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

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS ARE BACK FROM BREAK, POLITICAL REPORTERS WILL BREAK DOWN THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

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

♪ DRAMATIC MUSIC ♪ >> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY· GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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

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."

LAWMAKERS HAVE RETURNED FROM THEIR TEN-DAY EASTER/PASSOVER BREAK.

THEY HAVE LESS THAN SIX WEEKS LEFT TO FINISH THEIR WORK, WHICH HAS TO INCLUDE A BUDGET TO KEEP STATE GOVERNMENT FROM SHUTTING DOWN.

WE'LL TALK WITH A DUO OF MY CAPITOL PRESS CORP COLLEAGUES ABOUT EXPECTATIONS FOR THE COMING WEEKS.

WE'LL MEET A FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER WHO DECIDED THE BEST WAY TO HELP HIS HOME TOWN ON THE IRON RANGE IS TO GO TO ST. PAUL.

BUT, FIRST, LAWMAKERS RETURNED TO ACTION YESTERDAY AND HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT THE HOUSE, SENATE AND GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION ARE AIMING TO ACCOMPLISH ON THE BUDGET BEFORE ADJOURNMENT NEXT MONTH.

>> NOW THAT WE ARE RETURNING FROM THE EASTER/PASSOVER BREAK, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION REALLY HEATS UP.

THIS IS THE MOMENT IN TIME WHEN WE START TO PASS BUDGET BILLS.

>> Mary: HOUSE MAJORITY LEADERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT KIDS IMPACTED BY COVID AND IN DISTANCE LEARNING, WHICH MEANS MORE FUNDING FOR EDUCATION, PAID FAMILY LEAVE, AND RAISING REVENUE.

>> MANY WHO ARE RICH AND WELL CONNECTED AND WHO ARE JUST PLAIN FORTUNATE ARE DOING BETTER THAN EVER AFTER THIS PANDEMIC, AND THEY CAN BE -- THEY CAN AFFORD TO BE PART OF THE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT THAT MINNESOTA NEEDS.

UNDER THE HOUSE DFL BUDGET, BIGGEST CORPORATIONS AND RICHEST MINNESOTANS WILL PAY MORE TO HELP MINNESOTA'S FAMILIES AND WORKERS EMERGE STRONGER FROM THIS PANDEMIC AND HAVE A LONG-TERM, BETTER FUTURE WITH GREAT ECONOMIC SECURITY, GREATER FAIRNESS FOR MINNESOTA'S FAMILIES, MINNESOTA'S CHILDREN, AND MINNESOTA'S SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> STUDENTS, WORKERS, FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES WITH AN EYE TOWARDS EQUITY WILL HELP ALL MINNESOTANS HAVE A STRONG FUTURE THAT THEY DESERVE.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS WANT TO INCREASE MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS OF TAXES ON THE RICH, BUT ALSO RELIEVE THE BURDEN TO OTHERS WITH A BILLION IN TAX CUTS, TOO.

>> THIS TAX BILL WILL HELP FAMILIES, WORKERS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES RECOVER FROM COVID-19.

AND BESIDES THAT, ALSO HELP TO ALLOW FOR VERY KEY INVESTMENTS INTO THE FUTURE THAT WILL MAKE FOR A BETTER AND STRONGER MINNESOTA.

>> THERE WILL BE SOME WHO WILL SAY NOW IS NOT THE TIME OR THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BE BOLD AND LEAD.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS, WHO CONTROL THE SENATE, ARE STANDING FIRM AGAINST ANY NEW TAXES.

>> CALL THE GOVERNOR, CALL THE DEMOCRAT HOUSE AND SAY, NUMBER ONE, NO NEW TAX INCREASES ON ANYONE, AND NUMBER TWO, THE FULL PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOANS SHOULD BE TOTALLY FORGIVEN AND NOT TAXED FOR ANY BUSINESS OWNER.

>> THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE SENATE VERSION AND THE HOUSE VERSION IS VERY VERY STARK.

>> Mary: THEY'RE ALSO PASSING BUDGET BILLS, CUTTING STATE GOVERNMENT, FOCUSED ON RETURNING KIDS AND BUSINESSES BACK TO FULL IN-PERSON ACTIVITY.

>> OUR MISSION IS KIDS, FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, ALWAYS, FIRST AND LAST, ALWAYS.

SIMPLE, AS AN IDEA WE CAME UP, STUDENT FOCUSED, INNOVATIVE, MANDATE FREE, PARENT INVOLVEMENT, LITERACY DRIVEN AND EFFICIENT.

>> I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALLOW DISTRICTS CONTINUED FLEXIBILITY TO DESIGN EQUITABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCES DRIVEN BY STUDENT'S STRENGTHS, INTERESTS AND NEEDS AND SUPPORTED BY LEARNING SCIENCES, BY EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OF HOURS OF INSTRUCTION.

>> Mary: THE WAS/FLANAGAN ADMINISTRATION IS FOCUSED ON THE BUDGET FOR COVID RECOVERY AND GETTING MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED, MOVING BACK TOWARDS SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL.

>> I CAN HUG MY MOM AND -- EXCUSE ME -- IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD TO NOT SPEND TIME WITH MY MOM OR FOR MY KIDDO TO BE AT GRANDMA'S HOUSE.

SO I'M EXCITED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GATHER TOGETHER AND SHARE A MEAL AND JUST BE TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

WALZ/FLANAGAN.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: JOINING ME NOW TO TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE'S SCHEDULE MAY LOOK LIKE BETWEEN NOW AND MAY 17TH.

DANA FERGUSON COVERS THE CAPITOL FOR THE FORUM NEWS SERVICE, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN SEE HER BYLINE IN NEWSPAPERS ALL AROUND GREATER MINNESOTA.

BRIAN BAKST COVERS POLITICS FOR MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO NEWS.

HIS WORK CAN ALSO BE HEARD STATEWIDE.

WELL, BUDGET BILLS ARE MOVING.

WE FINALLY HAVE SOME MEAT ON THE BONES.

BRIAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE HEADLINES OUT OF SOME OF THESE BILLS?

>> WELL, IT ALMOST SEEMS AS THOUGH THEY SET OUT TO SAY FAR APART THEY COULD GET FROM EACH OTHER BECAUSE THESE BILLS, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF DISTANCE THEY NEED TO TRAVEL TO GET TO A COMPROMISE.

THERE'S A LOT OF POLICY PROVISIONS THAT ARE PRESENT, ONE CHAMBER'S BILLS THAT WILL PROBABLY GO NOWHERE IN THE OTHER CHAMBER.

YOU SEE A LOT OF STUFF THAT WILL BE POTENTIALLY BAIT TO TOSS ASIDE ONCE THE REAL NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN.

>> Mary: DANA, HOW ABOUT YOU FROM THAT STATEWIDE PERSPECTIVE, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN THE TWO CHAMBERS AND THE DIFFERENCES?

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH BRIAN THAT IT'S BEEN INTERESTING JUST TO HEAR SOME NEWER PROPOSALS, TOO, THAT WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY HEAR ABOUT IN COMMITTEE HEARINGS THESE FIRST FEW MONTHS COME UP AS PART OF THESE OMNIBUS BILLS.

AND I'M THINKING ABOUT THE GAS TAX, IN PARTICULAR, IS ONE, THERE'S BEEN SOME THAT WE'VE SEEN IN COMMITTEES THIS WEEK.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, HEARING THE PUSH FROM GREATER MINNESOTA LEGISLATORS DUE TO END THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS, AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED TO HEAR SPEAKER HORTMAN ON MONDAY SAY THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT DEMOCRATS ARE OPEN TO TALKING ABOUT, AT LEAST IN SOME WAY.

>> Mary: YEAH, BRIAN, IS THERE SOME MOVEMENT NOW, SOME BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT THE EMERGENCY POWERS FROM THE EXECUTIVE HAVE GONE ON LONG ENOUGH?

DO YOU THINK THERE COULD BE A VOTE ON THIS?

>> IT WON'T HAPPEN ANY TIME SOON.

IN FACT, NEXT WEEK THERE'S ALREADY AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE TOP STATE LEADERS TO REUP THAT EMERGENCY EXTENSION FOR ANOTHER MONTH.

MAYBE LOOK AT MAY AS THE TIME WHEN THEY GET SERIOUS ABOUT WINDING THAT DOWN OR PERHAPS EVEN LOOKING TO PASS SOMETHING FOR FUTURE EMERGENCIES AND HOW THIS WOULD BE DEALT WITH IF THERE WAS ANOTHER HEALTH INCIDENT THAT WOULD COME UP OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

BUT AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT MONTH, YOU SHOULD EXPECT THAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO EXTEND THAT PEACETIME AUTHORITY, WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE TAKES VOTES TO END THAT IS ANOTHER QUESTION.

AND, OF COURSE, THE TRAJECTORY OF THE PANDEMIC COULD KIND OF DICTATE WHERE THINGS GO.

THE CASES ARE STARTING TO CREEP UP, BUT SO ARE VAC IS NATIONS.

SO WE'RE IN A FAR DIFFERENT PLACE THAN WE WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

VACCINATIONS.

AND EVEN IN THE FALL WHEN THINGS GOT BAD.

>> Mary: BRIAN, I WANT TO GO BACK TO TAXES AND HAVE DANA START ON THIS ONE, TOO, BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GULF BETWEEN THE TWO CHAMBERS, TAXES, THEY'RE BILLIONS APART.

DEMOCRATS STILL WANT TO RAISE TAXES, DESPITE THE SURPLUS, AND REPUBLICANS SAYING, NO WAY, IN FACT, WE SHOULD BE TRIMMING GOVERNMENT.

SO THEIR DOLLAR AMOUNTS COULDN'T BE FARTHER APART.

TAXES IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

>> I THINK IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE, BUT ONE, TOO, WHERE THERE ARE COMMONALITIES AND A LITTLE BIT SURPRISING THAT WE DIDN'T SEE MORE GET ACCOMPLISHED, IN MY OPINION, EARLIER IN SESSION, JUST BECAUSE THERE WERE AGREEMENTS, AT LEAST IN THE SENATE, THERE WERE FOLKS IN THE HOUSE WHO WERE PRETTY OPEN TO PPP CONFORMITY AND A FULLER FORM AS WELL AS SOME OF THE FORGIVENESS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

THE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY STATE INCOME TAXES ON THAT.

THERE'S STILL SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SENATE VERSION AND THE HOUSE VERSION.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY COULD COME TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT IF SOMEONE'S WILLING TO BUDGE.

I SUPPOSE THAT'S WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WITH EVERYTHING AND ULTIMATELY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AGREE UNLESS THEY WANT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'LL BE WATCHING.

>> Mary: YEAH, BRIAN, HOW ABOUT THAT ISSUE, DO WE THINK THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE PAYROLL PROTECTION TAX RELIEF COULD BREAK OFF AND STILL MOVE AHEAD?

I KNOW TAXES WERE DELAYED ON THAT, IN TERMS OF THE FILING DEADLINE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITING TO HEAR ON THIS.

>> YEAH.

THERE'S AN OPENNESS TO THAT.

I MEAN, OF COURSE, THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE EXTENDED THE TAX FILING DEADLINE TO CONFORM WITH WHAT THE IRS DID SO MAY 17th IS NOW THE FILING DATE FOR MOST PEOPLE.

SOME BUSINESSES HAD TO FILE SOME TAX FORMS ALREADY, SO THEY'RE WAITING FOR WORD AS TO WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO GET MONEY BACK FROM THE STATE FOR TAXES THEY'VE ALREADY PAID.

BUT IT'S THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO GO THE FULL DISTANCE, WHETHER THOSE PPP LOANS, THEY'RE GOING TO CONFORM BEYOND $350,000 WORTH OF LOANS, WHICH IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE HOUSE HAVE SET, OR DO EVERYTHING, WHICH IS UP TO 10 MILLION, WHICH IS WHAT THE SENATE HAS PASSED.

SO THERE'S STILL SOME KEY DIFFERENCES TO WORK OUT, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME AGREEMENT THAT THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING AND THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING PROBABLY SOONER THAN LATER.

>> Mary: AND WHAT ABOUT POLICY, BOTH OF YOU MENTIONED POLICY MEASURES, SOME OF THEM VERY CONTROVERSIAL SLIPPED INTO THESE BUDGET BILLS.

LET'S DELVE INTO SOME OF THOSE.

DANA, I ASSUME YOU'RE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT TRANSGENDER ATHLETES, THERE'S SOME VOTING ISSUES.

WHAT ARE THOSE POLICY PROVISIONS THAT WILL BE STICKING POINTS?

>> SOME OF THE BIGGEST ONES WE'VE SEEN SO FAR, AS YOU MENTION, THE VOTING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HOUSE DFL AND THE SENATE GOP BILLS, I BELIEVE BY NOW THEY SHOULD HAVE BOTH COME THROUGH COMMITTEE.

THERE WAS A HEARING GOING A LITTLE BIT AGO IN THE HOUSE THAT SEEMED VERY -- SEEING VERY DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THERE.

ULTIMATELY, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET RID SOME OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL PIECES IF THEY'RE TO AGREE.

IN THE AG BILL, I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED TO SEE ON THE SENATE SIDE THAT THEY PUT IN LANGUAGE THAT WOULD PREVENT THE MPCA FROM MAKING REGULATORY CHANGES WITHOUT THE LEGISLATURE'S APPROVAL.

OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A HIT AFTER THE CLEAN POWER STANDARD CAME THROUGH.

SO EVEN A BILL THAT'S NORMALLY BIPARTISAN AND NONCONTROVERSIAL AS AG IS COMING THROUGH WITH SOME POLICY WEIGHING IT DOWN.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE IF THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT THAT ASIDE OR IT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE REALLY FEELING STRONGLY ABOUT AND GOING TO GO TO THE MAT OVER.

>> Mary: BRIAN, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING, POLICY PROVISIONS AND POISON PILLS THAT THEY'RE KNOWN IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> THE TRANSGENDER ISSUE IN THE EDUCATION BILL IS ONE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SORT OUT.

AND THAT WOULD BE WHETHER GIRLS' SPORTS ARE TO BE EXCLUSIVE TO GIRLS AND NOT TRANSGENDER GIRLS.

SO THAT'S BEEN ONE THAT HAS ALREADY KIND OF RAISED SOME IRE.

THERE'S THE CLEAN CAR ISSUE THAT DANA MENTIONED, BUT THEN ON THE HOUSE SIDE, PAID FAMILY LEAVE, IT'S A MAJOR POLICY INITIATIVE FOR HOUSE DEMOCRATS.

THE SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE LITTLE INTEREST IN PASSING SOMETHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE.

SO IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THEY WANT -- THEY'RE LOADING UP THESE BILLS TO SOME DEGREE TO HAVE STUFF TO NEGOTIATE WITH LATER ON.

AND, OF COURSE, THE COVID POWERS BILLS ARE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE SENATE BILLS, WHETHER THE GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CLOSE SCHOOLS AGAIN, WHETHER THE GOVERNOR HAS -- NEEDS TO KIND OF TAKE THE WRAPS OFF OF OTHER BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, SO FORTH, FOR THE REMAINING RESTRICTIONS.

THOSE THINGS ARE STILL THERE AND WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE NEGOTIATED ON AS THE WEEKS PASS.

>> Mary: PROBABLY LAST ISSUE TONIGHT, HEARINGS, AND IT'S A BIPARTISAN ISSUE IN REACTION TO THE SUPREME COURT, AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS.

WE'VE SEEN IMMEDIATE REACTION FROM THE LEGISLATURE ON THAT COURT DECISION.

AND THIS SEEMED TO BE A BIPARTISAN ISSUE THAT COULD MOVE QUICKLY.

EITHER OF YOU COVERING THIS?

>> I HAVE BEEN AND MY COLLEAGUE, SARAH, HAS BEEN TOO.

IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL SUPPORT THERE TO MOVE THIS SET OF SEXUAL ASSAULT-RELATED APPROVALS THROUGH.

WHETHER IT WILL BE BROAD, TAILORED MORE TO WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT PRIOR TO THE SUPREME COURT CASE OR MORE EXCLUSIVE TO WHAT IMPAIRMENT MEANS UNDER STATE LAW WILL BE SOMETHING TO WATCH.

THE SENATE WAS TAKING UP A HEARING JUST AS WE WERE GETTING STARTED.

SOME REALLY REALLY EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY COMING FROM WOMEN WHO ENDURED SEXUAL ASSAULTS.

SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT LEGISLATORS TAKE SERIOUSLY.

THE STORY WENT VIRAL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY.

I'M SORRY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

VERY BUSY WEEK AT THE CAPITOL.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: AFTER OVERSEEING MORE THAN A DOZEN ADDITIONS TO CAPITOL MALL MEMORIALS AND THE ENORMOUS, ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME RESTORATION OF THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, CAAP BOARD'S PAUL MANDELL IS RETIRING.

WE'LL TAKE AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT HIS HISTORIC CAREER ON FRIDAY'S "ALMANAC."

HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK.

PAUL MANDELL, RETIRING!

WHY NOW?

>> WELL, I JUST TURNED 69.

I WANTED TO DO IT BEFORE I TURNED 70.

MY KIDS ARE IN DISBELIEF BECAUSE ORIGINALLY IT WAS GOING TO BE, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GET TO BE 65, AND THEN IT WAS, WELL, WHEN THEY FINISH THE CAPITOL RENOVATION.

AND THEN WHEN I TOOK OVER AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IT WAS, WELL, I WANT TO GET MY HIGH-FIVE AND THE CAPITOL HAS TO BE FINISHED.

AND THEN COVID HIT AND, LIKE, THE CAPITOL'S CLOSED, THE OFFICE IS TELECOMMUTING AND I JUST TURNED 69 AND I'M, LIKE, WHY NOT THIS YEAR?

>> Mary: LET ME WALK IT BACK BECAUSE MY NEWS INSTINCTS AND MY GUT SAID YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO STAY AROUND THROUGH THE RENOVATION OF THE CAPITOL.

>> YES.

>> Mary: HOW IMPORTANT WAS THAT AND HOW HUGE A LEGACY IS THAT FOR YOU?

>> OH, IT WAS -- YOU KNOW, I'M NOW A GUEST CREATURE AT MY WIFE'S CHURCH -- GUEST PREACHER AT MY WIFE'S CHURCH, AND WE JUST -- THE TOPIC WAS CREATIVITY AND MY TOPIC WAS GOD SHOWING UP AT THE WORKPLACE.

AND I POINTED OUT, I TALKED ABOUT, I ANNOUNCED THAT I WAS RETIRING, AND I TALKED ABOUT THE ARTISANS THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO WORK WITH, THE ARCHITECTS, THE DESIGNERS AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE, AND HAVING BEEN ABLE, AS YOU KNOW WELL, WITH YOUR PRIVILEGED PINK HAT THAT YOU HAD, GETTING UP ON THE SCAFFOLDING AND SEEING UP CLOSE, YOU KNOW, 150 FEET IN THE AIR THOSE PEOPLE WORKING WITH SCALPELS AND THE GLASSES AND THE HEAD LAMPS ON TINY, YOU KNOW, THESE HUGE REELS THAT YOU SEE FROM THE GROUND, AND THE STONE MASTER CARVERS, MARK WICK STROM, WHO ALSO WORKED ON THE WORKERS MEMORIAL.

IT WAS JUST PURE PRIVILEGE.

>> Mary: THE OTHER PART OF YOUR CAREER, WHEN I REFLECT BACK HERE ON THE DECADES IS KIND OF THE ARC OF HISTORY THAT YOU SAW AND NOT ONLY DID YOU SEE SEVERAL NEW MEMORIALS GO IN, BUT YOU SAW THE TOPPLING OF THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE AND, REALLY, THIS WAVE OF CHANGE POST-GEORGE FLOYD.

TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THE STATE HAS ON THESE ISSUES OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

>> WELL, WE'VE GOT TWO TASK FORCES THAT WE'RE EXPECTING REPORTS BACK WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE MONTHS.

♪ TECHNO MUSIC ♪ >> MARY: MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY NIGHT TO HEAR MUCH MORE FROM PAUL MANDELL, THE LONGTIME HEAD OF THE CAPITOL AREA AND ARCHICTECTURE PLANNING BOARD.

>>> UP NEXT, OUR SERIES OF FRESHMAN LAWMAKERS CONTINUES WITH A LOOK AT SOMEONE BORN AND RAISED ON THE IRON RANGE WHO DECIDED TO RUN TO REPRESENT THE AREA IN St. PAUL.

>> THE REASON THAT I SIGNED UP TO PUT MY NAME ON THE BALLOT WAS REALLY ABOUT WANTING TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

I CONSIDER GROWING UP IN GREATER GRAND RAPIDS BUT THE GREATEST BLESSING OF MY LIFE, I LOVE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, I WANT TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY THAT GAVE ME SO MUCH.

I'M GOING TO PUT MY NAME ON THE BALLOT AND REPRESENT THEM.

I USE THE GO-TO PHRASE, BRINGING YOUR BEST DAYS TO REALITY.

AND I CONSTANTLY BELIEVE IN THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, IS TO BRING NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA BUT THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT BRING THEIR BEST DAYS TO REALITY.

>> Mary: WE CAN'T IGNORE RIGHT ABOVE YOUR HEAD, IT SAYS "IRON RANGE PROUD."

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IRON RANGERS HAVE BEEN.

YOU GET THIS, THE HISTORY OF THAT AT THE CAPITOL.

>> YUP.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE, BY A LOT OF PEOPLE BEFORE ME, AND I'LL CONTINUE TO SAY IT, MINING IS OUR PAST, MINING IS OUR PRESENT, AND MINING IS OUR FUTURE.

YOU KNOW, I'M WORKING ON SOME LEGISLATION THAT IS REINFORCING THAT AND IS GOING TO ENCOURAGE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE TALK ABOUT ANYTHING, WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TALK ABOUT VALUE-ADDED INVESTMENTS, WE TALK ABOUT FAMILY WAGE, IT ALL STARTS WITH THE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE MINING.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE BEST ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS IN THE WORLD.

WE HAVE THE BEST LABOR STANDARDS IN THE WORLD.

AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT RIGHT FOR OVER 100 YEARS.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO IT.

I HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT I'M WORKING ON RIGHT NOW THAT'S GOING TO BE HOPEFULLY BROUGHT THROUGH THE RULES COMMITTEE AND BROUGHT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR HERE, BUT IT'S TITLED "MINING OUR FUTURE."

AND, REALLY, YOU MINE YOUR FUTURE, YOU MAKE A DECISION FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR COMMUNITY.

WE'RE GOING TO MINE OUR FUTURE.

AND THIS IS WHY.

YOU TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLES, NEW SOLAR PANELS, WIND POWER, NEW ELECTRICAL LINES, ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO BE MADE WITH THE MATERIALS THAT WE'RE SO BLESSED TO HAVE RIGHT UNDER OUR FEET IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD CAN WE DO IT BETTER.

AND IF WE'RE TAKING IT FROM PLACES ACROSS THE OCEAN, IT'S COMING FROM PLACES WITH LITTLE TO NO LABOR STANDARDS AND WHEN WE SHIP ANYTHING ACROSS THE OCEAN, WE'RE PUTTING WAY MORE CO2 AND POLLUTANTS INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE THEN IF WE WERE DOING IT SAFELY RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR, WE CAN MINE SAFELY, RESPONSIBLY, AND WE CAN MINE POSITIVELY HERE IN MINNESOTA.

HIS M THE IRON RANGE HAS HAD JUST A HUGE IMPACT AND BROUGHT SOME CLASSIC CHARACTERS AND SOME INCREDIBLY INFLUENTIAL LAWMAKERS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CARING ON THAT LEGACY?

>> I MEAN, LOOK AT THE ONES THAT I'M SERVING WITH ALREADY.

I MEAN, TOM BAKK AND DAVID TOMASSONI, I MEAN, THEY'RE LEGENDS AND THEY'RE STILL SERVING AND I'M LUCKY TO BE MEMBERS OF THE IRON RANGE DELEGATION WITH THEM.

BUT I THINK THERE'S ONE THING THAT ALL OF THESE LEGENDARY IRON RANGERS HAVE BROUGHT IS A PASSION FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND FOR THEIR WAY OF LIFE.

RIGHT?

SO WE SEE THAT FROM THEM, WE SEE THAT FROM CONGRESSMAN STAUBER, AND I WANT TO CARRY THAT SAME PASSION, THAT FIRE, EVERY TIME WHEN I COME DOWN TO St. PAUL, WHEN I SIT ON IN MY DESK, WHEN I'M ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, I'M REMEMBERING THOSE PEOPLE THAT SENT ME THERE, THEIR FACES, THEIR WAY OF LIFE THAT I STAND UP FOR.

MINING, LOGGING, INDUSTRY, THESE ARE NOT THE -- EVEN THE LABOR INDUSTRY, I MEAN, JUST HARDWORKING BLUE-COLLAR JOBS IS NOT THE MESSAGE OF THE NEW MINNESOTA DFL.

AND I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA FELT LIKE THEY WERE FORGOTTEN WITH THAT KIND OF POLICY.

ALREADY THIS SESSION, HOW MANY DIFFERENT ANTIMINING PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN DROPPED BY THE MINNESOTA DFL.

THE PEOPLE OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA WHO ARE DEMOCRATS CAN'T LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, THAT'S MY PARTY.

AND THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I'M LEADING ON IS MINNESOTANS IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA AND GREATER MINNESOTA UNDERSTAND THE ABILITY THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A WOLF HUNT.

I'M THE LEAD AUTHOR ON A BILL TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE WOLF HUNT THIS YEAR.

THE DFL IN MINNESOTA IS STRONGLY AGAINST THAT.

LIVELIHOODS THAT ARE AFFECTED IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

WE'RE TALKING CATTLE RANCHERS.

THERE'S STORIES DAY TO DAY, YOU KNOW, FAMILY DOGS THAT ARE ATTACKED.

THESE ISSUES ARE NOT BEING CHAMPIONED BY THE MINNESOTA DFL, THEY'RE BEING CHAMPIONED BY MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS AND THAT'S HOW THE SHIFT IS BEGINNING TO HAPPEN IS THAT WE'RE SEEING THE REAL CHAMPIONS ARE FOR THE LOCAL GRASSROOTS ISSUES ARE TURNING OUT TO BE MORE REPUBLICAN SOMETIMES.

AND A LOT OF THESE ISSUES SHOULDN'T BE PARTISAN.

ONE OF MY BIGGEST SCHTICKS, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MINING, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A RED OR A BLUE ISSUE.

BUT IT'S NOT.

IF WE WANT THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, IT'S AN EVERYONE ISSUE.

♪♪♪ >> Mary: WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE POLITICS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT I WAS INTERESTED IN.

BUT IN MY LIFE, AS AN NINL WOMAN, I GREW UP NOT SEEING PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME IN ALL AREAS.

INDIGENOUS WOMAN.

YOU KNOW, MY TEACHERS DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ME.

LAW ENFORCEMENT, DOCTORS, AND ESPECIALLY OUR LEADERS, AND, SO, SUBLIMINALLY THAT KIND OF ALWAYS TOLD ME I DIDN'T BELONG HERE.

BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY IN GRAD SCHOOL THAT I DID MY PRACTICUM AROUND TALKING TO PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION.

AND IT'S WHEN I REALLY EVOLVED INTO THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AT THE TIME I ALSO WORKED LOCALLY TO PASS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY IN MY COMMUNITY, SO I SAW THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE EFFORTS IN OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND THEN THROUGH THE PRACTICUM WORK THAT I DID, I WANTED TO RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD.

AND THEN BEN LIEN ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS RETIRING AND 20 WOMEN IN MY COMMUNITY REACHED TOUT ME AND ENCOURAGED ME TO RUN AND IT KIND OF MADE ME START TO THINK THAT -- I TALK A LOT ABOUT REPRESENTATION AND HOW THAT MATTERS IN SPACES, AND SO I JUST THOUGHT THIS IS MY "WHY" AND IT WAS MY REASON TO STEP UP AND BE A VOICE AT THE TABLE THAT MAYBE WE DON'T OFTEN HEAR.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN AGAIN NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

ANALYST DUO BRIAN MCDANIEL AND CARIN MROTZ WILL JOIN ME.

AND WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO FIRST-TERM DFL REPRESENATIVE HEATHER KEELER.

UNTIL THEN YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

WATCH ANY OF OUR SHOWS, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S.

FOLLOW US ALL WEEK ON FACEBOOK.

LOOK FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MORE, EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

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

ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH PAUL DOUGLAS ABOUT THE STORMY BEGINNING TO SPRING, OUR LEGAL EXPERTS WILL ANALYZE THE CHAUVIN TRIAL, AND I'LL HAVE MUCH MORE FROM RETIRING CAAP BOARD MEMBER PAUL MANDELL.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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· GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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

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.