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

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS ARE ONE, BUT WE'RE STILL HERE.

WE'LL REVIEW WHAT DID AND DIDN'T GET DONE IN THE SESSION, AND PREVIEW WHAT COULD COME UP N A POSSIBLE SPECIAL SESSION.

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."

ALL IS QUIET HERE.

WE'RE IN THE HOUSE GALLERY ABOVE THE HOUSE FLOOR AND IT'S OUR LAST SHOW OF THE YEAR.

BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE ADJOURNED FOR THE YEAR, AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK LEFT UNDONE -- EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, TAX CUTS, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE WILL SEE IF THEY'RE ABLE TO COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT THROUGHOUT THE SHOW TONIGHT WITH CAPITOL REPORTERS DANA FERGUSON AND ERIC ESKOLA ARE BOTH HERE TO DISCUSS THAT.

THIS WEEK'S RETIRING LAWMAKER IS THE FIRST LATINA TO SERVE IN THE SENATE.

AND SENATOR TOMASSONI SAYS GOOD-BYE TO HIS COLLEAGUES IN AN EMOTIONAL FAREWELL SPEECH WE'LL FEATURE LATER.

BUT WE'LL START WITH A LOOK AT THE LACK OF ACTIVITY AS THIS YEAR'S REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION CAME TO AN END.

[ BANGING GAVEL ] >> Mary: THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED WITH THE NOW ALMOST CLICHÉ WHIMPER.

LAWMAKERS DID MANAGE TO MOVE A MENTAL HEALTH BILL WITH MINUTES LEFT.

>> THIS ISSUE IS TOO BIG TO BE RUSHING A BILL THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT MORE THAN THE LAST 24, 48 HOURS.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR SIGNED DOZENS OF BILLS AND IS STILL READY TO SEE MORE.

>> I'M OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK EADLINES MATTER.

I THINK THE DEADLINE FORCED A LOT F WORK TODAY.

IN MY OPINION, WE'RE ABOUT 09 TO 95% OF THE WAY THERE.

90 TO 95%.

AND YOU DON'T GET THE BALL TO THE ONE-YARD LINE AND GO HOME.

YOU FINISH THE JOB THAT MINNESOTANS EXPECT US TO DO.

>> Mary: BUT SENATE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T SOUND SO INTERESTED IN COMING BACK.

>> T THE END OF THE DAY, MEMBERS, IT'S A DISAPPOINTING OUTCOME.

EVEN MORE SO THAN DISAPPOINTMENT, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

BECAUSE THE SENATE MADE EVERY EFFORT TO COMPROMISE AND WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T GET THERE.

>> I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE OUTCOME OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH IT'S EVEN MORE PERSONAL AS IT WILL BE MY LAST.

AND I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO GO OUT WITH A BANG, WITH SOMETHING TO SAY THAT WE DID AS A SESSION, AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY WITH THE HOUSE, WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN BOTH CAUCUSES AND WITH THE GOVERNOR.

WE CAN AGREE, BUT E WON'T.

AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE LEFT ON THE TABLE, IT'S SAD.

IT'S REALLY SAD.

WE HAD A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY -- >> Mary: WHILE SENATORS SEEM SAD TO SEE HISTORIC OPPORTUNITIES DISAPPEAR TO INVEST IN TAX CUTS, EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY AND NURSING HOMES, REPRESENTATIVES ARE READY TO RETURN.

>> THERE'S A FEW BILLS THAT ARE VERY CLOSE, BUT WE DON'T YET HAVE AGREEMENT.

MINNESOTA HOUSE IS READY TO COME BACK AND GET THE WORK DONE.

>> MINNESOTANS EXPECT US TO SHOW UP AND GET THE JOB DONE.

WE HAVE HAD A TENDENCY IN RECENT YEARS TO HAVE A FINAL AGREEMENT TOWARDS THE CLOSE OF SESSION AND TO COME BACK IN A SPECIAL SESSION AND FINALIZE THAT WORK.

WE STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

THE REAL QUESTION IS FOR SENATE REPUBLICANS.

THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO COMMIT TO COMING BACK, FINALIZING BILLS, AND DOING THE WORK ON BEHALF OF MINNESOTANS.

>> Mary: AND THE GOVERNOR QUICKLY CHANGED HIS MIND AND IS NOW WILLING TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> YEAH, IT'S RIDICULOUS.

I THINK THE MESSAGE IT SENDS IS THAT WE NEED FOLKS THAT ARE NOT RIGIDLY IDEALOGICAL, THEY'RE WILLING TO COME TOGETHER, WE'RE ABLE TO GET THIS THING DONE.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IS, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T MADE EVERY EFFORT TO DO THAT.

THE IDEA THAT CLOCK STRUCK MIDNIGHT, YOU TURN INTO A PUMPKIN OR SOMETHING, NO, WE'VE HAD SPECIAL SESSIONS EVERY SINGLE TIME IF THE WORK NEEDS TO GET DONE.

THE WORK IS WHAT MATTERS.

>> Mary: WITH SO MANY THINGS LEFT UNDONE -- >> I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHY, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, A BONDING BILL DIDN'T HAPPEN EITHER.

>> Mary: THE QUESTION IS IF THIS ALL JUST GOES TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

>> REPUBLICANS WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON PUTTING MORE MONEY BACK IN THE POCKETS OF MINNESOTANS.

THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY FOR REPUBLICANS.

PUBLIC SAFETY WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY FOR REPUBLICANS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE EDUCATION A PRIORITY.

EDUCATION'S A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

I CANNOT BELIEVE WE DIDN'T -- WE COULD NOT GET THAT DONE.

>> I HAVE NEVER BEEN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR IN AN ELECTION YEAR WERE WILLING TO LEAVE $4 BILLION ON THE BOTTOM LINE JUST OUT OF PRUDENT FISCAL MANAGEMENT.

SO I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD DEAL.

I THINK IT WILL LOOK BETTER TO EVERYBODY AFTER THEY GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.

♪♪ >> Mary: JOINING ME NOW, ABOUT END OF SESSION AND A LOOK AHEAD, OUR VERY OWN "ALMANAC'S" ERIC HE IS CAE ALTHOUGH WHAT SPENT MANY DECADES UP HERE AND DANA FERGUSON WHO SPENT MANY HOURS UP HERE.

>> THIS WEEK.

>> Mary: FOR FORUM NEWS SERVICE.

PERHAPS WE SHOULD START WITH A BIT OF A "I TOLD YOU SO" BECAUSE I REMEMBER A PRESS CONFERENCE OUT N THE APITOL MALL, ON A SUNNY DAY, LEADERS WERE FULL OF OPTIMISM AND WE WERE TOLD WE WERE TOO SKEPTICAL.

>> IT'S THE AIR WE BREATHE, MARY, WE'RE TOO SKEPTICAL, THE GOVERNOR SAID OF COURSE THEY WOULD GET THIS DONE, THERE WERE SPARSE DETAILS ABOUT THIS BIG FRAMEWORK THAT WAS GOING TO CLOSE SESSION.

AND HERE WE ARE, A WEEK AND A HALF LATER, AND IT ALL SEEMED TO HAVE FALLEN APART.

>> Mary: ERIC, YOU'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE, THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS, LEADERS CAN ROLL OUT TARGETS, BUT THE BILLS DON'T ALWAYS COME TOGETHER ON TIME.

>> WELL, AT SOME POINT, THERE'S GOT TO BE LANGUAGE ON A PIECE OF PAPER THAT CAN BE DEFENDED, THAT CAN GET VOTES, AND CAN PASS.

AND SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS WERE MISSING IN THE FINAL FRAMEWORK, I GUESS YOU'D HAVE TO CALL IT.

>> Mary: AND NOW THE TALK IS ABOUT SPECIAL SESSION.

I KNOW ERIC AND I HAVE BEEN SLEUTHING AROUND THE SAME ISSUE, RIGHT?

YES?

>> Eric: CAN I GIVE A CONTRARIAN VIEW?

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S WHAT WE DO, I BELIEVE.

>> Eric: I'M GOING TO SAY, THIS WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL SESSION.

>> Mary: WHAT?

>> Eric: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, HERO PAY, REINSURANCE FOR HEALTH PREMIUMS, FREE THE GROWLER, BROADBAND, MENTAL HEALTH, OPIOID SETTLEMENT, STUDENT DATA PRIVACY, LEGACY FUNDS, AUDIT OF SOUTHWEST RAIL, STRUCTURED SETTLEMENT PROTECTION, VETERANS BILL, IN ANY OTHER MIDTERM SESSION, THIS WOULD BE A FINE WORK PRODUCT AND YOU'D SAY, WELL, BUT THERE'S NO BONDING BILL, BUT DIDN'T THEY DO BILLION PLUS LAST YEAR?

>> Mary: THEY DID.

BUT DANA, DANA, THERE'S A $9 BILLION SURPLUS, AND TONS OF APPETITE FOR HUGE TAX CUT, HUGE SPENDING BILLS.

>> I THINK IT'S HARD TO CALL IT A SUCCESS WHEN THEY PUT SO MUCH ON THE TABLE AND SORT OF COMMITTED THAT A LOT OF THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, THAT WE WERE GOING TO SEE $4 BILLION IN A TAX BILL, THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE $4 BILLION SENT OUT TO SCHOOLS, TO POLICE AGENCIES, TO LONG-TERM CARE, AND THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY NONE OF THAT ACTUALLY CAME TO FRUITION.

THE CLOSEST THAT WE GOT WAS SEEING THE TAX BILL ON SATURDAY, THE DAY BEFORE THEY WERE SET TO CLOSE UT, AND THEY TEASED IT OUT TO EVERYBODY, BUT THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY PASS IT.

SO YOU CAN HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS THIS TAX BILL WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU, BUT YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO GET ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

>> Mary: SO, TAX CUTS, NURSING HOMES, PUBLIC SAFETY, THOSE ARE THINGS THE SENATE REALLY WANTED.

>> Eric: I DON'T THINK YOU CAN UNDERESTIMATE HOW MUCH THE POLITICS OF THIS IS NVOLVED.

AND I THINK, FOR INSTANCE, IN A PUBLIC SAFETY BILL, I THINK THE REPUBLICANS FEEL THEY'VE GOT THE DEMOCRATS ON THE RUN THERE.

>> Mary: TAKE IT TO THE ELECTION.

>> Eric: YEAH, YOU KNOW, KEEP THE ISSUE, FORGET THE POLICY.

YOU KNOW, ON THAT ONE.

JUST AS AN EXAMPLE.

SO I THINK THE ELECTION OVERTONES, UNDERTONES PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THIS AND I THINK THAT WILL BE PART OF THE CALCULATION AS TO WHETHER THE HOUSE AND SENATE ANT TO COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Mary: AND PUBLIC SAFETY PLAYING DIFFERENTLY OUTSIDE THE METRO, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS PLAYING DIFFERENTLY.

I THINK FOLKS IN GREATER MINNESOTA HAVE A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT CRIME IS LIKE HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES.

BUT GREATER MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES ARE DEALING WITH THEIR OWN CRIME ISSUES TOO.

AND THE BILLS WOULD HAVE TREATED THEM A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, WITH THE DEMOCRATS WANTING TO TARGET SOME OF THE HIGHER-CRIME AREAS, REPUBLICANS REALLY JUST WANTING TO BOOST ABOUT POLICE RECRUITMENT EVERYWHERE.

BUT I THINK IT'S AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT FOR REPUBLICANS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS DIDN'T WANT TO DO THIS BILL WITH US.

SO ELECT US AND THEN WHEN WE COME BACK NEXT YEAR, WE'LL HAVE ALL THIS MONEY TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> Eric: THE HOUSE, IN PART OF THEIR STRATEGY, HELD BACK THE TAX BILL UNTIL ALL THE SPENDING WAS PASSED.

WHAT IF THEY HAD HELD BACK THE FREE THE GROWLER BILL?

[ Laughter ] THIS THING WOULD BE OVER.

>> Mary: WELL, IN THE END THAT ENDS UP BEING THE VISUAL TODAY.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNS IT.

EVERYBODY'S POURING BEERS, HAPPY.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TAKE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

YES?

NO?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ARE THEY GOING TO CAMPAIGN ON THIS POPULAR THING?

>> IT'S WILDLY POPULAR.

THAT'S ONE OF THE STORIES THAT MY READERS CERTAINLY ARE ABOUT THE MOST BECAUSE FOLKS WERE REALLY INVESTED IN GETTING THOSE GROWLERS AND BEING ABLE TO BUY FOUR PACKS AND SIX PACKS OR BIGGER BOTTLES OF VODKA OR WHAT HAVE YOU FROM THE DISTILLERIES.

PEOPLE WANT THIS.

ESPECIALLY GOING INTO SUMMER, PEOPLE JUST WANT THE OPTIONS, THEY WANT TO HAVE FUN.

>> Eric: IT WILL TURN OUT BEING THE MOST REMEMBERED BILL OF THE SESSION.

>> YES.

>> Mary: AND HOW REMARKABLE IS THAT, GIVEN, YOU KNOW, YOUR TIME HERE, MY TIME HERE, WHEN LIQUOR LAWS COULDN'T BE TOUCHED FOR DECADES, AND SUDDENLY WE GET SUNDAY SALES AND THEN THE FLOODGATES START TO KIND OF OPEN.

>> Eric: WELL, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE HOW SOCIAL MEDIA HAS CHANGED UP HERE.

CHANGED THIS PLACE A LITTLE BIT.

THIS AS A TOTAL GRASSROOTS EFFORT, THEY BROUGHT THE BESTED POWERFUL SPECIAL INTERESTS TOGETHER, I SUPPOSE, KICKING KICKING AND SCREAMING, MAYBE, BUT THEY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER, THEY PUT TOGETHER A VERY GOOD GRASSROOTS LOBBYING CAMPAIGN AND GOT IT DONE.

AS YOU SAY, THE LIQUOR LOBBY HAS BEEN HARD TO CRACK FOR DECADES.

>> Mary: AND IT'S BEEN MOVING QUICKLY.

>> IT HAS BEEN MOVING RELATIVELY QUICKLY AND MAYBE THEY'VE FORGED KIND OF A WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALL OF THOSE STAKEHOLDERS THAT NOW THEY UNDERSTAND, OKAY, THE PANDEMIC CHANGED THE WAY WE OPERATE IN OUR BUSINESS, BUT WE CAN BUDGE HERE IF YOU'RE WILLING TO MAKE A LITTLE MOVE THERE.

AND THEN WE SEE THIS BIG PACKAGE OF LIQUOR LAW CHANGES COME THROUGH AS A RESULT OF ALL THOSE FOLKS GETTING TOGETHER AND WORKING IT OUT.

>> Eric: I WAS TOLD THAT BONDING NEGOTIATIONS ARE STILL GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

BUT AS I TALK TO QUITE A FEW PEOPLE IN THE CAPITOL COMMUNITY, THE LAST 48 HOURS, I GOT KIND OF SPECIAL SESSION?

I DON'T KNOW.

I DOUBT IT.

MAYBE 25%.

WHAT'S THE TALK AMONG YOU SINNICS?

>> Mary: WELL, THE -- CYNICS.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR'S OPTIMISM, DON'T YOU THINK IS FLEETING.

THE OPTIMISM WE HEARD MONDAY MORNING, THE BALL IS AT THE ONE ONE-YARD INE.

>> THEY HAVE A FURTHER WAYS TO GO THAN THEY'RE PROJECTING AT THIS POINT.

I THINK JUST HEARING THE GOVERNOR CHANGE HIS TIMELINE, TODAY SAYING IT WOULD IKELY BE AFTER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND VERSUS ON MONDAY HE SAID WE CAN BE WRAP THIS THING UP IN A MATTER OF DAYS, WE CAN FINISH BEFORE THE WEEKEND.

FOOPS THERE ARE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES STILL WORKING ON THEIR DEALS, WE'RE NOT HEARING A WHOLE LOT ABOUT T. EARLIER TODAY, CHAIR CARLOS MARIANI SENT A LETTER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUPS SAYING, HEY, CAN YOU HELP ME OUT?

CAN YOU HELP SENATOR WARREN LIMMER COME BACK TO THE TABLE SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS PUBLIC SAFETY BILL?

IF YOU'RE USING THAT KIND OF FORCE TO BRING PEOPLE BACK, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THINGS ARE REALLY HAPPENING ON THEIR OWN.

>> Eric: IT MIGHT GET A JOLT OF MOMENTUM NEXT WEEK AFTER THE CLOSING OF FILINGS ON MAY 31st BECAUSE I SUPPOSE MAYBE, PARTICULARLY REPUBLICANS, MIGHT BE WORRIED IF THEY'RE VOTING FOR $4 BILLION NEW SPENDING, THEY MIGHT GET PRIMARIED FROM THEIR RIGHT.

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: SO IF THAT DATE PASSES, AND IT WILL, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT OPENS UP THE POSSIBILITY A LITTLE MORE, MAYBE.

>> Mary: AND, ERIC, WE BOTH TALK TO PEOPLE, KIND OF IN THE KNOW, THAT HAVE SOMEWHAT CONFIRMED 'THIS, THAT SAID SENATE REPUBLICANS NEED TO WAIT UNTIL FILING CLOSES, IN CASE THEY GET A RUN -- YEAH -- PRIMARY'd ON THE RIGHT AND CAN'T DO THE SPENDING.

SO MAYBE A WEEK FROM TODAY THIS WHOLE DYNAMIC CHANGES.

>> COULD BE.

>> Eric: TIME WILL TELL, ACID HARTMAN USED TO SAY.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT EDUCATION, THAT WAS ANOTHER AREA THAT ENDED UP PRETTY THORNY.

>> Eric: MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL WOULD HAVE BEEN THRILLED TO GET THAT CROSS-SUBSIDY MONEY FROM SPECIAL ED.

WHY WASN'T THAT MORE POPULAR IN THE HOUSE EVEN?

>> I THINK DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE REALLY SUPPORT THAT MOVE AND EVENTUALLY THEY STARTED COMING TOGETHER N THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THE BIGGEST POINT OF DIVISION WAS GIVING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO STUDENT BE MENTAL HEALTH EFFORTS.

I THINK THE SENATE CAME UP AND SAID, WE'LL DO A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, BUT THEY WERE JUST NOT NEARLY AS CLOSE TO WHAT THE HOUSE WANTED.

THAT WAS THE TOP ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND THEY REALLY WERE NOT WILLING TO BUDGE IF REPUBLICANS FAILED TO COME UP ON THAT.

>> Eric: THE PRESSURE POINTS FOR THE SENATE MIGHT BE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND NURSING HOMES.

TWO THINGS THEY WANT.

EVERYBODY WANTS A BONDING BILL, SCALED DOWN.

I MEAN, THE DEAL IS SITTING THERE IF THEY WANT TO PUT IT TOGETHER.

>> Mary: YOU PUT IT TOGETHER.

>> Eric: YOU TWO COULD DO IT IN TEN MINUTES.

YOU COULD.

>> Mary: THANKS, YOU TWO.

APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mary: UP NEXT, OUR RETIRING LAWMAKER PROFILE.

DFL SENATOR PATRICIA TORRES RAY IS THE FIRST LATINA ELECTED TO THE SENATE, AND SHE LEAVES BEHIND A PROUD LEGACY STILL ADVOCATING FOR HER CITY.

THE FIRST QUESTION WE START WITH FOR EVERYBODY IS, WHY ARE YOU RETIRING NOW?

>> IT HAS BEEN 16 YEARS OF THIS JOB.

SO I FELT IT WAS IME FOR ME TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT IS NEXT FOR ME AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, 16 YEARS IS A GOOD TIME.

ACTUALLY, I HAVEN'T WORKED FOR 16 YEARS IN ANY OTHER JOB.

>> Mary: I WENT BACK AND LOOKED WHEN YOU WERE A FRESHMAN LAWMAKER, WE TALKED BACK IN 2007, AND WE SPOKE ABOUT THE FACT YOU WERE MAKING HISTORY IN THE SENATE.

YOU WERE THE FIRST LATINA IN THE SENATE.

HOW DO YOU REFLECT ON THAT NOW LOOKING BACK?

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT AN HONOR, REALLY, IT HAS BEEN TO BE HERE AND TO BE LOOKED AT AS KIND OF THE FIRST PERSON WHO CAME HERE FROM THIS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, AN IMMIGRANT WHO REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A POLITICAL BACKGROUND, AND COME HERE AND JUST BREAKING GROUND IN THAT REGARD.

SO I AM VERY PROUD OF THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T RUN TO BE THE FIRST, REALLY.

I MEAN, YOU JUST RUN BECAUSE YOU'RE PASSIONATE, YOU WANT TO SERVE.

BUT WHEN YOU GO TO GROUPS AND YOU VISIT ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNG WOMEN, YOU KNOW, WITH STUDENTS, AND THEY TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, I WAS IN THIS RALLY, AND YOU SPOKE, AND, YOU KNOW, WE WENT TO THE CAPITOL AND YOU WERE THERE ON THE FLOOR, AND I GET SO INSPIRED, I DECIDED TO RUN, I DECIDED TO RUN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD, I DECIDED TO RUN FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I GET SO INSPIRED BY THAT.

AND I'M SO PROUD.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE ESSENCE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKING THAT STEP, TAKING THAT RISK THE FIRST TIME.

I'M GOING TO DO IT.

AND THEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR FOR OTHERS TO DO IT.

>> Mary: AND WHEN YOU SAY "OPEN THE DOOR FOR OTHERSER," TOO, I WONDER IF THE FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR THE CAUCUS LEADER, THEN TO BE A LATINA WOMAN AS WELL, DID YOU DID EVER THINK YOU'D SEE THAT WITH MELISA LÓPEZ FRANZEN'S ELECTION?

>> I DID BELIEVE THAT.

WHEN SHE WAS WORKING AT TARGET, SHE WAS DOING ALL THE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, I THOUGHT, YOU NEED TO BE IN OFFICE, YOU WILL BE SO EXCELLENT.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT SHE REALLY DECIDED TO LOOK AT THIS AS A CAREER FOR HER.

SHE HAS BEEN JUST AN INCREDIBLE FRIEND, VERY INFLUENTIAL LEADER HER.

HERE.

>> Mary: THE TWO OF ARE YOU LEAVING HERE AND LEAVE THAT VOID IN LEADERSHIP AND DIVERSITY.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT ONE.

I DIDN'T EXPECT MELISA LEAVING, I WAS LEAVING BUT I DIDN'T WANT HER TO LEAVE.

SO THIS WAS REALLY A SHOCKING SITUATION FOR BOTH OF US, TO BE HONEST.

>> Mary: GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT YOUR CAREER, OUR CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS, WHEN YOU RAN FOR CONGRESS, AND I ASKED YOU, WHY YOU WERE RUNNING, YOU SAID, IMMIGRATION WAS THE ISSUE THAT CATAPULTED YOU TO TRY AND SEEK THAT HIGHER OFFICE FOR CONGRESS.

>> THE IMMIGRATION FIGHT IS MORE A FIGHT OF OUR TIME -- IS THE MORAL FIGHT OF OUR TIME.

>> Mary: WHERE DO YOU THINK WE'RE AT ON THE ISSUE F IMMIGRATION TODAY?

>> THIS IS MY PASSION, REALLY ADDRESSING THE INEQUALITIES THAT EXIST IN MINNESOTA FOR ME IS JUST A FUNDAMENTAL THING.

WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE PROGRESS AND THAT, PERHAPS, IS MY BIGGEST FRUSTRATION.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT ALSO GEORGE FLOYD AND YOUR DISTRICT AND WHAT THAT REVEALED ABOUT OUR STATE, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED, BUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

AND THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT FULLY AWARE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT MANY MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOW-INCOME PEOPLE FACE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

BUT THEY'RE MOST UNAWARE OF HOW DIVIDED WE ARE AT THE LEGISLATURE.

TO ME, THIS MOMENT REVEALED A VERY ALARMING ISSUE, AND THAT IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE IN THIS LEGISLATURE WHO SIMPLY DO NOT CARE.

IN MY DISTRICT WE FACE SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING OBSTACLES DURING THE PANDEMIC, PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, WITH CIVIL UNREST, IN EVERY CORNER OF MY STATE.

AND THERE WERE PEOPLE HERE IN THE SENATE WHO SIMPLY DID NOT CARE.

AND TO THIS DAY, THEY DON'T CARE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO RESPOND.

>> Mary: ARE THERE SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SOME POSITIVES YOU CAN REFLECT ON?

>> MANY POSITIVES.

POLICY, YOU KNOW, IN EDUCATION, I WAS THE CHAIR OF EDUCATION.

I WAS ABLE TO, REALLY, TO DO A LOT OF WORK WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR ME AND WHAT I'M MOST PROUD OF IS REALLY THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I WAS GIVEN TO OPEN THE DOOR TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OFTEN INVISIBLE HERE.

>> Mary: ALL THE RETIREES HAVE REDEVELOPED FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS THE AISLE, BIPARTISAN CONNECTIONS AND FRIENDSHIPS THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THOSE TO REVEAL?

>> I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR SENATOR ROSEN.

I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR SENATOR BENSON BECAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD THEY HAVE TO WORK.

>> Mary: WHO ARE BOTH LEAVING AS WELL, IF I CAN INTERJECT.

>> THEY ARE BOTH LEAVING.

AND SENATOR RUUD IS ANOTHER PERSON THAT I ADMIRE, AND I ADMIRE THESE WOMEN BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST SO HARDWORKING AND JUST REALLY BRING THAT PASSION.

>> Mary: FINAL WORDS FOR WHOEVER REPLACES YOU IN THE LEGISLATURE, WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE?

>> I HOPE THAT THE PERSON THAT REPLACES ME S ABLE TO BRING THE VOICES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OFTEN ABSENT OR EXCLUDED FROM THIS PROCESS.

WE CANNOT DO POLICY FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT HERE.

PEOPLE NEED TO BE THAT VOICE HERE.

♪♪ >> Mary: ANOTHER LAWMAKER SAYING GOOD-BYE TO HIS COLLEAGUES WAS SENATOR DAVID TOMASSONI.

HIS A.L.S.

DIAGNOSIS LAST YEAR LED TO HIS DECISION TO RETIRE, AND IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL FLOOR SPEECH THAT CAPPED OFF A 30-YEAR CAREER HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT STARTED RIGHT HERE IN THE HOUSE.

>> THIS JOB CAN BE HARD ON FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN RURAL MINNESOTA, SEVERAL HOURS AWAY.

MY FAMILY WAS NO EXCEPTION.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE WAY IT ALL STARTED, MY DAD HAND PAINTED 400 SIGNS ON HALF-INCH PLYWOOD IN HIS GARAGE.

THEY WERE HEAVY.

THAT WAS A GESTURE OF LOVE.

OF COURSE, IT HASN'T ALWAYS GONE SMOOTHLY.

BUT WE MADE IT.

AND I HAVE TO THANK THE ENTIRE FAMILY, MY WIFE, CHARLOTTE, AND OUR CHILDREN, CHANTELLE, DAUNTE AND DANNY FOR EVERYTHING THEY HAVE HAD TO ENDURE DUE TO MY ABSENCE.

I GUESS THE ULTIMATE CULMINATION CAME WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE A.L.S.

BILL EARLIER THIS SESSION.

ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT, AND IT WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN DONE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

BUT I HAVE TO GIVE A GREAT BIG SHOUT-OUT TO MY KIDS FOR TAKING CARE OF ME IN THIS LAST YEAR OR SO AS THEY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TAKING CARE OF ME.

MY SISTER, MARY JO, AND HER HUSBAND, RICHARD, ESERVE THE SAME THANKS.

SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE STEPPED UP TO HELP AND I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.

SO, Mr. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ACCOMMODATING ME TODAY, AS WELL AS ALL SESSION LONG.

30 YEARS WENT BY FAST.

AND I WISH MY SUCCESSOR ALL THE BEST.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[ Applause ] ♪♪ >> Mary: THAT'S OUR HOW FOR TONIGHT AND THE SEASON.

IF LAWMAKERS DO GET CALLED BACK INTO SPECIAL SESSION BY THE GOVERNOR, TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" AND WE'LL COVER THAT ON FRIDAY NIGHTS.

NOW, IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TPT.ORG/AATC.

THERE YOU CAN REWATCH TONIGHT'S SHOW OR ANY SHOWS FROM THE PAST AND DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW "ALMANAC" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER WHERE THEY'RE YEAR ROUND.

CONNECT WITH US AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

ALSO AT TPT.ORG/ALMANAC, YOU'LL SEE IT POP UP, THERE'S A SURVEY, IT JUST TAKES FEW MINUTES, GO THROUGH THAT AND TELL US WHAT YOU DO AND DON'T LIKE ON OUR SHOWS.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU.

AND MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT, ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH THE CREATORS OF A NEW FRONTLINE DOCUMENTARY DEALING WITH THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

WE WILL HAVE A DUO OF RETIRING LAWMAKERS, SENATOR TORRES RAY AND SENJEM WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE SESSION AND THEIR CAREERS.

KAOMI LEE SHOWS US A HISTORIC PRAIRIE SCHOOL BANK THAT DATES ALL HE WAY BACK TO 1908.

I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT DID AND DIDN'T GET DONE THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, INCLUDING A VERY UNIQUE BILL SIGNING.

IT INVOLVED BEER.

YOU HEARD SOME CAPITOL PRESS CORPS COLLEAGUES SAY IT MIGHT BE THE MOST MEMORABLE PART OF SESSION.

TUNE IN FOR THAT.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY MIND THE SCENES THAT YOU DON'T SEE, WORKING ON THIS WHOLE SHOW THIS SEASON.

GOOD NIGHT.

EVERYBODY BEHIND THE SCENES.

>> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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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.