6 minutes past 11. This is a test of the emergency alert system. And good morning. This is midday on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary I can glad you could join us much has been said about the pedigree of the dfl candidates for Governor this year and no question about it. There are some big names in the race Humphrey Mondale Freeman Dayton about the latest Canada to join the race probably has the highest name recognition of the mall here in the state of Minnesota Johnson longtime state. Senator, Doug Johnson Tower made it official this week. He's running for governor this year and according to at least some of the experts he has a very legitimate chance to win the party's nomination in the September primary. I like the other five dfl candidate Senator Johnson is not from the Twin Cities area and unlike the other five dfl candidate Senator Johnson is pro-life on the abortion issue. Both factors could be decisive factors in a crowded primary. Well, Senator Doug Johnson has joined us from our station in Duluth this morning to talk about his campaign and to take your questions. So we invite Should join our conversation give us a call with your questions for dfl. Gubernatorial candidate Doug Johnson. 2276 thousand is our Twin City area number to 276 thousand. I'll try the Twin Cities. You can reach us toll-free at 1-800 to +422-828-227-6004. 1 800-242-2828 morning Senator morning Gary next to be on your program again, glad you could do glad you could join us. What are you bring to the race Senator that the other candidates don't you know, I really like the other candidates and they had very fine families and provide a lot of leadership up for Minnesota. But I think Minnesota is ready for someone different someone with who comes from humble beginnings a common person with a lot of common sense and that'll be the message that I'll be bringing to the people of this state Johnson's a good name, but it's Famous name in the lights of you know sons of former vice presidents and governors and and whatever. My dad Oscar Johnson was a truck driver and my mom Irene was a English immigrant who was a homemaker and they just taught me strong worth it work ethic and that I had to work to get to where I got. I mean I had to work Summers to earn enough money to go to college and they taught me to have a big heart and be compassionate for people but you have to have responsibilities as well. And so I just I think I bring a different kind of a message coming from humble beginnings. You have been the chair of the states in a tax committee since 1980 and there's always a lot of grumbling in Minnesota about the high level of Taxation is your a long experience is tax committee chair going to work to your advantage or disadvantage. You know, I've been honored by my colleagues in the Senate Re-elected me time and time again to chair that very very important tax committee. They had confidence that I would have the skills the technical knowledge of taxes, but also of the highest integrity at the handle that job and you know, I had to deal with hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars of of tax and budget decisions over the years and my colleagues. I was entrusted with me that I had the integrity and the leadership in the fairness. They have that position certainly taxes are not popular and I have publicly stated a number of times that I think our tax burdens are too high in Minnesota. I think that were in a very very good position coming into the 1999 legislative session to have a permanent income tax cut and while I'm the governor that will be the first budget decision I make before any Spending decisions are made. I will propose a permanent income tax cut to the Working Families in Minnesota. There was some suggestion in the latest Revenue Department figures that perhaps revenues weren't coming in quite as quickly in abundance Lee is originally expected. Do you think you may have to back off that the income tax cut pledge? I don't believe so the commissioner of Finance in his announcement on the on those two months of Revenue projections said that it appeared it was just a one-time blip, but certainly any final budget decisions you make are dependent on the latest forecast and our economy in Minnesota on a Statewide basis not everywhere in Minnesota. But on a Statewide basis is very strong and we have a strong budget surplus that I was a part of the decision of making sure that occurred as well as two hundred million dollars. That'll come from the Nova. 98 forecast that is set aside for a reduction in taxes going to make any effort at all to try to win the party endorsement at the State Convention in June apparently still a large number of officially uncommitted delegates are up for grabs or are you just going to go right to the right onto the primary in Focus exclusively on trying to win that primary? I'm a Democrat and I'll always be a Democrat that I'm not going to flip flop parties like others have done and although that I haven't always agreed with some of the activists in the Democratic party. I know what the Democratic party is meant for for my life. My parents are social security Medicare Democratic issues, the minimum wage Fair wages and benefits for Working Families helping small businesses. I'm a Democrat but there's probably several reasons. Why Actively support the dfl endorsement one is I'm getting in late I decide to not announce for governor until after the legislative session. I had a lot of work to do that was my first responsibility. It was in the in the Senate and also I think I'm probably too much a moderate or in the mainstream of politics and policy are within the Democratic party. I like to say that the people that were my politics come from where Harry Truman and the late Hubert Humphrey. And so I don't think that that my moderate view on issues. I would allow me to get the endorsement of that party. I am going to the conventions. I'm going to you know, I'll make it clear that that I appreciate their involvement and that after the prime rate. I certainly want their support state senator Doug Johnson. I guess this our Center Johnson officially announced this week that he is indeed running for governor seeking the dfl party's nomination great opportunity to get your specific questions into I Senator Johnson said give us a call 227-6002 to 76000 outside the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828 out of our continuing meet-the-candidates series here on Minnesota Public Radio 2276 thousand or one 800-242-2828 or Scholars from St.Paul Larry. Go ahead please Johnson height. Very respectful of people who are pro-life and I think that's fine. Although I'm personally pro-choice. Can you tell me a little bit about how you would deal with people and the issue of choice since I think particularly the metro area, that's not the most popular position. How do you deal with that? Well, first of all as a governor, there are many many more issues you you deal with on a on a daily basis than the issue of abortion. I am pro-life. I'm not going to change my position on that. I got married in I was a 54 year-old Bachelor. I got married in September 1996. My wife does not agree with me on that issue. But yet we respect each other we loved each other. So I will supply will show some respect for those that disagree with me on. Issue, but I am pro-life and and don't intend to change. Would you like to see the laws in Minnesota changed when the abortion issue? Of course take each proposal one at a time. I do do not agree with the partial birth abortions that are occurring. I would like to see an effect. We successfully got more reporting requirements and you know that neat thing that happened this year and I would like to think that I could get the the two sides or the three sides of the four sides together on this issue because people have different ranges of where they are on that issue to sit down and that's what happened during the legislative session on the human service finance bill. I were actually the two sides sat down and worked out a compromise and I think it's the first time I ever saw that A my plenti 20-plus years in the in the legislature in all there are have been other politicians that have flipped flopped on that issue. I think for political expediency. I'm not going to do that. I don't flip flop on any issues. I'm who I am Center you see that is the big issue in the September primary. Well, I hope not I think that there are issues that minnesotans are thinking about much more than that. I think they agree with Doug Johnson when he says we should have a permanent income tax cut. I've been an educator for 30 years. I believe that I can bring the knowledge to help Minnesota's children learn more from that experience. I've had I was a head start teacher. I was an elementary school teacher. I was a high school. Guidance counselor and I would work with those who know a lot more about education than me to better link the parents in the students and the teachers in the state so that in fact our children and our and those that go to higher education institutions are better prepared and are linked to the new types of careers in the future. And so I would be making sure that kids are learning what's needed for the future jobs that businesses will provide. So we also think that I'd like to follow up the Bill Clinton model and downsize the state government. Like he's downsize the federal government. I think from personal experience that a particular at the upper level management positions that there are some savings that we could make it but in terms of the abortion issue see that more as a kind of a background issue and terms for the Governor's race. Cutting Edge type thing. Well, I hope it isn't and I think I've stated my position on it very clearly. I think that you know, you go to the coffee shops in Minnesota. That's not the issue that people are talking about they're talking about their taxes. They're talking about their kids education. They're there their they're talking about the fishing opener coming up on May 9th and in all those kinds of issues not feeling safe in your home in Minneapolis. Those are overriding issues more than the one you mention a Johnson place this year on concealed carry weapons. I wanted to get some to Johnson's and some that issue. I would support that. Okay, and let's move on now to Jim your question. Yes that are Johnson. I appreciate your your position on the abortion. It's nice to hear that there was some pro-life Democrats left. I'm wondering what I'm looking for. Someone who has consistently pro-life that would be also opposed to the death penalty and opposed to euthanasia. I wanted your position on those place. You know, I'm consistent on all those issues. I'm pro-life which means that I do not support the death penalty or euthanasia very consistent on that the throughout my career. State senator Doug Johnson is our guests this hour or the dfl latest announced candidate for governor. If you'd like to join our conversation, give us a call 227-6002 to 7 6008 side the Twin Cities 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or one 800-242-2828 Center you mentioned at the education issue. And of course that's one that lots of people are vitally interested in. What are you? What do you think about that tax credit tax deduction of Bill that was passed last summer which would say at least in theory will make it easier for more people to send their kids to a non-public schools. Should that lost and That law I'm sure will not get changed. You know, when you have bipartisan government. There have to be a compromise is on many issues and Governor Carlson held very firmly in his support of of that particular issue and I was one of a majority of the house and set it in the special session that voted for it. And as a compromise, I would have preferred that it that it's not become law but I did vote for it as as a compromise and I just don't see that that it's going to be taken away. I think it I think technically it doesn't work very well from a tax practitioner standpoint. It was poorly drafted but as far as eliminating it that's not going to happen Joe your question for some Johnson real estate taxes. I have one neighbor mind. Was literally text out of his home because he's on a fixed income. I was just talkin last night to another neighbor of mine was wondering when and not if but when it's going to happen to still have to leave in a second question I have is what would you be doing to address the current discuss that the population has with the political process in the politicians who drive it? What can you be a little more specific about what you perceive as as the reason for the discus. What are we the people left to believe when we see the pork belly type of spending that goes on where people vote on excesses for their particular District that aren't perceived as being needed by the rest of the population know these things half the length words of cell phone. Do not accepted by the public and yet we don't see anything but that happens tangible about it. We talk about campaign Finance reform and it doesn't get past we talked about governing yourselves under the laws of the People would we have to abide by and yet you begrudgingly passed laws that say well, we think we're coming closer to following the same guidelines and how can you not have discussed when we see this over and over again? Okay Senator up first of all property taxes. So what would you propose to do to bring those down to good questions that the gentleman asked number one over the past two years. We have had pretty significant reform of our property tax system. But this gentleman is correct that many people are still being faced with a very very high increases in their property taxes generally related to an unusually high increase in the assessment fair market value. So as Governor, I would negotiate very strongly to put a cap on the increase of Market values. In the Minnesota. I tried to do that in the 1998 legislative session work with represent Bob Mildred of South st. Paul, but we were unsuccessful to cap the the property tax. So as Governor, I would insist that we do that I would also continue to try to have the state assume more of the cost of K through 12 education as those resources became available and we did that in the 1997 and 1998 sessions remove State funding from 60 to 68% of State Farms rather than the local property-tax and we have to go further in that direction as far as campaign Finance reform. This gentleman is exactly right and I think Governors and and those of those who are in the Congress or the US Senate as well as in the legislature. I have to help educate more of the citizens of Minnesota for the need for reform, but particularly more emphasis on public financing of campaigns I have for a long time voted and spoke for a can't campaign Finance reform. But until the public more understands the influence of money in these campaigns until we can get them convinced that we have to have a maximum amount of public financing rather special interest money. We won't have a good system. So I would support very strongly easier methods for just folks to contribute to campaigns and more public financing Joe also mentioned the issue of the bows for lack of a better word pork that front tends to find its way into the state spending and for a long long time. You have been a real champion of interest on the Iron Range. You think you overdid it there Senator did have you been trying to shuffle too much too much money to the range and would that continue as as Governor, you know, someone has been a little overstated. I wish I was as effective as the critics have charged. But certainly I have been a very very good state senator for North Eastern Minnesota and I would like to bring those talents to all of Minnesota and I will be a champion for all of Minnesota. And in fact, I always have my colleagues in the Senate would not have re-elected me to chair the tax committee deed be deeply involved in the state's finances unless I was fair to all of Minnesota early in the program. I mention that my first budget decision would be the size of the permanent income tax cut that then we'll limit. Spending because the first receivers of State funds will be minnesotans who work everyday in the form of an income tax cuts. And and I have sat in the budget committee meetings for years and usually those that want to cut the taxes are far far outnumbered by those that want to spend the money and most of the special interests that come to the capital want to spend the money not cut the taxes and I have been a leading voice and trying to maximize that the amount of the tax cuts. In fact there you'll remember that. I was on your program during the 1998 legislative session and I was not happy with the size of the of the tax cut that first went through the Senate and been projected that there would be at least a 1 billion dollar tax cut before the session was over and that's what happened. But you know, I have been for tax cuts, right but you know that you're here critics are going to say Welch. Senator you've been presiding over that tax bill all these years. If you really were serious about cutting taxes, you could have done so a long time ago with all your power. In fact, I could help write the Republicans add could be a consultant for them. You know, I've had a very very important position in the state senate permit for many years and I always had to make very very tough decisions and when there were bad times and Minnesota and we didn't have enough money to fund schools or transportation is I had to step up to the plate and there were times when I authored a tax increases ironically most of the of the rate tax increases during my time as texture wear during the administrations of of Republican governors of the most recent was 1991 when it was a 1/2 An increase in the sales tax I with Arne Carlson as Governor, but I've I've made those tough decision. But you know, I also had the opportunity and the pleasure and to be an advocate in the mid-1980s for a 1 billion dollar tax cut. I was the author of that in the Senate and of course in 1997 and 1998. They were tax cuts of over a billion dollars. So my record is clear. I have nothing to hide. I've had to be a decision maker and and never tried to hide somewhere but tried to leave Minnesota. Let's go another caller on the line Bob your question, please. Johnson and his colleagues at the legislature on 17 for some time and I just would like to start with the word progress tivity. In all aspects of Taxation weather of capital assets non Capital assets like my home my income and inheritance progress if it is a means of redistributing income, which is fine better off should pay for the less well-off, but if they could just do it upfront without making such an Arcane game, I just like to offer these two observations the earned income credit is a welfare program for those who earn less than would be optimal and the second is the tax of the property tax refund. I just wonder how much the state earn from those of us who waited until August and then forgot to send in our property tax refund the state get the float, but if they just I think I'll flat tax. I think his mother was from England props from London. They call it the rates over there that had text any tax that takes more from someone. Has more weather by inheritance earnings or Capital assets? And distributed to those who has less. Is it tax-free distribution system, which is fine. But let's get it up front and on birth Surplus. The ideal thing would have been to return that proportionally word arose whether to the tourists who were paying fees and state income taxes weather to outstate out of state capitol owners of businesses in Minnesota income real estate you-name-it return of proportionately to wear it arose. Thanks Bob Jonathan Senator that gentleman has been following us certainly are hearings. I can tell and and knows a lot about the state tax system. I do believe in the principle of the ability to pay and we do have a progressive tax system in Minnesota. In fact, we're kind of a model. In the nation, but I'm the first to admit that the biggest problem with our tax system I think is that the burden is too high on most minnesotans and that's what I'd like to to reduce but I would disagree with the gentleman as far as the earned income credit and the property tax refund. I think that those are very very good programs particularly to help to help low and middle-income homeowners stay in their homes. And the earned income credit is a very very vital part of helping people move from welfare to work. We've looked at that program. It really is helping folks to move from welfare to work can you know if people want our welfare system to be reformed like I do and I think it's working pretty well. I think I think it was long overdue but there have to be there has to be Safety net for a short. Of time is people are moving from welfare to work. So he sounded or Doug Johnson is our guest this our joining us from our Duluth station talking about his plans. If he's elected governor, you know, it's this week that he in fact is going to be seeking the dfl nomination for governor part of our meet-the-candidates series. He's joined us today to take your question. So give us a call 227-6002 to 76 thousand in the Twin City area outside the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828 and we'll get to some more questions in just a second. I'm Lorna Benson on the next All Things Considered weather spotters. These volunteers are on call every time dark clouds fill the sky to make sure minnesotans know when bad weather is headed their way realize you're in a bad place you're concentrating on watching the storm words developing and you can get caught. You have to be very alert. You have to look around all the time. It's all things considered weekdays at 3. Minnesota Public Radio k n o w FM 91.1 in the Twin Cities today. We're going to hear from former South African president FW de klerk he was the last person elected president under the old apartheid system in South Africa ended up winning the Nobel Prize along with Nelson Mandela for their efforts at dismantling apartheid in South Africa. I think you're fine the speech very very interesting and informative and that's what's coming up over the noon hour today. Speech by FW de klerk mpr's Main Street radio coverage of rural issues is supported by the blandin foundation committed to strengthening rural communities through the community leadership program beautiful spring day across the state of Minnesota today sunny skies prevailing when we can look for highs ranging from the 50s up in the extreme part of extreme corner of Northeastern, Minnesota to around 80° out in South Austin Minnesota good chance for rain then across the state to tomorrow and Sunday Twin Cities Sunny this afternoon with a high in the mid-70s right now around the area Duluth signing a 50 to Houlton fair and 52 Fargo signing and 71 Sioux Falls sunny and 69. St. Cloud sunny and 68 Rochester sunny and 71 the temperature 68° and skies are Sunny we're talking this hour with state. Senator Doug Johnson who is an official candidate Now official candidate for the dfl gubernatorial nomination part of our meet the candidates series. If you have a question, give us a call 227-6000 or one 800-242-2828 Bruce your question, please Senator Johnson's views on nuclear power in general but in particular on whether he thinks we should be able to saddle the people of another state Nevada who have never used or benefited from the Your power without radioactive waste but yes, I do support a safe depository in the state of Nevada for that the radioactive waste moving on now to our next caller from Duluth Kurt your question Governor Johnson a little ways to go but I can feel them a mountain building throughout the state. I was in an airplane for many hours yesterday out into the Northwest and western part of Minnesota. And I think they're I think the folks are are ready for a for a fresh new Common Sense governor. Good. I'd like to talk about his basically, you know, you have that Canadian national railroad line that runs from the border down to Duluth Minnesota. And you know as well as I do the rate increase in the about a railroad traffic due to NAFTA and other factors that has occurred over the last five or six years and my concern is that the literary that there's a lot of pressure and it sends us to redo some of the maintenance workers on that line. And I guess you know how much traffic I go through that area as well as I do and what since I guess I'm concerned about the fact that we went through downsizing in the 80s at the company and operation right now, and now there's different poses to reduce some of the needed maintenance workers. Out on a liner which I had worked at on at one point it so I guess my question would be what can you do as a governor? What is the state's role? And as far as making sure that we have Safeway would like that only Northeastern Minnesota. But throughout the state first thing I want you to do is to write me a letter and give me a little more detail on the issue cuz I had not heard that that that particular railroad was going to reduce its maintenance maintenance efforts and that would be a big mistake. So drop me a note to my state capitol office Saint Paul 55155 state capital and give me a little more detail. I'm very familiar, of course with that with that railroad. I live for over 50 years in a little a little house and cook that was about two blocks away from it. And I didn't answer thing. You can you can live close to a railroad track and after many years. You never hear those whistles even in the middle of the night, but there's increasing traffic on that line and it goes through these little communities and they should be increasing maintenance and safety on that railroad rather than decreasing it, but you write me something and yes a governor. Absolutely Public Safety should be of a highest priority for a governor, whether it's an issue like a railroad line or whether it's in the neighborhoods of Minneapolis where people are being affected by public safety issues on on the on the drug wars that are going on there. These are issues that Governors should be directly involved in and you can you drop me that line and I'll get going on it even before I'm the governor while I'm still your save state senator, one of the another one of the issues of concern to organize labor courses, the workers compensation issued. Do you like the way? The lodge currently written or would you like to see that changed? You know what I did not vote for that bill. There is an advisory committee of of workers and management that that meets regularly on the workers comp issues Gary and if they can jointly come up with some some changes that would be needed. I would be happy to support them Rodger your question for Senator Johnson place and I'm wondering how when the polls show that the majority of minnesotans want the bundle I left the way it is how you could represent all of us being governor and second was your name Bruce Rodger. I'm curious why you would support that. First of all, that was a direct question. There's some legislation that has been proposed by senator Pat Parrish Hill from Farmington and you know, they would certainly be in restraints built into that in that lawn and her bills she did but I think that there is an increasing number of minnesotans that don't feel safe and I think that that legitimate men and women of Minnesota for their own personal protection of that of their families should have that right and that choice as far as the Boundary Water canoe area. I am so familiar with that and I think one of the reasons the polls come out like you said and you're right they do is that many of those people don't fully understand the issue because it has been so misrepresented through the years. Vishal and I and I read in the paper the other day at talks about me advocating more motor boats in The Boundary Water canoe area. That's not what the oldest diagrams Bill what the issue in their bill is is who can use the motor boat in The Boundary Water canoe area. The number of motor boats that are used in The Boundary Water canoe area is closely controlled by the United States forest service through a quota system. The issue is the three portage's that until the court case. There was a mechanical means of bringing a boat across in a case of Vermilion Trout Lake just off Lake Vermilion, which I'm very familiar with there was a truck one truck One driver and they would assist you putting the boat on the truck bring it across the Portage and then putting the boat on the other side of the law allows motor boats on both sides of that Portage as it does on the other two as well. And so if you're not real healthy, there's no way you're going to be able to pull that motor boat across and saw the only ones that can get across or those who are very healthy very young and they can physically pull the Boat and Motor across but if you're old or you're handicapped or you're a mom and dad that wants to take your kids fishing on a Friday night after I've been working hard all week. You can't physically get it across again. It's not about more motorboats. It's about who can use a motorboat and you know, what is Governor, you know where the focus should be. Why aren't we cleaning up the pollution at Koch Refinery? It's been overlooked by the pollution control agency. I was leaving St. Paul the other day and there's a beautiful area in White Bear Lake Township on the left side. As you're heading north on 35e used to be a Wetlands. They were horses out in that pasture all the time. I went back by there the other day and and urban sprawl is occurring like crazy and there were scrapers and there was a big huge concrete building going up right next to that Wetland and so I mean those are the real environmental issues. In my mind not who can take a motor boat under the federal quota system seems to be a real. No, I don't know for lack of a better term. Let's call it a whirl. Urban split on a lot of these issues. Do you think that's true? And if so, why how is that develop? I mean how to adjust environmental issues and gun control laws in the rest that on some of these issues. There is a difference in the rural areas of Minnesota and the metropolitan areas of Minnesota, but I think there's a lot more that joins us together as a state then those kind of emotional controversial issues. I think the metropolitan area and the rural area the people think that we have to get a new Transportation policy in this state. I support the Hiawatha Avenue project for light rail, I believe we have to fear Supper highways both in rural Minnesota and in the metropolitan area people in rural Minnesota as well as in the Suburban communities are very very concerned about what's happening as far as crime in a city like Minneapolis when that's happening in the City of Minneapolis. That's not good for our whole state and we need solutions to that problem, you know as a legislator from Northeastern Minnesota. I have worked with the metropolitan area. I've helped Minneapolis and st. Paul get new convention Center's we've built stadiums now, I think it's time to cheat turn to the neighborhoods in those communities and work full force at getting parks and playgrounds for the children and attack that the crime issue. There's more that joins us as a state then divide. It's us and many of those issues. I think our kind of Pumped Up by the media their emotional issues that that the vast majority of citizens are more concerned about how all of Minnesota is affecting Becky your question for Senator Johnson Place. I would like to ask Senator Johnson. How well do you think Managed Care is serving the healthcare needs of minnesotans particularly in rural areas. And what changes if any would you make in Minnesota's Healthcare System, you know, I am familiar with managed care because I saw Managed Care during the last years of my father's and my and my mother's life and you know, thank God for Social Security and Medicare and the fact that they could get supplementary health insurance programs. That was a that was a godsend. I think Managed Care has been six. Spell and holding down class, but there are some gaps in that program. I think there were times when if I wouldn't have been advocating the best possible care for my mom and dad. They probably wouldn't have gotten it. I don't have the answers or solutions to all of these very complex complicated problems the wine the governor of the state. I am going to bring in the best people the best people to offer advice and counsel to me. So I have the Alternatives the choices and I can make the best decision Health Care is a big big issue for me. I have been you know, I've been the tax German, but I have spent a lot of time with the health care issue. In fact, not too many people know that the original Healthcare Initiative for Wedding coverage for the uninsured in Minnesota. I was the first Senator that actually started it. I started in a senate Democratic caucus and worked with Paul ogren from the Minnesota house center. Linda Berglund was was the chair of that committee and I and I did agree to give her the the legislation to carry it and Shepherd to through the process, but I was the senator that started trying to get uninsured minnesotans covered and that's people in rural Minnesota and Metropolitan the Minnesota as well health care good health care senior citizen Health Care will be big items on my agenda, but I need a lot of talented people to tell me the best way to do Heather your question. You've already spoken this afternoon about your anti-abortion position. But what I'm wondering is how you as opponents of abortion justify your ongoing vote against title 10 Family Planning birth control to prevent abortion as well as medical services such as cancer screenings and breast exams. I'll hang up and listen to answer and and I don't feel comfortable about my vote. Imagine my own wife. Your wife doesn't agree with me on on that boat. Here's the problem. Here's the problem. We have two separate Family Planning money. And those initiatives for preventing unwanted pregnancies for health check-ups for those who can't afford to go through the regular medical system separate that from organizations that are that are directly involved in the issue of abortion, whether Pro or against and if we can do that if the political agendas can be set aside. And we can have a decision. So that issue is totally separated from Family Planning money. I in fact well as Governor support more money to prevent unwanted pregnancies in particular in the rural areas of the state in the inner cities where there is not the access to healthcare. We are just about out of time but let's get one more call around here John. I think you get the last question. Go ahead place a general question was what were you going to do about crime that hasn't been done and I was very much delighted to hear that you do support a concealed carry reform 31 states have adopted and found that it actually deters crime, which is certainly better than dealing with crime after the fact. I was quite pleased to hear your position on that and I would be interested in your position on other antique rhyme activities and things that you might do as governor. I've been really frustrated. It's really hard to to pass bills that put more panel. He's on heeba. Nonviolent criminals violent crimes. I think that's Governor. I would insist in within would and would have that is a very high agenda. I mean I was think of that issue in the legislature this session at last session and I think it's alright. I think we have to take care of our pets. But last year we had a bill that required up a flap over the door of the dog house and this year was amended so you could put like a hay bale in front to keep the wind out that got a hearing that went through the Senate but to try to get hearings on bills that deal with these animals that are raising Havoc like in the neighborhoods of Minneapolis making it unsafe for people to live there driving families into the suburbs where the people in the suburbs are afraid as well. I don't have the solutions. But when I'm Governor, I'm going to get to the bottom of it. So people can feel safe to live in their home. I used to live in Minneapolis in the early seventies when I first got to the legislature I felt safe but people do not feel safe now and they have a right they and their families have a right to be safe and feel safe in their homes. That's the kind of Governor. I want to be we don't have a lot of time left sooner, but would you support increasing spending on prisons if necessary to lock more of the bad guys up. Absolutely. Absolutely. I would first work on an agenda of prevention and education cuz you got to start early but there's a lot of folks. It's either too late or it doesn't work and if there are violating people's rights to live safe and their homes and their neighborhoods, I would support funding Or more prisons and believe me the prisons will not be a real real nice place where you want to live have to ask you one more political question before we wrap up here as senator of six dfl candidates know yourself included for governor. Do you think all of all of you will end up in the primary or some are some of the cameras going to drop out before September, you know, you never can predict that I know I'm not going to drop out and there's speculation that I really want to run for lieutenant governor. I want to say no to that right now. Absolutely not I'm running for governor. I'm going to that primary. I think they all should stay and I think we should debate the issues up for our state. You know, I think that that minnesotans deserve that and you know, I'm going to make my campaign it's going to be hard work, but it's going to be a lot of fun and I'm going to be a common sense common person governor and appeal. Close governor and I think that's what will distinguish Doug Johnson from the Democrats and the Republicans in this race. And I think they all should stay in Bank Center for joining us today preciate it thank you very much. Gary state. Senator, Doug Johnson from Tower joining us from our studios in Duluth, Senator Johnson, officially announced this week that he in fact is running for governor the dfl gubernatorial nomination and he'll be in the September primaries. We sure hope you'll be able to stay to in the Minnesota Public Radio for our continuing political coverage right on through the primary all the way through the general election. I'm Ray Suarez in a recent poll. People said the environment was the most important problem facing the us, but what are the most pressing environmental problems? We Face join Ira Flatow on Science Friday for a look at the biggest threats to the environment as we approach the 21st century plus the state of the world's oceans all coming up on the next Talk of the Nation from NPR news. Talk of the Nation begins at 1 here on Minnesota Public Radio over the noon hour right before Talk of the Nation a speech by former South African president FW de klerk time now for The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor.