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>>> "YOUR LEGISLATORS" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE
>>> "YOUR LEGISLATORS" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS
FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF MAPE MEMBERS, MAKING MINNESOTA CLEAN
WATERS, SAFE COMMUNITIES, QUALITY EDUCATION AND VETERANS
CARE HAPPEN. WE WORK HARD FOR MINNESOTANS.
>>> LIVE FROM MINNESOTA WE WELCOME YOU TO A ROUND TABLE
DISCUSSION. 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. >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO
"YOUR LEGISLATORS". MY NAME IS BARRY ANDERSON, AND
I'M YOUR HOST, AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED IT, BUT SPRING HAS
SPRUNG, AND WE ARE CELEBRATING THAT WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT
TEMPERATURES MAY BREAK 30 DEGREES BY THE WEEKEND.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT OUTSIDE.
YOU CAN BE INSIDE WATCHING "YOUR LEGISLATORS" AND TAKING THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE FOLKS THAT REPRESENT YOU,
AND THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE CATCHY NAME, AND WE WANT TO
INVITE YOU TO CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS AND SEND THEM VIA
E-MAIL, AND INSTRUCTIONS WILL APPEAR AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR
SCREEN, AND THIS IS YOUR PROGRAM, AND LET OUR
DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS KNOW WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND.
NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM WILL BE RECORDED, AND WE WILL NOT BE
LIVE BUT WE WILL BE WITH YOU AT ALL OF OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED
TIMES WHEN YOU HAPPEN TO SEE US, AND THE GUESTS WILL BE MYRON
FRANS, THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE FOR THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA AND WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET RELATED ISSUES
REVENUE RELATED ISSUES, AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE
AREAS, SEND THEM INTO US BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT THURSDAY, AND WE
WILL SEE WE GET THEM TO THE COMMISSIONER, AND WE WILL HAVE A
GREAT PROGRAM AND OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT FACETS OF
GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE DONE IT PREVIOUS YEARS
AS WE ENTER THE EASTER WEEK, AND ONE YEAR WE HAD THE STATE
FINANCE DIRECTOR ON, AND IT REALLY IS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
TAKE ON PUBLIC POLICY. I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU OUR
FOCUS ON THESE PROGRAMS IS ON STATE POLICY, NOT ON FEDERAL
POLICY. SO IF YOU WANT TO DEBATE THE
DRONE POLICY OR ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO ABOUT
SOCIAL SECURITY, THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS, AND OUR PANEL IS NOT
WELL SUITED TO ANSWER THEM. FINALLY, JUST A QUICK NOTE WE
WILL BE WITH YOU EACH WEEK FROM NOW UNTIL WHENEVER THE
LEGISLATURE GOES HOME. WITH ALL OF THOSE HOUSEKEEPING
MATTERS OUT OF THE WAY, LET'S MOVE TO THE INTRODUCTION OF OUR
PANEL THAT WILL MOVE US TO THE MYSTERY OF ST. PAUL.
OUR PANEL, EACH ONE HAS BEEN WITH US IN THE PAST.
DISTRICT 10A JOHN WARD. TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOURSELF. >> IT'S MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO
BE HERE, AND I'M IN MY FOURTH TERM, AND REPRESENT DISTRICT
10A, WHICH IS MOST OF CROW WING COUNTY, BRAINERD, BAXTER,
NISSWA, PEQUOT LAKES. I'M IN MY FOURTH TERM, AS I
SAID, AND THE COMMITTEES I SIT ON THE VICE CHAIR OF THE BONDING
COMMITTEE, AND I'M ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND JOBS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND THE LEGACY COMMITTEE, AND I'M ALSO ON
RURAL, AND I'M ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER AND PLEASED TO
BE HERE WITH THE REST OF THE PANEL TONIGHT.
>> YOU DON'T GET AWAY WITHOUT ME IDENTIFYING FOR THE VIEWERS YOUR
BACKGROUND FOR ADAPTIVE SPORTS, AND WHOSE PROGRAMS YOU AND I
HAVE AN INTEREST IN. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.
>> I WAS AN EDUCATOR FOR 34 YEARS, AND ONE OF THE FAVORITE
SPORTS THAT I PARTICIPATE IN AND COACHED IN WAS THE ADAPTIVE 4
HOCKEY TEAM. THE FOUR HOCKEY TEAM STATE
TOURNAMENT WAS JUST LAST WEEKEND, AND I STARTED THE
BRAINERD ADAPTIVE FLOOR HOCKEY PROGRAM, AND WE ARE THE ONLY
TEAM NORTH OF THE METRO, AND DURING MY TENURE, I HAD THE
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL CAREER IN THAT, AND WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO
HAVE GREAT, GREAT KIDS AND PARENTS THAT I WORKED WITH IN
THAT PROGRAM. >> GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE. >> AND JOINING US DISTRICT 51
FROM EAGAN, JIM CARLSON. HE WAS HERE, HE WASN'T HERE, AND
NOW HE'S BACK. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR
JOURNEY. >> SOME SAY I CAN'T MAKE UP MY
MIND. BUT I WAS ELECTED IN 2006 IN THE
DISTRICT THAT COVERS EAGAN AND BURNSVILLE, AND IT'S DISTRICT 51
WE LOVINGLY CALL IT AREA 51. IT HAD HISTORIC VALUE, AND YOU
GET SOME INTRIGUE, BUT I WAS ELECTED IN 2006, AND I WAS
RETIRED INVOLUNTARILY IN 2011 AND THEN CAME BACK AGAIN IN
2012, AND THIS IS MY SECOND FOUR-YEAR TERM, AND FORTUNATELY
I DIDN'T EXPERIENCE BEING IN THE MINORITY IN THOSE TWO YEARS, BUT
IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING .D IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING
COMING BACK. >> AND YOUR BACKGROUND BEFORE
YOU WENT IN THE LEGISLATURE? >> I'M A MECHANICAL ENGINEER,
AND I WORKED IN TOWN HERE, AND I RETIRED FROM 3M AFTER WORKING
THERE FOR 20 YEARS, AND IT'S BEEN A NICE JOURNEY, AND I
SPENT -- I LOOK AT MYSELF AT BEING A DILBERT AT HEART AND
BECOME AN STRO VERTEBRA WHE AN . >> AND WE HAVE SENATOR NELSON
FROM DISTRICT 26. I REPRESENT THE 14 TOWNSHIPS
AROUND ROCHESTER, AND I HAVE A NICE URBAN AND RURAL DISTRICT,
AND I'M A FORMER TEACHER IN THE ROCHESTER SCHOOL SYSTEM AND A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN ROCHESTER.
MY HUSBAND AND I OWN OLMSTED FINANCIAL GROUP.
>> WE WILL TALK ABOUT ROCHESTER. QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS FIRST,
AND WE WILL COME BACK TO THAT. FROM DISTRICT 16B FROM HANSKA
REPRESENTATIVE PAUL TORKELSON WHO HAS THE GREAT HONOR AND
FORTUNE TO REPRESENT MY MOTHER-IN-LAW.
TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU, AND IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT YOUR
MOTHER-IN-LAW, AND I HOPE SHE'S WATCHING, KEEPING AN EYE ON YOU
AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE BEHAVING AS MOTHER-IN-LAWS DO.
I SERVE 16B, AND I HAVE A NEW HOME.
REDISTRICTING DIDN'T TREAT ME WELL.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN HEAD TO HEAD WITH TONY KARNISH.
THAT WAS NOT A COMFORTABLE SPOT TO BE IN.
I'M IN THE OLD DISTRICT AND PLUS A COUPLE TOWNSHIPS IN RENVILLE
COUNTY, AND NEW TERRITORY AND A LOT OF OLD TERRITORY, AND A GOOD
CAMPAIGN AND GOOD ELECTION, AND NOW I HAVE MY OFFICIAL RESIDENCE
ON THE LAKE, AND I HAVE MY VACATION HOME BACK ON MY FARM.
>> VERY GOOD. >> LET'S GO TO SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS, AND I WANT TO REMIND VIEWERS WHEN YOU
CALL, WANT A QUESTION ABOUT A HOUSE OR SENATE FILE, WE HAVE
SMART PANELS ON THIS PROGRAM BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS
MEMORIZED AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HOUSE FILE 817
YOU TELL US WHAT IT'S ABOUT. A VIEWER FROM BRIGHTON WANTS TO
KNOW WHAT HAPPENED ABOUT THE SNOWBIRD TAX AND ALL THE CHANGES
ABOUT THE TAX POLICY THAT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED AND WILL THAT
SURVIVE THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
>> UNFORTUNATELY IT'S STILL IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, AND SO I
CERTAINLY DON'T SUPPORT THAT, AND I THINK K WILL BE
ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE STATE. I HOPE THAT'S ONE OF THE TAXES
THAT COMES OUT OF THAT BUDGET, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
GOT FOLKS WHO SPEND PART OF THEIR YEAR HERE AND GO SOMEWHERE
SOUTH FOR A FEW MONTHS, AND NOW IT'S LIKE THE SNOWBIRD TAX IS
GOING TO CHASE THEM ALL THE WAY OUT, AND I'M HOPING THAT'S ONE
OF THE ONES THE DFL MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE DO NOT
SUPPORT. >> SENATOR CARLSON, YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THAT? >> I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ON IT.
FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET IN THAT IT IS A TOTAL SOLUTION THAT WE HAVEN'T
HAD FOR A LONG TIME. WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH REVENUE
AND EXPENDITURE BALANCES, AND WHENEVER WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT
WE DON'T LIKE, I'M HOPING THAT WE COULD FIND SOMETHING TO
REPLACE IT, BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO BOROUG BORROW THE WE
HAVE BEEN DOING IT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T
GET FORCED INTO PAWNING ANYMORE OF OUR ON GOING REVENUES LIKE
OUR TOBACCO TAX. I THINK -- I DON'T CARE FOR
TAXING PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO
IS BE SURE WHATEVER WE TAKE OUT, WE PUT SOMETHING ELSE BACK IN.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WARD? >> YOU KNOW, THE FACT OF THE
MATTER IS -- AND I AGREE WITH SENATOR CARLSON WITH THE FACT
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AS A LONG-TERM STABLE APPROACH AS A
VISIONARY AND WITH REAL MONEY, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT FOR A
DECADE, BUT THERE ARE PIECES THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC IN ALL THE
BUDGETS, AND RIGHT NOW THE HOUSE HAS COME UP WITH OUR BUDGET IN
THE MAJORITY, AND GOVERNOR HAS TWEAKED HIS BUDGET, AND SO, YOU
KNOW, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IS NOW NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN ONCE WE HAVE
HEARD THE FEBRUARY FORECAST, BUT THE OTHER THING I REALLY LIKE
ABOUT THE HOUSE BUDGET, AND IT KIND OF LINED UP WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AS WELL, IT LISTS THE PRIORITIES AND
INVESTMENTS OF EDUCATION AND JOB CREATION AND PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID, AND SO YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE
CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF A BUDGET THAT I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE
FORWARD TO INVEST IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
>> YOUR THOUGHTS, REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON.N.
>> I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS ABOUT THE SNOWBIRD TAX BUT I'M
PRETTY SURE I DON'T LIKE IT. >> THE GOOD NEWS HERE IN
MINNESOTA IS THAT THE ECONOMY HAS RECOVERED AND IS CONTINUING
TO RECOVER, AND THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER, AND WE HAVE SEEN
EACH REVENUE FFECAST COME IN MORE POSITIVE THAN THE LAST ONE,
AND THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS, AND IF WE WOULD STAY THE COURSE, WE
WOULD ACTUALLY GET INTO A SURPLUS SITUATION IN NOT TOO
LONG A PERIOD OF TIME, AND THE GOVERNOR HAS CHOSEN TO RAISE A
LOT OF TAXS AND DO MORE SPENDING AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S
APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME, AND WE NEED THE PRIVATE ECONOMY TO
CONTINUE TO RECOVER SO THAT IT PROVIDES THE PRIVATE JOBS, AND
IT'S THE PRIVATE JOBS AND PEOPLE'S INCOMES THAT CAN
SUPPORT THE THINGS TO PROVIDE AT STATE GOVERNMENT.
>> THEY ARE WONDERING WHAT THE SNOWBIRD TAX PROPOSAL IS
BRIEFLY. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE
RULES IN PLACE REGARDING HOW LONG YOU CAN BE OUT FOR
MINNESOTA AND NOT INCUR MINNESOTA TAXES, AND THIS WOULD
ADD RESTRICTIONS. IT'S STILL IN THE BUDGET, I
THINK, AND WE WILL HAVE CHANCES TO TALK ABOUT IT BETWEEN NOW AND
THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND THE VIEWER FROM ST.
PAUL WANTS THE PANEL TO DISCUSS THE DIFFERENCES REGARDING THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET, AND THE VIEWER NOTES THE
GOVERNOR'S PLAN WAS TO INCREASE OTHER PROPOSALS TO CUT, AND THEY
WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PANEL THINKS ABOUT IT.
>> ANYBODY HAVE SOMETHING THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT?
>> IN THE HOUSE BUDGET, AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT A BALANCED
APPROACH IN THE BUDGETS, NO MATTER WHOSE BUDGET IT IS, AND
THE FACT IS FOR THE LAST DECADE WE HAVE -- HOW WE HAVE SOLVED
OUR BUDGET IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS 76% OF OUR BUDGETS
HAVE BEEN DONE WITH SHORT-TERM ACCOUNTING GIMMICKS, AND 18% HAS
BEEN DONE THROUGH CUTS. THAT'S NOT A REAL BALANCED
APPROACH. YOU TRY TO USE A BALANCED
APPROACH, AND I BELIEVE IN A BALANCED APPROACH TO PROVIDE
STABILITY AND STRUCTURALLY SOUND BUDGET.
IN OUR HOUSE BUDGET, THERE IS $150 MILLION WORTH OF CUTS TO
THE DHS, AND YOU KNOW, THAT IS PROBLEMATIC FROM THE STANDPOINT
THAT AREA HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY HIT IN THE LAST DECADE AS WELL,
AND THAT'S OUR SENIOR CITIZENS AND DISABLED COMMUNITY AND
ELDERLY, AND THOSE REALLY NEEDING OUR HELP IN THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA, AND SO IT IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE WE HAVE
NURSING HOMES IN GREATER MINNESOTA FOR SURE THAT ARE AT A
CRITICAL POINT IN OUR HOSPITALS, AND SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE
$150,000 IN CUTS IN THE HOUSE BUDGET, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S
A BUDGET THAT HAS SOME REVENUE AND HAS CUTS AND HAS REFORM AND
RESIGN, BUT I'M HOPING THAT THROUGH LOOKING AT EFFECTIVENESS
AND EFFICIENCILY AND REFORM AND REDESIGN IN THE DHS BUDGET THAT
WE ARE ABLE TO NOT, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANTLY HURT THOSE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE BEEN SO GREATLY IMPACTED IN THE PREVIOUS
BUDGETS. >> REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON.
>> BUILDING A BUDGET IS ABOUT SETTING PRIORITIES, AND I DON'T
THINK THE DFL HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF SETTING PRIORITIES IN
THIS CASE. MANY OF MY SMALL TOWNS AND I
HAVE 19 TOWNS IN MY DISTRICT, IN MANY CASES THE NURSING HOME IS
THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN TOWN, AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY OUR
FUNDING IS SET UP FOR THE NURSING HOME FOLKS, THEY HAVE
BEEN UNABLE TO GIVE THEIR WORKERS RAISES AND DON'T OFFER
MUCH FOR BENEFITS BECAUSE THE BUDGETS ARE SEVERELY RESTRICTED
AND I WISH OUR NURSING HOMES AND FOLKS THAT WORK AT GROUP HOMES
HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY IN THIS BUDGET.
APPARENTLY THEY ARE NOT. I'M GOING TO KEEP PRESSURE ON TO
GET MORE MONEY TO THESE FOLKS, AND TO ME, IT'S ONE OF THOSE
THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY AND WAS NOT SELECTED AS
A PRIORITY IN THIS CASE. >> SENATOR CARLSON?
>> REPRESENTATIVE WARD IS CORRECT, THERE'S $150 MILLION
THAT WE HAVE A MINUS SIGN BEFORE IT, AND I THINK FOR THE MOST
PART, AND THAT IS A START AGAIN, AND THERE'S A LOT OF NEGOTIATION
THAT HAS TO HAPPEN. WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE NOT FINAL
NUMBERS. THEY ARE TARGETS, AND I ALSO
AGREE WITH BOTH REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON AND REPRESENTATIVE
WARD THAT THE NURSING HOMES, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THEM, REALLY
DESERVE MORE ATTENTION. WE HAVE HAD MANY YEARS OF PCA'S
NOT GETTING INCREASES, AND WORKERS NOT GETTING INCREASES,
AND THE REIMBURSEMENT TO NURSING HOMES STAYING THE SAME OR EVEN
BEING REDUCED AND THERE'S A LOT OF ATTENTION THERE, AND I THINK
SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE NEGOTIATING POINTS, AND
MOST OF THE TARGETS HAVE HAD INCREASES, AND THERE MAYBE SOME
CARVING AWAY OF SOME OF THE OTHER NUMBERS, AND AGAIN, HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES IS THE SINGLE LARGEST PORTION OF OUR BUDGET,
AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING E ANYTHING THAT HAS ROOM IN IT, IT
MIGHT BE THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
>> AND THERE'S AN IMPORTANT NUMBER THAT WE ARE NOT TALKING
ABOUT YET, AND THAT IS THE FACT THAT THE PROJECTED REVENUES ARE
GROWING BY A BILLION DOLLARS, AND THAT'S WITHOUT ANY OF THE
GOVERNOR'S TAX PROPOSALS, AND THANKFULLY OUR ECONOMY HAS
STARTED TO PICK UP A LITTLE BIT, AND A BILLION DOLLARS OF NEW
MONEY PROJECTED TO COME IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, AND YOU
WOULD THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO FUND OUR PRIORITIES
WITHOUT ADDITIONAL TAX INCREASES, BUT I DO FIND IT VERY
HARD TO BELIEVE IN LIGHT OF $3 BILLION OF TAX INCREASES THAT
THE PROPOSALS OUT THERE ARE TO CUT NURSING HOMES AND CUT THOSE
FOLKS WHO ARE MOST IN NEED. I MEAN, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO IN
MINNESOTA. ESPECIALLY WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC
CHANGES, WITH MORE AND MORE OF OUR POPULATION AGING, I'M VERY
TUBLED BTRIBLED BY THAT,TROUBLE. A BILLION DOLLARS IS A LOT OF
MONEY, AND I THINK THERE'S MISPLACED PRIORITIES THERE.
>> IF I CAN ADD, PLEASE, BARRY, THE FACT THAT REPRESENTATIVE
TORKELSON RAISED A GREAT POINT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE NURSING
HOMES IN PARTICULAR, AND THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE AND THE
CARE THAT THEY GIVE, AND THERE IS A BIPARTISAN BILL BILL THAT W
IT'S BIPARTISAN, BUT YOU KNOW THERE'S A BILL THAT LOOKS AT
REALLY TRYING TO HELP OUR NURSING HOMES AND THE EMPLOYEES
THERE AND EVEN THOUGH THERE'S $150 MILLION CUTS, NOBODY IS
SUGGESTING RIGHT NOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THROUGH OUR NURSING
HOMES, AND AS SENATOR TORKELSON SAID WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO
LOOK AT THE WHOLE BUMENT. NURSING HOMES ARE A PARTICULAR
PRIORITY, AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND WE ARE ALL GETTING TO THE
AGE THAT MAYBE SOMEDAY WE WILL BE HAVING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF --
OR THOSE FOLKS TAKING CARE OF US AS WELL.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A LITTLE BIT, TOO, AND I HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF BOTH MY MOTHER AND MOTHER-IN-LAW ARE IN THE NURSING
HOME, AND I GET TO VISIT THE NURSING HOME REGULARLY, EVERY
WEEKEND, AND I SEE HOW HARD THE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING ARE
WORKING, AND WE ARE ONE OF TWO STATES IN THE NATION THAT HAS
RATE EQUALIZATION, US AND NORTH DAKOTA.
NORTH DAKOTA'S BUDGET SITUATION IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN
OURS, AND I THINK IT'S ONE WAY -- ANOTHER WAY WE COULD GIVE
RELIEF IS BY DROPPING RATE EQUALIZATION, AND IT'S
CONTROVERSIAL, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION. >> VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH THE PRESUMPTION OF JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY.
THE GOVERNOR MAY HAVE POCKET VETOED IT.
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT, IF ANYTHING?
WHO WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THAT? >> SENATOR NELSON, I HAVE TO SAY
IT'S NOT COME TO ANY OF MY COMMITTEES, AND I SIT ON FIVE
COMMITTEES, AND TAXES, HEALTH, EDUCATION, JOBS, AND CAPITAL
INVESTMENT. IT'S NOT COME TO ANY OF THOSE
COMMITTEES, AND TO THIS POINT I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT PROPOSAL?
ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT? >> I THINK WHAT SENATOR NELSON
JUST SAID IS THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT IT, THAT NO ONE
HAS INTRODUCED IT THIS YEAR, AND IT WAS PASSED WITH VERY
SUBSTANTIAL MARGIN IN 2012, AND LIKE YOU SAID, IT WAS POCKET
VETOED, AND E GOVERNOR WAS COMMITTING TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO
WANTED TO REINTRODUCE IT TO WORK ON IT.
I MUST SAY THAT BEFORE I WAS ELECTED THIS TIME, THAT HAVE
PROBABLY THE NO. 1 PEOPLE PEOPLE WERE COMING TO MEAND TALKING TO
ME ABOUT, BUT I KNEW SO LITTLE ABOUT IT, THAT IT WAS NOT
SOMETHING THAT WAS MY PRIORITY, AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, I
THINK NO ONE HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN REINTRODUCING IT.
>> OR IT COULD BE A MATTER OF TIMING, AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE
FOCUSED ON FINANCE DEADLINES AND THE BUDGET, AND I DON'T KNOW IF
THAT PROPOSAL HAD A FINANCIAL COMPONENT TO IT OR NOT.
>> AND SENATOR MAHONEY CARRIED THAT BILL IN THE HOUSE FOR A
COUPLE OF TERMS NOW, AND I ACTUALLY ASKED HIM RECENTLY IF,
YOU KNOW, WHERE THAT BILL IS. BECAUSE AS IT PROGRESSED LAST
YEAR, YOU KNOW, IT GOT -- IT BECAME -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY
WATERED DOWN BUT IT BECAME LESS AND LESS.
REPRESENTATIVE MAHONEY, AND HE SAID WHAT HE WAN WHAT HE INDICA,
WHEN THEY ASKED TO TALK ABOUT IT, AND DIALOGUE ABOUT IT AND
STUDY IT AND LOOK AT IT, I THINK IT'S IN A STUDY PROCESS AND
BEING LOOKED AT. >> WHAT'S THE DEADLINE FOR
INTRODUCING BILLS? >> YOU CAN INTRODUCE BILLS.
>> HOW? >> FINANCE DEADLINE WAS TODAY,
AND POLICY DEADLINE WAS LAST FRIDAY.
>> OKAY. >> WE HAVE KNEW RULES IN THE
HOUSE, AND ONE OF THOSE RULES RESTRICTS WHEN WE CAN INTRODUCE
BILLS. WE CANNOT INTRODUCE BILLS, AND I
FORGET THE EXACT TIMING, THE LAST 30 DAYS OR SO OF THE
SESSION, AND THAT'S A CHANGE FOR US, AND I THINK IT'S A BAD
CHANGE, BUT WE DO HAVE THAT NEW RULE IN THE HOUSE.
>> A VIEWER FROM COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY
STAND ON TAXES. PARTICULARLY CIGARETTE TAXES.
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CIGARETTE TAXES IN THIS SESSION?
WHO WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THAT. >> I CAN START WITH THAT,
BECAUSE I'M AN AUTHOR ON THE BILL TO INCREASE THE COST ON A
PACK OF CIGARETTES, AND MINE IS DIFFERENT THAN ALL THE OTHER
ONES OUT THERE, AND THEY INCREASE THE COST IN CIGARETTES
AND TAKES THE INCREASE TAX MONEY AND USES IT TO GET -- TO TAX THE
BUSINESS PROPERTY TAX. IT'S WHAT I WOULD CALL SMARTER
TAX POLILY. WE TAX SOMETHING LIKE CIGARETTES
MORE, AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WHO SMOKED FORÑi OVER 60 YEARS
REALIZES THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO PICK THIS UP, AND IT
IS A DEADLY HABIT, AND THE RESEARCH DATA SHOWS FOR EVERY
10% INCREASE IN A PACK OF CIGARETTES YOU GET A 6% DECLINE
IN THE YOUTH RATE THAT PICKS IT UP, AND YOUTH ARE THE MOST
SENSITIVE AND ABOUT A 2% ADULTS WHO GIVE IT UP, MAYBE WHO HAVE
TRIED BEFORE. I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF SMARTER
TAX POLICY. IN MY CASE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL RATHER THAN INCREASING THE REVENUE.
I USE IT TO INCREASE CIGARETTES BUT IT MAKES OUR STATE
COMPETITIVE FOR JOBS. I WILL SPEAK TO THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL. >> RAISING TAXES IS SOMETHING NO
ONE EVER WANTS TO ADMIT TO DOING OR BRING OUT AS A POLICY FOR
THEMSELVES, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SENATOR NELSON
SAYS IT'S A SURGE ON OUR HEALTHCARE, AND WE DID GET A
SETTLEMENT OF SOMEWHERE AROUND $6 BILLION IN OUR LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE TOBACCO COMPANIES BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY MARKETED
CIGARETTES, AND THEY ARE VERY HIGHLY ADDICTIVE AND THEY ARE
DANGEROUS, AND THEY DO CAUSE CANCER, AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO
OFFSET THE FREQUENCY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE PICKING UP THE
HABIT, AND ALSO TRYING TO REDUCE THE COST, EVENTUAL COSTS THAT
COME FROM SMOKING AND IN MY CASE, AND YOU MENTIONED OTHER
SYNTAXES, TOO, AND I WOULD VOTE FOR SENATOR NELSON'S INCREASE
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOOD POLICY TO DISSUADE PEOPLE FROM SMOKING,
AND I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT IS A VERY REGRESSIVE
TAX, BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE FOR NOT
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET STARTED.
>> WE WILL JUST SAY CANCER IS A VERY REGRESSIVE DISEASE.
>> SENATOR CARLSON, DO YOU THINK IT PASSES SOME FORMALITY OF A
CIGARETTE TAX INCREASES? >> I BELIEVE SO, YES.
I DON'T KNOW OF -- WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OTHER SYNTAXES,
AND ETHANOL TAXES HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE 1987, AND
THERE'S A POTENTIAL THERE, AND YOU KNOW AS WELL AS ANYONE
THAT -- AND I THINK ONE OF THE DAKOTA COUNTY JUDGES SAID ABOUT
65% OF THE CASES THAT COME BEFORE HIM HAVE AN ALCOHOL
COMPONENT. OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM
OF JUDICIAL AND CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT IS RELATED HEAVILY TO
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, AND IT DOESN'T CARRY ITS OWN BILL, AND
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALCOHOL PITCHES IN A LITTLE BIT
MORE, JUST LIKE CIGARETTES. >> REPRESENTATIVE WARD?
>> ANY TIME WE TALK ABOUT TAX INCREASES, THE SYNTAXES ARE
ALWAYS ON THE TABLE AND TALKED ABOUT, AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AS
SENATOR NELSON SAID, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE REASONS WE DO THAT
IS TO PERSUADE PEOPLE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN HABITS THAT ARE
NOT GOOD FOR THEIR HEALTH, WHETHER IT BE TOBACCO OR
ALCOHOL, AND SOME OF THE PROPOSALS IN THE HOUSE I KNOW
ALSO, BESIDES RAISING REVENUE THEY ALSO ARE LOOKING AT USING
SOME OF THE REVENUE FOR TREATMENT PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, TO
PUT BACK INTO ALCOHOL ABUSE OR WHATEVER, AND SO I THINK THAT
WILL BE -- EVERYTHING WILL BE ON THE TABLE, AND SYNTAXES WILL BE
ON THE TABLE. >> WELL, I THINK IT'S LIKELY
THAT TOBACCO TAX WILL PASS, AND I THINK IT'S GOT A LOT OF
SUPPORT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, AND YOU ARE RIGHT,
SENATOR CARLSON, IT IS A REGRESSIVE TAX, AND FOLKS -- IT
TENDS TO BE FOLKS WITH FEWER MEANS TO KEEP ON SMOKING, AND I
WOULD AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE WARD THAT PART OF THIS SHOULD
LOOK AT HELPING PEOPLE QUIT SMOKING, AND OF COURSE THE MORE
THEY QUIT, THE LESS REVENUE THAT COMES IN, AND LOOKING AT THIS AS
A BIG REVENUE SOURCE IS PROBABLY NOT WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE, AND
AS YOU RAISED THE PRICE, MORE PEOPLE COULD DRIVE SOME OF THIS
BUSINESS AWAY FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO
GENERATE HUGE AMOUNTS OF REVENUE, BUT THE FEWER PEOPLE
SMOKING THE BETTER FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR STATE.
>> YOU ARE RIGHT, IT IS A DECLINING SOURCE OF REVENUE, AND
ALL THE BETTER REASON TO USE IT TO BUY DOWN ANOTHER BAD TAX
INSTEAD OF MORE SPENDING. >> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE ROCHESTER PROPOSAL, AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN YOU WERE
HERE, AND I THINK WE WERE VISITING BEFORE THE PROGRAM
BEGAN THAT YOUR LAST APPEARANCE WAS ON THE DAY OF THE
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THIS PROGRAM TO EXPAND THE MAYO CLINIC AND
FACILITIES IN THE CITY OF ROCHESTER AND SINCE THAT TIME
THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN A LITTLE CONTROVERSY THAT'S DEVELOPED AND
DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT WORK AND POTENTIAL BENEFITS, AND
LET'S HAVE YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT AND SEE THE REST OF THE
PANEL TALK ABOUT IT. >> IT'S A VERY EXCITING
PROPOSAL, AND THERE DOES NEED TO BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT
THIS, AND IT'S GOING THROUGH A LOT OF THE COMMITTEE PROCESS,
AND THE ISSUE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT HEALTHCARE IS
CHANGING DRAMATICALLY IN OUR COUNTRY, AND WHAT THE CHANGES
ARE PUSHING IS THEY ARE DRIVING A VERY FEW SELECT MEDICAL
CENTERS TO BECOME THE GLOBAL DESTINATION MEDICAL CENTERS, AND
THERE'S NOT MANY OFTHEM, AND THERE'S JUST A FEW, AND WE ARE
FORTUNATE WE HAVE ONE OF THEM RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA, AND IN
FACT MAYO IS OUR LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYER ALREADY, AND IT
CONTRIBUTES 4% OF MINNESOTA'S GDP, AND IT'S A MAJOR PLAYER IN
MINNESOTA ALREADY, AND THE EXCITING THING IS THAT MAYO
REALIZES IT NEEDS TO EXPAND AND BECOME THE GLOBAL DESTINATION
MEDICAL CENTER, AND IT'S WILLING TO INVEST 3 1/2 BILLION DOLLARS
OF ITS OWN MONEY TO EXPAND, AND THEY KNOW THAT THAT TYPE OF
MAJOR EXPANSION, I SEE THAT KIND OF LIKE DOUBLING MAY MAYO CLINIC
ALREADY. IT'S ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT
SUPPORT THE PATIENTS AND THE FAMILIES THAT COME, AND THAT
WOULD BE ANOTHER 2 BMED, AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT $5.5 BILLION OF
NEW PRIVATE INVESTMENTS IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND THERE
HAS TO BE THAT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THAT,
WHETHER IT'S THE ROADS AND BRIDGES OR TRANSPORTATION OR THE
SEWERS. >> AND THAT'S WHERE THE PUBLIC
COMPONENT COMES IN. >> THE PUBLIC HAS TO PAY FOR
THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, AND THE INTERESTING THING, IN THESE
OTHER PLACES WHERE THERE'S A POSSIBILITY FOR THE MEDICAL
CENTER, THEY ARE IN LARGE POPULATION AREAS, LIKE THE
CLEVELAND CLINIC OR FOSSTON, BUT HERE YOU HAVE GOT THE HUGE
MEDICAL FACILITY READY TO BASICALLY DOUBLE BUT YOU ARE IN
A PRETTY SMALL TOWN, A LITTLE OVER 100,000, AND THAT'S WHERE
THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE NEED COMES IN BECAUSE THE ROCHESTER,
IT JUST CAN'T EXPAND. IT CAN'T PUT IN THOSE
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS QUICKLY ENOUGH FOR MAYO TO DO THAT.
THE INNOVATIVE PART OF IT, THAT'S THE NEED.
THE INNOVATIVE PART OF IT IS THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN THAT
INFRASTRUCTURE IS BASED ON PAST INFORPERFORMANCE, AND 2011 TAXET
MAYO CLINIC PAID DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IS A BASELINE, AND
THIS PROPOSAL ALLOWS A CAPTURE, A SMALL% OF THOSE TAXES, AND TO
BE CAPTURED AND PLOWED BACK INTO THE PROJECT TO CONTINUE THE
GROWTH. IT'S ABOUT 35,000 TO 45,000
JOBS, OVER $3 BILLION OF INCREASED REVENUE TO THE STATE
OF MINNESOTA, AND IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE IT SHOULD BE A VERY GOOD --
IT WILL BE A GOOD PROJECT FOR THE STATE, AND I THINK AS IT
GOES THROUGH COMMITTEE AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE INNOVATIVE
FINANCING MECHANISM, I THINK THE CONTROVERSY WILL GO AWAY, AND I
THINK WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORTERS.
>> THIS IS A FORM OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.
>> IT IS A FORM OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.
>> SENATOR CARLSON? >> WE CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT
TO HINDER THE MAYO CLINIC FROM EXPANDING.
THAT'S A GIVEN, I THINK. I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT
WHAT THE FINANCING IS GOING TO BE USED FOR, BECAUSE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN ROCHESTER DOES NEED A LOT OF INVESTMENT AND
THAT WAS CLEAR BEFORE THIS PROWJT.
I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT IT IN ANY DETAIL.
I HAVE A FEAR THAT WHAT IT DOES IS IT DOES OPEN UP A LOT OF
PRIVATE ENTITIES TO COME AND GET MORE FUNDING AND EVERYBODY
COMPARES IT TO A STADIUM. I CAN'T BE A HYPOCRITE BECAUSE I
DROPPED A BILL FOR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING IN EAGAN, AND I'M ALSO
SUPPORTIVE OF THE 3M PLAN THEY HAVE WHICH IS INNOVATIVE
FINANCING, ALSO. BECAUSE 3M IS MY ALMA MATER.
I'M CONCERNED THAT WE PICK AND CHOOSE, AND I DON'T LIKE TO PICK
WINNERS AND LOSERS, BUT ALSO, I THINK, THESE ARE VERY GOOD
INVESTMENTS, AND THEY ARE GOOD FOR THE STATE, AND THEY ARE GOOD
FOR JOBS, AND THEY ARE GOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION JOBS, BUT EACH OF
THESE, AND I WILL THROW IN THE MALL OF AMERICA, EACH OF THEM
HAS A TIME PERIOD WHERE THEY WILL STOP, AND WE HAVE TO BE
SURE THAT THEY ARE NEEDED AND THAT THEY WILL PAY BACK, AND I
THINK THE MAYO CLINIC IS ONE OF THEM THAT WILL PAY BACK, AND MY
TENDENCY IS TO SUPPORT IT. >> REPRESENTATIVE WARD?
>> WELL, I HAVE HEARD THE PROPOSAL AT THE CAPITAL
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE, AND YOU KNOW, I JUST
THINK THAT IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE A MAYO SATELLITE IN
MINNESOTA BRAINERD OR BAXTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE ARE STATE LEGISLATORS, AND WE
HAVE A DUTY TO OUR DISTRICTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A DUTY TO OUR
STATE CITIZENS, AND MAYO IS AN ASSET TO THE STATE THAT WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE, JUST LIKE THE MALL OF AMERICA OR ANY OTHER IF A
SILT IN THE ME METRODOME, THOSE KIND OF VENUES HELP ALL OF US
QUITE FRANKLY, AND SOMETIMES WE GET SO WRAPPED UP IN OUR DOAN ON
DISTRICTS WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE BIG PERSPECTIVE HERE, AND I
LISTENED CLOSELY TO THE MAYO PRESENTATION, AND THE CAPITAL
INVESTMENT, AND SENATOR, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT
THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ASKING FOR
SIGNIFICANT FINANCING, BUT THEY ALSO ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE
CAN GET SOME GUARANTEES, REVENUE SOURCES AND JOBS THAT WILL HELP
THE WHOLE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND WITH THAT IN MIND -- AND YOU ARE
RIGHT. IF IN FACT THEY DON'T -- WE
DON'T ALLOW THEM TO BECOME A GLOBAL DESTINATION CENTER, THEY
COULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND BECOME THAT GLOBAL DESTINATION
CENTER, AND THEY ARE BEING APPROACHED FOR THAT, AND SO I
JUST THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE ASSETS THAT
WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WHEREVER THEY ARE,
YOU KNOW, DO JUST THAT, BECOME MINNESOTA ASSETS.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WARD, YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.
THERE ARE GUARANTEES, AND IT'S NOT JUST A PROMISE; IT'S BASED
ON PAST PERFORMANCE, AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S JUST CAPTURING A
PORTION OF THE INCREMENT IN THE REVENUE GROWTH THAT HAS ALREADY
OCCURRED, AND THAT'S THE INNOVATIVE PART OF IT, AND IT'S
NOT A PROMISE GOING FORWARD, BUT IT'S THE MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN
GENERATED AND WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW A PORTION OF THAT TO BE
CAPTURED AND PUTTING IT BACK IN FOR MORE INVESTMENTS, FOR MORE
GROWTH. YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON. >> THE PROPOSAL IS AN INTRIGUING
PROPOSAL, A BRAND-NEW APPROACH, ONE WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE, AND
I HAVE TO SAY I'M STILL EVALUATING MYSELF, AND I'M A BIG
MAY OMAYO SUPPORTER. IT'S NOT SUPPORTED BY THE TAX
CHAIR. ALSO THE MAYO ISN'T JUST
ROCHESTER, AND IT'S A SYSTEM, NOT ONLY HERE IN MINNESOTA BUT
IN OTHER LOANGSES IN THE COUNTRY, AND SO FAR THEY HAVEN'T
TALKED MUCH ABOUT THE SYSTEM. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SYSTEM,
AND I HAVE A FACILITY IN SPRINGFIELD THAT'S GONE THROUGH
GROWING PANGS, AND IT'S NOT THE RIGHT TERM BUT PAIN, AND THEY
ARE GOT DOCTORS, AND SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED IN FAIRMONT,
AND MY HOMETOWN OF ST. JAMES IS A MAYO FACILITY.
MANKATO IS A BIG MAYO FACILITY. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
THIS PROPOSAL WORKING FOR THE WHOLE SYSTEM RATHER THAN
CONFINED TO ROCHESTER, BUT IT'S AN INTRIGUING PROPOSAL, AND ONE
THAT DESERVES OUR ATTENTION, AND I'M NOT SURE IT'S GOING TO MAKE
IT OUT OF THE STARTING BLOCKS THIS YEAR.
BUT IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME FOR IT TO COOK AND BECOME SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY EMBRACE. >> AND I WILL SAY AS YOU
MENTIONED THERE ARE OTHER SITES, AND I DON'T THINK MAYO IS GOING
TO ROLL UP AND GO TO JACKSONVILLE OR SCOTTSDALE BUT
THEY A A INVESTING AND CHOOSING WHERE THAT INVESTMENT GOES, AND
HEALTHCARE IS CHANGING SO RAPIDLY, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE
TIME TO WAIT. WE DO NOT HAVE TIME TO WAIT.
BUT YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT I BELIEVE IT WILL BE GOOD FOR THE
ENTIRE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, AND THE NEW METHOD, AND THE NEW
HEALTHCARE IS PUSHING TOWARDS THESE VERY HIGHLY SPECIALIZED
DESTINATION SITES AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE GREAT PRIMARY CARE
AVAILABLE FOR EVERY PERSON SO PEOPLE GET THE RIGHT CARE AT THE
RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND I'M HOPING WE CAN DO THAT.
>> I WANT TO KNOW HERE, IT'S NOT A QUESTION TO THE PANEL, AND WE
ARE NOT ASKING THE PANEL TO DEAL WITH MAYO'S PROVISION OF MEDICAL
SERVICES AND THEY WERE A PRIVATE ENTITY FROM THAT STANDPOINT.
BUT WE HAVE A VIEWER FROM SPRINGFIELD THAT DENOTES
UNHAPPINESS, AND THERE'S SOME CONTROVERSY THERE.
VIEWER FROM BEMIDJI WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE
TRANSMISSION LINE THAT IS TO COME FROM CANADA TO BELTRAMI IN
NORTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE DISCUSSED
BEFORE. ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
THAT. >> SOME PEOPLE GET THAT CONFUS
CONFUSED. I HAVE GOT TO SAY I KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT IT. >> COULD IT BE A KEYSTONE
PIPELINE? >> NO.
>> A VIEWER FROM ALEXANDRIA WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO
THE SCHOOL AID LUNCH BILL THAT WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE LAST WEEK
THAT DEALT WITH ALLOWING KIDS TO EAT NO MATTER WHAT?
ANYBODY KNOW BIG ABOUT THAT? >> I THINK YOU ARE ON THAT
COMMITTEE TOO, AREN'T YOU, SENATOR CARLSON?
>> I BELIEVE -- I THINK IT WENT ON TO EDUCATION FINANCE.
>> IT WAS IN OUR POTENTIAL OMNIBUS BILL BUT THE QUESTION ON
THAT WE HAVE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, AND FREE AND REDUCED
LUNCH, AND THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL SAYS IF YOU QUALIFY FOR
FREE AND REDUCED, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE FREE.
THERE WON'T BE REDUCED LUNCHES WHICH IS THE 40% FEE, AND THERE
WERE REPORTEDLY SOME DISTRICTS THAT WERE NOT ALLOWING STUDENTS
TO EAT IF THEY COULDN'T BRINGama OF THROWING FOOD.
I DID CHECK WITH THE DISTRICTS IN AND THEY PROVIDE A SACK
LUNCH, AND THERE WAS NO CHILD THAT WOULD BE HUNGRY BECAUSE
THEY COULDN'T BRING OR DIDN'T BRING 40 CENTS.
>> ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT ONE. >> VIEWER FROM NEW BRIGHT SON BK
ABOUT THE WOLVES. WE HAD A FAIRLY EXTENSIVE
DISCUSSION LAST WEEK, AND I WANT TO FINISH THAT DISCUSSION BY
NOTING THIS VIEWER IS CONCERNED ABOUT EFFORTS TO END THE WOLF
HUNT, AND DOESN'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD DO THAT AS I'M READING
THE QUESTION ANYWAY, AND THE SPECIFIC QUESTION IS WHY DOES
MINNESOTA CONSIDER WOLVES ENDANGERED WHEN CANADA HAS THEM
AT WILL. IN ANY EVENT, ANYBODY HAVE
PREDICTIONS ON WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE WOLF ISSUE?
SHOULD WE START WITH YOU TORKELSON?
>> SURE, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO. WE HAVE A HEALTHY WOLF
POPULATION HERE IN MINNESOTA. WE EXPECT THEM ANY TIME, AND
THAT WILL TELL US MORE ACCURATELY WHAT THE POPULATION
IS LIKE BUT WE HAVE THE LARGEST POPULATION OF WOLVES IN THE
LOWER 48 STATES, AND THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE QUOTA WAS FILLED
WITH THE WOLF HUNT INDICATES TO ME THERE'S A LOT OF WOLVES OUT
THERE OR THE HUNT WOULDN'T HAVE GONE THAT QUICKLY.
THEY ARE NOT EASY TO HUNT. THE TRUTH IS THEY ARE
CONTROLLING WOLVES IN THIS STATE FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE HAD
FEDERAL AND STATE SHARP SHOOTERS AND TRAPPERS IN THE STATE
CONTROLLING THE POPULATION FOR YEARS, AND TAKING HUNDREDS OF
WOLVES THAT ARE PROBLEM WOLVES IN THE STATE.
IT'S HEALTHY AND IT SHOULD BE MANAGED AS WE MANAGE ALL IN THE
STATE. TO ME IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO
HAVE PEOPLE THAT WARRANT TO DO IT FOR A SPORT FOR THE PRIVILEGE
OF BEING ABLE TO HARVEST A WOLF RATHER THAN TAKING MONEY OUT OF
OUR COFFERS TO DO THE SAME WORK. >> I ALSO SUPPORTED THE WOLF
HUNT AND TRAPPING SEASON AS WELL.
I READ RECENTLY -- MANY OF US KNOW WE HAVE A DECLINED MOOSE
POPULATION IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND THE DNR, YOU KNOW,
IS STUDYING THAT AND LOOKING AT THAT, AND IT HAS A MORATORIUM ON
THE MOOSE HUNT RIGHT NOW, AND I JUST READ RECENTLY OR SAW
RECENTLY THAT PERHAPS THE WOLF POPULATION HAS BEEN AN
INDICATOR, A FACTOR IN THE DECLINING MOOSE POPULATION, AND
IT MAKES SENSE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WINTERS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING,
AND I AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON THAT NOT ONLY -- I
THINK WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER IN THE STATE, AND YOU
KNOW, THEY ALSO -- THE WOLVES ALSO HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR
AGRICULTURE BUSINESS AS WELL, FARMS AND SO WHILE THEY HAVE HAD
THE STATE OUT TAKING CARE OF PROBLEM AND ELSEWHERE, THE
FARMERS THEMSELVES HAVE HAD TO TAKE SOME METHODS TO PROTECT
THEIR LIVESTOCK AS WELL. I'M NOT FOR THE EXTENDED
MORATORIUM, AND WE HAVE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, AND WE HAD A
MORATORIUM ON IT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, AND I THINK
WHAT WE DID WAS APPROPRIATE. >> I AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE
WARD AND TORKELSON. I THINK IT'S PREMATURE, I THINK,
TO BE LOOKING AT A MORATORIUM WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA BACK
YET FROM THE FIRST WOLF HUNT. CERTAINLY PREMATURE AND PROBABLY
NOT EVEN NECESSARY. >> AND SENATOR CARLSON, ANY
THOUGHTS ON THAT? >> YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF WOLF
HUNTING RIGHT NOW. >> AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
HEARD, THOUGH, IS THAT WOLVES AND COYOTES ARE NOT COMPATIBLE
AND WHEREVER YOU SEE ONE, YOU DON'T SEE THE OTHER, AND WE HAVE
A LOT OF COYOTES AND I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE
WOLF POPULATION, AND THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION THAT SURROUNDS IT
TOO AND THERE'S MAINLY EMOTION ABOUT WOLVES AND WILDLIFE AND I
THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DATA BEFORE THEY MAKE A
DECISION ON IT. >> GREG, GOOD.
CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC THAT WE DISCUSSED OFF AND ON SINCE WE
RECONVENED OUR PROGRAM IN JANUARY IS THE SUBJECT OF FRACK
MINING, AND SO AS IT RELATES TO MINNESOTA, THE SILL SILICONE
SAND MINING, AND A VIEWER IN BRIGHTON IS CONCERNED ABOUT ALL
THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE PUT INTO THE GROUND DURING THE SAND
MINING PROCESS, AND VIEWER FROM MONTROSE WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE
SAND IS NECESSARY, AND OTHER VIEWERS VIEW THIS AS PRIVATE
SECTOR JOBS, PROGRAM AND IMPORTANT FOR THOSE REASONS AND
THINK THERE'S RELATIVELY LITTLE CONTROVERSY, AND THE DISCUSSION
ABOUT MORATORIUMS WHO WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THAT ISSUE AND SEE
WHERE IT IS TODAY. >> WE HAVE GREAT VIEWS.
>> WELL INFORMED ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY.
>> I THINK THE ISSUE IS WE NEED TO -- AGAIN, WE ARE BACK TO DATA
AND FACTS, AND I'M GLAD THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE BILLS IS
LOOKING AT HAVING THE STATE PROVIDE TO THE TOWNSHIPS, AND
THEY NEED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS AND THE ZONING DECISIONS OR
PERMIT DECISIONS AND HAVING THE STATE EITHER THROUGH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BOARD OR THE HOUSE BILL MIGHT HAVE A
DIFFERENT BOARD IN MIND, PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE
SAFETY ISSUE, AIR QUALITY,, THE ROADS, AND I THINK THAT'S THE
EASIEST ONE TO FIX THROUGH A USAGE TAX OR SILL SILICA SAND
TAX. WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS, AND HOW
CAN WE DO IT SAFELY, AND THERE IS A REAL ECONOMIC ARGUMENT
HERE, AND I WANT TO KNOW CAN THIS BE DONE SAFELY, AND I'M
HOPEFUL, THOUGH, AS WE GET THAT INFORMATION FROM THE EQB OR
WHICHEVER BOARD HOW CAN FRAC SANDING HELP THE ENVIRONMENT OR
BE DONE SAFELY, THEN OF COURSE, I REALLY WOULD WANT THE LOCAL
UNITS OF GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DECISION, AND I'M
VERY FEARFUL OF THE STATE MAKING A UNILATERAL DECISION ABOUT
FRACK MINING FOR THE ENTIRE STATE, AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT
MY PART OF THE STATE, SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN
THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE, AND CERTAINLY THERE'S SOME AIR,
WATER, AND WE CERTAINLY NEED ALL OF THOSE SAFETY ISSUES BEING
TAKEN CARE OF, BUT WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE STATEWIDE EIS MAY NOT
FIGHT FOR SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA, AND I WAS IN NORTH DAKOTA WITH A
LEGISLATOR TELLING US ABOUT THE GREAT GROWTH IN NORTH DAKOTA,
AND THE FRACKING THERE AND I REMEMBER THINKING I WISH THERE
WERE THAT KIND OF A RESOURCE IN MINNESOTA, AND OF COURSE THE
SILICA SAND CAME UP. I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN FIND A WAY,
AND I THINK WE CAN, TO CAPTURE AND HARNESSTHE RESOURCE AND DO
IT IN SAFE WAY AND CAPTURE THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
SILICA SAND, BECAUSE IT'S SO EXPENSIVE, AND THAT'S WHAT IS
USED TO FRACK OPEN THE SHALE DEPOSITS, THE PUBLIC RESEARCH IS
ALREADY LOOKING AT ARTIFICIAL PROPELANTS, AND WE HAVE A WINDOW
OF TIME HERE WHERE THE SILICA SAND IS VERY VALUABLE, AND I
HOPE WE GET OUR SCIENCE UP TO SPEED TO FIGURE OUT THE SAFETY
ISSUES AND HOW TO PROCEED. >> SENATOR CARLSON.
>> FRAC SAND MINING DOES NOT USE CHEMICALS, AND THAT'S PRIMARILY
A MATTER OF MINING THE SAND AND CLASSIFYING THE SIZE, AND
ACTUALLY THAT SAME SAND IS USED FOR GLASS, TOO, AND WE HAVE TWOi
GLASS PLANTS THAT ARE USING A LOT OF THE MINE SAND.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, PROBABLY THE LARGEST DANGER FROM FRACK
MINING IS THE AIR QUALITY AROUND THE MINE, AND THERE'S -- JUST
LIKE ANY INDUSTRY THERE ARE RESPONSIBLE MINERS AND BUSINESS
OWNERS AND THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE VISIT THE REGULATIONS
BECAUSE THE DUST THAT COMES OFF THE MINING OPERATIONS IS VERY
SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE WHEN YOU INHALE THE SAND.
IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE USE OF FRACKING TO EITHER.
>> THAT'S WHERE THE CHEMICALS COME IN.
>> THAT'S WHERE THE CHEMICALS COME IN.
IT'S USED FOR OIL AND NATURAL GAS.
THERE'S A LOT OF THE WATER AND CHEMICALS USED FOR NATURAL GAS
THAT THE USER OF THE BUSINESSES THAT USE IT HAVE BEEN EXEMPTED
FROM REPORTING WHAT THOSE CHEMICALS ARE, AND THERE'S A LOT
THAT ARE PROPRIETARY, AND THERE'S NO RESPONSIBILITY OR
ACCOUNTABILITY THAT'S BEING GENERATED THERE FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE USING THIS. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WATER
CONTAMINATION, AND WATER LEVEL CONTAMINATION, AND QUACK FERS AT
HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE PUT IT AS
OUR PRIORITY TO SOLVE IT. THIS HAS BEEN USED FOR MANY
YEARS, AND IT'S NOW GENERATED, AND I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY 7 OR
8 YEARS AGO WHERE IT GENERATED AN ENTIRELY NEW ESTIMATE OF THE
AMOUNT OF NATURAL GAS THAT'S AVAILABLE.
>> WE ARE TALKING HUNDREDS OF YEARS ACTUALLY.
IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WARD? >> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S MUCH
MORE TO SAY ON THIS. THE TWO SENATORS PRETTY MUCH
SAID IT ALL. SENATOR NELSON, YOU SAID ONE
PART OF THE STATE IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN ANOTHER PART OF
THE STATE. YOU ARE CORRECT.
I MEAN, WE DO DIFFERENT MINING IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND
DIFFERENT THAN IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, AND THE BOTTOM LINE
IS WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCE, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCE
THAT PROTECTS OUR ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE BLESSED WITH ONE OF THE
MOST BEAUTIFUL AND NATURAL STATES IN THE NATION, AND WE
HAVE GOT TO PROTECT THAT ENVIRONMENT WHILE WE ALSO MOVE
FORWARD WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MINING OR
WHATEVER IT IS. SO I JUST THINK WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE A BALANCED APPROACH THAT WE ALSO HAVE THE REGULATORY
MEASURES, AND I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE FABIAN LAST YEAR
WORKED ON STREAMLINING REGULATIONS, ALONG WITH THE
GOVERNOR, AND PERMITTING AND THINGS AND SUCH, AND WE HAVE TO
MAKE SURE WE NEED TO HAVE THE REGULATORY MEASURES IN PLACE BUT
A BALANCED APPROACH. >> I WOULD LIKE TO REEMPHASIZE
THEY ARE NOT PART OF SAND MINING HERE IN MINNESOTA BUT PART OF
FRACKING HAPPENING IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND OTHER PLACES IN THIS
COUNTRY, AND THIS SAND IS A VALUABLE ASSET, AND WE HAVE BEEN
MINING IT FOR DECADES AND USING IT FOR A VARIETY OF THINGS.
THE FRACK USE IS A NEW USE AND IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN EXPORT
FROM THIS STATE AND EXPORT PROFITABLY, AND I THINK THE REAL
ISSUE IS INFRASTRUCTURE. WE DON'T HAVE THE ADEQUATE IN IE
IINFRASTRUCTURE. I'M A FARMER, AND I KNOW WHAT
GOOD SOIL IS LIKE, AND I KNOW WHAT SAND IS LIKE.
IF I COULD SELL MY SAND, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
ADD ON TO THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE OR SAVING
SOME OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, FRAC SAND IS IN A LOT OF PLACES AND
IT'S YOU SAID THE FORD PLANT AND ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, AND
THE AREA OF THE FORD PLANT IS LITTERED WITH TUNNELS UNDERNEATH
IT, BECAUSE THE FORD PLANT WAS THE ORIGINAL LOCATION FOR FORD
WINDOWS. THEY MADE THE GLASS FOR ALL FORD
CARS AT ONE TIME AND MINED AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF SAND IN
THAT AREA, AND THAT'S CLASS SAND.
>> INTERESTING. >> DOES THE MORATORIUM PASS?
A MORATORIUM ON FRAC SAND OR TAKING OUT SAND?
>> IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN KICKING AROUND HERE
THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. >> I HAVE NOT SEEN THE
MORATORIUM DESCRIBED. I CANNOT SUPPORT IT.
>> I WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE MORATORIUM EITHER, BUT I DO KNOW
ON ONE OF THE COMMITTEES LAST WEEK, THE BILL PASSED ONE OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEES THAT HAD A FIVE-YEAR MOR MORATORIUM, AND TE
ARE SEVERAL SILICA SAND BILLS IN THE SENATE.
I'M HOPING THE ONE THAT'S BASED ON RESEARCH IS THE ONE THAT'S
GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. >> HE HAS SEVERAL BILLS, SEVERAL
OF THE SILICA SAND BILLS. >> AND A VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW
WHAT ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA? >> THIS VIEWER THINKS IT'S A
GOOD IDEA AND FARMERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO GROW HEMP?
REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON. >> I'M NOT A FAN OF MEDICAL
MARIJUANA. IF WE DID UTILIZE IT HERE IN THE
STATE, IT SHOULD BE HANDLED LIKE ANY PRESCRIPTION DRUG, TIGHTLY
CONTROLLED AND PRESCRIBED BY DOCTORS, AND I DON'T THINK WE
ARE GOING TO GO THERE. THE HEMP SUE IS A DIFFERENT
ISSUE. IT'S A PLANT THAT YOU CAN GROW
AND IT HAS MANY INDUSTRIAL USES, AND THE CANADIANS HAD A
RECEPTION JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND I HAPPENED TO TALK TO
ONE OF THE CANADIAN MINISTERS AND THEY ARE DOING VERY WELL.
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAS A BILL TO ALLOW HEMP TO BE GROWN HERE
IN THE STATE. I'M A COAUTHOR OF THAT BILL.
>> YOU ARE A COAUTHOR. >> AND THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN
MEDICAL MARIJUANA. >> DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT.
BUT WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL CROPS WE CAN GROW IN
MINNESOTA. I THINK WE CAN DO IT, BUT IT'S
UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN. >> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON MEDICAL
MARIJUANA? >> I HAVE A FRIEND LEFT WHO IS
ALIVE TODAY BECAUSE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
ONE OF THE USES OF IT IS TO PREVENT THE GAG REFLEX, AND IF
WE HAVE A PILL THAT PREVENTS GAG REFLEX YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
GET IT DOWN. IN HIS CASE, HE WENT THROUGH AN
EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT WHERE HE WAS UNDER CHEMOTHERAPY EVERY
SINGLE DAY, AND THE ONLY WAY HE COULD EAT ANYTHING WAS TO HAVE
MARIJUANA, AND IT WAS PRESCRIBED AND DONE THROUGH OVERSIGHT.
HE WILL TELL YOU HE'S ALIVE TODAY BECAUSE OF IT, AND HE'S
CANCER FREE NOW. >> WELL, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO
BE OUR CONCLUDING WORD, AND I WANT TO THANK OUR PANEL FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION, AND THANK OUR VIEWERS FOR SENDING IN MANY
GREAT QUESTIONS, AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU NEXT WEEK WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE MYRON FRANS, THE COMMISSIONERS OF REVENUE, AND
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS IN BEFORE NEXT THURSDAY SO WE CAN MAKE
SURE WE HAVE THEM AND HAVE A USEFUL DIALOGUE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU. GOOD NIGHT.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. >> THANK YOU.
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