>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI, LET'S MOVE ON TO A DIFFERENT TOPIC.

WE ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES LEFT.

PROBABLY OUR LAST TOPIC OF THE EVENING, I SUSPECT.

WE HAVE VIEWERS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE GETTING MONEY BACK IN THE TAX REBATE PROCESS.

THERE'S A SURPLUS OBVIOUSLY.

HOW MUCH IS THAT GOING TO COME BACK IN TAXPAYERS.

AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE, SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE QUESTION, AS TO WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE INDIVIDUAL REBATES, TAX CUTS OR PERHAPS MONEY SHOULD BE INVESTED IN VARIOUS GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.

CAN YOU TELL US, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, HOW YOU THINK THAT ISSUE IS GOING AND WHAT YOU THINK THE RESULTS ARE.

>> WELL, I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE SOME TYPE OF TAX CUTS.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE.

WE ALREADY DISCUSSED SOCIAL SECURITY.

I WOULD SUPPORT, IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO REPEAL SOCIAL SECURITY TAX, THAT WE AT LEAST DO SOME TYPE OF PRORATING OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

WE COULD DO A MODIFIED VERSION OF IT.

I WOULD THINK YOU WILL SEE SOME TYPES OF TAX CUTS IN OTHER AREAS, TOO.

WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT INVESTMENTS, FOR INSTANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION, SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEA A NUMBER OF INVESTMENTS IN ALL OTHER AREAS, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE TAX CUTS, TAX REDUCTIONS OF SOME KIND.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME TYPE OF TAX CUTS.

BUT I LOOK AT THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

IF WE PUT MONEY INTO LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES, PUT THEM INTO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, PUT THEM INTO WATER TOWERS, THAT REDUCES THE LOCAL TAX.

OTHERWISE SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO PAY FOR IT.

LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES GO UP TO PAY FOR THESE PROJECTS IF THE STATE DOESN'T HELP OUT.

CAPITAL INVESTMENT IS ONE WAY TO RETURN MONEY TO THE PEOPLE AND TO KEEP LOCAL TAXES DOWN.

>> Barry: DO YOU THINK THAT WE WILL SEE DIRECT REBATE PROGRAM OF SOME SORT TO TAXPAYERS OF 500 TO $1,000?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S BEEN DISMISSED WITH THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, BUT THERE MIGHT BE SOFTENING ON THAT IF THAT'S THE BEST WE CAN DO TO GET MONEY BACK.

IT MIGHT BE ACCEPTABLE.

I WOULD THINK THOSE DIRECT CHECKS ARE PROBABLY, IN MY OPINION, LESS THAN 50/50.

>> Barry: SENATOR HOWE, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SURPLUS AND HOW IT MIGHT EVENTUALLY FIND ITS WAY BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN -- IT COULD BE IN ONE OF THOSE 2,000 PLUS BILLS, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN A DIRECT BILL THAT DISCUSSES A STRAIGHT REBATE THAT HAS ANY LEGS THAT I HAVE SEEN GONE THROUGH ANY COMMITTEE.

I THINK YOU HAVE GOT THE PROPOSAL FROM THE GOVERNOR THAT SAYS IF YOU ARE SINGLE AND MAKE LESS THAN 75,000 OR MARRIED COUPLE MAKING LESS THAN 150 IS GOING TO GET A COUPLE, THOUSAND DOLLARS CHECK, WHATEVER IT IS.

THAT'S THE ONLY PROPOSAL I HAVE SEEN OUT THERE.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY GIVING MONEY TO THE FOLKS THAT PROBABLY DIDN'T PAY IN THE MOST.

>> Barry: I'M GOING TO WRAP OUR PROGRAM UP THERE, SENATOR HOWE.

I WANT TO THANK OUR PANEL FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING.