LEGISLATIVE REPORT.

LAWMAKERS ARE JOINING US TODAY FOR A RECAP OF THE WEEK'S ACTIVITIES AT THE STATE CAPITAL.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO CALL OR EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS AND HAVE THEM ANSWERED LIVE ON AIR.

MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT STARTS NOW.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME.

WE ARE NOW IN OUR 50TH SEASON.

TONY: WE ARE PRACTICING PHYSICAL DISTANCING TO KEEP OUR GUESTS AND CREW SAFE.

IT HAS BEEN A BUSY FEW WEEKS WITH SOME MAJOR OMNIBUS BILLS MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE HOUSE.

THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS TO THE LAWMAKERS WHO REPRESENT YOU.

CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN OR ENOUGH QUESTIONS TO AS K@WDSD.ORG.

WE HAVE GREAT GUESTS TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF HOUSE DISTRICT 78, AND A REPUBLICAN FROM HOUSE DISTRICT 10 B.

WE START WITH YOU.

WE HAVE BEEN OFF THE AIR FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE EASTER AND PASSOVER BREAK.

THE QUESTION I GET ALL THE TIME IS WHY DO YOU ALWAYS WAIT TILL THE END TO MAKE ALL THE BIG DECISIONS?

>> IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO FILING YOUR TAXES EVERY YEAR,, THERE IS A PROCESS.

WE GET A COUPLE OF PROJECTIONS, THE GOVERNOR PROVIDES HIS PROTECTION, THE HOUSE LOOKS AT THEIR PROPOSALS PLUS THE SENATE.

IT IS A LINEAR THING.

IF WE START DOING STUFF THE FIRST WEEK IN JANUARY AND MAKE A LOT OF DECISIONS, IT IS LINEAR.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM, WE NEED THE DATA BEFORE WE JUMP IN AND MAKE THOSE FINAL DECISIONS.

TONY: WE HEAR THAT REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN CHARGE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT A BIT OF THE PROCESS THAT GOES INTO THAT?

>> IS ABOUT 30% OF OUR BUDGET, SECOND ONLY TO EDUCATION.

WE HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONY EVEN IN A ZOOM ENVIRONMENT AND WE TRY TO PRIORITIZE, THIS IS THE BEST BILL I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, EITHER IN THE MINORITY OR THE MAJORITY BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY SOLID TARGET OF $340 MILLION OVER THE BASE FUNDING.

WE WERE ABLE TO SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT ON AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO ADDRESS, AREAS LIKE HOMELESSNESS.

GETTING MONEY TO COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

MONEY FOR WORKERS WHO WORK AS PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS.

THERE IS A SHORTAGE AND THEY ARE UNDERPAID.

IT IS VERY BROAD.

WE LOOKED AT CHILD PROTECTION, TRYING TO HELP COUNTIES, TRYING TO KEEP CHILDREN OUT OF FOSTER CARE.

THAT, WITH NEW FEDERAL MONEY COMING WHICH WE DID NOT SPEND IN THE BUDGET, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A HEALTHY INVESTMENT ACROSS THE STATE.

TONY: THANK YOU.

AS A REMINDER TO FOLKS AT HOME, PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOUR LEGISLATORS.

WE ARE GOING TO KEEP TRACK AND STAY IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO HOUSE MEMBERS TODAY, THE PEOPLE'S BODY, MY FAVORITE OF THE TWO BODIES.

ONE OF THE SPENDING BILLS TALK ABOUT WAS THE TRANSPORTATION BILL.

I AM ASSUMING ONE VOTED IN OPPOSITION.

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION BILL?

REP. LUECK: THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE WAS THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT TAX INCREASES, LICENSE FEES.

WE WOULD TIE THE GAS TAX TO AN AUTOMATIC RENEWING THING.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE PRICE OF A TWO BY FOUR, IT IS THREE TO FOUR TIMES WHAT IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO.

THE CAREFUL WHEN YOU PUT THINGS IN AUTOMATIC.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS AND THAT BILL, TOO.

I DON'T BELIEVE I VOTED AGAINST THE FINAL TRANSPORTATION BILL, SO I WOULD ANTICIPATE WE GET IT BACK TO THE SENATE, AND IT GETS INTO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, I WILL PROBABLY BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT.

AS LONG AS WE DON'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT TAX INCREASES.

IT IS JUST A LITTLE TOO EARLY TO BE DOING THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR ECONOMY MOVE FORWARD A LITTLE MORE, A LITTLE MORE STABLE.

IT DOES HAVE SOME GOOD THINGS IN THEIR, ESPECIALLY FOR TOWNSHIPS.

TONY: WE ARE GETTING INTO THAT SEASON.

AFTER SPRING COMES CONSTRUCTION SEASON.

REP. SCHULTZ: WE HAVE REALLY UNDER INVESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE.

NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST AND RAISE REVENUE.

FOR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE 5000 OR FEWER, THERE IS DIRECT MONEY FOR THEIR ROAD AND BRIDGE REPAIR.

WE SAW VIDEOS OF BRIDGES THAT ARE FALLING APART, CONCRETE FALLING.

WE NEED TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT SO PEOPLE ARE SAFE.

ALSO, PEOPLE IN DULUTH KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE GOOD ROADS, BECAUSE IT REDUCES REPAIRS ON CARS.

WE NEED TO DO THAT INVESTMENT.

TO HAVE GOODS AND SERVICES TRAVEL, YOU NEED GOOD ROADS.

THERE IS MONEY IN THEIR TO INCREASE THE GAS TAX BY THE COST OF THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION COST, WHICH IS ABOUT 1.3% PER YEAR.

THAT RESULTS IN ABOUT NINE DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMER.

THAT IS A SMALL INVESTMENT.

I THINK THE PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA WILL SUPPORT THAT INVESTMENT TO MAKE SURE THEIR LOVED ONES ARE SAFE WHEN THEY CROSS A BRIDGE.

TONY: WE HAD OUR FIRST QUESTION FROM A VIEWER, CALLER FROM GRAND RAPIDS ONCE AMOUNT -- WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU ARE LOOKING INTO POTENTIAL VOTER IRREGULARITIES.

SHE HEARD THERE WAS BALLOT HARVESTING IN THE TWIN CITIES?

TO EITHER OF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ANY INVESTIGATIONS OR ANY LEGISLATION DEALING WITH VOTERS.

REP. LUECK: I DON'T SERVE ON THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE.

THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS RAISED, AND SOME THINGS I PERSONALLY SAW ON TV THAT DID NOT LOOK APPROPRIATE THAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHERE PEOPLE WERE CARRYING AROUND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF BALLOTS.

BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC INVESTIGATION AT THIS POINT.

I AM NOT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

REP. SCHULTZ: THERE WAS A VIDEO CIRCULATING.

IT WAS FOUND OUT TO BE NOT TRUE, THAT IT WAS MANUFACTURED FAKE NEWS.

WHAT THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT IS PEOPLE COLLECTING ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND TURNING THEM IN.

WE DID HAVE A DEBATE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR ABOUT GUIDELINES AND MORE STRUCTURE ABOUT COLLECTING ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE OUR VOTING SECURE AND SAFE, AND THERE IS ALMOST NO FRAUD IN VOTING IN MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT IS NOT A CONCERN THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE A STRONG DEMOCRACY BECAUSE WE MAKE IT EASY TO VOTE, NOT HARDER.

REP. LUECK: PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED.

IT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

I CAN POINT TO A SITUATION AT THE TOWNSHIP LEVEL, HE WENT -- AN ELECTION WAS COMPLETE WE OVERTURN BECAUSE OF AN INDIVIDUAL THE COLLECTED A WHOLE BUNCH OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS, DELIVER THEM THEMSELVES, AND THEY ULTIMATELY THREW THE WHOLE ELECTION OUT.

THAT HAPPENED IN MY COUNTY.

BE CAREFUL ABOUT DISMISSING ALL VOTER FRAUD.

THAT WAS A VERY SMALL INCIDENT, BUT IT CERTAINLY HAPPENS, AND THERE CERTAINLY IS THE CAPACITY TO ABUSE THAT SYSTEM.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T.

TONY: ANOTHER MAJOR TOPIC IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WITH THE TRIAL OF DEREK CHAUVIN AND KILLING OF DAUNTE WRIGHT, THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSING AROUND POLICING LEGISLATION.

LAST YEAR THERE WAS LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED, BUT THERE IS CERTAINLY CONVERSATION FROM LEGISLATORS OF COLOR AND OTHERS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL THIS YEAR OF GOING FURTHER WITH POLICING LEGISLATION.

REP. SCHULTZ: WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

WE DID SOME SMALL REFORMS LAST YEAR ON NO WARRIOR TRAINING, NO CHOKEHOLDS, SUMMER ACCOUNTABILITY, HAVING CIVILIANS SERVE, AND MEDIATION.

BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE.

WE NEED TO REDUCE TRAFFIC STOPS THAT ARE PRETEXTUAL.

PEOPLE WHO ARE BLACK AND GET PULLED OVER ARE LIKELY TO DIE FROM A POLICE OFFICER SHOOTING, AND WE SAW THAT IN 2020 ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE NEED TO MAKE IT HARDER TO PULL PEOPLE OVER AND INFRINGE ON THEIR FREEDOM AND THEIR RIGHTS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CIVILITY COUNSEL TO REVIEW AND HAVE MORE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

THEY HAVE A HARD JOB, POLICE OFFICERS DO.

WE NEED TO MAKE THEIR JOBS EASIER AND FOCUS ON CERTAIN THINGS.

PULLING PEOPLE OVER BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING DANGLING OR THEIR TAGS ARE EXPIRED, WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT MODEL.

REP. LUECK: I WILL IMMEDIATELY INDICATE I HAVE A SON THAT IS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HE IS NOT THAT FAR FROM RETIRING BECAUSE IT IS MANDATORY 55 IN HIS LINE OF WORK.

I AGREE, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS WE CAN BETTER DO PUBLIC SAFETY.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW, WITHIN A WEEK OF A VERDICT ON AN ONGOING TRIAL, WE ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE.

LET'S NOT JUMP IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT BEFORE WE SEE HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS, AND START MAKING ALL KINDS OF CHANGES.

THAT IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE SEE IN THE LEGISLATURE, QUITE OFTEN IN THE INTEREST WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, WE DON'T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT.

LET'S LET THIS PROCESS GO THROUGH, TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT WE LEARNED.

WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS GOING TO COME UP VERY SHORTLY.

WE JUST MADE CHANGES LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AGO.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LET THE CAR START UP AND WARM UP TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT THOSE THINGS FIXED.

YOU KEEP PILING THESE CHANGES UPON CHANGE, AND TYPICALLY, YOU TEND TO SOMETIMES UNDO SOME THINGS OR CREATE NEW ISSUES THAT YOU ARE UNAWARE OF.

LET'S DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

REP. SCHULTZ: WE JUST HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS RACIAL PROFILING HAPPENING IN OUR STATE, AND UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS HAPPENING, AND CORRECT THAT.

YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE AFRAID FOR YOUR OWN LIFE IF YOU ARE PULLED OVER, AND YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE PULLED OVER IF YOU DO NOT VIOLATE ANY REAL LAW.

TONY: STILL LOOKING FOR FOLKS TO PLEASE CALL IN EMAIL AND.

A QUESTION I HAVE, YOU ARE LEGISLATING IN THE TIME OF COVID, A LOT ON ZOOM.

THE VIEWERS MAY NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT GATHERING IN THE SAME ROOMS.

HOW IS THAT GOING FOR YOU?

HOW ARE YOU HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS, DOES HE REPRESENT IN THIS TIME WHERE THEY CAN'T PHYSICALLY VISIT YOU, AND YOU CAN'T BUMP INTO THEM BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC?

HOW ARE YOU GETTING INPUT FROM FOLKS BACK HOME ON HOW YOU ARE DOING AND WHAT YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON?

REP. LUECK: ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SET UP BRIEF ZOOM CALLS WITH CONSTITUENTS.

THAT WORKS GREAT.

IF THEY HAVE GOOD BROADBAND ACCESS.

UNFORTUNATELY, POOR BROADBAND SERVICE IS ALMOST THE NORM IN THE BIG AREAS OF OUR DISTRICT.

A LOT OF TIME ON THE PHONE.

TOM BACK IN THE DISTRICT.

IT'S A GHOST TOWN, OUR STATE OFFICE BUILDING, VERY FEW PEOPLE ON ANY FLOOR AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

IN THE PUBLIC IS NOT ALLOWED TO COME IN.

I AM JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO THOSE NORMAL THINGS.

THE OTHER THING IS, I HAVE NOT HELD MANY OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS, BECAUSE WE GET INTO THE ISSUE, WE DON'T WANT TO SET UP A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR SPREADING COVID-19.

IT COULD BE BETTER.

WE JUST NEED TO GET BEYOND THIS BECAUSE IT IS FRUSTRATING FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

AS A LEGISLATOR AND IT ALSO HAS GOT TO BE FRUSTRATED FOR THE PUBLIC.

TONY: YOUR CONNECTION WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS?

REP. SCHULTZ: EMAIL IS THE BEST RIGHT NOW, BUT I HAVE BEEN IN A LOT OF ZOOM CALLS.

THAT HAS BEEN HELPFUL, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT REPEATING THE SAME THING.

OR FOUR TIMES.

FROM GREATER MINNESOTA, I THINK WE SEE MORE INVOLVEMENT FROM PEOPLE TESTIFIED, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE BACK AND FORTH.

I HOPEFULLY WE RETAIN THAT -- I HOPE WE RETAIN THAT ABILITY WHEN WE DO GET BACK TO FACE-TO-FACE THAT WE CAN GET PEOPLE ON ZOOM.

THAT HELPS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THEY CAN TRACK WHAT WE ARE DOING.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME BENEFITS, WE ARE LEARNING FROM THIS, HOPEFULLY WE CAN IMPROVE OUR PROCESS GOING FORWARD AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

WE ARE CONNECTING, IT A LIMITED TIMEFRAME, BECAUSE EVERYONE IS IN ZOOM AND WE HAVE TO TELEVISE IT.

WE HAVE FEWER PEOPLE TESTIFYING, AND THEY PROBABLY HAVE LESS TIME TO TESTIFY, SO IT HAS NOT BEEN IDEAL IN THAT REGARD.

TONY: ANOTHER BIG TOPIC IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA IS MINING.

WE KNOW THAT THE EPA HAS SENT SOME DEBTORS ON SULFATE STANDARDS, WE HAVE SEEN SOME ACTION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

HAVE NOT HEARD MUCH FROM THE STATE THIS YEAR.

IS THERE ANY STATE LEGISLATION OR FOLKS DISCUSSING ANY CHANGES TO MINING?

REP. LUECK: NO, NOTHING SPECIFIC IN THAT AREA.

WHAT THE EPA DID VERY RECENTLY IF THEY OBJECTED TO NPCA, MINNESOTA'S LIST OF IMPAIRED WATERS, SPECIFICALLY, ABOUT A NUMBER OF LAKES.

WATERSHEDS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED BY SULFATE.

THAT HAS A WAYS TO GO, WHAT WE ARE WAITING FOR NOW IS THE EPA TO SEND THEIR CHANGE TO MINNESOTA'S LIST, AND THAT IS GOING TO GO OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND NPCA WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THAT.

THAT IS GOING TO PLAY OUT OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

OTHERWISE, WE HAVE SEEN SOME THINGS WHERE PERMITS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED WHILE THERE IS COURT ACTION.

THAT IS NOTHING NEW.

YOU ARE PROBABLY A VETERAN OF THIS.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 14 YEARS.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO GO ON, PROBABLY LONG AFTER THE FIRST COPPER OR NICKEL LEAVES THE RANGE.

THERE WILL STILL BE COURT ACTION.

I AM CONFIDENT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE.

WE HAVE THE TAMARAC PROJECT, WHICH IS OUTSIDE THE VERMILLION.

IT WOULD BE NEW TERRITORY, SO.

TONY: ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS?

REP. SCHULTZ: WE ARE TAKING DIRECTION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND WE ARE SEEING WHAT IS COMING DOWN UNDER BIDEN'S ADMINISTRATION FOR GUIDANCE.

WE ARE WAITING FOR THAT, AND FOR THE COURT CASES TO GET SETTLED.

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR CLEAN WATER.

I SERVE ON THE GREAT LAKES COMMISSION AS A COMMISSIONER, SO IT IS MY JOB TO PROTECT THE GREAT LAKES AND THE QUALITY OF THE GREAT LAKES AND TO HAVE CLEAN WATER.

WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE ALL OF THE CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN, INCLUDING WHAT WE ARE FINDING A LOT OF WATER IN MINNESOTA AND FISH.

THAT IS CANCER-CAUSING.

IT IS VITAL TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF MINNESOTANS AND TO HAVE CLEAN WATER.

TONY: A FEW MORE QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS.

THE FIRST ONE IS, WHAT IS THE STATUS OF TAX BILLS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, ESPECIALLY THE STATE TAX ON UNEMPLOYMENT INCOME?

WILL SOMETHING BE DONE BEFORE WE HAVE TO FILE OUR 2020 TAXES?

REP. SCHULTZ: I SERVE ON THE TAX COMMITTEE.

WE DO HAVE A FEDERAL COMPLIANCE, NOT INCLUDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TO BE TAXED, AND FOR PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM, THE PPP LOANS, UP TO $350,000.

MOST BUSINESSES IN MINNESOTA FALL UNDER THAT CAP.

OUR OMINOUS BILL IS NEUTRAL.

WE ARE RAISING SOME REVENUE PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

WE ARE RAISING ON THE FIFTH INCOME BY 11%, THOSE MAKING OVER $1 MILLION WILL BE IMPACTED.

.075%, A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF MINNESOTANS WHO ARE IMPACTED, SO WE CAN PAY FOR THESE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

IT IS A HEALTHY, SOLID TAX BILL.

IT IS PROGRESSIVE AND IT RAISES REVENUE SO WE CAN ADDRESS HOUSING SHORTAGES, SO WE CAN INVEST IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE TOBACCO TAX SETTLEMENT MONEY HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED.

WE WANT TO PAY FOR TOBACCO SENSATION AND PREVENTION.

THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN THE TAX BILL, AND I HOPE WE CAN GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WHEN IT COMES TO THE FLOOR.

TONY: YOUR COMMENTS ON THE TAX BILL, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE QUESTION WAS AROUND, DO YOU THINK SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE TAXES ARE FILED FOR VIEWERS WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION, THE TAX DEADLINE WAS JUST HAPPENED, BUT IT WAS EXTENDED MONTH.

REP. LUECK: I HOPE SO.

I WILL BE QUITE FRANK WITH YOU.

ABOUT IT BEING NEUTRAL, PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT SURPLUS CONTAINS ABOUT 400 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF TAX REVENUE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED NOT TO COLLECT FROM THE FEDERAL SIDE, THAT EVERYBODY ELSE AROUND US IS XEMPT FROM HAVING TO PAY STATE INCOME TAX.

STATES STILL CONSIDERS THAT AS FAIR GAME REVENUE, WHEN WE NEED TO EXEMPT THAT, WHICH MEANS IT WON'T BE A NEUTRAL BILL.

IT WILL BE A TAX CUT, I TAX SPEAK, LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN, BECAUSE IF WE KEEP IT NEUTRAL, WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THAT MONEY.

WE ARE DOING TAX SPEAK.

THAT SHOULD BE EXEMPT BOTH WITH PPP FORGIVABLE LOANS AND THE EXTRA MONEY THAT CAVEN -- CAME IN ON FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT.

IT'S BE EXEMPTED LIKE OTHER STATE DID AROUND US AND NOT PLAY GAMES WITH IT.

REP. SCHULTZ: IT IS EXEMPTED IN THE TAX BILL, WE JUST YOU HAVE TO PASS IT.

WOULD IT BE IN TIME FOR MAY 17?

POSSIBLY.

I HOPE WE DO.

FOR THE AVERAGE MINNESOTAN, IT IS A TAX CUT BECAUSE WE ARE EXPANDING THE WORKER'S FAMILY TAX CREDIT.

A LOT OF FAMILIES WILL SEE REDUCTION IN THEIR TAXES.

TONY: A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.

GREG IS WONDERING, IS LEGISLATOR WORKING TO SUPPORT THE LOGGING AND TIMBER INDUSTRY?

LUMBER PRICES ARE SKYROCKETING.

REP. LUECK: WE HAVE DOLLARS IN THEIR TO SUPPORT REGENERATION OF TIMBER, THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

THAT IS A LONG-TERM THING.

THE PRICE ISSUE ON LUMBER RIGHT NOW HAS TO DO WITH SUPPLY AND DEMAND, WHICH IS REALLY FRUSTRATING.

AT THE MILL AND HOST CELL, THEY MISCALCULATED ON THE AMOUNT OF DEMAND.

TURNED OUT EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT BUILD A LOT OF NEW HOUSES, PEOPLE WERE LAID OFF.

THERE WAS A HUGE DEMAND, EVEN AT THE LOCAL LUMBERYARD.

OUR LITTLE TOWNS LOOK AT YOU AND GO, YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS, A PIECE OF PLYWOOD IS THREE TIMES AS EXPENSIVE.

IT IS AN ISSUE TO PUT ENOUGH STUFF IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

IT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO DRIVE THOSE PRICES BACK DOWN AGAIN.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO ABSOLUTELY PUT THE MONEY AND INVESTMENT INTO REGENERATE AS WE HARVEST EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE NET INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TIMBER OUT THERE EVERY YEAR BASED ON WHAT WE TAKE, WHICH AS MUCH IS PRODUCED EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE MORE STANDING TREES AND TIMBER OUT THERE THAN WE HAD 50 OR 60 YEARS AGO.

THAT IS A GOOD THING, TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE USING WOOD FOR MANY YEARS.

REP. SCHULTZ: MY SISTER IS BUILDING A HOUSE IN MINNESOTA AND I'M HEARING ABOUT THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION AND LUMBER.

IT IS EXPENSIVE AND IT IS ABOUT SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

THE GOOD THING IS THERE IS A HUGE DEMAND FOR HOUSING, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WILLING TO BUY IT, YOU SEE THAT WITH EXISTING HOUSING STOCK, PRICES GOING UP NOT JUST IN THE TWIN CITIES BUT ALSO IN DULUTH.

IT IS A GOOD PROBLEM.

WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE STATE AND IT IS CREATING AN EXCESS DEMAND FOR HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION.

TONY: ANOTHER QUESTION FROM A VIEWER, WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE LAWMAKERS THOUGHTS ON REINSTALLING THE FAIRNESS ACT WHICH HELPED PEOPLE TO THE TRUTH.

IT WAS ABANDONED DURING THE REAGAN ERA.

NOT SURE IF THAT IS FEDERAL OR NOT.

ARE EITHER OF YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE FAIRNESS ACT?

REP. LUECK: NO.

AS FAR AS ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN THERE.

REP. SCHULTZ: I HAVE NO COMMENT ON THAT.

TONY: I WILL BE GOOGLING IT, TOO.

WHOEVER WROTE AND I WILL GOOGLE IT AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK.

LAST QUESTION AS WE ARE GOING TO BE WRAPPING UP.

REPRESENTATIVE SCHULTZ, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING IN FROM THE AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT, THE SECOND STIMULUS THAT WAS PASSED DURING THE PANDEMIC FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

GENERALLY, YOU HAVE KEPT THIS ASIDE, YOU'RE DOING YOUR BUDGET PROCESS, THIS IS ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.

ARE YOU LOOKING TO ADDRESS THIS DURING THE SESSION, IS THIS SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF?

TO EITHER OF YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW THOSE DOLLARS -- IT IS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

REP. SCHULTZ: IT IS ABOUT $2.6 BILLION COMING INTO THE STATE, MOSTLY UNRESTRICTED AROUND COVID, BUT CAN BE USED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE BROADBAND WHICH I HOPE WE INVEST IN, AND IN THE STRUCTURE LIKE WATER, SEWERS.

THE OTHER MONEY COMING IN, A LOT OF IT IS FOR CHILD CARE, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

WE ARE WAITING FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM CMS AND FROM THE TREASURY, TO TELL US HOW WE CAN SPEND THAT MONEY AND HOW LONG WE HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY.

I KNOW THERE IS A LOT COMING IN FOR HIM AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES, WE NEED MONEY TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES LONGER, OUT OF NURSING FACILITIES.

I HOPE WE HAVE A ROLE IN DECIDING HOW THAT IS ALLOCATED IF WE GET FEDERAL GUIDANCE IN TIME.

TONY: 30 SECONDS.

REP. LUECK: ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE ON THE BEST BILL -- ON THE BUS BILL, WE PUT SPECIFIC GUIDANCE IN THEIR THAT WOULD ALLOW THE STATE TO BACKFILL WHEREVER IT IS LEGAL.

ALL OF THE ON THE BUS TELLS AGO TO HAVE A PROVISION WHERE WE CAN SPEND FEDERAL DOLLARS WEEKEND AS OPPOSED TO STATE DOLLARS.

AS REPRESENTATIVE SCHULTZ SAID, WE DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THAT GUIDANCE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE A LITTLE BIT FLYING IN THE BLIND ON THAT.

AT LEAST IT IS GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL.

TONY: ONE MONTH OF ALLEGES THAT SESSION LEFT, AND I WISH YOU BOTH LUCK.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR BEING HERE THIS WEEK.

TRENDY AGAIN NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 25 FOR ANOTHER ADDITION OF MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT WHERE WE WILL WELCOME TO MORE LEGISLATORS FROM NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.