M >> >> MARY: WE WANTED TO MAKE THE CANDIDATES PROVE THEIR BUDGET PRIORITIES AND HAVE A LITTLE FUN ALONG THE WAY.

SO WITH ALL THE HOCKEY CONNECTIONS IN THE RACE, WE CAME UP WITH OUR "BUDGET SLAP SHOT" WHERE THE CANDIDATES HAD TO DIVVY UP 100 HOCKEY PUCKS ON OUR HOMEMADE ICE RINK.

BUT WHAT THEY DIDN'T SEE COMING WAS OUR BUDGET BALANCING TWIST WHEN THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH THE DEFICIT.

♪ CHARGE MUSIC PLAYING] >> WELCOME TO BUDGET SLAP SHOT.

>> ALL THIS TROUBLE YOU GOT.

>> HOCKEY PLAYER, HOCKEY DAD, HOCKEY COACH.

>> YOU HAVE 100 PUCKS.

I WANT YOU TO ACCOUNT FOR 10 HOCKEY PUCKS.

SO YOU EITHER HAVE TO REMOVE 10 HOCKEY PUCKS OR, OVER HERE IS YOUR REVENUE BUCKET.

>> RIGHT.

>> TAKE 10% OUT OF THIS.

BY DEFAULT, I'M LOOKING TO RAISE TAXES ON THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA AND FEDERAL MONEY WOULD THEN COME FROM ISSUING HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION JOBS.

LOOPHOLES, NOT TAX.

IF YOU DON'T, YOU HAVE TO TAKE MORE MONEY AWAY FROM EDUCATION AND MORE MONEY AWAY FROM K-12 AND MORE MONEY AWAY FROM PUBLIC SAFETY.

PART OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO THE TRADE-OFF IS, EITHER WE PUT MORE RESOURCES INTO THE RINK, THE ARENA, OR WE TAKE MORE RESOURCES OUT.

>> THIS IS MOVING PUCKS AROUND, THIS ISN'T MOVING PEOPLE AROUND.

>> SALES TAX.

>> SO WE CAN LOWER THE RATE, BROADEN THE BASE, NOT THE LIQUOR TAX BUT THE CIGARETTE TAX.

TAKE MEDICAID OPTION.

WE'LL CALL THAT A FEDERAL DOLLAR.

THEY'RE NOT TECHNICALLY INCOME TAX, NOT REALLY CORPORATE TAX.

WE CAN TAKE ONE OF EACH AND SAY THAT IT'S A KIND OF A MIX.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE A LOOK AT GAMBLING, RACINO.

WELL, MARY, SO WE MAY LEAVE OPEN THE OPTION THAT WE'LL HAVE TO CREATE SOME FEES.

>> IT'S TIME THAT WE QUIT TALKING ABOUT NEW REVENUE SOURCES ALL THE TIME.

YOU COULD TAKE FOUR RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, IF YOU DON'T OPT INTO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.

>> Mary: THE FACT THAT WE ARE MISSING SIX PUCKS COULD BE A WHISTLE OFFENSE.

>> HERE.

[ Laughter ] >> Mary: I WANT YOU TO BALANCE THE BUDGET HERE.

>> AND YOU WILL SEE ME BALANCE THE BUDGET.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND EFFICIENCIES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID IF YOU REDESIGN THE PROGRAM.

I THINK YOU CAN FIND IT IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

I THINK YOU CAN FIND IT IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

I THINK YOU CAN FIND IT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> SURE.

>> I THINK I'VE DONE IT.

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY -- SHE DID IT, BY THE WAY, DO YOU SEE THIS?

SHE FINALLY TWISTED ME AND SHE'S GOING TO GET ME TO TAKE THESE OFF OF WHERE WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM IN THIS AREA.

[ Buzzer ] >> Mary: HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THE CANDIDATES BALANCED THEIR BUDGETS WITH CUTS AND REVENUE, AND A LOOK AT THEIR SPENDING PRIORITIES SIDE BY SIDE.

MUCH MORE, ON OUR WEBSITE.