thank the Greta 6 minutes now past 11 programming and NPR is supported by these Strictly Business High Tech Career Fair positioning it Professionals in the high-tech job market, November 11th 1998 at the Radisson South Good morning, and welcome to mid-day on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary I can glad you could join us will no doubt about it. Jesse Ventura was the big winner in Tuesday's election. But Steve swaggin can certainly be listed in the big winner column is well for 20 years. Mr. Swiggum is served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for the last six years. He's had the sometimes frustrating job of serving as minority leader in the Minnesota house by Tuesday voters in Minnesota elected more Republicans Or democrats to the Minnesota house. And as a result Steve swiggum is now in line to become the next Speaker of the House off and call the second most powerful Post in Minnesota state government representative. Steve swaggin will be stopping by in our studios in just a few minutes to discuss what we can expect from the new republican-controlled house how the house will be able to work with the dfl control State Senate and of course how both the house and the Senate will be working with the new Governor and as soon as represented swaggin stops by will be opening the phones because the phone lines because we'd like to have you join our conversations well great opportunity to get your questions in for the new speaker of the Minnesota house to say he'll be here in a few minutes. But in the meanwhile, let's catch up on some late to political developments today. The Minnesota reform party has been meeting with reporters this morning talking about their plans on how they might capitalize on Jesse Ventura is big win on Tuesday in joining us. Now from the state capital Minnesota public radio's Martin Koski. Good morning Martin morning Gary the Reform Party as you say just held a news conference at the in the here in the state capitol. They started out with her mock surprise Express amounts of price at how many reporters were showing up compared to their previous news conferences. Apparently they're their stock is going up a little bit in the last few days. The the main speaker was Diane Goldman. She's the chair of the Reform Party here in Minnesota. She was accompanied by a couple. Other people who helped run the party and they basically serve outlined their satisfaction, of course with Jesse Ventura victory on a Tuesday night and they're they're the fact that they are looking ahead already here there yet. They're hoping to establish a slightly wider base for this party in Minnesota. They're talking about recruiting Mora candidates for local races next time around in 2000 this this year. They had about 14 candidates for the House of Representatives this time next time around they hope to increase that number and to win a few seats, perhaps to even establish a beachhead in the house or the Senate a small reform caucus a group of people who can perhaps become allies with Jesse Ventura in the give-and-take between Republicans and Democrats. But mainly they just talked about who they were they expressed a little bit of frustration with the fact that I didn't get as much attention as they wish they could have been past years, but now that they had our attention they're going to talk about what they what they stood for and what they really stand for. It seems a judging from what they were saying today is Reform of the political system itself. They are very much anti big money in politics. They want to reform the power the monetary power of political action committees Pacs and influencing candidates. They really want to change a perhaps the qualification system for for minor candidates to get unbalanced to get into debates that sort of thing and and generally they just stay there more about reforming the process and they are about having specific platform ideas in terms of policy. They say they want to leave that up to individual candidates to sort of be inventive into a to be creative. Now often times. We've heard that the Reform Party sees itself as a socially moderate the liberal and fiscally conservative moderate or conservative. Did they get in the bath today at all, or are they really focused on the process is opposed to their position in the idiot logical Spectrum what we did ask them at length and lot of different ways about how they say. Turn on various a so-called litmus test issues guns abortion that sort of thing abortion is a good example though of their attitude. They say they refuse to take a position on abortion because it because they believe it's the kind of issue that pigeonholes parties that that that basically pins them down keeps them from acting in the creative flexible matter and so they're not going to play that game they they do have course. They brought biased toward cutting the size of government being more efficient keeping taxes from rising that's everything all the things that Jesse Ventura has talked about and do they anticipate playing a big role in the transition. I live in for a transition and then the Ventura government known fact of the party itself the other people who helped run the party people like Dan Goldman Buford Johnson, the vice-chair say they don't expect a to work in the event or Administration necessarily and B. They don't expect to have any influence over who he nominates in terms of his at his own executive posts. And the transition team. They they see them. Homes as a party in the in the in the truest sense in Minnesota. They are in the background. They are not running a particular candidates life. And now that he's Governor like they're not going to do that, too. Thanks Martin preciate it. Okay, Minnesota Public Radio reporter Martin kosti checking in from the state capital. Of course, we'll have more on the Reform Party press conference as the day goes along this evening. The dfl house caucus is scheduled to meet to decide who will be in charge of the Democrats in the Minnesota house as we noted a couple of minutes ago. They will no longer be in control of the Minnesota house. They will now be in the minority and then as a public radio's Mike Mulcahy joins us to talk a little bit about that. Well Gary one thing we know for sure is that the dfl house Speaker fill Carruthers will not be in a leadership position in the dfl house caucus brother said yesterday that he won't seek the position of House minority leader that Old Fall to somebody else probably tonight when the key FL owers meet the Democrats did lose control of the house Tuesday Republicans. Pick up 71 seats compared to the dfl r63 brother says that he doesn't want to be caucus leader because he wants to spend more time with his family. He does say though that he's proud of what the dfl accomplished over the last couple of years what I said when I was running for speaker was that I wanted to bring a greater sense of cooperation and bipartisanship to the House of Representatives and the state government and I feel that we largely accomplish that working together the house of the Senate the governor. We accomplished a lot for the people of Minnesota and Carothers is giving some advice to the new majority in the legislature the Republicans. He says he expects to cooperate with them, but he says they have to avoid partisanship especially with this close and margin of power. Carruthers says, it's clear that political leaders need to stop battling each other. I think a major message is I'll be election is that the people aren't satisfied with Politics as Usual there they're tired of the promises are tired of the negative campaigning. They're frustrated with the the appearance of a special interest groups. And so that that definitely is a message. It's pretty clear according to Caruthers that a lot of Jesse Ventura supporters voted for Republican house candidates has Martin Koski said a few minutes ago. There were 14 Reform Party candidates running for the house. But of course, there are no Reform Party members who were elected in fact a no Reform Party members and either body of the legislature. So it'll be interesting to see just how this all comes together with a republican house a dfl senate and the Reform Party Governor. How is it going to come together Mike you followed the legislature for many many years. I did Gary but never happened before in my time. So I I don't think anybody can say I think a lot of the conventional wisdom got thrown out the window on Tuesday and I would think it would be difficult. Just two based on what others are saying with the the narrow margin between the Republicans and the Democrats in the house that makes business hard to conduct right there. And then when the house in the Senate have to negotiate with the leaders of different parties that makes things a little complicated and then when they have to negotiate with the governor was never done it before and who doesn't have a base of support within the caucuses that makes it all the more complicated although I Steve swiggum. I'm sure when he comes on in a few minutes and as he's been saying the past couple days he thinks that there is a lot of similarity between the Republicans in the house and Jesse Ventura and certainly the Republicans in the house. Probably owe their majority to Jesse Ventura in a lot of ways. So there may be is some basis for cooperation there and certainly on some of the fiscal issues. They'll probably try to cooperate but on some of those social issues. They're just Polar Opposites. So I would imagine if the Democrats want to cause trouble and and they might even with this Reform Party of plurality that we saw the Democrats might still want to stir things up in a partisan way and they might bring some of these social issues to the Forefront. You know that the other thing that sort of in the background here is that two years from now Governor Ventura, excuse me will have to either sign or veto a redistricting Bill. The next legislature will have to come up with the all new District boundaries in the state which could set the tone for which party controls these bodies for the next 10 years. And so the dfl is if they want to stake in this in the house, they're going to want to get get a dfl majority back. So that's kind of I think we'll be in the background of of whatever happens in a course the budget will be the first Big Challenge when they all reconvene in January tell us a historically how has how has the governor work with the ledges? How does that at? That process actually worked is the governor? He and his staff come up with a d'tail plan. They take it to the legislators and say here's what we want past or do they tell legislators? Well with what we want to see taxes cut a little bit mad or we want to spend a little more money on Transportation or something and then let the legislators work it out. What I'm trying to get at is just how involved the governor would be your right? Well clearly the governor is is very much involved the governor presents a detailed budget plan. Usually about the first month into the session after the revenue department and that the finance department I should say come up with the forecast of how much money is available or how much money they need to find and then the governor will traditionally come in with a very detailed plan presented to the legislature the legislature takes it and then it goes through their committee process. They work on their priorities and at the end of the session they have to all come back together and renegotiate the whole thing and Conference committees and and between themselves and the governor use his veto threat. Ever and then it comes out and I think that a lot of observers of the whole process a the governor generally gets what he wants and and the legislature, you know, they get part of what they want if they fit all works, right but it is a it's a it's a process of cooperation and eventually consensus but it can be pretty pretty contentious to as it as it goes on. So, you know, Jesse Ventura said he's going back to school to try to learn how this works. I think he's got a lot to learn but we will find out I guess Minnesota public radio's Mike Mulcahy will joining us now at our other microphone hair is the well soon to be new speaker of the Minnesota house Estates wagon morning, sir morning Gary. Thank you for having me waiting like congratulations. Well, it's a little bit for certainly the the wind within the caucus to send it was it was a wonderful evening for us as House Republicans. We're not having organism using caucus. Gary until next weekend though, so we will be liking the speaker like that that time you're running for speaker. Are you yes, I will be probably not probably none, but that doesn't mean that everybody in my caucus would be totally supportive of the three or four two or three whatever. It is individuals. That would not be supported Freon. Probably wouldn't would not be writing any opposition like to have you a listening a join our conversation. We're talking the rest of the shower now with the new speaker of the Minnesota house or soon-to-be. I think that's fair to say give us a call to find out what the Republicans have in mind in terms of control of the Minnesota house and what your how this is going to work out with the new governor and all to 276 thousand Twin City area number. 227-6000. Side the Twin Cities 1-800. 242-282-8227 2000 or one 800-242-2828 Steve swetnam longtime representative from Kenyon joins us today. And I would imagine that I was late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning was a pretty happy time for you. Finally after all these years of being in the minority deferred compensation maybe perseverance. I guess there's many words you can put to it. But yeah late the Tuesday evening early Wednesday morning. We're actually didn't know that we would be the majority until about the quarter to three of that evening when the 68th boat to who by the way was Jim Seifert from Woodbury when those final results came in there. What do you make of the Jesse Ventura victory? Yeah, there's so many so many lessons to be drawn I suppose but give us your take on it. Certainly remarkable. Very surprising Victoria. I don't think that the two days ago and you could have almost taken any bet you wanted to and it is to that happening in Minnesota and you would probably be able to make a lot of the fact of the matter. Is it that Jesse did have a message though? It certainly was a message of non-partisanship. You know that partisanship Republican Democrat has gone too far out. He certainly had a message of less government involvement in our life, you know a more limited government that a government's growth haven't gone too far and he certainly had a message in regards to taxation. You know, Jessie, Jessie and Norm Coleman bullets, you know, we're Talkin Dirty song about tax cuts. Jesse is specifically given that Surplus album last year, by the way, which is already gone, but giving that back to the A remarkable remarkable Wind by Jesse Ventura. How do you interpret as the new house Speaker a how do you interpret the message about partisanship? Obviously, they're going to be policy differences, but Is it reasonable to expect that politicians can get away from trying to score points? I'm not sure that that is reasonable to expect I think that it has to be done though. I think it's the flavor and the tone in which things are done setting forth at least a Cooperative effort. You know, we understand that there always be differences in your Gary. There's differences within my caucus. There's great differences within my caucus and certainly then was Hugo from democratic caucus to Republican caucus to a reform Governor doesn't even more differences. But if we can if we can at least work on the issues based upon principles and ideas values as opposed to just the the power partisanship setting and tone nail. I think that is what the people are expecting an and asking for an that's certainly what we're very willing to to deliver. I met with the current Speaker field for others. I already about transition not a very respectfully field has been very gracious and I think it will be done in a very very smooth way and Elmo trying very hard to meet with the Ventura grouper Jesse himself, but that's a little harder to to do. Let me ask you this the ticket to meet with them. They can't even get to meet with him right now. Well the the pessimist I suppose Among Us would say boy. This is just a formula for total gridlock. You folks the Republicans control the Minnesota house Democrats control the state senate and then a third party Reform Party candidate Ventura controls the executive office. How in the world is anything good or bad going to get done? I want to be The Optimist amongst so and I'm going to say that I hear what you're saying in relationship to are cooperating with difference is being so great there possibly potentially being so brave. I want to be The Optimist and say what a wonderful relationship. You know, what what a wonderful setting you got that three-legged stool. Then three legged stool there that we can only stand if if all three legs are strong and you get that one roof for a relationship work where everybody's agenda in the state of Minnesota. Every citizen in the state of Minnesota is going to have the ability to have their agenda hurt. It's going to be a very open process obviously Gary and from your standpoint being a you know, why involve the FBI report report report the news rather than issues being decided behind closed doors, you know, maybe we'll all within a family and if it was all Democratic or all Republican or all reformed or whatever and I'm speaking about the the three different bodies are now everything's going to be done in the open and I think that is very very healthy. I think that is a wonderful situation and and and I believe that What you have described about those Siri legs being reformed democratic-republican can only optimistically is going to be just as you know, I'm very open situation a wonderful balance, you know, we all want a little balance in our life and this is certainly going to bring a balance of agenda to them to Minnesota Government incoming house Speaker Steve so I can join just this our talk about his plans for the Minnesota house. Now that Republicans will be in control talking about how he's plans to work with the new governor Jesse Ventura and with the dfl control State Senate. If you'd like to join our conversation, give us a call 227-6002 to 76 thousand outside the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828. First color is from Grand Forks Michael had Place speaker. Just wanted to say hi. I was really ties and well with what you just said, and I just wanted to point out that I think this is Absolute tremendous opportunity just like everybody to imagine for a second. What would have happened if we would have either or republican or democrat in the governorship and the two houses split what usually won't happen is the whoever the minority control is. It will take, you know full root of their opportunity just a blockhead everything that goes through and with but now with a Chance of an independent person in the in the governorship. I think this is will have far less gridlock than we would in the in the in the in the reverse K. Jamaica. Ooh, I think you're right and it certainly can work out that way, you know as as we worked, but then again we all have to enter in if we into it with the with an idea of cooperating being willing to certainly compromise at times that doesn't mean you under cellular for the principles and values that you have yourself, but but but certainly understandable to bring a balance forward and government there. There has to be some co-op. If we enter into the with the attitude that the other guy are the other gal has totally wrong and totally off-base become totally uncompromising attitude. Obviously, they could be gridlock, but then it would be a shame on all of us. How do you say it again? You haven't really had an opportunity to talk with a bench or a people at any length or nothing. But how do you see the new governor operating best from from what you've heard so far kind of a hands-off approach where you folks OU legislators work out the legislation and then he gives a thumbs-up or thumbs-down or do you see him in involved in kind of a daily nitty-gritty of actually helping crafts that legislation will first of all Jesse Ventura doesn't not perceiving him as being a hands-off governor. Hi, my perception of him is that he's anything but hands off if you would like to be involved that that's at least my perception of his personality and I think that'd be true. You also believe that you know that he hit me if it's going to be very important for for mr. Ventura to to surround himself with a pretty good team a team that hit new has some experience has some abilities and we have yet to see what team he's going to be putting together. But but obviously he's going to need a team of a good Commissioners and good liaison people to a to the legislature. I'm I'm sensing know that that Jess is going to be very very involved in crafting that legislation very involved in in directing certainly on the budget issues. My guess is that. He will certainly have his his fingerprints aren't on the budget issues for sure and probably the governing issues him when I talk about governing issues, maybe the legislature self. I be talking things like like unicameral legislature term limits, you know, I know he had some very strong feelings in support of those are new other type of similar type of issues. So my guess is that he will be a very involved in a rather than one that is kind of stand back. Is the bills and I'll either sign him or not sign them sure your question for representative. Facing the House and Senate right now. And also who is likely to be in line to be the minority the minority leader of the most divisive issue as we look forward to probably be up that that issue of up tax spend. They don't have what are we going to provide a permanent tax cut to the people of the state of Minnesota or not. My my guess right. Now my perception right now is that Jesse Ventura would say yes House Republicans. Certainly. We can't paint in the fact that minnesotans are overtaxed, but we need to have a permit tax cut. My perception is a senate Democrats were not necessarily there, but maybe now after the elections him and realize that the citizens have to have said that that might be a good thing to do minority leader. Now. I don't know specifically who is who is running all the candidates involved. I know of some of them I believe in minority caucus with your Nabi the Democrats are meeting tonight. They may not choose their mine or Later tonight they may choose to take a few more days to to make a more informed decision or have more candidates come forward. But I I've heard names such as mad intenza from St.Paul. I've heard the name of Tom Pugh from South Saint Paul Rob Clayton from Austin by the Ted winter, the current Majority Leader. I've heard is interested in running as minority leader as well and Ted is from Southwest Minnesota where they didn't get along well with all of them. I sure hope to yes at the legislature is maybe the perception is, you know, what what seems to get played up. All the time is a differences and and I will tell you there are differences. Are there obviously are between different philosophies, but there's a lot Cooperation and there's a lot more respect and there's a lot more working together then than the average citizen might might might think and in a matter of a few days maybe a week or so. He will be elected official a you get elected actually at the start of the legislative session, but he going to be selected as though the house Speaker are the new house Speaker. It may happen great chance to find out what the Republicans have in mind as they take control of the Minnesota house. Give us a call 227-6020 area number to 276 Thousand Oaks on the Twin Cities. The number would be one eight hundred to +422-828-227-6001 800-242-2828 and we'll get this more calls or just a moment. Minnesota Public Radio provides a unique service that you can't get anywhere else. Not only does it provide you with in-depth news and information. It's an independent service paid for by voluntary support from this the strength of Minnesota Public Radio is the strength of its members join this powerful group of people who believe in radio that matters send in your membership today or call us right now. The number is 1 800-227-2811. Thank you. Say an invitation to join us over. The noon hour. We're going to be one of the central themes of the Ventura campaign was one of them's he kept stressing Jesse Ventura was that he is not a career politician and some people at least have have read his victory as a repudiation of career politicians Public Service in the rest and we'll be talking about that over the noon hour today particularly interested in get to get your views on this cuz I know a lot of you who listened to this program where Jesse Ventura supporters, we found that out during the course of the campaign and would love to get your interpretation of of just what that means. So we'll get to that over the noon hour weather forecast calls for a cloudy sky in northern Minnesota partly cloudy in southern Minnesota today with highs mid-eighties in the North Upper thirties in the South Twin Cities partly cloudy today with a high in the mid to upper 30s currently. It's 30 degrees and cloudy in the Twin City area. Steve swiggum The Who soon going to be New speaker of Minnesota houses with us. And again if you'd like to join our conversation 2276 thousand or outside the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828 before we get to our next caller. I should ask you to stay so I can what about this business of career politicians? I suppose in a way you could be called a career politician have been in the house for 20 years. What what did you hear when you heard Jesse Ventura talking about just a career politicians? Well, it's it's always easy to run on the outside, you know against the current establishment to against government against our governmental program. It becomes a little reality kind of sets in after you get elected all of a sudden. Mr. Ventura's now part of the establishment so to speak. Yeah, he's elected. I even noticed yesterday when he was speaking with Governor Carlson. He met with the Gunners house in yesterday and talked about the rebates you are sending to has she kept saying send $1,000 back of the surplus of last year and all the sudden yesterday. He made the announcement. He made the comment while it's spent. We can't send it back with Jesse pretty well. Do you know if he had been following the government at all? You know, he he knew that the Surplus I had been spent in the weather was a political statement by Mr. Not now a sudden he's realizing that Surplus was either spent in one way or another is sent back to taxpayers and one way or another day in the last session and it's not sitting there for him to send back Public Service itself. And Gary is is not bad. You know, I think Public Services is very very important that my determining Factor would be you as when when when politicians career politicians I think is what you when when the job becomes more important than the service that's the real negative factor in the end. I always try to keep in mind that it bad for servants and it's a public service. It's not a job and I think that that is the real determining factor and individuals in their attitudes and their Perceptions in their actions as as to whether it's a service or whether it's a job and it or not but not be a job the person legislators, you know, we are citizen part-time politicians Siri and Siri, but I do have a farm to go back to and was on that track. turn on Tuesday Patrick your question for represented so I can be able to have an opportunity to if I can borrow one of his Sports analogies at developing self a Dream Team borrow the best from the Republicans the best from the Democrats and develop a team of support and leaders that are going to be able to got to bring everybody together. Where is if a republican had been in there or democrat? They might have a little more Party Loyalty that they have to honor first before they go off in and select somebody from another party where to buy get your cabin and then you know that that's a nice analogy. I think Patrick is made in in regards to choosing the brightest and best. Hopefully any Governor would have would do that would try to choose near the best people he can for the public service at First Public Service team, but Jesse certainly can draw from from many many different Avenues of of philosophy from many different Avenues of political background then and I think that's also lip is Patrick said that's probably a very much of a positive for him to be able to do that. Do you think most Democrats and Republicans would agree to serve with a Jesse Ventura? Across party lines more or less or wood in general would they be pretty pretty reluctant to step forward? I think it depends upon the individual whether they be apprehensive or not. Probably depends upon their Party Loyalty how loyal they are to their their party is supposed to a public service or is it posed to a principle of philosophy of my guess is a governor elect Ventura will will be certainly when he surrounded himself with his team be asking for looking for people loyal you got to have loyalty loyalty is very very important. It's important within a within a family. It's important within a basketball team is certainly important within that with a caucus or a a Governor's team as well. And and I'm I'm sure he's just going to be looking for people that are capable and and still are loyal loyal to him. I may be rather than loyal to a a party so to speak. If the change in the leadership at the state level is going to have any effect on the grad standards and public education. Do you hear that happening and I'll hang up and take my answer off the air? Thank you. Yeah me like, I think it may in fact, I will tell you that the Republicans in general in this is not the entire caucus but as we've heard from teachers as we've heard from parents and students are not so much too and take his parents and teachers more around the state when we look at the grad Sanders that there's great great support for the accountability for the testing a part of the grandstands is there's a lot less support when we get to the the performance packages that you know that part of the higher profiles and and I think that you're probably going to see some backing off of that part of the grand standard not the testing that the accountability but to the French toast those performance packages Jesse Ventura during his campaign. He was a real strong supporter of the public schools. And although I don't recall him taking a specific position on the tax deduction tax credit program that's available to a parents. There was perhaps a suggestion that he might look askance at that. Is there any chance of that program? I get repealed. That'll be repealed. I don't think that it would be repealed because what you've seen is pretty good support both from Democrats Republicans and I again, I don't remember Jesse speaking to that directly in relationship to the the empowerment of parents are the credits and deductions basically are there and again they're not for tuition. So it's it's not a voucher type program and sits for those extra stuff for a parent to be involved in buying a computer buying hiring a tutor for their child summer school, whatever whatever it maybe I think you will you will see the legislature continue to move towards empowering the parents as long as it does not kneel. Stood it to the voucher tuition Sandpoint it then and again not having talked to Jesse just listening to governor-elect Ventura a he seems to be one that would be speaking about more freedom in people's lives more freedom to make choices and and and my guess is that he would be supportive of the parental empowerment part. Bob your question for a speaker swaggin or speaker-elect Swig of my guess would be the way my question is it looks like a tax cut is in the offing. I was wondering what what taxes income tax sales tax. We have so many of them. What what is your proposal? We do have a lot of different taxes as you know, we're almost tax form when we get up in the morning until we we go to bed and died at Night by by again again. This will be certainly determined during the legislative session is we cooperate and compromise with each other having having said that I would tell you. That that is our agenda probably and this is again a little bit too much in front and probably included in income tax cut actually taking the rate and reducing it on low and middle-income minnesotans taking the rates that exists is 6 + 8% rate and actually reducing the rate certainly elimination of the marriage penalty. That was something that was very key to our platform as we ran as Republicans around the state. We think it is very very unfair to it to have a marriage penalty or actually have persons who are married pay more than that. They were divorced separated living together. You think that's quite unfair the sick tax that Bob the I guess it's more referred to as the provider text and Medicare tax would certainly will be keeping the men CARE program. But the tax that pays for it, which is the percent and a half to go to 2% provider fee attached to the other we pay on our Chiropractic Villard actor Bill or Optometry bill or opt. I'll just build whatever I think that you will probably see that being removed as well know governor-elect Ventura did not commit himself to any specific tax cut what he did say though is that if there's any surplus money he wants that money to go back. What would you folks be a minha ball to Simply passing a law that says, you know, if if we have anything over 2% extra Revenue that gets shipped back and otherwise we'll kind of leave things as they are. Absolutely. In fact, I offered that on the house floor lasted less. So that's pink. It's called in some states is turn the kick law and I know that the governor elect venture has spoken very positively about the kicker law it would be automatically then in law that and I think the state of Oregon is one of the states that does have the coat that would be very very supportive of that. You know, if you if state coffers were somewhat a reason to grow up with a surplus more than that 2% that you say 51 it could be three. You know what it's kind of an arbitrary number you choose but if it grows more than that automatically with the politicians being involved it goes back to the people of the state. We would be very supportive of the can the given the uncertainty of the economy can the state of Ford to both a program like that and a permanent tax cut of some sort to yes. First of all, the kicker log would only take place, you know, with the economy going up, you know, what people paying more than tax in an anticipated obviously the B&B good times and certainly the tax cut. I think when we look at the current surpluses we have when we look at the current spending that has been done the dollars are there for a permanent extra one other thing that the governor elect Ventura has talked about is the size of government is there in your mind, you've been involved in government for 20 years now in your mind, is there a lot of blow? Did waste and if not fraud than unnecessary spending that goes on or are those programs for the most part for the most part pretty pretty lean and efficient. There's duplication. There is excess government spending and many many different programs. The difficulty is beginning to that program finding out where the duplication exist find out where money is being spent on wisely and then also being able to take on the special interest to it to address it because because every program has a special interest of support behind it. I will guarantee every program that does that I speaking with one of my members right after the election. This is an individual very involved in the appropriation level Des Bishop from Rochester Minnesota. We were speaking to this question into directly and then David is suggesting that to me that we we look at an acting a policy of called zero based budgeting which is been done. In a couple of governmental units around the country where it's not possible to obviously go into every program each and every year but Over a four-year cycle to take every Department of every program and started back at zero and make that program make that agency make that department make that special interest group justify the dollars that go to the program from the results that we get there could be roads. You could be education, you know, it could be parks are various Services nursing home to spend to justify the dollars. Go back to zero based budgeting and maybe do that over a year every 4 years. It's a revolving type of a of a process where the department started zero rather than you're basically what is done. Now, as you know, is it what it was spent in the pass is assumed to have been reasonable to have been prudent that we're getting our bang for our buck. So to speak and all we talk about is the increase or the the new the new program that would be added. I think the idea of getting actually into the base would get to your question very well Junior question place. Books, I think we have lost jeans. What's move on to a linear Allen? I would like to know are going to have to come from someplace. That is if tax cuts are going to happen on a permanent basis and ultimately things are going to have to be removed in order to finance them. I'm curious. I never hear people actually saying what services they themselves would like to give up to pay for those things and I'd find it refreshing if the speaker elector the governor or someone would lead with that. I'll hang up and take my answer off the air as may be opposed to speaking to a specific program what you might want me to do. I think they're from your question. I would I would tell you that they're not necessarily does the Assumption you're making hold true this last session. For instance. We had a 4.2 billion dollar Surplus now that's over and above. Call the tax is normally anticipated to be paid and for the various services are programs that we haven't run by a by state government. It seems to me that that one we can be at making sure that those surpluses don't happen again in the future and that the Surplus money is be sent back in a permanent way to the taxpayers and they're working families of of the state. You know that yet. The other thing we need to coerce look at is is government growth. You know, what a government this last year and this was State spending. Now, this is State spending in pain part of it. Honestly was used for property tax relief of State spending increased by 17.8% for the last by any another that's a substantial number. I would venture to say that most of the listeners out here today in NPR. I know from my family and myself for instance did not see a 17.8% increase in a lot of it is just controlling government growth. So the government doesn't grow more than maybe the private sector does and that obviously would leave a substantial money is available for a Send a text. Joey Roughnecks. Go ahead play some good morning. My question is do you think that the Republican Party in the future? And much less on the social issues in the reason that I bring this up is I think Countrywide especially with the Venture election shows that most people are fiscal conservatives. I mean, most people really don't care what goes on between consenting adults or your private life or if you're gay or straight or abortion. Most people really don't care about that as much as they do about how much they're taxed about how much they're bringing home and then come about if they could provide for their families me most people are working hard enough to make sure their families are doing okay rather than sit at home and think about your Monica Lewinsky in abortions. And I think these past elections really showed that so just like to know what the speaker likes position would be. Thank you for your call. I think the focus of our caucus in certain the mayor Coleman who is running for governor during this last 6 months was in fact the physical issues if you remember The primary platform that we had and by the way, which we're going to continue to push a during the legislative session was a tax cut. It was a permanent tax cut. They was controlling the size and growth of governments up. So I think the focus was a physical issues in and I think you're reading an elected of the election probably Joe was that was correct. Now, we will continue to focus on those issues that is going to be the priority number one during the legislative session of that does not mean that other issues are important to people in in and certainly do come forward. I mean, they they they do come forward and we have to deal with them. And as you would guess in a caucus of 71 persons that we do have now we have members on both sides of every issue. You could possibly bring forth isn't there going to be a lot of frustration though among a lot of the members of your caucus who have expressed fairly conservative views on on the book quote social issues abortion in the rest and now they're Kind of back where they were with the Arne Carlson the first they have to Buck the dfl Senate then apparently governor-elect Ventura is not interested. I mean very close to Arne Carlson and most of these social issues. Is there going to be a lot of frustration among your caucus members good for passing a lot of their legislation. They're interested in what I think with my caucus members into are interested in primarily. And again, I will tell you the first priority is a text. Controlling government girls can come up with any government has provided more freedom or opportunity individuals from the standpoint of Regulation. And if we're able to work with governor-elect pincher on those issues, my guess is most of the caucus members in my cock is Korea going to be very sad Nikki your question, please I'd like your opinion. I'm coming sessions Mandy and pick one second to let you know that acquaintances relatives everyone that I spoke to that dumb voted for Jesse feel that accountability for each of these taxes should be the mandates that the sessions coming up. When when you sit way up North and you realize we're the second highest taxed states in the United States. What infrastructure does all this money support. We we don't even have mass transit. If you live up in Roseville, there isn't even a bus you can take to get to Bemidji. There's no train their car licensing is so out of line with the most people can't afford a decent enough car to even get down to the city a lot of tax money going to St. Paul and not enough service. That also that's basically what it boils down to everyone is allowed all these special interest to Grindr system to a halt. I'm really hoping that you and your colleagues and any one of them to listening use this new executive officer and his team that don't have any perceived Party Loyalty to change Politics as Usual by our tax money sent back to us in the first place. I don't pay it in the first place and then you don't have to have politicians. I spend part of it redistribute the other part and and and then Pat themselves or yourself on the back and saying what a good job we're doing for you certainly appreciate your last comment again, we're going to work very very closely with that with mr. Ventura on the policy issues that you mentioned. Yeah, there's some things that government can do in Do Anne and I do recognize the service or lack of service, but you ain't specific. I know I know you mentioned no bus from Roseville to Bemidji might get my guess is if there if there was a market demand for that bus from Roseau to Bemidji and what they were actually people who wanted that that somebody would start a bus company in and do it then provide the service. So maybe I should think about is myself. We're just about out of time here, but I have to ask you before we were before we wrap up. I think it's fair to say that Jesse Ventura could not have become the Montreal Canada to be there of the dfl or Republican parties. Does that say anything about Changes that are needed in the way you folks operate your party's it's very that, It's very safe to say. I don't think Jesse could have been would have been endorsed by the Democrats. I don't think he endorsed by the Republicans. I I don't think Jesse could have gone to the endorsing process and in one the endorsement of either party. Maybe it's a message to us know those of us who might have have party loyalties as it's probably a message to us and on the other hand, and I want to tell you that someone just can't understand well and sell out their principles or values you who they are just for the sake of gathering elections, either, you know, that that sounds to me to be not any reason that I'm running for office. So I would tell you that what you said is correct, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to change who I am just so I can get better elected in the year 2004 at a time, but I sure appreciate your coming by and good luck to you. Thanks Gary Steve swiggum long time. Party leader of the Minnesota house soon to be the majority leader or as they call it the Minnesota house the speaker of the Minnesota house, by the way over the noon hour today. Love to have you join our conversation about career politicians. And what message was sent in the select of the past election about public service and so-called career politicians right now. It's time for The Writer's Almanac.