What's news from Minnesota Public Radio on Greta Cunningham appears court has upheld a residential picketing ordinance in Fargo. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals says the ordinance which Outlaws picketing in front of people's homes is constitutional on his face and does not violate the constitutional right to free speech the case originated from the 1991 picketing by anti-abortion demonstrators in front of the home of an abortion clinic administrator. The Court's ruling overturns a decision of a lower court, which had ruled in favor of the picketers Republican businessmen, Mark Kennedy is entering the race for congress in Minnesota 2nd District as speculation increases that the incoming David McGee will not run for reelection in 2000 Minnesota public radio's Martin kosti reports Watertown business executive Mark. Kennedy has been coached chairman of the Republican state party's platform committee and he says Southwestern minnesotans are ready to return to the Republican fold. I'm running for congress because I believe that we need a bigger stick.Fighting for values freedoms and opportunities of the second district. Do we need someone that will vote more like the voters of the second district in the second district Democrat David. Minge is playing with the idea of running for US Senate next year and politicians and both big parties are showing early interest and what could be an open congressional seat state legislator Doug Peterson of Madison may run in the dfl ticket at the Capitol line Martin Castillo, Minnesota Public Radio the forecast for the state of Minnesota today calls for showers likely state line with a chance of a few thunderstorms high temperatures today near 62 in the north to 275 in the South have a sour. Mostly cloudy skies around the region Rochester reports clouds and 59 Duluth cloudy skies in 55 in the Twin Cities Cloudy Skies a temperature of 60. That's a news update. I'm going to Cunningham.Good morning, and welcome to mid-day on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary I can do they were broadcasting live from the Minnesota Public Radio booth at the Minnesota State Fair. If you're out here at the fair do make sure you stop by and visit we're located at the corner of Judson and Nelson right across from the new wall of speed used to have the bungee jump across from us, but the wallet speed is up this year or the noon hour today will be a joint by a number of citizens who spend part of their summer discussing the crisis in rural Minnesota and what to do about it Center Paul wellstone among others will be here to respond to those suggestions. I hope you can stay tuned this first hour of midday though is devoted to Politics as subject that's near and dear to the hearts of fairgoers and it's been that way at least since the days of Teddy Roosevelt was right here at the Minnesota State Fair where then Vice President Roosevelt believe it was coined the phrase speak softly and carry a big stick down through the years. The Minnesota State Fair has been a key stop for any pain.Petition who is hoping to win the hearts and minds of Minnesota voters. Once again last Friday, for example Governor Jesse Ventura side of the phenomenal response and he got at the fair last year as the first real indication that he might be able to be elected governor of the state of Minnesota Wild an All-Star panel is joined us here on the stage today to talk about the governor and about the senate race that's coming up next year presidential race next year really all things political Julie Shortridge Reform Party activist who's running the party State Fair booth has come by raise your hand Julie Sarah. Janecek Republican editor of the newsletter politics in Minnesota is here Sarah.A long time to FLL commentator, Bob Meek has joined us morning Carrie and rounding out the lineup for Minnesota public radio's political editor Mike Mulcahy. Looks like we also invite you to join our conversation. If you got a question or a comment for R panel those of you here in our audience, don't be shy just come on up to the mic and get your two cents worth in and get our panel to respond. Those. Are you listening on the radio? Give us a call or Twin City area number is 651-227-6006 51227 6000 if you're calling from outside the Twin Cities as you can reach us toll-free. That number would be 1-800. +242-282-865-1227 6001 800-242-2828. Pretty much anything that's involved with politics is a part of the part of the agenda today now folks.Let's start with a hypothesis. I'd like a quick response quick reaction from each of you to the to the following hypothesis. True or false the governor by virtue of his style and background has fundamentally changed our expectations of what borders look for in candidates for high-profile off true a long record. We're not done yet a long record of Public Service working your way up. The ladder is really no longer necessary or even desirable celebrity now counts for at least as much Park to park Falls janecek are the Republican railroad metaphor for this Administration? We have two tracks. We have this celebrity track and the governor's off doing his own thing. And then we have the public policy track where you got folks like a commissioner of Commerce Steve men met your Ted Mondale working in substitute of policy. And those tracks don't seem to intersect very often. The governor does his deal and end a folksy appointed are doing their do the part. I think it's false about what he has Gary is I think that this is an anomaly that will revert back to the old style. Were you you spend a lot of time in and lower offices or make a name for yourself in business as opposed to entertainment from a from a journalist point of view Gary. I think that again you're a little bit true. You're a little bit Falls. I think that Jesse Ventura celebrity certainly didn't hurt him and trying to Elected but I think there was more to it than that and I think what what the other parties have to learn from Jesse Ventura is how to communicate with the voters. I think he did a very good job at that once he got up there on some of those platforms to debate kind of cut through the rhetoric and he got to what people were thinking and he was in tune with them and they responded now admittedly it was only a 37% who responded and we'll see whether that's an anomaly but I think that somehow the the two major parties if they want to stay in this thing have to have their candidates have the ability to do the same thing Gary. If you bought me care, if you look at who is elected before Jesse Ventura had far more experience in public office than Paul wellstone far more experience in public office than Rudy Boesch switch far more experience in public office as an elected official then Dave durenberger. In fact, he's an anomaly in that. He wasn't a local official who was able to get along. Did the sun larger Office episode of takes is all the way back to Hubert Humphrey in 1948 on the other side of the coin. This man is mr. Entertainment and voters are particularly younger voters who were having nothing to do with the political system here in Minnesota just latched onto him and and I think he continues to enthrall them Julie Shortridge. Yeah, I think Bob and Mike have both made some very good points. I think this Governor has been using his public notoriety to the benefit of the public office. He's brought more people in the government more people into voting according to the polls record number of people paid attention to what was going on in two legislators later this year. And I think that has a lot to do with its Governor Ventura who he is now and where he came from and who he's been in terms of his notoriety and I also think people are tired of your typical politician and Governor Ventura is not that and I P P. I think people enjoy that somebody Is going to continue to be themselves even after their elected. They're not going to be something other that we don't recognize any more. The governor won't change. He is himself. He can't help but be himself and I think people really appreciate that about him. The danger Gary but make your dinner. I think it said like Rudy perpich of very Great Entertaining dfl Governor the first Pokemon ask for an inauguration. You can burn yourself out and become as Rudy did labeled Governor Goofy. And so Jesse while he is marvelously communicating is walking a bit of a high-wire act because at any time that entertainment that made your life can also Break It We are broadcasting live from the Minnesota Public Radio booth at the state fair this first hour. We've been joined by our political panel and if you're out at the fair at Sea from You're right would be Minnesota public radio's political editor Mike Mulcahy dfl or Bob meet Republican Sarah. Janecek and Reform Party activists. Julie Shortridge. Those of you here in the audience you like to join our conversation. If you got the question about the governor or the senate race next year president politics, whatever unicameral step up to the mic if you're listening on the radio, give us a call at 651-227-6001 800-242-2828 before we get to our first caller. I do want to ask about the unicameral issue. Does anybody actually care about this other than political insiders food and people come marching across the corridor just a sign it I think there's a lot of interest from what I've seen of just regular citizens. They know they know what it is. They know they're for it or at least they know they were The opportunity to vote on that we hardly even have to explain to them what it's all about. I think we're just beginning the discussion. This is Tannis Eye Care of the unicameral legislature has this thing of all then I think it will be on the ballot I think both the house and the Senate will pass it and put it on the ballot next year but here at the fair we tend to get a lot of Greater minnesotans it from all over the state. And and I think those are the folks that are going to weigh in against it right now. If you want to if you live in Greater Minnesota, you know, you can call your legislator whether it's Rod Layton down south of our Lauren Solberg up north and you know, you can get that person on the phone if you really need to with a smaller one house body. We're going to lose that connection between the people and finally our entire democracy is founded on a two house system and and I just don't see that we will follow in Nebraska's footsteps. Democrats were divided on the issue. They are some support unicameral the leadership. The leader of the Senate Rodger Moe is a strong opponent. I think he would lay down his life. Made it to the ballot is that that's my suspicion. I also think though the Jesse's raising very interesting issue. You look at the number of different city county Metropolitan type agencies just in the Twin Cities in and you know, look at that number of elected officials, you know, I think Jesse could expand the discussion. Do you know when we start electing the Metro Council and just eliminating our local see councils, but why do we need all those elected officials Willis really is a non partisan issue if anything it's the only partisanship to it. Is that the Reform Party supports it all the way course. The Reform Party has no votes in the legislature right now. And so it'll be interesting to see what happens. There are people on both sides of the aisle who supported and opposed it and I don't know if Senator more would give up his life to keep it off the ballot, but he might want to see what the governor's will To give up if it if it's going to go on the ballot so it could be a could be one of the more interesting for tackle debates of next session is notorious for pulling things out of bills and putting things into bills without a hearing and so I guess I can understand why he's opposed to it the apples James go ahead Place. Why are you talking about some people that we don't have a lot of political experience? 3 miles the one of the you to announce the well, I guess they're three actually but two significant announced candidates for Senate next year the seat held by Ron grams by dr. Myles is a community volunteer. He has tons of work with the American Refugee committee runs refugee camps in Southeast Asia and Africa, he works in emergency rooms his his specialty medicine for older people and there is no issue that voters have a greater concern about then Healthcare and this doctor miles is enormous expert in that area. He also has a background working it with a wellstone campaigns Through The Years with Sharon sayles Belton campaigns and in Minneapolis. David lillehaug is in that race. I think David maybe we'll be in that race could be a number strong candidates. I think Miles will be making a a fairly decent showing Crossing out Thursday Center. Graham's going to be on our show is going to be out here at the fair at 11. Is there any reason to believe he won't be re-elected. I see no reason he will not be re-elected in and thought I really hope you guys do for the doctor mile. Look at where we are politically in Minnesota 1999. We have to Reform Party governor Republican house dfl senate. We have a conservative Senator and ride grams and we have it Progressive in Paul wellstone. I don't believe that this state wants to have to ideologically similar Senators. So I think Rod grams will be comfortably realized it answering. Your question grams is going to run Norm. Coleman is in the wings waiting to step down. Bell bobber are you surprised that a bigger named dfl or hasn't gotten into it yet, Mike. Sorry. See that was the talk that that he was interested. But he's the lawyer who who helped win the state that big settlement with the tobacco companies and Senator mole has been mentioned as a possible Contender early when you're running to get serve really weak incumbent. There's somebody's running at like 38% in the polls for re-election is not necessary collected over in Wisconsin. He declared on May 18th in the election year. So that would mean that these candidates that are out there now for about 8 months early Judaism Reform Party going to come up with a a big name Canada. I agree with that was just talking that there's no reason to get in this early in the race other than it spends a lot of money and gets everyone sick and tired of hearing about How to accept we don't see any reason to start running a year-and-a-half two years prior to an election Annex spring is when we plan to start getting excited about it this moron legislative races, you know issues erases down the ballot. I would say they're both top priority One legislators are up for re-election next year and we're also very interested in city council County and School Board races because we have an interest in getting our people started and learning the process and working their way up. So I guess we consider all of them of equal importance to reformers to I believe you you have an interest in in having a candidate that gets more than 5% of a strong candidate a person that's been talked about a lot and has been for some time is Tim Penny former member of Congress from the first district who validly says, you know, I I would only run at the dam. Brad and I'm not interested in raising money, so I'm probably not going to run but I think he's been courted by Reform Party People option herb Brooks is another name that's out their former hockey coach. He's been talking about it. We have a candidate and he's already announced. His name is James Gibson. So there's some names out there and we'll come up with someone next spring summer convention is when will endure somebody but not before janicek here wants to go back to something at Shortridge just said look at the crowd in an election year in front of us. NPR both were talking politics is the biggest crowd I've ever seen after many years of doing this. Well this chair All-Star panel, but my point is what is wrong with I'm looking at Little Hawk supporters a little hug t-shirt. What is wrong with starting to campaign early after all we are deciding what we want in the people we elect I don't not think that's a negative thing. I think 6 months is long enough and it's been a lot of money and we're very Grassroots party, it's not like we have the millions of dollars at the other two parties have and I'm amazed that they're able to afford to run elections. As long as they do six months is long enough for the citizens to learn what they want to know about any candidate for the candidate to communicate what they want to communicate to the electric couldn't disagree with you more and if you're on at the fair make sure you come by our booth. We've got lots of goodies to show you and I guess you get a free gift if you come out and stop by the booth. I hope it's a jacket. We have been joined this our this first our midday by our political panel Julie Shortridge Reform Party activist, Sarah. Janecek Republican party activists dfl party activists and Mike Mulcahy, Minnesota Public Radio activist. Gary Puckett. Make your own on the question of the length of the campaign and me one reason. We have Little Hawk t-shirts and volunteers and and its own active presents out at the fair. Is it he's working through the party process. So his his election. Perhaps is what the first weekend after the first Tuesday in March. I mean, he's he's organizing for the initial level of the party process now if you're a candidate for the Senate, however, if you want to qualify, you're really running in the September 2000 primary, so it depends which election you're in. I mean it makes sense for him to be running cuz he's trying to win in March of 2002 people may just decide to run in September 2018 Folks, by the way have a question or comment come on up to the mic. If you're listening on the radio. Give us a call or 651-227-6000. Side the Twin Cities one. 800-242-2828 Fred go ahead please. Good morning. Good morning. Two questions one. There's a debate tonight or town hall on the farm crisis or to highest elected officials. Statewide are going to be there Rod grams and Paul wellstone, but I understand that the reform parties highest person. The executive of our state is not going to participate this time around. I'm wondering why not. I'd like to hear what the the 44mm party is going to have to say with regard to dealing with the farm prices, even though the governor has participated in fast ones. Secondly. What is the reform party's position with regard to the Ventura office suite at the Moonlite Bunny Ranch and does this indicate that we're going to move ahead on the discussion about legalized prostitution in the state of Minnesota. Thank you. We should know it by the way that state AG commissioner. Gene higgason will be on the show tonight as well Dean, Barclay, Minnesota planning director course long time Ventura. Hey, Julia, think the governor himself should be out front on this Farm issue. And I believe that he has that he's talked about it a lot. He's traveled some related to it around the state. He's put Dean Barkley at the lead as well as Gene Hickerson and he's expressed a great deal of interest and concern he's felt a little hamstrung because a lot of the problems at the federal level and there's only so much he can do at the state level to deal with some of the issues but he's extremely concerned and interested in I'm glad you pointed out that he is having two of his top people at that some for him tonight. Now, what do we make Of the special Ventura suite at the at the brothel in Nevada. I'm certain absolutely certain that he had nothing to do with the hat in the Pioneer Press every time I hear Arne Carlson or Rudy perpich similar sweet, but isn't it amazing that the national press in Washington is so fixated on whether or not George W. Bush use drugs 25 years ago. Where is this Governor can put all his mistakes or exploit whatever you want to call them in a book and actually make a cut of the profit off it that's why they call him honest Jeff know he's he just says it and it would I think it would behoove George W to be a little more forthcoming straightforward say what's what and you know, quit trying to hide behind whatever he's trying to hide behind and just be honest about who he is and what he's done. And we can we we have Jesse but do we want that person to be a role model for our children and I disagree with him as a role model as a woman weren't you a little offended that I'm a SummerSlam eventually little bit and I do think that Jesse Ventura is a very good role model. He has supported his family. He's stuck by his family. He's been in a great father. He's been a great husband. He's taking his responsibilities incredibly serious. He's a good and kind man and I do think that he's a model for young boys and should be. Wow speaking for myself. I can't imagine after the experience with Clinton that there are many Democrats who's are saying. Oh, what we want to do is know more about the personal lives of politicians. I mean, give me a break. There's the farm crisis. There's Healthcare. There's a gun regulation just a name three that we can We talkin about that that I think are plenty interesting. I don't care what George Bush jr. W whatever-his-name-is did 25 years ago. That's his business Bob and it's irritating of you know, I read Jesse's book and up the bulk of it is what he thinks of tissues page after page looked an issue and there is a quarter page have a page to pages about what he thinks and what where he stands on that particular issue goes on and on about that you hardly ever hear about that in the media, they latch onto the you know, very minor. I mean, isn't that that it I mean not just to the media but to everybody and that's why isn't that why the Press is asking all these questions about George W bush because Maybe even the voters don't care about candidate a is three-point plan to deal with some issues. That's probably not going to be an issue by the time he gets in the office, but they do care about what kind of person is this. Is this somebody who's going to tell me the truth. Is it somebody who I could sit down with in my living room and have a good talk with somebody I can trust but but Mike that that's what the polls showed is for the last year through all the impeachment process. Is it the American people clearly believe the Bill Clinton didn't tell them the truth wasn't approved tell her but on the other hand was doing a marvelous job with the economy and I think those voters which were in the majority got listen to in the Congressional process and that's why the president wasn't in the more obsessive about wanting to get an answer. I mean we saw that with everyone was obsessed with it for how long and we've seen that a little bit now with George W, the more he Hedges and tries to give 9 answers the more people get obsessed about wanting a straight answer. We are broadcasting live from the Minnesota Public Radio booth at the state fair. This is midday and Minnesota Public Radio. If you're just tuning in medical panel is on the stage this our Sarah janecek is with us Republican Bob make a feller Julie Shortridge Reform Party candidate activists rather and Mike Mulcahy Minnesota public radio's political editor those of you in the audience. If you've got a question step up to the mic here, if you're listening on the radio, give us a call 651-227-6006 51227 6000 outside the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828 reminder over the noon hour or we're going to Continue our Minnesota citizens Forum discussion on the big problems facing rural Minnesota. We've been going to be joined today by 13 folks unfold who have been spending their summer discussing these issues. They've actually come up with some proposed Solutions or directions. They like to see the state move in and we'll have some panelist here to react to their suggestions you putting Minnesota senator Paul wellstone. So that's coming up over the noon hour right now. We've got a gentleman antar microphone with a butthole comment. My name is John from Minneapolis been pretty significant discussion that after the census in the year 2000 because of the population growth in places like, Texas, California, so on and so on and the relatively stable population Minnesota, we may be registered out of one congressional seat. I wonder what the panel and parties think about that Prospect and which seat would probably be at most risk. Really interesting issue. That's the biggest steaks in the next couple years is redistricting. And I think you're probably right. We have 8th congressional folks right now. I bet we do lose one and you will find we will redistrict after we elect the legislature in the year 2000 and I think that depending on that election, we will find a vastly different political landscape historically. Our legislature has been down on it last 30 years by democrats who done the redistricting or the plans have been thrown into the federal court system wear liberal judges have decided what the plans are now, I'm assuming we're going to elect Republican house again in Minnesota in the year 2000. I don't think we'll elect Republican Senate but that'll make our band and with a Reform Party Governor will have a very bipartisan try partisan redistricting process, which will vastly change the political landscape of for example, if you could give you an idea of how this works in Minnesota a House member represents about 30,000 people in a senator represent about 60 People in this been a Suburban X urban areas around the Twin City. The population growth has been enormous Maple and I'm sorry Woodbury 14000 people in the last couple years so that the population shifts will dramatically changed the way we draw a line back to your original question about Congress. Look for some interesting things. There's there's lots of talk among Republicans about how fun it would be to put that Congressman dent on Congressman stable in the same district. So look for a vastly change landscape elections are about it is sort of who gets positioned to control things are or right things for the next decade fortunately, you know, sometimes you get a governor who you know, Miss Vito's there still some Republicans are still smarting from what was it 89 years ago when Arnie what happened to whatever happened to the notion of a straight oppure one-man-one-vote kind of deal where you draw the lines on a map and make them look about the same. Everybody's got about the same number of people and you do it in a way that pretty much sets aside partisan political advantage. Well, and it would be nice if we could do it. That way. I can Republicans we've always joked if that was the system we'd be killing everybody on it. But but you can't because you get into other issues like community of interest. Do you want to throw the cities in Greater Minnesota that have a common Viewpoint together or or suburbs that are like-minded together so we can start shifting along those lines and if you can't take the politics out of redistricting, you just can't. I remember a map that was like a like a pie but just took the center to the population of the Twin Cities and had every District having piece of the central core piece of the suburbs piece of the exurban that's your base in the Twin Cities and that you would love to have that happen. I guarantee you they'll be no pie chart in mm to let's go back to the phones your fields on the line. Question felt right at the end of the legislative session. I actually probably after the session Governor Ventura vetoed whole lot of bills that were supposedly agreed to it. Everybody cried foul. Hey, we had this deal, you know, we had this all taken care of and now you're changing the rules. How is this going to play in the legislature this year? It's a legislature going to trust Jesse or not Janice secure. Yeah, that is a real big problem since he at and what he did is he line-item veto to a hundred and some million dollars out of a whole bunch of spending goes I bet my coffin nails that number off the top of his head and the Bose of Republican house leadership and cenedi FL leadership were most upset about that that they had agreed on stuff and then the governor unilaterally detailed thinks I think that will be a very big Dynamic to watch in the upcoming legislative session if they can re-establish that trust with your Administration. Yeah, the governor did line item veto quite a few things that is a right that the governor has in the state of Minnesota other Governors have done it as well frequently and and he talked about doing it leading up to it. I think there was more communication than the than the leadership in the legislature likes to harp about. He he warned them on a lot of these things that he didn't think we're necessary in the budget and he talked about wanting to reduce spending throughout. So Julie I have to disagree with you. There was no warning typically watani Carlson today, but I'll take this I'll take Exile take while taking anybody want to take a BC and and there was absolutely no forewarning up any of those line item veto. What happened was some of the legislators thought they had a commitment from the Commissioners and then later the governor came back and either didn't know about that commitment or didn't follow it and I think that's where some of the problem came and I somehow this session they're going to want an assurance from the governor himself. That if something is signed off on its going to stay in there when he signs the bill. I think you may see the dfl look like to start a joint eaten by some Republicans interested in Reinventing parts of state government taking very careful. Look at these different state agencies and state budgets because in essence, you know, these legislative majorities Republicans in the house. The Democrats in the Senate are being asked to be the party of government over and over again and Maybe they want to take a much closer. Look at what that government is doing. Well. I'm wondering as time goes on here and the inevitable friction between the governor and the legislature had a bills over time as the years Roll Along. And of course the governor's been in office now for for a full year until until is it going to be increasingly difficult for him to attract top-level Democrats and Republicans to his administration. I mean, he got a lot of credit for picking some really good people but it was kind of a one of those national government Unity governments that he put together over time as he gets stronger and stronger. Is it going to be harder and harder for him to get those top-level old hands from the from the two major parties? That might be true. I think that people I've had kind of an attitude that the reform party is still something that doesn't have to be taken all that seriously. Maybe the governor is in a nominal anomaly and doesn't have to be taken all that seriously. But like you said as he continues to gain strength and is the Reform Party continues to gain strength, I think both the Democratic party and Republican party are going to realize that they have to respond to us and take us seriously and I think the reaction will probably change over time. I agree. I know event or defines the Reform Party here. I don't know about how many people want to identify with that party unless they have something credible going nationally. For instance. If John McCain, what was to leave the Republican field to become a reformer, there might be a whole lot of people who would say all interesting party. There's a serious legislator somebody, you know where the record of Reform with all kinds of ideas etcetera. But if were excuse me, you know talking about James Gibson's if people with no one is ever heard of sort of doing the definition work at a party. And Jesse is taking himself out of the race. I understand I don't want to step forward and say G. I'm a reformed. StarTribune Warren Beatty is way left of Paul wellstone. And so how that person would fit in the Reform Party image, Julie. I just don't understand. Why don't I don't see how John McCain was too conservative on some of the social issues to fit well with the Reform Party abortion-rights been backing off and they want on that. We don't even address it anywhere in our platform. Go back to the phones are Gordon's on the line with a question for the panel. Go ahead Gordon to effectively curb Urban. I mean look in 20-30 years down the road when she is going to be increasingly undesirable to us to live in for my heater for my experience going down there throwing up down there. It's just unbelievable. The girl just seems very inefficient has gotten lots of press attention and there have been numerous innumerable conference is about this but it isn't much of a political issue. Oh, yeah, this this will be a very big issue and I trust Adventure Administration will have some initiatives on it the interesting thing about the issue for my perspective having worked in a transportation feel. The number of yours is it does fly other big issues? For example, the fact that we haven't spent enough money on Transportation in this stage in the last ten thirty years and those issues are all going to come crashing to ahead Ventura is talked about it a lot and he's kind of pass that on to Ted Mondale who he appointed in charge of the Met Council an urban urban sprawl is a very big issue. And of course the LR T Light Rail Transit proposal and a lot of other initiatives that they're talking about to try to make art can continue to have our cities be livable. So people actually want to live there and not just commute there. I'm sure we'll hear more from Myron orange to not a lot of time left, but those of you here in her audience, if you got a comment or question for our political paneled step right up to the microphone, don't be shy would love to get you a question on the air. Go ahead sir. Is anybody at this point in time weighing the wisdom of a smaller two house legislature of safe 90 house members and 45 Senate members rather than eliminating one whole house together just scale back the size of both of us, but I think the governor's interest is has more to do with the fact that there's two houses as the number one priority more than the size and that's because of this issue of conference committees, and the The strange the shenanigans that end up going on at the last minute of the legislative session. The way things are now a lot of issues that get passed into law. I never even received a public hearing had a lot of issues that did receive a public hearing end up being pulled out, you know by people like Senator more just one or two legislators that have a lot of power and the single house proposal that he's pushing would allow each legislator to have one bill voted on by the entire body. So each legislator would have equal opportunity to have something that they really care about her and I think it makes it much more democratic right now just because we each have a legislator representing us over at the legislature doesn't mean we're getting equal representation because there's a few of them who have a lot more power than the rest of the way it is right. Now. First of all, Julie, I have to correct something you said several times and it and I trust the public will become quite conversant in this as we discussed the unicameral legislature, and that's that to under the Senate Majority Leader Moana. On the Republican here and under house speakers Mega Man 4 more speakers, the conference committee process has become fairly clean in the last decade and it is very very unusual that an issue get stuck in a bill. I in fact, I can't even think of one in the last two legislative by anyone that has not had a public hearing and been through the process. I'm back to the question. I think that's a good idea. I have always thought that the way to solve this is to lower the number of legislators cut the heck out of the staff double the pay for the legislators and make him do tomorrow more work. Well, I kind of like a parliamentary system. So let next question. But what about those conference committees though? The fact is if you are a lobbyist like you are and you're paid to be there are reporter like me it's you know, you can follow him and you can hang around all hours of the night and try to see what they're doing. But if you're if you're an ordinary Citizen and you have to be to work the next morning, I mean that is kind of a struggle to follow how a bill becomes a law or first of all before Julie beat you to the punch. Yes, I am a lobbyist and you should know what that in Nebraska in the single house system the lobbyists have more power than they do in the in the to Carl system. But you know Mike I think a slice of it is a bogeyman to talk about the conference committees that way because it's the inevitable human process of decision-making sooner or later. You got to make a decision in your put it off and put it off and put it off I were going to do that in a one-house body. Are we going to do it into house body but as long as human beings are human beings, that's the way the process is going to work. Isn't that true Julianne aren't there always going to be some legislators? Who are More powerful than others if just through the force of their personalities or whatever. I mean you talk about unicameral like it's some kind of magic solution certainly but I do think it would make the process a lot more open a lot more clean clean a lot more democratic and a lot more accessible to be average citizen and that's only a good thing for for government and no it's not going to affect all it's still going to require that we keep an eye on them at all time and it's still going to require a lot of diligence but it will help the process so that we can do that better. I'm 47 years old and I've never had a governor in my lifetime where people don't do not know when he's working or not working. Will he be the first governor to have to have a Time Clock put in his office or we have to get one of those things they have on the taxi cabs in New York that says Duty or off duty because I have no idea when is his time and when he's the Governor of the state of Minnesota have a follow-up question for you. Do you think the governor is essentially should be essentially on duty 24 hours a day 7 days a week for the duration of his term if he's not that we should prorate his salary according to each hour that he works questionnaire is If you look back in the newspapers, and I can't remember what it was the Pioneer Press or the Star Tribune. So it probably just start to be earning hates him the most was often faulted for spending time at his vacation place in Wisconsin and it actually became an issue in the 94 campaign briefly. So I don't think Jesse Ventura has invented the idea of being out of the office that that's not their issue that I think is a little more fun is the Jesse seems in my opinion would be spending quite a bit of time making money for himself. And for all I had a lot of a green disagreements with Rudy Bob switch on policy. I never faulted Rudy because he was spending weekends or Summers or whatever selling Goods at plywood Minnesota or home value. It just didn't happen. I can count 3 days that you could maybe say he spent making money one was Sunday a couple Sundays ago three days, but we spoke about did Brad Rudy boschwitz wouldn't win Rudy boschwitz served in the United States Senate. He gave those businesses to his kids to run. He was not in pain. I work for the guy for two years. He was not involved in the day-to-day decision-making and had been the standard in Minnesota pause ride, and I'm not criticizing Jesse is as Governor Carlson to said in a recent interview, perhaps governors in the future will actually make good paid television commercial endorsements and touching and they'll do that. But we should have a public discussion about whether that's maybe where we want to go in Minnesota politics has always been that you never profit from public office. The question that I would like to see us how I would like to see this issue to find and I hope we discuss it as a state. Is but for the fact Jesse is Governor, he would not have been selected to be referee. Therefore is need benefiting personally financially from being governor of the state of Minnesota. And that's something we don't do well a couple of things then on all of this one is if if Jesse was selected to the referee because he's Governor. How come all other forty-nine Governor's haven't been a referee. I mean it has everything to do with his career as a but you're like a wrestler and an American government. It supposed to be that way where it's not supposed to be run by career politicians were supposed to be run by a question have other careers and that was his other suspects that she would have been selected the referee that match if you had lost the election last November. I really have no idea what the WWF had planned going back to the indeed. He didn't work at plywood Minnesota on the weekends. He wasn't running his business while he was in the US Senate and in fact his business probably suffered from my reading of the financial pages over the years has he was in the Senate on the other hand. Jesse Ventura went out 6 months before the election and you know talked with all kinds of Publishers about his book his autobiography and he couldn't get a nibble and he was unable to sell it how to work at all was not able for sale contract. That's a matter of public record. Dollars that would suggest indeed that he profited immensely through his running for office during the campaign Governor. Ventura wasn't even allowed to maintain his employment on the radio during 9 months. He was unemployed ratio decision that equal time they could have worked around. Skip Humphrey continue to collect his violated that they were supposedly doing when we knew they were working more than full-time campaigning on their own behalf for an office that they were seeking while they're cut. Question, when is the governor of Duty he has said from the very beginning Sunday's are his time. He's off on Sunday. And I think he also has the right to be off some evening and to be off on some Saturdays really that's not true though. If if Stillwater prison if Oak Park Heights if there's some kind of emergency that goes on in the state. It doesn't make any difference. What day of the week and you'll be there? Okay Governor all the time. That's that's the duty when you get elected if there's an emergency that requires his attention. He will be there about a time here and let's see if we can get one more quick comment from a collar in Hank. Go ahead briefly. You know, what as a as a voter We Like Jesse and they're really harping on Bicester Ventura and we happened to to like the job he's doing We will let him know when he's not doing it all so quickly. I don't need any politician to tell me for more than 6 months but their standards on an issue and I disagree with that immensely 6 months is plenty of time. Thank you. All right. Well that that brings me back to where I started with our to track Administration and and to me will the governor has appointed good people on the other hand. I think we do need to have the fundamental discussion. We've just had arguments actually about what it is. We expect out of a governor a couple of quick questions before we ramped up and very brief, in the stadium issue. Is that going to be a big deal. Obviously, it is in the city of Saint Paul. Is it is it is it going to become a big issue Statewide again? Jana secure it if the Saint Paul voters approve that it will be on the agenda next year. Yes, I agree with Sarah. It depends on the vault in St. Paul presidential politics very briefly or George W. Bush and Al Gore shoo-ins. I mean is that whole contest essentially over long before anybody's even paying any attention to it? I think Al Gore is if not a shoe-in. He's he's overwhelmingly favored by democrats nationally now in Minnesota where Senator wellstone is fronting the campaign for Bill Bradley and and in Ardmore Progressive environment. I don't think there's any reason to believe that Bradley couldn't actually get the majority of delegates collar with the last caller doesn't understand is all those folks that Jesse Ventura pointed that are working and administration are taken care of everything and and so you may want to pay attention for 6 months, but there are people that are working full-time and public policy and we got to have them. And that Julia Reform Party presidential politics of is the National Convention coming here. You'll find out later this week. I can end up with a real big time Canada tour kind of a middling. We'll have to wait and see we won't be making that choice until June and asked us next bring Julie Shortridge Reform Party activist Sarah. Janecek Republican party activists co-editor of the newsletter politics in Minnesota dfl activists and Minnesota public radio's Mike Mulcahy. Thanks to all of you been with us this hour and those we listening on the radio. Thanks so much. And I don't go away. We have more coming to you from the state fair the Minnesota citizens Forum on Rural issues coming up over the noon hour computers. The computer Revolution is not about the box is about the Mendes forces reshaping our society and changing our lives age. We can be on computers. We bring you stories to reflect on and stories to laugh about from rocket science to email from day trading to grocery shopping and you'll hear reports from the front lines and the Outback join me for be on computers right here on Minnesota Public Radio k n o w FM 91.1 in the Twin Cities on September 4th here on Minnesota Public Radio time now for The Writer's Almanac And here is The Writer's Almanac for Monday. It's the 30th of August 1999. It was on this day in 1637 that Anne Hutchinson was banished from Massachusetts colony and set up to Rhode Island along with her family. She was a liberal-minded woman and she got in trouble and Puritan Boston for inviting other women to stop by her house one afternoon a week to discuss the previous Sunday's sermon. It's the birthday of writer Mary Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley born 1797 London the daughter of the philosopher William Godwin and the feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft. She married the poet Percy bysshe Shelley in 1814, and he said that she came as close to the ideal woman as any she had ever found when she was 19 years old. She got into a contest herself her husband and two friends to see who could write the best ghost story and she wrote a book that made her famous long after her time Frankenstein. In which she wrote by the dim and yellow light of the Moon as it forced its way through the window shutters. I beheld the miserable monster whom I had created his eyes were fixed on his Jaws opened and he muttered some inarticulate sounds while a grin wrinkled his cheeks. It's the birthday of the British physicist Ernest Rutherford. 1871 Nelson New Zealand who discovered that the basic structure of the atom is in nucleus surrounded by electrons. And the radiation is produced when atoms disintegrate his research was ultimately very important in the building of the nuclear bomb. He had strong ideas about the importance of physics. He said all science is either physics or it is stamp collecting. And it's the best day in London 1906 of Elizabeth Longford the biographer of Queen Victoria the Duke of Wellington, Lord, Byron and Winston Churchill books that began coming out in the 1960s. Who is three little poems for today by x j Kennedy? The first entitled mother's nerves? My mother said if just once more I hear you slam that old screen door. I'll tear up my hair. I'll dive in the stove. I gave it a bang and then she drove. if Combs could brush their teeth, if a needles I shed tears if bottles craned their necks If corn picked up its years if triangles held their sides and laughed if down the street a mile like a millipede ran by on wavy feet if cans of laundry law declared, they tell no fibs if baked potatoes Doug umbrellas in the ribs, if Sheets of Rain wear starched if a bra with mutterings rolled over in its bed with a Deep Creek of sprains should all of this come true and all time where to pass Then you could slice of piece of cheese with any blade of grass. And this last one entitled vulture? The vulture is very like a sack set down and left. They're drooping his crooked neck and creaky back look badly bent from stooping down to the ground to eat dead cows. So they won't go to waste bus making up in usefulness for what he lacks in taste. Free poems by x j Kennedy from his cross ties selected poems published by the University of Georgia, press and used by permission here on The Writer's Almanac for Monday, August 30th made possible by the people at 21 North Main sellers of used rare and out-of-print books and supporters should National literacy campaigns be well. Do good work and keep in touch. It's 12 noon. This is midday coming to you in Minnesota Public Radio Regional broadcast of The Writer's Almanac are supported by Marquette Banks Your Community Bank on offering a broad range of financial services for your business and personal needs news headlines her next then we're back out here at the fair for a discussion of the big problems facing rural, Minnesota NPR members on September 7th tickets go on sale for 6 live ball broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion at the Fitzgerald theater make your reservations by calling Ticketmaster at 612-673-0404 or stop by the Fitzgerald box office. You're listening to Minnesota Public Radio. We have a cloudy Sky 63°. I can W FM 91.1 Minneapolis. And st. Paul good chance for some rain this afternoon. I right around 70 degrees 30% chance for more rain tonight and then partly cloudy in the cities tomorrow.