Dean Barkley on Principles & Values Independent Senate challenger

Appointed by Gov. Ventura to fill Paul Wellstone vacancy

Minute by minute, most effective senator in history

"I agree, we're going to tone that down a bit," Barkley said, adding that he had laid eyes on the website himself only a short time before. Barkley said the slogan was lifted from a Ventura quote issued Tuesday, when Barkley filed to run for the Senate: "Measured minute by minute," Ventura said, "Dean Barkley is the most effective senator in Minnesota history."

Barkley served two months in the Senate--Nov. 5, 2002, to Jan. 3, 2003--when Ventura appointed him to fill the unexpired term of Paul Wellstone, who was killed in a plane crash in late October. During that period, the Senate was in session for only eight days, giving Barkley little time to work. But he pointed out that he played key roles on three important matters.

Lifetime privileges-but no pension-from brief Senate career

A: Actually, what's next is I've got to go back to Minnesota and open up a Minnesota office. I opened up the Washington office in about four days.

Q: Do you expect when you leave the Senate by the end of the year?

A: January, I think it is the third.

Q: Now, will you get a government pension for that?

A: No. You need to be here five years before a pension.

Q: OK, but will you have lifetime privileges to go on the Senate floor? Even if you're a lobbyist?

A: Even if you're there just one day.

Q: Now, is that your plan, to come back as a lobbyist and lobby these guys?

A: No, I plan on going back to Minnesota and finding a job when I'm done with this because my job with the Ventura administration is done January 7. So I'll be a private sector citizen again.

Created Paul Wellstone Center for Community Building

Congress finds the following:
• Sen. Wellstone was a tireless advocate for the peopl of Minnesota, particularly for new immigrants and the economically disadvantaged.
• Neighborhood House was founded in the late 1800's in St. Paul, as a settlement house to help newly arrived Eastern European Jewish immigrants establish a new life and thrive in their new community.
• When Sen. Wellstone became aware that the Neighborhood House Community Center was no longer adequate to meet the needs of the St. Paul community, he suggested that Neighborhood House request Federal funding to construct a new facility.
• As an honor to Paul and Sheila Wellstone, a $10 million grant shall be awarded to be used for the design and construction of a new community center to be known as 'The Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building'.