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dennis: i'm dennis anderson along with pamela fish. here's what's coming up on "almanac north." pam: would the state of minnesota be better served by a nonpartisan legislative body? we're joined tonight by republican and democratic

lawmakers who think it would. dennis: in light of presidents' day this week, we remember the summer that brought the white house to the brule river in northwestern wisconsin. pam: and we'll have the week's business headlines and bring you a newsfile story from 25 years

ago. denny: that's all coming up next, on "almanac north." dennis: hello and welcome to "almanac north," thanks for watching. pamela fish is here this week filling in for julie. pam, welcome back.

pam: glad to be here, thank you, denny. dennis: we have a political discussion coming up. pam: we do indeed, to let get started. up until the 1970's, candidates running for the legislature in minnesota did so without party

affiliation. with partisan bickering and gridlock seeming to get worse each year, some lawmakers believe a return to a non-partisan legislature would be good for the state. joining us to talk more about this idea is representative jim

knoblach, a republican from st. cloud, and senator roger reinert is a democrat from duluth. thanks to both of you for being here. we really appreciate it. i want to start with you, representative knoblach and ask you why you introduced this

bill, first of all, and what is your overall intention? jim knoblach: i believe in the concept for a long time. i and the most experience freshmen down there, i got elected in 1994, served for 12 years, decided not to run again, and got reelected 2014.

in my first run, i never got anywhere with it. having seen the changes in the last 10 years, it seems a lot more artisan to me, like it is harder to get things done. iq people talk about, you would out to dinner with a democrat. how bad is that?

it is just ridiculous. i thought i would take another run at it, try to was a little harder this time. dennis: two different politicians from two different parties in the states. senator, why do you think the art of compromise has died?

your most targeting the same issue. roger reinert: my background as a civics teacher, a got to the point where politics was not for the people, working together to get things done, it is entertainment. in this form of entertainment,

work ethic is bad areas. someone has to win and someone has to lose. the idea that you can even associate, let alone be friends with somebody on the other team and come up with a good idea together, that seems like even in my eight years in the

legislature to become much, much more rare. dennis: is there a danger that the public just does not care anymore? jim knoblach: i do think that this drives a bitterness and rancor with the public. i think it is important to have

the public involved, and if they are not involved, it makes things worse. dennis: apathetic public does not expect anything anymore. jim knoblach: beyond that, and apathetic public is not involved in the process of finding new candidates, working so you end

up with a very narrow group of people. roger reinert: it is interesting to see from the representatives for specter having the bigger window of time, i have seen those involved on the ends of the spectrum. the broad middle, they do not

engage with us anymore. i don't know if it aren't expecting being able to engage, because they think it has become so defined by the ends of the spectrum, but i have seen that just in my eight years in the legislature. pam: you were not the only ones

who have seen this. you are introducing this legislation, you introduced it last year, but it did not go anywhere. what will get it to move forward this time around? jim knoblach: i introduced it last year, but i had a lot going

on last year with my other job doing but it work -- budget work in the means committee. constitutional changes, it made it go last year anyway. this will not pass into law. a big change, you sort of have to start the conversation somewhere.

that is what i tried it to do this year, start the conversation, get a hearing, get people thinking, maybe next session something will happen. dennis: did any of you get respect from party leaders? roger reinert: i did not, but i introduced it pass the committee

deadline, looking at it this year to reedit it is important for everyone to remember that even on the legislature, it when it was nonpartisan, people still came to caucus, but it was not as thick. that made a big difference. it was not people-oriented.

people had meaning, but it was more like the city council. we knew were people were at, but put her relationships with everyone -- voter relationships with everyone. dennis: in the mid-1970's, it was not party affiliated. >> even back then, they did

caucus. 1909, they went to low party designation, and up until the 1970's, i guess it was the 1950's when they begin to caucus with separate groups. they would caucus with conservatives and liberals, but there were a lot of conservative

democrats in the conservative there were a number of metro republicans in the liberal it wasn't a straight party split. pam: back to reaction you heard from the party. >> i had a few people kind of like, you are what?

i would get co-authors, and i have some, but there were a number not going to touch this with a 10 foot pole. i haven't had a lot of pushback. people like roger and i, we realized this was the problem. i would say my experience our perspective is, talking about on

the show, with this caucus and in the senate, mostly people came out of local government of backgrounds. city council, mayor. i have leadership not really saying anything. i know there is a newer generation of legislators who

think something needs to change. pam: explain a little bit about the purple caucus and what that is all about. >> a senator and a friend from winona got together and talk about this. we would not be read or blue, we will be purple.

so let's be minnesotans first, and labels don't matter. we spent a good deal of time getting to know each other, which really does not happen in the legislature anymore. last year try to move forward issues on transportation and better government.

dennis: for the non-patterson -- partisan legislature still be conservative and liberal in a way? >> people will still align themselves with different beliefs, but people will be more open to other ideas. there is not this, oh it is

introduced by a democrat, it must be a bad idea controversy. it also creates a situation where people get lazy. someone is in my caucus, my party is introducing this bill, it must be ok. i don't need to spend a whole lot of time thinking about it

and how to vote on it. i look just vote because it is a democrat bill. if it wasn't that way, you would get better laws because people would look at these things more carefully. pam: i have heard concerns this would take out more special

interest to candidates and elections. how would that be addressed? >> i don't perceive it to be a problem. we have a high number of elected officials per capita, a large legislature given the population , the house number is about 37,

under 97 in the senate. that is less than i did as a city counselor. legislators know their candidates. he can, -- i will let him comment on his experience, but i do proceed without the labels we would be either.

there would be known as on the candidate to get out and introduce themselves and make sure voters know who they are. dennis: with this compromise or make matters worse? >> i have been a supporter for 12 years, 14 years. uni people there long enough

that they understand what is going on. having said that, you can be there too long but at the same time, the people who have been there longer feel a little more confident in compromising too. pam: the other thing with the seniority issue is that

seniority and committee assignments are often tied to parties in the majority. is that an issue to take a closer look at when you are talking about not having a party affiliation? >> we are not the only state that has ever done this.

nebraska is nonpartisan. the way they handle their committee chairs, they have you are not appointed to be a chairman or chairwoman of whatever. your elected by the various members. there are other models to do

this. >> exactly, i was going to point to nebraska as well. i have a chance to know some of those legislators. a large number of republicans in nebraska, but they vote in democratic chair committees, because based on experience and

knowledge, it is a different identity. they don't consume all. dennis: so it does work, and obviously it did work in minnesota for 65 years. >> i would argue it worked well in minnesota. in 1909, 1900, look at the

statistics of per capita income and things like that, it was a grand state. somehow by the 1970's we had emerged to be one of the more prosperous, leading states of the country. i don't think it is an accident that we had a nonpartisan

government during that time. pam: let's touch on the upcoming session that starts in march. what do each of you see as the issues that are really going to get the attention of the voters? >> the big issue is that the legislature, transportation, the tax bill and the bonding bill.

those are the big issues. there are others, but we didn't have as big a transportation bill last year as we would like to think. everyone things we need to put more money into it, coming up with a compromise and how to do that.

>> i would say the same things. the bonding bill, what we should do in this short session. the tax bill to not get done last year, the transportation did not get done either. those are three things, and in 10 weeks that is probably fast. dennis: there is great disparity

in this it -- minnesota when it comes to income. >> that is something we are going to do work on. we a couple of hearings, and off a lot to expect and a solution in a one-day session, but i would hope we make some progress on the issue.

pam: are there any proposals outlined for that? i know you had been digging into that economic disparity. >> from our standpoint in the house, we would like to see some progress on school choice. we feel the achievement gap is a big problem in the state.

you look at inner-city minneapolis, st. paul, you see success stories in private schools with minority schools, big success stories, and we feel we are to allow them some ability to go to those places. dennis: the legislature do anything to foster growth in

minority-owned businesses? >> we have a committee doing i was going to build on what the representative was saying. we have the model to make that work. we have state-funded projects especially construction and trade.

we have a history of bringing in an under a bread -- underrepresented population, including females, launching people very successfully into careers. that training to work model is something we should consider as we explore this different

option. >> i saw some good ideas from the senate democrats that they brought forward in the hearings. dennis: in st. cloud, what is your place needed immediately from the legislature? >> st. cloud, i represent the community college.

we have higher education issues. a bonding requests, that is always an issue. the prison is in my district down there too. i think they need tax relief. available excerpt last -- they have a big surplus. pam: and senator reinert, the

duly session? roger reinert: we have big ones like the reconstruction of downtown to live the small ones. a successful binding bill would be a winning -- dennis: do you look at the finding? roger reinert: the question is

can we get it all in the binding cycle. dennis: i guess transportation is a big priority for both of you. pam: you have your work cut out for you. thank you for coming and talking to us about this.

>> the goal, to agree on one minnesota airbus proposal to intersect and make it easier on northwest airlines to choose a minnesota site for a multimillion dollar maintenance phase. the twin cities and to lose are competing with each other as

well as or other possible out-of-state sites. talks continued for about an hour behind closed doors with all parties looking pleased with the outcome. >> a good meeting. we want to understand the duluth proposal.

we will sit down with the metropolitan airport and try to make sure minnesota comes in with one proposal, not to. and it is helpful to all parts of the state. >> are you looking at this package or another? >> it sounds like it is a

minnesota package. >> the congressman was optimistic about dealer chances -- duluth's chances. >> it is the best for the state of minnesota, it leaves a number of difficulties now being experienced in the twin cities at major international airports,

adjustment, noise and cost of the facilities. dennis: this week, schools and government offices were closed on monday in honor of presidents' day. the white house may seem far removed from the northland, but nearly 90 years ago,

northwestern wisconsin spent a summer as the epicenter of political power in the u.s. tonight, we look back on the summer of 1928, when president calvin coolidge spent three months on the brule river. >> in superior, the central high school library is being

converted into the country's executive offices. an enormous desk for our president was placed in the center of the room, flanked by an american flag and a bust of abraham lincoln. the accommodations were even larger than coolidge's white

house office. at last, the day arrived, june 13, 1928. local residents awoke to overcast skies, but that did not stop a lot from making their way to the omaha and superior to greet the president. all the superior stores and

offices were closed that morning to meet the arrival, as was the city hall. at 9:00 a.m., right on schedule, the honored guest appeared, and right on cue, the skies cleared, showering sunshine on the celebration. local dignitary jackie hoping to

-- dignitaries hoping to shake the president's hands. the crowd was thrilled when the first lady, who had been ill, warmly waived to the excited group. she accepted a bouquet of roses and then retired into the railcar to rest and continue her

trip. meanwhile, the president had a parade it to attend. thousands of people lined the street, hoping to catcgh a glimpse of the popular commander in chief. >> the president of the united states drove white by my home.

i can remember so well, and he was going by my home in an open black car. i can't member the number of people in the car, but very, very few. there was no one walking on the side. the thing i would like to have

the public understand, it symbolizes for me the difference then and now as far as worrying about crime, worrying about safety -- just open space. and it was a different world. >> coolidge switched to a close car on the outskirts of superior and the motorcade headed to br

ule in the seclusion of cedar island lodge. each community that coolidge visited met the first family with pomp and circumstance. there i in range to work -- iron range tour was a prime example. they toured the whole west line. and visited the crown jewel, the

ornately designed high school. then it was off to virginia, where the presidential motorcade passed town to town on the way to the mountain line. coolidge watched as the look of motive settle he moved heavy or from the pit. it was a memorable occasion for

iron ridge residents and for the president. on september 10, 1928, the coolidge family bid farewell to the river paradise. that rainy day, people gathered in superior to see them off. a ciavarella stretched out before the president as he said

his last goodbyes -- a sea of umbrellas stretched out before the president as he said his last goodbyes. >> i have seen more in this locality and this region than i have in the past. it is an enterprising, growing region, and you must be proud of

it. you've secured a development in 40 or 50 years others have taken centuries to accomplish. it is a satisfaction to me as president of the united states to see a wonderful development of that kind and realize this great empire is a part of this

nation. >> and with that, wisconsin returned to normal. pam: it's time for a look at the week's economic stories from the folks at businessnorth. there was a high level of construction activity last summer at essar steel minnesota,

but it has all but stopped. mitch brunfelt, essar's director of government and public relations, told nashwauk city councilors last week that 20 to 30 workers are currently on site. the company has again run short on funding, which also ground

the project to a halt in 2012. brunfelt emphasized that unlike the first work stoppage, the project is now 3/4 of the way to completion, and said, we can see the finish line. dennis: duluth-based allete revealed it wants to exit the property sales business.

the corporation has two major development projects in florida, but both have lost money in recent years. to leave that business segment, allete indicated it would be willing to sell its entire portfolio in bulk, perhaps below book value.

proceeds would be redirected to support growth in its energy related ventures. during allete's fourth quarter of 2015, it took a non-cash impairment charge totaling $22.3 million on its property holdings. pam: increased regulatory

demands have forced enbridge energy to delay the completion of its proposed sandpiper pipeline and its line three replacement project by two years. costs for the projects also will increase, enbridge said in its 2015 year-end report.

project opponents have been vocal in raising their concerns. the minnesota court of appeals has required the company to complete an environmental impact statement before the certificate of need and route permit processes can begin. the company says work on the

project is expected to add more than $2 billion to minnesota's economy. for more on these and other stories, visit businessnorth.com. dennis: if you have a comment on this week's show, now is the time to call.

dial 218-788-2849 and leave a message, or send an email to almanacnorth@ wdse.org. and visit the wdse website for the latest updates on your favorite programs, news about the station, and more. pam, thanks again for being we'll see you again next week?

pam: also, i will be here one more time. dennis: finally tonight, you may have seen some video of ice stacking that received a lot of attention on social media this week. now this video you are looking at right now is a similar

phenomenon which tends to occur whenever ice forms on lake superior and the wind begins to blow. this video was shot by wdse's ted pellman, who has been documenting natural forces on the big lake for decades. thanks for watching again this

for pamela fish and the crew here at "almanac north," i'm dennis anderson. have a great weekend everyone. good night everybody, and be kind.