RESPONSE - Carlson
Arne Carlson (carlsona@Free-Net.Mpls-StPaul.MN.US)
Mon, 24 Oct 1994 12:06:00 -0500 (CDT)
Governor Carlson's response to the first E-Debate question:
As a Republican, I truly believe that the family is the first
level of government. I believe that families should be allowed to
live their lives with as little interference from the government as
possible. Stronger families will lead to stronger communities.
However, I also believe that schools and other government
institutions do have a role in fostering and encouraging moral and
ethical behavior. I am deeply concerned about the decline of moral
values in our society. We know, for example, that our growing rate
of juvenile crime is related to the increasing number of children
growing up in broken or dysfunctional families,
I believe we must reform our current welfare system that
penalizes families who want to stay together; I believe we must do
more to require parents to live up to their child support
obligations and I believe that we must start to emphasize programs
and policies that encourage families and individuals- to take
personal responsibility for their actions,
Specifically, I have proposed and will again submit a welfare
reform package called "Workfare" which requires able bodied adults
to work if they are going to receive any benefits. Our current
welfare system creates dependency, and the focus is entirely on
receiving welfare checks. This system has failed. Welfare in
Minnesota must be changed to a system that helps people get off the
public dole and recognize the value of work and independence.
Another indication of the breakdown of civic values in our
communities is the rising violent crime rate. That is why I have
been proud to support and sign tough crime legislation each of the
last three years. These crime bills have increased the sentences
for violent predators, outlawed stalking and provided more money
for prison construction. Punishment is the only effective
deterrent to crime. We must insist that if someone commits a crime
they are held accountable for their actions and punished. My 1994
proposal included a "three-time loser" provision that called for a
minimum 15 years in jail for those who commit three violent crimes
against a person. Unfortunately, the DFL-controlled legislature,
including Senator Marty, vetoed this proposal.
In addition, early childhood education will continue to remain
a top priority of my administration. Since 1991, state funding for
Head Start has increased 50% or $10 million. Child abuse
prevention, child support enforcement, parental education and the
school breakfast program have also received substantial funding
increases. In addition, I proposed and signed into law funding to
artist block watch organization., and established a violence
prevention clearinghouse with the Department of Public Safety.
The Minnesota Children's Initiative, largely under the
direction of First Lady Susan Carlson, is reforming how family
services have delivered and created an $8 million grant program
which gives communities incentives to work together to serve
families more effectively.
Clearly, there are problems in our communities that need to be
addressed. The government must enact policies that will encourage
families to stay together, help people to get off of welfare and
show criminals that they will be punished. If we all work
together, we can halt the moral breakdown in our communities.