And good morning. Welcome to midday on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm very active glad you could join us last week Minnesota. Senator Paul wellstone stole the Senate that quote. We have lost our Focus. We lost our way. Senator wellstone was specifically trying to Rally support for a 60 billion dollar child development program that he's sponsoring but his comments seem to Echo the comments with many members of Congress. Mainly that the intense focus on the clinton-lewinsky Scandal has diverted attention from many pressing National issues.Jennifer wellstone will be joining us this hour to discuss the Clinton situation and some of those other issues that are not getting much attention these days and we're going to be opening the phone lines here momentarily so that you can join our conversation. If you have a question or comment for Senator wellstone, give us a call 227-6002 to 76 thousand in the Twin Cities outside the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828. Now we should note that the Senate is of course in session and Senator wellstone going to be joining us from right off the senate floor in the cloakroom, and we're trying to get that the connection established right now. He may also once we get him on it we should warn you in advance. He may have to leave for a couple of minutes in case the Senate votes on some issue or other. So just to prepare in advance mean while we're up. We're waiting for Senator wellstone to be able to join us to bring you up-to-date on the latest on theNegotiations and discussions regarding the possible impeachment inquiry house Speaker Newt Gingrich today as you heard rejected talk of any kind of an immediate deal with a president to an to avoid an impeachment inquiry the White House intern accused Gingrich of unnecessarily dragging out the investigation Gingrich told reporters following a meeting between house Republican and Democratic leaders that quote for anybody to talk about doing anything before we finish the investigative process simply puts the cart before the horse. I don't understand you said I don't understand how people can rush to a solution before they finish the investigation house Speaker Newt Gingrich speaking with reporters this morning following a meeting with house Democratic senator wellstone joins us now from just offside just off the floor.Probably have heard by now. The speaker Gingrich says that the impeachment inquiry should move forward. The White House says that Gingrich is determined to quote endlessly prolong the Scandal. What do you think should the process continue or should Congress just drop all of this? well By the way, I hadn't heard what it is said. I was as the alternative all the stuff. I was listening to Nelson. Mandela speak was just so moving. I think this I think people in Minnesota I was surprised a little bit that the last couple days. It's just been unbelievable since the videotaped testimony all of a sudden it just you know, like by two-to-one margin people were calling and Furious and hadn't been that way. They just think the detail the graphic detail. That's out publicly is just way. Goes way over the top and it pretty I think they're just kind of angry at that kind of help the political system in washed and seem so just reached, you know rock bottom. So I think this going on and on and on we'll be a terrible thing. I I think that it's also however hard to to do anything other than the clear that President Clinton's behavior and some of of ways in which I think he is not been at all forthcoming with people the country is been just you know, reprehensible indefensible and all the rest. I don't know yet. I don't I think a lot of people I think the best thing that I I'm I'm very I will say this given what they have done so far over there in that house Judiciary Committee. I am concerned that this can be unfair process that this week this that this will be a process of people in the country can have faith in by the same token. I think the best thing you know for someone like myself is to you know, before stain stop everything, you know, is this or is this not Pitch Black I just should look at every single piece of evidence and I guess Reserve final judgment. I don't know that the everything has to just stop and the active. None of this happened, but I hate the way they have conducted this inquiry. There's some talk that Democrats like yourself should go up to the White House and urge. The President to resign says spare the country anymore of this again. I think it's pretty important to yeah, it seems to me there's a yet other information that's coming out. There's today there were reports that there were additional documents that that are important for in the president's defense. I think it's kind of A little hard to do that right now. I don't I'd like to see what other information comes out. I have not I have been going way back very very critical of what he has done and I understand the sentiment behind that proposal, but I don't think that that's You know, you're kind of you kind of I'm thinking out loud as we're talkin. I mean first of all seems a little bit wrong to do without sort of seeing other information that hasn't even come out yet that summer arguing kind of puts a somewhat different perspective. At least from the point of view of whether it this is or is not impeachable. No one can defend this Behavior to personal level. So I don't know. I mean, I I I also you know, it's sort of like between being furious with him. Just so angry at what he's done. I think so much I was so wrecked was so arrogant than I could say a lot more and I won't right now, but by the same time. You know, I hate to enable the enabler of star and what I think some of the other people who are involved in which is just kind of out right to Search and Destroy end and it's just very difficult to to know I think maybe everybody here wants and needs to Step back from this and stop making a lot of inflammatory statements and think pretty deeply about about what the implications of all this side is a lot more important Bill Clinton. I mean I at my biggest worry is that if if it goes if if if if the stat if what we see right now extends going into the future and there's no change. I think people in Minnesota around the country or you're going to have it even more precipitous drop in faith in politics in the political process. And by the way, I think part of the blame this was President Clinton. Let me be crystal clear. I think it started with his behavior. But now that I look at the way this inquiry has been conducted and I I just think it's I have very little faith in what speaker Gingrich and others are doing longer-term. Do you see I kind of endless cycle of recriminations. Once this particular issue is dealt with the Clinton. Yay or nay that is to say whoever gets elected next they'll be subject all kinds of Investigations and on and on and on again, that's all you know, that's part of what is I think going on here. A lot of people are really worried about the kind of Long Reach of the Starr investigation and what kind of precedent to set send the all of the rest. You know, I've had very good friends who were lawyers who coming from with had you no experience as prosecutors. Tell me that they worry about it. I don't know if for some reason, you know, I feel like I have very little confidence in star of the star part of the Starr report, but I I guess I also again filled at the president's behavior and what he's done is is it's also a significant part of the problem. So I'd like to believe that this would not necessarily happen with other presidents. I think the Search and Destroy Politics, the slash-and-burn politics is kind of evidence today in many ways including and campaigns including in the ass some TV. It's all it's all taking the snow. We're good as a nation and the other thing is, you know, and I'm not at all put down our conversation because it's very much on people's minds but you know, I'm reminded of Saturday and Worthington at this Farm rally and the kind of calls I get from people in the meetings I have with people who are losing their farms in her real painted in real like anomic pain and I and I think about all the issues. I've talked to you about over the years and the Des many of which still are not have not been addressed to me. It bothers me when I read about four month old infant to be used and beaten to death by an adult and that this kind of thing goes on. These are the problems. We should be addressing. These are the kind of things. We should be preventing from happening. These are the kind of things that we should be caring about as a country orchids and education and jobs and health care I & R farms and I I find and how you less and violence and I find it all of this is sort of like we have to have the discussion but I've been saying to people in Minnesota, you know, step outside the spectacle and let's also keep focus on other things that people care a lot about your degree though that this is pretty serious and I never would have dreamed when lembeck 1990 when we won the race and That it's at was is a huge honor to be here to serve in the Senate is a center for Minnesota. I never would have never would have believed that I might be having to make such a decision and I can't think of a more important decision it in some ways. One of the reasons that I have been without turn down just to everything single Dash chalk TV show on this. I made my comments in Minnesota. And in many ways. I I'm really kind of I'm just thinking deeply and I'm looking looking formation and I'm trying to think of what the right thing is to do as I am at the problem. You know what that may be the most ethical. Morel if you will thing I can do right now is a senator as opposed to getting into you know, a lot of back-and-forth stuff that's going on. I want to ask you one more question then we'll get to some listeners a calls hear you. Of course we talked about running for president. Is this a fact that you're planning a tall? Do you want to get caught in the middle of a Maelstrom like this? well, you know the part A answer is that I never would okay, but I don't need to say anymore, right so I don't never be involved in anything like well if that made baked, but that may take the other but them that thinks maybe the larger question that is sore reflected in your question, which is the politic politic seem so It seems so ugly. Right. Is that what really what you're saying? Right? I mean and you know what I can say. I probably as close to public radio is in a medium because my respect for the focus of public affairs. So why don't you give up a very personal honest answer that I've never said before which is it it does it's it's some of what's happening this it's sort of it does suck some of them or drain some of them. Energy and excitement out of him believe out of you. I mean, you do look at this and you say God Almighty what you really want for you or anyone in your family, even though I'm very proud of how I was in my life and never worry about it. But you know what that presupposes the truth matters and there can be all sorts of other attack me and I know I went through a pretty ugly face of Minnesota, Minnesota seems pretty ugly but the stuff that mean you get to take a look at it in and now for getting me and I appreciate the questions to the honest answer is of course, it makes me think about it more and do I really want to do this, but then I think about the issue some people in the country and you know that matters to but forgetting me and talking about something more important. What about what about caring people that are listening to us now or just you know, I've lived my life in classrooms with young people. I mean, I just love education love being around students and younger people. What kind of people are going to run for office? What kind of people are going to want to get involved in politics and public affairs if if Or what they hear about is sort of what they Define politics as that's what breaks my heart. That's what makes me so angry at President Clinton and angry at a lot of his accusers and attackers were taking a shower with senator Paul wellstone joining us from Washington this morning to talk about situation Washington, and some of the issues that aren't getting much attention these days. If you'd like to join our conversation, give us a call. 227-6002 276 thousand. I'll try the Twin Cities 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or one 802-422-8284 caller is from Duluth Carol. Hi under wealth don't I already wrote you a letter in this thing? It's pretty much what you said. I I really thought when I bring my doctor said I was paying my legislators to legislate and end. This is this is actually currently affecting I found myself feeling really sad and and and and another thing is is I'm about ready for retirement in getting involved a little bit in politics in and I think I had a lot of skills and so forth after on the other hand, I've had several years of being out in the world and there are a lot of situations in my life that I really don't want public and I think this will probably keep me from even thinking about it to an end and I have a mixture of sadness or anything I've ever done step might be disturbing to my family and I don't want it out there and sort of angry at myself that I did but you know, we're talking 30 40 years ago. on the other hand, I think I have a lot to offer for public service, but I I don't suppose that I will put myself in that position and That makes me feel really bad to well. That's what Charles so I mean, you know, who's the President Clinton's behavior and what he said, of course it's accountable for it. I don't want to let him off the hook, but we have them course until we've had a lot of stories now come out about different people and what's happened in the past and all the rest. I think that it was I don't think I'll forget this call that just came in because you know, this is just I got figure out weight cuz I'm just not Carol not getting angry at you. I'm just can't let what you said get me down because it's so pointed. I hate this stuff. This is the by nightmare that people like you or thing about public affairs will say I am not going to do this because people just go through your life years back does not Bill clipart on that something brought a right and why would I ever want to get involved? I see Texas governor George Bush about not running. I mean, he's committed to being a heavy drinker at 1 to take some of the energy and excitement. It's taking some of it away. It's not just you it's your children that sure you note everything but I'm I'm going to figure out a way. This is my date for saying things that I've done with that plan to say I tell you one thing I'm going to do I'm going to work as hard as I ever have speech and I know where I'm going to give me to give it. You know, we're having just a couple weeks left. I'm going to give it a school in Minnesota and I'm going to talk about I'm going to speak directly to all this that happened in the country and I'm going to make an all-out really really strongly and passionately to students to young people about the importance of Public Service in Imports of people going to the public service and what it really is about as opposed to so much of what they hear about, you know, do you think and I don't want to dwell on this. I really do want to get on to some other issues here, but do you think people search private past is a legitimate political issue something that should be talked about in the public sphere. It depends on what you mean. I mean, it depends upon how long ago and it depends upon what you mean by private past. But I mean, I think I just think. and you know a lot of it, you know, you'd I would think it talk about whether it's related to Performance. Look the only thing I can tell you is it's a hard question to answer as stated. I'm on I'm on a sort of different end of the Continuum from some people. I know it's interesting. I went remember in the 80 a brace with Gary Hart, right? And I remember having discussions with friends about you know, people think I'm not related to you know, he is a fair or whatever it was with that McDonough rights. If not, this doesn't correlate to his performance as a present. What kind of present would be so it's not the relevant and I'm sure that there are people that are listening to us who will take that position and subsequently some friends of mine that I actually don't take that position. I think I think the personal In that sense matters and it's about and I think Character Matters and I think it's very important not to separate the life you live from the words you speak excetera excetera. So but I think that what Carol was talking about was the sort of going over people's life with a fine-tooth comb and you know, if a child had some kind of a problem you do that or somebody you mentioned the governor push somebody with a drinking problem and did something when they were younger, you know, it's on so forth that you know, it's a lot of it is clearly out of bounds. I mean, you know, I'm not going to get into that. It's Cirque you get on it? So it you know it just it it really so I think a lot of that personal stuff of that kind. This is it is not this should be a part of campaign. But I mean again I have to but please don't misunderstand me. I I believe that presents Clinton's behavior and what he's done was while serving as president. Okay, that's a little different now people can in Minnesota at least right now. And you know, this isn't over I think most people Minnesota are saying I think the polls of show that I've certainly heard it, you know a they're sick of it. They're angry than don't like the tenor of it. They really as I say, I think they're angry at the level of which they feel like this is reduced the political system. They think there are other issues that we got to focus on excetera excetera. And but I don't and I understand that full well and I think at the moment most people don't think that the President should resign and most people don't think this offense I do however think that I don't think it's the people on the other hand think much of what he's done or think much at the moment of his character and I think people do think that that's important. So it's not like this is unimportant. It's just it's become the only thing it's become and it's just become vicious and the kind of material and I'm not saying that's how you know, I just have to tell you this I swear to you. I'm not I know what people are thinking or listening. I know people going to sell that I'm pretty good at, you know, keep doing what the pole speed of my state isn't staying close to people but this is my own view to I just can't believe I understand what they need to do in order to try and make the case about perjury before grand jury and what not. But I'll tell you they didn't need to have one tenth of a kind of material that they have that they have dropped out there in the public people are Furious about people are hating a lot of this discussion is like they have to guard their TV, you know to make sure their children don't see it. It's too much it's over the top. That's what really makes people angry. Let's get one more call around here before we take a quick break Chris first like my comment. Is it as a citizen in a democracy don't I have a right to all of the knowledge so that I can make informed decisions about my voting and how my representatives are in the Congress vote and second straight forward answer you consider perjury a high crime or misdemeanor. Yes or no. First of all on the knowledge. I mean, I think that I think that it's important for people to have the information that they would need or we would need to make an informed decision. I have to just tell you I'll just repeat what I just said some of the graphic detail is completely unnecessary and I find very few people that think otherwise as to the second Point against your question begs the question, I mean, you know that they're two different issues. One of these is an impeachable o11 perjury committed and the second is weather's impeachable offense both those questions at the moment. There's still a lot of information and those are the questions that have to be resolved. But you know, it's most people I know we're not prejudging that at the present the truthful no. The number of respects he certainly has been truthful people in the countries of behavior to be defensible know but there are the other questions are bigger questions. And then I think sort of are reflected in the way. You put it to me. You want to quit this this is a guess what there's no quick simple easy glib answer Minnesota. Senator Paul wellstone joins us this morning from Washington, actually from right off. The floor of the US Senate will get this more collars and just a moment. According to a survey conducted by the blend in Foundation economic development is one of the most important issues facing real minnesotans this election season, you can learn more about the survey at Minnesota public radio's website addresses www.mpr.org. The rural Minnesota pulse is also the topic of a special gubernatorial debate live from Brainerd Thursday, October 1st at noon. You can hear it here on Minnesota Public Radio k n o w FM 91.1 in the Twin Cities over the noon hour today. We're going off to the Minnesota meeting. The speaker. Today is Richard kovasovic's who is Chairman and CEO of the nor'-west corporation course Northwest announced this Summer that it's going to merge with Wells Fargo move its headquarters to San Francisco misterka basovich says that there are many many changes that we should get used to that the banking industry as we've known it is changing dramatically and he'll be talking about those changes sweeping his industry over the noon hour today programme. NPR is supported by Macalester College fostering a culture of optimism and engagement where students prepare to touch the future weather forecast increasing clouding us across the state today. And as matter fact, we can look for some rain in western and southern Minnesota this afternoon highs mid-60s to the low 70s 30% chance for rain later this afternoon in the Twin Cities with a high in the mid to Upper sixties. I'm so tired of Paul wellstone is our guest this our joining us from Washington. Lots of callers on the line with questions for Senator wellstone, Rebecca your next go ahead place. Hey, Rebecca. Worthington I'm infuriated by this whole issue is going to drag on and on and it's besides the disgusting details preventing the presidents from from moving on to other issues are the possible there's two pharmacies. There's you know, what seems like the beginnings of a worldwide depression if we aren't careful everybody. I talked to his just infuriated about how this is dragging on and and frankly makes you not want to have anything to do with either party as well, you know a couple of a couple things were back and we were just on the floor was just was this but I had just another day where I I think Alan Greenspan this got did the Federal Reserve got the lower the interest rates and I was talking about International kind of meat really know. But even more so that the authorities we've got a good part of the world economy there right now isn't serious contraction AMA contraction issues not inflation for deflation. And this is going to affect our country in a big way. I ain't go farm crisis. It's just the tip of the of the iceberg and I just want to really kind of reinforce what you said about the international economy. And then on the on the farm crisis, I will just tell you that, you know, it is not true that people at Minnesota around the country who have started to really speak up and put some pressure on people in Congress have not any of fact that there are now at least two pack but that what you know back in 3 August and July there were people that were on the floor of the Senate. I'm not going to name names cuz there's people aren't here to debate mean it would be unfair to do that. It were saying stay the course is freedom. The farm bill with the pale bill is great the market as well. That's not the case anymore. Now. I think that what the Republicans have offered. It was not going to do the job. That's my honest review. It took several billion dollars, but it's it's sort of as these transition payments are crammed two payments, but you can go to landowners and not necessarily produces a duck get the price up doesn't get the price up and you know what I'm talking about and we got to take the cap off the loan rate and if I had my way we'd get the price up the tire than that and we would Target it but and I'm going to keep fighting for that you it is good. The Administration has now come right, you know Foursquare behind our proposal. Other than that, it's about $70 all together. But most of it really dealing with taking the cap off the loan right. It's gets technical for people that aren't from you know, some of the Greater Minnesota communities but to make a long story short at Farmers can't cash flow the doctor gets its record low prices and the only way they have any leverage with grain companies at all is to get was called the loan rate up whereby they can essential. SATA grain companies one or two things. Look if you don't give me this price for government. I can just hold on a migraine for a while. The government will buy it and then but then of course the Cargoes and others have to if they want the grinder going to have to give him that price it gives them some leverage cuz family farmers are if you will small businesses or free enterprise, but the only a few grain companies are dealing with so you this is sort of a little unfair or if that doesn't work. People are given some call the deficiency payment which is the difference between where the loan rate is set in the price. They get this Bill de Pasquale the freedom to farm bill. That was one good thing I gave Farmers flexibility is to ISTA is Anna planting, but now they have no marketing Freedom. There's no safety net. There's no way of getting the price up and and we exchanged that that's that is my one commitment of the next couple weeks is to fight like hell to change a time trying to figure out a way of getting on the floor of the Senate this week no later than next week. You know, if I have to I'll filibuster I mean Force votes were going to keep pushing this and that's all there is to it and and that's another issue that's very very important to a lot of people in our state beyond the immediate short-term problem. Would you like to see the the farm bill the freedom the farm bill scrapped all together and go back to where we were trying to be on my best behavior here because I want to try and get some people voted for to feel like they're not, you know doing an about-face it so I'm saying just with modified, you know, even when you pass that you all and so let's look at it that way and that's fine. I mean that's people can do it the wrong way from my own personal point of view. I thought it was fitting to fail. That's what I said initially. I thought it was a great deal for the grain companies and terrible for family farmers. And I and yeah, I'd like to see us go back to scratch. I don't think that's going to happen. However, therefore I got to try and work in the real world giving who's here, right giving, you know, given the sort of votes. And all the rest and push to get as much as I possibly can get for people who really need some help right now Bethany your question for Senator wellstone. Are you good? I'm admirer of yours. I'm almost home and I'm aware of all of the work. He did to try to help the people of Bosnia and you went over there and and I really admire you for that and I know right now Kosovo. You know shirt in Ennis on we have a saying that charity begins in the home and I think I mean I've been sitting on hold for 45 minutes hearing about Clinton and I'm so sick and tired of it when we could have been talking about issues that really affect us here in Minnesota. And also in the United States I couldn't care less about Clinton, you know, I really couldn't because I believe that when you get as high up as the president thinks I'll get done as well. I think I'm Grassroots is what matters most but and I think that if America would keep their nose in their own business and and quit getting their nose into other people's business example of the Middle East etcetera that you know that Islamic countries would be forced to help themselves and help people like Bangladesh with the flooding in Iraq, and you know, they're just leaving up to America to do everything and And I feel confident in saying that as a Muslim that I can say that I think that farmers and crimes and hate crimes and Welfare and people who are trying to get ahead in the states. I would really matters and educating people about how to care for each other and I think this is what matters is, you know, if tomorrow or not I don't care. I just care about you and and the people who are doing politics at your level and lower because that's what really matters and please don't give up your political Quest. I I really admire your work and if you run for president you have my thank you. Thank you for even though presidents don't matter. Go ahead Senator that one thing I was going to say Bethany. The only thing I would add to what you said if okay is There are at least 50,000 people now in Kosovo men and women and children that are in the mountains without any. Is there a little food in protective gear and we already have had first snow and it's it's getting cold and something what milazzo Fitch is doing to the people of Kosovo. Is it is it is it is it is really a crime and there I do think that the International Community, you know, there's has got to figure out a response. I mean the UN is bringing up some the resolution today. There's NATO but you know where we we could very well Gary Busey in exactly the same thing that happened in Sarajevo, which we said we would never happen again happened. So we I'm just very worried. I actually had a chance to visit Kosovo when I was there are several years ago and It's Dennis far away, but it's very very given the kind of country. We are in the kind of people we are I think I think we have to be concerned about what's going to happen to a lot of innocent people there. Do you think that if the United Nations but bogs down and it's discussions over possible that the US should act unilaterally perhaps ending some troops. I hope it doesn't come to that. That's your your unfortunately getting right to the the toughest. Part of it. And again, you know I first I'd like to see whether or not we could have a night over response and It is the going with ground troops is basically a declaration of war. You know, that's what it is their service and it would be I have had a lot of briefings from a lot of military people in a lot of pain though. I've tried to spend a lot of time on this knowing that I have to make a decision and I don't I'd be wary about the ground troops and ground troops and whether or not they might be other kind of military action. Maybe when I be worried about it in retrospect you think the missile attacks that we launched against the alleged terrorist operations parasites in the Sudan and Afghanistan war Justified indicating some skepticism until I cuz I never was show and I were off and on for 4 days up on the North Shore actually and I didn't have a secure phone and so I didn't have a briefing to them saying that I bought that it was an appropriate response. But I think that making it crystal clear that I didn't think it was the end all or be all and no one should think it was as a way of dealing with terrorism. But I think that what you me Carter said the other day and I have also said this but he said it more emphatically I think you know the there are real questions in my mind about not so much the action in Afghanistan but more incident at the Pharmaceutical Plant. I still think that you know, we have their there is a lot of ambiguity about whether you know, it's the weather that we should have done that and I have put Ryan real questions about it. Josh your question, please. I have a question. I went kayaking around the St. Louis River by Duluth last weekend. And I know there's a paper mill right above the damn right there in the Cloquet and when I got done kayaking like I came home, I'm I'm living in Bemidji right now going to school and I came home and I realized that I smelled like chlorine and bleach something like that. And I'm just wondering what kind of regulations paper mills have on them right now and what what kind of actions are being taken as far as pollutants into the rivers and things like that. Well, you know the st. Louis River has them Carnival really wonderful history to have them cleaned it up years ago. In fact, that's one of the reasons that I think Wendell. What is Willard Munger at a gathering last night's by window Ford? Willard Munger is such a hero to in our state is it should be discarded so much to make sure that River was cleaned up. Well, we've got you know, there are clean air and clean water standards and I can't tell you the specifics. I mean in other words, I don't know whether or not what happened to you is evidence that something is amiss here and that we're not we're spewing a lot more, you know toxics into the air right there from neighbor mill then but I can't tell you on the basis of your own experience whether that's the case or not, but we do have laws and we do have agencies that are there to the Implement them. You might want to give the you know, you might want to call some folks and state government and find out you should I think tax cuts publicans pushing for I believe it's an 80 billion dollar tax cut in the country for that. We have a surplus yell. There's a bunch of different stuff that's going on here. I mean There's the issue of exactly who benefits from the tax cuts. the only contacts customer I'm interested in are those that are targeted that that are kind of, you know focused on helping people middle-income working in cumed or helping them to do better by their kids, but I wouldn't have it just so unfocused that The majority of the benefits go to people with incomes above a hundred thousand or whatever. So I don't know what the nature of it is yet the second issue which is probably going to be the way with the bake. It's framed as it should be any tax cuts or anything done in less. Because the whole question about the social security trust fund and that that that you should separate everything should go into whatever it whatever Surplus there is sufficient daughter tax cuts butcher to go in to call Protect himself secure. That's the way it's going to the base going to be framed and I think there's something to that argument by the same token. I have to be very honest. I think that I think that the biggest Focus that I have is on sore how we're going to do better by kids and how we're going to do better by parents doing better by their kids and I am interested in trying to do more in this area. I don't think the Republican tax cut plan is very credible in this respect, but I am interested in figuring out a way to do more than investment Steve your next. I just called to make the comment that I think The sexual harassment issue is an important issue when it pertains to our people in power. It's done. I think we need to decide what is right and wrong for people and it might not might not be pretty but I think it's got to be dealt with so I'll just hang up and listen to it on the radio. Well, I'm not going to I will surprise you. I tried to say that earlier. I don't disagree with you. That is it I don't disagree with you that it's an important issue it is I don't disagree with you that our personal conduct is an important it is I don't disagree with you about what you might think or what I might think about President Clinton's personal contacts on the basis of what we know. I don't think much of it. I said that I've try not to pile on but I can't I think it's just so reprehensible so reckless so arrogant, there's another issue though and that has to do with the way in which this process is unfolding here. And there are questions that are legitimate questions. Is this an impeachable offense The Little Gym of questions about whether this patient process should go forward and there are legitimate questions if it goes forward in what way can I go part in such a way that it just doesn't become a circus or just you know, so poisonous that That does for the next year of the only thing you and others are going to hear about is this and nothing else that I think those are the other issues that are swirling but I appreciate what you said. I try trial if I've done well today. I've tried to say that I you know, I hate what some of the people are doing right now by the attacks up at all at all. But I also, you know President Clinton also. Gay people, you know quite a bit of material to work with so it's I'm kind of feel pretty without being self-righteous to you also feel uncomfortable. You feel like you're getting self-righteous when you get in this discussion Gary, you know what I mean you do but I mean and I did sort of an uncomfortable feeling but I found myself, you know, very angry with very angry as what he's done at very angry at is a lack of you know, being forthcoming and truthful on some of this but I just don't want to enable all of this attack and some of what people are now trying to do too and which I find to be Very troubling raising all kinds of questions about where is what is this all about? That's the question. Susana your question for Senator wellstone, thank you for taking my call. I appreciate it out how it comes out tonight or I mostly agree with that. Nice of President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act. And I also saw you sign at which I just need you to hear. I've never been so hurt and angry by a politician as I was by that you're the only politician I've ever voted for. What wasn't a vote against somebody else and I have never been so angry and so hurt by that action against my family and against my my children you said you wanted to do something for children. When you sign that you said publicly the number of the number of ways you are also going to work on discrimination issues. I've known Heritage rights. I have no adoption rights. I have no social security rights. I have no health insurance, right? And for addressing that for my kids I have actually introduced a bill. That has is that mean I've spent about a year writing it that provides all those rights to you. I actually have done that. I'm sorry that maybe it goes to what we were talking about how things don't break through because of all the way I actually have introduced that legislation that I mean. I know you are disappointed and angry at me and I'm sorry that you are because I appreciate it what you said about voting for me. I do want you to know that I introduced just a full domestic partnership ordinance bill that said that people cannot be discriminated against and that you cannot people who are in a loving durable relationship did not on all the matters you talked about have to have the same be treated the same way. I have introduced that bill. The problem is giving the climate here. We can't even pass yet. We're about one vote short. I like to have the battle, you know at the end of act which just basically ended discrimination against people because of the sexual orientation. So it's it's not going to pass right away, but I have introduced the bill and I'm going to fight for it. I guess that's probably the best response. I could they can give to what you said given the climate in washed. Susanna was Susanna given the climate Washington. I hope I don't disappoint you on other issues and other concerns and keep talking to me about this to you know, climate in Washington. Is there any chance that we're going to end up with another government shutdown hear everything the government the needy October 1st, but I think that the you know, it's sort of your hate to make predictions, but I think I think maybe it's hard to say I I'm sort of thinking not cuz I'm thinking that actually the people here. I think Republicans are a little reluctant to get into that thing that they don't want it. I would almost make president get President Clinton put him in a position of being able to clearly show is in charge of governing again, and they might be worried about that quote perception. What I'm more worried about is which I don't want to be responsible for the shutdown. But what I'm more worried about and I-10. I'm going to try to be as Vigilant as I can be is that And not passing all these different bills. It's been a pretty much of a you know, I think the way it looks burnt election season and I'll be honest about I need a republican leadership has done nothing in. This is plenty Mammoth we've done play but I don't I'm not very happy with what we've done and and and now all of a sudden the last couple of weeks all these different bills appropriation bills. I want to put it into one big what they call on the bus bill. It makes for bad legislation things get tucked in things get sneaked in at all gets put it all gets presented at the very end when people are ready to leave desperate to leave elections coming up and I don't think it's the way this is not the way the legislative process should work. So I'm pretty determined to go over everything with a fine-tooth comb and raise Cain their things that should be in there. I don't think it's a terrible way to read legislate. Sorry, we're out of time but I sure appreciate you joining us. Thank you very much for having me and you know, if it's okay to say this someone while back in the way around time said, you know, I'm angry, you know, you've spent 40 minutes on this but you know what I think and I understand and I think people really do want to focus on the other issues. I desperately want to but I also think that you know, you raised him those questions and maybe I spoke a little too long on it, but this is also on people's minds. So I think it was important to talk about it. Oh, I sure look forward to the time. When were I have I get a chance to do this next time with you on a bunch of other stuff. Thank you, sir for thank you, bye-bye, Minnesota. Senator Paul wellstone joining us from just off the floor of the US Senate. This is midday coming to you on Minnesota Public Radio off to the Minnesota meeting over the noon hour. We're going to hear from my Norwest CEO and chairman Richard. Come on Savage right now. It's time for The Writer's Almanac.