With news from Minnesota Public Radio on Greta Cunningham a federal judge in St. Paul says he plans to rule sometime this afternoon on Northwest Airlines request for a temporary restraining order barring. It's flight attendants from illegal work actions. Minnesota public radio's marks that act like reports this morning in court Northwest accuse factions of the Teamsters Union of a terrorist, like gorillas assault on its operations and North West attorney said over the past few weeks. The airline has seen a 64% increase in sick calls from flight attendants and that Teamsters Union Workers are continuing to call in sick at a rate of about 50% above normal Northwest says union leaders have orchestrated a sick out despite public statements to the contrary on the way out of court Teamsters Local 2000 president Billy Davenport said, she was disappointed by many of the Airlines assertions and at the airlines request for a restraining order is unnecessary. The union is in the same as they have always been in.Encourage our members not to participate in any sick out or any illegal activities. This is Mark's officials with the Minnesota Department of Corrections, and the nonprofit group of migas and introduce a new mentoring program today called jump. The program is aimed at helping male juvenile offenders in Minnesota live Crime Free lives. The Twin Cities alternative newspaper City Pages has been sold to new investors New York City Base during publishing sold the paper along with the Village Voice and six other Weekly's to a newly-formed company called Village Voice media the forecast for the state of Minnesota calling for snow likely Statewide today. The snow may be mixed with Light freezing rain in the far Southwest high temperature today ranging from 18 in the Northeast 235 in the southwest right now in the Twin Cities report of Cloudy Skies, a temperature of 18 degrees is a news update. I'm going to Cunningham. Thanks brother 6 minutes now past 11.Good morning, and welcome to mid-day in Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary Yankton glad you could join us during this first hour of. Midday. We would like your help in trying to decide how the state of Minnesota should spend its money Governor Jesse Ventura in Minnesota house speakers Steve swiggum at yesterday to discuss their priorities for the upcoming legislative session and as usual the discussions focused on money and how to spend it both agree that the state will be passing what they're calling a pork free bonding bill for Capital Improvements, but there will likely be some Lively debate on what to do about the rest of the budget. Once again, the state of Minnesota is taking in more money, then it's scheduled to spend budget officials are projecting a 1.6 billion dollar Surplus.Even after the permanent tax cuts that were approved last year. So the big question facing the legislature and the governor again, this year will be what to do with the extra money. Give it all back in the form of tax rebates put it in the bank on the chance that the economy will go bad spend all or most of it on new programs things like roads and housing education. Those are some of the issues that legislators and the governor going to have to settle this spring and today. We'd like your suggestions for policymakers as they go about the business upsetting their priorities. What do you think? The state should do with the extra money? Give us a call here. Love to hear from you. 651-227-6030 Twin City area number 651-227-6084 calling from outside the Twin Cities. You can reach us toll-free. That number would be 1-800. +242-282-865-1227 6001 800-242-2828 now last week we talked with Governor Ventura.Her about the Surplus and some of the ideas for spending the money Governor. You might recall said that he is wary of spending any of the projected Surplus, but he says he will support rebating about a third of the Surplus about five hundred million dollars. 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 by annual 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 at biannually at June 30th of every other year. We balance the books and whatever's and surplus should go back to the people. This is Ensure Plus. It should go back and 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 some 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 the sales tax rebate. We now have the experience to do it match Smith over at the Department of Revenue would beReady 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 with the projected Surplus many legislators have been talking about increase spending in various areas. Republicans have been particularly looking at the area of increased spending for roads and bridges in the life. 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 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 Governor Jesse Ventura speaking last week on our mid-day program. Once again today. We'd like your ideas.The governor and legislators should do with the state budget. Surplus. Give us a call here are Twin City area number. Again. 651-227-6006 51227 6000 outside the Twin Cities 1-800. +242-282-865-1227 6001 800-242-2828. He's are always good programs in the sense that it gives us a nice base from which to cover the legislative session. As we debate these various issues always good to get an idea of what you folks think the policymakers should be up to First caller is from Duluth to good morning Jack. What would you think we should do with this money? And you said on there?It's our money for crying out loud. We have been over text for close to fifty years by the tax-and-spend government of the Humphrey Mondale. We're broke or it's time to stop that policy. It's time to go back to a to a more responsible fiscal policy and government lower the tax rate. Stop taking the money away from us and then figuring out what to do with With the excess with Surplus good right. Now. The governor says that he certainly supports giving back the five of five hundred million of the 1.6 because that was already in the in the coffers as of last summer, but he's pretty worried about giving away money. That's just projected to come in. Would you agree with his position. You don't look at the look at the projections keep it in mind that there may be more money available. But when it is available write the checks, I think that's the responsible policy for government if we have been overtaxed give it back. All right, one of the quick question Jack before we move on to our next caller. There are people who argue that the only reason the state has so much extra money is because it hasn't been spending enough on areas that are really does need to spend money on education housing in the like what what do you think? If in fact the legislature agrees that we need to spend that money on those areas and I guess I would agree. I'm an educator myself. We probably do need to spend more money, but we haven't spent the money and let's come up with like guys like the governor said for transportation. Let's come up with a reasonable plan. Let's work the plan and if we need more money education is a wonderful place to spend it on other Asian mentioned also, but in the meanwhile, I'll give it back and move forward with xx. And then worry about what to do when it's time to give it back. All right. Thanks Jerry. Thanks very much. Let's move on to Teresa who joins us now from Mendota Heights. Good morning Teresa. What would be your recommendation to the governor in the legislatures is to how to deal with this surplus of money. Well, you know, it's really interesting. I'm just driving in my car back from a Community Education Early Learning advisory council meeting where we were just talking about all the letters that we want a ride to that team and and tell them about how we need the the funding for early learning programs in our school district and I just can't stress enough how much I think any surplus that we find some portion of it has to go to education Early Learning & K through 12 because we're also fearful of the future for our kids and wants so hard to make sure that what they need to succeed is in place and sure we all get a rebate and then asked, you know, we'd only spend it on disposable things that maybe we do or we don't need but personally, I'd like to see it go towards something. I can make a difference for many many years to come instead of all of us going out then spending it on paint Builder or getting a new toys. Spring do you think it would be advisable though for policymakers to see how that money gets spent first before appropriate and even more meeting that I just came from doesn't get a didn't get an increase for 2000-2001. We just got one for the 99 2000. So we're all still up in the air as far as the first text yourself. I think it depends on which program I but I guess it's my blanket statement as you can spare us internationally and in other areas that education-wise I just don't think we can Overlook at the Overlook at when we're talking about sons and where they should go this morning Daniel. I agree a lot with the last caller that education is should be the focus. I think that we should be giving the money to actually reduce class. I know that the governor gave a lot of money in the last session to that cause when I understand that it's not going to relieve translate into building new schools. And in the kinds of things that it would really take to reduce class size and you know, if people don't like the idea that that legislators legislatures would be making the decision after the fact with this extra money then send it out as a referendum have the policymakers come up with a list of five things education or tax rebate where they send it out a little postcard everybody in the state. They can check off what they want and a back pain of an advisory referendum sure. Just joining us. So we would like your ideas this hour on what to policymakers should do with the extra money that the state will have to work with this year legislative session starts in a couple of weeks legislative leaders, and the governor have been talkin about the priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Once again this year they have a surplus or at least a projected Surplus to work with him about 1.6 billion dollars the question on the table again, this year is what to do with that money, and as they try to formulate their priorities without a be interesting to get your input that they can lean on give us a call here 651-227-6006 51227 6000 outside the Twin Cities. You can reach us toll-free at one. 800-242-2828 Barbara's on the line from Morris. Good morning, Barbara. I think we should use it to clean up the Minnesota River Basin. There was a very good. Issue of it in the paper several weeks ago about how badly polluted the area is due to many small towns that don't have proper. Sewage disposal plants that a firm's that don't have proper sewage disposal. Some businesses that pollute as well as non-point pollution. That should be work time. I think it would be a long-term project. I know it would be because there has been some work done already which has been successful but it needs money. Do small towns can't possibly have enough money to a couple of million for a sewage disposal plants and they need matching money from the state and the federal or not to put you on the spot here. But as you heard we've had a couple calls already saying they'd like to see that money invested in education. How do you make your case versus education? I think that they boosted education. Last year we should wait and see before we give anymore. Education and do a little something for the governor is not much of an environmentalist. But this affect a lot of people out in this part of the state and its effects all the way down the Mississippi River down at the mouth of the Mississippi because of all the pollution that's all the way down and I think we should make some kind of There will be no Minnesota River for our children or grandchildren or more. Thanks for your call Jean. She's on the line from St.Paul. Good morning, Jean good morning and your suggestion for what the legislators and the governor should do with the extra money. a lot of two houses It's a disgrace to think that in these prosperous times. There are people without house or home to live in that people that are working can't afford to home even to rent and then there's some other people and other groups if need assistance with housing, especially in Minnesota with her extreme time. It's really a disgrace now governor of Ventura when he was on last week noted that he had approved a huge increase significant increase in money for housing. Do you think we should let that work its way through the system first and see how that pans out or do we really need immediate more money immediately in that I think both I do think people need help right now for the winter those that are homeless especially and I think it's fine. I did not hear of the governor last week, but that is at least a start and it's more than a lot done in the past. Bob is on the line now also from St.Paul the morning Bob. Good morning. If you were King, I would you allocate that money. And I think that we need to give the teachers a raise. I talked some legislators at State Fair and they said that you know, we'd given them a record amount of money, but the problem is they're so far behind it's been so many years that the teachers have not been able to catch up. And you're seeing is booming economy and they're not being able to be part of it is cuz of a couple of weeks ago. I heard on public radio that only a third of the school dress District. It actually settled with their teeth. So I think that's it's an area we need to address. We need to attract better quality teachers and retain them. A lot of people just can't afford to stay in them in the business and you can see that now because they're hiring teachers without licenses and they're really scraping the bottom of the barrel when does suck new knowledge-based economy given the fact that it's actually local school districts who work out these contracts with teachers if the state were to put some more money in that category. Should they attach some strings to the money or let the school districts handle this on their own? An individual School District, but it seems to me at this point in time. That might not be a bad idea strings. Well, I think the team we need to see the teachers get it because there's a there's a lot of a lot of different meats are competing for scarce resources in each district last question again. The pin you down here, but that's one of those programs that once you start you can't really scale back people's salaries. So it would be an ongoing expense for the state. Would that trouble you at all and be over and above the fact that they have the Surplus money to put the warded the following years. They'd still have to come up with the same amount of money. I presume write the teacher salaries download the long run. All right. Thanks Bob. Appreciate your suggestions on how policymakers should deal with. The projected Surplus for the state house speakers Steve swaggin is on the line. Now he met with the governor yesterday and good morning. Mr. Speaker. Good morning Gary amiable meeting with the governor on this cordial meeting with the governor of we talked to obviously some some about the Surplus that Gary but we also talked about other things as such as a unicameral legislature and roll initiative real economic bills and Light Rail. We talked about number things on the money questions. Is there any dispute do you anticipate any dispute whatsoever about rebating at least 500 million of the Surplus? I don't think they're there will be much disagreement to that. I Gary with the substantial Surplus that we have available again this year, you know, I know there is a lots of different ideas of how to spend your money Gary, but the fact is it is your money and and I think about to be back to you. What about the argument that mr. Speaker that some people make they say that the only reason relay that the state has the the Surplus is because we have not properly funded some some necessary programs Transportation, perhaps housing education what happy is, you know, the house Republican caucus for this year is already came out come out with our agenda which includes investing in infrastructure in including roads and bridges and addressing the bottlenecks exist within the metropolitan area and some Highway quarters and I'll State Minnesota. So that is on your agenda. And I think that we will be making some some wise Investments like that and infrastructure, but when you look historically in the past years up this last by any, of course if we just went through last year of increased Aid spending by about the 6.2% but before that the biennium before was 18.6% 18.6% increase in spending during the previous Bantam is a substantial amount of money and you almost have to wonder how much is an often. You know, how much can you take out of the the pockets of hard-working Minnesota families and not let them make decisions in their own life with their own family and their own kids is the the legislature's position going to be then in for the most part as people come to you and say gosh we need more money for this that and the other thing is your position basically going to be no way I could say basically that would be the position. Let let me refer to a Governor Ventura first that he is said no supplemental budget budget Appropriations and he's been pretty adamant about that said last year was the Budget Inn year of the tax spend year. We did all the appropriating for the various agencies and departments programs last year and You said no supplemental budget Appropriations. I guess I have couch that a little bit by saying that if there be deficiencies or emergencies that we ought to consider. Those are Frances. Let me know if I turn a deficiency may be in the area of Education not a secondary vocational education was funded only for the first year the biennium not for the second year. I would consider that to be a deficiency, you know while with the governor's veto is for some money going to Department natural resources and some of our environment the areas. Do you know that might be a deficiency but you know because of the beat those I would like the couch and then say except for deficiencies are emergencies and as you well know sir this of course is an election year. Is that how might that affect legislative decisions so I would think the Temptation would be strong to provide some some tax relief might also be fairly strong to provide. Extra spending in areas where they might translate two boats are you up? You try to help as many people as possible and obviously as you relate to an election year of people like to say that yes, you know legislators politicians by their very nature don't like to use the word know Gary that doesn't make a lot of friends. You know, it doesn't make people feel well I'm so when interest groups come with ideas and there's thousands of good ideas hundreds of good ideas in relationship to new programs are how to spend your money, but I but I think we have to keep again in the in the mind I bet it is your money. This is an over taxation now that his dad is taking place at least over what was anticipated and while there may be some Define Emergency small ones that we need to take care of a generally speaking night. I think that the as a Citizens the families that was hardworking taxpayers You Oughta be receiving their dollars back to them. Thanks. Mr. Speaker. Appreciate you joining us. Have a wonderful 2008 Program. Now, we've got a full Bank of collars with the idea people with ideas on what the state should do with its projected budget. Surplus. You heard the speaker's position and now we'd like to get your thoughts on that 1.6 billion dollars is you heard at the beginning of the program Governor Ventura supports returning at least 500 million in a media tax rebates to to Minnesota taxpayers money that was collected. I was in the coffers by last summer. He's wary of spending any projected money, but we'd like to get your ideas on what the state should do with policymakers. Let me give you the number here. Don't dial in right now, though, because you'll get a busy signal, but got the number down and try right after the news 651-227-6006 51227 6000 outside the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828. So you say all your radios are SEPTA Minnesota Public Radio and you can quietly listening all day everyday all these years without letting anyone know how you feel. Well now's your chance call one 877-745-8867 and tell us what you love about MPR your favorite programs host a personal experiences Show Your Love of NPR. Give us a ring today at 1 877-745-8867. By the way. Hope you can join us over. The noon hour today should be a great conversation former vice president Walter mondale's coming by or Studios today and that we thought it'd be a great opportunity. What was the start of the new century and everything to get his perspectives on presidential Politics the Champions heating up now Corso talk about America's role in the world really whatever you'd like to chat with. Mr. Mondale about that's coming up over the noon hour a reminder at 6 this evening live coverage of today's debate featuring. Democratic presidential candidates Al Gore Builder Bradley, that's at 6 tonight tomorrow night at 6 the Republican candidates. And if you can't catch those debates, we're going to rebroadcast both of them on Friday. Of a presidential candidate Extravaganza on Friday here on Mid Daiso Market down and then hope you can tune in right now news headlines. Cunningham. Good morning. Gary beneficial says the Cuban government will not stop Elian Gonzalez his father from going to Miami to get his son. However, the official says the boy's father should not go unless American officials first degree to let the six-year-old boy returned to Cuba a US officials has the Clinton Administration has a savannah to let Gonzalez Discord his son home if the Immigration and Naturalization Service decides, the boys should return to Cuba has said a January 21st hearing on the case, but officials have said a decision could be reached sooner a tug-of-war over the boy has been going on ever since he was rescued off the coast of Florida in November. He had been aboard a few What about boat that capsized killing several people including his mother? It's a President Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton are going to spend their first night in their new house in New York White House. Spokesman. Joe Lockhart says the president decided he wasn't needed at Mideast peace talks in West Virginia. So he's going to help the first lady unpack Clinton's bought the home last fall to establish a New York residence. So the first lady can run for Senate in Regional news a federal judge is expected to decide by the end of today whether to stop Northwest Airlines flight attendants from conducting an alleged sick-out Northwest accuses its flight attendants Union of using guerrilla warfare to win a new contract Union officials deny sanctioning any job action. So Minneapolis detectives aren't happy with Minneapolis Police Chief Robert Olson's decision to remove Sirens from unmarked police cars all sense as detective should be investigating crimes not making emergency runs, but some detect to say the equipment could help them catch criminals the forecast for the state of Minnesota today calls for snow likely Statewide the snow may be mixed with some light freezing rain in the far Southeast eyes today from 18 in the Northeast 235 in the southwest tonight. Mostly cloudy Sky Statewide with snow tapering to flurries Louis tonight ranging from 0 in the Northwest. Turn your 20 in the Southeast at this hour. Some snow is reported in many locations. St. Cloud reports light snow and 19 degrees. Is it snowing in Duluth and 13° International Falls report snow in 16 sunlight snow is falling in Sioux Falls on 26th. And in the Twin Cities partly cloudy skies a temperature of 20 degrees. That's a look at the latest news. We are. Listening ideas from those of you listening to the program as you probably know state coffers are overflowing once again about a 1.6 billion dollar projected Surplus legislative leaders or talking with the governor's office trying to set priorities for the upcoming legislative session and among the things that they're talking about is just what to do with this projected Surplus. We've asked those of you listening to give us a call with your suggestions for policymakers. Again the number to call to 651-227-6020 area number. 651-227-6000. Side the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828 first half of the program in case you join us late. We had the several suggestions for increased education spending the suggestion that some money be put to cleaning up the Minnesota River suggestion that more money be put into housing. I'll call her a suggested. Frankly the word overtaxed the money should be returned to taxpayers and if the legislature, in fact, thanks more money should be spent in a given area than they need to actually increase spending on a permanent basis in those areas like your ideas. Give us a call here. You might wait for a couple of minutes to dial in otherwise, you'll get a busy signal and get frustrated and we would like your ideas so call here in about 2-3 minutes vs to call her this half hours from Alexandria Earl. Thanks for checking in. Thank you for letting me talk to you one be to invest in Minnesota just the idea of investing for Minnesota so that we can better our income from that money. Obviously a lot of people talk my education. I think that's the really good investment for our long-term gain actually in the technology area. We can talk about a lot of e-commerce and how Minnesota is positioning itself in the technological future. Terraria I'm it would be the end of the Private Industry and maybe even having Minnesota having some of its own business has worked or lived in a city that one place where they had some private Investments. And actually there is no tax basis in the city. If it is the city work completely off of its own investment so that maybe if we can get up a head of steam with the investing Minnesota, we might even be able to reduce and eliminate taxes in the long run. Let's move on to Elizabeth Elizabeth. Yes, you know a few years ago in Governor Carlson was governor. We talked about not having programs that had tails to them. If we were going to use additional money that we had available and the program or the thing that seems to have the biggest tail does bonding cost and you know, I know any solution that we have is going to be a mixture of things that doesn't make sense to me for us to be borrowing money that we're going to pay interest on over a long. Of time and at the same time looking at giving people money back. It seems to me that you're basically borrowing money so that you can give it back to people I think we should be using at least a part of this money to prepay silver bonding cost which lowers the cost of government overall in the long run. When asked that question last week said well, you don't tell you know, you you borrow money to buy your house. In the state basically can you know and I think a lot of other people also would do that they borrow money to buy their house because they don't have the money in their pockets mansion in Siri. I guess all of them are there for the long-term and that no one group of taxpayers that is to say people who are paying taxes this year last year should have to pick up the full tab that you want to spread those costs over there at the life of the project so that all who benefit will pay a little bit of the cost. Do that with the majority of our bonding and I'm not saying that we won't we shouldn't do any bonding in the future. But the truth is Gary. We're paying a lot more money because we're spreading that cost over time and it seems to me that one of the best investments we could make as your last caller said is to reduce the cost of government overtime by just pre-paying music off on to Don who joins us for Minneapolis morning, Don it morning already one of her more enlightened politicians had the best idea. He I think we have buns that we are paying 5 + 6 + 7 / sin x natural those could be paid off first. I would think a lot of money in the future. But of course, we need more money to for environment to so angry with those collars. What time? If we pay our stuff it's behind so I think it's millions of dollars. I don't know exact figure but then we would have what we could reduce taxes. Okay. Thanks Nathan's on the line from Spring Valley with some thoughts on how the policymakers should deal with the projected budget. Surplus. Hi, Nathan. I guess my idea is the spending on education, of course in like a long collar earlier said giving a teacher to raise they should be able to reap some of those Bounty that we have and then taking care of the roads and things like that and the environment and then one of my pet peeves is The DNR wanting to raise her license fees, maybe they could instead of raising her license fees get some extra money there. And then also a member of the National Guard and it would be nice to see a better better benefits as far as instead of the 60% tuition reimbursement, maybe go up to the 75% or 400% tuition reimbursement and bring bring back the old loan repayment program. Maybe add some bonuses in there. So they don't have a hard time as they are now retaining people so hard so essentially kind of a long list of things you'd like to spend that money on a don't you want to rebate I enjoyed my rebate check last year definitely in all but there is there are plenty of things to take care of since they do have the money now that may How to do that and I know I'm sure there are plenty of people going what info but I definitely definitely think the Minnesota Air Guard and National Guard needs an Army National Guard needs to be getting some of this and their teachers 100% Of course, I definitely agree with that and then you know, I'm stead of raising my ass hunting fees. Maybe they can get it from Surplus already becoming a rich man's sport out there. All right. Thanks Nathan. Thank you. How are you today? I'm just fine for your thoughts. And what policymakers should do with this Surplus any way you approach the money that the legislature has been proactive in in Saving they've just been the beneficiary of a really solid economy. And that does that mean that this is their money to spend? This is our money. We should be getting something for their taxpayers and all of the colors that have called in and had legitimate programs. My family. Actually, my father was in the school business and there are a lot of pictures that are underpaid frankly. There are some teachers that are overpaid. So I think that I guess my feeling is best the rebate is kind of a feel-good situation. They've gone through the expense and bureaucracy of collecting this tax money, then they go through the expense and bureaucracy of rebate a portion of this and we feel wonderful about it. The fact is is that what we really should have is an adjustment in our tax rates to bring in line the the money that's going in to be aligned with the money that's going out right now. They did cut taxes substantially. Correct last last year last spring. A little concerned that if if they further reduce taxes on top of what they've already done that to three years down the road. If or when the economy goes south then they're going to be short of money that is a possibility the flip side of that is it if they go ahead and and raised whatever it might be raised rates that they're giving their get. I'm sorry. I raise amounts that they're giving two different programs. And and we have any kind of Correction in the economy that brings things back into line where it's not quite as strong as it has been the last couple years. We'd be in a situation there. Where what would they have to do than either cut those programs or razor razor taxes at that point? I guess my feeling is this I would rather see them hang on to this money put it in some sort of annuity generate some money from that. Yes, if there are some some programs that are truly deficiency. Send a little bit of the money on that but by a large if we adjust for this the Surplus from last year the Surplus from this year and and don't continue to have a surplus we're going to have some long-term problems. I think. Okay. Thanks for your call. Go on to our next caller thoughts on what policymakers should do faced with the usually Pleasant Prospect of having more money than they know what to do with high. Chris minnesotans can do a lot with that money as opposed to you don't have a rebate check and I'm just going out and doing something with that money. I mean, I guess minnesotans have to ask themselves. What did they do with the rebate check to go to dinner today buy some Christmas presents. I mean, what do they do with the money? We've been talking about light rail for quite some time and wondering how to find it and Rapid Transit seems to To be The Logical choice for it. If you don't get the people to jobs, which would give us increase productivity in the state, which is just going to increase the money going around the state is going to the multiplier effect from economics. And you know, New York City when I started researching the subway system in the 1800's they said they were going to do it but the architect said that the major benefit and rail system that they built in New York City in the 1800 with bisquit a for itself and roughly 10 years and it paid for paper itself and it was like eight years or something. Don't call me unless it's bringing people to Johnson's most important thing. I don't know if you caught the bus around Minneapolis going out to the suburbs to a job, but it's at least an hour and a half to our trip and that's a damn that's going there and coming back so is 4 out of 4 hours out of a person today. So for people that don't have transportation like automobiles which are major pollutants on the road and bad for the environment. If we get cars off the streets were going to be doing a lot better for the environment and we got to be bringing people to jobs and they're going to be out there in 15-20 minutes people from the suburbs to park in a huge parking lot jump on the trail and just sit back of a cup of coffee and read the paper on the way in to tell her to their job. Thanks for the suggestion and Bob if you were a king, how would you appropriate that money? Thank you. I would urge really enjoy your show. I would urge the legislators to reconsider their inability to get house file and send a file out of committee this last legislative session into the new session coming up this February namely to consider and study the advantages at the University of Minnesota zip at in the 1980s system of personal Rapid Transit as a way of getting people out of their automobiles as Chris just said in the last call this purse. Rapid transit system is something that would be economically much cheaper Than Light Rail and much more effective. It can carry the capacity of people and get them to where they want to go in Non-Stop on demand 24 hours a day 7 days a week what a better way to get people to their work on time and with minimal travel time. So I put a little bit of that money aside to to look into PRT are those pills called for $600,000 to study the best place to put a trial line just to prove people that really works and that's the minimum of $600,000 the study that thing just to see what it's real advantages would offer. Thanks Bob. Thank you. Next caller is from Fargo. Hi, Mike my call. I am not a resident of the state of Minnesota, but I do own property in the state and I do pay sales tax etcetera. I have a cup. I guess I question concerning the money. Has been renovated and his proposed to be rebated. Does that come from those funds? And then how do I get my share or pan? I realize I probably don't so I guess I'm not in favor of of a rebate but to utilize the money within the state somehow. I understand that out of state residents were able at least in theory to apply for the sales tax rebate. If you could come up with the sales tax receipts. Did you do that what you're saying? But nothing was sent to people who do pay taxes in the state of Minnesota to my knowledge if I didn't receive anything. Okay, so you just assumed that since it was collected here in Minnesota going to be used for programs in Minnesota rather than sent back to Minnesota taxpayers because your pay Taxes and you're not going to get anything. Thanks. Mike off. We going out to Lake Elmo. We're at joined us morning add. What what would you suggest to policymakers if they would have called you to let you know the legislature is a whole or the Democratic and the Republican caucus or threw up a wish list of things that they believed to be essential that list could be quite lonely wouldn't be very hard to draw it up and then we would get rid of this idea that we have a surplus and give it back as if they were no unmet needs all the time and it's like a family saying our route 56, but what if you don't have the money now, that's one of the employee of the year. This is what I think social programs are badly in need because for my self-interest the statistics certainly show that people whose children grew up deprived unsatisfactory dentist are more likely to end in a criminal or drug addiction situation then people and families who are able to take care of the children and I am making a contribution every year. It's a very small one who will the Heat cheer NSP advertisers it safe to leave heat in Minnesota. Give me a break to the charity. It's ridiculous. That should be an essential programs that the other states will take care of it. I don't think anybody should be left in an apartment without any heat simply is an independent churches to to make the contributions that many other problems. And put people in jail, if we did more things in advance to provide wholesome environment for children, we wouldn't have that problem 10 years from now is we're kind of working our way out of time but we've got time for a few more suggestions of Bob. What would you do if legislators asked you how to deal with that extra money colors of hit on my ideas and not too many of them. I think it just gets pretty much squatter and my thought is a today to reduce the state's spending on the bond with Sean when your previous college mansion and also to reduce our interest expenses the money that we borrow to operate the government on a day-to-day basis and you don't think those costs should be spread out over the life of a of a long Turn project so that everybody down the road helps pay for a little bit to know not really have mentioned the access that we've got has developed mostly from the the good Economic Times that were experiencing thanks. Bob lease is on the line from Lakeville Lisa. What would you do with that money? But I really my opinion is that I think we should attack Surplus should go back to all the taxpayers would really like to see the rebate tax especially cuz I am a college student and as a dependent I didn't did not get a rebate text last time when we had them sent out and I would really fit. I think that the people everyone who has a TENS or files a 1040 who has taxable income should be eligible to get a tax rebate from the sticks by a big hunk of Vitex going to the state for taxes. And I know as a college student even a little that would help a lot to get that back. Okay. So even though some people have argued that we basically just squander the money in your case. You'd say no, I don't squander it. I need it. So it all and I think that anyone could you was a little extra and what they want to do with it is is there a visitor since their money it's there and I don't think that it's up to us to say that we are to say I was going under it and what if I don't want to give my money to education what if I want to maybe help the environment I can use my rebate back to environmental programs like the Wild Wild Kratts on material good for whatever Ice Lisa Allen you get the last word a quick word. It needs to be though. What would you like? Cornered most of mine last year, but I feel that as one caller said there are some teachers that are overpaid but I don't care providers may be a bonus for daycare providers may let you go here because your phone is breaking up on us, but for those of you who couldn't quite understand what I was suggesting he he thinks more more help needs should be provided to daycare providers. None of them. He says are are Peyton up? Well, that's a good idea on what the state to do with its budget surplus 1.6 billion dollars. Of course that will be a focus a big focus of this upcoming legislative session and we'll have extensive and extended coverage of that session is always here on Minnesota Public Radio. Should we invite you to stay tuned also, we invite you to stay tuned. What were the noon hour today? We're going to be talking with former vice president, Walter Mondale. Coming up at 12 on Saturday January 15th, fresh from a live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion the Swedish Ensemble Vincent is taking the stage again at the Fitzgerald theater for special concert performance this energetic group features, Viola acoustic guitar percussion and an ancient Swedish instrument called the nyckelharpa tickets for vets in are available through Ticketmaster at 612-989-5151 or at the Fitzgerald Theater box office and pure members. Don't forget to ask for your discount. And here is The Writer's Almanac for Wednesday. It's the 5th of January 2000. It was on this day in 1643. The first divorce recorded in the American colonies was finalized and Clark of Massachusetts Bay Colony had petition for divorce from her husband, Dennis Clark who admitted to abandoning his wife and two children for another woman. The Court's record said she is guaranteed to be divorced. It was on this day in 1887 the first Library school opened at Columbia University the beginning of the field of study now called Library science. It was on this day in 1896. The X-ray was discovered accidentally by the German physicist vilhelm Conrad roentgen. It's the birthday of poet WD Snodgrass William DeWitt Snodgrass born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, 1926. His first collection of poems Hearts needle won the Pulitzer Prize in 1959. It's the best day of dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey born in Rogers, Texas 1931 form his own company the Alvin Ailey American dance theater in 1958 established a place for blacks in modern dance his most famous work Revelations based on Negro spirituals and it's the first day of Umberto Eco born alessandria Italy 1932 author many works of fiction including Foucault's pendulum and in the name of the Rose. You're too poems for today the first by William Butler Yeats and the second by David budbill William Butler Yeats is the song of wandering aengus. I went out to the Hazelwood because if I was in my hand and cut and peeled Hazel wand and hook the battery to a thread and when white moths were on the wing and moth like stars were flickering out. I dropped the berry in a stream and caught a little silver trout. When I had laid it on the floor, I went to blow the fire a flame put something rustled on the floor and someone called me by my name. It had become a glimmering girl with apple blossom in her hair who called me by my name and ran and Faded through the brightening air. The Y mold with wondering to hollow lands and he lands I will find out where she has gone and kiss her lips and take her hands and walk among long dappled grass and pluck till time and times are done. The silver apples of the Moon the golden apples of the Sun. And the poem by David budbill the 6th of January. Cat sits on the back of the sofa looking out the window through the softly falling snow at the last bit of gray light. I can't say the Sun is going down. We haven't seen the Sun for 2 months. Who cares. I'm sitting in the blue chair listening to the Stillness. The only sound the occasional gurgle of tea coming out of the pot and into the cop. How can this be such calm such peace such Solitude in this world of Woe. Poem by David budbill the 6th of January from moment-to-moment poems of a mountain recluse published by Copper Canyon, press and used by permission here on The Writer's Almanac for Wednesday, January 5th made possible by the people at 21 North Main sellers of used rare and out-of-print books and supporters of the new literacy campaigns research by Angela Braun. Be well do good work and keep in touch. Regional broadcast of The Writer's Almanac are supported by market Banks your community bank offering a broad range of financial services for your business and personal needs news headlines are coming up next right after the news will be talking with former vice president Walter Mondale and a reminder at 6 tonight live coverage of that Democratic presidential debate. I'm Lorna Benson. Be sure to tune in for the next All Things Considered for all the day's top stories plus insightful conversations and commentary. It's all things considered weekdays at 3 on Minnesota Public Radio k n o w FM 91.1 you're listening to Minnesota Public Radio. We have a cloudy Sky. It's 20 degrees at Kinder W FM 91.1 Minneapolis. And st. Paul light snow is likely through the afternoon with the high in the mid-twenties tonight. Maybe some more snow with too much accumulation low in the teens tomorrow cloudy with some flurries in a higher on 20 degrees.