>>> "YOUR LEGISLATORS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MINNESOTA CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION FROM DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES THAT HELP FARMERS BETTER PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES TO THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN CORN BASED PLASTICS.

MINNESOTA CORN FARMERS ARE PROUD TO INVEST IN THIRD PARTY RESEARCH LEADING TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION, STANDING FOR AGRICULTURE, WORKING FOR FARMERS ON THE WEB AT MFU.ORG.

>> Barry: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "YOUR LEGISLATORS".

MY NAME IS BARRY ANDERSON.

I'M YOUR HOST AND MODERATOR THIS EVENING.

WE HAVE A DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS TO HELP UNRAVEL THE MYSTERIES OF ST. PAUL.

I WANT TO REMIND YOU THIS IS YOUR PROGRAM.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THIS IS YOUR COMMUNITY TO CALL IN WITH QUESTIONS.

OR TO SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS VIA E-MAIL AT YOUR PIONEER TV.ORG, AND WE WILL LOOK AT THE ISSUES THAT MINNESOTA LEGISLATORS ARE FACES THESE DAYS ON YOUR BEHALF.

WE GIVE OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO YOU.

I'M GOING TO BEGIN THIS EVENING WITH REPRESENTATIVE AMI WAZLAWIK FROM DISTRICT 38B, WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP.

I WOULD BE DELIGHTED IF YOU TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT YOURSELF, DAY JOB AND ALL THE THINGS YOU THINK THEY NEED TO KNOW.

>> MY NAME IS AMI WAZLAWIK, I REPRESENT DISTRICT 38B, WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP, HART OF HUGO, AND SERVING MY SECOND TERM IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I FIRST GOT ELECTED IN 2018.

I SERVE ON FOUR COMMITTEES.

I SERVE ON THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMITTEE, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF WHICH I'M THE VICE CHAIR, EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE AND LEGACY FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS IN CHARGE OF MAKING DECISIONS HOW WE SPEND LEGACY FUNDS.

IN MY DAY JOB, I'M A SUBSTITUTE IN A SCHOOL BASED CHILD CARE PROGRAM.

ALL OF THE WORK I HAVE DONE AT THE LEGISLATURE IS FOCUSED ON CHILD CARE AND EARLY CARE IN LEARNING.

ALSO THAT I CONTINUE TO WORK IN OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Barry: THANKS FOR THAT HISTORY.

IT'S HELPFUL.

WE WILL BE BACK TO YOU IN A MOMENT.

GO TO SENATOR CARRIE RUUD FROM DISTRICT 10, BREEZY POINT.

I THINK YOU ARE THE MOST VETERAN LEGISLATOR, AND I THINK YOU HAVE SERVED FOUR TERMS OR FIVE TERMS.

TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> SENATOR CARRIE RUUD AND REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 WHICH IS AITKIN AND CROW WING COUNTY.

IT'S A DELIGHTFUL PLACE THAT EVERYBODY COMES TO RECREATE IN.

WE HAVE BEEN THERE ABOUT 30 YEARS IN BREEZY POINT.

IN THE SENATE I CHAIRED THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY COMMITTEE AND LEGACY FINANCE.

I VICE CHAIR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND LONG-TERM CARE AND AGING, AND MINING AND FORESTRY COMMITTEE AND SERVE ON THE GREAT LAKES COMMISSION AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I AM THE CHAIR WOMAN OF THE NATIONAL SPORTSMAN CAUCUS.

YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A DELIGHTFUL AREA, AND I ENJOY REPRESENTING THAT THIS IS MY -- I GUESS THIS IS MY FOURTH TERM.

SERVED 8 YEARS IN THE MINORITY AND 6 YEARS IN THE MAJORITY.

>> Barry: VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR THAT BACKGROUND.

ALSO JOINING US FROM DISTRICT 14 AND ST.

CLOUD, SENATOR ARIC PUTNAM.

SORRY ABOUT THAT SENATOR, PUTNAM.

TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND IN PARTICULAR BEFORE WE BEGIN THE PROGRAM THIS EVENING WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE CLASSES YOU TEACH.

I THINK THE VIEWERS WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

TELL THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.

>> YOU HAVE A LOT MORE OPTIMISM FOR MY CAPACITY TO BE INTERESTING THAN MY STUDENTS DO.

>> Barry: I THINK IT'S INTERESTING, AND GO AHEAD TELL THEM.

>> MY NAME IS ARIC PUTNAM AND DISTRIBUTE E REPRESENT DISTRICT 14, ST.

CLOUD, AND REALLY FASCINATING PLACE.

I SERVE ON LONG-TERM CARE AND AGING WHERE I GET TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH OUR GOOD FRIEND SENATOR RUUD.

I'M ALSO ON THE JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH COMMITTEE AND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE, AND A LOT OF THE WORK THAT I DO IN THE SENATE I FIND IS THE SPACE AND INTERSECTION BETWEEN DIFFERENT AREAS.

WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS CRISIS IN CARE INDUSTRIES, AND HIGHER ED, AND THOSE ARE THINGS I CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT'S FACING US THAT'S PRETTY PROFOUND.

IN MY DAY JOB, I'M A PROFESSOR AT ST. JOHNS, AND WHAT I TEACH AND STUDY IS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC ARGUMENT.

IF YOU CAN IMAGINE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN POLITICAL SCIENCE, HISTORY DEPARTMENT AND ENGLISH DEPARTMENT, I'M RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS, AND BARRY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WANTS TO TAKE A CLASS WITH ME.

>> Barry: I'M ABOUT READY TO SIGN UP.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATES, AND ALL THOSE THINGS WILL FIT RIGHT INTO YOUR WHEELHOUSE, I SUSPECT.

>> I CAN TALK FOR HOURS ABOUT THOSE THINGS, BUT I WILL NOT.

>> Barry: ALL RIGHT, FINALLY LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, REPRESENTATIVE SPENCER IGO FROM DISTRICT 5B IN GRAND RAPIDS.

WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT YOU ARE JOINING US.

I THINK THIS MIGHT BE YOUR FIRST TIME WITH US.

AM I RIGHT, OR DID YOU JOIN US ONE TIME LAST YEAR?

>> NO.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ON.

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> Barry: WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> MY NAME IS SPENCER IGO, SERVING ON THE FIRST TERM HERE ON THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENT TIPS FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 5B.

IT MAKES UP THE GRAND RAPIDS AREA, AND A GOOD PART OF ITASCA AND CASS COUNTIES.

IT'S A UNIQUE DISTRICT BECAUSE I HAVE THE WESTERN PART OF MINNESOTA'S IRON RANGE.

SO RIGHT NOW I SERVE ON THE HOUSE ENERGY COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE.

THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE THIS YEAR.

REPRESENT MY REGION, AND IT'S BEEN QUITE THE EXPERIENCE, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH ALL OF YOU GLELS START OUT WITH QUESTIONS DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION, AND I'M GOING TO START WITH OUR VETERAN LEGISLATOR, MOST VETERAN LEGISLATOR, RUUD, I'M GOING TO GO WITH YOU AND TALK ABOUT THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHING PROBLEM, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A BILL TO DISCUSS THAT ISSUE.

WE WILL MOVE FROM THAT TO DISCUSSION WITH HIGHER ED.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> THANK YOU.

WE ACTUALLY PASSED THIS IN THE SENATE LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE SAW THE CRISIS, AND I THINK IT HAD BROAD SUPPORT, BUT IT DIDN'T GET TO THE FINISH LINE, AND NOW MY SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE COME IN AND SAID OH, PLEASE, YOU NEED TO HELP US, WE ARE SO SHORT ON TEACHERS.

MY SUPERINTENDENT IS ACTUALLY TEACHING MATH RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE SHORT OF TEACHERS.

WE THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN COME FROM INDUSTRY AND ACTUALLY HELP TEACH MAYBE ON A SHORT-TERM BASIS TO HELP US OUT OF THIS CRISIS.

I KNOW MY OWN DAD, HE TAUGHT AT NORTH HIGH SCHOOL, AND HE WAS A JACK OF ALL TRADES.

THEY REALLY NEEDED INDUSTRIAL ARTS TEACHER.

THEY CALLED THEM SHOP TEACHERS IN THOSE DAYS.

HE WAS CERTIFIED IN MACHINE SHOP AND WOODWORKING AND HE BROUGHT HIM IN.

HE WAS TEACHING AND IT WAS A GREAT FOR THE SCHOOL AND MY DAD.

HE LOVED WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAVE INCREDIBLE KNOWLEDGE IN INDUSTRY THAT WE COULD BRING INTO OUR SCHOOLS TO HELP WITH THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE WAZLAWIK, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS ISSUE?

>> I THINK WE HAVE HEARD THIS ISSUE FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENTS.

THE LACK OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS HAS BEEN A CONCERN FOR A LOT OF DISTRICTS, AND I WOULD SAY I KNOW WE HEARD IT BILL IN OUR EDUCATION POLICIES FINANCE FOR EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE AND THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION WAS WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER ISSUE?

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT -- I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS -- I'M A SUBIN A CHILD CARE PROGRAM, NOT THE SAME AS TEACHING.

IT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE TO COME IN AND TEACH IN A CLASSROOM OF 25 DIFFERENT KIDS.

FOR ME, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS SORT OF HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT'S LIKE BEFORE JUST DROPPING IN THE CLASSROOM.

I THINK TO SENATOR RUUD'S POINT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW A LOT OF THINGS, PARTICULARLY IN THE CTE AREAS, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THEM WHERE WE CAN, AND THEY ARE PREPARED TO HANDLE WHAT GOES INTO TEACHING.

>> Barry: SENATOR PUTNAM, SUBSTITUTE TEACHING, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> A FASCINATING ISSUE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

I HAVE BEEN A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BACK WHEN I WAS IN GRAD SCHOOL.

BUT ALSO MY WIFE IS ACTUALLY A SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT 742, FIRST EVER FEMALE, AND I SEE IN THE MORNING ON ZOOM TRYING TO FIND BODIES TO PUT IN CLASSROOMS, MOVING THE PRINCIPALS FROM HERE TO THERE, COUNSELOR FROM HERE TO THERE, TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE WHO CAN TEACH.

WE ARE FACING A PROFOUND IMMEDIATE CRISIS.

BUT THE BIG CONCERN IS THAT WE DON'T MAKE LONG DECISIONS ABOUT A SHORT-TERM CRISIS, SIMILAR TO WHAT REPRESENTATIVE WAZLAWIK WAS SAYING.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PEOPLE TEACHING, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT DISCIPLINE PARTIALLY BECAUSE DIFFERENT SUBJECT MATTERS ARE SUITABLE.

BUT WE ALSO CAN'T FORGET THAT TEACHING ITSELF IS A SKILL AND AN ART THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK ON.

I AM A TEACHER.

I TEACH COLLEGE BUT I'M HORRIBLE AT TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAD TO TEACH SECOND GRADE FOR 6 MONTHS.

I WAS HORRIBLE AT THAT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO TEACH THAT AGE.

WE CAN'T FORGET THAT TEACHING ITSELF IS A SKILL AND AN ART, AND IT TAKES EFFORT AND STUDY TO PERFECT IT TO KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE IGO, YOUR THOUGHTS, SUBSTITUTE TEACHING.

>> YOU KNOW, TO REITERATE, BEING THE LAST ONE TO TALK ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID.

ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GREATER MINNESOTA VERSUS METRO MINNESOTA, IN A SMALL TOWN LIKE GRAND RAPIDS, A TOWN OF 10, 12,000 PEOPLE, AND THAT NUMBER SHOWS UP INTO THAT CLASSROOM, AND HE OR SHE KNOWS ABOUT EVERY STUDENT IN THAT ROOM.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE TO INCORPORATE THAT.

IT'S BEEN SUCH INTERESTING, ME BEING THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, A LOT OF MY FRIENDS I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH ARE TEACHERS SCATTERED ACROSS THE STATE IN THE MIDWEST AND TALK ABOUT HOW THEIR INDEPENDENT DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN HANDLING THIS, AND I KNOW I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE IN MY CAUCUS, AND I DON'T SERVE ON AN EDUCATION COMMITTEE, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT AN ISSUE WE ALL NEED TO WORK ON.

>> Barry: GO TO A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE PANEL THINKS ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET REQUESTS.

WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE THE REACTION WILL BE TO THE LEGISLATURE?

LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR PUTNAM.

YOU KNOW, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND I'M SURE YOU ARE WATCHING THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BUDGET.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.

>> IT WAS PRESENTED TO OUR COMMITTEE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I THINK, AND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK SOME, I THINK, VERY FOCUSED INSIGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND GET DEEP ARE CONTEXT INTO THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S MORE THAN JUST A NUMBER.

YOU SEE THE NUMBER AND THINK IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT IT OR GET CONTEXT, SOME OF THE NEEDS FACING, IT MAKES A LITTLE BIT MORE SENSE, AND SOME OF THE NEEDS ARE INFRASTRUCTURAL, AND A GREAT DEAL OF THE BUDGET IS GEARED TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY AND ONE OF THE LAST AREAS THAT IT FOCUSES ON HAS TO DO WITH MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS.

I THINK THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT TODAY, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF COVID BUT HOW HARD IT IS TO BE A PERSON GOING TO SCHOOL.

SO WITH THOSE AREAS, I THINK THERE ARE DEFINITE, DEFINITE NEEDS THAT THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET IS INTENDING TO ADDRESS.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE IGO YOUR THOUGHTS, UNIVERSITY SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.

>> YOU KNOW, I HAD A MEETING THE OTHER DAY WITH STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH, A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME FOR ME.

THE BIG THING WE TALKED ABOUT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS $400 MILLION.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND TELLING ME, WE NEED 6 TO 8% OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE GOING TO GREATER MINNESOTA.

THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW.

IF WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DOING A $400 MILLION BILL, THERE'S NO SUGAR COATING THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE RURAL CAMPUS AS WELL.

EXPERIENCE, TEACHING EXPERIENCE, NURSING SCHOOL, THOSE ARE GREAT THINGS TO KEEP THEM IN OUR COMMUNITY AND GREATER MINNESOTA.

SO AS WE LOOK AT THIS BILL AND A GOES THROUGH COMMITTEE, I THINK WE NEED TO UP SIZE THAT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE THE MONEY GOES UP TO GREATER MINNESOTA AND SERVES ALL THE COMMUNITIES AND MAYBE ISN'T FOCUSED ON THAT ASPECT.

>> BARRY.

>> Barry: GO AHEAD, PLEASE, SENATOR.

>> I THINK REPRESENTATIVE IGO DIDN'T SEE AS PART OF THE BUDGET, A BIG CHUNK OF THE PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP IS INSPIRING PEOPLE TO GO TO OUT OF STATE SCHOOLS.

THERE'S A HUGE CHUNK OF THE MONEY.

I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY, AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP.

WE HAVE GOT TO GET PEOPLE GOING TO THE SCHOOLS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE HAVE TO RETURN THE IDEA OF THE ALCOHOL COLLEGE THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO.

CHEAPER FOR THEM, AND THEY CAN LIVE AT HOME, AND MAYBE THEY WILL STAY THERE TO MAKE IT STRONGER.

THERE'S A HUGE CHUNK.

HALF OF THE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY IS DEDICATED TO ENCOURAGE NOT TO GO TO THE CITIES BUT GO OUT OUT OF STATE STATES.

>> Barry: WAZLAWIK, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I'M NOT ON THE COMMITTEE THAT SEES THE BUDGETS.

I WENT TO THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MASTER'S DEGREE.

I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY, AND LAND GRANT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

I THINK EVERY YEAR WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT BUDGETS, AND EVERY YEAR MINNESOTA STATE, OTHERS, IT COMES, AND WE DON'T USUALLY FUND THEIR ENTIRE ASKS, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT HAVING THE UNIVERSITY PRIORITIZE THOSE THINGS, WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT, I THINK, AND SENATOR PUT NUMB HIT ON A COUPLE OF THOSE ISSUES, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, WHICH THERE ARE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE CAMPUS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

I THINK IT'S ALSO PART OF THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF THE CAMPUS.

I THINK THEY ARE ALL IMPORTANT.

I THINK EVERY YEAR WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, AND IT'S A MATTER OF BIGGING OUT WHAT THE TOP PRIORITIES ARE, AND WHERE WE GO WITH THAT.

>> Barry: SENATOR RUUD.

>> I THINK I'M GLAD WE HAVE SENATOR PUTNAM ON THE COMMITTEE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A COMMITTEE I TOUCH IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

WHAT I SAY IS THE LEGACY CHAIR, SO MANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE DO, STUDIES THAT WE DO, SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS THAT WE DO, ALL RELY ON UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES.

SCIENTIFIC LAB IS THERE.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT INTERSECT WITH OUR LEGACY AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT WE USE THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOR.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE BUDGET REQUEST, BUT I CAN SPEAK TO HOW VITALLY IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Barry: I DON'T NORMALLY GET INVOLVED IN THE SUBSTANCE OF THE QUESTIONS BUT I CAN'T RESIST THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP IN HERE WITH THE EXCHANGE THAT REPRESENTATIVE IGO AND PUTNAM HAD.

THIS ISSUE OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES IN GREATER MINNESOTA ALSO AFFECTS LAWYER TRAINING QUESTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE WILLIAM MITCHELL HAS A PROGRAM AIMED AT TRYING TO TRAIN UP PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, LIVE SOMEPLACE OTHER THAN THE METRO AREA TO ATTEND LAW SCHOOL MOSTLY REMOTELY, SOME ON CAMPUS, AND HOPEFULLY THE THOUGHT IS THAT THEY WOULD BE INCLINED TO STAY IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES, AND I HAD AN EXPERIENCE WHERE THE SUPREME COURT WAS GIVING AN ARGUMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IN SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, AND ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS PROVIDING SECURITY, TURNS OUT HE WAS ATTENDING LAW SCHOOL AT WILLIAM MITCHELL AND COULD NOT ATTEND IT OTHERWISE, AND THEN WAS GOING TO PRACTICE LAW.

THESE ISSUES WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED HERE AFFECT NOT JUST SORT OF GENERALLY EDUCATIONAL FRAMEWORK BUT THEY EXTEND BEYOND THAT.

THAT WILL BE THE LAST SUBSTANTIVE THING I SAY TODAY.

WE WILL GO BACK TO ASKING YOU QUESTIONS AND LETTING YOU TALK INSTEAD OF ME.

LET'S GO TO REPRESENTATIVE WAZLAWIK.

I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT WITH YOU ABOUT THE PFAS PROBLEM.

YOU INTRODUCED BILLS ON IT.

MAYBE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND WITH THAT TOPIC AND TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

>> SURE.

THIS ISSUE FIRST CAME UP, SORT OF ON THE HEELS OF THE WORK THAT WE DID.

MY FIRST YEAR I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MAYBE WHEN I WAS ON THE PROGRAM BEFORE.

BUT WE HAD A COMPANY IN MY DISTRICT THAT WAS USING A TOXIC CHEMICAL, AND WE WORKED -- I WORKED WITH SENATOR CHAMBERLAIN IN THE SENATE TO GET A BILL PASSED.

I BELIEVE IT WAS THE 2020 SESSION TO BAN CTE.

THE WORK CAME AFTER THAT.

AS SOMEBODY WHO HAD BEEN WORKING ON TOXIC CHEMICALS, TOXIC CHEMICAL BANS, I TOOK UP THE FOOD PACKAGING BAN, AND FROM THERE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS OVER THE INTERIM AND SAW WHAT OTHER STATES WERE DOING ON THE ISSUE AND WANTED TO REALLY TAKE SORT OF PREVENTION APPROACH.

THE MPCA PUT OUT A BEST BLUEPRINT LAST YEAR, AND IT LAID OUT PRIORITIES FOR SORT OF MONITORING AND RESEARCH AND DATA GATHERING THAT WE NEED, AND ALSO LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN SORT OF ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM.

SO ONE OF THE WAYS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAT IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE APPROACH IN TERMS OF HOW WE DEAL WITH THESE CHEMICALS IS A WAY TO PREVENT CHEMICALS FROM GETTING INTO LANDFILLS, AND WASTE STREAM, AND GROUNDWATER WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE HEALTH ENVIRONMENT IMPACT.

THIS SESSION, I INTRODUCED THREE MAJOR BILLS TO BAN COMES MET ELKS, AND THERE'S A FEW OTHERS FLOATING AROUND AND APPAREL AND FURNISHINGS AND TEXTILES, AND THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO PREVENT THESE THINGS FROM GETTING INTO LANDFILLS, AND HOPEFULLY SAVING THE MPCA AND TAXPAYERS, AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES ON THE BACK END.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE IGO, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PFAS ISSUES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE BEEN HAVING LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE PFAS.

THE BIGGEST PART WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PFAS IS MAKING SURE WHEN WE ARE CONSTRUCTING LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE CREATING OFF RAMPS THAT MAKE SENSE FOR ALL BUSINESSES.

THIS RELATES TO ALMOST ALL POLICY.

WE CAN'T JUST PASS A LAW AND IT WILL PROBABLY CHANGE TO A HALT, DESTROY BUSINESSES AND DESTROY JOBS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE TO WORK WITH ALL PIEM AND FIND A COMMON SENSE SOLUTION.

THE KEY TO THE PFAS SOLUTION IS MAKING SURE WE HAVE GOOD OFF RAMPS.

FLIPPING THE SWITCH ISN'T GOING TO BE THE GOOD THING FOR SUPPLY CHAINS.

WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T ENTER LANDFILLS.

NOT EVEN THAT PART BUT MAKING SURE WE KEEP MINNESOTANS HEALTHY AND CREATING OFF RAMPS SO IT WORKS FOR ALL OF US DIRECTLY.

>> Barry: SENATOR PUTNAM, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> THIS IS MY TURN TO SAY I'M GRATEFUL WE HAVE SENATOR RUUD HERE.

BUT I CAN SPELL PFAS.

OTHER THAN THAT, I HAD ASKED A CONSTITUENT TODAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

THERE ARE VERY FEW ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT POP UP WITH QUITE THE SAME INTENSITY.

CLEARLY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CLIMATE, THIS CONCERN OR THAT.

PFAS CAUSES A REAL AMOUNT OF ANXIETY AND CONCERN.

I'M GRATEFUL WE ARE ADDRESSING AND TALKING ABOUT IT.

A CHEMICAL THAT'S BASICALLY PERMANENT IS KIND OF TERRIFYING IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.

BUT WE HAVE TO BE PRUDENT AND THOUGHTFUL IN GETTING IT OUT OF OUR ECOLOGY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

NOW I'M READY TO LEARN FROM SENATOR RUUD.

>> Barry: SENATOR RUUD WE ARE READY TO LEARN FROM YOU.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT SUBJECT.

WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON IT AND THE NPCA DID PUT FORTH THE BLUEPRINT AND IT'S AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE TO READ.

IT REALLY IS INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT'S IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT I THINK GOING FORWARD THERE'S OVER 4,000 CHEMICALS THAT ARE INVOLVED -- THAT ARE CLASS OF THIS CHEMICAL.

SO I THINK THEY HAVE A LIST, AND THERE'S OVER 6,000 THINGS THAT THE CHEMICAL IS IN.

SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO BAN THESE THINGS, AND SOME OF THE PFAS IS NOT TOXIC.

I DON'T THINK WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THIS CHEMICAL TO START BANNING THINGS.

OTHER STATES ARE LOOKING AT IT.

WE HAD FEDERAL STUDIES, BUT EVEN CALIFORNIA DOESN'T HAVE THE BAN ON THE COOKWARE.

I THINK THEY HAVE A WARNING LABEL THEY PUT ON THERE.

THERE'S ONLY ABOUT THREE STATES THAT ARE DOING BANNING OF COSMETICS, ASK IT'S ONLY THREE TYPES OF PFAS.

I DON'T THINK WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE CHEMICAL TO BE BANNING THINGS.

WE HAVE TO LET OUR MANUFACTURERS, AND THEY KNOW WE HAVE AN ISSUE, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO LET THEM WORK IT THROUGH.

QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD AN ISSUE CALLED MICROBEADS.

THEY WERE IN TOOTHPASTE AND FACIAL SCRUBS, AND WE FOUND THEM IN THE GREAT LAKES, PROBABLY 6 INCHES OF THE GREAT LAKES WAS MICROBEADS.

WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

THEY CAME FROM THE COSMETICS.

THE MANUFACTURERS, THERE'S A LATIN TERM FOR IT.

THE LANGUAGE SAYS INTENTIONALLY ADDED.

NONE OF THEM INTENTIONALLY ADDED THIS TO HARM THE ENVIRONMENT.

INSTEAD OF BANNING IT, WE WORKED WITH THE MANUFACTURERS AND GAVE THEM A TIME FRAME AND SAID WITHIN THIS TIME FRAME YOU NEED TO FIND OUT SOMETHING ELSE IN YOUR COSMETICS, IN YOUR PRODUCTS AND NOT USE THE MICROBEADS.

THAT ISSUE REALLY HAS GONE AWAY.

I'M SURE WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH SOME OF THE AFTER EFFECTS OF THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GO IN AND AS A LEGISLATOR BAN SOMETHING.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE GOOD SOLID DECISIONS, THAT WE MAKE SCIENTIFIC DECISIONS.

WE GIVE MANUFACTURERS AND BUSINESSES THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS, AND I BELIEVE THEY WILL.

THERE'S NO ONE THAT INTENTIONALLY WANTS TO POLLUTE OUR PLANET EARTH.

BANNING THEM AND LEGISLATURES MAKING DECISIONS ON PRODUCTS, WHICH ONE IS A WINNER AND WHICH ONE IS A LOSER, I'M JUST NOT THERE YET.

IF YOU READ THE REPORT IN THE BLUEPRINT, I THINK IT GIVES US A CLEAR PATH, AND WE WILL GET THERE.

>> THE REPORT IN THE BLUEPRINT TELL US WE SHOULD BE WORKING UPSTREAM, AND THESE BILLS ARE A WAY TO WORK UPSTREAM, AND I WANT TO POINT OUT WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE FEDS.

WE SHOULD BE A LEADER ON THIS ISSUE.

IF FOLKS HAVE BEEN PAYING TO NEWS IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, 850 MILLION, 12.5 MILLION IN BEMIDJI TO PAY FOR WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS IS COSTING TAXPAYERS MONEY.

THIS IS TIME AND EFFORT THAT THE MPCA AND AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS AND ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO SPEND ON THESE CHEMICALS AND TRYING TO GET THE CHEMICALS OUT, AND FILTRATION SYSTEMS.

IT'S HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE GROUNDWATER.

AS WE TEST MORE, AS THE NPCA MONITORS THE PROGRAM, IT'S ALREADY BEEN FOUND IN BREAST MILK, RAIN WATER AND HUMAN BLOOD AND URINE.

I'M WILLING TO CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS.

AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND WE HAVE DONE IT IN PAST LEGISLATION WITH TOXIC CHEMICALS.

HAPPY TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON THAT, BUT I THINK WE CAN BE A LEADER IN THIS AND I HOPE WE CAN TAKE ACTION ON THAT IN THIS SESSION BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET A HANDLE ON THE CHEMICALS.

>> I REALLY LIKE TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE ON THIS, AND I DON'T THINK THE SCIENCE IS THERE TO BAN THINGS.

I KNOW WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION THERE.

BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO -- IF THEY ARE IN EVERYTHING, ARE YOU GOING TO BAN EVERYTHING?

AT WHAT POINT IS THERE A STOPPING POINT ON THAT.

I THINK THE RESEARCH JUST ISN'T THERE YET.

BEING A LEADER ON SOMETHING ALWAYS ISN'T NECESSARILY THE WAY TO GO.

I WOULD RATHER SEE SOMEONE ELSE, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE MISTAKE AND NOT MAKE THAT MISTAKES.

I'M NOT THERE YET, BUT I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO LOOK AT ALL THE RESEARCH ON IT.

I'M JUST NOT READY TO BAN WITH IT BEING IN SO MANY PRODUCTS.

I'M NOT THERE YET.

>> I DO WANT TO POINT OUT WE ARE NOT BANNING IT IN ALL PRODUCTS.

WE ARE BANNING IT IN THREE SPECIFIC TYPES OF PRODUCTS, AND THAT'S INTENTIONAL.

STATE OF MAINE ACTUALLY BANNED ALL NONESSENTIAL USE OF PFAS.

WE ARE NOT DOING THAT INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE WE WANT TO ATTACK THIS PROBLEM IN THESE THREE SPECIFIC PRODUCTS BECAUSE WE THINK IT TAKES TIME TO IMPLEMENT THIS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO DO IT IN SORT OF AN ORDINARILY MANNER AND NOT HAVE ALL THE PFAS PRODUCTS COME ON THE MARKET.

>> I HAD IN THE COMMITTEE THAT'S GOING TO TAKE IT OUT OF SKI WAX.

HOW MUCH IMPACT IS IT GOING TO HAVE IN THE ENVIRONMENT?

I DON'T SEE THE IMPACT IN BANNING A PRODUCT THAT HAS SUCH LITTLE EFFECT.

I THINK IT'S MORE OF A, I WOULD SAY, A POLITICAL STATEMENT THAN AN ACTUAL SOMETHING THAT DOES SOMETHING AND MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> Barry: WE WILL HAVE PLENTY MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS AND I'M SURE WE WILL HEAR MORE FROM SENATOR RUUD AND WAZLAWIK, AND I'M SURE THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT APPROACHES ON THIS ISSUE.

WE HAVE A VIEWER FROM HIBBING THAT WANTS TO KNOW WHAT OUR PANEL THINKS ABOUT THE DIFFERING APPROACHES RELATIVE TO FRONTLINE WORKER PAY ARISING OUT OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

THIS VIEWER NOTES AND ASKS SPECIFICALLY WHETHER OR NOT OUR PANEL MEMBERS SUPPORT THE HOUSE'S APPROACH TO FRONTLINE WORKER BONUS PAY.

I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE IGO.

WE WILL HEAR FROM THE TWO HOUSE MEMBERS AND SEE WHAT THE SENATE THINKS ABOUT THIS.

REPRESENTATIVE IGO, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> AWESOME.

THE BILL ACTUALLY WAS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY.

WE HAD GOOD DEBATES ON IT AND GOOD CONVERSATION.

THIS BILL STARTED LAST SUMMER, WORKING TO CREATE THE PLAN THAT WAS GOING TO WORK, AND PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE FRONT LINES, KEEPING US ALL SAFE AND FINDING OUT WHAT THE NUMBER IS GOING TO BE.

PAST FORWARD TO TODAY IN SESSION.

THE BILL WAS $1 BILLION.

I SUPPORT MAKING SURE WE TAKE CARE OF OUR HEROES AND GIVE THEM THE CHECK WHEN THEY NEED IT.

I WILL TELL YOU WHAT.

I VOTED NO ON THAT AND I WILL TELL YOU WHY.

67 WEEKS OUTLINED IN THE PANDEMIC AND ONLY NEEDED TO BE WORKING TWO WEEKS, AND WHEN IT CAME DOWN YOU WERE ONE OF THE FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS WORKING DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS NO AUDIT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS GOOD.

BASICALLY THE BILL IN THE HOUSE, IN MY OPINION, AND A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES WHEN WE WENT AND READ INTO THIS BILL BEFORE WE WENT TO VOTE ON IT, THERE'S A LOT OF CHANCE FOR FRAUD.

THE REASON THAT CONCERNS ME IS THERE'S HEROES OUT THERE, HEROES ALL OVER THE STATE OF MINNESOTA THAT DESERVE THAT CHECK.

I DON'T WANT SEE PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO FRAUD THAT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT DESERVE IT GET IT, HEROES GET IT, AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE IT ENOUGH.

I WAS A NO TODAY ON THE BILL BECAUSE OF THAT PROCESS, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO AUDIT, NO CHANCE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS DONE, AND I MEAN, FOLKS, THIS IS A BILLION DOLLARS.

THIS WASN'T 10 MILLION OR 20 MILLION APPROPRIATION, AND WE ARE TALKING A LOT OF MONEY HERE, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE PROPERLY SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THOSE HEROES THAT TAKE CARE OF US.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE WAZLAWIK, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I VOTED FOR THE BILL BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE INCLUDING ALL THE FRONTLINE WORKERS THAT WERE PART OF THE EFFORTS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAD CHILD CARE WORKERS TAKING CARE OF, KIDS OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS, NURSES AND DOCTORS AND OTHER FOLKS WERE BEING DIRECTLY WITH COVID PATIENTS, HAD KIDS IN THE CHILD CARE PROGRAMS, AND THOSE FOLKS WERE TAKEN CARE OF, KIDDOS, GROCERY STORE WORKERS, WHO WERE STILL WORKING DURING THE PANDEMIC, FOLKS IN THE MEAT PROCESSING AND PACKING PLANTS, AND A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC WHO DESERVE TO HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL BONUS PAY.

HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE BILL.

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE DID PUT AN AMENDMENT ON THAT WOULD HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR THE OIL AID TO HAVE SOME AUDIT CAPACITY.

THERE IS SOMETHING IN THERE IN THAT REGARD.

I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE A BUNCH OF FRONTLINE WORKERS CHEATING THE SYSTEM.

I THINK IT'S OFFENSIVE TO SAY THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I SUPPORTED THE BILL, AND IT'S AT LEAST ON ITS WAY TO HAVING ANOTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

>> Barry: SENATOR RUUD.

>> IF I COULD RESPOND QUICKLY.

>> Barry: GO AHEAD.

>> THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU REPRESENTED THERE, WAZLAWIK, THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT PUT ON TO MAKE IT OPTIONAL.

IT'S NO LONGER REQUIRED.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT HEROES WOULD GO DO IT.

BUT IN THE BILL, IT SAYS WHEN YOU APPLY TO RECEIVE THE 1,500-DOLLAR CHECK, IF IT CANNOT BE PROVEN, THE DEPARTMENT IS TO GIVE THE CHECK UNDER THE GUISE THAT YOU ARE INDEED DESERVING UP IT.

ANYONE COULD MAKE UP A THING, AND THAT'S TAKING AWAY FROM THE ACTUAL HEROES.

THOSE ARE THE TWO REASONS I WAS A NO ON THAT.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.

>> IF I COULD RESPOND, PLEASE.

>> Barry: RESPOND, GO AHEAD.

>> I THINK THE AMENDMENT, THE REASON IT WAS CHANGED TO MAY WAS SO WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY BUT NOT FORCE SOMEONE TO DO THAT WHEN WE WEREN'T PROVIDING THEM THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

I WAS HAPPY TO VOTE FOR THAT, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE THEM LOOK INTO.

BUT I THINK PERMISSIVE RATHER THAN REQUIRING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE OFFICE.

>> Barry: SENATOR RUUD, YOUR THOUGHTS.

FRONTLINE WORKER PAY.

>> I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I DON'T THINK WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION YET IN THE SENATE.

IT HASN'T COME TO THE FLOOR.

I DON'T THINK WE FULLY VETTED WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IN THE SENATE.

I KNOW THAT WE HAD OUR WORKING GROUP THAT WAS TASKED WITH SPENDING, I BELIEVE, $250 MILLION, AND I THINK THEY CAME UP WITH A PROGRAM TO DO THAT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE TASKED TO DO.

I DON'T THINK THEY ADDED A WHOLE LOT OF ADDED SPENDING ON TO THAT BILL, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WERE TASKED TO DO.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT COMING TO THE SENATE FLOOR, AND I'M NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL BE THERE.

I'M NOT ON THE WORKING GROUP.

>> Barry: SENATOR PUTNAM.

>> I'M ACTUALLY A COAUTHOR OF THE BILL IN THE SENATE.

LIKE SENATOR RUUD I CAN'T WAIT TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT IT ON THE FLOOR.

ONCE WE GET IT PASSED AND GET RELIEF AND RESPECT FOR PEOPLE THAT WORK SO HARD OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, BUT SO WE CAN IRON IT OUT AND MAKE IT AS PERFECT AS WE CAN.

ONE OF THE BIG STICKING POINTS, WE AGREED TO SPEND $250 MILLION.

WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL 750 MILLION.

BUT 250 MILLION WAS COMMITTED TO.

IN THE INITIAL PLAN, ONE OF THE STICKING POINTS WAS WHAT COUNTED AS A FRONTLINE WORKER, AND I THINK THERE WAS A GOOD ARGUMENT THAT SAID YOU HAD TO BE IN DIRECT EXPOSURE TO COVID PATIENTS, AND I THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT THAT SINCE THEN AND BELIEVE A MORE EXPANSIVE DEFINITION MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE.

YOU THINK ABOUT THAT NURSE, THAT HAD TO GO TO WORK, THAT HAD TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE HE OR SHE HAD TO TAKE A BUS TO GET THERE.

THE PERSON THAT DROVE THAT BUS WAS JUST AS EXPOSED TO COVID AS WAS THE NURSE, AND THAT NURSE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THERE TO DO THAT JOB IF THAT BUS DRIVER HADN'T SHOWED UP.

WE CAN'T FOR A SECOND THINK IT'S MORE HYGIENIC THAN WHERE THAT NURSE WAS WORKING.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH.

THINK OF THE MEAT PACKING PLANT WORKERS, WITHOUT THEM, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BACON, BUT WE ALSO WOULDN'T HAVE A SURPLUS.

THE SURPLUS IS A DIRECT FUNCTION OF THE PEOPLE GOING OUT TO WORK.

IT'S A DIRECT MATH SITUATION, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE SURPLUS IS BECAUSE PEOPLE WENT OUT TO WORK OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RETURNING THE SURPLUS TO TAXPAYERS, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

THE SURPLUS IS A GREAT OF THE MEAT PACKING PLANT, AND IT'S APPROPRIATELY AND MORALLY APPROPRIATE AS WELL AS PRACTICALLY IN USING THESE RESOURCES.

>> Barry: WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER WHO IS WONDERING WHERE WE ARE AT WITH RESPECT TO POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL RESOURCES GOING INTO TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

THIS IS A BONDING YEAR, SO THERE'S SOME ASPECTS OF THE BONDING BILL THAT OF COURSE WILL DEAL WITH TRANSPORTATION.

OF COURSE THERE'S ALSO A SURPLUS OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND MAY BE AN ISSUE THERE AS WELL.

REPRESENTATIVE WAZLAWIK, WHAT'S YOUR VIEW ON THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THE VIEWER IS CONCERNED ABOUT.

WHAT ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE IN THIS SECTION DEALING WITH TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS?

>> I THINK ONE BIG THING IS GOING TO BE WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY COMING FROM THE STATE FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT PASSED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

IT WILL BE A KEY PIECE RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PIECE OF IT.

I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN CONVERSATION AROUND THE LONG-TERM PLANS THAT FOR RAPID BUS TRANSIT, AND LINES THAT ARE EXPANDING TO THE METRO AREA, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUED CONVERSATION, I THINK, FOR A LOT OF COMMUNITIES WHO ARE -- WHO HAVE THOSE LINES NOW AND WILL IN THE FUTURE.

BEYOND THAT, I'M NOT ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING, BUT I KNOW THERE IS CONVERSATION AROUND WANTING TO HAVE ACCESS FOR EVERYONE, WHETHER IT'S PEDESTRIANS, BIKERS, AND THOSE WHO ARE DRIVING.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE A PRETTY BIG INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

AS WE GET THE MONEY FROM THE FEDS, THAT PASSING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND WHATEVER THE STATE DECIDES TO DO.

>> Barry: SENATOR RUUD, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE REALLY PROBUST SPENDING, AND IF YOU DRIVE AROUND ST. PAUL AND A POTHOLE SWALLOWS UP YOUR CAR, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB ON OUR ROADS.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE -- LIKE REPRESENTATIVE WAZLAWIK SAID, IT WILL BE FEDERAL, BONDING, AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE CASH PAYMENTS, AND I THINK TODAY IN THE SENATE WE SAW SOME BILLS TO DEDICATE FROM THE SALES OF AUTO PARTS.

WE DID THAT IN 2017 WITH TIRES, AND MORE DEDICATED THUNDER FOR THE ROADS AND BRIDGES.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH SOMETHING WE UNIFY ON.

IN GREATER MINNESOTA, FOLKS LOVE TO COME TO GREATER MINNESOTA AND WE NEED TO HAVE GOOD ROADS TO BRING THEM THERE.

WE ALSO HAVE TROUBLE WITH OUR BRIDGES IN GREATER MINNESOTA BECAUSE OUR TOWNSHIPS REALLY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE MONEY TO BUILD THOSE BRIDGES.

SO THEY REALLY NEED SOME HELP IN THE RURAL AREAS WITH THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL AGREE ON THAT WE WANT A ROBUST TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE.

>> Barry: SENATOR PUTNAM YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I AGREE WITH THE CONVERSATION TO THIS POINT.

I THINK IT'S THE MOST INTERESTING DIMENSION OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS IS GOING TO BE WHO PAYS FOR WHAT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE DIFFERENT BUCKETS OF RESOURCES AND WE HAVE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAVE UNDERFUNDED AND UNDERINVESTED IN TRANSPORTATION, IN OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

WE REALLY HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.

BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN CATCH UP, AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FEDERAL FUNDS, AND SURPLUS AND BONDING.

WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES NOT JUST TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME, AND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF IT, BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITIES TO ANTICIPATE WHAT COMES NEXT.

WE HAVE GOT ALL KINDS OF CHANGES IN LIFE PATTERN.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE US A LITTLE WHILE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO COMMUTE, HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET AROUND IN A POST COVID WORLD.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AS WE THINK ABOUT WHERE AND HOW WE INVEST IN TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> Barry: SENATOR RUUD, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> YOU ALREADY GOT ME.

>> Barry: I'M SORRY.

REPRESENTATIVE IGO.

I'M SORRY.

>> KIND OF THE TONE WE ALL SHARE, THE NO.

1 THING THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION IS FOCUSING ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT BE COUNTIES, TOWNSHIPS AND SMALL CITIES.

THEY ARE THE ONES IN PLAY TO MAKE SURE AND TAKE CARE.

SOME OF THESE TOWNSHIPS AND COUNTIES TAKE CARE OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES, AND THEY DO IT WITH JUST THEIR LOCAL TAX BREAKS.

IF THERE ARE WAYS THEY CAN HELP THERE IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT.

WHETHER IT BE BONDING OR SURPLUS.

I'M HOLDING MY BREATH ON THE FEDERAL FUNDS.

RIGHT NOW THEY ARE APPROVED BY LAW, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN APPROPRIATED AND BECAUSE CONGRESS IS ACTING UNDER A CONTINUOUS RESOLUTION.

UNTIL I SEE THAT PASSED AND THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION IS COMPLETED AND WE CAN MOVE ON AND I CAN SEE THAT FUNDED PROPERLY AND APPROPRIATED, THEN WE CAN START THINKING ABOUT IT.

RIGHT NOW I FEEL FOOLISH IN THINKING ABOUT THE FUNDS UNTIL WE SEE IT COMPLETED.

>> Barry: WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER WHO NOTICED THE COVERAGE OF THE RECENT FOOD FRAUD CASES COMING TO LIGHT IN THE TWIN CITIES.

THE VIEWER IS WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THERE MIGHT BE CHANGES IN LEGISLATION THAT WOULD RESULT AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THAT ACTIVITY.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT WE DON'T KNOW, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECALL THAT THESE ARE ALLEGATIONS.

THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY PROVEN.

THERE ARE DUE PROCESS KINDS OF ISSUES THAT LURK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS THAT WE HAVE TO BE CONSCIENCE OF.

LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR RUUD.

MAYBE YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS QUESTION, WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION OPTIC PROBLEM.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> I WILL BE REALLY QUICK BECAUSE I HAVE NOT FOLLOWED THIS AT ALL.

IT'S JUST NOT IN MY WHEELHOUSE.

I HAVE MANY OTHER THINGS, AND I HAVE THREE OTHER DESERTS HERE BUT I HAVE NOT FOLLOWED THAT ISSUE.

>> Barry: VERY GOOD.

REPRESENTATIVE WAZLAWIK, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK, LIKE SENATOR RUUD, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION WE STILL DON'T KNOW, AND WITH THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION, WE WILL FIND OUT MORE.

AT LEAST WHAT I HAVE HEARD, AND I WON'T SAY IT'S PROVEN, BUT WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM MDE IS THEY HAD TRIED TO STOP PAYMENTS BECAUSE THEY HAD SUSPICIONS ABOUT ACTIVITIES THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON, AND THEY WERE OVERRULED BY THE COURT.

CERTAINLY WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND IF THERE WAS SOMETHING MISSED ON THEIR PART, BUT I DON'T WANT THE EXACT ANSWER IS, BUT AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION AND MORE THINGS BECOME PUBLIC THAT WE WILL HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WENT WRONG AND HOPEFULLY MAKE FIXES, WHETHER IT'S TRUE FOR THE LEGISLATURE OR AGENCIES.

>> Barry: SENATOR PUTNAM.

>> WELL, AT THE RISK OF REDUNDANCY, THIS IS HARDLY MY AREA OF EXPERTISE.

BUT I WILL SAY PEOPLE DO BAD STUFF SOMETIMES, WE DO.

WE HAVE TO BE VIGILANT AND TRY AND DECREASE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BAD STUFF TO BE DONE BY PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN DO THAT, I THINK OR TWO THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, ONE IS NOT TO FOCUS ON ANY SPECIFIC INDUSTRY OR SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL OR SITUATION AND REALIZE PEOPLE DO BAD STUFF IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT PLACES WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT THE SECOND THING, I THINK, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE FUND THE AGENCIES THAT INVESTIGATE THESE ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY OVERWORKED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THE AGENCIES ARE UNDERFUNDED IN THEIR CAPACITY TO HAVE THE PERSONAL POWER TO INVESTIGATE SOME THINGS SOMETIMES.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING TO KEEP ON THE RADAR, HOW DO WE SUPPORT THE AGENCIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT.

IT'S EASY FOR US AS LEGISLATORS THAT COME UP WITH LAWS THAT SAY YOU HAVE TO DO THIS AND YOU HAVE TO DO THAT.

BUT IT'S HARD TO PUT THE RESOURCES INTO THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO ENFORCE THOSE RULES.

>> Barry: FINALLY, LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, REPRESENTATIVE IGO, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

>> I'M NOT TOO VERSED ON THIS ISSUE.

LIKE I SAID, I THINK IT GIVES ME A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT I NEED TO LOOK INTO.

ALL OF US FOCUS ON OUR OWN EXPERTISE AREAS THAT ARE CREATED BY CONSTITUENTS.

THOSE ARE THE ISSUES I CARE ABOUT.

I HAVE A PLAY BOOK I BRING TO ST. PAUL AND SEE IDEAS FOR THE COMMUNITIES.

I HADN'T HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

FOR ME TO SPEAK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT WOULD BE WRONG.

I KNOW WILL BE LOOKING INTO IT, BECAUSE THE MORE VERSED I AM ON THINGS, NOT ONLY MY CONSTITUENTS BUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Barry: WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER ABOUT EDUCATION GENERALLY, AND I WILL GO TO YOU SENATOR PUTNAM FIRST BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH HERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT WHAT I WOULD CALL K-12.

IT'S PRE-K TO 12 AND WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS APPROPRIATED THIS YEAR.

THIS IS TYPICALLY NOT A FUNDING YEAR, BUT THERE IS A SURPLUS QUESTION, AND VIEWERS WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT SOME OF THAT MONEY MIGHT FILTER DOWN TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS MORE GENERALLY.

LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR PUTNAM, GO AROUND THE VIRTUAL TABLE.

FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> THANK YOU, BARRY, AND THANK YOU TO WHO SUBMITTED THIS QUESTION.

THERE ARE FEW THINGS THAT ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT'S THE PATH TO THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND PAST TO IMPROVING LIVES AND PATH TO BECOMING A GOOD CITIZEN.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS NOT ONLY GIVE THEM JOBS BUT MAKE THEM BO GOOD CITIZENS.

FEW THINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EDUCATION.

IT'S OVER E12 INSTEAD OF K-12.

IF WE INVEST IN THAT AS A STATE, THE RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT IS PHENOMENAL.

IF WE TAKE CARE OF KIDS WHEN THEY ARE YOUNGER, IT'S THE APPROPRIATE AND RIGHT TIME TO PUT THEM ON THE RIGHT PATH.

IN TERMS OF ACTUAL RESOURCES COMING TO THE SCHOOLS, I EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE SOME.

ALSO COUPLED WITH THE GREATER INVESTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AND COUNCIL.

THIS IS A FACT THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS, WE HEARD A MILLION TIMES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, MINNESOTA HAS THE FOURTH RATIO TO STUDENTS IN THE COUNTRY.

WHEN YOU ADD IN SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS WE ARE ACTUALLY THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT'S FRIDAY COVID.

IT'S HARD TO BE A YOUNG PERSON THESE DAYS, AND WITH SO MANY OF THE ISSUES PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH, THERE'S THIS CURRENT OF NILISM WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT TO DO THE THINGS THEY CAN EVENTUALLY DO.

WE NEED MORE GROWN UPS IN THE BUILDINGS, TO SERVE AS MENTORS, HELP YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME ACTIVE, CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, HEALTHY MINDED CITIZENS.

THAT'S WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GO.

I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT KINDS OF RESOURCES ARE TO BE ARTICULATED BUT I DO HOPE THERE'S SOME.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE IGO, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> THIS IS A SUBJECT, AND I DON'T SERVE ON AN EDUCATION COMMITTEE BUT IT'S A SUBJECT CLOSE TO HOME FOR ME.

MY YOUNGEST BROTHER GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND STARTED HIS COLLEGE EXPERIENCE IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID.

HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS FRIENDS, THAT WERE LIKE BROTHERS TO ME, I SAW FIRSTHAND HOW THAT AFFECTED THEM.

GOING BACK TO MY HIGH SCHOOL AND TALKING TO MY OLD TEACHERS, KIND OF GIVING ME IDEAS, IF WE ARE GOING TO APPROPRIATE MONEY TO EDUCATION, THE IDEA I COME UP WITH, AND SENATOR PUTNAM YOU MENTIONED LAST QUESTION, TAKING LEADERSHIP AND POLITICAL COURAGE, THE BIGGEST THING HERE IS CREATING PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO CREATE HANDS UP FOR EDUCATIONAL POLICY, ONE-TIME HAND OUT.

IT'S EASY TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO WRITE A CHECK FOR $150 MILLION, AND POOF, THE MONEY IS GONE.

TAXPAYER DOLLARS DISAPPEARED FOREVER.

MAYBE IT MADE A DIFFERENCE.

BUT I THINK WE REALLY WANT TO START MAKING A CHANGE AND WHETHER IT BE MORE TEACHERS, HELPING CREATE MORE DIVERSIFIED PROGRAMS IN THE TRADES OR CAREER PATHS.

YOU NEED TO CREATE A BILL AND POLICY THAT'S GOING TO GET HANDS UP FOR ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO WORK TOGETHER, TO SHARE IDEAS TO GET THE MONEY TO BE USED TO MAKE STUDENT LIVES BETTER AND MAKE THE GENERATION BETTER, AND IT'S THE LINE THAT I USE ON MY CONSTITUENTS, AND I REALLY BELIEVE IN.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVEWAZLAWI.

>> I THINK SENATOR PUTNAM STOLE A LITTLE OF MY THUNDER WITH THE EARLY EDUCATION STUFF.

THAT'S AN AREA THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

>> Barry: THAT'S YOUR WHEELHOUSE.

>> I RETURN YOUR THUNDER TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

I JUST WATCHED THE MOVIE THOR, SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I HAVE MY THUNDER BACK.

I THINK EARLY EDUCATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND SENATOR PUTNAM MENTIONED RETURN ON INVESTMENT IT'S HUGE AND VITAL THAT WE ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND SORT OF WHAT WE ARE SEEING THERE ON THE EARLY EDUCATION PART.

EVERYONE IS SAYING CROSS SUBSIDY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IS A HUGE ONE I'M HEARING IN MY COMMUNITIES.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS COVER FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION MANDATED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS A HUGE EXPENSE FOR A LOT OF DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

IT'S ONE THING THAT I THINK WE HAD AGREEMENTS ON IN THE PAST.

WE LOVE TO SEE THEM WORK AND TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.

>> Barry: SENATOR RUUD.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WAZLAWIK, I LOVE THE FACT -- I CAN TELL YOU WORK WITH CHILDREN BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS SAY MY KIDDOS.

I JUST LOVE THAT.

I THINK THAT'S VERY NICE.

ANYWAY, LAST YEAR WE MADE THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN MINNESOTA SCHOOLS IN THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA, AND WITH VERY LITTLE MANDATES.

I'M NOT THINKING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT A BIG SPENDING PACKAGE, PROBABLY LOOK AT THINGS IN COVID THAT THE SCHOOL DOES NOT NEED HELP WITH.

WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENTS, THEY SAY MONEY ISN'T THE SOLUTION TO EVERYTHING.

WHAT WE WOULD REALLY LIKE IS MORE LOCAL CONTROL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

MY SUPERINTENDENTS KNOW THEIR SCHOOLS.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR COMMUNITY NEEDS.

SO THEY ARE ASKING TO TAKE OFF MANDATES, AND THEY HAVE A LIST OF MANDATES THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE GO AWAY THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THEM TO RUN THEIR SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOLS, THEY ARE GREATER MINNESOTA SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE USUALLY PRETTY SMALL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND LIKE REPRESENTATIVE IGO SAYS, WE KNOW OUR KIDS.

THE COMMUNITY KNOWS OUR KIDS, AND I THINK OUR SUPERINTENDENTS KNOW BEST WHAT THE CHILDREN IN THAT DISTRICT NEED.

I'M LOOKING MORE FOR TAKING OFF MANDATES FOR OUR SCHOOLS THAN JUST THROWING FUNDING AT THEM.

>> Barry: I WOULD LIKE TO ANTICIPATE A QUESTION THAT WE OFTEN GET AND I WANT TO GO TO YOU, SENATOR RUUD.

ONLY COUPLE MINUTES WE HAVE LEFT, AND THAT IS A QUESTION DEALING WITH THE LEGACY FUNDING AND WHAT MIGHT BE COMING OUT OF THE LEGACY PROGRAM.

CAN YOU TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THAT?

MAYBE WE CAN GET EVERYBODY IN ON THIS, BUT TRY TO GET AS MANY AS WE CAN.

>> LAST YEAR OUR LEGACY BILL WAS $700 MILLION AND WE PASSED IT UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF THE SENATE, PROBABLY ONE OF MY BEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS THAT.

IT WAS AN AMAZING BILL.

EVERYONE IN THE SENATE WORKED TOGETHER.

I COULDN'T HAVE HAD A BETTER TEAM TO WORK IN THE SENATE WITH THAT BILL.

IT WAS GREAT.

YOU KNOW THAT'S A BIENNIAL FUNDING.

WE LOOK FOR 2023, PEOPLE ALREADY WORKING ON THE PROJECTS TO SUBMIT NEXT YEAR.

WE FUND LA START SAM'S, AND WE LOOKED FORWARD TO SEEING THAT JUST GO THROUGH JUST AS EASILY AS THE OTHER LEGACY DID LAST YEAR.

SO NEXT YEAR IF THE SALES TAX KEEPS THE WAY IT'S GOING, WE WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL BILL NEXT YEAR TOO.

>> Barry: I REGRET -- I PROMISED WE WOULD GET EVERYBODY IN ON THAT QUESTION, AND WE ARE NOT, BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO THANK OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS THIS EVENING TO THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE ASKED.

I WANT TO THANK YOU, THE VIEWERS, FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

I WANT TO REMIND YOU THIS IS YOUR PROGRAM AND THAT YOU WILL BE WITH US AGAIN IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

I WANT TO ALSO REMIND YOU THAT NEXT WEEK, THERE WILL BE NO PROGRAM BECAUSE PIONEER PUBLIC TELEVISION IS HAVING A PLEDGE DRIVE.

NO PROGRAM NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

>>> "YOUR LEGISLATORS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MINNESOTA CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION, FROM DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES TO HELP FARMERS BETTER PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES TO THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN CORN BASED PLASTICS.

MINNESOTA CORN FARMERS ARE PROUD TO INVEST IN THIRD PARTY RESEARCH LEADING TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION, STANDING FOR AGRICULTURE, WORKING FOR FARMERS ON THE WEB AT MFU.ORG.

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY, LLCTESM