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

>> HUMAN BEINGS MAKE MISTAKES.

>> CONSIDER EXPULSION OF SENATOR MITCHELL.

>> Mary: THE SENATE IS AT A STANDSTILL AFTER THE ARREST OF ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS.

WE'LL HAVE IN-DEPTH CONTEXT.

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: DELIVERING NEARLY $4 BILLION TO BENEFIT ALL MINNESOTANS SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

AND IT IS A BIG NEWS DAY HERE AT THE CAPITOL, AS ENATE REPUBLICANS FILE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST DFL SENATOR NICOLE MITCH FOAL HER RECENT BURGLARY ARREST.

WE'LL HAVE COMPLETE COVERAGE, ALONG WITH THE DRAMATIC FLOOR ACTION TODAY.

WE HAVE A SENATE LEADER LIVE.

WE'LL SPEAK TO IN JUST A MOMENT.

WE'LL HAVE CONTEXT ON CAPITOL ARRESTS, PAST AND PRESENT, WITH LONGTIME POLITICAL REPORTER ERIC ESKOLA.

BUT, FIRST, WITH LESS THAN A MONTH LEFT IN SESSION, ALL THE ACTION IN THE SENATE IS STALLED WITH A TIE VOTE WITH THE ABSENCE OF SENATOR MITCHELL.

>> I MOVE THE RULES COMMITTEE BE COMPELLED BY THE SENATE TO IMMEDIATELY INITIATE DUE PROCESS PROCEEDINGS TO CONSIDER EXPELLING SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL FROM THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

>> Mary: THE ARREST OF SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL FOR FELONY BURGLARY HAS THE REST OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN SERIOUS DOUBT, WITH A ONE-VOTE MARGIN, WORK IN THE SENATE COULD SCREECH TO A HALT, UNLESS DEMOCRATS CAN GET REPUBLICAN VOTES IF SHE'S NOT VOTING.

>> THIS LEGISLATURE HAS SEEN MEMBERS CHARGED WITH CRIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WITH VARYING RESULTS, BUT INCLUDED AMONG THOSE, FIFTH-DEGREE ASSAULT, CONSPIRACY TO EMBEZZLE.

BY MY COUNT, FIVE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCES JUST IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

>> WITH THIS PROPOSAL, THE SENATOR WHO MADE THE MOTION IS PROPOSING THAT WE BECOME THE JUDGE, THE JURY AND THE EXECUTIONER.

>> Mary: MITCHELL WAS A BROADCAST METEOROLOGIST AND IN THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD FROM WOODBURY, WHO WAS ARRESTED IN DETROIT LAKES INSIDE HER LATE FATHER'S HOME, DRESSED IN ALL BLACK WITH A FLASHLIGHT AND A BACKPACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

SHE LATER POSTED A VERY DIFFERENT ACCOUNT, SAYING SHE WAS CHECKING IN ON A RELATIVE WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND PARANOIA.

REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER MARK JOHNSON SAYS SHE HAS TO GO.

>> YOU HEARD THE DEMOCRATS TALK ABOUT US UNDERCUTTING THE DUE PROCESS ERE IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

BUT WHAT THIS DID, IT COMPELLED THE COMMITTEE TO MEET IMMEDIATELY, AND THEN CONSIDER EXPULSION OF SENATOR MITCHELL.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS THE DFL KICKING THAT DOWN THE ROAD 30 DAYS LATER.

ALREADY TODAY AND TOMORROW, SENATOR MITCHELL IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE BUSINESS OF THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

WE NO LONGER HAVE BILLS ON THE FLOOR TODAY OR TOMORROW.

AND COMMITTEES ARE BEING CANCELED.

SO WE NEED TO GET THIS RESOLVED ASAP.

WE WANT THAT DUE PROCESS, WE WANT THAT TO HAPPEN, BUT IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN SOON BEFORE MORE STUFF SHOULD HAPPEN.

>> Mary: CAN SHE VOTE, SHOULD SHE VOTE?

>> SHE CERTAINLY CAN, EITHER ON THE FLOOR OR WITH APPROVAL OF THE CAUCUS LEADER.

>> Mary: YOU STILL WANT HER TO RESIGN?

>> I ASKED IN MY STATEMENT YESTERDAY FOR HER TO RESIGN, YES.

>> Mary: SENATOR FRENTZ POINTED OUT THAT MANY OTHER LAWMAKERS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE OVER THE DECADES HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, ACCUSED OF CRIMES, HE DETAILED THE NUMBER OF THEM.

OTHERS CALLED HIS UNPRECEDENTED?

WHICH IS IT?

>> WE ARE ELECTED AND ENTRUSTED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY BY THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, BUT WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS, AND HUMAN BEINGS MAKE MISTAKES, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT WHERE SOMEONE HAS COME -- RUN AFOUL OF THE LAW.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS A PROCESS TO DEAL WITH THAT IN THE ETHICS COMMITTEE.

SENATOR MITCHELL, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER MEMBER OF THIS BODY, SHE HAS A DUE PROCESS RIGHT IN THIS BODY.

SHE HAS A DUE PROCESS RIGHT IN COURT.

>> Mary: WHAT HAS SHE TOLD YOU PERSONALLY WHEN YOU SPOKE?

>> SHE WAS HAPPY TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE SHE COULD TAKE A SHOWER AND SHE WAS HAPPY TO SEE HER KIDS.

>> THERE BEING 33 AYES AND 33 NOS, THE LUCERO MOTION FAILS.

>> Mary: THIS, AS LAWMAKERS RETURN FROM ANOTHER QUICK HOLIDAY BREAK WITH ALL THE DEADLINES PAST FOR BILLS TO MOVE THROUGH COMMITTEE.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE IN A POSITION TO CONDUCT THE WORK OF THE SENATE IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.

AND GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, I THOUGHT IT WAS WISE FOR US TO PAUSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONDUCT THAT WORK.

>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT ARE STILL HANGING OUT THERE, AND I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME VERY DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, VOTES, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME DIFFICULTY IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE END THIS, GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES RIGHT NOW.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE CLOUD OF THE ALLEGATIONS THAT ARE BEING HELD OVER.

♪♪ >> Mary: AND JOINING ME NOW LIVE, YOU JUST SAW HIM THERE, REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER MARK JOHNSON.

WE DO WANT TO SAY WE OFFERED THE SENATE DFL A SLOT HERE AS WELL AND THEY DECLINED.

SENATOR JOHNSON, WHAT'S NEXT?

>> THAT'S A REALLY -- THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ASKING TODAY ON THE FLOOR AS WELL.

RIGHT NOW, AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO, THERE'S A CLOUD HANGING OVER, THERE'S QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED RIGHT NOW, WILL SENATOR MITCHELL BE ABLE TO VOTE?

AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BIG LEGISLATION COMING THROUGH HERE.

>> Mary: MOST OF THE BIG LEGISLATION, I MEAN, TO JUMP IN HERE -- >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: -- MOST OF THE WORK REMAINS, WHICH IS TRADITIONALLY TRUE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

>> AND OW WE HAVE THIS HANGING OVER US RIGHT NOW.

LOTS OF UESTIONS.

AND, SO, WE WANTED TODAY'S MOTION WAS ABOUT JUMPING IN TO THAT COMPLAINT, LET'S GIVE HER THE DUE PROCESS, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT MITCHELL DID AND SEE IF SHE IS HOLDING UP TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD IN OUR BODY IN THE STATE SENATE.

>> Mary: YOU DON'T HAVE THE VOTES, WE SAW THAT, IT WOULD BE 33-33 EVERY DAY TO THE END OF THE SESSION.

>> AS YOU SAW REPORTS, THEY RELEASED A TRANSCRIPT OF WHAT HAPPENED.

THE SENATE REPUBLICANS DID NOT ASK FOR THIS.

NOW, IF WE WANT TO GET TO THE END, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THESE BILLS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE.

>> Mary: LET'S DEAL WITH THE LATEST NEWS, THE TRANSCRIPT, AND PROBABLY THE PART THAT'S INTRIGUING THE PEOPLE THE MOST, THERE WAS A REFERENCE THAT SHE WAS ON THE FLOOR, MAYBE IN HER MOTHER-IN-LAW'S BEDROOM AND SHE WAS AFRAID AND ON THE PHONE WITH POLICE.

DOES THAT FURTHER CONFUSE OR CLOUD THINGS FOR YOU?

>> I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY.

AGAIN, IT GETS EEPER INTO THE DETAILS.

THERE GETS TO BE MORE QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED ON THIS.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON THE FLOOR NEXT TO THE BED NEXT TO YOUR STEPMOTHER?

YOU KNOW, ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENING.

I THINK RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO TAKE SOME ACTION IN THE SENATE.

YOU SAW THE SENATE DEMOCRATS DELAY THAT TODAY ON A PARTY-LINE VOTE.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT PARTY RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS ABOUT DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR MINNESOTANS AND THE INSTITUTION.

>> Mary: IS THERE ROOM FOR SOME GRACE AND UNDERSTANDING?

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOSS IN THE FAMILY.

WE SHOULD ALSO SAY, SENATOR MURPHY'S ALSO DEALING WITH A LOSS IN THE FAMILY.

IT'S A REALLY TOUGH TIME PERSONALLY FOR MEMBERS.

IS THERE ROOM TO GIVE SOME SPACE?

>> I THINK THERE IS.

YOU'LL SEE IN MY STATEMENTS, I ACKNOWLEDGE A LOT OF WHAT IS GOING ON, THIS IS A FAMILY ISSUE, WE ALL HAVE THOSE FAMILY ISSUES.

AND WE'RE NOT FAR FROM, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAPPENING WITHIN OUR OWN FAMILIES.

BUT THE JUDGMENT THAT SHE EXERCISED, SHE'S A LICENSED ATTORNEY, SHE'S A LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN THE AIR FORCE, SHE'S A FOSTER MOM, SHE'S A STATE SENATOR, AND WE'RE HELD TO THESE HIGHER STANDARDS.

SO RIGHT NOW, WITH THAT STATEMENT THAT CAME IN, THE CONTRADICTIONS, IT REALLY DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE HOLDING UP TO OUR HIGH STANDARDS IN THE SENATE.

>> Mary: THE HIGH STANDARDS ALSO HAVE MANY LAWMAKERS, PAST AND PRESENT, ACTUALLY BEING ARRESTED, ACTUALLY BEING INVESTIGATED.

I THINK THERE'S ABOUT FIVE CURRENT LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE DUIs, THIS IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED.

DO YOU HAVE TO BE DELICATE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THROWING STONES IN A GLASS HOUSE?

>> OH, BSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK OF THE LEGISLATURE, YOU THINK OF POLITICIANS, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A STELLAR REPUTATION AMONG THE CLASS, BUT YOU THINK OF DUIs, YOU THINK OF THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THIS IS SO FAR OUT OF THE REALM OF TYPICAL SHENANIGANS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN, THIS BRINGS IT TO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LEVEL OF SCRUTINY.

>> Mary: IT'S NOT A BUDGET YEAR.

WHAT HAS TO GET DONE IN YOUR CAUCUS' OPINION?

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO SIT BACK AND TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME BIG THINGS.

WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR STATE.

>> Mary: BONDING BILL, YEAH.

>> SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT.

THERE'S ANOTHER -- OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, OT A BUDGET YEAR, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LEEWAY TO EITHER TAKE UP OR NOT TAKE UP DIFFERENT ITEMS.

>> Mary: ARE THERE SOME THINGS YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO SEE MAYBE NOT PASS, ER.A., ABORTION RIGHTS, GUN CONTROL, THOSE THINGS MAY NOT HAPPEN NOW.

>> YOU SAW LAST YEAR THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT CAME THROUGH, WITH THE $18 MILLION BUDGET THAT WAS SPENT, TAXES RAISED, ALL THOSE THINGS, NOW IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE COMING FOR A SECOND BITE ON A NUMBER OF THESE SORTS OF ISSUES, E.R.A.

IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE MORE EXTREME POLICIES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PUSH FORWARD HERE.

>> Mary: WELL, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

HOPEFULLY KNOW SOME MORE BY THE END OF THE WEEK R EARLY NEXT WEEK, IT SOUNDS LIKE.

THANK YOU, SENATOR.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANKS FOR COMING.

♪♪ >> Mary: MORE CONTEXT ON CAPITOL ARRESTS, ERIC ESKOLA, LONGTIME POLITICAL REPORTER.

TO BE FRANK, ERIC, WE'VE SEEN SOME THINGS UP HERE IN THIS VERY HOUSE, WE HAVE SEEN A LAWMAKER ACTUALLY ARRESTED ON THE LOOR.

>> Eric: THAT'S TRUE.

>> Mary: THIS IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED.

>> Eric: NO, BUT THE FACT SITUATION, THE FACT THAT THE FACTS ARE IN DISPUTE MAKE -- THE FAMILY IS INVOLVED, IT'S REALLY A BIZARRE SET OF FACTS.

I MADE THE CALLS TODAY THAT YOU THINK I WOULD MAKE TO GET READY FOR THE PROGRAM TONIGHT.

AND WE'RE IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION.

OF AN ATOM BOMB HAS DROPPED.

UNCHARTED TERRITORY.

DEFIES COMMON SENSE.

THE TRIFECTA AT STAKE.

>> Mary: THIS IS DRAMATIC.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> Mary: ON A SCALE, EVERY DAY HERE IS DRAMATIC, BUT THIS IS, LIKE WE SAID, NOT UNPRECEDENTED, THERE ARE RUN-INS WITH THE LAW, THERE WAS AN ARREST HERE.

BUT THIS ONE, THE DETAILS, YOU JUST HEARD THE SENATE LEADER REACTING TO THE VERY LATEST THERE ABOUT THE TRANSCRIPT, WHICH FURTHER KIND OF CONFUSES THINGS ON THAT 911 CALL.

>> Eric: WELL, IT DOES.

AND THERE HAS TO BE A WAY, MAYBE, FOR PEOPLE TO GET AHOLD OF THE BODY CAMERAS.

>> Mary: YEAH, WE'RE TOLD THERE WERE BODY CAMERAS UP THERE.

YEAH.

>> Eric: APPARENTLY IT'S UP TO THE POLICE, SENATOR MITCHELL COULD ALLOW THEM TO BE RELEASED, AND THE POLICE COULD DECIDE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

BUT THAT MIGHT BE A WAY TO SETTLE SOME OF THE FACT CONTRADICTIONS.

>> Mary: BECAUSE THERE'S FACTS IN DISPUTE.

SENATOR MITCHELL'S ATTORNEY IS DISPUTING THE FACTS, SENATOR MITCHELL WENT ON FACEBOOK, DISPUTED THAT.

SO YOU THINK WE COULD BE AWAITING KIND OF THE NEXT SHOE TO DROP.

THERE COULD BE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE.

>> Eric: MORE INFORMATION.

>> Mary: SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I MEAN, YOU'VE SEEN TIES BEFORE AS WELL.

YOU, MY FATHER, HAVE BEEN AROUND, WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN TIES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

>> Eric: WELL, I THINK -- THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO TODAY SEEM TO KIND OF SETTLE ON ONE POSSIBILITY THAT THE SENATOR SERVES UNTIL THEY GO HOME, MAY 20th, AND THEN RESIGNS.

AND THEN IF IT'S ALL BEFORE JUNE 8th, THEN THE GOVERNOR CAN CALL A SPECIAL SESSION -- ELECTION FOR THAT SENATE SEAT IN WOODBURY FOR NOVEMBER.

SO IT WOULD BE -- >> Mary: IN THE GENERAL HEN ALL THE HOUSE IS UP AS WELL?

>> Eric: YEAH.

AND WE SHOULD SAY THAT KELLY MORRISON IS A DFL SENATOR, WHO'S RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN THE THIRD DISTRICT, SO IF SHE HAPPENS TO PREVAIL AND IS NOT IN THE SENATE, THERE COULD BE A SPECIAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER FOR THAT DISTRICT OUT IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS, AS WELL AS THE WOODBURY SEAT.

>> Mary: WOW.

SEE, THIS IS HIGH DRAMA.

WE SHOULD TELL PEOPLE, THIS IS THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE THEN AT STAKE.

THE HOUSE WAS ALREADY ON THE BALLOT AND NOW THE SENATE CONTROL COULD BE ON THE BALLOT.

>> Eric: YEAH, CONTROL OF THE SENATE WOULD BE UP FOR GRABS WITH THOSE TWO SENATE SEATS.

>> Mary: WOW.

>> Eric: IF YOU LOOK DOWN THE ROAD, THIS GETS CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER.

>> Mary: WOW.

BUT THIS DISTRICT ISN'T AS COMPETITIVE AS IT USED TO BE.

WE USED TO SEE SOME VERY COMPETITIVE SUBURBS, WOODBURY ISN'T QUITE THE BATTLE GROUND IT USED TO BE.

>> Eric: SHE WON BY 19.. >> Mary: THAT DOESN'T SEEM CLOSE?

>> Eric: NO, WHO KNOWS, THAT'S WHY THEY RUN THE RACE.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT ALL YOUR SOURCES BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL INCREDIBLY WELL SOURCED UP HERE.

YOU'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES.

WHAT IS SHE KNOWN FOR, WHAT'S HER REPUTATION, WHAT'S HER FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS THE AISLE, IN THE CAUCUS, WHAT IND OF PICTURE CAN YOU MAKE?

>> Eric: SHE'S A FIRST-TERMER, NOT PARTICULARLY WELL KNOWN, BUT INTENSE, I HEARD.

YOU KNOW?

TOUGH, INTENSE.

AND, YOU KNOW, HER RELATIONSHIP, NOT ONLY WITH HER COLLEAGUES IN THE DFL CAUCUS AND THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, BUT ALSO WITH HER CONSTITUENTS.

SEE, THE CONSTITUENTS HOLD A LITTLE POWER HERE.

AND SHE MAY GET OME SUSTENANCE FROM THEM, ND SAY, I'M GOING TO CARRY ON.

AND MAY NOT TAKE THE ADVICE OF SENATOR MURPHY OR OTHER LEADERS OR CLOSE CONFIDANTES IN THE SENATE.

SO CHECK OUT WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE SHE GETS FROM HER DISTRICT DISWL.

>> Mary: IT HASN'T BEEN OVER FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE ARRESTED, TOMMY RUKAVINA, GOT A DUI, GOT ELECTED WITH MORE VOTES.

SO IT DOESN'T MEAN YOUR CAREER IS OVER.

>> Eric: WELL, THE GARDEN-VARIETY LEGISLATOR DUI, I MEAN, IT HAPPENS, THEY'RE LIKE THE REST OF THE POPULATION, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE THIS WILL HAPPEN TO.

BUT THIS REALLY TRANSCENDS THAT.

AND IT'S EARLY DAYS.

SO LET'S WAIT AND SEE.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WILL SAY, DUE PROCESS.

I THINK SHE'LL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE.

I MEAN, LET'S SAY SHE IS ALLOWED TO VOTE, WHAT WILL SENATOR JOHNSON AND THE REPUBLICANS DO ON THE FLOOR, BRINGING UP THINGS THAT MIGHT BE INJURIOUS TO THE DEMOCRATS, A LOT OF THIS YET TO BE WRITTEN.

>> Mary: IT'S GOING TO BE FASCINATING.

HE EAST STILL WAITING IN THE WINGS.

UNPRECEDENTED TIMES AROUND HERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SAGE WISDOM.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE.

>> Mary: APPRECIATE IT.

>> THIS IS BONKERS!

FRANKLY, IT'S BONKERS!

THIS MEMBER IS BONKERS!

THIS IS SO BONKERS!

BUT IT IS BONKERS!

SOME MIGHT CALL THAT BONKERS.

THIS IS BONKERS, IF EVER ANYTHING WAS BONKERS.

MAYBE EVEN SOME CALL THAT BONKERS.

♪♪ >> Mary: WELL, MAYBE IT'S BONKERS THAT FORMER DEPUTY MINORITY LEADER IS RETIRING, BUT WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE ANN NEU BRINDLEY HERE.

YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH THAT LOGAN, DID YOU KNOW WHERE IT WAS GOING TO GO?

>> I HAD NO IDEA.

FRANKLY, I JUST HAVE A LOT OF FUN HERE FULL STOP.

>> Mary: YOU ABSOLUTELY DO.

AND THAT HAS BEEN FUN.

>> Mary: AND WE SHOULD SAY IT'S BIPARTISAN, THE APPRECIATION FOR THE BONKERS, WHILE WE JUST SHOWED YOU DOING IT.

>> I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT UP, I'VE GOT IT ON MY DESK, MY LITTLE EMBROIDERY THAT ONE OF THE DFL MEMBERS MADE FOR ME THAT UST SAYS "BONKERS."

IT'S REALLY FUN.

>> Mary: YOU'VE MADE SOME FRIENDS.

>> YES, I HAVE.

>> Mary: ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: CAN WE ONFESS AND TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT?

>> I'M ACTUALLY REALLY PROUD OF THAT.

IT'S NOT A ONFESSION TO ME.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT, I'M A BULLDOG FOR THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AND FOR CONSERVATIVE VALUES, I'M A BULL CALL.

BULLDOG.

THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO FIGHT AS HARD AS I DO DOWN HERE.

BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE VIEW THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

BUT THEY'RE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.

>> Mary: THEY DON'T HATE YOU FOR THAT.

HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE THAT?

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY TALKS MORE OR SAYS MORE ABOUT DFL BILLS BUT THEY DON'T HATE YOU.

>> I DON'T GO AFTER PEOPLE PERMANENTLY.

I GO AFTER IDEAS.

I DON'T GO AFTER PEOPLE.

AND, IN FACT, WHEN WE'RE NOT ON CAMERA, WHEN WE'RE NOT ON THE FLOOR, WE'RE IN BACK TALKING ABOUT OUR KIDS, WE'RE SHARING A SNACK, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, WE'RE JUST BEING HUMAN BEINGS.

>> Mary: YOU BROUGHT A LOT OF YOUR HUMANITY HERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PERSONAL JOURNEY YOU'VE HAD, BECAUSE YOU TRAGICALLY LOST A HUSBAND, REMARRIED.

I MEAN, TALK BE TO WHAT HAS GONE ON BEHIND THE SCENES HERE.

YOU HAVE A NEW NAME BEING A DIFFERENT NAME THAN WHEN YOU STARTED HERE.

CAN OU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> IT'S ACTUALLY STRANGE, I THINK ABOUT THAT A LOT RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE I STARTED RUNNING FOR OFFICE ONE WEEK AFTER MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY, HE HAD A.L.S., IT WAS NOT UNEXPECTED.

AND I HAD SORT OF BEEN IN THE POLITICAL SPACE FOR A LONG TIME.

AND WE ACTUALLY KNEW THAT THE SEAT WAS COMING UP FROM JOHN PASSED AWAY.

AND HE HAD A.L.S., SO HE WAS LARGELY PARALYZED, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SPEAK, HIS SPEECH WAS VERY SLURRED, AND HE SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULDN'T DO IT.

AND I SAID, REALLY?

>> Mary: YOU HAD HIS BLESSING.

>> I SAID, YEAH, I CAN THINK OF A THOUSAND REASONS WHY THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA.

AND THEN HE PASSED AWAY A WEEK LATER.

AND SORT OF OPENED THAT DOOR.

SO, IT'S REALLY ALL -- Y KIDS AND I HAVE NOWN SINCE JOHN PASSED AWAY.

>> ary: AND YOU BROUGHT THAT HERE, BECAUSE LITTLE WOULD YOU KNOW, NATION-LEADING A.L.S.

BILL WOULD ARRIVE WHEN THE SENATE LOST ONE OF ITS MOST-BELOVED MEMBERS IN DAVID TOMASSONI.

DID YOU EVER EXPECT THAT EXPERIENCE WOULD COME TO BEAR ON LEGISLATION?

>> NO, HEAVENS NO, IT WAS SUCH A UNIQUE TIME.

AND IT JUST -- AND I KNEW SENATOR TOMASSONI AS WELL.

AND IT JUST -- IT BROKE MY HEART THAT SORT OF THAT ISSUE SORT OF BECAME RIPE BECAUSE OF HIS OWN STORY WITH A.L.S.

BUT I WAS SO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT HE CHOSE TO DO WITH THAT TIME THAT HE HAD.

AND HE CHOSE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

IN THE TIME THAT HE HAD LEFT.

AND I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE TOUGH TIMES, DIFFICULT TIMES, YOU'RE LOOKING OVER AT THE SENATE, THE HOUSE DOESN'T ALWAYS REALLY LIKE THE SENATE, LET'S JUST ADMIT THAT.

>> THEY'RE HE REAL ENEMY.

>> Mary: RIGHT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE HOUSE IS, YOU KNOW, SECRETLY HAPPY THERE'S SUCH TURMOIL OVER THERE OR NOT.

BUT WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE FOR LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERS?

THIS IS A TOUGH TIME.

>> YEAH.

IT IS A TOUGH TIME.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF THIS SITUATION WAS HAPPENING WITH A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.

IF THIS WAS HAPPENING WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE PLACED ON LEAVE.

THIS IS HOW E DEAL WITH PUBLIC SERVANTS.

WE ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.

>> Mary: BUT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE DWIs, LEADER DAUDT, WHEN YOU WERE HIS RIGHT-HAND MAN, YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH AN ARREST IN MONTANA.

THIS HAPPENS.

>> ALTHOUGH TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE THERE, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE THERE.

HE IMMEDIATELY -- HE TALKED TO PRESS ABOUT IT.

WHEN THAT CAME UP, HE TALKED TO FOLKS AND TOLD THE STORY.

>> Mary: AND THERE WERE NO CHARGES IN THE END.

>> CORRECT.

THERE WERE NO CHARGES.

THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.

THERE WAS NO THERE THERE.

THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE 911 TRANSCRIPTS.

WE HAVE THE POLICE REPORTS THAT REALLY ARE NOT GOOD.

IT'S NOT OKAY.

>> Mary: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE ALL THESE YEARS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Mary: APPRECIATE T. >> Mary: WELL, THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM DFL AWMAKER WAS RAISED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BUT NOW THAT HE'S IN MINNESOTA, HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO BACK.

REPRESENTATIVE, THE QUESTION WE START WITH EVERYONE, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS, AND I HOPE IT'S THE ANSWER OF A LOT OF PEOPLE YOU'VE ASKED, IS I WANTED TO MAKE MINNESOTA THE BEST POSSIBLE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AND FLOURISH.

>> Mary: ROCHESTER HAS BEEN A VERY POLITICALLY COMPETITIVE AREA.

YOU'VE SENT DEMOCRATS, YOU'VE SENT REPUBLICANS.

HOW IS IT LOOKING RIGHT NOW FOR YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S A REALLY UNIQUE AREA FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

OBVIOUSLY MAYO CLINIC, WORLDWIDE LEADER IN MEDICAL RESEARCH, MEDICAL CARE, BRINGING PEOPLE FROM LITERALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SO POLITICALLY, IN THE STATE, BUT REALLY GLOBALLY, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF VIEWS REPRESENTED, SOME PEOPLE STAY LONG ENOUGH TO EVENTUALLY VOTE.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SUBURBS THE SAME WAY THE TWIN CITIES HAVE SUBURBS.

SO REALLY ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE ARE HERE WITHIN THE ONE BIG MUNICIPALITY.

WE'VE GROWN SO MUCH IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, THERE'S THIS CONSTANT CONVERSATION, OF WHAT WE WANT THE CITY TO BE.

I FIND HAT REALLY EXCITING.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS HAT WE HAVE SOMEONE LIKE ME, WHO I THINK IS ON THE MORE PROGRESSIVE SCALE, LIVING SIDE BY SIDE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PERHAPS MORE CONSERVATIVE, TRYING TO FIND THAT BALANCE, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A CITY, REALLY, WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GET TOGETHER, BECAUSE IT'S NOT URBAN, IT'S NOT REDUCER, YOU KNOW, ROCHESTER -- IT'S NOT RURAL, OU KNOW, ROCHESTER LITERALLY HAS FARMERS THAT LIVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

>> Mary: I HAVE THERE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN DESTINATION MEDICAL CENTER ORIGINALLY WENT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

NOW WE'RE SEEING THEM PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS, REALLY, IN THE NEXT PHASE.

YOU WERE THERE ON SITE.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ROCHESTER AND THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY AND I GUESS THE PLANET WHEN IT COMES TO MORE INVESTMENTS THERE?

>> HUGE, FANTASTIC.

SO, WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING IS A $35 BILLION REFERENCE FROM MAYO CLINIC TO EXPAND THE MAIN CAMPUS, WHICH THEY ALREADY HAVE HERE, FURTHER OUT AND INVOLVING A LOT OF YOU -- A LOT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, A LOT OF NEW RESEARCH.

$5 BILLION.

AND THIS LEVEL INTO CASH INFUSION INTO A COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTION WORKER FAMILIES OR ONTRACTOR FAMILIES, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS, WHO MOVE TO ROCHESTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS OF WORK AND THEN STAY.

MORE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE ENROLLED IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE TRANSPORTATION.

IT REALLY HAS RIPPLES OUTSIDE OF JUST, YOU KNOW, MAYO BEING LARGER.

ONE OF THE KIND OF CLICHÉS FROM 9 STATE CHAMBER, THE LEADERS IN GENERAL, SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO RECRUIT MEMBERS HERE AND THEN THEY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.

DO YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING MORE IN ROCHESTER WITH ALL THE NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME?

>> TO BE QUITE HONEST, I'M AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

I DIDN'T GROW UP IN MINNESOTA, I GREW UP IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, A WARM CLIMATE.

I MARRIED A MINNESOTAN.

WHEN WE WERE DECIDING WHERE TO START BUSINESSES, IT MADE SENSE IN MINNESOTA FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

CLOSER TO FAMILY.

A LOT OF THE POLICIES WE REALLY LIKED, SEEMED LIKE A STATE WHERE WE WANTED TO SETTLE.

SO WE HAVE, AND I NEVER WANT TO LEAVE.

>> Mary: FOR ME, WHEN I LOOK INTO YOUR BACKGROUND, IT DOESN'T SCREAM FUTURE POLITICIAN.

I SEE THEOLOGY.

HOW DO WE GO FROM THEOLOGY TO POLITICS?

>> ALL MY TRAINING IS OFFICIALLY IN THEOLOGY IN PRACTICE.

I WAS GOING TO BE A PASTOR.

MY DAD IS ACTUALLY A PASTOR, SO I FOLLOWED IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS, SO TO SPEAK.

IT DOES SOUND LIKE A LEAP WHEN YOU SAY IT, BUT AT THE HEART OF BOTH RELIGION AND POLITICS IS THE IDEA OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO DO GOOD.

>> Mary: WHAT DID YOU LEARN IN THEOLOGY THAT IS NOW HELPING YOU IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND LAWMAKING?

>> PEOPLE-CENTERED COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE-CENTERED ORGANIZING, BEING DRIVEN BY PEOPLE, RIGHT?

HOW DO YOU TALK O SOMEONE?

HOW DO YOU LISTEN TO SOMEONE?

HOW DO YOU TAKE A PROBLEM SOMEONE'S HAVING AND TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT IS NOT JUST GOOD FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL BUT FOR A LOT F DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT A PIVOT TO PARTISAN POLITICS, BECAUSE, AGAIN, YOUR BACKGROUND DOESN'T SCREAM PARTISAN EITHER, YOUR TRAINING.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: YOU HAD TO PICK A PARTY, YOU HAVE TO VOTE WITH A PARTY.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

>> I COME FROM A DIVIDED HOUSEHOLD.

I THINK LIKE MANY MINNESOTANS, MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA.

MY PARENTS ARE BOTH VERY STAUNCH REPUBLICANS, THAT'S HOW I GREW UP.

WHILE I WAS COMING INTO MY OWN AS A ADULT, I FOUND DISAGREED WITH A LOT OF THOSE POLICIES.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH SHOULD STILL PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION.

YES, I AM A PARTISAN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE A PARTY, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M PARTISAN IN THE SENSE WHERE DON'T LISTEN TO THE OTHER SIDE.

>> Mary: WHAT DID YOU GET DONE, WHAT WERE YOU ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE ONE SESSION?

>> FIRSTS THAT COMES TO MIND, UNIVERSAL MEALS, KIDS, WHEREVER THEY GO TO SCHOOL, WHATEVER INCOME THEY'RE AT, WHATEVER THEIR SITUATION, ARE NOW GOING TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE REAKFAST AND LUNCH AFTER SCHOOL.

I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL, REALLY GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> Mary: LET ME JUMP IN, OU PERSONALLY, WERE YOU ABLE TO GET AMENDMENTS, BILLS, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WERE ABLE TO GET DONE TOO?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY FOR ME PERSONALLY, THE PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINAL TASK FORCE.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BILLS I WROTE ON MY OWN, HAS SUCH WIDE-RANGING APPLICATIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR THINGS LIKE OPIOID ADDICTION.

>> Mary: THAT'S BIG FOR A FRESHMAN.

DID ANYONE TELL YOU THAT?

>> THEY DID TELL ME THAT.

PARTISANSHIP, WE HAD TWO SPONSORS ON THERE, CO-SPONSORS, ONE, REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE FROM ME ON THE IDEALOGICAL SPECTRUM, WE WERE ABLE TO TALK AND AGREE ON THIS POINT.

>> Mary: DID YOU THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE OR LESS PARTISAN THAN IT WAS?

>> YES, IT'S INCREDIBLY PARTLY SAN IN THE SENSE OF HAT'S HOW G?

PARTISAN.

WE HAVE CERTAIN COMMITTEES, MORE VOTES ON THOSE COMMITTEES.

BUT THE OTHER INTERESTING PART, JUST LIKE ANY WORKPLACE, THEY'RE COLLEAGUES OF OURS, WE'RE IN THE SAME COMMITTEES, WE'RE EMAIL EACH OTHER, TEXTING DURING SESSION, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS.

I THINK PEOPLE OFTEN DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN WE RUB SHOULDERS ACROSS THE AISLE.

>> Mary: BE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT, ERIC AND CATHY WILL BE JOINED BY GOVERNOR TIM WALZ DURING THIS CRUCIAL TIME IN GOVERNMENT AND AT THE CAPITOL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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: DELIVERING NEARLY $4 BILLION TO BENEFIT ALL MINNESOTANS SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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