Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>>> "YOUR LEGISLATORS" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY MEET
MEMBERS, MAKING MINNESOTA CLEAN WATERS, SAFE COMMUNITIES, AND
VETERANS CARE HAPPEN. WE WORK HARD FOR MINNESOTA MINN.
>>> LIVE FROM ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, WE WELCOME YOU TO
ANOTHER SEASON OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS".
A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION FEATURING STATE LAWMAKERS
PREPARED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSS IMPORTANT
ISSUES AFFECTING CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA.
>>> NOW, HERE IS YOUR MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, BARRY
ANDERSON. >> WELCOME TO THE 32nd SEASON
OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS". WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU HAVE JOINED
US THIS EVENING FOR AN HOUR OF CONVERSATION WITH LEA LEADERS FM
YOUR LEGISLATORS, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC
POLICIES THAT ARE OF CONCERN TO YOU, THE VIEWER.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL IN AND GIVE OUR PANEL ABOUT THE
ISSUES THAT ARE OF CONCERN WITH YOU.
THIS IS MY 24th SEASON WITH THIS PROGRAM, AND I'M DELIGHTED
TO BE YOUR HOST. ANY DAY THEY WILL FIGURE OUT I
DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING AND REPLACE ME WITH SOMEBODY
COMPETENT. AT LEAST FOR NOW I'M YOUR HOST
AND THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION UNTIL
WHENEVER THE LEGISLATION GOES HOME.
WE WILL WAIT UNTIL WE GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF THE LEGISLATURE
A BIT BEFORE WE DO THAT. WE WILL BEGIN AS WE DO EACH WEEK
BY INTRODUCING THE DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS, AND WE HAVE
SOME FAMILIAR FACES, SOME FACES THAT ARE NEW, AND THERE HAVE
BEEN CHANGES AT THE LEGISLATOR AS A RESULT OF THE ELECTION ON
NOVEMBER 6, AND INTRO PARTY ELECTIONS THAT OCCURRED AND WE
WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
BEGINNING TO THE IMMEDIATE LEFT JOINING US IS REPRESENTATIVE
AARON MURPHY, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE
PROGRAM BEGAN, AND I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US ONE PRIOR
TIME. >> THIS IS THE FIRST VISIT.
>> WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US, AND YOU HAVE A CHANGE
IN POSITION AS WELL. TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT, AND TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO
OUR VIEWERS, AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE
FROM. >> I'M ERIN MURPHY AND REPRESENT
64A IN ST. PAUL, WHICH IS A DISTRICT THAT HAS ST. THOMAS
UNIVERSITY, AND PEOPLE NO CAFE LATTE FOR COFFEE.
IT'S DELICIOUS. I'M STARTING THE FOURTH TERM IN
THE MINNESOTA HOUSE. TEACH AT THE UNIVERSITY AND THE
NURSING PROGRAM THERE, AND RECENTLY WAS ELECTED AS THE
MAJORITY LEADER FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHICH IS MY BIG
HONOR, AND I'M DELIGHTED TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT.
>> DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU. >> AND DISTRICT 3 IN COOK.
SENATOR BAKK, TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT OCCURRED
AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING THIS SESSION.
>> WELL, I REPRESENT THE LARGEST GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT IN THE
STATE. THE BIG PIECE OF THE ARROW
DISTRICT IN MINNESOTA, WHERE MINNESOTA LOVES TO PLAY, AND
LAKE SUPERIOR, AND AFTER THE MOST REREDISTRICTING I REPRESENT
THE ICE BOX. WONDERFUL DISTRICT AND GREAT TOY
PEOPLE PROBABLY THINK IT'S WINNING AN ELECTION, AND MOVING
AND MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM MINORITY LEADER TO THE MAJORITY
LEADER. I HAVE THREE GRANDCHILDREN.
IF ANYTHING WILL MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE STATE,
AND K12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, IT'S
BECOMING A GRANDPARENT, AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENTS US WITH THE NEW BUDGET, AND I HOPE WE
CAN FIND A WAY TO FIND AN AGREEMENT AND MAKE INVESTMENTS
IN WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO MINNESOTANS.
>> SENATOR BAKK, YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER
THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND I THINK YOU COME FROM A CONSTRUCTION
BACKGROUND, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY.
AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT. >> I SPENT MY ENTIRE WORKING
CAREER AS A CARPENTER, AND I TALK ABOUT HAT BECAUSE ONE OF
THE ATTRIBUTES OF CARPENTERS IS YOU LEARN HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS,
AND THAT REALLY IS THE ATTITUDE I BRING TO THE CAPITOL IS LET'S
GO OVER, AND WORK HARD AND RESOLVE WHERE WE HAVE
DIFFERENCES AND TRY TO GET THE WORK FINISHED AND MOVE ON AND DO
SOMETHING ELSE. >> ALSO JOINING US, FREQUENT
GUEST SENATOR HANN FROM EDEN PRAIRIE.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. >> STARTING MY FOURTH TERM AND
REPRESENT EDEN PRAIRIE IN SOUTHWEST SUBURB OF THE TWIN
CITIES, AND THE DISTRICT IS SMALL, GEOGRAPHICALLY, NOT AS
LARGE AS SENATOR BAKK. IT DOESN'T TAKE TOO LONG TO
DRIVE FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER, AND IT'S THE HOME OF THE
VIKINGS, AND I WAS ELECTED AFTER THE ELECTION TO BE THE MINORITY
LEADER IN THE SENATE. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A
TRANSITION, AS WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, BUT IT'S AN
HONOR TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE AND SERVE MY CAUCUS
MEMBERS AS LEADER, AND I HAD AN INTEREST THROUGHOUT THE YEARS IN
EDUCATION, AND CERTAINLY HEALTHCARE ISSUES, AND
BACKGROUND IN BUSINESS, AND FOOD MANUFACTURING COMPANY AND DO
CONSULTING. >> AS I RECALL, YOUR BACKGROUND,
AS WELL, I BELIEVE YOU MIGHT HAVE SPENT TIME ON THE SCHOOL
BOARD. >> BEFORE I GOT ELECTED TO THE
LEGISLATURE, I WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH WAS A GREAT
INTROWTION TO PUBLIC POLICY AND EDUCATION, AND I BELIEVE
EDUCATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO AS A STATE AND ONE
OF THE LARGEST BUDGET AREAS WE HAVE, AND IT EFFECTS THE FUTURE.
>> LOOK FORREN PSYCH CL FOR ENC. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
YOURSELF, AND TELL US WHERE CROWN MINNESOTA IS.
>> I'M REPRESENTATIVE KURT DAUDT FROM 31A, AS YOU MENTIONED,
WHICH IS SOME OF NORTHERN ANOKA COUNTY, AND OAK GROVE, AND LA
LIVONIA TOWNSHIP. CROWN IS FIVE MILES STRAIGHT
EAST OF ZIMMERMAN, AND FORMER SENATOR ROD GRAHAM IS FROM
CROWN, MINNESOTA, AND THAT'S WHY I USE THAT AS MY HOMETOWN.
IT'S ACTUALLY STANFORD CROW TOW. BEGINNING MY SECOND TERM IN THE
LEGISLATURE, AND RECENTLY ELECTED HOUSE MINORITY LEADER.
I'M GLAD YOU TOLD US ABOUT NOWTHEN.
I USED TO GO TO PRINCETON AND I WONDERED HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT,
AND NOW I KNOW. MY UNIVERSE HAS BEEN EXPANDED.
WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR THE VIEWERS TO CALL IN WITH THE
QUESTIONS AND KICK OFF THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM, FINDING OUT WHAT
YOU FOLKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, LET'S START WITH AROUND THE
TABLE DISCUSSION ABOUT ISSUES YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO YOUR
CONSTITUENTS AND WHAT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO SEE COMING OUT OF THE
CAUCUS. LET'S START WITH REPRESENTATIVE
DAUDT, AND WHAT DO YOU THINK, AND WE WILL GO AROUND THE TABLE
THAT WAY. >> I THINK OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE
THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE BALANCING THE BUDGET, AND
FINDING SOLUTIONS WE CAN ALL AGREE UPON TO GET THAT
ACCOMPLISHED, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAD A LARGE BUDGET DEFICIT THAT WE DEALT
WITH, AND I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS QUITE A BIT
SMALLER, AND WE SHOWED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE
POLICIES WE PUT IN PLACE YOU CAN DO THAT WITHOUT RAISING REVENUE,
AND WE FEEL LIKE MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK,
AND WE FEEL NOW WOULDN'T BE THE RIGHT TIME TO RAISE TAXES, AND
MY HOPE IS WE CAN DO THAT WITHOUT RAISING TAXES AND
PUTTING THE HARM ON MIDDLE CLASS MINNESOTANS, AND KEEPING THE
RECOVERY GOING. >> I THINK CERTAINLY THE BUDGET
IS GOING TO BE A SNARL ISSUE CE, AND HEALTHCARE CHANGE IS GOING
TO BE A LARGE TOPIC, ONE I SPENT WITH A LOT OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS. I HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN IN THE
SAME STEP WITH THE GOVERNOR ON HIS PREFERENCES ON THAT, BUT
IT'S AN IMPORTANT POLICY, IMPORTANT POLICY CHOICE WE HAVE
TO TALK ABOUT AND MAKE DECISIONS ON, AND I THINK THAT TO ME IS
GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT WE ARE
GOING TO WRESTLE WITH, AND I THINK THERE'S VERY, VERY
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WE ARE GOING TO FACE ON THAT ISSUE, AND
THAT TO ME IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING DEBATES WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE. >> NO QUESTION, THE OVERRIDING
WORK OF THIS SESSION IS GOING TO BE RESOLVING ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT
BUDGET DEFICIT, AND CLOSELY LINKED TO IT IS GOING TO BE AN
EFFORT TO REFORM THE STATE'S TAX SYSTEM, AND PROPERTY TAXES
ACROSS MINNESOTA HAVE BEEN SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL.
IN 2002 PROPERTY TAXES IN MINNESOTA WERE $4 BILLION
STATEWIDE. AND THIS YEAR THEY ARE
8.5 BILLION, MORE THAN DOUBLED IN 10 YEARS, AND I THINK OUR
REVENUE SYSTEM NEEDS REBALANCING TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON
PROPERTY TAXES, SPECIFICALLY AS IT COMES TO FUNDING SCHOOLS.
THE WHOLE NOTION OF VOTER APPROVED LEVIES ACROSS THE
STATE, WE HAVE SOME THAT HAVE GOT IT NORTH OF $1,800 A
APPROVAL OF VOTER APPROVED LEVIES, AND THERE'S ABOUT 40 OF
THEM THAT HAVE ZERO. THE IDEA WE CAN CONTINUE DOWN
THE ROAD AS A MATTER OF EDUCATION POLICY OF RELATING ON
VOTER APPROVED LEVIES IS CREATING DISPARITIES ACROSS THE
STATE. I THINK WE ALL SHOULD BE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT. IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH
CONVERSATION TOOHAVE, AND IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO ASK
TAXPAYERS TO PAY MORE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN IN THE CYCLE OF
DEFICIT OF DEFICIT AFTER DEFICIT.
THE WAY I ENTRY IT IS WHETHER IT'S IN YOUR HOME, BUSINESS OR
CHURCH, IF YOU ARE CONSTANTLY IN THE POSITION OF MANAGING A
CRISIS, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ABOUT THE
FUTURE, AND I HOPE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SIGNIFICANT TAX
REFORM, REDUCING PROPERTY TAXES, AND PUTTING THE SALES TAX AND
INCOME TAX ON THE TABLE THAT WE CAN FIND SOME NEW REVENUE ALONG
WITH SPENDING CUTS, AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE CUTS IN THIS
BUDGET BECAUSE THE DEFICIT IS TOO BIG TO RESOLVE BY RAISING
REVENUE AND WHEN WE GO HOME IN MAY WE RESOLVE THE BUDGET THE
STATE HAS AND IN A BALANCED WAY. >> I REPRESENT A DISTRICT IN ST.
PAUL, BUT WHEN I RAN THE FIRST TIME AND SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, AND
I TALKED TO THE PEOPLE IN 64A, THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY
CLEAR THEY WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THE STATE AS A WHOLE, AND
I HAVE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO GET TO LOTS OF PARTS OF THE
STATE AND TALK WITH MINNESOTANS, AND THEY ARE REALLY PRACTICAL
PEOPLE. WHAT I HEARD FROM THEM OVER THE
COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THEY ARE TIRED OF THE
DISCOURSE AND DISTRACTIONS OF OUR POLITICS, AND WOULD LIKE TO
SEE US FOCUS ON THEIR PRIORITIES, AND CERTAINLY
EDUCATION IS A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR MINNESOTANS, AND I HEAR IT
FROM AMONG THOSE AT THE TABLE AS WELL.
THEY WANT US TO BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR REAL AND HONESTLY AND
INTO THE FUTURE. I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THAT'S
GOING TO MEAN WE CAN'T LEAVE THE SPENDING SIDE TO DO IT, BECAUSE
THEY ARE TIRED OF DEFICIT AFTER DEFICIT AFTER DEFICIT.
I THINK WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE BUMENT, AND MAKE SURE THE
SCHOOL IS STRONG ACROSS THE STATE AND TAKE PRESSURE OFF THE
PROPERTY TAX WHICH WE HAVE BEEN RELYING ON AS WE HAVE BEEN
CUTTING THE STATE'S BUDGET, AND THAT'S BEEN GOING UP, AND I
THINK WE ARE GOING TO DO WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF HUMILITY AND LESS
DRAMA, AND I THINK MINNESOTANS WILL BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
>> WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROGRAM THIS EVENING, WE WILL HAVE
QUESTIONS FROM OUR VIEWERS, AND ELBOW LAKE WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER
OR NOT THERE'S GOING TO BE A BONDING BILL THIS YEAR.
THE OFF YEAR IS THE BONDING BILL YEAR, BUT NOT UNUSUAL IN THE ODD
NUMBERED YEAR TO HAVE A BONDING BILL.
LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR BAKK.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? HISTORICALLY BONDING HAS BEEN
DONE IN THE EVEN NUMBERED YEARS, AND THE LAST TWO YEAR CYCLE WE
DID BOND IN BOTH THE BUDGET YEAR AND IN THE ELECTION YEAR, AND I
WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK TO THE ONLY BONDING WE WOULD DO IN THE
BUDGET YEAR WOULD BE WHAT WE TRADITIONALLY HAVE DONE, AND
THAT TRADITIONALLY HAS BEEN EMERGENCY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO
DO. HISTORICALLY WE HAVE BEEN
BONDING TO $140 MILLION IN BUDGET YEARS, AND A MUCH LARGER
NUMBER IN EVEN NUMBERED YEARS, AND THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE
AS WE TAKE UP EMERGENCY TYPE THINGS, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO
DO A SMALL AMOUNT O CAPITAL. LAST YEAR THEY AUTHORIZED
$44 MILLION OF BONDING FOR RENOVATIONS FOR THE STATE
CAPITOL. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING MORE ON THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP THOSE RENOVATIONS GOING
UNTIL NEXT YEAR WHEN THE BONDING CYCLE WOULD COME UP.
>> REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY, BONDING BILL, ANY THOUGHTS?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA, IT'S CLEAR WE HAVE ISSUES WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE,
AND I WOULD SAY, YES, WE SHOULD CONSIDER A BONDING BILL, AND WE
SHOULD CONSIDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THE
CAPITAL, AND I REMEMBER REPRESENTATIVE DEAN ERDALL
SUGGESTING WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS, AND IT'S
INEXPENSIVE RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE A DECISION
BASED ON WHAT'S BEST FOR MINNESOTA AND THE RESULT OF
DOING BONDING MEANS PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK, AND THAT WOULD
BE GOOD FOR MINNESOTA. >> SENATOR, YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> I TEND TO AGREE WITH SENATOR BAKK.
HE'S RIGHT. OVER THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS WE
HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT BONDING BILLS, AND I THINK THAT'S KIND
OF A BAD HABIT WE HAVE GOTTEN INTO.
WE HAVE HAD TWO RATHER LARGE BONDING BILLS IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS, AND I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO FOCUS ON THE BUDGET IN
THE FIRST YEAR, AND I THINK SENATOR BAKK IS RIGHT.
THERE ARE THINGS WE SHOULD ADDRESS WITH BONDING, AND THE
CAPITAL PROJECT IS A GOOD IDEA. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK TO TRY TO
RESTRAIN OURSELVES FROM GETTING TOO, I GUESS, GRANDIOSE IN OUR
EXPECTATIONS FOR BONDING WOULD BE GOOD, AND TRY TO FOCUS ON
DOING THE BUDGET. >> I THINK I AGREE, ALSO WITH
SENATOR BAKK. I THINK TRADITIONALLY THE EVEN
NUMBERED YEARS HAVE BEEN THE YEARS WE DO THE LARGER BONDING
BILLS, AND I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE UNEASINESS ABOUT
BORROWING TOO MUCH MONEY. WE KNOW IF WE ARE INCREASING
TAXES TO DO THAT. I KNOW MY CAUCUS PARTICULARLY IS
COMMITTED TO SOLVING THAT FIRST, AND THEN WE WILL TALK ABOUT
BONDING, BUT I WILL AGREE WITH SENATOR BAKK AND HANN AS WELL.
WE AGREE THAT THE CAPITAL IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO AND WE
STARTED THE RESTORATION PROJECT. I THINK THE CAPITAL IS A
TREASURE TO THE STATE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF AND THERE'S
BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR KEEPING THAT PROJECT MOVING
ALONG. BUT WE WILL LOOK FOR A, YOU
KNOW, TO HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT A LARGER
BONDING BILL IN THE SECOND YEAR IS WHAT WE WOULD PREFER.
>> WE HAVE A MAN FROM APPLETON. WE HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION.
LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR MURPHY.
YOU TOUCHED ON THAT QUESTION. WILL K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS
RECEIVE FUNDS ON SCHEDULE THIS YEAR?
AND FEEL FREE TO EXPAND IF THERE ARE ISSUES WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT
AND HAVE DISCUSSION ACROSS THE TABLE ON THAT.
>> AS WE HAVE TRIED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET OVER THE PAST NUMBER
OF YEARS, IN THIS LAST DECADE WE ED A NUMBER OF GIMMICKS AND
ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, AND WE BORROWED
FROM OUR SCHOOLS FAIRLY SIGNIFICANTLY, AND I THINK IT'S
TIME TO STOP DOING THAT. SO FOR THE VIEWER, I DON'T THINK
WE ARE GOING TO BORROW FROM THE SCHOOLS AGAIN TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT MINNESOTANS
HAVE -- OR BELIEVE WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR REAL THAT
WE CAN'T KEEP PLAYING THE GAMES, AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE
BUDGET AND OUR PRIORITIES. THERE ARE GOING TO BE A NUMBER
OF DISCUSSIONS ON EDUCATION, AND SHOULD WE BE DOING MORE ON EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND SHOULD WE BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT
CLASS SIZES? BECAUSE WE HEAR FROM STUDENTS
AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE THAT CLASS SIZES ARE
GETTING TOO BIG. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT
HIGHER EDUCATION AND TUITION COSTS AND THOSE ARE GOING UP AND
SQUEEZING MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY. IT'S EXPENSIVE TO SEND YOUR KIDS
TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, AND I HAVE GOT TWO THERE.
IF WE BELIEVE EDUCATION IS THE ROAD MAP TO PROSPERITY TO THE
STATE OF MINNESOTA AND THE TICKET FOR OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR
STUDENTS AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT A
PRIORITY. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY
ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT EDUCATION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
THAT. >> YOUR THOUGHTS?
OUR CAUCUS IS COMMITTED TO PAYING BACK THE DELAYED PAYMENTS
IN FULL. WE SENT A BILL TO THE GOVERNOR
TO PAY THOSE BACK, AT LEAST WHAT WE BORROWED THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS, AT THE END OF LAST SESSION, THAT WAS VETOED, AND WE
WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT THAT HAPPENED, AND I'M ENCOURAGED TO
SEE AT LEAST IN THE HOUSE, HOUSE FILE NO. 1 HAS A BILL TO PAY
BACK AT LEAST HALF OF THE REMAINING SHIFT.
WHEN WE TOOK CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE TWO YEARS AGO, WE
INHERITED A SHIFT OF 1.7 BILLION.
TODAY THE SHIFT IS 1.1. WE WERE PROUD IT WAS PAID DOWN
THAT MUCH. WE NEED TO PAY THAT FURTHER AND
GET SCHOOLS PAID UP TO THE TRADITIONAL 90/10 SHIFT THEY
HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST. WE ARE COMMITTED IN DOING THAT
AND HOPE WE CAN DO THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE FIRST BILL AND THERE'S NOT A
FUNDING SOURCE IDENTIFIED, SO WE ARE HOPING THAT WE CAN FIND
THAT, AND THAT WE CAN DO THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO SCHOOLS HAVE
A LITTLE MORE STABILITY. YOU KNOW, I OBVIOUSLY -- I THINK
WE PROBABLY ALL HERE AGREE THAT SHIFTING MONEY OR DELAYING
PAYMENTS TO SCHOOLS IS NOT A RESPONSIBLE WAY TO SOLVE THE
BUDGET. I KNOW THAT'S BEEN USED BY BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE IN RECENT YEARS, AND IT'S SOMETHING WE
SHOULD STOP. I LOOK FOR LEGISLATION TO MAKE
IT MORE DIFFICULT TO DO THAT, AND I'M HOPING LEGISLATION LIKE
THAT COMES THROUGH AS WELL. >> SENATOR?
>> I THINK WE HAD USED THIS CHANGE IN THE SHIFT, TIMING THE
PAYMENTS TO SCHOOLS, AND I DON'T LOOK AT IT AS BORROWING MONEY.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS DELAY THE PAYMENTS.
SCHOOLS DO 100% OF THE AID THAT'S DUE TO THEM BUT DON'T GET
IT AT THE SAME TIME THEY EXPECT. IT DOES HAVE AN EFFECT ON
SCHOOLS. AFTER YOU GET BY THE FIRST YEAR,
THERE'S NO EFFECT AFTER THAT. WE HAVE DONE IT IN THE YEARS I
HAVE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE THREE, MAYBE FOUR TIMES.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO
FOR EDUCATION, AND IF WE HAVE MONEY WE ARE GOING TO DEVOTE FOR
EDUCATION, AND THERE MAY BE BETTER USES OF MONEY THAN PAYING
IT AGGRESSIVELY. WE HAVE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
THAT SAY THE SHIFT WILL BE REPAID AS THE RESOURCES ARE MADE
AVAILABLE THROUGH INCREASED REVENUES, AND WE HAVE DONE A
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF THE REPAYMENT SHIFT THAT WAS PUT IN
PLACE IN THE LAST BUDGET. IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE
ECONOMY RECOVER AND REVENUES COME IN, THERE'S NO REASON TO
EXPECT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
IF WE WANT TO DO THINGS POSITIVE FOR EDUCATION, YOU MIGHT FIND
DEDICATING THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL AND SOME OF
THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD WITH SUPERINTENDENTS SAY DON'T
JUST BY BACK THE SHIFT, DO SOMETHING REAL WITH IT.
IT'S A CONVERSATION WE HAVE TO HAVE BUT IT'S NOT THE BEST
POLICY TO GO FORWARD, AND WE SHOULD BALANCE OUR BUDGET.
>> IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR THE STATE TO BORROW MONEY.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS A GIMMICK GOING BACK TO 1983 IS THE FIRST
TIME A SCHOOL SHIFT WAS DONE, AND WE CAN'T BORROW, AND THAT'S
TOO BAD, THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THAT PATH NOW FOR A NUMBER OF
DECADES. SENATOR HANN IS RIGHT THE
CURRENT LAW PROVIDES FOR A MECHANISM FOR SCHOOLS TO BE PAID
BACK IN THE SENATE. BUT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF
OUR PRIORITY BILLS FOR THE STATE TO PAY FOR ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.
THERE HAVE BEEN ALL OF THESE STUDIES DONE, MUCH BY THE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA THAT SHOWS THE INCREDIBLE BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT THAT HAPPENS IN THE EARLY YEARS OF LIFE.
I THINK THERE'S A GENERAL AGREEMENT AT THE LEGISLATURE
THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD FUNDING IS IMPORTANT TO THE STATE, AND I
THINK WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THAT, EVEN THOUGH WE ALL AGREE
ON THAT AS A LEDGE LEAT YOU ARE WE DON'T OFFER ALL-DAY
KINDERGARTEN FOR THE KIDS. THE LAW SAYS WHEN A CHILD
REACHES THE AGE OF 7, THEY HAVEE TO BE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL.
IT DOESN'T SAY THEY HAVE TO BE ENROLLED IN KINDERGARTEN.
I THINK IT'S A WORTHY CONVERSATION TO HAVE AT THE
LEGISLATURE. IF EARLY CHILDHOOD IS THAT
IMPORTANT LET US AT LEAST START. THE STATE PAYS FOR HALF DAY
KINDERGARTEN. I I LKED TO A PARENT FROM
BLOOMINGTON THE OTHER DAY THAT SAYS WE HAVE FULL DAY
KINDERGARTEN IN BLOOMINGTON, AND THE STATE PAYS FOR HALF OF IT,
AND I PAY $375 A MONTH IN ORDER TO BUY THE OTHER HALF DAY.
IT SEEMS LIKE IF WE THINK KINDERGARTEN IS A GOOD IDEA,
LET'S PAY FOR IT. IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO HAVE. >> I HAVE SEEN THE BILL THAT WAS
INTRODUCED, AND IT HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE HAD OVER
THE YEARS, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THE FISCAL NOTE YET.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME -- I THINK THERE'S AN IMPORTANT FOR
DISCUSSION ON ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, AND I'M RELUCTANT
TO MAKE IT A MANDATORY CHOICE THAT WOULD REQUIRE EVERYBODY TO
SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN FOR EXAMPLE, AND IT
MAY BE WE WANT TO OFFER IT AS A CHOICE, AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO DO IT.
BUT I'M A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO SAY WE GO OUT THERE AND MAKE ALL
DAY COMPULSORY KINDERGARTEN. >> THE WAY THE BILL IS DRAFTED
RIGHT NOW -- AND IT'S PRETTY NEW.
WHAT IT SAYS IF A PARENT DECIDES TO ENROLL THEIR CHILD IN ALL-DAY
KINDERGARTEN, WE HAVE TO PAY THE COST PER PUPIL.
IF A PARENT THINKS THEIR CHILD ISN'T READY, THERE'S NO
REQUIREMENT THEY HAVE TO ENROLL THEM.
CURRENTLY WE PAY HALF. >> ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> I AGREE WITH SENATOR HANN, AND MY CONCERNS WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE SAME. THAT BILL, I DON'T THINK IT'S
BEEN INTRODUCED IN OUR CHAMBER YET.
SO I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE LANGUAGE, BUT I
WOULD BE CONCERNED THAT WANTING TO MAKE SURE IT WAS AN OPTIONAL
PROGRAM AND WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COSTS AS WELL.
BUT WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK, TO
DEBATE IT MOVING FORWARD. >> I'M GLAD WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
IT AND THE OPTIONS, BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT 30 OR 35 KIDS IN A
CLASSROOM, WHEN I THINK ABOUT SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND
PSYCHOLOGISTS HAVE BEEN PULLED OUT OF THE CLASSROOM, AND IT
HASN'T BEEN THAT LONG, IT'S HARD WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY DEMANDS
ON ONE TEACHER, ONE EDUCATOR, AND I THINK WE ARE SHORT
CHANGING OUR KIDS, AND I'M REALLY, REALLY SLIGHT DLIETED TO
HEAR A ROBUST PRIORITY ON EDUCATION.
>> THERE WILL BE FOCUS ON INCREASING THE LITERACY FOR
EARLY RATES AS WELL. WE HAVE LEGISLATION THAT I THINK
MADE VERY GOOD PROGRESS IN HELPING KIDS WHO ARE AT RISK IN
DEVELOPING THOSE READING SKILLS GET BETTER AND SEEING THE TESTS
GO UP, AND I THINK IT'S AN EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH, AND I
THINK THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT INVESTING IT AS WELL AND
SURELY WE HAVE MORE KIDS READING AT THE GRADE LEVEL BY THE TIME
THEY GET TO THIRD GRADE. >> AND LET'S GO IN YOUR
DIRECTION, WANTS TO TALK ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID AND WHAT
MIGHT HAPPEN THERE. IT'S THAT THE LEGISLATURE PLANS
TO RESORE THE COMPLEX TOPIC, AND MUCH DISCUSSION AT THE
LEGISLATURE, AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
WE WILL THROW IT OUT ON THE PANEL.
>> I'M THE LEAST EXPERT PERSON MAYBE IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND
THE CITIES I REPRESENT, NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER RECEIVED LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AID. I GUESS MY GENERAL CONCERN IS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID IS A PROGRAM THAT IS NECESSARY, AND I
THINK THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS OVER THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS TO
REFORM IT AND SCALE IT BACK, AS I UNDERSTAND THE ORIGINAL
INTENTION, MAKING SURE ALL COMMUNITIES HAD ACCESS TO FUNDS
TO PROVIDE NECESSARY SERVICES BUT SEEMS LIKE OVER THE YEARS
SOME OF THAT HAS GROWN AND GROWN AND BECOME MORE OF A GENERAL
FUND TO HELP CITIES MEET THEIR BUDGETS, AND SOME CASES GOTTEN
FAIRLY EXCESSIVE. I THINK OVER THE YEARS, THERE'S
AN ATTEMPT TO RESTORE THAT, AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE WISE THAT
THERE'S A NEED TO REGIONALIZE AND DO THINGS TO RECOGNIZE THEY
SERVE THE LARGER COMMUNITIES, AND THE PEOPLE IN THEIR CITY,
AND DO THINGS TO REFLECT THAT, BUT I THINK IT IS A PROGRAM THAT
WE NEED TO HAVE, BUT I THINK IT IS IN NEED OF CONTINUED REFORM.
>> ANYTHING? >> I SERVED 6 YEARS AS A COUNTY
COMMISSIONER, AND WE RECEIVED CPA, IT'S A COUNTY PROGRAM AID.
I THINK WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE LOOKING FOR IS A PROGRAM
THAT HAS A LITTLE MORE STABILITY, AND ONE OF THE
PROBLEMS I THINK WE HAVE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS, AND IT WAS MY
EXPERIENCE ON THE COUNTY BOARD, OFTENTIMES WHEN THE LEGISLATURE
RUNS SHORT ON MONEY, AND THE EDUCATION SHIFT HAS BEEN ONE
WHERE THEY HAVE TAKEN MONEY, AND REDUCTIONS TO LGA, AND CPA HAVE
BEEN FREQUENT WHEN THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR
MONEY TO FILL OTHER HOLES. I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE
FUTURE IS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES
MORE STABILITY TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND I THINK THAT'S
WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AS WELL.
>> SENATOR. >> THEY ARE VERY GOOD PROGRAM.
IT WAS CREATED IN 1971 WHEN THE SALES TAX WAS RAISED AND IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN, THE FIRE TRUCK
COSTS THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY. SOME COMMUNITIES, IT'S MUCH
EASIER TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS THAN OTHERS, AND
SOME HAVE OLD INFRASTRUCTURE, OLD WATER AND SEWER LINES, AND
SOME CITIES HAVE THAT KIND OF OVER BURDEN OF OLD
INFRASTRUCTURE TO HAVE TO REPLACE, AND MAYBE OFTENTIMES
LOWER PROPERTY VALUES ON HOMES, AND IT WAS INTENDED TO BE THE
EQUALIZER, AND I THINK THE CHALLENGE IN TRYING TO RESTORE
SOME OF THE CUTS MADE IN THOSE PROGRAMS, EVERY BUDGET CYCLE,
AND EVERY DOLLAR GETS INTO COMPETITION, AND I HAVE OWNERS
OF THE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES IN MY OFFICE TODAY
SAYING THEY OWN THREE ASSISTED LIVING BUILDINGS, AND THEY SAID
YOU KNOW THE 15% CUT THEY HAVE TAKEN IN RECENT YEARS, AND
THERE'S A QUESTION WHETHER TO KEEP THE FACILITIES OPEN, AND I
HEAR THAT FROM NURSING HOMES ALL THE TIME AS WE MADE CUTS IN
NURSING HOME FUNDING. CERTAINLY WE NEED TO INVEST MORE
IN THE K-12 SYSTEM. RANKED TUITION UP TOO HIGH.
THERE'S ONLY SO MANY DOLLARS, AND THEY GET INTO COMPETITION IN
BUDGET YEARS LIKE THIS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE
SOME OFTHEM, BUT I THINK THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT PROBLEMS WE
FIND OURSELVES IN ARE PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE ONE TIME TO
RESOLVE. THERE'S AN UNMET LIST OF NEEDS
IN OUR STATE, AND PRECIOUS, AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE US
MULTIPLE B BIANIUMS. >> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT ISSUE, BUT REALLY WHAT INFORMS ME ON
THIS QUESTION, AND I DIDN'T GROW UP IN MINNESOTA.
I GREW UP IN WISCONSIN. MINNESOTANS ARE HUMBLE BUT VERY
PROUD OF WHAT THEY HAVE BUILT HERE, AND MINNESOTA REALLY IS A
LOVELY STATE, AND IT TOOK ME A LITTLE WHILE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
A TREASURE IT IS HERE, AND THE SACRIFICES PEOPLE HAVE MADE TO
INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHEREVER WE LIVE, AND I THINK
THE MAGIC OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT D IS IT DOES CREATE THE SENSE
OF EQUITY REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LUF.
WE HAVE PEOPLE AGING IN SMALL TOWNS ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE
PLACES THEY CAN RETIRE, WHERE THEY CAN GET THE HEALTHCARE THAT
THEY NEED, THAT THE LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE, THE 911
SERVICES AND FIRE AND POLICE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND
THAT'S WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID BUYS.
IF WE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT WE WILL LEAVE PEOELE IN
SPARSE COMMUNITIES WITHOUT WHAT THEY NEED.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE SACRIFICES FOR US, AND WE NEED TO THINK
ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID AND THE COMILTMENT TO MAKE SURE THEY
CAN LIVE IN THE PLACES THEY CHOOSE.
>> THE QUESTION THAT EVERY VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW IS SHE A
GREEN BAY PACKER FAN? >> I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN. >> SOMEONE HAD TO ASK.
VIEWERS ARE WONDERING. >> I CAN ADVISE YOU, YOU CAN
TAKE THE FIFTH AMENDMENT ON THAT QUESTION.
>> PACKERS FAN. >> THAT REMINDS ME OF THE
QUESTION, RUSSELL ANDERSON IF YOU WERE SWORN IN AS CHIEF
JUSTICE AND POLITICAL PARTISAN WAS, AND HE PAUSED FOR A MOMENT
AND TOLD ME, I'M A LUTHERAN. THAT'S A SIMILAR RESPONSE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A GEOGRAPHIC QUESTION.
I'M GOING TO PICK ON YOU, SENATOR BAKK.
IT'S FROM A FAMOUS MINNESOTA UNIDENTIFIED TOWN.
HE WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE TACONITE TAX.
>> IF THE LEGISLATURE IS SILENT AND DOES NOTHING, IT WILL GO UP
BY 3 OR 4 CENTS A TON BY ITSELF. THE CHANGE YOU ARE GOING TO
SEE -- THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE IRNG RESOURCES AND
REHABILITATION PORT, RRRRB. THE MAJORITY OF LEGISLATURE HAVE
TO HAVE 50% OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT AND AS A RESULT OF REDISTRICTING THAT'S NO LONGER
POSSIBLE. WE COULDN'T CONSUMMATE A NEW
BOARD, AND I HAVEN'T MADE ANY APPOINTMENTS TO IT, BECAUSE WE
CAN'T MEET THE INTENT OF THE LAW.
ONE OF THE EARLY BILLS IN THE SESSION IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE
SOMETHING TO GET THE TRIPLE RB BOARD.
I DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE CONTROVERSIAL BUT WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES THERE.
>> TO THE VIEWER WHO CALLED IN WITH THE QUESTION, IF WE DIDN'T
GET TO THE HEART OF THE POINT WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE, CALL BACK,
AND WE WILL GET BACK TO OUR PANEL ON THAT QUESTION AS THE
TIME ALLOWS. SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT TAXES.
SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT TAXES IN THE LAST ELECTION, HOW THEY
MIGHT GO UP OR DOWN. A VIEWER FROM ROCHESTER,
REDUCING TAX BURDEN ON MINNESOTA BUSINESSES, AND NOTES THAT
MINNESOTA IS A HIGH RANK STATE. ANOTHER VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW IF
THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT MOVING TO A FLAT TAX SYSTEM, AND
OTHER VIEWERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WHICH MAY RESULT IN TAXES IN OTHER PLACES
GOING UP. GIVEN THAT FRAMEWORK OF THOSE
CONCERNS OF PEOPLE, LET'S START WITH YOU REPRESENTATIVE DAUDT,
AND GIVE US YOUR VIEW ON THE TAX ISSUE AND WHAT YOU THINK YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?
>> OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TAXES, AND THE
QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING IN SHOW THAT.
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED, AND I KNOW I SAID EARLIER ON WE FEEL LIKE
THE ECONOMY IS HEA HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND I THINK
BEFORE WE GET INTO TALKING ABOUT -- YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SAY
THERE'S A FICIT OF $1.1 BILLION DEFICIT PEOPLE
THINK THE STATE IS SHORT OF MONEY OR THE STATE NEEDS MORE
MONEY, AND I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION TO SAY
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE
$1.7 BILLION MORE THAN WE HAVE HAD IN THE BURNT BIANI.
M. REVENUES ARE BECOMING, AND WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE 5% MORE MONEY TO SPEND IN THE NEXT BIANIUM
THAN WE HAD IN THE LAST. WE SHIFTED SPENDING OUT FURTHER
INTO THE FUTURE, AS KIND OF GIMMICKS, AND THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS, AND I KNOW $1.1 BILLION SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, IN THAT BIANIUM WE REDUCED IT FROM
1.4 BILLION TO 1.1. WE DID THAT WITHOUT RAISING
TACKS, AND WE SHOULDN'T ALWAYS ASSUME RAISING TAXES CREATES
MORE REVENUE. IN A LOT OF CASES REDUCING TAXES
CAN CREATE MORE REVENUE. WE HAVE TO HAVE OPEN AND HONEST
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TAXES AND HOW THEY IMPACT NOT ONLY THE BUDGET
BUT THE ECONOMY, AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART.
WE NEED TO HAVE THE ECONOMY RECOVERED AND ATTRACT JOB
CREATORS HERE TO MINNESOTA, AND WE NEED TO AKE SURE WHAT WE DO
ISN'T HARMFUL FOR THAT ENVIRONMENT.
>> SENATOR BAKK, YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SAY ON TAXES IN
RECENT WEEKS, AS I RECALL.. >> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL IS, THE
COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE HAS HELD OVER 100 PUBLIC MEETINGS AROUND
THE STATE SINCE WE ADJOURNED IN MAY, I BELIEVE.
MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN WITH LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE,
ROTARY GROUPS, A LOT OF BUSINESS PEOPLE, AND THE SUMMER IN
NASTLES MET WITH 50 PEOPLE FROM THINTERANALYSIS FALLS MET WITH Y
DISTRICT. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT
THEY PROPOSE IN THE AREA OF TAX REFORM, AND WE ALL KIND OF JOKE
AT THE LEGISLATURE, AND THE GOLF PROPOSES AND LEGISLATURE
DISPOSES, AND WE WILL SEE HOW THAT GOES, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION TO HAVE. THE REVENUE SYSTEM NEEDS
REBALANCING. >> REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY?
>> THE NOTION IF WE KEEP TAXES LOW MEANS THAT WE WILL HAVE JOB
CREATORS COME TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, I THINK IS RHETORIC
AND NOT NECESSARILY TRUE. I'M MARRIED TO A JOB CREATOR AND
SOMEONE WHO OWNS HIS SMALL BUSINESS AND BEEN HERE SINCE
1980, AND EVERY TIME I GO HOME AFTER WE HAVAV HAD A DEBATE ON
THE FLOOR, HE WANTS TO ENGAGE FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
BECAUSE HIS BUSINESS RELIES ON CONSUMERS NEEDING THE SERVICE HE
PROVIDES, AND WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE DISPOSABLE INCOME OR NOT
EARNING A LIVING WAGE THEY DON'T HAVE THE INCOME TO PURCHASE THE
SERVICE HE PROVIDES. I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
SUPPLY AND DEMAND, BOTH REVENUE THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN THEIR
POCKETS AS WELL AS WHAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
JOB CREATORS. I THIHI MINNESOTANS ARE JUST
HUNGRY FOR REAL SOLUTIONS AND A REAL DISCUSSION, AND WHEN I HEAR
US TALKING ABOUT WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP THE TAXES LOW SO PEOPLE CAN
CREATE JOBS, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A BOOM FOR THE ECONOMY, WE
ARE MISSING PART OF THE EQUATION, AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE TAX CODE, AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE REFORM IT FOR
A 21 RS CENTUR 21st CENTURY ECO. THERE'S A LOT OF LEGISLATION
THERE, AND I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE TAX CODE IS FAIR,
AND I THINK WE CAN DO THAT AND RAISE ENOUGH REVENUES THAT WE
CAN PROVIDE FOR OUR SCHOOLS IN THE WAY WE ALREADY AGREED WE
SHOULD AS A PRIORITY. >> WE SHOULD ASK BUSINESSES AND
JOB CREATORS WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM.
IF WE EXPECT TO HAVE JOB CREATION IN THE STATE, WE SHOULD
BE ASKING THEM. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, THE STATEWIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DOES A SURVEY.
FOR THE FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW, TAXES ARE THE NO. 1 THING
BUSINESSES ARE SAYING AFFECTS THE DECISIONS ON WHERE TO LOCATE
THEIR BUSINESS, AND IT IS SOMETHING THEY SAY IS IMPORTANT,
AND WE CAN LOOK AT THE RESULTS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
AND SEE WE ARE IN A BETTER SITUATION TODAY.
UNEMPLOYMENT 7% TWO YEARS AGO, AND 5.7% TODAY.
MINNESOTA BUSINESSES CREATED 55,000 JOBS LAST YEAR.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE PUT OUT A REPORT SAYING NEW BUSINESS
FILINGS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA ARE UP 18% LAST YEAR,
AND SECOND HIGHEST INCREASE EVER, I THINK.
WE HAVE GOT AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE BUSINESSES ARE COMING HERE, AND
WE FEEL LIKE THE ECONOMY IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,
AND TAXES ARE IMPORTANT, AND BUSINESSES DO LOOK AT THIS, AND
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FURTHER THAN THE CHAMBER SURVEY TO SEE
THAT'S THE NO. 1 CONCERN. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ASK THEM,
AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT KNOW BETTER THAN WE DO WHAT THEY NEED
TO COME HERE TO BE COMPETITIVE. >> BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TALK
TO MINNESOTANS AS A WHOLE, THE JOB CREATORS AND JOB PROVIDERS,
THEY ARE ALL MINNESOTANS, WE NEED TO HAVE A BROADER
CONVERSATION THAN THAT ONE. >> I TALK TO A LOT OF
BUSINESSES, AND I THINK PART OF IT GOES BACK TO HAVING BEEN THE
SENATE TAX CHAIR AND THE MINORITY LEADER AND MAJORITY
LEADER, AND I HAD ONE OF MINNESOTA'S FORTUNE 500
COMPANIES IN MY OFFICE JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I ASK
THE TOP LEVEL BUSINESS EXECUTIVES, THE REAL DECISION
MAKERS WHAT'S YOUR MOST IMPORTANT CONCERN?
AND WHAT THIS FORTUNE 500 COMPANY TOLD ME IS FIVE YEARS
FROM NOW, 30% OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR
RETIREMENT, AND WE ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED AS A FORTUNE 500
COMPANY, A MINNESOTA INNOVATOR, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE WORK
FORCE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL
ECONOMY? I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST
CRITICAL THINGS OUR STATE IS FACING, AND WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE
NUMBERS, 10,000 PEOPLE ARE TURNING 65 EVERY DAY IN THIS
COUNTRY AS THE BABY BOOM GENERATION MOVES INTO
RETIREMENT, AND IT'S CRITICAL CONVERSATION FOR THE LEGISLATURE
TO HAVE ALONG WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
>> WELL, I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IN THIS DISCUSSION IS WE
NEED TO KEEP CLARITY ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN TAX RATES AND TAX REVENUES, THAT THEY ARE NOT THE
SAME THING, AND AS REPRESENTATIVE DAUDT MENTIONED,
WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN TAX REVENUE COMING IN THE STATE, AND
WE HAVEN'T CHANGED TAX RATES, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO
GROW TAX REVENUE IS MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GROWING ECONOMY, AND
THE REAL QUESTION WITH ALL OF THIS DEBATE, WHEN YOU RAISE
TAXES, WHATEVER KIND, HOW DOES THAT HELP THE ECONOMY TO GROW?
IF YOU GO OUT AND SAY TO THE PRODUCERS OR THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE -- WHO HAVE THE MONEY OR BUSINESSES AND SAY WE ARE GOING
TO TAKE MORE MONEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET TO BRING TO THE
LEGISLATURE TO DO FOR OTHER THINGS, HOW IS THAT TAKING THE
MONEY FROM YOU HELP THE ECONOMY GROW WHEN THAT IS PROBABLY
THE MONEY TO BE USED TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE OR TAKE INVESTMENTS
FROM YOUR BUSINESS. THA THE QUESTION TO BE ASKED.
TRYING TO RESTRAIN THAT DESIRE TO INCREASE THE RATES AND DO
THINGS TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT, THAT'S THE WAY YOU
GROW THE ECONOMY, AND YOU WILL SEE INCREASED REVENUE, AND I
THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THAT AND NOT GET TOO FOCUSED ON A
COMMITMENT TO RAISE RATES BECAUSE THEY ARE SORT OF A
DISCUSSION OUT THERE THAT SAYS WE SHOULD DO IT, AND THINK ABOUT
HOW THIS EFFECTS THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY.
DOES IT REALLY GROW THE ECONOMY TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE ECONOMY
AND BRING IT TO THE LEGISLATURE? THAT TO ME IS THE QUESTION.
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS AND NO DOUBT WE
WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO COME BACK TO THE TAX QUESTION.
I DON'T THINK WE WILL RESOLVE IT TONIGHT.
>> WE CAN VOTE. >> MAYBE NOT.
PROBABLY THREE YEARS OF LEGAL TRAINING AND OTHER PEOPLE
COULDN'T PICK UP ON THAT. WE WILL COME BACK TO THAT.
A COUPLE QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS THAT WANT TO TALK ABOUT
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT
THERE'S MAKING LEGISLATURE UNILATERAL, AND ANY CHANGE --
WILL THERE BE ANY LEGISLATION TO LIMIT THE USE OF CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES IN THE WAY WE ADDRESS CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS? NORMALLY THEY ARE VOTED ON IN
NOVEMBER OF THE ELECTION YEAR, AND YOU WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TWO
YEARS TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, BUT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THAT
AREA. ANYBODY?
>> THERE WAS A BILL THAT CAME IN YESTERDAY ABOUT CHANGING THE
PROCESS TO ADOPT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, AND WE
HAVE A HIGH THRESHOLD TO ADOPT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, AND
THE PUBLIC HAS TO HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS, AND WE
HAD IT TWO OF THEM THAT DIDN'T GET ADOPTED.
IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK OVER THE PAST 20 OR 30 YEARS, THERE HAVE
BEEN A IN HIM OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PUT ON THE BALLOT,
FIVE OR SIX IN ONE YEAR, AND I THINK THE AVERAGE HAS BEEN A
COUPLE EVERY ELECTION CYCLE, AND MANY HAVE FAILED, AND SOME HAVE
PASSED, AND IT IS A HARD PROCESS TO GET ONE THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE IN THE FIRST PLACE AND HARDER THING TO GET IT TO BE
ADOPTED BY THE PUBLIC WILL, AND IT MAY BE THIS SPT THE FIRST
TIME IN 40 YEARS REPUBLICANS PUT THINGS ON THE BALLOT.
MAYBE THAT'S THE PROBLEM. IF WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE DO IT,
IT'S OKAY. BUT IN MY OPINION, THE PROCESS
IS RIGOROUS, AND THERE'S A HIGH THRESHOLD.
I THINK IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT HOW MANY HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE
BALLOT AND HOW MANY ACTUALLY PASSED, IT'S A QUESTION.
>> I ACTUALLY INTRODUCED THE BILL ON THIS SUBJECT TODAY,
SENATE FILE NO. 4 REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY ON THE
LEGISLATURE TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOL, 60%.
>> BONDING REQUIREMENT, RIGHT? >> IT'S THE SAME REQUIREMENT WE
HAVE IN THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO INOCCU INCUR DEB.
LET'S TRY AND MAKE SURE MEASURES TO BE PUT ON THE BALLOT FOR
MINNESOTANS TO VOTE ON, LET'S MAKE SURE THERE'S A BIPARTISAN
VOTE ON THAT. THIS ISN'T A NEW SUBJECT TO ME,
BECAUSE IN 2010 I HAD A BILL THAT OFFERED A BILL REQUIRING
60% AND IT DIDN'T GET ON THE BALLOT IN 2010.
WHAT I LEARNED IN DOING THE RESEARCH IN 2010 WAS 18 -- IN
2010, 18 OF THE PREVIOUS 19 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
PASSED. 18 OF 19.
WHAT YOU SAW HAPPEN THIS YEAR WAS PRETTY UNIQUE FOR
MINNESOTANS TO REJECT AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE OF THE
PREVIOUS 19 BEFORE. THE ONE THAT FAILED WAS IN 194
WE RAN ONE ON PARAMUTUAL BETTING, AND THE OTHER 18 OF 19
PASSED. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE A TOUGH
THRESHOLD AND SHOULD BE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO GET IT ON
THE BALLOT. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION. THESE WERE VERY DIVISIVE
AMENDMENTS, AND NEIGHBORS VOTE YES, VOTE NO, AND I THINK
THERE'S A LOT OF HARD FEELINGS LEFT, AND SO I INTRODUCED IT,
AND WE ARE GOING TO HEAR IT, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION, AND IT'S A STATUTORY CHANGE IN LAW, AND I
THINK THE CONSTITUTION IS A VERY SACRED DOCUMENT, AND I THINK
AMENDING IS VERY SERIOUS BUSINESS, AND I DIDN'T SUPPORT
THE 200 SIXTH AMENDMENT THAT TOOK THE LICENSE TAB MONEY AND
COMMITTED IT TO TRANSPORTATION, AND TOOK A LOT OF GENERAL FUND
AND DIDN'T SUPPORT THE 200 EIGHTH AMENDMENT THAT INTRODUCED
THE SALES TAX BY 3/8 OF A%, AND I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD RAISE
TAXES IN THE CONSTITUTION EITHER, I THINK IT'S A VERY
SACRED DOCUMENT, AND I THINK A LITTLE HIGHER THRESHOLD ON THE
PART OF THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BIPARTISAN VOTE
THAT'S IMPORTANT. >> SENATOR BAKK?
>> YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY THERE'S GOING TO BE BILLS AND BOTH
BODIES TO DO SIMILAR THINGS TO WHAT SENATOR BAKK IS TALKING
ABOUT, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS, AND I ALSO
AGREE THAT THE CONSTITUTION ISN'T SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD
NECESSARILY CHANGE FREQUENTLY. I AGREE WITH HIM THAT TAXES
SHOULDN'T BE IN THE CONSTITUTION, AND YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS THE PREVIOUS ONE THAT HAD PASSED, AND
OBVIOUSLY THESE TWO THAT WERE ON THE BALLOT THIS TIME WERE
REJECTED, SO IN HINDSIGHT WHEN WE WERE PUTTING THEM ON, I
THOUGHT WE WILL LET PEOPLE DECIDE.
THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY ISSUES THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL, AND AS I
LOOKED AT THE ISSUES WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT CERTAINLY ROSE
TO A LEVEL THAT MAYBE THIS IS BIGGER THAN WHAT THE LEGISLATURE
SHOULD BE DECIDING. PROBABLY A BIT NAIVE.
BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT WOULD BE A BIG DEAL TO HAVE THE PEOPLE OF
MINNESOTA HAVING A CONVERSATION AND MAKING A DECISION, AND YES,
THERE WERE DIVIDED ON THE ISSUE, BUT I THINK WE HAD A PRETTY
RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, AND ULTIMATELY MINNESOTA
DECIDED THEY DIDN'T WANT TO ADD THE TWO PROVISIONS TO THE
CONSTITUTION, AND THE PROCESS THAT WE USED WORKED VERY WELL,
AND ULTIMATE NATIONALLYLY, MAYBD TWEAKING BUT I'M WILLING TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.
>> I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN AUTHOR OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CHANGE
THE THRESHOLD. I READ SENATOR BAKK'S BILL WITH
INTEREST TODAY. NOT SURE IT'S THE TOP PRIORITY
OR THE TOP PRIORITY FOR THE CAUCUS, BUT I THINK WHAT WE SAW
HAPPEN IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WAS AN EFFORT TO PUT BEFORE THE
PEOPLE THE QUESTION THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO REACH A CONCLUSION FOR
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND I THINK SAW AN EFFORT TO GET
AROUND THE GOL GOVERNOR AND MAYA STEP AWAY FROM THE CHECKS AND
BALANCES, AND I THINK THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.E.
IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE QUESTIONS TO THE PEOPLE OF
MINNESOTA RATHER THAN LEGISLATE THEM, I THINK THE THRESHOLD
SHOULD CHANGE, AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE REQUIREMENT FOR
BIPARTISAN SHIP, AND I THINK THE THRESHOLD SHOULD BE HIGHER SO
IT'S NOT EASY WHEN THERE IS TWO DEMOCRATIC BODIES TO GO AROUND
THE PARTY AND GET THE CHECK AND BALANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
MINNESOTA. WHILE IT'S NOT MY TOP PRIORITY,
BUDGET IS MY TOP PRIORITY, I THINK IT'S A FRUITFUL DISCUSSION
FOR THE LEGISLATURE. >> I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT
WHO WAS SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MOVING THE LEGISLATURE.
I GET THIS QUESTION FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE STATE
EVERY TIME. I WILL ASK DOES ANYONE KNOW
ANYONE IN THE LEGISLATURE PLANNING TO INTRODUCING THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT? >> IT MAY GET INTRODUCED.
THE QUESTION THE VIEWER NEEDS TO ASK THEMSELVES IS DO YOU WANT TO
MAKE PASSING LAWS EASIER? WHERE BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE
SENATE ARGUED OUT, IT MAKES GETTING THINGS PASSED REALLY
HARD. FRANKLY THAT'S OKAY.
SOMETIMES EVEN REALLY GOOD IDEAS TAKE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO GET
DONE. AFTER A VERY DIFFICULT STRUGGLE
OVER MULTIPLE YEARS, THE FINAL OUTCOME ON THAT IS MUCH BETTER
THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF YOU SIMPLY HAD SACKED UP THE VOTES
AND SENT IT TO THE GOVERNOR THE NEXT YEAR.R.
>> I THINK WE HAVE ONE STATE, NEBRASKA IS THE ONLY ONE, AND I
ATTENDED A CONFERENCE WITH SENATORS FROM NEBRASKA AND
SOUNDS LIKE THE WILD, WILD WEST, AND THEY DON'T HAVE CAMPAIGN
FINANCE LAWS LIKE WE DO. >> AND THERE HAVE BEEN DEBATES,
AND THEY ARE KIND OF TIRED OF IT.
>> I THINK THE ANSWER TO THE VIEWERS QUESTION IS DON'T HOLD
YOUR BREATH. I WILL SAY TO THAT VIEWER THAT
WE DO HAVE TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS BEFORE YOU GET TO THE
NOVEMBER 2014 BALLOT. SO TALK TO YOUR LOCAL LEGISLATOR
TO SEE IF THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO DEAL WITH THAT.
>> AND THEY WANT TO KNOW THEY WOULD DEMONSTRATE THESEASONAL
RECREATIONAL PROPERTY TAX FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. I'M NOT SURE THAT'S RIGHT.
I'M SURE SOMEBODY HERE KNOWS WHAT THE ISSUE IS ABOUT.
WHO WANTS TO TALK A RUN AT IT. >> TALKING ABOUT GENERAL
EDUCATION LEVY? >> BORDER APPROVED LEVIES.
>> IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT ISSUE IN LAKE COUNTRY.
LET ME USE GRAND MARAIS AS AN EXAMPLE.
PEOPLE LOVE THE NORTH SHORE, BUT THE CHALLENGE IN COOK COUNTY,
THE SCHOOLS IN GRAND MARAIS. THE GOVERNMENT OWNS 91% OF THE
LAND IN COOK COUNTY, AND THAT'S WHERE THE BIG PIECE OF THE
BOUNDARY WATERS IS. 60% OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS
SEASONAL RECREATIONAL PROPERTY. BREEZY POINT IS SIMILAR TO THAT.
PELICAN RAPIDS IS SIMILAR TO THAT.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND LAKE COUNTY SCHOOL
DISTRICT. STUDENTS IN LAKE COUNTRY'S MOST
THEIR INDUSTRIAL IS CABINS, AND 2001 TAX FORM, GOVERNOR VENTURA
DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY SCHOOL TAXES ON HIS CABIN.
GOVERNORS OFTEN PREVAIL, SO SEASONAL REC WAS TAKEN OFF OF
THE VOTER APPROVED LEVIES, AND SEASONAL REC IS NOT SUBJECTED TO
VOTER APPROVED LEVIES, AND IT'S CREATING A -- I TRIED TO TICKS
IT A COUPLE OF TIMES UNDER GOVERNOR PAWLENTY, BUT WE ARE
GOING TO TRY AND FIX THAT, AND PUT STATE AID TO HELP THEM BE
ABLE TO PASS VOTER APPROVED LEVIES, AND IT WOULDN'T COST THE
CABIN OWNER ANY MONEY BUT WOULD HAVE HELPED THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, AND UNFORTUNATELY I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT PASSED.
GOVERNOR PAWLENTY, AND I THINK I HAD THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE
ON BOARD. I DON'T KNOW IF THE LEGISLATURE
HAS AN INTEREST IN IT. I GUESS WE WILL FIND OUT.
IT WOULD COST REAL MONEY, AND I WOULDN'T EXPECT THAT CABIN
OWNERS AUTOMATICALLY ARE GOING TO RAISE THEIR TAXES BY THAT
AMOUNT. I THINK THE STATE NEEDS TO HELP
PARTICIPATE IN THAT, BUT IT'S A TOUGH CONVERSATION, AND BEEN
AROUND A LONG TIME. VERY SERIOUS CONCERN, AND I
SHARE THEIR CONCERN WITH IT. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT
ISSUE? ANY INSIGHT?
IF NOT, WE WILL MOVE TO A VIEWER FROM GRANITE FALLS.
KIND OF LIKE AN AUCTION HERE. SPEAK UP OR WE WILL RUN RIGHT BY
YOU. VIEWER FROM GRAND FALLS WANTS TO
KNOW HOW WILL LEGISLATURING COME UP WITH FUNDS FOR THE AFFORDABLE
HEALTHCARE ACT, EXCHANGES AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND MAYBE WE COULD
HAVE A LITTLE DISCUSSION WHERE THAT SITS IN THE SESSION.
WHO WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THAT? >> HANN BILL WAS INTRODUCED
TODAY, AND I DID READ IT THE COST OF THE EXCHANGE IS
ANTICIPATED TO BE PAID FOR BY 3 1/2% ON PREMIUMS OR UP TO THREE
AND A HALF%. THERE IS GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL
COSTS TO HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS TO PAY FOR THE
EXCHANGE, AND I THINK READING THROUGH THE BILL, THERE ARE
THINGS PERSONALLY I THINK ARE CONCERNING, AND I THINK THE BILL
HAS GOT WORK TO DO, IF IT'S GOING TO GAIN THE SUPPORT IT
WOULD NEED TO HAVE TO HAVE IT BE ACCEPTED AS A BIPARTISAN
APPROACH DEALING WITH THE ISSUE. THE GOVERNOR IS COMMITTED TO
GETTING SOMETHING DONE, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT, BUT THERE ARE
GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT COSTS TO THE CHANGE, AND ONE OF THE
THINGS I'M TROUBLED WITH IS IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE,
AND THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO BE GONE
INTO AS WELL. WHAT DO YOU GET FOR THE
ADDITIONAL COST YOU ARE GOING TO PUT INTO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
THAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW? HOW IS THAT BENEFIT GOING TO BE
DETERMINED. WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO HAVE A
COST. MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE WE WOULD
NOT DO IT OBVIOUSLY. WE HAD IT.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS YEAR.
>> WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 45 SECONDS.
>> WE HAVE WAITED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
IT'S UNLIKE MINNESOTA, BUT WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD IN
THIS CYCLE, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE OUR COSTS ARE
RIGHT NOW, AND IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EXCHANGE WE ARE
GOING TO ELIMINATE EMCHA. THE PREMIUM ASSESSMENT IS GOING
TO GO TO THE EXCHANGE AS WELL. FINALLY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
SYSTEM THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SENSE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE
SIMPLIFIED THAT PEOPLE CAN NAVIGATE BOTH IN THE PRIVATE
MARKET AND IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND PUBLIC PROGRAM FOR
HEALTHCARE, AND MINNESOTANS ARE GOING TO HAVE COVERAGE, AND
THOSE WHO DON'T ARE GETTING CARE AND EVERYBODY IS PAYING FOR
THAT. >> WE ARE GOING TO STOP RIGHT
THERE. THANKS ALL OF US, AND BE WITH US
NEXT WEEK AND THE WEEKS TO FOLLOW.
THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT. >> THERE'S MUCH MORE ABOUT "YOUR
LEGISLATORS" ONLINE AT PINE NOR.ORG.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, WHO HAS BEEN A GUEST AND WATCH
ALL OF OUR PAST EPISODES, AND A PHOTO GALLERY, INFORMATIVE LINKS
AND MUCH MORE, AND YOU CAN ALSO GET INVOLVED AND STAY IN TOUCH
BY TBOLG US ON TWITTER AND JOINING THE DISCUSSION ON OUR
FACEBOOK PAGE. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING YOU WATCR
LEGISLATORS".
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC WWW.CAPTIONASSOCIATES.COM