A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> Mary: THE BALANCE OF POWER IS ABOUT TO SHIFT IN THE SENATE ONCE AGAIN.

WE HAVE THE TOP LEADERS HERE LIVE.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

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

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

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

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

MINNESOTA LOTTERY, GENERATING OVER $4 BILLION FOR OUR STATE SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HEALTHIER.

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE.

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

I'M MARY LAHAMMER COMING LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY, WHERE WEEKS INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, HALF OF THE CHAMBER HERE REMAINS EMPTY AS DEMOCRATS CONTINUE THEIR UNPRECEDENTED BOYCOTT OF SESSION.

THE TIE IN THE SENATE IS ABOUT TO BE DONE.

WE WILL TALK TO SENATE LEADERS ABOUT A LITTLE LATER IN THE SHOW.

WE ALSO HAVE A FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER HERE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE INTRIGUE IN THE HOUSE.

AND YOU'LL MEET A NEW LAWMAKER WHO WON A HOTLY CONTESTED CLOSE ELECTION.

BUT, FIRST, IT'S DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN IN THE HOUSE.

[ BANGING GAVEL ] >> THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.

>> Mary: IT'S BACK TO DAY ONE IN THE HOUSE.

WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AGAIN CONVENING ESSION AFTER THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULED REPUBLICANS CANNOT GATHER A QUORUM WITHOUT DEMOCRATS.

>> A QUORUM IS NOT PRESENT.

THE HOUSE IS ADJOURNED.

[ BANGING GAVEL ] >> TODAY HE MADE HIMSELF AN ACCOMPLICE IN THEIR LAWLESS EFFORT TO PREVENT THE HOUSE FROM WORKING.

DEMOCRATS JUST NEED TO SHOW UP FOR WORK.

THAT'S WHAT THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT SAID.

>> HOUSE REPUBLICANS NOW ON WEEK THREE ARE HERE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO DO BY THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

WE ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE THAT OUR TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR MEMBERS, DEMOCRAT MEMBERS, NOT TO SHOW UP FOR WORK.

>> THE MINNESOTA HOUSE DFL THINKS THAT IT IS REALLY SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.

WE JUST MATCH THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.

AND WE SEAT PEOPLE WHO WON ELECTIONS.

AND WE OPERATE AS A SHARED GOVERNING BODY WHEN WE'RE TIED.

>> WE SAW TWO WEEKS OF ILLEGAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL POWER GRAB FROM THE GOP, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR ATTEMPTS TO GRAB POWER AREN'T OVER.

>> SENATE MILLER, WILL YOU JOIN US?

>> Mary: OVER IN THE SENATE, WITH A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT IN PLACE, A DIVIDE IS BEGINNING TO SURFACE.

ON THE DAY SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL'S BURGLARY TRIAL WAS SET TO START, BEFORE IT WAS DELAYED DURING SESSION, REPUBLICANS ATTEMPTED TO EXPEL THE METEOROLOGIST FROM WOODBURY.

>> I BRING THIS EXCEEDINGLY RARE MOTION TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE FACING AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION.

A MEMBER OF THIS ODY IS FACING CHARGES FOR FELONY BURGLARY.

>> NO MEMBER OF THE SENATE HAS EVER BEEN EXPELLED, SHORT OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE CRIMINAL PROCESS.

OUR SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ETHICS HAS MET, HAS HEARD THE CASE, AND HAS TOLD US IN THEIR CAPACITY AS OUR VOICE ON ETHICS, THEY WANT TO HEAR THE RESULT OF THE CRIMINAL CASE FIRST AND WHY, MEMBERS?

SO THEY CAN KNOW THE WHOLE STORY.

>> CLOUD IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HANG OVER THE MINNESOTA STATE SENATE THROUGHOUT, AS LONG AS SENATOR MITCHELL IT HERE.

THAT COULD BE THROUGHOUT THE SESSION.

>> SENATOR MITCHELL HAS BEEN ACCUSED AND NOT YET CONVICTED.

SHE HAS DUE PROCESS RIGHTS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT SHE REPRESENTS ARE SPHWIELD HER REPRESENTATION.

HER COURT CASE IS NOT A MATTER FOR THE SENATE.

ENTITLED TO ER REPRESENTATION.

>> Mary: AND IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE THE LATE-SENATOR KARI DZIEDZIC, DEMOCRAT PREVAILED, PUTTING THE DFL BACK ON TOP IN THE SENATE.

>> NO MORE FUNDING FOR TRANSGENDERRISM AND WOKENESS.

>> Mary: ALSO, GOVERNOR WALZ MADE NATIONAL NEWS, CRITICIZING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PLAN TO FREEZE FEDERAL FUNDS, WHICH HE LATER RESCINDED.

>> THIS IS NOT BOLD.

IT'S NOT LEADERSHIP.

IT'S STUPID, CHILDISH.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE VOTED.

AND KAMALA HARRIS AND I LOST AN ELECTION TO DONALD TRUMP.

♪♪ >> Mary: WELL, AS THE STANDOFF PERSISTS HERE IN THE HOUSE, WE'VE BEEN CALLING IN FORMER LEADERS, AND TONIGHT WE HAVE REPUBLICAN KURT DAUDT, WHO HELD THE GAVEL AT THE FRONT OF THE CHAMBER AS A FORMER SPEAKER.

WELCOME, Mr. SPEAKER.

>> THOSE WERE THE DAYS.

>> Mary: RIGHT.

DO YOU MISS IT?

>> NO, NOT RIGHT NOW.

>> Mary: NOT RIGHT NOW.

WHAT YOU WHAT WOULD YOU -- WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THIS POSITION, WITH HALF OF THE CHAMBER MISSING?

>> I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.

SHOW UP EVERY DAY.

THEY'RE ONLY EXPECTING TO HAVE AN ELECTION FOR SPEAKER ON THE FIRST DAY, RIGHT?

THAT'S NOT UNREASONABLE, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED ON THE FIRST DAY OF SESSION.

>> Mary: WHICH THEY CAN DO WITH 66 VOTES.

>> I THINK IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST ONCE.

>> Mary: AT LEAST TWICE.

>> I THINK THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

I THINK NOW THERE'S A HIGH-STAKES CHESS GAME GOING ON HERE.

AND DEMOCRATS HAVE TO DECIDE, ARE THEY GOING TO TRY TO STAY OUT FOR SEVEN WEEKS JUST TO PREVENT REPUBLICANS FROM ELECTING SOMEBODY SPEAKER?

>> Mary: AND WE CAN'T EVEN SAY SEVEN WEEKS FOR SURE, BECAUSE THAT WAS BASED ON A SPECIAL ELECTION THAT HAS NOT BEEN CALLED YET.

>> CORRECT.

>> Mary: AND CAN'T BE CALLED, RIGHT, UNTIL THEY'RE IN SESSION?

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT PART OF -- >> WELL, I THINK THE GOVERNOR POTENTIALLY COULD INTERPRET THAT SESSION DID START ON THE 14th OF JANUARY.

AND THAT BOTH HOUSES ARE IN SESSION.

EVEN HOUGH THIS CHAMBER'S NOT ORGANIZED YET.

THEY STILL DID GAVEL IN.

>> Mary: IS THE SENATE ENOUGH FOR HIM TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON IT.

>> IT SAYS THE LEGISLATURE.

AND, IF YOU READ IT, IT'S 22 DAYS AFTER THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN THEN CALL THE ELECTION, AND HE HAS TO DO IT WITHIN 35 DAYS, THAT'S WHERE YOU GET THAT SEVEN WEEKS.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE TWO MESSAGES WE'RE HEARING, VERY DIFFERENT MESSAGES, SPEAKER HORTMAN HAS BEEN SAYING, WE'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE, THERE RE MAKING -- THEY'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

SPEAKER DEMUTH IS SAYING, NO, THIS ISN'T GOING WELL.

>> FROM WHAT I'M HEARING ON THE INSIDE, THEY'RE NOT MAKING PROGRESS.

AND I THINK THAT MELISSA', YOU KNOW, SPEAKER HORTMAN, IS, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AKING ON WATER.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE -- I THINK SHE'S ALREADY HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING HER OWN CAUCUS TOGETHER AND KEEPING THEM OUT OF HERE.

I THINK HER MEMBERS WANT TO COME BACK AND GET TO WORK.

AND THE LONGER THIS GOES ON, THE MORE DIFFICULT THAT GETS.

IT'S REALLY GOING TO TEST HER LEADERSHIP ABILITY TO HOLD THEM TOGETHER AND I THINK THE LONGER IT GOES, HE MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO QUESTION THAT STRATEGY.

AND I -- I DON'T KNOW IF I AGREE WITH IT.

IT'S -- THIS IS A HIGH-STAKES GAME THAT SHE'S PLAYING.

>> Mary: AND IT'S A HIGH-STAKES GAME TO SAY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEAT A MEMBER WHO WON THROUGH A RECOUNT, WON THROUGH JUDICIAL DECISION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BRAD TABKE SEAT.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: WHICH IS THE REASON DEMOCRATS WON'T COME OUT.

>> RIGHT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I THINK THEY HAVE A CASE TO SAY, HEY, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, 14-VOTE MARGIN AND 20 VOTES MISSING, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COURT SAID, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN LIKELY HE WOULD HAVE WON THAT RACE.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

AND JUST, IN THE SAME WAY THAT DEMOCRATS' ARGUMENT RIGHT NOW IS, WELL, WE NEED TO RESPECT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS, THEY'RE TRYING TO PRETEND LIKE THERE'S A TIE IN THIS CHAMBER RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S A VACANT SEAT, AND WHILE THEY MAY WELL IN IT, WE SHOULD RESPECT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND ACTUALLY LET THE ELECTION HAPPEN AND LET THE VOTERS DECIDE WHO'S GOING TO REPRESENT THAT DISTRICT.

BECAUSE I REMEMBER, AND I WISH I COULD REMEMBER THE YEAR RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT WE WON A SPECIAL ELECTION IN BLOOMINGTON AFTER ANN LENCZEWSKI RETIRED THAT NOBODY THOUGHT THAT WE COULD WIN.

SO, WE SHOULD LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.

AND RIGHT NOW THE HOUSE IS NOT TIED.

>> Mary: YOU'RE NOT THINKING IT'S A GIVEN IN ROSEVILLE, DESPITE A HUGE MARGIN?

>> NO.

WELL, WE WON ANN LENCZEWSKI'S SEAT AFTER SHE RETIRED AND NOBODY THOUGHT WE COULD DO THAT.

WE ONLY HELD IT FOR A SHORT TIME BUT IT IS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW A SPECIAL ELECTION IS DIFFERENT THAN A GENERAL ELECTION.

>> Mary: VERY SMALL TURNOUT.

SO WE THOUGHT MAYBE THE SUPREME COURT STEPPING IN WOULD CHANGE THINGS.

IT DIDN'T CHANGE THINGS YET.

WHAT BREAKS THE LOG JAM HERE IF THAT DIDN'T DO IT?

>> IT DIDN'T.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS A SECTION, I BROUGHT A COPY OF THE CONSTITUTION -- >> Mary: NOT THE FIRST FORMER LEADER TO BRING THE CONSTITUTION.

I LOVE NERDING OUT.

YES, GO FOR IT.

>> RIGHT.

BUT ARTICLE IV, SECTION 13, THE SAME SECTION THAT TALKS ABOUT A QUORUM, THE MAJORITY OF EACH HOUSE CONSTITUTES A QUORUM TO TRANSACT BUSINESS, COULD MA, BUT A SMALLER NUMBER MAY JUDGED AWRN FROM DAY TO DAY AND COMPEL THE ATTENDANCE OF ABSENT MEMBERS IN THE MANNER AND UNDER THE PENALTIES IT MAY PROVIDE.

RIGHT NOW, STEVE SIMON IS COMING IN, SECRETARY OF STATE, AND CONVENING THE SESSION EVERY DAY.

BUT HE'S NOT ALLOWING THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS, THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ADJOURN THE SESSION.

HE DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT OR THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

>> ary: AND THAT COULD BE THE NEXT LAWSUIT.

WE DID HEAR -- >> I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE IT THAT THEY WILL GO TO COURT.

>> Mary: REPRESENTATIVE DEMUTH SAID THAT'S THE NEXT THING, THEY'RE GOING TO COURT.

>> THEY ALSO GET TO MAKE MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR, ON THE LAST PART OF THAT, WHICH IS THAT A SMALLER NUMBER MAY COMPEL THE ATTENDANCE OF THE ABSENT MEMBERS IN THE MANNER AND UNDER THE PENALTIES WHICH IT MAY PROVIDE.

RIGHT?

SO THEY GET TO DECIDE HOW THEY'LL -- THEY'RE GOING TO FORCE THOSE DEMOCRATS TO COME IN AND DO THEIR JOB.

>> Mary: HOW MUCH LONGER, WEEKS, MONTHS?

DAYS?

>> I'D BE SURPRISED IF IT GOES SEVEN WEEKS.

BUT IT SEEMS RIGHT NOW LIKE EVERYBODY'S DUG IN.

IT WILL BE HISTORY.

EITHER WAY.

>> Mary: IT IS.

THANK YOU, FORMER SPEAKER KURT DAUDT.

>> YOU BET.

>> Mary: GREAT.

♪♪ >> Mary: WELL, CHANGE IS COMING TO THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

AND WE HAVE THE TOP TWO LEADERS HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE REPUBLICAN LEADER SENATOR JOHNSON AND DEMOCRATIC LEADER SENATOR MURPHY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN KIND OF A CHAOTIC NIGHT.

I'LL START WITH SENATOR MURPHY, BECAUSE YOU JUST CAME FROM CAUCUS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BREAKING NEWS TO REPORT?

>> YOU KNOW, WE WELCOMED SENATOR-ELECT DORAN CLARK TO OUR CAUCUS THIS EVENING.

HE WON HIS ELECTS LAST NIGHT IN SENATE DISTRICT 60 TO SUCCEED THE LATE ND BELOVED KARI DZIEDZIC.

HE WON BY 91% OF THE VOTE, BESTING KAMALA HARRIS IN THE LAST ELECTION BY DOUBLE DIGITS.

AND HE'S REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO WORK.

>> Mary: AND IT CHANGES YOUR JOB NOW, RIGHT, BECAUSE DEMOCRATS GO BACK TO BEING IN THE MAJORITY?

>> WELL, UNDER THE AGREEMENT RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, FOR POWER SHARING, WHICH IS 50-50 IN COMMITTEES, AND UP AT THE ROSTRUM AND IN LEADERSHIP, REQUIRES 34 VOTES.

TO END THAT AGREEMENT.

AND, SO, UNTIL WE REACH THAT THRESHOLD OF 34 VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, IT WILL REMAIN A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT.

SO WHENEVER THAT MIGHT HAPPEN, YET TO BE DETERMINED.

>> Mary: WHEN IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> WELL, WE'RE WAITING FOR THE ELECTION CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED, WHICH WE EXPECT SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT IN OUR CAUCUS ABOUT WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST NUMBER OF WEEKS, AND, YOU KNOW, MARY LAHAMMER, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL, ABOUT YOUR VIEWERS AND THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE SENATE'S WILLINGNESS TO GET TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER.

AND THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY BOUND IN A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT.

IT'S WHAT STARTED US THIS SESSION, AND I'M ALWAYS GRATEFUL TO LEADER JOHNSON FOR ENGAGING IN THIS DISCUSSION AND GETTING US STARTED.

THE SENATE IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, HAPPILY WORKING AND FUNCTIONING.

THAT'S BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT THE WORK TOGETHER, OUR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER ISN'T TIED TO AN AGREEMENT.

AND I THINK OUR COLLEAGUES, MY COLLEAGUES ARE VERY INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, TO DO RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE.

>> Mary: SENATOR JOHNSON, I JUST HAVE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF SMILES OUT OF YOU OVER N THAT CHAMBER.

HOW FUN IS IT TO BE THE GOOD GUYS WHILE THE HOUSE IS MIRED IN THIS STANDOFF?

I MEAN, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GETTING ALONG, AND YOU'VE BEEN HAPPY ABOUT IT, RIGHT?

>> IT HAS BEEN GREAT.

MAYBE THIS POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ALMOST FORCED TO WORK TOGETHER IN A TIE LIKE THIS.

SO I HOPE THAT IT CONTINUES.

BECAUSE YOU SEE CHAIRS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WALKING DOWN THE HALL, DISCUSSING POLICY, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN COMMITTEES, AND IT'S REALLY REFRESHING.

I'M AFRAID THAT ONCE THAT AGREEMENT IS OUT OF PLACE, THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THAT AS MUCH.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PARTISANSHIP SNEAK BACK INTO IT.

I'M GOING TO BE ENCOURAGING THOSE ON THE FLOOR TO CONTINUE IT AGREEMENT GOING FORWARD.

>> Mary: LOGISTICALLY WHAT HAPPENS, DO DEMOCRATS TAKE BACK ALL THE GAVELS, GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE LOGISTICS?

>> WHEN WE VOTE TO RESCIND THE AGREEMENT, WE THEN REORGANIZE AGAIN.

SAME COMMITTEES.

THERE WERE SOME THINGS IN HE POWER-SHARING NEGOTIATIONS THAT WILL EXTEND BEYOND THE TERM OF THE TEMPORARY AGREEMENT.

NARROWER MARGINS IN THE COMMITTEES, BIPARTISAN DECISION MAKING AROUND RULES, SOME SHARED SPACE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

SO, ALREADY, EVEN IF AND WHEN THE POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT IS RESCINDED, THE FRUIT OF IT WILL EXTEND BEYOND BECAUSE WE MADE AN AGREEMENT, ESPECIALLY AROUND COMMITTEE MARGINS THAT WE WOULD NARROW THOSE TO REFLECT THE MAKEUP OF THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Mary: THIS WEEK, THOUGH, THE TONE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

THIS WAS THE WEEK SENATOR MITCHELL WAS SCHEDULED TO O ON TRIAL, AND REPUBLICANS TRIED TO OUST HER.

SO DID THAT CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANGE IN THE DYNAMIC?

>> YEAH, MARY, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE TRIED TO OUST HER.

WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS TAKE THE CLOUD THAT'S BEEN HANGING OVER THE MINNESOTA SENATE FOR ALMOST EIGHT, TEN MONTHS NOW, AND JUST REMOVE THAT.

WE'VE HAD SUCH A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

THE POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT REALLY GIVES INSURANCE TO REPUBLICANS, THE -- DEMOCRATS, THAT THE REPUBLICANS AREN'T GOING TO COME IN AND TEAR THIS PLACE APART, BUT THAT WE HAVE A CONTINUATION OF THE PROCESS IN ORDER.

WE TRIED TO BRING HAT TO THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU SAW SOME PARTISANSHIP GO BACK INTO SYSTEM THERE.

PARTY-LINE VOTE, ALL THE DEMOCRATS PROTECTING SENATOR MITCHELL.

WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THE ETHICS, WE'RE GOING TO BE CONTINUING THE ETHICS COMPLAINT AND GOING FORWARD WITH THAT.

IT WAS PRETTY DISAPPOINTING ON MONDAY, I THOUGHT WE COULD GET A BIPARTISAN VOTE ON THAT.

>> Mary: WAS THAT PARTED OF A CRACK IN THE MERRIMENT OVER THERE, GOING THROUGH IT?

>> IT IS TAXING, I WILL SAY.

AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE DEBATE, AND IT WAS A BRIEF DEBATE ON MONDAY, WE ARE DEBATING OVER FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE, OF DUE PROCESS, OF REPRESENTATION.

WE HAVE MADE THOSE ARGUMENTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND I FELT ON MONDAY LIKE WE WERE STANDING UP FOR THE INSTITUTION OF THE SENATE, ITS RULES, ITS CUSTOM AND USAGE, AND AT A TIME WHEN WE SEE THE NEW PRESIDENT VIOLATING HIS OATH, VIOLATING THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, VIOLATING THE LAW, IN EXECUTIVE ORDERS, IN FIRING INSPECTORS GENERAL, SOME OF THE ACTS, PARDONING THE J 6ers, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING THERE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPENING IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE, ALL FEEL LIKE THREATS TO THE BASIC FUNDAMENTAL OPERATION OF THIS INSTITUTION AND WE'RE STICKING UP FOR IT.

>> Mary: YOU PROBABLY SAW AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW, GOVERNOR WALZ, YOU KNOW, SAID, I LOST, HARRIS LOST, RUMP WON.

REPUBLICANS GAINED HERE IN THE HOUSE.

SO, WHAT IS THE MESSAGE THEN GOING FORWARD?

BIG WIN IN MINNEAPOLIS LAST NIGHT.

BUT WHAT'S THE MESSAGE?

>> WELL, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS HERE.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE TIED, 100 DEMOCRATS, 100 REPUBLICANS.

THEY'RE ASKING OUR LEGISLATORS TO GET TOGETHER AND WORK BIPARTISANLY.

AND, SO, YOU SEE THE DEMOCRATS DUCKING THAT RESPONSIBILITY HERE IN THE HOUSE.

WE FOUND A WAY FORWARD IN THE SENATE FOR THESE LAST THREE WEEKS.

AND I HOPE THAT CONTINUES.

8 IT'S BEEN A GOOD MODEL.

I THINK MINNESOTANS ARE FINDING THAT REFRESHING.

FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SEE THAT COOPERATION.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE BROUGHT AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN THAT MANNER, AS LONG AS WE CAN.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE HOUSE, NOT SHOWING UP, WHAT IMPACT IS IT HAVING, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KIND OF PUSH IT ALONG AND MOVE THE LOG JAM?

>> SO I'M GOING TO KEEP MY FOCUS IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

WHERE I AM ELECTED.

TO SERVE THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT I REPRESENT.

AND, REALLY, THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

I'VE BEEN REALLY REALLY FOCUSED ON THE JOB THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE TO ALANCE THE BUDGET.

JOB NUMBER ONE.

>> Mary: IT'S BIG WORK, BUT RIGHT NOW YOU CANNOT GET A BILL TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, IF YOU HAD AN EMERGENCY AND REALLY NEED TO GET SOMETHING DONE, RIGHT?

>> BUT HERE'S THE THING.

WE WATCHED YESTERDAY THE NEW PRESIDENT SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO FREEZE FEDERAL FUNDING TO STATES.

IF THAT GOES INTO EFFECT AND -- >> Mary: THAT HE RESCINDED TODAY TO BE CLEAR.

>> AND HIS PRESS SECRETARY SAID, NO, NO REALLY, WE DIDN'T.

>> Mary: NOT REALLY.

>> IT IS A MEASURE OF INCOMPETENT AND -- INCOMPETENCE AND CHAOS.

>> WE JUST SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSE, BUT THEN YOU GO AND TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.

>> I AM.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE SENATE AND THOSE ISSUES THERE.

>> THOSE FEDERAL CUTS COULD IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO FOCUS -- BALANCE THE BUDGET.

>> Mary: WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER CLAIM TO FAME IS BEING THE ONLY DEMOCRAT TO WIN IN AN OPEN SEAT IN A TARGETED RACE.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN NOW THAT YOU'VE WON AND LOOKED BACK?

[ Laughter ] >> YEAH, IT'S A DIFFERENT THING.

IT IS.

SO IT REALLY GOES BACK TO MY EXPERIENCE WITH TEACHING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THAT WAS A BIG MOTIVATOR FOR ME.

SEEING THE DIFFERENCE WHEN I WORKED IN FOUR DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SEEING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN -- IN THE UNDERFUNDED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A WELL-FUNDED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WANT TO GO FIGURE OUT HOW I CAN AKE THE DIFFERENCE AT THE STATE LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN MINNESOTA GETS THE RESOURCES THAT IT NEEDS.

>> Mary: WE SAW YOU KIND OF EARLIER IN THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, AND WHAT YOU LEARNED THROUGH KIND OF SUMMER AND FALL AND HOW THAT CHANGED.

WHAT WAS YOUR LESSON THROUGH THAT TIME FRAME?

>> IN ADDITION TO, YOU KNOW, MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER AND KNOWING THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT FOR MINNESOTANS, I'M ALSO KNOCKING ON THOUSANDS OF DOORS AND TALKING TO THOUSANDS OF FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT.

WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT A LOT HAD, IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, IS AFFORDABILITY.

SO I'M KEEPING THAT IN MIND AND -- IN EACH OF THE COMMITTEES THAT I AM ENTERING, HOW I CAN HELP AKE THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA HAVE HINGS BE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THEM.

>> Mary: AND THAT WAS TOUGHER ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS.

REPUBLICANS MAYBE WON AND GOT SOME TRACTION NATIONALLY STATEWIDE ON THAT ISSUE OF ECONOMY.

CLOSE RACE AGAIN.

>> YEAH, VERY CLOSE.

>> Mary: HOW CLOSE?

>> IT CAME DOWN TO 280 VOTES.

SO WE DID GAIN SOME VOTES FROM THE TWO YEARS PRIOR, THAT ELECTION CYCLE.

AND I REALLY THINK IT CAME DOWN TO TALKING TO PEOPLE FACE TO FACE AND GETTING TO KNOW THEM AND THEM MEETING ME, THAT REALLY MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT THE SCOOTER, DID YOU GET MORE PLACES FASTER WITH THAT?

>> THE SCOOTER, ABSOLUTELY WORKED AS A GOOD STRATEGY TO BE ABLE TO GET TO MORE DOORS.

>> Mary: AS YOU'RE SEEING RETURNS COME IN ELECTION NIGHT, WERE YOU THINKING, OH, MY GOSH, I'M SO GLAD I KNOCKED ON THAT EXTRA DOOR, I WENT TO THAT PARK, I WENT TO THAT CAFÉ, WERE YOU FEELING LIKE EVERY LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA EFFORT WAS WORTH IT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN THE RESULTS CAME OUT, I WAS ACTUALLY ASLEEP, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T COME OUT UNTIL 3:00 A.M., BUT I HAD MY PHONE RIGHT NEXT TO ME, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIGHTING UP AND LASHING, AND WOKE ME UP, AND I KNEW THEY MUST HAVE COME OUT.

SO I WOKE UP, GRABBED MY PHONE, AND WAS THRILLED TO SEE THAT WE HAD WON!

>> Mary: AND REPUBLICANS DID WELL.

THEY MADE GAINS IN MINNESOTA, NATIONALLY.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WERE ABLE TO STOP THAT TIDE IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> I REALLY THINK IT COMES DOWN TO THE PERSONAL CONNECTION.

SO INSTEAD OF BASING IT ON THINGS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON TV THE MOST, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING BEING TALKED ABOUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THE MOST, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I MADE THAT PERSONAL CONNECTION AND I GOT TO -- THEY GOT TO MEET ME, TALK TO ME, ASK ME QUESTIONS, AND THEY SEE THAT I'M A REASONABLE PERSON THAT CARES ABOUT PEOPLE AND JUST WANTS TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.

>> Mary: AND NOW THAT YOU'VE WON, HAVE YOU HEARD THINGS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T TELL YOU WHEN YOU'RE A CANDIDATE, LIKE, REPRESENTATIVE NEWTON SAID, OKAY, HERE'S WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN UP THERE?

[ Laughter ] >> NO, NOT SO MUCH.

JUST THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO DO AS A FRESHMAN.

BUT I LOOK AT IT AS A TEACHER, I'M A LIFELONG LEARNER AND I THINK LIFELONG LEARNING IS IMPORTANT SO I THINK THIS FIRST, YOU KNOW, ROUND OF SESSIONS HERE IN THESE TWO YEARS AS A BIG LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT ALL WORKS, WHAT I CAN GET DONE IN COMMITTEES, WHAT I CAN'T GET DONE.

THE NUMBER ONE THING WE KNOW IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER AND, SO, I'M EXCITED TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT TOPICS AND WHAT ISSUES DO WE HAVE IN COMMON THAT WE CAN GET TO WORK ON TOGETHER.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT YOUR DISTRICT, THOUGH, IT IS A VERY CLOSE MARGIN AT THE CAPITOL VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR DISTRICT?

AND DID THAT KIND OF TEACH YA HOW YOU HAVE TO BEHAVE?

>> YEAH.

WELL, FOR SURE.

AND I THINK THE BIGGEST THING WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SOME PERSONAL PRIORITIES, BUT I ALSO HAVE TO REALLY REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY AND THE CONSTITUENTS THAT LIVE IN COON RAPIDS AND ANDOVER.

AND, SO, GETTING TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THEM, WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT, AND BRINGING THAT TO THE CAPITOL, YOU NEGOTIATION OBVIOUSLY I WOULDN'T DO SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T MATCH WITH MY VALUES, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS CARE ABOUT THAT ALSO MATCH WITH MY VALUES.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, THE COST OF GAS OR GROCERIES, RISING COST OF HEALTHCARE, CHILD CARE AND THE HOUSING CRUNCH AND HOW MUCH BOTH RENTING AND PURCHASING HOMES HAS GONE UP.

>> Mary: IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FRESHMAN ARE ALREADY CONNECTING ND MEETING.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S PRETTY GOOD IN TERMS OF MEETING YOUR FOLKS ACROSS THE AISLE?

>> OH, YEAH, FOR SURE, CONNECTING ON FAMILY, CONNECTING ON KIDS, WE'RE ALL PEOPLE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALL HAVE, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY THE SAME THINGS THAT WE CARE ABOUT.

WE JUST APPROACH THEM IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT APPROACH IN THE MIDDLE WILL WORK FOR THOSE.

>> Mary: IN THIS UNIQUE TIME WHERE YOU'VE GOT TO COME TO THE MIDDLE HOW WILL YOU JUDGE SUCCESS, DO YOU THINK, AT THE END OF SESSION?

>> WELL, SUCCESS WILL BE THAT WE PASSED A NUMBER OF BIPARTISAN BILLS THAT HELP THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA AND THAT WE HAVE UCCESSFULLY PASSED A BUDGET ON TIME.

>> PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME HOW I'M DOING ON THE JOB AND NOT TO FORGET THEM, AND NOT TO FORGET TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND WORK HARD.

OF COURSE NOT, THAT IS THE WHOLE PLAN, WHOLE GOAL.

THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN, EVEN WINNING, IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY.

THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE MET ALONG THE WAY HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY UNFORGETTABLE.

THE SUPPORTERS THAT I'VE MET THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN ARE AMAZING.

PEOPLE ARE RELYING ON ME.

IT'S FORCING ME TO STEP OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE.

PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO MAKE CHANGES, I HAVE TO OLL UP SLEEVES AND DO WHAT I CAN ON MY PART, I CAN'T CHANGE EVERYTHING IN MINNESOTA, BUT I CAN DO MY PART.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN LIKE A TRAIN E ALWAYS BEEN A TEAM PLAYER, LISTENING TO EVERYBODY'S INSIGHTS, HOW TO DO SOMETHING BETTER, HOW TO PUT MY SPIN ON THINGS LIKE THAT.

I'M HERE TO LISTEN AND HELP.

I'M A FRESHMAN SO I'M VERY VERY NEW COMING IN, I'M GOING TO DO MY PART AND SEE WHERE I FIT IN THE NICHE OF THIS GROUP.

>> Mary: NEXT WEEK WE HAVE HOUSE LEADERS SCHEDULED.

TUNE UP TO SEE WHO SHOWS UP FOR THAT.

HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TPT.ORG/AATC, THERE YOU CAN FIGURE OUT HOW O INTERACT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHERE TO WATCH LEGISLATIVE TELEVISION, HOUSE, SENATE COMMITTEE, PRESS CONFERENCES, AND MORE AND FRIDAY NIGHT ON "ALMANAC," TUNE IN, THE NEW STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR WILL BE THERE, ALONG WITH U OF M PROFESSOR, AND I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE EVER-CHANGING EVOLVING POLITICS HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

BE SURE TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK, AGAIN, WE HAVE HOUSE LEADERS SCHEDULED.

TUNE IN TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS, AND WHO WE HAVE SHOW UP HERE IN THE GALLERY.

GOOD NIGHT.

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

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

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

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

MINNESOTA LOTTERY, GENERATING OVER $4 BILLION FOR OUR STATE SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HEALTHIER.

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE.

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