A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

[Applause] >> THE A.L.S.

RESEARCH BILL IS SIGNED INTO LAW AS LAWMAKERS HONOR ONE OF THEIR OWN.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

"ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

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MORE ON COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT ENBRIDGE.COM/MINNESOTA.

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AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

>> MARY: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

WE'RE HERE IN THE HOUSE GALLERY FOR OUR FIRST SHOW AT THE CAPITOL SINCE MARCH 18TH, 2020.

JUST OVER TWO YEARS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE BACK.

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, LAWMAKERS STILL HAVEN'T AGREED ON SO-CALLED HERO PAY BUT THEY DID MANAGE A UNITED FRONT ON A DIFFERENT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

OUR POLITICAL ANALYST DUO WILL HELP SORT THROUGH THE WORK REMAINING THIS SESSION.

THIS WEEK'S RETIRING LAWMAKER IS A LEADER IN HER PARTY WHO IS LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE SOONER THAN SHE ONCE PLANNED.

BUT FIRST, AS THE HOUSE AND SENATE REMAIN FAR APART ON WORKER PAY, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A DIFFERENT BILL TODAY THAT HAD NEAR UNANONYMOUS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

[Applause] >> A BILL FUNDING A.L.S.

RESEARCH AUTHORED BY SENATOR DAVID TOMASSONI WHEREAS SIGNED INTO LAW AFTER UNANIMOUS SUPPORT IN THE SENATE.

>> THERE BEING 67 AYES AND NO NAYS, SENATE FILE 3372 DOES PASS.

>> IN HONOR OF THEIR COLLEAGUE.

>> >> I GOT A NOTE FROM SENATOR TOMASSONI YESTERDAY AND HE ASKED THAT I READ THIS ON HIS BEHALF ON THE FLOOR.

IT'S BEEN AN EMOTIONAL SEVERAL WEEKS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

I AM SO PROUD OF HIS LEGISLATURE FOR COMING TOGETHER IN ALMOST UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF AN ISSUE THAT'S BIGGER THAN ALL OF US.

>> Mary: THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER SAYS THE SPEEDS OF THE BIPARTISAN A.L.S.

BILL PROVED THEY AN COME TOGETHER AND MOVE QUICKLY WHICH HE WOULD LIKE TO DO ON WORKER BONUS PAY.

>> THEY'RE ABOUT OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND THEY'RE ABOUT MINNESOTANS, AND THE HUNDREDS OF MINNESOTANS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MINNESOTANS THAT ARE COVERED UNDER THIS BILL PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE.

>> THE MINNESOTA SENATE VOTED ON REFILLING THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND 45 DAYS AGO, MAYBE 50 DAYS AGO, WE HAD STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THIS CHAMBER, FOR THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THEY HAVE NOT EVEN VOTED ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BILL.

THEY HAVEN'T EVEN TAKEN A VOTE.

>> IN MANY CASES, IT WAS BECAUSE OF SHUTDOWNS BY GOVERNOR ALZ WHO SHUT DOWN BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND BUSINESSES ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S HIS FAULT.

AND WE APPRECIATE THAT HE SEES THAT AND THAT HE'S BEEN ON THE PAGE WITH US OF WANTING TO PUT $2.7 BILLION BACK INTO THAT FUNDS TO HOLD THOSE EMPLOYERS HARMLESS.

>> MEANWHILE, THE HOUSE PASSED EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME FOR EMPLOYEES.

>> >> TODAY IS A DAY WE'LL VOTE ON OLICIES TO PROTECT MINNESOTA WORKERS, THEIR HEALTH, THEIR SAFETY AND THEIR WELL-BEING.

WORK SHOULDN'T HURT.

>> I WORRY ALL HE TIME ABOUT BEING THE FIRST BACK HOME TO MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND FOUR KIDS.

>> THEY GET HURT.

I'VE KNOWN PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUNG WHO HAVE HAD HORRIBLE INJURIES AND THEY WILL CARE WITH THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

PEOPLE MY AGE IN THEIR 20s WHO HAVE HAD VERTEBRAE IN THEIR SPINE PARTIALLY FUSED TOGETHER.

>> THIS SESSION, YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY HEARD DEMOCRATS IN THE MAJORITY IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE SAY THAT WE ARE PUTTING WORKERS AND FAMILIES FIRST AND WE MEAN IT.

TODAY IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> THIS IS ALL THEATER.

THIS BILL IS GOING NOWHERE.

I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY.

WE'VE SPENT FOUR HOURS DOING NOTHING TODAY.

[MUSIC] >> MARY: JOINING ME NOW WITH MORE ON THE LEGISLATURE, THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL ANALYST DUO.

REPUBLICAN BRIAN MCDANIEL IS A LOBBYIST AND AN ATTORNEY.

DFLER JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME DFL ACTIVIST.

LET'S START WITH THE FEEL GOOD STORY OF THE DAY, BIPARTISAN OUTPOURING OF SHOWING OF AFFECTION, GOVERNOR SIGNING A.L.S.

RESEARCH BILL INTO LAW IN ONOR OF SENATOR TOMASSONI.

I CAN'T REMEMBER PEOPLE AGREEING AND COMING TOGETHER LIKE THIS, RECENTLY, AT ALL.

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

THIS IS MY 22 LGBTQ YEAR UP AT THE CAPITOL, USED TO WORK DOWN THERE, NOW I'M UP HERE WITH Y'ALL BUT THERE ISN'T ANYBODY IN THIS BUILDING WHO HASN'T HAD THEIR CAREER AFFECTED BY SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, CONNECTED TO DAVE TOMASSONI, WHETHER REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, INDEPENDENT, WE ALL OWE A LOT TO HIM AND HE TAUGHT ALL OF US A LOT ABOUT HOW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LEGISLATE.

>> YEAH, AND, YOU KNOW, T SEEMS THE PROGRESSION OF HIS DISEASE HAS BEEN SO HARD AND JUST HOW QUICKLY, BUT IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT IS INSPIRING AND WONDERFUL FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER WHEN THEY CAN FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THAT SENATOR TOMASSONI IS, YOU KNOW, A GIANT OF HE SENATE AND DESERVES ALL THE ATTENTION AND GOOD WISHES THAT HE'S GETTING.

>> Mary: AT THE BILL SIGNING TODAY, SENATOR TOM BAKK, WHO BROUGHT THE BILL THROUGH, LIST PERIOD TO THE GOVERNOR AND WE COULD HEAR IT ON MIC, MAYBE IT WASN'T SUCH A WHISPER, HE SAID, GOVERNOR, THIS IS WHAT ENDS OF SESSION IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER.

ARE WE SKEPTICAL THAT EVERYONE IS GROWING TO COME TOGETHER THIS YEAR?

>> THEY'LL CERTAINLY COME TOGETHER ON SOME THINGS, I WOULDN'T SAY WE'VE OFF TO AN OPTIMISTIC START.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF BOLD INITIATIVES THAT MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT THEY DO AGREE ON IN MOST PART.

WHETHER IT'S REPLENISHING THE U.I., THE HERO PAY, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN ASPECTS OF REINSURANCE.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET DONE, THEY JUST HAVE TO COMPROMISE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DAVID TOMASSONI KNEW HOW TO DO WAS MAKE A DEAL.

YOU GIVE UP A TO GET B, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE SEEING YET BUT I STILL HOPE THAT THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.

>> Mary: AND DIDN'T TOM BAKK KNOW HOW TO CUT THOSE DEALS, TOO?

>> SURE, HE DID, BUT, YOU KNOW, UNDER HIS -- WHEN HE WAS LEADER TO ENDS OF SESSION NEVER LOOKED LIKE A SHINY HAPPY PLACE, EITHER, RIGHT?

THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE BEAST HERE.

I THINK THAT, YES, THERE ARE A LOT OF FOR PEOPLE TO DEGREE E.AGREE ON BUT FOR WORKER PAY, THERE WAS A DEAL NEGOTIATED WITH THE FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER THAN THEN THE INCOMING ONE DOESN'T AGREE TO AND THAT'S -- HOW DO YOU GET PAST THAT?

IF YOU MAKE A DEAL WITH THE CAUCUS AND THEN -- BUT THEN NEW LEADERSHIP WON'T GO WITH IT.

>> Mary: IS IT AS SIMPLISTIC AS DEMOCRATS ARE STANDING WITH WORKERS AND REPUBLICANS ARE STANDING WITH BUSINESSES?

>> NO, I THINK IT'S SIMPLE AS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, WE HAVE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS SOMETHING AND WHAT YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE IS SOMEONE SAY, I GET MY THING BUT YOU DON'T GET OURS.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY POLITICS HAS EVER WORKED AND IF WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF HERE WITH THESE SIGNIFICANT THINGS HAPPENING, IT'S GOING TO BE ONE SIDE GIVES SOMETHING, ONE SIDE GETS SOMETHING AND THEN GIVES SOMETHING BACK.

>> THE THING IS, THOUGH, IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO NEED SOMETHING ARE NOT THE PEOPLE HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

IT'S NOT ABOUT DEMOCRATS VERSUS REPUBLICANS, YOU KNOW, LIKE THIS BILL ABOUT WORKER SAFETY, RIGHT?

WORKERS WHO WORK IN AMAZON WAREHOUSES HAVE MADE -- HAVE MADE THE PANDEMIC A LOT MORE LIVABLE FOR THE REST OF US AND HAVE WORKER INJURIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO I THINK IT'S NOT AS SIMPLISTIC AS THAT BUT THE REASON IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLISTIC IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY NEED HELP.

>> BUT LET'S ALSO REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERY BUSINESS IS TARGET, NOT EVERY BUSINESS IS RETAIL THAT WAS ALLOWED TO BE OPEN THROUGH HE PANDEMIC.

THERE WERE LOTS OF BARS, RESTAURANTS, SMALL MOM-AND-POP STORES THAT WERE FORCED TO CLOSE DOWN FOR PARTS OF TWO YEARS, AND THEY NEED HELP, THEY NEED HELP AND THAT'S WHO THE REPUBLICANS ARE FIGHTING FOR RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S -- A DEAL ON UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND THAT DEPENDING ON THE PRIOR BILL HAVING DO WITH WORKER PAY, THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WORKER PAY FOR COVID, THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHO THREW DOWN FOR THE REST OF US, LIKE WHETHER IT'S ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN RETAIL OR HEALTH CARE, WHAT HAVE YOU.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED MONEY EARLIER AND THERE IS A BOATSLOADS OF MONEY.

I WONDER IF THERE'S ALMOST TOO MUCH MONEY SO EVERYONE THINKS THEY'LL GET SOMETHING AND NEITHER OF YOU TALKED ABOUT TAX CUTS YET.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN THEORY AGREE ON REBATES, ON SHORT-TERM, ON LONG-TERM TAX CUTS.

WHERE IS THAT IN ALL THIS?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE HAS -- IF WE CAN'T GET THE SIMPLE THINGS DONE, E'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO THE HARD STUFF.

>> Mary: AND TAXES ARE HARD?

>> TAX BILL IS ALWAYS VERY HARD AND I THINK WE CAN GET THERE BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT HELP WORKERS, BUSINESSES AND EVERYBODY IN-BETWEEN BUT WE HAVE TO GET OVER A FEW OF THESE HUMPS, THE A.L.S.

BILL, THAT'S A GOOD -- I'M NOT SURE THAT'S GOING TO KICK-START A WAVE OF COMPROMISE BUT LET'S HOPE SO.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT TAX CUTS OR IT IS WALZ CHECKS, WOULD THAT BE GOOD FOR HIM IN REELECTION?

>> OR THE TIMULUS CHECKS AS KARYN MROTZ INTRODUCED HERE.

I THINK WHERE THEY GO AND WHERE IT'S TARGETED IS GOING TO BE THE QUESTION AND ALSO PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE SOLVED UNTIL THE VERY END.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT BONDING?

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN THESE EVEN YEARS WERE ABOUT BONDING?

WHY AREN'T WE TALKING ABOUT BONDING?

>> I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THAT.

I'M ALSO OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE WALZ CHECKS ARE OUR MONEY AND THEY SHOULD -- IT'S NOT THE GOVERNOR'S MONEY JUST TO -- >> Mary: THE JESSIE CHECKS WERE OUR MONEY, TOO, RIGHT?

>> WELL, THAT WAS DERESTIVE.

[Laughter] [Overlapping Conversation] >> IN ANY EVENT, IN ANY EVENT, THE BONDING BILL, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET TO AGREEMENT ON SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS, I THINK WE CAN HAVE A BIG, ROBUST BONDING BILL BUT REMEMBER, BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, THE SENATE REPUBLICANS NEED DEMOCRAT VOTES AND THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS NEED REPUBLICAN VOTES.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, AND IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, RIGHT, THAT THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A BONDING YEAR BECAUSE I THINK THOSE DISTANT THINGS HAVE GONE BY THE WAYSIDE BUT I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY WITH HAVING THE RESOURCES I THINK SHOULD MEAN, I HOPE, THAT IN A GOOD SENSE THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE CAN GET -- CAN GET TO THE PEOPLE AND GET SOMETHING ECAUSE WE'RE NOT FIGHTING OVER SCARCE RESOURCES.

>> Mary: CHANCES OF A DO-NOTHING SESSION, QUICKLY, EACH OF YOU?

>> WELL, EVERYONE WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT DEFINITION OF "DO NOTHING" BUT I WOULD SAY NOT AS MUCH IS GOING TO GET DONE AS PEOPLE THOUGHT GOING INTO SESSION.

>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPALLING SO FINISHES GEARS CROSSED ON THAT ONE.

>> Mary: THANKS, YOU TOO.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

WELCOME BACK TO THE CAPITOL.

♪♪ THEY'RE KIND OF IN THE COMMITTEE PHASE RIGHT NOW -- PARDON?

- WELL, JOINING ME NOW, LARRY JACOBS.

IT'S A MIDTERM ELECTION YEAR AND MANY OBSERVERS THINK THE OUTCOMES NEXT FALL COULD BE VERY TELLING, ESPECIALLY PRIMARY RESULTS.

LARRY JACOBS HEADS UP THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE AT THE U OF M'S HUMPHREY SCHOOL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COVER BECAUSE I WANT FOLKS TO SEE THAT.

IT'S QUITE A COVER, IT HAS THE PRESIDENT ON IT AND TALK TO US ABOUT THE TITLE AND THE COVER.

>> YEAH, THE TITLE OF THE BOOK IS "DEMOCRACY UNDER FIRE: DONALD TRUMP AND THE BREAKING OF AMERICAN HISTORY," AND THE COVER IS QUITE LIVELY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WRITE A BOOK AND I SPENT YEARS WRITING THIS, YOU FINISH IT AND THEN THE PUBLISHER DECIDES ON THE COVER.

THEY SAID, OH, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?

IT MAKES ME NERVOUS.

MY WIFE, JULIE SCHOMACKER, A NOVELIST, TOLD ME TO RELAX.

SHE SAID LET'S GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE BOOK AND AS ALWAYS, I DEFER TO JULIE.

>> AND I GUESS IT IS GAINING INTERESTS.

>> IT IS, I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF PODCASTS AND I THINK THERE'S SOME BIG ATTENTION COMING TO THE BOOK WITH SOME NATIONAL COMMENTATORS.

IT IS VERY TIMELY.

IT REALLY COMES RIGHT IN THE BIG ISSUES WE'RE FACING TODAY.

>> SPEAKING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP ON THE COVER, IS IT YOUR ASSERTION THAT HE IS A SYMPTOM OR A PROBLEM IN DEMOCRACY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK DONALD TRUMP DID SOME THINGS THAT BROKE WITH THE PAST AND THAT'S WHY I TALK ABOUT THE BREAKING OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

SINCE JOHN ADAMS LOST THE 1800 ELECTION TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, EVERY PRESIDENT HAS KIND OF BEEN SAD THEY'VE LET THEIR EMOTIONS SHOW, BUT THEN THEY'VE QUIETLY GONE OFF AND THE FIRST PRESIDENT WHO DIDN'T DO THAT WAS DONALD TRUMP.

AND I KNOW HE'S GOT A STRONG FEELING ABOUT THE ELECTION BEING STOLEN BUT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF THAT, THAT INDEPENDENT OBSERVERS TO LOOK AT AND SUPPORT.

SO THIS IS LOOKING AT HOW DID DONALD TRUMP GET NOMINATED.

BECAUSE ONCE YOU'RE IN AN ELECTION, ALL SORTS OF THINGS KICK IN.

IF YOU'RE REPUBLICAN, MORE THAN 90% CHANCE YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM UT HOW DID HE GET NOMINATED, PARTICULARLY IN 2016 WHEN HE HAD PRETTY MUCH A UNIFORM REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION TO HIM.

TIM PAWLENTY SAID HE WAS UNFIT FOR OFFICE AND LOTS OF OTHER REPUBLICANS SAID SIMILAR THINGS AND THE ANSWER IS, THAT OUR PRIMARY SYSTEM, OUR PRIMARY SYSTEM IS DOMINATED BY VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THOSE PEOPLE TEND TO BE MORE EXTREME.

REPUBLICANS MUCH MORE EXTREME THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND EVEN RANK AND FILE REPUBLICANS, AND THE DEMOCRATS MORE LIBERAL.

>> Mary: I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE BECAUSE DO DEMOCRATS SUFFER FROM THE SAME FATE THAT THE PRIMARIES ARE PULLING THEM TO AN EXTREME, AS WELL?

>> YES, THEY'RE NOT EQUIVALENT, THOUGH.

THE DEMOCRATS TEND TO BE MORE DIVIDED, YOU COULD SEE THIS WITH JOE MANCHIN, RIGHT, AND THE SPLIT THAT'S REALLY GROUND DOWN THE BIDEN AGENDA.

THAT'S NOT -- THAT'S MORE COMMON THAN THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

THE REPUBLICANS TEND TO BE MORE UNIFIED, THEY'VE CHASED OUT OR DEFEATED THE MORE MODERATE MEMBERS AND SO YOU'VE GOT TO BE PRETTY CONSERVATIVE TO BE NOMINATED AND THAT'S THE KEY THING.

PARTICULARLY NOW THAT WE HAVE REDISTRICTING, WHERE YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, ALL BUT 40 SEATS IN CONGRESS, 435 MEMBERS, THAT ARE EVEN COMPETITIVE SO THE BIG ELECTION IS WHO GETS NOMINATED AND THOSE NOMINATIONS ELECTIONS ARE BEING DRIVEN Y EXTREMISTS, AND THE REST OF US SHOW P IN NOVEMBER.

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH CHOICE.

IN MINNESOTA, FOR INSTANCE, THE 2018 ELECTION, LAST MID-TERM ELECTION, 64% OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS CAST A BALLOT.

ONLY 22% PARTICIPATED IN THE PRIMARIES.

>> Mary: SO I WAS GOING TO ASK, WE'RE IN THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL AND ASK YOU TO LOCALIZE IT BECAUSE WE DO SUFFER FROM MINNESOTA EXCEPTIONALISM HERE.

WE'LL SAY WE LEAD THE ANYTHING IN VOTER TURNOUT.

YOU JUST GAVE US SOME NUMBERS THAT DON'T SOUPED VERY GOOD.

>> IT'S EVEN WORSE FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

WE DO LEAD THE COUNTRY IN 020, 80% TURNOUT.

GREAT.

YOU LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES WE HAD TO CLOSE AMONG, ONLY ABOUT A FIFTH OF THE ELECTORATE MADE THAT CHOICE, AND THOSE CANDIDATES THAT ARE BEING NOMINATED DON'T REFLECT WHAT MOST REPUBLICANS AND MOST DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING FOR.

THEY'RE TOO EXTREME.

>> Mary: WHAT DO WE DO, LARRY, BECAUSE I KNOW THE ACK HALF OF THIS BOOK YOU TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS AND YOU EVER RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHAT ARE THEY?

>> I THINK ONE THING WE HAVE TO DO IS TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF ELECTIONS.

WE ARE JUST EXHAUSTING -- WE HAVE ABOUT HALF A MILLION MUNICIPAL, LOCAL STALE AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS EVERY FEW YEARS.

LOOK AT ALL OVER EUROPE, IN GERMANY, THEY HAVE SIX ORR EIGHT EVERY FOUR YEARS.

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A ARD LOOK, REDUCE THE NUMBER, MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF DECISIVE ELECTION SOS VOTERS CAN TURN OUT LIKE WE DO 80% IN NOVEMBER, 2020, NOT JUST THE 22% WHERE YOU'VE GOT THESE EXTREMISTS TAKING OVER.

>> Mary: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR CHANGE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR INSIGHT.

PROFESSOR LARRY JACOBS.

ALL RIGHT.

UP NEXT, THIS WEEK'S RETIRING LAWMAKER PROFILE.

DFL SENATE MINORITY LEADER MELISA LOPEZ FRANZEN WAS NOT ORIGINALLY PLANNING TO LEAVE THE LEGISLATURE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR BUT, THEN, REDISTRICTING PAIRED HER WITH ANOTHER DFL SENATOR.

SENATOR LOPEZ FRANZEN, FIRST QUESTION AND MAYBE WE KNOW THE ANSWER, I ALWAYS ASK WHY ARE YOU RETIRING?

IT IS AS SIMPLE AS REDISTRICTING?

>> OF COURSE NOT.

IT'S VERY PERSONAL AND DEEP DECISION MADE BY A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING FAMILY AND CLOSE MEMBERS OF YOUR CAMPAIGN WHO HAVE BEEN WITH YOU FOR OVER A DECADE, SO IT TOOK A LITTLE SOUL-SEARCHING TO FIGURE OUT THAT THIS WAS THE RIGHT PATH AT THIS POINT.

BUT I'VE SAID I'M NOT DONE.

>> Mary: WITHOUT REDISTRICTING, THOUGH, IN THE SAME DISTRICT, WOULD YOU FOR SURE BE RUNNING AGAIN?

>> OF COURSE.

>> Mary: YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT DONE SO WHAT POSSIBLY IS NEXT IS THIS.

>> I'M NOT SURE, MARY.

IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE, TO HAVE THE CORNER OFFICE AT THE CAPITOL, I CAN PINCH MYSELF, I GREW UP IN PUERTO RICO, NEVER KNEW I WAS GOING TO END UP HERE, AND HERE WE ARE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S NEXT AND I'M HAPPY AND EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.

I'M VERY SAD ABOUT LEAVING THIS PLACE, THE SENATE IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE AND IT WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.

>> Mary: YOU KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE UPSET THAT YOU'RE LEAVING, AND UPSET TO BE LOSING AN UP-AND-COMING WOMAN, A MEMBER OF THE POCI CAUCUS, A PERSON REALLY SEEN ON THE ASCENDANCY.

WHAT DO YOU SEE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE UPSET THAT YOU ARE NOT RUNNING AGAIN AND THAT A MAN IS RUNNING IN THE DISTRICT YOU COULD HAVE RUN IN.

>> WE ALL BELIEVE WE HAVE A PATH ONE WAY -- AND THEN LIFE HAPPENS SO IT'S A PAUSE, I WOULD SAY.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE AWAY FROM PUBLIC SERVICE BUT I WON'T BE A STRANGER TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND I SAY I'M GOING TO SUPPORT OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME, OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE LITTLE KIDS WHO WANT TO COME INTO PUBLIC OFFICE, KNOWING THAT IT'S REALLY HARD AND THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR WOMEN LIKE ME TO STAY IN POLITICS FOR THE LONG HAUL BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFICULT -- AND A BIG SACRIFICE FOR ALL INVOLVED.

>> Mary: I WAS IN AN EDINA BOOK STORE AND AN EMPLOYEE PULLED MIA SIDE AND SAID, I AM SO ANGRY THAT THE SENATOR FROM EDINA DOESN'T GET TO RUN AGAIN AND I WANT HER TO BE THERE AND I'M MAD AT THE PERSON WHO IS RUNNING.

YOU'VE SEEN, THERE HAS BEEN KIND OF A VISCERAL REACTION AND IT'S NOT STRICTLY PARTISAN.

>> LIKE I SAID TO MY CAUCUS, IT'S ABOUT A TEAM, IT'S NOT ABOUT ONE PERSON, IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD BENCH FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP GOING.

I'M ACTUALLY VERY FLATTERED OF HEARING SO MUCH OF THAT EMOTION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU THINK IT'S LONELY BUT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND THEY CARE AND THEY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, SO IT'S BEEN HEART-WARMING.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT NOT JUST WOMEN RUNNING AND WOMEN GETTING ELECTED BUT WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP?

THE SENATE HAS STILL ONLY HAD ONE FEMALE MAJORITY LEADER, WE'VE HAD TWO, I BELIEVE, TWO MINORITY LEADERS STILL, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING JUST A HANDFUL SO FAR.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I EVEN BUMPED INTO FORMER SENATOR AMY KOCH THE OTHER DAY AFTER I HAD ANNOUNCED AND WE'RE PLANNING TO MEET UP BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

IT IS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS AND IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF US IN THIS ASCENSION, IF YOU WILL, SO WE NEED OTHER WOMEN TO STEP UP AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM REGARDLESS OF PARTY LINES.

>> Mary: HAT ABOUT DIVERSITY, THE POCI CAUCUS HAS GROWN QUITE A BIT, DEFINITELY IN THE HOUSE AND KIND OF SLOWLY IN THE SENATE.

HOW ABOUT GETTING MORE DIVERSE VOICES AT THE CAPITOL, WHAT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THIS NEW REDISTRICTING A LOT OF DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FROM OTHER MEMBERS, INCLUDING LATINO MEMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM TWO TO ZERO IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

MORE RETIREMENTS, PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVE RENA MORAN, REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, I THINK WE'LL BEING BACKWARDS IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY IN THE CAPITOL SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE IT IN OUR MEMBERS THAT WE ARE CONSCIOUS ABOUT BRINGING THOSE VOICES TO THE PEOPLE AND TO OUR STAFF.

>> Mary: OF COURSE THERE ALMOST A DECADE, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

>> I AM MOST PROUD OF GETTING TO KNOW MY COLLEAGUES AND WORKING ACROSS PARTY LINES.

I HAD ONE HEARING WITH SENATOR INGEBRIGTSEN RIGHT NEXT TO ME PRESENTING THE SAME ISSUE OF YOUTH INTERVENTION AND WE PRESENTED THAT TOGETHER IN JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

I'M GOING TO MISS THAT TYPE OF WORK THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T NECESSARILY SEE DAY TO DAY.

>> Mary: EVERY RETIREE HAS REVEALED THAT THEY HAVE REALLY GOOD, SOMETIMES SECRET FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS THE AISLE.

DO YOU HAVE SOME BUDDIES THAT WE KNOW ABOUT?

>> SENATOR ABELER COMES TO MIND, HE'S ALWAYS REACHED OUT PERSONALLY WHEN THERE'S GOOD AND BAD NEWS ON MY END, HE ALWAYS EXTENDS A HAND OR A NOTE ND A TEXT AND THAT'S REALLY APPRECIATED.

NOT ALL MEMBERS DO THAT AND WHEN PEOPLE REACH OUT AND REALLY CARE FOR YOU AS A PERSON, IT REALLY IS VERY MEANINGFUL.

>> Mary: YOU'VE BEEN THOUGHT OF FOR A LOT OF OFFICES.

YOUR LEGAL BACKGROUND, TOO, IS THERE ANYTHING IN LAW, A JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT, ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT APPEALS TO OU NOW?

>> NO EYE ON ANY PARTICULAR PLACE.

I THINK POLITICS IS A LOT OF TIMING AND LUCK AND A LOT OF HARD WORK AND IF IT FALLS IN LINE FOR ME AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, I'M OPEN TO IT BUT IF I ONLY HAD TEN YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE TO BE MY ONLY PUBLIC SERVES IN ELECTED OFFICE, I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT WORK.

>> SENATOR ROSEN BECAME ONE OF THE PEOPLE YOU WANTED TO GO TO.

LET'S TAKE THE VIKINGS STADIUM, FOR INSTANCE.

>> YOU DON'T WORK ON BILL THIS HARD TO HAVE IT FAIL.

>> Mary: THAT WAS NOT ASY LIFTING.

HOW DID YOU DO IT?

>> NOBODY WANTED THAT BILL.

THE COMBINATION OF KNOWING HOW TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AROUND THE CAPITOL, HAVING A HOUSE MEMBER, REPRESENTATIVE MORE RELANNING AND GOVERNOR DAYTON COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT THE THREESOME AND NEVER IN MY 20 EARS HAVE I EVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK SUCCINCTLY WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE HOUSE AND MOVE SOMETHING FORWARD WITH DIFFERENT PARTY LINES.

IT WAS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY AND I WAS VERY BLESSED TO BE A PART OF IT AND THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE STADIUM WHEN IT WAS BEING BUILT... ♪♪ >> MARY: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK HERE IN THE GALLERY AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

IF YOU MISSED PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW OR WANT TO RE-WATCH ANY EPISODES FROM THE PAST, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

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MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY HAVE THEIR MONTHLY COVID CHECK-IN WITH MIKE OSTERHOLM, KAOMI LEE TAKES A LOOK AT EFFORTS TO PRESERVE MINNESOTA'S FARMLAND, AND I WILL DIVE IN TO PROPOSALS FOR EXPANDED PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.

AN INSIDE BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK WITH SENATOR TOMASSONI AND SENATOR BAKK AS THE A.L.S.

BILL IS SIGNED INTO LAW.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GLAD TO BE BACK AT THE CAPITOL.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS CAPTIONED BY: PARADIGM REPORTING/CAPTIONING WWW.PARADIGMREPORTING.COM ♪♪ "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

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MORE ON COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT ENBRIDGE.COM/MINNESOTA.

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IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

"ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.