(00:00:00) And good morning. Welcome to midday of Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary eichten glad you could join us at a time when liberal is still a word that many politicians avoid like the plague Minnesota's senior senator is out with a new book called The Conscience of a liberal reclaiming the compassionate agenda the book which discusses senator Paul wellstones, nineteen, ninety and Ninety Six Senate campaigns and his views and some of the major issues of the day will be officially released next week. It's coming out at a time when Senator wellstone is gearing up for what should be a pretty Lively and competitive race for the US Senate next year a race that's already attracted the personal attention of the president and the vice president. Well senator Paul wellstone is come by our Studios today talk politics and issues. And if you have a question for senator Paul wellstone, here's a great opportunity to get that question answered. Give us a call six five. One two, two seven six thousand 6512276 thousand outside the Twin Cities. You can reach a stole. And that number is 1-800-218-4243 or 1-800 to for to to 828 Center wellstone. Thanks for coming over today. Yeah, thanks for having (00:01:12) me. Why write the book (00:01:14) hot? What's what what are you trying to accomplish (00:01:16) with the bay? You know, I really I was up on the North Shore looking out over the ocean Lake Superior and I just started writing and and I like to write and I hadn't for a while. So I pretty much did it. It's my room for this way. It's my best effort from 5 a.m. To 6 a.m. In the morning, which is pretty much when I wrote the book because you know, then you're doing other work and I actually wanted to write about some of my own experience. It's really a you know, initially I wanted to write about policy and and then Random House was interested in something that was more of an autobiography and I said, there's not that much to report on and I meant that I mean I didn't want to do that. So then I came up with a good idea. Deal which is to take an experience in your life. For example, my mom and dad and talk about their struggle with Parkinson's and then how that got you interested in healthcare or to take an experience that you had, you know, like for with my brother visiting my brother when I was very young age 11 and he was in a mental institute in Virginia, which was a real snake pit and the ways in which that quote I'll use the word radicalized me made me angry that people my brother could be treated this way and thus the interest in mental health work. So each chapter is kind of like that and it's a very it's an optimistic book really and and I always believed in the potential of public servicing in government. So, you know, it was fun to (00:02:39) write hmm. You talked last fall during the campaign about the need after the election to put together a kind of progressive political force across the country. Is this part of that effort kind of a call to Arms. Is it work? (00:02:53) Well, it's I don't know Call to Arms. I mean at the end of the book as I say A lot of different chapters and part of it is really dedicated to my mother and father and to Sheila but I think the last two chapters there's one called United States senators in their world, which is an interesting chapter about the Senate and when I've seen and I guess in there, you know, I'm positive and Gary about the senate about having the chance to be a senator from Minnesota always get goosebumps when I go in the Senate chamber for debate and I'm always in the debates but on the other hand, I also say that it's it's a more distorted pattern of power than when I used to teach about it. I mean it's worse than I thought in the sense that I really do believe that the Senate is just not broadly representative of people in the country, especially in terms of of who are the people who can affect the tenure or lack of tenure of senators. The power is too skewed to few. It's just not what you want in a representative democracy. So the last chapter is certainly about how to build a progressive politics and a stronger citizen politics. And so you might say that's certainly a call for more Of ism (00:04:00) surprised that there is so much attention interest in your race upcoming race from the White House for those who don't follow politics closely. We should note that President Bush met with simple mayor Norm Coleman who will presumably be one of Center wellstones Challengers convinced him to switch over to the senate race and then vice president Cheney called another potential Challenger House Majority Leader Tim pawlenty and convinced him not to run for the Senate seems like an awful lot of interest in a race for the US senate seat in Minnesota. Is it just because of the 50/50 split? (00:04:37) well You'd have to ask President Bush and vice president Cheney. I don't I mean look, I haven't quite get focused on the race. I mean, it's I'm just immersed in all of the what's going on right now in the Senate. It's just been 19 hours a day, but I think I think it is true that I can hardly be objective. You know, we're talking about myself here, but I think it's true that you know, I've been from the word go of this Congress. I know the rules well, and I've been involved in saying hey, here's an amendment. We're going to put a lot more into education than you're going to do. And hey, here's another amendment. We're going to be funding veteran's health care and and look I can't believe what you folks are doing try not to have a tough arsenic standard in the water that are children drink and then much less oil drilling in anwr and across the board on the lot of the environmental health education children issues. I'm in profound disagreement with some of the directions. They're the Republicans are going in and you know in terms of my mandate from Minnesota. I still believe it's the it's the be there on the children education Healthcare job issues much less the environment and human rights. So I think probably it's not an accident that they've targeted me, but that's not a that's not the price. I paid that's the privilege I've earned. I mean, you know that comes from being a good Senator any have a twinkle in my eye (00:06:09) right any more Fallout from your decision to run for a third term when you announced that you were going to do so you'd said earlier that two terms was enough when you announce you're running for a third term Republicans, especially where we're pretty sharp in their criticism saying well, yeah, here we go again just another old politician who had claimed to be kind of above all of that and stressing Integrity in the rest and just another (00:06:36) politician. Well, I think I'm pretty lucky that people In Minnesota have been incredibly good to me in the show. And I think probably it's true that people really do think that even if they don't agree then I'm sincere and honest and my work. I don't think that is really a problem at all. I mean it is true that Until early December when the election was decided I had no intention to run again. I certainly was thinking seriously about running for governor and or teaching and doing human rights work, but after the election and what I've seen with is the Supreme Court the Congress the White House so much is at stake on so many of the issues that I've devoted my whole life to much less since I've been a senator that I thought. Well, I don't think I should just walk away from all of this. I don't believe that and I hope people of Minnesota agree. And so I think it's you know, as long as you feel good about what you've decided you think you've done it for the right reasons you're okay. And and so I think but I think certainly when we do have the campaign it'll be you know, I'm expected. Yeah capture of certainly gotten the attention of a lot of folks in Washington. I'm sure a lot of people will be involved in this race here in Minnesota and but you know what, I think as long as I stay connected to people in Minnesota will do well. (00:08:02) Let's get some listeners (00:08:03) and talk if you put the (00:08:04) headphones on there if you have a question those of you listening if you have a question for senator Paul wellstone, give us a call six five one two, two seven six thousand or 1-800 to for 228286512276 thousand or one eight hundred two, four two two eight two eight Chris your first go ahead, please thank you for taking my call Senator wellstone. I personally have no problem with you changing your mind regarding your decision to run for a third term. I applaud your efforts and support you and your re-election bid. I think you are very courageous. And thank you have a lot of Integrity by being so consistent in your positions. And I feel that we are very fortunate in having you represent our state. Okay. (00:08:49) Well, well, the only thing I can do I guess is to thank you and to say to everybody else on the line. We're now going to end the show will leave on Chris's comment. But but I know we can't but but I don't want to trivialize what you said. Thank you so much for saying that. It's a very big deal to me to hear that. Thank (00:09:09) you, John your next your question, please. Good morning, Gary. Good morning, Senator wellstone, you know, I used to be a Reagan Republican and but over the years as I've seen what President Clinton did with the with the economy and the environment and the crime. I've definitely switched over and right now I just think that you know, there's a lot of hypocrisy with the Republicans. And I just have a recommendation for you. If for example Norm Coleman runs against you for the Senate, you know, I would really make a big deal out of this whole stadium thing because that's such a hypocrisies. You know, why take money out of taxpayers pockets to fill these rich Sports people and I don't know why people don't bring such a big deal out of President Bush's fact that he used. He made taxpayers build a sports Stadium down there in Texas and this is just a hypocrisy all this talk about giving money back to the taxpayers and people don't make a big deal about his cocaine use for example, like with President Clinton. They made a big deal. I don't know. I don't know media is real soft on the Republicans and I okay. I think you guys need to be more aggressive in all but all behind you (00:10:25) guys. Well, you know, I thank you for your comments. I think the only place that we might disagree although you may not have been intended to say this is I think that on some Of the I think you just need to disagree on the issues. And I think that's what we should do John. I mean when it comes to sort of what somebody did years ago and gets to be very personal stuff. I have really at least during my time in politics. It's not like I got involved in politics, you know, long long time ago. I've tried to stay clear of that. But certainly they'll they'll be an important debate on on the issues. Can I just scary very very quickly say this is not a respond to Jon's question, but I promised I just met with a group of parents. We just had a press conference and there's the most Courageous group of people than their children were there with them and we focused on muscular dystrophy on a disease called to Shin's disease which affects little boys. It's in some ways for children. It's kind of like Lou Gehrig's disease is a very cruel disease and these parents really in Minnesota have started this Nationwide effort to get the NIH and to get the Center for Disease Control to set up centers of excellence. That's the legislation to really focus on this disease and put some research money into it for their children. The reason I mention this is that the interesting thing is that Mark Kennedy was their representative Kennedy, but the whole delegation is signed on Collin Peterson has really authored this in the house and I have in the Senate I have to add Cochran republican from Mississippi and Susan Collins, but the whole Minnesota delegation has supported this so sometimes it's not Democrat a republican. Sometimes you can bring everyone together and this can't even tell you what a pointed press conference. It was it was so poignant to hear the parents speak. It was just I never had been in the more important press conference, but it shows that politics can be good politics can be about helping people and I still think that's what it is. You know, you mentioned that book the whole reason for the title of the book was to me, you know politics is about improving people's lives. I believe that even if people don't agree on issues whether I win or lose an election, I still will always believe that I'm sorry. Go ahead. (00:12:33) I'll just back to I guess John's Central Point here in terms of perspective campaign next year. Do you see a stadium the stadium issue as being a central issue in the US Senate campaign next year? I (00:12:45) have no idea. I tell you I'm not being Coy. I know I will focus on the campaign. I love the campaign. I love debates, but I have not focused on it at all. Not yet (00:12:56) Rick your question, please. Hey, I wanted to find out what Senator Welles films take on the u.s. Being voted off the um, Human Rights Commission. (00:13:08) Yeah. Well, I think it's got a there's a there's a two parts to it. I mean in some ways, you know, you got Sudan on the commission, which is a is a is a cruel irony and other countries that that have such a deplorable record on human rights that systematically torture and murder their own citizens. That's the real bad part. The the unfortunate thing is that in a little bit of a way we sort of unplayed into to what they're doing because I think the European Community really basically Express their anger at the United States anger anger at walking away from from the some kind of a international treaty and global warming walking away from those environmental issues walking away from the international criminal court. And I think that part of what happened is that the European countries through that vote voting us off were expressing their indignation that we Been involved with the United Nations that we've taken our sweet time and you know paying our dues and so I think Rick that that's part of what was going on again. It's pretty it's a little hard to take when you you see a country government like Sudan sitting on a commission on human rights. No, I think unfortunately we played into it a little (00:14:29) bit now. There's also been some talk that one of the reasons some of the Nations voted to kick us off was because we've been too harsh with other nations on their human rights records and I notice you and Jesse Helms getting together to try to block the Olympics for China because of Human Rights (00:14:45) problems. Although the truth of the matter is Gary. We lost the votes. We lost the European Community don't didn't have anything to do with our I mean if you're going to have a resolution condemning China's violations of human rights you wanted the place to do it is the United Nations Commission on human rights. Everyone knows that and frankly. I don't think either the Clinton ministration or or the Bush Administration had pressed all that hard on that resolution in any So I doubt it. I think it's really more of what we had initially talked about. Well, yeah, I mean, well, there's lots and lots of people in the house Tom Lantos who does a lot of Human Rights work Nancy Pelosi and there'll be others in the Senate as well. But this resolution it's I mean, you know, what we're saying is that look I mean if first of all we're going on record saying think about what the Olympics is about and think of a government that again has such a deplorable record, which is not improving was supposed to improve with more trade. We have a lot of trade with China, although it's a although a huge trade imbalance with most of the exports going from China to the United States, but their human rights record has gotten worse and worse. And so we're we're saying is given what the Olympics are all about why this country now, the second thing we're saying in the resolution is if the Olympics do take place in Beijing then the United States government ought to while while the Olympics take place lead an effort to focus on human rights abuses in China now, It's a resolution. So ultimately the international Olympic Committee will make the vote one way or the other but I think it's a way of continuing to put pressure on on the Chinese (00:16:19) government next month. If I'm correct. The Senate was do you get you vote again this year on the permanent normal trade relations of the situation with China right and last year after a pretty vigorous debate. Finally finally approved. What's going to happen that (00:16:39) this year? Oh, I think ultimately it'll probably be you know, still approved probably with not as strong a vote as last time. I mean a lot of the debate last time was a few of us on the Fly was on the floor a lot in that but I think I think now the those of us have been raising issues about questions about human rights. I think we're probably in a stronger position than we have been for a while because I because even our own state department with its reports of said the conditions have changed. Gotten worse and so I certainly will be focusing on human rights violations and we'll have a number of different amendments but I think ultimately the bill will pass. I mean for two reasons looks people can disagree with you for one reason being people just disagreed right? I mean, it's not there's nothing Sinister about it. Another reason. Is that a huge I mean most of your large Financial economic interest in the in the United States Global financial institutions and corporations are terribly interested in China terms of investment. And they really they the focus on the dollar commercial ties is huge here and I think to the point where our some people are just kind of put the human rights violations in parenthesis. I'm an internationalist me my dad spoke 10 languages. My dad actually grew up part of his earlier years in China. I want us to have relations with China. I just simply believe that we ought to be I believe our government, you know, given the fact that my father fled a country Russia where there was persecution. I just think we should always be strong for human rights. What I believe in (00:18:11) somebody asked me the other day are we headed toward war with China there seem to be so many points of contention with the Chinese. What do you (00:18:18) think? Well, I don't think I don't think it's I don't know that we're headed toward War. I do think that that it's relations are raw and and I think to a certain extent the mean there are a number of different things going on. I think the most serious. I mean, I think the I think the White House has sent mixed signals to China. I mean, you know, the president has said a number of different things about Taiwan that have been probably his choice of words didn't didn't didn't make sense and and I'm not trying to be coy, I think he made some mistakes and then they pulled back. I think the big I think frankly the most explosive issue could very well be What's called the missile defense system because I think the Chinese government is taking the position that we will we will if we do this then basically it would put us in a position to do a first strike on China and then basically have a shield against anything that they could any missiles that they could send our way in which case they may dramatically expand their nuclear Arsenal which would be very very unfortunate. They don't have much right now and if they do then India will and Pakistan will and South Korea will I'm very very very worried about arms control and regime and whether or not the administration is making a huge mistake here that could undo a lot of important work (00:19:40) Jennifer your question, please yes, good morning. And thank you for taking my call Senator wellstone. I understand that there has to be a special hearing later this week about The Endangered Species Act and I was wondering what your voting intentions on that are and what we could do as Citizens to See that that stays the same and that also more funds gets contributed to that especially considering how much backlog there is and the lack of funds. They're out of (00:20:12) well, I don't know whether the hearing will be environmental public works or energy and natural resources committees, but I do know that you know, I can answer your question. I mean I am a very firm supporter of The Endangered Species Act. I think that the secretary Norton I did vote for Secretary of interior. I don't know that she is committed to getting the additional funding that we need. I think overall Jennifer they're probably the environment is going to be one of the central issues not only in the Minnesota race, but probably across the country in the 2002 races. I think this is becoming I think the administration's record on the environment Republicans record on the environment. Not all Republicans not Republicans Jim ramstad is one one example, and for all I know there are others in our delegation, but Jim has been I think very strong in the environment. But I think we're going to have some major debate and and I intend to hey I come from a state that loves its lakes and rivers and streams. I consider this to be a strong environmental state. So I think you know you can I'm not trying to campaign with you here, but you certainly can can count on my support. I think interesting enough and I know there are others in line the place where we may see the most contentious debate about the environment when all said and done, I mean people understand about Arsenic and they say, what are you doing? But I think will be disconnection between how we produce and consume energy in the environment. I think that's going to be a huge debate and I'll tell you from Minnesota barreling down the Royal path doesn't doesn't make sense for us. I mean, it's not a good thing to do on environmental grounds, but we're a cold-weather state. Everyone is recognized that this year and we're at the other end of the pipeline. So we end up, you know, importing MCS of natural guests a cleaner fuel, but still we import it or we import Rose of oil and we export billions of dollars. I mean for us it's wind its biomass to electricity. It's biodiesel is clean fuels like ethanol it's saved energy. It's clean technology, which is small business, which is in communities. I mean, that's the direction we've got to go in and that's that's the direction. I intend to push hard for (00:22:18) very briefly though. Would you agree with the vice president Cheney's overall assessment that will conservation is fine alternative fuels are fine. But fundamentally just to meet our basic energy needs across the country. We're going to need (00:22:32) hundreds know I would have known agree with Cheney's assessment at all. I mean, I think his own there's a front-page piece of the New York Times is I think that that actually their own Labs have said you could if we just got serious about fuel efficiency. Look I work closely with the Auto Workers, but I don't agree with the Auto Workers on this whole issue of fuel efficiency. We should have more of it you could you could reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern Oil by a 2% reduction in a year of by 50% If you overall introduced our energy consumption by 2% if you just focus on fuel efficiency standards you could do it. So no, I don't agree with them at all. And the fact of the matter is our own labs and our own scientists are saying there is a wealth that the evidence is compelling saved energy efficient energy use can would mean that we'd have to build half or even less than half of the kind of power plants that Cheney wants to build and Bush wants to build. These are Big Oil guys with a lot of the big money is what they're about. They are not going to be good on the environment and they're not going to be good for, Minnesota. (00:23:41) Dan quick question before we break for news. Yes. I want to just publicly thank senator wellstone for his final leadership standing up for issues that are so important in terms of Human Rights and sticking up for the needs of the oppressed and the poor and Earl and you are just a great inspiration to me and you're the premier role model for my children. I lift you up very frequently at our dinner table. I want to thank you for that. The question I have is about the direction of the democratic party. I feel increasingly frustrated with the role that money plays even in the Democratic party and it seems as though there's there's less and less room for people who are progressive and radical their ideas who want to reinvigorate the Democratic party to be a force for really radical constructive change in terms of the areas of Health Care all these things and I'm really frustrated read Charles Lewis's book on Center for Public integrity. And what can we do to resurrect the Democratic party's of progressive wing? (00:24:40) Well very quickly. I appreciate thank you for the for to what you said at the beginning. I that was very nice of you to say aye. Well, I think that There are a number of different things that that I that I would suggest there is first of all, there is the policy, you know, I think kind of ideas matter. I think really the good ideas about the environment a good ideas about health care the good ideas about affordable housing the good ideas about communities and how to build community. We need to get more of those out there. Then there is the Grassroots organizing. I think I think Dan a lot of the key is going to be to build a stronger citizen politics because the money issue is a huge problem. And then frankly, I'd like to see, you know, I'd like to see more people stepping forward and running for office at the school board level County Commissioner level you name it, and I don't think we've done as good a job of that as we should so I just think that a lot of people stepping forward and you know, I think the but I don't disagree with your assessment that that in both parties the the you know, the money wing of both parties is to dominant entirely too dominant. I think more of a problem in the Republican party, but certainly certainly there's But there's but also a problem in the Democratic party. (00:26:00) I guess this our Minnesota senator Paul wellstone. Who by the way has a new book out. Well be in bookstores next week. It's called a conscious of a little conscience of a liberal reclaiming the compassionate agenda. He's here to take your questions. Give us a call six five. One two, two seven six thousand or one eight hundred two, four two two eight two eight and we'll get to more of your calls here in just a couple minutes programming on Minnesota Public Radio is supported by Glenwood Inglewood (00:26:24) water pure clean water delivered right to your home or office online at Glenwood Inglewood water.com. (00:26:33) Despite lab critics, the Bush Administration is pushing a new (00:26:36) version of the Reagan Era Star Wars missile defense. (00:26:39) We must seek Security based on more than the Grim premise that we can destroy those who seek to destroy us. (00:26:46) I'm Juan Williams. Is it back to the future for us missile defense? That's the next Talk of the Nation from NPR news/talk (00:26:53) of the nation begins at 1 o'clock this afternoon here on Minnesota Public Radio. Your membership makes public radio happen. We'd like to thank you for your continued support. We'd also like to introduce Stephen John who's got some news headlines Stephen. Thank you Gary. Don't expect the White House to try to stop gasoline prices from rising even if the cost tops $3 a gallon spokesman Ari Fleischer says, the president doesn't have a magic wand. He can waive over gas prices to lower them gasps. Now averages a dollar seventy six gallon a new study says the average person spends thirty six hours a year trapped in traffic jams. That's up two hours from just two years ago in 1982. The average was 11 hours the Texas Transportation Institute says congestion costs an estimated 78 billion dollars a year in wasted time and burn gasoline stock prices are modestly lower on Wall Street in a tentative start to the trading week at midday. The DOW Industrials were down about 41 points. The NASDAQ was down 11 (00:27:51) the MinnKota chapter of the American Red (00:27:53) Cross is seeking to replenish its disaster funds the chapters executive director says the agency spent $150,000 so far in helping flood victims in the Red River Valley officials estimate more than 9 million sandbags were filled with 180,000 tons of sand to fight the flood in the Upper Mississippi this spring the Minnesota Public Safety department says it will be up to local cities and counties to dispose of the sandbags officials say the sand will be recycled for use in non-human contact areas such as Road repairs. The Minnesota Twins may be back at the state capitol this week to jumpstart their push for a new stadium last month of Park legislation was tabled in a house committee leading many lawmakers to declare the proposal dead, but the unexpected strength of the team on the field may lead to the house voting to dislodge the bill from committee sometime this week. The twins are off today before starting a series with the Yankees in New York tomorrow the forecast calling for mostly cloudy conditions in the north this afternoon partly cloudy in the South. It will be Breezy slight chance of showers highs from the mid-50s to mid 60's 58 in International Falls this hour, it's 50 at Grand Marais new album has 57 degrees in its 60 in the Twin Cities Gary. Let's let us from The Newsroom. Thank you Steve and it's 25 minutes before noon. This is midday on Minnesota Public Radio in our guest this our Minnesota. Senator Paul wellstone and let's get back to the phone's full Bank callers with questions for the senator Kate. Go ahead. Oh, good morning. Good morning. Thank you. Senator wellstone for agreeing to run again really made my day when I heard that thank you. My question is about Tom daschle mean he's a wonderful guy. I really admire him but as minority leader, I think he just just the king of backpedaling. I don't see him willing to stand up and fight for anything and I'm wondering how long are we stuck with him or is there any way to put you know a Christopher Dodd or carry or wellstone in his spot someone who will stand up and (00:29:46) fight? Well, you know a couple of different things cait. I die. I can understand a little bit of your frustration because I have been in the middle of a lot of you know, debates within our own caucus and I have certainly been saying that I think we have to be not with hatred not with bitterness, but we have to be a stronger opposition force and we also have to be stronger about what we're for and I don't I don't I don't think I think we've got to do better. I think we have to be better at what we're doing but at the risk of Of maybe having you disagree with me. I actually and I'm not saying this just for political reasons. He's got a he's got a pretty diverse caucus and a lot of people to try to hold together and I said an eminently decent person and I don't know whether frankly and so I'm not nearly as critical of them II think a great deal of him and I think that he has been very articulate in many many ways. I'd like to see us be stronger. I think that I think that you'll see probably more debate than you have seen but I think Tom has been a very good leader (00:30:54) overall we heard so much about the need for civility. Yeah after the election is the well, what's the climate like in the in Washington at this point? (00:31:08) Well, I'm trying to figure this. There's a couple things for me. I've never quite understood the whole this whole question of Civility. I mean in the Senate I just have never really some of the people that I get along with Pastor, you know poles apart from me on issue. So I just have never really felt like it's near the problem. I mean, I've been probably more at odds with Majority Leader Trent Lott than many others and that's been more around look. I want amendments to come to floor. I want us to have debate. I don't want your preventing that so on and so forth, but I don't I don't think it ever was that poisonous in the Senate at least in terms of the personal relationships. Now after having said that I don't I don't I know that President Bush has talked a lot about civility, but I think we're fairly divided and that's fine. I think people what people want is they don't it's not like people of Minnesota expect for there not to be real debate or for you to stand up for what you believe is right for four people in your state. What you believe is right for the country. I think people just don't want to see the hatred and that's what you have to avoid now. I have to get this shot in though this whole issue of Civility. You know, like when I first met President Bush right away, he was calling me Pablo and then I started opposing them on some major issues. And now I'll now I've gone from Pablo to be number one target. So, you know, I'm not like I don't get this warm fuzzy feeling about all this, you know, we'll all work together even when we don't agree and so on and so forth and really what has to change is the campaign's I mean, that's what the worst part is all the money and all the poison campaigns and then it's pretty hard for people to look at one another in the Senate and say well, you know, jeez we want to work together and we really respect you when you know, a bunch of people are involved in an effort that you think is absolutely poisonous. That's what you got to avoid is the poison in politics (00:33:15) Zion your question, please yeah. I'm glad you're running against Senator. Thank you. Billy has great and my question will have to why aren't we hearing anything about saving energy? And also, is there any talk about raising the minimum wage to some realistic figure? I don't know what that would be right? I'll hang up and (00:33:40) listen and I'll give a shorter answer because I know a lot of people in line. That's what I was saying earlier is that the focus should be on saving energy, you know Amory Lovins who has for some time, you know written about the importance of soft energy policy soft path or an energy policy in the potential of Saved energy is right and there should be much more of a focus on that one of the places. I'm in disagreement with the administration is in the Republicans is they've cut the budget for research and renewable energy policy and save the energy. I think that should be a big part of our future and then on the second part. Yeah. I mean, you know, it's going to be raise the minimum wage for 5:15 to six fifteen / 1 or 2 years as I remember and It's not a big increase. I think it'll pass if we if we force the vote and I think we will force a vote on the Senate side. (00:34:25) Don your question, please yeah, we're longtime supporters of Senator well stones and we're glad to see him running. Again. My question is about the energy Paul. We're from a I'm from one of Bago and we have a ethanol plant here. That's very successful. Yeah, and we're disappointed when we heard the vice president's speech the other day and the coverage afterwards from the media and the politicians and everything. Nobody ever included ethanol. Is that really a (00:34:51) non-issue? No, no, and I've been trying to on a gradient and every time I get a chance and thanks for letting me get a chance to do it on the Minnesota Public Radio. The we've got first of all ethanol is got so many advantages now as a clean fuel both on environmental both in terms of the environment and also in terms of being less dependent on Middle Eastern Oil. But we have to be very careful because I don't know yet what the administration is going to do. The the issue right now is as you probably know is whether or not California will be able to get an exemption to the Clean Air oxygenate rule in other and and if they do then then that really will will hurt the market for ethanol. But if they if they don't get an exemption and so far they haven't a waiver then we're going to have a huge market for ethanol but we've got to really watch the oil companies who were no lobbying the Administration very hard on this now President Bush when he was a candidate bush in Iowa said that he would be opposed. I'm pretty sure he said he would be opposed to California getting a waiver in which case there should be a huge market for ethanol and I hope the administration will not oppose us if they do then hey, I'll be ready to fight it out with him. I mean really fight it out with (00:36:12) him Bob your question, please good morning, Senator. I wonder if you would comment on what's been an issue for some time. That's a subvention of va charges to hick for for Medicare. I know I talked to Senator REM Congressman ramstad Zayden. He said every member of the Minnesota delegation has for it. It's being killed by one subcommittee chair. I believe his name is Thomas from California. Whose now chair Ways and Means. Is there any chance it's not right built on its yeah, but we vets can't use our Medicare at the VA Hospital. (00:36:42) Yeah, that's what and that's Bob. That's what you should mention everybody. That's what you mean by subvention is to being able to if you're on what he's saying is look, you know, we're living Medicaid card. We think we would get better care at the VA Hospital give and that would provide some additional resources also for veteran's health care. Jim could very well be right that that's that's where the opposition is on the house side. I think that If we could get this to the floor of the Senate, I think I think we could pass it and my my focus right now. I mean, I'm very very focused on I'm not just saying it because you're calling Veteran's Health Care issues. And you know, we had passed in the budget resolution on moment with his very significant for an additional 17 billion dollars over ten years and then I got in conference committee the and I'm sorry, I have to say Republicans. They dominate the committee they cut it way back. And now I'm going to be back at them again on Appropriations and and part of what I'm going to be saying it has to do with veterans being able to use Medicare and then being able to go to the provider of their choice including VA providers above and beyond that I will just tell you we got other huge issues. We've got two huge issue of the Millennium bill, which were people are listening has to do with you know, veterans population like our population at large more and more veterans living to be 80 and 85 and what about long-term care and how can people stay at home and how can you support people to stay at home? We've had these flat line. Budgets which have been horrible over the last couple of years and we need some additional recent investment of resources just to keep up with inflation. We have the whole issue of homeless veterans Gary. I'm telling you that I'm guessing Nationwide that maybe 30 35 percent of homeless men are veterans many of them Vietnam Vets. Jimmy Lee co-authored here in the state of Minnesota is one of the great leaders in the whole nation dealing with homelessness whole issue of mental health care. I mean, there's so many gaps in veteran's health care. And so your your your point is Right On Target and I I don't really know who's blocking it in the house. Maybe it is Thomas and and that would prevent it from coming to the Senate. I guess if it has to originate in Ways and Means Committee, which it probably does now that I think about it was since is a Medicare matter. I'll keep at it on the Senate side though. Tom your question. (00:39:03) Yes. Good morning. I have a two-part question for Senator wellstone regarding plan Colombia, and I'll be brief. Given the numerous accounts of paramilitary massacres of unarmed civilians described by newspapers from around the world as terrorism designed to keep the poor population from joining the 37-year social economic Justice movement of the gorillas, for example, the rounding up of villagers and the Town Square executing, please let me don't censor my question behind. I'm not censoring your question. What I'm trying to do here is to get your question on here so we can get an answer. So okay the question Kim. I'm moving along. It's only a short paragraph So if you know just ask the question, please. Well what they do, sir given the fact that you Senator have yourself stated that the Colombian military and the paramilitaries are linked and you couple this with the fact that the United States government is supporting the Colombian military to the amount of 1.5 billion and military equipment Black Hawk helicopters surveillance equipment 1000 US military advisers under the pretext of a drug war therefore. Then reasonable to conclude that the United States government is supporting terrorism in Colombia. Given the link between the Colombian military and the paramilitaries. Thanks Tom. (00:40:21) No, I wouldn't I would not that would not be my direct formulation. But what I would say and I would I don't know if I heard you right but I and if I didn't I apologize to him. I wouldn't it all linked the left by the way, either the farc or the eln as sort of Robin Hood Crusaders were Justice they are they are in up to their teeth and Narco trafficking as well as the paramilitary and so I don't see them as being really just social justice organizations. Now the AUC of the paramilitary, you're absolutely right the most widespread right now extrajudicial killing his by the paramilitary. What I would say is that the reason I wouldn't just call it terrorism is that I think some of what we're trying to do in supporting president. Pastrana is for good reasons, which is it's complicated. It's a horrible situation. Raishin, he's saying look I need some help. These Narco traffickers are destroying our country. I think the problem however with the aid package is a it doesn't deal with the demand side for drugs in our own country Congressman Ram said and I are do a lot of work in this area of trying to get treatment for people who are dealing with substance abuse or complete agreement be and you and you really are talk about this Tom. There are entirely too many ties, especially at the Brigade level throughout the country. Even if the government at the top doesn't want this to be so between the paramilitary in the military and therefore with those Black Hawk helicopters have to be human rights conditions that have to be met that are not being met. If they're not met. Then we should not be providing this assistance. We have to insist on the human rights conditions being met and the third problem. Is this aerial spraying which may have a lot of health effects on the people. The real problem is it's a little bit naive because the Coca production will just shift from one place to another to another to another until Gary the company knows have other ways of supporting their families and their Supposed to be in this Aid package money for alternative economic development. But in putumayo in the southern part of Colombia where most of this is taking place the people aren't seeing that alternative Economic Development. (00:42:21) So what happens what what should the u.s. Do as we sit here today? (00:42:26) Well, I've talked to assistant secretary Armitage. I've talked to Secretary State pal. I'm really immersed in this and I think that we have to have human rights conditions that have to be met. Number one. Number two, we have to make sure that the money that was supposed to get out there to Countryside for alternative economic development is getting out there were alternative Economic Development and number three there ought to at least be some kind of international monitoring of the spraying and what are the health effects on the people, you know, the use of the widespread use of the herbicide they are told well it's used in agriculture doesn't have any negative effects, but you know what people have been told that Over and over and over again. And so I think we should we should at least do those three things and number four. I think part of the money that we're spending or ought to be spent on on on drug treatment programs in our own country. I remember when the secretary of the ministry of Defence Minister, I'm sorry, the defense minister Ramirez said to me when I was there the first time he said look I will just tell you and I'll never forget this because it came from him and they were like losses table with about 14 military generals. I said you all are intimidating me and me and he said you he said I am he said I am also very disappointed in your country Colombia exports. That was last year three hundred metric tons of cocaine into the United States. He said as long as you have that kind of demand someone's going to grow it if it's not in our country or if we spray one place, it goes somewhere else or then it goes to Peru or then it goes to Ecuador or then it goes to Brazil and I think we have to get real about the demand side in our own country and What was said on the phone? It may have been jarring to everybody but what was said about some of the massacres and some of the killing people I've I mean, I've been to a city that's being taken over by the paramilitary Barranca. But may I visit a woman's organization with this priest who's a real hero to me Francisco to Roy and people are being murdered and and the and the military and the police in Barranca male should be protecting Defenders of Human Rights. They should be protecting people (00:44:38) quick couple questions before we wrap up here tax bill apparently down to 1.3 trillion tilt instead of 1.6 is that I still oppose to to that big of a tax cut. (00:44:51) Oh, I mean listen the the truth of the matter is that even those figures are highly debatable because everybody knows that there's going to be additional interest that's now going to have to be paid on a debt that isn't being reduced and there's going to be additional tax. Correction is in riders that are going to be added. Oh absolutely for two reasons. Number one. It is Robin Hood in Reverse tax cuts with over 40% of the benefits going to the top 1% That's outrageous. If you can have tax cuts make sure that everybody benefits and get them to the people who need to buy a washing machine and can't that's how people spend if you're worried about the economy and second of all the magnitude of these tax cuts the same problem with the governor's proposal to state level is that if you have too much in the tax cuts and there's not balanced then you're going to crowd out investment for kids for education for whatever happened to prescription drug benefits. For elderly people. This is outrageous. I'm going to resist this with all my might and when if we lose on this by a vote or two, I'm going to come back on appropriation bills and over and over and over again. I'm going to be there on prescription drugs for elderly with Senator Mark Dayton. I'm sure will be leading the way I'm going to be there on the environment. I'm going to be there on kids in education over and over and over again. Absolutely that's like this. Ordered priorities by the administration and by Republicans on this question. I believe that in my heart and soul. (00:46:19) And (00:46:19) finally in my Minnesota heart and soul (00:46:21) very briefly. I notice there's some money now for special education in the education but full funding is Minnesota going to get all the money that that (00:46:30) well very interesting Harkin and I did the moon with him that provided that funding and now what we've done last week is we've made the idea program mandatory. So it's not up to local every year deciding. What's an Appropriations, but will the House of Representatives knock it out. It has to really originated with them. Will they quote blue? Slip it will they will they let it go through or will they block it? And I'm not at all sure. I am going to have some amendments this week and next week that are going to be fun to do and I know Mark Dayton's going to do this as well, which is going to really tie everything we do to education to making sure the funding is there for idea and Title 1 and pre-kindergarten and I'm done you said time. We're up he cut me off (00:47:14) senator Paul wellstone. Thanks for coming in today our First hour of our midday (00:47:19) program on the next fresh air Colin (00:47:22) Firth. He's starring in the new movie Bridget Jones Diary in the novel Bridget has a crush on first because of his performance in the TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. We'll talk about both roles and he'll read an excerpt of a short story. He (00:47:35) wrote which was published by Nick Hornby. (00:47:38) I'm Terry Gross join us for the next fresh air. That's at eight o'clock this evening here on Minnesota Public Radio 6 minutes now before