>> OUR REGION' LONGEST-RUNNING PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMS.

LAWMAKERS ARE JOINING US FOR A RECAP OF THE ACTIVITIES AT THE STATE CAPITAL THIS WEEK.

CAL OR EM -- CALL OR EMAIL TO HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED LIVE ON AIR.

TONY: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT."

I'M TONY SERTICH, AND I WILL BE YOUR HOST FOR THE 50TH SEASON OF THIS PROGRAM.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE RETURNED TO THE STUDIO THIS SPRING, AND WE WILL BE PRACTICING PHYSICAL DISTANCING TO KEEP OUR GUESTS AND CREW SAFE.

OUR SHOW EACH WEEK WILL FEATURE A DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER, EITHER LIVE HERE IN THE STUDIO WITH ME OR THROUGH A LIVE VIRTUAL CONNECTION.

AND SINCE WE'VE RETURNED TO A LIVE FORMAT, WE CAN ONCE AGAIN TAKE VIEWER QUESTIONS, EITHER THROUGH THE PHONE NUMBERS ON YOUR SCREEN OR BY EMAILS TO ASK@WDSE.ORG.

WE'VE GOT EXCELLENT GUESTS FOR OUR FIRST SHOW OF SEASON NUMBER 50.

REPREPRESENTATIVE SPENCER IGO IS FIRST, ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, ELECTED LAST FALL.

HE IS A REPUBLICAN FROM GRAND RAPIDS, REPRESENTING HOUSE DISTRICT 5B.

WELCOME, REPRESENTATIVE IGO.

REP. IGO: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TONY: REPRESENTATIVE MARY MURPHY IS A DFLER FROM HERMANTOWN, REPRESENTING HOUSE DISTRICT 3B AND THE LONGEST-SERVING WOMAN EVER IN THE HOUSE.

WELCOME, REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY.

REP. MURPHY: THANK YOU.

TONY: GREAT TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU.

REP. MURPHY: IT'S GREAT THAT SPENCER IS HERE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN HIM.

REP. IGO: IT'S GREAT TO MEET IN PERSON.

TONY: THIS IS YEAR TWO OF THE LEGISLATURE SERVING UNDER A PANDEMIC.

HOW IS THIS YEAR GOING SO FAR?

REP. MURPHY: IT'S GOING RAPIDLY AND WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, IN THE SENSE THAT, LAST YEAR, WE ACCOMPLISHED THE FIRST MONTH BEFORE WE HAD TO LEAVE.

AND I THINK THAT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, THERE JUST BECAUSE WE WERE -- JUST BECAUSE WE WERE THERE AND THEN CAME BACK.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR A NEW PERSON TO COME AND NOT HAVE SAT ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT ALL, NOT TO TAKE THE OATH.

MAYBE YOU'VE GOTTEN IN A COUPLE TIMES BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD MORE REPRESENTATION ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, BUT THERE VERY RARELY MORE THAN 15 OR 20 PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN ANY SESSION.

SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN SIT AT THEIR DESKS AND KNOW WHO'S THEIR REP. MURPHY: HAVE RESEARCH STAFF, BUT COVERING 12 PEOPLE WITH EVERYONE.

THEN WE HAVE NONPARTISAN RESEARCH STAFF, WHICH REALLY IS LONG-TERM PEOPLE THAT COME IN AND STAY FOREVER AND EVER.

BUT A LOT OF RETIREMENTS TOOK PLACE LAST SUMMER, SO WE HAVE NEW STAFF AT EVERY LEVEL AND NEW WORKERS.

IT'S WORKING OUT FINE.

THEY ARE WORKING REMOTELY.

WE DON'T SEE THEM IN PERSON.

WE HAVE NOT MET IN PERSON YET.

THE GOOD THING WE HAVE THE PHONE , EMAIL, EVERYTHING GOING FOR US.

BUT IT'S MUCH MORE FRUSTRATING AND TIME-CONSUMING THAN EVER BEFORE.

TONY: THANK YOU.

JUST TO REITERATE WHAT YOU SET OFF THE TOP, YOU ARE BOTH SERVING NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

THE SESSION IS OVER HALF OVER AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE MET EACH OTHER IN PERSON.

REP. MURPHY: EVEN VIRTUALLY.

YOU'RE ON THE COMMITTEE I'M GOING TO START MEETINGS WITH IN APRIL, THE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE.

I DON'T THINK WE ARE ON ANY OTHER COMMITTEE.

I PRESENTED BILLS TO A COMMITTEE YOU ARE ON, BUT THAT'S IT.

TONY: REPRESENTATIVE IGO, FIRST YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE, NOTHING TO COMPARE IT TO.

HOW IS IT GOING SO FAR?

REP. IGO: LIKE REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY SAID, IT'S INTERESTING.

EVERY MEMBER IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE VIRTUAL FORMAT.

WE ARE ALL FEELING LIKE NEW MEMBERS.

IT'S BEEN INTERESTING.

MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES HAVE STARTED TO REALIZE, IF WE DO THIS, WE STARTED TO WORK TOGETHER BETTER.

WE ARE COMING TOGETHER IN SOME WAYS, BUT IT'S ALSO LACKING.

THIS SHOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME I MEETING YOU, REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY.

WE SHOULD'VE MET MANY TIMES BEFORE THIS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP, TO COMPROMISE.

THAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

OUR BIGGEST ABILITY IS TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO THAT THROUGH A TV SCREEN OR ON THE CELL PHONE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN WE CAN GET BACK IN PERSON, ESPECIALLY THOSE HALLWAY CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN COMMITTEE.

TONY: PANDEMIC IS OVERARCHING HERE.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

THE GOVERNOR HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS WITHOUT THE LEGISLATURE.

THIS HAS BEEN A CONTESTED, DEBATED TOPIC OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WE WILL START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE IGO.

SOME WOULD SAY THESE EXECUTIVE POWERS, IF YOU WERE TO INVOLVE THE LEGISLATURE MORE, IT WOULD SLOW DOWN THE ABILITY TO REACT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT GOVERNOR WELLS'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND THE ROLE THE LEGISLATURE PLAYS?

REP. IGO: RUNNING WHEN THESE EMERGENCY POWERS WERE BEING PUT IN PLACE, MY CONSTITUENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS TO BE TERMINATED.

WE HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT'S IN SESSION.

YES, THERE ARE OBSTACLES, BUT MOST OF US ARE IN THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING, WORKING.

WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

WHEN YOU HAVE THESE EMERGENCY, POWERS IN PLACE IT'S A ROADBLOCK -- THESE EMERGENCY POWERS IN PLACE, IT'S A ROADBLOCK.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, BECAUSE MY OPINION REALLY MATTER?

THAT'S -- AT THE END OF THE DAY, DOES MY OPINION REALLY MATTER?

THAT'S 40,000 PEOPLE.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT REMOVING THOSE POWERS AND WORKING TOGETHER AGAIN.

I SEE IT AS A MAJOR ROADBLOCK.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS.

OVER 30.

MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THOSE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

AT LEAST GO THROUGH EACH EMERGENCY DECLARATION ORDER.

AS A LEGISLATURE, HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

DECIDE WHICH ONES TO REMOVE AND TO KEEP.

AT THE END OF THAT CONVERSATION, THE EMERGENCY POWERS ARE REMOVED AND WE CAN GET BACK TO A STATE GOVERNMENT THAT'S RUN BY THE PEOPLE.

TONY: REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY, SOME PEOPLE SAY A CHECK AND BALANCE WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

REP. MURPHY: THEY ARE CHECKING AND BALANCING JUST FINE WITH US NOW.

THE MAJORITY CAUCUS HAS NEVER BEEN AS ORGANIZED AS THEY ARE TODAY.

THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA WANT US REACTING TO THE EMERGENCY, BUT THEY ALSO WANT THEIR STATE BUDGET TO BE APPROVED FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

HERE WE GO.

IF WE ARE DOING EMERGENCY POWERS STUFF, WE ARE NOT DOING STATE BUDGET.

WE DON'T HAVE TIME BEFORE MAY 17 TO DO BOTH.

I SAY THE GOVERNOR GETS ALL THE SCIENCE, ALL THE MATERIALS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

WE ARE GIVEN WEEKLY UPDATES FOR ALL REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS , GIVEN WEEKLY UPDATES.

AND WHAT WE GET IN THOSE WEEKLY UPDATES ARE NOT ENOUGH FOR ME TO MAKE A MAJOR DECISION ON WHETHER THIS EMERGENCY POWER SHOULD BE CUT THIS WEEK OR SIX WEEKS FROM NOW.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR AND HIS ASSISTANTS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING SCIENCE AND HAVE BEEN DOING THIS.

I THINK THE PEOPLE'S FRUSTRATION IS COMING OUT ON REMOVE THE EMERGENCY POWERS BECAUSE WE ARE TIRED OF STAYING HOME AND NOT BEING ABLE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE.

WE ARE TIRED OF NOT KNOWING FOR SURE WHEN THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO BE GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD.

AND NOW THAT THEY ARE BE GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD, SOME OF THEM ARE HAVING TO RETRACT BECAUSE OF CASES OF TESTS SHOWING MORE KIDS ARE CARRYING THE DISEASE.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT KIND OF THING.

WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THAT KIND OF THING ON A DAILY BASIS WITH OUR LEADERSHIP AND WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

THE PEOPLE'S FRUSTRATION IS SHOWN TO US IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE WIDE OPEN -- I HEARD THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TALK ABOUT JULY 4 KIND OF STUFF.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SAFE BY JULY 4.

NO MASKS, NO THIS -- DIG BARBECUE DOWN IN THE FIELD KIND OF STUFF.

I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO BE READY FOR THAT.

AND I JUST GOT MY SECOND SHOT ON FRIDAY.

TONY: THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR.

REP. MURPHY: IT IS GREAT TO HEAR, BUT WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN THEIR FIRST SHOT YET, AND THEY HAVE TO.

TONY: ALL RIGHTY.

WE GOT OUR FIRST QUESTION FROM A VIEWER, VINCENT FROM CHISHOLM.

HE WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT A BILL TO MATCH THE FEDERAL EXEMPTION FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PAYMENTS.

THIS IS DEALING WITH STATE INCOME TAXES.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS EXEMPTED THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AND THE STATE HAS YET TO ACT ON THIS.

WE WILL START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE IGO.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE TIMING OF PASSING THAT FEDERAL EXEMPTION?

REP. IGO: IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

IT WAS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR LAST WEEK.

MY CAUCUS TRIED BRINGING UP A MOTION TO BRING THAT FORWARD, SO THAT WE COULD CONFORM TO THAT.

IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, THIS EXEMPTION IS, THOSE FAMILIES, PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS DURING THIS PANDEMIC, THEY SHOULDN'T BE HAVING TO TAKE THE STIMULUS CHECK THEY JUST RECEIVED TO PAY TAXES ON THAT.

WE HAVE FEDERAL COVID DOLLARS POURING INTO THE STATE.

WE COULD HAVE THAT MOVE FORWARD AND GIVE PEOPLE ENOUGH MONEY TO RECOVER FROM THIS PANDEMIC.

WE NEED ECONOMIC STABILITY.

AS VACCINES CONTINUE TO RISE, AS THE COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO CRASH, WE CAN BOUNCE BACK FROM THIS PANDEMIC.

WE CAN BRING OUR BEST DAYS TO REALITY THAT STARTS WITH -- TO REALITY.

THAT STARTS WITH PUTTING MORE MONEY IN TAXPAYERS' POCKETS.

TONY: THE PPP PROGRAM.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES?

REP. MURPHY: I'M CONFIDENT THEY WILL BE PART OF THE OMNIBUS TAX BILL THAT PASSES THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, PROBABLY IN APRIL.

TONY: OK, GREAT.

REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY, WE WILL START THIS ONE WITH YOU.

YOU MENTIONED IT AS WELL.

THIS IS THE YEAR THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSES A BUDGET FOR TWO YEARS FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THAT'S YOUR MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITY AS A LEGISLATURE, PASS IT FROM BOTH BODIES, GET IT SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHERE THAT PROCESS IS AT?

IT SEEMS YOU ARE ON PASSOVER EASTER BREAK RIGHT NOW, BACK IN YOUR DISTRICTS.

THE MESSAGE COMING OUT IS, WHY HAVEN'T YOU GOTTEN ANYTHING DONE YET AS A LEGISLATURE?

WHY DO YOU WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE?

CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS?

REP. MURPHY: THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS FOLLOWS TWO PATHS, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.

AND THEN THEY HAVE WHAT'S TURNED OUT TO BE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA, THE OMNIBUS FINANCE BILLS, FROM MOSTLY EACH FINANCIAL AREA, WHICH IS EDUCATION, TAXES, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ENVIRONMENT NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY, AND THERE'S A FEW OTHERS THAT ARE SMALLER.

TRANSPORTATION, I FORGOT THAT ONE.

TRANSPORTATION.

THEY HAVE FINANCE COMMITTEES THAT DEAL WITH ALL THE BILLS THAT ARE SENT TO THEM FOR THAT.

THEY PICK WHICH BILLS WOULD SERVE THE MOST MINNESOTANS IN THE CHEAPEST WAY.

THEY HAVE THEIR BUDGET TARGETS FROM LAST WEEK.

THIS WEEK, WE ARE ON BREAK.

THE FINANCE PEOPLE ARE NOT ON BREAK.

FINANCE PEOPLE HAVE ZOOM CALLS SCHEDULED EVERY SINGLE MORNING OF THIS WEEK, FOR SURE.

THEY WILL WORK ON A DAILY BASIS.

BY THE TIME THE THIRD DEADLINE COMES, WHICH IS FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL, BY THE TIME THAT COMES, THOSE BILLS WILL HAVE LEFT THE COMMITTEE AND BE IN WAYS AND MEANS OR LEFT WAYS AND MEANS AND BE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE.

AND THEN, EACH BODY PASSES A BILL OR REJECTS THE BILL, THEN IT GOES BACK FOR FIX UPS IF IT IS REJECTED.

THEN IT COMES BACK FOR ANOTHER VOTE.

WHEN BOTH -- WHEN THERE IS PASSAGE OF A BILL FROM BOTH PLACES, THEN THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO TO CONFERENCE.

AND THEN IT IS FIVE SENATORS, FIVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE FINANCE AREAS THAT WORK OUT THE DIFFERENCES.

AND THEN IT'S THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE HAS THEIR BILLS, THEN THEY HAVE ONE BILL THAT HAS PASSED BOTH HOUSES, THEN IT IS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR AND HE DECIDES IF HE'S GOING TO SIGN IT OR NOT.

HOPEFULLY, ALONG THE WAY, THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE HAS PEOPLE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE GIVING ADVICE AND WORKING PROBLEMS OUT.

USUALLY, THOSE GO RIGHT TO THE GOVERNOR FOR SIGNING.

THEN THE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY BECAUSE, MY GOSH, THEY FINISHED, AND IT'S NOT EVEN MAY 5 YET.

[LAUGHTER] THAT'S A DREAM.

TONY: A LOT OF STEPS IN THE PROCESS.

REPRESENTATIVE IGO, YOU ARE SEEING THE DETAILS MORE IN-DEPTH.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE IN-DEPTH, MORE BROADLY, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BUDGET?

REP. IGO: SPEAKING WITH MY CHAIRS AND MY COMMITTEE, I WILL SEE THOSE BUDGET PROPOSALS.

WE WILL SEE WHERE THE FUNDING WILL BE ALLOCATED.

LOTS OF MEETINGS WITH THE DNR.

TALKING ABOUT IF WE WILL SEE FEE INCREASES.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING GOOD CONVERSATION.

MY STANCE IS WE CANNOT INCREASE TAXES ON THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE FROM GREATER MINNESOTA WE ARE HEARING LOUD AND CLEAR.

WHEN WE BALANCE THIS BUDGET, IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE MORE MONEY OUT OF TAXPAYER POCKETS.

ONE OF THE HOT BUTTON TOPICS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE WITH THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW LOTS OF LOGGERS GO THROUGH A HARD YEAR OUTSIDE OF DULUTH -- A HARD YEAR WITH THE CLOSURE OUTSIDE OF DULUTH.

THERE WILL HAVE TO BE MONEY SO THE DNR CAN RETURN TIMBER PERMITS BACK SO THESE LOGGERS SITTING ON PERMITS, STANDS OF TIMBER THAT NO LONGER HAVE MARKETS -- WE HAVE TO FIX THAT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS OMNIBUS BILL.

I'M HOPING TO SEE COMMON SENSE AND WORKING TOGETHER.

WE TALK ABOUT THE UNITY THING AND COMPROMISE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR BOTH BODIESTO BE WORKING TOGETHER, ALSO REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A BALANCED BUDGET.

LET'S TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM INCREASING.

WE NEED TO BRING OUR BEST DAYS TO REALITY.

TONY: DOUG FROM HERMANTOWN HAD A QUESTION ABOUT TAXES, TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO RAISE TAXES.

REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY, SOME OF THE PROPOSALS THAT CAME FROM THE GOVERNOR TO RAISE TAXES.

YOUR CAUCUS IS COMING OUT WITH THEIR BUDGET AND THEIR REVENUE INCREASES, NOT YET.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE FROM THE GOVERNOR ON REVENUE AND TAX INCREASES?

REP. MURPHY: I HAVEN'T SEEN SPECIFICS.

THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID WE DON'T KNOW WHAT INDIVIDUAL TAXES ARE BEING SPOKEN ABOUT VERY MUCH.

WE DO KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE ARE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS, STILL ARE NOT PAYING AS BIG A PART OF THEIR INCOMES AND THEIR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AS THE PEOPLE AT THE SMALLEST LEVELS ARE.

AND THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING AT THOSE DIFFERENCES, TO EQUALIZE IT, MAKE IT MORE EQUITABLE.

BUT I DON'T EXPECT A WHOLE LOT OF NEW SPENDING, NEW TAXES FOR THE SPENDING.

I EXPECT SOME CUTS.

ONE THING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT I'M SO GLAD THAT REPRESENTATIVE BROUGTH -- BROUGHT UP, IT SEEMS THIS IS THE YEAR WE RECOGNIZE THAT TIMBER AND FOREST THREE IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR HISTORIES -- FOREST RY IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR INDUSTRIES.

IN OUR LAST BONDING SESSION, WHEN WE DID PASS $1.9 BILLION FINALLY IN OCTOBER, EVEN IN MAY OR THE PREVIOUS YEAR IN 2019, WE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY FOR FORESTRY.

IT WASN'T BEING PROPOSED OR PUSHED BY ANY MAJOR GROUPS, EXCEPT FOR THE LOGGERS AND THE INDUSTRY, AND IT DIDN'T MAKE A BIG ENOUGH SOUND EARLY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET A PORTION OF THE BONDING FUNDS THAT THEY USUALLY GET.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A SMALL BONDING BILL IN THE NEXT MONTH AND A $500 MILLION BONDING BILL, WHICH IS QUITE A BIT SMALLER THAN $1.9 BILLION.

BUT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE DEBT RESERVE, TOO.

WE COULD SPEND UP TO $500 MILLION AND TIMBER WOULD BE PART OF THAT AND FORESTRY.

TONY: THAT'S THE BAR ONLY DO FOR -- THE BORROWING.

THOUGHTS ON A MINING BILL THIS YEAR?

-- BONDING BILL THIS YEAR?

REP. IGO: WE HAVE TO SEE HOW IT SHAKES OUT.

JUST TO LEAN ON THESE TAX INCREASES, WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH A SITUATION WHERE THINGS HAVE GOTTEN HARD, I BELIEVE YOU TIGHTEN THE BELT.

WE GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO A BONDING BILL, THERE'S A SIMPLE TERM, A BONDING BILL IS A JOBS BILL.

MAYBE THAT IS SOME STIMULUS WE COULD USE, BUT WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR FINANCE COMMITTEES AND THESE BUDGETS, IF WE FIND A WAY, LIKE REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY SAID, TO GET A SMALL $500 MILLION PLAN IN, IT HAS TO BE DONE WITHOUT RAISING TAXES, WITHOUT TAKING MONEY FROM OTHER PLACES THAT NEED IT.

WE NEED TO SET OURSELVES UP SO THAT WE ARE NOT STRUGGLING BY THE END OF THIS BIENNIUM.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO GET THAT DONE, AWESOME, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMITTEES ARE BALANCED PROPERLY, SO THAT ALL MINNESOTANS CAN PROPER -- PROSPER.

TONY: WE HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, A TAX QUESTION.

A VIEWER ASKED, WHY DO THEY TAX COMBAT VETERANS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA?

WHY ARE COMBAT VETERANS TAXED?

DIETER OF YOU KNOW THE HISTORY OF THAT?

-- DO EITHER OF YOU KNOW THE HISTORY OF THAT?

REP. MURPHY: I DON'T.

WE TAX PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR INCOMES AND PROPERTY THEY OWN, FOR LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT.

TAXES ARE PREDOMINANT -- THE PREDOMINANT TAXES PEOPLE PAY OUR PERSONAL INCOME TAXES.

EVERYBODY PAYS THAT WORKS.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY.

TONY: ANYTHING TO ADD?

REP. IGO: I WILL DEFER TO REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY HERE.

I DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THE ISSUE.

IT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO.

IT GIVES ME SOMETHING TO GO BACK TO ST. PAUL WITH AND LOOK INTO WHAT OTHER STATES MAY LOOK AT DIFFERENTLY ON COMBAT VETERANS AND THE TAX BRACKETS.

TONY: I'M A DEKE ABOUT POLITICS AND THE LEGISLATURE.

-- I'M A GEEK ABOUT POLITICS AND THE LEGISLATURE.

THIS HAPPENS EVERY 10 YEARS AFTER THE CENSUS, WHERE THEY DRAW THE LINES OF BOTH THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, BUT ALSO THE CONGRESSIONAL BRANCH.

THIS ONLY HAPPENS EVERY 10 YEARS.

YOU ARE THE CHAIR.

YOU ARE NEW ON THIS.

CAN WE TALK FOR A MINUTE EACH ON THAT PROCESS AND WHAT FOLKS SHOULD BE EXPECTING IN THIS CONVERSATION?

I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO WRAP UP THIS SESSION, BUT IT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT THROUGH THE FALL.

REP. MURPHY: IT'S GOING TO BE TALKED ABOUT.

IT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT, PREDOMINATELY, WE HAVE TO DECIDE ON PRINCIPLES WE ARE GOING TO USE TO DRAW THE MAPS.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DRAW THE MAPS BASED ON THE NATIONAL CENSUS THAT'S GOING TO BE GIVEN TO US AT THE END OF AUGUST.

SUPPOSEDLY, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE BY THE END OF APRIL.

BUT WE ARE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS FOR THAT.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVEN'T HEARD SO MUCH.

WE WILL BE STARTING OUR MEETINGS IN APRIL, WHEN THE OTHER COMMITTEES CLOSE UP.

WE WILL BE JUST STARTING.

WE ARE GOING TO LISTEN TO VOICES OF THE PEOPLE THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND COMMON CAUSE AND GOOD GOVERNMENT PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE STATE ARE GOING TO HAVE OPEN DOORS AND OPEN VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS TO US.

TONY: RIGHT.

-- GREAT.

REP. IGO: IT'S A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE TO BE ON THE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE, TO LEARN THIS PROCESS, TO SIT DOWN AND WORK IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE NEW LINES AND DISTRICTS WILL BE FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

I'M EAGER TO LEARN.

LEARNING FROM THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA WHAT THEY NEED TO CREATE A FAIR SYSTEM THAT WORKS BEST FOR US FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS OF LEGISLATING IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

TONY: RIGHT AFTER THIS, THE GOVERNOR IS GIVING HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO HEAR?

REP. IGO: I'M HOPING TO HEAR THAT HE HAS A PLAN TO REMOVE THOSE EMERGENCY POWERS, GIVE POWER BACK TO THE PEOPLE SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET AND BRING OUR BEST DAYS TO REALITY.

REP. MURPHY: I HOPE HE'S GOING TO TELL US THAT MINNESOTA IS ON A GOOD FINANCIAL SITUATION AND HE HAS A PLAN FOR GOING FORWARD FOR EDUCATION AND HOMES FOR ALL.

TONY: GREAT.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE SPENCER IGO AND REPRESENTATIVE MARY MURPHY FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

"MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT" WILL BE OFF FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS DUE TO EASTER AND A SPECIAL PROGRAM, SO JOIN US AGAIN ON SUNDAY, APRIL 18, WHEN WE WILL WELCOME TWO MORE LEGISLATORS FROM NORTHERN MINNESOTA TO THE PROGRAM.

FOR THE TEAM AT WDSE, I'M TONY SERTICH, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.