(00:00:10) And good morning. Welcome to midday and Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary eichten glad you could join us 1999 may go down as the year of the tax cut here in the state of Minnesota. When you combine the big tax rebates that were mailed out this month and the permanent income tax cuts. It turns out that minnesotans are getting the largest tax cut in the nation and more Cuts may be on the way as you heard yesterday here on midday, Minnesota House Republicans decided at a retreat last week that they're going to be pushing for further tax cuts. Next year will also be stressing and agricultural relief package Transportation improvements and a ban on so-called partial birth abortions or is it actually takes to make that three to tango at the state capitol these days and today we thought it would be worthwhile to find out what D Fellers are going to be focusing on the next legislative session joining us. Now from the Minnesota state senate booth at the Minnesota State Fair Senate majority Roger mole, and we invite you to Join our conversation as well. Give us a call here as we talk about dfl legislative priorities 6512276 thousand. That's our Twin City number six five. One two, two seven six thousand. If you're calling from outside the Twin Cities, you can reach us toll free at 1-888-438-6557 and or 1-800 to for to to 828 Center Mall. Thanks for joining us this morning. (00:01:35) Thank you Gary for the opportunity again. (00:01:38) Is he busy day at the fair today? (00:01:40) Well, it's not as busy as some days that I've seen it but considering the fact that some schools are back in. It seems to be a pretty good crowd. (00:01:49) Yes. Now the Republicans have come up with a kind of tentative list of priorities. Do you folks have the same kind of list? (00:01:58) We haven't had a particular caucus to to come to some conclusion on any any or all of the issues that will be before us. Obviously a lot of that's dependent upon the economic forecast that we get from the administration. Also as I understand the administration is not interested in having a supplemental budget, which is probably going to cause some some stress within the legislature, but we certainly we know some things that we will be dealing with and one of which is the capital budgets bill. But if the revenues are there no question about it. There will be a second look at some of the tax areas in general as you know, there were a number of things that were left on left out last time. I think there's an additional pressure on some of the property tax areas the license tab the fees for that that's a tax and people would like to see that reduced certainly the provider tax. There are those who would like to see that reduce so all of those I suspect will be on Table along with a number of other issues Healthcare concerns. I know that's an issue. That's certainly brought up a lot in the caucus the Fab the frustration that consumers are expressing today that the decisions no longer seem to be made between the patient and the doctor we want to take a second look at all of that this whole issue of privacy and the fact that the general public I think is becoming increasingly concerned about the access through the Telecommunications and all of that that people have to their lives and so I think folks are concerned about privacy issues certainly livable communities that ties into transportation and housing and a whole host of things. So there will certainly be enough there on the agenda for that (00:04:03) session. Now the Republicans are well, they say they expect if things turn out the The way the projections are looking right now, they expect that there's going to be about a 500 800 million dollar budget surplus accumulating again that you folks will have to work with a deer numbers indicate that to (00:04:23) again. I I think that's a guess. We don't really know exactly what the forecast for what the the Department of Revenue will give us in terms of numbers. We'll just have to wait and see and any speculation on that but I think his premature number one number two, if you speculate that there's going to be that much available. You can well imagine that the number of requests there are going to be to match all of that. So I think it's best to wait until we get back in session and we will get the revised budget figures in the revised forecast at that time and then we can go to work on it. (00:05:06) Let me ask you this Senator given the fact that there are You some preliminary signs that the economy might be slowing down and given the fact that these budget Revenue projections are never correct their just sometimes closer than other times. Would it be best if the state simply squirreled away whatever money extra money was available to deal with future economic problems. Should (00:05:30) they occur? Well, I'm I guess I am a little bit. I don't know if I'm an average consumer or not. But when you take a look at the economy and the fact that we are now I think we are in the most sustained longest period of sustained economic growth for some time. If not, if not a record period of time it seems to me that it's best to be a little cautious. That's one of the reasons that we have a fairly significant budget Reserve that we have set aside over the past number of years and I think it's best to be prudent. Certainly we had some tax cuts and that was the right thing to do. We have a provision now built into state law that if there is additional if there are if there are revenues above and beyond what's needed at the end of the biennium there would be another rebate. So I think we We have enough backstops in there to protect us if there's a downturn and if the economy continues to stay good that the taxpayers are going to get that money back in the form of a rebate at the end of the (00:06:48) biennium publicans specifically house Speaker. Steve slim said yesterday of thing. He's concerned about is that if that money isn't returned in the form of a tax cut next year the legislature will simply spend it on new programs or spend more money on existing programs. (00:07:06) Well again, you have to take a look at what might be needed. Certainly we're going to have to appropriate money. If we have a capital budget Bill, you'll have to appropriate money to finance the depth on those bonds. So you have to spend money in that category. My guess is that there will be additional requests coming in from from a number of different areas. I think. It makes a great deal of sense to invest. I for one think that we ought to seriously look at higher education and take a look at the fact that we had tuitions go up a little bit more than we would have liked. Maybe that was because the legislature didn't appropriate enough. So again, you have to kind of balance it all out. I think it's it's right to have tax cuts that are that are that that are targeted towards the where we want to have tax relief. It also makes sense to invest when need for that investment makes sense. And again, it's always very important to have money set in reserve in case there's a downturn in the economy. I think we've tried this to find that balance in this process. And again if the economy keeps on well, then certainly we can do more. But again, I think I'm fairly typical. I kind of wonder how long On this is going to keep on and I suspect that's probably a lot like most people (00:08:37) Senate majority to Roger mole has joined us this first hour of our midday program Senator Mo's out at the state fair today at the Minnesota Senate booth, and he's joined us by phone this hour to talk about dfl legislative priorities. Of course yesterday. We talked with house Speaker Republican speaker Steve swag. Mmm today the leader of the Senate dfl our Roger mole. If you'd like to join our conversation here, give us a call six five, one two, two seven six thousand 6512276 thousand if you're calling from outside the Twin Cities 1-800 to for 228282276 thousand or 1-800-222-8477. Whoops sounds like Jim hung up on us here Steve. Go ahead place. (00:09:25) Okay, Thunder them all. Yes. Yes. He appreciates a good job you're doing I'm we're from Windom Minnesota out here in southwest Minnesota and kind of like Northwest Minnesota, you know with the hit on income for farmland and and I'm currently I'm quite concerned about school districts referendums are very hard to pass right now to get improvements on facilities big problem or Pipestone for sure. And and I guess I'm just kind of wondering about you know with regard to the district the formulas of state aid the rural districts especially and then also if there's anything with regard to incentives on consolidation and cooperation between districts that are financially strapped with dropping enrollments right now Wyndham's doing quite well, but it you know, it's As you know, the projections aren't the best and I just wondering if you had any comments in that area. Thank you Steve. Obviously you've touched on probably one of the most important things that the state legislature gets involved with which happens to be public education. And and that intimately impacts property taxes and then you also mentioned concern about the Aggie economy. Let me just touch a little bit on the AG economy first this past legislative session. We tried to provide Farmers with some additional Financial Resources. Is it enough? No, but state government, as you know can't do much about the price of products and that's really what we're dealing with. Now we are we have a price crisis brought about by changes in the federal Farm program that I think have had a negative impact some of these adapt agreements have had a negative impact and the value of the dollar is so strong that foreign countries aren't buying our agricultural products the way we would like That has to be remedied by the Congress no question about it. And I hope that there's enough pressure put on the Congress to make the necessary adjustments to put some safety net under farmers in this country because the bottom line is it if we allow producing side of Agriculture to go the same way as the Meatpacking industry and the grain buying industry as consumers. We are in big trouble the legislature passed a an appropriation to Farmers based upon acreages that the Acres that they farmed and it was designed to help them pay. This Springs property taxes farmers were also eligible for the rebate and then we also in the permanent tax cut we reduced the agricultural property tax classification. I think on a Statewide average. It's about 25% depending upon the school district you live in the county you live in that's going to vary but you should see some very real. Property tax reductions for the for farmers in next year's property tax statements as it relates to the school's. Yes. That is one way that that state can provide general fund money and by doing so that lessens the Reliance on the local property taxes and certainly along the western side of the state where agriculture is so dominant. That is one way we can help local school districts. We put I think a record increase in Kuwait K-12 education this past session that should help we picked up a greater portion of this state of the overall cost of Education are born Now by State versus property taxes, and in terms of school districts working together, we will continue to provide incentives for school districts to cooperate. Consolidation that is a decision that has to be made locally and I think it should be made locally, but there are ways where your state government can help your local school board and school districts to work closer together. Certainly. We have significantly increased the amount of money for telecommunications and interactive television and that we will continue to do in the (00:13:59) future back to the phones Jim's on the line. Now Jim you with us. Yes. Great. Okay, we lost you the first time. What's your question (00:14:08) Senator more? I just wanted to tell you first and foremost that I have a tremendous amount of respect for the leadership. You have shown over the years in the Minnesota Senate. I wanted to know a couple things one. What is your strategy for dealing with the unicameral legislature idea that's being proposed now, I think it's a real scary thing to think about Minnesota Government being reduced in that way and to I hope that Make a decision soon on whether or not you're going to run for the United States Senate because I do think that your leadership is definitely needed in the state senate to to defeat this idea of a unicameral legislature. So one what's your strategy on that and to are you going to run for the US (00:14:50) Senate? Okay. (00:14:53) Well, thank you Jim for the call. First of all, I let me be very candid. I am agonizing over a decision to run for the United States Senate, but I've not come to any conclusion on that. I basically I last summer was kind of a blur and I decided this summer. I'm going to enjoy Minnesota Summers like normal people do and so I have not focused on it, but I know that I have to come to closure on that before too long and I will as it relates to the unicameral discussion or the suggestion to abolish the Minnesota Senate. Basically, what I intend to do is I intend to tell the truth, which is I think it's a bad idea. And the notion that we should make it easier to pass laws in this state. I don't think make a lot of sense the notion that we should allow lobbyists to have even greater influence in the process to allow for non-elected people to have an even greater influence in the process. I think is wrong. I think minnesotans they like the vote for people they like participation. We have a lot of participation in this state and I think that's good. I think that's the way a good Society ought to operate and so I can I'm going to continue to point that out and I don't think that it's a good idea to take a process. That is a process. Whereby you you through the house and through the Senate and through that process. You have a tendency to get something that's much more reflective of the general population than a House working on something all by themselves. I think it's wrong. I'd also point out that I really think it's a forerunner to some things that probably aren't in our best interests. I think people who are suggesting that we have a one-house legislature. I think they're the same people who are going to suggest that we consolidate schools that we probably don't need 87 counties and that maybe the Metropolitan Council out of run all of government here in the metropolitan area. So I I would be worried about it from that end as well. What about the idea though (00:17:05) Senator let the people decide regardless of the what you may believe or what others May believe about the pro and con merits of unicameral at least put it on the ballot. Let them meet people make that (00:17:18) decision. Well, that's you know, that's kind of an interesting statement because that's what the to the co-chairs of the effort are saying. Did you know that I serve with both of those co-chairs Senator Pillsbury and Senator Miriam, they're both good friends. Of mine did you know that both of them voted for many Constitutional Amendments that were brought up before the Senate and my guess is they voted against them? They voted against putting them on the ballot in other words because they disagreed with them because they didn't think that those things should have been Constitutional Amendments my good friend. Jean Miriam actually get this voted against putting the environmental fund on the ballot. So he must have felt strongly about that. Now some are saying well this one's gotten a lot more visibility. So we should put this one on the back. I disagree that because some millionaires can raise a couple million dollars at that should buy them entree to the to the ballot for a constitutional amendment. If you're going to use the logic that because a constitutional amendment has been introduced then it should be on the ballot. Then you have to use that logic with all of them. So what that would mean then it would mean that every time the voters went to the polls every two years there would be probably Money 30 or 40 constitutional amendments on the ballot because why should we not put them all on then if we're if we're going to go by the notion that because they've been introduced the people should have a right to decide that the legislature should take a look at the Constitutional Amendments and we should Advance those that make sense for this state and we should Advance those that we think will pass and if you take a look at the history of that we've got we've had a pretty good history most of the Constitutional Amendments that have been on the ballot have passed. (00:19:04) We are going to have a full debate on this issue tomorrow over the noon hour here on midday will be on at the state fair. But right now we're talking with Senate Majority Leader Roger Mo joins us from the state senate booth at the State Fair again. If you have a question for Senator most 6512276 thousand one eight hundred two, four two two eight two eight. We should also note that the during the first hour of our program out at the fair tomorrow going to be talking with Senator Rod Graham. And Center Mo. I know you said you want to wait a while yet before making that decision, but overall it. Do you think the Democrats yourself excluded are the Democrats going to feel the strong candidate for that's for the rod Graham senate seat set yourself aside put yourself out of the out of the mix here or is Senator Graham's pretty well a shoo-in for re-election at this (00:19:55) point. No, there's an old Rodeo adage that you know, there's never been a horse that couldn't be rode never been a writer that couldn't be throwed. And that certainly is the case for Senator Rod grams. I think his record whether it's for agriculture or on the budget you pick the issue. I think he has going to have some very serious problems when he gets out in phases the electorate from now until the next election in next November. No question about it. My interest is to make sure that we do have a candidate that wins and we will have a candidate that's going to win in November of 2000 because again, I did with all due respect to Senator Graham's. I do not believe that he reflects the philosophy and the direction that most minnesotans want the state to head in (00:20:56) Brenda York. Jennifer Center mall, (00:20:58) I have a comment and a question. I hope you can do what you can to keep the unicameral Sing-Off as a referendum it be voted on by the people who gave us the governor the mouth. Both are over-the-top Governor. But the question I called about was that in 1997. I had two children who were college students. They work. They paid income taxes. They bought things they paid sales tax, but the way the legislation was written because they were claimed as dependents. They do not qualify to get the sales tax rebate was really upset when I found that out. Why was that decision made and Can that be rectified leaving all this whole class of people who need the money more than most others Well, Ron, I apologize for not knowing exactly what the reason would be why they were left out other than the fact that I think you as you said you claim them as dependents and so they didn't file their own. They probably didn't file their own tax form. All I can say is that we have pledged that we're going to take another look at this because to be perfectly honest. I've had as much complaints about the the rebate as I have had thank yous for it to be perfectly honest. I've run across people who didn't realize that that little thing they got in the mail was there rebate check and they threw it away. I've run across individuals like the caller who expressed concerns about members of their family, so, Obviously, it's going to get a second. Look we have pledged that we're going to do that. So what I would encourage anybody who's listening to do that if they have some concerns about this get in touch with your legislator Express their concerns so that we can get all of these issues on the table to take a look at as we go into the mm session which starts on February 1st or 2000 and they also add Senator Doug Johnson. The chair of the Senate tax committee has pledged that he will hold hearings and take another look at that whole rebate process so that we make sure that everybody who's eligible participates (00:23:08) Senate Majority Leader Roger. MO is our guest during this first hour of midday joining us from the Senate booth at the Minnesota State Fair and we'll get to some more callers with questions for Senator Mon just a couple minutes. All hail Jazz lovers, this is like Hammond you who like jazz have a date with me Saturday September 4th. You didn't know that at the MPR broadcast Center 7 to 10 p.m. Laura caviar on a Lucia Newell in concert right here on 91.1 FM knnow in the Twin Cities. Make sure you stop out and see Les and again join us at the fair tomorrow mid-day program coming to you from the fair today over the noon hour. Well for most of us most of you were going to be talking about the stadium issue course there have been some interesting new developments on that front including the comments yesterday from Minnesota Vikings owner Red McCombs. And if he doesn't get a stadium a new stadium in five years, he's going to move the Vikings somewhere else that will be our discussion on most of these stations those of you in the Duluth area. We're going to hear from all six candidates seeking the district 7 a legislative seat. That was the seat held by the late Willard Monger. So that's coming up over the noon hour here on Minnesota Public Radio news headlines. Now, here's got a Cunningham Greta. Thanks Karen. Good morning tropical storm. Dennis has moved closer to the North Carolina coast bringing more evacuations and Coastal communities such as Nags Head and Kitty Hawk forecasters warn, the storms unpredictable winds could gain strength. And again, push the storm back toward the coast Crews have flown to the site. Where a charter plane carrying 10 American Tourist has crashed near one of Africa's highest mountains. There's no word on the fate of the Americans who were heading back from a gain Lodge in Tanzania. Dozens are dead after last night's crash of an Argentine jetliner on takeoff from Buenos Aires the plane hit several cars on a highway and then came to rest next to a golf course news report says at least 69 of the 103 people on board were killed in Regional news members of the Leech Lake band have voted to approve an expansion plan for the Northern Lights Casino near Walker the final vote. Tally was 48352408 about 100 absentee ballots were counted this morning and they swayed the close results the 30 million dollar expansion would include a 60,000 square foot gaming facility a 100-room hotel a convention center and an RV park today is the first day of school in Minneapolis. And for many Minnesota school districts schools are starting again under new voluntary desegregation. The new rules make integration optional as long as districts provide school choice to all students specific quotas for racial balancing are gone Christine Jack's commissioner of the Department of Children families and learning says the old rule no longer worked and changes were needed critics say changes in the 25 year old rule could lead to more racial segregation in urban schools the forecast for Minnesota today calls for Cloudy Skies Statewide. There's also a chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms in eastern and western Minnesota high temperatures today ranging from 75 to 85 degrees at this hour mostly sunny skies reported in st. Cloud report sunshine and 75. It's sunny in Duluth and 73 sunny and Rochester and 72 and in the Twin Cities Sunshine a temperature of 77 degrees Gary. That's a look at the latest news. Thanks Greta about 25 minutes now before noon. This is midday on Minnesota Public Radio and our guest this are joining us from the Minnesota State Fair Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Roger mole here to talk about dfl. Is for the next legislative session also to take your questions now, we've got a full Bank of callers here. So don't call right now. You'll just get frustrated get a busy signal but got the number down. Give us a call here in a few minutes, six five. One two, two seven six thousand 6512276 thousand outside the Twin Cities one eight hundred two, four two two eight two eight Center Mo before we go back to our questions here. We noted that over the noon hour. We're going to be talking about the stadium issue does the comment from Red McCombs change any legislative dynamic in terms of whether the legislature might be forthcoming with public money for the Vikings Stadium. (00:27:32) Well, I think you had you have two points in that will it change the Dynamics dynamics of the legislature? Yeah. I think it's those. I don't think it's going to make the cause any easier. I think my guess is that most Others were probably a bit incited by those kind of comments. Secondly, will it make it easier for public money? I don't think so. For some reason. It seems like contracts only work here. If a consumer buys something somehow contracts don't seem to mean anything when it comes to sports Arenas. I guess. I think the bottom line is that the sports facility commission has a contract that's there and the Vikings, you know, the the new owner bought the Vikings with that understanding and the ought to live with it. Obviously, I think there's some ways that we can take a look at trying to help the team figure out some way to you know, financially be a little more viable, but I don't think those statements help at all in terms of the stadium (00:28:47) debate Victor your question for Senator. (00:28:50) It's centered ammo last year following the elections you felt like you'd made some comments that they're formed party and especially Governor Ventura had over simplified some of the issues and that the voters had somehow been been duped by that and I was wondering if you still felt like the voters are were duped by sort of over simplification of some of the issues. I guess. That's my first question. And my second question is you you were one of the people would help personally engineer the deal for NSP to increase its storage of nuclear waste at Prairie Island. And if you plan on running for national office, do you continue to plan on working for the nuclear power industry to push their agenda? And those are my two questions well, I guess I probably would disagree with the way the car phrased it. I don't push anybody's agenda. I deal with issues that come before the state legislature and we try to figure out kind of a reason and Common Sense approach to all of that and no question about it the issue dealing with the Prairie Island the storage of the nuclear waste in the the these casts that word that they used to store it in. That was a very controversial issue. No question about it is probably the most controversial issue that I've dealt with in my years in the Senate then I would guess that most people who dealt with it would agree with me. It's not a it's not an issue that can be decided just by saying I'm against nuclear power and because I'm against nuclear power. We shouldn't allow them to do that. I mean if that's the case, then you have to figure out Alternatives and Figure out a process that makes sense. What we did under that process is there were trade-offs. We allowed the nuclear waste to be stored there. Obviously hoping that the federal government lives up to its responsibilities to find a place to store these this this nuclear waste and then exchange for that. We moved into alternative energy sources and because of that Minnesota now has the largest wind energy generation in the nation whole new industry is now we're moving into biomass electric generation as well. So again, there are trade-offs on all of this and we have to figure out what is the common sense approach to it all now insofar as the last election again, I do To say that with all due respect to the governor. He does on occasion make things he does phrase them in a way that it to him. It's just black or white and it's not that way shoes have to be debated and discussed and just because I might have an opinion even though I might have a very strong opinion. I may not be right and that's how the process works and that's why it's worked there well over these years and it will continue to work that way if you continue to have the good give-and-take between the house and the Senate and the (00:32:17) governor there was a pretty General consensus that there was good. Try partisan cooperation last legislative session, but of course next year is an election year there have been charges that the governor betrayed you folks and on some agreements and so on are things going to be more contentious next (00:32:36) year. Well, I hope not. I think I think the one thing the general public wants us to do is they want they want us to work together. Most of the issues we deal with, you know are really not issues that know a partisan boundary they you know, having good schools and livable communities and decent roads and bridges and a safe environment. I mean, these are things that really I don't think anybody has a political philosophy that has a monopoly on those things. So I think the general public want us to work together and that was certainly the message. I got out of the 1998 campaign and the why I sensed that everybody tried to cooperate during the 99 legislative session, but keep in mind it's not hard to to make everybody happy when this Administration inherited about 4.3 billion dollars. I mean, it's not hard to have. It's not hard to have permanent tax cuts and it's not hard to have a record appropriation for K-12 education and the record appropriation for housing when you've got that much money. The test will come when the times get (00:33:50) tough. Back to the phones pass on the line with a question for Senate Majority Leader Roger mole Pat. (00:33:56) Yes. Hello. Thank you for taking my call Senator. I've got a question about prescriptions for seniors senior citizens. I have a mother-in-law that just moved here from Pennsylvania. And I was just shocked to find out that in Pennsylvania there State Lottery finances all prescriptions for all senior citizens State no matter what their income is, they pay four dollars for each prescription. And that is it why can't Minnesota take care of their seniors the same way you're aware. Is that as well as everybody is that filling prescriptions? Is that a that'll kill people with their budgets and if they leave work, there's no way they can afford to keep paying or getting prescriptions. So what are you looking at doing? You keep talking about the dfl priorities putting together for the session coming up in February. Where are taking care of seniors? Where is that a priority? Well taken care of seniors Pat is has been and always will be a high priority for the dfl. I think our record in that regard speaks for itself. I believe you have two things that have to be looked at when it comes to the prescription drug issues for for senior citizens. Number one, you need changes on the federal level why Minnesota seniors don't qualify for for assistance when it comes to paying for drugs when in other states they qualify is testimony to the fact that there need to be changes on the federal level. So that's one one effort secondly in the meantime or until that's done. We have put in place a program for seniors. I apologize for not knowing the details of it. But I do know that we use general fund money for that purpose and my guess is that that program we will continue to look at it and try to expand it to to make sure that we take care of those who genuinely need help. I think it's it makes sense to have at least some kind of a copay in that process. And as a matter of fact during the 1998 campaign. Skip Humphrey and I advocated a process of working out literally kind of an insurance. Excuse me, a kind of a prescription insurance program for seniors and I think still think it's a good idea that I could be looked at. But we do have a senior drug program now in place. I apologize for not knowing all of the details out, but obviously there are certain requirements. So we need that but then we also need to make changes on the federal level to allow Minnesota seniors to be eligible for some of the same benefits. That seniors are in other (00:37:00) states. Would it be outrageously expensive senator for the state simply to say look pretty good times here and we're going to pick up the cost to the prescriptions until the feds change their (00:37:10) policy. Well, I suspect without knowing the the overall impact of that in terms of finances. If the state had the money that that is a possibility the the uncertainty of course is to lock yourself into a program without knowing what the long-term costs are or without knowing what's going to happen on a federal level or without knowing whether or not you're going to have the resources there next year and the year after the worst thing we could do is to put some sort of a program in place make promises and then not deliver on them (00:37:40) Wendy your question for Senator mole. Hi. Thank you for my call (00:37:45) Senator. I heard last session session that you brought up the Our provider tax and I've noticed it on my daughter's orthodontic Bill and I'm wondering if there will be any consideration of eliminating that next year or reducing it anymore. Yes, and if I can just give a little brief history of that the provider tax was put in place back and I think 1992 when we passed the Minnesota care insurance program and that has helped literally thousands of minnesotans and many many families stay off of welfare in some cases or help them get off of welfare and it has been I think a very good program for providing health insurance to many uninsured people in the state. They had the debate of course is always been as to whether or not that was the right Revenue source to finance that program. As such we have we reduce the tax from 2% the 1.5% I think a year or two ago a couple of years ago. And then there was an attempt to further reduce it this year. Unfortunately, it did not pass in the reason it didn't pass is because the general consensus in the legislature was the money that was going to go for tax relief was going to go to the individual directly and not through some sort of intermediary process like reducing the provider tax. So the question is will it be back on the agenda? And the mm session the answer is yes the likelihood of having it repealed. I suspect will depend upon the amount of resources that are available. (00:39:30) I've got to say senator if there's you know some Surplus money available again next year if you had to guess right now which which of the various taxes would DF ehlers most I want to repeal you can't do it all obviously so Motor Vehicle sales tax or the healthcare provider tax or whatever it which one would top your (00:39:53) agenda. Well again, first of all for the listeners to understand that you have to distinguish between what's ongoing revenue and what's one-time Revenue. It's it's pretty foolhardy to cut up their attacks permanently on one-time revenues to the state. So what we have to first of all decide through the information we get from the Department of finances when we go back in February of 2000 if there is additional revenues there how much of that is one-time revenue and then how much of it is ongoing sustained Revenue that we can use for permanent tax cuts and we will look at that portion of the equation and I would guess that that generally speaking from the caucus I'd say that the two highest priorities in terms of tax relief would be Reducing the license tab fees and property taxes those seem to be the two that come up most often. But yes, the provider taxes mentioned doing something about the cost of tuition tuition is a tax to a certain degree. So these are all things that people are talking (00:41:03) about Steve your question, please (00:41:05) thank you for taking my call as a local government official I'm concerned about some of the actually two items one is a sales tax that we have to pay local municipalities have to pay and also on Levy limit switch is really being a struggle for us or trying to put a budget together and being under Levy limits is pretty difficult for us to make our ends meet. I was just wondering if the senator could comment on those (00:41:32) Now for those of us who don't follow these things, can you give us a two sentence explanation senator of Levi limits? (00:41:39) Sure. Well, first of all, let me add let me address the local government sales tax issue and they have a legitimate concern here the having sales having local government pay sales taxes on the purchase of the items that they purchase was put in place back in the early 90s when the state was had a budget problem and the question that we get from local units of government now as well. If you've got the revenue shouldn't you repeal that tax? And the answer the quick answer is yes, why didn't we again the same answer goes to the local government official is to the previous caller and that is that it was a general consensus in the legislature that the tax relief should go directly to the individual and not through some intermediator process whether it's a provider to Acts or The local government sales tax but let me just say that we have repealed that sales tax on some units local units of government. So I think that's a good indication of the direction that the legislators heading the loving limits. Let me assure the caller that it's not the Senate you have to worry about when it comes to Levy limits. The Senate is not an advocate of Levi limits. And what what that does is it basically puts a ceiling in for local units of government. They cannot Levy Beyond a certain percentage. We feel that my personal philosophy on it is that we have a partnership with local units of government people who are elected to municipal government County government school districts. These are hardworking individuals. We work in Partnership and that we they ought to have the flexibility to address the needs as they see them. Locally and without these kind of encumbrances by state government. So I believe the levy lemons I think it's scheduled to phase out here this year if I'm not mistaken, but the caller is right. It is one of those things that keeps coming back before the legislature (00:43:49) Senator before we wrap up here. I do have to ask you what the start of the school year now a good many students apparently many thousands of students are in danger of not getting a diploma next spring because I won't have passed that basic skills test requirement that was kind of imposed Midstream on most of those students. Is there a chance that the law is going to be changed to put some flexibility in that program. So those students, you know, the ones who've made a good effort won't be penalized. (00:44:22) Yes. I think that will be back before us you are correct and I was instrumental in putting in the basic skills. Laughs and that was put in a few years ago, like everything every change that we make it takes a while to work its way through and I think that's the thing that you have to keep in mind on this you need some flexibility and you need time but obviously there comes a point when you have to say a these are these are requirements. These are the standards and you've got to live by those rules, but I think we have not reached that point yet. I think we have to give some (00:45:01) flexibility the profile of learning. Is that going to be another hotly debated issue next year or do you think that that has settled down for the most part? (00:45:10) Oh, no because I think to be perfectly honest. It's kind of it's gone away from what it was designed to do which was to try to figure out a way to have high standards for our students and Scott more into the political Arena, but the fact the matter is that that There's no question about it. There should be some revisions made the Senate passed a number of revisions last year and because of some complications, I guess that evolved between the house and the Senate and the conference committee. They never got those things work through so I would guess that it will be back before us but the bottom line is this the state government will have to adequately fund public education. We ought to allow local school districts to to get their work done which is to educate our children. And we also have to have some sort of Statewide standards because of the mobility of students today. It's it doesn't make sense to have 430 or 350 or whatever number districts. We have that different number of Standards because it's just not going to work in a mobile Society like we live in today, (00:46:24) so I'm sorry we're out of time, but I really appreciate you joining us. Have a good day at the fair. Thank you very much. The Senate Majority Leader Roger Mo joining us from the Senate booth at the Minnesota State Fair talking about dfl priorities for next year's legislative session. The curtain is about to rise on the fall theater season, the actors will perform and the critics will review. I don't want a good review. I want a smart review. I mean, I really want to reviewer who's going to look at what it is that we're trying to do. I'm Chris Roberts on the next Word of Mouth theater critics and theater practitioners meet face-to-face to discuss and debate what it is that critics do word-of-mouth a radio guide to the Arts Friday night at 6 on Minnesota Public Radio Canada wfm 91.1 in the Twin Cities five minutes now before 12:00 all your on midday, and it's time for the Riders Almanac