying by City officials from around the state because Bill was related to other spending measures approved by lawmakers. The largest was a school aide package providing about 16 million dollars in additional help to the state public school districts that a task. 8/3 areas and increase of $5 in the basic per pupil Foundation Aid next year a larger State Sheriff salaries for those who teach the handicap and more State money to ease the strain of declining enrollments. The higher state aid to education was demanded by the house, which argued that at least some of the money targeted for tax relief should be spent instead on education. The lawmakers also set the foundation a-levels for the school year starting in 1980 and 81. That's the largest single item in the state budget. And while the 1980 legislature is not bound by the figures. They'll be undoubtedly strong pressure from the education Community to at least honor if not raise the commitment made this year. Lawmakers also agreed to provide two and a half million dollars for Minnesota's 90,000 private school students at 1974. / okay, law was ruled unconstitutional and the new statute is designed to meet Court definitions of the type of state aid, which can be provided to private religious schools that Aid include hardbound textbooks standardized test Health Service and guidance counseling counseling program won't begin until the 1980 school year and in no case must have public school district offer private student services. The public people's don't receive. The 1978 session began in a somber note opening just a few days after the death of Senator Hubert Humphrey and legislators immediately found themselves facing the politically touchy issue of how to fill US Senate vacancies. The problem was a holdover from last year and the fear which erupted over Wendell Anderson's effective self appointment to the seat vacated by vice president Mondale the house passed a bill in 1977, which would require a special election within a few months of a vacancy. But that measure languished in the Senate over the interim the senate elections committee unanimously approved a special elections bill. It would have required an election sometime between this April and July majority of dollars in both the house and the Senate came up with an alternative bill. That would have voters fill a vacancy each November under the Old Law voters would have to wait until November of every other year bfl as opposed to the cost of a special election felt a quick election would not give the precinct caucus. Party endorsement systems a chance to work but independent Republicans got some superb campaign ammunition for this fall since Minnesota's appointed government has even drawn National ridicule GOP Senator James human debated the subject with Chief sponsor David schaff on the senate floor have been elected in the governor's mansion. They've been elected by one vote. No matter how honourable those individuals who are selected one person's will superseded that to four million others were not considered. Neither of the individuals had to go through the wringer of a campaign in the test of the pressure of endorsement or announcing their positions, and he'll Wind Blows through Minnesota. The public is concerned the power line people the farmers. The taxpayers are concerned. Are responses to give them government by appointment a special election between April and July means that we'll have a low voter turnout. It means we'll have an inability for the system to develop candidates to run for those positions through the precinct caucus in the endorsement process this traditional in the state of Minnesota in the 7th District of the state of Minnesota last year. We had a classic example of what happens in special elections two or three hundred thousand dollars were spent in 33 days. We got 35.6% turnout this coming November will have a 60% turnout the state of Minnesota and a difference between 35 and 60 is 7 or 800,000 minnesotans. Sure. They have the right to vote in April and May they have the right to vote if we set the election between midnight and 6 in the morning. It's not our job to discourage meaningful participation the election process. It's our job to understand that system and to encourage meaningful participation. And this measure does it last December 4th, Minnesota lawmakers to deal with another tough election problem Public Funding of legislative races, the Court ruled in a lawsuit brought by several independent Republican legislators that money from the $1 income tax check off must be returned to candidates on the basis of voter preference within each legislative district before the ruling the money had been distributed by the Statewide vote results, but the GOP plan us had hoped the court would rule that public money must be shared equally between the parties more than twice as many taxpayers asked if their money go to the dfl then to the GOP lawmakers divides the distribution formula that still guarantees the party's candidates The Lion Share the public money the manouri also complained bitterly that the bill build in a huge advantage to encumber. Especially dear fellows house for debate between GOP representative Robert sorrells and dfl sponsor Mike George to express themselves. I don't believe that they should be wedded to their past decision of two years before in the funding of an election two years later. And that's the thrust of the whole thing will list financing system this probably funding system instead of being even-handed about this is loaded loaded loaded in favor of the incumbent and you know it and I know it. If there are any incumbent advantages And it's Bill. It's not the cause of the formula. It's because of the way that bought the taxpayers of the state of Minnesota check off their dollars. The people of the state of Minnesota have had a chance to check off. A dollar for the independent Republican Party in the state and they haven't done it as often. And that's the plain and simple fact mathematical fact that is indisputable to send it to act on an amendment to The Campaign finance bill which would require disclosure of lobbyists salaries a conference committee took that provision out ostensibly because the house is never consider the matter in a committee most of the debate over construction of new state buildings this year Saturday on the need for a new security hospital at Saint Peter the house insisted that the existing facility is Antiquated and overcrowded the Senate that many of the people that say Peter could be cared for elsewhere house senate conferees were deadlocked over St. Peter for a week. But finally the Senate gave in and agreed to a slightly smaller facility than the house originally wanted also in the building bill is a new government service center for Duluth a study of a new office building in the metropolitan area and plans were remodeling the State Office Building in the Capitol complex for legislative offices and hearing rules. Lawmakers also tied up the loose ends in last year's major Appropriations bills, a 6.4 million dollar supplemental appropriation bill is a hodgepodge of items commonly called the garbage bill and includes additional money for transportation of the handicapped in the Twin Cities area, but no money to hire additional staff at the state hospitals to comply with the state welfare department agreement with a federal court that decision could very well lead to more legal action before a judge or A Larson several years ago told the state it had to provide better care for its mentally retarded citizens at the Cambridge State Hospital. The garbage bill also includes about a million dollars for Highway Patrol cost associated with a power line dispute in West Saint Paul, Minnesota plus $100,000 for the health department to monitor health and safety aspects of the line. Once it is operating that provision was the result of eight hours of hearings by the house environment and natural resources committee into the feasibility of a moratorium on Powerline Construction. This year as in 1977 Farmers opposed to the line converged on the capital demanding that work on the controversial line be stopped pending a definitive study of the farmers health and safety concerns despite court orders enforced by state patrol officers been gross of Alexandria made it clear that opposition to the line would not end the danger of bodily injury and increased violence increases daily. No other issue outside of world wars have brought the real Minnesota people closer together than this power line issue make no mistake. We have an emergency here in central Minnesota. We have hundreds of God-fearing hard-working and law-abiding citizens demonstrating and being arrested. State Police and National Guard are not the answer the people in Minnesota are not going to accept this line or permitted to be built until the questions concerning the dangers of this experimental line had been answered an attorney for the power coops. John draws insisted that UPA and CPA had followed to the letter all state laws and procedures and the to shut down. The line would be grossly unfair to haul Construction. In order to study Health impacts of the line is to totally reject the decisions of state agencies as a firm by our courts the fact that our highest court has reviewed this case and unanimously upheld the state agency decisions makes it certain in my opinion that there was no solid evidence to substantiate the health claims by the opponents of the line that rural communities would indeed face brown outs in a few years if the line we're not built and that the states liability for hire. Cost to do a moratorium was unclear as a result Minneapolis representative. Ken Nelson who initiated the hearings concluded that much as he would personally like a moratorium. It was not feasible. What kind of new evidence would we find that we don't already have and if we found it, who would we convinced with it? It's the constant question here who believes whom and I'm saying it's dead in the construction permit process, which is already in operation. We have the means of Remedy notwithstanding Decisions by the legislature the courts and the governor the power line protest continuing resolution of this conflict seems as far off now as it was at the end of the 77 session during a legislative session are killed in the committee process some survive these hurdles and are voted down in the floor like the tax increment finance bill of the 1680 bills introduced this year alone less than 400. We're past the mandatory to pay. The bill failed again after some eight years of attempts to pass a litter control measure the bill to legalize pari-mutuel betting on horse-racing was voted down twice in the house and was in abandoned by the Senate sponsor a bill to allow chiropractors to take blood samples. Finally won Senate approval after several years of trying but it went down in the house motorcycle rider showed up in great numbers at the first hearing to oppose the bill to again require them to wear helmets. The bill was never given the second hearing and a bill to spend 1% of the cost of new state buildings on Art floundered in the Appropriations Committees of both houses supported heavily by labor failed again to win Senate approval despite it being pulled out of committee where it had languished directly onto the floor the rear parliamentary move to save the bill and the name change from the successor Bill failed to help the bill would have required buyers of a company to honor existing labor contract if that contract contained a success or clause Papa's got three of its main bills approved a bill to allow them to hire any one of the top three Civil Service applicants instead of just the top candidate a bill to give police officer Barbara Beatty The Authority she needs to supervise the internal affairs unit and a bill allowing City Alderman to hire full-time assistance. Some bills everyday lives of many minnesotans. For example, the mandatory retirement age was raised to 70. Although there are many exceptions to that rule obsolete language in marriage laws was Rewritten or eliminated. They main change was eliminating the concept of fault in the wording property settlements. One of a handful of child abuse bills was proved that bill requires welfare agencies to notify the police immediately of any report of child abuse. Police will be able to make a rest in family disputes. Now without a signed complaint spouse abuse and child abuse has a growing problem and this law will let police physically remove one of the conflicting parties from the legislature passed a bill by representative Janet Clark, which will let courts erase old felony records of people convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana penalty was recently reduced to a petty misdemeanor or felony convictions can make it difficult for people to get jobs and credit and so far the legislature voted to replace the existing parole system with more uniform prison sentences, a nine-member sentencing commission with a stabbing sentencing guidelines for all serious crimes, but judges will still have some discretion to adjust a sentence for individual circumstances lawmakers passed a bill which will give residential consumers better representation and Public Service Commission utility rate hearings, the consumer services division of the Commerce department will hire attorneys and rate analysts to speak for residential electric gas and phone users just as private experts represent you Early firms and large commercial industrial consumers. However, another bill strongly supported by the growing senior citizen and public interest Lobby was lost in the Senate that measure would have given the Public Service Commission clear authority to order utilities to charge less for an initial basic amount of energy each month and by October of 1979. All older homes sold in Minnesota Wild have to be accompanied by a statement of the homes insulation qualities unless the buyer decides the disclosure isn't necessary is conceited at the beginning of the session that there wasn't much major work to do this year. The session ran one week longer than expected much time was spent and a host of minor build some serious and some not so serious the house refused to go along with Representative Steve wenzel's request that National Guard and other military trucks be Exempted from the state law requiring mud flaps when they complained at the state patrol continues to ticket military trucks. The Pentagon will pull all its Vehicles out of men. Soda and the requirement that farmers provide toilets for youngsters who work in the cornfield to each summer was taken out of the bill in conference committee were legislators who did it the idea saying the high corn stalks provide more than enough privacy the send it also regularly got lost and parliamentary procedure Mix-Ups. For instance. It's been more than six minutes during a Saturday afternoon session arguing over the procedure known as the call of the Senate. That's an order requiring Senators to be on the floor while important debate is going on Independent Republican run seal off of st. Paul began the discussion with Senate President Edward Garrity and others You move that the call of the house be lifted. I sent it to you, but you can sing to the debate. We are under call the people are supposed to be in the chamber when we are under call. The rule is not being enforced. The only time that the call is enforced is when you bring your a little bell and ask people to come in to vote and I think if people are going to come in and vote on the Amendments if the call is for the purpose of having people come in to vote. It's also for the purpose to require them to listen. Best ryzen as to the bell, I would like about 3 I could but I admit it's kind of doll with the same but it just has a certain impact. What's your point indirectly play is is well taken. I believe that's the proper motion. Well, I I rather than getting to know everybody and we re to get off on a point of order on the motion message for husband already. I have what that rule was in the house where you had to when the house was under call the you had to get to leave the chamber you had to get the information of the speaker out since I've been in the Senate. I'm saying that's a good rule, but I've never operated under that. I don't think we can be out by motion. But I think the president can say at the request of Senator sielaff or any other Senator that date will be a vigorously enforced and members required to remain in the chamber. Now it says or until the call is lifted by a majority vote of all the members of the senate or until the Senate adjourns. Now, I would Suspect with Arris appropriate motion all the members of the Senate Senator see life moves at the call be lifted if the majority believes that it should stay. I I believe that so they can move to lift the call 400 times and I will move to impose a coffee and one well if I imagine maybe if we would use less time as in Turkey Fest, mr. President, we have an additional problem today and that is that we weave on our last box of avarra call sheets. And if we have a lot of unnecessary roll calls will reach the point where we have to start taking roll call by calling names instead of using machine. It will probably be here till midnight. So I would just urge the members of the body to try to resist roll calls if they possibly can those president that has been an awful lot is Senator done with the present. I just wanted to call the chairs attention to rule 23. That's where I was and that says about the middle of the paragraph. When the Senate has been placed under call the door shall be closed and no member permitted to leave the chamber so far on the same day pay labor the Senate on the motion of senator seal off all those in favor will signify by all right center to Davies. Will you please get back there and raise your point where I don't want to Preston set that this motion can be made it. Just give me some reason why it's you know, I know it is if you don't like it, I don't like it either either but it says if any it says when the Senate has been placed under call the door shall be closed and no member permitted to leave the chamber until a matter or question. If any other under consideration the time of the call is this supposed to buy a majority vote of all the members are right or now on the ceiling of motion. Pause know how easy it is. The motion does not Prevail center to see if you have something to offer what mr. President for this motion many more times this afternoon. If this chamber doesn't have some people in it it they come in to ask what's happening to do it. My predecessor did one time my we can take a moment which is come in and examine the board and examine the board and then finally vote only to discover. There was no issue before the Senate affects. The machine was broken. Anna Center sea life That's it. All right back on the Frederick Amendment. Senator Edward Garrity who presides over the Senate there was more time this session than many others because of the lack of major legislation still the usual backlog of bills occurred in the last few days on the second to the last day the Senate and House met for almost 18 hours to try to complete their business with the politics of the legislature finished for another session house members and Statewide officers are campaigning in full for re-election next ball for Bob Potter on Jan.