(00:00:00) Governor welcome, it's pleasure to have you here today. Thank you. Mom happy to be here. We brought along one of your aides. Tom triplets acquittal may be able to answer some specific questions about facts figures and numbers in these kinds of things as as people call in with questions many of you who are listening may very well have heard the governor speak to the legislature on these stations on Tuesday of last week. If not, certainly the address and the budget details which accompanied it were featured prominently in news reports through the week and we're going to spend the hour talking about some of that today two two seven six thousand is the phone number to call if you have a question for governor perpich in the Minneapolis st. Paul area in other parts of Minnesota one 865 29700. One of your suggestions Governor as we wait for a phone call to come in is to help create jobs already Minneapolis Mayor Don Fraser and I think Senate Majority Leader Roger Mo are suggesting that maybe need to spend some more than the 75 million. You're proposing mayor Fraser is suggesting 200 million. Are you willing to accept a more costly jobs proposal at this point? Well, Bob part of the problem is that I don't think they've gone through that whole budget. It's considerably more than 75 million dollars seventy five million. And of course is the one direct. We also then have the weatherization program where we hopefully that we will weatherize about 45,000 homes in Minnesota. Those are usually three people three members of it in a team going to weatherize a home that would mean employment to pack the all those monies and that program will mean for the employment. We also have we're accelerating the bridge were In the highway work, we've also asked for that five cents gasoline tax which won't apply to gasohol by the way, which I think would be very very helpful and maybe later on we can even discuss that I think it's going to be a real shot in the air for the agricultural community and be very helpful to us as a state and conservation and finding alternative sources of energy. We also talked, you know, we have the 2002 fund up north that that part of the Minnesota can draw from those monies. We also are recommending 30 million dollar special fund which would call a Minnesota Enterprise fund that will create create jobs. So throughout that budget if you you know, look through it, you'll find areas that actually means jobs the two hundred million dollars at the time. I believe is he talking for urinal? I think he's just substituting 20 million for 75 million. Yeah, and then a 75 million the course is just for the first year of the biennium then we'll see what the hell'd they biennium What happens many times, you know, January 84 and then of course we'll have we'll take another look we're not going to turn our back on the needy in Minnesota. That's for sure. It just a problem at this point to make the you know, the revenue projections I've seen by time. April is here will have a better feeling than what our projections will be how much money they'll actually be and then we will will get in there and help also to the federal jobs program, you know 60 days ago. They weren't talking about that four billion dollars now they are and I guess it seems that the president and Congress are coming together on a jobs Bill. We know we're getting 38 million already between 80 million hundred twenty million dollars a dollars for jobs and retraining. We also have a special provision in that budget for retraining. So you add it all up put together. I'm sure that we're much closer to 200 million than we are to 75 million the 75 million. Just direct if you slip your headphones on you'll be Will to hear the callers now who have questions for you and we have a host of them will take our first listener now, go ahead, please. Hi, the governor's listening for your question. (00:04:01) Yes, we would like to know can we depend on your full support of cooking Enterprises that he duel energy project that is designated for the Aurora hide Lakes area. (00:04:14) Well, you know, we've discussed this a number of times. We have the special fund the 2002 fund from which monies can be derived for projects. You know that will some of those projects can be a new technology and depending upon the dollars that are necessary so that we'll have to go through the technical board. That's the way the law is written. I'm fully supportive of you know, anything that's going to not only help Revitalize the economy of that area. But anything they'll make us more energy efficient sufficient rather that we want to have to rely on foreign sources and that is one area. I mean the technology there would be helpful. But again, I'm not a technical person and they have a separate special technical board that makes those decisions. Alright, another listener has a question for governor. Go ahead, please. (00:05:14) All right, John Miller and st. Paul. First of all, I want to welcome you back. It's nice to have you in the office. Again. Thank you very much, hon. I attended your reception at the end of your last Administration. Wish you well, so it's going to mean for years nice to have you back. Thank you. I heard your budget address and now I'm particularly impressed by how courageous and straightforward. It is particularly support your vision about education being the goose that lays the golden egg in Minnesota and it's right genuine that also that your real focus on the computer industry and Communications industry. I think that makes real good sense and I'm glad to see you're in their fighting for it question. I have wasn't directly about the budget message but something I saw in the paper that you're urging that the horse racing horse racing registration just zip right through and get on with it. And I myself have been very impressed lightly with some of the things the legislature has been discovering and some of the witnesses that have been testifying and my own sense is that It may make sense at this point not to go too quickly. Just because of the possible implications down the line. I'm thinking particularly about the testimony by the county sheriff's about the possible increase in expenses for related criminal activity that comes along with gambling and I'm thinking about the fact that the industry the horse racing industry around the country is not doing well at all. Well, I would hope that we wouldn't move so fast that we would end up with a big capital expenditure in an industry that we find then we can get no tax revenues out of particular because the tax revenue seem to be the biggest selling point that caused the Constitutional Amendments passed that it was a sure place to get easy money, perhaps moving towards the experiment that the state of Nebraska has shown the US Urban Society a non-profit society, which is provided good horse racing and with a particularly good emphasis on treating the animals well, That and uh, providing the service for the public and at the same time not getting itself caught up in high Capital expenditures and bringing in a whole industry. That isn't doing so well elsewhere in the country. (00:07:26) All right Governor. Let's have your response to that chickens consume John. I've first of all that would be private investment. The state really won't be in the business at all. You know, I didn't vote for it and really was opposed to the paramutual betting when it was on the ballot as a constitutional amendment and I've said before and I still believe it that as far as the revenues go there really aren't that many pluses in and I've never you know, I personally don't believe that that is going to really make a make that much of a difference as far as Revenue to the state of Minnesota. What I did say is that I don't want this whole legislative session to just get locked up and they get carried away over paramutual betting the people to state of, Minnesota. Voted on this and rather overwhelmingly and I believe that the legislature should get on with it hold those hearings and pass the legislation is necessary legislation. They have done a lot of work in the interim and previous. You know, that bill was was being discussed. When I was a member of the Minnesota Senate. Secondly, I have last week named a special commission that would work just in that area of getting any information that might be necessary and also to secure the passage of that legislation. So I believe that once we've had a question on a ballot it's been approved by the people that we should just go ahead with it. And again, my concern isn't as you pick up the paper the last two weeks practically every every time you pick up the newspaper. There's an article in there on that paramutual betting I we have to focus in on jobs and the economic recovery that is a part of economic recovery, very obviously a small part of it, but I don't want it. To get bogged down in the legislative session and for the next six weeks. That's all we hear is pari-mutuel betting. All right, 13 minutes past the our governor Rudy perpich is with us taking your questions. Hi, you're (00:09:24) next. Mr. Perfect. Yes getting ready to get a letter off to your office with copies of my M1 A&M one PR forms. And last year. I only earn about fifty seven hundred dollars for the whole year. Mmm. And so what I was wondering really is just when these jobs programs might actually take effect and whether therefore they'll be for the completely unemployed or whether you're going to be making some Provisions for what might be considered this a low level employment or something or underemployed and whether or not they'll be any training programs at somebody who is unemployed in that unemployed can get into because I've been trying to get in these Federal programs. And those are just for the completely (00:10:11) unemployed. Okay, and then you'll be working part-time at the present (00:10:17) time. Well, I'm working day laborer and that only pays minimum wage 335 an hour and I only take home about 125 a week and it would be less if I didn't claim exempt status on my W-4. Hmm, since you folks I don't let you folks take taxes out that gives me enough money for my bill (00:10:40) its name (00:10:42) but you know, I'm like you could I can check off that one section. It says I didn't pay taxes or don't intend to pay taxes. So that lets me check off exempt status and everything. You (00:10:54) know, what is your first (00:10:56) name? My name first name is Keith (00:10:58) Keith Keith. I'm not aware of those forms that you mentioned the tax forms. I see. Okay. Well our programs for the money that know as I explained to Bob earlier on the program here. There's various parts of that budget which will affect different people in different categories. The 75 million dollars would be people that would be just completely out and people that are the old general assistance rules could have qualified. So that's the 75 million dollars, but there are other parts of the budget of the parts of that program that will help as I mentioned earlier the weatherization. I don't the federal monies that were receiving and there's 38 million dollars there. I don't know exactly what the qualifications are for those monies Keith me. The best thing is do that. You do mail that letter to me and we can turn that over to the commissioner of Economic Security and we can get answers to your question. We're hoping that there will be an upturn and at number of people would be going back to work and The Limited finances that we do have that will be able to help, you know, the remaining people and then of course a retraining Grabbed it because this whole society is going to be exchanging. It's going to go more and more into the high-tech Industries and we needed major retraining and we're very fortunate with the avt eyes we have is some of that can be done in a very short term time frame. Let's take another listener who has a question for the governor. Hi, you're on the air. (00:12:36) Yes. I'm not calling from at Luther E-liquid Township. Yes, tired person and living on a fixed income. Yes, and I'm very concerned about the real estate situation real estate tax estate taxes. Okay, we've gotten our taxes for we've been up here for four years. And of course our taxes have been yes, but this year they've doubled And I'm more concerned about your proposal to deregulate you might say the homestead exemption for one thing and a take-off restraints on local boards, and so forth on their real estate and we get hit twice. I think once by the property reason about the rise in the value of (00:13:26) property, are you out of your on Lakeshore? (00:13:29) No, I'm on I'm on. Of course, we get a very large increase in the valuation of property addition to that they had on. I don't know how many mill rate so we getting hit very heavily up here and this text the real estate tax situation is all his is threatening as far as we are concerned and our financial stability because I said our income is just six but our taxes are just going wild pure and I'm real concerned about what the state is going to do about that. (00:14:04) Okay. What is your first (00:14:06) name? T DT K. (00:14:09) Okay Machine Head Ski. Are you retired? Yes. Okay. Well a couple of things first of all, you know that whole real estate tax property tax is very complicated. So let me just a couple of things before I get specific to your case we have when the law was originally passed those back in the 60s and I was a member of the Senate. In fact, I think a third one the first built and that was to help mostly the disabled and the retired and people unemployed a low-income and now was the an ability to pay and that was the thrust of that legislation. Well someplace along the line besides what that's called a circuit breaker then later on some legislators tacked on another provision and that is that they would pay fifty eight percent of your of your real estate tax on your home up to 58 percent of that. And what has happened is that's really not based on ability to pay at all regardless how much money you make or have you get that up to $650 and that has been open ended and has been it's next to impossible for us to continue to paid to keep what would one say, what would be the right word as far as the real estate taxes being reduced or I mean where we would I can't think of the word. I've been I've been on the as you can tell I got a cold and I've been on the road day and night and getting tired fill in the blank and blank. Yeah. So anyway, what we did now is that we still say up to $650 but instead of 58% and we say 50% but on the other side, we have put more money into the circuit breaker. I think it's 85% more and so that if you are retired, and if you have a limited income, you will get more of it tax relief under our proposal. The taxes that you have now the real estate taxes that you received the bill for them. Those are of course for taxes of last year payable in 1983. The provisions that we are recommending won't take effect until 1984. The other thing is the real estate tax the tax that you're paying on your home go to counties. They go to the city or in your case the township and also to the school district. None of those monies go to the state of Minnesota and we are we're broke. I mean literally broke and which we had to do is get the message back to the people like yourself. Mr. Hickey that those taxes are raised locally and that you have to talk, you know to the people in the County Board to people on the town board and see to it that they don't raise those taxes any more than necessary. State is tries to help and we're going back to the original premise and that is that we're going to help those people with lower incomes. And those are course of the retired and the disabled and the unemployed understanding the state's financial difficulty and all that Governor. How do you square that with the opinion surveys which show that the property tax? Consistently is the least popular tax of all what do I do? Well, that's true. People just gripe about that right and left. I know but this is it again. It isn't a tax that's imposed by the state. It's a tax that's is local mama, you know, I mentioned this in my in my speech and then as I go throughout state of Minnesota, like I have the last four days and will continue to do so I make mention of the fact that you know, we had the governor's office 57 people in the staff five years ago today 56 rather today. We have 27 that's what kind of massive cutbacks we've had in state government. There's any place left to go little isn't he? It's left to go the local tax, you know the local property tax. That's a local tax. That's all there's to it giving Minnesota. I love my home City. We have a have jail facilities on Fifth Avenue East. That's the city the county has on 12th Avenue Hibbing, Minnesota. Net area does not need to jails and I want Community very obviously huh, but they still do it the commissioner. Mr. Hits key are the director of welfare st. Louis County when I left there last fall was earning much more than the commissioner of welfare for state of Minnesota and a commissioner welfare is 68 hundred employees and there's ten facilities. So we have it's as I see it we have to be concerned about the needy we have to be concerned about those people that are disabled or nursing homes, and we have to worry about maintaining a good educational system. Otherwise, we just won't attract the industries the high-tech Industries the industries of the future to the state, you know, I would say the cold weather and mosquitoes aren't gonna bring them here. It's a good educational system that we have. It's a good productive Workforce. They'll bring those people here. So the local people have to start paying attention what's going on in those on those local taxes before it? You know, I always say it was when I was here. Last time was a Saturday night. No, it's Monday morning in the week that you know, that's where we equipment before. We had the money we could do it. We're just out of money period even in December I was told there's 40 million dollars you'll have as a reserve on June 30th. Now we're looking at eight and a half million dollar deficit. That's how quickly things have changed in state government. Our revenues projections in a two-year period are down 23% That's exactly how much cutting had to be done in tax increases and I firmly believe that the next three years that's when the major decisions will be made about Industries expanding or coming to Minnesota and that we can't afford to just continually increase state taxes and income tax when you know, if you're single Learner in the family only one during her wage earning that in a We have the highest income tax in the United States many categories were the highest the sales tax is at 6% The only thing left it actually is closed. We never want to go on food. That's for sure. Okay at 6% were as high as any state our property taxes in relationship to other States including all our neighboring states on a ratio of market value is lower and you know that has to be controlled on a local level. We have to have a good educational system K through 12. We're putting a lot of money into it. We want to see foreign languages. We have to be computer computer literacy back in there the math and the Sciences we have to support the engineering schools next year Minnesota in 1984. We will be sure to 8300 engineers and if we don't pay attention to those if we don't do those things, you know, what's going to happen. We're dead in the water. We're not going anywhere. I mean, it's very difficult to get people to do things know that something that is they won't see the benefit for three or five or in a case of for Which maybe 10 or 12 years but these are things that have to be done twenty-five minutes past the our governor Rudy perpich is with us and we're taking your calls the phone number for Minneapolis. St. Paul area listeners is 2276 thousand those of you outside the Twin Cities area with a question for the governor. Use the toll free number one 865 29700 higher on the air. (00:21:30) Yes. Good afternoon Governor. Perfect. Good afternoon. Yes, my name is Frances and I'm from st. Paul and I'm going to preface I have some questions for you, but I'm sure his first little information about myself. I was a career employee with the state for 36 years. I retired in 77. I was just one of the peasants at that time. I was make when I retired I was making five dollars an hour and I spent my career in the Department of Public Safety and sometimes when it's convenient for you. I'd like to take About a half an hour of your time and take you through the driver's license because you're talking to someone who is analyzed more driving records than anyone else in the state of Minnesota. I was in driver evaluation and there still exists in that office much bigotry in equity Prejudice. What have you and I'd like to explain it to you in person. (00:22:36) We don't have any half hour today. So maybe you could (00:22:38) get your question today to (00:22:40) Governor. Maybe if you get to your question rather (00:22:42) quickly. Now my question to you I listen to your speech the other night on on channel 2 when you addressed the legislature, yes, and I was very pleased with the first 28 minutes. Yeah, your improve my dear. You've been told this by many people your articulation your pronunciation Euro Caballero. Everything controlled read. It really did a job on you. (00:23:14) Thank (00:23:18) you. You really got me now I questions are these do it. Did I upset you? February is Black History Month? Yes, why didn't you make some reference to that? (00:23:30) Well, you know any budget message the effect of message we started with was almost an hour (00:23:35) for the rest of the year. We can read reference very nice reference to the Indians, which I appreciated you made reference to the fact that we might see you in Hastings at lunch or it here or there. How come you didn't make any reference to the fact that we might see in the ghetto areas in Minneapolis or st. Paul come on over to someone University on Selby and I'll buy lunch for you (00:23:57) Francis. I have visited there many times and meet with leaders and members of the black community. In fact about every two weeks at the office, but I haven't had that much of a dialogue really with the Indian state of Minnesota. He'll be meeting with them next week. I feel I mentioned Indians very specifically because I feel very strongly that they are. Probably have been the most oppressed of all of our people in the United States in Minnesota. We literally forced the Indians off the richest lands. We Indians should all be multimillionaires if they if we if they were allowed to stay on their own lands or had been given just a little bit of the rights to the timber or some of their rights to the iron ore in the northern part of the state. And so I thought that the again I recognize it because I come from up there but I think that's true about the Indians throughout the state of Minnesota and feel that we should do some equalizing and we have some ideas and one of his that I believe that every Indian person used young person should have an opportunity to education tuition free if they don't have the means, in fact one of our universities one of our branch of the university has it written back in 1900. Six, I think it was that any Indian attending that school would go tuition free, but I don't think anyone's really paid attention to that. So I just because I've you know, we've kind of forgotten about the Indians in Minnesota, and I just wanted to make a very specific reference them. What's your number Francis? I will call you. (00:25:51) I understand I said that's what I said. No, you're talking about the (00:25:53) Indians. Yes, but I said I meet with the people in the Union in the black community at least every two (00:25:58) weeks. Why didn't you make some reference? I don't listen you've got I don't want to be hanging on the (00:26:03) telephone. What's your number? What's your number telephone number? I know you didn't I'll tell you what. Why don't we wait wait, let's let's do this. Let's get the telephone number taken off the are not on the air conditioner that all right, maybe Dorothy you can intercept this call and and get her number off the air and then we'll give it to the governor because I don't imagine that we ought to be broadcasting that all over the state of Minnesota. Meanwhile, 12:30. Let's take another caller. Go ahead, (00:26:27) please. Hey, yes, we had the last one was that there was a 10 week program and a four weeks program. You know what? I want to know. It doesn't seem right and I and and I can't get an answer from mr. Big at your mr. Eliopoulos say they don't believe it's right either. But okay, he the boy couldn't get the whole ten weeks. He only got two thirds of that and he couldn't get the whole four weeks. He only got to tell one week and two weeks and a half on that. Okay. All right. They say that when I asked him that over at the unemployment at the employment office that this is the way it is. Because he had worked that many years for the technique. He had worked two years only I see but does that seem right to you to penalize these guys, you know, whether they he's been off the job for over a year. Did he work for two years? Yeah for two years. Yeah. He had two years I see and that the thing of it is, you know, they needed. Daddy, Yelp understanding of the jobs, of course, but the thing of it is now like they were going to pay their their house payment and you know what to do. (00:27:55) What did Doug Johnson say when they're in Vegas when they (00:27:59) come over they said no, we don't think this is right either. (00:28:02) Yeah, but what do they do? Besides that if they find out (00:28:04) why hey Leah Well, I'm going to look into it, but I haven't heard from him since I have been able to get ahold of he is he too but he's pretty accessible really. I'll see him Tuesday morning. He told me that what you know anything about it. (00:28:19) No, not that much I have to you know, we have to get the facts. I'll talk to you. Laughs. What's your name? (00:28:24) That's a meal at? Okay, he knows me and I know to say (00:28:30) okay, we'll have to get a transmitter up there. Well, I'm not sure that we I'm not sure I can explain that. We usually have pretty good coverage up on the ridge. Yeah. I heard the morning after the primary. I didn't have any trouble you never trouble warning after the primary decide all I got I got I got the news. We will find out Pat and I'll ask you the off and you'll get back to you. Okay, good. It's about 28 minutes before the hour another listener with a question for governor perpich. Go ahead, please (00:28:57) yes. I'm calling from the Twin Cities area and after a recent budget address one of the legislators Express disappointment. Not making specific Provisions to improve the business climate in Minnesota. And what I'd like you to discuss is a topic that I seldom hear mentioned in relation to the business climate and that is what if any sacrifices in the quality of life in the state in general or in working conditions or wages and benefits specifically must be made in order to encourage business to locate and remain in Minnesota. (00:29:37) Okay. I did have a Michael call the investment budget where we were very specific on a number of steps that we feel are necessary to revive the economy in Minnesota. So I divided the budget in two parts because they were just been too long to deliver that address at one time in there again, I specified what has to be done and what we'll be doing. First of all the workers comp the industry and labor are meeting and it's my understanding that they're making progress and we should have a bill or some recommendations from them and will be in Bill form in about two or three weeks. We've also kind of charted a chart of the course for Minnesota as far as taxes what tax will be removing first the surcharge we've also have a number of built-in credits. We talk about a Minnesota Enterprise fund where we will have monies for long-term. I mean got long-term long-term loan guarantees interest by Downs. So there's a whole series of recommendations. We have formed 10 growth commission's areas of the economy that we feel have real potential for the future. They are making recommendations. We said we don't want any long-term studies Alternatives commission's have made their report. We will now attempt to get the legislature the passage of the recommendations through the legislature and then hopefully the implementation so I think that we have sent out the right the signals that Minnesota is a place that's going forward will become very competitive in our whole area of as far as higher education K through 12. Also, we're preparing our young people for future Industries a study that was conducted at Wharton and Harvard Stanford schools of business their master's program. They ask those people when they graduate to work What cities were they like to live and work and they mentioned three major areas Seattle Minneapolis st. Paul and Boston and I believe that with the budget as we have said, It and with the goals that we have in mind that those people and they would be the decision makers of the future that the other side that you know, Minnesota is the place to come. So I'm very optimistic about the future of Minnesota and for us to get the Investments that are necessary to create the jobs. Let's take another listener with a question for the governor. Hi, you're on the air. (00:32:24) Yeah. I would like the governor to tell me what the difference is between Taxation and extortion. Arrow Bob (00:32:35) Tom sounds like that good of a loaded question. Yeah, actually there to beat your wife. Let's do you have anything further on that? I guess not. Let's move on to another listener. I think that possibly we frame that little bit differently. Go ahead please you're (00:32:52) next. Hello Governor purpose. Yes calling a following the stories about your proposed omission of aid for future students going to the Mayo medical school. Yes capitation. Yes, and the fact that future students understandably not the ones that are currently enrolled but future ones will no doubt face a tuition of approximately fifteen sixteen thousand dollars a year to attend the medical school here in Rochester. It seems to me that this is a bit short-sighted and a bit provincial when I read a story just a little bit ago. Where I noticed that you want to fund the Duluth school to become a three and four year school to the tune of 2.2 million dollars a year. It seems to me just not very wise to be taking a currently a two-year school and boosting its enrollment boosting its extent and taking away much of the access that Minnesota residents have to the Mayo medical school. Would you care to comment on this? (00:34:06) Sure. First of all, we don't have in the budget to expand the medical school and lose the third and fourth year that's not in our budget to the best of my knowledge. It's not secondly We're going back to the same thing. We're broke. You know, I was a I was a supporter of the you know capitation to the mail school of medicine. And obviously it's an outstanding school. It's just the fact that we're broke and we're just hoping that somehow the Mayo's, you know at the clinic there and in that community and with the hospitals that there's some way that they'd be able to support that right now. I think it's a 25 25 50 and who knows maybe in two years the economy improves the such a point that will be able to do something again and maybe just make some changes as far as the ratios, you know, it's very very difficult. I keep saying over and over there's anyone jumping up and down with Joy including me over the budget, but when you're faced with Trying to convince people to companies to expand in Minnesota to move to Minnesota to start these high-tech Industries in Minnesota. We just have to be careful that we just don't kind of price ourselves on the market completely. I'd like to be competitive will never be competitive to South Dakota. That's for sure North Dakota. That's it's kind of a different ball game, but I'd very much like to be competitive with these other areas that are the high tech areas, you know, North Carolina, Massachusetts, California if we could be competitive with them that's where the future is and if we get the investment and the jobs are here, then we'll have the dollars to do those special things that we were doing in the past. So we're not we don't have any budget expanded loose school to third and fourth year. We were down there in Rochester yesterday recognize that it's not fair to those students after they made plans to cut them out. And so we put that back in and of course we got to go back and you know find that those Dollars in the budget but for now that will have to be for the future rather. That's another one those programs that we have to cut out for now. Is that your basic game plan that if there are any changes in the budget the the adjustments have to come from other programs and other areas of the categories of the budget that you're not willing to see the overall size of it increase Wow, we have to present a balanced budget to the legislature. And this is what we did. And any time you make a change. You also have to find $1 for that change. Let's suppose you know is going to increase Revenue that we would you be willing to increase taxes. If if that were desired by the legislature see Bob just goes back to the to the original got a very difficult job. I really literally want to go wrong knocking on doors. Let's say in the in the Agra processing to convince them to Minnesota is a place I believe is the next two three and four years is when the many major decisions will be made and if we get to the point where we're sending out the wrong signals at this time, they'll make it very difficult for us. So so you're not inclined to go beyond the tax increases you recommend a dog. No, we want to hold right where we are. Another thing I might as well say it now I was thinking about it as I was moving around the state because of questions were asked and I might as well stay that now I don't want any funny games played in that legislative process when Comes to those conference committees. I believe that any taxing proposal has to have full hearings that a bill should be introduced should go through the committee's and is the public is aware. I mean, I just don't I will not sign a bill in which the conference committees get together and then put a provision in there on taxes without having hearings, you know that happened last time without any hearings, but they they major part of that tax bill major tax revenue raiser was placed in the ability unitary taxes an example. So I'm hoping that the legislature well not hoping I think that it's only fair and that the public know well in advance and it's those people that want to testify for against have that opportunity. So I don't want that conference committees to get together and then just put in a tax that hasn't had any hearing or anything as long as all right, so that does one house to the other half to pass the tax. Before it can be included in conference or are you willing to allow it if it is just been considered and debated within the committee and had people will have an opportunity to speak on. That's a very good question Bobby about I should have talked to you before I decided to go so glad that I'm saying no. No, but I'm saying is that's a good point. This is why I've been going out throughout the state of Minnesota citizens always have an input and you're figuring out all the answers and then bang goes someone like that yesterday in Rochester. Our people figured we had it all figured out and here we weren't being fair and just with it with with those students there. I will have to take a look at that. I was just kind of when you ask me the question about taxes being added. I just want to be on record that if it just goes comes out of a conference committee. We want to go long as those taxes that they have to be introduced in have hearings should be passed by either house. I'll have to take a look at that and ask me that Thursday of next week. Well, it's February 19th. I imagine that conference committee will be meeting about May 1990. Think about 17 minutes before they are let's take another listen over the question. Go ahead, please. (00:39:50) Yes. Good morning. Governor. Morning, nice to talk with you. I'm calling from Minneapolis. And I'm glad you mentioned just before about Minneapolis-Saint Paul being a preferred place to live. Yes. I'd like to express a point of view that you probably haven't heard much but I have a feeling that I'm not alone. I don't really mind paying for the kind of lifestyle that we have here. And I want our kids to be educated and I want the poor to be continued to be cared for and I want the needy to be taken care of and the old people I I know there are many people who I'm nervous talking to on the phone. I know there are many people who can't afford to pay more taxes, but I know there are a lot of us out here who are not suffering very much and I just wanted to express that point of view because I don't want us to change any more than we have to what we can offer ourselves and our children. (00:40:51) Well, I'm very happy to hear you say that and I agree with you. You know, I've really been all over this country and lived in a foreign country. It's really a good feeling to be able to walk the streets any time of the day or night and I do that quite often in the evening in a walkout and the educational system. We have you know, it's I'm very very proud of it. (00:41:15) Well, I think there's so much talk about cutting expenses and cutting taxes and cutting programs. And this is a national transitional understand it but I would really like us to focus on our legislators and you on what we want and then figure out how possibly we can pay for it rather than than assuming we can't pay for very much and kind of taking what we can get. Its. I know it's just a it's kind of a point of view that I'm asking for and I am not naive about the financial crunch everyone is in but but I just wanted To remember that we have something good that I think we can handle. I mean we've handled things before and not everyone out here is really hurting that much not everyone is really in the crunch right now and it sounds like it, you know, when when you talk to when you read the newspaper articles or when you hear the news, I think the whole country right now is kind of in this negative attitude about what we can't do and what we can't pay for and so forth, but I think if we focus a little more positively I think you'd find that there are a fair number of us out here who are willing to pay a little more if we need to to to keep things and growing and and helpful for the for the state of Minnesota. (00:42:36) Well, thank you very much see the problem. Well, first of all our revenues from the projections are down 23% in two years. I mean, that's that's a very, you know, I still can't believe in myself and I'm I'm witnessing it, you know as governor. and members of legislature also, it's a matter of again a difficult time explaining it but you have to know how far you can go with what we want to maintain this quality of life. That's for sure. But we also want to make sure that were competitive enough so that all of a sudden people they say we don't want to come to Minnesota then of course, we'd start a slide that would be almost irreversible and it's in a critical time of our history. So what we're trying to do is maintain that quality of life tighten up wherever we can and prepare for the future and if you take a look at that budget, if you really take a an overview of it, what we're attempting to do is prepare for that future and still maintain that quality of life. You know, I notice I did not get back in the Arts I think back and request from Historical Society. I recognized, you know things that are also important to us to our culture. I always say that I'm saying a number of times that in this divided world, you know, we don't have a universal So language, you don't have one language or we don't have one religion or one political system. I think the only common denominator is Art. So we're still maintaining those in our budget, but hopefully that we can create an impression out there that Minnesota is a good place to invest and create those jobs or get us the revenue so that we can go on 12 minutes before one o'clock time for some more calls. Go ahead, please you're next. (00:44:22) I had a question regarding financial aid to private secondary schools. Excuse me. I've had cold Aside from constitutional issues of a to private schools in light of our economic conditions and you've alluded in a couple of answers the fact that we are broke or near broke. We have no cushion. We're looking for dollars. Yes, what are your Administration views or your views on curtailing or continuing or dealing with what I regard as a distressingly My Level of state aid to private schools. I know the Fate takes many forms, there's money for busing for private school students are some money for health personnel and other health-related issues. There are a number of areas in which state aid is going to private secondary schools. I think if your staff or the commissioner of Education staff went through all the areas and added it up that would be money that substantial money which either in my opinion should be taken out of the budget entirely to reduce the state's expenditures or should be money put into state aid to public schools now lest I seem like I'm Auntie private school my parents sent me to a private. School and like they say in bad jokes. Some of my best friends have children in private schools. But in my opinion we cannot afford to be subsidizing private schools. I know that the lobby can be fairly vocal the lobby 482 organizations such as private schools, but I think even though the lobby can be very vocal and persistent. I don't think that this kind of expenditure is Justified. I didn't like it before when we had a reserve in our state budget and I'm really aggravated about it. Now the (00:46:03) more let's get the governor's views on what's known will last kind of a tradition here in Minnesota. We haven't made any changes as far as the secondary school. The only change that has been made in private school education is that the private college contract which I think amounts to about four four million. I think three-and-a-half to four million dollars. We have cut off that part of the program that's imposed. Gary where we had Direct, you know Aid to the school itself other change. We didn't make any other changes 10 minutes before one o'clock. Another caller is waiting. Go ahead please (00:46:42) I want to thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to answer questions like this and commend you because I think you've been very straightforward and honest with us. There's one question. I have though our series of questions perhaps finder stood you write your budget message and earlier today. You said that the property tax is a local tax and it benefits only local governments and not the state. That (00:47:03) right? Yes. No revenue is do right. Well, no. No, it benefits the state very obviously, you know, we all get Drive benefit from it, but I'm saying is that the revenues itself does not come to the state. We don't collect any of that Revenue that Revenue all goes to the schools and the cities and the (00:47:20) counties that implies that the property tax levels and are completely up to school board members and County Commissioners and city council members, but doesn't that overlooked the fact that the state mandates so many programs that local governments have to carry out yet. The state doesn't provide any money for those mandated programs or only part of the cost. For example, as you know general assistance is the basic safety net welfare program economic assistance program in our state. Yes, and the states are required to carry out that program at certain levels and yet the state only pays for part of the cost of that program if we are really going to talk about property taxes being up to local officials. Would you be willing to support legislation which would give counties? The option of carrying out general assistance only with the money that the state provides them to carry out this mandated program. (00:48:09) Well, two things first of all, I recognized, you know, the mandated programs that they cause a problem. I have asked Joan grow to set up a commission. In fact, they met day before yesterday to go through all those mandated programs and find out just exactly which ones are mandated what programs are mended from there. We'll find out what some of the costs are. Hopefully there we can remove some of those mandates and also all the paperwork and everything else that goes with it. I met you with Joan grow the Secretary State last night, that's one area that we're going to work very very hard and she has some just outstanding people serving on that commission. The second thing is, you know, when I was a state senator the counties in the course is a counties of the city of the first class. There were picked up most of the had most of the payments that have been made for welfare we have You can a big part of that from the county to the state. I think we're within about I think about 75% of that 90% of the medical is now by the state. Let me just take about you know, 30 seconds on a medical and I'll get back to the rest of it. The medical part in Minnesota is another one of those that's kind of open-ended and it's a very very very expensive. We have per thousand elderly. We have 96 nursing beds. The national average is about 53 or 54 and this is very costly to us while we're really picking up a big share of that day. But 90% of it Tom. So we're trying to resolve all that. We will be meeting with the local officials as you know, I've been no really tied down at the desk and the time of the budget message on February 15, but since then I've been going through out the state visit. Communities and getting input from the people, but I think we'll be able to resolve this local state mandates to the local officials would be happy by the time we finish up. It's about six minutes before the hour. We're getting down towards the end of our time period but we'll see if we can put some more questions in for the governor. Go ahead. You're (00:50:23) next. I'm a single homeowner a few blocks from Southdale. And when you think about providing the services that people the state need one thing. Well, I pay for schools that I don't utilize and things like this and that I do happily but when I see how we handle our trash I see all sorts of trucks criss-crossing our neighborhood quite inefficiently and then people keep looking for more places for landfills, but they don't get motivated to do the recycling bit. Do you have any observations on that one particular part of organizing our kind of a society? (00:51:10) Okay, I in my investment budget. I major part of it, of course. Total area of energy. I am one that's convinced that the major cause of our problems in this nation. And in this state is the high cost of energy if you really look back and started in 73 and in 78 79 from that point on we really began to slide and if I had one fault with what's going on in Washington that is that the biggest mistake they're making is not is that they're not putting more money and that they're not making much more of an effort in finding alternative sources of energy and doing much more as far as conservation of energy and so in this Administration, I just wish that we could get this economy turn around because that's where I would like to concentrate and I believe that Minnesota could really be the leader for the rest of the nation and that area and so in this budget we've asked for a number of things that we believe will be, you know, very helpful and helped make us more independent of the Middle East and other parts of the world. I believe that we should we have 30 million dollars and weatherization and Alternate Alternative Energy including Recycling and actually burning of the garbage. We have an environmental problem the landfills. Nobody wants the landfill neither near their home or near their property and where we have I believe that we're going to try that at some of the state institutions as a beginning that we burned that garbage. We're also have monies from previous sessions and bonding for district heating. We would like to convert as many of the schools as possible 33 have been converted ready from natural gas and oil to wood pellets and wood chips. The savings are very dramatic in that in fact in about 14, 15 months to get their money back. There's one school in Minnesota that has saved enough in the boiler room just in energy costs that they were able to maintain for teachers in the classroom. And so those are the kind of thing that we will be doing and I agree with you and you'll see a very special emphasis by this Administration on this whole area of energy conservation. Finding alternative sources of energy here in Minnesota time for another call. Maybe two more high. You're next. (00:53:22) Well Governor purpose. Hi good to have you take time off your busy schedule for the phone form. My name is David ekblad, and I'm really concerned about our political system in many ways and especially our judicial system and within our state I think there's some things that I just wondering how you'd think I've noticed that there are a lot of people in office without taking an oath of office and when Governor Quinn was in office, I contacted him about this and they surveyed the state and found that 90% of the public officers don't have an old son file in the required to by law both the Minnesota Constitution State Federal Constitution many statutes and particularly concerns me about Judges and I was wondering if you would comment about your feelings on this and the statute that state that a governor that in office is supposed to appoint someone to fill an That doesn't have an oath of office on (00:54:19) file a David. I don't know what happened previously. But since I've been you know this last month and a half, I think I've appointed 12 13 14 judges. They do take an oath of office and I do sign the papers, but I you know, we could we'll do some checking and find out for you, but I'm just about positive that they all do take an oath of office. I took an oath of office as Governor. I sworn in mayor's council members judges. In fact over in Hennepin County. We just were in last week and it was for judges. So we're making an attempt to get as many well, we're trying to make some changes also in the in the whole judicial system. As far as people that we appointed a bench. We're trying to get more minorities more women. So there's a better closer raishin ratio to what they're actually is, you know in among our citizenry Governor. I'm afraid we've run out of time. Okay, but I sure do want to thank you for coming in and visiting. Well, thank you Bob enjoyed it and hopefully we can do it again hope so and I'll follow through on some of these telephone calls and some of the people that we said we contact very good sir.