Posted: 3/15/05
Farm Bureau banquet features MN Speaker of the House
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Minnesotaís Speaker of the House, Steve Sviggum, was the guest of honor at the 47th annual Farm Bureau banquet held at the Four Seasons Community Center Saturday night.
A 26-year veteran of the legislature, Sviggum noted that the number of farmers in the house continues to decline. Today, there are only five legislators whose primary occupation is farming. He pledged to keep the interests of agriculture at the forefront.
ìThe speakerís gavel is now a farm gavel,î he said.
ìBalanceî was the theme of Sviggumís message to the group, and he began by describing the ìWacko left,î a group that doesnít understand balance, and the ìwacko right,î a group that believes itís ìtheir way or the highway.î Both sides, he said, have lost the words cooperation and compromise.
Regardless of their political affiliations, most Minnesotans can agree on what they want, said Sviggum. Decent schools, good roads, good nursing homes, and safe streets are priorities of the majority of citizens.
In preserving the quality of life for its citizens, Minnesota has become a high tax state, said Sviggum. Those high taxes have a cost beyond what it costs the taxpayer, he said.
ìYou cannot increase the tax burden and increase economic developmentî he commented.
On the other hand,, he said,m ìIf we donít increase the tax burden, some real person will not have insurance coverage, or some person will not have a job.î
ìYou have to have that balance,î said Sviggum. ìYou have to reconcile taxing and spending.î
Regarding farm issues, Sviggum noted that farm and commodity groups have led the way for legislation to add value to farm products, such as the E-20 bill, which doubles the amount of ethanol required in fuel to 20 percent, and soy-diesel. On March 7, the legislature passed a bill that requires a blend of biodiesel oil to be used in state diesel fuels.
Although agriculture was a common interest among guests at the banquet, the question and answer period following Sviggumís comments took a turn toward gambling.
Charlie Wray, a veterinarian who also serves on the ISD #299 school board, told Sviggum that he hopes the burden on local units of government isnít increased. He added that his wish is that people donít lose money gambling so that the school district can afford math books that teach children that gaming is wrong.
Sviggum responded that the ìstatus quo of gaming in the state is wrong.î
Under the current system, gambling is a monopoly that pays no taxes, referring to Indian gaming. There are currently negotiations with three tribes for a casino in the metro area. There is also an ongoing discussion on expanding the Canterbury racetrack to include gambling, creating a ìracino.î
The administration and the three Indian bands jointly announced an agreement that could give the tribes a metro casino, creating about $164 million in revenue for the state.
ìThere are 19 casinos in the state,î said Sviggum. ìThe sky wonít fall in if you have one more.î
He noted that the three Northern tribes, White Earth, Leech Lake and Red Lake band of Ojibwe, have missed out on the gaming revenue that has benefitted other tribes.
Houston County Commissioner Kevin Kelleher also addressed the expansion of gambling, telling the speaker that ìI donít believe in funding government on vice.î
Sviggum reiterated that if gambling in the state is going to continue, the state should benefit.
ìCurrently, we get zip,î he said.
Other lawmakers present at the banquet were Senator Bob Kierlin and former State Representative Virgil Johnson.
Caledonia Argus
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