HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 >>> STATEWIDE BROADCASTS OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS" ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MINNESOTA CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION FROM DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES THAT HELP FARMERS BETTER PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES TO THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN CORN BASED PLASTICS, MINNESOTA CORN FARMERS ARE PROUD TO INVEST IN THIRD PARTY RESEARCH LEADING TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION, STANDING FOR AGRICULTURE, WORKING FOR FARMERS ON THE WEB AT MFU.ORG.

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: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS".

WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU HAVE JOINED US ON THIS SPRING EVENING FOR AN HOUR OF DISCUSSION WITH LEADERS OF OUR MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE OF CONCERN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU ARE WITH US.

THIS IS YOUR PROGRAM, AND WE INVITE YOU TO CALL IN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS, AND THERE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS, TWITTER, FAX, PHONE, ALL OF THAT WILL BE DISPLAYED ON YOUR TELEVISION SCREEN.

I REMIND YOU THAT YOU CAN CALL IN AND SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS TO US EVEN WHEN WE ARE NOT ON THE AIR.

WE WILL USE THEM FOR NEXT WEEK'S PANEL.

I WILL ALSO REMIND YOU THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT THIS PANEL IS WELL POSITIONED TO ANSWER ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

THEY ARE NOT WELL POSITIONED TO FIX THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM, ADDRESS THE FEDERAL BUDGET OR DISCUSS WHAT THE BUDGET FOR NASA SHOULD BE.

WE WILL LEAVE THAT TO OTHER LEGISLATORS.

WE WILL BEGIN THIS EVENING BY INTRODUCING OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS THAT WILL UNRAVEL THE MYSTERY OF ST. PAUL AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DESCRIBE THEIR BACKGROUND, COMMITTEES THEY SERVE ON, THEIR TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE, WHAT THEIR DAY JOB MIGHT BE AND WHATEVER ELSE MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, AND LET'S BEGIN WITH OUR SENIOR LEGISLATOR ON THE PANEL.

I THINK SENATOR ANDERSON FROM DISTRICT 29, BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE LONGER THAN ANYBODY ELSE, SO THE FLOOR IS YOURS, TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> MY NAME IS SENATOR BRUCE ANDERSON.

I LIVE IN BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, RURAL BUFFALO, JUST OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO CITY, AND I HAVE LIVED HERE SINCE 1976 WHEN I MOVED WITH MY WIFE AND AT THAT TIME ONE ADOPTED KOREAN DAUGHTER AND WE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 19 -- MAY, COMING UP, 47 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE.

I HAVE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE SINCE 1995, AND I HAVE BEEN ON MANY COMMITTEES.

THIS YEAR I SERVE ON THE VETERANS MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

I ALSO SIT ON THE JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

I ALSO SIT ON CIVIL LAW COMMITTEE.

I'M CO-CHAIR ON THE CLAIMS COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH MANY OMNIBUS BILLS, TAKING UP SIFTER LEGISLATION TO TAKE TO THE FLOOR.

IT'S BEEN ALWAYS A CHALLENGE AND ALWAYS A JOY, AND JUST LIKE ANY JOB, EVERYBODY SAYS I WOULDN'T WANT YOUR JOB FOR ALL THE TEA IN úCHINA.

I SAID I HAVE BEEN WITH SITUATIONS WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TEA TO GIVE YOU TO BE IN THIS JOB.

BUT I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I HAVE GONE OUT AND SPOKE WITH MY CONSTITUENTS AND TALKED WITH THEM EACH YEAR WHEN ELECTION YEAR COMES AROUND.

I GET OUT AND DOOR KNOCK AND TALK WITH THEM, AND I AM HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO BE IN THE POSITION HERE AS THEIR STATE SENATOR AND REPRESENTING BUFFALO.

I REPRESENT MOST OF WRIGHT COUNTY, BASICALLY THE SOUTHERN PART AND WESTERN PART.

SENATOR KIFFMEYER HAS THE EASTERN PART AND I HAVE A LITTLE SLIVER OF HENNEPIN COUNTY AND ROCKFORD WHICH GOES UP TO GREENFIELD.

THAT'S MY NEW AREA.

WITH THE CENSUS BEING TAKEN, WE WILL FIND OUT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS WHERE THE NEW LINES ARE GOING TO BE DRAWN IF I HAVE A DIFFERENT SENATE DISTRICT.

IT CHANGES EVERY 10 YEARS IN THAT MANNER.

>> Barry: THANK YOU, SENATOR ANDERSON.

WE WILL GO TO SENATOR CWODZINSKI WITH EDEN PRAIRIE.

I THINK YOU WERE WITH US EARLIER THIS YEAR.

NONETHELESS, LET'S GO THROUGH THE DRILL.

TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> THANKS, BARRY.

I GREW UP IN SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN, AND DON'T ASK ME MY AFFILIATION WITH THE SPORTS TEAMS BETWEEN THESE TWO WONDERFUL STATES.

I TAUGHT AMERICAN GOVERNMENT FOR 33 YEARS AT EDEN PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT, CAME TO RETIRE, SIX, FIVE YEARS AGO, AND WAS ONLY -- I WASN'T READY TO FULL ON RETIRE, SO I RAN FOR STATE SENATE.

KIND OF SHOW ALL THOSE 12,000 STUDENTS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO TEACH THEM AND FOUND OUT THAT EVERYTHING I TAUGHT THEM WASN'T NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT BECAME HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW, 101.

I HAVE BEEN SERVING IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

I WAS ON THE VETERANS COMMITTEE FOR FOUR YEARS, AND I GOT TO SERVE ALONGSIDE SENATOR ANDERSON WHO WAS -- I TOLD HIM THIS OVER THE YEARS, ONE OF THE BEST CHAIRS I HAVE EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ALONGSIDE OF.

THAT WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL COMMITTEE, AND IT LEFT A HUGE IMPACT ON ME.

BUT THIS LAST -- AFTER THIS ELECTION, I JUST PUT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND VETERANS, AND I HAVE BEEN ON ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATION FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK MY TWO COLLEAGUES TODAY WILL CONCUR ON THIS.

IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO WORK, AND I NEVER THOUGHT IN A MILLION YEARS I WOULD FIND SOMETHING I LOVE MORE THAN TEACHING.

I DID.

IT'S LIKE BEING BACK IN COLLEGE BUT NOW I WANT TO ALERT WHAT EVERYBODY HAS TO OFFER TO TRY TO TEACH ME.

THANK YOU.

>> Barry: SENATOR CWODZINSKI, I BELIEVE YOU WERE THERE.

I BELIEVE YOU WERE THERE THE DAY THE SUPREME COURT CAME TO EDEN PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE HAD AN ORAL ARGUMENT, AND MY COLLEAGUE PAUL ANDERSON WAS GETTING READY TO RETIRE FROM THE COURT, AND HE GREW UP IN EDEN PRAIRIE AND PULLED THE SECURITY CARDS AND SAID WE ARE GOING TO EDEN PRAIRIE.

WE HAD A GREAT VISIT.

>> I REMEMBER IT WELL.

THE WHOLE SENIOR CLASS, AS I RECALL, ATTENDED AND I HOPE THEY CONTINUE DOING THAT, AND IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOLS TO FIND OUT WHAT ONE OF THE THREE BRANCHES ARE UP TO IN ST. PAUL.

>> Barry: WE WILL MOVE ON HERE.

BUT AS AN ASIDE WE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

JUDICIAL BRANCH HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

THE PLAN IS BY NEXT FALL, WE WILL BE BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN GOING SOMEWHERE, AND WE WILL SEE WHERE IT IS.

IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK TEACHING CIVICS.

I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF MINI CIVICS AND GOVERNMENT TEACHERS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW CARLSON FROM BLOOMINGTON WHO IS JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME.

REPRESENT STIFF CARLTON, WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU GAVE UP AN HOUR OF YOUR EVENING.

TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, DAY JOB, WHAT COMMITTEES YOU SERVE ON, AND ISSUES OF CONCERN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> THANKS, BARRY, AND THANKS FOR THE INVITE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW CARLSON.

MY DISTRICT IS 50B, ALL WITHIN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON.

LET'S SEE.

AS FAR AS COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, I'M VICE CHAIR OF STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE.

I SERVE ON THE COMMERCE POLICY COMMITTEE, HEALTH, WHICH IS TIMELY IN TERMS OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AT THIS TIME.

OF COURSE TAXES.

ALWAYS SCARED TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE THAT BRINGS THE MONEY INTO GOVERNMENT AND ALL THE OTHER COMMITTEES GET TO SPEND.

SO LET'S SEE.

MARRIED, HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AT BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL.

WE ARE VERY BUSY.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST WINTER OUR WI-FI GOT A REAL WORK OUT.

GLAD THAT KIDS ARE FINALLY BACK IN SCHOOL, AND IT'S STILL A STRUGGLE, BUT PROGRESS, I THINK, IS BEING MADE ON THAT.

SO JUST A SHOUT-OUT TO ALL THE TEACHERS AND FACULTY THAT MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

CAN'T THINK OF ENOUGH FOR MAKING IN CLASSROOM EDUCATION POSSIBLE.

WITH THAT, THAT'S KIND OF THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS.

OBVIOUSLY WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR OMNIBUS BILLS.

I'M SURE THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS AROUND THAT IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE SESSION.

KICK THINGS OFF AND GET TO SOME QUESTIONS.

>> Barry: LET'S DO THAT.

LET'S GO RIGHT AWAY TO A VIEWER FROM GRAND FALLS WHO WANTS TO VISIT ABOUT -- WANTS THE PANEL TO DISCUSS NOT SO MUCH THE SPECIFICS OF THE TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN CENTER RECENTLY BUT WHETHER THAT WILL SPAWN ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION IN THIS SESSION.

BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, MY RECOLLECTION IS DURING ONE OF THE SPECIAL SESSIONS LAST YEAR, THERE WAS LEGISLATION DEALING WITH POLICE TRAINING RELATED TOPICS THAT DID IN FACT PASS, BUT I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE OTHER DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE GOING ON NOW.

LET'S START WITH SENATOR CWODZINSKI.

MAYBE YOU CAN LEAD OFF HERE, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IN THE SENATE AND WE WILL GO TO REPRESENTATIVE AND ARE SON AND FINISH UP WITH REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON.

>> THANKS.

IT'S A QUESTION, I THINK, ABOUT 6 MILLION MINNESOTANS HAVE ON THEIR MIND RIGHT NOW NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE.

WHAT HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN CENTER, IT'S A TRAGEDY FOR BOTH FAMILIES, THE POLICE OFFICER, I BELIEVE, CLEARLY, THOUGHT SHE HAD HER TASER IN HER HAND, AND SO -- AND BECAUSE OF HER ERROR OF JUDGMENT, THERE'S BEEN A LOSS OF LIFE.

NOW WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES WHAT GOOD CAN COME OUT OF THIS TRAGEDY, IF ANY GOOD.

BOY, I TELL YOU, FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF IS IS THERE A WAY WE CAN HAVE TASERS SO NO ONE WILL EVER -- EVIDENTLY IT HAPPENS.

IT HAS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ON A FEW OCCASIONS.

IF THERE'S A WAY THAT THERE'S NO MISTAKING BETWEEN A TASER AND A HANDGUN, AND SO WITH RESPECT TO THE SENATE AND MR. ANDERSON OR SENATOR ANDERSON, EXCUSE ME, WILL PROBABLY HAVE IMPACT IN SOME INSIGHTS INTO THIS, TOO, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A HEARING ON SOME INFORMATION.

I BELIEVE IT'S IN JUDICIARY WITH SENTHE CHAIR.

BECAUSE IT IS A BUDGET YEAR, THE LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN SUGGESTING IN ORDER TO MAKE SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE TO MAKE MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT WINTER WHEN WE ARE NOT IN A BUDGET YEAR.

THE SOCIAL UPHEAVAL AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY AND COVID ON TOP OF IT AND TO HAVE THE TWO TRAGIC MURDERS OF OUR TWO RESIDENTS ON TOP OF IT, IT'S BEEN A REALLY TRYING YEAR TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AT ANY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.

BUT I HOPE BETWEEN THE 201 OF US WE TRY TO SOMEHOW MAKE THE STATE A BETTER PLACE.

>> Barry: SENATOR ANDERSON, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I KNOW FROM JUST HAVING TALKED WITH THE CHAIR HE WAS ASKED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER IF THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY WE CAN HAVE AN INFORMATIONAL HEARING ON THE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE.

THEY ARE WORKING ON THE DETAILS.

SENATOR LEMMER THOUGHT MAYBE AS WE GET INTO MAY THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

BECAUSE BILLS ENDED, BOTH IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, THE LIKELIHOOD OF GOING FORWARD WITH ANY TYPE OF A BILL OR INFORMATION THAT WOULD PASS BY BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WOULD PROBABLY NOT HAPPEN, MAINLY INFORMATIONAL, GUIDELINES GIVING SOME PURPOSE AND REASON TO LAY A FOUNDATION TO GO FORWARD WITH A FOUNDATION FOR A BILL COMING UP IN THE COMING MONTHS AFTER LEGISLATION OR AFTER WE ARE OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND THAT COULD HAPPEN ON A SPECIAL SESSION AS WE GO INTO JUNE AND JULY.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE EMERGENCY IS GOING TO CONTINUE, AND HOW LONG WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THIS SHUTDOWN FROM THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION.

SO WE ARE KIND OF WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT WE KNOW THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF INFORMATION COMING FORWARD.

TRULY I BELIEVE THAT AS SUGGESTED BY SENATOR CWODZINSKI IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP OFFICERS IN DEALING WITH THIS.

HERE IS A 20 YEARS IN THE SERVICE OFFICER PULLS OUT THE WRONG WEAPON THINKING SHE HAD A TASER AND THINKING IT WAS A TASER BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY IN THE SAME FORM AS A PISTOL, AND UNFORTUNATELY MISUSED IT IN A WAY THAT WAS NOT HER INTENT.

WE ARE HOPING TO MAYBE COME YOU GO WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM EITHER THE PUBLIC OR LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM THE BUREAUCRACY AS TO HOW TO DEAL WITH CERTAIN FUTURE SITUATIONS.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT'S TRANSPIRING IN THE HOUSE.

>> THANK YOU, BARRY.

THIS HAS BEEN ON THE HOUSE DFL'S MIND FOR QUITE A WHILE.

WITH THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD OVER THE SUMMER AND THE KILLING OF DAUNTE WRIGHT JUST THIS PAST WEEK AT THE HANDS OF POLICE HAS BEEN A REAL TOUGH WEEK.

THERE ARE MANY, MYSELF INCLUDED, AS WELL AS MY CONSTITUENTS ARE ANGERED AND SADDENED BY THESE TRAGIC EVENTS.

WE ABSOLUTELY MUST DO MORE IN TERMS OF POLICE REFORM.

I WILL BE PERFECTLY BLUNT IN SAYING SENATE REPUBLICANS NEED TO GET ON BOARD WITH THAT MORE.

WE HAVE PASSED NUMEROUS BILLS ON THE COMMITTEE IN THE DFL CONTROLLED HOUSE DEALING WITH POLICE REFORMS.

I THINK 11 PLUS MORE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

WE NEED TO SEE THAT WORK PROCEED TOWARD THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I WILL SAY IN THE SPIRIT OF BIPARTISAN SHIP AND COMING TOGETHER, WE DID DO THAT THIS SUMMER.

REAL QUICK WITH THE VERY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION WE DID PASS OVER THE SUMMER WITH THE -- AS AN OUTCOME OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, SOME OF THE THINGS WE DID ACCOMPLISH, THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO START.

WE TOOK CARE OF REFORMING THE USE OF FORCE, INVESTIGATION REFORM, BANNING CHOKEHOLDS, BANNING A DUTY TO INTERCEDE, POLICE RESIDENCY REFORM, DATA COLLECTION REFORM.

MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND AUTISM TRAINING.

WE CAN GET THIS DONE.

AS HOUSE DFLERS SAID AT THE ONSET OF THIS, THAT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING.

WE HAVE MORE REASONS THAN BEFORE TO CONTINUE WITH THAT.

YES, THIS IS A BUDGET YEAR.

YES, WE DO HAVE OTHER IMPORTANT WORK BEFORE US, BUT THIS ABSOLUTELY HAS TO BE A PART OF THE OUTCOME AS PART OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> Barry: WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THAT IN THE REMAINING WEEKS OF THE SESSION, I'M SURE.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER WHO NOTES THAT THERE WAS A VOTE ON THE -- IF I'M GETTING THIS CORRECT HERE, MINNESOTA SENATE DEBATED LIFTING A MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.

THE VIEWER IS WONDERING WHETHER THERE IS GOING TO BE ANYTHING HAPPENING ON THAT.

LET'S START WITH ONE OF OUR SENATORS, SENATOR ANDERSON.

ANYTHING HAPPENING WITH NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN THE SENATE?

>> IT'S BEEN A TOUCHY SUBJECT EVER SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS REPRESENT TESTIFY KAHN, BACK IN THE '90s WHEN I CAME IN, HE WAS DEAD SET AGAINST THIS, AND SHE WAS THE ONE THAT PUT THE MORATORIUM ON DUE TO SITUATIONS THAT HAPPENED AT NUCLEAR PLANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS, THE ASKING OF THE NUCLEAR POWER MORATORIUM TO BE LIFTED IS CRITICAL TO LOOKING AT HOW WE LOOK AT THE BASE LOAD OF PROVIDING ELECTRICITY POWER ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

RIGHT NOW ALMOST 16% OF THE BASE LOAD IS MADE UP OF NUCLEAR POWER.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT SOLAR POWER AND WIND POWER, WE ARE LOOKING AT POINT 5/10, OR ONE% OF WIND AND SOLAR.

I KNOW EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO WITH CARBON FREE, AND THE CARBON FREE MONSTER IN THE ROOM IS NUCLEAR POWER.

AS MUCH AS THEY DON'T LIKE IT, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REAMISTIC AND NOT WORRY ABOUT BLACK-OUTS OR BROWN-OUTS AND NOT DEAL WITH THE SITUATION THEY HAD DOWN IN TEXAS.

I THINK WE NEED TO GET THAT DISCUSSION CONTINUING AND CAN YOU GET THAT DISCUSSION BEFORE US?

BECAUSE BOTH THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AND THE ONE IN RED WING IS UP FOR RENEWAL IN 2030 AND 2033.

>> Barry: YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NUCLEAR POWER MORATORIUM AND NUCLEAR POWER.

>> THE FUTURE IS IN WIND IS SOLAR.

NUCLEAR POWER IS, IN MY OPINION, NEEDS TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM OUR POWER SYSTEM, AND WE NEED TO INCREASE IN INVESTMENTS IN WIND AND SOLAR.

SPEAKING WITH THE FOLKS AT THE PRAIRIE ISLAND COMMUNITY, THEY HAVE DEALT WITH THIS THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.

IT IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THIS IS JUST NOT THE TYPE OF DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO.

THE INVESTMENT NEEDS TO BE FULL SPEED AHEAD ON WIND AND SOLAR.

>> Barry: SENATOR CWODZINSKI.

>> THANKS.

MY FIRST FORERAY INTO POLITICS WAS DEMONSTRATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA IN 1978 AND ANTINUCLEAR RALLY.

IN TERMS OF REPRESENTATIVE OTHEF ORESTEIN MAY HAVE BEEN WITH EACH OTHER.

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER THEN.

I DID TOUR THE NUCLEAR FACILITY IN PRAIRIE ISLAND.

THAT PLACE WAS SPOTLESS.

YOU COULD HAVE EATEN YOUR LUNCH OFF THE FLOOR.

I VOTED AGAINST LIFTING THE MORATORIUM BECAUSE THE SPENT FIELD RODS, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM, AND WE ARE THROWING UP OUR ARMS, SO TO SPEAK, AND YES, IT'S CLEAN, AND IT'S RENEWABLE, BUT NONETHELESS STORING THEM, YOU KNOW, IN RED WING, JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN THERE, AND WE THOUGHT WE HAD A PLACE TO STORE THEM IN NEVADA AND THAT FELL THROUGH AND YUCCA.

>> Barry: IN THE MOUNTAINS, IN NEVADA.

>> ANYWAY, WE WILL SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

RIGHT NOW, UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE SPENT FUEL RODS, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE NUCLEAR ENERGY HAS A FUTURE.

>> MR. ANDERSON, THE FACT THAT WE DO LIKE FRANCE DOES AND RECYCLE, AND IF WE WERE TO ALLOW TO DO THAT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET RID OF A LOT OF OUR NUCLEAR ENERGY, BUT EVERYBODY IS AFRAID OF IT BECOMING MILITARY GRADE AND THEN AVAILABLE FOR USE AS FAR AS WAR.

WE NEED TO GET OVER THAT ISSUE BECAUSE FRANCE HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS, DECADES.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, BECAUSE THERE IS NO MEANS BY WHICH TO GET RID OF THE NUCLEAR RODS.

WE HAVE TO BE BRAVE AND TAKE THAT STEP AND MOVE INTO THAT ISSUE.

>> Barry: LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EDUCATION.

WE HAVE VIEWERS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BOTH THE K-12, WHAT I WOULD SAY K-12.

WE WOULD SAY PREK TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION BUDGETS AND ALSO THE HIGHER EDUCATION.

LET'S START WITH ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

LET'S START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF OUR EDUCATION BUDGET PROCESS IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT GO?

>> THANK YOU.

OBVIOUSLY EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AS WELL AS MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS.

UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T SERVE ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

SO I AM GOING TO DEFER TO SOME NOTES HERE.

WHERE THAT STANDS -- LET'S SEE.

OBVIOUSLY IN LIGHT OF THE LAST YEAR'S PANDEMIC AND STUDYING AT HOME AND EVERYTHING THAT SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN THROUGH, WE NEED TO MAKE A SOLID INVESTMENT IN SUMMER LEARNING, NOT SUMMER SCHOOL BUT SUMMER LEARNING.

KIDS THAT HAVE FALLEN BEHIND NEED TO BE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH UP OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS.

THAT COMES WITH A PRICE TAG.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE CHEAP.

BUT OUR BUDGET SHOULD BE A REFLEXION OF OUR VALUE AS THE STATES.

I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN INVESTING IN OUR NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.

>> Barry: SENATOR CWODZINSKI, EDUCATION K-12.

>> I AM ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE PROUDLY.

YOU KNOW, 44% OF THE STATE BUDGET GOES TO E12, BARRY.

IT HAS REPLACED PRE-12.

>> Barry: HARD TO TEACH THE OLD DOG NEW TRICKS.

E12.

>> IF I WASN'T ON THE COMMITTEE, I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT.

44% OF THE BUDGET GOES FOR EDUCATION, AND WE CAN DO BETTER.

ARTICLE 13 OF THE MINNESOTA STATE CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT DEPENDENT UPON INTELLIGENCE OF THE PEOPLE AND IT IS THE DUTY OF THE LEGISLATURE TO CREATE A GENERAL UNIFORMED SYSTEM OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, REMEMBER BAIT VERBATIM, RIGHTOUT OF THE CONST.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE DONE THAT.

I'M NOT POINTING FINGERS.

BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE BEEN IN POWER DURING TIMES WHEN IT HASN'T BEEN FUNDED PROPERLY, BUT WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT INFLATION, I THINK THE YEAR WAS 20 # 3 WH2003 IN FUNDING.

I KNOW YOU DIDN'T ASK ABOUT THE PAGE AMENDMENT.

I AM OPPOSED TO THE PAGE AMENDMENT, BUT WHAT IS THE GUY'S NAME?

>> Barry: NEIL KASHKARI.

>> I HAVE TO GIVE THEM A COMPLIMENT.

THEY ARE GETTING PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION.

I THINK COVID, IF THERE'S A SILVER LINING, FOR LACK OF BETTER PHRASE TO COVID, IT'S WOKE US UP.

THE EDUCATION, THE GAP, THE OPPORTUNITY GAP, ACHIEVEMENT GAP, WHATEVER YOU REFER TO THE GAP IS IS GLARING IN OUR FACE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND I'M SURPRISED NO ONE HAS BROUGHT IT UP YET.

WE ARE THE ONLY DIVIDED LEGISLATURE IN ALL 50 STATES.

IF YOU GET FRUSTRATED WITH US AT THE LEGISLATURE, PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND.

WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

ANYWAY.

>> Barry: WELL, AS AN OLD -- I SHOULDN'T SAY OLD.

BUT AS A VETERAN CIVICS TEACHER YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THE SAND IN THE GEARS AND THE FOUNDERS DIDN'T HAVE IN MIND FISH IN GOVERNMENT, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Barry: SENATOR ANDERSON, WE WON'T LET THE CIVICS TEACHERS GO ON WITH THE PROGRAM.

TALK ABOUT E12 EDUCATION.

>> THANK YOU, BARRY, THE E12 CHAIRMAN IS SENATOR CHAMBERLAIN, AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.

HE'S SAYING THAT OUR CONCERN, AS REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON MENTIONED, THE NEED FOR SUMMER LEARNING, HE SAID THEY ARE GOING TO BE FULLY FUNDING SUMMER LEARNING IN HIS BILL, AND HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THE BIG CONCERN IS CONCERN NOT ONLY IN EDUCATION BUT CONCERN IN ALL THE COMMITTEES AND ALL THIS FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING IN, AND IN FACT I HAVE HEARD THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY COMING IN, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO SPEND IT OR HOW THEY ARE GOING TO SPEND IT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I THINK IT'S BYPASSING SOME OF US AS FAR AS THE LEADERSHIP OR THE COMMITTEES OR EVEN THE GOVERNOR.

I'M NOT SURE IF -- I REALLY HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT HOW THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE COMING IN.

BUT I HEARD IT'S BEING TARGETED AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

I SIT ON THE AG COMMITTEE AND THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT BROADBAND, AND TALKING ABOUT A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY COMING IN FOR BROADBAND.

SENATOR CHAMBERLAIN IS TALKING ABOUT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR EDUCATION.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

LIKE SENATOR CWODZINSKI, HOW FAR WE ARE BEHIND, I'M NOT SURE.

BUT MY BIG CONCERN IS THAT WE ARE LOSING KIDS OUT OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE PARENTS ARE FED UP WITH THE COVID SITUATION AND BEING LOCKED DOWN AND HAVING THEIR KIDS NOT BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THEY HAVE HAD THAT THEY PULLED THEM OUT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

MY SCHOOL, THEY ARE DOWN 250 KIDS.

THAT'S MONEY THAT COMES IN FROM THE SCHOOL TO THE SCHOOL, TO THEM FOR EACH OF THE CHILDREN THAT SHOW UP.

SO WILL THEY GO BACK AGAIN?

I'M NOT SURE.

SO MANY DIFFERENT QUESTIONS TO ASK, AND THAT'S WHAT SENATOR CHAMBERLAIN MENTIONED TO ME WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS BILL.

HE'S GOT SOME BIG UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AS TO HOW THE MONEY IS GOING TO FLOW.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON, LET'S GO BACK TO YOU ON EDUCATION FRONT AND GIVE YOU A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET AND WHERE THAT MIGHT GO.

ALSO MAYBE WE CAN THROW IN HERO-THE VIEWER DIDN'T RAISE THIS SPECIFIC QUESTION, BUT MAYBE WE CAN THROW IN THE QUESTION ABOUT THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND HOW THAT'S ALL COMING ALONG, BUT LET'S START WITH HIGHER EDUCATION, REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON.

YOUR THOUGHTS, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO SENATOR ANDERSON AND SENATOR CWODZINSKI.

>> WITH EDUCATION, YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES IN TERMS OF WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.

WE DO NEED TO ON HIGHER EDUCATION, UNIVERSITIES HAVE LOST AS WELL AS OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL.

WHILE THAT WORK CONTINUES, THAT FUNDING NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE TO GIVE STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THE EDUCATION THEY NEED.

WITH HIGHER ED, WE ARE TALKING IN TERMS OF FACULTY AND FACILITIES, RIGHT?

MAKING SH SURE THAT THAT MONEY S SPENT IN A WAY TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE, AND WE WILL BE BRINGING THAT BILL FORWARD HERE NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL SEE WHERE THAT LANDS, BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THOSE THAT SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE ARE GOING TO BE HITTING THEIR TARGETS AND TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THAT MONEY GETS SPENT THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

I WISH I COULD SPEAK MORE TO SPECIFICS AT THIS POINT.

BUT THAT'S A QUESTION THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE FOR NEXT WEEK, TOO, ONCE THAT BILL HITS THE HOUSE FLOOR.

>> Barry: SENATOR ANDERSON, HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> HIGHER EDUCATION WAS ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

YESTERDAY SENATOR TOMASSONI WAS THE CHAIR OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND BROUGHT FORWARD A BILL.

THE TARGET, WE WERE TOLD, IS WHAT HE WAS GIVEN.

IT WAS NOT SUPPOSEDLY ENOUGH MONEY TO HELP WITH HIGHER EDUCATION.

ALTHOUGH THE SPECIFICS OF THAT BILL SEEM TO REACH OUT, AND YET NOT ENOUGH TO MEET THE DOLLARS NEEDED TO UPGRADE FACILITIES, BUT IT DID REACH OUT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS.

>> Barry: SENATOR CWODZINSKI.

>> YEAH, BACK IN THE LATE '70s, IT WAS $500 A QUARTER FOR ME TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

I COULD WORK FULL, PART-TIME, PAY FOR IT WITHOUT EVER TAKING OUT A STUDENT LOAN.

I DIDN'T KNOW THIS AT THE TIME BUT THE LEGISLATURE WAS PAYING 60% OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S EXPENSES, AND YOU WERE PAYING 40%.

THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN FLIPPED.

I'M NOT GOING TO DATE MYSELF HERE.

IN THE LAST MANY YEARS, IT'S GONE FROM 60 TO 40%.

I'M NOT SURE TO SUGGEST HOW WE CAN FUND IT BETTER, BUT IT'S A PROBLEM.

THE KIDS SHOULDN'T BE GRADUATED WITH 60, 70, $50,000 IN DEBT.

IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

WE ARE DROPPING THE BALL.

THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE.

KIDS WANT TO STAY IN MINNESOTA SCHOOLS.

WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING THAT AND REWARDING IT.

SO THAT'S MY TWO CENTS ON FUNDING.

I DO KNOW -- YEAH, THERE'S GOING TO BE HITS ON BOTH, ON THE SYSTEM THIS FALL, I THINK, AND YOU ASKED ABOUT THE REGENTS.

THAT IS PART OF THIS JOB.

I HAD NO IDEA WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED.

I'M NOT DOING THIS, BECAUSE I THINK BOTH SIDES ARE GUILTY.

BUT I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES WOULD AGREE IT'S UNBELIEVABLE HOW POLITICIZED THE SELECTION OF THE REGENTS IS.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT SHOULD BE A POLITICAL THING.

I MEAN, REGENTS ARE THERE TO HELP THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

BUT ANYWAY, I -- YOU ASKED ABOUT REGENTS.

>> Barry: THAT'S A VOTE OF THE BODY AS A WHOLE.

201 MEMBERS.

HAS THAT BEEN SCHEDULED.

>> WE HAD IT.

>> Barry: IT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE.

IT'S COOL.

THAT PART -- I MEAN, IT'S ONE OF THE TWO TIMES WE ALL GET TOGETHER AND IT'S COOL.

IT'S FUN.

THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE, SO TO SPEAK.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS WHERE YOU FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> Barry: SO WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE PENDING IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR ON VETERANS ISSUES.

LET'S GO TO YOU, SENATOR ANDERSON.

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, MIGHT BE TAKING PLACE RELATIVE TO VETERANS ISSUES, IF ANYTHING?

>> YOU SHOULD PROBABLY START WITH SENATOR CWODZINSKI TODAY BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE THAT PULLED THE RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT AND BROUGHT THE HISTORIC JUSTICE ACT THAT WE PASSED THREE TIMES LAST YEAR, AND IT'S DEALING WITH VETERANS COURTS THAT I ALONG WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE JU DJUDICIARY COMMITTEE VISIT IN ON VISITED.THEY HAD A CERTAIN PROCY WHICH THEY FOLLOWED, AND THE JUDGE REQUIRED THEM TO FOLLOW AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE DEADLINES THAT THE JUDGE WANTED TO HAVE.

WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

TODAY SENATOR CWODZINSKI BROUGHT AN AMENDMENT TO THE FLOOR AND UNANIMOUSLY, EXCEPT FOR ONE, VOTED FOR THE VETERANS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ACT TO BE PUT ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

AT THE SAME TIME, SENATOR LANG, WHO WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE VETERANS COMMITTEE, HAD JUST THIS MORNING ON FINANCE, HAD BROUGHT AN AMENDMENT TO PUT THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ACT IN HIS VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS BILL THAT IS GOING TO BE JOINED UP WITH STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE BILL.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OR I SHOULD SAY MOST OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS REQUIRED.

WE MADE SURE BENEFITS WERE AT 100%.

WE CAME UP WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A SHORTAGE IN SOME AREAS OF HOMELESSNESS WHICH IS A BIG DEAL FOR COMMISSIONER HURKY.

HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE MINNESOTA GOES TO ZERO AS FAR AS VETERANS HOMELESS IN THE STATE.

WE WERE AT A MEETING YESTERDAY, AND THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING THAT NUMBER OF -- I THINK THEY SAID IT WAS 201 OR 205 HOMELESS VETERANS, AND THEY ARE PUSHING DOWNWARDS AND SLOWLY WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT.

ANOTHER THING IS THE SUICIDE RATE FOR VETERANS COMING OUT OF THE SERVICE THAT SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN OR IRAQ, WHEREVER THEY MIGHT HAVE SERVED DURING THESE PAST WARS, THAT THERE ARE MANY MEN, AND IN FACT I HAVE A GENTLEMAN WHO LIVES RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME, 72 YEARS OLD, VIETNAM VETERAN, AND HE HAD BEEN GOING TO THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL IN ST.

CLOUD TO GET HELP WITH THE PROBLEMS OF HIS -- WHAT WAS THE NAME OF -- THEY SPRAYED IT ON ALL VEGETATION.

24D.

>> Barry: AGENT ORANGE?

>> YEAH.

HE HAD THAT ALONG WITH OTHER APPLICATIONS DURING VIETNAM.

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO HELP HIM REACH OUT, BUT IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE HE BECAME DEPRESSED.

I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS DEPRESSED BECAUSE EVERY TIME I WOULD TALK WITH HIM OUTSIDE AND WE WOULD GO TO THE MAIL TOGETHER AND TALK AND JUST CHAT, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA HE WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS.

MY WIFE AND I WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS.

HE CAME HOME AND SAW ALL THE POLICE SQUAD CARS, FOUR OF THEM ALONG WITH THE AMBULANCE SITTING OUTSIDE OF OUR HOUSE AFTER I HAD GONE TO A MEETING THAT NIGHT.

COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND REALIZED ABOUT MIDNIGHT THEY WERE CARRYING A BODY BAG OUT OF THE HOME AND IT WAS HIM THAT COMMITTED SUICIDE.

HE HAD BASICALLY GIVEN UP HOPE IN TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION THAT HE HAD RECEIVED WHILE HE WAS IN VIETNAM.

THIS IS A LONG TIME AGO.

NOT ONLY SEE DEATH IN THE AMOUNT OF VETERANS.

BUT AFRIC ALFABUT THE AFGAN WAR.

WE GAVE THEM PARTIAL WHAT THEY WANTED.

BUT THEY WILL HAVE THEIR PEOPLE THERE TO START UP THE NEW OFFICES WITHIN THE VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS TO GO AFTER AND TRY TO GET THIS DONE.

SO THOSE ARE BIG THINGS.

WE ALSO RECEIVED WORD BACK IN FEBRUARY THAT FOUR YEARS AGO WE HAD PUSHED FOR MONEY FOR NEW VETERANS HOMES IN BEMIDJI, ONE IN PRESTON, MINNESOTA, AND SENATOR SENJEM'S CAPITAL BONDING BILL CAME FORWARD WITH MONEY, $33 MILLION, TO FUND THESE THREE HOMES.

THAT WAS OUR STATE'S PORTION.

THE FEDS CAME FORWARD IN FEBRUARY TO FUND THE REST, AND I THINK IT'S 85 OR $89 MILLION FOR THOSE THREE VETERANS HOMES.

HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE HAVING GROUND BREAKING CEREMONIES HERE IN THE NEXT MONTHS OR MAYBE IT WILL BE NEXT YEAR, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

>> Barry: CWODZINSKI, I'M GOING TO TAKE SENATOR ANDERSON UP ON ASKING YOU ABOUT THAT.

VETERANS ISSUES.

>> HATS OFF TO SENATOR ANDERSON FOR BEING THE CHAIR.

I DIDN'T ASK TO BE ON WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED.

I WAS PUT ON IT.

I FOUND IT TO BE THE MOST EDIFYING COMMITTEE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO SAY IT.

AS SENATOR ANDERSON ALLUDED TO, DIDN'T ALLUDE TO, BUT HE STATED IT, THE SUICIDE RATE, THE HOMELESS RATE, IT'S UNBEARABLE.

ANYWAY, WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER.

I READ THIS BOOK A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

IT'S THE TRIBE.

IT'S ABOUT WHEN VETERANS COME HOME FROM THE WARS, WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, AND KOREA, AND THEY CAME HOME, AND THEY HAD SOCIAL NETWORKS, AND THEY HAD AMERICAN LEGION ONS, VFW'S, AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU BELONG TO, AND BELONG TO SOMETHING LARGER THAN YOURSELF, AND YOU JUST TALK, AND YOU SHARE YOUR STORIES, AND STARTING WITH -- AS THE DECLINE IN OUR CULTURE TO WANT TO BELONG TO CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, COINCIDED WITH THE WAR IN VIETNAM, AND THESE GUYS STARTED COMING HOME, AND THEY DIDN'T GO DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEGION OR THE VFW BECAUSE THEY WERE CLOSING AND NOW WITH THE AFGAN AND IRANIAN VETERANS, THOSE PLACES ARE LESS THAN THEY WERE IN THE '70s.

WE HAVE GOT A TIME BOMB, TICKING TIME BOMB IN OUR HANDS IF WE DON'T GET A SURGE EVENS IN RENAISSANCE OR CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS.

SENATOR NEWTON BROUGHT BEFORE THE VETERANS COMMITTEE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS THIS VETERANS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ACT.

HE BROUGHT IT UP.

HE CARRIED IT.

WE PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE, I DO BELIEVE, ONCE OR TWICE, AND THREE TIMES SENATOR ANDERSON CAME.

COVID HIT THIS YEAR, AND SPECIAL SESSION 2, WE BROUGHT IT UP, AND IT WAS VERY DIVISIVE AND SPECIAL SESSION 3 IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

BUT IT DIDN'T PASS IN THE HOUSE, AS I RECALL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A BILL.

IT'S A GOOD BILL.

WE BROUGHT IT UP TODAY AS SENATOR ANDERSON SAID, AND WE PASSED IT, AND BASICALLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO IS IF YOU COMMITTED A NONVIOLENT FELONY AND YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS AND YOU CAN PROVE THAT THE CRIME YOU COMMITTED IS A RESULT OF YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR COUNTRY, THAT THE JUDICIAL PROCESS WOULD BE IN A VETERANS COURT THAT WOULD BE STATEWIDE.

SO NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE OR YOUR ZIP CODE, IT WOULD BE CONSISTENT, THE TREATMENT OF YOU.

IT'S LIKE SENATOR ANDERSON SAID, IT'S GOING TO HELP SUICIDE.

IT'S GOING TO HELP SOBRIETY AND RECOVERY ISSUES.

IT'S A GAME WINNER.

I JUST HOPE DURING THE PROCESS -- AND THIS ONE IS FOR SENATOR ANDERSON.

BEHIND THE SCENES, I HOPE THIS PLAYS OUT AND THAT WE GET THE BILL PASSED, HOWEVER IT HAPPENS, AND WE GET IT THROUGH THE HOUSE, AND IT'S A GOOD BILL FOR THE VETS.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON, VETERANS ISSUES, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> THANKS, BARRY.

WE OWE A GREAT DEAL OF GRATITUDE TO THE WO MEN AND WOMEN THAT SEE IN THE MILITARY.

THE VETERANS BILL, AS SENATOR ANDERSON MENTIONED, HAS BEEN COMBINED WITH THE FINANCE BILL.

THAT BILL IS GOING TO BE BROUGHT, HOUSE VERSION, WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR TOMORROW.

SO TUNE IN.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE AT SOMEWHERE AROUND 80 AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN FILED.

YOU KNOW FIND A COMFORTABLE CHAIR AS WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THAT PART.

BUT THAT'S UP FOR TOMORROW, AND YOU KNOW, WE WILL PASS THAT OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR, AND SEND THAT TO CONFERENCE.

AGAIN, THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE ALL CAN AGREE ON, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS.

JUST AS WE ALL WERE SAYING IN TERMS OF WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT APPROACHES IN TERMS OF HOW WE GET THERE, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT'S JUST A PRIORITY PROCESS, ELECT OFFICIALS JUST AS OUR CHILDREN ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE WILL TAKE THAT ON TOMORROW.

WE WILL GET THAT MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> Barry: OUR VIEWERS MAY BE WONDERING, AND WE HAVE REFERENCE TO VETERANS COURTS, AND I WANT TO SPEND A COUPLE OF MINUTES HERE EXPLAINING TO VIEWERS WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH HERE ARE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FORMATS DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE WITH A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS.

VETERANS COURTS ARE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

WE HAVE DRUG AND ALCOHOL COURTS THAT FOCUS ON SOBRIETY.

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT ALL OF THESE, WHAT WE NOW CALL PROBLEM SOLVING COURTS, THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE, BUT THE SOCIAL SCIENCE LITERATURE IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE THAT WE ARE IN FACT GETTING BETTER RESULTS FROM THESE PROBLEM SOLVING COURTS THAN WE DO FROM SOME OF THE -- IN SORT OF THE NORMAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHERE YOU HAVE GOT PEOPLE WITH COMPLEX MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, COMPLEX DRUG AND SOBRIETY QUESTIONS, AND AS OUR GUESTS THIS EVENING TALKED ABOUT, VETERANS WITH COMPLEX HISTORIES AS WELL.

PROBLEM SOLVING COURTS ARE DESIGNED TO DO THAT.

IT'S A WHOLE TEAM APPROACH INVOLVING TREATMENT PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS IN CASE OF VETERANS COURTS, VETERANS SEMS, ATHEMSELVES.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL COURTS, THEY HAVE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN TEAMS WHO THEMSELVES MAY HAVE HAD DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS BUT DEMONSTRATED SOBRIETY OVER DECADES OF TIME.

IT'S AN INTERESTING APPROACH, AND THERE'S BEEN FAIRLY RIGOROUS SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH.

SO THAT'S YOUR MINUTE AND A HALF LECTURE ON PROBLEM SOLVING COURTS, AND WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE AND MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE.

REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON, A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER THAT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE GAS TAX.

WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S ANYTHING HAPPENING ON IT AND LEADS US TO A MORE GENERAL TRANSPORTATION DISCUSSION.

BUT GAS TAX, TRANSPORTATION, FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> BARRY, I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE ON YOUR SHOW AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

THE TRANSPORTATION BILL IS UP IN THE HOUSE TOMORROW.

WE WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND THAT.

THAT ONE HAS AROUND 50 OR 60 AMENDMENTS, TOO.

IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH WATCHING YOUR LEGISLATURE IN ACTION, WATCH FINANCE OMNIBUS BILL TOMORROW.

STICK AROUND.

IT'S LIKE A DOUBLEHEADER, ALL INVOLVING TRANSPORTATION.

YES, SO THERE IS -- OKAY.

THERE IS A PROPOSAL BEING BROUGHT FORWARD WITHIN THE HOUSE RELATED TO THE GAS TAX.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S -- I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN HERE.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS WE NEED TO FIND A SUSTAINABLE WAY TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE.

NOW, WITH MORE AND MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT ARE JUST NOT KILLING UP AT THE GAS STATION, WE NEED EITHER TO FIND A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OR A WAY IN WHICH TO FUND IT.

ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE SOMETHING THAT EVERY MINNESOTA WANTS.

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS MAINTAINED.

THAT'S GOING TO COST.

AS A SUBURBAN METRO HOUSE MEMBER, I SEE THAT EVERY DAY.

RIGHT?

IT WASN'T TOO LONG AGO WHERE WE HAD A BRIDGE, 35W BRIDGE FALL.

WE HAVE OUR FAIR SHARE OF EXAMPLES.

IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN THEM, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE TYPES OF INCIDENCES.

SO BE IT A GAS TAX OR BE IT SOME OTHER WAY TO FIND A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO FIND OURSELVES IN A BAD PREDICAMENT.

GAS TAX PART OF THE CONSIDERATION TODAY, AND SOME OTHER WAY TO FUND THAT IN THE FUTURE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE.

>> Barry: SENATOR CWODZINSKI, GAS TAX, TRANSPORTATION.

>> GOVERNOR WALZ DURING HIS CAMPAIGN CALLED FOR A 20-CENT GAS TAX PHASED IN OVER FIVE YEARS OR SOMETHING, WHATEVER IT WAS.

I DID SUPPORT THAT.

MINN DOT HAS BEEN BEGGING FOR A RELIABLE SUSTAINABLE REVENUE FEED.

YOU KNOW REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON SAID WE ALL USE THE ROADS.

WE ALL USE THE BRIDGES.

WE ALL USE TRANSIT.

I'M SURE SENATOR ANDERSON WILL WEIGH IN AND TALK ABOUT THE ROGERS AREA WHEN HE COMES INTO WORK AND HOW THAT BOTTLE NECK IS JUST ONE OF THE WORST IN THE STATE.

THE GAS TAX, IT IS A REGRESSIVE TAX.

I GET THAT.

BUT WE NEED THE MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE, AND AS WE START GETTING MORE AND MORE ZERO EMISSION AND LOW EMISSION VEHICLES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS TAX ISN'T GOING TO WORK ANYMORE, BECAUSE SO MANY OF US ARE MAYBE DRIVING ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

IT'S A PROBLEM.

WE HAVE GOT TO SOLVE IT.

PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA ARE LOOKING TO US FOR LEADERSHIP.

BOTTOM LINE, WE GET D'S AND C MINUSES FROM ENGINEERING FIRMS ON THE QUALITY OF OUR -- WHEN THEY GRADE OUR FREEWAYS AND ROADS.

YOU KNOW, AS MINNESOTANS, WE CAN DO BETTER.

ANYWAYS.

>> Barry: SENATOR ANDERSON, GAS TAX AND TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

>> THANK YOU, BARRY.

THE TRANSPORTATION, I BELIEVE, IS COMING UP NEXT WEEK SOMETIME.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE ARE GOING TO GET A BRIEFING ON IT.

BUT SENATOR NEWMAN, SCOTT NEWMAN FROM HUTCHISON IS THE CHAIR.

HE SAID THERE WILL BE NO GAS TAX IN HIS BILL.

I ALSO SIT ON THE AG COMMITTEE WHERE WE MANDATE FOR CORN TO BE USED TO PUT INTO OUR GAS WHICH ALLOWS FOR CLEANER ENERGY.

AS THE LONG-RANGE GOAL IS TO GO TO E25.

SO THAT IS ONE WAY TO GET OUR CLEANER ENERGY, CLEANER EMISSIONS OUT OF OUR CARS, AND ALSO GET BETTER GAS MILEAGE.

BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW IN TALKING WITH SENATOR NEWMAN, THAT HE'S NOT PROPOSING THE GAS TAX AT THIS TIME.

WE DID THE LAST BIENNIUM OR MAYBE IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO, DID PASS A $4 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES TO BE DISBURSED EQUALLY OVER THAT 20-YEAR TIME PERIOD, WHICH IS THE LARGEST INCREASE IN TRANSPORTATION FUNDS, AND IT WASN'T JUST ROADS AND BRIDGES TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT OF THESE SMALL -- SINCE THE BRIDGE FELL DOWN IN 2008, THAT BRIDGE WENT DOWN IN MINNEAPOLIS.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE IS NO GAS TAX BEING RECOMMENDED COMING OUT OF THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION OMNIBUS BILL.

I'M SURE THERE'S ONE COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE.

WHEN WE GET TO CONFERENCE, THERE WILL BE A DISCUSSION AS TO HOW TO MEET THAT OR NOT MEET THAT REQUEST BY BOTH SIDES.

IT'S ALWAYS A FINE ROAD OR FINE LINE AS TO HOW TO DECIDE HOW THAT'S GOING TO MEASURE OUT AND WHERE THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO DO.

AGAIN, THERE'S FEDERAL FUNDS COMING IN THAT WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO COME DIRECTLY TO COUNTIES, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO GO DIRECTLY TO TOWNSHIPS OR TRANSPORTATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S BEING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, ALSO, WITH THIS MULTITRILLION DOLLAR BILL THAT WAS PASSED A MONTH OR TWO AGO, LESS THAN THAT MAYBE.

>> Barry: SENATOR CWODZINSKI, WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER FROM BENTON COUNTY THAT WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE ANY POTENTIAL PLANS TO REMOVE STATE TAX.

I ASSUME VIEWERS WERE REFERRING TO INCOME TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY, ON SENIORS RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY.

HAS THAT TOPIC HAD ANY DISCUSSION?

DO YOU HAVE ANY VIEWS ON THAT?

>> YEAH.

NOT ON THE THREE COMMITTEES I SERVE ON, THAT HAS NOT COME UP.

I MEAN, I DO KNOW THAT I THINK WE SHOULDN'T BE TAXING SOCIAL SECURITY.

BUT I DO KNOW THIS: I THINK -- WHAT IS THE NUMBER?

THE MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS -- THE BILL THAT CAME UP, I THINK THE DEMOCRATS -- MY PARTY PROPOSED THE TAX.

THE MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANY TAX ON THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY.

IT WOULD ONLY BE ON THE UPPER TIER OF OUR RETIRED RESIDENTS THAT -- ON THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME.

ANYWAY.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON, ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT ISSUE?

>> I SERVE ON THE HOUSE TAX COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE AN AWESOME TAX BILL THAT WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD NEXT WEEK.

I'M PROUD OF THE WORK WE DID IN TAXES.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A BILL THAT'S GOING TO HELP MINNESOTA GET BACK ON ITS FEET.

IT'S GOING TO HELP IN FAMILIES, BUSINESSES.

YOU HAVE GOT THE FIFTH TIER ADDED IN THERE.

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THOSE THAT BENEFITED THE MOST DURING THIS PANDEMIC SHOULD PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE TO SEE US THROUGH THE RECOVERY.

THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE PUT TO GOOD USE.

LIKE I SAID, THAT'S GOING TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR STUDENTS GET BACK ON TRACK.

IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR FAMILIES, THOSE FAMILIES, THOSE TEACHERS, FROZE FRONTLINE WORKERS, THOSE FOLKS THAT WORK AT THE GROCERY STORES, FOLKS THAT PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK EVERY DAY DURING THIS PANDEMIC SO WE CAN ALL GO ABOUT OUR LIVES AND BE SAFE.

VERY PROUD OF THE WORK DONE IN TAXES, HOPING WE CAN FIND GOOD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THAT WORK AND LOOK FORWARD IN SEEING MINNESOTA THROUGH THIS RECOVERY.

>> Barry: SENATOR ANDERSON, A MINUTE OR SO LEFT.

TAXES, TAXES GENERALLY, BUT ALSO THE QUESTION ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> WELL, SENATOR NELSON, WHO WAS THE TAX CHAIR WOMAN HAS BROUGHT FORTH A BILL IN PAST YEARS TO GET RID OF THE TAX ALONG WITH SENATOR SENJEM, HAS BROUGHT THE SAME BILL IN PAST YEARS TO GET RID OF THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

I'M GUESSING SINCE SHE'S THE CHAIR, REPRESENTATIVE -- SENATOR NELSON -- SORRY.

GETTING THEM ALL MIXED UP HERE.

SENATOR NELSON WILL BE PROBABLY BE PRESENTING THAT BILL AGAIN TO GET RID OF THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

HAVEN'T BEEN BRIEFED ON THAT.

DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT IT'S HAPPENED IN OUR CAUCUS BEFORE.

SO I'M SURE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> Barry: WE HAVE GOT ABOUT 45 SECONDS.

VERY QUICKLY.

ROUNDTABLE, DO YOU THINK WE GET OUT ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE?

ANY SPECIAL SESSION OR WE GET OUT ON THE DEADLINE, SENATOR ANDERSON QUICKLY, YES OR NO?

>> NO.

>> Barry: CWODZINSKI.

>> YES.

>> Barry: AND REPRESENTATIVE CARLTON, YOU GET THE LAST WORD.

OUT ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE OR NOT?

>> HOPEFULLY OPTIMISTIC.

WE ARE DOING GOOD WORK IN THE HOUSE, AND WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THAT WORK GOING.

LET'S GET IT DONE.

>> Barry: I WANT TO THANK OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS.

COVERED A LOT OF TOPICS.

I WANT TO THANK OUR VIEWERS.

THIS IS YOUR PROGRAM.

I WANT TO REMIND YOU YOU CAN CONTINUE TO SEND QUESTIONS IN BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE COME BACK NEXT WEEK, NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT FOR ANOTHER SESSION OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS", AND WE WILL BE BACK EVERY WEEK UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE GOES HOME, WHETHER IT'S ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE OR SOME OTHER DATE.

IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING AND GOOD NIGHT.

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