HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 >>> STATEWIDE BROADCASTS OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS" ARE 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 IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

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

Z WE WELCOME YOU TO ANOTHER SESSION OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS", STATE LAW MAKERS ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSING IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE, ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.

NOW HERE IS YOUR MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, BARRY ANDERSON.

>> Barry: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS".

MY NAME IS BARRY ANDERSON, AND I WILL BE YOUR HOST AND MODERATOR FOR THIS PROGRAM.

WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU HAVE JOINED US AND HOPING YOU WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SEND QUESTIONS TO "YOUR LEGISLATORS".

YOU WILL SEE THE PHONE NUMBER AND METHODS OF COMMUNICATING AND ALL THE VARIOUS ELECTRONIC METHODS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US HERE ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.

SEND THE QUESTIONS TO US AND WE WILL SEE THEY GET TO THE DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS.

IT WILL HELP US UNRAVEL THE MYSTERIES OF ST. PAUL.

WE BEGIN THIS WEEK, AS WE DO EACH WEEK, BY INTRODUCING OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS, GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO YOU AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND AND GIVE YOU FRAMEWORK FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW.

LET'S BEGIN BY INTRODUCING SENATOR MARY KUHN HERB FROM K K. >> I'M MARKUNESH.

KUNESH.

I PRESENT DISTRICT 41 WHICH INCLUDE ASSISTANT ANTHONY VILLAGE AND NEW BRIGHTON, AND A LITTLE BIT OF SPRING LAKE PARK, AND IT'S BEEN MY HONOR TO EXPAND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS I HAVE BEEN AN EDUCATOR AS A LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST.

I JUST RETIRED IN NOVEMBER AFTER MY LAST START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WAS AN INCREDIBLE WAY TO END MY CAREER TRYING TO GET OUT OVER 900 CHROMEBOOKS.

SO I SHOULD GET THE OLD ONES BACK AND GET OUT NEW ONES, DO A LOT OF HELP OVER THE PHONE WITH PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AND STUDENTS AND STAFF AS WE TRY TO CREATE THE BEST KIND OF DISTANCED LEARNING PROGRAMS THAT WE COULD.

SO I'M REAL PLEASED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.

NOT MY OLD BUDDY BUT MY COM PATRIOT, CARLOS MARIANI, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING GOOD THINGS FOR MY COMMUNITY AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Barry: DID ALL THE CHROMEBOOKS COME BACK?

>> NO.

IN FACT, I JUST TOOK LIKE THREE CHROMEBOOKS BACK TO THE SCHOOL BECAUSE I HAD BEEN CONTACTED FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, LIKE ONE WAS AT A PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ONE WAS AT AN APARTMENT BUILDING, AND THE OTHER -- SOMEBODY DROPPED OFF, BECAUSE THEY JUST SORT OF SHOWED UP, AND IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL ON IT, AND THEY LOOKED ME UP, AND EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT THERE ANYMORE, I'M STILL LISTED SOMEWHERE ON THE INTERNET, AND I JUST TOOK A BUNCH OF THEM BACK TO THE SCHOOL AND IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE A LOT OF THE STUDENTS ENDED UP WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS, YOU KNOW, AS PARENTS WERE WORKING, A LOT OF THE GRANDPARENTS STEPPED INTO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS WERE SAFE AND THAT THEY WERE DOING IT.

SO I ACTUALLY HAD STUDENTS THAT WERE CALLING FROM FLORIDA, FROM CHICAGO, FROM THE BADLANDS, BECAUSE THEY WERE WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS BUT THEY WERE DOING THEIR DISTANCE LEARNING, SO IT WAS JUST A REALLY UNIQUE FEW MONTHS AT THE END OF MY CAREER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> Barry: REPRESENT TESTIFY LUECK, TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, FOLKS, AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

I REALLY ENJOY THIS.

I REPRESENT AITKIN COUNTY AND THE BULK OF CROW WING COUNTY AND HAVE 18 SMALL CITIES.

THE BIGGEST OF THE 18 STATES, AND I'M IN MY FOURTH TERM IN THE LEGISLATURE, SERVE ON ENVIRONMENTAL NATURAL RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE LEGISLATIVE SCHOOL TRUST COMMISSION WHICH SENATOR KUNESH REMEMBERS, AND A BRAND-NEW MEMBER ON THE LCCMR, THE LEGISLATIVE CONSTITUENT SENSE COMMISSION ON MINNESOTA RESOURCES.

JUST WAS APPOINTED TO THAT THIS YEAR.

SOME ISSUES IN MY AREA, I WILL TELL YOU THE BIG ONE IDEAL WITH LITERALLY EVERY DAY, AND THAT IS INSTRUCTION OF PIPELINE TREE, AND IT RUNS COMPLETELY ACROSS MY DISTRICT, AND WE HAVE BEEN REALLY BLESSED.

WE HAVE HAD NOBODY INJURED AS FAR AS SOME OF THE FRICTION THAT TAKES PLACE IN OUR AREA, AND WE JUST REALLY, REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THROUGH THAT WITHOUT ANYBODY HURTING, AND I KNOW OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS ARE JUST 24/7 TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE END UP WITH THAT THING GONE AND EVERYBODY IN ONE PIECE, AND WE CAN ALL EVENTUALLY LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER, I HOPE.

THAT'S FRONT AND CENTER FOR ME, EVEN MORE PRESSING ON A DAILY BASIS OF WHAT WE DO IN ST. PAUL IS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE UP IN MY AREA.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

GOOD BEING WITH YOU AGAIN.

MY NAME IS CARLOS MARIANI, AND I'M THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM ST. PAUL.

I'M CURRENTLY BEGINNING MY 16th TERM.

SO MY FIRST SESSION WAS IN 1991, AND THAT WAS 30 YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE, SEEMS TO HAVE GONE BY IN A BLINK, I HAVE TO SAY.

I CURRENTLY CHAIR THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

I HAVE ALSO CHAIRED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS PRIOR TO THAT, THE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE.

MUCH OF MY LEGISLATION HAS REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON RACIAL EQUITY WORK, FAIR AMOUNT OF IMMIGRATION WORK, PRETTY PROUD IN TERMS OF STANDING UP FOR LABOR RIGHTS IN OUR STATE.

AND I HAVE TO SAY BEFORE I JOINED THE LEGISLATURE, I SERVED WITH THE MEDICAL BODY, MINNESOTA COUNCIL ON CHURCHES FOR CLOSE TO A DECREASE AID AND THE COUNCIL PROVIDED ME A FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF TRAVELING PRETTY MUCH THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE AS WE INTERACTED WITH MOSTLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH GROUPS ALL AROUND THE STATE BUT ALSO WITH THE JEWISH AND BACK THEN A FEW ISLAMIC COMMUNITIES, AND NOT MUCH MORE, AND IT GAVE ME A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR A NUMBER OF THINGS ABOUT MINNESOTA.

ITS INCREDIBLE BEAUTY, WHICH IS BOTH PHYSICAL AND QUITE FRANKLY IT'S VERY HUMAN.

THERE ARE WONDERFUL HUMAN BEINGS IN THIS STATE WHO OPEN THEIR HOMES UP FOR YOU WHO HAVE BIG ASPIRATIONS AND DREAMS FOR A GOOD LIFE.

I HAVE CARRIED THAT WITH ME THROUGH ALL THESE YEARS, AND I TRY TO HAVE THAT IN THE WORK THAT I DO.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING SOME OF THAT WORK IN THE COMING CONVERSATION.

>> Barry: WITH THE RETIREMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON, THAT MOVES YOU UP TO SENIORITY LIST.

MUST BE IN THE TOP FIVE.

>> I'M NO.

4 NOW, AND PRELIJIMPULASKI AND MARY MURPHY.

YOU WISH THEY WOULD PAY YOU MORE AT LEAST, BUT THAT DOESN'T QUITE HAPPEN.

>> Barry: I EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE I'M A SENIOR JUSTICE ON THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT WHICH ONLY MEANS I HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME, FOR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE WORTH.

JOINING US THIS EVENING IS SENATOR BILL WEBER.

SENATOR WEBER A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM.

TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, COMMITTEES YOU SERVED ON.

>> THANK YOU, JUSTICE ANDERSON.

IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

I REPRESENT SENATE DISTRICT 22 IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF MINNESOTA.

DISTRICT IS COMPRISED OF ALL OR PARTS OF 9 COUNTIES, ALL OF ROCK, LINCOLN PIPE STONE, WEST HALF OF JACKSON, SOUTHERN TWO TIERS OF TOWNSHIPS OF LYON COUNTIES AND IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF RED WOOD COUNTY.

I HAVE NINE COUNTY BOARDS TO DEAL WITH, BUT ANYWAY, I'M BEGINNING MY -- THIS IS MY9TH YEAR IN THE STATE SENATE.

I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON PROPERTY TAXES AND A MEMBER OF THE FULL TAX COMMITTEE ALSO OF THE ENVIRONMENT NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY AND LEGACY FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE RULES COMMITTEE.

I ALSO SERVE ON THE WATER STUDY COMMISSION AND HAVE A VARIETY OF TOPICS.

MY BACKGROUND IS I'M A REAL ESTATE BROKER AND APPRAISER HERE IN LUVERNE AND COVER SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND I HAD 16 YEARS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE.

>> Barry: WHERE DOES IT RANK IN THE SENATE DISTRICTS IN MINNESOTA.

>> A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS THAT GEOGRAPHICALLY ARE LARGER.

I THINK I PROBABLY HAVE THE MOST NUMBER OF COUNTIES, ALL OR PARTS IN TERM OF MY DISTRICT, AND THE WEST EDGE OF MY DISTRICT, I SHARE 72 MILES OF BORDER WITH SOUTH DAKOTA AND ON THE SOUTHERN EDGY SHARE 60 MILES WITH IOWA.

>> Barry: THERE YOU GO.

LET'S MOVE RIGHT TO QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS WHO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES OF THE DAY.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW -- THIS VIEWER IS CONCERNED ABOUT VACCINATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH HEALTH ISSUES WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN 65 YEARS OF AGE.

WONDERING WHEN THAT PRIORITY MIGHT BE ESTABLISHED FOR THAT GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.

I RECOGNIZE THE LEGISLATURE DOES NOT HAVE DIRECT INPUT INTO THE PRIORITIES AND SO FORTH.

BUT CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TOPIC.

LET'S TALK ABOUT VACCINATIONS GENERALLY AND WE WILL ANSWER THAT VIEWER'S QUESTION.

START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, AND WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP OUR VIEWER WITH THAT QUESTION?

>> I LISTEN LIKE MANY MINNESOTANS DID TODAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS WHERE HE SHARED QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT CONSTANTLY CHANGING NATURE OF ACCESS TO VACCINES AND ALSO THE COURSE OF THE DISEASE IN OUR STATE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STOOD OUT FOR ME WAS -- AND HE EMPHASIZED THIS PRETTY STRONGLY.

TO A LARGE DEGREE, WE LIKE EVERY OTHER STATE ARE REALLY SUBJECT TO WHAT THE MARKET IS PRODUCING IN TERMS OF VACCINES.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT'S PRODUCING IT FASTER AND MORE, AND SO WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE MORE ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS, MORE ACCESS TO VACCINES.

NOWHERE NEAR WHAT WE NEED TO GET TO.

WE NEED TO COVER -- MOTIVATION IS TO COVER 70%.

THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT EVEN IN THE BEST OF THE FLU SEASON, AND THIS IS WAY MORE SERIOUS THAN THE FLU, WE NEVER HIT THAT 70%, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE FEEL WE NEED TO HIT IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THIS VIRAL DISEASE.

SO THE CHALLENGE IS PRETTY BIG, BUT ALL THE TRENDS ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT WAY.

I THINK WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO AND I THINK A LOT OF US AGREE IS THAT THOSE OF US WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE -- I HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED YET.

I MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR 30 YEARS BUT I'M NOT AT THAT 65 YEARS AGE YET.

I'M NOWHERE NEAR THAT LINE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY WE ARE TRYING TO FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE MORE VULNERABLE.

A LOT OF THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TIED WITH AGE AND UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE, YOU KNOW MONTHS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THOSE HEALTHIER YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS, AND I THINK WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IF WE CONTINUE TO PRACTICE, GOOD SOCIAL PRACTICES WITH THE HYGIENE, DISTANCING, THAT WE SHOULD BE OKAY, BUT WE ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT, EVEN AS WE SLOWLY, YOU KNOW, START OPENING UP MORE AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED BUT TRENDS ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR US, AND I'M REALLY HOPEFUL.

>> Barry: SENATOR LUECK, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE VACCINATIONS.

>> WE ARE REALLY LIMITED BY THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE THAT WE GET IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT'S A FACT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR IN GENERAL TERMS AND IT REALLY GETS COMPLICATED.

BUT IN GENERAL TERMS TRYING TO GET TO THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND IN GENERAL TERMS AGAIN, ALWAYS THE OLDER PEOPLE.

GOT THE BAR SET THERE, AND FIRST IT WAS NURSING HOMES AND PEOPLE IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE, AND THEN IT WAS 75 AND OLDER, AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING TO GET 65 AND OLDER, PLUS THAT OTHER IMPORTANT ELEMENTARY, AND THAT ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WORKDAY IN AND DAY OUT IN THE HOSPITALS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE PEOPLE THAT JUST HAVE TO RESPOND.

THEY CAN'T SORT OUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT -- CAN I PUT THIS PERSON IN MY AMBULANCE TODAY, SO PATIENCE, CONTINUE TO PRACTICE GOOD HIGH JEAN MASKS, WASH YOUR HANDS, ALL THOSE THINGS, AND BE CAUTIOUS, AND GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE HOW IT AFFECTS OUR FAMILY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST A YEAR MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO VISIT WITH MY STEPMOTHER IN PERSON VERY CAREFULLY, VERY CAUTIOUSLY.

SHE LIVES ON HER OWN, BLESS HER HEART, IN THE EARLY 90s, BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF SACRIFICES PEOPLE ARE MAKING ALL ACROSS MINNESOTA AND THE NATION ON TRYING TO PROTECT THOSE OLDER PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR.

WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY NEVER FAST ENOUGH.

BUT I WOULD HOPE WE ARE REALLY, REALLY TURNING THE CORNER HERE.

>> Barry: SENATOR KUNESH, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> WELL, I'M MORE OF AN OPTIMISTIC PERSON THAN PESSIMISTIC PERSON, AND SO WHEN THE PLAN IS TO GET EVERY MINNESOTAN VACCINATED BY THIS SUMMER WHO WANTS TO BE VACCINATED, I'M EXTREMELY HOPEFUL THAT THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PLAN OR THE OUTLINE FOR THE VACCINATION, I'M SORT OF LIKE REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, I'M IN THAT GRAY AREA AND APPARENTLY I RETIRED FROM SCHOOL A LITTLE BIT TOO EARLY, BECAUSE I CAN'T GET IN THERE.

BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONCENTRATE ON MAKING SURE THAT AS WE ARE STARTING TO OPEN THE SCHOOLS THAT THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO BE MOST IN TOUCH WITH THE STUDENTS, THAT MOST STUDENTS ARE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE IMAGINABLE, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PREK THROUGH ADULT COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS, ANY OF OUR SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS IN MINNESOTA HAVE THAT VACCINATION, AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES BUS DRIVERS AND OUR NURSES, OUR CUSTODIANS, AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, SO I'M REALLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE TOP ECHELON OF THOSE THAT ARE TO BE VACCINATED SOON.

I KNOW YOU MENTIONED YOUNG PERSON THAT WAS HOPING TO GET VACCINATED AND I GOT A TEXT FROM MY KIDS TODAY WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE CHART THAT THE GOVERNOR PUT OUT AND THE CHART WHEN THEY WERE FINALLY GOING TO GET THEIR VACCINATION BECAUSE AS A FAMILY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GATHER AS WE WOULD LIKE, AND I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER, AND SO MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS PREGNANT, WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED THAT SHE IS NOT GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO THE VACCINATION, BUT I GUESS AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M REALLY, YOU KNOW, SO THANKFUL THAT THE VACCINES ARE HERE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S DIFFERENT ONES THAT WILL HAVE DIFFERENT REACTIONS AND AS THE VACCINE SUPPLIES INCREASES, IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN EASIER FOR US ALL TO GET THAT SHOT.

BUT REALLY AND TRULY IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO JUST WEAR OUR MASKS, STAY SIX FEET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, WASH YOUR HANDS, GET THOSE TESTS IF YOU WANT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE SIGNED UP THROUGH THE COVID-19 VACCINE CONNECTOR.

YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND REGISTER YOURSELF AND THEN THEY WILL NOTIFY YOU WHEN YOU COME UP FOR A VACCINATION.

I KNOW THAT I DID THAT.

IT REALLY ONLY TOOK LIKE THREE MINUTES, AND SO I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GO ONLINE, AND YOU CAN JUST EASILY GOOGLE COVID-19 VACCINE CONNECTOR.

IT TAKES YOU TO THE SITE.

YOU PUT IN YOUR INFORMATION AND AWAY YOU GO.

LET'S HOPE WE ALL GET THAT VACCINATION SOONER THAN LATER.

>> Barry: I THINK THAT'S GOOD ADVICE, SENATOR.

SENATOR, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION OUT HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND HOW THE SYSTEM IS TOTALLY WORKING.

I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE WHO IS IN A SOUTHERN SUBURB SAID SAY, BILL, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET TO WORTHINGTON?

I SAID WHERE DO YOU LIVE EXACTLY?

YOUR BEST SHOT IS TO GO STRAIGHT DOWN 35 TO 90 AND ACROSS TO WORTHINGTON, WHICH IS IN MY DISTRICT, BY THE WAY.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IN WORTHINGTON?

AND HE SAID I'M GOING THERE TO GET MY COVID SHOT.

I HAVE PEOPLE FROM LUVERNE THAT ARE TRAVELING TWO HOURS SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GET THEIR COVID SHOT.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED BY THAT.

BEING A BORDER SENATOR HERE, I HAD AN EXPERIENCE LAST WEEK, AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND MY CONSTITUENTS I HAD A GENTLEMAN CALL ME WHOSE MOTHER'S DOCTOR IS IN IOWA, BUT SHE'S A MINNESOTA RESIDENT.

THEY TOLD HER AT THE CLINIC IN IOWA THEY COULDN'T GIVE HER THE SHOT, SHE HAD TO GET IT IN MINNESOTA.

THE FOLKS HERE SAID WE CAN'T GIVE YOU THE SHOT HERE.

WHAT IS SHE SUPPOSED TO DO?

I JUST WANT TO TELL MY FOLKS THAT HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE YOU ARE TO BE GIVEN THE SHOT BY THE MINNESOTA CLINICS.

IF SOMEONE IS TELLING YOU THAT, THAT IS NOT CORRECT.

MAKE SURE YOU GET AHOLD OF THE STADADMINISTRATOR, AND THEY SAIE HAVE TO GIVE HER THE SHOT.

THEY CALLED HER, AND WITHIN A HALF HOUR SHE HAD HER APPOINTMENT SOMETIME THIS WEEK.

THERE STILL IS A LOT OF CONFUSION OUT THERE.

>> Barry: WELL, THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION, BUT I DO WANT TO PICK UP ON SOMETHING THAT KUNESH SAID AND I DON'T NORMALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE ISSUE.

BUT I WILL SAY THE SPEED WITH WHICH WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE THESE TECHNOLOGICAL SUCCESSES, THESE VACCINES IS QUITE REMARKABLE.

THE F.D.A.

HAS PENDING BEFORE IT ANOTHER VACCINE, JOHNSON AND JOHNSON AND WHAT MANY DON'T KNOW, THERE ARE OTHERS TRAILING BEHIND THAT THAT MAY ALSO PROVE USEFUL.

LOTS OF FRUSTRATION, WHROTS OF CHALLENGES, BUT ALSO THERE IS A LOT OF SUCCESS AS WELL.

WE WILL HAVE TO KEEP WATCHING IT AND HOPING FOR THE BEST.

>> IF I MAY VERY QUICKLY JUSTICE ANDERSON.

I THINK THAT WHAT THE SENATOR IS OBSERVING, IT SHOULD BE A REALLY GOOD MOMENT FOR US TO ASK EVEN BEYOND THE COVID RESPONSE WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM THAT WE DESERVE.

IF THERE IS THIS MUCH CONFUSION, I TOTALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE ALL THE DOTS CONNECT.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE REALLY DIS DOES, AND WE ARE A GREAT SOCIETY.

WE HAVE PRODUCED THE VACCINE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME USING A WHOLE NEW TECHNOLOGY.

AMERICAN INNOVATION IS JUST AMAZING.

THE ISSUE WHAT IS BOGGING US DOWN IS REALLY ON THE DISTRIBUTION SIDE.

WHICH BY THE WAY, WE ARE GENIUSES AS WELL, BUT NOT NECESSARILY WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

IT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE MODERNIZE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN ORDER TO BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT AND SPEEDIER THAN WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW AND FRANKLY I CAN'T THINK OF DISTRICTS MORE AT RISK THAN SENATOR WEBER'S DISTRICT OR FRANKLY INNER-CITY DISTRICTS WHERE THERE ARE VERY FEW ACCESS TO CLINICS, TO TRANSPORTATION, TO INCOME, ET CETERA.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE COULD LOOK AT IT AS BOY, THINGS ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, TERRIBLY MUDDLED AND THERE IS SOME OF THAT FOR SURE.

WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT IT AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS HOW DO WE MODERNIZE AND MAKE BETTER OUR ENTIRE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

>> Barry: WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN AFTER ACTION REPORT WHEN -- AS THIS PANDEMIC WINDS DOWN TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH IS WHAT COULD WE HAVE DONE BETTER, AND THAT OF COURSE IS PART OF THE PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS THAT OUR LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN.

LET'S MOVE ON TO ANOTHER QUESTION THAT VIEWERS HAVE, AND THAT DEALS WITH A BONDING PROPOSAL THAT THE GOVERNOR MADE, $518 MILLION INVOLVING APPROPRIATION BONDS AND GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS EACH THERE AND A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, AND THE REMAINDER INAPPROPRIATED FUNDS.

THIS IS NOT NORMALLY A BONDING YEAR, BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT EVEN -- I SHOULDN'T SAY IT THAT WAY.

IT IS NORMALLY A BONDING YEAR, SO WE WOULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT WHAT DOES THE PANEL SEE DEVELOPING RELATIVE TO THE BONDING PROCESS?

LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR WEBER.

>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE RIGHT T. THIS TYPICALLY ISN'T THE BONDING YEAR.

THE CONCERNS A NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN MY CAUCUS HAVE FROM THE LAST BONDING BILL THAT WAS PASSED, THERE'S A TECHNICAL FIX BILL THAT NEEDS TO BE PASSED.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE CERTAIN SITUATIONS WHEREBY SOMETHING DIDN'T GET WORDED QUITE RIGHT WITHIN THE BONDING BILL AND THEN YOU HAVE TO GO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND UNTIL YOU MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS, THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS, THE PROJECTS THAT WERE TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS REALLY ARE SORT OF TIED UP, AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE THOSE WHO SEEM TO BE HOLDING ON TO THAT LE LEGISLATION, AND IT SHOD BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE GET DONE THIS SESSION.

I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE CONCERN, IS THIS GOING TO BE A TRADING SHIFT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND I QUITE FRANKLY -- I FIND THAT PROBLEMATIC.

SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT BILL WOULD COME FROM THE HOUSE PRETTY SOON, AND EVERYTHING RELATED TO BONDING HAS TO BE GENERATED FROM THE HOUSE.

I THINK THAT -- I WOULD HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT ISN'T HELD UP UNTIL THE END OF THE SESSION WHEN A BONDING BILL IS TYPICALLY PUT TOGETHER.

MANY NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, AND AS TO THE BONDING BILL, YOU KNOW, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SUPPORTER OF BONDING BILLS.

BUT I -- I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FORECAST THAT COMES OUT TOMORROW, LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION, HOW MUCH DEBT CAN WE EFFECTIVELY HANDLE BEFORE WE MAKE ANY DECISIONS AS IT RELATES TO ANY TYPE OF A BONDING PACKAGE AT THIS POINT.

>> Barry: YOU WOULD AGREE WE ARE LIKELY TO -- THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IS THIS ISN'T NORMALLY A BONDING YEAR, BUT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER EVEN IN SO-CALLED NONBONDING YEARS, THERE USUALLY IS A BONDING BILL OF SOME SORT.

>> THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE WHERE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT ALL DEVELOPS AT THIS POINT.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI BONDING BILLS.

AS THE SENATOR POINTS OUT THEY DEVELOPED CONSTITUTIONALLY TO COME TO THE HOUSE FIRST.

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL?

>> I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT QUITE FRANKLY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HASN'T CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS THAT, ONE, BECAUSE WE DO SUCH A TERRIFIC JOB IN OUR STATE IN TERMS OF BEING VERY FISCALLY A SOUND STATE MINNESOTA ENJOYS THE HIGHEST BOND RATING THAT ARE -- THAT WE ACQUIRE THE BONDS THROUGH.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS -- BECAUSE BONDING IS BASICALLY BORROWING OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

WE ARE ABLE TO BORROW AT SOME OF THE BEST CONDITIONS IN THE MARKET.

INTEREST RATES ARE INCREDIBLY LOW, AND OUR ACCESS TO SOME OF THE BEST INDUSTRIES, FINANCIAL INDUSTRIES ARE GOING TO BE THERE FOR US, AND SO YOU COUPLE THAT WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE GOT SOME VERY REAL NEEDS IN OUR STATE, INCLUDING AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT'S TRUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THINK WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT TOGETHER IS A PRETTY EXCITING PACKAGE.

HE'S GOT -- YOU KNOW I HAVE TO SAY THIS OFF THE BAT BECAUSE I GREW UP IN CHICAGO BUT HE HAS THE FAST TRAIN BETWEEN HERE AND CHICAGO, THE PCMC, AND THAT MORE THAN JUST AN EXCITING TRAIN, THAT'S REALLY ABOUT BOLSTERING OUR POSITION IN THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.

MINNESOTA HAS A STRONG STATE ECONOMY, AND WE ARE ALSO PART OF A REGIONAL ECONOMY WHERE WE ARE EXCHANGING GOODS, PRODUCTS, IDEAS AND PEOPLE FROM HERE TO CHICAGO TO IOWA NORTH DAKOTA, WISCONSIN, ET CETERA.

THIS KIND OF AN INFRASTRUCTURE HELPS US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THERE'S SOME GOOD INVESTMENTS AND DNR TRAILS AND REC FACILITIES, AND THOSE ARE NOT ONLY GOOD FOR, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTANS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE, THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD LOCAL PARTICULARLY GREATER MINNESOTA LOCAL INVESTMENTS.

THERE'S AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENT HERE BECAUSE WE DO FACE AN ON GOING CHALLENGE WITH HOUSING ACCESS, NOT JUST IN THE URBAN CENTERS BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER REALLY GOOD ISSUES.

HE'S GOT CAPITAL SECURITY IN HERE, AND OBVIOUSLY AFTER WHAT WE SAY IN D.C. ON JANUARY 6 SIXH AND THE HEIGHTENED TENSION AROUND OUR OWN CAPITAL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IT'S A GOOD SMART INVESTMENT TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE'S CAPITAL APPEARS TO BE ACCESSIBLE BUT SAFE TO THE PEOPLE.

THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A FEW DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO PULL THAT OFF.

SO I THINK -- AND THE FINAL THING AS A REALLY GOOD INVESTMENT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, AND WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN INVESTING IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IS A GOOD WAY FOR US TO INVEST IN MINNESOTA, PERIOD.

SO I THINK THERE'S REALLY GOOD PROPOSE A LITTLE HERE FOR US TO SIT DOWN, EXCHANGE IDEAS WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE AND COME UP WITH A REAL GOOD PACKAGE THAT SERVES PEOPLE.

>> Barry: SENATOR KUNESH, LET'S GO TO YOU NEXT.

IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL DISCUSSION ABOUT BONDING, I WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON THIS ISSUE THAT REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI MENTIONED, WHICH WAS THE TRAIN BETWEEN CHICAGO AND MINNEAPOLIS, BECAUSE ANOTHER VIEWER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SO-CALLED HIGH SPEED PASSENGER RAIL AND MENTIONS DULUTH, ROCHESTER AND MAKE YOU CAN DISCUSS THAT AS WELL.

THERE IS SOME CONTROVERSY ABOUT IT, AND CALIFORNIA HAS HAD AN EXPERIENCE THAT'S NOT PARTICULARLY PROMISING.

IT'S A DIFFICULT TOPIC.

BUT THAT IS PART OF THE BONDING DISCUSSION AS WELL.

SENATOR KUNESH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> SURE.

I TOO AM EXCITED ABOUT BONDING ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT MY BALLIWICK, AND THE INVESTMENT IN THE HOUSING FOR OUR VARIETY OF OUR HOUSING ISSUES NOT ONLY FOR OUR SENIORS BUT ALSO WITHIN THE MANUFACTURED HOME COMMUNITIES.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE PART ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, THAT IS A REALLY TRICKY ONE, AND IT TAKES -- IT FEELS LIKE IT TAKES YEARS AND YEARS FOR US TO TRY TO GET IT STRAIGHT.

I THINK IT'S ENCOURAGING THAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO INVEST, I THINK, AROUND $10 MILLION FOR PASSENGER RAIL, AND THAT IS GOING TO HELP COVER THE COST OF THESE, AND ALSO PREPARING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PREPARATIONS FOR A SECOND AMTRAK TRAIN THAT RUNS BETWEEN THE CITIES, MILWAUKEE AND CHICAGO.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN ALL THREE OF MY KIDS LIVED IN CHICAGO, AND I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE HAD THAT TRAIN TO RUN BACK AND FORTH IN.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE AND LOOKING AHEAD AT HOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE PEOPLE IN THE BEST WAY, IN THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE AND CLEAN WAY.

I KNOW THERE'S A DISCUSSION OF THE ONE COMING UP THROUGH MY DISTRICT GOING NORTH.

IN MY COMMUNITY THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THEY ARE NOT SO EXCITED THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE 10 YEARS TO GET THAT.

BECAUSE THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT RELOCATED ON THOSE SPOTS, PEOPLE THAT MOVED IN THOSE AREAS, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE RAIL LINE.

BUT ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BONDING BILL IS THAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING TO INVEST $15 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND ON CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, OUR AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITIES AND THEN ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE NOT ALWAYS HAD ACCESS TO THAT CAPITAL INVESTMENT FROM OUR STATE.

INVESTING IN OUR FAMILIES, INVESTING IN THOSE THAT HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO PAY OFF IN THE END, ESPECIALLY AROUND HOME OWNERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS, AND SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BONDING BILL.

ONE MORE THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR GOVERNOR IS GOING TO INVEST IN IS MONIES THAT ARE EARMARKED FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS OF THE AREAS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL THAT WERE DAMAGED DURING THE UNREST THAT WE HAD THIS SUMMER AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

SO I THINK HE'S GOT A REALLY GOOD IDEA OF WHERE TO PUT THOSE DOLLARS, AND I'M GLAD HE'S PUTTING IT IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE LUECK YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MAYBE THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO DO HIS HOMEWORK ON HOW THAT BONDING PROCESS WORKS.

WHILE TYPICALLY ON THE BUDGET INTERSECTIONS, WE MADE QUITE PASS A SMALL LIMITED BONDING BILL.

FOLKS OUT THERE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE NORMAL WAY THAT PROCESS GOES IS YOU START THIS YEAR HOLDING COMMIT TEE HEARINGS, LOOKING AT THOSE PROJECTS THIS SUMMER AFTER WE ARE OUT OF SESSION, AND YOU WILL SPEND WEEKS ON THE ROAD IF YOU ARE A VETERAN OF THE BONDING COMMITTEE.

I'M NOT ON THE BONDING COMMITTEE THIS SESSION.

YOU WILL SPEND WEEKS AND WEEKS ON THE ROAD GOING ALL OVER MINNESOTA LOOKING AT THOSE SPECIFIC PROJECTS.

I WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN.

ALL OVER MINNESOTA, NOT BETWEEN HERE AND CHICAGO, NOT BETWEEN HERE AND MILWAUKEE.

I APPRECIATE THAT EXUBERANCE WITH FAST RAIL, BUT OUR FOLKS ARE STILL TRYING TO FILL POTHOLES BETWEEN HERE AND DULUTH AND THAT'S ONLY 80 MILES TO THE EAST ON OUR HIGHWAY SYSTEM.

LIMITED FOCUS, BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING GOT FUNDED LAST TIME.

SO WE HAVE GOT PROJECTS.

WE HAVE HAD PREVIOUS BONDING COMMITTEE WENT OUT AND LOOKED AND VETTED THAT DIDN'T GET APPROVED.

THEY MAY BE FAIR GAME, VERY TARGETED BUT TO START THROWING THINGS IN THERE WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT WE ARE GOING TO KICK THAT OUT THE DOOR BEFORE THE END OF SESSION WITHOUT THE BONDING COMMUNITY EVEN GOING OUT AND LOOKING AT THESE, I THINK, SETS A PRETTY UNFAIR EXPECTATION WITH THE PUBLIC.

WE GOT A PRETTY THOROUGH PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MAWB THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME STUDYING THAT AND MAKE SURE HE UNDERSTANDS HOW THAT WORKS, AND WE DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED MONEY TO SPEND ON BONDING SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL, VERY TARGETED.

I APPRECIATE THE EXUBERANCE OF EVERYBODY BUT THERE'S A RIGHT WAY AND A WRONG WAY TO GO THROUGH THIS, AND TO MOW IN TO IT WITHOUT THE PROPER LOOK MEANS WE PROBABLY MISSED A LOT OF GOOD PROJECTS AND PUT OTHER ONES AHEAD THAT WE MAY NOT MERIT BEING FUNDED AT ALL OR AT LEAST NOT IN THE PERSPECTIVE WE HAVE THROWN OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY VETTED.

I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE THE OLD GRINCH HERE, BUT THERE IS A RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO SPEND THE TAXPAYERS MONEY, AND IT SHOULD BE DONE VERY CAREFULLY.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI AND LUECK ARE THE TWO LONGEST SERVING MEMBERS ON THE PANEL.

MY RECOLLECTION IS IN NONBONDING YEARS, AS SENATOR WEBER OBSERVED, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE YEARS WHEN THERE WAS NO BONDING BILL IN THE OFF YEAR, BUT WE HAVE HAD BONDING BILLS -- I'M THINKING SOMETHING IN THE $200 MILLION RANGE HAS BEEN NOT ATYPICAL, BUT I COULD BE COMPLETELY WRONG ABOUT THAT.

THE TWO OF YOU IN PARTICULAR ARE MORE CLOSELY ATTUNED TO THAT.

REPRESENTATIVE LUECK FIRST, AND REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

>> THINKING 200 OR $400 MILLION RANGE.

THEY OFTEN TEND TO BE FOCUSED ON THINGS LIKE PUBLIC FINANCE AGENCY WHICH FUNDS SPECIFIC THINGS FOR OUR MUNICIPAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IF I WERE TO HAVE THE RESEARCH DONE, ENGINEERING DONE ON, AND THEY ARE WAITING IN THE QUEUE AND BEEN WELL VETTED, SOME OF THOSE GO IN AND QUITE OFTEN THERE MAY BE SUPPLEMENTAL HIGHWAY BONDING THAT GETS PUT IN THERE, BUT TYPICALLY IT'S KIND OF CLEANING UP WHAT WE DIDN'T DO THE YEAR BEFORE.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, IS IT TIME TO CORRECT THE HOST OR CRITICIZE?

WHAT'S YOUR RECOLLECTION OF THE OFF YEAR BONDING BILLS?

>> I THINK THE RANGE THAT YOU PUT OUT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT.

I WOULD SAY THAT A FEW THINGS, ONE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A COUPLE YEARS WE DIDN'T HAVE A BONDING BILL AT ALL.

WHEN WE DO THAT, WE WIND UP MAKING THAT LONG LIST OF OLD AGING INFRASTRUCTURE HARDER FOR US TO GET AT.

THAT LIST GETS LONGER, AND THE PROBLEMS GET DEEPER AND THOSE ROADS AND BRIDGES GET MORE OLDER AND MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND TO REBUILD.

SO PART OF WHAT I WOULD ARGUE WE NEED TO DO IS TO HAVE A BONDING PROJECTS EACH YEAR, IF NOTHING ELSE TO CATCH UP WITH THE LONG LIST OF THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE.

LET ME ALSO SAY ANOTHER THING.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THE GOVERNOR HAS IN THIS PROPOSAL HAS IN FACT BEEN ON THE TABLE FOR A LONG TIME.

I WAS HERE IN THE 90s WE WERE LOOKING AT THE TRAIN BETWEEN HERE AND CHICAGO AND MILWAUKEE.

WE WENT OUT TO WISCONSIN AND VISITED.

WE MET WITH ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE, WHETHER IT WAS AG FOLKS, AG INTERESTS, YOU KNOW, INTELLECTUAL RIGHTS CORPORATIONS, FOLKS WHO DEPEND ON A REGIONAL -- STRONG REGIONAL CONNECTION OF IDEAS AND PRODUCTS, AND WHAT IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THAT?

ANYWAY, MY POINT IS THAT THERE'S VERY FEW THINGS ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL I WOULD ARGUE THAT HASN'T ALREADY SPENT QUITE BIT OF TIME EXPLORING.

WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH OUR TRAILS, WITH OUR RECREATION ALPHA SILTS.

WE HAD THEM FOREVER.

WE KNOW WHICH ONES ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE, WHICH ONES CAN BENEFIT FROM INVESTMENTS.

THE TIME TO ACT REALLY IS NOW, ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF A MINI RECESSION DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, GET A LOT OF PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, AND ON TOP OF THAT BE ABLE TO DO THAT BY BEING ABLE TO BORROW AT INCREDIBLY GOOD RATES FOR THE STATE.

THE RETURN ON THE DOLLAR FOR MINNESOTANS IS GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD, AND REPRESENTATIVE LUECK IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

THAT BENEFIT NEEDS TO BE MANIFEST THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE AND NOT JUST ONE PART OF THE STATE.

>> Barry: SENATOR WEBER, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A FEW SECONDS TO RESPOND TO THE TRANSPORTATION PIECE, THE TRAINS TO CHICAGO AND ROCHESTER AND SO FORTH, DULUTH AND SO FORTH BECAUSE I DIDN'T GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY.

QUICKLY, ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT FROM A BONDING STANDPOINT, AND WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT TOPIC.

>> WE EXTERNAL HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS WITHIN THE STATE.

I WILL BE TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOU, THE TRAIN IS NOT THE HIGHEST ITEM OF PRIORITY ON MY LIST NOR OF MY CONSTITUENTS.

AS REPRESENTATIVE LUECK SAID, WE HAVE WAY TOO MANY ROAD ISSUES WITHIN THE STATE THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF FOR NORMAL EVERYDAY USE, AND I THINK WE MADE SOME PROGRESS.

THE LAST COUPLE OF BUDGET CYCLES, WE PUT MORE MONEY INTO TRANSPORTATION THAN WE HAVE EVER PUT.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS OUT THERE, AND SO I THINK -- I'M AFRAID I CANNOT SHARE THE SAME ENTHUSIASM FOR THE TRAIN.

I ALSO THINK -- AND I WANT TO REPEAT THIS AGAIN.

I THINK IF THE TECHNICAL FIX BILL IS HELD AND COMBINED WITH AN OVERALL BONDING BILL, IT WILL BE HARD TO PASS IN THE SENATE, I BELIEVE.

>> Barry: LET'S MOVE ON TO A DIFFERENT TOPIC.

A VIEWER FROM CLEARBROOK, AND WE WILL GO TO REPRESENTATIVE LUECK WITH THIS ONE, BECAUSE THIS VIEWER IS CONCERNED WITH LINE 3.

THE VIEWER DOES NOT WANT IT SHUT DOWN.

WANTS TO KNOW THE PROSPECTS FOR COMPLETION.

THE VIEWER IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO IT BUT NOTES SOLAR PANELS AND WIND TURBINES HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE NOT RECYCLABLE AND SO FORTH AND WONDERS IF WE ARE EMPHASIZING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY TOO MUCH.

ANYWAY, THOSE TWO TOPICS ARE QUASI RELATED OR AT LEAST I RELATED THEM.

I WILL START WITH YOU REPRESENTATIVE LUECK, AND WE WILL GO AROUND THE TABLE OR VIRTUAL TABLE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

AS FAR AS THE PROGRESS OF THE LINE, IT'S REALLY GOING REMARKABLY WELL CONSIDERING A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS, NOTWITHSTANDING A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE HAVE GOT A CERTAIN PART OF THE FOLKS OUT THERE THAT STILL BELIEVE IT SHOULDN'T BE BUILT AND THAT THE PEOPLE OUT THERE SHOULD PICK UP THEIR TOOL BOXES AND GO HOME.

AS LONG AS WE DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR WEATHER ISSUES, WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE DONE WITH THAT PROJECT BY LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL.

THAT HAS BEEN THE WAIT SO LONG, AND THAT'S BEEN COMPRESSED INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY USED TO BUILD PIPELINES WHERE YOU STARTED HERE AND YOU KIND OF WENT ACROSS TO THE OTHER END.

BECAUSE MINNESOTA HAS GOT THE LAST SEGMENT IN THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM STILL OPERATING AT HALF CAPACITY, WHAT THE COMPANY DID WAS SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THE DAY WE START WE START ON EVERY MILE OF THE PIPELINE.

SO IT ISN'T GOING FROM A TO B.

IT IS WHEN THEY STARTED, PEOPLE WENT TO WORK ON EVERY MILE OF THAT.

IT IS GOING QUITE WELL FROM THE STANDPOINT OF CONSTRUCTION.

WEATHER CAN MESS THAT UP.

IF WE HAVE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND DISORDER, OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT THOSE HARD WORKING MEN AND WOMEN AT RISK.

MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS.

RIGHT AFTER WE HAD THE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT HAPPENED DOWN IN MINNEAPOLIS, WITHIN A WEEK I WAS DOWN AND ACTUALLY JUST LOOKING AND LISTENING WITH FELLOW LEGISLATORS ON A SATURDAY AND LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME, AND IT'S CLEAR NOW, I HAVE SEEN THE WAY SOME OF OUR LEGISLATORS HERE HAVE CONDUCTED THEMSELVES WITH RESPECT ON OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS UP IN THE AREA THAT I LIVE.

THERE'S A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP.

WE LIVE IN DIFFERENT WORLDS HERE, BECAUSE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BY AND LARGE LITERALLY DOWN TO THE LAST MEN AND WOMEN ARE RESPECTED PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT VIEWED AS THE PROBLEM, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN AND HAD TO JUST, YOU KNOW, REALLY SAY HEY, LOOK, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING, AND YES, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT KIND OF VERBAL ABUSE, YOU KNOW IT COMES WITH THE JOB, AND THEY HAVE BEEN WELL TRAINED, EXTREMELY RESTRAINED, BUT IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT WORLD WHERE I LIVE.

YOU KNOW, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE, AND I THINK REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI REALLY UNDERSTANDS THIS.

THESE PEOPLE THAT PROTECT US UP HERE, THEY GO TO THE SAME CHURCH, AND THEY SIT IN THE SAME PEW, AND THEIR KIDS ARE IN THE SAME SCHOOL.

WE KNOW THEM LITERALLY DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL, AND THAT INCLUDES CONSERVATION OFFICERS, DEPUTY SHERIFF'S, STATE HIGHWAY PATROLMEN, AND THEY ARE AS MUCH PART OF THE COMMUNITY AS OUR SCHOOLTEACHERS.

LET ME PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE.

THEY ARE AS MUCH PART OF THE COMMUNITY AS OUR SCHOOLTEACHERS.

WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE CERTAINLY EXERCISING THE LEGITIMATE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE AND SPEAK OUT, WE WILL CROSS THAT LINE AND START TO SAY THINGS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT ARE JUST THERE DOING THEIR JOBS.

AND I'M SPEAKING FOR MY CONSTITUENTS UP HERE.

THAT REALLY HURTS.

BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT JUST TALKING TO SOMEBODY IN UNIFORM.

YOU ARE TALKING TO EXTREMELY WELL RESPECTED PEOPLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE RELY ON TO KEEP US SAFE: MAKING A GENERAL PLEA TO UNDERSTAND THE BEST THING WE CAN ALL DO HERE IS ALLOW THIS PROCESS TO GO FORWARD.

IT'S BEEN PERMITTED AND LET'S GET DONE WITH IT AND GET THIS BEHIND US.

>> Barry: YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I WOULD DISAGREE.

I WOULD SAY THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO IS HAVE THEM PACK UP THEIR THINGS AND HEAD BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

THIS -- I THINK MINNESOTA NEEDS TO REALIZE THIS IS AN 11,000-MILE PIPELINE.

A THIRD OF IT RUNS THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST PRISTINE PARTS OF MINNESOTA.

IT CROSSES OVER 200 BODIES OF WATER.

IF THE STUFF THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SEND THROUGH IT IS THE NASTIEST SLUGIEST TAR SANDS, 1 MILLION BARRELS A DAY.

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PIPELINE THAT HASN'T LEAKED, HASN'T BURST, HASN'T CAUSED ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD THINK IT'S OKAY FOR MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS TO COME INTO MINNESOTA AND PUT OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR NATIVE LANDS, OUR TREATY LANDS, THE MISSISSIPPI HEAD WATERS AND LAKE SUPERIOR AT RISK.

I KNOW THIS IS ALL ABOUT JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, BUT REALLY HOW MANY MINNESOTANS ARE EMPLOYED?

AND OF THOSE MINNESOTANS HOW MANY ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WHO DON'T HAVE THE BENEFITS OF HEALTH OR ANY OF THOSE OTHER THINGS?

TOO MANY OF THEM.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX TRAFFICKING AND THE EXTRACTING BUSINESS.

I'M THE AUTHOR OF THE MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S TASK FORCE, AND IF THERE'S ONE THING I KNOW IS THERE'S ALWAYS TRAFFICKING WHEN THERE ARE EXTRACKS INDUSTRIES.

JUST THIS LAST WEEK 7 MEN WERE ARRESTED, TWO OF THEM EMPLOYEES OF THE ENBRIDGE LINE 3.

WHEN YOU SAID THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY INJURIES, THERE WAS THE DEATH OF AN EMPLOYEE RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

>> I WANT TO CLARIFY, WHEN I SAID INJURIES, I'M TALKING INJURIES RELATIVE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT INJURIES.

>> Barry: GO AHEAD.

>> SO I THINK IT'S JUST -- I THINK THEY SHOULD PACK UP AND GO.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD TAKE THIS RISK.

THEY DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF THE ORIGINAL LINE 3.

THEY WERE NOT GOOD STEWARDS TO MINNESOTA.

THEY WERE NOT GOOD NEIGHBORS.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD PRACTICE FOR MINNESOTA.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE I KNOW WE ARE SHORT ON TIME.

JUST TO PUSH PAST THIS A BIT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT OIL PIPELINES IS THE FUTURE FOR US AS A STATE OR AS A PEOPLE.

I SUSPECT THIS LINE WILL PROBABLY -- IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GET FINISHED.

BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT'S THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR US.

THE FUTURE FOR US LIES ON OTHER ALTERNATIVES, AND THAT'S WHERE THE JOBS ARE BEING DEVELOPED.

THAT'S WHERE THE MARKETS ARE INCREASINGLY MAKING THEIR INVESTMENTS, AND EVEN THE FOSSIL FUEL CORPORATIONS ARE BEGINNING TO SHIFT THEIR OWN INVESTMENTS AND THEIR INTERESTS IN THAT AREA.

WHY?

BECAUSE IT'S EFFECTIVE.

IT DISLIFERIT DELIVERS THE ENERE NEED.

IT WILL GET THERE WITH TIME.

IT'S CLEAN.

IT'S SAFE, AND IT'S WHERE THE PEOPLE GENERALLY REALLY WANT TO GO.

SO MY CONCERN WITH PROJECTS LIKE THIS IS ALL THE ENERGY THAT WE PUT INTO IT, ALL THE MONEY WE PUT INTO IT MEANS LESS ENERGY AND LESS MONEY PUTTING INTO THE DIRECTION THAT IS A BETTER DIRECTION FOR US.

FINAL QUICKLY I WILL SAY THIS.

I RESPECT LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOLKS.

THEY ARE BASICALLY CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS STUFF.

THEY ARE RESPONDING TO THE BIG FORCES THAT SENATOR KUNESH IS TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S REALLY MAKING A STRONG DECISION ABOUT WHAT THE BEST DIRECTION FOR US IS, OLD TECHNOLOGY LIKE USING PARTICULARLY DIRTY OIL IS NOT THE DIRECTION THAT WE SHOULD BE GOING.

>> Barry: SENATOR WEBER?

>> I JUST WANT TO COMMENT.

REPRESENTATIVE LUECK IS MUCH CLOSER TOTTEN BRIDGE LINE UP THERE, BUT OIL IS GOING TO BE WITH US FOR QUITE A WHILE YET.

I WANT TO HE ON-MY SENATE DISTRICT HAS THE MOST WIND POWERS OF ANY DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

SO I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY WITH WIND AND SOLAR ALTHOUGH SOME OF THESE HUGE SOLAR COMPLEXES ARE TAKING OUT HUGE AMOUNTS OF LAND FROM PRODUCTION, AND I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS LAST WEEK.

RIGHT NOW TO GO TO THE LEVEL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY THAT PEOPLE WANT US TO GO AND BE THERE RIGHT NOW, WE CANNOT HAVE A DEPENDABLE SYSTEM.

THE ELECTRIC GRID RELIES ON DEPENDABILITY OF POWER, BEING AVAILABLE WHEN THE CONSUMER NEEDS IT.

QUITE FRANKLY, WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

SO TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN BE THERE IN FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE, I THINK WE ARE PUTTING THE ECONOMY AT A GREAT RISK.

WHILE WE CAN GET THERE, AT SOME POINT POSSIBLY, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE, YOU KNOW, GOING DOWN A CERTAIN ROAD, AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

BUT TO ACTUALLY PUT THESE TYPE OF REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE WHEN THE MARKET ISN'T READY TO ABSORB THAT, I THINK, IS AN EXTREMELY COSTLY AND DANGEROUS PRACTICE.

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MIDWEST LAST WEEK WITH EXTREME COLD WEATHER, AND WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO HAVING ROLLING BLACK OUTS IN RURAL MINNESOTA AS WELL IN SOME INSTANCES, AND I THINK THE ONE GREAT THING THAT WE HAVE HAD IN OUR POWER SYSTEM ARE ELECTRIC AND OUR NATURAL GATS, , AND WHAT HAVE YOU, HAS BEEN DEPENDABILITY.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE WIND TOWERS THAT FUNCTION AND SUN ISN'T SHINING, YOU CANNOT HAVE THAT DEPENDABILITY IN THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT AND THAT WE NEED.

>> Barry: ON THAT NOTE WE UNFORTUNATELY AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS AND WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG.

WE HAD THE ARGUMENT LAST WEEK, AND WE DIDN'T RESOLVE IT THERE EITHER, ABOUT WHETHER IT'S RENEWABLE ENERGY OR NOT.

I'M GOING TO THANK THE PANEL ON THE DISCUSSION OF IMPORTANT ISSUES, AND THANK OUR VIEWERS FOR THE GREAT QUESTIONS, AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU WE WILL BE WITH YOU EACH WEEK NOW UNTIL WHENEVER THE LEGISLATURE GOES HOME, AND YOU ARE FREE TO SEND THOSE QUESTIONS TO US FOR THE INTERVENING WEEKS BETWEEN PROGRAMS.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION THIS EVENING, THANK OUR PANEL AND GOOD NIGHT.

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