HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 >>> WE WELCOME YOU TO ANOTHER SESSION OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS", A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION FEATURING STATE LAWMAKERS ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSING IMPORTANT ISSUES, AFFECTING THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE, ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.

NOW HERE IS YOUR MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, BARRY ANDERSON.

>> Barry: WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU HAVE JOINED US.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE GREAT WEATHER THIS WEEKEND AND PERHAPS ALMOST 70 DEGREES IN PARTS OF MINNESOTA AND OF COURSE THE BASEBALL SEASON OPENED UP.

UNFORTUNATELY THE LOCAL TEAM DIDN'T DO REAL WELL.

THEY HAVE LOCAL PROBLEMS THEY HAVE TO WORK ON.

THEY HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM THIS EVENING AND GOING TO BE DISCUSSING COMPLICATED AND CHALLENGING ISSUES, VIA THE LEGISLATORS, AND THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA HAVE ELECTED TO HANDLE SOME OF THOSE DIFFICULTIES.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SEND IN QUESTIONS TO THE DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS THAT WE WILL PRESENT THIS EVENING, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR TELEVISION SCREEN NOT ONLY TONIGHT BUT ALSO IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE GOES HOME.

WE WILL SEE THAT THOSE QUESTIONS GET TO OUR FUTURE PANELS.

LET'S INTRODUCE OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS THIS EVENING THAT HELP US UNRAVEL THE MYSTERIES OF ST. PAUL.

LET'S START WITH REPRESENTATIVE ALICE HAUSMAN.

REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN HAS BEEN A FREQUENT GUEST.

SHE REPRESENTS DISTRICT IN ST. PAUL.

I THINK IT'S 66A IF I RECALL CORRECTLY.

REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, BACKGROUND, COMMITTEES YOU SERVE ON.

>> MOSTLY I REPRESENT A LITTLE BIT OF ST. PAUL, AND SANDY PARK AND CARL PARK, AND LAUDERDALE AND MOST OF ROSEVILLE.

SO IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO THE STATE FAIR, YOU HAVE BEEN TO MY DISTRICT.

I CHAIR THE HOUSING FINANCE POLICY COMMITTEE, AND I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME ON HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION.

>> Barry: DO WE KNOW WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE HELD THIS YEAR?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE.

ALTHOUGH THEY ARE WORKING ON, ARE THERE WAYS THAT THEY CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONTROL THE CROWD OR PERHAPS FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE LESS?

AND THAT WILL BE THE CHALLENGE, BECAUSE EVERYONE IS ACHING TO GET BACK.

>> Barry: THERE'S A CONTINGENT IN THIS HOUSEHOLD THAT FEELS THE SAME WAY ABOUT THAT.

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT GOES.

ALSO JOINING US FROM DISTRICT 12A, REPRESENTATIVE JEFF BACKER.

REPRESENTATIVE BACKER TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, COMMITTEES YOU SERVE ON AND YOUR OTHER OCCUPATIONS AND SO FORTH.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I REPRESENT 12A, WHICH IS ON THE OPPOSITE STATE OF REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN.

MY DISTRICT IS THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT BORDERS NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTH DAKOTA, REPRESENT 7 COUNTIES, WILKIN, TRAVERS, STEVENS, GRANT, AND SOME OF DOUGLAS.

SO BASICALLY FEFN MILES WEST OF ALEXANDRIA OVER TO THE BORDER, AND VERY MUCH FOR AG THAT HELPS FEED THE WORLD, THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT HELP US AND SO FORTH.

I SERVE ON OBVIOUSLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS AND BASICALLY HHS, WHICH IS THIS YEAR'S HUMAN AND POLICY AND FINANCE WHICH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

DO VOLUNTEER AS AN EMT, BEEN DOING THAT FOR 25 YEARS, WAS A BUSINESS OWNER AND HAVE A BUSINESS WITH THE IDENTICAL TWIN.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE BACKER, I SUSPECT YOU PROBABLY HAVE THE LARGEST DISTRICT TONIGHT.

WHAT'S THE DISTANCE FROM ONE CORNER OF THE DISTRICT TO THE OTHER?

>> GEOGRAPHICALLY, YOU WERE CORRECT.

NORTH TO SOUTH THERE'S ABOUT A HUNDRED AND A FEW MILES, AND EAST AND WEST IS 67.

I'M SORRY, 120 MILES NORTH AND SOUTH, AND EAST AND WEST IS 67, AND IF YOU LOOK ON THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE, THERE'S HUMP PUMP KIT ELBOW NOSE.

>> Barry: VERY GOOD.

VERY GOOD.

FINALLY MOVING ON TO OUR SENATE GUEST THIS EVENING, LET'S START WITH SENATOR SANDY PAPPAS.

SENATOR PAPPAS HAS BEEN A FREQUENT GUEST.

WITH US THIS EVENING, DISTRICT 65, ST. PAUL.

IS THAT RIGHT, SENATOR PAPPAS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, JUSTICE ANDERSON.

NICE TO SEE YOU ALL, AND I LIVE IN DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL.

OPPOSITE OF REPRESENTATIVE BACKER, I PROBABLY HAVE ONE OF THE SMALLEST DISTRICTS GEOGRAPHICALLY BECAUSE OF THE DOWNTOWN APARTMENT BUILDINGS, AND THEN I HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE SOUTH, A LITTLE BIT TO THE NORTH AND TO THE WEST.

BUT RIGHT IN THE HEART OF ST. PAUL.

MY MAJOR WORK, SIMILAR TO REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN'S IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

I'M THE LEAD ON THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, AND I'M ALSO ON THE JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

SO ISSUES ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ARE VERY INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT, I THINK, FOR THE STATE.

THEN I'M KIND OF A LONG-TIME MEMBER OF THE PENSIONS COMMISSION, THE JOINT COMMISSION BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

I HAVE BEEN THE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, SECRETARY NOW, AND JUST A MEMBER, WORKING WITH FAY ROSEMAN.

IT HAS A DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES THE CAPITOL, KIND OF A DEVELOPMENT IN THAT DISTRICT, DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

I'M ALSO ON THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION, THE LCC, ENOUGH TO KEEP ME BUSY.

>> Barry: THERE'S A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT PERHAPS WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS EVENING, AND PROBABILITY, POSSIBILITY OF ISSUES THIS YEAR, AND MAYBE WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO COME BACK TO THAT CONVERSATION.

LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, GUEST WHO HAS BEEN WITH US, SENATOR KIFFMEYER.

TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, IN CASE THEY FORGOT, SINCE YOUR PREVIOUS APPEARANCE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BARRY, GLAD TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU TONIGHT.

MY PLEASURE TO BE ON THE SHOW.

ALWAYS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

SENATOR PAPPAS AND I SERVED TOGETHER ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, AND WE ALSO SERVED, I THINK, ON THE ETHICS COMMITTEE, BUT I CURRENTLY CHAIR FINANCE, ELECTIONS COMMITTEE AND SERVE ON JUDICIARY AS I SAID, TRANSPORTATION, LEGISLATIVE BODY COMMISSION, AND ALSO RURAL HEALTH ADVISORY APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR DAYTON ACTUALLY.

POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER TASK FORCES AND OTHER THINGS, AND YES, IT KEEPS YOU BUSY.

BUT MY DISTRICT IS DISTRICT 30, AND MOST OF YOU DRIVE THROUGH MY DISTRICT, HIGHWAY 10 FROM ANOKA TO ST.

CLOUD, AND THE CITY, 94, AND THAT'S MING DISTRICT, AND THE CONNECTING ROADS OF 101, 69, VERY, VERY DISTRICT, TRANSPORTATION IS A BIG ISSUE FOR US.

I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR ALL THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE OTHER HAND.

THE GOOD NEWS IS CONSTRUCTION, BAD NEWS IS CONSTRUCTION.

THE BEST NEWS IS WHEN IT'S DONE.

>> Barry: THIS IS TRUE.

>> SIMILAR EXPERIENCE TO THAT.

WHEN WE WERE THERE BUILDING THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY CAN DOUGH, A LOT OF NOTICES FOR SEVERAL YEARS, LOTS OF CONSTRUCTION.

>> Barry: LET'S TAKE OFF ON THE BONDING QUESTION.

SENATOR SENJEM WAS TELLING US IT WAS IN THE 300 RANGE, FOCUSING ON TRANSPORTATION, ROADS AND OTHER THINGS, BUT TELL OUR VIEWERS WHAT YOU THINK WE MIGHT SEE, AND MAYBE SAY A WORD ABOUT IT, BECAUSE OF COURSE IT HAPPENED OUTSIDE THE NORMAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SENATE AND HOUSE, AND GOVERNOR ALL GOT TOGETHER ON A VERY LARGE, VERY SUCCESSFUL BONDING BILL LAST FALL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

>> IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THAT BILL DONE, BUT WHEN WE FINALLY FINISHED IT, IT HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

IT HAD A LOT OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT, SOME TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS A LITTLE MORE CONTROVERSIAL, BUT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, AND ST. PAUL, $52 MILLION BRIDGE, AND THEN IT HAD A SIGNIFICANT EQUITY ELEMENT, THERE IS ABOUT $30 MILLION TO NONPROFITS THAT WERE RUN AND BOARD MANAGED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR, MINORITY COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE NONPROFIT AREA.

SO IT WAS A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL BILL.

BUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE DID SKIP A YEAR.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THAT 2017, REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN, SO I FEEL LIKE WE ARE STILL BEHIND IN TERMS OF WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU HAVE TO RECALL THAT SENATOR SENJEM IS NOT THE CHAIR ANYMORE.

HE'S THE VICE CHAIR.

SENATOR TOM BACH IS NOW THE CHAIR.

WHAT THE MMB PUT IN THE BUDGET IS ENOUGH OF THE BOND PAYMENT, THE BOND, THE INTEREST FOR 250 MILLION, AND WE HAVE QUITE AN EXCESS AMOUNT OF ONE-TIME MONEY IN THE BUDGET.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ON GOING FUNDS, BUT WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL ONE-TIME MONEY, AND IT MAY NOT BE OF BAD USE TO THE ONE-TIME MONEY TO PUT IT TOWARDS SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

HE'S SEEING THINGS FAR BEHIND IN TERMS OF STATE BUILDINGS THAT WE ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THOSE, NOT AS EXCITING.

REPAIRING THE BASEMENT IS NEVER AS EXCITING, BUILDING A NEW BUILDING THAT A MEMBER IS BEHIND.

BUT HE'S BEEN PRETTY STRONG ABOUT TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE OWN, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR BUILDINGS THAT WE OWN, BECAUSE THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE, AND IT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE THE MINNESOTA ZOO.

IT'S THE STATE PROJECT OR THE SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT PROGRAM OR JUST STATE BUILDINGS IN THE CAPITAL COMPLEX OR THE SECURITY NEEDS FOR THE CAPITOL.

WE HAVE PROBABLY SOME OF THE LIGHTEST SECURITY OF ANY OF THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS IN THE STATE, THE STATE CAPITOL.

SO WE WILL SEE.

IT'S HARD TO GET VOTES FOR A BILL UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PROJECT ON THE BILL.

>> HERE IS THE THING ABOUT THAT.

THEY STARTED ALREADY IN THE REGULAR SESSION.

I VOTED FOR THE BONDING BILL IN OCTOBER, BUT IT WAS A BILL UNLIKE ANY WE EVER HAD, EARMARKS COMING UNBELIEVABLE IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION AND WATER, AND WE HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.

I LEARNED FROM KEITH, BERNIE, GREATER MINNESOTA PEOPLE THAT WERE ENACTED IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND TRANSPORTATION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND TO PUT EARMARKS IN, WHAT YOU DO IS POLITICIZE THE BILL.

IF YOU HAVE GOT ENOUGH POLITICAL POWER TO GET YOUR LOCAL PROJECT IN, THEN YOU GO TO THE HEAD OF THE LINE AGAINST EVERYBODY ELSE, THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY AND MINN DOT.

WE UNDERMINE THE PROGRAMS IN MINN DOT AND PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY WHEN WE EARMARK, AND WE DID MASSIVE, MASSIVE NUMBERS.

I HOPE WE DON'T GO THERE AGAIN.

HERE IS THE THING.

NONE OF THE LOCAL PROJECTS PASS THE BILL.

THE BILL DIDN'T PASS UNTIL LEADERSHIP.

AND INTERESTINGLY, SENATORS, AS KIND OF OPPOSITE OF ONE ANOTHER AS JOHN MARTY AND TOM -- JOHN MARTY SAID IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND TOM SAID IF WE HAVE TO START PUTTING THE TAX BILL IN THE BONDING BILL TO GET IT PASSED, WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.

THE OCTOBER THING IS NOT SOMETHING WE COULD BE PROUD OF.

THAT'S MY RANT.

>> Barry: SENATOR KIFFMEYER, BONDING BILL.

>> BONDING BILL IS AN ISSUE, AND IT'S THE LAST ONE TO GET PASSED BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO DO THINGS TO GET OTHER STUFF DONE.

IT BECOMES THE BIG NEGOTIATING, AND SOME PEOPLE, THOUGH, AND I WOULD SAY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EARMARKS, LIKE IT'S A REAL NEGATIVE THING, SOMETIMES IT'S THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SAYING THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THIS IS ALL BAD.

MINN DOT -- I REMEMBER INTERSTATE 94 WAS NOT IN THE STATE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, NOT IN IT FOR 25 YEARS.

SO WHEN WE CREATED THE CORRIDORS, THE COMMERCE PROGRAM AND CREATED A PROCESS BY WHICH THEY COULD BE EVALUATED BY MINN DOT, POINTS GIVEN AND THE FUNDING WAS THERE, LO AND BEHOLD WHEN THE POINTS MEASURED BY THE CARS TRAVELED DAILY AND A VARIETY OF OTHER ACCIDENTS AND OTHER THINGS, I-95 CAME RIGHT TO THE TOP AND WAS ABLE TO GET FUNDED IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION, NOT BY CHOICE OF US IN REGARDS TO THE EARMARKS BUT BY CHOICE IN THE BASIS OF THE CRITERIA THAT THE LEGISLATURE SET ABOUT AND ENABLED THAT PROJECT AND THEN ALSO 169 TO GET DONE.

SO IT IS A NATURE OF THE BEAST.

IT'S JUST WHAT IT IS, LEGISLATIVE VOICES SPEAKING FROM THEIR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS REPRESENTING THE FOLKS IN THEIR AREA.

THAT'S A HARD THING TO SAY, WELL, I DIDN'T WANT AN EARMARK, EVEN THOUGH I LIKE IT FOR MY DISTRICT.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE BACKER, BONDING BILL.

>> I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GETS A RETURN.

I THINK EVERYBODY CAN AGREE ON THIS.

THERE ARE THINGS IN THE BONDING BILL THAT WE CHEER FOR.

THE FUNDING THE MITIGATION PROJECT, I HAVE BEEN TO A COMMUNITY THAT HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT FLOODING.

IN 2007 WHEN I WAS MAYOR, I HAVE SEEN WHAT THAT INVESTMENT HAS DONE TO SAVE THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, FUTURE DOLLARS, CONTINUING THROUGH -- NOT BAIL OUT BUT RECOVERY OF COMMUNITIES THAT CONTINUE TO FUND.

SO I'M LIKE REPRESENTATIVE MISCELLANEOUS MAN.

I DID NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF COMBINING A TAX BILL WITH -- EVEN THOUGH I SUPPORT SECTION 729, WHICH IS A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THE CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT, BUT I DID FEEL IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND I DIDN'T HAVE HOPE FOR IT.

I WAS ALWAYS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF SECTION 729, AND IT WAS REALLY AN INTERESTING THING.

IN THE LONG RUN, THOUGH, I HAVE SUPPORTED BONDING BILLS IN THE PAST, BUT WE AS A STATE HAVE A LOT OF ASSETS.

OUR CONSTITUENTS DEPEND ON IT.

THAT'S WHY SOMETIMES WE PINCH OUR NOSE, AND SOMETIMES WE JUST HIT THE GREEN BUTTON, AND THERE'S A FEW TIMES WE HIT THE RED BUTTON.

>> Barry: WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER IN THE CASS LAKE AREA, WALKER, MINNESOTA WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT DNR AND THE FISHERIES DIVISION.

THIS PARTICULAR VIEWER, HE OR SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S AN APPROPRIATE STUDY GOING ON ABOUT ELECTRICAL FISHING GILL NETTING, AND WONDER IF THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE ABILITY OF THE DNR TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES.

I THINK WE CAN EXPAND THE ISSUE A LITTLE BT HERE, TAKE DNR QUESTIONS GENERALLY.

LET'S START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE BACKER.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE DNR AREA THAT MIGHT BE CONCERNED AND A VIEWER CONCERNED ABOUT THE FISHERIES DIVISION.

HAVE AT IT.

>> THANK YOU.

IN REGARDS TO THE -- DNR IS ONE OF THOSE AGENCIES THAT WE NEED.

I KNOW WE HAVE DONE WHAT WE CAN WITH THE PANDEMIC.

I'M NOT GOING TO POKE THEM IN THE EYE IN TERMS OF THAT.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I HAVE FOR MY CONSTITUENTS IS AGAIN HUGE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, A LOT OF AG, A LOT OF COUNTY, AND JUST VERY -- AND WE HAVE HIGH WATER ISSUES WHICH SENATOR AND I ARE WORKING ON A BILL SUPPORTED BY COUNTIES THAT WOULD GIVE SOME RESOURCE FROM WHEN THE DNR MAKES A DECISION, AND I HAVE A LANDOWNER IN BIG STONE COUNTY WHO WE HAVE HISTORICAL INFORMATION SHOWING THAT HIS DITCH WAS A PRIVATE WATERWAY BUILT IN THE EARLY 1880s, AND NOW THEY CLASSIFY IT AS A PUBLIC.

THERE ARE GOOD FOLKS IN THE DNR.

I AM NOT HERE TO F POKE THE EYEF ALL THE FOLKS IN DNR.

IT DOES MAKE IT DIFFICULT IN MY DISTRICT TO WORK WITH THE DNR.

AT THE SAME TIME I HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP, COMMUNICATION WITH COMMISSIONER MEYER, AND WE TRY TO FIND WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, DNR IS REALLY A FOUR-LETTER WORD IN 12A FOR A LOT OF THE FOLKS BECAUSE A PERSON IN A BUSINESS SETTING LIKE I AM ARE SERVANT RELATIONS IN MY OPINION.

I'M GOING CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE DNR.

THEY DO A LOT OF GOOD, BUT THERE ARE HICCUPS AND CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH.

RED PATH ON SOME OF THE STUFF THEY TRIED TO HOLD MONEY FOR DOING CERTAIN PROJECTS IF YOU DON'T DO IT THEIR WAY.

THAT'S WHAT GIVES THEM A BAD NAME.

I THINK WE CAN STILL REACH THE END RESULTS BY NOT TWISTING THE LOCALS.

LOCALS UNDERSTAND THEIR AREA BETTER THAN SOMEONE FROM AN AGENCY IN ST. PAUL.

I COULD GO ANOTHER HOUR ON THIS.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.

>> Barry: WE WON'T LET YOU DO THAT.

REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN, PROBABLY A MAJOR ISSUE IN YOUR DISTRICT.

BUT TAKE A RUN AT OUR VIEWER'S QUESTION HERE ABOUT DNR FISHERIES.

>> THE DNR CERTAINLY IS A BIG ISSUE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.

THEY CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE WHOLE STATE.

I DON'T SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE.

UNTIL LATE IN THE SESSION, UNTIL IT COMES TO THE HOUSE FLOOR, THOSE OF US WHO DON'T SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE DON'T REALLY HEAR ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT A PARTICULAR ISSUE UNTIL IT GETS CLOSER TO THE END, AND THAT'S WHAT I WILL BE WAITING FOR ON THIS ISSUE.

I WILL SAY THERE IS, I THINK, A FRUSTRATION IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY.

I THINK THEY ALL WISH FOR STRONGER LEADERSHIP FROM BOTH THE DNR AND PCA ON PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT OR OF THE ENTIRE ESTATE, AND PARTICULARLY THE WATERS OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA THAT ARE STILL THREATENED AND WHICH REQUIRE ALL OF OUR ATTENTION.

SO ON THAT PARTICULAR VIEWER QUESTION, I WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT GETS TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

>> Barry: SENATOR KIFFMEYER?

>> I WOULD SAY THE DNR SITUATION, AND PARTICULARLY ON THE FISHERIES, SOME OF THE CONTROVERSY I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE DNR FISHERIES, I THINK FOLKS WANT TO HAVE MORE PRIVATE FISHERIES RATHER THAN HAVING THE DNR IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING, AND I THINK LIKE REPRESENTATIVE BACKER SAID, IT'S RUNNING ROUGHSHOT.

THOSE FARMERS CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

THEY DO.

THEY LIVE IN THOSE AREAS.

THEY DO AND MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN GRADE STEWARDS OF THEIR LIFE, BUT THEY ALSO MAKE A LIVING, AND THE BUFFER STRIPS THAT SOMETIMES TAKE PRODUCTIVE LAND AND PUT IT INTO THESE DITCHES, AND WE DID A DITCH TOUR, AND THE ISSUES THAT COME THERE, AND IT'S ABOUT PRIVATE PROPERTY, PAY TAXES FOR IT.

THE DNR DIDN'T PAY YOUR TAXES.

YOU PAID THE TACKS AND YOU BOUGHT THE LAND, YOU USED THE LAND AND YOU MAKE A LIVING OFF THE LAND.

THAT KIND OF RECOGNITION IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT SOMETIMES AFTER A WHILE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE WE ARE TOOL THEY USE IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OTHER GOAL THAT THEY HAVE.

THAT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN TAKING GOOD CARE OF THE LAND FOR MANY YEARS, AND THE OTHER THING IS SOME OF OUR CITIES, LOCALITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE DEEPER RURAL MINNESOTA WHERE SOME OF THE MPCA STANDARDS ARE SO TIGHT AND SO HIGH THAT THEIR SYSTEMS AREN'T CAPABLE OF HANDLING IT, AND THEY ARE BEING PUT INTO A HUGE PROPERTY INCREASE OR DEPENDENT ON THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY WITH THE WATER TREATMENTS AND HAVING THAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE.

EITHER WAY, THE BIG THING IS TO RECOGNIZE THEY DO CARE.

THEY ALSO MAKE A LIVING, HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING, AND LET'S RECOGNIZE THAT AND GIVE THEM THE TIME TO RESPOND TO IT AND ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED AND CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT THE DNR DIDN'T HAVE SUCH A HEAVY HAND THAT SOME OF OUR OWN FOLKS WHO DO PAY THE TAXES THERE BY SUPPORT FOR THE DNR DON'T FEEL WELL RESPECTED.

>> Barry: SENATOR PAPPAS.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH TO SAY.

OUR CONSTITUENTS CARE DEEPLY ABOUT PROTECTING THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, AND SOME OF THEM MAY COME FROM FARM COUNTRY.

I'M FROM THE IRON RANGE MYSELF AND THEY WANT TO PRESERVE THAT FOR THE FUTURE.

ALSO HAVE GREAT ANIMAL LOVERS IN MY DISTRICT.

THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT AND I THINK WE ALL CAN LOVE MINNESOTA, AND ESPECIALLY THE PARKS THAT'S DOUBLED.

WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T DO MUCH INDOORS, THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THINGS OUTDOORS.

IT REALLY BEHOOVES US TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

I'M HOPING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE READY BY THIS SUMMER WILL REALLY HELP WITH SOME OF THE COSTS THAT KIFFMEYER IS TALKING ABOUT FOR CLEAN WATER.

THE PFA ALWAYS ASKS FOR MONEY FROM US, AND THAT'S WHY REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE EARMARKS.

THE PRIORITY SYSTEM IS BECAUSE THOSE SYSTEMS ARE READY TO GO, AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A LOT THAT ARE READY TO GO.

SENATOR KIFFMEYER, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THE UPGRADES.

SO THE STATE NEEDS TO HELP, AND I'M HELPFUL THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE HELPING, TOO.

>> Barry: LET'S MOVE TO MORE GENERALLY DISCUSSION.

I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN BECAUSE THE HOUSE HAS SOME CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND GO TO REPRESENTATIVE BACKER NEXT.

WE KNOW WE ARE NOW ABOUT 6 WEEKS OUT, A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 6 WEEKS OUT OF ANOTHER SESSION.

WE HAVE BUDGET NUMBERS, FINANCIAL PROJECTION NUMBERS FROM THE AND WE ALSO HAVE AN INFLUX OF CASH COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM THE FEDERAL STIMULUS BILL.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US FROM THE BUDGET OR THE NEXT BIENNIUM.

IT'S A VERY GENERAL QUESTION, BUT THERE'S A LOT BEARING IN THAT.

LET'S START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN.

>> A FEW MONTHS AGO WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A MASSIVE DEFICIT.

ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GET THIS INCREDIBLY GOOD NEWS THAT THERE'S A FORECAST IN SURPLUS, BUT THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF THAT THAT IS WITHIN-TIME MONEY, AND THAT MEANS IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THERE NEXT YEAR, SO YOU CAN'T BUILD IT INTO THE BASE, BUT IF YOU BUILD IT INTO THE BASE BUDGET, YOU HAVE THE PITFALL NEXT YEAR.

BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW YOU LOOK FOR USE OF THAT AND HE MADE THIS SUGGESTION.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS A ONE-TIME EXPENDITURE, AND IT'S A WAY TO USE THE ONE-TIME MONEY.

YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF A PROBLEM.

>> THE HOUSE MAJORITY, EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE.

ALL THOSE ISSUES THE ONE PIECE THAT I KEEP IN MY MIND, AND ONE IN FIVE.

ONE IN FIVE, AND DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

S THOSE ARE THE FIRST TO FEEL THE DEVASTATION OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE FIRST PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR JOBS ARE WORKERS WHO WORK IN BARS AND RESTAURANTS, AND WE ALREADY KNOW THE WAGES.

THEY WERE THE FIRST ONES TO -- THEY ARE PROBABLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ONE PAYCHECK NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

THEY NEED TO BE THE FIRST PEOPLE IN OUR MINDS, HOW DO WE CONSTRUCT THIS BUDGET IN A WAY THAT WE SECURE THE LIVES OF THOSE MOST VULNERABLE.

I WORK ON THE HOUSING PIECE OF THAT, AND WE WORK ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AND THERE THE FEDERAL MONEY HAS BEEN ENORMOUSLY HELPFUL, WE TRIED TO SAY WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NOT ONLY RENTERS BUT HOMEOWNERS ARE GOING TO FEEL SOME OF THE PAIN OF THE PARTICULAR TIME.

OUR HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND WE CHANGED TERM TO HOUSING ASSISTANCE SO WE WERE DEALING WITH HOMEOWNERS TOO WHO WERE STRUGGLING.

WE GO BACK TO CORE VALUES.

AS NEVER BEFORE, WE HAVE TO CONSTRUCT THE BUDGET VERY, VERY CAREFULLY USING THE ONE-TIME MONEY IN A WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE.

I HOPE, HOPE, HOPE THAT WE CAN SIT AROUND A TABLE AND WORK IN BIPARTISAN WAY.

THE LAST YEAR HAS NOT GONE VERY WELL IN THE REGULAR SESSION AND EVERYONE OF THOSE SPECIAL SESSIONS.

WE DIDN'T SIT AROUND A TABLE AND GET OUR WORK DONE TOGETHER.

WHEN YOU DO THAT.

IT'S A BETTER PRODUCT.

IT'S BETTER FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT WHERE YOU HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT WHERE YOU ACTUALLY SIT AROUND A TABLE AND WRITE A BILL TOGETHER AND WHEN YOU ARE DONE, YOU KNOW YOU ARE ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS TAKE THAT TO THE FLOOR.

TO ACTUALLY HAVE EXPERIENCE, IT MEANS IT'S POSSIBLE, IF WE JUST SAY FOR THE GOOD OF MINNESOTA IN A YEAR LIKE THIS, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AS WE SHAPE THAT BUDGET.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE BACKER, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BUDGETS SITUATION.

>> WOULD YOU NEED THE GOVERNOR TO SAY THERE'S NO LONGER AN EMERGENCY.

WE NEED TO TRUST THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA TO STOP THE EMERGENCY POWER.

IT'S THERE TO HELP IN AN EMERGENCY.

THAT IN ITSELF HAS REALLY HURT INDIVIDUAL.

PEOPLE ARE WORKING FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND SO FORTH.

AND I MEAN THAT NICELY, I DON'T MEAN IT CYNICAL OR POLITICAL.

MINNESOTANS HAVE A GREAT TRADITION.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS IS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN.

SHE'S DONE A FIND JOB IN THE PAST.

AND GOVERNORS NEED TO DO THE SAME AND MOVING THE STATE FORWARD.

I'M INVOLVED WITH THE BUDGET GROUP ON THE HOUSE SIDE AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ONE TIME.

ACTUALLY WE HAD A ZOOM MEETING LAST NIGHT.

AND THE 2.7 BILLION AND USING IT IN TRANSPORTATION.

ALSO COUNTIES, TOWNSHIP ROADS, BRIDGES.

OF COURSE COMMUNITIES OVER 5,000.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT REVOLVING MOMENTS SIMILAR TO -- THIS CAME FROM REPRESENTATIVE ENGINEERING ENGINAND GIVINGPEOPLE THE ABLGHT RISK AND HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES AND RIGHT NOW WE GO FROM IOWA UP TO CANADA, THERE IS NO LONGER A COMMUNITY LARGER THAN ON THE MINNESOTA SIDE.

ALSO REPRESENTATIVE KERSHAW, JERRY, CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF USING THE DOLLARS TO BRING BACK A MENTAL PROGRAM.

WE KNOW MENTAL HEALTH.

I HAVE SERVED ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BEFORE.

AS AN EMT I KNOW IT'S A HUGE ISSUE.

WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO I TALKED TO THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION ABOUT USING SOME OF OUR CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS FOR THAT.

THAT ONE-TIME MONEY, THAT COULD RETURN INVESTMENTS INTO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE IDEAS, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE SENATOR.

>> Barry: SENATOR PAPPAS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE UNKNOWN ITEMS IS HOW MUCH MONEY WE ARE GOING TO GET FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I KNOW I'M ON A BRIEFING TOMORROW ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, AND MY CITY AND MY COUNTY HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE AN ESTIMATE THAT RAMSEY COUNTY IS GOING TO GET 107 MILLION AND ST. PAUL 180 MILLION FOR COVID RELATED EXPENSES, THOUGH, I BELIEVE.

I MEAN, I WILL FIND OUT TOMORROW WHAT IT CAN BE USED FOR.

SO THAT'S GOING TO REALLY PLAY INTO OUR BUDGET.

YOU KNOW, IF WE EXPECT A BIG INFLUX OF FEDERAL MONEY FOR ROADS AND HOPEFULLY FOR BUS RAPID TRANSIT, THEN MAYBE THAT'S NOT WHERE WE SHOULD PUT OUR DOLLARS.

MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT IT INTO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, KEEPING THE WATER CLEAN.

IT'S KIND OF A JUGGLING GAME.

WE WANT TO -- YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COVERING WHAT ALL OUR NEEDS ARE.

YET, WE ARE STILL -- THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INSECURITY ABOUT UNCERTAINNESS ABOUT WHAT'S COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO COMMENT ON WITH REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE BACKER TALKED ABOUT THE IDEA OF WORKING TOGETHER.

I DON'T LIKE HOW THINGS ARE LEFT THE LAST MINUTE AND ARE NEGOTIATED BY JUST A FEW PEOPLE IN A SMALL ROOM.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE PUBLIC OPEN CONFERENCES WHERE WE HAVE DEBATE BETWEEN HOUSE, SENATE IN A PUBLIC VENUE, AND MAYBE A LAST FEW ITEMS MAYBE PEOPLE HAVE TO GO IN A ROOM AND HAVE TO RESOLVE THAT.

WHEN I WAS HIGHER ED CHAIR YEARS AGO, THAT'S HOW WE DID THINGS.

WE DID THINGS OUT IN THE OPEN.

THAT WAS UNUSUAL TO DO THAT.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY THINGS HAPPEN.

I THINK THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MINORITY MEMBERS THAT ARE ALSO ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, AND THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE INPUT INTO WHAT THE FINAL BILLS WILL BE.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS.

I THINK MY GREATEST EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH IS THE PENSION COMMISSION THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.

IT'S STRONGLY BIPARTISAN WORKING COMMISSION WITH BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE MEMBERS AND PUTS A LOT OF AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT PUBLIC PENSIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY SOLVE VENT.

WE DID A MAJOR REFORM BILL A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT I THINK WE HAD UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR.

IT CAN HAPPEN.

IT'S NOT AS COMMON AS IT SHOULD BE.

BUT IT CAN HAPPEN THAT YOU HAVE THESE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENTS.

LAST FALL, FINALLY, AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF THE MINORITY LEAD BEING SHUT OUT OF THE PROCESS, WE FINALLY DID ACTUALLY SIT AROUND A TABLE, SO SOC SOCIALLY DISTANCED, WEARING MASKS, AND WE ACTUALLY DID DO THAT TO FINALIZE THAT BONDING BILL.

I AGREE WITH SENATOR HAUSMAN, IT DEFINITELY WASN'T PERFECT.

I DON'T AGREE WE SHOULD BE DOING ALL THESE EARMARKS BUT WE HAD SOMETHING DONE.

1.8 BILLION WAS NOT A SMALL AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE INVESTING IN IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Barry: BUDGET ISSUES, SENATOR KIFFMEYER?

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE HEARING ALL THESE COMMENTS.

PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT IS SOMETHING I TRY AND KEEP VERY FOCUSED IN MY MIND BECAUSE I HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL MONEY OR STATE MONEY.

WHAT IT REALLY IS IS THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO MONEY EXCEPT WHAT IT TAKES FROM THE PEOPLE TO FEES OR TAXES.

SO THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T THIS LARGE BENEVOLENT ENTITY.

IT COLLAPSED AND IT DISTRIBUTES IT BACK.

THE OTHER THING IS THE POWER OF AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

ONE OF THE REASONS RIGHT NOW WHY WE HAVE THAT EITHER ONE-TIME SURPLUS THAT ARE ON GOING RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

SO THE STIMULUS THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN REGARDS TO EVEN SOME OF THE STIMULUS CHECKS, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WENT ON WERE HUGELY POWERFUL TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA PROVIDED THAT RECOVERY AND THE WORK AND THE EFFORTS THAT THEY DID, AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WERE IN THAT SITUATION, SO THAT'S IMPORTANT.

SO WITH THE ONE-TIME MONEY, I REALLY THINK THAT IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE BARS, BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, A LOT OF THOSE HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY HARMED THE MOST IN REGARDS TO THAT BUSINESS SIDE OF IT, THEN USING THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM, PPE, AS WE KNOW IT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SET A STANDARD OF NOT TAXING THAT MONEY WHEN IT IS RECEIVED BY THOSE BUSINESSES.

MINNESOTA IS THE ONLY MIDWEST OR UPPER MIDWEST STATE THAT HAS NOT DONE THE SAME WITH THEIR STATE FUNDING DOLLARS, AND WITH OUR ONE-TIME MONEY RIGHT NOW, WE CAN DO A BIG HELP BY JUST NOT TAXING THEM ON THE MONIES THAT THEY GOT THROUGH THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.

SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD USE OF THAT MONEY AND A GREAT WAY TO ENABLE THAT.

BY THE WAY, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES, WAITRESSES, BARTENDERS, COOKS AND CHEFS AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE, GETTING THOSE JOBS BACK, WE HELP SUPPORT THOSE BUSINESSES, AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP GET THEIR JOBS BACK AS WELL.

THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

AS AS TO THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, I'M ABSOLUTELY WAS -- I THINK TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAD A VERY RARE SITUATION WHERE WE HAD THE GOVERNOR STAFF, THE HOUSE CHAIR AND THE SENATE CHAIR, THE THREE OF US IN A ROOM TOGETHER, THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE EITHER.

I'M ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED THAT WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE BODY.

IT IS SEPARATE FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, THE GOVERNMENT, AND SO IN WORKING WITH THE BUDGET CHAIR AND THE HOUSE AND MYSELF, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A TRUE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE IN THE PUBLIC IN THOSE KINDS OF STANDARDS THAT SENATOR PAPPAS, YOU TALK ABOUT, ABSOLUTELY, I THINK THAT IS FOR THE BETTER OF THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, MAJORITY, MINORITY, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING, THAT IS THE BEST USE, AND I'M ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED AS A CHAIR, STATE GOVERNMENT BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THAT OPEN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND WORK THINGS THROUGH IN THAT WAY.

>> Barry: VERY GOOD.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE BUDGET BEFORE WE MOVE ON?

LET'S MOVE ON.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER IN STERNS COUNTY WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHEN THE MASK MANDATE IS GOING TO END AND THE VIEWER GOES ON TO SAY HE OR SHE JUST HAD THEIR HAIRCUT TODAY, AND EVERYBODY IN THE PLACE HAD THE VACCINATIONS, AND MAYBE WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT AMENDING OR CHANGING THAT MASK MANDATE.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT IS EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMERGENCY ORDER BUT LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

START WITH YOU, SENATOR KIFFMEYER.

>> SURE, GLAD TO KICK OFF ON THAT PARTICULAR ONE.

I THINK IT'S GONE MORE THAN A YEAR, THE EMERGENCY CONCEPT IS BEYOND THAT EMERGENCY.

WE CURRENTLY IN THE -- IN OUR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SO ON HAVE INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND MANY THINGS WE HAD IN STATUTE IN LAW IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THESE KINDS OF NEEDS.

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE GOVERNOR TO LET GO OF THOSE AND MANY OF OUR CURRENT LEGISLATION THAT WE DID LAST YEAR GAVE THE 60 DAY OFFERING, SO THE COMMON LANGUAGE WAS THIS BILL IS IN EFFECT UNTIL THE END OF THE EMERGENCY POWERS IN 60 DAYS AFTER THAT.

SO ALMOST ALL OF THOSE THINGS CAN HAVE US HAVE A TRANSITION INTO NORMAL STATE LAW, WHICH BY THE WAY HAS A LOT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS IN IT ALREADY.

THEN THE OTHER THING IS THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF THROUGH HIS EMERGENCY POWERS CAN ALSO CREATE AN OFFERING, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THROUGH HIS EMERGENCY POWERS, AND HE CAN USE IT, BUT HE CAN SAY IN 60 DAYS, AND IN THE MEANTIME, AND THE GOLF HER HAS A GREAT DEAL OF POWER TO DO THAT.

THE GOVERNOR TOOK EMERGENCY POWERS, AND THE GOVERNOR CAN END THE EMERGENCY POWERS, AND UNDER CURRENT STATE LAW, I THINK WE HAVE A 60 DAY OFF RAMP AND I THINK WE HAVE OTHER AGENCIES, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND WE HAVE A WHOLE VARIETY ALREADY IN PLACE TO TAKE OVER AND TAKE ON THE ON GOING PROJECT THAT WE NEED TO DO.

WE HAVE GOT IT IN PLACE ALREADY.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

OVER TIME AT THE START WE STARTED LOW, AND WE RAMPED UP TO OVER 9,000 CASES PER DAY.

THEN IT MOVED UP TO 8,000 AND THEN 7,000 AND THEN 6,000, AND IN THE LAST MAYBE 10 DAYS, WE WERE SUDDENLY BELOW A THOUSAND.

WE WENT AS LOW AS 500.

IT BEGAN TO LOOK AS THOUGH THE NUMBERS WERE SAYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT IS HAPPENING, AND THEN IN THE LAST 24 HOURS ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S OVER 2,000 AGAIN.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT LEVEL OF CASES AROUND THE STATE.

I HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THOSE WHO GOT MY VACCINATION TODAY, WENT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AND GOT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON, WHICH MEANS I ONLY HAVE TO HAVE ONE.

BUT WE JUST HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO INFECTIONS AROUND THE STATE.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO.

WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND ALIVE.

>> BUT AT WHAT POINT DOES THE NUMBER CHANGE, THOUGH?

NOBODY HAS A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THAT NUMBER?

WHEN IT HITS THIS OR HITS THAT.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SO FRUSTRATED ABOUT.

VAGUE, JUST GOING ON AND ON.

>> I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH HERD IMMUNITY, THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE 80% OF THE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

I'M TIRED OF WEARING THE MASK, AND I'M FULLY VACCINATED.

I HAD THE FIRST IN PERSON DINNER, WE WERE ALL FULLY VACCINATED.

WE SAT NEXT TO EACH OTHER FOR SEVERAL HOURS, AND IT WAS AMAZING WE ARE ALL ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GOING AROUND CARRYING A SIGN THAT SAYS I'M VACCINATED SO THEREFORE I DON'T HAVE TO WEAR MASKS BECAUSE THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T VACCINATED YET, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER PEOPLE.

THE VACCINATIONS JUST OPENED UP THIS WEEK TO PEOPLE AS YOUNG AS 16.

OTHERWISE IT WAS REALLY OVER 65 UNLESS YOU HAD AN UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION, AND THEY STILL CAN BE ASYMPTOMATIC.

WE CAN'T GET IT, BUT OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T VACCINATED CAN STILL GET COVID.

THE NEW VARIANT IS ALSO MORE CONTAGIOUS, AND IT COULD BE ALSO MORE DANGEROUS FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE.

WE DON'T KNOW.

SO THERE ARE STILL SO MANY THINGS UNKNOWN WITH THIS PROCESS.

THAT'S WHY THE CDC IS SAYING WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MASK AND SOCIALLY DISTANCE UNTIL WE GET TO THAT POINT WHERE WE HAVE HERD IMMUNITY.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE BACKER, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I RESPECT EVERYBODY'S OPINION ON THE CALL.

BUT IF WE TOOK THIS AND SAID IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO GET WORSE AND ALWAYS GOING TO GET WORSE, THEN WE WOULD NEVER CROSS THE STREET OR HOP IN A CAR.

PEOPLE -- I TRUST THE PEOPLE.

I WAS AT A TRADE SHOW IN NORTH DAKOTA.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND TALKED TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO WEAR THE MASK, AND THEY DID, AND PEOPLE WHO DID NOT, AND SO FORTH.

I RESPECT EVERYBODY'S OPINION.

I'M AN EMT.

I HAVE BEEN IN THE BACK OF AN AMBULANCE WITH PEOPLE WITH COVID.

I UNDERSTAND.

I WAS LAST MARCH ONE OF THE FIRST RUNS WE HAD, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRESS UP WITH WITH A I CALL IN THE FULL BANANA SUIT, ACTUALLY A BLOCK FROM WHERE I'M SITTING RIGHT NOW IN MY HOME.

SO IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD.

THE EMERGENCY IS OVER.

HERE IS THE WHOLE THING.

I TRUST MINNESOTANS TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.

THEY HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST.

THEYWHAT -- THE GOVERNOR -- IT'S WRONG HOW THE GOLF HER HAS BEEN TREATING MINNESOTANS.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MYSELF, AND WE CO-CHAIR THE CAUCUS, AND I SAID GOVERNOR, WE NEED TO DO A REGIONAL APPROACH.

IN MY DISTRICT I HAVE ONE PERSON EVERY 11 SQUARE MILES, AND MOST DISTRICTS 64, AND IT'S 16,000.

WE SHOULD NOT BE TREATED THE SAME A AND WHEN WADENA HAD THE TORNADO, THEY TREATED IT AS AN EMERGENCY, AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

BUT THE REST OF THE STATE WASN'T TREATED.

IT NEEDS TO END.

IT'S GOOD FOR OUR KIDS: >> Barry: WONDER IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PANEL HAS HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT -- OBVIOUSLY THERE'S DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN -- PROBABLY MORE THAN TWO SIDES ON THIS QUESTION OF WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK TO END EMERGENCY POWERS.

BUT I WONDER IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT ANY KIND OF A GRADUAL PLAN OR A DEADLINE AND OBVIOUSLY SOME PEOPLE WANT TO END IT NOW AND SOME DON'T WANT TO END IT AT ALL.

IS THERE SOME PLAN, A WAY TO HAVE AN OFFERING FROM THE EMERGENCY POWERS STANDPOINT.

REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN, ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK THE DILEMMA HAS BEEN THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE IT'S BEEN SOMETHING OF A PARTISAN POSITION.

SO EVEN LAST YEAR IN THE REGULAR SESSION WHEN WE WERE STILL EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC, WHEN WE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T PAY THEIR RENT, THE SENATE MAJORITY WAS NOT ABLE -- WAS NOT WILLING TO EVEN DISCUSS THAT UNTIL THE GOVERNOR GAVE UP HIS POWERS.

THAT WAS BACK IN THE REGULAR SESSION.

THAT WAS THE DEAL.

BECAUSE HE WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO DO THAT, GIVE UP HIS POWERS LAST YEAR, IN MAY, ALMOST A YEAR AGO, WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE NEVER CAME TO A DECISION.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT HAD TO HAPPEN?

THE GOVERNOR HAD TO DECIDE HOW TO SPEND THAT 100 MILLION, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TO SOME COMPROMISE.

WE DIDN'T COME TO ANY AGREEMENT.

THEREFORE HE FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO TRY TO AVOID.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO BREAK OUT OF OUR PARTISAN VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STATE AND COUNTRY.

BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S A SELF FULFILLING PROPHESY.

>> SENATOR KIFFMEYER, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS?

>> I DO.

I THINK IT'S REALLY A SITUATION IN WHICH ONE PERSON HOLDS THE EMERGENCY POWERS, AND SO IF YOU WANT TO WORK TOGETHER, WE ARE IN SESSION RIGHT NOW, AND THE GOVERNOR HAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO WORK TOGETHER.

THIS IS NOT LAST YEAR.

THIS IS NOW.

CERTAINLY THE CASES, THE THERAPEUTICS THAT WE HAVE, THE CURES THAT WE HAVE, THE TREATMENTS THAT WE HAVE ARE SO WONDERFULLY DONE.

OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.

THIS IS THE TIME.

THE GOVERNOR LETS THAT GO AND WORKS TOGETHER WITH US WHILE WE ARE IN SESSION, LIKE I SAID, MANY OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE ADJUSTED FOR HAVE A 60 DAY OFF RAMP ALREADY.

THE GOVERNOR CAN DO IT THROUGH HE SAID MY EMERGENCY POWERS, AND IN THE MEANTIME HERE IS THE OFFERING.

THIS IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT, AND I THINK IT IS ALSO -- RIGHT NOW THE GOVERNOR HAS THE LARGEST PIECE OF ACTING AND JUST KIND OF A ROLE AND HYPERPOWERFUL SITUATION BEYOND, AND IT IS MEANT TO BE THE LEGISLATIVE, THE JUDICIAL AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, COEQUAL POWERS OF GOVERNMENT.

IT DOESN'T FEEL COEQUAL NOW.

WE ARE IN SESSION, AND WE ARE IN THE LEGISLATION AND WE CAN DO THAT.

IT'S A VERY GOOD BIPARTISAN STEP FOR THE GOVERNOR TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND REACH OVER AND LET'S DO THAT TOGETHER WHILE WE ARE STILL IN SESSION.

>> WE PROBABLY SHOULD REMIND THE VIEWERS WE ARE THE ONLY STATE THAT'S A DIVIDED LEGISLATURE, THE ONLY STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT'S A DIVIDED LEGISLATURE.

YOU ARE HEARING THAT PLAY OUT IN THE CONVERSATION.

>> Barry: LET'S MOVE TO EDUCATION.

GOT ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES LEFT.

VERY QUICKLY, LET'S TALK ABOUT K-12, PREK-12.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO HAPPEN IN THE SESSION IN THE REMAINING 6 WEEKS ON PUBLIC EDUCATION?

>> AS FAR AS I COULD TELL, THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE PRETTY FAR APART.

BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN THEIR BILLS, AND EVERYTHING GETS LAID OFF WITH A POSSIBLE SOLUTION IN THE N OMNIBUS BILL.

IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE GOING.

TYPICALLY IF THERE'S MONEY, PEOPLE WANT TO PUT MONEY IN THE FORMULA, AND THERE'S CERTAINLY MORE OF A PUSH WITH THE SENATE MAJORITY TO DO MORE PRIVATIZATION OF EDUCATION AND STRONGER SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS KIND OF CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

I THINK THERE'S A STRONG INTEREST AND IN UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE.

WE HAVE REALLY SEEN A PROBLEM IN RURAL MINNESOTA AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHERE WE ARE LOSING A LOT OF OUR CHILD CARE OPERATORS IN THE PANDEMIC WHEN WOMEN ARE LAID OFF FROM THEIR JOBS, STAYING HOME WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

WHERE THEY ARE LEARNING AT HOME.

THIS HAS REALLY AFFECTED WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE, AND OUR HOTEL INDUSTRY IS IN DISTRESS.

HAVING A UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE SYSTEM THAT IS STATE SUPPORTED REALLY NEEDS TO BE THE BACKBONE OF THAT, AND STILL WITH PROVIDERS, AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING IT ALL BE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT STATE SUPPORTED SYSTEM SO THAT WOMEN THEN CAN FEEL FREE TO JOIN BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

>> BECAUSE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE COST OF CHILD CARE IS -- IT MATCHES OR EXCEEDS, THE COST OF THE MORTGAGE, FAMILIES CAN'T BEAR THAT.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE BACKER, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I AGREE, CHILD CARE IS TOO HIGH, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS INTO IT WAY TOO MUCH.

I HAVE SERVED ON COMMITTEES THAT TALKS ABOUT THAT.

NO.

2, LET'S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION.

ON THE HOUSE SIDE THE GOP HAD A WONDERFUL BILL THAT THE MAJORITY DID NOT TAKE THAT WOULD PUT MORE MONEY INTO SUMMER READING, OR LEARNING FOR THE STUDENTS.

THE MONEY WENT TO THE STUDENTS AND NOT TO THE BUREAUCRACY.

UNFORTUNATELY THE MAJORITY DID NOT TAKE THAT UP.

THE SENATE WOULD HAVE PASSED IT.

I HAVE SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND 85% OF THE TIME OUR HANDS ARE TIED BY STATE OR FEDERAL STUFF, AND THAT'S WRONG.

WE AT THE LOCAL KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR KIDS.

WHAT WORKS FOR ONE DISTRICT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE RIGHT FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THERE NEEDS TO BE FLEXIBILITY, BUT A STUDENT IN BROWNS ALLEY MINNESOTA IS THE SAME IN ST.

CLOUD OR ST. PAUL.

THE BOARD DIDN'T DEVIATE IT IN MY OPINION.

>> Barry: SENATOR KIFFMEYER, ONLY GOT ABOUT 45 SECONDS LEFT.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> I COCHAIRED THE FAMILY CHILD CARE TASK FORCE.

I WORKED ON THOSE ISSUES FOR FOUR YEARS NOW.

GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIENCE, AND I HAVE GOT A BILL THAT I'M HEARING THIS YEAR AFTER THE TASK FORCE TO DO SOME THINGS, MODERNIZATION OF THE REGULATIONS.

IN-HOME FAMILY CHILD CARE IS 85% IN RURAL MINNESOTA, AND IT'S THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE AND IT HAS SIBLINGS TOGETHER IN A HOME ATMOSPHERE, AND THESE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES LARGELY RUN BY WOMEN.

THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

THESE KIDS BECOME LIKE GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS AND UNCLES AND AUNTS TO THEM SO THEY CAN BE PART OF THE FAMILY.

THEY CAN BE SUPPORTIVE BUT THEY SAY QUIT REGULATING US AND SCARING US HALF TO DEATH BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT HEAVY WEIGHT OF THE REGULATORY.

WE ARE DOING SOME OF THE MODERNIZATION THAT WILL HELP.

EDUCATION WILL BE ANOTHER TOPIC FOR NEXT TIME, BARRY.

>> Barry: BIG AND COMPLICATED TOPIC AND WE PROBABLY DIDN'T GIVE IT ENOUGH TIME AT THE END OF THE PROGRAMMENT I WANT TO THANK OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS PROVIDING A TREASURE TROPTROVE.

I WANT TO INVITE OUR VIEWERS FOR MORE DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC ISSUES THAT FACE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THANK YOU TO THE PANEL, THANK YOU TO THE VIEWERS.

ENJOY THE GORGEOUS WEEKEND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AND WE WILL SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK.

>> THANK YOU.

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