>> CATHY: SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT THE CAPITOL.

A COMMITTEE TOOK A CONSEQUENTIAL VOTE ON A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE, WEEKS BEFORE SESSION STARTS FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE BIENNIUM.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER WAS THERE FOR THE FIRST VOTE ON A BILL ALLOWING PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED DEATH IN THE STATE AND GIVES US CONTEXT IN A CONVERSATION WITH THE BILL AUTHOR.

>> CHAIR VOTES AYE.

>> CHAIR LIEBLING, AYE.

>> Mary: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MINNESOTA HISTORY, A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE VOTED FOR THE END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE VOTED ON IN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: WHY NOW?

>> I JUST THINK IT'S CONSISTENT WITH SOME OF THE LEGISLATION WE'VE ALREADY PASSED THIS YEAR.

I MEAN, THE LEGISLATION WE PASSED EMPHASIZES BODILY AUTONOMY AND THIS I THINK IS BASICALLY THE LAST DECISION PEOPLE GET TO MAKE.

>> Mary: THE BILL AUTHOR IS THE LAWMAKER WHO BROUGHT YOU THE NEW STATE FLAG, SO HE'S NOT AFRAID OF CONTROVERSY.

AND KNOWS THIS COULD BE THE LAST SESSION WITH A GUARANTEED DFL TRIFECTA.

>> I CERTAINLY THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE VEINING OF THE OPPORTUNITY -- ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE US.

>> Mary: THIS COULD BE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE OF SESSION.

I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT.

>> I MEAN, IT'S POSSIBLE BE.

I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S SUPPORTED BY A VAST MAJORITY OF BOTH MINNESOTANS AND AMERICANS.

>> Mary: NOT DEAD YET IS WHAT THEIR T-SHIRTS SAY AS PART OF A COALITION OF 70 ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSING WHAT THEY CALL PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE.

>> IT IS A REAL THREAT TO MY SON'S LIFE.

ASSISTED SUICIDE WEAPONIZES THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS WITH ACTION THEIR ALREADY DEEPLY HELD BIAS THAT DISABILITY IS A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH.

>> LEGALIZATION OF PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE PERPETUATES THE HISTORICAL AND CONTINUED DEVALUATION OF THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

>> Mary: YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE A TERMINAL ILLNESS WITH LESS THAN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE AND DEEMED COMPETENT TO GET MEDICAL AID IN DYING.

>> I'VE JUST HEARD SO MANY STORIES FROM MINNESOTANS WHO ARE EITHER GOING THROUGH THIS THEMSELVES OR HEY'VE HAD A LOVED ONE GO THROUGH IT.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP MOVING THIS FORWARD IN THE HOUSE.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT I CAN CONTROL AND I AM REALLY HOPEFUL THAT THE SENATE IS GOING TO FOLLOW OUR LEAD AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> Mary: FOR TERMINAL PATIENTS, IT IS URGENT.

>> THIS IS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE BRAIN CANCER.

SO IF THERE ARE NO TREATMENT OPTIONS, THEN I DESERVE MORE DEATH OPTIONS.

>> I'M A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN.

MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS AGREE WITH THIS MAEDA ON THIS DECISION.

>> THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT BILL TO EVERY MINNESOTAN BECAUSE EVERY MINNESOTAN'S GOING TO DIE.

SO EVERY MINNESOTAN SHOULD CARE ABOUT THIS BILL.

>> Mary: BUT MEDICAL OPINIONS ARE FAR FROM RURAL.

THIS PROPOSED LAW WOULD DISRUPT DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIPS.

>> WE ARE KNOWN AS A PLACE WHERE MEME COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO BE HEALED.

LEGALIZING PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE WOULD UPEND THIS REPUTATION.

>> Mary: THIS VETERAN WHO HAS SEEN SUICIDE UP CLOSE IS OPPOSED.

>> IT'S BEYOND ME THAT A DOCTOR WHO'S THERE TO PRESENT OR DO NO HARM WOULD ASSIST SOMEONE TO KILL THEMSELVES.

>> Mary: SO FAR ABOUT A DOZEN STATES ARE JURISDICTIONS ALLOW MEDICAL AID IN DYING AND POLLS SHOW INCREASING SUPPORT WITH AN AVERAGE OF 74% AMERICANS SAY TERMINALLY ILL PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DECIDE HOW THEY DIE.

>> IT'S PASSED BY BALLOT INITIATIVE WITH OVER 60% SUPPORT IN PURPLE STATES.

WITH DID A SURVEY IN THE STATE FAIR.

SO I JUST THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR IT.

I MEAN, CERTAINLY THERE IS A VERY VOCAL MINORITY OPPOSED TO IT.

>> I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A PATIENT REQUEST OR DESIRE FOR POINTPOINTFORPOINT PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GIVING PHYSICIANS AND INDIVIDUALS THE ABILITY TO END THEIR LIVES.

AND IF WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, THE VERY LEAST WE SHOULD DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING EVERY PRECAUTION.

>> Mary: MORE HEARINGS ARE AHEAD, AND THIS ISSUE COULD DOMINATE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> THESE LAWS ARE WORKING AS INTENDED.

AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF ABUSE.

>> I HAVE INCURABLE LEUKEMIA.

AND I WISH THIS BILL COULD HELP ME OUT.

>> I AM DYING FROM EXTENSIVE SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER.

THE SAME DISEASE, THE SAME INDOORABLEINDOOR PHISHING CURABLE INCURABLE DISEASE THAT KILLED MY BROTHER.

>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS.

IT'S ABOUT HUMANITY, DIGNITY AND LOVE.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK THIS