Thank you. Tim. Six minutes past 11 programming on Minnesota Public Radio is supported by Dayton's oriental rug departments in downtown Minneapolis, Saint Paul and at the Southdale Brookdale and Rosedale home stores. And good morning. This is midday on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary. I can glad you could join us over 2,000 Republicans will get together at the Target Center in Minneapolis this evening for the start of what could be a very Lively Republican party State Convention like their dfl counterparts 2 weeks ago. They Republicans plan to endorse candidates for all of this year's Statewide races. But of course, there's a special emphasis on the race for governor on like the dfl is Republican delegates have some real klout this year because essentially it's winner-take-all all the Republican gubernatorial candidates have promised to drop out if another the candidates gets the endorsement Republican leaders say that maintaining party Unity will be the key to beating the Democrats in November. What will be providing extensive live coverage from the Republican convention starting later this afternoon, but this first hour of midday, we're going to take a closer look at what we can expect during the convention here with a report is Minnesota public radio's Martin Koski. Minnesota Republicans go into this weekend's party convention with high hopes for the fall election. The Republicans are especially encouraged by the divisiveness. They see on the other side of the fence 60 fl oz are running for governor right now something Republican party chairman Bill Cooper calls a huge Advantage for his side. We have the opportunity to endorse a candidate throw the weight of the party behind one candidate start to run for governor in June. Well our opponents. So am I going to run this messy primary until the middle of September and only have seven weeks to run for governor Cooper takes pride in what he perceives as the Republican Spirit of party Unity this year something for which he take some credit. But while there does seem to be a certain Unity of purpose in the party things are not exactly harmonious between the gubernatorial candidates Norm Coleman and Joanne Benson have been waging an increasingly bitter postal war in the past few weeks accusing each other of being bad cancer. Phillips St. Paul delegate Tom Baxter says, he's been hammered by the volleys of campaign mail, but he says he and most of his fellow delegates are not letting themselves. Get swept up by the acrimonious tone. I haven't noticed a strong attention between delegates it up till now, I think most of this has been playing on the stage in front of us for the most part. I think I think people have have a leaning but that are committed to putting forward Anne electable candidate Baxter says this year's delegates are hoping to avoid the bitter divisions of previous state conventions. He says a far greater proportion of the delegates are going into this convention with open minds and the willingness to back more than one candidate Bob Brown a professor at St. Thomas was party chairman of the 1970s calls that a sign of maturity this year. I think they were Are supporting the lieutenant governor or supporting Amir Coleman and I don't mean to denigrate than this request, but I think it's kind of a cult. But in reality, I think I found sense of common purpose may be motivated in part by the realization of just how much is at stake for them this year. If they can hold on to the governor's office. They might be able to take over the legislature to a strong Republican showing in the governor's race might give them the coattails to take the state house. And even if the party does not claim the house this fall or republican Governor would make sure that the state's legislative districts are redrawn more the Republicans favored after the census in the year 2004 public and believe the dfl has maintained its control the house by gerrymandering. Districts in its favor and Republican chairman Bill Cooper says, he does not want that to happen again, but I can guarantee you if we get a dfl governor. They'll cook the books again and keep us in a man already for another 10 years with so much at stake and the happy opportunity of running against a divided dfl Cooper says maintaining Republican Unity will be his top priority this weekend. He expects delegates to hand one candidate. They're ringing endorsement, and he says anything less especially a deadlock convention would be in his words a disaster at the capitoline Martin kosty Minnesota Public Radio party chair Bill Cooper joins us now by phone to talk some more about the convention and the race for governor and take your questions and comments. So we invite you to join the conversation. Give us a call. This morning are Twin City area number is 227-6002 276 thousand if you're calling from outside, the Twin Cities number would be one 800-242-2828. 2276 thousand or one 800-242-2828. I guess this our Republican party State chair Bill pooper scooper. Glad you could join us all systems go for the convention everything in place to go. Are all three of the candidates for Governor in major candidates for Governor in your mind acceptable and delectable candidate is or two or more electable than the others. I mean, that's just a fact of life. Somebody's got to be higher or lower in that in that but the candidates endorsed is obviously the candidate that's acceptable. Coleman and Benson being more electable, perhaps and Allen Quist a fair assumption that if you look at the history of what happened in the past the Even with the endorsements I have a quick wash the primary last time around and I think it would be fair to say being independent. I don't want to be favorable to anybody but being independent. I think the the perception would be the Allen is less electable than perhaps the other game it is. Why do you think it would be so disastrous for delegates not to endorse one of these candidates. So why is that so bad? I believe that this is kind of a last opportunity for the parties to really be relevant in this process though given what's happening on the Democratic side with them endorsing what I think most people have felt and then report in the media is a less electable candidate and the fact that they're all going on to this Primary in the middle of September the Republicans have a wonderful opportunity to endorse a candidate here in June work unify. I didn't intend to campaign from June until November and to defeat the the Democrats and if we do fail to endorse for some reason that we would be just blowing that wonderful opportunity protracted convention fight be about as divisive for your party is a primary would be so so much sometimes those get to be pretty no I don't believe it will be the the way these kind of really do and honestly predict first of all, these candidates are all really acceptable to it to the vast majority of Republicans. And I predict that when whoever wins this endorsement the the others will line up and will be 100% endorsement people will line up behind it. I don't I don't think we're going to have that kind of endorsement of a primary as much a different kind of thing in a primary you're in the media if you noticed that I read in the paper today where Hyundai old is now accusing Freeman and Humphrey of a budget-busting spending things and so forth and it's on in the newspaper and so forth with that kind of thing is going to go on from now until the middle of September and those things are hard to paper over after they're done and you don't think any any of the wounds that that might develop at the convention. Those are those are things going to that can heal fairly private if you know what I mean Publican party a state are Bill Cooper is our guest this hour as we get ready for the big State Convention that begins a later today at the Target Center course tomorrow is the day when delegates will be voting to endorse a candidate for governor will be providing extended live coverage here on Minnesota Public Radio and at this hour, getting ready for the convention. If you've got a question or comment for mr. Cooper again, we invite you to give us a call to 276 thousand is our Twin City area number to 276 thousand Alside the Twin Cities. You can reach its toll free at 1. 802-422-8282 276 thousand or one 802-422-8289. You have a supposed to sign a promise this afternoon to abide by the endorsement is that right? Rubber is endorsed and was there any question about about their their willingness to follow through on that promise? Is that why you're you're having them actually do sign the promise. Well, there were there was a little bit of the reason that it came up was that there was some conversation that you had this candidate or that candidate may not to even though they said made out of bed with endorsements want it so we decided it would be a good idea to put it in writing. So there's no ambiguities about it. Also that was reported that to another part of this wood would involve Some Rules of Engagement if you will for the for the actual balloting process try to maintain some civility is that part of the deal to attempted I've written to all the campaigns and and told him that we got to keep this thing on a high plane and let's talk about the issues and and not people's past lives or their wives or trying to dig up dirt on people. I think that's belief beneath our endorsement process and then I don't think it's going to make everybody agree to that and stick by it. Somebody can Xerox something send something out, but I don't think I think overwhelmingly all of the the campaign it has been a pretty clean campaign Upton and I'm really optimistic. That's where you'll end up Gary's on the line for Minneapolis with a question for a Bill Cooper glad place. 36 Jesse Ventura will take the most votes away from hang up. The Reform Party candidate Leah reform candidates who have a party or other third-party candidates have taken more votes from report Republicans. I believe Ross Perot elected Bill Clinton, and that's the historical situation. I don't know who's going to vote for Jesse Ventura in this environment to I mean the issues are too important to it. As far as I'm concerned. It's just throwing a boat away. There have been some suggestions that you have been favoring Norm Coleman in this battle for governor among the Republicans metric Rod grams or guess accused you of that is that true or are you really didn't know what he said was and that my private feelings were for naught my public feelings and connection is German word for Norm Coleman and I do have the right to my private feelings, but the party has done absolutely has been 100% Fair. We have not allocated a single resource to benefit anybody. We've communicated all the information everybody evenly evenly and so forth. So what am I my private opinion is is that is my private opinion and and I'm welcome to it. But we do not express it publicly and and I haven't done anything to favor anybody. Have you and Senator Graham's patched-up. What difference is there were In terms of this endorsement process. I think probably I said or did some things that I wish. I hadn't Endeavor. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't do as well ride grams is my favorite Senator. He's a wonderful guy went to work a hundred percent to get them re-elected in the year 2000 and he said he's been a Republican senator that we can all really admire because he actually has done what he promised to do. He didn't waffle and he's just a great guy and we had a little stiff but it's it's all over what kind of reception is Ernie Carlson going to receive he's supposed to speak at the convention on Saturday and holds the distinction. I suppose of being one of the few sitting Governors who failed win his own party's endorsement this back in 1994 or so, but the Arne Carlson is very very popular Governor today and he is very interesting enough very popular with the delegates you particularly in connection with what he is. Done with the the education education initiatives and I I'm he will receive a very very warm reception in the Army. I believe in the delegates perception has moved farther to the right and his got a lot of things accomplished that the more conservative people wanted and and I think he's going to get a really warm reception if he had. Let's talk hypotheticals here for a moment. Had he decided to seek re-election this year. Suppose. He would have actually been endorsed decided to run again public in the state party chair Bill Cooper is our guest this our they Republican party State Convention gets underway later today at the Target Center and a great opportunity this hour to get ready for the convention. Get some of your questions answered. Give us a call Twin City area number is 227-6002 276 Thousand Oaks on the Twin Cities 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or one 800-242-2828 your next place. Pat mount looks like we lost that was there a you know looking back on the the Ernie Carlson a business of 1994. It struck me that does it doesn't say anything to you. Mr. Cooper about the the party's at all that that he was unable Carlson was unable to get into our stand 1994 by the Republican Party. Apparently, I everybody agrees that Coleman Norm Coleman had he stayed a Democrat could never have been endorsed for governor by the Democrats and yet these two among the more popular politicians in the state of Minnesota. Well, what are the things that I do think has happened is the in that connection. There's a lot of old feelings that were gender in the past as a result of previous campaigns and so forth and things have gone on but I believe that on the Republican side in particular that the party active the delegates and so forth it become much more pragmatic kids. If you look at what happened in the Bosch which thing up and Duluth the I believe that the failure to endorse there was a reflection of the fact that I'm majority of delegates felt or a large percentage of the delegates felted mackesy couldn't wasn't the most delectable and the Bosch which even without trying to get the endorsement black the mac and cheese endorsement which was unfortunate and as it turned out was a bad thing for about switches well, but I think that was a clear sign of what what is happening and people in the party have been A lot more pragmatic and really interested in getting a candidate elected in. I think that's a sea change that occurred. Does it does it make it more difficult for other people outside the party apparatus to figure out what a Republican or a Democrat stands for if the party is more concerned with electability than then adherence to the issues that all matter fact I challenge you to dig up and tell me what the dfl platform is. You can go to the convention and get the Republican platform. We will be voting on in this convention. It is very clear what Republican stand for and it's kind of hazy. There's a bunch of resolutions and so forth and the Democrats a very difficult to accept what we stand for in and I think all of the candidates basically stand for the majority of the things in our platform can have any good platform fights? I'll be I would be surprised we went to a standing platform and the we're actually going to in the convention. You'll see it. It's going to be I think I'm interesting. We're going to market the platform. We we've got a various individuals coming up to speak about the various segments of the platform. We distributed the plant that last year's approved platform to the caucuses. Everybody's had an opportunity to read it and we sent it to all the delegates and we've had fewer comments or suggestions for changes and then we've ever had and I don't really think we're going to have any real platform fight still be undoubtedly somebody that's got an idea about something that wants to stick it in there. But I think it will probably be approved in whole overwhelmingly something anyway, they're always fun and something will happen for sure. So he's on the line with a question for Bill Cooper. Go ahead, please. Good morning, gentlemen, very good program. The question that came up in a meeting. We had the other night was the difference between the Democratic slate being quote quote true, Minnesota and the somebody threw out the bagger label as a relates to mr. Coleman and it became very fun debate. I would like to hear the gentleman's comment regarding. Mr. Coleman. Thank you carpet bagger label applying Bill Cooper my Greater Minnesota. Arne Carlson was born out of state as well. And I don't think that has eight tiniest little impact and turned it in terms of these issues today. I don't think really people care about that at all. What about how important do you think it will be for the delegates at the fact that Norm Coleman only became a republican what? Ashley a year-and-a-half ago and it is on record as having endorse Paul wellstone and Bill Clinton was accusations been throwing up with it. That really did not happen. Cooling what was perceived as the odd man out in the dfl because of his conservative views and everybody that Ronald Reagan flip from Democrat to Republican a year before he was elected governor in California. And now there's been a lot of wonderful Republicans including myself who got wiser in their old age in and it made that change and he has demonstrated a real conservative credentials in my opinion for her for a long long time. And that's why that that liberal radical. Open the dfl. I mean there is no way in the world that he could have ever been endorsed for anything in the dfl party. You think many delegates know are weighing that the relatively recent conversion is that part of the equation is they try to decide who to support and we'll have to make those judgments on the facts. If you look at his record in St. Paul, I think the fact they for them. I admit I got all three of the candidates for Governor. I think have demonstrated real conservative credentials one letter that was sent out accused Joanne Benson of being quote appallingly liberal unquote is that the kind of thing that will weigh heavy on some delegates mine's quite that kind of rhetoric calling people marxists and traitors and all that kind of thing that it's kind of gets kind of a little base and I really prefer it is going to happen. But I think there's a if you look at all the everything that's been communicated in the the speeches that are going to they're going to be delivered. I think the delegates have all the information they need to make these judgments and they can base it on Dunn people's records and so forth. We don't need to have all this name-calling. Bob your question for Bill Cooper place at the back window Street by Rod grams consistently voting first to obstruct National tobacco legislation and then voting to kill National tobacco legislation. The fact is he's taken thousands of dollars in at the back window and apparently will continue to take a lot of money from the back windows weekend edition. He's also voted against in a pose national campaign legislation to control the tons of money that flowing from special interest. Can you explain to us how this benefits Minnesota rather than the tobacco industry rather than the large contributors for special interest. Sure, the first of all in my opinion of my father died of lung cancer. I am not a supporter tobacco. As far as I'm concerned you could shut the whole thing down the aisle to make it illegal as far as I'm concerned and I said that in the past but the basic way I look at that legislation that the did not pass in the Senate of Ethics that usually good since it was simply at a wasn't even a tax on the tobacco companies that we should tax on smokers and that that means it was a multibillion-dollar tax on the poorest people in America and in a time of budget surpluses and so forth. I don't think we need a tax and there's a lot of data to show that it would not have the least tiny impact on children smoking. I think there ought to be very heavy penalties for marketing cigarettes to children and and if children were caught smoking and they had to take their driver's license away a lot of other things. I would really support doing a lot of that kind of business. But turning that legislation back was simply the turning back of a have another tax increase which is going to be another date dfl a tax-and-spend Bonanza and turns a campaign Finance reform it my experience with campaign Finance reform in the so-called special interest is every single one of those is a push by incumbents to protect their incompetency. And I you know, everybody's everybody's contributor on the other side. Is there special interest and I personally don't think there's enough money spent on politics in America is with the issues that we have. We actually spend more money on potato chips. And we do all politics in America. And so I would I would defend a ride grams on both of those votes and I think he he did the right thing. There is a Siri as you well know. I miss Cooper that the amount of money although it's obviously less than what gets pen out of potato chips is still so great that it it's Many many people have lost interest in politics or just feel like they're not what they no longer matter. They're just they're being outbid. You think there's any truth to that is that why there seems to be no lack of interest in politics control legislature passed legislation that the most you can spend on the Attorney. General's race is a three or four hundred thousand dollars. Well, if you were the incumbent the attorney general which we had for a long time, that's fine. But at 2 and knock out an encumbered in a Statewide race the size of Minnesota with only three or four hundred thousand dollars is for Shirley impossible. You cannot get your story out for that go with that kind of money. I mean, let's face it. If if you're trying to get promote your story in connection with your ideas to win an election in the state with 4 million people. You've got to do some media. You got to get it get things out in a virtually all of those rules. Even people to try and sell I say I'm doing the right thing. They they're biased in their own interest in almost always what they do is their set up to protect incumbents. And I just don't think it is that much money. It is true. There's a lot of cynicism about politics today Matt, but I think that really comes from all of the stuff that's happened with Clinton and and digging up dirt on people and the way that these campaigns a run which I don't support I think they should be run on the issues. You think this Falls campaign is going to feature a lot of traditionally called negative campaign ads and a personal attacks in the light. Can we expect that here in Minnesota this fall it works and their least people at some people think it works. I'm I'm hopeful that it won't and maybe even a little optimistic that it won't but it but it's likely that it will Cuz I'm particular people when they get behind the they tend to go negative and the I hope it doesn't happen cuz I don't believe in the final analysis. It does work Bill Cooper is our guests this hour. He is the chair of the state Republican party. Of course, the Republicans are holding their State Convention gets underway later today big day tomorrow at the State Convention of Target Center when the delegates will be voting on who to endorse for governor will be providing extended and extensive live coverage are on Minnesota Public Radio getting ready to shower for the convention talk to you mr. Cooper and if you'd like to join our conversation, give us a call 227-6002 to 76 thousand in the Twin Cities outside the Twin Cities one 802-422-8280 get this more callers in just a moment. Your 401k may be the most powerful tool you have when it comes to saving for their retirement. Hi, this is Bob Potter and we'll learn how to make the most of 401K plans on some money this week. Co-author of the complete idiot's guide to 401K plans have a question. Give us a call one 800-537-5252 somebody Saturday morning at 10 Sunday afternoon at 5 on Minnesota Public Radio FM 91.1 in the Twin Cities. Today's programming is made possible in part by The Advocates Minnesota Public Radio contributors include Cargill supporting Minnesota's tradition of community service and Norwest foundation on behalf of Norwest Bank. Minnesota could be a Wild and Woolly day in terms of our weather best to keep up on changing weather around the area where you are thunderstorms are likely all across the state with some severe weather possible in Southern and Central Minnesota highest today mid-seventies to the mid-80s thunderstorms are likely in the Twin Cities this afternoon, some severe weather is possible with a high right around 80° by the way more showers and thunder showers are likely across the state tonight right now around the area Duluth will the thunderstorm 61° Houghton cloudy and 68 Fargo partly cloudy 71 Sioux Falls partly cloudy 64 Saint Cloud with a partly cloudy Sky 76 Rochester. Sunagon 76 Twin City temperature is 75 and skies are cloudy. We're talkin this hour with Cooper who is the chair of the state Republican party, so we get ready for the start of the Republican Party State Convention. If you'd like to join our conversation 2276 thousand or one 802-422-8284. We get back to the college Mitch Cooper. I need to ask you a question Minneapolis is the host City for your a convention. Are there any Republicans left in Minneapolis? You're one of the interesting things if you look at the last mirrors race Norm Coleman and in St. Paul and Carlson in Minneapolis, if you combine those two in the Twin Cities for the first time, I think in 40 years Republicans got more votes than Democrats in those to Tamara braces, mostly known our moments totals write 55 or 60% and and Carlson was up around 45 or a little higher the again. When you combine the two the majority of the of the people in the Twin Cities voted for Republicans. The Republican party in Minneapolis is going to be able to make some kind of a Resurgence in the near future. I mean there used to be a lot of Republican office holders in Minneapolis. I would absolutely predicted as matter fact, if you look around the country you look at Los Angeles and New York and and so forth you find Republicans winning those mirrors races and B. Republicans are around their ideas on school choice and crime and so forth. The the people that living in the big cities are saying hey, this is this whole system isn't working. Your question for Bill Cooper, please. Thank you. As I remember when Norm Coleman ran for mayor. He sought the dfl endorsement and then agree to as they asked each person in this talk is he would support The Dorsey and then after losing he changed his mind and ran. Anyway, I really do this. If this is true movie do the same for the Republicans. The first one I don't know the facts on that. I don't have any information on that too. I really doubt that that is the case. But as far as I know all of the candidates of agreed to abide by the endorsement and I think they will have all signed a written pledge to agree but that I really find it hard to believe that anybody would run in the face of that after making that kind of Fletch John your next right? Thank you for having me on the show. My question for mr. Cooper is that if the Republican party is willing to look at an alternative way to address the problems of crime and Drugs in our neighborhood because I personally have seen myself me up the neighborhood just go completely to hell. And I've had friends and getting shot and robbed and you know, and I'm saying why don't they just turn the Armory into a cracked distribution center and just give the drugs away to the people and stuff and so they don't go out and kill people. Well, I'm a very sympathetic to that issue. The City of Minneapolis isn't one of only two big cities in America where they violent crime rate is increasing the other one being Las Vegas of all places the violent crime rate in Minneapolis increase 675% from 1960 to 1990. Minnesota has virtually the lowest number of people in jail per capita in the highest number of people on probation and parole per capita in America. And the crime rates are going down all over America is is three strikes you're out laws and and locking people up and so forth in the inactive police Administration and that which is happened somewhat here, but still not happen to degree. It has another places and I think a mandatory sentences and sentencing people to longer terms and so forth a and even these victimless crimes a heroin user which is She buy a lot of liberals is a victimless crime a heroin user will commit 20 felonies a year and we say well it's a user there that they're the victim will you know don't like those people up but wall around the streets. They're going to commit 20 felonies and in my judgment these in the solutions to these problems are clear and it's not just feel good night baseball kind of solutions that the dfl is proposed in the past. What about the idea though of legalizing drugs and dealing with hardcore drugs is what in the same way we did with alcohol at when they decided to drop Royal Edition Edition was over the number of the percentage of people that were drinking heavily and and the United States dropped by about four-fifths in terms of drugs is not the same as I don't care what people say it is not the same it if you see what happens with drug addiction does to people I mean the same kinds of things can happen with alcohol but drugs are are really an evil thing in the concept of of just legalizing it as far as I'm concerned is is surrender two forces that we cannot afford to surrender to and I think there are solutions to it a drug dealers ought to be locked up serious business and we ought to have the toughest laws in the country in which case they can go back to Chicago and Detroit and deal with drugs instead of moving here instead of having the most leegit lenient terms in in the country back to the phone's Kathleen is on the line with a question for Bill Cooper Farm & Dunn. One reason, I think that that is is because they wouldn't be able to collect the huge donations. They do get from the tobacco companies and from other large corporations and your your your appeal against the head heavy tax on cigarettes is kind of specious because the thing is it so if you really care about those poor people buy with welfare reform is such a big Target by the Republicans and including Rod Brands, and I know that it couldn't find it but I don't consider Bill Clinton a democratic consider him a republic. So I'd like to get a response just a little more on campaign Finance reform is it is that in fact, you know, you were arguing before that all the proposals to change the system really are designed to protect the incumbent Kathleen I think is making the argument that perpetuating the system also protects incumbents by allowing them to continue to collect huge amount of money from special interest groups. I want to make it real clear. We're not taking credit for Bill Clinton. He is a Democrat the but the campaign Finance reform is a complicated subject the Free Speech, right that was put in our constitution was put in there by our Founders to protect political speech so that people could express their views and whatever way they want wasn't put out an in there to protect the new dancing and all of these other things that they've stretched these the Free Speech rules about it was to protect people so that they could express their political views when you're telling people that they cannot spend money in support of their candidate either it whether it's a corporation or an individual what you're doing is your sister suppressing the right of free speech and I wouldn't say that no rules are fair rules. But when you look at this campaign Finance thing, it is typical flight the Denver of the Republicans. No limit the amount of money that the Democrats are getting from unions that they're taking from employees pay without their permission. They want to eliminate that in the Democrats want to eliminate the amount of money that the Republicans are getting from corporations and bigger donors, etc. Etc. Nobody is saying hey, let's eliminate all of that. Everybody is pushing to give themselves an advantage and what they they can perceive as being something bad is always the contributor that's giving to their opponent not to contribute to this giving to them about these good government groups that you know aren't apparently in bed with either party really get a kick out of there. And again, I just want to finish finish this point. If you look at the total corruption that went on in the in the Democratic party in connection with the political contributions of money from the Chinese the money to people that gave secrets to the Communist Chinese in connection with Mitchell technology foreign money the money from the teamsters. 20 people have fled the country or taking the Fifth Amendment and then these Democrats stand up there and talk about campaign Finance reform and we need more laws. They don't even comply with the laws that we have. I mean what what these laws it become is the rules for other people to a baby while we evade them in in and out spend our opposition and indeed if you look at the last presidential race, the Democrats or the Republicans because they raise their money and a lot of it was illegal. He think the government group the proposals from government groups carry a little more weight. Remember that the political process is is Mark Twain said it's kind of like making sausage. You don't like to look at it too close and but it is a by its very nature. Messy and people who who who government are have trying to have an impact on and either a positive. Negative impacts are going to want it helped influence that but this dialogue I think is healthy. It's good and to the degree we muzzle it. Where are the only way were elected people is if they have a big smile and a nice hairdo is not the way we want to want to engage in this stuff in and fortunately again, if you want to get your story out you have to be able to spend money. If you look at the perfect campaign Finance reform was passed by the Minnesota Supreme Court in connection with judges, if you want to run for judges in Minnesota or elected if you want to run for judge, you can't do the following things raise any money speak out on any political or judicial issue at end of political meeting identify yourself as a Republican or a Democrat or expressed support for any other political candidate for something. That's the perfect form of campaign Finance rules, but 99.9% of incumbent judges are re-elected. I mean nobody is ever on not re-elected as a judge because as a result of those rules and and I think those are bad Jim your question place on Supreme Court decision that the vouchers do not the stabley show a religion in the country in Gleason, Wisconsin and the likelihood that the United States Supreme Court will concur. Do you believe that there will be a about your program introduced in the state legislature in the next session that might survive. Well, the Arne Carlson came up with this idea of doing this through tax credits as opposed to a voucher and which pet did pass in the last legislature. I believe what will happen is that that will be expanded on my personal opinion is that the that method that he came up with is an excellent one and an even better one than vouchers because it's it it doesn't it just involves parents making decisions on their own and ineffective getting the money back that they paid for for public education and giving them a choice or I'm I'm sorry up here briefly a sign of things to come. I fear we've just gotten the severe thunderstorm warning issued by the National Weather Service for Faribault County down in South Central Minnesota, and that will remain in effect until 12:10 this afternoon severe thunderstorm warning until 12:10 for Faribault County Eastern Faribault County in South Central Minnesota. Dwells Easton, press Walters and the and the rest so Will keep you posted on changing weather developments sorry. Mr. Cooper finish your thought there on vouchers. I think I think of school choice is going to expand up at inner-city people in particular very very unhappy with their schools the school testing results that we've seen of Sion that things are getting worse not better and in all things in America competition will improve it and I think you're going to see a lot more competition in the education that would various ways, but I think probably a happened with tax credits in Minnesota Mike your question, please Hi Bella, I'm a republican of course from St.Paul. I wanted to wish you luck first at the convention this weekend. And secondly, I just wanted to let me know as the elected State party chair. Let me don't you think it's hurtful to the other two candidates that you don't personally support, you know, if you want if you even personally support a candidate in the endorsement process, aren't you supposed to be objective about William objektiv about it? I can't help with have a personal preference. Just like anybody else does the ditches. It's in my heart the way I feel like anti everybody has that time. I just can't help it. It's as long as I don't act in any way. I can give anybody an advantage in anyway, and then what my personal preferences are are are unimportant and don't have any impact on the roof. Not to dwell on this mr. Cooper, but apparently we got some information here about the norm Coleman statement to the dfl state convention in and pretty strong support vocal support for Paul wellstone, you mentioned before that there while he did it's cold and it did in fact support Clinton that he didn't support wellstone. Is that is that you think that might Play it Again Play on the delegates. Mine's a little bit too pretty strong statement of support. I stand before you today to proudly Proclaim I support for Clinton and wellstone and on and on and on I don't know what it what it is. You're reading at the these are the this is the speech you gave at the dfl State Convention 1996 to the wellstone gore meeting and all of that kind of business. I mean they were they were not happy with with Norm Coleman and the and I don't think anybody If you look at anybody to if you look at a record equate to Norm Coleman's record in any fashion with that kind of far-left thought there are four of people running for governor in one deck rail is really not giving any chance to get the endorsement. We were talking with him yesterday and he was saying that he wished the more dick morels were would run and which would you like to see that more people running for governor and get out and and and get their say get there or in the water meeting if we don't have a chance to win off a lot of people do just pick it up and around the country and both for governor. And for other kinds of the for elective office is a whole bunch of people just say, hey, I'm going to run and do and I didn't do it successfully. Yeah, one of the things are caucus system does a lot of people find problem with that it would that system but one of those are the things that that system does do is to allow someone with an idea to approach the party activist and so forth and and get Papa get endorsed and so forth and in a way that's very difficult to do if if you're trying to run in a primary against people that are much better financed and so forth and you are or better names though have a high name recognition if their father was successful in politics it it seems to be helpful in Minnesota dfl circles at a time, but that question Richard I love the Republican spend taxes there when he says that the only the poor people I could be paying the taxes are after going after the poorest people. They are paying the taxes that directly under the federal tax. But if they just text the tobacco companies it still be paying the tax you claim that they're not that taxing the tobacco companies but a day just texted the backup. He's the best companies would raise the price of cigarettes have to cover that. So what's the difference? Well, I'm not sure what the question was what it is. I understood today. I think I agree with you. It doesn't matter at all. It's really going to do is raise the price of cigarettes one way or another in the consumer will be paying for him. He think that to back away. She was going to be a big issue this fall. I think the payments to the attorneys the 550 million dollars that the Attorney General is paying to the law firm. I will be a big issue and and I think there will be a lawsuit in a lot of action on that on that issue because that's just an absurd amount. If you had to pick one issue that you think is going to be the deciding issue this fall when Republicans Democrats Reform Party candidates square off with what would it be going to be in general. It's going to be taxes education crime and Welfare. Those are the important issues to people. For those of us are getting ready for the convention. Can you give us a best guess here as to how many ballots it will take for your delegates to decide who to endorse. She really don't know the way that rules are written this year that we charge is a change anybody without 5% of the vote after the first ballot must drop out anybody without 20% of the vote after the third ballot drop out so given that it's going to be a tightly-contested race. I think it's going to go at least 3, maybe 4 might be the most likely for five pallets might be determined but is very possible that it could go on for a significant amount of time. Thanks so much for joining us will look forward to talking to you at the Target Center. Who is the chair of the Republican party here in the state of Minnesota and joining us this hour as we get ready for the Republican State Convention live coverage begins later this afternoon and extended cover. All the way through Saturday here on Minnesota Public Radio reminder or the national weather service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Eastern Faribault County down in the south central part of the state that severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 12:10 this afternoon. Sometimes it's on all day. There's nothing else to replace it as part of a ritual first thing in the morning last thing at night just as you depend on us for in-depth accurate news everyday. We depend on you to support this kind of programming with your membership dollars. If you received a notice from us, please mail it back today or call us right now at 1 800-227-2811 and help us reach our goal of 85,000 members by June 30th. Thanks 5 minutes before 12. This is midday on Minnesota Public Radio.