(00:00:00) From Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Greta Cunningham as you just heard on National Public Radio former vice president Walter Mondale says, he will accept the dfl nomination for US Senate tonight. If it's offered the dfl Party Central Committee meets tonight A Minneapolis and is expected to name Mondale to replace Paul wellstone on the ballot wellstone his wife and daughter three dfl activists and two pilots died in a plane crash Friday in northern Minnesota dfl party chair. My Curlin sun' says Mondale will be a good replacement for wellstone on the ballot. I'm certainly thrilled that Walter Mondale has sent a letter today with his intentions to seek the nomination. I fully expect that the dfl party will come together unanimously tonight behind a candidate because we believe that the fight for working men and women in Minnesota and across the country has to continue Republican candidate Norm Coleman restarted his campaign today. He's traveling around the state will be in st. Paul this evening Governor. Jesse Ventura says, he's considering appointing an independent to serve in the Senate until the Her of the senate race is determined when Torah says he was disgusted by last night's well Stone Memorial, which he says was too partisan under state law Ventura has the power to make an appointment to fill out the remaining months of the late. Senator. Paul wellstones term the governor spoke this morning on KSTP radio. I will try to find an independent I will and and the person that I would (00:01:20) choose because this this person could end up in there longer. Do you think you're a lawyer (00:01:26) right away when I'm behind you? All right. Well, well, you know, if this think it's good if (00:01:31) this gets tied up into a bunch of litigation my appointment could sit could be there a (00:01:36) while Mentor says whoever he chooses to fill the spot will have to promise him that they won't run if the lawsuit results in a new election right now in the Twin Cities drizzle and 37 degrees. That's a news update. I'm Greta Cunningham programming and Minnesota Public Radio is supported by Triple Espresso a highly caffeinated comedy a homegrown production designed to make you laugh until you cry appearing now at the music box theater. Available at six one two six 730404 it six minutes past 12:00. And good afternoon. Welcome back to midday on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary eichten. Well election day is less than a week away now and today after shutting down since Friday to pay tribute to senator Paul wellstone. The campaigns are back in full swing most of the attention these past couple of days is naturally as focused on the senate race who would replace wellstone on the ballot and tonight as Greta was reporting we should get official word that Walter Mondale will be the party's nominee again a reminder. We'll have a special campaign report starting at 7:00 tonight. But even as folks are focused on the senate race a new Star Tribune, Minnesota poll out today seems to indicate that the governor's race in Minnesota may be shaking out a bit the poll which was conducted on Monday and published today shows Republican Tim pawlenty and Democrat Roger Mo still virtually tied with support from about 30 percent of those polled. But according to the poll Independence Party candidate Tim penny has fallen about 10 points. Hi know thirteen percent of those surveyed said they had no opinion as part of our meet the candidates series. We'll be talking with all three of the leading candidates this week Republican Tim pawlenty tomorrow and Independence Party candidate Tim Penny on Friday today. We've been joined by dfl candidate Roger mole. And if you have a question or comment for the dfl candidate for governor, give us a call at six five one two, two seven six thousand 6512276 thousand outside the Twin Cities 1-800 to for 228280. Thanks for coming in today. (00:03:45) Thank you Gary. It's nice to be with you again (00:03:48) before we get get to the governor's race. I need to ask you the governor governor Ventura and some others were upset with the tone of last night's memorial for the wellstones. Do you think it was too much rally and not enough Memorial? (00:04:09) Well, first of All I think let's let's separate it out. I think the comments made by one of the very close friend of Senator wellstone. I think that's probably what folks are making reference to that was a couple of minutes out of a three plus our rally and those were personal comments from somebody who obviously is emotionally involved in all of this. And yes, I think you might have stepped over the line. I you know, I agree with that that's unfortunate, but I don't think we should let that overshadow. What was a wonderful testimonial from a lot of people about the six individuals that that died in that tragic crash. So you have to kind of keep in mind as I sat there last night and and reflected on Paul's life. Paul's life was a lie. Of having rallies and having a spirited involvement and I think that's what that's what you saw overwhelmingly last night unfortunate the comments made by one individual might have gone over the line and that's unfortunate (00:05:26) from a personal stand for point. Is it is it tough today to gear up again after all that's happened this past week. Of (00:05:35) course, it's tough Paul wellstone Paul Sheila Marsh. I knew all of the individuals that died in that crash. It's yes, it's extremely difficult, but I have to go back to knowing Senator wellstone the way that I knew him and he'd say, okay, you know, the crying is over, you know, get your eyes dry get your eyes back and focus and get on the bus and get at it. And so that's what I intend to do over these last days and obviously got to cram. Ten days of campaigning in 25. I will do that will make tracks all over the state and basically Shore up the the base and and let folks know that the best way to pay tribute to Paul and Sheila wellstone and their amazing lives and contribution to the public processes to have a record turnout get everybody out the vote. That's the great tribute to them. (00:06:37) I don't want to dwell here and I don't intend to dwell on campaign strategy, but the word was that you were counting heavily on some help from the wellstone get-out-the-vote effort. Is that how does how does his death and that part of the thing affect you (00:06:57) nothing changes? I still am they I can assure you that Paul's campaign operation. My guess is that by tomorrow again, they're going to be Back full steam they're certainly going to be heavily engaged in the get out the vote effort. And yes, I'm still counting on that. (00:07:20) What do you see because again the time is so limited here. A lot of people had only begun to start to focus on the election. When all the campaign's were shut down. I would guess there are some people who are having trouble remembering what are the big issues in the governor's campaign? What do you see as the as the major issues that you're going to be stressing here these last six days. (00:07:44) Well, I think at the couple of things I think voters now are having Clear Choices as you can tell from the most recent poll. It's a basically a statistical Dead Heat between myself and the Republican and the independence candidate. Mr. Penny is fading out of the picture. Obviously, his votes will have a factor on the outcome of the election, but it's fairly clear based upon what we see today. He's not going to get elected. So I think it becomes very clear now. For voters so they can they have an option between the Republican ticket, which is going to be Tim pawlenty and Norm Coleman or the Democratic ticket, which is Roger Mo and I guessing it's going to be Walter Mondale that that but obviously I think based upon what he said here just shortly ago that he would accept that nomination. So that fairly clear indication that he's going to be on the ticket. So I think that's a fairly clear contrast right there. But then in terms of the Republican candidate myself, I think we have a very clear difference on a lot of issues but I really think the biggest issue is who can govern who can govern as somebody who has a reputation like I do of Reaching Across party lines and across this state to pull people together recognizing that we're going to have some tough medicine on this budget, but we can't limit our options or somebody who has taken a pledge political. Edge to a political group not to raise taxes. And in fact when and up on the property tax somebody who has denied the public employees their contract ratification of their contract. How do you expect that person to be able to pull people together to reform government? So it's who can govern who is going to be able to pull all of this together during these tough times in the immediate future and lead the state (00:09:38) candidate Penny and others have said that neither you nor Tim pawlenty should be elected. If for no other reason than the way the budget was handled this past year Governor proposed budget plan that included spending cuts tax increases and the legislature instead went with a program of basically drawing down the reserves and so on Governor's critique is that you simply put this off so you could get yourself elected this November. How do you respond to that? (00:10:13) Well again, I would suggest to the Independence Party candidate since he was the governor's chief advisor and and now his the governor's hand-picked candidate. Where was he? Where was he during all of this? Where was he in previous years when we were making decisions on the budget. Let me let me take the rebate issue in particular. If you add up the three rebates they become ironically close to the amount of the budget Gap that we have projected about three billion dollars. So where was the advising the governor on that? So the bottom line is this that we the Senate which the that's what I had the responsibility for we did put in fact together a balanced budget that would have raised some revenues. We had the cigarette tax. It would have covered the base inflation plus an inflationary impact for education for our Schools and we would if we would have used certainly some of the reserves that's that's the approach that the Senate took as we negotiated. We were unable to get our way but we ended up with a budget that did not have any cuts to schools. We did not have any cuts on to local government Aid so that we did not shift any of the burden back on to the property tax. We did not have any cut on healthcare workers and we were able to replenish half of the budget Reserve. We thought that was a reasonable way in order to reach agreement in spite of the fact that the Senate and I would have preferred to have had a different way of solving it (00:11:49) looking ahead. How would a governor Mo in broader terms deal with the budget deficit that the state faces 50/50 in terms of spending cuts and tax increases 7525 one way or the other in those broader terms. How are you thinking about dealing with the (00:12:08) deficit? Well, first of all, I'd try to get minnesotans back to work. Let's face it this Said this election is about the economy me just read the business page more and more jobs people being put out of work more and more plants closing stock market down consumer confidence low, what we have to do is we have to put people back to work. Now. We generally would depend on the federal government and some actions by them to stimulate the economy the actions that they generally take would be to cut taxes which they've already done. And obviously we're seeing what's what's the impact of that or reduce interest rates while interest rates are at away 42-year low. So that's not the answer. So what we have to do in Minnesota is put people to work and that's why I have laid out a very aggressive jobs program a transportation and Transit funding package that is five times larger than ever been proposed in the past five billion dollars over the next ten years a billion dollars in transportation investment is forty six thousand jobs. I've suggested we have a bonding bill this session for needed and necessary Public Works Investments wastewater treatment Trails some other buildings college campuses again to put people to work and an aggressive energy program targeted towards rural Economic Development additional expansion of the ethanol industry creating the biodiesel industry additional wind generation. These are rural jobs. These are energy focused and environmentally more sensitive way to approach our energy policy. So first of all, I think you put minnesotans to work. That's the one way you have an impact on the positive side of your own economy. Secondly on the budget you start by looking at the expenditure side you reduce your cut you eliminate you streamline, wherever you possibly can I will do that. I have a different set of priorities than this Administration and then you go the next step I would do is I'd look at debt. I'd take a look at refinancing debt. Everybody is I'm sure you're getting inundated with the same sorts of things. I'm getting about refinancing my home mortgage. It's no different in state and local government. Let's take a look at how we can refinance state and local units of their debt. Now. Maybe they have the lowest interest rate possible maybe not but that if in fact we could do that. It could have not only a short-term savings but long term and then if you haven't balanced the budget and you still have your priorities that have not been adequately funded in my priority is education at all levels. Then you go to the revenue side and you make the case for what you would raise how you'd raise it and what it would be used for (00:14:50) any other major taxes. Would they be on on the table as you consider? A possible tax increases sales income or property taxes? (00:14:59) Well, obviously my goal is to keep the cost of Education off of the property tax what's happened now based upon the actions from the education. Bill, and the so-called tax reform bill passed in the summer of 2001 is that school district after school district has hit his head to go back to the property tax. My goal would be to adequately have the state adequately fund education so that they would not have a have to go back after this year's referendums. So but beyond that no, Gary what I've said, I've said at the start of this and I'll say it right up till next Tuesday, and that is that you need a balanced approach in order to accommodate this problem. If in fact it's going to be the size. They're projecting now (00:15:44) lots of callers on the line with questions for the dfl candidate for governor, Roger Mo. So, let's get some listeners involved here Jim. Go ahead your (00:15:52) first am I on you bet. Thank you. Thanks for taking my call. I'm calling from Red Wing. It's nice you're talking about putting people back to work. There's a labor strike here over 200 and some on teachers room strike. So we actually met you and I Senator at a project for Pride for living house. Other day, and I said come to see us in Red Wing and you haven't been here yet. And I'm wondering why this is the dfl Democratic Farm labor. Let's hope you don't mind if I remind you Paul wellstone is already been here bless his heart. He came down and he stood with the workers. So I'm a little concerned. Where are you? Where have we not seen you down here standing with labor the workers down here in Red Wing. This is an important issue down here and it's a voting issue for (00:16:40) me. Thank you. (00:16:43) Well Jim, I'm sorry that I have not been down there. Let me just say that obviously the tragedy of Last Friday has disrupted a lot of schedules including mine and I intend to make sure that I get to all of the funerals and Memorial services for all of the individuals and that is still what I'm going to be doing yet. A and into tomorrow, but as it relates to the strike, let me say part of why they're striking is because the local school district. My guest doesn't feel that they can go back to the property taxpayers and ask them to increase the property tax. That's why I indicated in my opening comments why the state has to stand behind its commitment to adequately fund our schools because I don't think anybody wants to strike. I don't think there's any winners in a strike and so that's why I think we need to adequately fund public education. That's why that's what I want to do (00:17:47) should teachers be classified as essential employees and thus prohibited from (00:17:51) Strike. No. No, I believe in the Public Employee labor relation act and their ability to meet and negotiate and I have the right to strike if they chose so choose. I'm a supporter of (00:18:03) that Jeremy your question, (00:18:04) please. Yeah. I got a question for you. Good morning or good afternoon there. Mr. Moss. My question is is what's your view on raising taxes on liquor and tobacco and if you do don't you believe that is crippled izing the small business owner. Well, I have to be very candid with you Jeremy. I support an increase in the cigarette tax. We passed last session matter of fact when Gary asked me about balancing the budget last session the Senate passed a plan that would have increased the cigarette tax 30 cents immediately and then another 30 cents I think six months or a year later. And so I support raising the cigarette tax the first 30 cents. I think would have put us on a par with Wisconsin. And as you know many states are raising the cigarette tax. So I I want you to know Jeremy. I'm in support of raising the cigarette tax and that would be a The budget addressing the budget problem the issue of liquor have not calculated that into all of this as of yet. But one thing that would be a factor on all of that would be when was the last time it was raised and how does that stack up against neighboring states in the like so I wouldn't rule it out but I must confess. I have not taken a look at when the last time it was (00:19:37) raised terms of smoking. Would you support a Statewide? What about will would amount to a Statewide ban on smoking in public places? (00:19:45) No, I believe that that's right. Now Community after Community is working on that and I think that's the way to approach it albeit. I have some pretty strong views on smoke on smoking and adamantly opposed to it. But the flip side of that is I also believe that local units of government have the right to make these decisions and I've defended them in other areas in that regard. So I would support their right to use that as a way to engage people locally and have that discussion as to whether or not they would have a Citywide ban on smoking in restaurants in (00:20:22) terms of liquor laws. Would you support reducing the legal limit to drive 2.08? (00:20:30) I would sign that and obviously that's going to be driven by actions of the legislature the what'swhat's I think and motivate them in the short run of course is the requirement of the federal meeting the federal limit and if you don't reduce it, then you start to lose Transportation dollars. So my guess is that the legislature will pass that in relatively short order (00:21:01) Tim your question, please (00:21:02) thanks for taking my call Senator. You've said it many debates and in your campaign literature that you do not support. Word changing any of Minnesota's firearm laws yet, you've accepted endorsements and and funding from Peta and from the two major gun control groups in Minnesota. You said you support range protection, but you haven't put your muscle behind passing it in the Senate over the last four years and so Hunters like myself for a little confused that that there's a conflict here Gap in your credibility on this issue. Well, that's unfortunate Tim. First of all, I don't know anything about peta's endorsement. I don't think they endorse that's political rhetoric from opponents of mine and they ought to stick to the facts. The fact the matter is that I own guns. I hunt whenever I can and obviously the fall of the years the best hunting and that's the worst time in in in somebody who's in public office because of the campaigns and I certainly defend hunters and gun owners rights. I that's my record. And all you have to do is check the record. The issue has to do with whether or not we should open up the conceal and carry legislation. And on this issue I side with our police officers and I'm very proud to have the endorsement of the Minnesota police and Peace Officers Association because I don't think we would be a safer Society if we allow fifty to ninety. More people carrying loaded concealed handguns in our communities. I that's a fundamental difference that I have. I don't think it has anything to do with hunting and I certainly will continue to defend hunters and their rights to hunt. The matter of fact, I happen to believe that it unless we continue to invest in wildlife habitat and and do greater research on chronic waste wasting disease and some of these other issues. We're not going to have the opportunities to hunt. So I think they are not inconsistent. I just don't believe that we would be a safer Society if we allow more loaded concealed handguns on our street. I when my wife and I have our grandkids take them to one of the local restaurants down here. I don't want to have to worry about somebody sitting next to me that the the higher probability and likelihood that somebody would have Loaded concealed gun on them. I just disagree that that would make us safer. That is not a hunting issue at all. (00:23:45) In terms of Natural Resources. Do you support the idea of setting aside a part of the sales tax revenue specifically for agencies that are involved in pollution control and natural resource development. (00:23:58) Yes, I would and the more recent suggestion that was released here. I think lat early last week which was to raise that percentage beyond that was beyond 3/16. I think they were talking about like 1/4 of (00:24:15) absence 1/2 or (00:24:16) 1/2. I found that very intriguing and I think we ought to have that discussion and the issue really though is adequate revenues to address what's important in this state which is the protection of our natural resources. And I think that that is investment. Well worth making how we Adage eyes how we do that? I'm open to any and all suggestions. As you know, now we have a number of dedicated Revenue sources for our natural resources. I guess most notably The Game and Fish account is which is where you're hunting and fishing licenses go a portion of the of the lottery 40% of that is devoted to the environmental trust fund which by the way, I was the author of and created and revenues from that go into environment natural resource and Wildlife issues. And but the the whole issue is whether or not we're going to have adequate resources to address it and there's going to be greater pressures. There's always more demands for more Trails Park expansion more wildlife habitat. And then you get these new things that come along that that that are going to cost some costs money chronic wasting disease West Nile Virus and birds. These are these are issues that also have an (00:25:38) impact. What about those Feedlots out in rural Minnesota. Well, then what should be done about those? Obviously, if you live near one of them are a real problem and yet the The Producers obviously see the need for them. (00:25:55) Well everybody out of play by the rules. That's first and foremost. There are environmental standards and there are air quality standards and they ought to adhere to them and if they don't then they ought to be the appropriate kinds of penalties ought to be applied as I look at the issue. First of all, I I wish that we didn't have an agriculture climate that that had that has driven everything to such scale and certainly I'm going to have an Administration that recognizes agriculture in all areas as important whether its large Farms medium-sized Farms smaller Farms Niche markets organic farming all of that. Has to be taken into consideration in that department and I intend to have a commissioner that does just that but you step back from it. You ask yourself. Are you going to have livestock production in the state? And I quickly answer the answers. Yes. I think livestock production is a part of Minnesota Agriculture. And so if that's the case then how do you structure that to make sure that it's environmentally safe that you have a compatibility so that you have feedlots in areas that don't run the risk of offending their neighbors all of these sorts of things that have to be brought into the equation and and I certainly would work to make sure that we have that but if if people are breaking the laws breaking the rules environmental standards then I think you got to get tough with them Lenny your question, please hi, Senator Mo. I'd like to first comment on your statement that you're going to emphasize the who can govern best is part of your message these last few days and I think the results of last Plus gubernatorial election shows that not all minnesotans are going to be that swayed by that position alone. And I'd like to suggest that when you address the voters that what's going to what's going to matter more than anything else are the issues and what I hear from you. I'm a lifelong Democrat and I will vote for you is that you sound very reasonable and measured and logical and committed to what you say. What I don't hear is I don't hear sense of passion and emotion and conveying your message and what I would like to suggest for a strong if you do is that you show sometimes there's areas where you're mad as hell and I don't hear that and that's one of the things that Paul could do and Paul wellstone could definitely speak, you know run circles around most people in terms of policy and information, but he also conveyed the passion in the emotion and his anger and in one area in particular. I think your positions are outstanding as an early childhood education support and I'm an educator in elementary educator in the twin. These but people need to know how critical that is, and you can't do that. If you're talk only in measured and reasonable tones all the time. (00:28:49) Okay, well Center Mo are you mad as hell about (00:28:53) anything? Well, I Lenny you're right. I I must confess that I am not Paul wellstone when it comes to being able to speak to your emotions. I'm not as good at that as Paul was but that doesn't mean that I don't have the same commitment to the issues. I think I've demonstrated that over my public career whether it's on environmental issues working creating environmental trust fund waste water initiatives protection of our groundwater and surface water laying out a massive plan for making Minnesota more energy self-sufficient and protecting our Lakes the initiatives to ensure all kids provide health insurance for all of our kids and early childhood and family education. You mention mentioned that my passion For making sure that my grandkids have the same opportunities to go to good schools and enjoy this great state like I did I mean these are things that I feel and if I'm not very good at speaking to them. I'm I apologize but I am who I am and my record is very clear as to the issues that I'm deeply concerned about and I will continue to fight for those issues. Sometimes you need somebody who's a good spokesperson to lead the charge and then sometimes you need somebody to come along behind and and figure out strategies to put things in place and maybe I'm more the second kind but that doesn't mean that in my heart. I don't share the same kind of commitment to issues that Paul and Sheila wellstone shared I but I'll I'll be I'll State the obvious. I think there's only one Paul wellstone and Italy he's not going to be with us. (00:30:54) You have made it clear through the course of the campaign that what are your priorities is public education as a governor, especially faced with a big budget. Deficit. Are you going to propose some kind of scale back in the tax credits available to families who send their kids to private schools? (00:31:12) That's not in the calculation. Now, we have some limited tax credits and deductions and they were putting place that the back in the 70s and then I think as early as sometime in the mid 90s. And again, I I'd have to take a look at the overall but that's not in the equation right now. I think the state has to stand like I said stand behind its commitment to adequately fund our schools. I I'm I was moved by a comment last night about Mary McEvoy who said that a nation that that doesn't invest in its Run is a nation that's not investing in its future and one could just turn that around and talk about the state a state that doesn't invest in its children is a state that's not investing in its future. And so I just feel passionately about the fact that we have to make sure we make that commitment starting with early childhood and family education head start making sure kids go to Great Schools with where teachers are appreciated for what they do. And if they do that then they'll have an opportunity to go on to higher education (00:32:23) Tammy your question, please (00:32:25) yes, thank you very much for taking my call. I was inspired last night by the call to move to get back on the bus. So my question today relates to Transportation Senator mow. It appears that you're the only candidate that really is caring about Transportation issues and how we get Minnesota moving again, the other two candidates in the race don't appear to have an agenda for transportation. I'd like to know what you was governor would do to get Minnesota moving again with the patient-oriented agenda Well, I laid out a very aggressive plan and it was bold, but it was also honest with people and it's a five billion dollar ten year plan. It's about ten times larger than anything. We've had proposed in the past and it was designed to do a number of things. I was candid with people I said we're going to raise the gas tax. I proposed a six cent gas tax increase and then I suggested that we have a backlog so that we should have a some we should sell a billion dollars in backlog bonds the difference between what I'm proposing and what's been proposed by mr. Polenta is I'm upfront with people and we're going to pay for it. We're gonna pay for it by indexing the gas tax to be able to pay for The Debt Service on those bonds and then they would be metered out as these projects we can put them online and then third I would allow the metropolitan area in metropolitan area would be defined by the legislature to have a referendum to Lola raise the local sales tax. Half a point dedicated to a transportation fund that could be used to address the various Transportation options that are available in this metropolitan area could be light rail could be commuter rail could be additional Lanes on the freeway Bridges bypasses bottlenecks. Whatever the case may be that plan I think is aggressive but it is also designed to put minnesotans back to work because right now I think that's what we need. We've got interest rates are low contractors want work Labour wants the jobs and we know we have to get on with it because there is a cost of doing nothing as Ben pointed out with the loss of productivity. I think the most recent studies showed last year that if you take in this metropolitan area and divide the productivity loss by the number of people at amounts to about over $700 per person and even the gas tax I'm proposing doesn't come anywhere close to that (00:34:53) term. Observe you talking about not if not Public Works projects than the public stimulus for the economy. What about the private businesses in general? How do you as Governor keep businesses in the state and attract some new ones? What's your thoughts on that? (00:35:12) Well, if you if you limit your discussion only to the taxes in the regulatory issues, then you're missing it. Those are important. I don't in no way do I downplay those and that's why I want state agencies that have that understand who their customers clients are and work closely with them whether it's a business or a private individual. That's why I want to tax climate that is conducive to Economic Opportunity in job growth, but there's other factors. It's the quality of the workforce. You ask any employer that is what's most important to the long-term of that company is the quality of the workforce. So making sure that we have A well educated public making sure that we have opportunities to train and retrain the workforce making sure that we have a transportation system. So people can get around and increase productivity making sure that we have state-of-the-art telecommunications making sure that we invest in a research University so that we can have the next generation of cutting-edge high technology high and high paying jobs. All of that is is woven together into a sound economic plan for the future of your state and all of that is what I've been talking about Aaron your question, please yeah - determine. I've followed your career in the senate in the since you've been the majority leader a number of mainstream bills are regarding the abortion issue have come up including the woman's right to know bill which was supported by 77 percent of Minnesota's women in a band and partial birth abortions as you when you're the majority leader you continually voted against those bills and I'm just kind of wondering what your positions Would be on those bills if you were elected governor. Thanks. Well, I'm I paused the limits on a woman's right to make those kinds of decisions. So it's to me it's fairly fundamental. These are at best a very difficult decision in a woman's life. And for any of us to think that government is better suited to make that decision then the individual I think I think I disagree I think individuals are best suited to make these difficult decisions as it relates to the 24-hour waiting period That's that that in itself suggests that a woman has not thought this difficult decision through and I would contend that they have so there is informed consent. If you go to a health clinic now and you choose an abortion as a as an option, you have to be given the appropriate information and you are appropriately informed. All the medical decisions and all of that is there now so for us to require a woman now to have to leave and take government-sanctioned readings and government-sanctioned this and that and wait 24 hours. I just I think is is I disagree with it as it relates to partial birth abortions. I am opposed to that. And as long as there is the option in case of the health of the mother is taken into consideration. That's the only thing that I would be concerned about (00:38:33) Canada timpani says that both sides of the abortion issue just stand on there in their little respective sides of the street lob grenades at each other and nobody is willing to work together to end pregnancies or prevent pregnancies, which would prevent abortions (00:38:53) again with all due respect to to TM. Not true. We have had a number of initiatives that have passed in the legislature focused on preventing pregnancies at working on teen pregnancy. I the great thing is many of our nonprofits are working aggressively in this area. And I think that's fantastic and that's why I think that there's is a legitimate partnership between state government and the nonprofit's to address some of these issues. But that's I think I think any and all efforts to address teen pregnancy to help prevent unwanted unplanned pregnancies. Those are all wonderful initiatives. That's that's great and people will have a different philosophy as to how you ought to approach that but I don't think we ought to limit to anyone. I think we ought to encourage all of them. That's (00:39:47) fine Robert. Oh before we get to Robert's question here. Let me follow up on this Republican candidate complety says that he We think so one good way. Thus the state should change its way of operation is to turn over many of the social services activities of the state or at least some of them to private charities in the rest on the premise that a it would save some money, but be deliver better Services frankly agree. (00:40:20) Well, I think that's his way of covering up his no tax pledge that he made throughout the course of the his term of governor. And I don't see how he can fulfill that or at least without having property taxes go up astronomically. I think that we have a combination of public and private and we also have Partnerships and that is appropriate. Yes. There are certain certain government agencies that deliver social services and then we partner the state, of course in some of the major areas most notably medical assistance and particularly care for our for our elderly who are nursing homes that it is a combination the state reimburses private to nursing homes. It reimburses public nursing homes. It reimburses nonprofits. So all of that is a legitimate. But partnership and I think by and large it's worked fairly. Well, I think we have a high quality nursing home care in the state. And and then also there are Partnerships with some of the nonprofit's as I mentioned that that I think if work well so I don't think you I think there's a the appropriate mix and we'll always kind of wrestle over that appropriate mix but to think that we're going to have the government get out of the business and just spin it all back to local charities. I think there are areas of the state that services are not going to be met if that's the case. (00:41:55) Okay Robert. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. Now you get to ask your question. (00:42:00) Okay, Senator, you've been a number of debates so far but only one that was commercially televised and of course, those are the ones that most of the people in the state watch after that one commercially televised debate. Ken. Ken tells poll numbers went up dramatically. I'm wondering why you canceled out of any future commercially televised debates. And does that have anything to do with not wanting the green party to get their 5% to maintain major party status? No, it has nothing to do with that. I think this tragic disruption from last Friday has certainly altered a number of the the debates and let me also add that. I participated in at least 25 I and I apologize Robert for not knowing the exact number but I participated in many candidate debates and forums and in each case, I think some maybe with the exception of with the exception of Ken Pentel. I think all of us have missed some of those and it has to do with scheduling. I know that I was at a number of different candidate forums that were with the different communities of color. I think about three or four of them. None of which mr. Pawlenty showed up at there are some that I missed so I think that's just a case of scheduling and has nothing to do with like the the scenario that you laid (00:43:46) out Green Party candidate Pentel has come up with a couple of proposals that are Suspect caught people's ears one basically free higher education for minnesotans over time. Would you see that as a legitimate State (00:44:00) goal? Well, let me say that one of the real positives for me out of this campaign has been getting to know Ken Pentel. He has got some good ideas. The green party has some good ideas many of which are consistent with where I'm at aggressive efforts towards affordable housing protecting our environment having a good transportation and transit system opening up our political process. I mean, I love to point out to to can on occasion when he gets to talking about political involvement in opening up the process. I'd like to point out that he's a part of the process because of the laws that I helped put in place people have options with four different candidates. Now that's part of the reforms that I was instrumental in helping bring about in this case in the state and I think that's good and that's made other political parties viable participants in the in the in the Twirl process what? I love to have an opportunity to have a state where everybody could go on to higher education and not have to pay tuition for that. That would be phenomenal. That'd be fantastic. I have to get back to how do you how do you fund that and that would be a difficult task considering the fact that I believe the higher education budget is somewhere about nine percent of the state budget now and but yes, would that be the ideal that would be the ideal? I think the in lieu of that what you try to do is you try to provide on a decent Financial financial aid package for students so that there's enough grants and in some cases loans so that they can get through our higher education system and then hopefully try to keep tuition at a reasonable (00:45:56) level now, there are proposal that can be until has put forward is that the state should provide health coverage to everybody in Minnesota. He argues that that would reduce costs to businesses and education and the rest and make sure everybody's got (00:46:12) Health Care. Well, again Healthcare issues are a major issue in this state. It's not quality. I want to quickly point that out. I think all of us who live in Minnesota ought to be very thankful that we live in a state that has such high quality Healthcare and excellent research. Excellent. Healthcare Providers will always argue over access and costs access some cases. It's maybe more rural oriented because we don't have some of the services that are provided and costs are very difficult part of this. No question the cost factor that the single biggest cost driver in Health Care Systems at pintubi prescription drugs. And so I believe that Both on a federal and state basis being aggressive to try to do everything we can to provide more options for people for prescription drugs to help bring down those costs or that's legitimate area that that public policy ought to be involved in in the in the long-term that that's again a great a great ideal. But right now we have to make the systems work in the immediate and I think we're about third lowest in terms of uninsured in our state of the 50 states and that's a combination of having I think employers that that provide health insurance and figuring out even more incentives for them to do so and then also having minnesotacare which I think has been a good plan (00:47:44) Gary your question, (00:47:45) please Yeah, thanks for taking my call Senator molana state employee and one concern that I've got is over the last several years. The trend has been (00:47:58) toward (00:47:59) losing more and more of the people that are out. Giving the and doing the end product that will work out in the field and on the street and with your streamlining program that you're talking about and wondering if you're looking at possibly spreading that out through all the different layers including management, or if you're looking at just taking more people out from the bottom and make it even harder for the people that remain to get the job done. I'll take my answer off the year. Thank you. Well, I think we from the budget impacts of this last budget go around I think upwards to about 2,000 state employees or 2,000 state employee positions were eliminated some of that of course occurs through attrition some of it some of some of those were folks that were actually laid off. and Obviously you want to try to make sure that the delivery of our services are exactly what the taxpayer expects out of them. If I mean, it's fairly clear that government plays a important part in our lives government by you know, by an overwhelming percentage educates our kids. It keeps our highways clean. It keeps our highways clear it protects our street and so government is an important part. I think in the in the overall delivery of our services. So as long as we're going to expect certain Services delivered then by all means you need that infrastructure there if if there are reductions. Yes, then I think you have to be fair and Equitable across the across the spectrum of that as as whether it's management or direct line workers. So that's how I would approach that if that if we end up in that situation (00:50:02) if you're elected, During your term here Prairie island is supposed to shut down the big nuclear plant near Red Wing and you have said that you don't want the storage capacity expanded to extend the life. So what happened? Where do you where do you get the extra power that about 20 percent of Minnesota's power comes from that plane? (00:50:22) Well, that's exactly why I said I want minnesotans to do accept the challenge to generate more of Their Own. Power here locally in our state and that's why additional generation wind generation biomass small smaller peaking plants gas plants initiatives like that. I think are essential I mentioned getting on with expansion albiet. Maybe these are not directly related to the the power generation, but they could be ethanol additional ethanol plants biodiesel development, but the bottom line was that the 94 agreement I agreed to it back then and I'm sticking with that deal and I think it has a limit of 17 casts there at that at that site. And so what we have to do is we have to figure out a way to add generate additional power and that's part of the initiatives that I believed out. (00:51:26) I think it was the Star Tribune as we wrap up here at it was the start. Even editorial that said that kind of questioned whether or not you really want to be Governor arguing that well you had kind of a lackadaisical campaign and and the speculation was it maybe your friends kind of pressured you into this and that would all is said and done you might not have the fire in the belly that you need. (00:51:51) Well, I just want everybody who's listening to rest assured that I feel a deep commitment to public policy and I I'm a Minnesotan. I lived here my entire life and I'm going to die here many many years from now and so I am committed to this state and committed to its long-term future and maybe having grandsons now provides an even greater sense of urgency for me. So I can I just want everybody to rest assured that my commitment to making sure the state sees its best days yet ahead are what drives me I have been blessed with the experiences that relatively few get nobody has been given a better education about public policy in this state than I have. Nobody comes to this task better prepared to lead this state and knows more about its long-term future than I do. Nobody has studied the changing. My Graphics of the state and understand that this state has got to recognize that we are changing that we are not who we used to be. Nobody has been speaking out on that more than I have. Nobody has been talking about one economy in this state making sure that we reach all regions of the state more than I have. Nobody has been talking about investing in the long term of this state which is investing in our kids making sure that our children and grandchildren have the same opportunities that we were given so that's what drives me make no mistake about it. If you don't see the fire in the belly that might be because I'm a little too stoic at times but it's not because I lack passion (00:53:34) who was a 30-second so who do you think was the best Governor here in Minnesota the last 30 years? I mean, you've seen them all worked with them (00:53:41) all listen, they all had good qualities. They've all had good qualities, but if you were to take a look at the the legislative record Wendy Anderson would in fact I think go down is the one who had the had the Strategic ideas for Times that set the stage for the future, but I want to make sure that every all the governor's I've served with have had outstanding qualities and nobody has paid more attention to them than I have and I intend to steal all of their good characteristics and hopefully avoid some of their mistakes. Well, thanks for coming in today. Thank you Gary (00:54:15) dfl candidate for governor Roger mode joining us during the second hour of our midday program now, we should note that tomorrow. We'll be talking with Republican Tim pawlenty on Friday Independence Party candidate timpani lots more information about all of the candidates is available on our website, Minnesota Public Radio dot-org including the ever popular select a candidate feature. You just answer a few questions in the privacy of your home about where you stand on the issues, you hit this button and then the the computer tells you kind of where the where the candidates match up with you or don't match up with you. So Minnesota Public Radio dot org is our web address again an invitation to join us tonight a campaign special. Clock here on Minnesota Public Radio the primary focus, of course being the US Senate race tonight the dfl Central Committee will officially nominate Walter Mondale as its new candidate Gary eichten here. Thanks for tuning into midday today. I'm Stephanie Curtis this week on sound money job strategies for tough Economic Times the price of parenting and the latest news sound money Saturday morning at 10:00 and Sunday evening at 5 on Minnesota Public Radio. You're listening to Minnesota Public Radio. We have some flurries. It's 37 degrees at Kenner wfm 91.1 Minneapolis. And st. Paul continuing chance for light rain or snow this afternoon temperatures about where they're about as warm as it's going to get cloudy and cold tonight with a low in the upper teens partly cloudy tomorrow, once again tomorrow high temperature in the mid 30s.