>> Mary: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL," I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY.

AND IT IS THE LAST WEEK BEFORE LAWMAKERS TAKE OFF FOR THEIR SPRING BREAK.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO CHECK IN HOW CO-CHAIRS ARE DOING IN THIS HISTORIC POWERING-SHARING MODEL IN THE HOUSE, WE'LL ALSO MEET A DFL FRESHMAN FIREFIGHTER AND A REPUBLICAN SENATOR ON ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMITTEES OVER THERE.

BUT WE BEGIN WITH HOW FEDERAL POLITICAL TURMOIL CONTINUES TO IMPACT THE STATE.

>> WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED, RIGHT?

>> NO!

>> Mary: AN ENORMOUS CROWD, ESTIMATED AT 25,000 PEOPLE, POURED ONTO THE STATE CAPITOL MALL OVER THE WEEKEND TO PROTEST THE ADMINISTRATION IN D.C. DECLARING HANDS OFF MEDICAID, EDUCATION, SCIENCE, VETERANS, FEDERAL WORKERS, AND MORE.

>> THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!

[ Cheers ] A PROUD REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS DISTRICT 65B OF OUR CAPITOL CITY OF St. PAUL, AND THE SUBURB OF WEST St. PAUL, I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT ALL MINNESOTANS THAT ARE SAYING, HANDS OFF, NATIONALLY, ACROSS OUR COUNTRY!

>> I AM ALLING TO ORDER THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ETHICS.

>> Mary: SENATE PRESIDENT BOBBY JOE CHAMPION ASKED TO TEMPORARILY STEP ASIDE FROM HIS ROLE AS CHAIR OF THE ETHICS SUBCOMMITTEE WHILE HE ASKS FOR A ADVISORY OPINION OVER CONCERNS F ALLEGED CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH A LEGAL CLIENT WHO GOT MILLIONS IN STATE DOLLARS.

>> HAVE YOU CONSIDERED HIS ROLES AS JOBS CHAIR AND AS SENATE PRESIDENT?

>> TO REPLACE SENATOR CHAMPION WITH SENATOR PAPPAS, TO LEAD THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ETHICS, SO THAT WORK CAN PROCEED.

I THINK ALL OF US HOLD DEAR THE INTELG GRIT THAT WE HOLD WITH THE PUBLIC.

>> ary: THE REPUBLICAN-LED FRAUD COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO PROBE STATE AGENCIES.

>> THE AGENCY, I WOULD ARGUE, DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO WIND IT DOWN, BECAUSE THEY EXPECTED TO HAVE THOSE FUNDS FOR WELL OVER A YEAR.

>> EVEN THOUGH WE ALL KNEW IT WAS ONE-TIME MONDAY FOR VARIOUS THINGS, THEY'RE COMING BACK ASKING FOR ONGOING APPROPRIATIONS.

SO IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE CULTURALLY THAT'S BEEN COMMUNICATED WELL.

>> Mary: SENATE REPUBLICANS WANT PARENTS TO BE NOTIFIED OF ANY VIOLENT ACTS AT SCHOOL.

>> VIOLENCE IN SCHOOL IS FAR WORSE THAN WE HAVE ANY IDEA.

AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, AS A MOTHER, I HAVE TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

>> EVEN IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET ENVIRONMENT, WITH THE LOOMING $6 BILLION AND EVEN WITH THE NET ZERO BUDGET TARGETS, THERE'S NO REASON TO CUT THE KEY PRIORITIES.

>> WE'RE HEARING IN THE END, THE CUTS ARE NOT GOING TO COME, ESPECIALLY IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION EALM, OTHER AREAS.

>> Mary: AND THE SENATE CONSIDERED A NEW SOCIAL MEDIA TAX.

>> YOU MAY BE IN THE WHITE HOUSE, CUTTING SERVICES, LIKE MEDICAID AND SOCIAL SECURITY!

BUT WE'RE GOING TO DAMN WELL MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAXING YOU.

>> META, THEIR PROFITS IN FIVE YEARS QUADRUPLED.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR EFFECTIVE TAX RATE?

IT WENT DOWN!

>> WE ARE GOING TO BE BACK HERE, FOR OUR BUDGET, BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP, ELON MUSK AND