Combine longer life expectancies with the size of the baby boom generation, and it shouldn’t be surprising that the next several years promise historic changes in Minnesota.
Here in St. James and throughout southwestern Minnesota we’re already seeing that future. People over now make up about 20% of the region’s population. The rest of Minnesota is not far behind.
In the next quarter century, Minnesota’s over-65 population will expand nearly twice as much as all other age categories combined. There’s never been anything like this in the history of our state or anywhere else.
When we think about our future, we tend to overlook this seismic demographic shift. And we simply can’t afford to do that. We’ve got to innovate on health care, on housing, on transportation, on building communities where older Minnesotans can stay in their homes, live dignified lives close to their loved ones whenever possible, and contribute for as long as they can in their own neighborhoods.
As your next governor I will move aggressively to make that vision a reality. In the Legislature, I’ve already been at work preparing for the age wave, leading the way with creative solutions to support family caregivers, encourage more saving for retirement and long term care, and empower communities like St. James to develop tailored local solutions to an aging population.
We can’t get caught flatfooted by the age wave. It will demand our next governor’s energy and focused attention. It already has mine.
The State Fair means a lot of things, including that a new school year is almost here. Soon Minnesota parents will be asking their kids around the dinner table “How was school today?”
At the same time, we must all keep asking ourselves “What is it that makes a successful school?”
As the son of two career public school teachers, and the father of three public school students, I am personally invested in the success of our state’s public schools.
When I talk to my own kids about heading back to school, they are excited about seeing friends and favorite teachers, about field trips and history projects, plays and sporting events. And they’re on to something. Our goal should be making sure that every Minnesota school is a place where students, teachers, and volunteers are excited to be learning and teaching.
The way I see it, we’re too focused on what comes out of our schools, and not focused nearly enough on what we’re putting into them.
Currently, reading and math test scores dominate how we measure a school’s success. And we do need to keep advancing the stronger reading and math curriculum that my kids and many others are fortunate to enjoy in their Minnesota public school.
But we sell our kids short when we judge our schools by that standard alone. We need to strive for more.
Every public school in Minnesota should have faculty with the talent, and the time, to build one-on-one relationships with their students. Should have flexible academic environments that serve a diversity of learning styles. Should have offerings in visual arts and music to ignite the creative power in every child. Should have an emphasis on personal safety and health, through physical activity and good nutrition. And should have technology to properly and cost effectively prepare successful twenty-first century citizens. That means state of the art science labs, and equipment to teach students the skilled trades.
As Governor I’ll make sure that we apply the resources, and create the jobs, to make this happen. The truth is that every child’s education should matter to all of us. As a state there is no more fundamental way for us to say ‘Yes’ to Minnesota’s future.
My ancestors came to this state in the 1860s, settling in western Minnesota. And my family still owns this farm, which my Dad grew up on and which my grandparents settled years ago, during the Great Depression.
I grew up in Bloomington, a typical suburban kid, and I’ve lived all my life in Minnesota, except for the four years that I spent in college at Harvard, and the three years at the University of Chicago law school, where I met my wife, Karen.
Minnesota is where I’ve always wanted to make a life. Karen and I are now raising our three kids here. And after moving back, I didn’t have a political career in mind. But public service has always been an important part of our lives.
I served as a state public defender, and built a legal career at the law firm of Briggs and Morgan, where I focused on business law, but was also proud to chair our pro bono committee. And I’m really proud that, during my tenure, we doubled the level of free legal services that we provide to nonprofits all across the state, and also to low-income Minnesotans.
Then, eight years ago, I began to feel that I could make a difference in my legislative district, which includes Richfield and parts of South Minneapolis. To win the race in a district that has a strong independent streak and that voted for Jesse Ventura in 1998, I knocked on every door, most of them several times, and I campaigned by listening to what people had to say.
To me, that kind of hard work is the only way to win elections. And listening is the only way to govern effectively.
So I’m a citizen and an elected official and a husband and the father of three kids, but maybe the simplest answer to who I am is that I’m my parents’ son.
My Mom and Dad taught for sixty years between them in Minnesota’s public schools. My Mom in Bloomington and Richfield, and my Dad in St. Paul. And in my legal career, and through my community involvement, and now in government service, I feel as if I’m continuing their life’s work.
My parents dedicated their professional lives to building and strengthening the community institutions that bind us together, and make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. And they raised me to understand that as the highest calling that there is. So that’s really who I am and where I come from.
[ . . . September 24, 2009. Ladies and gentlemen, Representative Paul Thissen.]
Thank you very much. I’m Paul Thissen, I live in South Minneapolis. My wife and I are raising our three kids there. And I represent Richfield and Minneapolis in the State House, where I chair the Health and Human Services Committee.
And I’m running for Governor because Minnesota’s economy isn’t working for too many Minnesota families. Everywhere I go across this state, families that I meet are struggling, they’re concerned, they’re facing deep economic insecurity, whether they have a job or not. They’re tired of seeing their friends and neighbors losing their jobs and their homes They’re tired of seeing college tuition rates rise out of control. They’re tired of seeing health care costs spiral. They’re tired of seeing family farms going under.
But most of all they’re tired of a Governor and his allies whose only answer to their concerns is to say “no” “no” and “no” over and over again. And I’m tired of that, too. I’ve been in the State Legislature leading the fight, in the trenches, on issues of restoring economic security to Minnesotans.
As the result of legislation that I’ve passed in the face of fierce Republican opposition, tens of thousands of Minnesota kids can now see a doctor or a nurse when they need to. Pensions and retirement savings, because of legislation I’ve passed, are safer and more secure in this state.
We need a Governor who can point to a proven record of success of actually passing legislation, getting things done, to move Minnesota back to an economy that works for everybody. I’m proud of the fact that I have carried and passed legislation that covers more Minnesotans than anybody in this race. And a lot of the ideas that folks are talking about at the table is in legislation that I’ve already passed.
But this race is not going to just be about the issues alone. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our party. This race is going to be about the heart and soul of Minnesota. The Republicans are going to frame this election around scarcity and limitations, telling us that we can’t afford to be great anymore and we have to settle for middle of the pack.I don’t buy that, and I don’t think anybody in this room buys it or should buy it. If we’re going to win this race, we need to appeal to the best in Minnesotans.
You know I grew up in Minnesota. My folks were both public school teachers. I was raised to believe that this is a special, extraordinary state, and I think most Minnesotans believe that as well.
We need a candidate and a Governor who is going to challenge Minnesotans again to think big and creatively about our future. Who is going to approach and tackle our problems from the perspective of abundance, and not scarcity. Who will approach the issues with the big picture in mind and see the interconnectedness between every person’s life in this state and the public policies that we adopt.
The last thing I want to say: When I go around the state what people are asking is, -How are we going to endorse someone who can win a general election and be trusted to govern with DFL values? I think that I can be that person. This can’t be a next-in-line election. The voters that I’m talking to are saying -We need a fresh start in this state. -We need new ideas, we need a fresh face. -We need new voices out there.
It’s a great honor to be in this race, I’m excited and energized about where we’re going to head as a state, and I look forward to talking to you more. Thank you very much.
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