CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT DEBATE NIGHT 2022, A LOOK AT OUR AREA LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES.

YOUR MODERATOR TONIGHT IS BETHANY WESLEY, AND NOW THE SENATE DISTRICT 2 BIEB.

>> Bethany: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO OUR SECOND NIGHT OF DEBATE NIGHT 2022 AT THE LAKELAND PBS STUDIO IN BEMIDJI.

I'M BETHANY WESLEY, YOUR MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT.

WE'RE CONTINUING AN EXCITING WEEK OF DEBATES COVERING TOPICS AND ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITIES.

TONIGHT, WE WILL COVER THREE OF THE REMAINING SIX STATE LEGISLATIVE DEBATES.

FOR NOW, WE'LL TURN OUR ATTENTION TO SENATE DISTRICT 2.

OUR CANDIDATES TONIGHT ARE REPRESENTATIVE STEVE GREEN, REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND ALAN ROY, DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY.

OUR PANEL TONIGHT ARE DENNIS WEIMANN, LAKELAND PBS NEWS DIRECTOR, HEIDI HOLTAN, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO AFFILIATE KAXE NEWS DIRECTOR, AND NICOLE RONCHETTI, BEMIDJI PIONEER REPORTER.

LET'S SET THE STAGE WITH SOME RULES FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

OUR OPENING COMMENTS WILL START WITH EACH CANDIDATE.

THEY'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES EACH FOR OPENING COMMENTS.

THE PANEL WILL THEN ASK QUESTIONS.

SOME WILL BE THEIR OWN QUESTIONS, OTHERS MAY COME FROM THE PUBLIC.

THE CANDIDATES WILL ROTATE THE ORDER THEY SPEAK, BEGINNING WITH OPENING COMMENTS AND FINISHING WITH CLOSING COMMENTS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL ALSO HAVE A ONE-MINUTE REBUTTAL OR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THEREAFTER.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF USING ONE MINUTE OF BONUS TIME TO ADD ON AT ONE OF THEIR ANSWERS TONIGHT.

THIS CAN BE USED DURING THE INITIAL QUESTION OR DURING THE REBUTTAL/ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, BUT IT CAN ONLY BE USED ONCE.

QUESTIONS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL WE'RE ABOUT 50 MINUTES INTO THE DEBATE AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO CLOSING COMMENTS.

CLOSING COMMENTS WILL BE TWO MINUTES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET THINGS STARTED WITH OPENING COMMENTS.

OPENING FIRST WILL BE ALAN.

>> Roy: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON HERE THIS EVENING.

MY NAME IS ALAN ROY AND I'M RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE IN SENATE DISTRICT 2.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND FOR SOME OF THE VIEWERS AT HOME WHO DON'T KNOW ME.

ITS BORN AND RAISED IN THE AREA, THE DFL ENDORSED CANDIDATE.

I'M ALSO A FATHER OF THREE AT HOME, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY HI TO MY WIFE AND OUR THREE KIDS.

ALSO TO MY PARENTS AS WELL.

MY BACKGROUND IS, I WENT TO SCHOOL IN DETROIT LAKES HIGH SCHOOL.

I WENT TO COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND GRADUATED FROM 2006.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I JOINED THE ARMY.

I COMMISSIONED AS AN OFFICER IN 2007.

I WENT OFF TO TRAINING AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I DEPLOYED TO OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.

FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS OF MY LIFE, I'VE SPENT IN NATIONAL SERVICE, WHETHER ON ACTIVE DUTY OR AS A RESERVIST, AND FOR THOSE FOLKS AT HOME THAT ARE WATCHING, I DO COMMEND OUR VETERANS ALL ACROSS THE U.S. AND IN MINNESOTA.

ALSO, AS PART OF MY BACKGROUND, I'VE SERVED AS THE SECRETARY-TREASURER OF THE WHITE EARTH NATION.

I RECENTLY FINISHED MY TERM HERE THIS PAST SUMMER.

LAST YEAR, MY WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND WE HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF HER AND SHE'S FULLY RECOVERED NOW, SO FOR THOSE CANCER SURVIVORS AT HOME, PLEASE KNOW THAT THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS DO HELP.

I'M ALSO A -- I WILL INTRODUCE MYSELF AS OJIBWE.

[ SPEAKING OJIBWE ] I SAID OJIBWE NAME IS WHITE WOLF.

I'M ALSO KNOWN AS ALAN ROY.

I'M FROM THE LOON CLAN AND I COME FROM STRAWBERRY LAKE ON WHITE EARTH RESERVATION.

I BELIEVE IN A FAIR MINNESOTA.

I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE BEEN OFTEN FORGOTTEN ABOUT IN THE TWIN STET.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR THE NEEDS HERE, JUST ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE.

I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FOLKS ARE NOT FOREGOTTEN AND THAT REQUIRES STRONG LEADERSHIP.

I BELIEVE I HAVE THAT LEADERSHIP AND I WILL BE BRINGING IT TO ST. PAUL.

I ALSO HAVE A TRACK RECORD FOR BEING INDEPENDENT, MEANING I'M WILLING TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

I AM A PRAGMATIST BEFORE POLITICIAN.

I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT OF THINGS TOGETHER.

AND FINALLY, FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING AT HOME, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AND I WISH MR. GREEN ALL THE BEST IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, ALAN.

STEVE.

>> Green: THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU TO LAKELAND TV FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT.

IT'S ALWAYS A NICE EVENT AND GOOD TO BE HERE.

THIS IS PROBABLY KIND OF OLD NEWS FOR ME, ALTHOUGH THE LAST YEAR, IT WAS KIND OF TOUGH WITH THE ZOOM MEETING, BUT I AM STEVE GREEN.

I CURRENTLY SERVE IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

I'M RUNNING FOR THE STATE SENATE THIS YEAR WITH THE NEW REDISTRICTING.

THIS IS AN OPEN SEAT FOR THE SENATE.

I LIVE WITH MY WIFE CINDY, WE'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR NEARLY 44 YEARS.

WE HAVE SIX GROWN CHILDREN AND WE HAVE 15 GRANDCHILDREN.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE LEGISLATURE, AS WE COME TOGETHER, HAS TO LOOK FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE.

WE'RE NOT HERE FOR US ANYMORE, WE'RE HERE TO PRESERVE THE FREEDOMS WE'VE ENJOYED OVER THE YEARS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

AS WE'RE LOOKING ACROSS MINNESOTA AND EVEN THE STATE -- OR THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THOSE FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOYED WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER ARE VANISHING BEFORE OUR EYES, SO IT'S JUST CRUCIAL FOR US TO LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR STATE, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY, THE ISSUES WITH THE INFLATION THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, THE GAS PRICES, THE HORRIBLE STATISTICS THAT WE HAVE ON PUBLIC SAFETY SINCE THE BIDEN AND WALZ ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE, AND ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING I THINK WE'LL BE DISCUSSING HERE TONIGHT IS THE KNOCKING DOORS IN THE BEMIDJI AREA, ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS HERE, IT WAS TWO-FOLD ACTUALLY.

PROBABLY THE TOP ONE WAS PARENTAL RIGHTS IN THE SCHOOLS, AND WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD NOW ELECTIONS THAT I THINK BEMIDJI AREA HAS 16 PEOPLE RUNNING BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN SOME ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DEALT WITH.

THEY DON'T THINK THEY HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH, AND I'VE HEARD THAT AT THE DOORS, AND THE NEXT IS THE CRIME AND THE DRUGS IN THE AREA.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN BRING FORWARD.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY.

IT DIDN'T -- IT NEVER TAKES A SHORT TIME TO FIX BAD DECISIONS, BUT WE NEED TO GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY ON THOSE AREAS.

FOR ME, BORN AND RAISED IN THE AREA.

I CURRENTLY LIVING ON A FAMILY FEES OF LAND THAT MY GRANDFATHER -- PIECE OF LAND THAT MY GRANDFATHER PURCHASED BACK IN THE '30s AND I GREW UP THERE.

MY DAD GREW UP THERE, AND MY KIDS GREW UP THERE.

AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART NG KEEPING IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA IN GOOD RESPONSIBLE HANDS TO PASS ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR QUESTIONS FROM THE FAMILIAR.

OUR FIRST QUESTION WILL COME FROM DENNIS, AND STEVE, YOU'LL ANSWER FIRST.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AND TAKING PART IN OUR DEBATES HERE.

THE FIRST QUESTION FOR TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT CRIME STATS IN THE STATE.

FROM 2018 TO 2021, WE'VE SEEN A LARGE INCREASE IN CRIME.

VIOLENT CRIME IS UP 42%, MURDERS ARE ITEM 93% OVER THAT TIME, AND ROBBERIES 35%.

AS A LAWMAKER, HOW WOULD YOU WORK TO REVERSE THIN CREASE IN CRIME IN THE STATE?

>> Green: THE THINK THAT YOU CAN SEE IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS COMING DOWN, FOR ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN DECLINE, ALMOST VERBATIM YOU CAN SEE A RISE OF CRIME IN THOSE AREAS.

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE NEED TO DO IS RECRUIT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT KNOWS WE HAVE THEIR BACK.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THEY'VE COME UNDER A LOT OF FIRE THROUGH, LIKE AGAIN, THE BIDEN AND WALZ ADMINISTRATIONS THAT HAVE COME AFTER OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, DEMONIZED THEM, AND NOW UNDERSTANDABLY, WE'RE SEEING NOT ONLY MAJOR INFLUX IN RETIREMENTS, PEOPLE RETIRING EARLY, PEOPLE OPTING OUT, AND WE ALSO CAN'T SEEM TO GET RECRUITMENTS UP.

OUR RECRUITMENTS ARE SO FAR DOWN, IT'S DISMAL.

I WAS SPEAKING TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE IN BEMIDJI, HE SAID WHEN THEY WOULD RUN THE ADS FOR NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THEY WOULD USUALLY HAVE ABOUT 100 PEOPLE TO PICK FROM AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 6 TO 12.

THERE'S NOT REALLY -- WE JUST NEED TO HAVE A PROGRAM AND HOPEFULLY STARTING IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT PROMOTES LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAIN AND LETS THE YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW NOT ONLY ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE TO PROTECT YOU, THEY'RE YOUR FRIENDS AND WE WORK AN ON THAT.

THE OTHER ISSUE WE HAVE ON CRIME IS THE LACK OF PROSECUTIONS WE'RE NOT, NOT JUST IN THE -- WE'RE SEEING, NOT JUST IN THE AREA, BUT ACROSS THE STATE.

THERE, TOO, I THINK IN THE BEMIDJI AREA AS I WAS TALKING TO THE SHERIFF, THERE ARE -- NOW WE'RE HAVING CRIMES THAT ARE ACTUALLY RUNNING OUT WITH THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO BACKLOGGED.

BUT WE NEED TO GO AFTER THE CRIMINALS AND SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

ALAN?

>> Roy: THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU, MR. GREEN, FOR THOSE COMMENTS.

I WOULD AGREE THAT THE CRIME STATS WE HAVE IN THE STATE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

I KNOW THAT OUR -- WE DO HAVE, AS MR. GREEN POINTED OUT, WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE FULLY SUPPORTING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, ESPECIALLY HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF DRUG TRADE IS COMING THROUGH NORTHERN MINNESOTA WHICH IS BEING ADDRESSED BY OUR SHERIFFS, WHICH ARE BEING UNDERSTAFFED, OUR CITY POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE WORKING VERY HARD ON IT, AND I DO WANT TO DRAW A DISTINCTION, THOUGH.

THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY IN AND AROUND BEMIDJI IS HIGH, OKAY?

FROM THE FOLKS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE BEHIND OUR MOVES OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA THAT WE DO IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

HOWEVER, I WOULD SAY THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF COLLABORATION LOCALLY, WHICH IS VERY PROMISING.

WE KNOW THE PAUL BUNYAN TASK FORCE, WORKING ON A LOT OF THE ISSUES BEING DISCUSSED HERE TONIGHT, THEY'RE WORKING WITH A LOT OF THEIR STATE PARTNERS, THEY'RE WORKING WITH A LOT OF TRIBES IN THE AREA, WHICH IS ALSO, I THINK, IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOME OF THESE TRIBES HAVE SOME OF THE LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES IN THE AREA AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT WORK BEING DONE.

AND I THINK IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE MORE ACTIVELY ON THAT, WE CAN HAVE GREATER RESULTS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US DOWN AT THE LEGISLATURE?

THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO FULLY FUN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WE NEED TO FULLY FIND AND SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND I WILL STAND BEHIND THAT.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ALAN.

STEVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> Green: YES, I DO.

THE ISSUE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALTHOUGH YES, WE DO SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT UP HERE MORE THAN THEY DO IN THE METRO AREA, YET AT THE SAME TIME, THE SAME ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING THE METRO AREA ARE AFFECTING US AND WE SEE THAT IN THE RECRUITMENT UP HERE.

I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY OUT HERE THAT I'VE TALKED TO PERSONALLY THAT'S GONE OUT AND ABUSED OR TALKED AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS AREA, SO MR. ROY IS RIGHT AT THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE STILL NOT GETTING THE PEOPLE INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE NEED THERE TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT OUR CITIZENS.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

ALAN?

>> Roy: AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD ADD IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING THEM WITH THE PROPER TRAINING AND RESOURCES.

AND THAT MEANS MORE FUNDING FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND PARTNERS.

I KNOW A LOT OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE TASKED WITH BEING -- THEY'RE GOING OUT THERE AND HANDLING A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SO WE NEED TO WORK ON ISSUES AS LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM HEIDI.

>> Heidi: FARMING IS VITAL TO NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA.

IT'S ALSO NOT EASY.

WHAT DO FARMERS NEED FROM GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW AND WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

>> Bethany: ALAN.

>> Roy: THANK YOU.

OUR FARMERS ARE OFTEN FORGOTTEN ABOUT DOWN IN ST. PAUL.

WE KNOW THAT THE SENATE DISTRICT 2, THE WESTERN PORTION AND ALL ACROSS THE WHOLE SENATE DISTRICT FOR THAT MATTER, OUR FARMERS ARE FORGOTTEN ABOUT.

AND A GOOD POINT I WANT TO RAISE TO THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE DROUGHTS WERE HAPPENING, THE LEGISLATURE FAILED TO MOVE ON THAT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

NOW D THEY GET TO IT AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME?

YES, BUT OUR FARMERS NEED TO SUPPORT RIGHT AWAY.

ALSO, I WOULD ADD THAT A LOT OF OUR NEW INCOMING FARMERS, THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THE EXPERIENCE, THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND KNOW-NOW FROM THE FARM SERVICE AGENCY AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE EDUCATION, MORE COMMUNICATION FROM OUR STATE AGENCIES IF AND FROM THE FARM SERVICE AGENCIES, FOR THAT MATTER, TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE BEING PROVIDED TO OUR FARMERS.

ALSO, WE DO KNOW THAT -- I'VE PHONE ON -- PHONE ON THIS ON THE RECORD AS WELL, I THINK THE TAX RATES ON SOME OF OUR FARMLANDS AND FARM BUSINESSES ARE WAY TOO HIGH.

PI THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE THOSE TAXES.

WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT OUR FARMING COMMUNITY HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, I STAND BEHIND.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ALAN.

STEVE?

>> Green: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

FARMERS ARE JUST AN INTRICATE PART OF MINNESOTA.

THEY MAKE UP NEARLY 30% OF OUR GDP AND THAT'S THE FINANCIAL PART OF IT, BUT THE BIGGER PART OF IT IS THAT THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS OUT THERE WORK HARD EVERY DAY, AND AS FAR -- I WILL ADDRESS THE DROUGHT RELIEF SHORTLY.

THE DROUGHT RELIEF FUNDING WAS THERE, AND WE TRIED TO PASS IT ON A STAND-ALONE BILL, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR A LONG TIME, TRYING TO DO AWAY WITH THE OMNIBUS BILLS, BUT ON A STAND-ALONE BILL, IT WOULDN'T PASS.

THEY KEPT ADDING MORE AND MORE STUFF ON IT UNTIL IT GOT TIED UP UNTIL THE END.

THAT'S THE ISSUE ON THE DROUGHT RELIEF, BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT.

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE CAN DO FOR OUR FARMERS, AND I'VE TALKED TO THEM FOR YEARS AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THIS REOCCURRING THEME FROM ME ALL NIGHT, AND THAT'S OVERREGULATION BY THE STATE PFR STATE AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY RIGHT NOW TO GO IN AND THEY CAN FEE AND FINE AND PUT REGULATIONS ON OUR FARMERS THAT NEVER EVEN SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S CALLED A RULE MAKING PROCESS AND THEY HAVE GONE BACK DECADES AND PULLED OLD RULES OUT OF THEIR PLAYBOOK AND USED THEM TODAY TO HARM NOT JUST FARMERS, BUT OTHER BUSINESSES.

BUT IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS OUR FARMING COMMUNITY IN THE WAY OF DRAINAGE, IN THE WAY THEY CAN FERTILIZE THEIR CROPS, AND MANY OTHER ISSUES DOWN THE LINE.

AS YOU SPEAK TO YOUR FARMERS, THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO TELL YOU.

WE NEED THE GOVERNMENT OFF OUR BACK SO WE CAN FARM.

WE ALSO HAVE FUNDED, AND IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, THE NEW FARMER PROGRAM TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE GET INTO FARMING.

AND THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER MONEY THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR REVOLVING LOANS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE HAD SO FAR TO DATE.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

ALAN?

>> Roy: I WOULD JUST ADD THAT OUR FARMERS NEED TO BE -- THEIR NEEDS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED RIGHT AWAY AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO PRIORITIZE THAT DOWN AT THE LEGISLATURE, I WILL WORK VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE.

EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE SO THINGS DON'T GET HELD UP DOWN AT THE LEGISLATURE.

THEY WANT RESULTS THEY WANT IT NOW.

>> Green: I WOULD SAY THAT WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE WOULD BE GREAT.

I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT.

I'VE TRIED TO DO THAT.

I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH LUCK.

SINCE THE TIME OF GOVERNOR DAYTON AND NOW GOVERNOR WALZ AT THE SAME TIME, IT SEEMS THAT THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PREVENT THE FARMERS FROM SUCCESSFULLY MOVING FORWARD.

THEY TALK A GOOD GAME DURING THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, BUT THEY NEVER SEE IT THROUGH.

AND SO IF THESE PEOPLE IN THE HIGHER OFFICES LIKE THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER STATE OFFICES AND THE COMMISSIONERS WERE SERIOUS ABOUT HELPING FARMERS, THEY COULD DO IT SIMPLY BY PULLING BACK ON THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM NICOLE.

>> Nicole: I'M SURE YOU'RE BOTH AWARE, THERE WAS A LOT ON THE LEGISLATURE'S DOCKET DURING THIS LAST SESSION.

DESPITE THAT, NEGOTIATIONS FELL THROUGH IN AN INCREASINGLY PARTISAN ENVIRONMENT.

IF YOU GO TO THE LEGISLATURE IN ST. PAUL, HOW WILL YOU ENSURE THAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES ITS JOB EFFECTIVELY AND DOESN'T GET BOGGED DOWN IN CONFLICT?

>> Green: THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

FIRST THING I WANT TO REALLY MAKE CLEAR TO EVERYBODY HERE IS THAT IN THE LAST SESSION, THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES OVER THE SURPLUS WHICH MAYBE WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER, BUT WHAT GOT BOGGED DOWN WAS THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION.

AND IT WASN'T FOR LACK OF TRYING.

I HAD ASKED FOR MEETINGS WITH SOME OF THE CHAIRMEN OF THE ZIFT COMMITTEES AND COULDN'T RECEIVE -- DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AND COULDN'T RECEIVE ANY HEARINGS OR NOT ONLY HEARINGS, BUT MEETINGS WITH THESE PEOPLE.

AND SO THE COMMUNICATION PROBLEM WITH NOT JUST THE ZOOM MEETINGS AND THE DISTANCE THAT WE HAD BETWEEN US, BUT ALSO THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE METRO AND THE GREATER MINNESOTA HAS GOTTEN SO WIDE AND TOO MUCH, I THINK, OF PERSONAL FEELINGS HAVE COME INTO IT ON THE SIDE OF THE METRO AREA, AND THEY JUST REFUSE TO SEE THAT WE'RE STILL OUT HERE, THAT WE HAVE A VOICE OUT HERE.

AND SO THAT WAS SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD AS FAR AS THE BREAKDOWN GOES.

I ALSO WANT TO MAKE VERY CLEAR THAT IN THE LAST SESSION, THIS WAS A BONDING YEAR AND THE BONDING DIDN'T GET DONE, AND THAT WAS THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS OF THE TWO CHAIRS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

BUT AS FAR AS THE BUDGET GOES, THE BUDGET WAS PASSED THE YEAR BEFORE, SO OUR STATE WAS FULLY FUNDED ALL THE WAY THROUGH JUNE OF 2023.

SO THE BREAKDOWN DID NOT AFFECT THE BIANNUAL BUDGET IN THAT ASPECT.

>> Bethany: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

ALAN.

>> Roy: YOU KNOW, THE INFIGHTING THAT'S HAPPENING DOWN AT ST. PAUL IS UNACCEPTABLE.

THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA SEND US DOWN THERE TO WORK TOGETHER AND THEY WANT US TO -- AND THEY WANT RESULTS, AND THEY WANT IT NOW.

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IS JUST -- IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE BALLPARK OF WHAT'S ACCEPTABLE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE PEOPLE'S TIME, IT'S THE PEOPLE'S RESOURCES, IT'S THE PEOPLE'S TAX DOLLARS THAT PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING OVER.

THEY WANT TO US GO DOWN THERE AND WORK TOGETHER.

THEY WANT TO US GET THINGS DONE.

THEY DON'T WANT US TO TRY TO STALL AND FIGURE OUT WHO'S GOING TO HAVE THE NEXT MAJORITY, RIGHT?

MY COMMITMENT TO SENATE DISTRICT 2 IS TO VOTE MY DISTRICT, TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL THE NEEDS ALL ACROSS MINNESOTA, NOT WHAT'S ABOUT BEST FOR ONE PARTY, WHETHER IT'S THE DFL OR THE GOP.

THAT DOES NOT MATTER TO ME.

WHAT MATTERS TO ME IS MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING THE PEOPLE'S WORK AND DOING IT RIGHT AWARE.

THAT REQUIRES CLEAR AND CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, WITH SENATE LEADERSHIP, WITH HOUSE LEADERSHIP, AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT WE NEED TO GET THIS WORK DONE.

IF WE DON'T GET IT DONE, WE'RE GOING TO END UP PASSING THE BALL, PASSING THE BUCK TO THE NEXT YEAR AND WAIT AND DECIDE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE AT STAKE.

MR. GREEN HAD MENTIONED THERE'S A HUGE SURPLUS THAT'S GOING ON THAT'S DOWN THERE AT THE -- DOWN IN ST. PAUL THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED HERE IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE FUNDS NEED TO GO BACK TO OUR MINNESOTANS.

I THINK THAT PERHAPS WE ARE BEING OVERTAXED.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THESE ISSUES.

AND IF WE DON'T, THEN, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND AND SOMETIMES BREAK RANK AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE, AND IF THAT MEANS THAT ALAN ROY NEEDS TO BREAK RANK WITH MY OWN PARTY, I WILL DO THAT.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ALAN.

STEVE, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> Green: I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM COME TO FRUITION IN ST. PAUL.

MANY TIMES, NOT JUST MYSELF, MY COLLEAGUES TRIED TO DO JUST THAT AND WERE MET WITH A STONE WALL.

THE GOVERNOR WOULD NOT PICK UNDER THE PHONE.

THE OTHER CHAIRS WOULD NOT PICK UP THE PHONE, AND THAT WAS ANOTHER ISSUE WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO BE THERE IN PERSON.

THAT'S WHY THAT PERSONAL CONTACT IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL FOR US.

AND THE OTHER ISSUE IS, YOU'RE RIGHT ON THAT, WE DON'T -- WE'RE NOT THERE TO SUPPORT ANY PARTY.

WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK I'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR IS BROUGHT THE VOICE OF RURAL MINNESOTA AND IN PARTICULAR AT THE TIME DISTRICT 2B DOWN TO ST. PAUL.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

ALAN?

>> Roy: YEAH, I AGREE WITH MR. GREEN IN HIS COMMENTS, WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND IF THAT MEANS, HEY, LOOK, WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE COFFEE, WE NEED TO HAVE LUNCH, WE NEED TO HAVE A BEER TOGETHER, FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THE WORK DONE, THEN LET'S GET THE WORK DONE.

THIS INFIGHTING HAS TO COME TO AN END, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, THE SENATE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE DECIDED BY ONE OR TWO VOTES, RIGHT?

AND IF SENATE DISTRICT 2 IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE TWO VOTES, THAT MEANS WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF SAY OVER THE FINAL DECISION MAKING OF THE STATE AND THE BUDGET AND THE DIRECTION THAT THE STATE IS GOING.

THAT MEANS THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, WHETHER IT'S THE GOVERNOR, WHOEVER IS THE GOVERNOR, IS GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH US AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SENATE DISTRICT 2 HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND THAT THOSE NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ALAN.

WE'RE NOT QUITE HALFWAY THROUGH.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER FRIENDLY REMINDER IF YOU NEED AN EXTRA MINUTE, GO AHEAD AND KEEP TALKING AND WE'LL RESET THE CARD.

YOU NEED THAT EXTRA TIME.

DENNIS?

>> Dennis: I'D LIKE TO WORK IN A QUESTION FROM ONE OF OUR VIEWERS NOW AND I THANK ALL OUR VIEWERS FOR SENDING IN QUESTIONS.

WE'VE HAD WAY MORE THAN WE'VE HAD IN YEARS PAST.

CLOSE TO 50 VIEWER QUESTIONS SO FAR.

THIS QUESTION IS JUST SIMPLY, HOW WOULD YOU WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR NATIVE COMMUNITIES?

>> Bethany: ALAN.

>> Roy: THANK YOU.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AS A FORMER TRIBAL OFFICIAL, I'VE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF MY CAREER AND TIME WORKING WITH OTHER TRIBAL NATIONS.

WE KNOW THAT AFTER THE REDISTRICTING HERE IN SENATE DISTRICT 2, WE HAVE THREE OF THE LARGEST TRIBAL NATIONS IN MINNESOTA IN THE SAME SENATE DISTRICT.

THAT WOULD BE THE WHITE EARTH NATION, THE RED LAKE NATION, AND THE LEECH LAKE NATION.

WHAT THAT MEANS AS A LEGISLATOR IS HAVING CONSISTENT AND CLEAR COLLABORATION, CONSULTATION, AND COORDINATION WITH THOSE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.

WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT THESE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ECONOMIC DRIVERS FOR THE AREA, ESPECIALLY IN SENATE DISTRICT 2 AND IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

IN FACT, WHEN I WAS ON THE TRIBAL COUNCIL, I KNEW THAT UP TO 60% OF OUR EMPLOYMENT, OUR EMPLOYEES WERE NON-TRIBAL.

THIS IS A LITTLE KNOWN FACT AND IT'S PROBABLY THROUGH OR CONSISTENT WITH THOSE OTHER -- PROBABLY TRUE OR CONSISTENT WITH THOSE OTHER TWO TRIBES.

THAT MEANS AS A LEGISLATOR, WE WANT TO WORK ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE SHOULD INVOLVE THE TRIBES, WE SHOULD INVOLVE THESE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE ALSO THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN A GOOD WAY.

ALSO, IT MEANS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WHITE EARTH NATION AND RED LAKE AND LEECH LAKE NATION ARE PART OF THE PAUL BUNYAN TASK FORCE.

THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER HAND IN HAND TO ADDRESS CRIME.

WE'RE WORKING HAND IN HAND TO ADDRESS THE DRUG TRADE.

WE'RE WORKING HAND IN HAND TO ADDRESS THE CRIMINALS THAT ARE IN THE AREA, ALL RIGHT?

IT ALSO MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF DISPARITIES IN THE AREA.

I THINK THAT WORKING AS A LEGISLATOR, WE SHOULD BE CONSULTING WITH THOSE TRIBAL LEADERS AND OFFICIALS, MEANING THAT, HEY, WE'RE GOING DOWN TO THE LEGISLATURE AND WE'RE WORKING ON ISSUES THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT EVERYONE UP HERE.

NOT JUST A SELECT FEW, BUT EVERYONE.

SO THAT WAS A GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ALAN.

STEVE?

>> Green: THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER WITH THE TRIBES, AND I'VE DEALT A LOT WITH WHITE EARTH AND I'M SURE I'LL BE DEALING A LOT WITH RED LAKE AND LEECH LAKE SHOULD I GET ELECTED BECAUSE I'M A MEMBER AT WHITE EARTH AS WELL AS ALAN IS.

THE MAIN THING TO REMEMBER IS THE ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING ALL OF THIS DISTRICT ARE THE SAME.

WHETHER YOU'RE A TRIBAL MEMBER OR NOT, WHETHER YOU LIVE IN BEMIDJI OR RED LAKE OR WHITE EARTH, WHEREVER IT IS, THE CRIME AND DRUGS IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR US AND I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THE FAMILY AND HAVING OPEN COMMUNICATION ACROSS THE BOARD, AND SO NOT ONLY WITH THE TRIBAL COUNCILS, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT.

I SPEAK A LOT WITH THE FOLKS IN WHITE EARTH.

LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE FRIENDS AND RELATIONS THERE, AND I CAN'T WALK OFF OF WHITE EARTH AND HEAR -- I DON'T WALK OFF OF WHITE EARTH AND HEAR ANYTHING DIFFERENT IN THE BEMIDJI AREA THAN I HEAR AT HOME.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SCHOOLS.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SURE, YES, BUT HONESTLY, THAT HASN'T BEEN THE MAIN LEADING SUBJECT AT THE DOORS.

AT THE DOORS THIS YEAR, I'VE HEARD PARENTAL CONTROL, PARENTAL RIGHTS, PARENTAL NOTIFICATION IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND ALSO PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THE OTHER THING IS THE DRUGS AND WHERE ARE THE DRUGS COMING FROM.

NOW, THERE'S A HUGE PROBLEM WITH DRUGS COMING ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN BORDER AND WE KNOW THAT, AND I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN THERE AND THE ISSUE IS THAT THE IMMIGRATION COMING ACROSS IS ALMOST LIKE IT'S SCHEDULED.

THEY'LL HOLD THE PEOPLE ON THE BORDER AND WHEN THEY'RE READY TO MOVE DRUGS ACROSS, THEY'LL FLOOD THE BORDER WITH IMMIGRANTS AND DRUGS COME BY EITHER SIDE AND THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY STRAIGHT UP HERE AND AFFECTING OUR KIDS AND KILLING OUR KIDS.

EVEN IN BEMIDJI, OUT OF -- I THINK THERE'S MAYBE POSSIBLY 12 PEOPLE IN THE BEMIDJI JAIL RIGHT NOW THAT ARE CHARGED WITH MURDER AND ONLY ONE OF THOSE IS NOT A DRUG PROBLEM.

SO THAT'S THE SAME ISSUES.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

ALAN?

>> Roy: YES.

YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE TRIBES AND THE AREA IN SENATE DISTRICT 2, WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, AND I'VE SAID IT EARLIER, THAT THEY HAVE SOME OF THE LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES IN SENATE DISTRICT 2, IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THEY'VE GOT STATE-LICENSED OFFICERS, THEY'VE GOT PATROL CARS, INVESTIGATORS, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THEY ARE LACKING FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY'RE ALSO LACKING FUNDING FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT, AND PERHAPS THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HERE IN SENATE DISTRICT 2.

MY COMMITMENT TO THE TRIBES AND TO EVERY MINNESOTAN HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA IN SENATE DISTRICT 2 IS TO ADVOCATE FOR FUNDING FOR ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, BUT ALSO TO BRING OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS TO THE TABLE SO THAT THEY ARE BEING FUNDED, TOO, SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE A BITE OUT OF CRIME.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

STEVE?

>> Green: I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH MORE TO ADD TO THAT.

I THINK THAT AS FAR AS THE FUNDING GOES, THERE'S FUNDING SHORTAGES, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE FUNDING SHORTAGES ACROSS THE STATE UNTIL WE CAN GET A HANDLE ON SOME OF THE ABUSE.

WE'VE HEAR THE STORIES ABOUT HOW A LOT OF 501(c)(3)s HAVE WASTED MONEY, THE LAST ONE 250 MILLION.

THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE FOR US FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AT LEAST THE LAST FOUR YEARS, TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON SOME OF THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THESE DIFFERENT NONPROFITS AND THEY'RE TAKING THE MONEY AND SPENDING IT ELSEWHERE.

AND NOT JUST IS THAT MONEY NOT GOING TO HELP TO FIGHT CRIME, IT'S ALSO HELPING TO PERPETRATE THAT SAME CRIME.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

YOU CAN TAKE A MINUTE ON YOUR NEXT QUESTION IF YOU'D LIKE, SO WE CAN GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES.

YOU CAN TALK TO THIS AND THEN ANSWER THE QUESTION.

ALL RIGHT.

HEIDI.

>> Heidi: THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE IS ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS IN THIS ELECTION.

THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE QUESTIONING OF MINNESOTA'S ELECTION SYSTEM.

MY QUESTION IS DO YOU TRUST MINNESOTA'S ELECTION SYSTEM AND WILL YOU ACCEPT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION?

>> Bethany: STEVE.

>> Green: I THINK THE ACCEPTING OF THE OUTCOME IS PROBABLY A GIVEN.

WE'VE SEEN THAT.

AS FAR AS THE ELECTIONS GO IN 2016, THERE WAS A HUGE UPROAR, INCLUDING BY THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES HILLARY CLINTON THAT SHE DIDN'T THINK THE ELECTIONS WERE SAFE.

IN 2020, IT WENT THE OTHER WAY.

SO WHETHER YOU BELIEVE THERE'S AN ISSUE OR NOT, ENOUGH PEOPLE DO BELIEVE THERE'S AN ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND I THINK THAT THE VERY LEAST THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS INVESTIGATING SOME OF THESE THINGS AND ALSO I'M A HUGE PROPONENT OF VOTER ID.

I THINK IT'S JUST A NO-BRAINER.

THERE'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE ONE OPPOSITION TO IT IS THAT PEOPLE CAN'T GET IDs.

I JUST DON'T KNOW VERY MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE AN ID RIGHT NOW, BUT IF THEY DO NEED AN ID, ONE CAN SURELY BE PROVIDED FOR THEM, AND I THINK THAT THE LAST TIME WE CHECKED ON IT, THE COST OF THAT ID WOULD PROBABLY BE $15.

IF THEY CAN'T HAVE THE $15, WE COULD PROVIDE IT.

BUT AS FAR AS THE ELECTIONS GO, IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING OUT TO VOTE, THAT THEY TRUST THE ELECTIONS AND RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

ALAN?

>> Roy: FOR THE VIEWERS THAT ARE WATCHING AT HOME, I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

THE UNITED STATES HAS FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

I TRUST OUR COUNTY AUDITORS TO DO THEIR JOB.

THEY'RE OUR NEIGHBORS, ALL RIGHT?

I TRUST THE ELECTION JUDGES THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA TO DO THEIR JOB AS WELL.

I DO NOT QUESTION THEIR INTEGRITY.

I DO NOT QUESTION THEIR ETHICS.

I DO NOT QUESTION THEM AT ALL.

I THINK THAT MINNESOTA HAS -- I THINK OVER 80%, IN FACT IT HAS OVER 80% VOTER PARTICIPATION RATES.

IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS MINNESOTANS SHOULD TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS.

WE HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

I'M GOING TO REPEAT THAT ONE MORE TIME.

MINNESOTA HAS FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

AND A LOT OF GOOD MEN AND WOMEN HAVE FOUGHT FOR THAT TREATMENT AND THAT RIGHT, AND IF I'M -- AS YOUR -- IF I'M ELECTED AS YOUR NEXT LEGISLATOR, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT FREE AND -- THOSE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS ARE PROTECTED.

>> Bethany: OKAY.

THANKS, ALAN.

>> Green: I AGREE.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM AND OUR ELECTIONS, NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

AND SO IF THERE IS A QUESTION OUT THERE AS TO IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, THEN WE OWE IT TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR THAT TO SEE TO IT THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE IN A PROPER MANNER.

AND JUST TO SAY THAT YOU -- THAT I SUPPORT VOTER ID CERTAINLY ISN'T IN ANY WAY IMPUGNING THE INTEGRITY OF ELECTION JUDGES.

I WAS AN ELECTION JUDGE MYSELF FOR MANY YEARS AND I BELIEVE OUR ELECTION JUDGES ARE HONEST, BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MAIL-IN BALLOTS WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM AND THAT'S ISSUE.

IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH BALLOT HARVESTING?

LET'S FIND OUT.

THE QUESTION HAS BEEN RAISED FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT THE ANSWER IS.

>> Bethany: ALAN?

>> Roy: I WOULD ADD TO THOSE COMMENTS THAT IF THERE IS VOTER FRAUD THAT IS HAPPENING OUT THERE, THEN THOSE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

OUR FREEDOMS AND OUR FAIR ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN FOUGHT FOR.

WE HAVE THEM.

THIS IS A VERY SACRED RIGHT TO VOTE AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF AN ELECTION, PLEASE BRING IT UP.

PLEASE BRING IT TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES SO THAT IT CAN BE ADDRESSED.

BUT STARTING RUMORS AND SPECULATION IS NOT GOING TO HELP THE SITUATION.

WE NEED TO GET IT INTO THE RIGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT HANDS.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

NICOLE.

>> Nicole: NORTHERN MINNESOTA HAS SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES IN THE STATE BETWEEN ITS LAKES AND RIVERS AND IT'S OLD GROWTH FORESTS.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE, HOW WOULD YOU WORK TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THESE PIECES OF CULTURAL HISTORY?

>> Bethany: ALAN.

>> Roy: THAT IS A GREAT, GREAT QUESTION.

NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND MINNESOTA IN GENERAL, WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LAKES, AND WE'VE GOT TREMENDOUS NATURAL RESOURCES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE IN WHAT HE WE CALL OUR HOME.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT THAT DOWN AT THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ARTS ARE BEING FUNDED, THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, THAT THERE ARE -- MR. GREEN AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER.

WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR HUNTING?

YOU KNOW, ARE WE TEACHING OUR KIDS TO HUNT?

ARE WE TEACHING THEM TO FISH, BUT ARE WE DOING IT RESPONSIBLY?

AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.

WE KNOW THAT WITHOUT OUR -- WHAT MAKES MINNESOTA MINNESOTA, WHICH IS THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES, YOU KNOW, IT JUST -- IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL HERE.

IT REALLY IS.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

STEVE?

>> Green: THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AS WELL.

I WAS DRIVING FROM WALKER AFTER COMING BACK FROM DOOR KNOCKING AND THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN AND EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF TIME TO PAY ATTENTION TO LANDSCAPE, LIKE A WEEK AGO, THE LEAVES ON THE TREES WERE PROBE AS BRILLIANT AS I'VE -- PROBABLY AS BRILLIANT AS I'VE EVER SEEN THEM, BUT THE OTHER THING IS THAT WITH OUR FORESTS, WE NEED GOOD MANAGEMENT OF THOSE FORESTS.

AND SOMETIMES THAT INVOLVES CUTTING OFF SOME OF THE OLD GROWTH.

I KNOW PEOPLE LIKE OLD GROWTH TREES, BUT IN MINNESOTA, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE FOR MOST OF OUR TREES, THEIR LIFE SPAN RUNS BETWEEN 30 TO 60 YEARS AND IF YOU'RE LUCKY, 100 YEARS, AND THEN START TO DIE.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY FOREST WITH THAT.

SO THE MANAGING OF THE FOREST HAS TO INVOLVE SOME CUTTING TO ALLOW THE NEW GROWTH TO COME.

THAT'S WHERE OUR WILDLIFE THRIVES, ON THE NEW GROWTH, AND SO ALL THESE ISSUES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, BECAUSE WE DIFFER MAYBE ON THE METHOD DOES NOT MEAN THAT NOT ALL OF US -- THAT WE DON'T ALL SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE DO.

AS FAR AS THE LAKES, I'VE PAID PRETTY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE STUDIES THAT COME FROM THE MPCA AS FAR AS OUR LAKES AND RIVERS, AND ACROSS THE BOARD, WITH VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS ON THE CHEMICALS IN THE WATER AND WHETHER THEY OCCUR NATURALLY OR NOT, WE'VE BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB ON CLEANING UNDER THE WATERS THAT WE HAVE.

FOR INSTANCE, IT'S NOT PART OF THIS DISTRICT ANYMORE, BUT THE RED RIVER IS CLEANER THAN IT'S BEEN IN 40 YEARS.

THE LAKES AND RIVERS AROUND HERE ARE VERY CLEAN.

ONE OF THE ISSUES IS WE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO AIS, FOR INSTANCE, AND THE MONEY WOULD GO TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO HELP AT THE LAKE ACCESSES.

AND SO THAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE LAKE ACTUALLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND THE MEANS TO PROTECT THE LAKE, AND THESE THINGS ARE WORKING AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THEM.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

ALAN?

>> Roy: YEAH, I AGREE WITH MR. GREEN.

WE MUST CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.

WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR WATERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT ONLY HERE FOR US, BUT FOR SEVEN GENERATIONS, AT MR. GREEN AND I BOTH KNOW AS TRIBAL CITIZENS OF THE WHITE EARTH NATION.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS GOING TO LAST NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND EVERYONE THAT'S COMING BEHIND US.

I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THAT.

ALSO, I WOULD SAY THE DNR IN A LOT OF CASES IS KIND OF ADVERSARIAL TO SOME OF OUR MINNESOTANS OUT THERE.

THERE'S AN OLD SAYING THERE'S BEEN SAID, YOU KNOW, IF THE DEVIL DON'T GET YOU, THE DNR WILL.

I THINK THERE'S A BIT OF OVER-REGULATION BY THE DNR THAT KNEES TO BE ADDRESSED AND I WILL -- NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND I WILL WORK ON THAT AS A STATE LEGISLATOR TO MAKE SURE OUR ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED, BUT ALSO ADDRESSING OVER-REGULATION BY THE DNR.

>> Bethany: THANKS.

STEVE?

>> Green: I AGREE THAT THE DNR IS WAY OUT OF CONTROL AND ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU FOR AGREEING WITH ME.

>> Bethany: ALL RIGHT.

DENNIS.

>> Dennis: THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, AGAIN, HAS A LARGE BUDGET SURPLUS.

IF YOU CAN BE AS SPECIFIC AS YOU CAN ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL THAT MONEY SHOULD BE USED.

>> Bethany: STEVE.

>> Green: OKAY.

THE FIRST THING I WANT TO CLARIFY IS THAT THE BUDGET SURPLUS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN CONSISTENTLY COMING IN, IS A FORECASTED BUDGET AND THAT WAS THE ISSUE IN THE LAST LEGISLATURE.

DURING THE COVID, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DUMPED ABOUT $81 BILLION INTO MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY CIRCLE WAS KIND OF IFFY HAS TO HOW THAT MONEY WAS GOING TO COME DOWN.

WE ARE SEEING A SURPLUS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO LAST AND WE DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW WITH THE INFLATION WE HAVE, HOW MUCH IS GOING TO BE THERE IN THE END.

A $51 BILLION BUDGET AND WITH 8% INFLATION, $4 BILLION IS GOING TO BE EATEN UP RIGHT OFF THE BAT BEFORE WE EVEN SEE IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE THERE AT THE 4 BILLION YET MARK.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE STUFF COMING IN W THE INCREASE IN INFLATION AND THE HIGHER COST OF ALL THE GOODS WE HAVE, YOU'RE SEEING MORE MONEY COMING IN AS AN OVERTAX ON THE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE INFLATED PRICES.

WHERE THAT IS GOING TO LEAVE US IN THE END?

WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IN THE NEXT SESSION, WHEN WE GO IN, IS USE THAT MONEY AS WE FIGURE OUT OUR BUDGET MOVING FORWARD AND FOR ONE THING, WE CAN FINALLY, I HOPE, DO AWAY WITH THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

THAT'S BEEN ONE OF MY MAIN ISSUES FOR MANY YEARS, AND I THINK WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT NOW.

BUT ALSO, WE NEED TAX RESTRUCTURE ACROSS THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY PAYING THE TAX HAVE THAT MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS TO SPEND ON AN INCREASINGLY HARD TO GET BY IN MINNESOTA WITH THE ENERGY COSTS, THE GASOLINE COSTS, HIGHER PRICES AT THE GROCERY STORE.

ACROSS THE BOARD, EVERYTHING IS JUST REALLY HITTING THE LOWER-INCOME PEOPLE THE HARDEST BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EXPENDABLE BUDGETS BESIDE WHAT THEY GET COMING IN ONCE A MONTH OR MAYBE TWICE A MONTH.

THOSE ARE THE ISSUES WE'RE WORKING ON TO TRY TO EXPEND THE SURPLUS SHOULD THERE BE ANY.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

ALAN?

>> Roy: SO THOSE ARE SOME GREAT POINTS RAISED, MR. GREEN.

THE FIRST THING THAT I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, TO THE BUDGET SURPLUS IS AS A LEGISLATOR, AND I HAVE A TRACK RECORD FOR THIS, I'M A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE.

OKAY?

I AM A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN OVERSPENDING, I DON'T BELIEVE IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND EVERY DIME THAT THE STATE HAS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE ANSWER.

I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LONG-TERM LOOK AT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE STATE, WHAT WE CAN FUND, WHAT WE CAN MAINTAIN, AND WHERE CAN WE MAKE TAX CUTS.

THE FIRST THING I WOULD DO IS TO MAKE SURE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THAT SURPLUS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS BACK TO THE POCKETBOOKS OF THE MINNESOTANS THAT PROVIDED THAT -- THOSE FUNDS, RIGHT?

MAKING SURE THAT THOSE PAYMENTS ARE COMING OUT TO OUR FOLKS OUT THERE THAT FULLY SUPPORTED THE STATE.

I ALSO WOULD ADVOCATE FOR HEALTHCARE.

I THINK HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA IS A PROBLEM.

WE KNOW IN THE CITY OF MAHNOMEN, WHICH IS IN THE SENATE DISTRICT, THAT HOSPITAL OVER THERE IS TOTALLY UNDERFUNDED, TOTALLY UNDERFUNDED, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS FUNDED.

IF YOU GO TO BAUDETTE, IF A PERSON IS GOING INTO LABOR, THEY GOT TO COME ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BEMIDJI OR SOME OTHER PLACE.

THEY CAN'T ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE OR ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IN A LOT OF THESE REMOTE AREAS.

EDUCATION, I'VE BEEN ENDORSED BY EDUCATION MINNESOTA AND THE INTERFACULTY ORGANIZATION.

I'M STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF FUNDING OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

A LOT OF OUR RURAL SCHOOLS ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AND I'M IN LOCK STEP WITH MR. GREEN ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND FINALLY, I WOULD AGREE WITH HIS COMMENTS ON SMALL BUSINESS TAXES.

I THINK THEY'RE BEING OVERTAXED, BUT I WOULD ADD THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE SOME GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR SOME OF THOSE STARTUP BUSINESSES OR SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WERE HARD HIT BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ALAN.

STEVE, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> Green: JUST QUICKLY, THE TALK ABOUT GRANTS ALL SOUNDS GOOD, BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE ITS OWN MONEY.

THE ONLY MONEY THAT THE STATE HAS IS WHAT IT TAKES FROM THE TAXPAYER.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO SUPPLY A GRANT TO HELP A TAXPAYER, YOU'RE ACTUALLY TAXING THE TAX FAIR TO HELP THE TAXPAYER.

SO WE NEED TO BE REALLY CAREFUL ON THAT.

I THINK THE MAIN ISSUE WE HAVE TO DO WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IS THE DEREGULATION AND IF YOU TALK TO YOUR SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT'S THEIR NUMBER ONE ISSUE, THAT THE STATE COMES DOWN ON THEM THROUGH THE AGENCIES WITH RULES THAT WERE PUT TOGETHER BEHIND CLOSED DOORS BY AGENCY OFFICIALS THAT NEVER EVEN GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

ALAN?

>> Roy: I WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE NEED TO GET THE SURPLUS BACK TO THE POCKETBOOKS OF TAX-PAYING MINNESOTANS.

WE'VE BEEN OVERTAXED, WE NEED TO GET THAT MONEY BACK TO YOU WHERE IT BELONGS.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

HEIDI.

>> Heidi: LACK OF AFFORDABLE AND SAFE HOUSING IS ONE OF THE MANY ISSUES FACING NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA.

HAVE YOU MET PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING?

WHAT CAN THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE DO TO ADDRESS LOCAL HOUSING ISSUES?

>> Green: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I KNOW HOUSING IS A BIG ISSUE ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

COMING FROM A TRIBAL COMMUNITY, I SEE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE DOUBLED UP, TRIPLED UP IN THESE HOMES.

WE SEE A LOT OF DOUBLING UP AND TRIPLING UP IN ALL HOMES FOR THAT MATTER.

AND IT NEEDS TO BE DREESED.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH MINNESOTA HOUSING AND FINANCE AGENCY.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE AND WHAT SORT OF REGULATIONS NEED TO BE REMOVED.

I WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH A LOT OF THE EMPLOYERS IN THE AREA.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS MOVING BACK HOME BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN AN EXODUS FOR FOLKS MOVING AWAY FROM NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO HOUSING, RIGHT?

AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR PRIVATE SECTOR, TALK WITH OUR HOUSING DEVELOPERS.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE COUNTIES.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF BEMIDJI HERE, OR WHATEVER CITY THAT IT'S AFFECTING IN SENATE DISTRICT 2.

AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THAT SORT OF -- FOR THAT ISSUE, RIGHT?

DOES THAT MEAN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST TRY TO FIX THE THINGIONLY LATERALLY?

NO, IT MEANS WE NEED TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE KNOW THAT HOUSING IS A HUGE ISSUE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AFFORDABLE AS WELL.

I THINK THAT THE HOUSING -- THE COST OF RENT IS WAY TOO HIGH FOR A LOT OF THESE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THE AREA.

BUT I WOULD STILL SAY THAT WE NEED TO TALK WITH OUR LANDLORDS.

WE NEED TO TALK WITH OUR PRIVATE DEVELOPERS IN THE AREA TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX IT.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, ALAN.

STEVE.

>> Green: THANK YOU.

THE HOUSING ISSUE IS HUGE AND IT'S NOT JUST LOW-INCOME HOUSING, IT'S MARKET-RATE HOUSING AND IT'S ALL TOO HIGH.

AND I'VE WORKED ON SOME PLANS THAT I THOUGHT WOULD WORK IN THE PAST AND I CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE.

ONE OF THOSE IS TRY TO GET HOUSING THAT'S PUT IN EITHER WITHOUT STATE MONEY OR ELSE WE HAVE TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTIONS THAT COME WITH THE MONEY ONCE THE STATE GETS INVOLVED.

FOR INSTANCE, WE HAD AN APARTMENT BUILDING UP IN THE ROSEAU AREA THAT ACTUALLY APPLIED FOR A GRANT TO GET THE HOUSING IN, AND THE GRANT -- I'LL PROBABLY BE WRONG ON THE NUMBERS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT APPROXIMATELY $300,000 GRANT THAT THEY GOT, BUT THE $300,000 WAS EATEN UP WITH THE COST OF THE REGULATIONS THAT CAME FROM THE STATE.

SO THE PEOPLE THAT DID ALL THE WORK ON TRYING EVEN WRITING THE GRANT SAID THEY CAME OUT WITH ABOUT $20,000 IN THE END.

SO THERE'S A HUGE BACKUP OF BUREAUCRACY IN MINNESOTA, AND THERE AGAIN, LIKE MY REOCCURRING THEME, IT COMES THROUGH THE AGENCIES.

AND AS OF YET, THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO GO AFTER THE AGENCIES AND REIN THEM IN, AND IT IS NOT JUST OUR AUTHORITY, BUT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK OUT FOR THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA AND WE CAN'T HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT'S BEHIND THE SCENES THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

THEY'RE TAXING YOU IN WAYS THROUGH FINES AND FEES AND REGULATIONS, AND IT IS NOT JUST AFFECTING THE BUSINESSES BECAUSE EVERY BUSINESS THAT'S PAYING TAXES OR PAYING THESE FEES AND FINES, IF THEY'RE GOING TO STAY IN BUSINESS, HAS TO PASS THAT ON TO THEIR CONSUMERS.

SO ONCE AGAIN, IT'S CONSUMER THAT'S ALWAYS PAYING IT AND THE PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ALWAYS HIT THE HARDEST.

WE JUST ABSOLUTELY -- WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE ANYMORE.

WE HAVE TO FIX THIS REGULATION PROBLEM THROUGH OUR STATE AGENCIES.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

ALAN, A RESPONSE?

>> Roy: YEAH, I WOULD SAY VERY PLAINLY, THERE'S ALSO AN OLD SAYING IS THE GOVERNMENT IS GOOD AT SOME THINGS, MOST THINGS NOT, RIGHT?

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR PRIVATE SECTOR.

I THINK WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AND EMPLOYERS IN THE AREA TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THIS FROM A MARKET ISSUE.

DO I THINK THERE'S OVER-REGULATION?

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY OVER-REGULATION THERE.

HOWEVER, JUST BLAMING THE STATE FOR THIS ISSUE IS NOT GOING TO FIX IT.

WE NEED TO TOM COULD IT WITH SOLUTIONS AND I'M COMMITTED TO FINDING THESE SOLUTIONS WITH OUR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ALAN GR WELL, THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS WHO BUILDS THE BUILDINGS.

THE STATE DOESN'T BUILD THE BUSINESS, SO YES, THERE'S ALWAYS INTERACTION WITH PRIVATE AGENCIES AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT WILL TELL YOU THAT A GENERAL RULE IS ON SOME OF THESE BIGGER PROJECTS, AND THAT INCLUDES ROADS AS WELL, CONSTRUCTION WORK, BUT 25% OF THEIR COSTS COMES FROM THE REGULATIONS FROM THE STATE AND SOMETIMES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT'S $100 MILLION COULD BE BROUGHT IN FOR 75, AND SO THAT'S $25 MILLION YOU HAVE TO SPEND FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

NOW, THAT'S AN EXTREME CASE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DO IT WITH ALL REGULATIONS.

WE OBVIOUSLY NEED SOME, BUT WE'RE JUST SUPER OVER REGULATED AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

THAT CONCLUDES THE QUESTION PORTION OF TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO CLOSING COMMENTS.

YOU EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING COMMENTS, AND STEVE, YOU'LL GO FIRST.

>> Green: WELL, THANK YOU, AND I WANT TO THANK LAKELAND TV AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

IN MY CLOSING STATEMENTS, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE ENCOUNTERED AND THOSE THAT I WILL ENCOUNTER NOW IN THE NEXT 20 DAYS, 21 DAYS, OUT DOOR-KNOCKING.

ONCE AGAIN, AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THIS ELECTION AND THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US HAVE, WHOEVER COMES OUT IN THE ELECTION, HAVE OUR BILLS READY TO GO.

WE ARE AT A POINT IN MINNESOTA WHERE WE CAN'T WAIT MUCH LONGER TO GET THESE PROBLEMS FIXED.

AND IF WE COME INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THEN START TRYING TO GET TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT BILLS WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO BE AT LEAST A NO, MAYBE TWO BEHIND -- AT LEAST A MONTH, MAYBE TWO, BEHIND THE 8-BALL PFR AFTER THE ELECTION, I'M COMMITTED TO GOING DOWN TO ST. PAUL WITH MY COLLEAGUES, PUTTING TOGETHER A SERIES OF BILLS THAT WE THINK WE CAN PASS, DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY, DEALING WITH THE PARENTAL RIGHTS, DEALING WITH THE INFLATION AND THE GAS PRICES, AND SO ALL THESE THINGS WE JUST NEED TO START WORKING ON IMMEDIATELY.

WE CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE DOOR OPENS TO HAVE THESE READY TO GO BECAUSE IT TAKES TIME FOR THESE BILLS TO MOVE THROUGH AND IT'S NOT A SIMPLE PROCESS.

AND THE BILL HAS TO MOVE THROUGH THE SENATE AND IT HAS TO MOVE THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THEY HAVE TO BE MATCHED UP PERFECTLY BEFORE THEY GO TO THE GOVERNOR.

SO TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS TIME.

THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 2.

MY NAME IS STEVE GREEN AND I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE NOVEMBER 8th.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

ALAN.

>> Roy: WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON.

I DO WANT TO THANK MR. GREEN, REPRESENTATIVE GREEN, FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR GREAT STATE OF MINNESOTA.

HE IS A WELL-RESPECTED TRIBAL ELDER, HE'S A BAND MEMBER OF THE WHITE EARTH NATION, AND AT SOME POINT DURING THIS ELECTION, FOLKS WILL REALIZE YOUR NEXT STATE SENATOR IN SENATE DISTRICT 2 WILL BE A WHITE EARTH TRIBAL MEMBER.

WHETHER IT'S ME OR WHETHER IT'S MR. GREEN.

THAT IS THE DECK THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALT AND THAT IS THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON -- WELL, HOPEFULLY THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 9th, IT WILL BE DECIDED.

WE'LL FIND OUT.

I DO WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY BACK HOME, HENNY IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS, I LOVE YOU, MY KIDS CHRISTIAN, SHAWN AND ASHLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING ME DURING THIS CAMPAIGN.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG, LONG ARDUOUS PROCESS, AND TO MY COMMUNITY AND TO MY FAMILY BACK HOME THAT ARE WATCHING, THE FOLKS, THE SUPPORTERS, EVERYONE OUT THERE.

I WOULD NOT BE HERE IF I WASN'T FOR YOU.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE GREAT PROMISE AND HOPE IN SENATE DISTRICT 2.

I HOPE TO BE THAT VOICE.

I HOPE THAT IF MR. GREEN IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT STATE SENATOR, THAT HE WILL LISTEN TO YOU AND FROM MY DEALINGS WITH HIM, I THINK THAT WILL BE THE CASE.

I ALSO FEEL VERY FORTUNATE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO EVEN RUN FOR STATE SENATE HERE IN SENATE DISTRICT 2.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING OUT THERE AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES WANT TO GET THESE ISSUES RESOLVED.

MY COMMITMENT TO YOU IS MAKING SURE THAT WE WORK ON THESE THINGS TOGETHER.

I DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A STRANGLEHOLD DOWN AT THE STATE CAPITOL, BICKERING AND FIGHTING OVER WHAT THE DFL WANTS TO DO OR WHAT THE GOP WANTS TO DO.

I JUST WANT TO GET THINGS DONE.

I AM A PRAGMATIST.

I'M A REALIST.

I JUST WANT TO GET THINGS DONE AND THAT'S MY COMMITMENT TO NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

I WANT TO THANK OUR CANDIDATES FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

YOU GUYS CERTAINLY SET A HIGH BAR FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT, SO THANK YOU FOR KICKING US OFF.

THANK YOU TOWER PANELISTS, DENNIS, HEIDI AND NICOLE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PORTION OF TONIGHT'S DEBATE OR YOU'D LIKE TO WATCH IT AGAIN, IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE LAKELAND PBS WEBSITE IN 24 HOURS.

THAT WEBSITE IS BE LPTV.ORG.

ALSO REMEMBER TO PICK UP A BEMIDJI PINE YEAR'S VOTERS GUIDE AVAILABLE ON OCTOBER 29th.

IN ADIAGNOSING YOU CAN FIND ELECTION COVERAGE FROM KAXE ON THEIR WEBSITE AT KAXE.ORG.

BUT STAY WITH US.

THIS IS JUST GETTING US STARTED TONIGHT.

COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL GO FORWARD WITH HOUSE DISTRICT 2A THAT WILL CONSIST OF REPRESENTATIVE MATT GROSSELL AND REED OLSON.

SEE YOU IN A FEW MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

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