WE'LL MEET THE NEW SENATOR FROM HIBBING WHO CALLS HIMSELF A PRO-UNION REPUBLICAN.

FIRST, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT CAPITOL ACTIVITY THIS WEEK.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WORK IS UNDERWAY.

>> WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR FIRST CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> THIS IS NOT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

THIS IS NOT THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.

THIS IS NOT THE HIGHER ED COMMITTEE.

THIS IS THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE.

THAT MUST BE OUR FOCUS FIRST AND LAST.

>> Mary: AS SELECT HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS MEET TO WORK OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES ON LARGE OMNIBUS BILLS.

>> I FOR ONE AM VERY EXCITED TO BE ON THE CUSP OF WHAT I THINK ARE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN POLICY CHANGES IN MINNESOTA, AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE DOING TO END THIS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WITH A PRODUCT THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.

>> I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY AND GET TO WORK ON THESE GREAT BILLS.

[CHANTING] >> WITH DEMOCRATS THIS COMPLETE CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL, THEY CONTINUE TO MOVE TOP PRIORITIES LIKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

>> WE ARE HERE BECAUSE AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF FIGHTING OF MINNESOTANS, DECLARING THAT IT IS TIME, IT IS TIME, IT IS TIME, WE ARE NOW MOVING AT THE SPEED OF ME AND ETTING READY TO PASS PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

[Cheering] >> THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO TELL SOME OF THE MOST HEART-BREAKING STORIES, AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT WITHOUT VERY MUCH MOVEMENT.

AND SO IT IS REALLY EXCITING TO BE IN THIS SPACE WITH ALL OF THEM TODAY, KNOWING THAT THEIR HARD WORK ON -- THAT THERE IS A BILL THAT IS MOVING IN BOTH HE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

>> TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILIES OR OURSELVES SHOULD NOT COME SECOND TO OUR JOBS.

MINNESOTANS HAVE EARNED AND DESERVE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS HAVE CONCERNS OF A LARGE NEW GOVERNMENT-RUN PROGRAM.

>> WE'VE MADE THE STATE OF MINNESOTA THE REFUGEE -- THE REFUGE FOR EVERYTHING BUT EMPLOYERS.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO CRUSH EVERY ENTREPRENEUR.

>> THIS PLAN WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT HIS SET OF BENEFITS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO COST NOTICE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A TAX ON MINNESOTANS.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING NINE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS OF NEW TAXES IN THE DEMOCRATS' BUDGET TARGETS, NINE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS OF NEW TAXES AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED THE HIGHEST SURPLUS IN THE HISTORY OF THIS STATE.

>> WHAT WE DON'T NEED IS WE DO