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

>> Mary: IF PARTISAN POLITICS HAS GOT YOU DOWN, MEET THE CIVILITY CAUCUS.

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.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

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

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: DELIVERING NEARLY $4 BILLION TO BENEFIT ALL MINNESOTANS SINCE 1990.

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

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

IT IS A BUSY TIME AT THE CAPITOL AS WE'RE JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH OUT FROM SESSION AND ANOTHER DEADLINE HITS.

HERE TONIGHT WE HAVE THE CHAIRS OF THE CIVILITY CAUCUS, TO TALK ABOUT THEIR BIPARTISAN WORK.

WE ALSO HAVE A RETIRING D.F.L.

LAWMAKER, WHO WILL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND A REPUBLICAN FRESHMAN LAWMAKER HO IS A PASTOR IN HIS DISTRICT, BUT FIRST, RALLIES BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE AND ENERGY TO THE CAPITOL.

ON KEY ISSUES, POLITICAL LEADERS ARE TRYING TO UPLIFT.

>> DON'T SHOOT GUNS.

DON'T SHOOT GUNS.

>> Mary: GUN VIOLENCE DREW AN ANNUAL CROWD TO THE CAPITOL AS LAWMAKERS CONSIDERED NEW RESTRICTIONS.

>> I THINK WE ARE ASKING FOR GUNS TO BE LOCKED UP, RIGHT?

SO WHAT F WE JUST SAID, LOCK THEM UP.

[ Laughter ] RIGHT?

COME ON, WITH ME!

LOCK THEM UP!

LOCK THEM UP!

LOCK THEM UP!

>> I KNOW IN MOMS ARE IN THE HOUSE, THINGS GET DONE.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> IF WE LOSE THE TRIFECTA, WE LOSE THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK.

>> REPUBLICANS TOOK ON DEMOCRATS ON TAX DAY.

>> WE ARE TAKING MORE MONEY OUT OF MINNESOTANS' POCKETS.

AUTOMATICALLY.

AUTOMATICALLY.

AND IN THE TAX COMMITTEE, WE TALK QUITE A BIT ABOUT PROGRESSIVITY.

REGRESSIVE TAXES.

THE GAS TAX IS ABOUT AS REGRESSIVE AS YOU CAN GET.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING.

WE'RE EALLY HURTING THE POOR.

>> BROKEN PROMISES BY THE DEMOCRATS.

INSTEAD OF $2,000 CHECKS TO EVERY MINNESOTAN, SOME MINNESOTANS OUT OF THAT $18 BILLION SURPLUS, RECEIVES $260, WHICH THEY TAXED.

THEN TOO.

>> D.F.L.

MEMBERS WENT BACK TO THEIR DISTRICT AST YEAR AND GOT FEEDBACK ON WHAP.

THE EXTREME POLICY IS TAXATION AND REGULATION, EVEN SOME OF THE SOCIAL POLICY.

[ PEOPLE CHANTING ] >> Mary: SUPPORTERS RALLIED FOR THE MINNESOTA DEBT FAIRNESS ACT AS IT PASSED IS A THE HOUSE.

>> YOU WANT THEM TO PASS THIS BILL?

YOU WANT THEM TO PASS THE DEBT FAIRNESS BILL?

>> ALL: YEAH!

>> THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO!

>> THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN USH ISSUE.

THIS IS NOT A RURAL, URBAN DIVIDE ISSUE.

THIS IS IF A FAIRNESS ISSUE.

>> RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY MEDICAL DEBT.

ALMOST EVERYONE IN THIS SPACE.

IT IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR PEOPLE, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: AND IN THIS BONDING YEAR -- >> CAN I HOLD THAT?

AWWW!

>> Mary: PUPPIES FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY MADE THEIR CASE FOR A SPOT IN THE STATE FUNDED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

[ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪♪ >> Mary: AND I'M SORRY YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW PUPPIES.

BUT CO-CHAIRS F THE CIVILITY CAUCUS, DEMOCRAT SANDRA FEIST AND REPUBLICAN KRISTIN ROBBINS.

WHY YOU WANT TO BE IN THIS.

>> YEAH, WELL, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GETTING GOOD LEGISLATION PASSED.

WHEN I FIRST WAS ELECTED, I KNEW THAT I WANTED ON FOCUS DATA PRIVACY.

AND SO IN MY FIRST SESSION I WAS WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY SCOTT AND NOW SENATOR ERIC LUCERO.

I KIND OF DEVELOPED THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND IT MADE ME REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THOSE BIPARTISAN RELATIONSHIPS TO REALLY HAVE THOSE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

>> Mary: AND NOW YOU'RE IN THE MAJORITY, BUT IN THE MINORITY, YOU KIND OF NEED FRIENDSHIPS TO GET THINGS DONE, RIGHT?

CUZ THAT EXTRA MOTIVATE FOR YOU?

>> YOU KNOW, FOR ME, IT WAS JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN.

AND THEN FORMER REPRESENTATIVE NICK ZERWAS, HE HANDED THE BATON TO ME.

AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I GREE WITH SANDRA THAT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND KNOWING EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE IS THE FOUNDATION WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO REALLY TRUST EACH OTHER IN THOSE TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS.

>> Mary: HOW MUCH COVID HURT AND AFFECT THOSE BIPARTISAN RELATIONSHIPS AN FRIENDSHIPS?

ESPECIALLY FOR FRESHMAN.

YOU KNOW, THE NEWBIES WHO DIDN'T GET TO MEET AND GREET.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, I WAS NEW, SO I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

MY HUSBAND WAS A LOBBYIST WITH THE AFL-CIO FOR A LONG TIME SO I HAVE SOME INSIGHTS.

SO I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARDER FOR ME, BUT I WAS ALREADY HAD SOME OF THAT GROUND WORK LAID.

BUT IT DEFINITELY WAS VERY COMPLICATED TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND RAPPORT DURING THAT TIME.

>> Mary: ND YOU SAW LIFE BEFORE AND AFTER.

>> RIGHT, I THOUGHT THE COVID SESSION WAS TERRIBLE FOR RELATIONSHIPS AND FOR THE INSTITUTION.

SO I WAS DELIGHTED WHEN WE GOT BACK TOGETHER.

BUT IT HAS EVEN AFFECTED CIVILITY CAUCUS.

WE HAVE LESS TURNOUT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE USED TO WORKING REMOTELY AND WHEN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE, THEY WANT TO DO THAT, BUT IT IS HARDER TO GET PEOPLE TO PRIORITIZE TIME TOGETHER.

>> Mary: SO WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> YEAH, SO WE TRY TO MAKE IT EASY.

WE TRY TO MAKE IT, LIKE, AT THE CAPITOL, DURING THE DAY.

FOR THE MOST PART AND WE JUST GET TOGETHER, HAVE A MEAL.

THIS YEAR WE'VE BEEN PRETTY, LIKE, LOOSE WITH OUR AGENDA.

JUST GIVING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHATEVER.

LIKE, TALK ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES, TALK ABOUT THEIR HOBBIES AND JUST BUILD THOSE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE THAT BUILT UP GOOD WILL.

>> Mary: I HEARD FOOD.

PEOPLE TEND TO GET ALONG WHEN THEY'RE BREAKING BREAD AS WE SAY AND TALKING ABOUT AMILY AND CONNECTING ON MORE THAN US JUST ISSUES.

IS THAT PART OF THE SUCCESS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE WHEN YOU REALIZE, OH, WE BOTH HAVE KIDS AND WE BOTH CARE ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA OR OTHER WAYS YOU HAVE ANYTHING THINGS IN COMMON ABOUT PEOPLE.

BUT THEY'RE JUST COMING AT THE ISSUE FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ND ALWAYS FREE FOOD TOE CAPITOL MATTERS.

SO IF WE'RE OFFERING FREE LUNCH.

>> Mary: WHAT ISSUES?

YOU MENTIONED DATA PRIVACY WAS SOMETHING YOU FOUND SOME BIPARTISANSHIP ON.

WHAT OTHER ISSUES DO YOU THINK HAVE COME OUT OF THE CAUCUS?

>> YEAH, WELL, EDUCATION.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBBINS AND I ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON, YOU KNOW, CELL PHONE AND JUST KIND OF TECHNOLOGY AND CHILDHOOD LEGISLATION.

I ALSO WORKED WITH REPRESENTATIVE MARK WIENS ON A BILL THAT WE'LL BE HEARING ON THE FLOOR SOON AROUND DATA COLLECTION AROUND THE VETERANS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ACT WHICH I CARRIED IN MY FIRST SESSION.

AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF PLACES WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF AGREEMENT AND PASSION.

>> Mary: AND YOU'VE BEEN AROUND FOR LONGER, WHAT ELSE?

>> WELL, I'VE WORKED BIPARTISANLY ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.

ESPECIALLY IN THE MINORITY.

WE REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A PATH FOR OUR BILLS TO GET HEARD, SO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH COLLEAGUES IS FANTASTIC BUT I ALSO THINK SPECIFICALLY THE CIVILITY "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" YOUS, LIKE WE DID A SPEED DATING EVENT ONCE WHERE WE GOT A BUNCH OF CHAIRS IN THE ROOM, CHAIRS OF COMMITTEES, AND WE'D SAY, YOU KNOW, GO PITCH YOUR BILL.

AND IT HELPED THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE TIME TO MEET WITH, BUT THEY GOT A ONE OFF WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ON GIVE MY BILL A HEARING.

SO I DO HINK THERE'S LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS THAT COMES OUT OF IT, UT THAT'S SECONDARY TO THE RELATIONSHIP PIECE.

>> Mary: AND COULD IT HELP YOU IF YOU AREN'T LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE MAJORITY?

WE SEE THE LATEST POLL, IF YOU TAKE A LOT OF CREDENCE IN THAT, REPUBLICANS AHEAD HERE, DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE MORE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY LEARNED HOW TO WORK RADIOS THE AISLE?

>> I WOULD SAY DEFINITELY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU COULD BE IN THE MINORITY AND TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND INCORPORATE THEIR INPUT, BECAUSE, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Mary: RIGHT, AND THE TRIFECTA YOU DIDN'T NECESSARILY SEE COMING.

SO HOW HARD HAS IT BEEN TO BE IN THE MINORITY?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFERENT.

I'VE ALWAYS SERVED IN THE MINORITY BUT THE FIRST TWO TERMS HAVING THE SENATE AS A BACK STOP DID MAKE THEM NEED US A LITTLE MORE.

TO CARRY A BILL FOR THEM OR GET THROUGH THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND NOW THAT THEY DON'T REALLY NEED OUR VETS, I WOO SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE LESS IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER.

BUT THEY'RE NOT SEEKING US OUT, BUT WE'RE STILL BUGGING THEM.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ENDER.

I AM LOOKING T TWO WOMEN WHO ARE CHAIRS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY IN THE LEGISLATURE, HAS BEEN CONTROLLED BY TWO WOMEN.

HOW MUCH DOES GENDER MATTER?

AND DO MOMS JUST GET IT DONE?

>> OUR COUNTERPARTS IN THE SENATE ARE BOTH MEN.

SO WE HAVE GENDER PARITY.

>> Mary: BUT WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN FROM YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE INFLUENCE THAT WOMEN HAVE HAD IN THIS LEGISLATURE?

>> HONESTLY, I LOVE THE NARRATIVE, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY COLLEGIAL BIPARTISAN MEN AS WELL.

SO I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US WHO CARE ABOUT UILDING BIPARTISAN RELATIONSHIPS LIKE I THINK WE COME IN ALL GENDERS.

>> I AGREE.

I MEAN, I USED TO WORK IN POLITICS IN CONGRESS 30 YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT.

TO BE A WOMAN 30 YEARS AGO IN POLITICS THAN IT IS NOW.

BUT I FEEL LIKE WE ALL RESPECT EACH OTHER AND TREAT EACH OTHER AS EQUALS.

I DO THINK -- WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE IT, BUT THE CIVILITY CAUCUS IS BICAMERAL SO ZACK DUCKWORTH AND GRANT HAUSCHILD ARE THE CO-CHAIRS THERE AND I THINK A LOT OF TIME AS THE BICAMERAL BUILDING OF RELATIONSHIPS.

>> Mary: WELL, LET US KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND STAY IN TOUCH ON WHAT YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING.

[ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> I'M A CHILD OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND IT'S SO CRITICAL THAT WE PRESERVE THE SURVIVOR STORIES.

IT MATTERS NOW BECAUSE THE SURVIVORS ARE THOSE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE ARE QUITE OLD AND WHEN WE LOSE THE LAST WITNESSES, WE HAVE TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE HIEWR THAT THEY'RE STORIES ARE TOLD AND THAT WE HONOR THEIR MEMORIES.

♪♪ >> Mary: YOU JUST GOT A GLIMENTS OF HIM THERE, NOW RETIRING REPRESENTATIVE FRANK HORNSTEIN HERE.

REPRESENTATIVE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT REALLY EMOTIONAL AND PERSONAL LEGISLATION THAT YOU WORKED ON, ON HOLOCAUST EDUCATION.

GETTING IN OUR CLASSROOMS.

WHY WAS IT SO IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, AS A CHILD OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS, IT'S VERY MEANINGFUL.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT BILL DONE.

AND THERE WAS A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR WHO TESTIFIED.

AND HER NAME OF BLESSED MEMORY, THAT'S WHAT WE SAY IN JUDAISM WHEN SOMEONE ASSES AWAY, SHE DID PASS AWAY A FEW MONTHS LATER, AND I ATTENDED THE FUNERAL.

AND THEY KEPT SAYING THAT THIS WAS A VERY MEANINGFUL MOMENT FOR HER AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: IT WAS POWERFUL TO BRING HER HERE AND HAVE HER TESTIFY.

DO YOU THINK THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TOO, TO BE THAT CLOSE TO IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN NOT ONLY IN THIS SITUATION, BUT IN MANY OTHER SITUATIONS, WHEN PEOPLE COME AND TELL THEIR PERSONAL STORIES HERE AT THE CAPITOL, IT CAN CHANGE MINDS.

IT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HOW UP.

YOU KNOW, WE DID A BILL SEVERAL YEARS AGO, A BIPARTISAN BILL, ME AND SENATOR NEWMAN, ON HANDS-FREE CELL PHONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES WHO HAD LOST PEOPLE CAME TO THE CAPITOL.

AND THAT LITERALLY CHANGED MINDS.

IT CHANGED THE WHOLE DYNAMIC OF THAT.

>> Mary: YOU DIDN'T PEEK AT MY NOTE OF NOTES, BUT OF COURSE THAT WAS SOMETHING I WAS GOING TO MENTION TO DOVE TAIL TO THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP.

THE REPUBLICAN WHO JUST LEFT WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH SHE WAS GOING TO MISS YOU.

YOU REALLY FORGED A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR REPUBLICAN CHAIR WHEN THEY WERE IN THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?

>> WELL, RELATIONSHIPS REALLY MATTER.

AND I THINK THAT EVEN WHEN ONE DISAGREES OR, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME TENSE MOMENTS, YOU KNOW, JUST GOING OVER AND SAYING ELLO, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST BEING PRESENT FOR PEOPLE REALLY MATTERS IN THIS PLACE.

>> Mary: AND HOW ABOUT THE BICAMERAL?

BECAUSE OUTSIDERS MAYBE DON'T KNOW THAT THE HOUSE DOESN'T ALWAYS TALK TO THE SENATE OR KNOW WHAT THE SENATE'S DOING, AND IT'S KIND OF REMARKABLE TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD HOW WALLED OFF THE TWO CHAMBERS CAN BE UNTIL YOU ARE A MEMBER.

BUT YOU WORKED VERY CLOSELY NOT JUST ACROSS THE AISLE BUT ACROSS THE CAPITOL.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT AND WHY THAT IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

SO WHEN WE ARE DOING LEGISLATION, YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE A SENATE PARTNER.

AND AGAIN, WE MAY NOT AGREE, EVEN IF WE'RE IN THE SAME PARTY -- >> Mary: ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT IT WAS A DIFFERENT PARTY CONTROL.

>> BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO WORK DOUBLY HARD.

BUT EVEN IN THE SAME PARTY, THE CULTURES OF THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE DIFFERENT.

AND SO YOU HAVE TO, AGAIN, TRY TO FORGE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SENATE PARTNER TO GET A BILL THROUGH.

>> Mary: AND YOU GOT SOME PRETTY BIG TRANSPORTATION BILLS THROUGH.

WHAT AREA MOST PROUD OF?

>> WELL, I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE BILL THAT WE PASSED LAST YEAR.

WE FOCUSED ON SAFETY.

WE FOCUSED ON THE CLIMATE ASPECTS OF TRANSPORTATION.

TRANSPORTATION IS THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, SO WE HAD SOME IMPORTANT CLIMATE PROVISIONS.

IN THAT BILL.

AND JOBS.

COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION, TRANSPORTATION IS REALLY A KEY TO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'VE SEEN WITH THE NEW LIGHT RAIL LINE, THAT MOMENT WHERE JUST N AVERAGE CITIZEN TOOK A TAPE MEASURE OUT AND FOUND -- >> THAT WAS A CONSTITUENT OF MINE.

AND, YOU KNOW, SHE CALLED MY ATTENTION TO THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO GET ONTO THE NEWS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL.

AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE HAVE TO BE -- THOSE HAVE TO BE FIXED.

>> Mary: AND WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DO?

YOU GIVE THE MONEY, BUT DO YOU HAVE SOME OVERSIGHT.

>> YOU HAVE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, AND WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE AUDIT THAT CAME OUT ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S STILL SOME PIECES OF THAT THAT WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT CCOUNTABILITY.

>> Mary: THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED TO A VERY NOTABLE FAMOUS WOMAN AND I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF OUR VIEWIERS THIS WHOLE TIME.

IS SHE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN?

>> SHE'S AN AMAZING WOMAN.

MY WIFE, RABBI MARCIA ZIMMERMAN.

AND, NO, WE ARE TRUE PARTNERS IN ALL OF OUR PUBLIC WORK.

AND NO, I THINK SHE'S, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT CHAPTER AS AM I.

>> Mary: DID SHE INSURANCE YOU OVER THE YEARS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO MANY TIMES I'VE COME TO HER FOR COUNSEL.

AND PERSPECTIVE.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SHE'S NOT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT HE HAS SO MANY INSTINCTS AND INTUITIONS.

>> Mary: AND SHE'S QUITE THE ORATOR.

DO YOU REFER BILL SPEECHES BY HER >> ABSOLUTELY.

ALL THE TIME.

>> Mary: AND SHE GAVE YOU TIPS OVER THE YEARS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND EVEN TO THIS DAY.

>> Mary: WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO LAWMAKERS.

HOW DO YOU TELL OTHER LAWMAKERS TO DO THAT?

>> I THINK, AGAIN, THE RELATIONAL ASPECT OF THIS PLACE IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN IN THESE TOUGH PARTISAN TIMES IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO FORGE RELATIONSHIPS.

>> Mary: AND DOES IT FEEL MORE PARTISAN?

>> I FEEL THAT, YES, I'VE BEEN HERE 22 YEARS, AND IT'S DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, THE FLOOR FIGHTS MUCH MORE INTENSE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT ISN'T QUITE THE SAME PLACE AS WHEN I ARRIVED HERE.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOUR YOUR SERVICE, REPRESENTATIVE HORNSTEIN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU BET.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, HIS FIRST TERM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE A REPUBLICAN TRIFECTA, BUT HE WAS STILL ABLE TO GET SOME THINGS DONE IN THE MINORITY.

REPRESENTATIVE, FIRST OF ALL, I START WITH THE SAME QUESTION.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

>> OH, BOY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO BE OPENING A CAN OF WORMS.

WHAT MOTIVATED ME WAS DURING THE COVID ANDEMIC, I'M A PASTOR AT A CHURCH.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE THREESED OUR CHURCH DOWN FOR, LIKE, FOUR SERVICES, I THINK, FOUR OR FIVE SERVICES, ABOUT A MONTH.

AND IT WAS TERRIBLE.

I LOST A LOVED ONE TO COVID.

IT WASN'T FILLING PEOPLE LIKE WHAT THEY WERE PREDICTING, THOUGH.

AND SO -- AND THEN I HAD PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IN OUR COMMUNITY THERE WAS PEOPLE COMMITTING SUICIDE, AND THIS WAS IN THE CHURCH.

NOT MY CHURCH PERSONALLY BUT ANOTHER CHURCH.

AND I HAD PEOPLE COMING TO ME AND SAY, HEY, CAN WE JUST COME AND SIT WITH YOU AT THE LIVE STREAMS?

AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, WE GOT TO STOP THIS.

WE GOT TO EDEN PRAIRIE UP OUR CHURCH.

PEOPLE ARE CRAVING FELLOWSHIP RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE SCARED.

WAS A FEW MONTHS LATER MANDATED THAT CHURCHES HAD TO CLOSE DOWN.

AND THAT DID NOT SIT WELL WITH MY PITTER.

IT STARTED MOVING ME INTO STUDYING THE CONSTITUTION.

AND GETTING MORE POLITICALLY INVOLVED AS A PASTOR.

AND, YOU KNOW, I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE CONDEMN ME FOR THAT.

PASTORS HOULDN'T GET INVOLVED POLITICALLY.

>> Mary: YEAH, IT'S NOT WITHOUT RISK WHO GETS POLITICALLY INVOLVED.

>> ORRECT.

AND THAT DIDN'T SIT RIGHT WITH MY CONVICTIONS EITHER.

SO AS I STARTED STUDYING THE CONSTITUTION, I JUST CAME TO REALIZE THAT THESE RIGHTS WE HAVE ARE INALIENABLE, LIKE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SAYS, AND THE DAY AFTER RESTRICTING HAPPENED, I HAD A GOOD FRIEND CALLED ME AND SAY THAT YOU AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT WHERE THERE IS NO SITTING REGISTRATION, AND I SAID TO HIM, WELL, YOU SHOULD RUN.

>> Mary: SO YOU DIDN'T VOLUNTEER FIRST OFF?

>> NO, AND HE SAID, NO, NO, YOU SHOULD RUN.

AND AFTER ABOUT A WEEK OF PRAYER, I FELT LIKE THAT WAS THE PATH GOD WANTED ME TO GO DOWN.

>> 6A, DAVIS.

DAVIS, PRESENT.

>> Mary: SO YOU COME INTO THE MINORITY.

WHAT KIND OF SESSION WHAT IT FOR YOU NOT BEING IN POWER.

>> I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A REPUBLICAN TRIFECTA.

AND WHEN THE OPPOSITE HAPPENED, IT WAS QUITE SHOCKING.

AND WOKE ME UP TO THE REALITY OF MINNESOTA POLITICS.

THE TRIFECTA WASN'T EVEN REALLY WILLING TO LISTEN TO ME OR MY IDEAS.

>> Mary: SO DID YOU LEARN SOME THINGS OR WERE YOU JUST FULLY FRUSTRATED BY YOUR REALITY?

>> NO, I WAS FRUSTRATED, BUT NO, I'VE LEARNED WED A LOT IN MY FIRST YEAR.

GETTINGTO KNOW FOLKS ACROSS THE IMRIEL, BEHIND THE SCENES, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE CAMERAS AREN'T ON US.

I ACTUALLY, WITH A DEMOCRAT TRIFECTA, WAS ABLE SOMEHOW, I THINK IT WAS A MIRACLE OF GOD, BUT TO GET ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION DONE.

YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY PEOPLE TO ALLOT HARVEST IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

NOW, I WANT AED IT TO BE A FELONY CRIME.

BUT IT WAS CHANGED TO A PETTY MISDEMEANOR.

>> Mary: THAT'S STILL A VERY BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.

>> I WAS ABLE TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

AND I HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE.

CROSS LAKE IS THE TOWN I'M CLOSEST TO.

>> Mary: THAT'S PART OF THE NORTHLAND THAT DEMOCRATS USED TO DOMINATE AND REPUBLICANS ARE MAKE ACHE INROADS, ARE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THAT UP THERE?

>> WE DOOR KNOCKED 5,000 DOORS AND AT THE DOORS, THE PEOPLE I WAS DOOR KNOCKING, YOU KNOW, I FIGURED, WELL, MAYBE IT LEANS A LITTLE RED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE, YOU KNOW?

AND O I WASN'T CONFIDENT.

BUT ON ELECTION NIGHT, I WON MY RACE BY 25 POINTS.

SO IT WAS VERY HEAVY RED DISTRICT.

THE EGISLATION THAT CAME THROUGH, I MEAN, IT HAD MY HEAD SPINNING, MARY.

AND I'M JUST -- I'M LOOKING AT OTHER EPRESENTATIVES, I'M GOING, IS THIS NORMAL?

AND THEY'RE LIKE, NO, THIS IS NOT NORMAL.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH LEGISLATION PUSHED THROUGH SO FAST.

AND I WAS WARNED, MISTAKES ARE GOING TO BE MADE.

>> I RECOGNIZE THE MEMBER FROM CROW WING, REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS.

>> THANK YOU, Mr. SPEAKER.

>> Mary: SO ANY GOALS FOR UPCOMING SESSION, THINGS YOU THINK YOU CAN GET ACROSS THE AISLE?

>> SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

I WOULD LIKE A FULL ELIMINATION OF THAT.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK THAT SHIP HAS SAILED?

>> I HOPE NOT.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH IT, AND MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT.

I STILL GET PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE, HEY, WHAT WITH DEE HERE?

>> MORE SURPLUS HELPS THE ARGUMENT.

DO YOU THINK THAT MAYBE GIVES YOU A CHANCE.

>> WE HAD A $18.5 BILLION SURPLUS LAST YEAR, AND NO, I DON'T THINK IT'LL HELP THE ARGUMENT AT ALL.

MY WIFE RUNS THE FINANCES IN OUR HOUSE.

BECAUSE SHE'S -- IT'S JUST ONE OF OUR GIFTING, SHE'S VERY GOOD AT IT, BUT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY FRUGAL, SO I'M COMING IN WITH A FRUGAL HEART AND THIS SPENDING TO ME IS WAY OUT OF CONTROL.

♪♪ >> I DIDN'T GROW UP IN MINNESOTA.

I GREW UP IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

I MARRIED A MINNESOTAN AND WHEN WE WERE DECIDING TO START BUSINESSES, IT MADE SENSE IN MINNESOTA FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS, CLOSER TO FAMILY, A LOT OF 9 POLICIES WE REALLY LIKED.

AND SO WE HAVE AND I NEW WANT TO LEAVE.

ALL MY TRAINING IS OFFICIALLY IN THEOLOGY AND PRACTICE.

IT DOES SOUND LIKE A LEAP BUT AT THE HEART OF BOTH RELIGION AND POLITICS IS THE IDEA OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO DO GOOD.

I COME FROM A DIVIDED MINNESOTANS, I THINK LIKE MANY MINES AND MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA, MY PARENTS ARE VERY STAUNCH REPUBLICANS.

I JOUST FOUND THAT I DISAGREED WITH A LOT OF THOSE POLICIES, BUT I ALSO THINK PEOPLE WHO I STRANGELY DISAGREE WITH SHOULD STILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS DISCUSSION.

YES, I AM A PARTISAN BECAUSE OF COURSE YOU GOT TO CHOOSE A PARTY BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I AM A PARTISAN IN THE SENSE THAT I DON'T LISTEN TO THE OTHER SIDE.

>> Mary: WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH THAT AND LAWMAKERS HERE FROM THE CAPITOL FRIDAY NIGHT ON "ALMANAC," ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK ABOUT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN AND THEY HAVE HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS.

THAT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH.

WE HAVE A UNIQUE STORY TAKING A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES OF FORMER GOVERNOR JESSE VEIN VENTURA'S BUDDING BUSINESS AS I TOUR WITH HIM AT JESSE VENTURA FARMS.

THIS IS A LIFE DREAM FULFILLED FOR THE GOVERNOR AND WE HAVE YOUR UNIQUE LOOK THERE.

ALSO, IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

THERE YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IF YOU WANT TO WATCH LAWMAKERS HERE, FLOOR SESSIONS, CONFERENCE COMMITTEES, PRESS CONFERENCES, IT'S THE STATION UYOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW ON STATEWIDE TV AND THAT'S IT FOR US FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS SO MUCH.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪ >> "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 $4 BILLION TO BENEFIT ALL MINNESOTANS SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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