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>> "CAPITOL REPORT" IS A
PRODUCTION OF SENATE MEDIA
SERVICES.
>> TAX RELIEF MOVES QUICKLY
THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND A
PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE FREE
BREAKFAST FOR ALL STUDENTS.
WE DETAIL IN THIS WEEK'S
"CAPITOL REPORT."
♪
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY AND
WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
"CAPITOL REPORT."
I'M JULIE BARTKEY.
A BILL PROVIDING ROUGHLY $400
MILLION IN TAX RELIEF MOVED
QUICKLY THROUGH THE SENATE,
FOLLOWING A PUBLIC REPRIMAND
BY THE GOVERNOR WHO ACCUSED
THE SENATE OF SITTING ON THE
BILL.
SENATE LEADERS RESPONDED AND
BY THURSDAY THE BILL WAS OUT
OF COMMITTEE AND ON THE FLOOR,
AND THEN IT STALLED.
>> WITH RESPECT TO HOSPITAL
FILE 1777, THAT THE RULES OF
THE SENATE BE SO FAR SUSPENDED
AS TO GIVE HOUSE FILE 1777 NOW
ON GENERAL ORDERS ITS THIRD
READING AND PLACE IT ON FINAL
PASSAGE AND I WOULD LIKE A
ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> WE, ON OUR SIDE, ARE NOT
WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH
SPOONING THE RULES AND MAKING
AN URGENCY OUT OF PASSAGE OF
THIS BILL TODAY.
THIS WAS A BILL THAT WAS GIVEN
TO US LITERALLY, I DON'T KNOW,
AN HOUR AGO, TO READ AND TO
DIGEST AND IT IS NOT A STRICT
CONFORMITY BILL.
♪
>> THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO
CREATE A TASK FORCE THAT WOULD
EXAMINE THE ISSUE OF MENTALLY
ILL WHO ARE WRAPPED INTO THE
STATE'S CORRECTIONS SYSTEM.
JOINING ME RIGHT NOW TO TALK
ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION IS
SENATOR BARB GOODWIN.
THANKS FOR JOINING US,
SENATOR.
>> THANK YOU, JULIE.
>> LET'S BEGIN WITH THIS ISSUE
AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO
CARRY THIS LEGISLATION, FIRST
OF ALL?
>> WELL, IT GOES BACK A WAYS
FOR ME, 1955, I WAS WORKING ON
A STUDY FOR THEN GOVERNOR PERP
ON INSTITUTIONALIZING THE
STATE HOSPITALS.
MY PART OH HAVE IT WAS THE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES WHERE
THE TEN STATE HOSPITALS WOULD
BE CLOSING AND WHAT WE DID AT
THAT TIME WAS GO AROUND AND
PROMISE PEOPLE THAT THERE
WOULD BE COMMUNITY SERVICES,
STATE-OPERATED SERVICES, GROUP
HOMES, SO FORTH, THINGS TO
TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE THAT
REALLY DID NEED IN TREATMENT.
IN HOUSE TREATMENT, OR
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
BUT AT ANY RATE, THAT DIDN'T
HAPPEN.
IT HAPPENED FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE IN THOSE
INSTITUTIONS THAT HAD
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND
WE HAVE A PETTY GOOD SYSTEM,
NOT PERFECT BUT A PRETTY GOOD
SYSTEM.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS UP TO
30% OF THE POPULATION IN JAILS
AND PRISONS THAT HAVE A MENTAL
ILLNESS, SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS
CRIMINALIZE MENTAL ILLNESS,
AND THAT IS -- THAT'S
ABHORRING.
IS THAT A WORD, ABHORRING?
>> IT IS NOW.
>> IT IS NOW.
SO WHAT I DID, WHAT HAPPENED
OVER THE LATE SUMMER WAS THERE
WAS A SERIES 2349 "STAR
TRIBUNE" ABOUT PEOPLE WITH
MENTAL ILLNESS AND HOW THEY'RE
LANGUAGE WISHING IN PRISONS,
HOW ONE MAN WAS IN FOR THREE
MONTHS WAITING FOR HIS COURT
DATE, NOT MEDICALLY TREATED AS
HE NEEDED TO BE AND UP POKING
HIS EYES OUT.
>> THERE'S QUITE A POPULATION
OF THIS, ACCORDING TO THE
BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS,
66% OF STATE PRISONERS, 45% OF
FEDERAL PRISONERS, 64% OF JAIL
INMATES SUFFER FROM
SIGNIFICANT MENTAL ILLNESS.
THAT'S A BIG POPULATION SO HOW
DO YOU GO ABOUT TRYING TO LIVE
UP TO THE PROMISES THAT WERE
MADE YEARS AGO?
>> RIGHT.
AND THOSE PROMISES WERE MADE
BOTH BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND THE STATE GOVERNMENTS
BECAUSE THERE WAS A MOVEMENT
ALL OVER THE NATION, WE'RE NOT
THE ONLY STATE THAT'S HAVING
THIS ISSUE NOW WITH
CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE WITH
MENTAL ILLNESS.
A LOT OF STATES ARE.
BUT WE ARE BEHIND THE
EIGHT-BALL ON THIS ONE BECAUSE
WHAT HAPPENED IS, SOME OF
THESE STATES ALREADY DEVELOPED
DIVERSION PROGRAMS, THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
WE DON'T WANT JUST A TASK
FORCE OR A STUDY.
WE WANT A WORK GROUP THAT'S
ACTUALLY GOING TO PUT TOGETHER
A PLAN FOR WHAT WE'RE CALLING
A HUB WHICH WOULD BE A PLACE
WHERE POLICE COULD TAKE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE A SKY TO THETIC
EPISODE OR DISTURBING THE
PEACE OR SOMETHING.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS WHEN THEY
PICK PEOPLE UP, THEY CAN'T
BRING THEM TO HOSPITALS
BECAUSE IT TAKES TWO OR THREE
HOURS OR MORE TO PROCESS
SOMEBODY WHEN THEY BRING 'EM
TO A HOSPITAL, AND THEN THERE
MAY NOT EVEN BE BEDS AVAILABLE
WHICH IS OFTEN THE CASE.
SO THEY BRING 'EM TO JAIL,
WHICH IS THE ONLY PLACE THEY
CAN REALLY BRING 'EM.
THE POLICE KNOW THAT THEY
DON'T BELONG THERE.
THE POLICE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE
ELSE TO BRINGMENT.
WHAT WE CAN SEE IS ONE PILOT
PROGRAM FOR THE TWIN CITIES
AREA WHERE THE POLICE COULD
BRING THEM TO THIS DIVERSION
CENTER AND THEN THEY WOULD --
THEY WOULD EXAMINE THEM,
DECIDE WHERE THEY NEEDED TO
BE, DECIDE IF THEY NEEDED
MEDICATION AND WHAT KIND OF
MEDICATION THEY NEEDED, IF
THEY WERE ALREADY GETTING SOME
KIND OF HELP OR IF THEY NEED
TO GET SOME KIND OF HELP.
ANOTHER THING THIS WILL DO IS
PROBABLY HELP WITH THE
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY ISSUE
BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT SO
MANY PEOPLE WITH A MENTAL
ILLNESS SELF-MEDICATE ON
ILLEGAL DRUGS, OR ALCOHOL
BECAUSE THAT'S -- THAT'S --
THEY FEEL THAT KEEPS THEM SANE
OR WHATEVER.
SO THERE'S A MULTITUDE OF
PROBLEMS AND A MULTITUDE OF
ANSWERS.
ANOTHER THING IS THAT HOUSING
IS NOT AVAILABLE SO PEOPLE END
UNON THE STREET, PEOPLE END
UP, YOU KNOW, WITH NO
INSURANCE SO THEY DON'T GO TO
DOCTORS AND DON'T GET ON
MEDICATION.
OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN
THE JAILS AND PRISONS, I THINK
IT'S OVER HALF OF THEM, WE'D
HAVE TO ASK SHERIFF STANEK
WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS
FROM THE BEGINNING, BUT THAT
HAVE NEVER BEEN TREATED FOR A
MENTAL ILLNESS.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU, THERE
ARE MENTAL HEALTH COURTS IN
HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY COUNTIES,
SO IS THAT A MODEL THAT WORKS?
IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE IN
ADDITION TO THAT OR REPLACE IT
OR HOW DOE SEE IT FITTING INTO
THE --
>> YES, IT DOES FIT AND NEAR
EXCELLENT AND I SPENT A DAY IN
THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT TO SEE
WHAT WENT ON THERE AND I SPENT
A DAY IN RAMSEY COUNTY JAIL
WITH THE SET-UP THAT'S SHOWING
ME THEY HAVE ON FOR PEOPLE
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS THERE.
THE MENTAL HEALTH COURTS ARE
EXCELLENT BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO
IS INSTEAD OF PUTTING THEM OR
KEEPING THEM THIS JAIL,
OFTENTIMES THEY JUST ARE
MONITORED IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEN THEY COME IN EVERY WEEK
OR TWO OR THREE WEEKS TO THE
COURT, TALK ABOUT THEIR
PROGRESS, TALK ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING AND SO IT'S MORE OF
A DIVERSION PROGRAM, TOO, BUT
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN UNTIL
AFTER THEY'RE ARRESTED AND
AFTER THEY MIGHT SPEND MONTHS
IN JAIL.
SO THAT'S THE ISSUE.
WE WANT TO GET IT ON THE FRONT
END SO THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE
REALLY ILL AND NEED HELP DON'T
END UP GOING TO JAIL IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
>> MY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU,
SENATOR, WE TALKED OFF-CAMERA
AND YOU WERE SAYING THERE JUST
ISN'T A LOT OF INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS DIVERSION PROGRAM,
ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL OUT THERE.
SO WHERE IS IT IN TERMS OF --
HAVE YOU BEEN GIVEN A HEARING
ON IT, WHERE ARE YOU IN THE
PROCESS?
>> YES, WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A
HEARING.
DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL, I
MET WITH CORRECTIONS OFFICERS,
COUNTY SHERIFFS, JUDGE QUAM
WHO RAN THE MENTAL HEALTH
COURT IN HENNEPIN COUNTY.
WE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS.
EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT,
SOMETHING'S GOT TO BE DONE.
SO WE GOT THE BILL HEARD IN --
WHAT'S THE -- LET'S SEE.
>> BUT IT WAS HEARD.
>> GOT IT HEARD -- I'M SORRY,
I CAN'T REMEMBER RIGHT NOW BUT
WE GOT IT HEARD IN COMMITTEE
SO IT GOES TO THE FLOOR NOW.
AND IN THE HOUSE, IT'S GOING
TO BE HEARD, I BELIEVE, THIS
WEEK.
REPRESENTATIVE MELISSA
HORTMANN HAS IT IN THE HOUSE
AND SHE'S VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
THE ISSUE, TOO.
SO THEN WHAT WE WANT IS A
GROUP OF THESE SAME KIND OF
PEOPLE THAT WE WORK WITH OVER
THE SUMMER THAT REALLY HAVE
KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S WRONG WITH
THE SYSTEM TO GET TOGETHER AND
LOOK AT WHAT SOME OTHER STATES
ARE DOING.
FLORIDA, ORANGE COUNTY,
FLORIDA, HAS A DIVERSION
PROGRAM THAT IS A WONDERFUL
EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE DONE
AND THEY'VE BEEN IN OPERATION
FOR 10 YEARS.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE
MODELS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN
MODEL IT AFTER, HOW IT'S GOING
TO BE FUNDED.
IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ACTUAL
BEDS THERE OR IF WE'RE GOING
TO, JUST OTHER -- USE OTHER
FACILITIES THAT ARE ALREADY
AVAILABLE.
AND I REALLY WANT THIS GROUP
TO COME BACK IN JANUARY WITH
AN ACTUAL DRAFT OF A BILL, NOT
JUST A STUDY THAT PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO LOOK AT BECAUSE
THAT'S ONLY THE FIRST STEP FOR
WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
WE NEED TO GET HOUSING.
WE NEED TO GET MEDICATION
MANAGEMENT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THESE
FOLKS GET ON INSURANCE, AND
IT'S A BIG JOB BUT, YOU KNOW,
SOCIETY HAS FAILED.
WE HAVE FAILED SO FAR TO DO
WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
>> ALL RIGHT, SENATOR BARB
GOODWIN, WE ARE OUTS OF TIME.
WE HOPE TO GET YOU BACK ON
HERE ESPECIALLY NEXT JANUARY
WHEN YOU DO HAVE A PROPOSAL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JULIE.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THE STUDIES ARE CONCLUSIVE,
STUDENTS DO BETTER AT SCHOOL
WHEN YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY.
SENATOR ALICE JOHNSON WANTS TO
MAKE SURE EVERY STUDENTS
STARTS THE DAY WITH A FULL
STOMACH.
SENATOR ALICE JOHNSON JOINS ME
NOW TO TALK ABOUT HER
LONGSTANDING GOAL OF TRYING TO
HAVE A SCHOOL BREAK FAST
PROGRAM.
>> PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
>> .
>> LET'S BEGIN WITH YOUR
PROPOSAL TO EXPAND THE SCHOOL
BREAKFAST PROGRAM.
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?
>> I THINK IT'S -- BECAUSE I
THINK IT'S SO SIMPLE THAT
WONDER WHY WE DON'T DO THIS IN
ORDER TO HELP TO CLOSE THAT
ACHIEVEMENT GAP THAT EVERYONE
IS TALKING ABOUT NOW.
MAYBE I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT MY
BACKGROUND IN 1994, I HAD THIS
IDEA WHEN I WAS IN THE
MINNESOTA HOUSE AND I
PRESENTED A BILL TO ESTABLISH
A PILOT PROGRAM FOR FREE
BREAKFAST FOR ALL STUDENTS IN
FOUR CERTAIN SCHOOLS,
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WE CHOSE.
THAT BILL PASSED.
EVENTUALLY IT GOT UP TO 6
SCHOOLS THAT WERE IN THE PILOT
PROGRAM AND THEN AFTER THREE
YEARS OF THAT PILOT, THERE WAS
TO BE AN EVALUATION BY THE
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION SO IN 1997, THEY DID
THAT EVALUATION.
THE RESULTS WERE SO
IMPRESSIVE, IT WAS LIKE
REDUCED ABSENTEEISM, REDUCED
VISITS TO THE NURSE HE'S
OFFICE, REDUCED DISRUPTION
IN THE CLASSROOM, INCREASED
SCORES IN READING AND MATH AND
NUMEROUS THINGS.
THE TEACHERS FOUND THAT THEY
HAD MORE TEACHING TIME.
AT FIRST THE TEACHERS WERE
SKEPTICAL, THEY THOUGHT IT
WOULD TAKE AWAY THEIR TEACHING
TIME BUT IT SHOWED -- IT
SHOWED SO MANY GOOD THINGS AND
THEN, SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE
ADMINISTRATION CHANGED AND I
RETIRED FROM THE MINNESOTA
HOUSE AND I DECIDED THAT THIS
WOULD BE A VERY GOOD REASON
FOR ME TO GO BACK TO THE
SENATE AND GET THIS PASSED.
>> WELL, AND SENATOR, VERY
FEW -- I DIDN'T REALLY SEE
ANYTHING OR ANYBODY WHO ARGUES
THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE
SHOULDN'T FEED CHILDREN
BREAKFAST.
HOWEVER, THE ARGUMENTS REALLY
SURROUND ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE
FEEDING CHILDREN BREAKFAST AND
IN COMMITTEE, SENATOR DAN HALL
REALLY ESSENTIALLY SUMMED IT
UP BY SAYING BREAKFAST SHOULD
BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
PARENTS.
HOW DO YOU COUNTER?
>> WELL, I -- I THINK IT IS
THE PARENT' RESPONSIBILITY
FIRST BUT IF THAT DOESN'T
HAPPEN, WHAT DO WE DO?
WE HAVE VERY TALENTED
TEACHERS, WE HAVE WONDERFUL
TEXTBOOKS AND CURRICULUM BUT I
TELL YOU WHAT, IF THE CHILD IS
HUNGRY, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
BE ABLE TO BE TAUGHT.
>> AND ACCORDING TO
HUNGER-FREE MINNESOTA, IT'S AN
ORGANIZATION, STUDENTS IN THE
STATE AREN'T TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF FREE AND REDUCED BREAKFAST
PROGRAMS THAT ALREADY EXIST.
THEY SAY THAT 29 MILLION
SCHOOL BREAKFASTS ARE MISSED
EVERY YEAR AND THAT OVERALL,
THE USAGE IS ONLY 45%.
SO HOW WOULD EXPANDING THIS
PROGRAM HELP IF IT'S NOT
REACHING THE PEOPLE IT'S
INTENDED TO REACH RIGHT NOW?
>> IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WITH THE
STUDIES IN -- STUDIES FROM THE
NATIONAL LEVEL DOWN TO THE
LOCAL LEVEL, THAT SAYS THERE
IS A STIGMA ATTACHED.
NOW, NONE OF US WANTS TO BE
KNOWN AS NOT HAVING THE MONEY
TO PURCHASE LUNCH FOR OUR
KIDS.
WE DON'T EVEN LIKE ANYBODY TO
THINK OF US AS BEING POOR.
I SAY, YOU KNOW -- I WOULDN'T
WANT TO GO TO A LUNCH IF IT
WAS ONLY FOR POOR CHILDREN.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN THAT
GROUP.
>> SO HOW DO YOU GET RID OF
THAT STIGMA?
>> GIVE IT TO EVERYBODY,
BECAUSE, REALLY, TRULY, THE
PEOPLE FROM ALL LEVELS OF
INCOME SOMETIMES HAVE THEIR
CHILDREN HUNGRY AT SCHOOL AND
THE NOT -- THEY ARE NOT ABLE
TO BE AS ACADEMICALLY
EXCELLENT AS THEY COULD BE.
AND THAT'S WHY, RIGHT NOW,
SCHOOLS, MANY OF THEM ALREADY
ON DAYS WHEN THEY HAVE
STATEWIDE TESTING, THEY GIVE
ALL THE CHILDREN FREE
BREAKFAST.
>> SO, SENATOR, FROM A
STRATEGY STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW,
THERE ARE SEVERAL PROPOSALS
OUT THERE TO EXPAND THE FREE
AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM, AS
WELL.
WOULD YOU ROLL THAT IN WITH
THIS LEGISLATION IF THAT
PROVIDED YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PASS THIS?
>> THAT THOUGHT CAME TO ME
TODAY, IN FACT, THAT IF THIS
BILL DOESN'T GO THROUGH ON ITS
OWN, THERE IS CERTAINLY AN
EFFORT TO -- COULD BE AN
EFFORT TO ATTACH IT TO A BILL
THAT TAKES CARE OF LUNCH AND I
DO PLAN TO PRESENT AN
AMENDMENT TO THAT LUNCH BILL
THAT'S COMING UP TO SAY THAT
NO CHILD CAN BE TURNED AWAY
FROM HAVING A LUNCH, OR TO BE
SERVED AN ALTERNATIVE LUNCH.
NOW, THE SCHOOLS STILL HAVE
THE ABILITY TO REACH OUT AND
TRY TO GET THE MONEY THAT THE
FAMILY OWES, AND THAT WOULD BE
OKAY BUT NOT -- NOT PUNISH THE
CHILDREN WITHOUT FOOD, EVEN IF
THEIR PARENTS DO HAVE THE
MONEY TO PAY.
>> AND SPEAKING OF MONEY, HOW
MUCH WOULD IT COST, WHAT IS
THE FISCAL NOTE ATTACHED TO
YOUR PROPOSAL?
>> A BARE $6 PER STUDENT PER
YEAR.
NOW, $6 FOR EACH STUDENT FOR
EACH YEAR WOULD FEED EVERYBODY
BREAKFAST FREE, 6.2 MILLION I
THINK THE FISCAL NOTE SAYS.
>> WELL, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY
PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AND OF
COURSE WE'LL FOLLOW IT
THROUGHOUT SESSION.
SENATOR JOHNSON, THANKS FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WOLF HUNT HAS BEEN IN PLACE
IN MINNESOTA FOR TWO SEASONS.
A BILL THAT RECEIVED A HEARING
IN THE SENATE WOULD HALT THE
HUNT UNTIL A TASK FORCE CAN BE
ESTABLISHED TO STUDY THE WOLF
POPULATION AND TREND, AND
POSSIBLY REVISE THE WOLF
MANAGEMENT PLAN.
SENATOR FOUNG HAWJ IS CARRYING
LEGISLATION TO TEMPORARILY
HUNTS THE WOLF HUNT IN THE
STATE OF MINNESOTA.
HE'S HERE TO DISCUSS HIS
PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU, SENATOR, FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR
INVITING ME.
>> SENATOR, LET'S BEGIN WITH
YOUR LEGISLATION TO, AS I
SAID, YOU WANT TO BAN WOLF
HUNTING TEMPORARILY.
EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
YOUR PROPOSAL.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY
THERE'S NO ACCURATE DATA, YOU
KNOW, PROVEN THAT, YOU KNOW,
THAT WE HAVE ABUNDANT OR
SHORTAGE OF WOLF POPULATION
AND THE PUBLIC JUST WANT TO
KNOW.
THE PUBLIC JUST WANT TO GET
SOME TRANSPARENCY FROM THE DNR
AND I THINK MY BILL IS MAINLY
TO COLLECT DATA TO PROVE THAT.
THERE IS CENSUS IN THE BILL
AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, PUT A HOLD
ON THE WOLF HUNT WHILE, YOU
KNOW, THEY CONDUCT THAT STUDY.
>> AND ESSENTIALLY, YOU WANT
TO CREATE A TASK FORCE THAT
WOULD DO THIS STUDY --
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> SO HOW MANY PEOPLE -- KIND
OF LAY OUT WHAT YOU ENVISION
AND WHEN YOU THINK DATA MIGHT
BE MAYBE BROUGHT IN AND JUST
KIND OF LAY OUT WHAT THE
TIMELINE A LITTLE BIT.
>> YOU KNOW, HAVING EVERYBODY
AT THE TABLE WILL CREATE A
BETTER MANAGEMENT OF THE WOLF
POPULATION.
ALSO, EVEN, YOU KNOW, HAVE
SOME CONSENSUS OF THE
DIRECTION WE WANT TO TAKE
TOWARD, YOU KNOW, LIKE HUNTING
THIS ANIMAL OR NOT HUNTING
THIS ANIMAL.
AFTER ALL, A WOLF IS
INTELLECTUAL ANIMAL, A SOCIAL
ANIMAL AND, YOU KNOW, IS A
GREAT ASSET FOR OUR STATE.
YOU KNOW, WE EVEN NAME OUR
FAMOUS SPORTS TEAM IN
MINNESOTA AFTER THE
TIMBERWOLVES AND, YOU KNOW,
IT'S REGARDED AS A SACRED
ANIMAL FOR, YOU KNOW, ORIGINAL
PEOPLE OF OUR STATE, THE
ANICHE SHAB PEOPLE AND THE
OJIBWE PEOPLE AND SO THAT'S
IMPORTANT, THAT'S IMPORTANT.
BEFORE WE TURN ANY GREAT
ANIMAL LIKE THAT INTO HUMAN
SPORT OR TURN TO SMALL GAME,
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD GIVE THEM
A LITTLE RESPECT AND COLLECT
SOME DATA.
>> WELL, AND SENATOR, TO THAT
POINT, THE DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES DOES HAVE A
WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN SO WHAT
IS IT ABOUT THEIR SYSTEM THAT
HAS YOU GOING, WHOO, WE NEED
TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENTLY HERE.
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN THE WOLF WAS
DELISTED, WE QUICKLY JUMP AND
ADD THE WOLF -- UPGRADE TO
SMALL GAME ANIMAL FOR HUNT AND
I THINK THE ABRUPT DECISION
CAUSED AN ALERT OR CAUSED, YOU
KNOW, A PANIC IN THE GENERAL
POPULATION, AND WE WANT TO
FIND OUT WHETHER, YOU KNOW --
WE WANT TO GIVE ACCURATE STUDY
BEFORE WE WANT TO JUMP AND,
YOU KNOW, TURN INTO SMALL
GAME.
>> SURE, SURE.
SO IF YOUR LEGISLATION PASSES
AND IF THERE IS A TEMPORARY
HALT TO WOLF HUNTING, WHAT
HAPPENS TO, SAY, A RANCHER WHO
MIGHT LOSE SOME LIVESTOCK TO A
WOLF?
DOES THE PAYMENT STILL GO, IS
THAT ALL ONGOING AND --
>> YEAH.
>> ALEVE YET SOME PEOPLE'S
FEARS HERE.
>> YOU KNOW, THEY SAY
LIVESTOCK KILLED BY WOLF, THEY
WILL GET A REFUND PACED ON
MARKET VALUE.
>> SO THAT DOESN'T GO AWAY.
>> EVERYTHING'S THE SAME, YOU
KNOW.
WHAT'S IN MY BILL IS VERY
SIMILAR TO OUR STATUTE IN
2001, JUST ADDED THE ANNUAL
CENSUS, A TASK FORCE AND
EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY TO REDUCE
CONFLICT BETWEEN WOLVES AND
HUMANS.
>>
>> AND SENATOR, THIS ISSUE IS
TYPICALLY VERY POLAR AYING,
IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL.
HOW DO YOU GET -- HAVE YOU
HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH RANCHERS,
FARMERS, THENDEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES, WHAT HAVE
YOU HEARD FROM THEM AND DO YOU
THINK YOU CAN PULL THEM INTO
THIS PROCESS?
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT THERE COULD BE
SOME KIND OF A COMPROMISE ON?
>> I THINK THE COMPROMISE ON
IS HAVING A TRANSPARENT, LIKE,
METHOD AND THAT WILL INVOLVE
THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AS WELL.
HAVING THE DNR BE MORE
TRANSPARENT AND THE FARMER,
THE FARMER THEMSELVES, YOU
KNOW -- I'M A LITTLE REMOVED
FROM THE FARMING DISTRICT
ALTHOUGH I HAVE CONSTITUENTS
THAT DO FARM, BUT, YOU KNOW,
WE JUST WANT INFORMATION OUT
THERE, YOU KNOW, TO PROVE
THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WOLF
POPULATION ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW,
GOING, YOU KNOW OR WHETHER
IT'S SHORT OF POPULATION.
RIGHT NOW, THE DNR HAS -- IN
2012, WHEN THE WOLF IS OPEN
FOR HUNT, THERE'S -- THEY'RE
TAKING ABOUT 400 WOLVES, SO IN
2013, THE DNR REALIZED THAT'S
ALREADY GOING -- REDUCING THE
WOLF POPULATION AND SO THEY
ACTUALLY REDUCED IT TO 200
HUNT.
>> RIGHT, SO THAT'S MY LAST
QUESTION FOR YOU, THEN, THIS
HUNT HAS ONLY BEEN GOING FOR A
COUPLE OF YEARS, WHY NOT GIVE
IT MORE TIME TO SEE WHAT THE
DNR CAN DO AND MAKE SURE THE
WOLF POPULATION REMAINS
STABLE.
WHY NOT GO THAT DIRECTION, WHY
HALT IT?
>> WELL, I THINK WE JUMP INTO
IT SO QUICKLY AND THEN IT'S
BETTER TO PUT A STUDY IN PLACE
BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THAT
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOT KNOWING
IT AND THEN JUST DECIDE
QUICKLY, DUE TO GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN AFTER WE COME BACK IN
SESSION AND SAY, OKAY, WE WANT
TO PUT THE WOLF ON A TARGET
FOR HUNT.
IT'S A GREAT ANIMAL, YOU KNOW,
WE SHOULD GIVE A LITTLE
RESPECT INSTEAD OF JUST TOSS
IT FOR HUMAN PLEASURE.
>> SENATOR HAWJ, IT'S A
PLEASURE.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ALZHEIMER'S ADVOCACY DAY AT
THE CAPITOL BROUGHT HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE TO REPRESENT A
PEOPLE THAT RELY HELPFUL
HEAVILY ON STATE-RUN SERVICES.
>> I'LL BE HONEST, I WISH I
DID NOT HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE BEEN WITH
MY DAD PLANNING A FISHING TRIP
OR MAKING A RUN TO HOME DEPOT.
HECK, I WOULD HAVE EVEN RATHER
LISTENED TO HIM GIVE ME A
20-MINUTE LECTURE ABOUT WHAT
THE BANKING INDUSTRY WAS LIKE
20 YEARS AGO.
I WISH MY DAD WASN'T DIAGNOSED
WITH ALZHEIMER'S WHEN HE WAS
56 AND WHEN I WAS STILL IN
COLLEGE.
I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO MOVE
BACK TO MINNEAPOLIS TO HELP MY
MOM CARE FOR MY DAD.
I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO SEE MY
MOTHER'S HEART BREAK OVER AN
8-YEAR BATTLE WITH THE DISEASE
AS MY DAD CHANGED FROM HER
PARTNER TO HER DEPENDENT AS HE
LOST THE ABILITY TO WALK,
SPEAK AND FEED HIMSELF.
I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO WATCH
MY FAMILY STRUGGLE WITH THE
RELENTLESS UNPREDICTABILITY
THAT IS ALZHEIMER'S AND THE
FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT IT IS TO
CARE WITH SOMEONE THAT HAS
ALZHEIMER'S.
AND I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO
SIT BY, KNOWING THAT EVERY DAY
I WOULD LOSE A LITTLE BIT MORE
OF MY DAD WHILE OUR FAMILY
COULD PLACE NO HOPE IN A
TREATMENT OR A CURE OF THE
DISEASE.
>> WHO NEEDS TO BE TRAINED,
FOR HOW LONG DO WE NEED TO
TRAIN THE PEOPLE?
WHERE DO WE GET THE MONEY TO
TRAIN THESE PEOPLE?
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
ULTIMATELY MAKING SURE THAT
ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY
FACE THIS CHALLENGE AND WHO
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING
CARE OF INDIVIDUAL AND OUR
RELATIVES ACTUALLY RECEIVES
THE PROPER TRAINING.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS IT
WITH THE RESOURCES IN PLACE.
♪
>> SENATOR BILL INK GET
ESSENTIAL JOINS ME NOW TO
TALK ABOUT HIS PERSPECTIVE ON
THIS POSSIBLE BAN ON WOLF
HUNTING.
THANKS FOR JOINING US SENATOR,
WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> SENATOR, BEFORE WE GET TO
SENATOR HAULING'S LEGISLATION,
GIVE US THE BACK STORY FROM
WHEN THE WOLVES WERE FINALLY
DELIESED FROM THE FEDERALLY
ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST TO THE
POINTS WHERE THE HUNT BECAME
AVAILABLE TO MINNESOTANS IN
2012, WHAT WAS THE PROCESS?
>> IT GOES BACK A LONG WAYS,
ACTUALLY.
THEY WERE PUT ON THE DE-LIST
SOME YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY,
ABOUT APPROXIMATELY TEN YEARS
AGO.
THEN THEY WERE TAKEN OFF THE
LIST AND THERE WAS A
TECHNICALITY THAT PUT THEM
BACK ON, SO 2012 WAS THE FIRST
TIME THAT THEY WERE TAKEN OFF
THE LIST AND THERE WAS A WOLF
MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT HAD BEEN
PUT TOGETHER BY THE DNR AND
THEY WERE BASICALLY READY,
READY FOR THE DE-LISTING
PROCESS WHICH WAS A GOOD THING
BUS THAT PROCESS WAS KIND OF A
LENGTHY PROCESS AND IN 2012,
WE HAD OUR FIRST TAKE OF THE
WOLF, OUR FIRST MANAGEMENT OF
THE WOLF HERE IN MINNESOTA.
>> AND MANY WOULD ARGUE THAT
THE DNR'S WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN
AND THE HUNT SHOULD NOT
HAPPEN, AND THAT THERE ISN'T
ENOUGH STUDYING BE DONE, THERE
ISN'T ENOUGH DATA ON HOW MANY
WOLVES REALLY DO EXIST AND
THAT THE HUNT COULD TRULY
DECIMATE POPULATIONS ONCE
AGAIN, HENCE THIS POSSIBLE BAN
TO STUDY THIS FURTHER.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT
LEGISLATION?
>> SURE.
AND WOLF SEEMS TO BE A REAL
TOUCHY -- TOUCHY ISSUE BUT,
LIKE THE OTHER 50 ANIMALS IN
MINNESOTA, THEY NEED TO BE
MANAGED JUST LIKE -- JUST LIKE
WHITE TAIL, LIKE FOX, LIKE
SQUIRRELS, RABBITS, 50
DIFFERENT SPECIES IN THE STATE
OF MINNESOTA SHOULD BE MANAGED
WITH NUMBERS AND AFTER THE
DE-LISTING, IT SHOULD BE KNOWN
THAT MINNESOTA ACTUALLY HAD
THE THIRD HIGHEST POPULATION
IN THE NORTH AMERICAN COULD
NOT INNOCENT, SECOND TO ALASKA
AND CANADA.
SO THE NUMBER WERE VERY
HEALTHY AT THAT TIME.
A LOT OF THE HEALTH EXPERTS --
EXCUSE ME, WOLF EXPERT, THE
CARNIVORE EXPERTS WERE PART OF
THIS PROCESS AND THEY SAID IT
WAS TIME FOR A MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM TO GO AHEAD AND KICK
INTO GEAR AND THE TAKING OF
WOLVES WAS SUGGESTED STRONGLY
BY THIS GROUP, AND THAT'S WHAT
HAPPENED THE FIRST YEAR THEY
WERE WITH THE POSSIBLE
POPULATION OF 3600, THERE WAS
A 400-ANIMAL TAKE.
THE SECOND YEAR, WHICH WAS
LAST YEAR, WHICH COMPLETED WAS
A CONSIDERABLY CONSERVATIVELY
LESS, 180 LESS TO 220 WOLF.
THE NUMBERS ARE STILL STRONG,
THE PARTICULAR NUMBERS THAT
THEY THIS GROUP WANTED TO KEEP
IN MINNESOTA WAS ABOUT 1600
GOOD, HEALTHY ANIMALS AND WE
HAVE THAT, PLUS.
>> TO YOU, IN YOUR OPINION, IS
ERRING ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION,
MOVING FORWARD WITH THE HUNT,
OR WOULD IT BE TO HOLD BACK
AND STUDY THE ANIMALS FURTHER?
>> DEPEND UPON WHO YOU TALK
TO.
I TALK TO A LOT OF TRAPPERS,
TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE
AROUND AND GREW UP WITH THE
GRAY WOLF IN NORTHERN
MINNESOTA, NORTHEASTERN
MINNESOTA, NORTHWESTERN
MINNESOTA WHERE I COME FROM,
AND THEY TELL YOU THAT THEY
WILL ADAPT.
THEY WILL ADAPT TO THE
SEASONS.
THEY WILL ACTUALLY BE A
HEALTHIER ANIMAL.
THEY WILL GO BACK INTO THE --
INTO THE DEEP WOOD AND THEY
WILL LIVE ON WHAT THEY DID
MANY, MANY YEARS AGO AND I
THINK THIS IS WHAT THE
ACTIVISTS, THE ONES THAT
REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS STOP,
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.
THEY WANT THEM TO BE BACK IN
THEIR NATURAL STATE AND, OF
COURSE, WHEN YOU HAVE
LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS IN THE
STATE OF MINNESOTA TO GET
ALONG WITH, AND QUITE FRANKLY,
OTHER DOMESTICATED ANIMALS,
THEY BECOME PROBLEMATIC WHEN
THEY GET BIG NUMBERS LIKE THIS
AND I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THE
POPULATION OF COYOTES
MIGRATING SOUTH TO THE METRO
AREA, AN AWFUL LOT OF COYOTES
IN THE METRO AREA WHICH YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN AND HEARD OF
BEFORE.
>> THIS BILL, SENATOR HAWJ'S
BILL, HAS PASSED TWO SENATE
COMMITTEES AT THE TIME OF THIS
TAPING, IT'S HEADING TO
ANOTHER ONE SHORTLY.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT IT EVEN IF
IT WAS REVISED?
IS THERE ANY LANGUAGE, ANY
WIGGLE ROOM IN HERE THAT COULD
LEND YOUR NAME TO THIS
LEGISLATION?
>> NO, I DON'T THINK I COULD.
AGAIN, I -- THERE'S 50
ANIMALS, THE DNR HAS DONE A
GREAT JOB OF MANAGING, THAT'S
THEIR JOB, THAT'S THEIR
FUNCTION, THE LEGISLATURE HAS
GIVEN THEM THE AUTHORITY.
SOME BY STATUTE, SOME BY RULES
THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER, AND
THEY'VE DONE I THINK A REAL
GOOD JOB.
THERE'S QUESTIONS SOMETIMES ON
WHETHER YOU'RE MANAGING THE
FISH POPULATION OR THE DEER
POPULATION DEPENDING UPON THE
DAY AND THE YEAR AND THE
WEATHER, BUT IN GENERAL,
THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF
DOING THIS AND THEY'RE VERY
CONSCIENTIOUS OF THOSE THAT
ARE WATCHING AT ALL TIMES.
THEY HAVE TO DO THE COUNT AND
REPORT IT TO THE U.S. FISH AND
WILDLIFE SERVICE, AS WELL, SO
THOSE PEOPLE ARE MONITORING
IT, AS WELL, AND THEY'RE NOT
SAYING WE SHOULD STOP THE
MANAGEMENT PLAN, I DON'T SEE
ANY REASON AT ALL TO DO THAT.
>> IN YOUR OPINION, LAST
QUESTION, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT
TO MAINTAIN THE HUNT?
>> WELL, IT IS, BECAUSE TO
MAINTAIN A BALANCE, JUST LIKE
EVERYTHING ELSE.
THEY'RE GOING TO EXIST IN OUR
SOCIETY AND IF WE'RE GOING TO
BE HERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO HAVE AND BE ABLE TO CONTROL
THE NUMBERS.
IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT AND IF
WE ALL OF A SUDDEN -- HERE'S
AN EXAMPLE I THINK PEOPLE CAN
RELATE TO.
IF WE HAVE OVER TOO MANY DEER
AND DIDN'T MANAGE THAT WHITE
TAIL POPULATION, IT BECOMES A
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WITH WOLF
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TOO MANY,
IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST NOT
WORKING OUT AND YOU HAVE ALL
DIFFERENT KINDS OF TRAGEDIES
HAPPEN.
>> OKAY.
SENATOR BILL INGEBRIGTSEN,
WE'LL TRACK IT AS IT HEADS TO
ONE OF YOUR COMMITTEES HERE
SHORTLY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
♪
>> AND THAT CONCLUDE THIS
WEEK'S PROGRAM.
FROM ALL OF US AT SENATE MEDIA
SERVICES, I'LL JULIE BARTKEY.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING