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

>> Mary: WE'LL TACKLE SOME TOP ISSUES WITH KEY LEADERS FROM THE SENATE IN EDUCATION, AND AN MPORTANT COMMITTEE CHAIR IN THE HOUSE.

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 TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY.

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, FEDERAL AND STATE ISSUES INTERPLAY CONTINUE TO DOMINATE MINNESOTA POLITICS.

BIG NEWS TODAY, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ ANNOUNCED HE IS NOT RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE.

HE'S ALSO NOT ENDORSING HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, PEGGY FLANAGAN.

LAWMAKERS HERE ARE STILL SHRUGGING TO FIGURE OUT THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL FREEZES AND CUTS.

TODAY LEGISLATIVE LEADER FROM THE SENATE SAID, THE BUDGET WILL BE MUCH HARDER TO BALANCE HERE IN THE STATE IN LIGHT OF CONGRESS' BUDGET.

WE WILL TALK EDUCATION POLICY AND MUCH MORE WITH IMPORTANT HOUSE ND SENATE LEADERS.

BUT, FIRST, A POLICY UPDATE.

>> Mary: THE FEDERAL FREEZE IS INCREASINGLY BEING FELT IN MINNESOTA, ESPECIALLY FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE.

WOMEN, CHILDREN.

DEMOCRATS SAY THEY WON'T E QUIET.

>> WHEN WE BRING UP THE FEDERAL FREEZES IN COMMITTEE, BY THE TRUMP DMINISTRATION AND ELON MUSK, AND TALK ABOUT WHAT A DEVASTATING IMPACT IT'S HAVING, IT WILL HAVE IN MINNESOTA, IT IS HAVING IN MINNESOTA, PARTICULARLY IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, WE ARE MET WITH LAUGHTER.

I THINK THERE IS A VIEW THAT WE'RE OVERREACTING, WE'RE HYSTERICAL ABOUT.

THIS WE'RE NOT OVERREACTING.

>> WE HEARD A LOT OF, CALM DOWN, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND, YOU KNOW, OUR ADVOCATES ARE TELLING US, I CANNOT ACCESS THIS FUNDING RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE CALM ABOUT IT.

OF COURSE OF WE'RE PANICKED.

THEY'RE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE DESPERATELY NEED AND CAN'T ACCESS.

SO, I THINK THAT'S RIDICULOUS AND I HOPE THAT OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WILL STAND WITH US.

>> OUR FEDERAL FUNDING REPRESENTS ABOUT 29% OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET.

AND WE SERVE 18,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR.

SO A THIRD OF HAT IS A BIG LOSS.

TO THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF SURVIVORS.

>> PUBLIC AWARENESS AROUND ANY TYPES OF VIOLENCE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND SURVIVORS, VFM IS AROUND 80% FEDERALLY FUNDED.

AND WE DISSOLVE.

>> Mary: HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE FOCUSED ON THE SAFETY OF KIDS AT SCHOOL WITH NEW STATE GRANTS.

>> THIS IS NOT A BILL ABOUT HARDENING SCHOOLS.

I THINK WE HEAR THAT TERM A LOT.

WE AUTOMATICALLY JUMP TO THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A PRISON OUT OF A SCHOOL.

NOBODY WANTS THAT.

>> I FEEL SAFE AT SCHOOL BECAUSE WE HAVE THE POLICE BUTTON.

>> Mary: MOMENTUM IS MOVING AWAY FROM RAIL IN MINNESOTA ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> THEY SUPPORT BUS RAPID TRANSIT BUT NOT LIGHT RAIL.

AND, SO, WE WANT TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY MORE TIME TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND PUT A MORATORIUM ON THE BLUE LINE.

>> THIS BILL FOCUSES ON, TO ME, THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN ALONG WEST BROADWAY.

>> I REPRESENT STOP LIGHT RAIL 81.

WE ARE A GROUP THAT IS NOT OPPOSED TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.

WE ARE OPPOSED TO THIS LIGHT RAIL PROJECT, AND WE STRONGLY FEEL A BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM WOULD BE FAR BETTER.

>> MINNESOTA'S LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS HAVE BECOME A BOTTOMLESS MONEY PIT.

>> ELECTRICITY AND HEATING BILLS ARE RISING, YET, THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO KEEP WRITING BLANK CHECKS FOR MISMANAGED LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

>> Mary: BUT LIKE OTHER BILLS SO FAR THIS SESSION, THE MORATORIUM ON LIGHT RAIL FAILED TO GET THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT NECESSARY TO PASS THE HOUSE.

>> THERE BEING 66 AYES AND 67 NAYS, THE BILL DOES NOT PASS.

♪♪ >> Mary: WELL, NOW WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, BECAUSE HE CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE, IT'S THE LAST STOP, THE MOST IMPORTANT STOP, IT'S HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS, PAUL TORKELSON IS THE CHAIR.

WELL, CHAIR, YOU SAW, YOU'RE GETTING USED TO, IT'S KIND OF GROUNDHOG DAY IN THE HOUSE, A LOT OF VOTES GOING UP PARTY LINE, AND PARTY LINE DOESN'T GET YOU A BILL INTO LAW.

>> WELL, THAT'S TRUE.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN THE MOST UNUSUAL SESSION I'VE EVER SERVED IN IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

>> Mary: AND YOU'VE SERVED FOR A WHILE.

>> AND I'VE SERVED, THIS IS NIGH NINTH TERM, SO I'VE BEEN AROUND A WHILE.

YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT IT LIKE A THREE-ACT PLAY.

THE FIRST ACT, THERE WERE NO DEMOCRATS ON THE STAGE.

THE SECOND ACT, NOW WE HAVE THIS 67-66 MAJORITY, BUT, OF COURSE, IT'S NOT ENOUGH REPUBLICAN MEMBERS TO ACTUALLY PASS BILLS OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A THIRD ACT THAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW NOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE THERE'S A SPECIAL ELECTION OMING, COULD GIVE US A 68-VOTE MAJORITY, COULD PUT US INTO A TIE.

WE'VE PREPARED FOR THE TIE, IF IT IS TIED, WE'LL HAVE CO-CHAIRS AND EQUAL NUMBERS ON THE COMMITTEES.

BUT, THAT, TOO IS SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

>> Mary: SO, DO YOU HAVE TO KEEP SPINNING THE SAME WAY UNTIL THAT MARCH -- MARCH 11 SPECIAL ELECTION THAT'S STILL A WAYS AWAY, DOES IT STILL -- A BILL COMES UP AND FAILS, A BILL COMES UP AND FAILS?

>> WELL, WE'RE HOPING THAT EEMPLET SOME DEMOCRAT WILL REALIZE THAT SOME OF THESE BILLS ARE VALID, IMPORTANT BILLS THAT SHOULD PASS AND WE'LL SEE SOME ACTUALLY PASS OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR.

EVENTUALLY SOME DEMOCRAT WILL REALIZE.

>> Mary: ARE THEY GETTING LANGUAGE IN BILLS ENOUGH?

YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, YOU HAVE PASSED BILLS AND CHAIRED COMMITTEES WHERE YOU HAD TO BUILD THE BIPARTISAN SUPERMAJORITY.

>> YES.

>> Mary: YOU'VE DONE IT.

>> YES.

>> Mary: IT'S NOT HAPPENING NOW.

>> AT THE MOMENT IT'S NOT.

I THINK WE AS REPUBLICANS HAVE SOME PENT-ENERGY, WE'VE BEEN IN THE MINORITY FOR SIX YEARS, BEEN UNDER THE TRIFECTA FOR TWO YEARS.

I WAS VICE CHAIR OF THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE, COULDN'T EVEN GET A BILL HEARD IN ELECTIONS LAST BIENNIUM.

SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRING FORTH OUR IDEAS AND PRESENT THEM TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT EXERCISE IN AND OF ITSELF.

ALSO, I DO BELIEVE WE WILL SEE SOME OF THESE BILLS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, THAT DO HAVE SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT COMING TO THE FLOOR AS WE GET TOWARD THE END OF THIS PERIOD.

>> Mary: YEAH, YOU ADMITTED PART OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT, HOW MUCH IS THIS A REACTION TO THE TRIFECTA AND REPUBLICANS FEELING LIKE THEY WEREN'T HEARD AND DIDN'T GET BILLS.

IS THIS GOING TO BE A WHILE YET, IS MAKING UP FOR THAT?

>> WELL, IF YOU WATCH IN COMMITTEES, YOU SEE THE BILLS THAT ARE BEING HEARD AND, YES, IT'S BRINGING REPUBLICAN IDEAS FORWARD SO THAT THEY GET A HEARING AND THEY ARE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC IN A WAY THAT THEY HAVE SOME REAL VALIDITY.

>> Mary: THE SPECIAL ELECTION IS IN A DISTRICT THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE VERY WELL IN.

I KNOW SPECIAL ELECTIONS CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE AND TRANGE.

BUT IF YOU GO BACK TO A TIE, WHICH IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE BEFORE, ARE RELATIONSHIPS DAMAGED NOW?

IS IT GOING TO BE HARD TO BUILD THOSE 68 VOTES NECESSARY?

>> WELL, FIRST, I HAVE TO SAY, I DON'T TAKE THAT ELECTION FOR GRANTED.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> I'VE MET PAUL WICKSTROM, HE'S A FINE CANDIDATE, AND I KNEW THE GUY IN BLOOMINGTON, WHOSE NAME ESCAPES ME RIGHT NOW THAT WON A SPECIAL ELECTION -- >> Mary: OH, THIS IS ANN LENCZEWSKI'S BACK IN THE DAY WHERE IT WAS A DFL DISTRICT, OKAY, YUP, REMEMBER THAT.

>> IT WAS UNEXPECTED THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD WIN AND WE DID WIN.

WE'RE NOT TAKING THIS FOR GRAND.

>> Mary: YOU DID A FUND-RAISER, RECENTLY, TOO?

THERE'S INTEREST.

>> YEAH, A LOT OF DOOR KNOCKING, A LOT OF PHONE CALLING.

WE'LL SEE.

I KNOW THAT SOME DEMOCRATS ARE DISSATISFIED IN SOME WAYS.

SO THIS IS THEIR CHANCE TO SPEAK, SEND A MESSAGE TO THEIR CAUCUS THAT AYBE THINGS AREN'T SO ROSY.

>> Mary: LET'S DO A COMPARISON TO THE SENATE.

WE HAVE SENATORS IN THE WINGS THAT WILL BE ON IN JUST A MOMENT.

THEY'RE DOING BIPARTISAN BILLS.

THEY'RE GETTING ALONG.

THEY CO-CHAIRED.

BILLS ARE PASSING OVER THERE, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> THE DYNAMICS ARE DIFFERENT, RIGHT?

THEY STARTED OUT TIED.

BUT EVERYONE KNEW PRETTY WELL THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A DEMOCRAT MAJORITY, BACK TO THE SITUATION THEY'VE BEEN IN.

WE STARTED OUT WITH A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.

AND WE'RE LIKELY TO END TIED.

NOW, I MEET REGULARLY WITH MY POTENTIAL CO-CHAIR, ZACK STEVENSON, WE JUST MET AGAIN THIS MORNING.

WE ARE ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP, AND WORKING BIPARTISANLY ALREADY.

BUT WE WON'T HAVE TO DO THE HARD BIPARTISAN WORK UNTIL WE KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THIS ELECTION.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT YOUR SENATE COUNTERPART, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT STRUCTURE IN THE SENATE, THE PATHWAY TO THE FLOOR, BUT IS THAT A RELATIONSHIP YOU'VE WORKED ON?

>> OF COURSE IT IS.

I WAS IN SENATOR JOHN MARTY'S OFFICE YESTERDAY MORNING.

SO TRYING TO KEEP THESE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS HERE, WE HAVE A VERY EVENLY DIVIDED LEGISLATURE HERE IN MINNESOTA.

IT IS SO CLOSE.

IT IS SO CLOSE THAT WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES.

>> Mary: LAST QUESTION.

MARTY'S GOING TO BE TALKING, DOING A PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW ON THE IMPACT OF NOT JUST PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FEDERAL FREEZE, BUT ALSO REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS MAKING THE MINNESOTA BUDGET VERY DIFFICULT.

ARE YOU FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT'S COMING OUT OF D.C., FRANKLY?

>> WELL, MY TAKE ON D.C. IS THAT A LOT OF SPAGHETTI IS BEING THROWN AGAINST THE WALL RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT'S OT ALL GOING TO STICK.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHICH PIECES OF SPAGHETTI ARE GOING TO STICK.

WE HAVE A BUDGET TO PUT TOGETHER, BASED ON THE SITUATION HERE IN MINNESOTA.

THAT WAS CREATED BY THE WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE TRIFECTA LAST BIENNIUM.

WE HAVE A HUGE DEFICIT AHEAD OF US.

THE BEST THING WE CAN DO, IF WE WANT TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, IS PUT MORE MONEY ON THE BOTTOM LINE.

SO WE HAVE SOME MONEY TO SPEND.

>> Mary: MIGHT BE TOUGH TO DO ON TIME.

WE'LL TALK TO YOU LATER ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU, CHAIR.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

♪♪ >> Mary: WE'RE GOING TO DIVE INTO POLICY NOW, THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION.

JOINING US FROM THE SENATE, WE HAVE SENATOR JULIA COLEMAN, SHE IS THE REPUBLICAN LEAD ON THE ISSUE, AND THE SENATE CHAIR, HE NOW OWNS THE GAVEL, RIGHT, SENATOR STEVE CWODZINSKI.

DEMOCRAT.

FIRST OF ALL, Mr.

CHAIR, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE THE POLICY SIDE, BUT MONEY ATTACHES TO POLICY.

WHAT ARE YOU FEELING, THINKING, HEARING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EDUCATION FEDERALLY?

>> WELL, ABOUT JUST $1 BILLION OF OUR EDUCATION BUDGET COMES FROM THE FEDS AND THINGS LIKE -- IN THINGS LIKE TITLE I, NUTRITION, SPECIAL EDUCATION.

SO $1 BILLION CUT, IF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL GOES -- SHUTS DOWN, IT'S GOING TO IMPACT US GREATLY.

>> Mary: AND THOSE WERE POLICY ISSUES, NOT JUST MONETARYTARILY ISSUES.

>> YES.

>> Mary: HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO FOLKS IN D.C., YOU MAYBE KNOW SOME PEOPLE IN D.C. >> YOU KNOW, WE WERE HEARING ABOUT THE FINANCIAL ISSUES OUR SCHOOLS WERE FACING LONG BEFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS EVEN ELECTED.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN CONTROL, AND WHAT WE CAN CONTROL IS TRYING TO HELP OUR SCHOOLS AND LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, WHICH WE DID WHEN WE SHARED THE GAVEL, WE HAD ALL OF THE SCHOOLS COME IN AND TELL US WHAT WAS BOTHERING THEM, WHAT WAS GOING ON.

WE CAN CONTROL THAT RIGHT HERE.

AND LIKE REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON SAID, RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO SEE WHAT STICKS.

SO LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN DO.

>> Mary: SO DURING THAT TIME, WHEN YOU SHARED THE GAVEL, YOU DID HEAR SOME FRUSTRATION FROM THE DISTRICTS.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR THAT YOU SAID, OKAY, THERE'S SOME POLICY WE NEED TO WORK ON?

>> WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT ABSENTEEISM, CELL PHONES, UI, THOSE -- UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

>> Mary: YEAH.

THANK YOU.

>> ACRONYMS.

>> Mary: THE LINGO.

>> YEAH.

BUT, SO, SENATOR COLEMAN AND I, I THINK WE WORK WELL TOGETHER, AND JUST TODAY WE CO-AUTHORED A BILL ON THE COMPREHENSIVE MINNESOTA -- >> GETTING THE A.C.T.

>> ASSESSMENT, MCA.

>> Mary: YOU'RE FINISHING EACH OTHER'S SENTENCE.

>> WE AGREED WE WERE GOING TO BE HORRIBLE TV FOR YOU, BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY GET ALONG REALLY WELL, NOT FOR THE SAKE OF BIPARTISANSHIP, BUT BECAUSE WE SHARE A BORDER, AND WE'D HATE TO SEE A WALL GO UP BETWEEN EDEN RAIRIE AND CHANHASSEN, AND DIVIDING PRINCE NELSON ROGERS HIGHWAY.

>> Mary: I MENTIONED IT EARLIER, IN CONTRAST TO THE HOUSE, THEY AN'T GET A BILL OFF THE FLOOR, THE COMMITTEES ARE PARTY LINE, THE FLOOR IS PARTY LINE, IS THE SENATE AHEAD BECAUSE YOU HAD TO WORK TOGETHER EARLIER?

>> AS I SAID, THE YEAR IS YOUNG.

>> Mary: THAT'S NOT OPTIMISTIC, BY THE WAY.

>> , NO -- NO, IT DOESN'T FEEL YOUNG TO ME, RIGHT NOW.

>> Mary: YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT NOW, ALREADY.

>> IT SEEMS HISTORIC.

THE GOVERNMENT TEACHER IN ME HAS REALLY ENJOYED IT IN A MORBID KIND OF A WAY, IT'S JUST BEEN POLITICAL INTRIGUE, AS YOU KNOW.

SO IT'S BEEN A FASCINATING PROCESS TO BE PART OF.

>> Mary: I HEARD YOU SAY, I THINK, IN A PRESS CONFERENCE, OR MAYBE IT WAS IN COMMITTEE, I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO TEACH THIS, AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, COMING BACK TO THAT INTERPLAY BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE, WHAT DOES THE GOVERNMENT TEACHER DO TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

>> OH, BOY.

YEAH.

YOU JUST GOTTA -- I MEAN, A GOOD CIVICS TEACHER PRESENTS BOTH SIDES TO EVERY ISSUE.

AND, SO, I WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PRESENT TO MY STUDENTS WHY TRUMP IS DOING THIS.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD PROBABLY SAY STUFF LIKE, THERE'S A $36 TRILLION BUDGET.

OR DEFICIT, DEBT.

>> Mary: BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE TO BALANCE IT LIKE YOU DO.

>> CORRECT.

>> Mary: IT'S A DIFFERENT STANDARD.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD PROBABLY SAY IN DEFENSE OF TRUMP'S ACTIONS.

>> Mary: SORRY, I MADE YOU DO THAT.

[ Laughter ] BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR JOB AS A REPUBLICAN.

YOU WERE THERE FOR INAUGURAL, YOUR FATHER-IN-LAW, SENATOR NORM COLEMAN, HAS BEEN SHEPHERDING PETE HEGSETH THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT D.C.?

DO YOU AGREE WITH EVERYTHING?

BECAUSE YOU'VE NOT BEEN AFRAID TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR PARTY ON SOME THINGS.

>> I THINK THAT IF YOU ARE A TRUE ELECTED CIVIL SERVANT, YOU ARE GOING TO DISAGREE WITH BOTH SIDES.

AND I CAN'T STAND WHEN SOMEBODY COMES UP AND JUST PARROTS THE TALKING POINTS FROM ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

ARE THERE THINGS THAT I HAVE TAKEN A PAUSE ON?

SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

MATT GATES BEING PRESENTED AS -- GATES BEING PRESENTED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, I THOUGHT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE BEST DECISION.

BUT A LOT OF THE THINGS HE'S DOING, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING, I'M REALLY THRILLED FOR THE DIRECTION THIS COUNTRY IS GOING IN.

GAETZ.

>> Mary: LET'S GET BACK TO POLICY.

LET'S TALK ABSENTEEISM.

THAT ISSUE, WE'RE EALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE NUMBERS AND THE REASONS.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> I'M HEARING THE NUMBER, 30% OF STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS ARE ABSENT EXCESSIVE NUMBERS.

>> Mary: HUGE NUMBERS.

RIGHT?

30% IS HUGE.

>> YEAH.

AND EVERY DISTRICT DOES DEFINE IT DIFFERENTLY.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT, AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, IS HAVING CONSISTENT LANGUAGE.

SO THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE COMMUNICATING WITH ACH OTHER, USING THE SAME LANGUAGE, BECAUSE DEFINING ABSENTEEISM IN EASTERN CARVER COUNTY MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT EDEN PRAIRIE OR MINNETONKA DOES.

BUT THAT'S ANOTHER -- THAT AND LIKE CELL PHONES, WE HEARD SOME GOOD BILLS.

>> Mary: YEAH, I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.

LET'S SAY ON THE ABSENTEEISM, SOME OF THE REASONS.

I WAS HEARING, SOME OF THE REASONS ARE LIKE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER NEEDS.

SO HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT?

>> SOME OF IT, TOO, I THINK IS A CULTURE SHIFT.

AND, SO, WHEN I WAS VISITING SOME OF THE SCHOOLS, KIDS WERE -- THEY AREN'T COUNTED AS ABSENTEEISM BY DEFINITION, BUT THEY'RE SITTING IN THE CAFETERIA, NOT GOING TO CLASS.

AND I WAS THINKING, GOSH, WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, HOW FAST THAT TEACHER WOULD BE ON US AND DISCIPLINING US, AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING AUTHORITY INVOLVED IN ORDER TO GET US INTO THAT CLASSROOM.

AND WE'VE JUST HAND TIED OUR SROs AND OUR TEACHERS TO A POINT WHERE THEY CANNOT DO THAT ANYMORE.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO KIND OF HAVE A TOUGHEN UP CULTURE WITH OUR STUDENTS.

>> Mary: YOU WERE A TEACHER.

TOUGH LOVE.

DID YOU DO THE TOUGH LOVE THING?

>> I DID DO THE TOUGH LOVE THING.

YOU SHOULD ASK MY STUDENTS, NOT ME.

>> Mary: DO WE NEED MORE OF THAT CULTURE?

>> YEAH, I THINK MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, MORE RIGOR.

I HINK STUDENTS, I HEAR THINGS LIKE, -- IT'S EASY TO MAKE UP BECAUSE I CAN GO ONLINE AND FIND OUT WHAT I MISSED.

OF.

SO I THINK WE MAYBE MADE IT A LITTLE TOO EASY TO MISS CLASS AND STAYING UP UNTIL 2:00 A.M. ON THE CELL PHONES IS AN ISSUE.

>> Mary: THAT'S A WHOLE 'NOTHER ISSUE.

BUT I WANT TO USE MY LAST FEW SECONDS TO TALK TO STATE SENATOR JULIA COLEMAN ABOUT HER INTEREST, PERHAPS, IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE.

IT'S AN OPEN SEAT.

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING AT THIS POINT?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M STILL TALKING IT OVER WITH FUN -- WITH MINNESOTANS ND MY FAMILY, 0 OBVIOUSLY IT'S A HUGE UNDERTAKING.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE STATE, I THINK SOMEONE WITH A STRONG BIPARTISAN RECORD WHO WINS IN THE SUBURBS BY NINE PLUS POINTS AND MAYBE HAVE THE LAST NAME COLEMAN WOULD BE THE BEST PICK TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO WIN.

>> Mary: HAVE YOU TALKED TO PRESIDENT TRUMP DIRECTLY?

>> I HAVE NOT YET.

>> Mary: BUT IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IF HE'S BEHIND.

>> ABSOLUTELY, IT IS.

>> Mary: THANK YOU, SENATORS, BOTH OF YOU, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

WE'LL TALK AGAIN.

THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER RESIDES IN FORMER LAWMAKER FRANK HORNSTEIN'S DISTRICT AND SHE HOPES HER BACKGROUND IN ENGINEERING WILL KEEP THE DATA FLOWING IN HER WORK AT THE CAPITOL.

>> I RAN FOR THE MINNESOTA HOUSE BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND THE PLANET, AND I WANT TO BUILD A MORE JUST, RESILIENT AND THRIVING MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: AND IT WAS AN OPEN SEAT, DID THAT HELP?

>> IT DID HELP THAT THAT WAS AN OPEN SEAT.

I NEW REPRESENTATIVE FRANK HORNSTEIN FOR A LONG TIME.

I WORKED WITH HIM ON A NUMBER OF TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING, LAND USE BILLS.

I SAW HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE WAY THAT HE WAS REALLY BASED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND HAVING ALSO WORKED IN OUR COMMUNITY, ON MY NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD, A NUMBER OF OTHER COMMUNITY COMMITTEES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I THOUGHT, HEY, I THINK I CAN DO THIS.

I WANT TO TAKE A CRACK AT IT.

>> Mary: SO YOU KNOW FRANK HORNSTEIN, AND YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT HE WAS MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST LIKED MEMBERS IN THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE, LIKE HE MIGHT BE THE NICEST GUY IT EVER UP HERE.

YOU KNOW THAT?

>> OH, YEAH.

>> Mary: IS THAT DAUNTING TO FOLLOW IN THOSE FOOTSTEPS >> YES, I'VE BEEN TOLD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT I HAVE HUGE SHOES TO FILL.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, I TAKE THAT AS HUMBLY AS I CAN AND SAY, LIKE, I KNOW I'M NOT FRANK, FRANK CAN NEVER BE REPLACED, BUT I TRY TO TAKE LEARNINGS FROM HIM AND DO THE BEST WITH THE SKILL SET THAT I'M GIVEN.

AND ALSO WOULD IT -- WORK ON A NUMBER OF SAME THINGS THAT HE WAS WORKING ON, IT TURNS OUT, OUR DISTRICT REALLY CARES ABOUT WORKING ON CLIMATE AND ENERGY, WORKING ON TRANSPORTATION, MAKING SURE WE HAVE GOOD GOVERNANCE, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO GOING FORWARD.

>> Mary: YOU'RE NOT FROM A VERY OMPETITIVE SEAT OR AREA, HORNSTEIN WAS REALLY KNOWN FOR HIS BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL APPROACH.

HE BUILT A LOT OF ALLIES AND FRIENDSHIPS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, IN THE OTHER CHAMBER.

IS THAT A LESSON YOU CAN TAKE FROM HIM?

>> YES.

AND HONESTLY I'VE STARTED PUTTING THAT INTO PRACTICE.

JUST EARLIER THIS WEEK, I DROVE OUT TO WESTERN MINNESOTA, WAS SITTING DOWN WITH ONE OF THE OR FRESHMAN, SO GOPers, AND WE HAD A GREAT LUNCH.

WE BOTH RECOGNIZE, THERE'S CERTAIN LINES THAT WE CAN'T CROSS BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, THE VALUES AND THE PARTIES THAT WE'RE REPRESENTING, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK ON.

HE BROUGHT UP CHILD CARE, I BROUGHT UP TRANSPORTATION, WE WERE BOTH, LIKE, THOSE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO SOLVE.

HOUSING IS ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT THIS SESSION.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, YOU'RE AN ENGINEER, THAT'S KIND OF UNIQUE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S A SENATOR WHO'S A PAVEMENT ENGINEER, AND SHE SAYS SHE'S THE EVER.

IT'S A UNIQUE JOB TO HAVE HERE.

>> YES, IT IS.

I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER.

I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE ENOUGH TO FORM AN ENGINEERING CAUCUS.

I THINK WHAT I'M GOING TO BE BRINGING FROM THAT THAT GROUND IS DATA AND STATISTICS, MAKING SURE WE'RE GROUNDING HE SOLUTIONS THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN SCIENCE.

AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS, WE GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, LIKE, THE PROMISES OF CERTAIN BILLS, BUT I WANT THEM TO HAVE IMPACT, AND I THINK ENGINEERS ARE REALLY GEARED TOWARDS THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE GROUND, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING THE POLICY THAT IS UTTING THE LIGHT RIGHT PEOPLE AND RESOURCES IN PLACE SO THAT IMPACT CAN BE FULFILLED.

>> Mary: TALK ABOUT YOUR DISTRICT.

MINNEAPOLIS IS A BIG PLACE.

>> YES.

>> Mary: IT'S A LOT OF DIVERSITY.

WHAT MAKES YOUR DISTRICT, YOUR SLICE OF THE CITY UNIQUE?

>> YES.

I LOVE MY DISTRICT.

SO I'M ORIGINALLY FROM A SMALL TOWN IN INDIANA, BUT I ENDED UP IN ONE OF THE MOST DENSE PARTS OF OUR STATE.

AND IT'S BECAUSE WHEN I MOVED HERE, YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND AND I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MULTIPLE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION TO OUR DAY JOBS.

AND I FOUND A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN WALK, BIKE, DRIVE, TAKE TRANSIT, AND IT'S JUST -- I THINK THAT JUST DIVERSITY OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND THE DIVERSITY OF SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS AND THERE'S NATURE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE LAKES IN THERE, WE'VE GOT DOWNTOWN, EVERYTHING'S HAPPENING, WE'VE GOT THE THEATERS IN MY DISTRICT, LIKE IT'S A VERY HAPPENIN' PLACE.

>> Mary: WHAT WAS, LIKE, THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU HEARD WHEN MEETING -- BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND MEET FOLKS WHEN YOU'RE THE NEW CANDIDATE.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> Mary: WHAT WERE THE THEMES?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ONE SINGULAR THING THAT I HEARD ABOUT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF VARIOUS THINGS THAT WERE RISING TO THE TOP.

AFFORDABILITY IN OUR LIVES IS A BIG ONE.

AND I'D SAY THAT KIND OF CAME THROUGH IN A NUMBER OF THINGS.

HOUSING, I MENTIONED THAT, BUT FROM BOTH THE RENTER SIDE AND FROM THE HOMEOWNERSHIP SIDE, CAME UP, PUBLIC SAFETY WAS ANOTHER THING THAT KEPT COMING UP, AND, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT PIECE WHERE WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY, JURISDICTIONS AND PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT IN MINNEAPOLIS.

I'D ALSO SAY CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO FOLKS IN THIS DISTRICT.

>> Mary: ECONOMY AND PUBLIC SAFETY, THOSE ARE ISSUES REPUBLICANS KIND OF THOUGHT THEY WON ON.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU RAN ON IT AND WON ON IT, TOO.

>> YES.

ACTUALLY THE TOP THING THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SINCE THE FIRST CAUCUS SPEECH WAS ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS FOR ROADS THAT ARE UNDER RECONSTRUCTION.

MOST OF OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS ARE 60 TO 80 YEARS OLD, THEY'RE ALL COMING DUE FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND OUR SMALL LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES, THEY ARE NOT THE ECONOMIC DRIVERS THAT THEY USED TO BE, BUT WE VALUE THEM SO HIGHLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST IN MINNEAPOLIS, BUT WORTHINGTON AND WILLMAR AND BEMIDJI.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, MY THOUGHT IS THAT WHEN WE'RE COMING IN, YOU KNOW, EITHER AS A CITY OR AS THE STATE AND RECONSTRUCTING A ROAD, WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT OUR BUSINESSES CAN SURVIVE THAT RECONSTRUCTION.

>> Mary: ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S SURPRISING ABOUT THE PLACE SO FAR?

>> HOW FRIENDLY EVERYONE IS, HOW WELCOMING EVERYONE IS, TO JUST, LIKE, HEY, YOU'RE THE NEWBIE HERE, HEY, LET'S HELP YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO, HELP YOU FIGURE OUT, LIKE, THIS IS HOW YOU DO COMMUNICATIONS, JUST EVERYONE HAS BEEN SUPER FRIENDLY, SUPER HELPFUL.

IT'S OT AS DAUNTING AS I THINK PEOPLE MIGHT REALIZE.

>> Mary: AND DESPITE KIND OF CHAOTIC EARLY START TO SESSION, THAT MIGHT SURPRISE FOLKS THAT IT'S STILL A WELCOMING PLACE, DESPITE ALL THE UNKNOWNS.

>> YES.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT I'M TAKING INTO HERE IS JUST THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT I CAN CONTROL.

I'M WORKING ON THOSE THINGS THAT I CAN CONTROL.

AND TRYING TO BUILD BRIDGES, BOTH WITHIN THE DFL CAUCUS AND THEN OUTSIDE OF IT AND WITH OUR STAFF.

>> Mary: NEXT WEEK WITH A REPUBLICAN FRESHMAN AND THE COMMISSIONER OF HOUSING, IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S TPT.ORG/AATC.

THERE YOU CAN WATCH OUR SHOWS AND INTERACT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

ALSO IF YOU WANT TO WATCH HOUSE/SENATE, ALL THE ACTION HERE, T'S ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

BE SURE TO WATCH "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT, ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH TRANSIT REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

I'LL CONTINUE TO DIG INTO THAT ISSUE YOU'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT, THAT INTERPLAY BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS.

I'LL LOOK MUCH FURTHER INTO THAT FRIDAY ON "ALMANAC."

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK OU FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪ >> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM >> "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.