(00:00:00) Good afternoon, everyone and welcome Warren Spanish has been Minnesota's attorney general since 1970 before that. He served as chairman of the state dfl party and before that he worked in then Senator Walter mondale's office. He won the dfl endorsement for governor last June promising a fresh start for Minnesota. He has proposed what he calls the Minnesota plan to pull the state out of its financial difficulties, which we hope to get into during this next hour. He is a native of st. Paul and he and his wife Marjorie now live in Bloomington with their three children. Mr. Spanis is our second candidate guest on midday yesterday Republican Lou Wong bird appeared tomorrow. Our guests will be dfl candidate Rudy perpich and on Saturday. We'll hear from Republican. We like Whitney. Mr. Spanish. Welcome good to be here Pat. I've been on this program before and it's always good to be back. Thank you. We will be taking listener calls in just a few moments. But first I'd like to get into some of the current news and we'll work backwards from there. Your opponent Rudy perpich has said he might not support you if he wins the dfl primary next Tuesday saying if you win the dfl primary next Tuesday rather saying that you and your campaign have been spreading rumors and hitting below the belt last week. He went so far as to say your campaign has no ethics you have permitted the race for governor to divide the dfl party. I'd like you to like to know what you can say in your defense. Now, how do you still pledge to support perpich if he wins this election? Well, I'm if the voters into dfl voters in next Tuesday's primary and probably about five hundred fifty thousand of them if the dfl voters decide through secret ballot that they want Rudy perpich to represent the dfl party in the November election. I'll abide by that I've always been a team player I and I will support Rudy perpich. I am it's unfortunate that he's said that but that does not change my position and I as charges that he's made are simply not True and I think people in Minnesota know they're not true. What about the this tax issue? This is what T seems to be most burned up about the tax issue ever. He says that your campaign workers have been spreading rumors about that. Absolutely not the only one who ever used the word non-resident was someone at Control Data and the only one ever used the word citizenship was himself. We've never said that he wasn't resident everyone knows it Rudy perpich is a resident of Minnesota. He's been the governor of our state and that is simply not true. And if you look at the clippings, I think you'll and the stories you'll find that we have never made that accusation secondly where this developed of course is that I released my tax returns first part knock of August. He said he would release his and the only problem that developed was one of his own making when then he changed his mind, but I have consistently talked about my jobs program my energy program my program for agriculture my program for tourism, and I think if you Again, look at what I've said and what I've been doing and the only I've been criticized by most people as up my Minnesota plan is takes too long to read I would like to give out the numbers here. If you have a question for attorney general Warren Spanish the dfl endorsed candidate for governor, and you live in the Twin Cities. You can call 2276 thousand. If you live outside the Twin Cities you can call on our toll-free wats line. That number is 1-800-695-1418 those numbers. Once again, if you live in the Twin Cities, you can call on 2276 thousand. If you live outside the Twin Cities you can dial on our wats line. That number is 1-800-695-1418. Isyou have raised and spent upwards of a million dollars in your campaign for governor in comparison your opponent Rudy perpich. I spent relatively little or nothing on his bid yet some public polls show. And purpose neck and neck or they show / pitch leading why after so much time and money aren't you farther ahead again? I don't maintain that cost of politics is is low in Minnesota and keep in mind that my opponent is been a former governor and received tremendous publicity both while he was governor and shortly thereafter. And of course tremendous publicity when he was talking about coming back to Minnesota. And so that's always difficult to run against someone who had been the state's chief chief executive. I had never been and of course, I have been working through the party process and that's expensive to as you know, Pat. I announced that I was going to run for governor last June and I've been traveling extensively working with other candidates are working through the caucus and the endorsement process and that costs money. It doesn't always show up in Paul results or anything else but it's a necessary integral part of politics that that the person who operates within the system has to incur those costs and and that's just basically the way the system works and I'm proud of the system endorsement system, Minnesota and even is even though it is more costly. Do you agree that the polls are accurate? I don't know and I really, you know, I think at this stage of the game that all we can do is just keep working. All I can do is keep working as hard as I can meeting as many people as again talking about the issues jobs and farm income and come next Wednesday morning will know whether the polls are accurate or weren't they were they weren't accurate or what really make much difference. So I don't think at this stage of the game. It's really irrelevant Factor final final quick question to you. Do you have poles which indicate? Otherwise what we've been working with the dfl and a pole and I think that poll shows me somewhat ahead I think six or seven points. But again, I've never been what much of one for poles if Not in this campaign. I've never talked about polls. I know the Republican chairman talks about him all the time. And I guess all I can say about that is if the Republicans had worried more about the state of the state's economy and less about polls Minnesota be a lot better off. So in all due respect to my friends in the research pulled business. I just am not a big I don't rely on them that much. Okay. We have a lot of listeners waiting to ask you a question. Why don't you put on your headphones and we'll take our first caller you all set there. Sure. We'll take our first caller now. Hello, you're on the air. Hi. (00:06:34) Go ahead, please. I'm Norm Johnson. His campaign lied about his position on gun control, (00:06:46) you know, I think that mr. Jin's vould you and all your friends are Making single-issue politics something that it shouldn't be in Minnesota my position on hand gun control has probably been more widely discussed in any other public issue in Minnesota. I'm very proud of my position on handgun control, but I think if again if you would do like I just advise Republicans worry more about how we're going to put people back to work and how we're going to pay mortgages and how we're going to do the things that are necessary in Minnesota to get this economy moving. We'd all be better off. Thanks for calling. Okay, let's take another call. Hello, you're on the (00:07:23) air Lake Superior in fresh water is one of our greatest assets in the state and dear. I'd like to find out why he did not take an active role in the state's lawsuit in The Boundary Waters issue because that was one of the very heart that was very heart of the issue. I think is a control over the water. (00:07:50) Well, I did take an active role at fuel recall in February of In 79 the governor asked me what our chances of winning that lawsuit was, and I said that under the circumstances after looking at the law and precedents that our chances would not be very good, but the governor said he wanted to proceed with the lawsuit and we did proceed with it. I worked with the governor and selecting Wayne Olson as the chief counsel our staff in the Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Paul Thrace in fellow felt work very very actively on and I think if you call, mr. Wayne Olson, he'll verify that he's a lawyer in Downtown Minneapolis. Thanks for calling. We've got another caller on the line. Hello. Mr. Spanis is (00:08:30) listening. Good afternoon. One question. I'd like to ask her if there's something you can do about police sir. Yes, sir today driving the company truck down 35W North on 35W is going towards Minneapolis on 42nd Street. There was a very eye-catching spanis sign with a couple on the overpass very large sign with a couple of men up there waving and it 8 o'clock in the morning. That's very distracting and could possibly cause some accident or something like that some temporarily taking their eye off the road when I stopped. I turned around stopped and talked to the gentleman about that that it could cause a problem and they seem somewhat indifferent to that. I was just wondering if Miss Manners could possibly Have them work for him and maybe a more productive. Okay (00:09:26) sounds well, you know, that's one of the things that happens in Minnesota politics in the last few days of the campaign. You have people standing on street corners and two to get the best thrust they can and that's their right under the first amendment. I appreciate everyone's support but I certainly wouldn't want it to be a traffic Hazard and I certainly glad you call it to my attention another question for mr. Spanish. Hello. You're on the (00:09:51) air. Yes. I'd like to ask this to mr. Spanish. We're seeing some incredible amounts of money being spent not only in the Senate campaign, but also in the gubernatorial campaign by we like Whitney and Mark Dayton. I'd like to find out if as Governor, mr. Spanis would propose any procedural or substantive changes in the way people get elected to either curb negative effects or to somehow require a more extensive disclosure. On the sources of funds and to maybe point out some of the deficiencies in the system that really allows someone to purchase an office the way it looks. (00:10:31) Well. I don't I think what you're talking about is is some of the disclosure laws both federal and state. I think that the school of disclosure laws are pretty substantial as you know, you have whenever you contribute anything from a dollar to whatever the spending limit is, you have to disclose your name and address and profession and I think that is good legislation. But if you feel that that is not extensive enough, I would like to visit with you sometime and perhaps work with you on some improvements. Another listeners on the line. Hello warrants. Panis is listening for your question. (00:11:08) Hello. I'm calling from Frontenac Minnesota. And I wondered what is your position on the Reagan administration's crisis relocation plan and plans for Sheltering the population in the event of nuclear war and would you commit State money time and Personnel to pursue this type of civil offense. (00:11:25) Thank you. Well, I don't know much about that subject ma'am. It's really not been an issue in the campaign. And I think it's better to wrecked it as far as Federal programs to one of your congressional candidates or senatorial candidates. I've my position is I was one of the first persons in my and my church some months ago to sign the Nuclear freeze resolution. So I do support the nuclear freeze another caller for Warren Spanish. Hello. You're on the air. (00:11:53) Thank you. Good afternoon. Mr. Spanish. I'm very pleased to have the opportunity provided by ksjn to post a question to you. Thanks for calling. I like the number of other people. From time to time vote their pocketbook and the economy as it is today. I think this election I'm going to really be thinking about my pocketbook when I bought and I just like to know where you stand on taxation particularly property taxes. (00:12:20) Well, as you know in Minnesota, we had the largest property tax increase in the state's history last year and I certainly oppose that it takes us back to the 40s and 50s when over 40% of our tax dollars was raised by property taxes. And then of course in the early 70s under the governor Wendell Anderson Administration, Minnesota brought about the Minnesota miracle and that figure dropped to around 20% I support the lower figure and I am totally opposed to any increase in property taxes because it's the most regressive form of Taxation. So I think you'll find that I support and always have supported and will continue to support in or out of office the Minnesota Minute Miracle theory of paying for education. Based on the ability to pay are you pledging that you will veto any bill which raises property taxes? Well again, I think that the I certainly would be opposed to any substantial property tax increase the type of escalation we've had now if someone comes in with a proposal for a minor adjustment, obviously you'd have to look at that very carefully, but I would totally oppose any substantial increase in property taxes. Yes. Okay. We've got another caller on the line. Hello. You're on the (00:13:31) air. Thank you. Mr. Spanis. I'm disturbed by a trend which I see an America of combating crime through increased expansion of prisons and tougher penalties under the law. I want to know if you agree with this method of combating crime and what your proposals are for say lessening the impact of crime in Minnesota without so heavily impacting the citizens (00:13:59) one of the things that I've been talking about throughout my career as Attorney General Well as a comprehensive program for Crime Control Minnesota, and I think my record is a good record. I've talked about increasing the penalties for using a gun in a crime which I think is important. I think that that we should have good prisons. We should have good rehabilitations programs. I I've supported handgun control and very proud of that position. But in addition, I've also supported very substantially and think that a key to it is is support for battered women shelters and battered children shelters and legislation because I think a lot of our root causes comes from and I think studies will attest to the fact that beating children at an early age and beating women just leads to a violent society and these people go around especially the children and and commit lot of our violent crimes 75 to 85 percent of all the people on death row today are victims of battered children and battered wives do Well gubernatorial candidate warrants panis is here to answer your questions at 16 minutes past 12:00 o'clock. We have a lot of listeners on the air. Hello. You're on the air. (00:15:13) Mr. Spanish. Yes. If you become governor, do you have planned for bringing us up to the latter 20th century relating to energy there's solar and renewable forces sources that we're really not taking seriously considering how absolutely crippled we are if if our petroleum sources are cut off and that vulnerability I think is pretty scary. And when you think of how say under great pressure of say trying to win a war what tremendous technological advances are made couldn't we motivate ourselves to be more independent considering their renewable resources like Pete Cattails Timber Etc that Available if we would just research and exploit them. (00:16:09) I agree and my energy program has been a comprehensive energy program dealing with certainly conservation weatherization renewable sources of energy like Pete and Cattails, and I've talked to Doug Pratt at the University who's an expert on that talked about code generation of power solar power. And in addition to that Pete both direct burning and extracting gas direct burning is is economically and technologically feasible at the present time extraction of gas is not feasible at the present time, but we should continue research. But in addition to that we should develop a whole new energy industry that creates supplies and the hardware to be used in the type of things you're talking about, but I certainly do support and have talked about and published a comprehensive energy plan. I'd like to tell all our listeners who are waiting to talk with Warren spanis, if you'd like, you don't have to give your name, but if you'd like, why don't you tell us where you're calling from? Interesting for us to hear where the calls are coming from will take another call right now. Hello, you're on the air. (00:17:09) I'm calling from Minneapolis. I'd like to know what you would do as governor or what would your policy be as Governor about the distribution of the free food. Would you be able to come up with the money that Governor Qui doesn't seem to be able to come up (00:17:25) with right that's priority item. And I think that it's one of the areas where we could find the money and if it had to come out of some other less worthwhile program, I would certainly do that. But I'm I think it's unfortunate that we have this shortage in that the governor's not coming up with the money another callers waiting to talk with. Mr. Spanish. You're on the (00:17:47) air. Yes. My name is Michael Krause. I'm calling from Minneapolis. I don't know their energy related question sure something more specific issue if you were elected. Or would you appoint people to the Public Utilities Commission? And would you appoint a director to the agency that would handle certificates of need these people being people that would not favor construction of the circle 3 power plant. I guess II see that as for closing a lot of these other alternative energy decisions because it would create a huge surplus of power. Well into the 21st century. (00:18:34) The only way that I've ever talked about pointing anyone is to first of all keep in mind that you don't do that until after you're elected. I think it's presumptuous and could even be illegal but most importantly find the best possible people now, it is doesn't mean that they would always agree with the governor and every conceivable question. I wouldn't want that but as Janet that person's General philosophy his or hers General philosophy should be in line and it should be in line with the subject matter of the Department of which that person is going to head. 20 minutes after 12 o'clock another listener on the line. Hello. Mr. Spanis is waiting for your (00:19:08) question. Hello. I'm from Coon Rapids. And I was just driving to my card caught the beginning of the program and the the first fellow who called ask you some questions about gun control. I can t remember the question (00:19:21) but that was the mr. Jen's volt. He's the regional representative of the National (00:19:25) Rifle Association. I would like for you to answer that question instead of just running him down. (00:19:30) Well, I didn't run him down. I know. Mr. Jones. Well, I'm just saying is that I'm forget basically what the question is, but he said something about a position of my Campaign Committee took in February of this year and he maintains that it was a untruth. I don't exactly know what that brochure said. All I know is that my position on gun control and gun control has been very very consistent. If you look at my record as attorney general the legislation that's been proposed that's been worked on by our office that's been passed and has been the law and is a good law. It's a Very consistent position. I'm very happy with it. And and I really don't spend much of my time trying to worry about what the NRA or mr. Jones voles organization says wanted to take this opportunity. Mr. Spanish to tell us what the difference between you and Rudy perpich is on gun control. Well, I don't really know what the difference is as you know a the position that I have been talking about and that was introduced in 71 73 74 75 and basically became lost to laws one that says you should not be able to carry a handgun. Excuse me carry a handgun in public or in the passenger compartment of your car unless you're a police officer unless you have a permit and that law was signed by then-governor Wendell Anderson 1976. The second part of it is the seven-day waiting period provision that says that in order to get possession of a handgun or buy one from a commercial dealer that the you have to wait seven days during that seven days. . The purchase the the it's determine whether or not the purchaser or prospective purchasers over 18, whether he or she has a current problem with alcohol or narcotic addiction is a current problem and 3 whether or not that person has ever been convicted of a violent crime and not been granted a pardon extraordinary by the pardon board and that law was signed by Rudy perpich in 1977. And he made a statement then he totally supported my position and I assumed if I'm talking with him and and and reading a statement when he signed the bill that our positions were pretty comparable. But again, I don't put words in his mouth and he says that he's made the charge that I'm polarizing issue. I haven't polarized issue. Someone had to lead that fight because it was long over doing good legislation and and I did that but there haven't been that kind of talk or polarization until this. In about that issue, I'll ask one more quick question will get back to the listeners. Also relating to gun control what many people are concerned about with the gun control position. Mr. Spanis is whether or not you support registration regulation of handguns. Well when you talk about registration, I don't support think it's practical to go out and register all the handguns and that's not what I've been talking about when you buy a new handgun all the serial numbers written down obviously, but as far as registration per say the answer's no, okay, we'll take another listener who's waiting for a call to mr. Spanish. Hello. You're on the air. (00:22:41) Hello. Go right ahead, please. Okay, I'm calling from st. Paul and I really don't have a question for Spanish. I just want to tell him that he has my support and my Applause because of his straightforward support of women's rights and Reproductive Rights and I find it really despicable that his opponent Rudy perpich has been endorsed by the MCC L political action committee. And that's all I really wanted to say. (00:23:04) And well, I appreciate this lady's call. You know, I've been getting a few calls from the other side. So it's good to have here from a supporter and I appreciate that. Okay, we've got we've got another listener on the line. Hello. You're on the air. (00:23:17) Hello. This is Steven Schwinn from Oak Center Minnesota in view of the fact that in spite of what the economy is doing and in spite of all our technology. We still have to derive our existence from what the Earth can provide and also in view of the fact that Minnesota is a farming and I guess tourist State we depend on our natural resources compared with the general attitude of the Republicans that we have to stimulate our Minnesota economy. We have to open up restrictions to Industry and corporations to the extent of where we are in Injuring our environment. How do you propose that we we structure our situation to deal with things like toxic wastes and Mining in The Boundary Waters in other other things that are threatening our natural environment. (00:24:26) Well, I've why first of all let me say that the toxic waste is one of the toughest issues in the state. There is a the Hazardous Waste Commissioners is working on a solution. They were the law was passed in 1980. They've narrowed the selection on the 14 sites and it will be narrowed down to I think seven or five come December and environmental impact statements will be drawn up on that and I'm very interested in that first of all because I don't want to see good agricultural land used for that and I don't want to see any private land use it should be public lands, but even more importantly I think we're getting to the point where a lot of people in Minnesota don't even trust any type of way. Disposal plans are it's buried under ground because they're afraid of the water supply that the water our water resources are one of the conditions that the legislature made very clear to the commission that we should there's we should protect our water supply Minnesota, but I think the ultimate long-range solution would be to try to generate less of it and then try to process it or burn it off when we have it so we don't have to use land to bury it and take a chance of endangering our water supply but that is something that is extremely controversial not only in Minnesota, but throughout the country. Another question for mr. Spanis the dfl endorsed candidate for governor. You're on the air. (00:25:46) Okay. I'm from Minneapolis. I'd like to this is kind of a speculative question. But I'd like to know if Warren Spanish could support something like this and it has to do with the legislature State Legislature. And what we contend is that we eliminate the piggybacking of bills on other bills in the legislature. So legislators would have to answer for their vote. In other words. They wouldn't have to say they wouldn't have the Allah always those, you know, I had to vote for the school bill. So this one was attached to it. So therefore I had to vote for that to you know, it always seems like an excuse and it seems like one way to eliminate that would be to eliminate the piggy backing. I'll listen for an (00:26:23) answer. Well again, and the rules as I understand them is that any type of piggybacking has to be germane. I understand that's been treated rather Loosely and cavalierly the last few years, but I agree with that that that there shouldn't be that type of combination because it Or good legislation. Would you urge legislators not to do that then? Well, absolutely and I think that most legislators themselves feel that when you get too far afield with some Amendment that's attached to something that isn't Jermaine that it causes a lot of hard feelings among the legislators themselves, and I certainly would urge that to be eliminated. It's 28 minutes after 12 o'clock. You're listening to a live call-in with the dfl endorse candidates for Governor Warren spanis. We should remind you that tomorrow our guests will be unendorsed dfl candidate Rudy perpich and on Saturday at noon. We'll hear from unendorsed Republican candidate Wheelock Whitney. We will take more questions. We'd like to ask you to keep your questions brief. We're trying to keep our answers brief here so we can get as many calls as possible before one o'clock when we have to end this program. We have another caller on the line. Hello, you're on the (00:27:30) air Spanish. I'm calling from Minneapolis yesterday and I'm a native Minnesotan who's lived around the country and just recently completed to travels around the country and the sad truth is that there are many are Minnesota is one of the most treasured and states in the country and I'm wondering where you stand on the non-returnable bottle and can issue and if you would support a creative solution such as they have say in Oregon or in Michigan and if you do not support our non-returnable can issue what exactly you propose a solution to that problem. (00:28:03) Well, the trash situation has gotten out of hand a little bit over the past couple years because of the budget cuts and and one of the areas where this Administration has cut down as in in cleanup Provisions, but that happens in difficult times and I Get hope that one of the best things that can happen is we can get back to a state that through the years has had a tradition of being a clean State and the highways were cleaning our rest stops for clean. And so I think this is a temporary situation and I would and from States other states I've traveled and I think they're having the same kind of problem. What about the band The can legislation he talks about I haven't in the past. I have not supported the band of can legislation and I don't support it. Now. The reason being is I think that economically that it would not be in the state's best interest at the present time. I recognized the problem and and would support other ways in which to bring that about. Okay. We'll take another question for Warren Spanish. Hello. You're on the air. (00:29:04) Yes. I'm calling from the load. And the question I have is that throughout the campaign has been very little discussion among the different candidates for Governor about what they intend to do for minorities blacks in particular. I have seen some pictures of you with posing with different black officials in the Twin Cities, and I'm just wondering what is your stand? What do you intend to do if elected governor for minorities and blacks in (00:29:35) particular? Well, our office has a very active since I've been turning gentle and very proud of the fact that has the best record of the Constitutional officers. As far as minority hiring is concerned. Our office has Through The Years represented Department of Human Rights and our record of protecting. The rights of minorities is a good record and I am happy about that. I'm delighted and that I will make sure that Minnesota is is the leading State as far as protection of Rights for minorities and I feel that's what good government. All about but even in addition today one of the tragic situations that's happening now is the high rate of unemployment among blacks and especially among young blacks and one of the reasons why I'm so concerned about jobs and economic recovery is to make sure that blacks and Hispanics and all minority groups are able to participate in the opportunities of this state and influence and and I'm not going I would not let a minute go by before I worked on that project and also to make sure that minorities have equal chances of educational opportunities so that they can better themselves and but that's one of my priority items and I'm sorry that we haven't been able to talk about it more during the campaign. But but I have I have that at the top of my list. Another call for war in Spanish. Go ahead place here on the (00:30:58) air. Hello. I'm a car from Elk River and I'm interested in mr. Spouses position on state reorganization of departments in this specific way. There's been some interest generated recently on reorganizing separate Department of Mental Health retardation and chemical dependency. Would he support that or any other major State Bureau reorganization? (00:31:20) I had I can't give you an answer on that because I haven't considered it in the campaign and all I can say is that since I've been attorney general we have made some dramatic and substantive improvements in the way the officers Run for the better. I don't believe in making changes merely for the sake of making changes. I only believe in making changes that are going to have some substantive a substantive Improvement, but I can't answer that question specifically another call for war in Spanish. Hello. You're on the (00:31:49) air. Thank you. There's been a lot of talk about style during the campaign. How important do you think this will be in the Action, (00:31:57) I I don't know that's sort of the style and gun controls what I've heard more about anytime anything else in this campaign, but I don't really think it's a major issue. I think my style is a good style. I think my style is a style Rye go out and meet a lot of people and and run a good office and have good programs and it served me. Well in the last three Statewide elections. I'm the only living person that's won three straight Statewide elections, and I just think that style is blown out of proportion. He can as I said many times are you can't eat style. You can't pay your mortgage with style, but you can put bread on the table with the program's I've been talking about and you can have a job and put pay your mortgage with the program's I've been talking about and I think people want someone who's going to be a good substantive substantial governor who's going to have a have the plan knows where he wants to go and how to get there and can help Minnesota recovery. Nothing would please me more than a Four years in office people saying States in a lot better shape after he left and when he got there. Another call for war in Spanish. Hello. You're on the (00:33:05) air right? I'd like to ask attorney general spanis. If he does become governor, would he support legislation which would permit Minnesota voters to register for by party for primary elections. And I think this would eliminate some of this crossover voting by single-issue voters in some cases, but also it would permit small political parties other than the Democrats or Republicans to have another way to maintain balance status because they can't do that now. (00:33:36) Yes, I have always felt that the the Democrats should pick the candidates that their best candidate to run the Republicans should pick their best candidate to run the American party should pick their best candidate to run and I and I don't like a situation where others can come in and do mischief. Will you support legislation? Yes. Yes, I would okay. We have another call. Hello. You're on the (00:33:58) air. And (00:34:14) let's that's a good question. But I don't know whether or not Pat Kessler call order. Go ahead. No go to advance our relation, you know economic development is a number one provision. I've talked about ways in which to help small businesses begin and to expand and I've talked about ways to which to help large businesses be able to create new jobs in areas where there's high unemployment through tax incentive or through a low-interest loans. I've mentioned ways in which agriculture can be helped by providing on-site processing and programs dealing with soil conservation. I support the Constitutional Amendments that deal with highways and railroads, which are very beneficial to Farmers far as energy is concerned. I've talked about a comprehensive energy plan that deals with conservation. I've talked about developing our Pete industry expanding the The lease rights number of years both for direct burning and for extracting gas. I've talked about renewable sources of energy all the thing way from Cattails and Aspen and Poplar to solar energy and hydroelectric power. But in addition to that I talked about an entirely new industry in energy that would produce and manufacture the equipment and hardware and supplies right here in Minnesota for such things as District heating program so that we don't have to go to some foreign country to buy pipe that should be produced in Minnesota in Minnesota could Supply it for Minnesota cities and communities but also for communities throughout the nation and throughout the world and so there's a lot of things we can do the but the major the major input that I think has been lacking is a sense of urgency from the governor's office. There has been no economic development program. And I think that's the most important thing that a governor can do is to get on that on top of Situation from the first opportunity that's the day after the election and never relent until the problem is solved and then never relent because every time you take a minute off on that you go backwards you're listening to a call in with attorney general Warren Spanish the dfl endorsed candidate for governor. If you live outside, the Twin Cities are wats Line is now open. You can call 1-800-695-1418 number again, 1-800-669-9133. We have another caller for Warren Spanish. Hello. You're on the air. Go ahead, please please. Yes, you're on the air (00:36:47) recently the PC. Say it aloud Big Industry to discharge more sulfur dioxide and ozone into the atmosphere. Thereby degrading our air quality. What are you going to do about it is if you become Governors, (00:37:02) well, I've been talking about air quality for a long time Steve. I have been down to Washington testifying. I realized I know the facts of the situation there's one plant in Kentucky and one plant in Ohio that this track just charges more sulfur dioxide than the whole state of Minnesota put together and it's one area that I found that both business people and and legislators and environmentalists agree on fully that we need some strong strict Federal legislation. I've wrote to and I've I've communicated to and Gorsuch the Environmental Quality your protection agency director. I think the Reagan policies are atrocious or a national disaster and I would hope that you'd continue your efforts working with your congressmen and Senators to bring about Some stringent Federal standards that measure up to the Minnesota standards another call for war in Spanish. You're on the air. Go ahead. (00:37:58) Please General Spanish. I'm calling from st. Paul. Yes. My question has to do with Transportation. What is your feeling about permanent funding base for mass transit in the major cities of Minnesota Intercity bus service the North Star to Duluth and farm-to-market rail service (00:38:18) mode of transportation is one of the areas that Minnesota has traditionally spent a lot more money on than most other states. One of the reasons our taxes are higher than other states per capita basis because we spend a lot more money on transportation and I feel that's necessary. We have a big stayed with a large population and I so I do support a program both for mass transit in the cities, but also keep in mind we have 87 counties in the state that the governor has to be prepared to to help and to provide Or and so if we can work out a formula that meets the needs of mass transportation for farmers and and people in rural areas and cities outside the Twin Cities areas. I'm supportive Lawrence. Panis is here to answer your questions. We have another caller. Go ahead, please. (00:39:05) Good afternoon attorney general. This is Gary paint from the area. Yes, sir, Gary, how are you feeling? Okay, as you know, the controversy over aerial spraying of pesticides by public agencies is continuing and the executive Council of which you are a member recently held a special hearing on that dnr's use of these defoliants and herbicides on thousands of Acres up here some of them Wilderness Acres in northern Minnesota. Now, we appreciated your obvious concern with this issue, but we're you know, we're not sure of your of your position and we'd like you to tell us today whether or not you are in favor of using public money to spray public lands with pesticides such as 24 d (00:39:47) Again, the the the hearing that you are adding that was killed a couple months ago. I think the resolution of that came that the department would continue to monitor the spring and of course if the spring is detrimental to health and I know your feelings are very strong that it is that that would be discontinued but I don't think that that there has been the last study that was made I think was in 1978 and that study apparently came in and said that there's bring should be continued but I certainly don't believe in using public funds to create a health hazard Minnesota. And I think that's one of the one of the areas that one of the things that I would get to the bottom of as quickly as possible, but we got to find ways in which we can still protect our natural resources and make sure that we have a comprehensive program that deals with all areas of, Minnesota. And not only public lands if there is a health hazard more questions for Warren Spanish. Go ahead, please you're on the (00:40:54) air. Yes, good afternoon. Mr. Spanish. My question regards the methodology used to compile the unemployment figure in the state of Minnesota. And I want to know as Attorney General have you looked into that methodology? That's really perpetrating a hoax on working people in Minnesota. There's 80,000 people that are no longer in the data pool when the figures are given that are unemployed. Once you go on off the regular 26 weeks benefits, you would no longer counted in that number of as being unemployed and have you looked into this and to see if there is any suit that can be initiated by the State against the federal government for extended benefits. (00:41:33) The figures are compiled basically. By the state and there's some guidelines that the federal government is, you know puts on and all states have to comply with those guidelines, but that problem is not only a problem in a soda. It's a problem throughout the country the people that have kind of given up finding a job and it's something that I have not looked into but again, it's better to solve the problem of employment than to try to figure out, you know, and I realized we all want to know how bad the situation is, but I think with the the basic problem is trying to get people back to work but it's something that I certainly have not looked into because it's just not been an area that the Attorney General's office has any direct responsibility, but as Governor, I would have responsibility and I would do so do you think those figures are accurate? Well, nobody seems to know, you know, I think that there's a lot of feeling that not only are there people who have given up finding a job that I've gone out of the data bank, but there's a lot of people who are working part-time who are called working, but they aren't making any type of an adequate income. Support themselves or their family and they also should be somehow or other categorized in the unemployment figures because if you look at the layoffs and st. Paul you look at the layoffs, especially in the Iron Range or in Northwestern Minnesota and Duluth or in some rural areas. It seems like there's a lot more people not working and getting laid off and not getting back to work than those figures indicate 16 minutes before one o'clock. We have another caller. Hello. You're on the (00:43:04) air. I'm calling from Mountain Lake in Southwestern Minnesota. I have a question with regard to education public education, especially in rural Minnesota where property values are quite high and yet the economy of the Agricultural sector is not good and I'm wondering what you mr. Spanis would do to restructure perhaps the foundation Aid formula to public education in Minnesota. (00:43:31) Your your area has more counties and us more school districts that are not getting any state AIDS because Of the inflated property values and any other area in the state, but it has not gone unnoticed by the education committees. And one of the reasons that I'm happy with the ticket that I'm running on is that Carl Johnson is the former is the chairman of the House Education committee. And I don't think there's any very there's very few people in the state who know as much or more than Carol Johnson does about education but it is one of the one of the it is unfair and it's something that should be changed and I would work to change it change that education Aid formula so that it's better for school districts. Like what's better for school district like that because they're caught in between you see their their prices of of the land that they have becomes inflated and the valuation keeps going up but first place a they don't have any money to pay for their their education down there, but because the property taxes and secondly many situations. Nobody can afford to buy that land that land is in Salem. So those figures are almost meaningless, you will do that as Governor try to change that has to be changed because it's an unfair formula and it's it works a great hardship against a fairly large number of citizens of Minnesota another call for war in Spanish. Hello. Mr. Spanis is listening. (00:44:52) Yes. I advertising being a twin From Minnesota and why did you hire an outside agency to handle your advertising for your campaign (00:45:07) Le reason we did that is because many of the agencies that we were considering we're doing other political work for either the other part of your other candidates and we but we do use we do so whenever we can spend our advertising money within the Twin Cities for buying and artwork and things like that, but it's basically a conflict-of-interest problem. Okay, another callers waiting. Hello. You're on the (00:45:32) air. Hello. I'm calling from Otter Tail County several years ago. The state legislature passed a bill for bridge Rehabilitation and replacement. The Department of Transportation has chosen to use that money for bridge replacement rather than Rehabilitation and repair the effect of that has been that for example in our case a Township Road was going to be replaced at a cost of a quarter of a million dollars because $10,000 for it through pair was not available. Would you use your position as Governor to see that funds were made available to repair Bridges instead of just replace them, (00:46:16) right? That's not only a financial problem because it cost of replacing and repairing them goes up more of a year, but it's also a safety factor and I think that one of the things that the state does have a direct responsibility for is the Safety of the citizens and and I agree that the whole question of a highway and Bridge maintenance has been neglected under that type of situation all our bridges and highways could collapse at the same time and it's one of the more serious problems we face and I would get a so find a solution for that. Our guest. Today is Warren Spanish the dfl endorsed candidate for governor. We have another caller on the line. Hello. You're on the air. (00:46:56) Yes. Thank you. My name is Tom Johnson. I'm calling from St. Paul here. I'm kind of having a hard time here have trying to figure out who I'm gonna vote for and I've had some questions here about had some qualms with say about let's just manases all human rights and gun control positions, but I've been looking at this economic question and I decided Well, I'll go down to the headquarters. Here are the two different candidates and try to look at their information. And I went down to your office and I got just tons of stuff to read you and all sorts of different programs and I went over to the other fellows mr. Purposes. And I noticed that he's been talking a lot about Pete and some of these other things and I just can't find much and I'm going to tell you right now that well, I you know, I'm a Catholic and I got some problems about human life and I worry a little bit about my own safety here. I just seems to me you've done your homework more and I'm gonna vote for you and I guess I'm I'm also a little concerned that the media particularly television has given so little play to really thoroughly examining what the candidates positions aren't all these important economic and the energy related issues. And I'd also like to say ksjn for giving us an opportunity to ask some specific questions and in-depth programs. Maybe you just comment on and I got you in Proposal here and it's about 14 (00:48:26) pages. You have a question where we only have very little time. How about a question? (00:48:30) Well, I just like in the comment a little bit on why is getting less play in as he got all these proposals and the other fella doesn't seem to be he says a lot of things going to make Peters number one project for development. But okay, there's no substance and I'm just curious as to why mr. Spanish thinks this isn't being picked up. (00:48:47) Okay. Thanks a lot. Well, I appreciate that and I appreciate your conclusion. You've reached the reason I think is because someone said the other day my proposals are so long and in depth that they really don't are pretty hard to boil down and someone on the other side said, well, nobody can read the program. Well the fact is I've read the program and I know how to put it into effect and that's the important thing. But also it's a good question because it kind of points up the two issues one is substance in one is style. And as I said, you can't eat style but I think substance brings about things you can't eat and you can't pay your mortgage with and so I appreciate your comments we've got What about nine minutes to go? We'd like to ask you to keep your questions brief if you can we have many more callers on the line. Hello. You're on the (00:49:31) air. Yes. I'm calling from st. Cloud. A comment about people giving up looking for jobs. My husband has been laid off since last November. It is not easy to live on minimum minimum assistance and food stamps and I want him and all these other crazy people in the government to know that there are many people looking very very hard for jobs every month and it isn't fair to say that we give up looking for jobs. That is just disgusting. If the government would quit spending so much money on this nuclear arms race and concentrating more on uplifting the working people. This world would be a lot better place to live in and I will not vote for mr. Spanish. (00:50:22) What happened ma'am? Sorry about that says misunderstanding. I don't see people gave up looking for jobs. It just get they were on a roll where the government gave up and Reporting them. Obviously people are going out looking for jobs everyday and I certainly can understand your emotion and I don't want to be modeling about this. But when I was growing up, I was in the same situation. My father was unemployed for probably the time of period when I was two years old until I was out of high school because he was not only caught in the depths of the depression, but he was very seriously ill and my mother did what I'm sure you're doing is doing everything you possibly can to bring home a few dollars to support your family. She did they work and took in laundry and ironing at night and I don't want to sound like I'm crying on your shoulder, but I do understand your concern. I think more than any other politician in the state. I felt that pain that you're going through and that's why I'm talking about jobs, and I apologize if I didn't make myself clear but As a people give them looking for jobs. I meant the labor department kind of doesn't even put them in their figures any longer another call for war in Spanish. Hello. You're on the (00:51:30) air. Yeah. I was wondering what does he stand on abortion? (00:51:34) I don't like abortion. I've never found anyone yet who does but I do not support the hatch of the passage of the hatch amendment or the Helms Amendment. Another call for mr. Spanis at 7 minutes before the hour. Hello. You're on the (00:51:47) air. I'm calling from Marshall Minnesota. And mr. Spanis has many times. You laughed when people have called about style and so on it prefers to refer back to programs. And I guess I do think there is a leadership style kind of thing and we've seen politicians and presidents in particular who have all kinds of good programs. But lack the leadership necessary to get those good programs into action, and I'd like to know mr. Spanish. What are your leadership skills and methods particularly that you could use to convince people to do what you think is is necessary and good for your program. (00:52:27) Well, I always think it's a little bit egotistical of politicians to go out and say their leaders. I think they become leaders by doing and putting programs into practice and making life better for people. My record is attorney general is one of substance of planning of substance and of results if you look at the attorney, General's office as far as as results and good legislation. We've brought about a few ask the lawyers who've worked in the Attorney General's office some questions like you asked me about leadership. I'd rather have them answer, but I don't take a backseat to anybody and that area. I just think it's presumptuous and little egotistical for politicians to call themselves leaders without any type of results. I think my record is attorney general. I've been elected to three Statewide elections by very twice by very very large margins when everybody else is is been losing in the Democratic party, and so consequently. I just think that the record speaks for itself and I believe in putting your in effect substance were your money where your mouth is rather than telling everybody about an ID not doing anything. My record is one of a substance and accomplishment, and I think that's how you judge style and Leadership another call for war in Spanish. Hello. Mr. Spanis is listening. (00:53:42) Thank you and calling from Minneapolis. It's reported repeatedly that the majority of Americans nationally as well as in our state support both gun control and pro-choice knee abortion issue. I want to take this opportunity to say that I am so grateful that Minnesota has had worn spanis to represent the mainstream in in these issues. Thanks so much. Mr. Spanish. (00:54:05) Thank you for calling. I appreciate that another call for mr. Spanish. Hello. You're on the (00:54:09) air. Hello. I'd like to ask. Mr. Spanish about the small businesses in the state. He's been talking about how how when they're healthy. The Minnesota economy is healthy and it looks like the mining problems are affecting a small businesses up in northern Minnesota. So specifically what what could He suggests to help those people out and we tend to focus more on a the depressed areas. Where would it be kind of a general plan for the whole (00:54:39) state? First of all small businesses when small businesses are doing well. It is doing well and small businesses are doing well. Minnesota isn't doing well the key to getting small businesses in the Iron Range of doing well again is by getting the taconite industry rejuvenated. I've never given up on the taconite industry and I don't know there's a 350 million dollar payroll there that's extremely important and that should be the basis of of recovery. And so I have talked about research to improve the taconite pellet. I've talked about Regional steel mills. I've talked about enhancing the port of Duluth and but I've also said that we should look at small businesses and Recovery throughout the state and areas where there is high unemployment whether it's a Twin Cities weather its Northwestern Minnesota, whether it's rural Minnesota, whether it's the northeast or the Southeastern Duluth or the Iron Range are all Aries that would not Escape my scrutiny and attention if I'm elected governor. And as I said, that's the first and most important Job that the new governor does is to get on top of that economic situation on a reiterate again. There's no one in this state that knows and feels more about public official at knows and feels more about the devastation of unemployment than I do and that's what I'd be working on the very first opportunity. Sorry to say we only have time for one more call. This will be our last call. Hello. You're on the (00:56:06) air. Hi. I'm calling from booth. Yes, sir. Go ahead. My main concern is this is concerned about crime rate. She says Republican party seems that weren't Spanish is not done a good job about the sexual crimes. You know, she's seeing people being set free people serving sentences for you know, six months for uh, sexually assaulting women sir. We're running out of time you're gonna have to make your question type of legislation or in Spanish has passed in the past, you know, so we can judge this performs against sexually related crimes. (00:56:54) Okay? Well, I don't know whether you're asking those questions for yourself or for your wife, but fact is is that Minnesota? Our criminal laws have been tightened up and I think the best way to attest to that is asked the Minnesota police and Peace Officers Association made up all the law enforcement. Throughout Minnesota who is the candidate they are supporting for governor, and it's me. Our laws of Minnesota has one of the lowest crime rates in the country and only North Dakota New Hampshire have lower rates of incarceration and crime than Minnesota. And so I'm very proud of my record in that area, and I'm very proud of the endorsement of the Minnesota police and peace officers and the county attorney's and I wish you'd call your local County attorneys and police officers and ask them to verify that thanks to everyone who called in with questions, and we're sorry some of you did not get through. We'd like to remind you tomorrow on midday. Our guests will be unendorsed dfl candidate Rudy perpich. Thanks to Dorothy Hanford for handling the telephone traffic Tom Keith for technical Direction, and thanks, of course to warn Spanish. Thank you Beth.