CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com >> Announcer: LAKELAND PBS, THE BEMIDJI PIONEER, BRAINERD DISPATCH, PARK RAPIDS ENTERPRISE AND NORTHERN COMMUNITY ROAR ARE PROUD TO PRESENT DEBATE 2022.

A LOOK AT OUR LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES.

YOUR MODERATOR TONIGHT IS BETHANY WESLEY AND NOW THE HOUSE DISTRICT 2B DEBATE.

>> 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 TONIGHT.

WE'RE CONTINUING AN EXCITING WEEK OF DEBATES WITH THE LAST OF THREE STATE LEGISLATIVE DEBATES TONIGHT, COVERING TOPICS AND ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITIES.

OUR CANDIDATES TONIGHT ARE REPRESENTATIVE MATT BLISS, REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND ERIKA BAILEY-JOHNSON, 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.

THE RULES FOR TONIGHT ARE, EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE AN OPENING COMMENT.

THEY WILL 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 YOU CAN ONLY USE IT ONCE.

WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS UNTIL WE'RE ABOUT 350 MINUTES INTO THE DEBATE AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO CLOSING COMMENTS.

CLOSING COMMENTS WILL BE TWO MINUTES.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED NOW TW OPENING COMMENTS.

YOU EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES.

ERIKA, YOU'LL OPEN US FIRST.

>> Bailey-Johnson: ERIKA BAILEY-JOHNSON [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] HELLO, ALL MY RELATIVES.

MY NAME IS ERIKA BAILEY-JOHNSON IN YOISH AND IN OJIBWE IS BUTTERFLY WOMAN AND I'M IN THE BEAR CLAN AND I LIVE IN BEMIDJI, RURAL BEMIDJI, AND I AM THE SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR FOR BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY.

AND I WANT TO START OFF BY JUST THANKING ALL OF YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THANKING LAKELAND FOR THIS, THIS IS THE ONLY DEBATE PLANNED SO FAR FOR OUR CONTESTED RACE, SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE AND TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY COMMUNITY, MY TEAM.

MY COMMUNITY KNOWS ME.

THEY ASKED ME BACK IN FEBRUARY/MARCH IF I WOULD CONSIDER RUNNING, AND I ASKED MY COMMUNITY, MY ELDERS, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A CRAZY IDEA, AND THEY ALL SAID THIS IS GOOD AND THIS IS RIGHT AND WE NEED SOMEONE LIKE YOU TO RUN AT THIS TIME.

SO I HAVE KNOCKED ON LOTS AND LOTS OF DOORS IN ALL THE DIFFERENT CORNERS OF OUR DISTRICT IN SEVEN -- PARTS OF SEVEN COUNTIES, AND I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH PLACES I HAVEN'T BEEN TO YET, WITH LEONARD AND OGIMA AND GOING TO ALL KINDS OF EVENTS AND MEETING WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PLACES.

AND I REALIZE AS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS AND THINKING ABOUT MY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE, THAT I AM THE RIGHT PERSON FOR NOW.

MAYBE NOT TEN YEARS AGO, MAYBE NOT TEN YEARS FROM NOW, BUT I AM THE RIGHT PERSON FOR NOW.

I AM NOT SAYING THAT WITH AN EGO.

I KNOW THAT ONE THING, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS DOOR-KNOCKING, IS PRETTY CLEAR AND THAT'S PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF PARTISAN POLITICS.

THEY ARE TIRED OF GRIDLOCK.

THEY ARE REALLY IN NEED OF A LOT OF HEALING, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL A DEEP RESPONSIBILITY FOR.

SO I WILL SHARE WITH YOU A LOT OF MY IDEAS AS WE GO THROUGH THIS EVENING, BUT I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE SKILLS.

I'M A REGIONAL LEADER, I'M ULTIMATELY CONNECTED ALREADY, AND I'M READY TO SERVE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, ERIKA.

MATT, OPENING COMMENTS.

>> Bliss: THANK YOU.

I'M STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT BLISS AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND A THANK YOU TO LAKELAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THE MODERATOR AND PANEL, FOR THIS DEBATE AND THIS FORMAT THIS EVENING.

I'M HONORED TO HAVE SERVED THE GOOD PEOPLE OF HOUSE DISTRICT 5A, INCLUDING THE CITY OF BEMIDJI, FOR TWO TERMS AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING OUR NEW DISTRICT 2A AND EARNING THE TRUST OF PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT AS WELL.

DURING MY TIME IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE, I'VE HAD THE ABILITY TO SERVE ON SEVERAL COMMITTEES INCLUDING THE VETERANS COMMITTEE, GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND ELECTION, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, LABOR, INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION AND HOUSING.

I'M THE YOUNGEST OF TEN CHILDREN, RAISED ON A FARM AND LEARNED A GREAT WORK ETHIC AT EARL AGE.

I SERVE IN THE NAVY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS TRAINED IN ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS AND I WENT ON TO A 32-YEAR TECHNICAL CAREER.

I'M A SMALL BUSINESS AND RESORT OWNER ON ONE OF OUR AREA LAKES AND I'VE JUST FINISHED MY 22nd SEASON RUNNING THAT BUSINESS.

MY FAMILY HAS ROOTS IN THIS REGION THAT GO BACK SEVERAL GENERATIONS AND I'M A PROUD NORTHERN MINNESOTAN.

I LOVE THIS AREA.

I'M MARRIED TO A WONDERFUL FIRST GRADE SCHOOL TEACHER.

I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, ONE OF WHOM IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER IS.

WE HAVE SIX GRANDCHILDREN, FOUR DOGS AND A CAT.

I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THE OUTDOORS AND WANT TO LEAVE A LEGACY FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.

I'M RUNNING AGAIN BECAUSE I'VE WITNESSED FIRST HAND THAT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES WE WORK ON MAKE BIG DIFFERENCES IN THE DAILY LIVES THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE THE A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO TAKE A DIFFERENT PATH THAN THE ONE WE'RE ON AND HAVE BEEN LED DOWN AND THAT HAVE US ALL VERY CONCERNED WITH REGARDS TO INFLATION, CRIME, AND THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.

WE CAN DO BETTER AND WITH YOUR HELP, I BELIEVE WE WILL.

I WANT TO BE THE VOICE OF OUR AREA AND ALLOW COMMON SENSE TO ONCE AGAIN BE INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATION.

I LOOK FORWARD TO A GOOD EXCHANGE OF IDEAS TONIGHT AND TO SHARING MORE ABOUT MY VALUES OF HOW I INTEND TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT REGION.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

WE'LL MOVE INTO THE QUESTIONS.

OUR FIRST QUESTION WILL COME FROM HEIDI, AND MATT, YOU'LL ANSWER FIRST.

>> Heidi: GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHERE YOU THINK RENEWABLE OR CLEAN ENERGY IS WORKING IN THIS DISTRICT AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE?

>> Bliss: SO I THINK RENEWABLES HAVE A GREAT PLACE, A BIG PLACE IN OUR AREA.

I KNOW OUR BELTRAMI ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE SOURCE, ALL THEIR ELECTRICITY, FROM I BELIEVE IT'S DAKOTA ELECTRIC, AND THEY'VE BEEN WORKING TO INCREASE THEIR, THEIR OUTPUT OF CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY.

I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY, ESPECIALLY IN THE REGULATIONS, IS THAT THE HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER IS NOT BEING CONSIDERED AS RENEWABLE, SO I THINK THAT WILL BE -- THAT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THAT IN THERE, IN THAT NICKS.

THE REASON IS HYDROELECTRIC POWER IS MUCH MORE RELIABLE THAN WIND OR SOLAR.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE -- DEMAND ELECTRICITY.

IF ON A COLD NIGHT IN JANUARY WITH NO WINDY, THAT WE CAN GO TO OUR FURNACE AND TURN IT ON AND WE HAVE HEAT OR LIGHTS.

WE'VE SEEN THE OVERRELIANCE ON RENEWABLES OUT IN CALIFORNIA HAS REALLY -- HAS DEGRADED THE GRID IMMENSELY OUT THERE WITH ROLLING BLACKOUTS.

SO I BELIEVE WE NEED TO HAVE A "ALL OF THE ABOVE" APPROACH TO RENEWABLES AND NONRENEW ABS, AND I THINK OUR POWER COMPANIES ARE WORKING TO PROVIDE AS CLEAN ENERGY AS POSSIBLE, AND REDUCE EVEN THE LEGACY FUELS.

THE CARBON EMISSIONS HAVE BEEN REDUCED GREATLY, SO I THINK THEY'RE WORKING HARD IN THAT AREA AS WELL.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

ERIKA.

>> Bailey-Johnson: SO BONUS QUESTION FOR ME, TO START OFF HERE.

I WANT TO SAY WE HAVE CHICKENS TOO, SO I LOVE YOUR DOG AND CAT COMMENT.

RENEWABLE ENERGIES DEFINITELY PLAY A ROLE.

MINNESOTA HAS BEEN A LEADER.

WE HAVE SOME STANDARDS IN PLACE FOR SOLAR AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, CARBON REDUCTION TARGETS THAT I THINK ARE VERY GOOD AND WOULD LOVE TO BUILD ON THAT AND WOULD LOVE TO HELP FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT IN THE BEST WAY FOR OUR PEOPLE.

I THINK HYDRO IS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED A RENEWABLE ENERGY, SO I'M -- >> Bliss: NOT IN THE COMPUTATIONS.

>> Bailey-Johnson: NOT IN THE CALCULATION.

I'M SURPRISED BY THAT.

I JUST HAD A THREE-HOUR BOARD MEETING TODAY.

I'M ON THE BOARD FOR FRESH ENERGY AND THEIR ORGANIZATION DOWN IN THE METRO AREA WHERE THEY HAVE PEOPLE ON THE BOARD ALL ACROSS THE STATE THAT WORKS ON THESE ISSUES, AND TODAY, WE ACTUALLY HAD THE LEADER OF XCEL ENERGY SPEAKING TO US ABOUT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.

THEY'RE ONE OF THE LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN EXACTLY WHAT YOU ASKED ABOUT, ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGETS.

AND WITH OUR CLIMATE CHANGE, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR CLIMATE CHANGE GOALS NATIONALLY, STATEWIDE, RENEWABLE ENERGY HAS TO PLAY A ROLE.

I KNOW THAT OUR FAMILY HAS SOLAR PANELS ON OUR HOUSE.

WE ARE DRIVERS OF ELECTRIC CARS.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LEAD AND BE ROLE MODELS AND TO SEE HOW THE TECHNOLOGY WORKS SO THAT WE CAN SHOW THAT IT IS EFFECTIVE IN OUR NORTHERN MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES.

I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY, LIKE WIND ENERGY, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE COMPETITIVE, IF NOT EVEN LESS COSTLY THAN SOME OF OUR FOSSIL FUEL, COAL AND NATURAL GAS SUBSTITUTES, SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE OPTIONS.

WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE TABLE.

WE KNOW THAT WE NEED SOME INCENTIVES IN ORDER TO HAVE IT BE MORE AFFORDABLE AND MORE EQUITABLE FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO DO IN THE FUTURE.

SO I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE RENEWABLE ENERGY PLAYS A ROLE, AND JUST EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE I THINK WILL BE A REALLY FUN CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, ERIKA.

MATT, DO YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> Bliss: REAL QUICK.

AGAIN, I SUPPORT A "ALL OF THE ABOVE" APPROACH.

SOLAR HAS DEFINITELY BECOME MORE AND MORE COST EFFECTIVE.

AGAIN, IT'S JUST THE RELIABILITY, THE NEED TO HAVE A LIGHT SWITCH THAT YOU CAN FLIP ON AT ANY MOMENT AND GET THE ELECTRICITY.

AND ONE JUST REAL QUICK COMMENT ON XCEL ENERGY.

THAT'S A GOVERNMENT MONOPOLY, ACTUALLY A NOP FOLLY -- A MONOPOLY CREATED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CREATE A PROFIT NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY INVEST.

ENERGY COSTS ARE GOING UP.

I RUN A SMALL BUSINESS AND MY COSTS ARE RATHER MINIMAL CONSIDERING LOOKING AT SOME OF THE LARGER BUSINESSES, SO WE JUST HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF WHAT IS COSTING OUR BUSINESSES AND HOUSES AS WELL TO HEAT HOUSES IN THE WINTER AND JUST RUN THEIR LIVES.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

ERIKA.

>> Bailey-Johnson: I WOULD JUST ADD THAT THE OTHER COMMENT THAT XCEL ENERGY MADE TODAY THAT I JOTTED DOWN IS THAT THERE'S A LEARNING CURVE THAT WE'RE ALL ON.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT AS SOMETHING THAT IS, LIKE, INTIMIDATING, BUT I THINK THAT -- I ACTUALLY GET EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH PEOPLE.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE THAT CAN FIGURE THESE THINGS OUT IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GET TOGETHER.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE FUTURE, OF WORKING AT THE STATE LEVEL TO WORK ON EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, MATT, WHICH IS HOW DO WE DO THIS IN A GOOD WAY, EQUITABLE WAY WITH MAKING SURE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE ARE INCLUDED.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ERIKA.

OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM NICOLE.

>> Nicole: ONE OF MINNESOTA'S LARGEST PRIORITIES IN THIS UPCOMING ELECTION IS EDUCATION.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING SCHOOLS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND HOW DO YOU ADDRESS IT IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> Bethany: AND ERIKA, YOU ARE FIRST.

>> Bailey-Johnson: THANK YOU.

REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT EDUCATION, TOO.

SO I DO -- LET ME SEE.

I'M AN EDUCATOR.

I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CURRICULUM AND WHAT WE -- YOU KNOW, STUDENTS SPEND A LOT OF THEIR DAY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND I'M CONNECTED TO HIGHER EDUCATION, K-12 SCHOOLS.

I HAVE TWO BOYS, MOTHER OF TWO BOYS, AND I THINK ONE OF, HONESTLY, THE THINGS THAT I COULD DO AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WOULD BE WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.

I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO FIGURE OUT -- AND I THINK I HAVE AN IDEA THAT I WOULD LOVE TO TRY TO DO -- IS RIGHT NOW OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR OUR RURAL DISTRICTS SPEND A LOT OUT OF THEIR -- TYPICALLY OUT OF THEIR GENERAL BUDGET, LIKE BEMIDJI SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES.

BUT A LOT OF THE METRO SCHOOLS, BECAUSE OF THE TRANSPORTATION FORMULA BEING BASED ON PER-PUPIL, THEY ACTUALLY GAIN MONEY, SO A LOT OF THE TIGHTER, SMALLER DISTRICTS DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OUT OF THEIR GENERAL FUNDS WHERE BEMIDJI, BECAUSE WE'RE SO SPREAD OUT, WE HAVE TO GET STUDENTS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES THAT ARE FURTHER AWAY, WE END UP HAVING TO PAY MORE MONEY.

SO I THINK FOR EDUCATION, ONE REALLY EASY THING TO DO WOULD BE TO COME UP WITH A PER-PUPIL MILE RATE, SO THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK WITH EDUCATION, I WOULD LIKE TO DO IMMEDIATELY AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

EITHER PER-PUPIL WHICH IT IS NOW, WHICH DOESN'T BENEFIT RURAL DISTRICTS, OR PER-PUPIL MILE.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ERIKA.

MATT.

>> Bliss: SO THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT I'VE WRITTEN DOWN HERE THAT I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT.

FIRST, AS ERIKA MENTIONED, THE BUSING ISSUE.

WE DID PASS A BILL IN 2018 THAT DIDN'T CREASE THE FUNDING FOR BEMIDJI SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SEVERAL OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.

THE PROBLEM YOU RUN INTO IS THAT THE MONEY THAT YOU'RE ALLOTTING COMES OUT OF THE SAME PIE THAT THE GENERAL POT -- THE GENERAL FUND FOR EDUCATION.

COMES OUT OF THE SAME ONE.

IF YOU TAKE IT OUT OF THE GENERAL POOL OF MONEY FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOLS TO GIVE IT TO THE SCHOOLS WITH THE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE THE BUSES SHORTFALL, YOU'RE GOING TO GET PUSHBACK AND THIS IS WHAT WE RAN INTO.

THERE'S ABOUT 30 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE.

THEY'RE NOT ALL RURAL.

MOST OF THEM ARE.

THERE'S FOREST LAKE I BELIEVE IS ONE OF THEM THAT IT'S RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE METRO, SO IT HAS A RATHER LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT IT IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

THERE'S BOTH DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTED DISTRICTS THAT HAVE THEM AND REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS ALSO.

THAT'S AN AREA WE HAVE LOOKED AT IN THE PAST.

LAST YEAR, I THINK WE HAD IT UP TO 30%, 30.5% OF THE SHORTFALL WE WERE GOING TO COVER, JUST DECIDE ON THE VINE.

I WAS A COSPONSORS OF THAT BILL AS WELL.

ONE OF THE BIG AREAS I'D LIKE TO LOOK INTO IS THE DISPARITY BETWEEN RURAL AND METRO SCHOOLS AS FAR AS FUNDING LEVELS.

IN BEMIDJI AND OUR LOCAL RURAL SCHOOLS, IT'S ROUGHLY $11,000 PER ZOONT THAT WE GET IN STATE AID AND IN MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL SCHOOLS, IT'S 15,000.

WE NEED TO FIX THAT.

WE NEED TO, IN MY OPINION, WE NEED TO JUST START FROM SCRATCH ON THE WHOLE FUNDING AND TRY TO MAKE IT JUST -- I HATE THE WORD "EQUITABLE," BUT EQUITABLE THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

AND I THINK PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IS IMPORTANT.

I'VE BEEN PREACHING FROM THE ROOFTOPS FOREVER AND I GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I ASK THE PEOPLE, HAVE YOU BEEN TO SCHOOL DISTRICT -- SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS?

GENERALLY, THEY SAY NO.

WE'VE SEEN A BIG INCREASE IN THAT LATELY AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

WHEN THE PARENTS ARE INVOLVED, THE SCHOOLS CAN GET BETTER.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

ERIKA, ANY RESPONSE OR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> Bailey-Johnson: YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SAY ONE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO WORK ON WITH EDUCATION IN PARTICULAR, IS THAT MINNESOTA IS RANKED LAST IN 2019 AT LEAST WHEN IT CAME TO RACIAL DISPARITIES IN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES.

SO THAT IS NOT GOOD, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE ASKED THE QUESTION WHY IS THAT AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

SO WE HAVE A REALLY STRONG EDUCATION SYSTEM IN MINNESOTA, BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT FOR EVERYONE.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ERIKA.

MATT, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> Bliss: I THINK THAT THE RACIAL DISPARITIES, I THINK YOU CAN LOOK TO THE METRO AREA SCHOOLS WITH THE HIGHER RACIAL -- THE MINORITY POPULATION, AND IT'S -- THE SCHOOLS ARE FAILING THEM.

WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE BEING EDUCATED.

I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TASK FORCE WITH EDUCATORS, NOT ADMINISTRATORS, EDUCATORS BE PUT ON THIS TASK FORCE TO HELP COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM DENNIS.

>> Dennis: QUESTION IS, WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES WOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR IF ELECTED TO OFFICE?

>> Bethany: AND MATT, YOU WOULD BE FIRST.

>> Bliss: WELL, I'VE BEEN A HUGE SUPPORTER SINCE DAY ONE IN THE LEGISLATURE OF RURAL BROADBAND, AND WE ARE BLESSED IN THIS AREA TO HAVE THE INTERNET SERVICE THAT WE DO.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE IT AT MY HOUSE, BUT IN THE -- 95% OF THE AREA HERE, WE DO HAVE EXCELLENT RURAL BROADBAND.

SO I'VE SIGNED ON TO A BILL TO ALLOW THE FINAL MILE TO BE SUBSIDIZED A LITTLE BIT.

WHEN YOU GET OUT IN THESE RURAL AREAS, THE INTERNET PROVIDERS, SOME OF THESE FARM DRIVEWAYS ARE A HALF MILE, THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE LONG, SO IT TAKES SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS, 8- TO $10,000 TO GET DOWN THAT DRIVEWAY AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT JUST BROUGHT ALL THE WAY TO THE HOUSE AND HELP WITH THAT.

AND YOU KNOW, REGULATIONS ON THE SMALL BUSINESSES -- I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

I SEE THIS ALL THE TIME AND I'M PART OF A SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND THE PEOPLE I SPEAK TO, THE REGULATIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALLEVIATED.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE OPERATING IN A FAIR AND JUST MANNER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THEIR WAY AND LET THEM DO BUSINESS.

AND CERTAIN COMMUNITIES HAVE MORE REGULATIONS ON SMALL BUSINESSES AND WE SEE, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES THAT UNFORTUNATELY MOVED OUT OF BEMIDJI INTO LOCAL TOWNSHIPS BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON THEM IN THE CITY.

SO I THINK GETTING OUT OF THE WAY, LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS I THINK WOULD REALLY HELP WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

ERIKA.

>> Bailey-Johnson: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S SUCH A BIG QUESTION.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS.

SO I WOULD SAY, AFTER LISTENING TO A LOT OF FOLKS ACROSS HOUSE DISTRICT 2B, THERE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON THREAD OF HOUSING AVAILABLE AND DAYCARE AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS TO GET JOBS IN OUR -- YOU KNOW, IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

SO THAT -- YOU KNOW, I WAS ASKED A QUESTION WHY.

SO IF WE'RE HAVING AN ISSUE FINDING -- THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES FINDING FOLKS TO FILL JOBS RIGHT NOW FROM AN AUTOMOTIVE CENTER THAT I TALKED TO.

I WAS JUST AT THE BEGLEY CARE CENTER TODAY.

THERE WAS ALSO THE FORESTRY COUNCIL, THEY'RE ALSO STRUGGLING.

THE MILLS ARE STRUGGLING WITH GETTING PEOPLE.

SO I THINK TO REALLY HELP WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I'M HONESTLY REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THINKING ABOUT OUR DISTRICT, ABOUT 2B, LIKE WHAT CAN WE DO HERE TO SPUR, YOU KNOW, GROWTH IN OUR REGION IN A GOOD WAY.

HOW DO WE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, HOW DO WE BEST SUPPORT OUR FARMERS, HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE WITH GOOD JOBS AND WHAT THEY NEED TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE THE EDUCATION THAT WE ALL NEED TO HAVE GOOD -- BE GOOD CITIZENS.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK ARE NECESSARY FOR A STRONG FOUNDATION OF A GOOD ECONOMY, AND I'D BE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT FIGURING THOSE OUT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THOSE AREAS.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ERIKA.

MATT, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> Bliss: I'M GOOD, THANKS.

>> Bethany: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT QUESTION THEN FROM HEIDI.

>> Heidi: IS THE CURRENT TAX SYSTEM IN MINNESOTA EQUITABLE IN YOUR MIND?

WHAT WOULD YOU WORK TO CHANGE?

>> Bethany: ERIKA, YOU'D BE FIRST.

>> Bailey-Johnson: CURRENT TAX SYSTEM.

SO THE CURRENT TAX SYSTEM IS -- EQUITABLE.

I'D SAY MOST THINGS ARE NOT EQUITABLE, SO I THINK THAT THE CURRENT TAX SYSTEM, THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR US TO EXAMINE THAT, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON ALL OF THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE TAX SYSTEM.

I KNOW THAT THERE IS ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT -- ESPECIALLY LIKE WE'RE TAXED BUSINESS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES TO MIND RIGHT NOW ARE PROPERTY TAXES, AND I KNOW THAT I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES WHEN I'VE BEEN OUT IN COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW PERSONALLY, TOO, THAT THERE'S AN ELEVATED PROPERTY TAXES.

AND I FEEL LIKE WHEN I THINK ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES IN THIS ROLE, I THINK ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID.

SO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID IS ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I WOULD HAVE IN THIS ROLE TO ASSIST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES AT THE LEVELS THAT THEY HAVE IN THIS PAST YEAR.

SO THAT'S ONE CONNECTION THAT I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT WITH TAXES, AND THEN I HAVE TO SAY, WITH ALL THE OTHER WAYS, I JUST HAVE ONE FRIEND DOWN IN THE CITIES THAT IS AN ACCOUNTANT, AND SHE SAID THAT A LOT OF THE WAYS THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO FIX THE TAXES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS ACTUALLY MADE IT HARDER IN A LOT OF WAYS.

AND SO WORKING WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE GROUND, I MEAN, I'M HOPING YOU DID THAT, WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE GROUND THAT DO THAT WORK TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP THAT SYSTEM BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD DO.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, ERIKA.

MATT.

>> Bliss: WELL, IMAGINE THAT, GOVERNMENT GETTING INVOLVED IN MAKING SOMETHING HARDER, THAT'S A SHOCK.

SO YEAH, YOU KNOW, TAX SYSTEM, EQUITABLE.

THERE'S THAT WORD AGAIN, THE WORD I LOVE.

YOU KNOW, THE LOWEST TIER OF THE INCOME EARNERS PAY NO INCOME TAX, SO, YOU KNOW -- AND I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY INCOME TAX.

IT SHOULD BE AT A GRADUATED LEVEL TO A POINT.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR FAIR TAX, UNIVERSAL SALES TAX, AND THAT WAY IF YOU CONSUME MORE, YOU PAY MORE AND EVERYBODY WOULD BE PAYING THE SAME LEVEL.

I WOULD SUPPORT THAT AS WELL, BUT THE INCOME LEVEL, WE'RE TAXED TOO HIGH IN MINNESOTA.

I BELIEVE WE'RE ONE OF THE HIGHEST FOUR OR FIFTH IN THE NATION IN INCOME TAXES, SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGH.

ERIKA MENTIONED PROPERTY TAXES.

YEAH, YOU KNOW, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT REALLY LOWERS TAXES AT ALL.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS, FIRST OFF, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, BELTRAMI COUNTY, WE'RE SITTING AT ABOUT 25% TAXABLE LAND AND THAT'S WHERE THE COUNTIES AND THAT'S WHERE THEY GET THEIR TAX BASE.

AND IN BELTRAMI COUNTY, WE HAVE A HIGH NEED FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES, COUNTY SERVICES.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS IN THE REGION, SOCIAL SERVICES BASED OUT OF HERE.

LARGE NUMBER OF ACRES THAT ARE NON-TAXABLE ACREAGE IS REALLY IMPACTING THESE AND ONE OF THE STORIES I REPEAT ALL THE TIME IS AN ELDERLY COUPLE THAT THE FIRST TIME I RAN FOR ELECTION, THEY WERE EXCITED TO HAVE ME COME IN THEIR HOUSE.

THEY HAD COFFEE AND COOKIES FOR ME, AND BELIEVE ME, I LIKE THE COOKIES.

THE SECOND TIME I RAN, I WAS EXCITED TO GO VISIT THEM AGAIN AND THEY WERE JUST DEFEATED.

THEY GOT THEIR TAX BILL AND THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO SELL THE HOUSE THEY WERE LIVING IN AND PLANNING TO LIVE OUT THEIR RETIREMENT YEARS IN BECAUSE THE TAXES HAVE GOTTEN TOO HIGH.

WE HAVE TO CONTROL THAT.

>> Bethany: ANY RESPONSE OR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> Bailey-Johnson: YEAH, I THINK WE ACTUALLY AGREE ON THIS ONE.

THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX, SO I JUST LEARNED THAT MINNESOTA IS ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT ACTUALLY HAS THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX, AND I THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

SO JUST WANT TO ADD THAT PIECE BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE -- YEAH, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF TIME, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK CAN BE DONE.

MAYBE EVEN THIS SESSION.

>> Bethany: MATT?

>> Bliss: YEAH, AND THAT IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT THIS EARLIER, AND UNFORTUNATELY OUR GOVERNOR SAID THAT'S A TAX CUT FOR MILLIONAIRES, SO THE FOLKS OUT THERE THAT HAVE SAVED THROUGHOUT THEIR WHOLE LIFE EARNING A PENSION, RETIRING FROM A UNION JOB AND CHECKING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY, CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR GOVERNOR THINKS YOU'RE A MILLIONAIRE.

SO THIS IS UNHEARD OF.

WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE TAX.

IT'S A DOUBLE TAXATION.

YOU'RE TAXED ON YOUR INCOME PRIOR TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY BEING TAKEN OUT, SO YOU'RE ALREADY TAXED ON THAT ONCE.

WE SHOULDN'T BE TACKING IT AGAIN AT -- TAXING IT AGAIN AT YOUR RETIREMENT, AND AGAIN, WE'RE ONE OF VERY FEW STATES THAT DO THIS.

>> Bethany: THANKS, NAUGHT.

OUR NEXT QUESTION THEN WOULD BE FROM NICOLE.

>> Nicole: AS POLITICS ACROSS THE NATION HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY PARTISAN, MANY VOTERS HAVE BECOME CONCERNED THAT MAYBE SOME OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ARE PUTTING THEIR PARTIES AHEAD OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

WHAT EFFORTS WOULD YOU UNDERTAKE TO WORK AGAINST PARTISAN CONFLICTS AND STALEMATES?

>> Bethany: MATT, YOU WOULD BE FIRST.

>> Bliss: YOU KNOW WE -- OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ACROSS ZOOM.

ZOOM IS AN AMAZING TECHNOLOGY, BUT IT IS NOT MEANT FOR WHAT WE DO.

OUR JOBS ARE BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IN A COMMITTEE, THINGS WILL GET A LITTLE CONTENTIOUS AND WE USED TO BE ABLE TO WALK OUT OF THE COMMITTEE, SHAKE HANDS AND TALK ABOUT IT ON OUR WAY TO THE NEXT COMMITTEE.

IT REALLY BUILT RELATIONSHIPS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DFL MEMBERS THAT I GOT ALONG WITH AND ACTUALLY HAD DINNER WITH.

THAT WAS GONE WITH THE ZOOM.

NOW, WITH THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE BILLS, MOST OF THE BILLS ACTUALLY THAT WE PASS OUT OF THE COMMITTEES ARE BIPARTISAN, AND YOU DON'T SEE THAT BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS CALLED OMNIBUS BILLS WHERE YOU STACK ALL OF THESE BILLS INTO ONE BILL AND YOU GET ONE VOTE ON A 900-PAGE BILL THAT INCLUDES TONS AND TONS OF OTHER BILLS THAT SOME WERE BIPARTISAN AND SOME WERE PASS OUT THE FLOOR WITH FLYING COLORS.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ONE OR TWO STICKERS IN THERE THAT IT'S A POISON PILL FOR THE OTHER SIDE AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE ON THE NEWS.

THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE WITH THE CONTENTIOUS DEBATE ON THE FLOOR.

THOSE FEW BILLS STUCK IN THOSE OMNIBUS BILLS.

LET'S GET RID OF THESE OMNIBUS.

LET'S PASS BILLS ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS ON A BIPARTISAN VOTE.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

WE SAW THAT THIS YEAR WITH THE VETERANS BILL.

WE PULLED IT OUT OF THE OMNIBUS BILL AND IT WAS PASSED, HUGE NUMBERS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANYBODY -- WELL, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE PERSON THAT VOTED AGAINST IT, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

THE BILLS WE PASS ARE GENERALLY BIPARTISAN.

THERE ARE SOME THAT AREN'T AND THAT'S THE NATURE OF POLITICS.

YOU SEE TWO PEOPLE UP HERE WITH STRONG PERSONALITIES AND STRONG OPINIONS AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GET IN ST. PAUL, BUT WE CAN WORK ON IT WHEN WE'RE WORKING IN PERSON.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

ERIKA.

>> Bailey-Johnson: YEAH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD TIMELY QUESTION.

WHEN I'VE BEEN OUT IN COMMUNITY, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT THE STATE OF THINGS RIGHT NOW IS THE DIVISIVENESS, THE PARTISANSHIP.

SO I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT IT.

I THINK THAT MY BACKGROUND IS REALLY HELPFUL.

I THINK -- SO I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW, BUT I'M FROM SUPER RURAL TOWN IN LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY.

I'M FROM WILLIAMS, MINNESOTA, LIVED EIGHT MILES SOUTH OF A TOWN OF 230 PEOPLE.

VERY CONSERVATIVE TOWN, WAS RAISED IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE FAMILY, AND I MADE A POINT, I'D SAY PRETTY MUCH MY WHOLE LIFE, TO BE FRIENDS WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE.

SO I CONNECT, I MAKE AN EFFORT, I GO OUT STILL, I HAVE FRIENDS ON ALL SIDES OF THE AISLE.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON MY COMMITTEE ARE ALL -- THEY'RE ALL ACROSS THE BOARD, EITHER LIKE WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN VOTING OR INDEPENDENTS OR DFL.

I HAVE CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE VOTING FOR ME, AND SO I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THOSE SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY NOW TO BE ABLE TO BRIDGE THAT WORK.

SO I FEEL PRETTY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT AND I THINK THAT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT'S NEEDED RIGHT NOW.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, ERIKA.

MATT, DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE OR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> Bliss: YEAH, I'M A LIKEABLE GUY TOO.

[ LAUGHTER ] NO, WORKING ACROSS PARTY LINES, I'VE GOT -- LIKE ERIKA, WE LIVE IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE FRIENDS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

MY COMMITTEE AS WELL IS MADE UP OF DEMOCRATS AND ONE REPUBLICAN, SO I, AS WELL, HAVE THE FRIENDS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT BELIEVE IN ME AS A PERSON, NOT AS A PARTY MEMBER, THAT WORK WITH ME.

AND WE DO HAVE SPIRITED DEBATES ON THE ISSUE AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS IS A GENTLEMAN THAT'S KIND OF ON THE SOCIALIST SIDE OF THINGS, AND WE HAVE SPIRITED DEBATES, BUT WE'RE STILL FRIENDS.

THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED, AND AGAIN, IN ST. PAUL, IT'S A RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS DOWN THERE.

YOUR JOB IS RELATIONSHIPS AND YOU DON'T GET A BILL IF YOU DON'T WORK ACROSS PARTY LINES AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

ERIKA?

>> Bailey-Johnson: YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE QUICK THING ABOUT THE CURRENT -- OR THE LAST SESSION.

SO MATT BLISS WAS THE -- HAD 99 BILLS WERE CO-AUTHORED BY YOU, IT LOOKS LIKE, AND 27 MAYBE CHIEF AUTHORS.

DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT?

AND NONE OF THEM WERE PASSED, SO I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON THERE, AND HONESTLY, A LOT OF BILLS WERE REALLY GOOD.

I LOOKED AT THEM ALL, AND SO I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON WHERE WE'RE NOT MEETING THE, YOU KNOW, THE CONNECTION AND THE COLLABORATION THAT'S NEEDED TO MOVE THESE FORWARD.

SO I WILL JUST END WITH THAT.

>> Bethany: THANKS.

DO YOU WANT TO USE YOUR MINUTE?

>> Bliss: SURE, WHY NOT.

I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING UP MY RECORD, IT'S THERE, I'M PROUD OF IT.

SOME OF THOSE BILLS, YEAH, THEY DIDN'T GET PASSED, BUT THERE WERE PORTIONS OF THEM INCLUDED THROUGH AMENDMENT PROCESS.

SO MAYBE THE BILL ITSELF WASN'T PASSED, THERE WAS A CO-BILL THAT GOT INCLUDED.

SOMETIMES YOU GET DOWN THERE AND IF YOU HAVE A GOOD BILL THAT THE OTHER PARTY WANTS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR IT.

THEY WILL TAKE IT AND PUT THEIR NAME ON IT AND PASS IT, AND HEY, THAT'S FINE TOO.

I'M NOT GETTING CREDIT.

IT'S ABOUT DOING THE PEOPLE'S WORK AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

OUR NEXT QUESTION THEN COMES FROM DENNIS.

>> Dennis: AND THIS IS A VIEWER QUESTION.

WE ASKED OUR VIEWERS SO SEND US QUESTIONS FOR THESE DEBATES.

THIS YEAR, WE'VE HAD MORE QUESTIONS THAN EVER, AND THIS QUESTION JUST ASKS, WILL YOU SUPPORT HIGHER FINES FOR THE TRANSPORT OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES INTO THE LAKE OR RIVER AT PARITY WITH HUNTING AND FISHING FINES, WHICH ARE HIGHER?

>> Bethany: ERIKA, YOU GET THIS ONE FIRST.

>> Bailey-Johnson: OH WOW, SUPPORT HIGHER FINES.

I'M JUST THINKING HOW YOU WOULD ENFORCE THAT.

OBVIOUSLY I THINK, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I'M IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, KEEN ON TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING RESPONSIBLE, LIKE PERSONALLY, ABOUT TRANSPORTING BOATS FROM LAKE TO LAKE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT ISSUE.

I GUESS -- I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW IF I WOULD SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN THE FINES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

I FEEL LIKE I WOULD NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT, SO YEAH, I'LL JUST END THAT QUICKLY THERE.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ERIKA.

MATT.

>> Bliss: WELL, MY SMALL BUSINESS RELIES HEAVILY ON OUR LAKES AND BOATERS.

I DON'T THINK I WOULD SUPPORT A HIGHER FINE, I REALLY WOULDN'T.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF AN EDUCATION TO THESE PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE ARE GOOD.

IF SOMEBODY IS BLATANTLY, YOU KNOW, LEAVING FISH IN THEIR LIVE WELL AND TRANSPORTING WEEDS ON THEIR TRAILERS, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD BE FINED.

HIGHER FINES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINES ARE NOW, FRANKLY, BECAUSE I DO EDUCATE MY PEOPLE AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S BEEN CAUGHT DOING THAT FROM MY PLACE ANYWAY.

SO NO, I DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT I WOULD SUPPORT RAISING THE FINES.

>> Bethany: COVER IT OKAY?

DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE?

>> Bailey-Johnson: I'M GOOD.

>> Bethany: OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.

QUESTION FROM HEIDI.

>> Heidi: THIS NEXT ONE IS MORE OF A -- NOT A QUESTION EXACTLY, BUT A COMMENT I'M LOOKING FOR FROM YOU ON A NEWS STORY THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK.

THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS FROM EXTENSIVE ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIONS OF WATER QUALITY VIOLATIONS AND AQUIFER BREACHES RELATED TO ENBRIDGE ENERGY'S LINE 3 PIPELINE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THIS RESULTED IN $11 MILLION IN PAYMENTS, PROJECTS AND FINANCIAL ASSURANCES FROM ENBRIDGE.

I'M JUST LOOKING FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS STORY.

>> Bethany: MATT, YOU WOULD BE FIRST.

>> Bliss: I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

SOUNDS LIKE $11 MILLION, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IN FINES.

THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.

I DON'T -- AGAIN, I HAVE NOT SEEN THE STORY, SO I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON THE SPECIFICS OF IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS.

IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WERE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

SO I -- YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS.

I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

ERIKA.

>> Bailey-Johnson: I WOULD -- I HAVE HEARD OF IT.

I READ IT.

I AM NOT SURPRISED AND I AM HOPING THAT MORE OF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

I AM -- YEAH.

I AM GLAD THAT IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR REGULATORS AND THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO ENFORCE THE PENALTY.

WHETHER IT'S ENOUGH, I'M NOT SURE, BUT I AM HOPEFUL THAT CORRECT ACTION WAS TAKEN AND THAT THIS WILL PREVENT FUTURE BREACHES.

BUT I ALSO -- I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WORKING TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT OUR AREA FROM ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ERIKA.

MATT, YOU GOOD?

IN THE I'M GOOD.

>> Bethany: OKAY.

LET'S MOVE ON TO QUESTIONS FROM NICOLE.

>> Nicole: I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO BOUNCE OFF OF HEIDI'S QUESTION A LITTLE BIT.

SO NOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN INFORMED AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OF THE STORY AND KNOW ABOUT THE FINES THAT ENBRIDGE WAS ISSUED, KNOWING THAT THERE WERE BREACHES IN AQUIFER AND THAT THERE WERE SOME CONSEQUENCES OF LINE 3'S CONSTRUCTION, WOULD YOU SUPPORT SIMILAR PROJECTS AND SIMILAR PIPELINES IN THE FUTURE?

>> Bliss: YES, I WOULD.

OH, I'M SORRY.

>> Bethany: THAT'S GREAT.

>> Bailey-Johnson: AT LEAST I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY NOW.

YOU'RE TRYING TO TRICK ME.

[ LAUGHTER ] SO I HAVE COMMENTED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST ON FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE ARE NOT AT THE POINT IN OUR GLOBAL SOCIETY TO INCREASE THE SUPPORT FOR FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL LAST ANOTHER, LIKE, SEVERAL DECADES.

SO THAT WOULD BE -- WHEN IT COMES TO PIPELINES, I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE -- EVEN IF IT IS AN OLD ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, I THINK IT SHOULD BE PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF LIKE CANADA DOES, AND I THINK WE NEED TO REDUCE OUR FOSSIL FUEL USE.

WE HAVE ADEQUATE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, AND WE DON'T NEED TO INCREASE OUR USE OF FOSSIL FUELS.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, ERIKA.

MATT?

>> Bliss: WELL, YES, I WOULD SUPPORT FURTHER PROJECTS.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IS OVERSIGHT, AND THE PARTIES THAT WERE AT FAULT WERE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AGAIN, WHETHER THE FINE MEETS THE CRIME OR NOT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO JUDGE THAT.

AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS, BUT WHAT WE HAVE IS THE COMPANY LEARNED, THEY WORKED WITH THE PCA AND THE DNR AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN FROM IT.

SO YEAH, AND SO IS THE PCA AND THE DNR, SO WE'RE GOING TO LEARN FROM IT.

WE DO NEED PIPELINES IN THE FUTURE.

WE ARE NOT READY TO GO OFF OF FOSSIL FUELS JUST YET, AND IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT IS THE SAFEST WAY TO TRANSPORT OIL.

AND I JUST -- THIS INCIDENT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND NEEDS TO BE AVOIDED IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR ANY RESPONSE, ERIKA?

>> Bailey-Johnson: YES, THERE'S TOO MUCH AT RISK.

WE KNOW OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE KNOW OF THE IMPACT THAT IT CAN HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITIES AND HAS HAD ON OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE CAN DO BETTER, AND SO THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE UPON FOSSIL FUELS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE THE FOSSIL FUEL USE OF THINGS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR YET, AND WE NEED TO TREAT IT AS A SACRED ITEM THAT IS -- NEEDS TO BE CONSERVED.

SO THAT IS WHAT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY ABOUT FOSSIL FUEL USE IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ERIKA.

MATT?

>> Bliss: I'M GOOD, THANKS.

>> Bethany: OKAY, THANK YOU.

NEXT QUESTION FROM DENNIS.

>> Dennis: THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONVENE WITH A SIGNIFICANT SURPLUS, OR SO IT SEEMS.

HOW SHOULD THE MONEY BE USED WITH RESPECT TO SPENDING AND/OR TAX RELIEF?

>> Bethany: MATT, YOU'RE FIRST.

>> Bliss: THANK YOU.

SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DISCUSSED THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

THAT'S FIRST AND FOREMOST.

I BELIEVE THAT ONE CAN BE PASSED RIGHT AWAY.

IT IS BIPARTISAN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR GOVERNOR.

YOU KNOW, TAX RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, TAX RELIEF FOR STRUGGLING FAMILIES, JUST -- WE NEED TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE.

IT'S THEIR MONEY.

THE GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY FUNDED TO THE LAST BIENNIUM, THIS JUNE, I BELIEVE, SO YEAH, THE MONEY BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE AND NEEDS TO GO BACK.

I DON'T THINK THAT MINNESOTA HAS A SHORTAGE OF REVENUE.

THERE'S A LOT OF WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE OUT THERE, A LOT.

WE'RE JUST SEEING THE SURFACE SCRATCHED ON THIS AND I KNOW THE FEEDING OUR FUTURE WAS FEDERAL MONEY, BUT THERE HAS BEEN STATE FRAUD, YOU KNOW.

JUST TWO, THREE YEARS AGO, WE HAD CHILDCARE CENTERS DEFRAUDING THE GOVERNMENT AT $100 MILLION PLUS.

IT'S JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE.

WE NEED TO REALLY GET OUT THERE AND INVESTIGATE THESE NONPROFITS THAT ARE MAKING SHAM BUSINESSES JUST -- AND LIVING OFF OF THE MINNESOTA TAXPAYERS.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

ERIKA.

>> Bailey-Johnson: SO WITH THE SURPLUS, I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S ONE-TIME FUNDING, SO WITH THAT SURPLUS, I WOULD SEE USING IT IN THAT WAY FOR ONE-TIME FUNDING.

I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE ON THE TABLE AT THE END OF THE LAST SESSION WERE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, WHICH I THINK WOULD HAVE REALLY HELPED OUR COMMUNITIES.

I ALSO THINK THAT ONE OTHER GOOD USE OF THE BUDGET SURPLUS WOULD HAVE BEEN A LONG-TERM, ONE-TIME INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN SOME THINGS THAT ADDRESSED CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESILIENCE PROJECTS, WASTEWATER TREATMENT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, STREETS, BRIDGES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF -- EVEN ON OUR OWN CAMPUS AT BEMIDJI STATE, WE HAVE A LOT OF FUNDING NEEDED TO MAINTAIN OUR BUILDINGS.

THERE'S A LOT OF BUILDINGS IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION AND K-12 SCHOOLS THAT ARE STARTING TO GET OLDER AND THEY NEED WORK.

SO A LOT OF THOSE ONE-TIME FUNDING THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND ALLOW US TO MAKE IT FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE, I THINK WOULD HAVE BEEN A REALLY GOOD IDEA.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ERIKA.

MATT, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> Bliss: I'M GOOD.

>> Bethany: ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM HEIDI.

>> Heidi: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO BRINGING NEW PEOPLE TO OUR REGION.

HOUSING AND DAYCARE.

WHAT SOLUTIONS WOULD YOU SUPPORT TO HELP THE REGION GROW?

>> Bethany: AND ERIKA, YOU GET THIS ONE FIRST.

>> Bailey-Johnson: YEAH, GOOD POINT.

I BROUGHT UP HOUSING AND DAYCARE EARLIER AND I DO THINK THAT THEY ARE REALLY BIG ISSUES.

I THINK THAT WITH HOUSING, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT IS WE NOT ONLY NEED TO HAVE AFFORDABLE, FIND WAYS TO HAVE AFFORDABLE, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I THINK THERE'S LOTS OF AVENUES TO GET THERE AND TO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT HOUSING NEEDS TO BE BUILT IN A, LIKE, EFFECTIVE -- OR NOT EFFECTIVE, IN AN EFFICIENT, HIGH-QUALITY WAY.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, TOO.

I KNOW THAT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SOME HOMES THAT HAVE -- THERE'S SOME PROJECTS IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE REALLY COOL WHERE THEY HAVE HOMES THAT ARE NOT ZERO-ENERGY OR REALLY LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO INVESTIGATE IS HOW ARE THOSE WORKING AND HOW ARE THEY WORKING FOR THE FAMILIES.

SO I THINK THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR MAYBE LOW-INTEREST LOANS.

I THINK A LOT OF THAT HAPPENS ALREADY.

I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT OR INFIELD, SO IN CITY, LOOKING AT SPACES WHERE WE CAN USE THOSE SPACES FOR HOUSING.

I THINK THAT THERE'S LOTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT WAS KIND OF APPARENT WHEN I WAS OUT DOOR-KNOCKING IN SPACES.

AND THAT GOT ME THINKING, MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE OR PROVIDE LOW-INTEREST LOANS OR GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES TO DO, YOU KNOW, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT OF.

AND THEN AS FAR AS THE DAYCARE QUESTION, THAT ONE, AGAIN, LIKE I ALWAYS COME BACK TO THE WHY.

AND SO WHY, WHY IS THERE THAT ISSUE?

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF NEED FOR, AGAIN, LIKE THE HOUSING, THERE'S A LOT OF PAY RATE INCREASES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN FOR OUR DAYCARE PROVIDERS.

SO IT WILL BE WORKING WITH THEM TO FIGURE OUT THOSE SOLUTIONS.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ERIKA.

MATT?

>> Bliss: SO THE HOUSING ISSUE IN MINNESOTA, IT'S -- IT AFFECTS ALL COMMUNITIES.

IT AFFECTS THE METRO AREA, AFFECTS RURAL COMMUNITIES.

PART OF THE PROBLEM WE HAVE, AND IT'S BEEN ADDRESSED IN PREVIOUS DEBATES, IS THE REGULATIONS ON THESE HOMES.

YOU KNOW, 25 -- I'VE HEARD AS HIGH AS 35%, BUT WE'LL USE THE 25% FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE, OF THE COST OF A NEW HOME IS REGULATIONS.

YOU KNOW, YEAH, WE WANT TO HAVE SAFE HOMES, WE WANT TO HAVE EFFICIENT HOMES, BUT LET'S LOOK UP AT BORDER COMMUNITIES LIKE FARGO AND MOREHEAD, AND THE SAME HOUSE JUST RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER WITH THE SAME FROST LINE IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LESS THAN WHAT IT IS IN MINNESOTA.

WHY IS THAT?

REGULATIONS.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THIS IS BROUGHT UP IN AN EARLIER DEBATE AS WELL, IT'S CLOSE TO DOUBLE.

WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE FINANCING OF THE STATE AND HAVE TO GO THROUGH THEIR HOOPS AND THEIR REGULATIONS, THE COST TO CONSTRUCT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PER SQUARE FOOT IS NEARLY DOUBLE OF THAT MARKET RATE HOUSING, SO THAT'S A PROBLEM.

DAYCARE, AGAIN, REGULATIONS.

I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY, MANY DAYCARE PROVIDERS AT THE DOORS, AND REGULATIONS ARE KILLING THEM.

THEY CAN'T HAVE AS MANY KIDS.

THE UNIONIZATION OF THE DAYCARE WORKERS, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE, THAT CREATED PROBLEMS.

AND WE JUST NEED TO OPEN THEM UP, WE NEED TO HAVE SAFE DAYCARES, BUT WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE DAYCARES ARE THERE.

THERE'S GOT TO BE A HAPPY MEDIUM, AND AGAIN, WE NEED TO BRING DAYCARE PROVIDERS IN TO DISCUSS WHAT THEY'RE SEEING AND WE CAN'T HAVE BUREAUCRATS IN ST. PAUL MAKING RULES FOR DAYCARES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THEY RUN.

SO WE NEED TO GET THE PROVIDERS DOWN TO PROVIDE INPUT.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR RESPONSE, ERIKA?

>> Bailey-Johnson: I'LL JUST SAY ONE THING ABOUT REGULATION.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, REGULATION IS SOMETIMES THERE AS A SAFETY MEASURE OR AS A WAY TO PREVENT HARM.

SO -- AND I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT THE REGULATIONS ON HOUSING, BUT I KNOW I AM CONNECTED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON HOUSING ISSUES.

SO AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE THE PLACE TO GO, TO ASK AND TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW THAT IS WORKING IN OUR DAYCARE COMMUNITY AND OUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

>> Bethany: THANKS, ERIKA.

MATT?

>> Bliss: I'M GOOD.

>> Bethany: ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S GOING TO CONCLUDE OUR QUESTION PORTION OF THE DEBATE, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ON CLOSING COMMENTS.

SO CLOSING COMMENTS, EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES, AND MATT, YOU WILL GO FIRST.

>> Bliss: ONCE AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK LAKELAND, OUR MODERATOR AND FAMILIAR FOR BRINGS US BACK AND HOLDING IT IN THIS FORMAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S TRULY BEEN AN HONOR TO REPRESENT THE GOOD PEOPLE OF 5A AND I LOOK FORWARD IF ELECTED TO REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF 2B.

TONIGHT WE HEARD TWO DIFFERENT VIEWS ON HOW TO BEST MOVE FORWARD ON -- TO ADDRESS THE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES IMPACTING OUR STATE AND COMMUNITIES.

I PUT MY COMMON SENSE APPROACH ADDRESSING CRITICAL ISSUES AND PRIORITIES FACING OUR DISTRICT AND STATE.

CRIME, INFLATION, ENERGY COSTS, AND OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THE ROAD THAT THE DFL HAS STEERED US AND WE MUST CHANGE COURSE, AND WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN FIX THIS.

I ASK YOU TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND ASK HUMBLY FOR YOUR VOTE ON NOVEMBER 8th.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

ERIKA.

>> Bailey-Johnson: THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO THANK MATT BLISS AND THE PANEL AND BETHANY, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO COORDINATE THIS.

I KNOW THAT DEBATES ARE A LOT OF WORK AND IT'S PROBABLY LIKE HERDING CATS A LITTLE BIT, SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS BY EVERYONE.

I WILL JUST SAY THAT I AM NOT YOUR TYPICAL POLITICIAN.

I AM READY AND I AM NEEDED.

FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE, READ AND HEAR, MY OPPONENT FOLLOWS THE PARTY LINE.

THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

MY COLLABORATIVE, BIPARTISAN PROBLEM-SOLVING WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE INVOLVED, GET ENGAGED, GET YOUR NEIGHBORS ENGAGED, YOUR COMMUNITY ENGAGED.

VOTE.

YOU CAN VOTE NOW IN PERSON BY GOING TO YOUR COUNTY SEAT.

YOU CAN REQUEST A MAIL-IN BALLOT, AND MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD.

SO I REALLY WANT TO SHOW APPRECIATION FOR MY TEAM.

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, AND MY COMMUNITY AND ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PLACES THAT I'VE BEEN TO IN THIS RURAL DISTRICT 2B.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

I WANT TO THANK BOTH OUR CANDIDATES FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

THIS OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU, SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.

THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR ALL YOUR QUESTIONS.

DENNIS, HEIDI, NICOLE.

THANK YOU 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 LPTV.ORG.

ALSO, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE POLITICAL CANDIDATES IN THE REGION, PICK UP THE BEMIDJI PIONEER'S VOTERS GUIDE AVAILABLE ON OCTOBER 29th.

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

THIS IS IT FOR ME, BUT COMING UP ON THURSDAY, DEBATE NIGHT 2022 WILL CONTINUE AT 7:00 P.M. WE'LL HAVE HOUSE DISTRICT 6A WITH RICHARD BLAKE AND BEN DAVIS LIVE FROM OUR BRAINERD STUDIO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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