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>> MINNESOTA'S ROLE IN THE
CIVIL WAR IS HIGHLIGHTED AS
THE ANNIVERSARY OF GETTYSBURG
DRAWS NEAR.
AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SAYS HE'S STEPPING DOWN.
IN THIS WEEK'S "CAPITOL
REPORT."
♪
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY, AND
WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
"CAPITOL REPORT."
I'M JULIE BARTKEY.
HE IS IN HIS SECOND TERM AS
MINNESOTA'S SECRETARY OF
STATE, BUT MARK RITCHIE SAYS
HE WILL NOT SEEK A THIRD.
HE SAT DOWN WITH US EARLIER TO
DISCUSS HIS DECISION.
LET'S BEGIN WITH WHY EXACTLY
DID YOU DECIDE THIS IS THE
TIME TO STEP AWAY?
>> WELL, EVERYONE WHO'S
ELECTED TO OFFICE HAS TO LOOK
INTO THE FUTURE AND MAKE A
JUDGMENT, WILL I RUN FOR
OFFICE AGAIN, CONSIDER A LOT
OF FACTORS, BUT I THINK, FOR
ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS
WERE KNOWING THAT THIS WAS THE
TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I NEEDED
TO REBALANCE, TO PAY ATTENTION
TO MY FAMILY, PAY ATTENTION TO
THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN
TRYING TO LEARN AND THE KIND
OF CHANGES THAT ARE REALLY IN
FRONT OF ME IN TERMS OF THINGS
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
ACCOMPLISH STILL.
BUT IT ALSO IS A TIME WHEN OUR
STATE'S ECONOMY IS GETTING
BETTER.
IN OUR OFFICE WE GET TO SEE
THERE.
LOTS OF GOOD THINGS GOING ON
IN THE STATE.
SO THE BEST TIME TO MAKE A
CHANGE IS A TIME WHERE THERE'S
A LOT OF GOOD, POSITIVE
ENERGY, AND I KNOW REALLY
EXCELLENT YOUNG LEADERS.
SO, FOR ME, I KNOW IT'S A TIME
TO STEP ASIDE BECAUSE IT IS
TIME FOR NEW LEADERSHIP TO
BECOME PART OF OUR STATE'S
OVERALL GOVERNMENT AND THIS IS
A GOOD PLACE FOR THAT TO
HAPPEN.
>> AFTER YOU HAD ANNOUNCED
THAT YOU WERE NOT GOING TO
SEEK RE-ELECTION, YOU WERE
QUOTED IN THE St. PAUL
"PIONEER PRESS" SAYING THAT
ONE OF YOUR PROUDEST
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IS HELPING
MINNESOTA RETAIN ITS NUMBER
ONE STATUS IN VOTER TURNOUT.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS
THAT YOU THINK CONTRIBUTE TO
THIS?
>> WELL, WE'VE HAD THIS HIGH
NATIONAL RANKING FOR QUITE A
WHILE.
ESSENTIALLY SINCE WE PASSED
ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION.
BUT I NOTE THAT MINNESOTA'S
NUMBER ONE IN A NUMBER OF
THINGS CIVIC.
VOLUNTEERISM, CHARITABLE
CONTRIBUTIONS.
WE ARE A CIVIC-MINDED PEOPLE.
I THINK WE LOVE THIS STATE,
AND WE HAVE A KIND OF PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE TAKE
CARE OF THIS STATE AND THAT
INCLUDES VOTING.
BUT ALSO AM VERY PROUD THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO TAKE THE BUSINESS
SERVICES SIDE OF THE OFFICE
AND BRING IT UP TO BE NUMBER
ONE IN THE NATION.
SO, THOSE ARE THE TWO SIDES OF
THE OFFICE, THE ELECTION, THE
DEMOCRACY SIDE, THE BUSINESS
SERVICES, AND I FEEL LIKE I'M
TURNING THE OFFICE OVER WITH
BOTH SIDES OF THE OFFICE IN
VERY GOOD SHAPE.
>> WELL, DURING YOUR TIME IN
OFFICE, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO
VERY CLOSELY WATCHED RECOUNTS.
YOU HELPED LAUNCH SEVERAL
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ONE THAT
PROTECTS THE ADDRESSES OF
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
YOU'VE HELPED IMPROVE
EFFICIENCIES IN YOUR OFFICE.
HOW DO YOU THINK THESE ISSUES
CRAFT YOUR LEGACY?
>> WELL, WHAT I'M HOPING IS
THAT I'VE DONE MY BEST TO BE
REMEMBERING AND HONORING ALL
WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ME
BECAUSE I INHERITED A
FANTASTIC STAFF.
WE HAVE A FANTASTIC SYSTEM OF
ELECTIONS THAT HAS KEPT
MINNESOTA NUMBER ONE FOR
YEARS.
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE
COME BEFORE ME, I WANT TO BE
KNOWN AS SOMEBODY WHO TOOK
THAT HISTORY AND HERITAGE AND
OUT LOUD SAID, THANK YOU, AND
REMEMBERED IT.
BUT AS YOU MENTION, WE ALSO
HAVE TO BE VERY GOOD STEWARDS
OF THE SYSTEM AND THE
INHERITANCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN OUR STATE
CAPITOL, WHICH IS THE NUMBER
ONE SYMBOL OF OUR DEMOCRACY,
THE NUMBER ONE SYMBOL OF OUR
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, MAKING
SURE THAT MY VOICE HAS BEEN
ONE THAT'S HELPED LEAD US TO A
NEW PLACE OF TAKING CARE OF
THAT STATE CAPITOL JUST LIKE
WE TAKE CARE OF OUR ELECTIONS.
BUT WHEN I LOOK TO THE
QUESTION OF LEGACY, I THINK
ABOUT THOSE WHEN THEY CAME
BEFORE US WHO DUG DEEP INSIDE
THEIR HEARTS, THEIR MINDS,
THEIR POCKETS, THEY BUILT A
BEAUTIFUL STATE AND MANY
THINGS FOR US, GREAT SYSTEMS
OF ELECTIONS AND ALL OF THAT.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE FUTURE
GENERATIONS HAVE THE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE HAD,
HAVE THE SAME GIFTS THAT THEY
CAN BE APPRECIATIVE OF, AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING
THINGS BETTER FOR THOSE WHO
WILL COME BEHIND US.
AND, SO, LOTS OF WAYS TO DO
THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'LL BE
THINKING ABOUT.
>> YOU WERE VERY VOCAL IN YOUR
OPPOSITION TO VOTER PHOTO I.D.
LET'S TALK A MOMENT ABOUT THAT
BALLOT INITIATIVE, AND IT
EVENTUALLY BEING DEFEATED BY
MINNESOTA VOTERS IN THE LAST
GENERAL ELECTION.
HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT DO YOU
THINK YOUR VOICE HAD IN THE
DEFEAT OF THAT MEASURE?
>> WELL, I THINK THE PROPOSAL,
WHICH WAS TO ELIMINATE
ELECTION-DAY REGISTRATION,
THAT WAS THE MAIN PROPOSAL,
MINNESOTANS OPPOSE THAT.
THEY LIKE OUR SYSTEM, THEY
TRUST OUR SYSTEM.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE NUMBER ONE IN
THE NATION.
SO, I HAVE THE SAME FEELING.
I LIKE OUR SYSTEM.
I TRUST OUR SYSTEM.
PROPOSALS TO ELIMINATE
SAME-DAY REGISTRATION, NOT
ONLY CAME UP IN THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, BUT
THERE WERE THOSE WHO WENT TO
COURT TO TRY TO HAVE OUR
SYSTEM OF ELECTION-DAY
REGISTRATION OVERTURNED, AND
THE COURTS STRONGLY AFFIRMED
THE MINNESOTA SYSTEM.
SO, I FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE
MAINSTREAM.
I LIKE OUR SYSTEM, AND I'M
VERY VERY CLEAR THAT WE CAN
ALWAYS MAKE THINGS BETTER.
HUMAN BEINGS HAVE THE CAPACITY
TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE
RECOUNTS WAS HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PUT ELECTRON
MICROSCOPE ON OUR SYSTEM AND
FIND OUT, FOR ONE THING, WE
ARE NOW A PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO
VOTE EARLY THROUGH THE
ABSENTEE BALLOT PROCESS.
THIS LAST YEAR, WE OPENED THAT
SYSTEM UP SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO
MAKE UP AN EXCUSE OR MAKE UP
SOME KIND OF PHONY THING.
AND WE KNOW THAT KIND OF
CHANGE IS WHAT MINNESOTA
VOTERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, AND
I DO BELIEVE THAT HAVING THOSE
BIG RECOUNTS HELPED ILLUMINATE
SOME OF THE CHANGES AND WE'VE
NOW BEEN ABLE TO BRING THOSE
INTO EFFECT WITH THE ACTION BY
THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE THIS
LAST YEAR.
>> YOU HAVE ROUGHLY, WHAT, A
YEAR AND A HALF LEFT IN
OFFICE, AND BEFORE THE CAMERAS
WERE ROLLING, YOU WERE SAYING
THAT YOU'VE BEEN FORMULATING A
LIST AND THERE'S A LOT TO DO
BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
WHAT ARE A COUPLE OF THE KEY
THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO GET
DIMINISHED?
>> WELL, OUR BIGGEST SINGLE
TASK OF THE PAST NOW SIX AND A
HALF YEARS HAS BEEN TAKING OUR
BUSINESS SERVICES SYSTEM AND
ACTUALLY MAKING IT DIGITAL SO
THAT ALL MINNESOTANS, NO
MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, CAN
HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE SERVICES
AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE 24/7.
WE HAVE 60,000 PEOPLE A YEAR
CREATING NEW BUSINESSES IN
MINNESOTA.
WE HAVE ABOUT A HALF A MILLION
BUSINESSES AND ALL KINDS OF
CITIZENS USE OUR SERVICES,
WHETHER CHECKING UP ON A
CONTRACTOR OR GETTING A NOTARY
FOR THEMSELVES.
SO, THE BIG THING WE'VE DONE
THAT'S NOT VERY VISIBLE TO
MOST OF THE PUBLIC IS TO MAKE
THAT SYSTEM DIGITAL, AND WE
HAVE ONLY A LITTLE BIT LEFT TO
DO BUT, OF COURSE, YOU WANT TO
COMPLETE THAT LAST MILE SO
IT'S A WHOLE SYSTEM.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGER
THINGS.
THE SECOND THING IS, WE HAD
SOME MAJOR CHANGES IN STATE
LAW AROUND ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION THAT NEED TO BE
IMPLEMENTED.
SOME HAVE TO DO WITH MAKING IT
EASIER FOR OUR TOWNSHIPS AND
TOWNS TO ADMINISTER THE
MAIL-IN BALLOTS, THE
LEGISLATURE HAS NOW GIVEN ALL
TOWNSHIPS THE RIGHT TO USE ALL
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE MAIL
BALLOTING, WHICH WILL SAVE A
LOT OF MONEY, HELP VOTERS.
I MEAN, IT'S A VERY GOOD
ADVANCEMENT, BUT WE NEED TO DO
QUITE A BIT OF COMPUTER WORK
TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
IT'S ALSO RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF OUR STATE'S CIVIL WAR,
150th SESQUICENTENNIAL, I
CO-CHAIR WITH REPRESENTATIVE
DEAN URDAHL, LOTS ARE
HAPPENING, GETTYSBURG'S COMING
UP, THAT'S KIND OF A HIGH
POINT, BUT THERE'S STILL MUCH
MORE TO DO.
AND THEN, FINALLY, THERE ARE
MANY THINGS THAT GO INTO A BIG
ELECTION LIKE THE ONE COMING
UP NEXT YEAR.
EVERYTHING FROM HAVING ALL THE
SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO TRAINING
NEW PEOPLE TO MAKING SURE THAT
OUR NEWLY TURNED 18-YEAR-OLDS
ARE REGISTERED AND WELCOMED
AND THEY KNOW HOW TO VOTE.
LOTS OF FOLKS MOVE TO
MINNESOTA, MAKING SURE THOSE
FOLKS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH OUR SYSTEM.
AND, SO, WE HAVE MUCH TO DO TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE GO INTO A
BIG ELECTION YEAR AND, OF
COURSE, WE'LL HAVE OUR VOTE ON
OUR VETERAN PROGRAM, OUR NEW
WEBSITE TO MAKE SURE THOSE
SERVING OVERSEAS IN THE
MILITARY WILL HAVE FULL
ACCESS.
LOTS OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO
WITH MAKING SURE THAT NEXT
YEAR, WHICH IS ONE OF THOSE
BIG ELECTION YEARS, WILL GO
SMOOTHLY FOR EVERYONE.
>> SO, IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT
YOU'RE NOT CHECKING OUT BY ANY
MEANS, AS YOU FINISH YOUR
TENURE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
I SAY TO PEOPLE, I'VE GOT 19
MORE MONTHS AND THEN AT LEAST
19 MORE YEARS, AND I'VE HAD A
LIFE SOLELY DEVOTED TO PUBLIC
SERVICE.
AND, SO, THIS FORM OF PUBLIC
SERVICE, AN ELECTED OFFICE OF
SECRETARY OF STATE, HAS BEEN A
VERY IMPORTANT THING AND IT'S
A VERY GOOD FIT FOR SOMEBODY
WHO TRAINED TO BE A HIGH
SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER
AND WHO'S BEEN ACTIVE.
BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY
IN THIS MOMENT TO BE
APPRECIATIVE AND TO REMEMBER
ALL WHO HELPED ME TO GET
ORIENTED TO THE OFFICE, WHO
HELPED ME MAKE SURE THAT I
KNEW WHAT WAS THE NEXT STEP,
AND, OF COURSE, TO SHARE WITH
THE REST OF MINNESOTANS WHAT
AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE WE
HAVE HERE IN St. PAUL AND
ALL OVER THE STATE, WHO SERVE
EACH AND EVERY DAY AS OUR
PUBLIC SERVANTS.
I HAVE HAD AN INSIDE LOOK AT
THE PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO MAKE
OUR LIVES AND OUR STATE SAFE
AND SUSTAINABLE AND SECURE, A
FANTASTIC GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND
I FEEL HONORED TO HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO SERVE, BUT I ALSO FEEL
VERY EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE
TO SHARE WHAT I'VE LEARNED
AFTER THOSE 19 MONTHS HAVE
PASSED.
AND I HAND OFF THAT BATON.
>> AND, Mr. SECRETARY OF
STATE, IN A MINUTE OR LESS,
WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WILL YOU
GIVE TO THE PERSON WHO YOU
HAND THAT BATON TO?
>> WELL, THE FIRST THING IS
THAT THIS IS OVER 150-YEAR-OLD
SYSTEM THAT'S BEEN BUILT FOR
US BY MANY PEOPLE AND IT'S
FANTASTIC.
THE SYSTEM THAT WE USE FOR
CREATING AND FOR KEEPING UP
WITH OUR BUSINESS, THE SYSTEMS
WE USE FOR ELECTIONS, AND, SO,
THE FIRST THING IS, AN
APPRECIATION OF WHAT WE HAVE.
THE SECOND THING IS, THEY WILL
BE COMING IN AT A TIME WHERE
MINNESOTANS WILL BE GETTING
BOTH OLDER AND YOUNGER.
BY THAT I MEAN, OUR
DEMOGRAPHICS ARE CHANGING VERY
RAPIDLY.
OLDER CITIZENS ARE BECOMING
THE NEW ENTREPRENEURS, THE
AARP AND FPA AND ALL THIS.
SO WE KNOW THAT ALL THE THINGS
THAT WE DO IN OUR OFFICE WILL
BE AFFECTED BY THESE CHANGING
DEMOGRAPHICS, VOTINGS AND
EVERYTHING.
SO WE'VE GOT TO REALLY PAY
ATTENTION TO THAT.
AND THEN, FINALLY, IT'S BEEN
IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE KEEP
TRACK OF AND KEEP PROMOTING
OUR HISTORY, OUR HERITAGE, OUR
VALUES, OUR CULTURE.
WE ARE HERE IN A MOMENT OF
RECOGNITION OF THE NATION'S
CIVIL WAR, IT'S KIND OF A GOOD
FULCRUM FOR LOOKING AT THE
FUTURE BECAUSE IT'S WHEN THE
STATE WAS BORN, BUT EACH AND
EVERY MONTH THAT PASSES,
THERE'S A CHANCE, AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR REMINDING THE
PUBLIC, WORKING WITH SCHOOLS,
ANY WAY THAT'S POSSIBLE TO
HELP PEOPLE REMEMBER THAT THIS
DREAM, THIS VISION OF LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL IS ONE
THAT WAS A GIFT TO US,
INCREDIBLE PEOPLE SACRIFICED
TO GIVE US THIS OPPORTUNITY.
OUR JOB AS THE TEMPORARY
OCCUPANT OF AN ELECTED OFFICE
IS TO BE A GOOD STEWARD, TO
REMEMBER AND TO HONOR AND
APPRECIATE THAT, AND THEN TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
INVESTING SO THAT FOR THOSE
TIMES WE SHALL NEVER SEE, THEY
HAVE THE SAME GIFTS OF
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE DID.
>> OKAY.
WITH THOSE WORDS,
Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE,
ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU
ON "CAPITOL REPORT."
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANKS AGAIN.
♪
>> MINNESOTA ENACTED A BAN ON
BISPHENOL A IN SOME CHILDREN'S
PRODUCTS SEVERAL YEARS, WELL,
THAT BAND WAS RECENTLY
EXPANDED.
SENATOR KATIE SIEBEN, WHO
CARRIED THE BILL IN THE
SENATE, SAT DOWN WITH US TO
DISCUSS HER LEGISLATION.
>> SO, SENATOR, LET'S BEGIN
WITH THAT QUESTION.
WHY WAS IT NECESSARY TO
INTRODUCE THIS LEGISLATION?
>> WELL, MINNESOTA LED THE
NATION WHEN IT FIRST BANNED
B.P.A., OR BISPHENOL A IN
SIPPY CUPS AND BABY BOTTLES
SEVERAL YEARS BACK.
AND NOW YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE
ARE MANY OTHER STATES THAT
HAVE DONE THAT.
AND BISPHENOL-A IS EFFECTIVELY
TAKEN OUT OF ALL BABY BOTTLES
AND SIPPY CUPS.
AND, SO, OTHER STATES HAVE
PASSED A BAN TO NOT ALLOW
B.P.A. IN INFANT FORMULA CANS,
CANS FOR BABY FOOD AND TODDLER
FOOD PACKAGING.
AND, SO, IN LOOKING AT THE,
AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE RESEARCH
TO SHOW WHY EXPOSURE TO B.P.A.
CAN BE HARMFUL TO CHILDREN, WE
THOUGHT THIS WAS A MODERATE
AND APPROPRIATE STEP TO TAKE.
>> AND YOU'RE A MOTHER OF
THREE, INCLUDING A NEWBORN,
AND, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON
THAT, WAS THAT PART OF THE
IMPETUS FOR YOU SIGNING ON TO
THIS LEGISLATION?
>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS.
YOU THINK ABOUT HOW BUSY
FAMILIES ARE THESE DAYS,
MOTHERS, AND SOMEONE LIKE ME
DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TIME
TO RESEARCH WHETHER -- WHAT
TYPE OF BABY FOOD HAS B.P.A.
IN IT BECAUSE IT ISN'T LABELED
ON THE BABY FOOD JARS, FOR
EXAMPLE.
IN THOSE SITUATIONS.
AND A LOT OF MOTHERS TOLD ME
THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT IF THEY
BUY ORGANIC FOOD, FOR EXAMPLE,
THAT B.P.A. WOULD NOT BE IN
IT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE
RIGHT NOW.
>> WHEN YOU SAY IN IT, JUST TO
CLARIFY, YOU MEAN IN THE
CONTAINERS, NOT IN THE ACTUAL
FOOD?
>> CORRECT.
IT'S IN THE LINING OF THE
LIDS, IN THE CASE OF BABY
FOOD.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE USED TO
HELP -- TO SEAL THE CONTAINER.
SO IT DOES LEECH INTO THE BABY
FOOD, HOWEVER.
SO, WE THOUGHT THAT -- I
THOUGHT THAT THIS IS ONE THING
THAT WE COULD DO, A MODERATE
STEP, LIKE I SAID, TO PROTECT
CHILDREN AND TO MAKE IT EASIER
ON PARENTS SO THAT THEY
WOULDN'T HAVE TO SPEND SO MUCH
TIME RESEARCHING WHAT TYPES OF
FOOD CONTAINED IT OR NOT.
>> AND THAT SEEMED TO BE ONE
OF THE KEY ARGUMENTS ON THE
SENATE FLOOR.
SENATOR MICHELLE BENSON WAS
ONE PERSON WHO STATED, THIS
RESPONSIBILITY REALLY DOES
FALL ON THE PARENTS AND NOT
THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
AND PARENTS ARE EDUCATED
ENOUGH AND THEY CAN FIGURE OUT
WHAT TO BUY AND WHAT NOT TO
BUY.
OBVIOUSLY YOU DISAGREE WITH
THIS SENTIMENT.
BUT IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE
STATE CAN REGULATE?
HOW CHALLENGING IS IT GOING TO
BE FOR RETAILERS?
>> WE WORKED WITH THE
RETAIL -- NOT ESPECIALLY THE
RETAILERS -- WE WORKED WITH
THE MANUFACTURERS.
THERE ARE SAFE ALTERNATIVES TO
B.P.A. OUT THERE.
AND THEY'RE USED IN MANY
PRODUCTS.
FOR INSTANCE, IN INFANT
FORMULA LININGS, ENFAMIL AND
GERBER DO NOT USE B.P.A.
ALREADY.
SO THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES.
AND, SO, I THINK THAT DOING
THIS WILL BE -- CONSUMERS
WON'T NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE IN
TERMS OF THE PRODUCT, BUT THEY
CAN BE ASSURED NOW, STARTING
HERE SHORTLY, THAT THERE WON'T
BE B.P.A. IN THESE PRODUCTS.
>> SO, HAS THE BAN ON SIPPY
CUPS AND BOTTLES BEEN
EFFECTIVE?
AND IF SO, OBVIOUSLY YOUR
EXPECTATION IS IT WOULD BE THE
SAME WITH THIS LEGISLATION AS
WELL.
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IT --
JUST AS I SAID AT THE
BEGINNING, WE WERE ONE OF THE
FIRST STATES -- OR THE FIRST
STATE, I BELIEVE, TO BAN
B.P.A. IN BOTTLES AND SIPPY
CUPS.
AND NOW WE'LL BE ABOUT THE
FOURTH STATE TO DO THIS FOR
INFANT AND BABY AND TODDLER
FOOD PRODUCTS.
>> AND YOU'RE FINDING THAT
RETAILERS ARE COMPLYING, FOR
THE MOST PART?
>> WITH THE --
>> WITH THE SIPPY CUPS?
>> YES.
YES, THEY ARE.
>> OKAY.
SO ANYTHING YOU WANT MINNESOTA
PARENTS TO KNOW, THEN, AS FAR
AS THIS LEGISLATION, WHEN IT
TAKES EFFECT?
>> I THINK THAT IT'S JUST,
LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT A REAL
HIGH-PROFILE BILL, BUT IT'S
SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP EASE
MOTHERS -- MOTHERS' AND
FATHERS' CONCERNS THAT THERE
ISN'T THIS HARMFUL SUBSTANCE
IN THE FOOD THAT THEY FEED
THEIR BABIES.
>> OKAY.
SENATOR KATIE SIEBEN, AGAIN,
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU.
♪
>> SENATOR JULIANNE ORTMAN
RECENTLY ATTENDED A SEMINAR ON
NATIONAL SECURITY, AND SHE'S
HERE TO ENCAPSULATE WHAT SHE
LEARNED AND HOW IT IMPACTS
MINNESOTA.
THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SENATOR, I WANT TO BEGIN
WITH, WHEN YOU WERE INVITED TO
ATTEND THIS SEMINAR, IT WAS IN
PENNSYLVANIA, YOU DID ISSUE A
STATEMENT AND IT SAID, AS THE
MOTHER OF A SOLDIER IN THE
U.S. ARMY, I HAVE A PERSONAL
INTEREST IN BETTER
UNDERSTANDING ON MILITARY AND
THE ISSUES THEY FACE AT HOME
AND ABROAD.
SO, WHEN YOU WERE AT THE
SEMINAR, WOULD YOU SAY THAT
YOU GAINED MORE FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF MOTHER, OF
LAWMAKER, OR AMERICAN?
>> WELL, ALL OF THOSE THINGS
BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY
SEPARATE THOSE PARTS OF MY
LIFE OUT.
THEY'RE ALL COMBINED.
RAYMOND, MY SON, IS A PRIVATE
FIRST CLASS IN THE U.S. ARMY.
HE IS STUDYING CHINESE AT THE
DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE IN
MONTEREY AND I'M VERY PROUD OF
HIM.
YOU COULD SAY RIDICULOUSLY
PROUD OF MY SON.
AND, SO, WHEN HE ENTERED INTO
THIS GREAT NEW LIFE, I WANTED
TO LEARN AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY
COULD.
BUT ALSO IN MY SERVICE IN THE
STATE SENATE, ON THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, NATIONAL SECURITY
IS OF IMPORTANCE TO
MINNESOTANS, SO I DO HAVE THAT
PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY, TOO, TO
KNOW WHAT OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS DOING AND ENGAGE
IN THE CONVERSATION AND THE
PREPARATION OF OUR MILITARY.
THIS WEEK WAS ALL ABOUT MAKING
SURE THAT CIVILIANS
PARTICIPATE IN A CONVERSATION
WITH MILITARY COLONELS AND
LIEUTENANT COLONELS,
PRIMARILY, ON WHAT'S HAPPENING
WITH NATIONAL SECURITY, WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH THE ARMY AND
ENGAGING IN A CONVERSATION
BETWEEN CIVILIANS AND MILITARY
PROFESSIONALS.
>> AND, SO, BASED OFF OF
WHAT -- BASED ON WHAT YOU
HEARD, WHAT DO YOU THINK SOME
OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES ARE
RIGHT NOW FACING OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY?
>> WELL, FIRST, I HAVE TO SAY
THAT I THINK OUR NATION IS IN
GREAT HANDS.
AND THERE WERE SO MANY HEROES
IN THE ROOM THAT I WORKED IN.
THERE WERE ABOUT 20 COLONELS
FROM DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF THE
MILITARY AND THE STATE
DEPARTMENT.
THERE WERE ALSO PROFESSIONALS
FROM INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE FROM
KENYA, THERE WAS ONE FROM
POLAND, ONE FROM NEW ZEALAND,
SO THEY WERE ENGAGING IN A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
MILITARY AND ABOUT NATIONAL
SECURITY AND THEN IN THE FINAL
WEEK, ENGAGING CIVILIANS, AS I
SAID.
SO, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT
*** HARASSMENT IN THE
MILITARY, VERY IMPORTANT.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE
MILITARY CHOOSES WHICH COUNTRY
TO ENGAGE IN.
HOW THEY MONITOR WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN OTHER COUNTRIES
AND HOW THEY STUDY.
IT'S AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
SO, THESE FOLKS THAT
PARTICIPATE STUDY FOR AN
ENTIRE YEAR AND EARN A
MASTER'S PROGRAM WHILE THEY'RE
LEARNING ABOUT NATIONAL
SECURITY.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE
STATE'S ROLE IS, IF ANY, IN
HELPING SHAPE NATIONAL
SECURITY?
>> OH, I THINK PROGRAMS LIKE
THIS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
I THINK JUST BEING INVOLVED.
I THINK THAT IF I CALLED MY
CONGRESSMAN OR U.S. SENATOR, I
BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD
ANSWER.
SO, I JUST THINK BEING
KNOWLEDGEABLE, AS CLOSE TO
RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS AS
POSSIBLE SO ENGAGING IN A VERY
IMPORTANT DIALOGUE ABOUT WHAT
OUR NATION'S INTERESTS ARE.
I THINK THAT'S THE REAL
CHALLENGE IS IDENTIFYING WHAT
ARE NATIONAL SECURITY
INTERESTS AND THAT'S WHY IT'S
SUCH A CHALLENGING PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS
ABOUT THE MILITARY, AT LEAST
IN THE ARMY, IS THAT THE
CAPTAINS GO TO SCHOOL FOR
TACTICS AND THE MAJORS GO TO
SCHOOL FOR OPERATIONS.
BUT THE COLONELS GO FOR
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP, AND
THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT,
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND
MAKING THOSE VERY DIFFICULT
DECISIONS.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA, THE
THOUGHT, IT'S IN THE NEWS
OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW, ABOUT
DATA PRIVACY, AND, SO,
NATIONALLY AS WE'RE BECOMING
AWARE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF
BALANCING THE NEED FOR PRIVACY
AND NATIONAL SECURITY, DO YOU
THINK AS A MEMBER OF THE
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE,
WHEN, IF AT ALL, IS IT
APPROPRIATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT
TO HAVE ACCESS TO PRIVATE
DATA?
>> WELL, I THINK YOU ALWAYS
HAVE TO BALANCE THE NEED
BETWEEN SECURITY AND PRIVACY.
AND OBVIOUSLY MINNESOTANS AND
AMERICANS, WE WANT BOTH.
AND, SO, THE NATIONAL INTEREST
AND THE STATEWIDE INTEREST IS
TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOME WAY
WE CAN BALANCE THAT.
BUT IT'S A PUBLIC POLICY
DEBATE.
AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD
BE INVOLVED IN THAT DEBATE.
AND THEY SHOULD HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT IS
CONCERNING FOR ME ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH NATIONAL
SECURITY AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED
RECENTLY WITH THE LEAKS THAT
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT IS THIS
QUESTION OF WHEN IS THERE
TRANSPARENCY AND THAT
TRANSPARENCY ITSELF LEADS TO
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE
THAT WE SERVE.
AND I WONDER IF WE STRUCK THE
RIGHT BALANCE.
AND ME PERSONALLY, I'M NOT
SURE THAT WE HAVE.
>> WAS THAT AT ALL A
DISCUSSION AT THE SEMINAR?
>> IT WAS DISCUSSED, FOR SURE.
AND OTHER ISSUES AS WELL.
I THINK THE FOCUS WAS TO HELP
THESE COLONELS AND LIEUTENANT
COLONELS AS THEY GO OUT TO
PLACES OF LEADERSHIP ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE
WORLD TO ENGAGE IN THAT
CONVERSATION WITH PUBLIC
POLICY LEADERS, THAT THEIR
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR
CONGRESSMEN AND WOMEN IS VERY
IMPORTANT AND THEIR DIALOGUE
WITH CIVILIAN LEADERS, WHETHER
THEY BE STATE LEADERS OR LOCAL
LEADERS, THEY ARE NOT US
VERSUS THEM, IT'S ALL OF US,
IT'S OUR COUNTRY AND IT'S OUR
MILITARY AND WE NEED TO ENGAGE
IN MORE MEANINGFUL
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT
THEY'RE DOING.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PROGRAM
IS ABOUT.
>> WERE THERE ANY SURPRISES AT
THE SEMINAR?
>> I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED
BUT PLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT
THE ACLU WAS THERE FOR A
DISCUSSION.
THE CONCEPT IS REALLY TO BRING
LOTS OF DIFFERENT VIEWS INTO
THESE CLASSROOMS SO THAT WE
CAN -- SO THAT OUR MILITARY
FOLKS ARE WELL EDUCATED ABOUT
THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF VIEWS,
WHETHER THEY AGREE OR
DISAGREE, YOU WANT THEM TO BE
ABLE TO SORT THROUGH THE VIEWS
AND ADDRESS AND RESPECT ALL
DIFFERENT VIEWS.
>> YOU MENTIONED *** ABUSE.
DO YOU THINK MINNESOTANS CAN
BE A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENT
THAT WOMEN WILL BE MORE
RESPECTED?
>> WELL, I HAVE TO SAY, ONE OF
THE MOST EXCITING THINGS FOR
ME IS I HAD A SPONSOR,
EVERYONE HAS A SPONSOR
STUDENT, AND THE STUDENT THAT
I WORKED WITH WAS LIEUTENANT
NICKIE OLIVE GRIFFIN AND SHE
WAS THE FIRST WOMAN BATTALION
COMMANDER, SHE WAS PROMOTED
WHILE I WAS THERE FROM
LIEUTENANT COLONEL TO COLONEL,
SO YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE
PICTURES.
IT WAS FASCINATING, SHE'S A
MOTHER WITH TWO CHILDREN AND
SHE'S MARRIED TO A HUSBAND WHO
SERVES IN THE RESERVES.
AND SHE HAD GREAT INSIGHT FOR
ME.
I WOULD SAY WHAT SHE HAS TO
SAY IS PROFOUND, NOT ONLY IN
THE FACT THAT SHE'S COME UP
THROUGH THE RANKS TO BE THE
FIRST BATTALION COMMANDER BUT
HER MOTHER WAS A MASTER
SERGEANT.
SO, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE
TRADITION AND THE
UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE ISSUES,
THAT I -- SHE WAS ABLE TO
SHARE WITH ME, AND SHE SAID,
WHAT'S REALLY CHANGED IS THAT
THE MILITARY HAS MADE IT OKAY,
ACCEPTABLE AND EVEN PROMOTED
REPORTING.
THAT SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT
THERE'S A MORE -- ADDITIONAL
INCIDENTS, BUT THAT THERE'S
BETTER REPORTING AND SHE'S
VERY ENCOURAGED BY THAT.
AND, SO, I WOULD SAY TAKEN
FROM SOMEONE WITH REAL
KNOWLEDGE AND YEARS IN THE
MILITARY, I TAKE THAT AS VERY
AUTHORITATIVE.
>> SENATOR, YOU ARE NOW
CHARGED WITH HELPING AMERICANS
BETTER UNDERSTAND CURRENT
NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES,
GLOBALLY AND DOMESTICALLY.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK WE
SHOULD ALL KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU
LEARNED AT THE SEMINAR?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT'S A PRETTY
BIG CHARGE.
>> YOU'RE UP TO THE TASK.
>> WE ALL HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP
LEARNING, TO KEEP READING, TO
NOT -- TO NOT JUST ASSUME THAT
IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROBLEM
OR SOMEBODY ELSE IS LOOKING
OUT FOR OUR INTERESTS BECAUSE
WE ARE A NATION OF
SELF-GOVERNMENT, IT'S WHAT'S
UNIQUE ABOUT OUR COUNTRY.
AND, SO, IT'S YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY AND MINE AND
EVERYONE WATCHING TO KEEP AN
EYE ON GOVERNMENT AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT WE
THINK AND THAT OUR STANDARDS
ARE BEING DISCUSSED AND
CONSIDERED WHEN DECISIONS ARE
BEING MADE.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING
IN AND TALKING ABOUT YOUR
EXPERIENCE.
WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HOPE EVERYBODY'S HAVING A
GREAT SUMMER.
>> THE STATE CAPITOL CONTAINS
MANY REMINDERS OF THE STATE'S
ROLE IN THE CIVIL WAR,
PARTICULARLY IN THE BATTLE OF
GETTYSBURG.
WITH THE 150th ANNIVERSARY
OF THAT BATTLE APPROACHING,
BRIAN PEASE OF THE MINNESOTA
HISTORICAL SOCIETY DISCUSSES
THE STATE'S ROLE.
>> HERE IN THE GOVERNOR'S
RECEPTION ROOM, WE HAVE A LOT
OF VERY FAMOUS CIVIL WAR
PAINTINGS.
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS IS THE
DEPICTION OF THE FIRST
MINNESOTA AT THE BATTLE OF
GETTYSBURG IN 1863.
IT WAS THE MOST VETERAN
ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE UNION
ARMY, OUR GOVERNOR ALEXANDER
RAMSEY HAD BEEN IN WASHINGTON,
D.C., AND VOLUNTEERED 1,000
MEN TO FIGHT FOR THE UNION
ARMY ONCE FORT SUMTER WAS
FIRED UPON.
AND THE 1,000 MEN HAD SEEN TWO
YEARS OF WAR BY THE TIME THE
BATTLE TOOK PLACE.
HANCOCK, WHO WAS THE CORE
COMMANDER, ORDERED COALVILLE
OF THE FIRST MINNESOTA TO HAVE
HIS MEN CHARGE THE CONFEDERATE
LINE.
WELL, THESE MEN WERE ONLY
ABOUT 262 MEN, JUST LESS THAN
300 MEN WERE ORDERED TO
CONFRONT AND CHARGE, FULL
FORCE, A GROUP OF ABOUT 1,200
CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS AND, SO,
WITHIN THE 15 MINUTES OF THAT
CHARGE, THE FIRST MINNESOTA
OBEYED THAT ORDER, STOPPED THE
ADVANCEMENT OF THE CONFEDERATE
FORCES BUT LOST 82% OF THEIR
MEN.
THAT EVENTUALLY ALONE, MANY
HISTORIANS BELIEVE, HELPED
SAVE THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
AND POSSIBLY TURNED THE TIDE
FOR THE UNION ARMY AS WELL AS
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST
MINNESOTA AT GETTYSBURG
PAINTING, YOU'LL SEE THE COLOR
BEARER, BASICALLY RIGHT IN THE
FRONT OF THE CHARGE, BUT
BEHIND HIM IS COLONEL WILLIAM
COALVILLE, WHO WAS THAT
OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE FIRST
MINNESOTA AT GETTYSBURG.
AND YOU CAN SEE, HE'S LEADING
THE MEN ONWARD AND SHORTLY
AFTER THIS SCENE WOULD HAVE
BEEN DEPICTED, HE WAS WOUNDED
TWICE.
JUST THE WAY THE FIRST
MINNESOTA WAS BEING ATTACKED,
BEHIND THEM ALMOST ON THREE
SIDES WAS CONFEDERATE FORCES.
SO, WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF
THAT CHARGE, THEY WERE BEING
FIRED UPON FROM THREE SIDES.
SO THAT'S WHAT REALLY, YOU
KNOW, HELPED DECIMATE THE
NUMBERS OF THE FIRST MINNESOTA
AT THAT BATTLE.
IN THE CORRIDOR JUST OUTSIDE
OF THE STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA,
IS ONE OF MINNESOTA'S MOST
IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS FROM THE
CIVIL WAR, AND THAT'S THE
FLAGSTAFF THAT WAS USED BY THE
FIRST MINNESOTA AT GETTYSBURG.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THEY
WERE THERE FOR TWO DAYS OF THE
FIGHTING OF THAT THREE-DAY
BATTLE.
AT THE SECOND DAY OF THAT
BATTLE, THEY MADE THEIR FAMOUS
CHARGE WHERE THEY LOST ABOUT
80% OF THEIR MEN, AND ON THE
THIRD DAY, THEY WERE PRETTY
MUCH CENTERED RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF WHERE PICKETS CHARGE
TOOK PLACE.
AND THAT'S WHERE THIS
FLAGSTAFF REALLY BECAME AN
IMPORTANT ARTIFACT OR AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THAT STORY
OF GETTYSBURG.
AS THE CONFEDERATES WERE
ADVANCING TOWARDS CEMETERY
RIDGE, THE FIRST MINNESOTA MEN
WERE FIRING AND THERE WAS THE
BATTLE GOING ON AND THE LINES
OF CONFEDERATES WERE KIND OF
MEANDERING AND WORKING THEIR
WAY UP TO THE TOP OF THAT
RIDGE.
AND THE COLOR BEARER FOR THE
FIRST MINNESOTA WAVING THE
FLAG WAS HIT IN THE HAND BY A
BULLET, AND THAT ALSO
SPLINTERED THE FLAGSTAFF.
SO WHEN THAT DROPPED, ANOTHER
SOLDIER FROM THE FIRST
MINNESOTA, HENRY O'BRIEN,
PICKED UP THAT FLAG, AND
STARTED RUNNING TOWARD THE
ADVANCING CONFEDERATES.
WHILE THE FLAG WAS KIND OF
FLIMSY, SO HE BROKE OFF THE
BOTTOM PART OF THAT FLAGSTAFF,
SWUNG THAT ASIDE AND THEN
ADVANCED TOWARD THE ENEMY.
WELL, AS THE OTHER MEN FROM
THE FIRST MINNESOTA THAT SAW
THAT HAPPENING, THEY CHARGED
AFTER THEIR NEW COLOR BEARER
AS HE WAS ADVANCING INTO THE
CONFEDERATE LINE.
BY THE END OF THAT BATTLE, THE
CONFEDERATES, OF COURSE, HAD
RETREATED, THE MINNESOTA HAD
THEIR FLAGSTAFF, BUT ONLY HALF
OF THAT, AND ONE OF THE
IMPORTANT PARTS OF THAT BATTLE
WAS, THERE WAS A BATTLE FLAG
FROM THE 20th VIRGINIA
THAT WAS CAPTURED BY ANOTHER
MINNESOTA SOLDIER, AND THE
BOTTOM HALF OF THAT FLAGSTAFF
WAS REMOVED FROM THAT VIRGINIA
FLAGSTAFF AND THEN SPLICED TO
THIS FLAGSTAFF SO YOU HAVE ONE
LONG FLAGPOLE ONCE AGAIN TO
CARRY THAT REGIMENTAL FLAG OR
THAT NATIONAL COLOR IN THIS
INSTANCE.
>> THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS
CONDUCTING SEVERAL TOURS THAT
WILL FOCUS ON THE STATE'S ROLE
IN THE CIVIL WAR.
THESE ARE THE TIMES AND THE
DATES OF THOSE TOURS AND YOU
CAN CALL THE HISTORICAL
SOCIETY FOR MORE INFORMATION.
THAT NUMBER IS 651-296-1735.
♪
>> AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS
WEEK'S PROGRAM.
FROM ALL OF US AT SENATE MEDIA
SERVICES, I'M JULIE BARTKEY,