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

[CHANTING] >> DISMISS IS YOUR WITH D.C. COMES TO MINNESOTA.

WE'LL TALK TO POLITICAL REPORTERS ABOUT THAT AND MORE, THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

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MINNESOTA LOTTERY, DELIVERING NEARLY FOUR BILLION DOLLARS TO BENEFIT ALL MINNESOTANS SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HEALTHIER.

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE.

>> MARY: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

MINNESOTANS ARE MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD HERE AS CITIZENS, LAWMAKERS AND STATE OFFICIALS TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZES AND CUTS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MANY ISSUES WE'LL TALK TO POLITICAL REPORTERS ABOUT IN JUST A MINUTE.

WE'LL ALSO HER FROM AGO AGRICULTURAL LEADERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE ACTION HEATING UP HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: OWES AND IN THE MINNESOTA CAPITOL, PROTESTORS TOOK ON ELON MUSK AND PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLING FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY IN DAYS OF DIFFERENT RALLIES.

>> STANDING ROOM ONLY OF THE THREE FLOORS OF THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS, REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM CAUCUS SOUPED ALARM ON ABORTION ACCESS AND TRANSGENDER IGHTS AFTER A TRANS PERSON FROM MINNESOTA WAS TORTURED AND BRUTALIZED IN NEW YORK.

>> REALLY WHAT IS A REMARKABLE HISTORIC VICTORIES OR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM AND TRANS RIGHTS.

NOW WE ARE FACING ANOUT OF CONTROL, AUTHORITARIAN FACIST MOVEMENT TO TAKE AWAY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE WINS IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> THEY ARE LITERALLY WORKING TO KILL TRANS KIDS WITH THESE BILLS AND THEY KNOW IT.

AND THEY DON'T CARE.

>> Mary: INTEREST GROUPS GATHERED TO SAY EVEN WITH A TAX ON DEI, THEY HAVE NEW POLLING SHOWING STRONG SUPPORT FOR AN EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT IN THE STATE.

>> WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A WHOLESALE ASSAULT ON SHARED VALUES OF DEMOCRACY, FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY, COMING FROM THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

>> WE ARE UP TO MORE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AROUND THIS, BOTH IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, BUT I THINK WHAT IT WILL TAKE IS SOME REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS.

>> Mary: MEANWHILE, HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE A BILL TO CANCEL ETHNIC STUDIES IN SCHOOLS, CALLING IT A DISTRACTION.

>> WE ARE A STATE AT RISK.

THE STUDENTS IN MINNESOTA DESERVE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO A QUALITY EDUCATION MEASURED WITH ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

EVERY CATASTROPHIC FAILURE STEMS FROM A CHYNA OF BAD DECISIONS AND POLICIES THAT LEADS TO COLLAPSE.

>> WE RECEIVED SO MUCH PUBLIC FEEDBACK THAT WAS NOT BENEFICIAL TO OUR WORK, THREATENING THE MEMBERS ON OUR BOARD TO THE POINT HERE OUR COMMITTEE REDUCED IN NUMBER BECAUSE THINK FEARED FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY.

>> THIS IS A STRO JANUARY HORSE MASQUERADING AS ADVOCATING FORDYCE VEER TEE AND IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A SOCIALIST AND MARXIST AGENDA.

>> Mary: AND SENATE REPUBLICANS UPDATED A COMPLAINT AGAINST SENATOR MITCHELL SAYING SHE'S A CONFLICT TO VOTE ON HER OWN STATUS.

>> WE'VE GOT A GROWING BODIES OF EVIDENCE, WE HAVE TWO FELONY CHARGES HERE, THE NEW FELONY CHARGE WE ALSO HAVE TWO THICS COMPLAINTS.

>> SHE TOOK A VOTE WHERE SHE HAD A PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE.

IT'S VERY CLEAR IN SENATE RULES.

>> CONFIDENCE IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE HAS BEEN ERODED BECAUSE OF THIS DARK CLOUD.

AND SO WE NEED TO UPHOLD THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT TO RESTORE THAT CONFIDENCE THAT MINNESOTANS EXPECT AND DESERVE IN THE LEGISLATION THAT IS PASSED AND WHEN IT'S PASSED BY ONE VOTE, EVERYBODY KNOWS IN THE BACK OF THEIR MIND THAT IT IS DONE SO WITH THE SHADOW OF THAT DARK CLOUD.

>> MARY: JOINING US NOW ARE OUR CAPITOL REPORTERS, MPR NEWS SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, DANA FERGUSON, AND CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FROM KSTP, TOM HAUSER.

TOM, FIRST OF ALL, DAYS OF PROTEST.

IT WAS REALLY COLD AND PEOPLE STILL SHOWED P. WERE YOU A LITTLE SURPRISED?

>> THERE WAS ONE OUTDOORS AND ANOTHER ONE INDOORS.

THE INDOOR PEOPLE WON.

>> Mary: BOTH WERE SIZABLE CROWDS.

THIS WASN'T NOTHING.

>> THEY WERE, AND I COVERED THE INSIDE ONE, NOT THE OUTSIDE ONE JUST BECAUSE I'M A WIMP BUT -- >> Mary: CALLED SENIORITY.

>> IT'S CALLED YOU HAVE BETTER NOR TUNE THAN I DO BECAUSE I WAS OUTSIDE AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED OUT THERE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DEEPLY, DEEPLY COLD OUTSIDE.

>> AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ARE THEY JUST SCREAMING IN THE WINGS.

IS IT GOING DO ANY GOOD?

UNLIKELY.

WE'RE STILL IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS DOING TO CHANGE ANY TIME SOON BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT HE IS REMINDED, AND OTHER REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE ARE REMINDED, THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE.

>> Mary: AND WE'RE STILL KIND OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT STATE-SIGHT WHAT THE IMPACT IS.

>> WE ARE, ESPECIALLY THE IMPACTS POTENTIALLY TO THE BUDGET, TALKING TO STATE BUDGET OFFICIALS, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A BUDGET YEARLY BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT JUST THE AMOUNT OF UNKNOWNS WE'RE SEEING FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, COMING OUT WITH THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS EVERY DAY, EVERY FEW DAYS, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON STATE BUDGETING, STATE PROGRAMS.

SO I'M EAGER TO HEAR IN A COUPLE WEEKS HERE HAT LEVEL OF CERTAINTY, IF ANY, FOLKS HAVE ABOUT WHAT LAWMAKERS CAN DO AS FAR AS A BUDGET.

>> Mary: WE HAVE A BUDGET FORECAST COMING UP.

HOW DO THEY INFORMATION CAST THIS?

>> AND TALKING ABOUT IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE AGO CULTURE, EDUCATION, IF THEY ELIMINATE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

>> MEDICAID.

>> HUMAN SERVICES.

>> Mary: HUGE PARTS OF THE BUDGETS.

SPEAKING OF THE BUDGET, THAT'S THE WORK THEY HAVE TO DO, THIS IS NOT AN OPTIONAL FUN YEAR SESSION, THIS IS THE BUDGET HAS TO BE BALANCED AND DONE.

THE TWO CHAMBERS FEEL REALLY DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW ON PROGRESS.

THAT'S FAIR, ISN'T IT?

>> OH, I THINK SO, AND I THINK ANYBODY WHO THINKS THAT THIS SESSION IS GOING TO END BY MAY 19th JUST HAS THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND.

YOU SEE SOME THINGS MOVING IN THE HOUSE NOW THROUGH COMMITTEE, WITH THAT TEMPORARY ONE VOTE.

>> Mary: EVERYTHING UP HERE -- NYTHING SUBSTANTIAL APPEARS TO BE PARTY LINE RIGHT NOW.

>> YES.

>> Mary: ONE VOTE.

>> >> SO ONCE THEY GO BACK TO A TIE, WE'RE OING TO BE IN A REAL QUAGMIRE, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF HURT FEELINGS FROM THE EARLIER VOTES AND THE EARLIER DEBATES, AND I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GET THIS THING WRAPPED UP BY ANY REASONABLE TIME.

>> BUT, IT IS SO STARK LOOKING ACROSS THE CAPITOL AT THE SENATE WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS THAT ONE VOTE MAJORITY FOR DEMOCRATS, BUT THEY REALLY ARE STILL SORT OF INTERACTING WITH ONE ANOTHER AS THOUGH THEY'RE EQUAL IN A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES AND SO MAYBE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT SAY, WE RECOGNIZE WHAT THIS CHAMBER COULD BECOME, IF IT GOES BACK TO A TIE AND SO THEY WANT TO SAY, IF WE'RE GOING TO GET THINGS THROUGH THE WHOLE CAPITOL, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT ESSENTIALLY THAT 50-50 SPLIT.

>> BUT GIVE THAT TIME.

AS THE HEAT GETS TURNED UP AND THEY REALIZE THEY'VE GOT TO BE THE BACKSTOP OR THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEM DIG IN THEIR HEELS.

>> Mary: IT'S EASY TO BE NICE NOW.

[Overlapping Conversation].

>> FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT REPUBLICANS ARE WORKING ON HERE, TRYING TO GET THROUGH THOSE PRIORITIES FOR GOP MEMBERS, THEY HIT THE WALL ONCE THEY GET ACROSS.

>> Mary: AND THEY'RE STILL REALLY -- WE JUST SAW, REPEALING ETHNIC STUDIES, GOING AFTER TRANS -- >> ATHLETES, RIGHT.

>> Mary: ATHLETES, THEY'RE GOING FOR THEIR TOP SOCIAL ISSUES WHICH CAN'T MASS, RIGHT?

>> NOT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD.

AGAIN, BECAUSE THE SENATE IS GOING TO HAVE THE BACK OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE -- >> Mary: BUT EACH IN THE HOUSE, BECAUSE REPUBLICANS NEED A DEMOCRAT -- [Overlapping Conversation].

>> THERE WERE' JUST >> GOING TO GET THAT ONE VOTE BUT THEY'VE GOT TO PLAY TO THEIR BASE BECAUSE, LET'S NOT FORGET, I KNOW IT'S 21 MONTHS UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION, THEY'RE ALL THINKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THEN AND WILL REPUBLICANS SEIZE CONTROL OF ONE OR BOTH CHAMBERS OR THE MID-YEAR ELECTION FOR THE PARTY IN POWER IS NOT ALWAYS A GREAT YEAR BUT SO MUCH OF THAT AS GONE OUT THE WINDOW BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS DIFFER.

>> Mary: POLITICAL WINDS.

ONE MORE POINT ON THIS, TOMORROW WAS THE FIRST TEST OF 68 VOTES AND REPUBLICAN CAN GET A DEMOCRAT, THEY HAVE THE FIRST BILL ON THE FLOOR.

>> THEY DO, THEY HAVE A FIRST BILL THAT WOULD SEEK TO EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION, DATA FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE THAT COULD BE MADE PUBLIC OR REQUESTED.

THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR REPUBLICANS AND THEY SAY THEY'RE CONFIDENT THEY CAN PICK UP ONE DEMOCRAT BUT IT WILL BE A TEST FOR DEMOCRATS TO SEE, CAN ALL 66 OF THEM REMAIN TOGETHER AND LOCK THAT ONE VOTE FROM GETTING IT OVER.

>> AND THE REASON I THINK THEY MIX THAT BILL IT'S EASY TO VOTE FOR TRANSPARENCY.

WHO'S IN FAVOR OF HIDING THINGS?

AND THERE'S SOME DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHETHER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS BEEN HANDLING THESE THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN PREVIOUS ATTORNEY GENERALS SO I THINK IT'S -- THERE IS A REASON WHY THEY PICKED THIS BILL.

>> Mary: WE'LL SEE BECAUSE THE FRAUD BILLS ARE BIPARTISANSHIP, SAILING THROUGH ALL THE COMMITTEES OVER IN THE SENATE AND THEY'RE STILL PARTY-LINE HERE IN THE HOUSE SO IT'S INTERESTING.

I WANT TO PIVOT, YOU HAVE SOME NEWS UP IN THE NORTHLAND BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OPEN U.S. SENATE SIGHT, WHICH IS ALL WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING FOR THE- NE'RE GOING TO BE DOING FOR THE- NEXTE GOING TO BE DOING FOR THE- NEXT YGOING TO BE DOING FOR THE- NEXT YEAING TO BE DOING FOR THE- NEXT YEAR G TO BE DOING FOR THE- NEXT YEAR ANTO BE DOING FOR THE- NEXT YEAR AND BE DOING FOR THE- NEXT YEAR AND A E DOING FOR THE- NEXT YEAR AND A HADOING FOR THE- NEXT YEAR AND A HALFING FOR THE- NEXT YEAR AND A HALF.NG FOR THE- NEXT YEAR AND A HALF.NG FOR THE- >> IT'S ALL ABOUT ELECTION GO GO.

NORTHERN NEWS NOW REPORTED EARLIER TODAY THAT REPRESENTATIVE PETE STAUBER HAS SAID HE'S NOT GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN '26, NOT GOING TO RUN FOR SENATE, SO THERE WAS SOME SPECULATION ABOUT HIM BEING A CANDIDATE FOR EITHER OR BOTH OF THOSE.

HE'S SAYING HE'S TAKING HIMSELF OUT OF THE RUNNING.

HE'S STICKING WITH HIS CURRENT OFFICE, WANTS TO BE THERE IN HIS CAPACITY AS CHAIR TO HELP OUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> Mary: AND REPRESENTATIVE EMMER, THE OTHER BIG NAME ON THE REPUBLICAN SIGHT, SO BOTH OF THESE TWO BIG NAMES IS OUTS.

SO WHO'S IN?

>> ANGIE CRAIG WAS ALSO IN HER DISTRICTS TODAY AND, AGAIN, WE ASKED HER, ARE YOU STILL LOOKING AT THIS?

SHE SAYS, YES, I'M TALKING TO PEOPLE.

SHE SENT OUT A RELEASE ARLIER THIS WEEK BUT TODAY SHE TOLD US ON CAMERA, YEP, I'M LOOKING INTO THIS, I WANT ARE I WANT TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THIS.

ONLY REPUBLICAN SIDE, A LOT OF -- YOU CAN NEVER DISCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY OF A CELEBRATE, MICHELLE TAKE IF I I CAN'T.

>> Mary: BUT TRUMP WILL ANOINT THE REPUBLICAN, DOESN'T HE HAVE THE POWER O CLEAR THE DECKS ON THIS ONE?

>> PRETTY MUCH.

THERE MIGHT BE OTHERS WHO WILL STILL TRY TO RUN AND I'M LOOKING AT YOU, ROYCE WHITE, HE WILL KEEP RUNNING NO MATTER WHAT.

>> Mary: LAST WORD ON LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SHE WAS FIRST IN.

>> RIGHT, SHE'S THE ONLY ONE TO ACTUAL LEE PILE PAPERWORK SO WE KNOW SHE'S GOT HER SIDES SET ON THAT SENATE SEAT.

>> AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW ABOUT GOVERNOR WALZ.

>> Mary: SO MUCH TO DO.

THANKS, GUYS.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: YOU HEARD EARLIER FARMERS... OUR STATE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER TOMMI PETTERSEN.

THIS IS HAD TO HAVE BEEN A SURPRISINGLY DIFFICULT COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR YOU, FIGURING OUT THE FEDERAL IMPACT.

>> IT REALLY IS.

ALMOST INTERESTING BECAUSE PRESIDENT'S DAY NOTHING HAPPENED BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS SHUT DOWN BUT IT'S ALMOST HOUR TO HOUR, MINUTE TO MINUTE, DAY TO DAY, REALLY SEEING THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, WHO'S BEING, YOU KNOW, FURLOUGHED OR LAID OFF OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS OUR TRADE IMPACTS, WHAT IS OUR PROGRAMS THAT ARE FROZEN.

YOU KNOW, IT IS -- >> Mary: WHAT ABOUT FARMERS, WE HAVE HEARD SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF MINNESOTA FARMERS THAT ARE IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE BECAUSE OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT WAS PROMISED AND NOW NOT DELIVERED.

>> IT REALLY IS AND YOU ALMOST HAVE TO GO BACK A LITTLE WAYS IN THAT OUR FARM ECONOMY IN SOME CASES IS NOT VERY -- COULD BE STRONGER AT THIS MOMENT SO OUR CROP FARMERS ESPECIALLY, WE LOOKED AT, LIKE, MEDIATION NOTICES SENT TO FARMERS IN JANUARY, WERE SEVEN TIMES WHAT THEY WERE LAST JANUARY SO OVER 300 NOTIFICATIONS SO IF YOU HAVE A GRANT THAT YOU'RE COUNTING ON FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND YOU JUST FOUND OUT THAT'S NOT THERE, THAT REALLY IS CONCERNING.

YOU KNOW, AND FARMERS DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MONEY'S COME -- THEY DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COMING FROM THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OR THE CCC OR DIFFERENT CASES, THEY JUG KNOW THEY SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NEWSPAPER THE MONEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE THERE.

>> Mary: DO YOU HAVE ANY HANDLE ON DOLLAR AMOUNT WHAT THE IMPACT IS FOR MINNESOTA FARMERS YET?

>> WELL, WE KNOW M IN GRANTS THAT WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME ACCESSING AT THE MOMENT THAT IT'S WELL OVER $20 MILLION JUST IN OUR PROGRAMS THAT RUN THROUGH THE USDA TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUT THEN THERE IS MANY MORE GRANT THAT WILL RUN PROBABLY ALMOST FIVE TIMES THAT TO FARMER THAT ARE FROZEN.

AND SO -- >> Mary: IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS?

>> I WOULD SAY TENS AND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, AND SO, AGAIN, WHEN IT'S -- YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE IF -- YOU KNOW, IN THE ONE THING WE SEE IS MAKE THE CASE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE OPEN UP, WE'VE HAD SOME LUCK WITH A COUPLE OF GRANTS MOVING BUT WE JUST KEEP HAMMERING IN THAT AND MAKING A CASE FOR IT.

>> Mary: AGRICULTURE IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

ARE YOU REACHING OUT TO REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE YOUR CASE?

>> YOU KNOW, AS COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, I FEEL THAT'S MY JOB SO I'VE ALWAYS KIND OF DONE AND OPERATED THAT WAY SO WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO REACH OUT TO, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE FINSTAD WHO IS ON THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE, IS, YOU KNOW, HAS HAD EXCELLENT STAFF AND HAS BEEN IN THERE, S WELL AS, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE EMMER AND THE LEADERSHIP POSITION BUT ALSO REPRESENTATIVE STAUBER AND FISCHBACH, YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT ALONG WITH OUR LEADERS, YOU KNOW, HAVING SENATOR KLOBUCHAR IN HER SPOT AND REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG, IT DOES GIVE THE STATE, YOU KNOW, SOME -- AND I DO THINK REPUBLICANS ARE HAVING TO LOOK AT THESE AND SEE THE IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, THE FURLOUGHS THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK I THINK WERE, YOU KNOW, HAD QUITE AN IMPACT AND THE WHIPLASH I THINK FOR THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T ALWAYS SURE I WAS GOING TO BE A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE BUT HERE I AM AND I HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR THAT AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY HARD TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE, YOU KNOW, LAYING OFF PEOPLE AND THEN HIRING BACK THE NEXT DAY, YOU KNOW, AND THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, REALLY CAN HAVE IMPACTS BUT THEY CREATE A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN FARM COUNTRY.

>> Mary: YOU WERE SAY EARLY, HOUR BY HOUR IT'S CHANGING, YOU'RE GOING IN AND IS IT LITERALLY REFRESHING AND SUDDENLY THE GRANTS ARE BACK?

>> EXACTLY AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO AND THEN COMMUNICATE WITH FOLKS AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT YOU HAVE NEW PEOPLE, THAT PEOPLE LEAVE, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH, THEY MAY HAVE TAKEN THE BUYOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN A PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEE, AND SO IT'S JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> BUILT, AGAIN, WE HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESS, TOO.

>> Mary: WE'VE BOTH BEEN ARNOLD POLITICS A LONG TIME AND AGRICULTURE A LONG TIME.

THIS IS A BUDGET YEAR.

YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S USUALLY THE EASIEST BUDGET BILL TO GET OUT OF HERE.

IF THEY'RE TARING AT IT AND FOLKS ARE ALREADY TALKING SPECIAL SESSION, POSSIBLE SHUTDOWN, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE BUDGET WRAPPED UP IN TIME, CAN YOU GUARANTEE AG WILL STILL BE THE FIRST THING DONE?

>> I'M AN OPTIMIST, AND I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE AG COMMISSIONER IF WASN'T, BUT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME, TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE.

WE'VE HAD ISSUES WITH THE HIGHER I HAD BILL GETTING THERE BEFORE US, SOMETIMES VETERANS, SO, GAIN, SMALLER BUDGETS BUT JUST SAYING WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN WORK BIPARTISANLY, DO WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE FARMERS, DO WHAT'S GOOD FOR OUR AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT IF WE HAVE A TARGET THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

>> Mary: FINAL LIE, D.C., WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO OUT THERE?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS REALLY GET TO MEET AND TALK WITH OUR NEW USDA SECRETARY, AVIAN INFLUENZA, A BIG ISSUING FOR OUR STATE.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT.

TRADE, WE'LL BE MEETING WITH BOTH CANADIAN AND MEXICAN COUNTERPARTS OUT THERE, AS WELL, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> MARY: MINNESOTA FARMERS ARE FACING UNCERTAINTY IN THE AFTERMATH OF FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZES.

FARMERS ARE FACING A LOT OF DOUBT RIGHT NOW AND IT'S A HARD ROW TO HOE, BUT OUR FIRST-TERM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER THIS WEEK GOT HIS START IN AG POLICY WHILE WORKING FULL TIME AS A FARMER.

WHY DID YOU RUN?

>> I WRAP FOR MAY FAMILY AND SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT WITHIN MY COMMUNITY AND YOU GOT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, I GOT TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO THIS.

>> Mary: YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THE RARE FRESHMAN WHO EALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO.

YOU'VE BEEN AROUND POLITICS AND POLICY.

>> I CUT MY TEETH IN POLICY AND POLITICS THROUGH MINNESOTA FARM BUREAU, ACTUALLY, AS A VOLUNTEER AND AS A BOARD MEMBER THERE.

STILL WHILE FARMING AND DOING A FULL-TIME JOCK AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE VEIL AS FAR AS POLICY WORK AND WHOSE CURRENTLY GOING ON.

I TOOK A PART-TIME JOB WORKING FOR REPRESENTATIVE FINSTAD AS A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE AND WORKED THROUGH A LOT OF THE FARM BILL POLICY STUFF THAT WE WERE WORKING ON AT THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO HELP CREATING THE BILL AND HOPING TO GET IT TO THE FLOOR STATEMENT THIS YEAR.

>> Mary: ARE YOU READY TO WRITE A FARM BILL HERE?

>> WE HAVE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, TALK TO PEOPLE AND REALLY GET TO KNOW PEOPLE ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE POLICY GETS ADE, AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING TO WORK AND WHAT ISN'T GOING TO WORK.

AND OF ANYTHING I DO, THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING DOWN TO WORK.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR DISTRICT BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PRETTY FAMOUS LAWMAKER WHO ROSE TO THE VERY TOP, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

THIS IS SVIGGUM'S OLD DISTRICT, RIGHT?

AND YOU TALK TO HIM?

>> ES, AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO HIM FROM TIME TO TIME AND HE OFFERS ADVISE.

>> Mary: IS IT HELPFUL?

>> YEAH, IT IS HELPFUL.

IT GIVES YOU A LOT OF GOOD INSIGHT AS FAR AS WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT AND WHAT THEY'RE THINKING AND ESPECIALLY AROUND THE CAMPAIGNING SIDE, HE SAILED HIS BEST ADVICE IS WEAR OUT ONE PAIR OF SHOES AND HE SAYS IF YOU FIELD TO, WEAR OUT TWO AND I THINK I DID HAT THIS YEAR.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK AG POLICY BECAUSE IT IS USUALLY THE FIRST BUDGET BILL DONE, USUALLY THE MOST BIPARTISAN THING.

HOW EXCITED AND HOW SPECIAL IS AGRICULTURE?

IS IT STILL?

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY IT'S -- IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IT'S NUMBER THREE IN GDP IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WE RANK UP THIS AS EITHER THE SECONDS OR THIRD LARGEST EMPLOYER OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE.

AGRICULTURE SINCE HE FOUNDING OF MINNESOTA HAS HELD A VERY SPECIAL PLACE HERE, AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I THINK PERSONALLY IS A VERY BIPARTISAN BILL THAT PEOPLE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO BECAUSE IF YOU EAT, YOU'RE INVOLVED IN AG.

AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND E.INVOLVING BUT STILL COMES DOWN TO PEOPLE EATING AND PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT.

AND I HONESTLY THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THIS YEAR.

I HOPE.

IT'S EXCITING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE AND BACKGROUNDS IN AG, WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE THAT THEY DIDN'T NEED ME ON THE AG COMMITTEE SO I HAD A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO GET OVER AND GET INVOLVED IN COMMERCE, I'M WORKING ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND BONDING, AND IT'S SURPRISING WHEN YOU GET INTO COMMERCE, THE SHEER AMOUNT OF BILLS THAT ROLL THROUGH COMING FROM THE AGRICULTURE SIDE OF IT -- >> Mary: YOU HAVE A TOUGH DISTRICT TO DOOR-KNOCK.

BUT I'M GUESSING OU HAD TO OR YOU TALKED WITH CONSTITUENTS.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM THEM, WHAT WAS THE PREVAILING MESSAGE?

>> I WAS ACROSS 6,000 DOORS AND, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME IN MY MIND AS A PARENT OF TWO KIDS WAS THE IMPACT SCHOOLS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER, ESPECIALLY AROUND WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

YOU START TALKING TO TEACHERS AND WHAT'S CURRENTLY GOING ON AND SCHOOLS SCORE IS SLIPPING AND THEN ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS WEEK, UP FOUND OUT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS GETTING CLOSED AND THAT'S BEEN A TOUGH ONE TO TAKE.

WANAMINGO HAS A GREAT TRADITION, SVIGGUM WAS PART OF THE SCHOOL AND WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUR ELEMENT TEAR.

I WANT TO WORK ON BILLS THAT HELP CORRECT THAT AND FIX THAT PROBLEM AND I'M HOPING I CAN FIND SOME DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES TO BE TABLE TO COME ALONG WITH ME ON IT BECAUSE THE NEXT GENERATION IS TOO IMPORTANT TO GIVE UP TO BICKER ABOUT WHICH PARTY KNOWS BEST.

ULTIMATELY IT'S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS.

>> Mary: MOW DO YOU GET YOUNG PEOPLE TO STAY AND/MOVE TO GET BACK TO MINNESOTA.

>> RURAL BROADBAND.

WHICH THEY WOULD INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING RIGHT NEW, WITH TELECOMMUTING AND EVERYTHING THAT'S CURRENTLY HATCHING, AND THE AMOUNT OF BUSINESS THAT'S DONE OVER THE INTERNET, WITHIN AGRICULTURE, THE AMOUNT OF AUTONOMOUS EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE COMING ONLINE, ROBOTS MILKING COWS, YOU NEED HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD THAT INFORMATION.

>> Mary: HAVEN'T ADE ENOUGH PROGRESS, WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT, THERE'S STATE MONEY, IF HE WOULD MONEY, YOU STILL NEED MORE?

>> IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING MOVES AT AN EXTREMELY SLOW SPACE AND CAN'T KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> Mary: YOU GREW UP IN THE STATE WHEN YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT USED TO BE REALLY COMPETITIVE.

IT ISN'T ANYMORE, RURAL IS GETTING REDDER ARNOLD URBAN-SUBURBAN IS GETTING BLEWER.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> ULTIMATELY IT MEANS WE'RE PEOPLE AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT AND WHAT CAN WE DO THAT ACTUALLY WORKS OR BOTH OF US, AND WE HAVE A TENDENCIES TO GET BOGGED DOWN IN THAT SMALL 5% OR 10% OF THINGS THAT SPLIT US APART ON PARTY LINES.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, IF I CAN SIT DOWN WITH SOMEONE FROM THE BLUEST DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, I'LL GUARANTEE I CAN FIND ABOUT 50 TO 60% OF THE STUFF WE GET ALONG WITH.

>> I LOVE MY DISTRICT.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM A SMALL TOWN IN INDIANA BUT I ENDED UP IN ONE OF THE MOST DENNIS PARTS OF OUR STATE.

WHEN I MOVED HERE, MY HUSBAND AND I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MULTIPLE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION TO OUR DAY JOBS.

I FOUND A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN WALK, BIKE, DRIVE, TAKE TRANSIT AND I THINK THAT JUST DIVERSITY OF TRANSPORTATION PTIONS AND DIVERSITY OF SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS AND THERE'S NATURE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE LAKES IN THERE AND WE'VE GOT DOWNTOWN, IT'S A VERY HAPPENING PLACE.

>> Mary: YOU'RE AN ENGINEER, THAT'S KIND OF UNIQUE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> YES, IT IS.

I THINK WHAT -- YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BE BRINGING FROM THAT BACKGROUND IS MORE DATA AND STATISTICS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GROUNDING THE SOLUTION,S THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN SCIENCE AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS WE GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROMISES OF CERTAIN BILLS BUT I WANTED TO HAVE IMPACT.

>> MARY: WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH MORE ACTION UP HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

IF YOU MISSED PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW... OR WANT TO RE-WATCH ANY EPISODES FROM THE PAST... HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

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MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH NEW INTERIM LEAD FOR THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT AND A NATIONAL REPORTER FROM BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT.

THAT’S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, A LEADING PRODUCER OF THE FUELS MINNESOTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY, DELIVERING NEARLY FOUR BILLION DOLLARS TO BENEFIT ALL MINNESOTANS SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING PEOPLE TO MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HEALTHIER.

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE.

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