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

>> Mary: HEADING INTO THE LEGISLATURE, SPRING BREAK, WE'LL TALK WITH POLITICAL REPORTERS AND THE AG COMMISSIONER WITH BIRD FLU HITTING THE STATE.

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.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING - MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE ON COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT ENBRIDGE.COM/MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION - ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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

WE'RE BACK AT THE CAPITOL IN THE HOUSE GALLERY.

HAPPY TO BE HERE IN PERSON.

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, LAWMAKERS HAVE JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT UNTIL THEY HEAD ON THEIR EASTER/PASSOVER BREAK, THEY STILL AVE A LOT TO DO.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WITH POLITICAL REPORTERS AND MUCH MORE OF THE WORK REMAINING WITH THE DEADLINE AND A LOT OF BILLS IN FLUX.

THIS WEEK'S RETIRING AWMAKER IS THE ONE PEOPLE GO TO FOR TOUGH FASKS AND SHE HAS A LASTING LEGACY, INCLUDING A STADIUM THAT MAY HAVE BEEN HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

BUT, FIRST, EDUCATION WAS IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK, AS LAWMAKERS GRAPPLE WITH RACISM IN SCHOOLS, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND MUCH MORE.

>> THE SCHOOL IS CALLING A DISPUTE BETWEEN STUDENTS INVOLVING HURTFUL AND DEROGATORY WORDS.

>> Mary: AS RACIST INCIDENTS AT SCHOOLS BECOME COMMON KNOWLEDGE, ACTION IS FOLLOWING AT THE CAPITOL.

>> I OUND IT HARD TO OPEN UP ABOUT MY ACIAL STRUGGLES OR THE FRUSTRATION I FELT WHEN I FACED MICROAGGRESSION OR RACISM AT SCHOOL WHEN I WAS -- WHEN I WAS CALLED RACIAL SLURS.

>> IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE CREATING INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND I'M SO SORRY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE HAD TO EXPERIENCE WITHIN YOUR SCHOOL.

THE FIRST TIME THAT I HEARD THE "N" WORD, I WAS IN SCHOOL.

MY SON, RAN TRACK, AND HEARD IT ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

AT TRACK TOURNAMENTS.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT SAFE PLACES.

FOR ALL STUDENTS.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT.

>> Mary: SENATE REPUBLICANS SAY THEIR TOP PRIORITY IS REDUCING URDENS AND MANDATES WITH KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL AND ADDRESSING DECLINING TEST SCORES.

>> WE ARE FOCUSING ON WHAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND AND KNOW TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS READING PROFICIENCY FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> WITH THIS ENORMOUS SURPLUS AND REMAINING FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS WE HAVE AN UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR STUDENTS FOR THE BETTER.

>> WE ALL KNOW, WE'VE HEARD THE TESTIMONY, READING WELL BY FOURTH GRADE IS IMPERATIVE.

AND THIS IS A FANTASTIC BILL THAT COULD BE IMPROVED.

>> OUR KIDS ARE NOT OKAY.

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, WE HAD ONE KID IN THE CLASS THAT HAD BEHAVIOR ISSUES REGULARLY.

CURRENTLY OUR FAMILY KNOWS MULTIPLE CHILDREN WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING OUR OWN.

>> WE ARE ALSO FACING TEACHER SHORTAGES STATEWIDE AND OTHER WORKERS SUCH AS BUS DRIVERS, CAFETERIA WORKERS AND SUPPORT STAFF.

THESE ISSUES AFFECT ALL MINNESOTA SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

>> MINNESOTA HOUSE DFL, DEMOCRATS IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE, AND GOVERNOR WALZ ARE VERY COMMITTED TO INVESTING IN OUR EDUCATORS, IN OUR STUDENTS, IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THROUGH INVESTING IN SCHOOLS.

>> OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS NEED MORE SUPPORT THAN EVER.

BUT RIGHT NOW, DISTRICTS ALL OVER MINNESOTA ARE DEALING WITH CUTTING THEIR BUDGET, LAYING OFF STAFF, AND INCREASING CLASS SIZE.

THIS ISN'T RIGHT.

>> WE MAKE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN CLOSING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING DEFICITS.

BY NVESTING $1.4 BILLION IN CLOSING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEFICIT, AND $272 MILLION IN ELIMINATING, ELIMINATING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER DEFICIT FOR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE BY 2026.

SIMPLY PUT F WE TELL YOU TO DO IT, WE PAY FOR IT.

>> JOINING ME NOW, TWO OF MY CAPITOL PRESS CORPS COLLEAGUES WHO CAME UP FROM THE BASEMENT TO THE LIGHT HERE IN THE HOUSE GALLERY.

THANK YOU.

TOREY VAN OOT, ACTIONIOS, TWIN CITIES, DAVE ORRICK, PIONEER "PIONEER PRESS."

WE SAW EDUCATION, THE MAIN ISSUES, EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, THE BUDGET HAS BEEN PASSED, EDUCATION IS A BIG ISSUE.

>> IT'S A BIG ISSUE.

IT'S ON PARENTS' MIND, ESPECIALLY THE YEARS AFTER THE PANDEMIC, DISTANCE LEARNING, WE KNOW IT WAS REALLY HARD ON FAMILY AND KIDS, AND THERE'S A BIG DEBATE, RIGHT, HOW MUCH TO SPEND AND HOW TO SPEND IT.

AND RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE ALMOST A BILLION OLLARS ALMOST APART, THE TWO CHAMBERS.

>> Mary: THAT'S A LOT.

>> YES.

>> EVERYTHING IS IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THIS YEAR.

>> WHEN YOU THINK OF $9 BILLION SURPLUS, EVERYTHING IS IN BILLIONS OF OF DOLLARS THIS YEAR.

>> Mary: THE TORIES ARE GUT WRENCHING AND HEARTBREAKING THE PERSONAL STORIES FROM KIDS AND KIDS AND EVEN LAWMAKERS.

>> AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO FEEL UNHEARD IN ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU HAVE STUDENTS OF COLOR THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT THE RACISM IN SCHOOLS.

YOU HAVE PARENTS WHO FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN SHUT OUT OF SCHOOL BOARDS, THE REPUBLICANS ARE CAPITALIZING ON THOSE SENTIMENTS A LOT OF THE TIME.

AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE THESE PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS, THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF THAT.

THE ACADEMIC FAILINGS THAT SOME STUDENTS HAVE HAD EN MASSE, THAT SOME SYSTEMS HAVE HAD AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF, OF COURSE, CRIME, YOU KNOW, GETTING INTO DIFFERENT BILLS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- CRIME IS A BIG ONE THAT'S ON EVERYONE'S MIND, TOO.

>> Mary: THAT'S A GOOD PIVOT BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE.

IT IS NOT GOING AWAY.

CRIME IS UP.

IT'S ON THE FOREFRONT.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE BOTH TRYING TO DEAL WITH THIS.

>> THEY ARE.

THIS IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO VOTERS THIS YEAR.

AND ALSO JUST TODAY WE HEARD THAT THERE WON'T BE CRIMINAL CHARGES IN THE CASE OF AMIR LOCKE AND THAT KIND OF SPARKED ANOTHER SHOT BY AN MPD OFFICER, EARLY-MORNING RAID, AND THAT SPARKED ANOTHER PUSH HERE FOR NO-KNOCK WARRANT BANS, THAT'S ONE THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO HAVE TRACTION HERE, THIS YEAR, AT LEAST.

BUT IT ALSO KIND OF SUMS UP THIS DEBATE AND THESE DIFFERENCES.

YOU'VE GOT ON ONE HAND, A PUSH TO HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS, TO SPEND MORE ON RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

AND ON THE OTHER HAND, A CONTINGENCY IN THE HOUSE DFL, ESPECIALLY, THAT WANTS TO SEE REAL CHANGES TO HOW POLICING IS CONDUCTED, REAL REFORMS ON THERE.

>> Mary: WHAT DO WE SEE AS COMMON GROUND?

IN THEORY, OTH CHAMBERS DO HAVE LANGUAGE ABOUT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF OFFICERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: IS THAT A TARTING POINT?

>> IT IS.

IT HAS BEEN FROM THE GET-GO, FROM DAY ONE IT WAS CLEAR, THE DFL CAME OUT AND SAID, WE WANT TO SUPPORT OFFICERS, WE WANT TO HIRE MORE COPS.

WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU SENSED COMING OUT OF THE DFL TWO YEARS AGO WHEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED.

AND YOU'LL SEE -- SO YOU'LL SEE THAT.

YOU'LL SEE OTHER THINGS.

THERE'S A PUSH GOING ON RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO FIND COMMON GROUND OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU GET INTO CULTURE WARS ABOUT WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT OFFICERS, AND THE TONE CAN GO DOWN THE DRAIN SO QUICKLY THAT IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT NOTHING GETS DONE.

>> Mary: TAXES BECOMES ANOTHER KIND OF CULTURE WAR ISSUE.

WE HAVE DEMOCRATS SAYING, WE'RE STANDING WITH FAMILIES, YES, WE WANT SOME TAX RELIEF, BUT, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE GOVERNOR'S TAX RELIEF, AFTER ALL.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

THAT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.

>> YEAH.

THE WALZ -- WALZ CHECKS, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED REBATES HAVEN'T SHOWN UP IN TAX BILLS IN EITHER CHAMBER SO FAR, THE REPUBLICANS, ISN'T REALLY A SURPRISE.

BUT DEMOCRATS HAVE ESSENTIALLY SIGNALED THAT THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON TAX CREDITS, TAX CREDITS FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, TAX CREDITS FOR PEOPLE WITH STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

INSTEAD OF THESE ONE-TIME PAYMENTS.

AND THESE ONE-TIME PAYMENTS IS SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO DO, GAS PRICES ARE UP, GROCERY PRICES ARE UP, HE'S RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

HE'D LIKE TO GET THESE OUT THE DOOR AND HE DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE THE SUPPORT RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S TIME.

BUT NOT T THIS MOMENT.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THE POLITICAL CALCULATION.

THE WALZ CHECKS, VERY SIMPLE, EVERYONE GETS A CHECK, YOU GET TO SEE IT.

IN THE HOUSE DFL, IT'S MORE LIKE IT MIGHT TAKE A CALCULATOR TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET BASED ON YOUR INCOME AND EVERYTHING.

>> Mary: SLIDING SCALES.

>> SLIDING SCALES.

BUT THIS IS BETTER FOR YOU.

THIS IS BETTER FOR YOU, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY.

LONGER TERM.

AND WE'LL SEE WHICH KIND F MESSAGE MAY OR MAY NOT RESONATE.

NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO NOVEMBER, OF COURSE.

OVER [ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> THE REPUBLICANS WANT, THEY SAY, PERMANENT, ONGOING TAX RELIEF.

SO THEY JUST WANT TO CUT THE RATE, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY TARGETED TOWARDS FAMILIES OR STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS, JUST FOR EVERYBODY, BY CUTTING THAT LOWEST RATE.

AND BOTH THE TAX CREDITS AND THE TAX CUT PROPOSALS RUN THE RISK OF EATING UP BUDGET MONEY IN THE YEARS THAT ARE LEANER.

SO THEY'RE KIND OF MORE LONGER-TERM PROPOSALS ERE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY THE REPUBLICANS' MANTRA.

>> Mary: AND TO SAY OUT LOUD AGAIN, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY OF THIS.

THE BUDGET WAS ALREADY PASSED.

AND IT'S TEMPTING TO TAKE THIS ALL TO NOVEMBER, TO THE ELECTION, WHEN REPUBLICANS FEEL GOOD ABOUT HOW THEY CAN DO IN MIDTERMS.

THAT'S HANGING OVER ALL THIS, ISN'T IT?

>> T CERTAINLY IS.

ESPECIALLY BASED ON, YOU KNOW, THE POLLING AND SOME OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN SOME OTHER STATES.

THERE WAS A "STAR TRIBUNE" STORY THE OTHER DAY ABOUT VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE AND, SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE THE REPUBLICANS, YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE CONTROL OF BOTH CHAMBERS, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS ALSO ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER, YOU KNOW, WHAT INCENTIVE DO YOU HAVE TO CUT A DEAL THAT YOU DON'T LOVE?

>> Mary: RIGHT.

>> ESPECIALLY HEN YOU CONSIDER THAT EVEN THOUGH THE REPUBLICANS FEEL VOID BY ALL THE STUFF YOU SAID, MELISSA HORTMAN, HOUSE SPEAKER, SHE FEELS PRETTY CONFIDENT, TOO.

>> Mary: RIGHT.

>> AND ONE OF THE TWO IS WRONG.

>> Mary: RIGHT.

>> BUT IF THEY BOTH FEEL CONFIDENT ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN STAND ON THEIR ISSUES AND PUT THEIR FLAG IN THE GROUND, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE NOTHING DONE AND WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT IN NOVEMBER WHO WAS RIGHT.

>> Mary: QUICK LAST TOPIC.

WE BOTH, ALL THREE OF US, DID THE PEW RESEARCH STUDY THAT SHOWS, CAPITOL REPORTERS ARE DOING ALL RIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY, RIGHT?

YAY US, US.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SUMMARY IS.

>> MINNESOTA IS ONE OF 31 STATES THAT SAW AN INCREASE OF CAPITOL REPORTERS FROM 2014 TO 2022, WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF NEW OUTLETS POP UP HERE AND OUTLETS ADD, WHETHER IT'S US AT AXIOS OR REPORT FOR AMERICA FELLOWS, HELPING OUT WITH CAPITOL COVERAGE, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT ROBUST PRESS CORPS, YOU KNOW, SHINING SUNLIGHT ON THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS HERE.

>> YES.

SO MANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

YOU HAVE THE SAHAYAN JOURNAL, YOU HAVE THE MINNESOTA REFORMER, OF COURSE YOU STILL GOT MINNPOST OUT THERE AND YOU'VE GOT THE OLD EGACY, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC TELEVISION AND THE PRINT NEWS MEDIA.

BUT YOU'VE REALLY GOT, I THINK, A MORE DIVERSE ARRAY OF MEDIA THAN THE FIRST TIME I UP HERE TO THE CAPITOL IN 2007, 2008.

>> Mary: GOOD UMBERS, TOO.

WHEN WE TALK 0 OUR -- TO OUR COLLEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY, I THINK WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST PRESS CORPSES IN THE COUNTRY, DON'T YOU?

>> THAT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME.

>> Mary: THAT'S MY OBSERVATION.>> IT'S REMARKABLE.

IT'S NICE THAT WE DO HAVE, THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME IN FOR THE DAY, THE STRIB CAN HAVE SOMEONE COME IN FOR THE DAY.

>> Mary: THANK YOU, YOU TWO.

>> THANK YOU, MARY.

♪♪ >> Mary: AGRICULTURE IS IN THE US IN NEWS.

A GOOD TIME TO HAVE THE AG COMMISSIONER ON.

BIRD FLU HAS HIT, WHAT'S THE LATEST?

>> THIS IS A HIGH PATH AVIAN INFLUENZA, IT'S VERY PATHOGENIC AND WE'RE UP TO OVER 20 FARMS IN THE STATE.

AND NOT JUST OUR BIGGER COMMERCIAL FARMS, IT'S GETTING INTO OUR BACKYARD FLOCKS.

WE'VE HAD OVER 500,000 TURKEYS DEPOPULATED, OR DIE, AND, SO, WE'RE ADDING MORE TODAY.

WE ALSO HAVE WILD BIRD POPULATIONS.

SO MINNESOTA'S THE NUMBER ONE TURKEY STATE.

IN 2015, WHEN WE HAD THIS LAST, WAS $650 MILLION HIT TO OUR ECONOMY.

SO SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING HARD TO TRY TO CONTROL.

>> Mary: ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE GROWTH, BECAUSE I THINK YESTERDAY IT WAS ABOUT A DOZEN, SO THAT'S ABOUT A DOUBLING IN A DAY, IF THAT CONTINUES, THESE NUMBERS COULD GET PRETTY SCARY.

>> YEAH, WE REALLY ARE.

YOU NOW, I THINK THAT WE SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUMPED FROM, YOU KNOW, THREE, I THINK, A COUPLE DAYS AGO, TO OVER 20.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, IF THERE IS GOOD NEWS, THAT WE'RE NOT MOVING IT FROM FARM TO FARM.

THAT IT'S COMING IN LIKE LATERALLY THROUGH DIFFERENT SOURCES.

AND IN 2015, WE WERE MAYBE MOVING T. SO OUR BIOSECURITY PLANS AND THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED ON BIG AND SMALL FARMS SHOULD HELP US.

BUT IT'S TREMENDOUSLY STRESSFUL, TOO, FOR THE FARMERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIS.

AND, YOUAND, YOU KNOW, JUNE CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH.

>> Mary: AND WHAT ABOUT TURKEY POPULATION VERSUS CHICKEN?

WE KNOW WE'RE TOP IN TURKEY.

WE'RE NOT AS MUCH FOR CHICKEN?

>> RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE IN TURKEYS.

MAYBE TENTH IN CHICKENS.

WE HAVE OVER 6,000 FARMS IN MINNESOTA THAT HAVE SOME KIND OF POULTRY ON THEM.

SO WE'VE BEEN REALLY WORKING HARD TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT, WHETHER YOU HAVE TEN CHICKENS OR 100,000 TURKEYS.

IT KIND OF CAN AFFECT ANYBODY.

>> Mary: WE BOTH HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

AND I REMEMBER LAST TIME THIS HIT, OUT ON THE CAPITOL STEPS, IN THE FRONT LAWN, DO YOU REMEMBER THIS, THE TURKEY PRODUCERS CAME AND IT WAS TURKEY BURGERS FOR EVERYBODY, THE OVERNOR WAS OUT THERE SERVING, DO YOU THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT MIGHT BE NECESSARY AGAIN TO HELP BRING THE PUBLIC BACK?

>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD.

I JUST EVEN HERE, IN THE LAST HALF HOUR, I'VE TALKED TO -- TEXTED WITH SENATOR MILLER AND REPRESENTATIVE HORTMAN AND -- SPEAKER HORTMAN, THEY'RE BOTH VERY -- IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN WE HAVE THINGS LIKE THIS, IT WILL BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, THINGS LIKE THAT WHEN WE'RE OUT ON THE LAWN, WE ALWAYS WANT TO ASSURE PEOPLE THAT COOKING TURKEY IS -- AND CHICKEN, T'S SAFE TO EAT.

YOU KNOW?

SO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE SO IMPORTANT AROUND HERE.

>> Mary: DO YOU NEED LEGISLATION?

YOU MENTIONED YOU TALKED TO BOTH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, DO YOU THINK YOU NEED SOME LEGISLATIVE ACTION?

>> WE DO.

WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY ACCOUNT, AND, SO, FOR THINGS LIKE THIS, AND WE SPEND THAT PRETTY FAST.

YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO -- TRY AND BE JUDICIOUSOUS WITH IT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, I THINK THERE'S SUPPORT IN BOTH BODIES.

>> Mary: WILL THAT BE IN THE OMNIBUS AG BILL AND IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE INTERESTING IN THAT BILL YOU'RE WATCHING?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE A STANDALONE, BECAUSE WE NEED IT SOON, WE NEEDED IT TOMORROW OR YESTERDAY.

AND THEY GO ON BREAK FOR, YOU KNOW, STARTING ON FRIDAY.

AND BUDGET BILL, WE'RE NOT SURE WHEN THAT WILL BE, BUT OUR BUDGET BILL IS GOING GOOD.

LIKE YOU WERE JUST SAYING, WE GOT A GOOD BUDGET LAST YEAR.

BUT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS NEEDS LIKE WE HAD WITH COVID, LIKE MEAT PROCESSING, PREPAREDNESS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Mary: AND WHAT ABOUT PROFITS?

THERE WAS SOME RECENT NEWS THAT PROFITS ARE UP.

I KNOW FARMERS DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MAKING MONEY, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE.

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S GREAT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S REALLY TWO STORIES, THOUGH.

YOU KNOW, GOOD SECOND YEAR, WE'VE HAD GOOD INCOME FOR FARMERS, BUT CROP FARMERS.

YOU KNOW?

SO THAT'S WHY AROUND HERE, WE'VE HAD A DROUGHT BILL, WE STILL HAVE FARMERS THAT THE CROP FARMERS GOT RAIN JUST IN TIME TO SAVE THEIR CROP AND HAD A GREAT CROP.

THE HAY FARMERS, CATTLE FARMERS, THEY LOST THEIR CROP LAST SUMMER.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING A BIG SELL-OFF OF CATTLE EVEN RIGHT NOW.

AND WHY THE LEGISLATURE'S STILL CONSIDERING A DROUGHT BILL.

>> Mary: AND WAS IT GOOD FOR LOCAL FOOD BECAUSE A LOT OF US STAYED HOME AND ATE THE LAST COUPLE YEARS?

>> IF THERE'S GOOD THINGS, MARY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'VE REALLY CHAMPIONED, TOO, THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT OPTIONS THAT HAS BROUGHT US, IS THAT PEOPLE ARE BUYING LOCALLY, THEY'RE USING OUR MINNESOTA GROWN PROGRAM, FREEZERS ARE SELLING OUT, PEOPLE ARE BUYING HALF A COW OR A WHOLE IG, AND USING OUR FARMERS MARKETS.

AND, SO, REALLY LOCALIZING OUR FOOD YSTEM IS SOMETHING THAT MAY BE A GOOD THAT WILL COME OUT OF COVID.

>> Mary: WE'RE HEARING THAT IS SURVIVAL GOING FORWARD, TOO, WITH SOME OF THE SHIPPING, SUPPLY, TRUCKING SHORTAGES, IT'S THE BEST TIME TO EAT LOCAL, ISN'T IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE DO EXPORT AND FEED THE WORLD ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT, TOO.

BUT THE MORE WE CAN LOCALIZE OUR PRODUCT AND USE OUR PRODUCT AT HOME HERE, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WITH BIOFUELS, IT SAVES THE FARMERS, IT SAVES PEOPLE, AND HELPS OUR ECONOMY HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: IT'S BEEN A BIG GROWTH AREA, THE MINNESOTA GROWN PROGRAM HAS BEEN FUNDED AND WILL BE FUNDED GOING FORWARD?

>> YEAH, NO, THE LEGISLATURE, IN BOTH PARTIES, HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF.

OF THAT.

THAT'S A GREAT THING TO HAVE.

>> APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

UP NEXT, THIS WEEK'S RETIRING LAWMAKER, REPUBLICAN SENATOR JULIE ROSEN, WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2002.

IN HER 20 YEARS AT THE CAPITOL, SHE BUILT A TOUGH GET 'ER DONE REPUTATION.

AND SOME OF HER TOUGHEST TASKS INVOLVED BIPARTISAN EFFORT THAT LITERALLY BUILT A LASTING LEGACY.

SENATOR ROSEN, YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND THE CAPITOL A LONG TIME.

NEU WHY ARE YOU LEAVING?

>> MARY, JUST ABOUT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE.

>> Mary: YEAH.

I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE '98, YUP.

>> '98, OKAY, 200 WAS MY FIRST ELECTION.

2002 WAS MY FIRST ELECTION.

WHY AM I LEAVING?

BECAUSE THE COURTS ACTUALLY - DETERMINED THAT, I WAS JOINED WITH ANOTHER GREAT SENATOR, SENATOR DRAHEIM, HE'S YOUNG, HE'S A BUSINESSMAN, HE'S GOT YOUNG KIDS.

HE'S GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS.

AND ONE OF US HAD TO GO.

SO IT'S GOOD, 20 YEARS IS A VERY GOOD RUN.

AND I DID NOT WASTE MY TIME HERE.

AND I BELIEVE I SERVED MY DISTRICT VERY WELL.

AND THE STATE VERY WELL.

>> Mary: NOW, MY SOURCES SAY YOU HAD CONSIDERED RETIRING BEFORE, AND EVERYONE TALKED YOU OUT OF IT BECAUSE YOU ARE A GET 'ER DONE LAWMAKER.

AND, FRANKLY, SENATORS HAVE SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN THE SENATE WITHOUT YOU GETTING IT DONE.

IS THAT FAIR?

[ Laughter ] >> WELL, THAT'S VERY KIND.

BUT I AM GOING TO THROW THE MAJORITY LEADER, SENATOR MILLER, UNDER THE BUS, BECAUSE EVERY TIME HE WOULD TALK ME INTO RUNNING AGAIN, AND HE'S ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS HERE.

AND I DID IT FOR HIM.

I DID IT BECAUSE I TRULY LOVE THE PEOPLE I SERVE IN DISTRICT 23.

AND IT'S JUST BEEN AN HONOR BEYOND BELIEF TO SERVE THEM.

AND LOOK WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THAT UNIQUE SKILL AND REPUTATION, THOUGH, IF YOU HAVE A BIG TOUGH, LARGE, THORNY EXPENSIVE BILL, SENATOR ROSEN BECAME ONE OF THE PEOPLE YOU WANTED TO GO TO.

LET'S TAKE THE VIKINGS STADIUM, FOR INSTANCE.

>> YOU DON'T WORK ON A BILL THIS HARD TO HAVE IT FAIL.

>> Mary: THAT WAS NOT EASY LIFTING.

HOW DID YOU DO IT IT?

>> MARY, YEAH, NOBODY WANTED THAT BILL.

[ Laughter ] AND IT WAS THE COMBINATION OF KNOWING HOW TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AROUND HE CAPITOL, HAVING A HOUSE MEMBER, REPRESENTATIVE MAURY LANNING, AND GOVERNOR DAYTON, COULD OT HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT THE THREESOME.

AND NEVER IN MY 20 YEARS HAVE I EVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK SUCCINCTLY WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE HOUSE AND MOVE SOMETHING FORWARD WITH DIFFERENT PARTY LINES, BUT AN AGENDA THAT WE DID NOT MOVE WITHOUT THE OTHER ONE BEING BEHIND.

IT WAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT I WAS VERY BLESSED TO BE A PAR OF.

A PART OF.

AND THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE STADIUM WHEN I WAS BEING BUILT, I DID BREAK DOWN AND I CRIED.

IT'S A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE STATE.

>> Mary: I REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST CAME TO THE CAPITOL, HOW YOU HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, YOUR NICKNAME WAS SENATOR METH.

>> MET KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES.

>> Mary: YOU OWNED THAT ISSUE.

AS A FRESHMAN, YOU CAME TO TOWN AND SAID, I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

IT'S GOING TO BE BIPARTISAN.

IT'S A PROBLEM.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU BECAME SENATOR METH?

>> THANK YOU, MARY, FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

IT JUST GIVES ME CHILLS.

I'LL TAKE THAT NICKNAME ALL DAY LONG.

THE METH LABS WERE COMING UP INTO THE SENATE DISTRICT THAT I SERVE, AND, SO, GOT A GROUP OF 30 PEOPLE TOGETHER, TWICE A MONTH, FOR NINE MONTHS TO DEVELOP THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE METH PACKAGE EVER IN THE ENTIRE NATION.

AND ONE OF THOSE PIECES WAS PUTTING YOUR SUDAFED BEHIND THE COUNTER, SO YOU CAN THANK ME FOR THAT.

BUT IT DID MAKE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THOSE METH LABS AND IT BROUGHT METH LAB DOWN, JUST -- METH DOWN JUST DRASTICALLY IN THE STATE.

>> Mary: DO YOU HAVE SOME GOOD FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS THE AISLE THAT MAYBE WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT?

>> OH, I HAD MANY.

I ADORED SENATOR BERGLIN.

>> Mary: LINDA BERGLIN WAS A TOUGH COOKIE, LET'S JUST BE HONEST.

>> YEAH, SHE WAS A TOUGH COOKIE.

ABSOLUTELY ADORED HER, RESPECTED HER.

WE GOT A LOT DONE TOGETHER.

AND SHE DID HELP ME OUT.

SHE MENTORED ME QUITE A BIT.

I WORKED WITH GOVERNOR DAYTON ALL DAY LONG BECAUSE HE DIFFERED IMMENSELY IN MANY AREAS, AND WHEN HE'D GET MAD AT ME, I KNEW IT.

HE WAS CONSISTENT AND HE WAS VERY FORWARD.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

AND, OF COURSE, GOVERNOR WALZ, HE WAS MY CONGRESSMAN IN THE FIRST DISTRICT.

SO I KNOW HIM VERY WELL.

AND WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND HE'S DONE A WONDERFUL JOB TOO.

AND, OF COURSE, GOVERNOR PAWLENTY, I MEAN, HOW CAN YOU -- I MEAN, HE WAS SUCH A JOY WITH GREAT SPIRIT.

AND SENSE OF HUMOR.

>> Mary: ANOTHER LITTLE KNOWN FACT, SOMETHING YOU DO AWAY FROM THE CAPITOL, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR BULL?

>> BULLS, PLURAL.

>> Mary: OH, PLURAL.

>> YES.

I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST FEMALE CONTRACTORS, STOCK CONTRACTORS IN THE NATION.

I'VE DONE IT FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

AND FINALLY WON THE WORLD FINALS WITH SMOOTH OPERATOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT PARTICIPATING ADVICE, YOU HAVE BEEN A VERY EFFECTIVE LAWMAKER WHO GOT THINGS DONE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

PARTING ADVICE.

HOW DID YOU DO IT AND WHAT WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE TO DO AS WELL?

>> IT'S THE SAME ADVICE I RECEIVED FROM DUANE BENSON BACK IN 2001, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS, DO THIS WELL.

YOU CAN GET A LOT DONE IN THE MINORITY.

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE.

BECAUSE I LEFT CHILDREN AT HOME TO DO THIS JOB.

SO I WASN'T GOING TO WASTE MY TIME HERE.

AND HE ALWAYS SAID, IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

AND I THINK I'VE DONE WELL WITH THAT.

>> TALK THAT MUCH ABOUT BEING KING OF THE IRON RANGE DELEGATION, AND YOUR TIME AS TAX CHAIR.

TO ME IT SEEMED YOU ENJOYED THAT JOB PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

>> PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

I TAKE SPENDING MONEY, I THINK ALL TAX COMMITTEE MEMBERS TAKE SPENDING MONEY MORE SERIOUSLY THAN OTHER MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

I OFTEN JOKE WITH PEOPLE, YOU'RE ASKING ME TO PEND A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON THIS, DO YOU REALIZE WE DON'T PRINT THE MONEY IN THE BASEMENT?

EVERY DIME WE SPEND, WE TAKE OUT OF SOMEBODY'S WALLET.

AND THAT'S ERIOUS.

>> Mary: DO YOU LEAVE WANTING TO BE DESCRIBED AS A DEMOCRAT, A REPUBLICAN, AN INDEPENDENT?

HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE THOUGHT OF?

>> I'M A CARPENTER.

IF THERE'S ONE OCCUPATION OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S MORE PROBLEM SOLVERS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

NEU BUT CARPENTERS SOLVE PROBLEMS.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, YOU NEVER GET ANYTHING BUILT.

>> Mary: AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT WEEK WITH A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

FEATURING SOME OF OUR FAVORITE RETIRING LAWMAKER CONVERSATIONS, INCLUDING THAT NEW CANDID ONE WITH SENATOR BAKK.

IF YOU MISSED PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW OR WANT TO REWATCH ANY OF IT OR ANY OF THE RETIREMENT INTERVIEWS, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TPT.ORG/AATC, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE'S IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW THE HOUSE, SENATE, FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, MUCH MORE ON THE PBS STATION YOU'RE ATCHING RIGHT NOW.

OH, YEAH, AND HEAD TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND TWITTER.

AGAIN, YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THAT TPT.ORG/AATC.

AND WHEN YOU'RE TUNING IN TO THE LEGISLATURE, YOU'LL ALSO WANT TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY WILL HAVE THE LATEST ON NO CHARGES IN THE DEATH OF AMIR LOCKE AND THEY'LL TALK WITH THE WC CLVMENTD O PRODUCTION MANAGER WHO FOUND THE PRICELESS FOOTAGE OF PRINCE AS A YOUNG PERSON.

WCCO.

WE'LL HAVE A LAWMAKER THAT HAD DEEP CONNECTIONS TO VINCE THAN FLYNN.

IT WAS VENN FLYNN DAY AT THE CAP TOM.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW HE STAYED IN MINNESOTA AND HIS MANY CONNECTIONS TO POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

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.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE ON COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT ENBRIDGE.COM/MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION - ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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