6 minutes past 11 and good morning. This is midday on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm very glad you could join us. Well decision time is approaching at the Minnesota state capitol the Minnesota Senate in Minnesota house at past their versions of most of the major bills facing the legislature this year. Now, they have to work out their differences in conference committees and come up with a single version of each of those bills that of course. It's on to the governor's office. And that's where we're going to focus on. This shower is first hour of our need a program where the governor's stands on all these bills taxes Hockey Arena University Minnesota funding Light Rail Transit the profile of learning all the major issues still to be resolved Our Guest this hour is Bernie Allman the governor's chief of staff and a former legislator and South and we invite you to join our conversation this hour if you have a question or comment for the Governor's top paid, give us a call or Twin City area number is two two seven six. 2276 thousand outside the Twin Cities 1-800. 242-282-8227 6001 800-242-2828 is where you trying to sort through some of the big issues that the legislature and where they met all how they get make it resolved yet stronger. Thanks for coming in today. Thank you could be here Carlson certainly not been shy over the years a wielding that Vito pain. Can we look for some more of this year while a lot depends on what what happens to the conference committee process? I hope that in the end that we can have a very successful session and adjourn and even a couple weeks. It's seems to know what the governor that he laid out an agenda for this legislative session. That was right in the the Middle where the people in Minnesota want to be in that is invest in in in some of the areas that that need investing in like higher education the the supplemental but But he proposed for higher education is on President as well as the bonding request that he's got for the University of Minnesota and the men's cue system and also heat he invested in in the areas of environment. We had a 203 million-dollar Outdoors initiative that folks and like the hike and bike and hunt and fish. I'm really took ownership with and and that was the governor's initiative and then the on tax policy we are on the cusp of perhaps having some very strong commercial industrial residential and apartment apartment reform to a compressed so we can be competitive especially with them other states that are surrounding us because that does affect business that does affect job growth in the governor when he came in wanted everything the focus on good high-quality paying jobs and also his 30% proposed rebate for the second year in a row it when take effect when he is Governor, but it would be a tax cut that Would get that would be a result of of his physical stewardship and the opportunity for for the next legislature to then get into the area of income tax rate reduction with a surplus that we had a 1.3 billion dollars in the latest one in the 600 million dollar Mark the governor felt that a balanced approach going into this session with cutting taxes across the board when it came to comes to commercial industrial and also another rebate would be something that was prudent done. We don't have an agreement in the legislature in that one house. Some doesn't want to do any rebates on the other house doesn't want to do I'm much for permanent rate reduction when it comes to commercial industrial end on the apartment homeowners or apartment or so. We've got some difficulty with way things are going and some of the bills are out of line as far as spending and the governor has never had a party of his control either either house and It had to have use the portion the pole of of the veto and sustaining the Vito's on some of the spending items and quite frankly. That's a reason why we're in a position today to do significant tax reduction. So we're excited about a successful close the session and we've got some priorities out there. The governor's wife first lady of the state is got a fetal alcohol. Can I program that that she started and how to test for us going? So we want to make sure that we have full funding for that and also the Governor continues to have a great commitment in the area of metal Medical Education and Research so that the research institutions of the state and in the area that end in inside of medical community, I'm are fully funded in the end. We simply an invest in that so we have a balanced approach and we have a bonding bill that that we we feel that that needs to pass this year. I'm some of the initiatives that that we put forward in the bonding Bill were ignored or severely cut back. We're obviously not going to stand for that and do everything we can to make sure that we have a balanced approach to the bonding bill. And when the governor put the the bonding go together. He looked at it from the other than what we can do to help our communities grow. I'm in the start of the State of the State. A couple years ago. We talked about Minnesota being one Community his response on the floods and and the amount of money that was put forth State money in federal money clearly was an example that of communities I'm railing and that's what we did with the bonding Bill. We went to I'm City such as St. Cloud Mankato Rochester Duluth and and and others and and figured out what what did they want? How can the state be a partner with their community and then came into play the Minneapolis Convention Center in the Saint Paul Civic Center and we put that inside of our bonding bill as well as an unprecedented commitment to to basically investing and the vision that set forth by Mark yudof, the president of the University of Minnesota Maury Anderson the chance for the men's cue system that allowed them to really Brian to upgrade their campuses across the state so we had an aggressive agenda one that most people shouldn't can't agree with now. It's just a matter of getting that agenda through the legislature what we're going to work our way through some of these items specifically, but if you had to pick out one for people to keep an eye on is all the most contentious or or the most critical to the governor, is there one one issue here that really needs to be resolved as far as he's concerned that that simply has to be dealt with. I mean first of all going into a legislative session. We got to be in a position where where we can negotiate and walk away from the table if we have to and that's not a situation that the governor believes that that should happen. But when you look at some of the spending bills, we've got some concerns the governor's number one priority is always going to be to have them strong financial management in and protect the out years as far as spending because what he's done over the last seven and a half years is it His really even even things out. So it's not a question of big deficits and big surpluses Estates on a strong course. We got to AAA Bond rating back. So the governor's going to be looking at the out-years expenditures. It is it's also important that you know, we also when you know investing in higher education and he's very very committed to that and he wants our our cities across the state to grow and and enter Prosper. So it's hard to nail one thing down. But one thing that that seems to seems to him that that that we need to continue to concentrate on over the past several years. And if you look at the governor and the fact that the legislature hasn't been of his own party the amount of reforms that that he's been able to get through a minute incredible. I'm you look at the area financial-reform clearly. I miss State recognizes that that the financial reforms the governor put in played at your place are strong and they're working. Well our job growth in our unemployment rates. Are are are are unemployment rates are lower. Job growth is up. So that's positive education reform. That's what we want a special session a year ago. I'm Governor feels very strong about that and continuing that I workers compensation reform Health Care reform in a reform some of the biggest class drivers in the whole whole system private and public budget as well as looking at the area of environment. He continue to have a very strong on position on on protecting our resources. So keeping those things in mind and looking what's going on. It seems to seems of the governor that the opportunity for a real property tax reform is here and it's now the last legislative session what they did in the tax bill is they said 60% of the new Revenue shall go for a property tax reform in a property tax reform account. So the government took a look at that language and he then put the 500 million dollars into another rebate and put some money into what's called. REI compression rate compression is probably could have the hood. Potentially have the most profound impact on the state of Minnesota in years to come because if you make a make a statement or put the state in a position that is a cannot are that that the opportunity to grow jobs in the keep jobs here that's always going to have a great impact on the budget on a positive side and it's in it and it's time to to do that to make sure her CI rates and other rates in the property tax system are brought in line. So from the long-term perspective that probably would be that one of us at the stronger and stronger areas that that we would be pushing for in the next several weeks. Since Chief of Staff Bernie. Almond is with us. If you'd like to join our conversation, give us a call 227-6020 area number to 276 Thousand Oaks had the Twin Cities 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or one 800-242-2828 on the property tax issue is the governor of Mena bow to the idea. Of the phasing in this permanent to cut for business or does it have to be done this year if it's a phase and it's not going to get done and most folks recognize that that it's simply putting it off till you know, what putting it off to the point where the next Governor the next legislature can can derail it in and that seems to I miss him to the governor that the financial resources are there to do it now. I'm the the bill that passed last year the tax bill that the legislature voted on that the governor sign said we need to do property tax reform. So it's mostly finding that the willpower to do it to Dan to do it. Right if you put it off would make the argument the governor certainly makes the argument that that what we're simply doing is saying we're not interested in it and blowing enough over 3 years or two years just doesn't make a lot of sense. The time is now in the governor's going to push the legislature as far as he possibly can to get get there a compression done this year. It's I mean Did the resources of the state are there the time for property taxes there? It's just a matter of finding the willpower and we'll see if it's there while we have the surplus. Of course the residential home owner can be protected. If you cut down a cut the business taxes, you can kind of Shield at the homeowner, but the longer term the homeowner is going to have to pick up the difference. Will they not? Well, I mean the governor and the REI compression the way the way it's structured clearly protected the homeowner and and that's another area that that often times. We don't take a look at them. That is the 20% rebate on we did a rebate. I'm this year and most folks that are filing that that that tax or filing your income taxes are seeing what they're going to get back. Some people are going to get some some some nice rebates and we can do that again next year and maybe maybe that that's an ongoing thing. We we don't have the financial stability to to make it a permanent them rate reduction or permanent read rebate knob that may happen. But the other side of it is looking at the homeowner when Look at the state budget surplus and where the money comes from and where it came from primarily from income taxes. So what we're doing is taking a look at returning a lot of money to the people of Minnesota from a different system that brought it. That's why I let you know. Once the REI compression is done the way it should be in the reform is in place the governor establish with call the income tax rate reduction account with inside his bed and what he will be proposing or what what what his idea is we put away 2 or 230 million dollars inside the governor's budget for this year. And then the next year if we keep spending in line, we will be able to set ourselves up to have a a possible rate reduction or are a cut in income taxes that the governor has started the ball rolling. The reason why he didn't propose at this time around is one the financial instability and in Asia very concerned about the impact that that would have on the US in the state of Minnesota budget. So it's better to be prudent and it's at prudent see that that he Is started he's developed over the past several years inside the state budget that there's not a lot of Swing. So we think we're at we're on the road of returning them a lot of money back to the taxpayers this matter, you know that the will of doing it doing it right on the reformed because the long-term the line if you cut if you cut business taxes the property owner will the residential property owner will be protecting. Yes. Cuz it seems like as soon as the Surplus is used up those taxes either have to go out for local spending has to come down or more importantly the local spending has to stay in check. I have local spending stays within the the the area of the rate of growth are the growth of a municipality or School District. Then things will be will be okay or we overtaxed or is because it seems like all the states have these big Surplus is Minnesota's more so than others I think but it seems like all the states are running nice big surpluses, isn't it large? Play the function of the good economy or are we in fact being overtaxed? I mean it is happening in in the legislature right now while the Republicans for example argue that we are being grossly overtaxed and cut those rates permanently send the money back to the taxpayers and it because his estate is collecting way way too much money all the time. That's true. But what what unfortunately is happened in the legislature and I'm not 2 history goes back decades and decades when people adopt that philosophy, they forget to keep spending and check and the difficulty is if you keep having increases in the spending side and and he cut the rates a few years from now, something's going to someone's going to have to give the other thing. It's important to know it is part of our Surplus and and where it came from and that is the rolls on and Human Services. The state of Minnesota does not cap. TitleMax meaning if I needed some type of a service from the state and I went to my service provider and they wouldn't say no wheat, we hit our court of your you're not going to can't make it in obviously that's not a policy. This state has ER or will ever have so when things are going good as they are Minnesota's unemployment rate is stronger than any lower than anybody else's Nation our job growth manufacturing job in there's nothing wrong with the economy in the state of Minnesota. It's clearly hitting on all cylinders. However, a downturn even a slight downturn not only has effect on income taxes, but it also has an effect on how many people come into a system of of Human Services. So it's like down turn even a slight one can blow a hole in the budget in the in the hundreds of millions of dollars. That's why the governor's budget that that he's got in front of the legislature sets are a prudent course and that is that we're not going to have those swink. That's very Thing to do to be able to cut everybody's taxes and and and and spend money. That's one area where the governor is just came down and said there's absolutely no way he is going to leave this state in a situation that he got it and that is a legislature facing a a significant shortfall because that's one of the reasons why I felt so strong about running for governor in the first place and you know with 10 months left and and in a very successful alarm to very successful to terms. It would be silly to 2 to change course is now running almond as our guests this hour, he is Governor Arne Carlson is Chief of Staff. He'd like to join our conversation to 276 thousand or one 800-242-2828 or so ago head place. Calling from Golden Valley and I have two children. Kiss me in. When is 4th grade in one in second grade? And the school that my children go to have had to lay off some teachers and get rid of some teachers class sizes are going way up. I think my daughter's class next year will be 30-plus students. I'm wondering if there. if the governor Has any plans to use some of that Surplus for education to make it more of a fair and Equitable system? And you know, maybe there's a way to hire back some of those teachers to bring back some of the programs that had to drive. I just wanted your comments on that more money for education in the abroad program of education and went one thing it's very important to keep in mind with the legislative process that the even number years and especially I mean 1998 is not a full-blown budget year in 1997 the budget that the governor proposed and finally was adopted by the legislature after a lot of negotiation as easy as you were calling to the the month of June. We we did have an ongoing special session had significant increases in education. I think that entire bill was around 15% I think in the in the matter of increase class sizes in the area of equity. It just depends, you know, the equity is kind of in the eye of I've have the community that you're from if someone calls from from northern Minnesota Western Minnesota, they're going to talk about more equity for their school district. I think what you need to do in area of education and then the governor strongly him strongly is push this concept. That is this. What are you getting for your outcome? What are you getting for the amount of money? You're putting into the K-12 system and when you look at how much money is going in for each student. I don't know what your school district is, but I would guess it's an area of 8 to $9,000 per year. Is it is that investment wise at is as far as it enough on what what is enough because every year it seems that there's always a crisis in education as far as funding and no one really answers the question. What is enough and what would be what would be considered to be a a generous appropriation turn up one more one more point on the House and Senate side and on the bills that are going to K-12 the recognition even on on the house side, which it is clearly more generous in PlanetSide. It's a recognition to get that money to the site and into the classroom and not in the negotiation table because that's what this is really about education in the delay. The vegetation is is clearly a a a a a a labor-intensive a labor-intensive industry and the amount of money that's going into to negotiation some of the negotiations that are happening across the state on K-12. And then in the agreement that are coming up with a much higher than that of the negotiations at the state has had with its Union and its employees and from the state's perspective when we feel that the employees of of the state are are equally as important in and do a great service whether it's delivering. So social services are making sure that that them, you know the needy or taking care of so I think it is really going to come down to especially in in the district at the collar called from and that is what is a negotiation process and how much are the increases? Is your eyes here, you know all about teachers who have to buy supplies for their own classroom and shortage of teachers and so on yet on the other hand. We are spending a lot on education, but you would argue the governor would argue that most of it is being soaked up in higher teacher salaries in a 15% increase it is significant and you know that it's important to take a look at everything when it comes to negotiations. Not just the amount of increases on salaries, but perhaps to take a look at the steps and Lanes in the end those changes that are being made. I don't know the the the economics of the school district that the caller called from an eon take a look at that but it seemed it just seems that that if every year in the legislature, there's a full-blown budget session then it is true that the that that we have entered into an arrangement with every legislator should be a full-time legislator. And that's somewhere for the governor wants to get away from you like to see a single house legislature in and a unicameral legislature nada. Not a full-blown budget session every year because it's it especially an in major political years, like the one that they were having right now, you know for the election it is there seems to be more Mischief merrier question. Please have been in business for 30 years and I'm glad to hear that again this year you're addressing that the business property taxes. I was in one location and the taxes went from 8400 a year to 29800 and because that was so exorbitant I couldn't make a profit and I couldn't survive so I moved to a smaller space and needless to say the taxes and the overhead are left. But I also have seven less employees and I used to have and while we did get some tax relief. I still think that More tax relief benefit small businesses and small businesses are the bulk of the businesses in this country not large corporations with absentee owners that has been alleged by some people get married quick question for you. Would you if the legislature decided it wanted to phase in this property tax cut for business that's been talked about would you feel comfortable with that? Would you feel like they'd follow through on that or do you feel like you just get stiff. This that it probably wouldn't happen. So it's better to have it done and particularly in a year. When when we do have such a big Surplus. Now, you know, I've had people say to me well, yes, but what happens if there's a recession taxes, like anyting else are not cast in bronze and that can be adjusted but I think the primary Just remember that the bulk of the business people are small businesses here and in the state of Minnesota and throughout the country appreciate it with the governorship OR at the house plan with show wood would allow for that immediate property tax cut, but then it also Cuts other property tax rates for a residential property owners to what happened on on the house floor in the house bill is it is not a workable situation today and that is there was an amendment that representative Abrams offer that basically made or did make the house plan the governor's plan and that is you compress traits. Like I'm the color just just indicated the way we'd want to this year it past then was a subsequent amendment by the tax chairwoman that basically muddied the waters. Compressed every rate and which which basically continue the disparity and some butter disparity at a lower level at disparity at a lower level and everybody get a tax. However, the amount of money that would cost in end of the system would wood and wood would put us in a in a very awkward position when when we're trying to balance the books, especially when the next legislature in the next Governor came in its it's important to keep in mind this I mean like the caller mentioned the issue of how much the taxes are in the jobs that need to be created when we when we look at at and just simple economics and when when a business person sits in Stillwater and whether or not they should locate their business and still water or in Wisconsin the issue that does come up and see I I mean that is an important commercial industrial property commercial industrial property taxes. The same thing is true for those Folks at that that Operate them rental unit. It's the same issue. It's it's a it's a higher rate that will then cost more money for those Folks at that that are in in in in renting. So the time is just is right to do an if we don't do it now. Why would we do it in a year or two or three years from now? So it's it just it just seems that in the area of creating jobs. And and I remind Folks at the the Surplus comes from income taxes a strong economy low unemployment and in high job growth that we ought to figure out how to keep that going in the Staten and I'm sure that the color that that just got done visiting with her about her situation is realizing some of the benefits of a workers compensation reform and what that's done for the for the for the pot for the state of Minnesota and he hardly even measure the amount of amount of money that that is coming because of that the increased production on a job. So we're I'm we're Forward to the debate in and hopefully then that that position to prevent Barney almond is our guests the shower. He is Governor Carlson's Chief of Staff. If you'd like to join our conversation this our give us a call to 276 thousand or 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 in the Twin Cities outside the Twin Cities toll-free. 1-800. 242-2828 will get this more calls in just a moment. I see such a good deal of the day, but you're worried about tomorrow. I've caught in that file. Should I buy today or is it will it be less expensive tomorrow? I'm Chris Farrell on the computer store to the car showroom. Mini prices are stable or dropping join me for a special report the world turned upside down followed by a call in for your questions this Wednesday at noon on Minnesota Public Radio k n o w FM 91.1 in the Twin Cities. So Chris will be along at noon with a deflation special and then will I have that Colin program so I can get some of your specific questions answered at 1:00 on Wednesday major funding for Minnesota public radio's documentary fund is provided by Phyllis Taylor in memory of Walter stremmel also an invitation to join us over the noon hour today second hour of our midday program will hear from Steve Forbes, who course ran for president in 1996. He says he won't decide whether he's going to run again until now probably the end of this year, but from all indications, He's already running traveling the country talkin about a number of issues including a major overhaul of the federal tax system hear from the Steve Forbes over the noon hour today weather forecast calls for increasing cloudiness in northeastern Minnesota this afternoon, we can look for some light snow or freezing drizzle and southern and western Minnesota highs upper twenties to mid-thirties flurries are likely in the Twin Cities this afternoon and a high in the low 30s right now around the area. St. Cloud is a cloudy Sky 25° Duluth sunny in 24 Fargo the Cloudy Sky 26, it's cloudy in 28 at Sioux Falls in the Twin City temperature 26 and cloudy. We're talking this hour with the governor Carlson's Chief of Staff Bernie almond about the governor's legislative priorities and back to the phones we go John your question, please yes, mr. Almond if I might Begin by expressing a perspective of point of dissatisfaction, We thought Governor Carlson's position in the harbor in Duluth Minnesota. I'd like to express my position in that shared by number of people and you can respond in kind afterwards. I think a number of people in Duluth really regret the arrogance of Governor Carlson in his I guess tireless quest to relocate a battleship there and we heard very little regarding the environmental impact that would affect the harbor. I'm not just aesthetically but I mean, it's the required dredging the harbor you're talking about something that is basically a lead paint based coding all of this ship is in a serious that's a dead issue now, isn't it? Simply I'm over from the thought that happening in Duluth and I think from the governor's perspective. I'm he certainly wanted to figure out a way to honor those folks that have served this. Country in World War II and the other areas of the country that have put up ships and and in other other types of I'm really from different different War. Certainly it's been a strong part of the state the governor. I think you're getting the the the word arrogance and I think the collars getting the word are against a little bit confused with the governor's commitment and when the governor took a look at at Duluth, and and and by the way, I'm the mayor was supportive of the project and as where the tourism folks Inn in Duluth as was a chamber of commerce. So it just wasn't the governor in Duluth. I think there was some I think there's a lot of not a lot but I think that that the protest side of of the center of the folks in the opposition. I'm got it got to a point where I'm everything that the governor said or done or did they seem to want to question his motives and I I I take it. Option two that I know the governor as well as anybody and I can tell you that his motives on on this were very simple and very clear and that is he has a strong belief in in a in a sense of honor to those people that served our country and he perhaps will be the last Governor from the generation that that fought in World War II and he wanted to pay tribute. So just wasn't the governor was a lot of folks from Duluth that the referendum went down 6240 and I think if the caller was a reflective of of everybody in Duluth them, they probably would have went down 9210 that that was not the governor's to intention. And and by the way, I'm in the governor's bonding Bill. We took a look at at all the cities to lose st. Cloud Mankato Rochester other cities throughout the state of Minnesota Minneapolis. And st. Paul and it's also important to note to this caller and two others that that are listening that the governor also. Corded 14 million dollars to go to the Duluth decc which is part of their convention center. It's a 50% match is a very generous some proposal that the governor's got that we want to see past and I think the caller should spend their the color should have the same intensity of getting that process that proposals through the legislature as a did defeating the one that the that the governor and others in the mayor set forth in the ship Convention Center is at convention centers. As far as the eye can see in those bonding bills and they all seem to hinge on the Saint Paul. Proposal, why would the governor support or let me put it this way? Why should the legislature provide money to essentially build a hockey arena for a professional hockey team in St. Paul when they wouldn't come up with any money for the Twins stadium. First of all, I'm in from the governor's side. The whole issue of the Twins stadium is something that that the state is going to continue to have to Grapple mean every day that goes by it. They're getting closer and closer to sail. I'm at that referendum will pass our does passing North Duran in the Carolinas. You might be a different attitude in the public mean when you're in a position of the government like a governor. There's no kind of a gray area either you're for again. And when the governor looked at the the Minnesota Twins in the asset that they they have for the state of Minnesota. I'm winning the World Series twice in the last song 10 years and and bringing in a x 2 to 3 million fans to City of Minneapolis and anyone home games in the amount of and what what sunset in this debate is the amount of impact that that the Minnesota Twins has with elderly and they haven't spoken up very loudly in this but there's a lot of lot of people out out out in the state that that pay a lot of attention to the Minnesota Twins because sometimes you're not able to get out and enjoy the the summer months like like others can if there if there if they're up an age the other side is is the whole area of convention centers the governor wanted to make sure that you know, these Regional centers Mankato Rochester St. Cloud Duluth Fergus Falls all were able to kind of take a look at where they wanted to go into the 21st century, and he wanted to be able to be a part and with those communities and also to stimulate growth and job growth and with that job growth in out State Regents comes that the need for Only entertainment but also cultural events and what he what would he want to do is make sure that that that would happen that always want be a commute to to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area keeping in mind. The Minneapolis is got a proposal of 80000088 million dollars, which the governor put in in his bonding Bill and st. Paul's request for 65 million. Now the controversy is this in the Senate side. It seems to me that the dfl senators from St.Paul with the exception. I think it's Randy Kelly who's been a strong Ally Auto out of near Coleman's and and the governor's on this proposal. I've kind of taken up, you know stand bakosh attitude on on the convention that I may be around there might be more than in favor of butt butt on the house beside their unified. They they they are 9 0 for the Civic Center in St. Paul. They're all Democrats, but they're putting away partisan differences that may they may or may not have With with mayor Coleman and the governor and they want this to happen. Also. It's important to keep in mind for the Saint Paul Civic Center that it's just not going to be home of the hockey team. It's also going to be still home of hockey tournaments High School hockey tournament wrestling tournaments other Civic events, and I think it's only is 41 times a year for hockey Center which by the way, is it a bad thing? I'm not a hockey fan, but I but I but I know some people that are hockey fans and even more importantly the hockey parent that like to have that opportunity to share that experience with with their kid. That's a good thing. It's not a bad thing. It's a good thing and you know, if you were to take this philosophical belief that you never invest a dollar into any Center were a professional Entertainer makes money, then we should cut it all out because there's All-Star Race. Probably at a Convention Center in Fergus Falls is probably a tractor pull that someone's going to make money at the Metrodome is probably going to be a concert at at the Minneapolis Civic Center or convention center. And there's probably going to be some type of a professional ice fishing seminar at the Duluth convention center and there might even be something in Rochester. Well, if you if you if you say no in professional can make any money at these events Center's you're basically stopping the the rationale for having him. It's a community coming together. I mean the thought of of of the city of Saint Paul and downtown having 41 nights of an exciting entertainment in the streets of st. Paul is is a good thing for Saint Paul and it's a very good thing for the state of Minnesota. Those are the kind of things that the government looks and says that is a win-win if it's the same Paul Arena would have came in and leave them. I would have came in and said you don't got into this is a great idea. However, the state's going to pay for it. All the governor would have said go back to the drawing board. They came in with a partnership from the state. That's exactly the role. The state should be in because there's a local commitment from on the people st. Paul and the state of Minnesota to chew to put up put up a building that they can be used as a community resource. And again, it's not just hockey. It's a Civic Center that this city needs an and Watson and we should we should put our differences aside and make sure that they reach their goals before legislature doesn't go for the for the money for Saint Paul. Will the governor then Beto the Minneapolis Convention Center planned communities are treated fairly and he doesn't want to get into the business of threatening, you know right now and we want it. We want to try to work this thing out if that's a possibility. The life of me I can't figure out frankly. I would have a hard time figuring out. Why any legislator someone from Minneapolis that wants it Convention Center wood would think we would wonder why the governor would pick one city over another. So I think from their standpoint they understand, you know, the governor wants to have every but every Community treated fairly regardless, if your state senator state representative his on the bonding committee, and that means that Minneapolis and st. Paul mean it's an opera. What at what a great opportunity. I mean, this has been a lot said about about the the bonding done how big it is. The governor's bonding bill is 200 million dollars below the state's 3% deck capacity as below so our bonding bill is reasonable. It's fair it stays which within the financial parameters that the governor started literally, you know back in. T91 and it makes no sense not to help the city's succeed. That's why the convention center is so important Minneapolis to Civic centers in Port to Saint Paul. And the other Regional facilities are are are are very important for their community and we did not step in and say this is what your community needs we we went to them said, what do you want? And this is what came forward and I think that some of the folks and especially in the Senate side in the Democrats who represent the city of Saint Paul should realizing that they should put their their City first Majority Leader Rodger Moore wants to pay for the beach construction projects with cash since we have such a big Surplus rather than borrow the money in the governor go along with that the governor already has a hundred and sixty nine million dollars inside his bond villain cast. So it's not something we have a philosophical problem is with the philosophical problem. We would have it if it dumb cuts into to the tax reductions in the tax rebates. That's where the money is coming from right now. Also keep in mind that when you look at at our infrastructure in the state's infrastructure when people drive around the state and they look at the highway buildings and look at the state community colleges and and in the state universities and in the University of Minnesota, that's a great investment that taxpayers have in those buildings and for us not to invest in them and keep them and maintain them would be a a big mistake. So, you know when it's all said when it's all said and done I think the proposal in the way the bonding bill that the governor submitted will be very close to the one that the one that he signed. And also I'm the the rates the interest rates are so low and you can go in the marketplace and get to get the great anchors in our great interest rates where where as you know, maybe several years ago that the whole cash idea was more appealing because he got nicked and rates in that is not the case today that I think we still have the lowest interest rates and we can go in the marketplace. Lauren the history of History the bonding in the state are to your question Place. Good morning have to know offhand what the percentage of the state's Revenue was derived from a sales tax ID. Sorry. I do not know offhand. I do know that in the end of the governor or the legislator legislation given any consideration to the amount of sales at go through catalogs and the internet sales tax in that area. So you're suggesting that maybe the states should collect the sales tax on those items in that would help our new situation. I think it's becoming more and more of a problem on the way. It sounds I don't know the exact breakdown. I'd hate to give the wrong number, but I do know that on the on the revenue side that the revenue surplus of steak out of Jordan think it's 80-plus percent of the money that came in came from corporate and income tax sales corporate income taxes. So you know that you raised a good point. I also I know that we've had this discussion. However, I do know that there may be problems with the interstate commerce clause which does not allow a I thinking in a non-lawyer language like mine. It doesn't allow one state to I'm set up barriers to another and I think that's that's some of the difficulties that you have is tracking that system. And and unfortunately, there's a lot of disparities when it comes to collecting taxes or where you know, some corporations can do a majority of their business than a state but call their home in a different state where the commercial for the corporate rates are lower. So there is there are those problems that clearly exists Amy or question Place children of lower economic status. I guess people are referring to it as, paid and I guess my question is why? Go by my son goes to school in St. Paul and his school is going to be penalized having money taken away. I understand money needs to be reallocated and because of afdc being cut off and everything, but I was a governor that supposed to be for Education. Why is money being taken away? I think that the money should stay at the school and then cuz we have such a large Surplus. They should take that some of that money and put it where the money is needed rather than forcing your school districts to shuffle their books Shuffle money from one pocket in the other why not use some of that Surplus to beef up the amount we're spending on education programs is is for Education. That's why he signed a bill that had a 15% increase in education funding last year and that's why he believed so strongly in the area of a choice and competition where he would like to give you as a parent more decision-making and where you send your school's two private or public. Schools in the area of tax credits and deductions. So from that side of the I think from that side that you you would be in great agreement with the governor. I don't know of anything that's happening in the night and I may not be informed as well as I should be an issue. But my guess would be that the decision that that that you're going through the process you're going through maybe a local one. I mean the state said, it's Budget Inn, and I and I could be wrong. I'm not a non-filing. I'm not I don't know for sure and like on that has a conference committees, but I think at a basic point though is that since we have so much money available at through a surplus why Force local school districts to make those kinds of choices where they where they have to reallocate rather than just give him some more money. So they don't have to be shuffling money back and forth. First of all, I mean when you look at the state budget surplus it's it's not a surplus of any type of allocation process a surplus of taxpayers and I think most reasonable people would look at Last budget process and a 15% increase in K-12 education is something that that if I think it's a largest increase height, I'm sure it's a largest increase in the history of the state and we look at you know, how hard people work to do to pay their bills in the amount of money that people are paying in taxes. There's got to be a balance there. And the question back is what is enough. I mean did we need to have a bill that would be twenty or thirty percent and and through the negotiation process if we put another hundred million or $200 off or let's say we put $250 on the table. My guess that wouldn't be wouldn't be enough either. We'd be I'm taking away from the property tax rebate and cutting that back 10% So you can make the argument wild Vine. I don't care if we don't get that rebate, but I know there's a lot of people across the state that then want that rebate and I also know there's a lot of people across this state that they want to have them more more more to say about their kids. Vacationing and in the area of reforms on this Governor is is is second to none in his commitment to education. We had a study out today about Charter Schools. I mean this Governor is the one that found it and got Charter Schools going about choice and education this Governor broke the mold and and I think it is recognized across this nation is a leader in education and in competition and it and in the area Statewide testing as a parent and I'm a parent as well. I'm looking forward to seeing the the scores of my local school district. And if and if and if it's not the end of the scores don't match when I believe them should be a proper goal for a for my kids education. I love to have the opportunity then to to do to be able to shop around and find the right School in the right setting for my kids. We're almost out of time here, but I have a couple of quick questions. Let's see light rail Transit. We've heard a lot about that. There's money in both the House and Senate bills for that Governor going to accept that we're taking a look at that right now. One of the things we want to make sure is easy, you know how much how much the entire cost of a flight really is and and we also are looking at you know, you know, they the whole area of the the entire I'm finding Bill and how much it is feedlot moratorium one house of the legislature wants to impose it with the governor accept that no feedlot moratorium is out of the question. I'm the Senate is very clear that they do not want a moratorium. The governor believes doing the gis study is the right thing to do and an end into basically shut down animal agriculture. If we did that in the state would be here you're so now it's saying what a mistake that would be in the governor's going to stand very very strong on that couple of abortion-related Amendments have been added to the Health and Human Services Bill Lee Governor veto those Amendments of veto that the bailiff the amendments are stay on the bill. I think it's Pretty likely that that will never get get to to that point. The governor doesn't like it when any group whether it's a group that he supports or they support him hold some a bill hostage and unfortunate that the situation that we're in today. Thank you, sir for coming in today appreciated his chief of staff Bernie almond as the legislature and the governor try to resolve some of the big big issues that that the lawmakers have been wrestling with this legislative session 5 minutes not before noon and this is midday coming to you on Minnesota Public Radio.