(00:00:24) Good morning, and welcome to midday at Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary eichten. Glad you could join us. Well, nobody said it would be boring and it certainly hasn't been Governor. Jesse Ventura is wrapping up his first full year in office, and it has been a lively year the legislative session the big rebate the book the big plan the Playboy interview the wrestling match the trip to Japan the Great Seal versus frogmen debate, no shortage of headlines and today Governor Ventura has come by our Studios to take a look back at this past year and a look ahead to some of the big issues facing the state in 2000. As always. We invite you to join our conversation Governor. Jesse Ventura is our guest and if you have a question for the governor, give us a call, six five, one two, two seven six thousand 6512276 thousand outside the Twin Cities 1-800 to for 228286512276 thousand or one eight hundred two, four two two eight two eight Governor. Thanks for coming by today. Thanks. Gary. Always a pleasure. Seemed like a regular here and I managed to get here about once a month. I think I love you girl. Yeah, it's great did 1999 turn out like you thought it would at this time last year did well, you know, you don't know what to expect really, you know it it was kind of Whirlwind after the election and and of course you we had to dive into the immediately the budget which looms ahead of you right when you win win an election like that. And so that consumed our time and then made it through the legislative session. And so I think it went pretty I'm very pleased with how the year went as a whole. I think that Minnesota son. Good ground. We're our feet are solidly on the ground now Mall my Commissioners have been in place now for a good solid almost a year and we have good direction of knowing where we want to go. If you are met Shunk in a teacher what grade would you give yourself a pass? They have those classes either passed or failed but those are the easy ones. I don't I won't grade myself. I I'll tell you Gary how I grade myself I go home every night and know that I did the best job to my ability and I can look in the mirror every night knowing that I've done so and as long as I can go home at night and look in the mirror than that's all I have to worry about. Is there anything looking back on the year here that you wish you could do over something that didn't turn out the way you wanted it to? Oh, certainly. I suppose the Playboy interview it drew far more hoopla and response than it needed. You know, it was, you know had it only been read by playboy readers. It would have been Much Ado About Nothing which was how it was intended. That's why you do the interview for the particular magazine or periodical that you're talking to but the mainstream press took it and really exploded it far. More than it needed to be because it's just personal opinions and it doesn't really have a basis for how I govern and you know, I want people to judge me on what happens on on what I do in the office not necessarily on what my personal opinion on something might be looking forward. What's your what's your big goal for the next year Well, we of course, we've got the capital budget coming up where the legislature comes back in and or not budget. I should see the bonding Capital bonding. Excuse me, which is coming up in the session. You know, I want it to be lean and mean, you know, I want a very much, you know, Governor Carlson work very hard and the legislature to get us back our AAA Bond rating. We certainly don't want to jeopardize that at all with the bonding companies. It's a good time to do some bonding a course the rates are favorable right now, but like anything you don't want to it's like your own personal life. You don't want to go crazy with that credit card mmm because it can end up causing you trouble. On the line and so you got to be prudent on the bonding that you do and again, I'll run my bonding on the philosophy will do what's necessary. Not necessarily. What's nice. What about over on the cash account? You've got that big 1.6 billion dollar projected Surplus ejected. That's the key word Gary and again, and I've said it many times if I believed in projections, I wouldn't be Governor because no one projected that I'd be here. We have actually fi around 500 million in the coffers right now. And really we wouldn't have that had the legislature listened to me and taken my lead. They put a cap on the rebate. This is money that is actually left over from last year's biannual budget. So had they not capped. My rebate this 500 million would have already gone back to the taxpayers and it would have been an additional round 250 to $300 on everybody's rebate check out there and they would have already gotten it but because they put a cap on it and why they did that. I don't know. Our thinking was in doing so we now sit with another 500 million right now roughly that is in the bank. I want to give that back. It should have gone back. Anyway, that's off last biannual budget. You know, that was the clearing of the books June 30th. Like I said in the way I want to do it at the biannually a June 30th of every other year. We balance the books and whatever's in Surplus should go back to the people. This is in surplus of should go back we have to wait though till the end of this biennium to get the money or no. I would like to see them go ahead and move forward and give us another check to Summer, you know, just take this it wouldn't take much for them to do that and certainly were very well set up to do it in a sales tax rebate. We now have the experience to do it Matt Smith over at the Department of Revenue would be ready and raring to go they know exactly what to do now. It's they're not breaking new ground. Now we know how to do it now with the litha projected Surplus many legislators have been talking about increased spending in Various areas of Republicans have been particularly looking at the area of increased spending for roads and bridges and the like would you support some increases in those areas? Well, I definitely I want to come out with a plan for transportation. But again, the plan has to be more long-term. You can't just look at it as hey. We've got some money in our pocket. Let's do a quick fix. We need to look at what is our plan of ongoing expenditures for transportation as a whole throughout the whole state of Minnesota. I would like to see see us look at rededicating certain taxes putting them back like the tax that we have on new cars right now when you buy a new car that tax goes into the general fund. I would like to see some of that switched over into an ongoing Transportation fund to wear when people buy a new car the tax they pay for that car. They can be assured that it's going to go into the transportation system roads highways and other forms of transportation out there to help. Alleviate the problem that we show real have. I mean it's a real problem out there as we all know right now that we must do something on Transportation, but we can't just look at it as just a quick fix to get reelected this coming fall now. I've got a full Bank of callers and I want to get to them but one more question before we get to the caller's should we be stewing about what's going to happen here on January 1 Y2K terrorism. We hear about all these dire threats and so on. Is this something we should be stewing about? What's your best guess my my position on this has to everyone to enjoy the New Year in the change in the Millennium go out have fun do what you're going to do. Enjoy it. I don't believe anything is going to happen other than a glitch here in a glitch there. I'm certainly going forward enjoy the goal for game that afternoon if they fall behind don't blame it on Y2K, you know, maybe you know that I don't think whether Glen Mason and the Gophers win or lose. Don't be based upon Y2K enjoy it and again, but I will take the opportunity now to tell people enjoy your New Year's enjoy the New Millennium but please if you're going to consume alcoholic beverages don't get on the roads stay where you're at have a designated driver call a cab do whatever it takes but do not be out on the roads because I'm warning you my state troopers are going to be out in mass that night and if you're drinking and driving you're going to get caught and you're gonna go to jail and there's no excuse for it Governor. Jesse Ventura is our guest this hour. And again, we have a full Bank of callers. So don't call in with a question right now because you'll just get frustrated but jot the number down and give us a try here in 10 minutes or so, six 512276 thousand or one eight hundred two, four two two eight two eight Dwight your first go ahead. (00:09:11) I thank you very much Governor. I really appreciate your taking the time for these public (00:09:14) conversations. Hi Dwight. Well, it's not a problem. (00:09:19) My question with McCain and Bradley touting campaign Finance reform. It reminds me that shortly after your election you really talked about Minnesota's matching money helping you and your campaign and I'm wondering if you'll support or where you're at these days on campaign Finance reform in the state of (00:09:38) Minnesota. Well campaign Finance reform in a lot of ways is in it's a double-edged sword. It's you know, people should have the ability to contribute to a campaign certainly that's almost a freedom of speech type thing that you should be allowed to participate in the process. You should be allowed to donate to campaigns but it's a double-edged sword in the fact that you've also got this soft money and and money that's out there that obviously is buying influence and you know, so certain reforms are definitely needed. Yeah. I certainly the matching State funds helped me tremendously, but not just me. Because mayor Coleman and attorney general Humphrey actually got more money from that pot than I did. So it did help them as much or more as it did me, you know, I think something needs to be done both both nationally and locally or it needs to be done particularly by the candidates to keep their integrity. I I'm still a Believer and I still do not accept special interest or PAC money and I will not and it's still a position of the Reform Party not to do so and I will continue to honor that personally and I think if we get more candidates like Senator McCain and and and and and as former Senator Bradley that certainly it'll help to get it to the front burner and in something to be done about it, you think we should essentially move to a system where campaigns are financed almost wholly with public money. Well, it's a thought you know, you look at it that way. It's a thought that you can look at it. I just wish they'd get rid of this soft money. You know the money were there. People are allowed to give huge amounts to a party and then the party Doles it out because that's where I think the trouble comes in and that's where the the the Sinister end of it happens is who's supporting the particular party in the soft money that flows into the party gen Z your question for the (00:11:38) governor. Thanks for taking my call. Good morning, Governor Ventura. How are you? (00:11:42) I gen Z how are you Jeff a good (00:11:44) Christmas. Oh, excellent. How about you (00:11:46) very well. I got over my cold. So it went (00:11:48) good. Oh great. And before I get to my question quickly, I want to wish you and your family a great New Year and to thank you all very much for the holiday reception you had back on the 16th. That was just a (00:12:01) blast. Well, we had a lot of fun. It was fun to watch all the all the youngsters come into the residents, which is always a joy because there's nothing better than to see the little kids and how they're dressed in the cold weather be at Halloween or the holidays. (00:12:15) This is true and some of us big kids as well. Okay. Anyway, my question kind of continues on the last caller steam about campaign reform and it specifically about doing something to limit the length of campaigns for office. And I know some some things you've been quoted as saying that you are as sick as I am and sick has everybody. I know of candidates campaigning for office over a year before the election in question as has been going on nationally with the presidential candidates, but the tie it kind of to the service not systems piece of your big plan. It sounds to me like that might have some very good ideas for among other things shortening the length of time that candidates campaign for office. So I guess my question really is where are you guys in for administration now in terms of specific ideas for making campaigns reasonable. And do you That could eventually become a model for improving the way campaigns go (00:13:24) Nationwide. Well gen Z it's been a case of I've more or less just talked about it. We haven't done anything about it or we really have nothing on the table to do anything about it. But it's a good point you bring up and I'll jot it down and we'll take a look at it a little harder because I agree with you. I think that it's getting borderline ridiculous when we start running into presidential campaigns two years before the actual election takes place. I mean what what will eventually happen then the moment an election happens within three weeks. They'll start running for the next one. You know, I would love to see us put a time limit on when a campaign can actually start and when it when it be allowed to start because I personally I get tired of Fielding questions on the presidential campaign when it's not even the year the elections going to take place. And I mean, it makes good cannon fodder for the press and the media, but I think we need to challenge them to go. Out and in find other things to talk about and be creative and other ways other than starting elections two years ahead of time which in turn when they do that. Look what happens to the amount of money people than have to spend to get elected because the longer the campaign is rest assured the more money, you're going to have to spend to be viable ba beer question (00:14:40) as you know, so well Governor politicians are competing in advocating how much of the state's large budget surplus to give back the taxpayers, but the problem is that you and to many other politicians fail to deal with the disgraceful lack of decent facilities to house the homeless. So my questions you Governor is instead of your being so callously in different thing that charity should take care of the homeless problem and some people are homeless because they want to be almost which is utter nonsense. Why don't you do what is decent then we provide leadership and dealing with the problem of 700 almost people sleeping outside of Minneapolis and st. Paul because housing for the homeless is so grossly (00:15:15) inadequate. Well, why don't you do something about it? (00:15:18) I do mind I do my little bit but I'm not the governor (00:15:20) will wait. Well, why don't you run for public office then and quit instead of talking about it and being critical and criticizing those that do why don't you take an active role and become part of government and Institute the change it simple to talk about it on the outside, you know do something run for office and win. Well, you're the gun and then you can and then you can come (00:15:39) on board and I do I do my little bit but you're the governor and you ought to provide the leadership don't you think it's disgraceful at 700 people in Minneapolis and st. Paul are sleeping outside because housing facilities are so grossly inadequate. (00:15:52) Well, why aren't you why aren't there more? (00:15:56) Why aren't there more (00:15:57) wood more sleeping outside? Because other people have jobs and they work and they maintain themselves and I'm not anti. You know, I realize some people get a bad Shake of the deal but it's still you're Reliant upon yourself to be successful in you're asking me to to be Reliant to everybody (00:16:16) else. You should know as Governor. There's a critical lack of affordable housing. First of all that there are a lot of people that are working every day and are so homeless I challenge you Governor to go down to the so-called secure waiting area 1000 Curie Avenue in Minneapolis and spend the night with a 250 guys sleeping on thin mats on the floor billeted belly and back to back and most of those guys are working every day, but they can't put together that thousand or 1500 dollars they need for a down payment on an apartment and the pay the first month's rent. Why don't you go along the rivers and Minneapolis and st. Paul with Patrick would a social worker? He'll show you where the homeless are sleeping veterans who have chemical problems mentally ill people that are out (00:16:55) there. Okay, well show know that you know, I guess I don't have really an answer for it that the issue of housing does keep coming up over and over doesn't the state need to do substantially more in this area. Well my budget this year was the biggest increase in housing dollars that have been done in the last 20 years the blast biennial budget that I submitted and certainly I suppose it's Our obligation to do so, but you know, it's still the obligation of people to take it upon themselves to be successful. Hmm, you know it you can't help those that don't want to help themselves either. But as Bob point it's out. Apparently the latest surveys indicate that a lot of the people who are homeless even to say nothing of living in pretty marginal circumstance actually have jobs and are working in everything. They just can't make you know ends meet. Well, and apparently it has to do with the fact that housing is gotten so much more expensive relative to what people have than it used to be. Yeah, and that's something we probably should look at is more social homes more type of I guess you'd look at the type of communal living men because you know, obviously if you're going to build those type of housing developments to to accommodate this amount of people you're not going to be able to build them, you know, somebody has to pick up the tab for it a builder has two Builders are in business to build homes to make a profit. They can't build them and not make a profit. They can't build them and take a loss on it. Otherwise, they'll be homeless to you know, if you conduct business that way so we need to look at some type of mechanism of maybe using and renovating some buildings and making them almost like Barracks has then, you know and have a Barrack style of living which I'm you know, not opposed to but people would have to understand that that would be the way it would have to be done. You'd have to live Can a military Barracks maybe we should look at Fort Snelling and renovating that and offering the opportunity out there to do it. You think that might be then you can't force them to stay there either. I think that might be included in your budget plan for this year's. It's something we'll certainly look at Dennis your question (00:19:16) regarding the main contract. That was just a negotiating the last night does the state have a policy of just trying to negotiate with the First Union that comes along and trying to use that same from the same percentages with other unions as they (00:19:29) negotiate? No, as a matter of fact, we had negotiated I think with 15 or 16 unions mape was the last one and here are you satisfied with how that turned out? Certainly I'm always happy when when management and labor can come together in open negotiations resolve their problems and keep everyone working there been some critics who have suggested that the school boards around the state are giving too much to teachers and Much of the money the record amount that was appropriated for Education. Last spring is going to salaries as opposed to new programs. Do you share those in that criticism? Well you I don't share the criticism. I think that teachers deserve to be paid. They have a very critical job that of educating the young people but they but in light of All Shall being paid, they need to be held the standards also, you know and make sure that we the teachers are doing their jobs also in that day, you know in educating the young people I'm not opposed to teacher salary increases. They have a difficult extremely difficult job to do and they should be paid accordingly, but they in light of that though then we better get results Richard your next (00:20:42) Governor. Yes. Yeah, say I live in st. Paul and I just want to ask a couple of questions on Surplus that you claim we have now. You said that I think 500 million dollars, is that correct? (00:20:55) Roughly speaking. That's in the bank right now. (00:20:58) How many hundreds of millions of dollars worth of bonds that we issue last this year? 99. (00:21:04) I don't know off the top of my (00:21:05) head. I think you should because this is very important. We're paying interest we have money in the bank sitting there collecting virtually. No interest. We are borrowing money and paying I think it's 4% is what our bond rating is. I'm not really sure it's right around there and somehow or other. It just doesn't make any sense to me at all for a state to give money back which comes from the taxpayers. I read about in my pocket too, but then we go out and borrow money and pay money for interest is that we're playing each year, but it's (00:21:39) tremendous. Let me ask you this. Do you pay cash for your house (00:21:43) has nothing to do with it? Yes. It does. Yes, it does (00:21:46) because many things are many things are fine to do over the long term. There's nothing wrong with doing long-term spending as well as short-term spending. Governor Jesse Ventura is our guest this hour and if you have a question for the governor, give us a call here, six five one two, two seven six thousand 6512276 thousand area. I think we need more people running for office and you know, all these critics out there that are and I enjoy their comments, but I think they need to be involved if they have such good ideas than they ought to run for office and bring them forward. Hmm when you get involved, we need to our candidates sure we do. Absolutely we do did you think did you believe that before you decided to run for governor? I would believe what before that people should just run for office. So you Julie juice it did you see yourself as running for office because you had a lot of opinions, of course. Yeah, absolutely people should run for office because I'm a firm believer in a constant turnover of government. I don't believe in career politicians. I believe that you come in and you serve and you do one or two terms and then you go back to the private sector and Make Way for Someone else's ideas, but you know, it's easy to sit out and complain. It's a whole nother thing to actually get involved and try to change it and run for office and be successful at it Governor. Jesse Ventura is our guest again 6512276 thousand outside the Twin Cities 1-800 to for 228281 question quick one before we break for news headlines here the trip to Japan. What in retrospect what do you think was the major accomplishment achievement? I think our major accomplishment was reinforcing trading relationships with our second largest trading partner. Of course Canada's our first naturally because they're north of our border. But Japan has always been an extremely big trading partner with with Minnesota and that we have to treat Minnesota really as its own entity its own country really in the global economy. Today you have to go out. There are are our Rivals are no longer Iowa The Dakotas and Wisconsin are Rivals are the world in other countries in the world and we have to go out there and be viable in the world economy. And I think the good thing that it did is it reassured Japan that they have a terrific trading partner in Minnesota Japan naturally because of their population and their land size needs agriculture. Well, we are very strong agriculturally here in Minnesota. And so it's a natural link for Japan to be tied that way and and also Japanese people are terrific tourists and you know, we wanted to ensure that they come to Minnesota and not look at Minnesota as just a stopover but as a destination and so that was another thing we want to do accomplish during I think we were very successful at it and in Mexico this coming fall. Yeah. Nothing's nothing's written in stone yet, but tentatively will be going down to Mexico this coming fall and then possibly Europe sometime the year after and then maybe later on China and clear up our child problems with China got that's where the way and I don't know if I can do that, but I know the Chinese delegation came here and invited me to go there and I've never been there before so, you know, and they sure they sure are another country that certainly could use our agricultural products and light of their population Governor. Jesse Ventura is our guests will get to some more callers in just a couple minutes (00:25:16) programming on NPR is supported by Ecolab dedicated to improving cleaning and sanitation standards for leading hospitality. Healthcare and food processing customers worldwide on the web at Ecolab.com. I'm Lorna Benson online shopping was all the rage this holiday season, but the high customer demand took some retailers by surprise. Some of the biggest names fell short when it came to processing orders and delivering them when promised on the next All Things Considered will have a post holiday report card on how local retailers fared and the prospects for improving e-commerce for next year at story on all the news on the next All Things Considered weekdays at 3:00 on Minnesota Public Radio. KN o WF M 91.1 in the Twin (00:25:58) Cities right now news headlines yours Greta Cunningham Greta. (00:26:01) Good morning, Gary India's foreign minister says the hijackers of an Indian Airlines jetliner wants India to release 35 militants and Fork over 200 million dollars more than 150 people have been held captive on the plane for five days. Now. It's on the ground in Afghanistan. India. Negotiators have been talking with the hijackers hijackers via radio and walkie-talkie in an For to end the standoff the Clinton Administration wants to crack down on the illegal sale of prescription drugs over the Internet. So it's announcing plans today to require websites to get Federal approval to sell drugs violators were to face half a million dollar fine for each infraction. People are gathering in South Carolina for the annual Renaissance weekend organizers expect record crowds, even with an N. Double ACP boycott of the state. They say there have been some cancellations because of the boycott over flying the Confederate flag Atop The South Carolina State House president and mrs. Clinton won't be attending this year. Aid say, they'll stay in Washington for New Year's. He's activities some 1600 people have signed up for the retreat. The guest list includes US senators Olympic gold medalist and Nobel prize-winning scientists in Regional news. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says, it doesn't expect any problems with the rollover to the year 2000 an engineer says MnDOT has spent the last several months going over traffic signals and equipment and Peter systems but because of all the attention placed on Y2K MnDOT will have teams on duty and it's Duluth and Virginia headquarters and in each of Northeastern Minnesota has 20 min DOT truck stations from New Year's Eve to New Year's Day. Mindy will also have metro area staff members on hand New Year's Eve to make sure the transportation system is operating safely the forecast for Minnesota calls for windy conditions in western and southern Minnesota today partly to mostly cloudy skies with patchy flurries and freezing drizzle possible in the north high temperatures today ranging from 28 in the Northeast 250 in the southwest at this hour mostly cloudy skies reported in st. Cloud reports cloudy skies and 38. It's cloudy in Rochester and 35 the Luth reports cloudy skies and 27 and in the Twin Cities Cloudy Skies a temperature of 39 degrees Gary. That's a look at the latest (00:28:13) news. Thanks Greta. It's 26 minutes now before noon mid day coming to you in Minnesota Public Radio Governor. Jesse Ventura is our guest this our midday over the noon hour. We'll talk economics with Chris. Alright now back to the phone's John's on the line with a question for the Governor (00:28:27) John. Well, it's not a question. It's more of a statement of support. By the way. This is John the guy with a gunny sacks and figured you deserved a rock and (00:28:37) yours. Okay, Josh (00:28:41) seems like a lot of people are going down the wrong way listening to what the media says our spin doctoring what they want by what you say and I got friends that voted for you. They listen to the media and they Now they don't want to support you no more (00:28:57) John. Let me interrupt here. What is it that the media has reported about the governor that has you feel is in error? (00:29:08) Oh, I mean if I knew you were going to ask that question, I'd have a list one of the first things is the the comment about weak minds are currently I'm driving cabinets amazing how much people spread that around two things that I didn't see printed in the article or seen in one of the interviews I saw and I think I'm kind of mixing some of my own definition of what that was related to with the religion and it and most people are just they're taking the one statement and stretching it. It seems okay, (00:29:48) which which could happen, you know it, you know, I'm not perfect and I certainly when I do 25 interviews a week which I do on a normal basis I'm going to say things at times that will offend some people I imagine and not you know, but it when they take things see I think the thing that bothered me most was when they said that governor condones tailhook Which was totally wrong all I said very at the very part first of that interview. I did not condone what happened but I understood how and why it happened and I understood how it can happen and yet they they they leave out seats the headline writers. They like to snatch people with the headline and get them with the headline that the headlines aren't always factual for what's in the story of what they do. It's been a rocky year you in the media has that the worst of the storm passed now. Well, my problem is is that when someone asks me a question, I attempt to answer it and in the position as Governor highly elected official in some ways, you're not afforded that luxury that you really shouldn't answer some questions because they can be twisted and turned around and all of that stuff and so my fault is that I answer questions when I'm asked a question. I attempt to answer it and my answers And always mainstream necessarily on certain things and not you know, but I'm certainly entitled to my opinion and I you know, enjoy the right of the first amendment of freedom of speech and you know, people also are entitled to criticize me that goes with the territory and that's fine Dennis your question. (00:31:29) Yes. Good morning Governor. Hi Dennis. How are you? Fine? First? Let me tell you that I didn't vote for you. But I've certainly enjoyed watching your rise as governor for the state of Minnesota. My question is related to your original campaign platform and I work construction. And of course you were quite the talk in the break room early in the morning. Okay, and what was going on, but my question is related to three issues that you brought up in your original platform or perceived issues and let me list those three. The first was the legalization of prostitution. The second was the decriminalization decriminalization of marijuana. I use and the third was the right to carry a concealed weapon. Those are really probably the only three issues. That's the group I can hang with were interested and and and and they got your Vote or you got their votes. My question is is we're those issues stand today. Where do they sit on your stove on? Which burner are they? (00:32:32) Well, they're they're their personal viewpoints, you know, and when I'm asked questions, I'll give personal viewpoints and you know in the case of prostitution, I don't condone prostitution, but I also realized that it's not going to go away. I'm a realist and one must understand that prohibition doesn't mean something's going to disappear and go away just because Society or government prohibits it and I just think that we I don't believe that prostitute should be arrested. I don't think that that that in light of our situation where we have an overflow of prisoners right now in our Beds are full and all our prisons that I don't see where it does any good to arrest people for prostitution and put them in jail for that. That's just my personal opinion again marijuana marijuana, I believe in absolutely. We should be looking at Industrial Hemp. There's no doubt about it. Canada's using it making tons of products and business off it and and we're not and it could be an alternative crop for Farmers as far as marijuana. That is smoked. I view that is no different than alcohol it, you know or tobacco for that matter tobacco and alcohol are legal products that they really buy their legality. How do they get their legality while they pay the government to be legal? And what's interesting about the concept of illegal drugs is that we then take our resources and our money and spend it to make these other drugs illegal. Where you've got two very deadly drugs that by their legality simply by paying taxes. They pay the government. Tobacco pays the government and alcohol pays the government and therefore they are legal where all the other ones are not allowed that. Flexibility to pay for legality and now I'm very pleased that Governor Johnson of New Mexico has come out very strongly in support of stopping the war on drugs and going after a different way. Let me give an example Gary of how really ridiculous the War on Drugs is I Sit On The Board of Pardons along with the Supreme Court and Supreme Court Justice Kathleen Blatz and attorney general Mike Hatch. Well a month ago. We had a case where a first-degree murderer was trying to get his sentence commuted and we then get their record from prison now bear in mind. This man is in prison for first-degree murder. So this man is watched 24 hours a day this particular individual had 17 or 18 marijuana violations in prison. And I turned to the Chief Justice and I said now if we can't and this is only when he got caught it's probably like drunk driving. If you've been caught nine times. It means you've done it 300 times. You've just only been caught those nine. Well, if we can't keep marijuana out of prison where a guy for first-degree murder is locked up 24 hours a day. How are we expected to do it? And what's supposed to be a free Society? How how do we do that? How do we fight this supposed War she to me you fight the war by fighting the demand where we've been fighting it fighting the supply. You'll never win fighting the supply because we live in a free country where if you've got the money you can get anything you want anything. And so what we've got to do is fight it on the demand side if you take away the demand there will be no Supply concealed carry concealed carry. I'm a Believer in simply making it a not subjective but objective to wear if you qualify you should we should have a standard qualification and it shouldn't be left up to one person's Choice as it is now. Wow, if somebody doesn't like you personally you can't get it or they could be, you know, for whatever reasons they could decide they're going to deny you of their own personal reasons. I think you set it up you can make it as stringent as you want pass a gun training course pass an accuracy course re-qualify every year. All of those things and that that you should be able to if you if you so desire (00:36:48) Bonnie your question. Yeah. I'd like to know the governor's definition of to govern and the purpose of government. (00:36:59) Well, my definition is government should do for you what you can't do for yourself. Anything that you can do for yourself government shouldn't be involved in government. Is there for the common good the good of the of the of the society and it's and it's our job in government as a place. There's no doubt about it. As I said, it should be doing like, you know building highways Transportation things of that nature that's government's role in government's job, but government sometimes today, I think becomes the answer all to everyone government becomes the charity organization government becomes any particular group or person that needs help. It's then up to the government to do it. And I think that that's, you know, we need to follow our constitution a lot more closely of the role that government should play and that again is part of the big plan. That's defining what we believe State government's role should be in our lives follow-up Bonnie. I got the sense. There was something behind your question. (00:37:58) Well, it seems like that has been a response to human needs issues that the governor has used that. somehow doesn't sit right and Lacking it seems to lack compassion and I don't know where I got the idea that government should have be merciful something to do about equality. I (00:38:30) suppose well government should treat everyone equal. You know, we're all equal we should all be equal under the law and all equal in the eyes of the government. And that's government that to me is the role of government is to govern to take care of the common needs for everybody out there on a on a Level Playing Field government's job is to try to create as close to a Level Playing Field as it can possibly can for every citizen. But from that point on it's up to citizens to take the initiative to go out and play the game. What about the notion that this is a come up. If I don't get too deep into this we're talking big time political science theory here now, but what about the notion that government has some kind of a responsibility to get people up to the starting line those who are who are starting from a position behind other people in terms of leveling that playing the oh, I think certainly that should happen. I think you're strong case for that in many ways is the Hmong population. They're refugees. They're they're they're not they're here because they supported our government over over and In Southeast Asia and then were virtually kicked out of their country when the war ended and they were forced to come here. And I think that we have a responsibility to them because of the Loyalty that they showed to us to get them to that starting point. They're hard-working people. They'll carry the ball if they're given the opportunity to do so, you know and going back to the the question earlier at the guy that called about the tragic situation of the homeless of the chemical dependency again, I don't believe it's government's job because your chemical dependent to ensure that you're not that's a choice you make in life. If you become dependent upon chemicals, that's a choice you made and a choice you have to live with and a choice that you have to make to get out of it. Joel your (00:40:25) question. Hi Governor, how you doing? Good. Just wanted to say a good luck in the new year and support her and I like having you as Governor. Thank you. Appreciate it. My question though is what's your opinion on the situation with this lovefest between Republicans, especially in Minnesota and I'm not a Republican and I know you're not and George w-- Bush. I mean Republicans to me. I thought always stood for pro-defense and pro strong character. And you know, John McCain is the man for that. I mean, I'm a Democrat I voted for you and if McCain makes it past the primaries I will most likely vote for him. I mean, the guy has a compelling history. He's got solid credentials in terms of his personal commitment to issues reform and just good character. And why do you think there's this lovefest between the Republicans and George w-- Bush someone who obviously came into this world Way Beyond anybody else? (00:41:20) Well, I think what it is is a fact that the ultimate For the two-party system in the way. They think is win win at all cost. We need to provide a candidate that can win and so they're going to look at simply who is the most winnable candidate. I mean, let's face it. They've gone eight years out of the White House now, they want it back and they want it back badly. I agree with you. I think Senator McCain as outstanding we tried to recruit him. He belongs in the Reform Party. John McCain should be the should be the presidential candidate for the Reform Party because everything that he stands for is right in the Reform Party planks and and but he's a die-hard republican who probably you know, for whatever reason doesn't want to get involved in the third party movement. But the I believe the senator should be a Reform Party candidate, you know, and now but again, it's winning what it comes down to his winning and I think that's what it is. They feel that George W. The governor of Texas has the best chance of winning back the White House and ultimately that's the ultimate goal. It isn't who ends up in the White House and ends up Which party controls the White House? Are you satisfied with the people who likely will end up as the Reform Party candidates for president? I mean are these the best people to carry the Reform Party Banner next year? I don't know if they're the best but it's the old saying you you go with what brung you here. And if that's the only ones that are stepping forward. Well, then you gotta play the cards you're dealt Gary, you know, and and so I certainly if it comes down to Trump and Buchanan, I'm going to support Trump without any doubt in my mind than doing so I questioned Buchanan's motives for joining the Reform Party, you know, he it's come to my attention that he has a quite a debt from his last presidential election that he still has to pay off and how nice it is to get that Reform Party money that's waiting for him that can pay off that debt. Come on. I know you've said repeatedly you're not running for president. You don't want to be president of no interest in being president. But come next August if if the Reform Party people look around and say, you know, this whole thing is going down the tubes. None of these candidates are are the people we want to represent us Governor Ventura. Would you at least enter the race and carry the ball for us for a couple of months? No one do it. No Barb your question, please. (00:43:47) Hi Governor. Hi Barb. How are you? Good say, I'm calling from Duluth up here. And I'm just curious about I got my license plate fee here for my new used vehicle. And I know you'd made some comments about that. Nah, I have lots of relatives right across the border here over in Superior and they pay about $45 for the exact same vehicle. I would be dry or I am driving right now and it mine just came for $242, you know, help me out with that here (00:44:15) soon. I hope so it was in my budget last time but unfortunately the Republicans would not have anything to do with it the Democrats on the Senate side came crossed and supported a flat fee for those license tabs. But the last session the Republicans would have nothing to do with that. But now they're on board everything that I'm hearing from the Republican side in the houses that they too want to do something about license tab. So I got a feeling it's going to happen this session and hopefully we'll get him at least a $75 where the most you'll pay for that license tab. When you go to renew it will be $75 and you think there's enough money elsewhere to pick up the difference. There's enough money simply by the if we want to use the projected forecast of Revenue. We've got enough money right there to do it, you know, if the forecast of incoming Revenue if we could easily do it that way we can also shift over some of the tax that goes on new cars, you know, I believe that the sales tax spent on new cars should really go into the transportation system. That should not go into the general fund. I'm I'm a firm believer in user fees. I like fees that When you're taxed for something, you know exactly what it's going to be spent on speaking of sales taxes. Is it time to start hitting up the internet sales to collect sales tax on that? I think that that's inevitable that it will have to happen because internet sales are going to are going to bite into retail sales at the local level to where you're going to start losing revenue from sales locally via the Internet and I think that something will have to be done about it because it is sales and regardless if you do it over the Internet or do it at the local department store that it should kind of all fall under the same. Umbrella Tara are question before we run out of time (00:46:00) here. I'm actually I just have some kudos. Forgiving her Ventura. I think you're doing a great job. I love your politics. I love that you're honest. I don't always agree with your with all of your statements, but that doesn't matter we're human and so we can disagree about the absolutely we can but you you get things done and you speak your mind. You don't change what you're saying depending on who you're talking to you're not tied to some particular policy or platform. So you always have to say something in particular. I Think You're great and I think you're honest because you have no reason not to be and I think that some people need to look at that and that gave you such a hard time. I think you're doing a great job. I will vote for you again. I would vote for you for president. (00:46:39) Well, that's you don't have to worry about but Governor, maybe we'll we'll see what happens to be years from now, but of course the first lady you'll have a lot to say on that deal too. What did I as she enjoyed 1999 except for her bout of illness that mono that didn't seem to want to go away. She actually had three occur tree occurrences of it to where she thought she was. Over it and then picked up her workload and then the mono recurred again. She's one of those rare people that has a real hard time getting rid of it. And I think she's finally over it. She got it last February and it's carried through almost to about November, you know, but she's doing a whole lot better now and her health is strong again. And and so she's enjoying her work right now. I think come this time next year. I still Advocate that first lady should be paid mmm because they do an unbelievable amount of work for the state of Minnesota of which they get nothing for it you realize it comes with the territory and maybe maybe Terry my first lady won't get paid, but I'd sure like to see down the line whoever fills this office later on that something be done because they they are definitely ambassadors for the state of Minnesota and they do work on behalf of the state of Minnesota. And when you do work you should be paid for doing work. Come this time next year. What should citizens. How should they rank? He what should they look for and say well he said he was going to do this and by golly did it. Well, I think that the if they look over the past year I promised to give this the rebate back and I did I promise to get the do my best to get the the session done on time and we accomplished that I would say a year from now, I would look at will be putting forth a second biannual budget and hopefully will be coming forth with some meaningful property tax reform. Matt Smith is working on that right now. That's as as convoluted as that is it takes a while? You can't you can't change it overnight Governor. Thanks for coming in today. Happy New Year. Happy New Year to you always a pleasure and happy New Year to everyone out in Minnesota. And again, I'm going to take the time here to say please if you're going to drink don't drive New Year's night Governor Jesse Ventura our guests on this first hour of. Midday. It's 5 minutes now before 12.