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

>> Mary: PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS TOP OF MIND FOR THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, PEGGY FLANAGAN, WHO JOINS US LIVE.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

♪♪♪ >> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TV STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY· GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

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PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION - ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

>> MARY: WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

A LOT OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY SO FAR THIS WEEK ON COVID RESPONSE, DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA, PUBIC SAFETY AND MORE.

WE'LL TALK THROUGH IT ALL LATER IN THE HALF HOUR WITH OUR ANALYST DUO.

>>> WE'LL MEET ANOTHER NEW MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO HAS A FAMILIAR LAST NAME.

>>> BUT FIRST TONIGHT, SAFETY CONCERNS REMAIN HIGH AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND AHEAD OF HIGH-PROFILE POLICE OFFICER TRIALS.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ DETAILED HIS PLAN TO ADDRESS THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE CIVIL UNREST, AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN CHAIRS THE CAPITOL SECURITY COMMITTEE THAT'S LOOKING CLOSELY AT THESE ISSUES.

HERE'S SOME CONTEXT.

>> I'M SERIOUS WHEN I SAY THAT I WANT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARISING FROM THIS COMMITTEE TO BE A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.

>> Mary: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN IS CHAIRING A SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON CAPITOL SECURITY.

FLANAGAN AND GOVERNOR WALZ'S BUDGET FOLLOWS RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCREASE SECURITY AROUND THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

>> ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, BOTH SWORN AND UNSWORN.

I THINK THAT IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ADD THOSE ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO OUR SECURITY COMPLEMENT.

>> Mary: THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING NEXT DOOR BROADENS THE CONCERNS, AS DO NEARBY LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDINGS.

>> STILL SOME SENSE OF VULNERABILITIES AND HOLES.

THE BUILDING ITSELF IS JUST POROUS, AND OUR ATTEMPTS TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOING FORWARD ARE KIND OF HITTING A FLAT LINE, IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> IF WE WANTED TO TRULY MAKE THE CAPITOL SUPER SECURE, WE PUT UP A WALL AROUND IT AND WE'D HAVE A MOTE AND A DRAWBRIDGE.

>> THE MORE WE SEEK TO LIMIT ACCESS, THE LESS WE ARE OPEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND, IN PARTICULAR, NOTING THAT THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

AND THAT IS THE BALANCE THAT WE ARE CERTAINLY TRYING TO STRIKE HERE.

>> Mary: ADDITIONALLY, ELECTION OFFICIALS OFFICE NEARBY.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS HAD THREATS.

AND HAS A BUSY OFFICE FOR CANDIDATE AND BUSINESS FILINGS.

>> EVERYONE'S FUSE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT SHORTER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE OF COVID-19 THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND FOR GOOD REASON.

WE DEALT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WITH THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE AFTER EFFECT THERE AND THEN, OF COURSE, MORE RECENTLY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY AROUND THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> Mary: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS REQUESTING STATE PATROL ESCORTS FOR PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS IN THE UPCOMING TRIALS IN GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING.

>> I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS ARE HERE, TALKING ABOUT SECURITY FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, HALF MILE AWAY FROM THE CAMPUS.

>> Mary: THE JANUARY 6 STORM THE CAPITOL PROTEST IN St. PAUL AND D.C., FEATURED ARMED PROTESTERS, PEOPLE CAN AND DID OPEN CARRY AT THE STATE CAPITOL, THE FUTURE OF ALLOWING CITIZENS TO HAVE WEAPONS IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL WILL BE A SOURCE OF CONTENTION GOING FORWARD.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLISON JUST SAID A COUPLE MINUTES AGO THAT THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF ARMED PROTESTERS THAT STORMED THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S ACCURATE.

THERE WERE SINGLE DIGITS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTUALLY ARMED AND ARRESTED.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT CAPITOL SECURITY, PUBLIC SAFETY AND MUCH MORE, LT.

GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Mary: FIRST OF ALL, LET'S START WITH THE NEWS OF THE DAY, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCING THE $35 MILLION FOR A SAFETY PROGRAM, PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM.

IMMEDIATE PUSHBACK FROM THE LEGISLATURE, ESPECIALLY FROM RURAL REPUBLICANS SAYING THEY DON'T WANT THEIR COMMUNITIES TO PAY FOR MINNEAPOLIS.

THAT'S HOW THEY SEE THIS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS ALL ABOUT PROTECTING PEOPLE AND PROTECTING MINNESOTANS.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL ARE IN THIS TOGETHER, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE OF THE SAFE ACCOUNT, WE'RE IN A TIME OF GREAT CHALLENGES.

AS WE SAW CERTAINLY AROUND THE CIVIL UNREST, WITH THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, AS WELL AS THE ATTACKS ON THE CAPITOL IN D.C., AND THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD HERE LOCALLY AT OUR OWN STATE CAPITOL IN St. PAUL.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS CAN SAFELY, YOU KNOW, EXPRESS AND PRACTICE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

THE PAIN AND GRIEF THAT ALL OF US HAVE COLLECTIVELY EXPERIENCED BETWEEN THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE, THAT BUSINESSES ARE PROTECTED, AND THIS ISN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT'S ABOUT THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

THIS IS ABOUT ALL OF US TOGETHER.

I JUST DON'T THINK PUTTING POLITICS INTO IT MAKES SENSE RIGHT NOW.

>> Mary: IS THIS KIND OF LARGER IN THE URBAN/RURAL DIVIDE THAT CAME TO LIGHT DURING THE ELECTION, IT SEEMS THAT IT'S SPLITTING ON GEOGRAPHY?

>> I THINK IF WE WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AROUND CIVIL UNREST, THE FOLKS SO FAR WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR ARSON DIDN'T COME FROM MINNEAPOLIS.

THEY CAME FROM COMMUNITIES IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, A FALSE NARRATIVE TO SAY THAT SOMEHOW WE'RE DISCONNECTED.

GREATER MINNESOTA BENEFITS FROM A ROBUST AND THRIVING TWIN CITIES COMMUNITY AND VICE VERSA.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT THEMSELVES IS THIS SAFE ACCOUNT IS NECESSARY AND, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO LISTEN TO THE FOLKS WHO WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE , YOU KNOW, THAT OUR BUSINESSES ARE SAFE AND THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.

>> Mary: AND WHAT ABOUT THE CONCERNS, SPECIFICALLY, AT THE STATE CAPITOL?

WE SAW JUST A MOMENT AGO YOU CHAIRING THAT MEETING.

AND IT BECAME CLEAR FROM PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS THAT THEY HAVE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE LONG-TERM SAFETY.

THERE'S JUST A TEMPORARY CHAIN-LINK FENCE.

SHOULD WE EXPECT A PERMANENT FENCE GOING UP, MORE OFFICERS BEING FUNDED AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT I HAVE IN STATUTE IS TO CHAIR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON CAPITOL AREA SECURITY, WHICH HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A HOT TOPIC LATELY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT MANY OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE, YOU KNOW, ARE LONG OVERDUE TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE ENSURE THAT MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE ARE SAFE WHEN THEY COME TO DO THEIR JOB, THAT THE PUBLIC IS SAFE, THAT THE MEDIA , MARY, AS WELL AND, YOU KNOW, WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND THAT THEY CAN FEEL SAFE IN IT.

SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE MOMENT WHERE WE ARE HEARING FROM MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, THE SENATE, OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS ABOUT THEIR SAFETY CONCERNS, THEIR SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW WE CAN MAKE THE CAPITOL SAFER.

AND WE'RE GOING TAKE ALL OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND TRY TO MOVE THOSE FORWARD.

THAT'S THE ROLE OF THIS COMMITTEE.

AND IT'S PRETTY UNIQUE WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THESE FOLKS AT THE TABLE WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER.

SOME OF THOSE THINGS MAY BE, YOU KNOW, INCREASED NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT -- SWORN OFFICERS WHO ARE AT THE CAPITOL.

SOME OF THOSE THINGS MAY EVEN BE, YOU KNOW, FIRE DRILLS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THIS, MARY, BUT WHEN REPRESENTATIVE ANSELMO'S BURRITO WAS ON FIRE IN THE MICRO WAVE, THE FIRE ALARMS WENT OFF AND NOBODY KNEW WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO DO.

SO SOMETIMES IT'S EVEN JUST, YOU KNOW, TRAINING AND SAFETY DRILLS FOR MEMBERS AND FOR STAFF AND LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS AS WELL.

SO I TAKE THIS REALLY SERIOUSLY.

I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE BRINGING FORWARD.

SO THAT THIRD GRADERS, RIGHT, WHO COME TO VISIT THEIR CAPITOL ON A FIELD TRIP AND THOSE WHO ARE COMING TO ADVOCATE FOR THINGS THAT THEY BELIEVE IN, YOU KNOW, CAN FEEL SAFE.

AND WE HAVE THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW WHERE THE CAPITOL IS CLOSED DUE TO, YOU KNOW, THE COVID PANDEMIC.

THE FENCE WENT UP AROUND THE CIVIL UNREST AROUND THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE OUTCRY THERE.

AND IN SOME WAYS, WE CAUGHT A BREAK WHEN IT WAS STILL UP DURING, YOU KNOW, JANUARY 6th AND THE PROTESTS THAT FOLLOWED.

SO WE HAVE A MOMENT RIGHT NOW WHERE WE CAN HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IT WILL ACTUALLY TAKE.

AND MY HOPE IS THAT ALSO WE CAN PUT SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE GOVERNOR'S SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET THAT WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS HERE.

>> Mary: AND I THINK SOME TURF MEETINGS ARE AHEAD FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF WEAPONS.

TOUGHER.

WE MENTIONED PEOPLE WERE OPEN CARRYING AT THAT JANUARY 6th RALLY.

PEOPLE CAN CARRY IN THE CAPITOL, NOT NECESSARILY OPEN CARRY.

WHAT DO YOU SEE OF THE FUTURE OF THE BALANCE BETWEEN FIRST AMENDMENT, SECOND AMENDMENT, PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO BEAR ARMS IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL?

>> THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TASKED TO DO.

AND IN MY ROLE AS THE CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A REALLY ROBUST CONVERSATION WITH PROPONENTS AND OPPONENTS.

BUT TO BE REALLY CANDID WITH YOU, THE FOLKS THAT I'M MOST INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM RIGHT NOW ARE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, ARE -- ARE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR SWORN OFFICERS WHO PROTECT THE STATE CAPITOL ARE STATE TROOPERS, PRIMARILY, AND WHAT THEY THINK IS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT LEGISLATORS, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, ALL OF OUR STAFF AND THE MEDIA, AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE HEAR FROM THEM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE A GOOD DIRECTION ON GOING FORWARD.

BUT AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, MY JOB IS REALLY TO CREATE THE SPACE FOR US TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

>> Mary: OKAY.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO COVER IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER CAMPAIGNED WITH A LAST NAME FAMILIAR TO MINNESOTA VOTERS.

BUT SENATOR JULIA COLEMAN ALSO FOUND OUT QUICKLY THAT GENDER MATTERED MORE TO SOME PEOPLE THAN HER PARTY AFFILIATION.

>> AMERICA IS STILL RISING.

>> Mary: YOU ARE RELATED TO U.S.

SENATOR NORM COLEMAN.

PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT.

>> YES.

I AM NORM COLEMAN'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.

SO I MARRIED HIS SON, JACOB.

AND THE BEST PART OF CAMPAIGNING IN MINNESOTA HAS BEEN EVERYONE HAS A NORM STORY.

>> Mary: I COVERED SENATOR COLEMAN FOR DECADES.

GOT TO SEE JACOB, YOUR HUSBAND, AND HOW HE GREW UP REALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF POLITICS.

SO HE'S BEEN LIVING AND BREATHING THIS.

>> WE DECIDED I WAS GOING TO RUN FOR STATE SENATE A COUPLE YEARS AFTER WE GOT MARRIED SO HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO ESCAPE IT.

>> Mary: HOW MUCH DO THE COLEMANS LOVE IT, BY THE WAY, THAT IT'S THE WOMAN WHO'S ON THE SYNTHETIC >> THEY'RE VERY EXCITED.

NORM LIKES TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I LIKE THE SOUND OF SENATOR COLEMAN.

YOU KNOW, STATE SENATOR.

I HAVEN'T QUITE REACHED THAT LEVEL THAT HE HAS.

>> Mary: DO YOU HAVE ASPIRATIONS?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I RAN FOR CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL I WAS ALWAYS ASKED IF I WANTED TO RUN FOR SPHLINGS.

I TRULY DIDN'T.

FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

I TRULY DIDN'T.

I WANT TO KNOW THAT I CAN DO A GOOD JOB HERE BEFORE I EVEN HAVE THE AUDACITY OF DOING SOMETHING NEXT AND THAT HOLDS TRUE FOR STATE SENATE.

>> Mary: LET'S DIVE INTO TIMING, THIS HAS BEEN A SENSITIVE ISSUE DEFINITELY FOR YOU.

YOU HAD A BABY, AN ADORABLE BABY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Mary: PUT THAT OUT THERE.

BUT YOU GOT SOME BACKLASH FOR BEING A YOUNG MOTHER RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

>> I DID.

ON TWO FRONTS I GOT THAT.

WHEN I ANNOUNCED I WAS RUNNING FOR THE STATE SENATE, I WAS ACTUALLY NINE MONTHS PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST SON.

I GAVE BIRTH TO HIM ONE WEEK LATER.

AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE I HAD TO CONVINCE, IT IS OKAY TO BE A YOUNG MOTHER AND BE A STATE SENATOR, JUST TO GET THROUGH THE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS AND THE PRIMARY AND THROUGH THE GENERAL WAS A LITTLE DISCOURAGING AT TIMES, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGING IN THE FACT THAT I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS.

BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT IT.

AND THEN ON THE OTHER END, I FOUND OUT WE WERE EXPECTING AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION.

AND GOT A MESSAGE FROM A CONSTITUENT SAYING, WELL, YOU HID YOUR PREGNANCY.

AND NOW INSTEAD OF DOING YOUR JOB, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON LEAVE.

I WAS A LITTLE DISCOURAGED, AND WHEN I SHARED WHAT MESSAGE I HAD RECEIVED, I WAS BOMBARDED WITH SUPPORT FROM MEN AND WOMEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT I SERVE WITH.

AND IT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING THEM SAYING, WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER, WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK.

>> Mary: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT NONPARTISAN LESSON.

I HOPE YOU'RE LEARNING, NOT EVERYTHING AT THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL IS PARTISAN.

PEOPLE CAN REALLY RALLY AROUND.

HAS THAT BEEN ONE OF THE MORE FORTIFYING MOMENTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE HAVE A DFL GOVERNOR, WE HAVE A DFL HOUSE, SO, IF ANYTHING'S GOING TO BE PASSED, IT HAS TO BE BIPARTISAN.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE AUTHORS IN THE HOUSE THAT ARE ACROSS THE AISLE.

AND, SO, IN A WAY, I THINK IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL HOW OUR GOVERNMENT IS DESIGNED BECAUSE IT IS FUNCTIONING EXACTLY AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO IN THIS WAY.

>> Mary: WOULD YOU PUT YOURSELF IN THE NEW KIND OF TRUMP REPUBLICAN OR MORE OF THE NORM OLD REPUBLICAN OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN?

>> THE NEW GENERATION COMING UP OF REPUBLICANS AND LEADERS IN OUR STATE, THEY REALLY BELIEVE IN THE PRINCIPLES OF SMALL GOVERNMENT AND TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, STICK TO A PRETTY EASY SET OF PRINCIPLES IF YOU'RE ABLE TO CONSISTENTLY APPLY IT THROUGHOUT YOUR PRACTICE.

SO THE NEW GENERATION OF REPUBLICANS COMING UP ARE DEFINITELY MORE SMALL GOVERNMENT ORIENTED.

>> Mary: AND HOW ABOUT OTHER ISSUES, PARTICULARLY YOUR DISTRICT, TELL ME WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE FOR YOU AND YOUR DISTRICT THIS SESSION.

>> THE NUMBER ONE THING I'M HEARING ABOUT, I'M LUCKY BECAUSE I'M ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, IS, I WANT MY CHILDREN BACK IN SCHOOL.

AND IT'S NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S HARD FOR THE PARENTS THAT ARE HOME, MOTHERS ARE LEAVING THE WORKFORCE IN ORDER TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME.

IF YOU HAVE A THIRD GRADER, IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN HAVING AN EIGHTH GRADER AT HOME.

YOU NEED TO BE THERE WITH THEM.

SO THERE'S A BIG LOSS TO OUR WORKFORCE, TO MY GENERATION OF WOMEN, WHO ARE AT HOME EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN AND WITH THE NEW CDC GUIDANCE SAYING CHILDREN CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL, I THINK WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO GET THEM BACK IN.

THAT IS ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES COMING FROM THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES IN MY DISTRICT.

OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME, SENATE REPUBLICANS DREW A LINE IN THE SAND THIS YEAR, THEY SAID THEY'RE NOT RAISING TAXES.

AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THAT.

IT IS SUCH A TRYING TIME FOR EVERYONE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY BOOMING AND GETTING IT BACK ON ITS FEET AND HELPING EVERYONE ELSE TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AS WELL.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: WE'RE ABOUT A MONTH INTO THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

LET'S CHECK IN WITH OUR ANALYST DUO TO SEE IF IT IS LIVING UP TO THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

CARIN MROTZ IS A DFLER AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.

BRIAN MCDANIEL IS HERE TOO, REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST.

WELCOME BACK, YOU TWO.

CARIN, LET'S START WITH YOU.

LET'S START WITH THE ISSUE THAT WE COVERED AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW, PUBLIC SAFETY AND CIVIL UNREST, BACK FRONT AND CENTER.

DOES THIS HAVE TO BE A PARTISAN ISSUE?

>> I WISH IT WOULDN'T BE.

I ALSO WISH THAT THE PUBLIC IN PUBLIC SAFETY DIDN'T END AT THE BOUNDARY OF ONE'S DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALL AGREE THAT WE HAVE A SHARED GOAL OF KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE.

AND IT'S SAD THAT IT HAS BECOME SUCH A POLITICAL FOOTBALL WHEN THIS REALLY COULD BE A JOINT PROJECT OF CARING FOR FOLKS THAT BOTH SIDES CAN WORK ON TOGETHER.

>> Mary: BRIAN, WE HEAR THAT SENATOR GAZELKA'S GOING TO HAVE A PROPOSAL, I BELIEVE, NEXT WEEK ON THIS.

IS THERE A COMMON GROUND ON THIS?

>> WELL, I THINK ULTIMATELY THERE WILL HAVE TO BE.

I AGREE WITH CARIN THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE A PARTISAN ISSUE, HOWEVER, EVERYTHING'S EYE PARTISAN ISSUE.

SO, YOU KNOW, LET'S HARKEN BACK TO THE DAYS WHERE PEOPLE USED TO TRADE A TO GET B.

AND LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT BOTH SIDES WANT AND LET'S COME TOGETHER.

WE CAN'T LET MINNEAPOLIS LANGUISH, BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE WISHES OF THE INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Mary: AND WHAT ABOUT CAPITOL ACCESS, CAPITOL SECURITY?

EARLIER, WE WERE TALKING WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

WE ALL KNOW THAT CHAIN-LINK FENCE IS UP.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN'T REALLY GET IN.

IS IT A PROBLEM TO LEGISLATE DURING COVID?

CARIN OR BRIAN?

YEAH, GO AHEAD, BRIAN.

>> I'M SORRY.

IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S EASIER FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO'S BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME, I HAVE THE PHONE NUMBERS, I HAVE THE EMAILS, YOU KNOW, I CAN SEND A TEXT.

THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT I THINK REGULAR PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH HAMPERED IN PETITIONING THEIR GOVERNMENT.

I'M OLD ENOUGH, I WAS STAFF DURING 9/11 AND ALL THEY DID WAS MAKE US WEAR OUR BADGES ON THE OUTSIDE OF OUR CLOTHES.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO THIS ABSENT COVID IN A SAFE WAY, BUT IT MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK DIFFERENT THAN IT HAS IN THE PAST.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT COMMUNITY INPUT, CARIN, OFFICIALLY YOU'RE A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, CAN THE COMMUNITY REALLY BE ACTIVE WITH A CLOSED CAPITOL?

>> I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY CAN STILL CALL OUR LEGISLATORS AND WE CAN EMAIL OUR LEGISLATORS.

AND THE COMMUNITY IS STILL ENGAGED, I KNOW, IN WATCHING THE PROCEEDINGS.

IT IS DIFFICULT NOT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE CAPITOL.

I KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T CATCH PEOPLE IN THE HALLWAY.

A LOT OF BILLS HAVE FAR FEWER CO-AUTHORS THAN THEY NORMALLY DO JUST BECAUSE THERE'S INCIDENTAL CONVERSATIONS ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO HAVE.

BUT I KNOW I TALK TO MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE THREE OR FOUR TIMES ABOUT CONSTITUENT-RELATED THINGS JUST IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

SO THERE IS STILL THE ABILITY TO GET THROUGH IF LEGISLATORS ARE WILLING TO BE REACHED.

>> Mary: RELATED TO CAPITOL AND CAPITOL SECURITY, IT SOUNDS LIKE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE COMMITTEE SHE'S CHAIRING IS GOING TO MAYBE HAVE A FIGHT AHEAD ON GUNS.

WE DO ALLOW GUNS IN OUR CAPITOL AND ON OUR CAPITOL GROUNDS.

AND THAT COULD CHANGE.

BRIAN, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE FORCES RALLYING BEHIND OR AGAINST THAT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THAT IT'S DEFINITELY A TOPIC THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF CAPITOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE METAL DETECTORS, OURS DO NOT.

I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR THAT.

BUT THE GUN DEBATE IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE COMMON GROUND ON.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE COMMON GROUND ON DEFINITIONS OF WHAT'S REASONABLE.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WILL BE NEEDED -- WILL BE NEEDING TO PREVAIL.

>> Mary: CARIN ON THIS?

>> I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, FOR ME, I ALWAYS WANT TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED ON AN ISSUE.

SO IT'S SO POWERFUL TO ME THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NAMED THAT SHE TALKS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO WORKS AT THE CAPITOL.

AND IF THEIR OPINION IS THAT THE CAPITOL NEEDS TO BE SAFER AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH FIREARMS IN THE CAPITOL, THEN I THINK THAT WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THEM.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE GOP HAS BEEN REALLY STRONG ABOUT SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THIS WOULD BE A GREAT AREA TO START DOING THAT.

>> Mary: LET'S PIVOT TO ANOTHER ISSUE, WE JUST HEARD FROM FRESHMAN SENATOR JULIA COLEMAN AND SHE WAS SAYING, NUMBER ONE ISSUE, HANDS DOWN, FROM HER CONSTITUENTS IS GETTING KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.

IS THAT A REAL VOLATILE ISSUE?

COULD IT HURT THE GOVERNOR ULTIMATELY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK, BRIAN?

>> WELL, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, MY WIFE IS A SECOND GRADE TEACHER, I HAVE THREE KIDS THAT ARE IN SCHOOL.

ONE OF THEM'S BACK IN SCHOOL, MY WIFE'S TEACHING AGAIN AND THE REST OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE BACK VERY SOON.

IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE KIDS, AND I DON'T WANT MY WIFE TO BE UNSAFE.

THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY.

BUT THE EDUCATION OF THESE CHILDREN HAS TO BE PARAMOUNT AND GETTING THEM BACK IN SCHOOL IS HOW WE DO THIS.

I SEE IT EVERY DAY.

EVERY DAY.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR'S GOTTEN A LOT OF CRITICISM ON THIS ONE.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, LOOK, MY KIDS ARE IN MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND ONE OF THEM HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK IN PERSON IN A FEW WEEKS, AND WE'VE MADE THE DECISION TO KEEP HER HOME RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE EDUCATORS BEING VACCINATED, TEACHERS LIKE BRIAN'S WIFE.

I THINK THE REALITY IS THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE BEING EDUCATIONALLY IMPACTED, THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE.

AND WE'RE IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

AND I THINK IT WOULD BE BIZARRE TO EXPECT EVERYONE NOT TO BE IMPACTED BY THAT.

SO, I WANT CHILDREN TO GET BACK TO SOME SENSE OF STABILITY AND SOME SENSE OF NORMALITY, AND REALISTICALLY, THAT'S NOT WHERE THE WORLD IS RIGHT NOW.

AND IF IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, YOU KNOW, WE JUST SAW BLOOMINGTON SCHOOLS WENT BACK AND TWO WEEKS LATER THEY WERE BACK ON DISTANCE BECAUSE THEY HAD A COVID SPIKE.

SO I'M JUST ACTUALLY NOT CONFIDENT AS A PARENT THAT IT'S THE SAFEST DECISION AND THE MOST STABLE TO BE RUSHING BACK IN ONLY TO HAVE TO TURN IT RIGHT BACK AROUND.

>> Mary: QUICK FINAL QUESTION, REALLY GOT TO BE A YES OR NO, RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, I HAD A REPUBLICAN IN THE LEGISLATURE SAID, ODDS ARE THIS PASSES.

YES OR NO?

EACH OF YOU?

>> EVENTUALLY.

>> Mary: EVENTUALLY.

CARIN?

>> HOPEFULLY.

>> Mary: OKAY.

THANKS SO MUCH, YOU TWO.

>> THANKS, MARY.

>> MARY: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

UNTIL THEN YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

WATCH ANY OF OUR SHOWS, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S.

YOU CAN STREAM US LIVE, FOLLOW US ALL WEEK ON FACEBOOK, LOOK FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

DON'T FORGET, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MORE, ALL DAY EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK LIVE WITH MIKE OSTERHOLM ABOUT HIS CONCERNS OVER COVID-19 MUTATIONS, PAUL DOUGLAS WILL PREVIEW THE WEEKEND DEEP FREEZE WEATHER, AND I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEW MOMENTUM BEHIND LEGALIZING ADULT CANNABIS AND WHY ONE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER SAYS ODDS ARE IT WILL PASS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY·.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION - ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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