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>>> YOUR LEGISLATORS IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS
POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF MEEP
FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF MEEP MEMBERS.
MEMBERS. WE WORK HARD FOR MINNESOTANS.
>>> LIVE FROM ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, WE WELCOME YOU TO
MINNESOTA, WE WELCOME YOU TO ANOTHER SEASON OF YOUR
ANOTHER SEASON OF YOUR LEGISLATORS, A ROUNDTABLE
LEGISLATORS, A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION FEATURING STATE
DISCUSSION FEATURING STATE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE PREPARED TO
LAWMAKERS WHO ARE PREPARED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSS IMPORTANT ISSUES
DISCUSS IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA.
NOW HERE'S YOUR MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, BARRY
TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, BARRY ANDERSON.
ANDERSON. >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO
>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF YOUR
THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF YOUR LEGISLATORS.
LEGISLATORS. WE'RE DELIGHTED THAT YOU HAVE
WE'RE DELIGHTED THAT YOU HAVE RETURNED WITH US THIS WEEK AS WE
RETURNED WITH US THIS WEEK AS WE CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL -- I
CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL -- I SHOULDN'T SAY CELEBRATE THE
SHOULDN'T SAY CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING, BUT CELEBRATE
ARRIVAL OF SPRING, BUT CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF 40 DEGREES.
THE ARRIVAL OF 40 DEGREES. IN MINNESOTA, THAT'S A AN
IN MINNESOTA, THAT'S A AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE'RE DELIGHTED YOU'VE JOINED
WE'RE DELIGHTED YOU'VE JOINED US.
US. WE HAVE A DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF
WE HAVE A DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS THIS EVENING.
GUESTS THIS EVENING. THIS WEEK WE'RE HEAVY ON
THIS WEEK WE'RE HEAVY ON VETERANS AND WILL GET TO
VETERANS AND WILL GET TO INTRODUCTIONS IN JUST A MOMENT.
INTRODUCTIONS IN JUST A MOMENT. I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS
I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS YOUR PROGRAM.
IS YOUR PROGRAM. WE WANT YOU TO CALL IN YOUR
WE WANT YOU TO CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS. THEY WILL BE SENT TO US, AS I
THEY WILL BE SENT TO US, AS I SAID IN OUR FIRST PROGRAM THIS
SAID IN OUR FIRST PROGRAM THIS YEAR, VIA FAX AND OTHER FANCY
YEAR, VIA FAX AND OTHER FANCY TECHNOLOGIES, AND WE'LL SEE THAT
TECHNOLOGIES, AND WE'LL SEE THAT THEY GET TO THE PANEL.
THEY GET TO THE PANEL. YOU CAN ALSO COMMUNICATE WITH US
YOU CAN ALSO COMMUNICATE WITH US VIA FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, AND
VIA FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AS
WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AS THE PROGRAM UNFOLDS.
THE PROGRAM UNFOLDS. SO LET'S BEGIN THIS EVENING AS
SO LET'S BEGIN THIS EVENING AS WE DO EACH WEEK WITH
WE DO EACH WEEK WITH INTRODUCTION OF OUR
INTRODUCTION OF OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL.
DISTINGUISHED PANEL. TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT, I THINK
TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO CALL REPRESENTATIVE
IT'S FAIR TO CALL REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON IS VETERAN LEGISLATOR.
CARLSON IS VETERAN LEGISLATOR. YOU'VE BEEN AROUND A YEAR OR
YOU'VE BEEN AROUND A YEAR OR TWO.
TWO. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
YOURSELF. >> WELL, MY NAME IS LYNDON
>> WELL, MY NAME IS LYNDON CARLSON, AS YOU POINT OUT, AND I
CARLSON, AS YOU POINT OUT, AND I REPRESENT HALF THE CITY OF
REPRESENT HALF THE CITY OF CRYSTAL, THE VAST MAJORITY OF
CRYSTAL, THE VAST MAJORITY OF NEW HOPE AND PART OF PLYMOUTH.
NEW HOPE AND PART OF PLYMOUTH. I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CHAIR A
I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CHAIR A COMMITTEE, AND I HAPPEN TO CHAIR
COMMITTEE, AND I HAPPEN TO CHAIR THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS
THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE. I'M OO RETIRED TEACHER.
I'M OO RETIRED TEACHER. >> RETIRED SOCIAL STUDIES, AS I
>> RETIRED SOCIAL STUDIES, AS I RECALL.
RECALL. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
>> WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CIVICS IN THE PAST, AND MAYBE
CIVICS IN THE PAST, AND MAYBE HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THAT AGAIN.
HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THAT AGAIN. >> ANOTHER VETERAN LEGISLATOR
>> ANOTHER VETERAN LEGISLATOR JOINING US WHO HAS NOT BEEN WITH
JOINING US WHO HAS NOT BEEN WITH US MUCH THE LAST FEW YEARS.
US MUCH THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE'RE THRILLED HE'S RETURNED TO
WE'RE THRILLED HE'S RETURNED TO OUR SET THIS EVENING, DISTRICT
OUR SET THIS EVENING, DISTRICT 64 ST. PAUL SENATOR RICHARD
64 ST. PAUL SENATOR RICHARD COHEN.
COHEN. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
YOURSELF. >> AS YOU MENTIONED, I PRACTICE
>> AS YOU MENTIONED, I PRACTICE LAW OUTSIDE OF LEGISLATURE, WAS
LAW OUTSIDE OF LEGISLATURE, WAS ELECTED JUST WHEN I FINISHED
ELECTED JUST WHEN I FINISHED SCHOOL.
SCHOOL. SO I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A
SO I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE.
WHILE. I REPRESENT, AS YOU MENTIONED,
I REPRESENT, AS YOU MENTIONED, 64 IN ST. PAUL, WHICH IS
64 IN ST. PAUL, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE WESTERN SIDE OF
BASICALLY THE WESTERN SIDE OF ST. PAUL.
ST. PAUL. >> ALSO JOINING US FROM DISTRICT
>> ALSO JOINING US FROM DISTRICT 22 IN LUVERNE, SENATOR BILL
22 IN LUVERNE, SENATOR BILL WEBER.
WEBER. I THINK, SENATOR WEBER, YOU'RE
I THINK, SENATOR WEBER, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT OUR ROOKIE, BUT
PROBABLY NOT OUR ROOKIE, BUT PROBABLY OUR LEAST VETERAN
PROBABLY OUR LEAST VETERAN LEGISLATOR THIS EVENING, RIGHT?
LEGISLATOR THIS EVENING, RIGHT? >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE CORRECT.
CORRECT. >> TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
>> TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. >> I WAS ELECTED IN 2012.
>> I WAS ELECTED IN 2012. I'M FROM LUVERNE, MINNESOTA.
I'M FROM LUVERNE, MINNESOTA. MY DISTRICT INCLUDES ALL OR
MY DISTRICT INCLUDES ALL OR PARTS OF 9 COUNTIES.
PARTS OF 9 COUNTIES. I HAVE 72 MILES OF BORDER WITH
I HAVE 72 MILES OF BORDER WITH SOUTH CAROLINA AND 60 SOME MILES
SOUTH CAROLINA AND 60 SOME MILES OF BORDER WITH IOWA.
OF BORDER WITH IOWA. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE A VERY
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE A VERY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT. I'M IN MY SECOND YEAR HERE,
I'M IN MY SECOND YEAR HERE, OBVIOUSLY.
OBVIOUSLY. IT'S BEEN A BUSY COUPLE YEARS.
IT'S BEEN A BUSY COUPLE YEARS. I HAVE -- FROM 2012 TO NOW, BOTH
I HAVE -- FROM 2012 TO NOW, BOTH MY CHILDREN GOT MARRIED, GOT
MY CHILDREN GOT MARRIED, GOT ELECTED TO THE SENATE AND BECAME
ELECTED TO THE SENATE AND BECAME A GRANDPA.
A GRANDPA. >> THESE THINGS ARE ALL
>> THESE THINGS ARE ALL IMPORTANT, AND MAYBE MORE
IMPORTANT, AND MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT THAN SOME OF THE
IMPORTANT THAN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE TRAN SPIERG AT -
THINGS THAT ARE TRAN SPIERG AT - TRANSPIRING IT IS CAPITAL.
TRANSPIRING IT IS CAPITAL. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LUVERNE WHEN WE BEGAN.
LUVERNE WHEN WE BEGAN. VERY FOND OF AND VERY IMPORTANT
VERY FOND OF AND VERY IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE, MARLIN, MY
PART OF MY LIFE, MARLIN, MY COACH.
COACH. FINALLY SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN
FINALLY SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN WITH US MANY TIMES OVER THE
WITH US MANY TIMES OVER THE YEAR, DISTRICT 8 A OF FERGUS
YEAR, DISTRICT 8 A OF FERGUS FALLS, REPRESENTATIVE BUD
FALLS, REPRESENTATIVE BUD NORNES.
NORNES. >> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE. I REPRESENT JUST HALF OF ONE
I REPRESENT JUST HALF OF ONE COUNTY, AND I FEEL PRETTY
COUNTY, AND I FEEL PRETTY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF
FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF DISTRICT.
DISTRICT. IT'S OTTER TAIL COUNTY AND IT
IT'S OTTER TAIL COUNTY AND IT STRETCHES FROM FERGUS FALLS TO
STRETCHES FROM FERGUS FALLS TO THE WEST TO PERHAM TO THE EAST.
THE WEST TO PERHAM TO THE EAST. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LAKES A LOT
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LAKES A LOT OF FARMS, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING
OF FARMS, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING UP THERE.
UP THERE. JUST A GREAT AREA TO REPRESENT,
JUST A GREAT AREA TO REPRESENT, IN MY OPINION.
IN MY OPINION. >> SENATOR COHEN, LET'S START
>> SENATOR COHEN, LET'S START WITH YOU.
WITH YOU. YOU AND I WERE VISITING A LITTLE
YOU AND I WERE VISITING A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THE PROGRAM STARTED
BIT BEFORE THE PROGRAM STARTED ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT DOESN'T GET
ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT DOESN'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION.
A LOT OF ATTENTION. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT THE MEDIA COVERS CLOSELY,
THAT THE MEDIA COVERS CLOSELY, BUT IT CAN BE PRETTY IMPORTANT,
BUT IT CAN BE PRETTY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY TO THE CURRENT
NOT ONLY TO THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE BUT MAYBE MORE
LEGISLATURE BUT MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT TO FUTURE
IMPORTANT TO FUTURE LEGISLATURES.
LEGISLATURES. THAT'S THE QUESTION OF THE
THAT'S THE QUESTION OF THE RESERVE FUND AND HOW THAT WORKS
RESERVE FUND AND HOW THAT WORKS AND WHAT WE MIGHT BE DOING TO IT
AND WHAT WE MIGHT BE DOING TO IT THIS SESSION.
THIS SESSION. YOU HAVE A BILL.
YOU HAVE A BILL. YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT.
YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT. TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT
TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
ABOUT THAT. >> A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND IN
>> A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND IN FACT, LYNN COULD SPEAK TO THIS
FACT, LYNN COULD SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL.
AS WELL. I CHAIR THE SENATE FINANCE
I CHAIR THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, SO I'M LYNN'S
COMMITTEE, SO I'M LYNN'S COUNTERPART IN THE SENATE.
COUNTERPART IN THE SENATE. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THESE UPS AND
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THESE UPS AND DOWNS NOW FOR THE LAST YEARS.
DOWNS NOW FOR THE LAST YEARS. THE HIGH SURPLUSES IN THE LATE
THE HIGH SURPLUSES IN THE LATE 90s INTO THE FIRST PART OF THE
90s INTO THE FIRST PART OF THE DECADE AND OBVIOUSLY THE
DECADE AND OBVIOUSLY THE DEFICITS THE LAST TEN YEARS.
DEFICITS THE LAST TEN YEARS. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME FISCAL
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME FISCAL STABILITY IN THE STATE AND NOT
STABILITY IN THE STATE AND NOT HAVE THE YO-YO EFFECT THAT THESE
HAVE THE YO-YO EFFECT THAT THESE BUDGETS HAVE HAD, YOU NEED TO
BUDGETS HAVE HAD, YOU NEED TO BUILD UP A RESERVE TO PROTECT
BUILD UP A RESERVE TO PROTECT AGAINST DIFFICULT TIMES.
AGAINST DIFFICULT TIMES. ANY BUSINESS WILL HAVE SOME TYPE
ANY BUSINESS WILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF RESERVE.
OF RESERVE. FAMILIES WILL HAVE A RESERVE,
FAMILIES WILL HAVE A RESERVE, AND OBVIOUSLY A GOVERNMENT NEEDS
AND OBVIOUSLY A GOVERNMENT NEEDS A RESERVE.
A RESERVE. THE FIGURE THAT WE HAVE FOR THE
THE FIGURE THAT WE HAVE FOR THE RESERVE NOW IN STATUTE, THE
RESERVE NOW IN STATUTE, THE 653 MILLION, WAS ESTABLISHED IN
653 MILLION, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2001, HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED,
2001, HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED, ALTHOUGH THE BUDGET HAS GONE UP
ALTHOUGH THE BUDGET HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THEN.
SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THEN. ANY ECONOMIST IN THE STATE WILL
ANY ECONOMIST IN THE STATE WILL TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE THINGS
TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MOST PROTECT THE
YOU CAN DO TO MOST PROTECT THE FISCAL STABILITY OF MINNESOTA IS
FISCAL STABILITY OF MINNESOTA IS TO PROVIDE A SOLID RESERVE.
TO PROVIDE A SOLID RESERVE. TODAY IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE,
TODAY IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHEN WE HEARD THE BILL, NOT
WHEN WE HEARD THE BILL, NOT MYSELF, BUT THE CHAIR OF THE TAX
MYSELF, BUT THE CHAIR OF THE TAX COMMITTEE, WHERE HISTORICALLY
COMMITTEE, WHERE HISTORICALLY THE RESERVE ACCOUNT HAS BEEN,
THE RESERVE ACCOUNT HAS BEEN, HIS BILL WE PASSED OUT OF THE
HIS BILL WE PASSED OUT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO TAX
FINANCE COMMITTEE TO TAX COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE. NOT ONLY THE COMMISSIONER OF
NOT ONLY THE COMMISSIONER OF MANAGE AND BUDGET BUT TOM
MANAGE AND BUDGET BUT TOM STINSON, WHO JUST RETIRED AS THE
STINSON, WHO JUST RETIRED AS THE STATE STATE'S CHIEF ECONOMIST,
STATE STATE'S CHIEF ECONOMIST, PROBABLY THE MOST VALUABLE
PROBABLY THE MOST VALUABLE PERSON.
PERSON. HE TESTIFIED ABOUT ALMOST THE
HE TESTIFIED ABOUT ALMOST THE MANDATORY NEEDS.
MANDATORY NEEDS. I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'LL TAKE
I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'LL TAKE THE NUMBER AND GO THROUGH THE
THE NUMBER AND GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY THE GOVERNOR AND AGAIN PROVIDE THAT
GOVERNOR AND AGAIN PROVIDE THAT MUCH MORE STABILITY SO WE CAN
MUCH MORE STABILITY SO WE CAN START TO BUILD BACK OUR BOND
START TO BUILD BACK OUR BOND RATING AND AGAIN NOT HAVE THIS
RATING AND AGAIN NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF UP AND DOWN EFFECT WE'VE
KIND OF UP AND DOWN EFFECT WE'VE HAD WITH THE STATE BUDGET OVER
HAD WITH THE STATE BUDGET OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. >> I WOULD AGREE THAT RESERVE IS
>> I WOULD AGREE THAT RESERVE IS HEALTHY.
HEALTHY. THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD ADD
THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD ADD TO WHAT SENATOR COHEN WAS SAYING
TO WHAT SENATOR COHEN WAS SAYING IS THAT WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH
IS THAT WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE
TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FILLING OF THE CASH FULL
FILLING OF THE CASH FULL ACCOUNT, AS WELL.
ACCOUNT, AS WELL. SO WE HAVE BOTH THE FORMAL
SO WE HAVE BOTH THE FORMAL RESERVE AND CASH FLOW ACCOUNT.
RESERVE AND CASH FLOW ACCOUNT. SO TOGETHER THEY'RE AT ABOUT A
SO TOGETHER THEY'RE AT ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS.
BILLION DOLLARS. NOW, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG
NOW, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG NUMBER, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
NUMBER, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE STATE BUDGET AND THE
SIZE OF THE STATE BUDGET AND THE FLUCTUATION THAT CAN SOMETIMES
FLUCTUATION THAT CAN SOMETIMES TAKE PLACE, PROBABLY BETTER TO
TAKE PLACE, PROBABLY BETTER TO HAVE A LARGER RESERVE THAN WHAT
HAVE A LARGER RESERVE THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE. I WAS AT A CONFERENCE A SHORT
I WAS AT A CONFERENCE A SHORT TIME AGO, AND THE PUGH
TIME AGO, AND THE PUGH FOUNDATION HAD STUDIED THE
FOUNDATION HAD STUDIED THE RESERVES IN VARIOUS STATES, AND
RESERVES IN VARIOUS STATES, AND QUITE FRANKLY, MINNESOTA WAS A
QUITE FRANKLY, MINNESOTA WAS A BIT ON THE LOW SIDE IN TERMS OF
BIT ON THE LOW SIDE IN TERMS OF SIZE OF OUR BUDGET AND HOW MUCH
SIZE OF OUR BUDGET AND HOW MUCH IS IN THE RESERVE.
IS IN THE RESERVE. >> ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS ONE?
>> ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS ONE? >> ONLY THAT I WOULD AGREE THAT
>> ONLY THAT I WOULD AGREE THAT WE DO NEED A RESERVE, AND IT HAS
WE DO NEED A RESERVE, AND IT HAS BEEN WHERE WE'VE GONE TO FIND
BEEN WHERE WE'VE GONE TO FIND SOME EXTRA MONEY IN AN
SOME EXTRA MONEY IN AN EMERGENCY, AND I THINK THAT'S
EMERGENCY, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR.
WHAT IT'S FOR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAGIC
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAGIC NUMBER IS AS FAR AS HOW MUCH
NUMBER IS AS FAR AS HOW MUCH NEEDS TO BE IN THERE.
NEEDS TO BE IN THERE. IT'S HARD TO PROJECT EVEN WITH
IT'S HARD TO PROJECT EVEN WITH THE CURRENT SURPLUS PROJECTION,
THE CURRENT SURPLUS PROJECTION, HOW ACCURATE THAT'S GOING TO BE.
HOW ACCURATE THAT'S GOING TO BE. YOU KNOW, I GUESS I SUPPORT
YOU KNOW, I GUESS I SUPPORT HAVING AS MUCH IN THERE AS
HAVING AS MUCH IN THERE AS POSSIBLE, BUT HAVING A
POSSIBLE, BUT HAVING A REASONABLE AMOUNT SO THAT -- A
REASONABLE AMOUNT SO THAT -- A BILLION DOLLARS IN RESERVE MAY
BILLION DOLLARS IN RESERVE MAY BE TOO MUCH.
BE TOO MUCH. I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW. BUT YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN I
BUT YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN I IN THAT POSITION THAT YOU HAVE
IN THAT POSITION THAT YOU HAVE PERHAPS.
PERHAPS. >> SENATOR WEBER.
>> SENATOR WEBER. >> WELL, THANK YOU.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. I THINK -- I DON'T THINK THERE'S
I THINK -- I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION THAT THERE NEEDS TO
ANY QUESTION THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESERVE.
BE A RESERVE. CERTAINLY AS WE LOOK AT THE
CERTAINLY AS WE LOOK AT THE SURPLUS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT
SURPLUS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT SURPLUSES COME AND SURPLUSES GO,
SURPLUSES COME AND SURPLUSES GO, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE NEED
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE NEED THAT RESERVE.
THAT RESERVE. I THINK ALSO, HOWEVER, WE NEED
I THINK ALSO, HOWEVER, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAS
TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAS CREATED THAT SURPLUS, AND I
CREATED THAT SURPLUS, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, SO FAR, YOU
THINK, YOU KNOW, SO FAR, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE HAS PASSED
KNOW, THE HOUSE HAS PASSED REPEAL OF THE BUSINESS TO
REPEAL OF THE BUSINESS TO BUSINESS TAXES THAT HAVE BEEN
BUSINESS TAXES THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT.
TALKED ABOUT. SO FAR, THAT HASN'T BEEN
SO FAR, THAT HASN'T BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN THE SENATE, AND
ACCOMPLISHED IN THE SENATE, AND YET WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT
YET WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, CAME FROM THE
MONEY, YOU KNOW, CAME FROM THE PEOPLE, AND I THINK WHERE WE CAN
PEOPLE, AND I THINK WHERE WE CAN REPEAL THE NECESSARY TAX, I
REPEAL THE NECESSARY TAX, I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT.
THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT. THE OTHER THING I THINK WE NEED
THE OTHER THING I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL OF IS THERE ARE
TO BE CAREFUL OF IS THERE ARE MANY BILLS BEING INTRODUCED THAT
MANY BILLS BEING INTRODUCED THAT ALSO INITIATE NEW PROGRAMS THAT
ALSO INITIATE NEW PROGRAMS THAT WISH TO SPEND SOME OF THE
WISH TO SPEND SOME OF THE SURPLUS MONEY.
SURPLUS MONEY. I THINK THAT'S A DANGEROUS PATH
I THINK THAT'S A DANGEROUS PATH TO GO DOWN, TO INITIATE PROGRAMS
TO GO DOWN, TO INITIATE PROGRAMS THAT ARE FINANCED BY WHAT REALLY
THAT ARE FINANCED BY WHAT REALLY ARE ONE-TIME MONIES AT THIS
ARE ONE-TIME MONIES AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
POINT IN TIME. AND THEREFORE, WE NEED TO LOOK
AND THEREFORE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT
AT AT THE RESERVE, SOME OF OUR
AT THE RESERVE, SOME OF OUR CAPITAL NEEDS WITH INFUSION OF
CAPITAL NEEDS WITH INFUSION OF ONE-TIME MONEY.
ONE-TIME MONEY. >> IF I MAY, ON THE QUESTION OF
>> IF I MAY, ON THE QUESTION OF CASH FLOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK
CASH FLOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH
IT'S IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE CASH FLOW ACCOUNT
BETWEEN THE CASH FLOW ACCOUNT AND THE RESERVES.
AND THE RESERVES. IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ADEQUATE
IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ADEQUATE CASH FLOW ACCOUNT, YOU MIGHT
CASH FLOW ACCOUNT, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO END UP WITH SHORT-TERM
HAVE TO END UP WITH SHORT-TERM BORROWING AND DIFFERENT THINGS
BORROWING AND DIFFERENT THINGS TO PAY THE STATE'S BILLS.
TO PAY THE STATE'S BILLS. REVENUE DOESN'T COME IN EVENLY,
REVENUE DOESN'T COME IN EVENLY, YOU KNOW.
YOU KNOW. WE'LL GET AN INFLUX IN APRIL.
WE'LL GET AN INFLUX IN APRIL. >> FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
>> FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. >> AND SO THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF
>> AND SO THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE CASH FLOW ACCOUNT.
THE CASH FLOW ACCOUNT. I VIEW THE RESERVES AS A LITTLE
I VIEW THE RESERVES AS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT. SO WHEN I USED THE NUMBER OF A
SO WHEN I USED THE NUMBER OF A BILLION, THAT WAS COMBINING THE
BILLION, THAT WAS COMBINING THE TWO, BUT THEY DO HAVE DIFFERENT
TWO, BUT THEY DO HAVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES.
PURPOSES. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT. A VIEWER, I WANT TO RUN THROUGH
A VIEWER, I WANT TO RUN THROUGH SOME OF THE QUESTIONS FROM THE
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS FROM THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS THAT WE DIDN'T
LAST COUPLE WEEKS THAT WE DIDN'T GET TO THAT ARE SOMEWHAT NEW.
GET TO THAT ARE SOMEWHAT NEW. ONE OF THEM IS A QUESTION FROM A
ONE OF THEM IS A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER IN ST. PAUL WHO WANTS TO
VIEWER IN ST. PAUL WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE
KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE LEGISLATURE HAS ANY ROLE TO PLAY
LEGISLATURE HAS ANY ROLE TO PLAY IN THE PROPOSED PARLIAMENT
IN THE PROPOSED PARLIAMENT COPPER NICKEL MINE SITUATION.
COPPER NICKEL MINE SITUATION. WHO WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THE
WHO WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THE MINING QUESTION?
MINING QUESTION? BY GEOGRAPHY, YOU'RE CLOSEST,
BY GEOGRAPHY, YOU'RE CLOSEST, RIGHT?
RIGHT? >> I DID SIT IN ON A
>> I DID SIT IN ON A PRESENTATION BY THE COMPANY
PRESENTATION BY THE COMPANY INFERRING US -- IN FERGUS FALLS,
INFERRING US -- IN FERGUS FALLS, SO WE COULD UNDERSTAND, ALTHOUGH
SO WE COULD UNDERSTAND, ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO
WE'RE NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WHERE THAT WOULD BE TAKING
WHERE THAT WOULD BE TAKING PLACE, AND I FOUND IT VERY
PLACE, AND I FOUND IT VERY INFORMATIVE, AND I GUESS COMING
INFORMATIVE, AND I GUESS COMING AWAY FROM THAT IT'S NOT CLEAR TO
AWAY FROM THAT IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHERE THAT FINAL DECISION IS
ME WHERE THAT FINAL DECISION IS GOING TO BE MADE.
GOING TO BE MADE. TO ME, IT SHOULD BE MADE.
TO ME, IT SHOULD BE MADE. I THINK IT'S REALLY A GOOD THING
I THINK IT'S REALLY A GOOD THING FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, BUT
FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, BUT THE CONCERN SEEMS TO BE
THE CONCERN SEEMS TO BE ENVIRONMENTAL AND THE LONG-TERM
ENVIRONMENTAL AND THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF WHATEVER THEY'RE
EFFECTS OF WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING UP THERE TO GET THAT --
DOING UP THERE TO GET THAT -- THOSE MINERALS OUT.
THOSE MINERALS OUT. SO I THINK THAT PROBABLY THE EPA
SO I THINK THAT PROBABLY THE EPA IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PART OF
IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PART OF THIS THING, BUT I THINK FOR THE
THIS THING, BUT I THINK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THIS STATE, THAT
BETTERMENT OF THIS STATE, THAT PROJECT NEEDS TO GO FORWARD.
PROJECT NEEDS TO GO FORWARD. >> I JUST WOULD SAY THEY'RE
>> I JUST WOULD SAY THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE PERMITTING
GOING THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS, AND THAT'S BEEN A LONG
PROCESS, AND THAT'S BEEN A LONG AND DRAWNOUT, VERY DELIBERATIVE
AND DRAWNOUT, VERY DELIBERATIVE PROCESS.
PROCESS. YOU DO HEAR A LOT OF CONCERN
YOU DO HEAR A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT WATER QUALITY AND HOW THAT
ABOUT WATER QUALITY AND HOW THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY BE HANDLED ON
WOULD ULTIMATELY BE HANDLED ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE. SO I'M A LITTLE BIT CAUTIOUS
SO I'M A LITTLE BIT CAUTIOUS ABOUT IT TO SAY THE LEAST.
ABOUT IT TO SAY THE LEAST. I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE SEVERAL
I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED BEFORE WE
QUESTIONS ANSWERED BEFORE WE WOULD MOVE AHEAD WITH THAT, AND
WOULD MOVE AHEAD WITH THAT, AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE
THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS, TO MAKE SURE
PERMITTING PROCESS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE PROPER BALANCE
THAT WE DO HAVE PROPER BALANCE OF THE -- THE RESIDENTS UP
OF THE -- THE RESIDENTS UP THERE, I UNDERSTAND, ARE KIND OF
THERE, I UNDERSTAND, ARE KIND OF DIVIDED.
DIVIDED. YOU'VE GOT THOSE VERY INTERESTED
YOU'VE GOT THOSE VERY INTERESTED IN OPENING MINING.
IN OPENING MINING. YOU HAVE THOSE THAT ARE VERY
YOU HAVE THOSE THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THEIR TOURISM
INTERESTED IN THEIR TOURISM BUSINESSES AND SO ON, SO THERE
BUSINESSES AND SO ON, SO THERE IS A LITTLE TUG OF WAR THERE, TO
IS A LITTLE TUG OF WAR THERE, TO SAY THE LEAST, BETWEEN THE
SAY THE LEAST, BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS.
RESIDENTS. AND WHERE IT WILL ULTIMATELY BE
AND WHERE IT WILL ULTIMATELY BE RESOLVED, AS REPRESENTATIVE
RESOLVED, AS REPRESENTATIVE NORNES POINTED OUT, IS STILL TO
NORNES POINTED OUT, IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED.
BE DETERMINED. >> JUST TO ADD ONE MORE THING TO
>> JUST TO ADD ONE MORE THING TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER, THE JOBS
WHAT I SAID EARLIER, THE JOBS ARE IMPORTANT THAT IT WOULD
ARE IMPORTANT THAT IT WOULD BRING TO THAT AREA, BUT IT MAKES
BRING TO THAT AREA, BUT IT MAKES ME WONDER IF WE'RE GOING BACK IN
ME WONDER IF WE'RE GOING BACK IN TIME TO WHEN IRON ORE WAS
TIME TO WHEN IRON ORE WAS DISCOVERED UP TR AND WE WERE
DISCOVERED UP TR AND WE WERE DEALING WITH TODAY'S REGULATORY
DEALING WITH TODAY'S REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, WOULD WE HAVE EVER
ENVIRONMENT, WOULD WE HAVE EVER TAKEN THAT OUT OF THE GROUND?
TAKEN THAT OUT OF THE GROUND? THAT'S THE QUESTION TO ME.
THAT'S THE QUESTION TO ME. TODAY IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT
TODAY IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IT SEEMS.
IT SEEMS. ALL INDICATIONS ARE IT'S
ALL INDICATIONS ARE IT'S RELATIVELY SAFE.
RELATIVELY SAFE. IT'S JUST IN THEORY THAT IT MAY
IT'S JUST IN THEORY THAT IT MAY NOT BE.
NOT BE. >> AND REPRESENTATIVE NORNES
>> AND REPRESENTATIVE NORNES MAKES A GOOD POINT N TERMS OF
MAKES A GOOD POINT N TERMS OF THE WORLD, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE WORLD, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN 60, 70, 80 YEARS AGO, BUT
60, 70, 80 YEARS AGO, BUT OBVIOUSLY WHAT'S HAPPENED DURING
OBVIOUSLY WHAT'S HAPPENED DURING THAT TIME, PEOPLE ARE THAT MUCH
THAT TIME, PEOPLE ARE THAT MUCH MORE AWARE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MORE AWARE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
CONCERNS. IN TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT WATER
IN TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT WATER QUALITY, EVERY ONE OF US TAKES
QUALITY, EVERY ONE OF US TAKES HUGE PRIDE IN MINNESOTA WATER,
HUGE PRIDE IN MINNESOTA WATER, THE STREAMS, THE LAKES, THE
THE STREAMS, THE LAKES, THE RECREATIONAL WATER THAT WE HAVE,
RECREATIONAL WATER THAT WE HAVE, THE PARK TERRITORY, THE FEDERAL
THE PARK TERRITORY, THE FEDERAL LAND IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS, AND
LAND IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS, AND THERE'S SOME SIGNIFICANT
THERE'S SOME SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS IN MY DISTRICT AS TO
CONCERNS IN MY DISTRICT AS TO WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WATER
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WATER QUALITY AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE
QUALITY AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE THERE NOT FOR TODAY OR TOMORROW
THERE NOT FOR TODAY OR TOMORROW BUT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
BUT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AND IT'S NOT TO SUGGEST THAT
AND IT'S NOT TO SUGGEST THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE A CONCERN
THERE SHOULD NOT BE A CONCERN ABOUT EMPLOYMENT IN THE NORTH AS
ABOUT EMPLOYMENT IN THE NORTH AS WELL AS IN THE OTHER SECTOR,
WELL AS IN THE OTHER SECTOR, OTHER PART OF THE GEOGRAPHY OF
OTHER PART OF THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE STATE.
THE STATE. I WOULD GUESS THAT WE'RE NOT
I WOULD GUESS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY ACTION DURING
GOING TO HAVE ANY ACTION DURING THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION,
THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT THE EXTRICATION WOULD BE
BUT THE EXTRICATION WOULD BE THAT AT SOME POINT THERE COULD
THAT AT SOME POINT THERE COULD BE SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT
BE SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT REQUIREMENTS PLACED ON THE
REQUIREMENTS PLACED ON THE COMPANY TO MAKE SURE THAT
COMPANY TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
THERE'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR WHATEVER HAPPENS.
FOR WHATEVER HAPPENS. IF THEY WANT THE MINING AND THEY
IF THEY WANT THE MINING AND THEY WANT THE BENEFITS OF THE MINING,
WANT THE BENEFITS OF THE MINING, THEY ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO
THEY ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THE POSSIBLE
ACCOUNT WHAT THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES, NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCES, NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES MIGHT BE AND TAKE
CONSEQUENCES MIGHT BE AND TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT. >> CERTAINLY THE PEOPLE OF
>> CERTAINLY THE PEOPLE OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA ARE NO
NORTHEAST MINNESOTA ARE NO STRANGERS TO MINING, AND AS WE
STRANGERS TO MINING, AND AS WE GO FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY, AS IT WAS
GO FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY, AS IT WAS MENTIONED, THAT THERE IS A
MENTIONED, THAT THERE IS A VIGOROUS PROCESS IN THE
VIGOROUS PROCESS IN THE PERMITTING OF A MINE, AND
PERMITTING OF A MINE, AND CERTAINLY THAT WILL CONTINUE,
CERTAINLY THAT WILL CONTINUE, AND YOU ALLUDED TO WHETHER OR
AND YOU ALLUDED TO WHETHER OR NOT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD BE
NOT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD BE MORE INVOLVED.
MORE INVOLVED. YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY AS WE HAVE
YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY AS WE HAVE SEEN VARIOUS EVENTS OCCUR IN THE
SEEN VARIOUS EVENTS OCCUR IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I WOULD
PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I WOULD ASSUME THAT ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER
ASSUME THAT ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER DOESN'T LIKE THE FINAL DECISION
DOESN'T LIKE THE FINAL DECISION OF THE PERMITTING AUTHORITIES,
OF THE PERMITTING AUTHORITIES, THAT CERTAINLY THERE WILL BE AN
THAT CERTAINLY THERE WILL BE AN ATTEMPT TO BRING THE LEGISLATURE
ATTEMPT TO BRING THE LEGISLATURE INTO IT AGAIN.
INTO IT AGAIN. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM A
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM A VIEWER IN BUFFALO, BUT IT'S
VIEWER IN BUFFALO, BUT IT'S ABOUT A DIFFERENT PIECE OF
ABOUT A DIFFERENT PIECE OF GEOGRAPHY IN MINNESOTA, AND THIS
GEOGRAPHY IN MINNESOTA, AND THIS IS THE APPLETON AREA.
IS THE APPLETON AREA. 24 YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED WITH
24 YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED WITH YOUR LEGISLATORS, ONE OF THE
YOUR LEGISLATORS, ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT WAS VERY MUCH ON THE
TOPICS THAT WAS VERY MUCH ON THE RADAR SCREEN WAS A PRIVATE
RADAR SCREEN WAS A PRIVATE MEDIUM SECURITY PRISON IN
MEDIUM SECURITY PRISON IN APPLETON NOW OWNED BY VACANT BY
APPLETON NOW OWNED BY VACANT BY THE CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF
THE CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA, AND THIS VIEWER WANTS
AMERICA, AND THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE STATUS IS OF
TO KNOW WHAT THE STATUS IS OF LEGISLATION AUTHORED BY SENATOR
LEGISLATION AUTHORED BY SENATOR TONY LORI AND BASH GOODWIN THAT
TONY LORI AND BASH GOODWIN THAT THAT -- BARB GOODWIN THAT WOULD
THAT -- BARB GOODWIN THAT WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR THE
MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND ALL COUNTIES IN
CORRECTIONS AND ALL COUNTIES IN THE STATE TO CONTRACT WITH A
THE STATE TO CONTRACT WITH A PRIVATE COMPANY, SUCH AS THE
PRIVATE COMPANY, SUCH AS THE COMMUNITY COLLECTIONS OF AMERICA
COMMUNITY COLLECTIONS OF AMERICA WHO APPARENTLY OWNS THAT
WHO APPARENTLY OWNS THAT FACILITY, AND THIS VIEWER THINKS
FACILITY, AND THIS VIEWER THINKS THAT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA, BUT
THAT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA, BUT THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW THE
THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW THE STATUS.
STATUS. ANYBODY KNOW?
ANYBODY KNOW? >> I DO NOT.
>> I DO NOT. THERE'S BEEN THE ISSUE OF
THERE'S BEEN THE ISSUE OF PRIVATE PRISONS VERSUS PUBLIC
PRIVATE PRISONS VERSUS PUBLIC PRISONS, AND JUSTICE ANDERSON,
PRISONS, AND JUSTICE ANDERSON, YOU WOULD HAVE A BETTER SINCE OF
YOU WOULD HAVE A BETTER SINCE OF WHAT HAPPENS AS A CONSEQUENCE,
WHAT HAPPENS AS A CONSEQUENCE, BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME
BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME SIGNIFICANT STORIES, MAYBE
SIGNIFICANT STORIES, MAYBE ANECDOTAL, FROM OTHER STATES
ANECDOTAL, FROM OTHER STATES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A VERY
WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A VERY STRONG PRIVATE PRISON COMPONENT,
STRONG PRIVATE PRISON COMPONENT, WHICH RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT
WHICH RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WHERE YOU TAKE AWAY THE
PROBLEMS WHERE YOU TAKE AWAY THE PUBLIC OWNERSHIP AND THE PUBLIC
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP AND THE PUBLIC DIRECTION.
DIRECTION. THIS STATE HAS TO PROCEED
THIS STATE HAS TO PROCEED CAREFULLY WITH CONTINUED PRIVATE
CAREFULLY WITH CONTINUED PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF PRISONS.
OWNERSHIP OF PRISONS. >> I WOULD ONLY ADD ONE THING,
>> I WOULD ONLY ADD ONE THING, THAT SINCE THE REPRESENTATIVE
THAT SINCE THE REPRESENTATIVE TORY BECAME THE SENATOR, HE WAS
TORY BECAME THE SENATOR, HE WAS THE ONE PERSON IN THE HOUOU THAT
THE ONE PERSON IN THE HOUOU THAT HAD THIS AS A BIG ISSUE.
HAD THIS AS A BIG ISSUE. HE WAS ALWAYS PUSHING FOR AN
HE WAS ALWAYS PUSHING FOR AN OCCUPANT, SOME PRIVATE OPERATION
OCCUPANT, SOME PRIVATE OPERATION OF THAT -- IT IS PRIVATE, AS YOU
OF THAT -- IT IS PRIVATE, AS YOU MENTIONED, BUT TO ACTUALLY HAVE
MENTIONED, BUT TO ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE THERE BEING CARED FOR.
PEOPLE THERE BEING CARED FOR. SO HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING, BECAUSE
SO HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING, BECAUSE HE FELT STRONGLY ABOUT THAT.
HE FELT STRONGLY ABOUT THAT. AGAIN, FOR THAT AREA, IT CREATED
AGAIN, FOR THAT AREA, IT CREATED A LOT OF JOBS, TOO, AND WE
A LOT OF JOBS, TOO, AND WE SOMETIMES OVERLOOK THAT.
SOMETIMES OVERLOOK THAT. SO I HAVEN'T HEARD A WORD ABOUT
SO I HAVEN'T HEARD A WORD ABOUT IT THIS SESSION, AND APPARENTLY
IT THIS SESSION, AND APPARENTLY IT'S NOT --.
IT'S NOT --. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, AS WELL.
SAY, AS WELL. BOTH OF US AS MEMBERS OF THE
BOTH OF US AS MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, IT JUST HASN'T COME TO
HOUSE, IT JUST HASN'T COME TO THE FOREFRONT THIS SESSION.
THE FOREFRONT THIS SESSION. >> SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS CHASE
>> SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS CHASE DOWN THE REPRESENTATIVE, DRAG
DOWN THE REPRESENTATIVE, DRAG HIM ALONG AND MAKE HIM ANSWER
HIM ALONG AND MAKE HIM ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
THAT QUESTION. WE'LL CATCH UP WITH HIM.
WE'LL CATCH UP WITH HIM. >> I WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD BE
>> I WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD BE INITIATED BY WHOEVER REPRESENTS
INITIATED BY WHOEVER REPRESENTS THAT PART OF THE STATE.
THAT PART OF THE STATE. I WOULD THINK THAT'S WHERE ANY
I WOULD THINK THAT'S WHERE ANY ACTION WOULD START.
ACTION WOULD START. >> WE COULD PROBABLY SPEAK FOR
>> WE COULD PROBABLY SPEAK FOR HIM.
HIM. WE'VE HEARD HIS SPEECHES SEVERAL
WE'VE HEARD HIS SPEECHES SEVERAL TIMES.
TIMES. >> I CAN DO IT RIGHT NOW.
>> I CAN DO IT RIGHT NOW. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT. A VIEWER FROM LILY DALE WANTS TO
A VIEWER FROM LILY DALE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH
KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH LEGISLATION DEALING WITH CARP OR
LEGISLATION DEALING WITH CARP OR INVASIVE SPECIES.
INVASIVE SPECIES. WHO IS OUR EXPERT IN INVASIVE
WHO IS OUR EXPERT IN INVASIVE SPECIES HERE?
SPECIES HERE? ANYBODY WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT?
ANYBODY WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT? >> I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD CLASSIFY MYSELF AS AN EXPERT,
CLASSIFY MYSELF AS AN EXPERT, BUT IT IS A VERY MAJOR ISSUE
BUT IT IS A VERY MAJOR ISSUE THIS SESSION IN TERMS OF HOW WE
THIS SESSION IN TERMS OF HOW WE MANAGE THE INVASIVE SPECIES.
MANAGE THE INVASIVE SPECIES. I KNOW LCCMR HAS BEEN FOR SOME
I KNOW LCCMR HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME.
TIME. THAT'S THE LEGISLATIVE CITIZENS
THAT'S THE LEGISLATIVE CITIZENS COMMISSION ON MINNESOTA
COMMISSION ON MINNESOTA RESOURCES.
RESOURCES. THAT WORD CITIZEN WAS A CHANGE A
THAT WORD CITIZEN WAS A CHANGE A WHILE BACK.
WHILE BACK. THEY'VE BEEN VERY ENGAGED IN
THEY'VE BEEN VERY ENGAGED IN THAT.
THAT. I KNOW THE CHAIR OF THE
I KNOW THE CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL NATURAL RESOURCE
ENVIRONMENTAL NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE SIDE HAS BEEN VERY
COMMITTEE SIDE HAS BEEN VERY ENGAGED.
ENGAGED. I WOULD BE SURPRISED IN THE END
I WOULD BE SURPRISED IN THE END IF SOMETHING DOESN'T COME
IF SOMETHING DOESN'T COME FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A
FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A SHORT SESSION TO TRY TO MOVE
SHORT SESSION TO TRY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT ISSUE.
FORWARD ON THAT ISSUE. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE NEED
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO, AND THERE IS A DEBATE AS
TO DO, AND THERE IS A DEBATE AS TO WHAT THE BEST TECHNIQUES ARE.
TO WHAT THE BEST TECHNIQUES ARE. I MIGHT JUST SAY THAT WE WERE
I MIGHT JUST SAY THAT WE WERE JUST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
JUST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WITH THE CAPITAL
MINNESOTA WITH THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, AND
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, AND THERE'S MAJOR RESEARCH GOING ON
THERE'S MAJOR RESEARCH GOING ON THERE.
THERE. THEY'RE GETTING FEDERAL FUNDS
THEY'RE GETTING FEDERAL FUNDS AND HOW TO CONTROL CARP, AND
AND HOW TO CONTROL CARP, AND THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN HOW
THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN HOW TO CONTROL THE ASIAN CARP, WHICH
TO CONTROL THE ASIAN CARP, WHICH IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT SPECIES.
IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT SPECIES. BUT AT ANY RATE, THERE ARE A LOT
BUT AT ANY RATE, THERE ARE A LOT OF INITIATIVES THAT ARE
OF INITIATIVES THAT ARE BEGINNING TO SURFACE.
BEGINNING TO SURFACE. >> I JUST SAW SOMETHING ON
>> I JUST SAW SOMETHING ON TELEVISION JUST WITHIN THE LAST
TELEVISION JUST WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS ON THAT SUBJECT AT THE
FEW DAYS ON THAT SUBJECT AT THE UNIVERSITY.
UNIVERSITY. WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT
WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WASN'T SO MUCH THE RESEARCH
WASN'T SO MUCH THE RESEARCH ITSELF, BUT THE QUALITY OR THE
ITSELF, BUT THE QUALITY OR THE CONDITION OF THE RESEARCH
CONDITION OF THE RESEARCH FACILITY AND THE UPGRADING THAT
FACILITY AND THE UPGRADING THAT IS NEEDED SO WORK CAN BE DONE IN
IS NEEDED SO WORK CAN BE DONE IN A LITTLE BETTER WAY.
A LITTLE BETTER WAY. BUT WHERE I COME FROM, WE'VE GOT
BUT WHERE I COME FROM, WE'VE GOT THE ZEBRA MUSCLES.
THE ZEBRA MUSCLES. THAT'S THE -- MUZZLES.
THAT'S THE -- MUZZLES. MUSSLES.
MUSSLES. THAT'S THE PRIMARY PROBLEM.
THAT'S THE PRIMARY PROBLEM. THAT'S AN ISSUE WHEN YOU HAVE A
THAT'S AN ISSUE WHEN YOU HAVE A THOUSAND OR MORE LAKES JUST IN
THOUSAND OR MORE LAKES JUST IN MY COUNTY, YOU TALK WATER
MY COUNTY, YOU TALK WATER QUALITY, FISHING, LAKE SHORE.
QUALITY, FISHING, LAKE SHORE. IT'S ALL PART OF THAT, AND WE DO
IT'S ALL PART OF THAT, AND WE DO HAVE ZEBRA MUSSELS LIKE I SAID,
HAVE ZEBRA MUSSELS LIKE I SAID, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO STOP THEM
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO STOP THEM FROM MOVING ANY FURTHER.
FROM MOVING ANY FURTHER. >> I THINK THE HABITAT PART OF
>> I THINK THE HABITAT PART OF THE LEGACY LIMIT, I BELIEVE, HAS
THE LEGACY LIMIT, I BELIEVE, HAS A RECOMMENDATION, IF I'M NOT
A RECOMMENDATION, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, RELATIVE TO SOME
MISTAKEN, RELATIVE TO SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY AS WELL.
ADDITIONAL MONEY AS WELL. >> I SHOULD QUALIFY WHAT I JUST
>> I SHOULD QUALIFY WHAT I JUST SAID.
SAID. WE ONLY HAVE ZEBRA MUSSELS IN A
WE ONLY HAVE ZEBRA MUSSELS IN A COUPLE OF OUR THOUSAND LAKES.
COUPLE OF OUR THOUSAND LAKES. >> THERE'S NO REASON FOR PEOPLE
>> THERE'S NO REASON FOR PEOPLE TO HEAD TO IOWA.
TO HEAD TO IOWA. >> WE'RE HOPING THAT ACTUALLY
>> WE'RE HOPING THAT ACTUALLY THIS SEVERE WEATHER WITH ICE
THIS SEVERE WEATHER WITH ICE OVER THREE FEET THICK IN SOME
OVER THREE FEET THICK IN SOME PLACES ON SOME OF THE LAKES THAT
PLACES ON SOME OF THE LAKES THAT THAT WILL ACTUALLY KILL SOME OF
THAT WILL ACTUALLY KILL SOME OF THESE LITTLE RASCALS.
THESE LITTLE RASCALS. WE'LL SEE.
WE'LL SEE. >> SO THERE IS SOMETHING GOOD
>> SO THERE IS SOMETHING GOOD COMING OUT OF IT.
COMING OUT OF IT. >> THEY DON'T SURVIVE IN ICE.
>> THEY DON'T SURVIVE IN ICE. >> REPRESENTATIVE NORNES
>> REPRESENTATIVE NORNES MENTIONED THE FACILITIES.
MENTIONED THE FACILITIES. THAT'S WHY WE WERE AT THE
THAT'S WHY WE WERE AT THE UNIVERSITY.
UNIVERSITY. AND THEY ARE BADLY IN NEED OF
AND THEY ARE BADLY IN NEED OF MODERN LABS AND SO ON FOR THAT
MODERN LABS AND SO ON FOR THAT RESEARCH, AND IT'S REALLY THE
RESEARCH, AND IT'S REALLY THE LEADING RESEARCH CENTER IN THE
LEADING RESEARCH CENTER IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WHEN YOU START
ENTIRE COUNTRY WHEN YOU START TALKING ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE
TALKING ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE CARP.
CARP. AND THEY'RE JUST KIND OF LIMPING
AND THEY'RE JUST KIND OF LIMPING ALONG IN THE SENSE OF MAKESHIFT
ALONG IN THE SENSE OF MAKESHIFT MATERIALS TO KEEP THE LAB
MATERIALS TO KEEP THE LAB OPERATING.
OPERATING. SO HOPEFULLY WHEN WE DO HAVE A
SO HOPEFULLY WHEN WE DO HAVE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL GO
CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL GO THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE
THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE THAT THAT'S A FACILITY THAT WE
THAT THAT'S A FACILITY THAT WE DO ADDRESS.
DO ADDRESS. >> I SERVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
>> I SERVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT ENERGY COMMITTEE AND THE
ENERGY COMMITTEE AND THE RESPECTIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE AS
RESPECTIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE AS WELL, AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS
WELL, AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS HEARINGS ON VARIOUS BILLS AND
HEARINGS ON VARIOUS BILLS AND INPUT LAST YEAR REGARDING THE
INPUT LAST YEAR REGARDING THE INVASIVE SPECIES, AND CERTAINLY
INVASIVE SPECIES, AND CERTAINLY THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION
THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ALREADY THIS YEAR.
ALREADY THIS YEAR. OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE A VARIETY
OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT MONEY CAN BE SPENT
OF WAYS THAT MONEY CAN BE SPENT ON THAT.
ON THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S REALLY
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S REALLY AN AGREED-UPON BEST METHOD TO
AN AGREED-UPON BEST METHOD TO CONTROL THEM YET, QUITE FRANKLY.
CONTROL THEM YET, QUITE FRANKLY. CERTAINLY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT
CERTAINLY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE WORKED UPON.
WILL CONTINUE TO BE WORKED UPON. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, MY HOME
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, MY HOME COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A LAKE.
COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A LAKE. (LAUGHTER).
(LAUGHTER). >> SO YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ZEBRA
>> SO YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ZEBRA MUSSELS.
MUSSELS. I HAVE NO ZEBRA MUSSELS.
I HAVE NO ZEBRA MUSSELS. >> THERE ARE NO LAKES IN ROCK
>> THERE ARE NO LAKES IN ROCK COUNTY?
COUNTY? >> NO LAKES IN ROCK COUNTY.
>> NO LAKES IN ROCK COUNTY. >> VERY GOOD.
>> VERY GOOD. LET'S TALK ABOUT CAPITAL
LET'S TALK ABOUT CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND THE BONDING BILL,
INVESTMENT AND THE BONDING BILL, BECAUSE THAT IS, OF COURSE, THE
BECAUSE THAT IS, OF COURSE, THE PRINCIPLE FUNCTION OF THIS
PRINCIPLE FUNCTION OF THIS SO-CALLED OFF SESSION OR SELECT
SO-CALLED OFF SESSION OR SELECT SESSION, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO
SESSION, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PHRASE IT, UNSESSION, I GUESS.
PHRASE IT, UNSESSION, I GUESS. MAYBE WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT,
MAYBE WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, TOO.
TOO. SHOULD WE START WITH YOU,
SHOULD WE START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON?
REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON? >> WELL, I HAPPEN TO BE ON THE
>> WELL, I HAPPEN TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, AND WE'RE IN THE
COMMITTEE, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THE BILL
PROCESS OF PUTTING THE BILL TOGETHER.
TOGETHER. THERE WERE SOMETHING LIKE
THERE WERE SOMETHING LIKE 2.7 BILLION IN REQUESTS.
2.7 BILLION IN REQUESTS. THE BONDING BILL WILL PROBABLY
THE BONDING BILL WILL PROBABLY BE AS FAR AS GENERAL OBLIGATION
BE AS FAR AS GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF
BONDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 850 MILLION.
ABOUT 850 MILLION. THERE'S ALSO SOME DISCUSSION
THERE'S ALSO SOME DISCUSSION BECAUSE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE IS
BECAUSE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN SUCH DIRE NEED OF FUNDS THAT
IN SUCH DIRE NEED OF FUNDS THAT PERHAPS SOME CASH MIGHT BE
PERHAPS SOME CASH MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN THAT, BUT THAT'S ALL
INCLUDED IN THAT, BUT THAT'S ALL IN THE PROCESS NOW OF BEING
IN THE PROCESS NOW OF BEING DISCUSSED.
DISCUSSED. IT WILL BE THE MAJOR BILL OF THE
IT WILL BE THE MAJOR BILL OF THE SESSION.
SESSION. FOR THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING,
FOR THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BONDING
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BONDING BILL OR THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT
BILL OR THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND
BILL, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE
THAT'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE STATE.
STATE. SO WHEN I USE A RATHER BIG
SO WHEN I USE A RATHER BIG NUMBER IN TERMS OF WHAT THE
NUMBER IN TERMS OF WHAT THE REQUESTS ARE THAT'S FOR THE
REQUESTS ARE THAT'S FOR THE WHOLE STATE, AND THAT'S
WHOLE STATE, AND THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM BRIDGES TO
EVERYTHING FROM BRIDGES TO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS.
BUILDINGS. WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR
WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I THINK WE
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING
HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING AHEAD IN A WAY THAT WE DON'T
AHEAD IN A WAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE 35 W BRIDGES, FOR
HAVE ANY MORE 35 W BRIDGES, FOR ONE THING.
ONE THING. SO IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM WHEN
SO IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF
WE TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UNITED
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE HAVE HUGE NEEDS IN
STATES AND WE HAVE HUGE NEEDS IN MINNESOTA.
MINNESOTA. >> SENATOR COHEN.
>> SENATOR COHEN. >> YOU KNOW, I WOULD ECHO THAT.
>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD ECHO THAT. OBVIOUSLY WHAT REMAINS TO BE
OBVIOUSLY WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IS WHAT THE SIZE OF THE
SEEN IS WHAT THE SIZE OF THE BILL MIGHT BE AND GIVEN THE
BILL MIGHT BE AND GIVEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT
CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT YOU NEED A 60% MAJORITY TO PASS
YOU NEED A 60% MAJORITY TO PASS THE BONDING BILL, OBVIOUSLY
THE BONDING BILL, OBVIOUSLY WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATOR
WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATOR IS IN THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY,
IS IN THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY, EVERYBODY ENDS UP HAVING A SAY
EVERYBODY ENDS UP HAVING A SAY IN WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENS WITH
IN WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENS WITH THAT BILL.
THAT BILL. SO GENERALLY THE BONDING BILLS
SO GENERALLY THE BONDING BILLS HAVE PASSED WITH SOME VERY
HAVE PASSED WITH SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
SIGNIFICANT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND WOULD HOPE AND EXPECT THAT
AND WOULD HOPE AND EXPECT THAT WOULD BE THE CASE THIS YEAR.
WOULD BE THE CASE THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, LYNN MENTIONED SOME OF
YOU KNOW, LYNN MENTIONED SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. I THINK IN THE LAST X NUMBER OF
I THINK IN THE LAST X NUMBER OF YEARS, I'LL SAY 10 YEARS,
YEARS, I'LL SAY 10 YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A REAL EMPHASIS ON
THERE'S BEEN A REAL EMPHASIS ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE BILL.
HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE BILL. REPRESENTATIVE NORNES CAN SPEAK
REPRESENTATIVE NORNES CAN SPEAK TO THAT BETTER AS THE FORMER
TO THAT BETTER AS THE FORMER CHAIR OF THE HIGHER ED DIVISION.
CHAIR OF THE HIGHER ED DIVISION. REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON ALSO
REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON ALSO CHAIRED AS WELL.
CHAIRED AS WELL. I SERVED ON THAT DIVISION IN THE
I SERVED ON THAT DIVISION IN THE PAST.
PAST. AS SOMEBODY WHO SERVES ON THE
AS SOMEBODY WHO SERVES ON THE SENATE CAPITAL INVESTMENT
SENATE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, I KNOW HIGHER
COMMITTEE, I KNOW HIGHER EDUCATION HAS TAKEN ON A REAL
EDUCATION HAS TAKEN ON A REAL PROMINENT ROLE, AND THEY CLEARLY
PROMINENT ROLE, AND THEY CLEARLY CLEARLY -- THAT CLEARLY SHOULD
CLEARLY -- THAT CLEARLY SHOULD BE AND OUGHT TO BE THE CASE,
BE AND OUGHT TO BE THE CASE, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN THE
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE COLLEGES IN
UNIVERSITIES AND THE COLLEGES IN THE STATE THROUGH THAT BONDING
THE STATE THROUGH THAT BONDING PROCESS, YOU CAN SEE THE SCHOOLS
PROCESS, YOU CAN SEE THE SCHOOLS THAT KIND OF FALL INTO
THAT KIND OF FALL INTO DISREPAIR.
DISREPAIR. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT
KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT COMING FROM THE LOCAL
COMING FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
GOVERNMENTS. THESE ARE STATE INSTITUTIONS,
THESE ARE STATE INSTITUTIONS, AND I WOULD ARGUE THE MOST VITAL
AND I WOULD ARGUE THE MOST VITAL OF STATE INSTITUTIONS, SO I
OF STATE INSTITUTIONS, SO I WOULD EXPECT SEPARATE FROM SOME
WOULD EXPECT SEPARATE FROM SOME OF THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE,
OF THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, BRIDGES, THAT YOU'LL SEE
ROADS, BRIDGES, THAT YOU'LL SEE HIGHER EDUCATION AS THE MAJOR
HIGHER EDUCATION AS THE MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE BILL.
COMPONENT OF THE BILL. >> WELL, I THINK THAT'S VERY
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S VERY TRUE AS WE LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING
TRUE AS WE LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING AHEAD, CERTAINLY IN IN A NUMBER
AHEAD, CERTAINLY IN IN A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES, WE'VE HEARD MANY
OF COMMITTEES, WE'VE HEARD MANY REQUESTS THAT WERE LAID OVER FOR
REQUESTS THAT WERE LAID OVER FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION INTO A
POSSIBLE INCLUSION INTO A BONDING BILL AND CERTAINLY ARE
BONDING BILL AND CERTAINLY ARE ARE -- OUR RESPECTIVE COMMITTEES
ARE -- OUR RESPECTIVE COMMITTEES HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL JOB AHEAD OF
HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL JOB AHEAD OF THEM TO PAIR DOWN THOSE REQUESTS
THEM TO PAIR DOWN THOSE REQUESTS INTO A FINAL BILL.
INTO A FINAL BILL. I THINK, TOO, THERE ARE NOT ONLY
I THINK, TOO, THERE ARE NOT ONLY STATE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS BUT ALSO
STATE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS BUT ALSO SUBSTANTIAL LOCAL REQUESTS BEING
SUBSTANTIAL LOCAL REQUESTS BEING MADE FOR SOME THINGS THAT ARE
MADE FOR SOME THINGS THAT ARE TRULY NEEDFUL BY DIFFERENT AREAS
TRULY NEEDFUL BY DIFFERENT AREAS OF OUR STATE.
OF OUR STATE. YOU KNOW, I SAY THAT HAVING
YOU KNOW, I SAY THAT HAVING BROUGHT A BILL, LEAVE IT FOR MY
BROUGHT A BILL, LEAVE IT FOR MY OWN AREA TO COMPLETE THE LEWIS
OWN AREA TO COMPLETE THE LEWIS AND CLARK RURAL WATER SYSTEM
AND CLARK RURAL WATER SYSTEM THAT WOULD SERVE VARIOUS USERS
THAT WOULD SERVE VARIOUS USERS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA.
IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T OFTEN THINK
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
ABOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAVING WATER QUANTITY ISSUES,
HAVING WATER QUANTITY ISSUES, AND YET WE DO IN VARIOUS AREAS.
AND YET WE DO IN VARIOUS AREAS. AND SO IT IS A VERY UNIQUE
AND SO IT IS A VERY UNIQUE PROCESS AS I'M WITNESSING, JUST
PROCESS AS I'M WITNESSING, JUST BEING IN MY SECOND YEAR HERE,
BEING IN MY SECOND YEAR HERE, BUT I TEND TO AGREE THAT
BUT I TEND TO AGREE THAT CERTAINLY WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE
CERTAINLY WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON OUR ASSETS IN THIS STATE AND
ON OUR ASSETS IN THIS STATE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET AN
MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT.
APPROPRIATE AMOUNT. >> AND I WOULD AGREE ALL THE WAY
>> AND I WOULD AGREE ALL THE WAY AROUND.
AROUND. 850 SEEMS TO BE THE NUMBER WITH
850 SEEMS TO BE THE NUMBER WITH A LITTLE CASH THROWN IN.
A LITTLE CASH THROWN IN. AGAIN, HIGHER EDUCATION IS A
AGAIN, HIGHER EDUCATION IS A PRIORITY.
PRIORITY. I THINK WHEN I WAS CHAIR AND I
I THINK WHEN I WAS CHAIR AND I VISITED SOME OF THE CAMPUSES,
VISITED SOME OF THE CAMPUSES, THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT I GAVE
THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT I GAVE TO THE ADMINISTRATIONS THAT AS
TO THE ADMINISTRATIONS THAT AS FAR AS I COULD CONTROL IT THAT
FAR AS I COULD CONTROL IT THAT WOULD WE BE TAKING CARE OF THOSE
WOULD WE BE TAKING CARE OF THOSE BUILDINGS AND MAKING SURE THEY
BUILDINGS AND MAKING SURE THEY DIDN'T LEAK AND THE HEATING
DIDN'T LEAK AND THE HEATING SYSTEMS WORKED AND SOME OF THOSE
SYSTEMS WORKED AND SOME OF THOSE BASIC THINGS.
BASIC THINGS. THERE'S A LOT OF -- I THINK WE
THERE'S A LOT OF -- I THINK WE WERE INQUIRING IN ONE OF OUR
WERE INQUIRING IN ONE OF OUR COMMITTEE HEARINGS THIS SESSION
COMMITTEE HEARINGS THIS SESSION ABOUT THE BACKLOG.
ABOUT THE BACKLOG. THE REQUEST IS FOR 100 -- I
THE REQUEST IS FOR 100 -- I THINK EACH SYSTEM IS 100 MILLION
THINK EACH SYSTEM IS 100 MILLION FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND FROM
FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND FROM MNSCU.
MNSCU. AND THAT'S JUST A DROP IN THE
AND THAT'S JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET.
BUCKET. THEY'VE GOT MANY OTHER PROJECTS
THEY'VE GOT MANY OTHER PROJECTS WAITING THAT ARE LOWER PRIORITY,
WAITING THAT ARE LOWER PRIORITY, AND SO MY COMMENT AND COMMITTEE
AND SO MY COMMENT AND COMMITTEE WAS TO INCREASE THE GOVERNOR'S
WAS TO INCREASE THE GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION PROBABLY BY
RECOMMENDATION PROBABLY BY DOUBLE.
DOUBLE. HE'S AT 40.
HE'S AT 40. I SAID AT A MINIMUM WE SHOULD BE
I SAID AT A MINIMUM WE SHOULD BE AT 80 TO AGAIN ADDRESS THOSE
AT 80 TO AGAIN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES, AND SO I THINK WE HAVE
ISSUES, AND SO I THINK WE HAVE ALSO SOMEWHAT OF AN AGREEMENT,
ALSO SOMEWHAT OF AN AGREEMENT, BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT WE
BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT WE WILL PASS ONE THIS YEAR.
WILL PASS ONE THIS YEAR. LAST YEAR THE BILL FAILED.
LAST YEAR THE BILL FAILED. THE LARGER BILL, AT LEAST.
THE LARGER BILL, AT LEAST. SO I THINK IT WILL PASS.
SO I THINK IT WILL PASS. IT'S SORT OF LIKE -- MAYBE IT
IT'S SORT OF LIKE -- MAYBE IT ISN'T A GOOD COMPARISON.
ISN'T A GOOD COMPARISON. I'M THINKING IT'S SORT OF LIKE
I'M THINKING IT'S SORT OF LIKE CHRISTMAS, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
CHRISTMAS, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THERE
SURE WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THERE UNTIL IT'S ROLLED OUT, AND
UNTIL IT'S ROLLED OUT, AND YOU'RE HOPING YOU'RE PRESENT IN
YOU'RE HOPING YOU'RE PRESENT IN THERE, AND MAYBE THE COMMITTEE
THERE, AND MAYBE THE COMMITTEE KNOWS AHEAD OF TIME, BUT THE
KNOWS AHEAD OF TIME, BUT THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES GENERALLY
MEMBERS THEMSELVES GENERALLY DON'T.
DON'T. SO IT'S EXCITEMENT TO SEE WHEN
SO IT'S EXCITEMENT TO SEE WHEN THAT COMES OUT AND YOU GO
THAT COMES OUT AND YOU GO THROUGH IT.
THROUGH IT. >> YOU CAN'T TAKE THE GIFT BACK,
>> YOU CAN'T TAKE THE GIFT BACK, THOUGH.
THOUGH. >> IT'S NOT REFUNDABLE, THAT'S
>> IT'S NOT REFUNDABLE, THAT'S FOR SURE.
FOR SURE. >> AS A LITTLE FOOTNOTE, ONE OF
>> AS A LITTLE FOOTNOTE, ONE OF THE BUSIEST COMMITTEES YOU CAN
THE BUSIEST COMMITTEES YOU CAN SERVE ON IN THE LEGISLATURE
SERVE ON IN THE LEGISLATURE DURING THE INTERIM IS THE
DURING THE INTERIM IS THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE,
CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST, YOU KNOW, ACCEPT THE NUMBERS IN ST. PAUL
ACCEPT THE NUMBERS IN ST. PAUL FOR THE REQUEST.
FOR THE REQUEST. WE ACTUALLY DO THE SITE VISITS.
WE ACTUALLY DO THE SITE VISITS. ON THE HOUSE SIDE, THE CAPITAL
ON THE HOUSE SIDE, THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE WAS ON THE
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE WAS ON THE ROAD 20 DAYS THIS LAST SUMMER
ROAD 20 DAYS THIS LAST SUMMER AND FALL.
AND FALL. AND ONE THING THAT'S A NICE PART
AND ONE THING THAT'S A NICE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE IS THAT YOU DO
OF THAT COMMITTEE IS THAT YOU DO LEARN ABOUT MINNESOTA.
LEARN ABOUT MINNESOTA. I'M A NATIVE MINNESOTAN, AND YOU
I'M A NATIVE MINNESOTAN, AND YOU GET INTO ALL CORNERS OF THE
GET INTO ALL CORNERS OF THE STATE, AND I'VE SEEN THINGS THAT
STATE, AND I'VE SEEN THINGS THAT YOU NORMALLY WOULDN'T SEE AS A
YOU NORMALLY WOULDN'T SEE AS A TOURIST IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
TOURIST IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, YOU KNOW, VISITING SOME
STATE, YOU KNOW, VISITING SOME OF THE DNR LANDS AND FACILITIES
OF THE DNR LANDS AND FACILITIES AND SO ON DEEP IN THE WOODS,
AND SO ON DEEP IN THE WOODS, THAT KIND OF THING.
THAT KIND OF THING. IT'S A INTERESTING COMMITTEE.
IT'S A INTERESTING COMMITTEE. >> NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT
>> NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT HAVING SAID THAT, IS THERE A
HAVING SAID THAT, IS THERE A PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT YOU
PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF AS
WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF AS COMING BEFORE THE CAPITAL
COMING BEFORE THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE BEFORE
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE BEFORE SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE OR ONE
SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE OR ONE THAT'S PARTICULARLY INTERESTING
THAT'S PARTICULARLY INTERESTING OR SOMETHING THAT IS UNUSUAL
OR SOMETHING THAT IS UNUSUAL PERHAPS THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT BE
PERHAPS THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT?
INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT? WE KNOW ABOUT BUILDINGS AND
WE KNOW ABOUT BUILDINGS AND OTHER KINDS OF SORT OF MAJOR
OTHER KINDS OF SORT OF MAJOR PROJECTS THAT TEND TO GET A LOT
PROJECTS THAT TEND TO GET A LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT THOSE AREN'T
OF ATTENTION, BUT THOSE AREN'T THE ONLY THINGS.
THE ONLY THINGS. >> WELL, THERE'S -- MOST OF IT
>> WELL, THERE'S -- MOST OF IT IS BUILDINGS AND/OR, LIKE I WAS
IS BUILDINGS AND/OR, LIKE I WAS SAYING, THINGS LIKE BRIDGES.
SAYING, THINGS LIKE BRIDGES. WHEN -- ONE THING THAT LAST TRIP
WHEN -- ONE THING THAT LAST TRIP THAT WAS RATHER INTERESTING, WE
THAT WAS RATHER INTERESTING, WE WERE UP IN THE MILLE LACS AREA.
WERE UP IN THE MILLE LACS AREA. THERE IS AN ISLAND WITH A NUMBER
THERE IS AN ISLAND WITH A NUMBER OF HOUSES ON IT.
OF HOUSES ON IT. A SCHOOL BUS PULLED UP.
A SCHOOL BUS PULLED UP. THE BUS STOP UNLOADS THE
THE BUS STOP UNLOADS THE CHILDREN.
CHILDREN. THEY WALK ACROSS THE BRIDGE, AND
THEY WALK ACROSS THE BRIDGE, AND THEN THE BUS COMES ACROSS.
THEN THE BUS COMES ACROSS. WE WATCHED THAT BRIDGE, AND IT
WE WATCHED THAT BRIDGE, AND IT WAS JUST ROCKING BACK AND FORTH,
WAS JUST ROCKING BACK AND FORTH, AND SO MAYBE -- I DON'T KNOW IF
AND SO MAYBE -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CALL THAT INTERESTING, BUT
YOU CALL THAT INTERESTING, BUT IT WAS RATHER ALARMING TO TELL
IT WAS RATHER ALARMING TO TELL THE TRUTH.
THE TRUTH. BUT YOU QUICKLY LEARN ONCE THAT
BUT YOU QUICKLY LEARN ONCE THAT BUS WENT ACROSS WHY THEY
BUS WENT ACROSS WHY THEY UNLOADED THE KIDS FIRST, AND
UNLOADED THE KIDS FIRST, AND THAT JUST GIVES US AN EXAMPLE OF
THAT JUST GIVES US AN EXAMPLE OF THE VITAL NEED FOR MUCH OF THE
THE VITAL NEED FOR MUCH OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
INFRASTRUCTURE. IT WAS AN OLD WOODEN BRIDGE,
IT WAS AN OLD WOODEN BRIDGE, LITERALLY.
LITERALLY. A GOOD SIZED ONE AND IT COVERS
A GOOD SIZED ONE AND IT COVERS QUITE A DISTANCE.
QUITE A DISTANCE. >> I COULD ADD ONE PROJECT THAT
>> I COULD ADD ONE PROJECT THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED IN
WAS JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED IN MY DISTRICT, AND THAT WAS A
MY DISTRICT, AND THAT WAS A ROUNDABOUT AND A NEW BRIDGE, NOT
ROUNDABOUT AND A NEW BRIDGE, NOT A VERY SEXY PROJECT REALLY.
A VERY SEXY PROJECT REALLY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WEREN'T EVEN
A LOT OF PEOPLE WEREN'T EVEN SURE WE NEEDED IT.
SURE WE NEEDED IT. BUT I TELL YOU, THAT IS THE MOST
BUT I TELL YOU, THAT IS THE MOST POPULAR BRIDGE IN TOWN, BECAUSE
POPULAR BRIDGE IN TOWN, BECAUSE IT TAKES CARE OF TRAFFIC AS IT
IT TAKES CARE OF TRAFFIC AS IT WAS INTENDED.
WAS INTENDED. AND THE ROUNDABOUT IS KIND OF
AND THE ROUNDABOUT IS KIND OF FUN, ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T KEEP
FUN, ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T KEEP GOING AROUND, BUT THERE IS A
GOING AROUND, BUT THERE IS A TEMPTATION.
TEMPTATION. IF THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND THE WAY
IF THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND THE WAY THAT THAT BRIDGE IS DIVERTING
THAT THAT BRIDGE IS DIVERTING TRAFFIC IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT WAS
TRAFFIC IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT WAS VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT, I WOULD
VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT, I WOULD SAY.
SAY. THAT WAS PARTLY FUNDED, A LITTLE
THAT WAS PARTLY FUNDED, A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT MUCH WAS BONDING
BIT, BUT NOT MUCH WAS BONDING MONEY.
MONEY. >> ONE THING THAT I'VE ALWAYS
>> ONE THING THAT I'VE ALWAYS FOUND VERY INTERESTING,HEN
FOUND VERY INTERESTING,HEN WE'RE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WE'RE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, FOR EXAMPLE, AND YOU
MINNESOTA, FOR EXAMPLE, AND YOU GO THROUGH SOME OF THE RESEARCH
GO THROUGH SOME OF THE RESEARCH LABS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ONLY
LABS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ONLY LOOKING AT THE FACILITY, BUT YOU
LOOKING AT THE FACILITY, BUT YOU LEARN ABOUT SOME OF THE RESEARCH
LEARN ABOUT SOME OF THE RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON, AND
PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON, AND IT REALLY LETS YOU KNOW WHERE
IT REALLY LETS YOU KNOW WHERE MINNESOTA IS IN TERMS OF BEING
MINNESOTA IS IN TERMS OF BEING AN OUTSTANDING INSTITUTION WITH
AN OUTSTANDING INSTITUTION WITH OUR HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES
OUR HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES AND THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
AND THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION THAT GO ON.
THAT GO ON. YOU LEARN A LOT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE
YOU LEARN A LOT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE STATE.
DOING IN THE STATE. >>> A VIEWER FROM BAGLEY WANTS
>>> A VIEWER FROM BAGLEY WANTS TO KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH
TO KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE MINIMUM WAGE?
THE MINIMUM WAGE? WHO WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THE
WHO WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THE MINIMUM WAGE.
MINIMUM WAGE. SENATOR COHEN, MAY BE START WITH
SENATOR COHEN, MAY BE START WITH YOU?
YOU? >> IT'S PROBABLY APPROPRIATE,
>> IT'S PROBABLY APPROPRIATE, SINCE EVERYBODY IS LOOKING AT
SINCE EVERYBODY IS LOOKING AT THE SENATE.
THE SENATE. THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, I
THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, I BELIEVE, AND I'M NOT ON THE
BELIEVE, AND I'M NOT ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, BUT I
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, BUT I BELIEVE HAS AGREED TO A FIGURE
BELIEVE HAS AGREED TO A FIGURE OF $9.50.
OF $9.50. I THINK THE ISSUE, THE MAJOR
I THINK THE ISSUE, THE MAJOR ISSUE THAT IS OUT THERE IS THE
ISSUE THAT IS OUT THERE IS THE QUESTION OF INDEXING THE MINIMUM
QUESTION OF INDEXING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO PROVIDE A PERIODIC
WAGE TO PROVIDE A PERIODIC INCREASE WITHOUT GOING BACK TO
INCREASE WITHOUT GOING BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE ALL THE TIME.
THE LEGISLATURE ALL THE TIME. THAT'S IN THE HOUSE POSITION,
THAT'S IN THE HOUSE POSITION, REPRESENTED BY THE HOUSE
REPRESENTED BY THE HOUSE CONFEREES IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
CONFEREES IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. THERE ARE A LOT OF US IN THE
THERE ARE A LOT OF US IN THE SENATE THAT WOULD SUPPORT THAT,
SENATE THAT WOULD SUPPORT THAT, AT LEAST IN THE MAJORITY CAUCUS.
AT LEAST IN THE MAJORITY CAUCUS. I'M NOT QUITE SURE THE SUPPORT
I'M NOT QUITE SURE THE SUPPORT IS THERE TO BRING OUT A
IS THERE TO BRING OUT A CONFERENCE.
CONFERENCE. I'M HOPING WE'LL PASS A STRONG
I'M HOPING WE'LL PASS A STRONG MINIMUM WAGE BILL.
MINIMUM WAGE BILL. I THINK IT'S NEEDED.
I THINK IT'S NEEDED. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE QUESTION OF INCOME AND EQUALITY.
QUESTION OF INCOME AND EQUALITY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS WHO FIND THEMSELVES AT THE LOWER
WHO FIND THEMSELVES AT THE LOWER END OF THE ECONOMIC SCALE TO
END OF THE ECONOMIC SCALE TO HAVE SOME ABILITY TO TRY TO MAKE
HAVE SOME ABILITY TO TRY TO MAKE A MORE OF A LIVING WAGE THAN
A MORE OF A LIVING WAGE THAN THEY'RE ABLE TO DO PRESENTLY.
THEY'RE ABLE TO DO PRESENTLY. BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC WE'LL GET A
BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC WE'LL GET A BILL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
BILL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO
WEEKS, AND FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO NEED THAT STRONGER MINIMUM WAGE,
NEED THAT STRONGER MINIMUM WAGE, THEY'LL HAVE IT.
THEY'LL HAVE IT. >> SENATOR WEBER.
>> SENATOR WEBER. >> WELL, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT I'VE HAD A NUMBER
REMEMBER THAT I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WE HAVE
OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WE HAVE RAISED THE MINIMUM WAGE BEFORE
RAISED THE MINIMUM WAGE BEFORE AND WE HAVEN'T LOST JOBS, ET
AND WE HAVEN'T LOST JOBS, ET CETERA.
CETERA. WE'VE NEVER RAISED THE MINIMUM
WE'VE NEVER RAISED THE MINIMUM WAGE BY THIS AMOUNT BEFORE
WAGE BY THIS AMOUNT BEFORE EITHER.
EITHER. AND CERTAINLY WE WANT EVERYONE
AND CERTAINLY WE WANT EVERYONE TO DO WELL, TO EARN AS MUCH AS
TO DO WELL, TO EARN AS MUCH AS THEY CAN POSSIBLY EARN, AND YET
THEY CAN POSSIBLY EARN, AND YET I AM CONFIDENT THAT IF THE
I AM CONFIDENT THAT IF THE MINIMUM WAGE BILL IS PASSED
MINIMUM WAGE BILL IS PASSED UNDER THE TERMS THAT SENATOR
UNDER THE TERMS THAT SENATOR COHEN TALKS ABOUT THAT IT IS
COHEN TALKS ABOUT THAT IT IS GOING TO COST PEOPLE IN MY
GOING TO COST PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT A JOB.
DISTRICT A JOB. I HAD INFORMATION FROM A GROCER
I HAD INFORMATION FROM A GROCER WHO ACTUALLY HAS 20 YOUTH THAT
WHO ACTUALLY HAS 20 YOUTH THAT ARE HIRED, AND HE GAVE THE
ARE HIRED, AND HE GAVE THE AVERAGE HOURS, AND HE WORKED IT
AVERAGE HOURS, AND HE WORKED IT OUT WITH ALL THE COSTS
OUT WITH ALL THE COSTS ASSOCIATED DUE TO THIS RAISE,
ASSOCIATED DUE TO THIS RAISE, AND HIS INCREASED COSTS FOR THE
AND HIS INCREASED COSTS FOR THE YEAR BASED ON THEIR HOURS IS
YEAR BASED ON THEIR HOURS IS JUST UNDER $51,000.
JUST UNDER $51,000. YOU KNOW, THOSE -- THERE WILL BE
YOU KNOW, THOSE -- THERE WILL BE A CUT OF HOURS OR THERE WILL BE
A CUT OF HOURS OR THERE WILL BE A CUT OF PEOPLE, AND THERE WILL
A CUT OF PEOPLE, AND THERE WILL BE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GOING TO
BE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GOING TO SUFFER AS A RESULT OF THIS
SUFFER AS A RESULT OF THIS INCREASE IF IT GOES THROUGH.
INCREASE IF IT GOES THROUGH. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS
ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS WITH OUR NURSING HOMES.
WITH OUR NURSING HOMES. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT DONE AN AT
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT DONE AN AT AT -- AN ADEQUATE JOB AS A STATE
AT -- AN ADEQUATE JOB AS A STATE IN THE MONEY THAT WE'VE ALLOWED
IN THE MONEY THAT WE'VE ALLOWED OUR NURSING HOMES TO HAVE.
OUR NURSING HOMES TO HAVE. I HAVE OVER 20 NURSING HOMES IN
I HAVE OVER 20 NURSING HOMES IN MY DISTRICT.
MY DISTRICT. AND THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR
AND THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR RAISES FOR YEARS.
RAISES FOR YEARS. THE STATE HAS NOT ALLOWED
THE STATE HAS NOT ALLOWED SUFFICIENT RAISES IN YEARS.
SUFFICIENT RAISES IN YEARS. AND OVER THE -- OVER THE YEARS.
AND OVER THE -- OVER THE YEARS. THERE IS GOING TO BE A SERIOUS
THERE IS GOING TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS SUDDEN
PROBLEM WITH THIS SUDDEN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE IN
INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE IN RELATIONSHIP TO WHERE THEIR
RELATIONSHIP TO WHERE THEIR EXISTING WORKERS ARE RIGHT NOW.
EXISTING WORKERS ARE RIGHT NOW. AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF THE
AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF THE LEGISLATURE ISN'T MORE
LEGISLATURE ISN'T MORE COOPERATIVE THAN THEY HAVE BEEN,
COOPERATIVE THAN THEY HAVE BEEN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE NURSING
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE NURSING HOMES BE CLOSED, AND THEY WILL
HOMES BE CLOSED, AND THEY WILL CLOSE EVEN AT A FASTER RATE THAN
CLOSE EVEN AT A FASTER RATE THAN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN.
WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN. >> WELL, I GUESS I'M
>> WELL, I GUESS I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE PROPOSAL
DISAPPOINTED THAT THE PROPOSAL IS TAKING SUCH A DRAMATIC JUMP.
IS TAKING SUCH A DRAMATIC JUMP. I WAS VERY, I GUESS, CONVINCED
I WAS VERY, I GUESS, CONVINCED THAT IF WE COULD GO TO THE
THAT IF WE COULD GO TO THE FEDERAL MINIMUM AT 7.25, AS THE
FEDERAL MINIMUM AT 7.25, AS THE FIRST MOVE, WITH PERHAPS SOME
FIRST MOVE, WITH PERHAPS SOME OTHER INCREASES, BUT NOT THE BIG
OTHER INCREASES, BUT NOT THE BIG ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT WERE
PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT WERE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, TOO.
COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, TOO. BUSINESSES SAID WE CAN LIVE WITH
BUSINESSES SAID WE CAN LIVE WITH THAT, AND A GRADUAL INCREASE
THAT, AND A GRADUAL INCREASE WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY COULD
WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY COULD ALSO LIVE WITH.
ALSO LIVE WITH. BUT AT 9.50, I'VE HAD SOME MAJOR
BUT AT 9.50, I'VE HAD SOME MAJOR EMPLOYERS CALL ME.
EMPLOYERS CALL ME. WE'RE ONLY 20 MILES FROM NORTH
WE'RE ONLY 20 MILES FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
DAKOTA. YOU GIVE THEM A BUILDING, AND
YOU GIVE THEM A BUILDING, AND THEY'RE IN NORTH DAKOTA.
THEY'RE IN NORTH DAKOTA. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN MINNESOTA.
MINNESOTA. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IF FERGUS
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IF FERGUS FALLS.
FALLS. AND YET IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE
AND YET IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE PAYING MINIMUM WAGE IN A LOT OF
PAYING MINIMUM WAGE IN A LOT OF CASES EITHER, BUT IT DOES AFFECT
CASES EITHER, BUT IT DOES AFFECT THEIR BUSINESS.
THEIR BUSINESS. I'M REALLY TROUBLED BY THE
I'M REALLY TROUBLED BY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE LEGISLATURE SEEMS THEY CAN JUST
LEGISLATURE SEEMS THEY CAN JUST TAKE FROM BUSINESSES AND NOTHING
TAKE FROM BUSINESSES AND NOTHING NEGATIVE WILL HAPPEN FROM IT,
NEGATIVE WILL HAPPEN FROM IT, LIKE THEY WILL JUST INCREASE
LIKE THEY WILL JUST INCREASE THEIR PRICES OR THEY'LL SELL
THEIR PRICES OR THEY'LL SELL MORE OF SOMETHING.
MORE OF SOMETHING. IN THIS ECONOMY, THAT'S NOT
IN THIS ECONOMY, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
GOING TO HAPPEN. INFERRING US -- IN FERGUS FALLS,
INFERRING US -- IN FERGUS FALLS, THE KMART STORE, IT'S CLOSED.
THE KMART STORE, IT'S CLOSED. BUSINESS IS OKAY, BUT IT'S
BUSINESS IS OKAY, BUT IT'S PRETTY F FGILE, AND I THINK
PRETTY F FGILE, AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY TRUE ALL ACROSS
THAT'S PRETTY TRUE ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. MOST OF THE BUSINESSES THAT
MOST OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE -- WELL, THE ONE I
ARE -- WELL, THE ONE I MENTIONED, A LOT OF THEM ARE
MENTIONED, A LOT OF THEM ARE PAYING SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN
PAYING SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN THE MINIMIM WAGE NOW, AND YET --
THE MINIMIM WAGE NOW, AND YET -- LIKE GROCERY STORES HIRE A LOT
LIKE GROCERY STORES HIRE A LOT OF STUDENTS.
OF STUDENTS. THEY HAVE CARRYOUT SERVICE.
THEY HAVE CARRYOUT SERVICE. I CAN SEE THAT BEING A THING OF
I CAN SEE THAT BEING A THING OF THE PAST.
THE PAST. THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO IT.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO IT. SO THOSE JOBS WILL BE GONE.
SO THOSE JOBS WILL BE GONE. I DON'T SEE ANY POSITIVES WITH
I DON'T SEE ANY POSITIVES WITH AN INCREASE UP TO 9.50.
AN INCREASE UP TO 9.50. IS THERE ANY CREDIT THERE?
IS THERE ANY CREDIT THERE? THAT'S WITH THE QUESTION PEOPLE
THAT'S WITH THE QUESTION PEOPLE ASK WITH THE RESTAURANT WORKERS.
ASK WITH THE RESTAURANT WORKERS. I ASSUME THERE'S NOT.
I ASSUME THERE'S NOT. THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER THING THAT
THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD BE AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT
WOULD BE AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT MORE TOLL RABL FOR THOSE IN THE
MORE TOLL RABL FOR THOSE IN THE RESTAURANT -- TOLERABLE FOR
RESTAURANT -- TOLERABLE FOR THOSE IN THE RESTAURANT
THOSE IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS.
BUSINESS. >> I GUESS HERE IS THE ISSUE
>> I GUESS HERE IS THE ISSUE THAT KIND OF DIVIDES THE TWO
THAT KIND OF DIVIDES THE TWO SIDES OF THE TABLE HERE.
SIDES OF THE TABLE HERE. I FULLY AGREE WITH SENATOR
I FULLY AGREE WITH SENATOR COHEN.
COHEN. I THINK THAT THERE IS AN
I THINK THAT THERE IS AN INCREASE NEEDED IN THE MINIMUM
INCREASE NEEDED IN THE MINIMUM WAGE.
WAGE. I KNOW THAT THE COMMENT WAS MADE
I KNOW THAT THE COMMENT WAS MADE THAT IT WAS TOO BIG A JUMP.
THAT IT WAS TOO BIG A JUMP. IT'S BEING PHASED IN UNDER THE
IT'S BEING PHASED IN UNDER THE BILL.
BILL. IT DOESN'T GO IMMEDIATELY TO
IT DOESN'T GO IMMEDIATELY TO 9.50.
9.50. SO IT'S PHASED IN OVER TIME.
SO IT'S PHASED IN OVER TIME. IF WE LOOK AT THE LAST TIME THE
IF WE LOOK AT THE LAST TIME THE MINIMUM WAGE WAS INCREASED,
MINIMUM WAGE WAS INCREASED, INFLATION HAS EATEN AWAY AT IT.
INFLATION HAS EATEN AWAY AT IT. WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO
WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO IS GET BACK TO THE PURCHASING
IS GET BACK TO THE PURCHASING POWER THAT THE MINIMUM WAGE WAS
POWER THAT THE MINIMUM WAGE WAS AT THE LAST TIME IT WAS PASSED,
AT THE LAST TIME IT WAS PASSED, AND IN FACT, SOME WOULD SAY THAT
AND IN FACT, SOME WOULD SAY THAT AT 9:50, IT'S STILL NOT QUITE
AT 9:50, IT'S STILL NOT QUITE WHERE WE WERE A FEW YEARS AGO
WHERE WE WERE A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE PASSED THE MINIMUM WAGE
WHEN WE PASSED THE MINIMUM WAGE THAT IF YOU ADJUSTED IT FOR
THAT IF YOU ADJUSTED IT FOR INFLATION, IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE
INFLATION, IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE CLOSER TO $10 AN HOUR.
CLOSER TO $10 AN HOUR. BUT I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD
BUT I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE TO WORK -- OR BE WORKING
HAVE TO WORK -- OR BE WORKING FULL TIME AND LIVE IN POVERTY.
FULL TIME AND LIVE IN POVERTY. AND THERE ARE OTHER PARTS OF THE
AND THERE ARE OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE BUDGET THAT ARE HIT AS A
STATE BUDGET THAT ARE HIT AS A RESULT OF THIS, BECAUSE THEN A
RESULT OF THIS, BECAUSE THEN A LOT OF THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE
LOT OF THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING A SUBSTANDARD
THEY'RE MAKING A SUBSTANDARD WAGE, THEN QUALIFY FOR SOME OF
WAGE, THEN QUALIFY FOR SOME OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND SO ON, SO THROUGH OUR TAX
AND SO ON, SO THROUGH OUR TAX DOLLARS, WE'RE OFTEN SUBSIDIZING
DOLLARS, WE'RE OFTEN SUBSIDIZING SOMETIMES SOME VERY PROSPEROUS
SOMETIMES SOME VERY PROSPEROUS BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEHERE
BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEHERE PAYING A MIN WAWM -- MINIMUM
PAYING A MIN WAWM -- MINIMUM WAGE AND THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE TO
WAGE AND THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE TO GO OUT AND BE SUBSIDIZED IN A
GO OUT AND BE SUBSIDIZED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS THROUGH
VARIETY OF WAYS THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. >> THE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE OF
>> THE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE OF THE LEGISLATORS THEMSELVES, OF
THE LEGISLATORS THEMSELVES, OF THE HOUSE, OF THE NATIONAL, WHAT
THE HOUSE, OF THE NATIONAL, WHAT PERCENTAGE DO -- OF THE SENATE,
PERCENTAGE DO -- OF THE SENATE, WHAT PERCENTAGE DO YOU THINK ARE
WHAT PERCENTAGE DO YOU THINK ARE THOSE THAT HAVE COME FROM
THOSE THAT HAVE COME FROM BUSINESS THAT HAVE HAD ANY
BUSINESS THAT HAVE HAD ANY EXPERIENCE RUNNING A BUSINESS,
EXPERIENCE RUNNING A BUSINESS, OWNING A BUSINESS?
OWNING A BUSINESS? >> I THINK IT'S A PRETTY SMALL
>> I THINK IT'S A PRETTY SMALL NUMBER.
NUMBER. SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN OUR
SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN OUR CLUSTER HERE AT THE HOUSE AND
CLUSTER HERE AT THE HOUSE AND SENATE MAKING THESE DECISIONS, I
SENATE MAKING THESE DECISIONS, I THINK SOME HAVE A HARD TIME
THINK SOME HAVE A HARD TIME RELATING TO WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN
RELATING TO WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN A BUSINESS TODAY.
A BUSINESS TODAY. >> I CERTAINLY HAVE TALKED TO A
>> I CERTAINLY HAVE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF BUSINESS OWNERS IN MY
NUMBER OF BUSINESS OWNERS IN MY DISTRICT WHO FEEL THAT
DISTRICT WHO FEEL THAT INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS
INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS NEEDED AND SOMETHING THEY CAN
NEEDED AND SOMETHING THEY CAN SUPPORT.
SUPPORT. I WOULD RECOGNIZE THERE IS A
I WOULD RECOGNIZE THERE IS A DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE ECONOMY OF
DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE ECONOMY OF GREATER MINNESOTA AND THE TWIN
GREATER MINNESOTA AND THE TWIN CITIES, A PLACE LIKE MY
CITIES, A PLACE LIKE MY DISTRICT, WHICH IS IN PRETTY
DISTRICT, WHICH IS IN PRETTY GOOD ECONOMIC SHAPE.
GOOD ECONOMIC SHAPE. BILL RAISED SOME OF THE ISSUES.
BILL RAISED SOME OF THE ISSUES. I THINK THE CONFEREES ARE
I THINK THE CONFEREES ARE LOOKING AT THE QUESTION OF YOUTH
LOOKING AT THE QUESTION OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER PIES --
EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER PIES -- OTHER PIECES OF THE MINIMUM
OTHER PIECES OF THE MINIMUM WAGE.
WAGE. I WAS DOING SOME OF THE
I WAS DOING SOME OF THE ARITHMETIC.
ARITHMETIC. IF YOU RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE AT
IF YOU RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE AT $9.50.
$9.50. YOU'LL HAVE SOMEBODY MAKING
YOU'LL HAVE SOMEBODY MAKING MINIMUM WAGE WHO WILL MAKE
MINIMUM WAGE WHO WILL MAKE SOMEWHERE AROUND 15 TO $16,000 A
SOMEWHERE AROUND 15 TO $16,000 A YEAR.
YEAR. THAT'S BEFORE TAXES.
THAT'S BEFORE TAXES. AT LEAST IN THE TWIN CITIES.
AT LEAST IN THE TWIN CITIES. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR SOME OF THE
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR SOME OF THE NONMETRO DISTRICTS, BUT
NONMETRO DISTRICTS, BUT APARTMENT RENT IS AROUND 700 TO
APARTMENT RENT IS AROUND 700 TO $750 A MONTH.
$750 A MONTH. THAT'S $9,000 A YEAR.
THAT'S $9,000 A YEAR. THAT MEANS A PERSON RECEIVING
THAT MEANS A PERSON RECEIVING THE PROPOSED MINIMUM WAGE, AND
THE PROPOSED MINIMUM WAGE, AND AGAIN, THAT'S BEFORE TAXES, WILL
AGAIN, THAT'S BEFORE TAXES, WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY $6,000 PLUS
HAVE APPROXIMATELY $6,000 PLUS TO LIVE ON EXCLUSIVE OF RENT.
TO LIVE ON EXCLUSIVE OF RENT. THAT WOULD INCLUDE UTILITIES.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE UTILITIES. THAT WOULD INCLUDE FOOD.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE FOOD. THAT WOULD INCLUDE
THAT WOULD INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION.
TRANSPORTATION. WHO IS ABLE TO LIVE ON THAT?
WHO IS ABLE TO LIVE ON THAT? EVEN IF YOU RAISE THE MINIMUM
EVEN IF YOU RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE, YOU'LL STILL HAVE PEOPLE
WAGE, YOU'LL STILL HAVE PEOPLE LIVING AT A SUBSTANDARD BASIS.
LIVING AT A SUBSTANDARD BASIS. AS LYNN POINTED OUT, WITH THE
AS LYNN POINTED OUT, WITH THE VERY WIDE GAP IN TIME RELATIVE
VERY WIDE GAP IN TIME RELATIVE TO AN INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE,
TO AN INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE, IF YOU COMPARE IT ON AN
IF YOU COMPARE IT ON AN INFLATION -- INFLATIONARY BASIS,
INFLATION -- INFLATIONARY BASIS, WE'RE JUST KEEPING PACE.
WE'RE JUST KEEPING PACE. EVEN WITH INFLATION AT A MINIMAL
EVEN WITH INFLATION AT A MINIMAL AMOUNT THESE LAST NUMBER OF
AMOUNT THESE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, THERE STILL IS NOT MUCH
YEARS, THERE STILL IS NOT MUCH PURCHASING POWER WITH A MINIMUM
PURCHASING POWER WITH A MINIMUM WAGE JOB.
WAGE JOB. BILL, YOU TALKED ABOUT SPEAKING
BILL, YOU TALKED ABOUT SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT,
WITH PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND WE'VE ALL DONE THAT RELATIVE
AND WE'VE ALL DONE THAT RELATIVE TO THIS ISSUE.
TO THIS ISSUE. I'VE RUN INTO PEOPLE, NOT
I'VE RUN INTO PEOPLE, NOT NECESSARILY FROM MY DISTRICT,
NECESSARILY FROM MY DISTRICT, BUT PEOPLE WHO WORK AT MINIMUM
BUT PEOPLE WHO WORK AT MINIMUM WAGE WHO DON'T PAY RENT.
WAGE WHO DON'T PAY RENT. THE REASON IS THEY LIVE IN THEIR
THE REASON IS THEY LIVE IN THEIR CAR AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD RENT,
CAR AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD RENT, AND THEY'RE WORKING AT AT
AND THEY'RE WORKING AT AT MINIMUM WAGE.
MINIMUM WAGE. I THINK IT'S ALMOST A MORAL
I THINK IT'S ALMOST A MORAL ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO RAISE THE
ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE.
MINIMUM WAGE. >> MINIMUM WAGE IS INTENDED, I
>> MINIMUM WAGE IS INTENDED, I BELIEVE, TO BE AN ENTRY-LEVEL
BELIEVE, TO BE AN ENTRY-LEVEL WAGE.
WAGE. IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A LIVING
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A LIVING WAGE, I DON'T THINK, OR
WAGE, I DON'T THINK, OR SOMETHING YOU -- YOU WOULD HOPE
SOMETHING YOU -- YOU WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD ASPIRE TO SOMETHING
YOU WOULD ASPIRE TO SOMETHING THAT'S BETTER THAN THAT AFTER
THAT'S BETTER THAN THAT AFTER LEARNING THE JOB YOU'RE HIRED TO
LEARNING THE JOB YOU'RE HIRED TO DO.
DO. >> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
>> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. AND I THINK UNFORTUNATELY WE
AND I THINK UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE CREATED A BUSINESS CLIMATE
HAVE CREATED A BUSINESS CLIMATE IN MINNESOTA THAT REALLY HAS NOT
IN MINNESOTA THAT REALLY HAS NOT ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN.
ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN. YOU KNOW, SENDING JOBS ACROSS
YOU KNOW, SENDING JOBS ACROSS THE STATE LINE IS NOTHING NEW TO
THE STATE LINE IS NOTHING NEW TO MINNESOTA.
MINNESOTA. WE HAD TWO HOMEGROWN BUSINESS
WE HAD TWO HOMEGROWN BUSINESS IN'S LUVERNE, LUVERNE TRUCK
IN'S LUVERNE, LUVERNE TRUCK EQUIPMENT, LUVERNE FIRE
EQUIPMENT, LUVERNE FIRE APPARATUS.
APPARATUS. THEY GREW FROM 60, 70 JOBS,
THEY GREW FROM 60, 70 JOBS, COMBINED, TO OVER 200.
COMBINED, TO OVER 200. THE TROUBLE IS THAT GROWTH
THE TROUBLE IS THAT GROWTH HAPPENED IN BRANDON, SOUTH
HAPPENED IN BRANDON, SOUTH DAKOTA.
DAKOTA. A VARIETY OF ISSUES, BESIDES THE
A VARIETY OF ISSUES, BESIDES THE TAXES.
TAXES. IN THOSE YEARS, THERE WAS
IN THOSE YEARS, THERE WAS WORKERS' COMP AND UNEMPLOYMENT
WORKERS' COMP AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AND QUITE FRANKLY,
INSURANCE, AND QUITE FRANKLY, WITH THE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND
WITH THE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND THE TAX INCREASES, INCLUDING
THE TAX INCREASES, INCLUDING ABOUT $2 BILLION WORTH, YOU
ABOUT $2 BILLION WORTH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MANAGED TO SEND
KNOW, WE HAVE MANAGED TO SEND PEOPLE ACROSS THE LINES AGAIN IN
PEOPLE ACROSS THE LINES AGAIN IN LIGHT OF THE FACT WITH THE
LIGHT OF THE FACT WITH THE ESTATE TAX AND GIFT TAX ISSUES,
ESTATE TAX AND GIFT TAX ISSUES, WE'RE NOT JUST LOSING JOBS, I'M
WE'RE NOT JUST LOSING JOBS, I'M LOSING RETIRED PEOPLE OUT OF MY
LOSING RETIRED PEOPLE OUT OF MY COMMUNITIES.
COMMUNITIES. THE REALLY SAD THING ABOUT THAT
THE REALLY SAD THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE
IS THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SUCCESSFUL IN BUSINESS, HAD
SUCCESSFUL IN BUSINESS, HAD SUCCESSFUL CAREERS, SUCCESSFUL
SUCCESSFUL CAREERS, SUCCESSFUL JOBS AND MANAGED TO ACCUMULATE
JOBS AND MANAGED TO ACCUMULATE SOME WEALTH, AS IN RETIREMENT,
SOME WEALTH, AS IN RETIREMENT, THEY HAVE BECOME AN INTEGRAL
THEY HAVE BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT AND REMAINED AN
PART OF THAT AND REMAINED AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.
INTEGRAL PART OF THAT COMMUNITY. WHEN THERE IS A CHARITABLE
WHEN THERE IS A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION, THE CHURCH OR
ORGANIZATION, THE CHURCH OR OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE A
OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE A FUND DRIVE, THEY'RE THE FIRST
FUND DRIVE, THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES THAT ARE APPROACHED.
ONES THAT ARE APPROACHED. WHEN WE NEED VOLUNTEERS, THEY'RE
WHEN WE NEED VOLUNTEERS, THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES THAT ARE
THE FIRST ONES THAT ARE APPROACHED.
APPROACHED. WHEN WE NEED PEOPLE TO MENTOR OR
WHEN WE NEED PEOPLE TO MENTOR OR YOUTH, THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES
YOUTH, THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES THAT ARE APPROACHED.
THAT ARE APPROACHED. AND NOW THEY'RE MOVING ACROSS
AND NOW THEY'RE MOVING ACROSS THE STATE LINE.
THE STATE LINE. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT ONLY
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT ONLY RAISING MONEY IN THE STATE OF
RAISING MONEY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WE'RE DESTROYING THE
MINNESOTA, WE'RE DESTROYING THE FABRIC OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
FABRIC OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES. >> IF I CAN JUST SAY IT, I KNOW
>> IF I CAN JUST SAY IT, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT
WE'VE TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT THIS.
THIS. >> BUT THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT.
>> BUT THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT. >> TO RESPOND, I DO THINK THERE
>> TO RESPOND, I DO THINK THERE IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN IN TERMS
IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN IN TERMS OF BORDER AREAS WHEN YOU FIND A
OF BORDER AREAS WHEN YOU FIND A COMPARISON TO NORTH AND SOUTH
COMPARISON TO NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA IN PARTICULAR.
DAKOTA IN PARTICULAR. BUT I THINK SOME OF THE ISSUES
BUT I THINK SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU RAISE, BILL, WILL BE
THAT YOU RAISE, BILL, WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF ARGUABLY WITHIN A
TAKEN CARE OF ARGUABLY WITHIN A WEEK OR SO OF THE TIME THIS IS
WEEK OR SO OF THE TIME THIS IS BEING BROADCAST AND TAPED.
BEING BROADCAST AND TAPED. THE GIFT TAX, ESTATE TAX YOU
THE GIFT TAX, ESTATE TAX YOU MENTIONED, I THINK THOSE ISSUES
MENTIONED, I THINK THOSE ISSUES WILL BE DEALT WITH FAIRLY SOON
WILL BE DEALT WITH FAIRLY SOON IN A WAY THAT I THINK YOU WOULD
IN A WAY THAT I THINK YOU WOULD BE APPROVING.
BE APPROVING. SO I THINK SOME OF THE
SO I THINK SOME OF THE PARTICULAR ISSUES YOU RAISE AND
PARTICULAR ISSUES YOU RAISE AND NOTISMISSIVE OF SOMEBODY WHO
NOTISMISSIVE OF SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT LOOK AT A SIGNIFICANT
MIGHT LOOK AT A SIGNIFICANT MINNESOTA STATE TAX, WHICH
MINNESOTA STATE TAX, WHICH CREATES SOME PROBLEMS, I THINK
CREATES SOME PROBLEMS, I THINK THAT PERSON, IF THAT PERSON HAS
THAT PERSON, IF THAT PERSON HAS THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL TO BE
THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ESTATE TAX,
CONCERNED ABOUT THE ESTATE TAX, THAT PERSON SHOULD NOT BE
THAT PERSON SHOULD NOT BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MINIMUM
CONCERNED ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE.
WAGE. THAT PERSON IS DOING PRETTY
THAT PERSON IS DOING PRETTY WELL.
WELL. BUT THEY'LL FIND THEMSELVES, I
BUT THEY'LL FIND THEMSELVES, I THINK, IN A COMPARATIVE WAY OF
THINK, IN A COMPARATIVE WAY OF SATISFIED.
SATISFIED. BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE HAVE TO
BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ECONOMIC LEDGER, AND
ECONOMIC LEDGER, AND REPRESENTATIVE NORNES MENTIONED
REPRESENTATIVE NORNES MENTIONED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT
THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY COULD FIND AN ENTRY
SOMEBODY COULD FIND AN ENTRY LEVEL POSITION.
LEVEL POSITION. AND IF YOU GO BACK X NUMBER OF
AND IF YOU GO BACK X NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, I MIGHT AGREE, BUT
YEARS AGO, I MIGHT AGREE, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT IN TODAY'S
THE REALITY IS THAT IN TODAY'S ECONOMY, YOU'VE GOT FOLKS
ECONOMY, YOU'VE GOT FOLKS WORKING THOSE MINIMUM WAGE JOBS
WORKING THOSE MINIMUM WAGE JOBS WHO WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO GET TO
WHO WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO GET TO THE NEXT RUNG OF THE ECONOMIC
THE NEXT RUNG OF THE ECONOMIC LADDER, AND THEY CAN'T BECAUSE
LADDER, AND THEY CAN'T BECAUSE OF WHERE THINGS HAVE BEEN, AND
OF WHERE THINGS HAVE BEEN, AND THESE AREN'T KIDS, COLLEGE KIDS,
THESE AREN'T KIDS, COLLEGE KIDS, WORKING A SUMMER JOB.
WORKING A SUMMER JOB. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADULTS WITH
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADULTS WITH CHILDREN WHO SIMPLY CAN'T EXIST
CHILDREN WHO SIMPLY CAN'T EXIST ON WHAT THE CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE
ON WHAT THE CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE IS AND WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO
IS AND WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO EXIST UNDER THE NEW PROPOSED
EXIST UNDER THE NEW PROPOSED MINIMUM WAGE.
MINIMUM WAGE. >> ONE THING ELSE I WANTED TO
>> ONE THING ELSE I WANTED TO MENTION, WE'RE TALKING MINIMUM
MENTION, WE'RE TALKING MINIMUM WAGE.
WAGE. WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT THE
WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE,
IMPACT OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE, THE WHOLE OVERHAUL OF THE HEALTH
THE WHOLE OVERHAUL OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM ON BUSINESS.
INSURANCE PROGRAM ON BUSINESS. BUSINESS DOESN'T REALLY KNOW YET
BUSINESS DOESN'T REALLY KNOW YET WHAT THAT TOTALICTURE IS GOING
WHAT THAT TOTALICTURE IS GOING TO BE LIKE, BUT IT'S NOT GOING
TO BE LIKE, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PROBABLY POSITIVE.
TO BE PROBABLY POSITIVE. IT'S GOING TO COST MORE.
IT'S GOING TO COST MORE. AND SO THERE'S ALL KINDS OF
AND SO THERE'S ALL KINDS OF PRESSURES, I THINK, ON TODAY'S
PRESSURES, I THINK, ON TODAY'S BUSINESS THAT ARE GOING IN THE
BUSINESS THAT ARE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
WRONG DIRECTION. >> AND ONE OF THE OTHER AREAS
>> AND ONE OF THE OTHER AREAS THAT SEVERELY IMPACTED MY REGION
THAT SEVERELY IMPACTED MY REGION IS THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
IS THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. RIGHT NOW, THEIR MARGINS ARE SO
RIGHT NOW, THEIR MARGINS ARE SO TIGHT THAT, QUIET FRANKLY, YOU
TIGHT THAT, QUIET FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THEIR WAIT STAFF ARE NOT
KNOW, THEIR WAIT STAFF ARE NOT EXISTING ON MINIMUM WAGE.
EXISTING ON MINIMUM WAGE. THEY AREN'T EXISTING ON MINIMUM
THEY AREN'T EXISTING ON MINIMUM WAGE PLUS TIPS, IN SOME CASES
WAGE PLUS TIPS, IN SOME CASES MINIMUM WAGE PLUS TIPS.
MINIMUM WAGE PLUS TIPS. RIGHT NOW THEIR MARGINS ARE SO
RIGHT NOW THEIR MARGINS ARE SO TIGHT THAT WITH THE INCREASE
TIGHT THAT WITH THE INCREASE THIS MINIMUM WAGE, THERE ARE
THIS MINIMUM WAGE, THERE ARE SOME OF THEM THAT ARE JUST GOING
SOME OF THEM THAT ARE JUST GOING TO GIVE UP THE FIGHT AND SHUT
TO GIVE UP THE FIGHT AND SHUT THE DOOR, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
THE DOOR, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MARGINS TO EXIST WITH THOSE
THE MARGINS TO EXIST WITH THOSE KINDS OF COSTS OUT IN GREATER
KINDS OF COSTS OUT IN GREATER MINNESOTA.
MINNESOTA. >> WELL, WE'LL HAVE AN
>> WELL, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS,
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS, I SUSPECT, IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.
I SUSPECT, IN THE WEEKS AHEAD. SENATOR COHEN, DO YOU THINK IN
SENATOR COHEN, DO YOU THINK IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO THIS WILL
THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO THIS WILL PROBABLY MOVE THROUGH; IS THAT
PROBABLY MOVE THROUGH; IS THAT KIND OF YOUR PREDICTION?
KIND OF YOUR PREDICTION? >> THAT WOULD BE MY GUEST.
>> THAT WOULD BE MY GUEST. I'M NOT SURE NEXT WEEK, BUT I'LL
I'M NOT SURE NEXT WEEK, BUT I'LL SAY THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
SAY THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. >> REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON.
>> REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON. >> I WOULD SAY IT'S GOING TO
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S GOING TO MOVE THROUGH.
MOVE THROUGH. HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE REACHED AN
HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT ON A MAJOR PART OF THE
AGREEMENT ON A MAJOR PART OF THE BILL AND THAT'S AT THE 9.50 PER
BILL AND THAT'S AT THE 9.50 PER HOUR.
HOUR. BOTH BODIES HAVE PASSED AN
BOTH BODIES HAVE PASSED AN INCREASE AND THEY HAVE RESOLVED
INCREASE AND THEY HAVE RESOLVED THAT ISSUE, AS SENATOR COHEN
THAT ISSUE, AS SENATOR COHEN POINTED OUT, THE BIGGEST
POINTED OUT, THE BIGGEST REMAINING ISSUE WAS TO HAVE IT
REMAINING ISSUE WAS TO HAVE IT ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION, AND I
ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION, AND I THINK ONCE THAT'S RESOLVED IT,
THINK ONCE THAT'S RESOLVED IT, WILL COME BACK FROM CONFERENCE
WILL COME BACK FROM CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND BE PASSED INTO
COMMITTEE AND BE PASSED INTO LAW.
LAW. >> A VIEWER FROM RICHVILLE WANTS
>> A VIEWER FROM RICHVILLE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT TAXES.
TO TALK ABOUT TAXES. THE VIEWER IS A RETIRED VETERAN
THE VIEWER IS A RETIRED VETERAN AND WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT
AND WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO
THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO REPEAL THE LAW THAT TAXED HISRY
REPEAL THE LAW THAT TAXED HISRY TIERMT -- HIS RETIREMENT
TIERMT -- HIS RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
BENEFITS. WE'VE HAD THAT COME UP BEFORE.
WE'VE HAD THAT COME UP BEFORE. IS THAT ON THE TABLE OR ANY
IS THAT ON THE TABLE OR ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT. >> I THINK REPRESENTATIVE BOB
>> I THINK REPRESENTATIVE BOB DETMER HAS THAT BILL AGAIN TO
DETMER HAS THAT BILL AGAIN TO ATTEMPT TO TO DO THAT.
ATTEMPT TO TO DO THAT. IT'S BEEN AROUND BEFORE, AND THE
IT'S BEEN AROUND BEFORE, AND THE ARGUMENT IS, SURE, YOU'RE NOT
ARGUMENT IS, SURE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAX THE RETIREMENT IF
GOING TO TAX THE RETIREMENT IF THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE TO
THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE TO MINNESOTA.
MINNESOTA. THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE HERE, PAY
THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE HERE, PAY MORE TAXES.
MORE TAXES. IT'S A POSITIVE FOR THE STATE.
IT'S A POSITIVE FOR THE STATE. THAT'S THE -- KIND OF THE
THAT'S THE -- KIND OF THE PRESENTATION THAT BOB MAKES SO
PRESENTATION THAT BOB MAKES SO THAT IT'S JUST KNOT JUST DOING
THAT IT'S JUST KNOT JUST DOING DOING -- SO IT'S NOT JUST DOING
DOING -- SO IT'S NOT JUST DOING SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HELP THE
SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HELP THE STATE, LIKE WHEN YOU CUT THE
STATE, LIKE WHEN YOU CUT THE TAX, BUT IT'S A POSITIVE BECAUSE
TAX, BUT IT'S A POSITIVE BECAUSE THEY WILL PAY MORE TAXES AND
THEY WILL PAY MORE TAXES AND BRING A FAMILY HERE, AND IT'S A
BRING A FAMILY HERE, AND IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY.
WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY. OTHER STATES ARE DOING IT.
OTHER STATES ARE DOING IT. I THINK I'VE ACTUALLY SIGNED ON
I THINK I'VE ACTUALLY SIGNED ON AS A COAUTHOR OF THAT.
AS A COAUTHOR OF THAT. I THINK IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE
I THINK IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT DOING
OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT DOING THAT.
THAT. I HAVE SOME RETIRED FRIENDS THAT
I HAVE SOME RETIRED FRIENDS THAT ARE FROM MILITARY.
ARE FROM MILITARY. SOME ARE STILL HERE.
SOME ARE STILL HERE. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT BRING THEM HERE BESIDES THAT,
BRING THEM HERE BESIDES THAT, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A REAL
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A REAL POSITIVE THING FOR THE STATE OF
POSITIVE THING FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO BE A REAL FRIENDLY
MINNESOTA TO BE A REAL FRIENDLY PLACE FOR THOSE RETIRED
PLACE FOR THOSE RETIRED MILITARY.
MILITARY. >> ANYBODY KNOW THE STATUS OF
>> ANYBODY KNOW THE STATUS OF THAT DISCUSSION?
THAT DISCUSSION? >> LEGISLATION HAS BEEN
>> LEGISLATION HAS BEEN INTRODUCED.
INTRODUCED. IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO PREDICT
IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO PREDICT WHAT MAY HAPPEN THIS LEGISLATIVE
WHAT MAY HAPPEN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN ADDITION TO WHAT'S
SESSION IN ADDITION TO WHAT'S ALREADY PASSED.
ALREADY PASSED. IF SOMETHING IS DONE IN THAT
IF SOMETHING IS DONE IN THAT REGARD, THE PROBABILITY IS
REGARD, THE PROBABILITY IS STRONGER THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
STRONGER THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN PAST YEARS SIMPLY BECAUSE
IN PAST YEARS SIMPLY BECAUSE REVENUE IS MUCH STRONGER FOR THE
REVENUE IS MUCH STRONGER FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, AND THAT
STATE OF MINNESOTA, AND THAT WOULD BE AN ANSWER FOR ANY
WOULD BE AN ANSWER FOR ANY NUMBER OF VERY WORTHY CAUSES
NUMBER OF VERY WORTHY CAUSES THAT MIGHT COME FORWARD IN TERMS
THAT MIGHT COME FORWARD IN TERMS OF TAX QUESTIONS.
OF TAX QUESTIONS. THE HOUSE HAS ALREADY PUT A
THE HOUSE HAS ALREADY PUT A MAJOR BILL THROUGH THAT'S NOW
MAJOR BILL THROUGH THAT'S NOW BEFORE THE SENATE, DEALING WITH
BEFORE THE SENATE, DEALING WITH TAX POLICY CHANGES THAT WILL
TAX POLICY CHANGES THAT WILL PROVIDE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL
PROVIDE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR FAMILIES ACROSS THE
REVENUE FOR FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
STATE OF MINNESOTA. I'M TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL
I'M TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL CONFORMITY, WHICH WILL PROVIDE
CONFORMITY, WHICH WILL PROVIDE ROUGHLY 200 MILLION IN TAX
ROUGHLY 200 MILLION IN TAX RELIEF, AND THAT HAS A VARIETY
RELIEF, AND THAT HAS A VARIETY OF COMPONENTS THAT HELPS A WHOLE
OF COMPONENTS THAT HELPS A WHOLE LOT OF TAXPAYERS.
LOT OF TAXPAYERS. SO TO DATE, THAT'S BEEN THE MAIN
SO TO DATE, THAT'S BEEN THE MAIN THRUST ON THE HOUSE SIDE.
THRUST ON THE HOUSE SIDE. >> AND I THINK, TO BE FAIR TO
>> AND I THINK, TO BE FAIR TO THE QUESTIONER, THIS YEAR THAT
THE QUESTIONER, THIS YEAR THAT WILL PROBABLY NOT HAPPEN, BUT AS
WILL PROBABLY NOT HAPPEN, BUT AS REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON JUST
REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON JUST POINTED OUT, THE HOUSE PASSED
POINTED OUT, THE HOUSE PASSED THE OMNIBUS TAX BILL LAST YEAR,
THE OMNIBUS TAX BILL LAST YEAR, AND I THINK, IF I'M NOT
AND I THINK, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AND THE
MISTAKEN, AND THE REPRESENTATIVES CAN CORRECT ME,
REPRESENTATIVES CAN CORRECT ME, I THINK IF NOT UNANIMOUS, IT WAS
I THINK IF NOT UNANIMOUS, IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO IT ON THE HOUSE
VERY CLOSE TO IT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
FLOOR. >> TWO NEGATIVES.
>> TWO NEGATIVES. >> TWO NEGATIVES.
>> TWO NEGATIVES. HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE THAT WITH A
HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE THAT WITH A TAX BILL?
TAX BILL? ALMOST NEVER.
ALMOST NEVER. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS WIDE SUPPORT
OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS WIDE SUPPORT FOR THAT BILL WHICH PROVIDES
FOR THAT BILL WHICH PROVIDES OVER 500 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX
OVER 500 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX REDUCTIONS.
REDUCTIONS. BUT THE IMPORTANT THING TO
BUT THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER, AND I WOULD DEFER TO
REMEMBER, AND I WOULD DEFER TO REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON, THE
REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON, THE HISTORIAN AMONG THE GROUP OF US,
HISTORIAN AMONG THE GROUP OF US, WHEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL
WHEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT
AMENDMENT WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT IN, WHAT, THE EARLY '70s,
IN, WHAT, THE EARLY '70s, RELATIVE TO ANNUAL SESSIONS OF
RELATIVE TO ANNUAL SESSIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE INTENTS WAS
THE LEGISLATURE, THE INTENTS WAS THAT THE EVEN NUMBERED YEAR,
THAT THE EVEN NUMBERED YEAR, THIS YEAR, WOULD BE A MOPUP
THIS YEAR, WOULD BE A MOPUP SESSION.
SESSION. IT WOULDN'T BE A REWORKING OF
IT WOULDN'T BE A REWORKING OF TAX LEGISLATION OR THE STATE
TAX LEGISLATION OR THE STATE BUDGET.
BUDGET. IT WAS THERE TO DO SOME THINGS
IT WAS THERE TO DO SOME THINGS FAIRLY SIMPLY.
FAIRLY SIMPLY. I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENED IS
I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENED IS BECAUSE IN 99, 2000, 2001, YOU
BECAUSE IN 99, 2000, 2001, YOU HAD HUGE SURPLUSES, AND THEN WE
HAD HUGE SURPLUSES, AND THEN WE RAN INTO A DECADE OF DEFICITS
RAN INTO A DECADE OF DEFICITS THAT EVERYBODY HAS GOTTEN USED
THAT EVERYBODY HAS GOTTEN USED TO US REWORKING TAXES AND
TO US REWORKING TAXES AND BUDGETS EVERY YEAR.
BUDGETS EVERY YEAR. THAT WAS NEVER THE INTENT OF THE
THAT WAS NEVER THE INTENT OF THE ANNUAL SESSIONS, AND SO THE FACT
ANNUAL SESSIONS, AND SO THE FACT THAT YOU'RE PASSING A
THAT YOU'RE PASSING A 500 MILLION-DOLLAR TAX DECREASE
500 MILLION-DOLLAR TAX DECREASE BILL THIS YEAR DOES NOT SUGGEST
BILL THIS YEAR DOES NOT SUGGEST THAT THE BILL IS GOING TO DEAL
THAT THE BILL IS GOING TO DEAL WITH EVERYTHING.
WITH EVERYTHING. NEXT YEAR, IF THE ECONOMY
NEXT YEAR, IF THE ECONOMY CONTINUES AS IT HAS BEEN, IF WE
CONTINUES AS IT HAS BEEN, IF WE CONTINUE WITH THE PROJECTED
CONTINUE WITH THE PROJECTED SURPLUS FOR THE NEXT BIENNIUM,
SURPLUS FOR THE NEXT BIENNIUM, THE 16-17 BIENNIUM, WHICH AT
THE 16-17 BIENNIUM, WHICH AT THIS POINT IS AT 2.7 BILLION, I
THIS POINT IS AT 2.7 BILLION, I BELIEVE, 2.5 OR 2.7 BILLION, NOW
BELIEVE, 2.5 OR 2.7 BILLION, NOW AGAIN THAT'S GOING TO BE REDUCED
AGAIN THAT'S GOING TO BE REDUCED TO THE TAX BILL, BUT THERE STILL
TO THE TAX BILL, BUT THERE STILL WILL BE A HEALTHY SURPLUS
WILL BE A HEALTHY SURPLUS PROJECTED.
PROJECTED. THERE COULD WELL BE THE
THERE COULD WELL BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL WITH SOME OF
OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THESE OTHERS ANCILLARY BUT
THESE OTHERS ANCILLARY BUT IMPORTANT TAX ISSUES.
IMPORTANT TAX ISSUES. >> WELL, I WOULD AGREE.
>> WELL, I WOULD AGREE. I'M NOT ON THE TAX COMMITTEE,
I'M NOT ON THE TAX COMMITTEE, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS
AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS PARTICULAR BILL OVER ON OUR
PARTICULAR BILL OVER ON OUR SIDE, YOU KNOW.
SIDE, YOU KNOW. AND WHILE IT MAKES SOME SENSE, I
AND WHILE IT MAKES SOME SENSE, I REALLY DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT
REALLY DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL PROBABLY INITIATE -- WELL,
WE'LL PROBABLY INITIATE -- WELL, THE TAX MEASURES ARE GOING TO BE
THE TAX MEASURES ARE GOING TO BE INITIATED IN THE HOUSE, AND
INITIATED IN THE HOUSE, AND GROWING UP IN HISTORY, WATCHING
GROWING UP IN HISTORY, WATCHING HISTORY OF THE STATE, YOU KNOW,
HISTORY OF THE STATE, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS GREW UP BELIEVING THE ODD
ALWAYS GREW UP BELIEVING THE ODD YEAR IS GOING TO BE BUDGET YEAR
YEAR IS GOING TO BE BUDGET YEAR AND TAXES AND THE EVEN YEAR IS
AND TAXES AND THE EVEN YEAR IS GOING TO BE BONDING.
GOING TO BE BONDING. >> FORMER MAYORS KNOW ABOUT
>> FORMER MAYORS KNOW ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE THEY REALLY WATCH
THAT, BECAUSE THEY REALLY WATCH THAT.
THAT. (LAUGHTER).
(LAUGHTER). >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO COMMENT
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO COMMENT SENATOR COHEN IS ABSOLUTELY
SENATOR COHEN IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT ON THE HISTORY OF THE
CORRECT ON THE HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND THAT'S WHY THE SESSION IS GOING
THAT'S WHY THE SESSION IS GOING TO BE SHORT THIS WEEK.
TO BE SHORT THIS WEEK. >> DO WE KNOW WHAT THE PROJECTED
>> DO WE KNOW WHAT THE PROJECTED DEPARTURE DATE IS?
DEPARTURE DATE IS? ANYBODY HAVE A GUESS AS TO WHEN
ANYBODY HAVE A GUESS AS TO WHEN THAT IS?
THAT IS? >> I'M HOPING TOMORROW.
>> I'M HOPING TOMORROW. (LAUGHTER).
(LAUGHTER). >> THAT MIGHT BE OPTIMISTIC, OR
>> THAT MIGHT BE OPTIMISTIC, OR PESSIMISTIC, DEPENDING ON YOUR
PESSIMISTIC, DEPENDING ON YOUR VIEW.
VIEW. >> MAY 20th; IS THAT RIGHT?
>> MAY 20th; IS THAT RIGHT? >> THAT IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL
>> THAT IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE.
DEADLINE. >> IT COULD BE QUICKER THEN?
>> IT COULD BE QUICKER THEN? >> THERE ARE JUST NOT GOING TO
>> THERE ARE JUST NOT GOING TO BE THAT MANY THINGS ON THE PLATE
BE THAT MANY THINGS ON THE PLATE BECAUSE IT IS THE SECOND YEAR,
BECAUSE IT IS THE SECOND YEAR, AND THAT WAS BY DESIGN.
AND THAT WAS BY DESIGN. WE CAME IN LATER THAN WE USUALLY
WE CAME IN LATER THAN WE USUALLY DO.
DO. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE CAME IN THAT WE HAD THE MOST
CAME IN THAT WE HAD THE MOST RECENT BUDGET FORECAST, AND OF
RECENT BUDGET FORECAST, AND OF COURSE, THAT CAME OUT JUST AS WE
COURSE, THAT CAME OUT JUST AS WE WERE CONVENING.
WERE CONVENING. >> I THINK I HEARD SOME
>> I THINK I HEARD SOME SPECULATION LAST WEEK THAT IT
SPECULATION LAST WEEK THAT IT MIGHT EVEN BE EARLY MAY; IS
MIGHT EVEN BE EARLY MAY; IS THAT --.
THAT --. >> IT COULD CONCEIVABLY HAPPEN.
>> IT COULD CONCEIVABLY HAPPEN. >> I HOPE YOU GET OUT BEFORE
>> I HOPE YOU GET OUT BEFORE FISHING SEASON.
FISHING SEASON. >> ONE THING I ALWAYS KEEP IN
>> ONE THING I ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT IS THAT IF WE SET AN
MIND THAT IS THAT IF WE SET AN EARLY DATE AT THE TABLE HERE OR
EARLY DATE AT THE TABLE HERE OR ESPECIALLY IF IT'S THE
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S THE LEADERSHIP, THEN YOU'RE HELD TO
LEADERSHIP, THEN YOU'RE HELD TO THAT EVEN THOUGH
THAT EVEN THOUGH CONSTITUTIONALLY YOU DON'T
CONSTITUTIONALLY YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO ADJOURN BY
NECESSARILY NEED TO ADJOURN BY THAT DATE.
THAT DATE. SO WE'LL MEET OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
SO WE'LL MEET OUR CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE.
DEADLINE. YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. >> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY. >> BUT I THINK THERE IS A HIGH
>> BUT I THINK THERE IS A HIGH DEGREE OF PROBABILITY IT WILL BE
DEGREE OF PROBABILITY IT WILL BE MUCH EARLIER THAN THAT.
MUCH EARLIER THAN THAT. SOMETIMES YOUR CRYSTAL BALL GETS
SOMETIMES YOUR CRYSTAL BALL GETS A LITTLE CLOUDY.
A LITTLE CLOUDY. >> NOW, REGULAR VIEWERS OF THIS
>> NOW, REGULAR VIEWERS OF THIS PROGRAM OF COURSE, OVER THE LAST
PROGRAM OF COURSE, OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WILL KNOW THAT WE
FEW WEEKS, WILL KNOW THAT WE SOMETIMES PRESTAGE EVENTS THAT
SOMETIMES PRESTAGE EVENTS THAT SHOW UP IN THE NEWSPAPER TWO OR
SHOW UP IN THE NEWSPAPER TWO OR THREE DAYS LATER, AND SOMETIMES
THREE DAYS LATER, AND SOMETIMES YOUR HOST IS ACTUALLY SURPRISED
YOUR HOST IS ACTUALLY SURPRISED TO DISCOVER THAT THERE ARE THESE
TO DISCOVER THAT THERE ARE THESE ISSUES GOING ON AT THE
ISSUES GOING ON AT THE LEGISLATURE.
LEGISLATURE. A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE STARTED
A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE STARTED GETTING QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS
GETTING QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS ABOUT, WHAT IS THE LEGISLATURE
ABOUT, WHAT IS THE LEGISLATURE DOING ABOUT DRONES AND
DOING ABOUT DRONES AND SURVEILLANCE, AND I DISCOVERED
SURVEILLANCE, AND I DISCOVERED THAT, IN FACT, THERE IS
THAT, IN FACT, THERE IS DISCUSSION ABOUT DRONES AND
DISCUSSION ABOUT DRONES AND SURVEILLANCE AT THE LEGISLATURE.
SURVEILLANCE AT THE LEGISLATURE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THAT
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN SHARE WITH US ABOUT THE
THEY CAN SHARE WITH US ABOUT THE STATUS OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS?
STATUS OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS? BECAUSE WE DO HAVE VIEWERS WHO
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE VIEWERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THAT TOPIC.
ARE INTERESTED IN THAT TOPIC. >> I CAN QUICKLY SAY THAT YOU
>> I CAN QUICKLY SAY THAT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED
SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED BECAUSE THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS
BECAUSE THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS THAT WERE BEGINNING LAST YEAR.
THAT WERE BEGINNING LAST YEAR. IT'S BEEN A HIGH INTEREST AREA,
IT'S BEEN A HIGH INTEREST AREA, AND THAT DISCUSSION IS CARRIED
AND THAT DISCUSSION IS CARRIED OVER INTO THIS LEGISLATIVE
OVER INTO THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SESSION. >> THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST
>> THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST AMONG THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
AMONG THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY TO USE SOME KIND OF AN AERIAL --
TO USE SOME KIND OF AN AERIAL -- I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S AN
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S AN ACTUAL DRONE, WHICH I VISUALIZE
ACTUAL DRONE, WHICH I VISUALIZE AS A MODERN AIRPLANE OR RELY
AS A MODERN AIRPLANE OR RELY COPTER TYPE VEHICLE THAT WOULD
COPTER TYPE VEHICLE THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A LITTLE MORE
PROBABLY BE A LITTLE MORE CONTROLLABLE, BUT PROTECTING
CONTROLLABLE, BUT PROTECTING EVERYTHING FROM LIVESTOCK TO THE
EVERYTHING FROM LIVESTOCK TO THE CONDITION OF THE CROPS TO
CONDITION OF THE CROPS TO WHATEVER ELSE THEY NEED TO SEE
WHATEVER ELSE THEY NEED TO SEE IN A PRETTY HIGH TECH WAY BUT I
IN A PRETTY HIGH TECH WAY BUT I GUESS THE QUESTION IS THEY DON'T
GUESS THE QUESTION IS THEY DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT CHECKING UP ON
WANT TO BE CAUGHT CHECKING UP ON THE NEIGHBORS, AND SO THERE IS
THE NEIGHBORS, AND SO THERE IS CONCERN, BUT I THINK IT'S THE
CONCERN, BUT I THINK IT'S THE TECENOLOGY THAT -- YOU KNOW,
TECENOLOGY THAT -- YOU KNOW, IT'S HERE, AND IF IT HAS A
IT'S HERE, AND IF IT HAS A PRACTICALITY, I THINK WE OUGHT
PRACTICALITY, I THINK WE OUGHT TO TRY TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
TO TRY TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE. >> I THINK THE MAIN CONCERN HAS
>> I THINK THE MAIN CONCERN HAS BEEN THE PRIVACY THING.
BEEN THE PRIVACY THING. >> WILL THERE BE LEGISLATION
>> WILL THERE BE LEGISLATION THAT PASSES THIS YEAR ABOUT
THAT PASSES THIS YEAR ABOUT THIS?
THIS? OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT GETS
OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT GETS DISCUSSED, STUDIED AND THEN
DISCUSSED, STUDIED AND THEN MAYBE LAID OVER TO NEXT YEAR?
MAYBE LAID OVER TO NEXT YEAR? I SHOULDN'T SAY LAID OVER TO A
I SHOULDN'T SAY LAID OVER TO A NEW SESSION, BUT NEW BILLS
NEW SESSION, BUT NEW BILLS INTRODUCED.
INTRODUCED. >> I THINK RIGHT NOW YOU CAN GO
>> I THINK RIGHT NOW YOU CAN GO TO RADIO SHACK OR THOSE PLACES
TO RADIO SHACK OR THOSE PLACES AND BUY A LITTLE HELICOPTER.
AND BUY A LITTLE HELICOPTER. THEY HAVE CAMERAS ON THEM.
THEY HAVE CAMERAS ON THEM. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO LET IT FLY.
ILLEGAL TO LET IT FLY. IT'S AN AREA WE'LL KEEP AN EYE
IT'S AN AREA WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON.
ON. >> BEING A REAL ESTATE APPRAISER
>> BEING A REAL ESTATE APPRAISER BY TRADE, I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT
BY TRADE, I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT THAT YOUR OWNERSHIP, YOU HAVE A
THAT YOUR OWNERSHIP, YOU HAVE A VERTICAL LEVEL THERE AT SOME
VERTICAL LEVEL THERE AT SOME POINT, AND SO THERE ARE ISSUES
POINT, AND SO THERE ARE ISSUES OUT THERE.
OUT THERE. >> AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE
>> AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE LAST WORD ON THIS BECAUSE WE'VE
LAST WORD ON THIS BECAUSE WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.
RUN OUT OF TIME. I WANT TO THANK OUR VIEWERS FOR
I WANT TO THANK OUR VIEWERS FOR JOINING US.
JOINING US. I WANT TO REMIND YOU THIS IS
I WANT TO REMIND YOU THIS IS YOUR PROGRAM.
YOUR PROGRAM. YOU CAN SEND US QUESTIONS FOR
YOU CAN SEND US QUESTIONS FOR NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM.
NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM. YOU CAN LIKE US ON OUR FACEBOOK
YOU CAN LIKE US ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, JOIN US ON TWITTER.
PAGE, JOIN US ON TWITTER. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US NEXT
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER PANEL OF
WEEK WITH ANOTHER PANEL OF GUESTS TO HELP UNRAVEL THE
GUESTS TO HELP UNRAVEL THE MYSTERIES OF ST. PAUL.
MYSTERIES OF ST. PAUL. THANK YOU TO YOUR PANEL AND OUR
THANK YOU TO YOUR PANEL AND OUR VIEWERS V A GOOD NIGHT.
VIEWERS V A GOOD NIGHT. >>> THERE IS MUCH MORE ONLINE AT
>>> THERE IS MUCH MORE ONLINE AT PIONEER.ORG.
PIONEER.ORG. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM, WHO HAS BEEN A
OF THE PROGRAM, WHO HAS BEEN A GUEST,
GUEST, GUEST, AND WATCH ALL OUR PAST
GUEST, AND WATCH ALL OUR PAST EPISODES.
EPISODES. THERE'S ALSO A PHOTO GALLERY,
THERE'S ALSO A PHOTO GALLERY, INFORMATIVE LINKS AND MUCH MORE.
INFORMATIVE LINKS AND MUCH MORE. YOU CAN ALSO GET INVOLVED AND
YOU CAN ALSO GET INVOLVED AND STAY IN TOUCH BY FOLLOWING US ON
STAY IN TOUCH BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION
TWITTER AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "YOUR
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "YOUR LEGISLATORS".
LEGISLATORS". >> YOUR LEGISLATORS IS MADE
>> YOUR LEGISLATORS IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS
POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF MEAM OWE
FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF MEAM OWE MEAM MEMBERS.
MEAM MEMBERS. WE WORK HARD FOR MINNESOTANS.
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