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I . ' State lawmakers traveled to the fertile farmland of Austin-Albert lj.eafor the Southern Twin Cities Mini-Session Oct. 24-26. - photo illustration by Tom Olmscheid Austin-Albert Lea ...

Minnesota House Many of the issues discussed during the A panel of lawmakers toured several local members recently vis­ three days of meetings centered around those facilities such as the Hormel Institute Re­ ited the land of Spam, of importance to most communities in the search Center and GameTec Inc., a pull-tab pork farms, and the state: the impact of federal budget cuts on manufacturing plant. state's only pull-tab local affordable housing and access to health Lawmakers also toured area schools and manufacturing plant care, school finance reform, and economic the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Faribault during the 1995 Austin-Albert Lea Southern development. to study buildings that may need improve­ Twin Cities Mini-Session. Many of those issues were raised by locals ments and require the sale of state-autho­ They were there to hear concerns from at an Oct. 2 4 town meeting in Austin. More rized bonds to pay for them. local residents and discuss the future of south­ than 250 citizens turned out to listen to ern Minnesota. policymakers and to give them advice. Interested citizens were invited to attend House Speaker Irv Anderson (DFL-Int'l more than 30 legislative hearings held in Falls) was encouraged by the large turnout. Session Weekly Renewal Austin, Albert Lea, and Faribault. Hearing "This tells us that you, the people, want to topics included juvenile justice, school fund­ see government in action," he said. Dear Readers: ing, consumer fraud against the elderly, cor­ Some citizens put Minnesota legislators on The 1996 Legislative Session begins porate farming, and the economic survival of the spot to soften the impending congres­ Jan. 16, 1996, and Session Weekly will main street businesses. sional changes to Medicare and Medicaid. begin publishingjan. 19, 1996. The mini-session, held Oct. 24-26, was the Others wanted the state to come up with 13th held outside the St. Paul State Capitol money to absorb potential cuts to homeless State law prevents us from automati­ since the Minnesota House of Representa­ programs. Still others wanted state dollars to cally renewing subscriptions so watch tives began conducting them in 1987. In all, cushion federal cu ts to farm subsidies and the your mail for a Session Weekly subscrip­ about 100 of the 134 House members partici­ fuel assistance program that helps low-in­ tion renewal card follow the instruc­ pated in the mini-session. come families heat their homes during the tions and return it to the House Public The goal is to bring politics to the people so winter. Information Office by Dec. 1, 1995. that citizens can easily participate in the legis­ Several additional hearings were devoted lative process without the time and expense of to specific issues of concern to the Austin­ Thank you. a trip to the Twin Cities. It also allows lawmak­ Albert Lea area such as corporate farming, The Editors ers to see firsthand how certain policies affect local transportation problems, and the 1995 different sections of the state. Federal Farm Bill. Mini-Session Report is a non-parti­ san publication of the Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Of­ I- I EP T fice. The publication is a service of the &\innesoto !House of Re~resentotives • 1$Joveml5er 10, 1995 • &dome 3, 1$Juml5er 2 Minnesota House. No fee.

To subscribe; contact: Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Office t c 175 State Office Building St. Paul, MN 55155-1298 (612) 296-2146 or Save family farms - Family farmers in southern Minnesota have several reasons they 1-800-657-3550 don't want large corporate farming operations across the road: awful odors, environmen­ TDD (612)296.:9896 tal hazards, and stiff competition. In Oct. 25 testimony before the House Agriculture Committee, a number of farmers urged lawmakers to avoid any change in state law that would make it easier for corporate farms to develop ...... Page 5 Director Fewer federal funds - Residents of Minnesota may soon feel the sting of Congressional budget cuts because the state cannot afford to replace the money it currently receives from the federal government, said Rep. Loren Solberg (DFL-Bovey), chair of the House Assistant Director /Editor Ways and Means Committee ...... Page 6 Peg Hamerston Main Street survival-Small businesses in rural Minnesota face all sorts of competition from nationwide big chain gas stations, discount stores, and specialty shops popping up Assistant Editors in town and taking dollars from the local operators. But what irritates some is that john T. Tschida Minnesota's state and local governments are helping the big chains ...... Page 6 K Darcy Hanzlik Juvenile justice woes - Members of the House Judiciary Committee heard Oct. 24 from judges, prosecutors, and public defenders on the state of today's juvenile justice Writers system. The verdict? The system needs work...... Page 8 Nick Healy, Tad Johnson, More dollars for education-A quality education doesn't come cheap, state lawmakers Matthew A. Niewohner, were told at an Oct. 24 meeting of the House Education Committee's K-12 Finance Eric Thompson Division at Austin High School. The panel was asked to increase per pupil funding, mark more resources for technology, and provide "new dollars" to districts to train teachers and administrators to ensure the successful implementation of the Art & Production Coordinator graduation rule...... , ...... Page 9 Paul Battaglia Frog Project- The kids in Cindy Reinitz's class came upon some very strange looking frogs while exploring a small marsh near Henderson, Minn., last summer, and now Photographers they're telling the world about it. Members of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Rep. Willard Munger (DFL-Duluth), heard the story Tom Olmscheid, Laura Phillips firsthand during the 1995 Southern Twin Cities Mini-Session ...... Page 12

MinnesotaCare praised-Austin resident]ill Vollmer says MinnesotaCare has made Staff Assistant it possible for her to move off welfare and back into the working world. The state­ Toinette Lisa Battle subsidized health insurance program provides an important, affordable option, Vollmer told members of the Minnesota Care Finance Division of the House Health and Human Services Committee ...... Page 15

Congressional cuts-Talk from the nation's Capitol of cutting higher education dollars PRINTED WITH has state officials and students more than a little nervous ...... Page 16 SOY INK Housing assistance - Homelessness and housing shortages in rural Minnesota will Mini~Session Report is published by the Min­ only get worse if cuts federal housing and welfare programs ...... Page 17 nesota House of Representatives Public Information Office, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155-1298. Bulk Rate postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and at other mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Session Weekly, Public Information Office, Minnesota House of Representatives, 175 State INSI Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155-1298. Town Meeting ...... 3

Printed on paper which fs 100% recycled, 20% Highlights ...... : ...... 5 post-consumer content. Legislator Information ...... 22

2 MINI-SESSION REPORT/ November 10, 1995 Town Meeting ... L al citizens About 250 people packed the Austin High School Auditorium to question visiting Min­ nesota lawmakers about taxes, farm odor problems, pending federal cuts to Medicare, and a host of other issues. About 100 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were on hand as part of the Austin-Albert Lea Southern Twin Cities Mini-Session and many participated in the town meeting Oct. 2 4. The get-together is designed to give local citizens access to House members and staff without having to drive to St. Paul during the legislative session. Lawmakers appreciate the input and it gives them a chance to specifi­ cally hear more about Austin-Albert Lea con­ cerns. Past mini-sessions have triggered many pieces of legislation. Among them the Envi­ ronmental Trust Fund, Local Government About 250 people packed the Austin High School Auditorium to question visiting Min~esota lawmakers Trust Fund, and Minnesota Care. Other legis­ about taxes, farm odor problems, pending federal cuts to Medicare, and many other issue~. About 100 lation brought 911 emergency service to ru­ members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were on hand as part of t~e 1995 Austm-Albert Lea ral areas, helped farmers after the 1993 floods, Southern Twin Cities Mini-Session and many participated in the town meetmg Oct. 24. and toughened juvenile crime laws in 1994. Minnesota's loss would amount to about Medicare should be "palatable," said Svig­ Although folks attending the town meet­ $4. 5 billion of which $1. 3 billion is likely to gum. ing spoke out on many subjects, there was a come out of hospital reimbursements, ac- Below are some of the other issues raised re-occurring theme: fear of the proposed cording to House fiscal analysts. during the town meeting. congressional budget cuts and how it could In terms of Medicaid, the congressional affect them. Some citizens put Minnesota proposal is to cut $182 billion from projected Environment legislators on the spot to soften the impend­ growth in the program by 2002. Minnesota's Kendall Langseth, an Albert Lea extension ing congressional changes to Medicare and share would be $2.3 billion to $3.4 billion educator in the livestock industry, noted that Medicaid. over the next seven years depending on which more frequent rifts occur between urban Medicare is strictly a federal medical care version of the bill finally passes, according to dwellers and rural dwellers such as discon­ program for the nation's elderly. the fiscal analysts. tent over the size of farms and the odors and Medicaid - known as Medical Assistance House Majority Leader Phil Carruthers water quality concerns they produce. in Minnesota -is a jointly funded, federal­ (DFL-Brooklyn Center) cautioned the Aus­ He asked lawmakers if they saw any new state program designed to provide health tin-Albert Lea audience that the state doesn't laws coming down the pike regarding farm care for certain low-income individuals. have the money to make up for Medicare or environmental issues. "Can Minnesota do anything about this?" Medicaid cuts. Rep. Roger Cooper (DFL-Bird Island) said asked Donna Olson of Austin, referring to Rep. Lee Greenfield (DFL-Mpls), chair of he had just participated in a conference on proposed cutbacks in the two programs. the House Health and Human Services Fi­ the subject and agreed farm operations can She was concerned about millions of eld­ nance Division, asked the audience to write divide a community and raise issues of water erly people who may not have medical cover­ the president and the Congress. He added and air quality. age if Medicare realizes $2 70 billion in sav­ that his division will hold hearings on the Rep. Doug Peterson (DFL-Madison) said a ings over the next seven years. She also noted issue to figure out the best way Minnesota can few years ago there was money in a bill to that the program may become out of reach for deal with the federal dollar loss. address the issue of farm odors, but it was many seniors on a fixed income if Congress House Minority Leader Steve Sviggum (R­ taken out. He said he doesn't expect any new raises Medicare premiums too high. Kenyon) disagreed there would be cuts to legislation this year. · Rural hospitals too, are worried, Olson Medicare and Medicaid, rather there is a Matthew Simonson of Austin also asked said. They treat many elderly patients on reduction in the size of the spending increase why, if there are health warnings on ciga­ Medicare and depend primarily on federal for those programs. rettes, residents of nearby farming communi­ reimbursement dollars to meet operating Although he agreed the congressional action ties are not warned about the potential health expenses. With changes to Medicare .they will cause some harm, Sviggum noted that the hazards of breathing in agriculture chemicals may lose too muchmoney to keep their doors Medicare budget has to be brought under that drift through the air. open. control or it will be bankrupt in seven years. Of the $2 70 billion in proposed savings to A reduction in the spending increase for Medicare over the next seven years,

November 10, 1995 /MINI-SESSION REPORT 3 Waste management Carlson and Iowa's Gov. Terry Branstad. to require that operatingfunds for public schools Betty Groe drove up from Lake Mills, Iowa, come from sources other than local property taJCes?" to Austin to talk trash. Taxes The question, O'Rourke said, is misleading She was disturbed that garbage from the Terry Plath of Austin, a small business­ Twin Cities was being dumped in a landfill in because it doesn't tell the voters where the man, complained about some business own­ her back yard. She said a recent money will come from. Star Tribune ers not paying their fair share of taxes and article called Lake Mills "Dump TruckJunction." "It's like voting for [either] ice cream or cheating on their state and federal forms. He Currently, the town is getting 100 loads a horseradish," he said. asked why he should bother to be honest day, she said. "It's wrecking our roads, and it The mayor raised concerns that the state when others are not. doesn't look good coming through our town. would tap the aid dollars it currently gives "It's a losing, losing battle," Plath said. municipalities to heip pay for schools. "We know there are leaching problems go­ Rep. Ron Kraus CR-Albert Lea), a business Local Government Aid and Homestead ing on in the water. And we know that there'll owner himself, told Plath to "keep the faith be liability issues. Something must be done and Agricultural Credit Aid help cities oper­ and do what's right as a small businessman." soon," she said. "It's getting worse every day." ate so they don't have to impose high prop­ Small businesses that cheat won't last long, erty taxes. Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Mpls) agreed Kraus said. that this was an issue that affects Minnesotans House Speaker Irv Anderson (DFL-Int'l as much as it does Iowans. Falls) noted that he has no intention of tap­ She said that according to the Minnesota Education ping state aid to cities to help pay for schools Association of Counties, Minnesota has $300 Austin Mayor John O'Rourke scrutinized and that in past years he has fought to restore million in outstanding bonds to pay for the the wording of a ballot question that would proposed cuts in aid to local governments. waste systems throughout the state. let Minnesota voters decide if local property House Minority Leader Steve Sviggum (R­ "We need the waste to come to those taxes should continue to fund K-12 educa­ Kenyon) stated that the public should be told systems to pay for them so our property taxes tion. on the ballot question that a property tax won't have to pay that bonding." The measure, which passed the House decrease for school funding means taxes will Iowa House member, Rep. Cliff Branstad, during the 1995 Legislative Session but has increase someplace else to make up for it, or who accompanied Groe, also said the prob­ yet to pass the Senate, would place a referen­ that other programs will see cuts. lem was mutual. "You need refuse and gar­ dum on the 1996 general election ballot If voters approve, the amendment would bage in Minnesota to make your facilities proposing an amendment to the Minnesota eliminate $1. 7 billion in local property taxes economical. And we don't want the garbage Constitution to eliminate the use of locally that now go to K-12 education and shift in Iowa." He said he was willing to work on levied property taxes to pay for school oper­ school operating costs exclusively to the state. the issue on both the state and federal levels. ating costs. The 1997 Legislature would then have to Sviggum agreed to try to arrange for a The question reads: decide how to replace the property tax dol­ meeting on the issue between Gov. Ame "Sha11 the Minnesota Constitution be amended lars.

The man who founded Albert Lea, the Civil War, he entertained the colo­ Minn., in 1855 named it for a man he nel several times. had never met. Much of Col. Lea's topographic in­ Lea, a West Point graduate from George S. Ruble helped found Albert formation was incorporated in a larger Tennessee and later a citizen of Texas, Lea when he and a crew began building map of the territory. ItwasJeanNicollet, served in the Confederate Army dur­ a dam and later a mill on the inlet of Lake the mapmaker, who put the name "Lake ing the Civil War. Albert Lea" on the largest lake in the Albert Lea, according to a 1949 edition "¥lben the emotions pfw~r w~r~ area. Col. Lea had originally called it ofthe Evening Tribune. tqefr bigh~st, th~ loyal citizeris 8f~­ Ruble and another settler, Lorenzo Fox Lake because he saw.a white fox as bert Lea, Minnesota (having learned Merry, petitioned for a post office for he was sketching the body· of water that their namesake was servii:lg the the new town and requested the name during his. explorations. rebel cause) were debating a proposal the Village of Lake Albert Lea after.the When Ruble named the town after to change the name of the town. Fortu­ nearby lake and in honor of Col. Albert Lea, he did not know the man. But nately, cooler heads prevailed ..." when Ruble moved to Tennessee after M. Lea, a topographer with the U.S. according to the Freeborn County His­ Dragoons who passed through the area torical Society. inJuly 1835. The city's name was later The colonel was invited back to Al­ shortened to Albert Lea. bert Lea in 1879 and in 1890 wrote the The Dragoons weren't there to find a following: site for a settlement but "sought to "I might well wish that my freed spirit impress on the Indians the power of the could leave this green earth with the im­ U.S. government, and to explore the pression made just fifty-five years ago, as terrain," the Evening Tribune reported. I gazed and sketched when halted for rest Lea recorded landmarks, forests, lakes, on the shaded, grassy shores of Lake Al­ Col. Albert M. Lea rivers, and other geographicalfeatures. bert Lea." Photo courtesy Minnesota Histmical Society

4 MINI-SESSION REPORT/ November 10, 1995 Farmers requested the changes made in succeed," Duncanson said. "It's good man­ AGRICULTURE 1994 to help them compete against corporate agement, good planning, and good environ­ farms. The law aimed to let family farmers mental stewardship that will take agriculture Save family farms team up to take advantage of the latest tech­ into the 2 lst century." nologies and farm practices, which many of The hearing was part of the 1995 Southern Family farmers in southern Minnesota have them couldn't afford to do independently. Twin Cities Mini-Session in Austin. several reasons they don't want large corpo­ But Ault and other farmers cautioned leg­ rate farming operations across the road: aw­ islators against any further liberalization of ful odors, environmental hazards, and stiff corporate farming law. competition. Farming subsidies "Mega-size farms will only benefit mega­ In Oct. 25 testimony before the House size farm owners," said Jeanne Wertish, a Farmers worried about their financial fu­ Agriculture Committee, a handful of corpo­ Renville County farmer. "Everyone benefits ture want state lawmakers to help control the rate farmers outlined the positives of merging from family-owned, family-run farms." damage that may be caused by proposed cuts family farms, while a number of farmers Lawmakers heard criticism of corporate to federal farm subsidy programs. urged lawmakers to avoid any change in state farms beyond the competitive problems they While it remains uncertain how severe law that would make it easier for corporate pose to family operations. federal cuts will be, several southern Minne­ farms to develop. Factory farms that raise large numbers of sota farmers seem to be certain about one "At stake is kind of a way of life to put it hogs were the subject of complaints about thing. mildly," said Dwight Ault, who farms land odor and environmental dangers. Lagoons "The bottom line is we're probably going to about five miles north of Austin. "If we assume designed to hold huge volumes of waste end up with less money in our pockets," said that the big can get bigger and the small can create a "god awful odor problem," said Ault, Waseca farmer Steve Scheffert. take it on the chin, then I don't think [family and leakage from lagoons can threaten nearby Scheffert and several other farmers testi­ farms] can survive for another 100 years." surface lakes and streams along with the fied Oct. 25 before the House Agriculture Some say corporate farms are threatening groundwater. Finance and Rural Development Subcom­ to overthrow the family farming industry. Not all the farmers who testified were mittee during a hearing held at South Central Corporate-run operations are usually much critical of corporate farms. Technical College in Albert Lea. larger than their family-run competitors and "The corporate farm is not necessarily the Congress is considering measures that have cost-saving advantages smaller farms enemy of the family farm," said Faribault would cut as much as $13.4 billion from find it tough to match. County farmer J effWard, who owns shares in federal farm subsidies over the next seven In 1994, lawmakers passed legislation de­ two large agricultural operations. "Many cor­ years. signed to help family farmers by allowing porations are made up of family farmers One leading proposal in the U.S. House, more of them to pool resources to raise hogs, merging their efforts." the "Freedom to Farm Act," would overhaul cattle, and other livestock (with the excep­ Jackie Duncanson, a farmer and member federal farm programs. Under the measure, tion of dairy cows). of the Blue Earth County Farm Bureau, said the amount of subsidies would no longer be The law expanded corporate farming law corporate farms already face more environ­ connected to production and crop prices. to allow an unllmited number of investors to mental scrutiny than family farms. Farmers would instead receive payments of participate in certain cooperative farms as Family farms can compete, Duncanson fixed but decreasing amounts. long as Minnesota farmers control at least 75 said. And she warned against the promulga­ Bill Oemichen, deputy commissioner of percent of any one farm. tion of laws that would inhibit the operation the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Before 1994 such joint farms, called Au­ of corporate farms. told members of the state panel the situation thorized Farm Corporations, couldn't have "Every farmer in Minnesota, regardless of in Congress "is still very much in a state of more than five shareholders, and farmers had their size, should have the opportunity to flux." to hold at least 51 percent of the stock. But, even with the threat of a presidential veto looming, it appears certain that farmers will have to absorb reductions in the money they receive through federal programs. So what can state lawmakers do about it? Several farmers urged legislators to protect the markets for their products - especially the ethanol market. In 1993, the Legislature approved a law designed to give corn farmers and producers of ethanol an expanded market for their goods. The law increased the required minimum oxygen content of gasoline sold in the 10- county metro area to 2. 7 percent - up from 2 percent. The law calls for the 2. 7 percent In testimony Oct. 25 before the House Agriculture Committee, a handful of corporate farmers outlined minimum to be extended statewide after Oct. the positives of merging family farms, while a number of farmers urged lawmakers to avoid any change 1, 1997. in state law that would make it easier for corporate farms to develop. About 90 people attended the Adding ethanol to gasoline is one way to hearing at the Minnesota Riverland Technical College in Austin.

November 10, 1995 /MINI-SESSION REPORT 5 increase its oxygen content. Supporters of Tax and Tax Increment Financing Division of According to Bird, the most explosive issue the 1993 law claimed it would help stimulate the House Taxes Committee were told that in the current congressional reconciliation the rural economy by increasing demand for counties have but one option to maintain bill, which addresses tax changes and entitle­ the products of Minnesota-based ethanol current services: increase property taxes. ment programs, is how much money to allo­ plants. In Freeborn County, the county board has cate for Medicaid (called Medical Assistance Critics say ethanol detracts from engine said it cannot accept financial obligations in Minnesota). Both houses of Congress have performance, and some are pushing for the resulting from state and federal budget re­ recently passed a bill that would cut the oxygen content requirements to be lifted or ductions, said Daryl Meyer, director of Free­ increase in the yearly appropriations for both reduced for certain grades of gasoline. born County Social Services. Medicare and Medicaid. Congress still plans Scheffert said keeping ethanol use up will City officials told members their budget to give more money to the programs but not be crucial to helping Minnesota farmers ab­ belts have already been tightened. as much as the cost of providing those ser­ sorb the blow of federal subsidy cuts. Mayor John O'Rourke of Austin told mem­ vices is expected to increase. This will mean Farmers also told legislators that the state bers, "We're already making valiant efforts to either increased premiums for enrollees or a should actively lobby Congress to protect the save money." In recent years, the city has cut cutback in services. The planned cu ts are part interests of the state's agricultural industry. 25 full-time positions to tighten its budget. of a wide effort in Washington, D.C., to Olmsted County farmer Mike Clemens Jim Mulder, executive director of the Asso­ balance the federal budget. said cuts in federal subsidies should not ciation of Minnesota Counties, encouraged Also discussed were potential cuts in Pell come without changes that would bring prof­ lawmakers to recognize that counties have Grants to college students. Under the state itability to family farms. different needs and serve diverse populations. grant program, Minnesota currently picks up "This country has got to realize that family Recognizing that the largest pinch in fed­ the difference between how much the federal farmers are the backbone of the nation," eral funds will be in the form of Medicaid and government pays in Pell Grants and the calcu­ Clemens said. "You've got to realize that Medicare dollars, Mulder warned "If we end lated financial need of a student. If the pro­ [farming] keeps rural America alive." up with one set of rules and principles that posed cuts are enacted, Minnesota would have affect both Lake of the Woods County and to increase the amount of money it spends to Houston County, we're going to be doing the make up that difference or not provide stu­ same thing we're doing now over wetlands: dents with the full amount for which they are BUDGET having a war. It didn't work in wetlands, and eligible. The latter option would leave students believe me, it isn't going to work if we move or their families to fund the difference. Bracing for cuts it into the human services and health field." If the proposed Congressional budget cuts happen, the average debt for students attend­ Lawmakers gathered Oct. 25 in Albert Lea ing a four-year public college will rise to to discuss the effects of proposed federal approximately $20,000, said Jim Schmidt, budget cuts on local governments. Fewer federal funds dean of students at Austin Community Col­ Since Congress has not yet passed its bud­ Residents of Minnesota may soon feel the lege. Schmidt was concerned that these and get, "our task is like trying to create a sculp­ sting of congressional budget cuts because other cuts would squeeze the working poor ture out of]ell-0," said Rep. Dee Long (DFL­ the state cannot afford to replace the money out of a chance at higher education. He also Mpls). The ever-changing federal budget it currently receives from the federal govern­ pointed out that the proposed cuts to higher numbers and formulas are now being nego­ ment, said Rep. Loren Solberg, (DFL-Bovey). education are actual cuts in funding, not tiated in conference committee. While the Solberg chairs the Federal Cuts Task Force decreasing the increase, as in other pro­ details are uncertain, it is understood that of the Ways and Means Committee, which grams. cuts are coming. met Oct. 25 in Albert Lea as part of the 1995 "I think the public is unaware of the po ten- Southern Twin Cities Mini-Session. The meet­ . tial severity of the cuts," said Kevin Kelleher, ing was the panel's fifth in a series designed to Houston County commissioner. "I really do let legislators hear from experts and local BUSINESS think the public is somewhat unaware of the residents about what might happen if cur­ services that are provided normally. I think in rently proposed congressional cuts become Main street survival many cases that's taken for granted." law. Previous meetings were held in St. Paul, Kelleher's job in the coming months will Duluth, Mankato, and Hopkins. Small businesses in rural Minnesota face be one of public relations: telling the public At least one national expert believes the all sorts of competition from nationwide big exactly what the county provides. He noted cuts will be tough on Minnesotans. chain gas stations, discount stores, and spe­ that people in his county demand a high level Michael Bird, a federal affairs staff member cialty shops popping up in town and taking of services, but don't want to pay more to for the National Conference of State Legisla­ dollars from the local operators. retain them. tures (N CSL), estimated that Minnesota would But what irritates some is that Minnesota's And with talk oflarge cuts, local organiza­ lose about 6 percent to 7 percent of the state and local governments are helping the tions are jockeying for position. money that the federal government allocates big chains. 'There is a tendency to protect the size of for state and local assistance. The chief fiscal A handful of members of the Austin area your [budget] pie at the expense of others,'.' analyst for the House makes a similar projec­ business community told lawmakers that it is Kelleher said. "Everyone feels the services tion in the Oct. 23, 1995, issue of Federal not necessarily the competition that bothers they provide are the most important." Budget Update. For fiscal year 1996-97, the them but the fact that many of these chains In the wake of significant cuts, members impact is estimated to be between $390 mil­ are getting government tax subsidies .to help from the House Local Government and Met­ lion and $640 million. them open their doors. ropolitan Affairs Committee and Property

6 MINI-SESSION REPORT/ November 10, 1995 The business people addressed the Busi­ fertile business ground tion-business issue even further, stating that ness Regulation Division of the House Com­ local business should be given an induce­ merce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs Com­ Well-educated employees and emigrating ment to hire workers with technical back­ mittee. They were assembled as part of the businesses were the prevailing themes at the grounds. According to Brophy, the result of 1995 Southern Twin Cities Mini-Session. Oct. 25 hearing of the House International hiring well-educated workers is a livable wage Steve Johnson, former owner-operator of Trade and Economic Development Commit­ and a correspondingly healthier community. Johnson's Department Store in Buffalo, Elk tee held in Austin. Brophy also was concerned that southern River, and Monticello, said a major problem Lawmakers were told that southern Min­ Minnesota is losing livestock production to is that the state and local governments are nesota was a fertile place to do business. other states. using tax subsidies to help lure businesses to AqualityworkforcehelpedWayneJohnson "Livestock, especially hogs, is the lifeline of Minnesota, too many of which offer low­ decide to move his business, IB Industries, to Austin and the surrounding communities" paying jobs. Brownsdale, Minn. IB Industries, a database said Brophy. Currently, about 16,000 hogs Through such programs as Tax Increment management company, employs about 80 are slaughtered daily in Austin. "Because Financing (TIF), local governments can help area residents. IB is looking to expand and is Austin relies heavily on food markets as an buy down the cost of property on which a constantly looking for workers with techni­ economic root, the area cannot afford to lose new business can relocate. Or, they can pay calskills. In fact, IBhasinvestedover$150,000 this root to other states," Brophy said. for road improvements or upgraded sewer dollars to educate and train area students in He speculated that livestock operations and water services to encourage a new com­ technical fields for the career paths of the may be leaving southern Minnesota as a pany to move in. future. result of state laws regulating farming prac­ That hurts Main Street businesses who are Are the local high schools preparing stu­ tices and workers' compensation. already there and are among the taxpayers dents for those technical careers? Rep. Dee 'The strength of the area is agriculture and who have to pay for the tax subsidy,Johnson Long (DFL-Mpls) wanted to know. we should not lose sight of that when legislat­ said. According to Johnson, area schools are ing [such] issues," said Brophy. He asked the Legislature to do something becoming increasingly aware of the impor­ Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Mpls) noted to stop the bidding wars that companies force tance of a technical background and seem to that the unique karst topography (an irregu­ upon often neighboring municipalities. If a be emphasizing those areas of study in their lar limestone region with sinks and under­ business wants to locate in a particular area, respective districts. gr'ound caverns and streams) of southern it should be based on the economics of mak­ In fact, the quality of education has helped Minnesota requires regulation of agricultural ing money, not on what subsidy a business to retain local businesses as well. run-off; a problem other states may not have. can get, Johnson said. The two primary reasons Dennis Jones has In response, Brophy said there was no signifi­ Tom Purcell, a member of the Austin City continued to operate Jones' Cabinets in the cant environmental difference between south­ Council agreed. "It goes on all the time." Austin area are the high-caliber work force ern Minnesota ·and those states to which Austin, Purcell said, competes with other and the quality educational facilities. Ap­ livestock production operations are moving. cities for businesses and jobs, but when the proximately half of Jones' 20 employees are Rep. Mike Osskopp (R-Lake City) sug­ city puts its best offer on the table, the com­ graduates of Minnesota Riverland Technical gested that legislation and government are panyusuallyuses it as a bargaining chip to get College in Austin. According to Jones, responsible for emigrating business. a better deal from another city. Riverland graduates constitute his best em­ "It's like a dog chasing it's tail. Half of The state's TIF program was designed to ployees and are "extremely dedicated and government is trying to support business and attract businesses to create good-payingjobs, know the basics." another half is busy regulating business to the replace blighted areas with productive devel­ George Brophy, speaking for the Develop­ point of driving them out," he said. opment, and create housing, Purcell said. ment Corporation of Austin, took the educa- Too often, he said, TIF subsidies aren't being used to clear blighted areas or create housing. "And, the jobs aren't that great." When a business comes in to town on tax subsidies, often they're a national chain or headquartered somewhere else. They aren't part of the community, they don't bank here so their money leaves town, and they don't participate in local activities such as charity drives, Purcell said.

Austin Mayor John O'Rourkejoined other area community and business leaders to tell members of the House International Trade and Economic Development Committee at a hearing Oct. 25 that southern Minnesota is a good place to do business because its workforce is so well trained.

November 10, 1995 /MINI-SESSION REPORT 7 innovative tool," but told lawmakers more Prison overcrowding CRIME dollars should be spent to help juvenile of­ fenders transition back to their home com­ lawmakers touring the Faribault medium Juvenile iustice woes munity following a period of incarceration. security state prison saw a six-year old facility "Unless we make a good return, and pro­ already at its capacity with 800 inmates. Members of the House Judiciary Commit­ vide good services ... we'll see them back in Department of Corrections officials used tee heard Oct. 24 from judges, prosecutors, court," Porter said. the Faribault prison and the recent protest at and public defenders on the state of today's But most of Minnesota's residential juve­ the St. Cloud state prison regarding oyer­ juvenile justice system. nile facilities do not offer such "after care" crowding to explain why Minnesota needs The verdict? The system needs work. services, which often take the form of peer more prison beds. In 1994, state lawmakers, faced with data group meetings and individual or family coun­ In October, inmates in St. Cloud barri­ suggesting large increases in serious juvenile seling. caded themselves in a room after prison crime, passed a sweeping new law designed "We have good placement facilities, said officials took over some inmate activity space to target tough juvenile offenders. lane Ayers, assistant Hennepin County at­ to add more beds. As part of that law, a new category of torney, "but almost none of them have after "We've never been as crowded as we are offender, an "extended jurisdiction juvenile," care facilities." right now in all corrections facilities," James or EJJ, was created. Under the law, these 14- A recent report from the Office of the Bruton, Department of Corrections deputy to 17-year-olds are entitled to legal counsel legislative Auditor found that for many juve­ commissioner, told members of the House and a jury trial. Those teens found guilty nile offenders, "regular contacts with proba­ Judiciary Committee touring the Faribault receive a juvenile court penalty and a stayed tion officers are the primary form of after care prison as part of the 1995 Southern Twin adult criminal penalty. If the juvenile fails to service following release from a facility." The Cities Mini-Session. complete or violates the conditions of the report also said that after care services "have Bruton cautioned that as the system gets juvenile penalty, or commits another crime, as much impact on the likelihood of re­ more and more crowded, tension and out­ the adult sentence can be imposed. offense as the program offered at the residen­ bursts among inmates, and between inmates Todd Kosovich, assistant county attorney tial facility," according to most surveyed and staff, will increase. for Watonwan County, said the EJJ law is a county officials. During the 1996 session, state prison offi­ positive change, providing his office with Many agree that diversion programs - cials plan to ask lawmakers for bonding au­ another tool to use in charging juvenile of­ that aid kids on the front end of the judicial thority to build a new 800-bed prison in fenders. system - would prevent more juveniles Braham, which sits some 50 miles north of Judge Terry Dempsey, the sole district from ever reaching those residential facilities. the Twin Cities in Isanti and Kanabec coun­ court judge in Watonwan County, believes as "There should be a statewide diversion ties. word gets out among juveniles, that the "law program, properly funded, and with uniform It is unclear how much the Department of will also function as a deterrent." guidelines," saidleonardo Castro, chief pub­ Corrections will ask of the 1996 legislature, But the jury is still out in southern Minne­ lic defender for the 5th Judicial District. Such but as much as $100 million from the sale of sota on the effects of the new EJJ law. Mower programs, linking kids with community ser­ state bonds will be needed, Bruton said. The County has had only two EJJ cases. The entire vice instead of courtrooms, would ease the dollar figure is unclear because if the prison Third Judicial District, covering 11 counties exploding caseloads of juvenile courts state­ system asks for what it needs, it will be asking in extreme southeastern Minnesota, has had wide, Castro said. for one-third of all the bonding authority just 13 EJJ cases. But diversion programs cost money, and expected to be allotted by the 1996 legisla­ Department of Corrections officials told exist in only four of the 15 counties in south­ ture, leaving less for other areas such as lawmakers earlier this year that EJJ proceed­ western Minnesota's 5th Judicial District. schools and state environmental and social ings would cost both the state and counties Another reason for increased caseloads, service needs. untold millions to finance additional hear­ both Castro and Dempsey agreed, is the The new prison received $2 million in ings, trials, and an assortment of treatment increasing number of petty offenses now planning dollars from the 1994 legislature. programs that were spelled out in the 1994 landing in court: shoplifting, underage drink­ Bruton noted that the real cost in prisons is law. ing, and tobacco possession among them. not in building the institutions, but in oper­ Richard Mulcrone, deputy commissioner "These kids should be in diversion pro­ ating them for decades. of the Department of Corrections, estimated grams," Castro said. "We cannot afford to The Faribault prison may be the subject of in February that 4 35 juveniles would be have our courts solving societal woes." a separate piece oflegislation in 1996. classified as EJJs in 1995. Scott Christenson, assistant state public Ah-Gwah-Ching, a state nursing home in But to date, those predictions have yet to defender in the 5th Judicial District, said Walker, Minn. may soon be home to more materialize. juvenile court filings are up 40 percent in the than 100 elderly prisoners from Faribault if "I don't think we're spending a lot more district since 1990. In part, that's because of officials from the departments of corrections money" on EJJ cases, Judge Chuck Porter, a jump in referrals from the school system to and human services can persuade the law­ Hennepin County District Court judge, told the criminal system. makers to authorize the move during the lawmakers. The state's most populated county And in Watonwan County, where the 1996 legislative Session. has had over 16,000 petitions filed in juve­ court's budget for 1995 ran out in August, It is unclear how much it will cost to nile court this year. Out of 1, 700 felony cases, those petty cases are clogging the docket. renovate Ah-Gwah-Ching to provide these­ the county has had 70 EJJ proceedings. Of "Our resources would be better utilized if curity and care for the Faribault elderly pris­ those, just two have gone to trial. parents would take care of these problems at oners. Figures ranging from $1 million to $3 Porter also called the EJJ option a "great home," Dempsey said. million have been discussed.

8 MINI-SESSION REPORT/ November 10, 1995 Another involves entities posing as recovery companies that target individuals who have been scammed and play on their anger and hurt. The "recovery" company acts angry, too, and for a fee, promises to get the victim's money back. They, too, rarely produce. The elderly are particularly targeted and many companies sell computerized lists of individuals with their date of birth so telemarketers know who to target. The state of Minnesota plays a role in that problem. Along with other companies across the country, the Minnesota Department of Pub­ lic Safety's Driver and Vehicle Services Divi­ sion sells the information gathered as Minne­ sotans apply for drivers' licenses or register their motor vehicles. That information in­ cludes name, date of birth, and address. Harvey Cole may be one of 100 elderly inmates from Faribault's medium security prison to tranfer to Rep. john Sarna (DFL-Mpls) asked if the Ah-Gwah-Ching, a state-run nursing home in Walker, Minn., if officials from the departments of state could pass a law prohibiting the sale of corrections and human services can persuade lawmakers to authorize the move during the 1996 the drivers' license or vehicle data. Legislative Session. Members of the House judiciary Committee toured the prison Oct. 24, as part of the "I don't think the list should be sold .... So Austin-Albert Lea mini-session. the state may lose a few bucks," he said. Some prison officials see it as a good fit Scamming seniors Both Sarna and Rep. Howard Swenson (R­ because it will reduce medical costs for the Nicollet) asked the Office of the Attorney elderly inmates. Medical costs in outstate Senior citizens in Minnesota are the targets General to draft some potential legislation. Minnesota are lower. of many telemarketing, mail, and door-to­ "Please don't let the state of Minnesota sell In addition, moving the elderly will free up door scams which cause some to lose thou­ those lists. It's pretty bad," said Marion 100 more beds for younger, more predatory sands of dollars and even their life savings. Tangren of Austin. prisoners to be housed at Faribault. Elderly And the state needs more tools to arrest A federal law passed in 1994 and sched­ prisoners represent less of a security risk so and convict swindlers, Attorney General uled to take effect in the fall of 1997 will they can more safely be moved. Hubert Humphrey III told the Consumer automatically make drivers' license and mo­ Dana Baumgartner, a health care adminis­ Affairs Subcommittee of the House Com­ tor vehicle data private, said Carl E. Peaslee, trator with the Department of Corrections, merce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs Com­ supervisor of Record Information Manage­ also has noted that the state would save mittee Oct. 24. ment in the state's Driver and Vehicle Ser­ money by sharing services already provided He suggested adding the crime of attempted vices Division. Each state legislature, how­ by Ah-Gwah-Ching staff. For instance, the theft by telemarketing fraud to the state's ever, will have the authority to allow a check Faribault prison currently must contract out theft statute. off box on forms so each citizen can decide for physical therapy, while the nursing home "The con-artists fear criminal prosecution," whether they want their information made already has therapists on staff. Humphrey told the panel, adding that many public or not. Older inmates represent a growing popu­ times his office has been able to shut down If states do nothing, the data will become lation and currently number 250 (or 2 per­ scam operators with civil suits, but "for every private, he said. cent) of Minnesota's prison population, one we can shut down, there are tens, if not The federal law does allow for some ex­ Baumgartner has said. But because of their hundreds, of others." emptions. For instance, insurance compa­ medical needs, the elderly cost 10 percent to Humphrey said that with the federal nies, private investigators, and government 15 percent of the overall budget of the De­ government's forthcoming cuts to Medicare agencies will still have access to the informa­ partment of Corrections. and other programs, seniors will have to stretch tion. Faribault Warden Louis Stender noted that their fixed income dollars, which means the he'd miss the elderly prisoners if they leave state should be more protective of them. because they are self-motivated and repre­ Common scams involve con-artists calling EDUCATION sent few problems. individuals or mailing letters that indicate "They're a good population. They're easy they've already won a big prize, seeking pay­ More dollars for education to manage," Stender said. ment to secure the prize (often $2,000 or And during a day when you've got prob­ more), and then rarely coming through with A quality education doesn't come cheap, lems with other inmates, it is nice to know a prize. Sometimes the victim will receive a state lawmakers were told at an Oct. 2 4 that there is one calm area within the prison, trinket; sometimes they'll receive nothing. meeting of the Education Committee's K-12 he said. Some scams involve trivia contests in which Finance Division at Austin High School. the questions are simple and an individual The panel was asked to increase per pupil pays $10 to answer each question in hopes of funding, mark more resources for technol­ answering enough to win the grand prize. But ogy, and provide "new dollars" to districts to they don't win. train teachers and administrators to ensure

November 10, 1995 /MINI-SESSION REPORT 9 the successful implementation of the gradu­ dards, "there is training of staff that needs to tailed. ation rule. take place," said Neil Hanson, curriculum According to William Champa, city clerk "We always find too few dollars chasing facilitator for the Cedar River Education Dis­ of Fridley, it cost the city $6,000 to hold too many needs," said Gary Knudson, who trict and Austin Public Schools. special elections to fill a vacancy in House has taught at Austin High School for the last Hanson, a supporter of the graduation District 52A. The cost, not budgeted for, was 33 years. standards, noted that as several districts state­ seen as an unfunded mandate. Also, due to Austin residents just voted to help out as wide prepare for referendums "to maintain the time frame mandated by the governor, well. On Nov. 7 they approved (by a 69-31 current programs, we're also being asked to the city found it "impossible to inform the percent margin) an excess levy referendum provide more training and needed in-service electorate, and there wasn't any time for that will bring an extra $1. 4 million to the to our staff to adequately prepare them" for voters to obtain absentee ballots,'' Champa district. the new standards. wrote in a letter sent to the Office of the The local school board has said it will use Candace Raskin, principal of Ellis Middle Secretary of State. those dollars to reinstate a seven-period day School, encouraged lawmakers to provide Questions about the bill were primarily at the local high school and middle school, administrators and teachers with "clear di­ aimed at increasing the number of elections reduce class sizes to last year's levels, main­ rection and financial support," for the gradu­ conducted by mail. Rep. Dan McElroy (R­ tain current sport and activity programs, and ation standards. Burnsville) noted that when he served as maintain or restore teacher and support staff "Together, I think we can do a good job," mayor of Burnsville, the city clerk estimated positions. she said. the cost of an election by mail to be two to Absent from that list: new computers and three times the cost of a normal election, in-service dollars to explain the new gradua­ primarily due to overtime pay for employees, tion standards to local teachers. hiring temporary help, and renting space in "Most of our computers are years behind," ELECTIONS which to process ballots. said Chris Deufel, a senior at Austin High ] oe Mansky, director of the Elections Divi­ School. He noted that the computer he used Special election reform sion of the Office of the Secretary of State, in elementary school 10 years ago "is still said that costs incurred by large jurisdictions being used." He encouraged lawmakers to When the Legislature reconvenes in 1996, such as Burnsville may be somewhat higher provide funds to improve technology in the work will continue on a bill to "bring sense due to personnel costs. On average, his office schools. "We just want a chance to succeed in and order to future special elections," accord­ projects mail-in election costs will be similar, today's world," he said. ing to Rep. Richard Jefferson (DFL-Mpls). or slightly less. And since more people are Lawmakers did set aside millions in grant Jefferson chairs the Elections Division of expected to vote, the cost per voter will funds in the 1995 session to link schools to the House General Legislation, Veterans Af­ decline. Those areas with mail-in balloting, the information superhighway. A total of fairs and Elections Committee, which met primarily in northern Minnesota, have seen $10.5 million was marked to help schools Oct. 25 in Austin to discuss the bill (HF220) voter participation climb to a rate that is 20 and libraries link to the Internet and expand as part of the 1995 Southern Twin Cities percent higher than the rest of the state since access to those already on-line. Mini-Session. The proposal stalled during the procedure began in 1987. A total of llO Another $5.4 million was appropriated to the 1995 session. precincts in Minnesota now vote by mail in establish Instructional Transformation Chief sponsor Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL­ both primaries and general elections, and Through Technology grants to school dis­ Roseville) said the "good government" pro­ that number is steadily rising . tricts. In part, these grants are to be used to posal will do three things: allow future spe­ In December, all eligible voters in the state "enhance teaching and learning productivity cial elections to be held on regular election of Oregon will be allowed to vote by mail in through the use of technology." days, allow eligible voters to vote by mail if the election to replace U.S. Senator Bob While these dollars are helpful, they don't it's impossible to hold the special election on Packwood. Voter turnout in that election come close to meeting the technology needs a regular election day, and give the governor could affect future legislation in Minnesota. of all Minnesota districts. And in Austin, the more flexibility in selecting a date for special Mansky also said that fraud isn't an issue district often has competing needs that are elections if the election is to be held by mail. when conducting elections by mail, since it equally important. Under the bill, the governor would be given requires a witness, and the name of the "Do we buy new computers or hire a new seven weeks to set the date for the special witness is checked against an up-to-date list teacher for overcrowded classrooms?" election-up from four weeks under current of eligible voters within the designated area. Knudson asked. law. To date, there have been no falsified ballots. And besides new technology, there is an­ Greiling said the bill is in line with a Concerned about any hindrances placed other major shift in education that will begin current trend in Minnesota to establish more on college students, frank Viggiano, execu­ withthe 1996-97 school year: Incomingninth uniform election dates. One objective is to tive director of the Minnesota State Univer­ graders must meet new state requirements in increase voter participation. Participation the sity Student Association, spoke in support of math and reading in order to graduate from past two years in special elections has been the bill and other efforts to increase voter high school. These new graduation standards low, with the percentage of eligible voters participation by eligible students. One con­ have been years in the making. The state has casting ballots ranging from 11 percent in cern is that past special elections have been spent $12 million testing and developing the Legislative District 33B to 25 percent in leg­ held in December near or during the holiday new standards in the past two years. The islative districts 52A and 26A. season, when students are traditionally away 1995 Legislature marked another $12.5 mil­ Uniform election dates also save money, from campus and, therefore, polling places. lion to be spent over the next biennium. since administrative costs ~ primarily the Another is an attempt by Winona State Uni­ To successfully implement those new stan- costs of paying election judges - are dove- versity to prevent candidates from knocking

10 MINI-SESSION REPORT/ November 10, 1995 on students' doors. The organization views $50 more than her monthly income of $1, 000 any attempt to discourage or restrict partici­ from the two jobs she got throughJTPA. pation by students as harmful to the election One of those jobs paid $6 per hour which process. was just enough to cause her to lose her housing assistance, so she had to pay full rent. She became ineligible to receive food stamps. And though she was on a sliding fee scale for EMPLOYMENT day care, she paid $57 per month. At the time, she was still on Medical Assistance, but that would have lasted only another year, and her Women and iobs two part-time jobs carried no benefits. Jobs may be scarce in rural communities, Steele said she feels trapped in the system. but jobs you can raise a family on are espe­ "You can't get out because there's no way out." Rachel Lund, a business loan officer for Security But she describes the STRIDE program as cially scarce for outstate women, House mem­ Bank Minnesota in Albert Lea, told the House bers learned during the Austin-Albert Lea Economic Equality Subcommittee that there seems the "link" to her future. If STRIDE is cut along mini-session. to be a growing interest among women in starting with the proposed cuts for financial aid and The Economic Equality Subcommittee of their own businesses. The meeting was held Oct. day care, she said she would not be able to the House Commerce, Tourism and Con­ 25 at the Albert Lea City Hall. continue her education. sumer Affairs Committee chaired by Rep. their own businesses, she said. Even so, con­ Darlene Luther (DFL-Brooklyn Park) met siderably more men than women apply for Oct. 25 to hear testimony on 'Job Creation loans. Why? "Women tend to be more cau­ Roy Wilkins Memorial and job Training in Rural Minnesota." tious," she said. "They are somewhat fearful A memorial, complete with 46 ele­ In assessing the employment situation for of the process, and they don't have the men­ ments representing the 46 years that Roy rural women, members of the Albert Lea tors and the role models that men do." Wilkins devoted to civil rights in his business community outlined some major Laura Turner, who works for the Commu­ work with the NMCP, was dedicated on concerns, such as: low wages, the cost and nity Based Services Division of the Depart­ the State Capitol grounds Nov. 3. availability of child care, child support en­ ment of Economic Security in St. Paul, talked Wilkins grew up in St. Paul and gradu­ forcement, isolation from professional activi­ about federal budget cuts and changes to five ated from the University of Minnesota in ties, transportation expenses, and welfare. agency programs that work with employ­ 1923. He began working for the Na­ jean Eaton of Albert Lea's Convention and ment and training for rural women. tional Association for the Advancement Business Bureau and owner of Eaton Image First, she said job Partnership Training Act of Colored People at an early age and Development, said the biggest problem is the QTPA) for adults will suffer federal cuts, headed the association for 22 years, from lack of white collar jobs. For students leaving though the amount is not yet known. Sec­ 1955 to 1977. A dedication program the technical college, the average wage is ond, the state-funded Displaced Homemaker pays this tribute to Wilkins: "Under the $6.44 per hour. "You cannot live adequately Program did not receive cuts, but rather will stewardship of Wilkins, this nation pro­ on that," she said. receive a small increase this year. Third, the duced the most important civil rights Amy Kennedy, manager of Express Per­ Dislocated Worker Program may be cut as gains of the Twentieth Century, includ­ sonnel Services, a human resource staffing much as $2.5 million in the coming year. ing landmark victories like the Civil company in Albert Lea, sees the most impor­ Fourth, theJTPA-funded Youth Program for Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, the tant issue as the discrepancy between welfare Young Women and all summer youth posi­ 1965 Voting Rights Act, as well as suc­ pay and what employers are offering. She tions will be eliminated for next year she said. cessful court cases argued by the NAACP said that, according to a Dow-Jones report, Last year, there were 6,300 positions. Fifth, to the United States Supreme Court. the average rate of pay for a person on welfare STRIDE (Success Through Reaching Indi­ Often referred to as the Father of Civil in Minnesota is $10 per hour. "Our average vidual Development and Employment), Rights, Wilkins was awarded the Medal rate of pay is $6.99 without benefits," she which is the Aid to Families With Dependent of Preedom, the nation's highest civilian said. "Welfare pays better than work." Children (AFDC) job placement program, is honor, by President L)7ndonjohnson in Agreeing with Kennedy, Marge Hamersley, expected to go under block-grant programs. 1967." executive director of the United Way of Free­ Turner also anticipates that there will be born County, said, "People on welfare have a welfare reform legislation passed in the state difficult time trying to move to full indepen­ this year and that the major emphasis will be dence because of the loss of benefits." job placement rather than training. She also mentioned issues of transporta­ Many women who are on these state and tion and child care. "Women who have small federal programs talked about how their lives children and must commute long distances have been affected. Cindy Steele's story was for job training are using most of their money typical. for child care and gasoline ... in preparing Steele, a single parent of two children and themselves for a better job," she said. a first-year electronics technology student at Rachel Lund, a business loan officer for Pete and Kimberly Rhodes, owners ofWRNB Minnesota Riverland Technical College in Cable Radio and producers of the Minnesota Security Bank Minnesota in Albert Lea, said Austin, is currently on AFDC. Black Music Awards, pulled out a s.ection in growth in jobs and employment is coming She said she tried to get off a year ago, but one of the walls of the Roy Wilkins Memorial through small business. There seems to be a failed because her monthly expenses came to Nov.3. growing interest among women in starting

November 10, 1995 /MINI-SESSION REPORT 11 Wide Web is: http://mncs.k12.mn.usij'rog! ENVIRONMENT frog.html and their e-mail address is: [email protected]). Ney Frog Proied Betsy Kroon, 14, said they tested the water in the Ney Pond, and that the only irregular The kids in Cindy Reinitz's class came result they found was an unusually high pH upon some very strange looking frogs while reading. (pH measures the degree of acidity exploring a small marsh near Henderson in the water.) Minn., last summer, and now they're tellin~ They also speculated that parasites are the the world about it. cause of the frog deformities. In the spring, Members of the House Environment and she said, they will gather eggs and follow the Natural Resources Committee, chaired by hatching process. Rep. Willard Munger (DFL-Duluth), heard The story of this chance discovery has the story firsthand during the 1995 Southern caused a major environmental investigation. Twin Cities Mini-Session. Judy Helgen, a research scientist with the Four students, all of whom attend the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency who is Minnesota New Country School in the studying the findings, calls the kids in Reinitz's LeSueur-Henderson School District, testified Misty Herrley, a seventh grader at Minnesota New class an "inspiration." at an Oct. 2 4 committee meeting at the Hormel Country School in LeSueur, held two of the deformed frogs her classmates discovered while "While people are fighting over the devel­ Nature Center Auditorium in Austin. on a nature hike near Henderson. Cindy Reinitz, opment or alteration of our remaining small, The school is a year-round operation for who teaches the students, said in an Associated natural wetlands - the ones where the frogs teachers, but for the students, it's optional. Press article, "Some had four back legs. Some had reproduce - these students and their out­ "And that's how it came to be that we were out two legs growing out of the same socket, and they standing teacher have taught us all that we in the field at the beginning of August," were webbed to the knees." This chance discovery has caused an environmental investigation by the need to look at what we are doing. Not only Reinitz said. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. might we need to look at the biological effects Elaine Farley, 14, told lawmakers that the of restoring, altering, or creating wetlands, field trip was. part of a week-long nature "Out of 22 leopard frogs, 11 were de­ we may need to look at all the chemicals we studies course. formed," Farley said. all use." "It was just a simple trip out to the Ney She said they got information from Ney Woods," said 13-year-old Jeff Fish. regarding what chemicals were used on the fields, and they contacted experts through (Don Ney is a retired farmer who has set frog Reflection Paper aside some of his property as a nature pre­ the Internet. serve and wildlife refuge, where teachers Ryan Fisher, 15, said, "We did a lot more Cindy Reinitz, who teaches at the often bring their classes for nature activities.) than just show up at the frog pond to catch Minnesota New Country School in "We saw these frogs jumping around and more frogs. We had to do a lot of work in the LeSueur, Minn., distributed to law­ I caught one," Fish said. "I looked at it closely classroom, like research on possible causes." makers a collection of "student re­ and said, 'Oh, my Gosh, I broke its leg.' And We established an e-mail account and a flections'' on the Ney Frog Project. then we picked up another one and it had a home page on the World Wide Web for the Here is an excerpt from one that Jeff broken leg. So after the third or fourth one, frog project, and we received many responses, Fish, 13, wrote: Fisher said. Findings are updated frequently we got more interested, and we thought "What have [you] done with this whole something was going on. Then we started to because many are interested in the project. thing you ask? Well, for starters, I'm Mr. chart down on paper what we had found." (The group's home page address on the World Hothands. What does Mr. Hothands mean you ask? Well, Cindy gave me that name, because I have the fastest hands in the Midwest. Catchingfrogsthatis. Welllet's start out with the first day. The first day was an ordinary trip to the Ney Farm. Until Mr. Hothands saw it. It was the biggest, most slimiest, creature I had ever seen in my life. It was . . . the common Leopard Frog. I dove, then I looked up and there it was in the grasp of my hands. I looked at his body but, what was this? He didn't have a back left leg! 1 had caught the first deformed frog. It was the ugliest sight I had ever seen. Then left and right, left and right they were jumping all over the place. Our group was catching them left and right. It was so weird. I couldn't believe my eyes. That day soon came to an end, but not before we knew [our] lives had changed for the next few months. As Betsy Kroon told members of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee about how her we started down the road, with [our1 cla~smates at the M~nnesota New Country School in LeSueur, Minn., made the deformed frog discovery notes in hand, I began to wonder what all while on a nature hike near Henderson, Minn. Other students who testifed during the hearing Oct. 24 this means ...." were, left to right, Jeffery Fish, Ryan Fisher, and Elaine Farley.

12 MINI-SESSION REPORT/ November 10, 1995 Wetlands revisited explained that the intent of the WCA is "no net the act. They oppose state oversight and want loss" of wetlands in Minnesota. local government autonomy over their own Lawmakers are trying to find a balance Wetlands are important factors in water wetland management plans. between preserving Minnesota's wetlands and quality as reported by KenAlbrecht, a Nicollet Rep. Willard Munger (DFL-Duluth), com­ allowing for development. County commissioner and chair of the Min­ mittee chair, said the wetlands act is a major The continuing discussion of the Wetlands nesota River Basin Joint Powers Board; and piece of legislation that has been fine-tuned Conservation Act (WCA), and possible Rich Perrine of the Watonwan Soil and Water yearly since 1991. changes to it, took place in Austin before the Conservation District, and Linda Meschke In the 1995 session, Munger sponsored House Environment and Natural Resources from Martin County, both Blue Earth River major changes in the law proposed by the Committee Oct. 24aspartofthe 1995 South­ Basin Initiative participants. BSWR "to satisfy some of the criticism." The ern Twin Cities Mini-Session. Wetlands help purify water by allowing compromise bill (HF787), which was the Currently, the act requires developers, local sediments and pollutants to settle out before result of many months of deliberation by governments, property owners, or others to water returns to a lake or stream. They pro­ local governments, interest groups, and pri­ replace certain wetlands that are drained to vide retention area in times of flooding, fish vate citizens passed the House 12 7 -4, but the build roads, housing, and other developments. and wildlife habitat, and help recharge the Senate wetlands amendments (SF483) dif­ Many environmentalists like the act's "no groundwater. fered significantly. net loss" policy to protect wetlands. Some Under the WCA, Nielson said "if your "The conference committee appointed to contend the act needs to be more flexible, plans are to drain or fill a wetland, you must hash out the differences between the two taking into account differences in regions of first try to avoid it. If that's not possible, try to versions reached no agreement by the time the state. minimize the impacts on that wetland, and the regular session ended," Munger said. Local governments argue that current state finally, to replace any lost wetland areas." John Voz, resource specialist for the Mower and federal rules unnecessarily prevent land Local units of government are charged with County Soil and Water Conservation Dis­ development, especially regarding roads in administering this program. Presently, 400 trict, believes that controversy around wet­ northern Minnesota, where much of the acre­ units of local government are doing so in the land protection stems from the fact that a age is composed of wetlands. state, he said. "one-size-fits-all" regulation falls short of the Jeff Nielson, Southern Region supervisor for On the other hand, several northern Min­ comprehensive plan goal. He supports the the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), nesota counties have refused to implement proposed draft bill by the BSWR.

If Albert Friedrich had only known. Army to feed troops during World War Friedrich was George A. Hormel's IL (As recently as 1989, U.S. armed business partner when the two opened a forces bought 3.3 million pounds of butchershopinAustin, Minn., in 1887. Spam.) It has been the focus of jokes Hormel borrowed $500 to start the ven­ from Monty Python to David Letterman, ture. who suggested it be put on a rope "for Just four years later, the two dissolved snacking in the shower." U.S. Senator their partnership. Hormel moved his Robert Byrd of West Virginia reportedly operation to an abandoned creamery has three Spam and mayo sandwiches near the Red Cedar River. (on white bread) per week. From its humble beginnings as the Arid Spam is the focus of celebration George A. Hormel and Company, the George A. Hormel's butcher shop business throughout the country. began in 1887 with a $500 loan and a Hormel Foods Corporation now em­ The annual Spam Jam, held every partnership with Albert Friedrich, which ployees over 10,000 people. Sales totals dissolved in four years. Today, the Hormel Fourth ofJulyweekend inAustin, Minn., for 1994 exceeded $3 billion. Foods Corporation employs more than is the only Spam shindig officially spon­ Perhaps the most famous of its prod­ 10,000 people, and in 1994, sales topped $3 sored by Hormel. Others include the ucts, Spam, is sold in 50 countries and billion. The company is the largest employer annual Spamorama in Austin, Texas, the trademarked in 42 more. More than five in Austin and each Fourth ofJuly hosts the Spam cook-off in Maui, and the Spam annual Spam.Jam. billion cans have been sold since its carving contests held annually in Se­ introduction in 1937. name Spam, a contraction of spiced and attle. Hormel developed the country's first ham. And there is, of course, Spam in canned ham in 1926, and 11 years later A high-profile ad campaign followed, cyberspace. Tidbits on Hormel and its developed the first canned meat prod­ and sales boomed. A 1940 radio com­ famous product can be found in dozens uct that didn't require refrigeration. It mercial sang ".. , tastes fine, saves time. of places on the World Wide Web. (http:/ was marketed as Hormel Spiced Ham. If you want something grand ask for lwww.rsi.com/spam! is a good place to The name lacked a certain marketing Spam." Hormel also sponsored the popu­ start.) punch, so Hormel offered $100 to the lar Bums and Allen radio show, which At home in Austin, Minn., visitors can person who could rename their miracle included the character Spammy the Pig. explore Spam's history at the Hormel meat product Since then, Spamhas become a house­ Foods Museum in the Oak Park Mall. Kenneth Daigrieau, an actor and the hold word if not a dinner choice. Admission, of course, is free. brother of a Hormel executive, chose the The meat was drafted by the U.S.

November 10, 1995 /MINI-SESSION REPORT 13 The BSWR found that many of the prob­ mately 80 people. Sales and shipping are According to Brophy, the building occu­ lems with the WCA occur in counties with a handled at the distribution center in Golden pancy rate per square foot is, on average, 50 high percentage of wetlands remaining. Its Valley, which employs five people. percent to 60 percent lower in Austin than in draft bill remedies those problems by: According to spokesperson Gary Parker, downtown St. Paul, Minneapolis, and some ( • exempting more wetlands from the W CA in Game Tee has no problem with state regulation suburban locations. counties with more than 80 percent of aimed at industry security and keeping pull­ Rep. Henry Kalis (DFL-Walters) said that their presettlement wetlands remaining; tab production honest. However, when asked when the state chooses to expand services, it " providing more flexibility for local govern­ about the prospect of statewide video gam­ should look to locate some of those services ments to determine the amount of wetland bling in bars and restaurants, Parker noted that in rural areas. Division chair Rep. Tom replacement; and video gambling would have a "definite, nega­ Rukavina (DFL-Virginia) agreed, saying this " reducing the replacement ratio and subsi­ tive impact on pull-tab gaming." would bring well-paying jobs to areas with dizing replacement for road projects in Although GameTec could possibly switch declining populations, and could save the counties with more than 80 percent of its production from pulltabs to other printed state some money since facilities often al­ their presettlement wetlands remaining. items, the prospect of such a move may not ready exist. In a news release last summer, Munger be economically feasible, Parker said. A provision in last session's state govern­ said, "I hope by our next session that we will Albert lea Mayor Marv Wangen talked ment finance law calls for locating state jobs have a resolution of our problems and enact about how Game Tee was enticed to the area. in the area of debt collections - to the extent revisions that will allow participation by all The building that currently houses the feasible and cost-effective - in counties in 87 counties without sacrificing the 'no net GameTec operation is owned by the Albert greater Minnesota where the population de­ loss' policy of the original act." lea Port Authority and leased to Game Tee. clined by 5 percent or more between 1980 The port authority bought the building and 1990. and remodeled it to GameTec's specifica­ Amy Baskin, also with the Austin Develop­ GAMBLING tions. Wangen noted that the key to Albert ment Corporation, cited continued work on lea's economic success is to entice business a community information network as an­ Producing pulltabs to the area by offering deals like the Game Tee other plus for locating state services in the proposal. area. Development is being funded with a If the legislature approves video poker, grant from the National Science Foundation, keno, and blackjack machines in Minnesota and is a collaboration of city government, bars and restaurants, the pull-tab gambling business, and post-secondary education in­ industrywould be hit hard, lawmakers learned GOVERNMENT stitutions. as they toured the state's only pull-tab manu­ Part of the grant money goes to instruct facturing plant. Greater Minnesota iobs technical and community college students As part of the Austin-Albert lea Mini­ on how to build and place information on State jobs and services would be welcome in Session, the Gambling Division of the House communication networks, which should lead the cities of Austin and Albert lea, lawmakers Governmental Operations Committee toured to the creation of both jobs and a skilled work were told at an Oct. 26 meeting of the House GameTec Inc. in Albert lea Oct. 25. force. State Government Finance Division in Austin. Game Tee produces for both domestic and Work is also being done to expand the George Brophy, president of the Austin De­ international markets. GameTec currently network to link communities all over south­ velopment Corporation, said that the idea of has charitable sales in 15 states and produces eastern Minnesota, in hope of increasing in­ placing state services in outstate areas "isn't so tickets for four state lotteries and the Virgin formation sharing. If the network proves much a political issue as it is an issue of doing Islands. All production is carried out at the successful, Baskin sees the possibility for the right thing, doing what's cost effective." plant in Albert lea which employs approxi- replication throughout the state. Jane Leonard of the Department of Admin­ istration echoed Baskin's remarks. As com­ munity development manager for MNet - Minnesota's public sector telecommunica­ tions backbone network- she's spent four years traveling throughout the state encour­ aging the construction of community net­ works and the linkage of these networks to create "a distance-insensitive location of jobs and people." An immediate benefit-used often during the 1995 legislative Session - is the ability to hold interactive committee meetings, where citizens in other parts of the state can partici­ pate in legislative hearings in St. Paul. A long­ term possibility is the elimination of location and distance as factors in the placement of any type of job, public or private, through the Members of the Gambling Division of the House Governmental Operations Committee toured the state's ability to easily and efficiently communicate only pull-tab manufacturing plant, GameTec Inc. of Albert Lea Oct. 25. statewide and worldwide.

14 MINI-SESSION REPORT/ November 10, 1995 Bill Schmidt of Albert Lea, however, isn't and other southern Minnesota residents in MinnesotaCare praised so sure. When the city wanted to connect the voicing concerns on how the state will handle city garage to a recently constructed network congressional changes to Medicaid (called Austin resident Jill Vollmer says controlling city operations, they were told it Medical Assistance in Minnesota) and Medi­ Minnesota Care has made it possible for her to wasn't possible due to the absence of high care funding. move off welfare and back into the working speed data transmission lines. U.S. West has The hearing before the Health and Human world. the capability to get the lines running, but Services Finance Division of the House Health Vollmer, a single parent of one, worked according to Schmidt, doesn't plan to do so and Human Service Committee was held at her way off Aid to Families with Dependent because they're busy providing access to the AustinHighSchoolaspartof the 1995 South­ Children (AFDC). But while she receives metro area. This, he said, could make it ern Twin Cities Mini-Session. medical insurance through her employer, difficult to locate state offices in areas like During the three-day stint in the southern her son would not have been covered if not Austin and Albert Lea because high speed, part of the state, lawmakers heard many for MinnesotaCare. high volume data transmission isn't currently concerns about what money-saving changes The state-subsidized health insurance pro­ available. at the federal level will mean to the state. gram provides an important, affordable op­ Leonard said U.S. West won't provide ser­ Lawmakers will need to address the reper­ tion, Vollmer told members of the Minnesota vices if unconvinced of market demand, but cussions of those changes during the 1996 Care Finance Division of the House Health sees this as an example of the need for com­ session. and Human Services Committee during an munities to work to build partnerships with Proposals being considered in Congress Oct. 26 mini-session hearing. local telecommunications providers and con­ would set 2 percent to 4 percent annual Vollmer and others spoke in support of vince them certain services are necessary. increases in Medicaid spending, while the MinnesotaCare during the hearing, which With the number of legislators from the state estimates 10 percent annual growth in was held at St. Mark's Lutheran Nursing seven-county metro area outnumbering those costs of the program. Home in Austin. from outstate Minnesota, Tom Purcell, coun­ Margene Gunderson, director of Mower "MinnesotaCare is vital to rural Minne­ cilman-at-large for the city of Austin, ques­ County Public Health Nursing, said the sota," said Karen Olson, a registered nurse tioned the relevance of the entire debate, changes could prevent some people from from Faribault who serves on Regional Coor­ doubting that the location of state jobs out­ getting the medical attention they need. dinating Board Six (one of the citizen panels side the metro area would be a priority for the "My concern is these proposed cuts are created to give input on the health insurance majority of the Legislature. being made at the cost of the most vulnerable program). "We feel very strongly that the among us," she said. "Again, it's the poor, the program is proving to be effective." elderly, the disabled." Olson said Minnesota Care has helped sig­ Gunderson also warned that the changes nificantly in making medical insurance avail­ HEALTH may prevent people from seeking preventa­ able to great numbers of farmers and other tive care and leave them with more serious rural residents who have been without such Health care reform and more expensive health problems in the coverage. In 1995, legislators passed a law that may Proposed changes in federal medical pro­ long run. allow more people to be eligible for grams could mean problems for rural Minne­ Rep. Lee Greenfield (DFL-Mpls) agreed MinnesotaCare. The law increased income sotans, according to one official from a small with Gunderson. caps that decide who can receive coverage. community hospital. "It would make a lot more sense to reform Under the law, couples earning up to Shirley Raetz, director of patient care for all of health care and not start with two $13,530 annually and singles earning up to Waseca Area Memorial Hospital and an affili­ programs - one for the elderly and one for $10, 120 could be eligible. The old law set the ated medical clinic, said changes in Medicare the poor," Greenfield said. "But we don't limits at $12,300 for couples and $9,200 for and Medicaid could cut the lifeline to some seem to have much choice about that." singles. rural hospitals that receive much of their Rep. Fran Bradley CR-Rochester) suggested The 1995 law also altered a provision in incoming revenue through the programs. the situation is not "nearly as hopeless as we the original Minnesota Care Act that called for "The proposed cuts are going to have a have been led to believe." every Minnesotan to have health insurance severe effect on our community and the Congress is not actually reducing the by July 1, 1997. health and welfare of it," Raetz said during an amount spent on Medicare and Medicaid but The new law does not set a date by which Oct. 2 4 hearing before a House panel. rather is slowing the annual growth in the universal coverage must be achieved. In­ " ...We're getting down to the you-can't-get­ programs, he said. And the elimination of the stead, it redefines universal coverage as "when blood-out-of-a-turnip stage." some of the regulations on the health care every Minnesotan has. access to the full range The Waseca hospital, having already fro­ industry may balance the curtailment of fund­ of health care services, including preventive zen salaries and put off other spending, may ing. and primary care, and pays into the system be forced to close its emergency room if "There are opportunities for a great deal according to one's ability." incoming revenue drops off further, Raetz more efficiencies," Bradley said. While lawmakers heard no complaints said. Rep. Arlan Lindner CR-Corcoran) said the about the changes made in 1995, they re­ That would force Waseca residents to travel programs simply cannot be allowed to con­ ceived a preview of what promises to be a to Owatonna, about 15 miles away, or Man­ tinue to go unchecked. controversial health care issue in 1996. kato, more than 30 miles away, for emer­ "If something isn't done, we're not going to Regional Coordinating Board members said gency treatment. have anything by the year 2002," Lindner they expect their members to consider mak­ Raetz joined several medical field insiders said. ing recommendations on proposals to man-

November 10, 1995 /MINI-SESSION REPORT 15 rently, students don't begin repaying their HIGHER EDUCATION loans until they've been out of school for six months.) This would cost a student with Congressional cuts $11,000 in outstanding loans about $500 ( more over the life of the loan, according to . Talk from the nation's capitol of cutting Mark Gelle, director of financial aid for St. higher education dollars has state officials Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. Gelle said and students more than a little nervous. the elimination of the grace period is the most "The bottom line is that going to school problematic idea that has come out of Con­ will become more expensive" should aid be gress concerning education. cut, said Mike Lopez, system director for student services for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU). Lopez shared his Reduce rules, regulations concerns at an Oct. 25 meeting of the Higher Minnesota legislators can greatly improve Education Finance Division of the Education the efficiency of higher education institu­ Committee. The hearing, chaired by Rep. tions statewide by easing the number of state Tony .Kinkel (DFL-Park Rapids), was de­ rules and regulations, said Dr. Vicki Smith signed to hear testimony on the effects federal president of Austin Community College. ' budget cuts in higher education would have Smith was one of several administrators on Minnesota. faculty members, and students to testify Any cuts would hit non-traditional stu­ be~ fore the Higher Education Mandates Sub­ dents particularly hard, according to Lisa committee of the House Education Commit­ Frank. tee. Frank is both a mother and an elementary The panel met Oct. 26 at Riverland Tech­ education student at Austin Community nical College in Austin to discuss mandates College. She receives a Pell Grant state placed on higher education, particularly in Stafford, and Perkins loans, and is o~ Aidt~ light of the recent merger of state, commu­ Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). nity, and technical colleges and universities She told legislators that her main reason for to form the Minnesota State Colleges and going to college is to educate herself so that Universities (MnSCU) system. she can get a good job and get off welfare. She "Rethinking mandates will help build for said if Congress cuts these programs she Randy Krulish, a quadriplegic who depends on a the future," said Judith Eaton, chancellor of home care worker, told members of the would be forced to drop out of school. With­ MnSCU. MinnesotaCare Division of the House Health and out more education, she feels that she will be Smith also told panel members that while Human Services Committee Oct. 26 that he would on welfare for the foreseeable future. feel penalized for being disabled if federal cuts in well-intentioned, the cumulative effect of the Frank was one of a number of students Medicare benefits translate into state cuts in his regulations is to stifle creativity and effi­ who testified that they would be forced to home care benefits. ciency. drop out of college if the government cut the She said one example lies in a requirement date a minimum hospital stay for newborns aid they were receiving. Many were single that the attendance of all state employees at and their mothers. mothers, concerned with child care costs as any meeting where food is served - even Critics claim short hospital stays, some­ well as getting good grades. Many students simply coffee and cookies-be documented. times less than 24 hours, result in increased mentioned specifically that they were in col­ She estimated that it costs $20 in administra­ future health problems for babies and moth­ lege so they could earn enough money to get tive overhead to serve $4 worth of cookies. ers. And some lawmakers are promising to off government aid but needed a helping Rep. Becky Kelso (DFL-Shakopee) said offer legislation mandating insurers allow at hand right now. that all the regulations were put in place for least 48 hours in the hospital for mothers and Rep. Loren Solberg (DFL-Bovey) said that a reason, but that the cumulative impact was newborns. he would like Minnesota to fully fund any "You can look at it as a mandate on insurers a cumbersome set of rules. She indicated a fede~al cuts but that such a move is just not ... or you can look at it as an option for possible due to the state's limited financial desire to change outdated and onerous rules while making an effort to safeguard the state's women," said Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL­ resources. The state could probably fully post-secondary institutions and the taxpay­ North St. Paul). "Nothing is going to make fund one or two programs but would then ers who support them. [mothers] stay." have even less money for other programs. He Smith said that the Legislature needs to urged people to look at budgeting decisions give college presidents not just accountabil­ in a holistic way, realizing that there are many ity, but the authority to run their institutions groups who want money for legitimate rea­ as well as they can. Smith proposed a system sons, but that the state cannot afford to fund of regular review, in which presidents who them all. are not doing well could be removed. Congress is cutting appropriations for many Prior to the mini-session, Rep. Lyndon programs in a broad effort to balance the Carlson (DFL-Crystal), chair of the Educa­ federal budget. One current proposal would tion Committee, wrote to college administra­ save federal funds by eliminating the grace tors, faculty, student, and union groups ask- period for student loan repayment. (Cur-

16 MINI-SESSION REPORT/ November 10, 1995 needs, and see the total elimination of the Emergency Fuel Assistance Program, she said. The U.S. House bill eliminates the program completely, the Senate version cuts the $50 million program in half. The country has "forgotten the idea that we were having a war on poverty and clearly we have a war on thepoor,"WatlovPhillipssaid. She suggested that state lawmakers are going to have to look at the current tax breaks given to some Minnesotans in terms of mort­ gage interest, capital gains, and others and decide whether it is fair that the poor get very little, by comparison. Trixie Goldberg of the Southeastern Min­ nesota Initiative Fund asked lawmakers to look at several recommendations, including Members of the Higher Education Mandates Subcommittee listened to appeals from college administrators and educators for the easing of state rules and mandates Oct. 26 at the Minnesota Riverland Technical the property tax inequity between home­ College in Austin. stead property and rental property. Rental ing which regulations they would like modi­ individuals who lost their homes after a job, property pays a higher rate, two to three fied or lifted. divorce, or after building code violations times as much, depending on the size of the Sever.al college administrators talked about were uncovered. property. being hamstrung when it comes to buying They talked about the need for emergency Those costs deter private individuals from products from local merchants.Now a part of shelters to give people the time and space to building apartment buildings, even those the MnSCU system, Riverland Community get back on their feet but stressed how expen­ with two to four units. College has to follow a state-imposed central sive shelters are to operate. Government, The 199 5 Legislature did lower the tax rate purchasing process, making it difficult to they said, could help more if it concentrated for apartment buildings with four or more patronize local merchants. on helping people buy their own home. units in small cities (outside the seven county These merchants often offer better prices, Sometimes that means supporting zoning metro area and in counties contiguous to the can provide the merchandise more quickly, changes on the city level to allow for the seven metro counties). The tax rate dropped and are more apt to service their products. development oflow-income housing. Some­ from 3.4 percent of the property's value to One administrator noted how difficult it is times that means supporting down payment 2.3 percent of taxes payable in 1996. for administrators to raise money from local subsidies and emergency mortgage programs. She also added that pursuing livable wage business people when the college does not Advocates also cautioned against the ever­ jobs was critical for the state as well as helping buy much from them. increasing trend of creating low-wage new people afford the initial down payment on a Other feedback included a complaint that jobs in communities and then offering no house. They afford monthly rent in an apart­ technical schools, in hiring, had to go through affordable housing for workers. ment so they can afford a mortgage, Goldberg a statewide central personnel list, which hurt Many of the advocates asked members of said. It is just the down payment they need the chances of local candidates and caused the committee to write the president and help with. a"big waste of time because many potential Congress in opposition to the pending fed­ hires are not willing to relocate." eral cuts. "Right now, without any of the federal HUMAN SERVICES cuts, we are not doing real well as far as being HOUSING able to house the people within Minnesota," Cutting social services said Sue Watlov Phillips, chair of the legisla­ Uncertainty is the key word these days as Housing assistance tive committee for the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless. state and local governments and welfare re­ Homelessness and housing shortages in Minnesota is creating jobs that don't pay cipients await the outcome of federal welfare rural Minnesota will only get worse if the U.S. enough to afford housing. Twenty-one per­ and social service legislation. This uncer­ Congress passes pending legislation to cut cent of Minnesota households pay more than tainty was apparent when members of the federal housing and welfare programs. one-third of their income on housing, Watlov House Health and Human Services Finance Programs in southern Minnesota to help Phillips said. Division met in Albert Lea Oct. 25 to try to families who have lost, or may lose, their She ran down some of the potential cuts make sense of how proposed federal cuts Will homes or apartments are working one family from Washington and how they could im­ affect social services in southern Minnesota. at a time, according to affordable housing pact Minnesota. Bills still in the process of being reconciled and homeless advocates who met with mem­ For instance, Minnesota could lose $3 look to save the federal government billions, bers of the House Housing Committee Oct. million to $6 million in federal dollars that but may leave states scrambling to make do 26 as part of the 1995 Southern Twin Cities help the homeless, more than $7 million in with less, or force them to spend more. Mini-Session. rural housing program dollars, $38 million According to House fiscal analysts, the They outlined the work they've done in in public housing dollars, $8 million in hous­ proposed federal legislation cancels the guar­ finding transitional housing for families and ing for the elderly and those with special antee that AFDC, child care, food stamp, and

November 10, 1995 /MINI-SESSION REPORT 17 nutrition programs will be around when Lois Suckow, a licensed social worker from to appreciate the fact that important things someone needs them. Austin, fears that those welfare recipients have happened where they are," Goodnature Instead, there will be a fixed amount of most adversely affected by the proposed pro­ said. federal money coming into Minnesota in the visions will be people with learning disabili­ For example, Barry Baker, executive direc­ form of block grants, with no growth sched­ ties or suffering from mental illness, who tor and general manager ofKSMQ Television uled over time. That is expected to change the tend to be, in her experience, the least edu­ in Austin, said a recent MHC grant made relationship between state and local govern­ cated and least equipped to work. possible a 60-minute documentary, The Surf ment, and the way they provide social ser­ Rep. Fran Bradley CR-Rochester), while Ballroom, which explores the 60 years of vices. It also means the U.S. House and U.S. acknowledging that some safety nets for wel­ cultural and social history of a community Senate will have to renew the funding. fare recipients would disappear, pointed to and its ballroom. Over the next seven years, Minnesota's the proposed work requirements and time Another grant recipient, Marilyn Chiat, share of federal social service cuts is expected limits as incentives, ways of getting people co-director of the Center for the Documenta­ to exceed $1 billion. Yet, the proposed work into the work force and back on their feet. tion and Preservation of Places of Worship, requirements for AFDC recipients would in­ Greenfield, however, sees these incentives tries to help Minnesotans recognize the trea­ crease the demand and cost for child care becoming detriments if people are forced sures that remain in their communities. She services, leaving the state to pick up the tab. into dead-end jobs, and the federal or state narrated a slide presentation showing some Furthermore, with current non-resident government is forced to spend money, possi­ of the 'jewels" (places of worship) that re­ legal immigrants being cut off from all public bly large amounts of money, to create jobs main in southern Minnesota. We travel to assistance - with the exception of emer­ and run programs. other places to find gems of historical signifi­ gencymedical care-come j an. l, 1997, and Although proponents are hopeful_ that these cance, she said, but at the same time should those immigrating after the enactment date jobs are available in the marketplace, public realize that we have them in our own back ineligible upon entry, states may be asked to jobs would have to be created if that doesn't yards. make up for the loss of Supplemental Secu­ hold true. And, given that proposed work Rep.JimRice(DFL-Mpls),committeechair, rity Income, Food Stamps, and non-emer­ requirements are high, and the fact that there said, "I'm just amazed with what happens gency Medical Assistance. are restrictions on the types of jobs that can with the grants that are made, not only by the A connection exists, too, between future be created, Greenfield perceives a dilemma humanities commission, but by our arts federal funding for Medicare and Medicaid - one of many-leading to a 1996 Legisla­ groups and by our history groups .... These and funding provided by Minnesota for what tive Session full of long hours and few op­ things multiply themselves manyfold - ex­ are generally considered social services. This tions. ponentially ... " means that a cut in future health care funds Last year, the community of Wells, Minn., would translate into less money for social benefited from an MHC grant that enriched a service-related programs. Past availability of HUMANITIES community theater production experience. health care money made it possible for the A Common Feeling, a musical centering on state to fund Meals on Wheels, case manage­ Humanities and economics Harry Gillam, a black entertainer and music ment services, and residential care which is instructor who lived in Wells from 1899 until primarily meeting a housing need rather than Members of the House Economic Devel­ his death in 1929, started out simply as a strict medical service. opment, Infrastructure and Regulation Fi­ entertainment to celebrate the community's Those testifying, many of whom are former nance Committee heard 10 people - teach­ 125th anniversary. However, the project or current AFDC recipients, were generally ers, project directors, and organization heads ended up with the school district receiving supportive of proposed time limits for cash - describe their experiences with Minnesota the Clarence E. Harris Cultural Diversity assistance, but fear those limits may be too Humanities Commission (MHC) programs Award, which Mankato State University gives short. Pending legislation would impose a funded, in part, by state appropriations. to those who have demonstrated continuous two-year limit on welfare benefits without Those testifying at the Oct. 26 meeting support of cultural diversity in southern Min­ work, and a five year lifetime limit. Both bills focused on the connection between the hu­ nesota. ·contain hardship exemptions. manities and economic development. The grant allowed for seven Jill Volmer, a HeadStart employee from "Humanities [the study of the history and intergenerational discussions between high Austin, wondered how people with children culture of humankind in every age] create school students and adults, all led by hu­ will be able to afford child and health care quality of life and the richness of life that manities scholars, said Jim Ramaker, project after they lose their benefits. cannot be measured in dollars, but it does director. "The discussions centered on the When asked by Rep. Richard Mulder (R­ take dollars to present humanities programs issues of nativism contrasted to immigration, Ivanhoe) how the Legislature should pro­ and keep humanities education up and run­ minority by race, gender discrimination, and ceed, she suggested removing people from ning," said Paul Goodnature, vice chair of the minority of opinion. The scholars' goals were cash assistance slowly, rather than cutting MHC. to reveal the similarities and differences be­ them off completely after a set amount of Three MHC programs were discussed: tween the same issues in the two time peri­ time. This, she said, would allow to people to Grants and Community Programs, ods, the early 1900s and the 1990s," he said. get on their feet and take care of back bills. Motheread!Fatheread, and the Teacher Insti­ Rep. Henry Kalis (DFL-Walters), who has She'd also make sure child and health care tute. lived in the area all his life, said, "I knew there services and food stamps were available. was a black man in town who owned a music Without those services she would have been store, but I had no idea of the dynamics of Grants and Community Programs forced to stay home with her son instead of that and the politics of what took place at that "Grant programs give communities the working, she said, and never would have time. Cultural diversity and the whole race opportunity to celebrate their own place and made it off AFDC.

18 MINI-SESSION REPORT/ November 10, 1995 issue is something we, in the rural areas, are you can't have mandatory overtime," he said. going to have to address in the future. I don't LABOR Steuernagel noted that such a change was think we've even started to take a look. ... just one possibility. "The issue is how do we The play helped to no end. People talked livable wage iobs create livable wage jobs," he said. about it a lot." The findings of a recent study on livable DFL lawmakers pushed a proposal during wage jobs and the state's new workers' com­ the 1995 session that called on all for-profit Motheread/Fatheread pensation law were discussed at an Oct. 24 businesses receiving at least $25,000 in tax breaks or state aid to pay its employees at The Motheread/Fatheread program assists meeting of the House Labor-Management least $7.21 per hour, which amounts to the economic development in helping disad­ Relations Committee. federal poverty guideline amount for a family vantaged parents and children become bet- The hearing was held in Austin, Minn., as of four. While parts of the proposal became ter readers, Goodnature said. part of the 1995 Southern Twin Cities Mini­ law, the "livable wage" requirement was The program is based on the concept that Session. dropped. (A similar proposal failed in St. nurturing fosters education, that the power The Job-Gap Study was presented by Jan Paul on election day Nov. 7. It would have of a relationship grows through the power of O'DonnellandBruce Steuernagelof the JOBS required businesses receiving $25,000 in aid the story. NOW Coalition, the organization that pro­ from the city to pay the same livable wage.) As parents become better readers, their duced it. JOBS NOW is a non-profit, non­ The changes in the workers' compensation economic situation improves and the chil­ governmental organization with research law also were discussed at the hearing. dren learn to love reading as they associate funded by several foundations. The law, which took effect Oct. 1, had the activity with the closeness of their par­ The study found that jobs paying a livable three major components: ents. wage constitute 48 percent of all jobs in First, the annual hikes in the benefits paid "School success is often related to how Minnesota. It also found that there are many to injured workers will be trimmed from the much a child is read to before entering more job seekers than jobs to be had - current maximum of 4 percent to 2 percent. school," he said. particularly livable wage jobs. On average, there are 2. 7 new job seekers Second, it is now more difficult to qualify for per job in Minnesota. That ratio of job seekers permanent total disability benefits. Third, Teac~er Institute perjobclimbs to 6:1 foreachlivablewagejob the workers' compensation insurance indus­ MHC's Teacher Institute helps create ex­ and to 31: 1 for each livable wage job that try will face limited regulation come Jan. 1, cellent schools by inspiring teachers to ex­ requires up to one year of training. The study 1996. Insurance companies will have to re­ cellence. The institute is helping build the also found that those Minnesotans who are ceive approval from the Department of Com­ infrastructure of small town Minnesota by unemployed believe that the biggest obstacle merce for any premium increases or de­ providing new training for teachers to be­ facing them is a shortage oflivable wage jobs. creases exceeding 25 percent. (Currently, come renewed and inspired, Goodnature One proposal discussed to create more insurance companies are required to notify said. livable wage jobs was prohibiting the practice the state of rate increases only before they are Cheryl Dickson, executive director of the of mandatory overtime. Such a change would implemented.) MHC, said the Teacher Institute was devel­ add more workers instead of making fewer Although the reformed compensation laws oped after Minnesota teachers said they employees work longer hours. may not be perfect, in Rep. GaryWorke's (R­ weren't getting the kind of professional de­ Rep. Marvin Dauner (DFL-Hawley) didn't Waseca) opinion, "it's a better system now velopment they thought they needed. like the idea. than what it was." Worke also stated that the Though the MHC could not provide any "I see a problem ... telling a business that only issue left for the Legislature to look at is kind of stipend or college credit, they could plan something that teachers could do "purely for the love of learning," she said. In the fall of 1992, the first year of the program, 125 teachers participated in five week-long seminars. This year, Dickson ex­ pects that 500 teachers will participate in 20 seminars. Each seminar is limited to 25 teachers. Seminar topics have included: "Deep Like the Rivers: Music and the African American Experience," "Planet Wave: The Nature of Environmental Ethics," and "Digging Up the Past: A Multicultural Approach to Archaeol­ ogy." Teachers needn't be experts on the topics to enroll in any of the seminars. In fact, Dickson said, "teachers need to be reminded of what it's like to be learners again." During an Oct. '25 tour oflabs within the Hormel Institute, a University of Minnesota research "It's a wonderful thing to watch a roomful center, House ~embers, left to right, Barbara Sykora (R-Excelsior), Peggy Leppik (R-Golden of teachers who have to learn how to get V~lle~), and Ric~ St~nek (R-Maple Grove), passed around a jar of moisturizing cream which their arms around a new topic just as those SCient1sts at the mstltute had been hired to study. kids do day after day after day," she said.

November 10, 1995 /MINI-SESSION REPORT 19 insurance regulation. That being said, "the Mary Moffit, a single mother who recently Tourism with their specific needs. A staff Legislature will probably not look at [work­ returned to school for electronics training, member will then enter the caller's needs and ers' compensation] for about five years." said she used the credit as a savings account perform a computerized search which will

But not everyone agreed that the issue will to pay bills "or shop for clothes at the Salva­ produce a list of choices that might fit those 11 lay dormant. tion Army." needs. The information will then be faxed or Rep. Walt Perlt (DFL-Woodbury) predicted "I need the [money] to pay my bills," she mailed to the caller. Journey will be adver­ that workers' compensation issues "will be said. "Please think of why you started the tised in newspapers in selected markets across back on the table again" this session. program to begin with." the nation. Both federal proposals would eliminate Markuson also gave a summary of a recent the credit for adult workers with no depen­ marketing strategy sponsored by the South­ TAXES dents. Currently, such workers are eligible ern Minnesota Region of the Office of Tour­ for up to a $324 federal credit and an addi­ ism. Performing above expectations, the strat­ Earned income tax credit tional $45 from the state. egy targeted more mature audiences by using Others who now qualify for the program specific publications based on area historical The House Taxes Committee's Sales and would eventually be phased out or receive events. The result of the marketing campaign Income Tax Division met in Austin Oct. 26 to less of an earned income credit. was an upswing in information inquiries at a discuss proposed changes to the federal earned According to the U.S. Treasury Depart­ cost less than was estimated. income tax credit. ment, a family of four with an annual income Rep. Kris Hasskamp (DFL-Crosby) in­ The credit, started in 19 75, serves to supple­ at federal poverty level ($15,160) would lose quired about state coordination with the ment the incomes of the working poor and as $4, 140 in federal and state credits over the media in order to give tourists a better idea of an incentive to move people from welfare to next seven years. This family would receive weather conditions in a given area. work. no benefit should the $500 child credit tax Markuson said that while some stations Minnesota is one of seven states to offer a cut become law. (Under a current federal were better than others, the success of coor­ companion credit, called the working family proposal, many middle-class taxpayers would dination efforts with the media has been credit. Those qualifying receive an extra 15 receive a $500 per child tax credit deducted limited in the past. percent of their earned income credit amount from their final federal tax liability. Those not The committee also heard testimony from from the state. owing any taxes would not receive the credit a cooperative of local communities who are For the 1994 tax year, the state returned as a refund.) trying to spark tourist interest in southern $29 .8 million to qualifying Minnesotans. Over Division Chair Rep. Bob Milbert (DFL­ Minnesota. Known as Prairie Vision, the group $198.6 million federal earned income credit South St. Paul) called the proposed cuts to is sponsoring the Shooting Star bike trail to dollars were refunded. the program "counter productive." attract tourists to the area. The proposed 31- The maximum refund under the state work­ "If we clobber these people . . . it's not mile trail would follow an existing railroad ing family credit is now $455 (for a family going to take long before we have all kinds of bed that meanders through wildflowers, hard­ with two or more children). For the same other problems as a result of taking away any woods, and farmlands. family, the maximum federal earned income incentive that they have to get out there and The trail would allow people a welcome credit is $3,033. work." alternative to riding their bicycles on High­ Proposed cuts to the federal pro gram would way 56 to and from such places as softball slice deep. fields and swimming pools. The U.S. Senate has passed a bill calling for TOURISM Former Rep. Leo Reding (DFL-Austin) said $43.3 billion to be slashed from the program that while currently at a funding crisis, Prairie over the next seven years. The U.S. House has Vision would like the state to help pay for the called for $23.3 billion to be cut. A total of Marketing Minnesota trail and include it in a future state bonding $150 billion is expected to be spent on the Marketing southern Minnesota, building a bill. credit over the same time period. bike trail, and working with the Mall of Mall of America Tourism Manager Kim For some, those credit dollars are essential. America to promote tourism were themes of Rakos advocated more inclusion of the mall Lisa Suckow works as a licensed social a recent meeting of the Tourism Subcommit­ in ads the Office of Tourism produces. The worker for $7.68 per hour. Her earned in­ tee of the House Commerce, Tourism and Mall of America has over 38 million visits per come credit this year was just over $1,800. Consumer Affairs Committee. year, outdistancing the Grand Canyon and She distributed a worksheet to lawmakers The Oct. 26 hearing in Austin was part of Disney World combined. Because of the heavy outlining how she spent her credit: heating the 1995 Southern Twin Cities Mini-Session. volume of visitor traffic, the mall is currently fuel, furnace repairs, medical bills, snow re­ Director Steve Markuson from the Office working with the Office of Tourism to de­ moval and cleaning her septic system topped of Tourism began the hearing with a detailed velop an information kiosk to promote Min­ the list. account of a new travel marketing strategy for nesota to tourists. "I can't do these things without that extra Minnesota. Located within the mall, the kiosk would help," she said. Known as ''.Journey," the strategy is being provide a place for free tourist information Most of those credit dollars were put back billed as one of the premier travel services in and brochures. The Mall of America is also into local businesses, Suckow said. And cuts the nation. Slated to begin in November, developing an infomercial featuring both the to the credit mean those businesses also J ourneywill serve tourists by offering specific mall and Minnesota. would take a hit. For the 1994 tax year, $1. 9 planning information. million earned income credit dollars were Journey is essentially a computerized sys­ funneled to Freeborn County; more than $2 tem. Tourists will be able to call the Office of million went to Mower County.

20 MINI-SESSION REPORT/ November 10, 1995 airport. This effort to recruit freight compa­ TRANSPORTATION nies has proved a money-maker. Four addi­ tional flights per day now fly out of Rochester Transportation needs carrying freight. Not all the transportation proposals dis­ Like many areas of the state, southern Min­ cussed during the mini-session meeting, how­ nesota has its transit and highway repair needs. ever, would cost millions. But with a limited transportation budget, some Kalis said he plans to introduce a bill of those projects may just have to wait. during the 1996 session that would rename a Lawmakers learned oflocal transportation portion of Highway 22 between Mankato needs during an Oct. 24 mini-session meet­ and Mapleton the Victory Memorial High­ ing of the House Transportation and Transit way. Committee in Austin. The name change would honor all the Competing for transportation and state women and men from the area who have bonding dollars are bridges, highways, rail­ served our country in the armed services ways, and airports all in need of upgrades or John Kahler, president of Full Service Companies, from World War II to the present. repairs. Still another competing project is the testified in favor oflight-rail transit Oct. 24 before The idea was spawned after WWII when push by some for a high speed rail system the House Transportation and Transit Committee veterans began planting trees along the high­ at Austin Community College: The model in the linking Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. way. The effort has continued, with the latest Kermit McRae, regional director with the foreground is a winning entry in a design competition for high-speed rail. effort on Arbor Day 1995 yielding 253 trees Minnesota Department of Transportation, planted. The transportation department pro­ told legislators that because southern Minne­ vides the trees, veterans and senior citizens sota was the first part of the state settled by the much larger Minneapolis-St. Paul Inter­ national Airport. provide the labor, and local units of govern­ Europeans, parts ofits 1,417 miles of high­ ment provide most of the planning and main­ way and 83 7 bridges are the oldest in the state Seeing little chance of increasing com­ muter traffic, Rochester Municipal Airport tenance, including the future costs of main­ and deteriorating. taining the trees. Houston ·County Commissioner Dylan has made a concerted effort to increase the Hamston asked the state for $33 million per amount of freight that passes through the year in state bonding dollars to replace only the bridges. There would be no expansion, he Dutch Treat Dinner said, just fixing existing structures. Austin resident Carol Kuettner shared her concerns about senior housing and John Kahler, a Rochester airport official education with Reps. Roger Cooper (DFL-Bird Island) arid Betty Mccollum (DFL­ discussed the controversial subject of high North St. Paul) during a Dutch Treat Dinner Oct. 25 at jerry's Other Place in Austin. speed rail. Kuettner, director of the Mower County Senior Center, said the dinner demonstrated Last year, the Legislature conditionally to her the wide variety of issues legislators face and how many of those issues are tied appropriated $500,000 over the two-year together. budgeting period for the second phase of a In addition to dinner, the trio also took a night tour of Austin which included a visit study to evaluate a high-speed train linking to the. Mower County Senior Center. "I had a wonderful time," Kuettner said. "It's Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. exciting to be a part of government." The project, if completed, is expected to Cooper and Mccollum agreed they liked the Dutch Treat event. Of the mini­ cost millions, but as a video Kahler presented sessions he has been to, Cooper said" ... The people who you remember the most showed, travel time from the Twin Cities to are those who you spend time with one-on-one." McCollum said the dining Chicago would be cut to 90 minutes and a experience reinforced her belief that constituents across the state have the same basic trip from the Twin Cities to Rochester would needs. "Basic needs come first ... that's what we all have in common." only run 20 minutes. In all, ·4 7 House members and about 52 area residents participated in the Dutch Although Kahler outlined the advantages Treat Dinner. of high speed rail, such as safety, little noise or pollution (using electricity, not fuel), like many projects, the chief obstacle is money. Rep. Henry Kalis (DFL-Walters), chair of the Capital Investment Committee which assembles the state's bonding bill, warned that in tough budget times, it would be difficult to fund a new transportation pro­ gram when the existing needs of roads and bridges already are high. Kahler also updated legislators on Rochester's efforts to keep its airport finan­ cially viable. He noted that Rochester serves 300,000 passengers per year, but is not ex­ pected to increase because of the proximity to

November 10, 1995 /MINI-SESSION REPORT 21 Minnesota House of Representatives 1995-96 Unofficial list as of November 9, 1995 Phone Phone District/Member/Party Room* (612) 296- District/Member/Party Room* (612) 296-

45A Abrams, Ron (R) ...... 209 ...... 9934 47A Luther, Darlene (DFL) ...... 525 ...... 3751 1OA Anderson, Bob (DFL) ...... 437 ...... 4946 SOB Lynch, Teresa (R) ...... 295 ...... 5369 19B Anderson, Bruce (R) ...... 281 ...... 5063 37B Macklin, Bill (R) ...... 349 ...... 6926 3A Anderson, Irv (DFL) ...... 463 ...... 4936 40A Mahon, Mark P. (DFL) ...... 401 ...... 7158 6A Bakk, Thomas (DFL) ...... 429 ...... 2190 55A Mares, Harry (R) ...... 239 ...... 5363 14B Bertram, Jeff (DFL) ...... 571 ...... 4373 65B Mariani, Carlos (DFL) ...... 403 ...... 9714 10B Bettermann, Hilda (R) ...... 243 ...... 4317 57B Marko, Sharon (DFL) ...... 507 ...... 3135 30B Bishop, Dave (R) ...... 343 ...... 0573 55B McCollum, Betty (DFL) ...... 501 ...... 1188 25B Boudreau, Lynda (R) ...... 327 ...... 8237 36B McElroy, Dan (R) ...... 259 ...... 4212 30A Bradley, Fran (R) ...... 241 ...... 9249 54A McGuire, Mary Jo (DFL) ...... 567 ...... 4342 53B Broecker, Sherry (R) ...... 321 ...... 7153 39B Milbert, Bob (DFL) ...... 579 ...... 4192 13A Brown, Chuck (DFL) ...... 597 ...... 4929 35A Molnau, Carol (R) ...... 287 ...... 8872 46B Carlson, Lyndon R. (DFL) ...... 365 ...... 4255 21B Mulder, Richard (R) ...... 387 ...... 4336 52A Carlson, Skip (R) ...... 289 ...... 4331 7A Munger, Willard (DFL) ...... 479 ...... 4282 47B Carruthers, Phil (DFL) ...... 459 ...... 3709 BA Murphy, Mary (DFL) ...... 557 ...... 2676 61 A Clark, Karen (DFL) ...... 503 ...... 0294 20A Ness, Robert "Bob" (R) ...... ; ...... 379 ...... 4344 38A Commers, Tim (R) ...... 217 ...... 3533 2B Olson, Edgar (DFL) ...... 565 ...... 4265 15B Cooper, Roger (DFL) ...... 549 ...... 4346 19A Olson, Mark (R) ...... 223 ...... 4237 11 A Daggett, Roxann (R) ...... 225 ...... 4293 20B Onnen, Tony (R) ...... 273 ...... 1534 9B Dauner, Marvin (DFL) ...... 581 ...... 6829 16A Opatz, Joe (DFL) ...... 423 ...... 6612 31 B Davids, Gregory M. (R) ...... 371 ...... 9278 64B Orenstein, Howard (DFL) ...... 529 ...... 4199 65A Dawkins, Andy (DFL) ...... 409 ...... 5158 60B Orfield, Myron (DFL) ...... 521 ...... 9281 14A Dehler, Steve (R) ...... 203 ...... 7808 29B Osskopp, Mike (R) ...... 329 ...... 9236 51A Delmont, Mike (DFL) ...... 575 ...... 4226 66A Osthoff, Tom (DFL) ...... 585 ...... 4224 29A Dempsey, Jerry (R) ...... 251 ...... 8635 24B Ostrom, Don (DFL) ...... 433 ...... 7065 24A Dorn, John (DFL) ...... 533 ...... 3248 11B Otremba, Ken (DFL) ...... 545 ...... 3201 64A Entenza, Matt (DFL) ...... 531 ...... 8799 37A Ozment, Dennis (R) ...... 283 ...... 4306 42A Erhardt, Ron (R) ...... 237 ...... 4363 42B Paulsen, Erik (R) ...... 221 ...... 7449 67 A Farrell, Jim (DFL) ...... 491 ...... 4277 38B Pawlenty, Tim (R) ...... 231 ...... 4128 1 B Finseth, Tim (R) ...... ·377 ...... 9918 52B Pellow, Richard (R) ...... 233 ...... 0141 31A Frerichs, Don L. (R) ...... 247 ...... 4378 32A Pelowski Jr., Gene (DFL) ...... 517 ...... 8637 63B Garcia, Edwina (DFL) ...... 411 ...... 5375 57A Perlt, Walter E. (DFL) ...... 473 ...... 7807 21A Girard, Jim (R) ...... 213 ...... 5374 13B Peterson, Doug (DFL) ...... 523 ...... 4228 9A Goodno, Kevin (R) ...... 369 ...... 5515 39A Pugh, Thomas (DFL) ...... 583 ...... 6828 62A Greenfield, Lee (DFL) ...... 375 ...... 0173 46A Rest, Ann H. (DFL) ...... 443 ...... 4176 54B Greiling, Mindy (DFL) ...... 553 ...... 5387 44B Rhodes, Jim (R) ...... 309 ...... 9889 26A Gunther, Bob (R) ...... 337 ...... 3240 58A Rice, James I. (DFL) ...... 381 ...... 4262 48A Haas, Bill (R) ...... 201 ...... 5513 18A Rostberg, Jim (R) ...... 323 ...... 5364 50A Hackbarth, Tom (R) ...... 313 ...... 2439 SA Rukavina, Tom (DFL) ...... 471 ...... 0170 22B Harder, Elaine (R) ...... 277 ...... 5373 59A Sarna, John J. (DFL) ...... 563 ...... 4219 12A Hasskamp, Kris (DFL) ...... 451 ...... 4333 17B Schumacher, Leslie (DFL) ...... 413 ...... 5377 66B Hausman, Alice (DFL) ...... 449 ...... 3824 41A Seagren, Alice (R) ...... 315 ...... 7803 56A Holsten, Mark (R) ...... 345 ...... 3018 62B Skoglund, Wes (DFL) ...... 477 ...... 4330 6B Huntley, Thomas (DFL) ...... 569 ...... 2228 34A Smith, Steve (R) ...... 353 ...... 9188 7B Jaros, Mike (DFL) ...... 559 ...... 4246 3B Solberg, Loren (DFL) ...... 445 ...... 2365 58B Jefferson, Richard H. (DFL) ...... 577 ...... 8659 33B Stanek, Rich (R) ...... 351 ...... 5502 18B Jennings, Loren (DFL) ...... 537 ...... 0518 28B Sviggum, Steven A. (R) ...... 267 ...... 2273 48B Johnson, Alice M. (DFL) ...... 539 ...... 551 O 518 Swenson, Doug (R) ...... 255 ...... 4124 4A Johnson, Bob (DFL) ...... 551 ...... 5516 23B Swenson, Howard (R) ...... 331 ...... 8634 32B Johnson, Virgil J. (R) ...... 207 ...... 1069 43B Sykora, Barbara (R) ...... 357 ...... 4315 59B Kahn, Phyllis (DFL) ...... 367 ...... 4257 SB Tomassoni, David (DFL) ...... 593 ...... 0172 26B Kalis, Henry J. (DFL) ...... 543 ...... 4240 36A Tompkins, Eileen (R) ...... 245 ...... 5506 44A Kelley, Steve (DFL) ...... 417 ...... 3964 67B Trimble, Steve (DFL) ...... 485 ...... 4201 35B Kelso, Becky (DFL) ...... 415 ...... 1072 25A Tuma, John (R) ...... 301 ...... 4229 4B Kinkel, Anthony G. "Tony" (DFL) .... 453 ...... :...... 2451 1A Tunheim, Jim (DFL) ...... 509 ...... 9635 40B Knight, Kevin (R) ...... 307 ...... 4218 34B Van Dellen, H. Todd (R) ...... 291 ...... 5511 16B Knoblach, Jim (R) ...... 215 ...... 6316 15A Van Engen, Tom (R) ...... 359 ...... 6206 17A Koppendrayer, LeRoy (R) ...... 389 ...... 67 46 23A Vickerman, Barb (R) ...... 211 ...... 9303 27A Kraus, Ron (R) ...... 279 ...... 8216 63A Wagenius, Jean (DFL) ...... 439 ...... 4200 53A Krinkie, Phil (R) ...... 303 ...... 2907 49B Warkentin, Eldon H. (R) ...... 253 ...... 4231 56B Larsen, Peg (R) ...... 311 ...... 4244 49A Weaver, Charlie (R) ...... 261 ...... 1729 27B Leighton, Robert (DFL) ...... 527 ...... 4193 618 Wejcman, Linda (DFL) ...... 431 ...... 7152 45B Leppik, Peggy (R) ...... 393 ...... 7026 12B Wenzel, Stephen G. (DFL) ...... 487 ...... 4247 2A Lieder, Bernie (DFL) ...... 515 ...... 5091 22A Winter, Ted (DFL) ...... 407 ...... 5505 33A Lindner, Arion (R) ...... 227 ...... 7806 418 Wolf, Ken (R) ...... 317 ...... 5185 60A Long, Dee (DFL) ...... 591 ...... 0171 28A Worke, Gary D. (R) ...... 229 ...... 5368 8B Lourey, Becky (DFL) ...... 421 ...... 4308 43A Workman, Tom (R) ...... 335 ...... 5066

Note: Room numbers are still subject to change. *All rooms are in the State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155 Minnesota Senate 1995-96

Phone Phone District/Member/Party Room* (612) 296- District/Member/Party Room* (612) 296- 66 Anderson, Ellen R. (DFL} ...... G-27 Cap ...... 5537 33 Limmer, Warren (R) ...... 132D SOB ...... 2159 26 Beckman, Tracy L. (DFL} ...... 306 Cap ...... 5713 54 Marty, John (DFL) ...... G-9 Cap ...... 5645 41 Belanger, William V., Jr. (R) ...... 113 SOB ...... 5975 49 Merriam, Gene (DFL) ...... 122 Cap ...... 4154 13 Berg, Charles A. (DFL) ...... 328 Cap ...... 5094 39 Metzen, James P. (DFL) ...... 303 Cap ...... 4370 61 Berglin, Linda (DFL) ...... G-9 Cap ...... 4261 2 Moe, Roger D. (DFL) ...... 208 Cap ...... 2577 14 Bertram Sr., Joe (DFL) ...... 323 Cap ...... 2084 44 Mondale, Ted A. (DFL) ...... 226 Cap ...... 7-8065 48 Betzold, Don (DFL} ...... G-24 Cap ...... 2556 32 Morse, Steven (DFL) ...... G-24 Cap ...... 5649 55 Chandler, Kevin M. (DFL) ...... 111 Cap ...... 9307 29 Murphy, Steve L. (DFL) ...... 301 Cap ...... 4264 8 Chmielewski, Florian W. (DFL) ...... 325 Cap ...... 4182 25 Neuville, Thomas M. (R) ...... 123 SOB ...... 1279 64 Cohen, Richard J. (DFL) ...... 317 Cap ...... 5931 52 Novak, Steven G. (DFL} ...... 322 Cap ...... 4334 28 Day, Dick (R) ...... ; ...... 105 SOB ...... 9457 43 Oliver, Edward C. (R) ...... 121 SOB ...... 4837 20 Dille, Steve (R) ...... 103 SOB ...... 4131 34 Olson, Gen (R) ...... 119 SOB ...... 1282 4 Finn, Harold R. "Skip" (DFL) ...... 306 Cap ...... 6128 19 Ourada, Mark (R) ...... 145 SOB ...... 5981 62 Flynn, Carol (DFL) ...... G-29 Cap ...... 4274 65 Pappas, Sandra L. (DFL) ...... G-27 Cap ...... 1802 23 Frederickson, Dennis R. (R) :...... 139 SOB ...... 8138 37 Pariseau, Pat (R) ...... 109 SOB ...... 5252 50 Hanson, Paula E. (DFL} ...... 328 Cap ...... 3219 27 Piper, Pat (DFL) ...... G-9 Cap ...... 9248 24 Hottinger, John C. (DFL) ...... G-29 Cap ...... 6153 59 Pogemiller, Lawrence J. (DFL) ...... 235 Cap ...... 7809 5 Janezich, Jerry R. (DFL) ...... 328 Cap ...... 8017 57 Price, Leonard R. (DFL) ...... 235 Cap ...... 7-8060 15 Johnson, Dean E. (R) ...... 147 SOB ...... 3826 63 Ranum, Jane B. (DFL) ...... 325 Cap ...... 7-8061 6 Johnson, Douglas J. (DFL) ...... 205 Cap ...... 8881 46 Reichgott Junge, Ember D. (DFL) ...... 205 Cap ...... 2889 18 Johnson, Janet B. (DFL) ...... 322 Cap ...... 5419 40 Riveness, Phil J. (DFL) ...... 317 Cap ...... 7-8062 35 Johnston, Terry D. (R) ...... 117 SOB ...... 4123 45 Robertson, Martha R. (R) ...... 125 SOB ...... 4314 67 Kelly, Randy C. (DFL) ...... 122 Cap ...... 5285 53 Runbeck, Linda (R) ...... 107 SOB ...... 1253 30 Kiscaden, Sheila M. (R) ...... 143 SOB ...... 4848 11 Sams, Dallas C. (DFL) ...... G-9 Cap ...... 7-8063 16 Kleis, David (R) ...... 151 SOB ...... 6455 12 Samuelson, Don (DFL) ...... 124 Cap ...... 4875 36 Knutson, David L. (R) ...... 133 SOB ...... 4120 31 Scheevel, Kenric J. (R) ...... 129 SOB ...... 3903 47 Kramer, Don (R) ...... 131 SOB ...... 8869 7 Solon, Sam G. (DFL) ...... 303 Cap ...... 4188 51 Krentz, Jane (DFL) ...... 235 Cap ...... 7061 60 Spear, Allan H. (DFL} ...... G-27 Cap ...... 4191 58 Kroening, Carl W. (DFL) ...... 124 Cap ...... 430~ 17 Stevens, Dan (R) ...... 127 SOB ...... 8075 56 Laidig, Gary W. (R) ...... 141 SOB ...... 4351 1 Stumpf, LeRoy A. (DFL) ...... G-24 Cap ...... 8660 9 Langseth, Keith (DFL) ...... G-24 Cap ...... 3205 42 Terwilliger, Roy W. (R) ...... 115 SOB ...... 6238 10. Larson, Cal (R) ...... 153 SOB ...... 5655 22 Vickerman, Jim (DFL) ...... 226 Cap ...... 5650 21 Lesewski, Arlene J. (R) ...... 135 SOB ...... 4125 38 Wiener, Deanna (DFL} ...... 303 Cap ...... 7-8073 3 Lessard, Bob (DFL} ...... 111 Cap ...... 4136 *Capitol or State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155 Minnesota House and Senate Membership

A • Jim Tunheim-DFL A •Tom Van Engen A • Jerry Dempsey-A A• Tom Workman-A A• Walter E. Perlt-DFL B • Tim Finseth-A B • Roger Cooper-DFL B • Mike Osskopp-R B • Barbara Sykora-R B •Sharon Marko-DFL 1 Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf-DFL 15 Sen. Dean E. Johnson-A 29 Sen. Steve L. Murphy-DFL 43 Sen. Edward C. Oliver-R 57 Sen. Leonard R. Price-DFL A• Bernie Lieder-DFL A • Joe Opatz-DFL A • Fran Bradley-A A• Steve Kelley-DFL A• James I. Rice-DFL B • Edgar Olson-DFL B • Jim Knoblach-R B • Dave Bishop-R B • Jim Rhodes-R B • Richard H. Jefferson-DFL 2 Sen. Roger D. Moe-DFL 16 Sen. David Kleis-R 30 Sen. Sheila M. Kiscaden-R 44 Sen. Ted A. Mondale-DFL 58 Sen. Carl W. Kroening-DFL A • Irv Anderson-DFL A• LeRoy Koppendrayer-R A • Don L. Frerichs-A A• Ron Abrams-R A • John J. Sama·DFL B • Loren Solberg-DFL B • Leslie Schumacher-DFL B •Gregory M. Davids-R B • Peggy Lepplk-R B • Phyllis Kahn-DFL 3 Sen. Bob Lessard-DFL 17 Sen. Dan Stevens-A 31 Sen. Kenric J. Scheevel-R 45 Sen. Martha R. Robertson-A 59 Sen. Lawrence J. Pogemiller-DFL A • Bob Johnson-DFL A • Jim Rostberg-R A• Gene Pelowski Jr.-DFL A• Ann H. Rest-DFL A• Dee Long-DFL . B •Anthony G. "Tony" Kinkel-DFL B • Loren Jennings-DFL B •Virgil J. Johnson-A B • Lyndon R. Cartson-DFL B • Myron Orfield-DFL 4 Sen. Harold R. "Skip" Finn-DFL 18 Sen. Janet B. Johnson-DFL 32 Sen. Steven Morse-DFL 46 Sen. Ember D. Reichgott Junge-DFL 60 Sen. Allan H. Spear-DFL A• Tom Rukavina-DFL A • Mark Olson-A A • Arion Lindner-A A• Dartene Luther-DFL A• Karen Clark·DFL B •David Tomassoni-DFL B • Bruce Anderson-A B • Rich Stanek-A B • Phil Carruthers-DFL B • Linda Wejcman-DFL 5 Sen. Jerry R. Janezich-DFL 19 Sen. Mark Ourada-R 33 Sen. Warren Limmer-R 47 Sen. Don Kramer-R 61 Sen. Linda Berglin-DFL A • Thomas Bakk-DFL A • Robert Ness-R A • Steven Smith-R A•BillHaas-R A• Lee Greenfield-DFL B • Thomas Huntley-DFL B •Tony Onnen-R B • H. Todd Van Dellen-R B •Alice M. Johnson-DFL B •Wesley J. "Wes" Skoglund-DFL 6 Sen. Douglas J. Johnson-DFL 20 Sen. Steve Dille-R 34 Sen. Gen Olson-R 48 Sen. Don Betzold-DFL 62 Sen. Carol Flynn-DFL A • Willard Munger-DFL A • Jim Girard-R A • Carol Molnau-R A• Charlie Weaver-R A• Jean Wagenius-DFL B • Mike Jaros-DFL B • Richard Mulder-R B • Becky Kelso-DFL B • Eldon H. Warkentin-A B • Edwina Garcia-DFL 7 Sen. Sam G. Solon-DFL 21 Sen. Arlene J. Lesewski-R 35 Sen. Terry D. Johnston-A 49 Sen. Gene Merriam-DFL 63 Sen. Jane B. Ranum-DFL A• Mary Murphy-DFL A• Ted Winter-DFL A• Eileen Tompkins-A A• Tom Hackbarth·R A• Matt Entenza-DFL B • Becky Lourey-DFL B •'Elaine Harder-R B • Dan McElroy-R B •Teresa Lynch-R B • Howard Orenstein-DFL 8 Sen. Florian W. Chmielewski-DFL 22 Sen. Jim Vickerman-DFL 36 Sen. David L. Knutson-A 50 Sen. Paula E. Hanson-DFL 64 Sen. Richard J. Cohen-DFL A • Kevin Goodno-R A • Barb Vickerman-A A • Dennis Ozment-R A • Mike Delmont-DFL A• Andy Dawkins-DFL B •Marvin Dauner-DFL B • Howard Swenson-A B • Bill Macklin-A B • Doug Swenson-A B • Carlos Mariani-DFL 9 Sen. Keith Langseth-DFL 23 Sen. Dennis R. Frederickson-A 37 Sen. Pat Pariseau-A 51 Sen. Jane Krentz-DFL 65 Sen. Sandra L. Pappas-DFL A • Bob Anderson-DFL A• John Dorn-DFL A •Tim Commers-R A• Skip Carlson-A A• Tom Osthoff-DFL B • Hilda Bettermann-R B • Don Ostrom-DFL B • Tim Pawlenty-R B • Richard Pellow-R B • Alice Hausman-DFL 10 Sen. Cal Larson-R 24 Sen. John C. Hottinger-DFL 38 Sen. Deanna Wiener-DFL 52 Sen. Steven G. Novak-DFL 66 Sen. Ellen R. Anderson-DFL A • Roxann Daggett-A A • John Tuma-R A • Thomas Pugh·DFL A• Phil Krinkie-R A• Jim Farrell-DFL B • Ken Otremba-DFL B • Lynda Boudreau-A B • Bob Milbert-DFL B •Sherry Broecker-R B • Steve Trimble-DFL 11 Sen. Dallas C. Sams-DFL 25 Sen. Thomas M. Neuville-R 39 Sen. James P. Metzen-DFL 53 Sen. Linda Runbeck-R 67 Sen. Randy C. Kelly-DFL A • Kris Hasskamp-DFL A• Bob Gunther-A A• Mark P. Mahon-DFL A• Mary Jo McGuire-DFL B • Stephen G. Wenzel-DFL B • Henry J. Kalis-DFL B • Kevin Knight-R B • Mindy Grelling-DFL 12 Sen. Don Samuelson-DFL 26 Sen. Tracy L. Beckman-DFL 40 Sen. Phil J. Riveness-DFL 54 Sen. John Marty-DFL A • Chuck Brown-DFL A • Ron Kraus-R A • Alice Seagren-A A• Harry Mares-R B • Doug Peterson-DFL B • Robert Leighton Jr.-DFL B • Ken Wolf-R B • Betty McCollum-DFL 13 Sen. Charles A. Berg-DFL 27 Sen. Pat Piper-DFL 41 Sen. William V. Belanger Jr.-R 55 Sen. Kevin M. Chandler-DFL A• Steve Dehler-R A• Gary D. Worke-R A • Ron Erhardt-A A• Mark Holsten-A B • Jeff Bertram-DFL B • Steven A. Sviggum-R D •Erik Paulsen-A B • Peg Larsen-R Unofficial list as of November 9, 1995 14 Sen. Joe Bertram Sr.-DFL 28 Sen. Dick Day-R 42 Sen. Roy W. Terwilliger-A 56 Sen. Gary W. Laidig-R Bulk Rate U.S. Postage Paid St. Paul, MN 55155 Permit No. 4881 MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE 175 STATE OFFICE BUILDING ST. PAUL, MN 55155-1298

Speaker of the House: IN Anderson Majority Leader: Phil Carruthers Minority Leader: Steven A. Sviggum

Austin and Albert lea, Minnesota For more Population of Albert Lea, 1970 ...... 19,418 in 1990 ...... , ...... 18,848 information • Full-time police officers in Albert Lea ...... 29 Number of employees at Streater, (a store fixtures company), largest For general information, call: private employer in- Albert Lea ...... 800 House Information Office Employees of Independent School District #241, largest public employer ...... 600 . (612) 296-2146 or Unemployment rate, Freeborn County, in percent, March 1995 ...... 4.9 1-800-657-3550 Number of airplane runways in Albert Lea ...... 2 in Austin ...... 1 Motels in Albert Lea ...... ,_ ...... 8 Number of rooms ...... 508 To obtain a copy of a bill, call: Places of worship in Albert Lea ...... 26 Chief Clerk's Office in Austin ...... : ...... 31 (612) 296-2314 Different types of animal farms listed on an Albert Lea/Freeborn County tourism brochure that offer tours (including donkey, emu, and llama farms) ...... ~ ...... 16 Population of Austin, 1970 ...... 26,210 in 1990 ...... 21,907 To find out about bill introductions or Employees at Hormel Foods in Austin, largest private employer ...... 3,000 the status of a specific bill, call: Employees of Independent School District #492, largest public employer ...... 520 House Index Office Annual average unemployment rate, Mower County, in percent...... 4.3 (612) 296-6646 Number of truck lines serving Austin ...... 2 4 Countries in which Spam is trademarked ...... 92 Number of visitors to the Spam merchandise page on the World Wide Web, For up-to-date recorded message as of Nov. 8, 1995 ...... 8,564 giving committee meeting times and Cost of a Spam cookbook, featuring "48 pages of tantalizing recipes," agendas, call: including award-winning recipes from state fairs." ...... $1. 99 House Calls (612) 296-9283 Pounds of Spam sold worldwide each year, in millions,...... 100 Ratio of dentists in Austin to dentists in Albert Lea ...... 2: 1 111111 lllUll II Year that Austin's Main Street burned, causing $50,000 worth of damage ...... 1869 1111 111111 11111 Year that Austin's first fire station, the "Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company," 1111111111 111111 1111 Telecommunications was built ...... · ...... : ...... 1869 Device- for the Deal (TDD)

Telecommunications device for the deaf. Sources: Albert Lea/Freeborn County Convention & Visitors Bureau; Minnesota Department of To ask questions or leave messages, call: Trade and Economic Development; Austin Chamber of Commerce; Hormel Foods Corporation. TDD Line (612) 296-9896 or 1-800-657-3550