Your Legislators
February 4, 2021
Season 41 Episode 5 | 57m 59sVideo has Closed Captions
Sen. Michelle Benson-R, Sen. Anne Johnson Stewart-DFL, Rep. Michael Howard-DFL & Rep. Jim
Sen. Michelle Benson-R, District 31, Ham Lake; Sen. Anne Johnson Stewart-DFL, District 44, Wayzata; Rep. Michael Howard-DFL, District 50A, Richfield; and Rep. Jim Nash-R, District 47A, Waconia.
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Your Legislators
February 4, 2021
Season 41 Episode 5 | 57m 59sVideo has Closed Captions
Sen. Michelle Benson-R, District 31, Ham Lake; Sen. Anne Johnson Stewart-DFL, District 44, Wayzata; Rep. Michael Howard-DFL, District 50A, Richfield; and Rep. Jim Nash-R, District 47A, Waconia.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> 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 FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION, STANDING FOR AGRICULTURE, WORKING FOR FARMERS ON THE WEB AT MFU.ORG.
WE WELCOME YOU TO ANOTHER SESSION OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS", A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION FEATURING STATE LAWMAKERS 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 THANK YOU FOR JOINING "YOUR LEGISLATORS".
MY NAME IS BARRY ANDERSON, AND WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU HAVE JOINED US FOR THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT ISSUES OF PUBLIC POLICY THAT ARE OF CONCERN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
THIS IS YOUR PROGRAM, AND WE WANT YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM AND YOU CAN DO SO BY CALLING IN YOUR QUESTIONS OR SENDING THEM TO OUR PANEL.
WE WILL BE PRODUCING TO YOU IN JUST A MOMENT.
BY THE VARIOUS ELECTRONIC MEANS THAT WILL BE AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR TELEVISION DESCREEN SCREEN.
WE ARE HOPING YOU WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE OUR EXPERT PANEL ON THE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
BEFORE WE INTRODUCE OUR PANEL, I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU YOU ARE ABLE TO SEND US QUESTIONS NOT ONLY DURING THE HOUR THAT THE PROGRAM IS ON BUT AT OTHER TIMES AS WELL, AND THOSE QUESTIONS THAT COME IN BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT TIME WE GATHER, WHETHER IT'S NEXT THURSDAY OR SOME OTHER NIGHT, WE WILL COLLECT THOSE AND GIVE THEM TO THE PANEL THAT WILL BE APPEARING THAT EVENING.
BUT WE BEGINNING THIS EVENING AS WE DO EACH PROGRAM BY INTRODUCING OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS WHO ARE GOING TO HELP US UNRAVEL THE MYSTERY OF ST. PAUL.
WE WILL BEGIN IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER BUT ON THE ZOOM SCREEN THAT I'M LOOKING AT AT THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER WITH SENATOR MICHELLE BENSON, WHO HAS BEEN WITH US MANY TIMES IN DISTRICT 31, HAM LAKE.
TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, COMMITTEES YOU SERVE ON.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.
I CHAIR THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2011.
I SERVED ON AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE, ENERGY COMMITTEE AND SERVED IN LEADERSHIP FOR 8 YEARS OF THE TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ON THE SHOW AND TO BE PANS PARENT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN ST. PAUL, TRYING TO UNWEAVE SOME OF THE MESS THAT IS LETTING AND DOING .
I APPRECIATE YOU INVITING US AGAIN.
>> Barry: DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US, THIS WEEK AND ANY OTHER WEEK YOU ARE AVAILABLE.
ALSO JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME, SENATOR ANN JOHNSON STEWART.
WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US, AND YOU WERE JUST ELECTED IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE AND YOU REPRESENT DISTRICT 44 FROM WAYZATA.
DO THE SAME AS SENATOR BENSON DID, INTRODUCE YOURSELF, TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, COMMITTEES, THINGS OF THAT SORT.
>> THANK YOU, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
AS YOU SAID I'M A FIRST TIME LEGISLATOR.
MY DISTRICT IS 44 WHICH ACTUALLY IS EVERYTHING BUT WAYZATA.
MINNETONKA, WOODLAND AND PLYMOUTH.
I AM A CIVIL ENGINEER, AND A NW NEWBIE TO POLITICS.
YOU KNOW, I OWN A SMALL BUSINESS AND EMPLOY ABOUT 30 PEOPLE IN A SMALL ENGINEERING CONSULTING FIRM AND TEACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINN MINNESOTA.
I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS TIE FOR A CIVIL ENGINEER TO BE IN THE SENATE.
I WON, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR IT.
I'M ON THE BONDING COMMITTEE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A SUPER TREAT FOR ME TO VISIT ALL OF THOSE FACILITIES THAT I HAVE DESIGNED IN THE PAST AND ACTUALLY MOSTLY WORKED ON CONSTRUCTION OF, AND I'M ALSO ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND ENJOYING THAT IMMENSELY, BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ROADS AND TRANSIT AND ALL THE THINGS THAT I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE, AND WILL WATCH AND LEARN FOR MY MORE EXPERIENCED COLLEAGUE.
>> Barry: WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ON CAMERA.
WAY BACK IN MY WASTED YOUTH, I DID A FAIR AMOUNT OF MECHANICS LIEN WORK, AND I WILL BE WILLING TO BET WE HAVE CHARACTERS IN COMMON WE COULD TALK ABOUT, WHICH WE WON'T DO HERE.
>> I TAUGHT SURVEYING FOR 24 YEARS, AND I LOVE TO SURVEY.
>> Barry: VERY GOOD.
WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU ARE JOINING US.
ANOTHER REGULAR WHO HAS BEEN WITH US MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS, REPRESENTATIVE JIM NASH FROM DISTRICT 47A IN THE WACONIA AREA.
REPRESENTATIVE NASH, YOU KNOW THE DRILL.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.
>> THANK YOU, JUSTICE ANDERSON.
HAPPY TO BE HERE.
I'M REPRESENTATIVE JIM NASH.
I SERVE DISTRICT 47A, LIVE IN WACONIA, AND MY WIFE AND I LIVED THERE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, AND WE HAVE 6 KIDS.
PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE, I WAS MAYOR FOR TWO TERMS, CITY COUNCIL.
I WORK IN CYBERSECURITY, AND I LOVE TO TALK ABOUT CYBER SECURITY, AND I HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT OF ALMOST EVERYONE'S OFFICE THAT I HAVE BEEN INTO TO TALK ABOUT CYBER SECURITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
I'M THE REPUBLICAN LEAD ON STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE AND SERVE ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND RULES AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS, AND I SERVED IN LEADERSHIP HERE AT THE HOUSE FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE ONCE AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
>> Barry: WITH THE DAY JOB FOCUSING ON CYBER SECURITY, I SUPPOSE YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO.
IT'S ONE DULL DAY AFTER ANOTHER, RIGHT?
>> WE SIT BACK AND WAIT FOR THE MONEY TO COME IN.
>> Barry: WE TOO CAN HAVE AN OFF CAMERA DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OF THE RECENT NOVELS.
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT, LET'S SAY.
>> THE NO.
1 RULE FOR CYBER SECURITY IS DON'T CLICK ON THINGS.
>> Barry: THERE YOU GO.
IF WE DON'T GET OUR QUESTIONS OUT, WE WILL CALL YOU FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
ALL RIGHT.
FAIN ALLEY, LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, SOMEONE WHO HAS ALWAYS NOT BEEN WITH US BUT DELIGHTED TO HAVE WITH US AND SERVING IN HIS FIRST TERM, REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL HOWARD FROM DISTRICT 50A IN RICHFIELD, I BELIEVE.
IN FACT I WAS JUST UP IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT TOO FAR FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
>> THANKS, JUSTICE.
SO GLAD TO BE HERE.
I'M SERVING IN MY SECOND TERM IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE, AND WORKING TOGETHER, AND FOCUSING ON WHAT MATTERS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
I'M SERVING AS AN ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER THIS TERM AND VICE CHAIR ON THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A PARTICULAR ISSUE OF FOCUS FOR ME, AND IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE, AND IT'S BECOME EVERMORE SO IMPORTANT DURING THE PANDEMIC, ABILITY TO BE SAFE.
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION TONIGHT AND GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> Bonney: YOU AND I HAD A BRIEF DISCUSSION.
YOU HAD THE EXPERIENCE FOR WORKING WITH SOMEONE THAT I HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW PRETTY WELL.
THEN SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND NOW A MEMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT, THISSEN.
>> MY BACKGROUND IS PUBLIC RELATIONS AND I WORKED AT COMMUNICATINGS DIRECTOR FOR THEN SPEAKER AND NOW JUSTICE THISSEN, AND NOW I GET TO BE ON HERE MYSELF.
MY LAST GIG IN PUBLIC RELATIONS WAS WITH THE MINNESOTA SUPER BOWL HOST COMMITTEE, AND THAT'S BEEN ON MY MIND THIS WEEK.
I'M GLAD OUR SUPER BOWL WAS A LITTLE BIT WARMER THAN IT'S GOING TO BE THIS WEEKEND HERE.
>> Barry: AND THEY HAVE OTHER ISSUES TO DEAL WITH THAT FORTUNATELY WERE NOT A FACTOR FOR US.
THIS IS ALL GOOD.
WELL, LET'S BEGIN BY GIVING EACH OF YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT YOU THINK IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT THAT YOU HOPE TO BE WORKING ON THIS SESSION, AND WE WON'T TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO DO THIS, BUT THAT WILL GIVE OUR VIEWERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN WITH QUESTIONS.
START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE NASH.
START WITH A COUPLE OF ISSUES FOR OUR VIEWERS.
>> THANK YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LOT IN COMMITTEE LATELY IS WE ARE GOING TO BE IN A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT.
BUDGET IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, AND THE QUESTION I ASK A LOT OF COMMISSIONERS AND PROBABLY ALREADY TAKING MY NAME IN VEIN IS WHAT WILL YOU DO IF WE HAVE TO REDUCE YOUR BUDGET AND IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY BUDGET AT HOME, IF YOU ARE BRINGING IN LESS, YOU HAVE TO DO WITH LESS.
THAT'S ONE THING.
I WOULD SAY TALKING TO A LOT OF FOLKS IN MY COMMUNITY, VACCINATIONS RIGHT NOW ARE A BIG QUESTION, BUT I WILL ALSO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD SAID IS THAT HOUSING IS A VERY BIG PRIORITY FOR ME.
AS A FORMER MAYOR, I RECOGNIZED THAT MANY MUNICIPALITIES HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE COST OF A HOME AS IT RELATES TO GETTING INTO A BRAND-NEW HOME WITH THINGS LIKE INSPECTION FEES, AND DIFFERENT PERMITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND IT'S BEEN SOMETHING I HAVE WORKED ON FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS NOW AND IT'S SOMETHING I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON.
>> Barry: SENATOR BENSON.
>> I CHAIRED THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, SO MY FIRST PRIORITY IS GOING TO BE ROLLING OUT A BUDGET IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
HOPEFULLY WE ARE APPROACHING THE END OF THE PANDEMIC.
WE NEED A STABLE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
MAKING SURE THAT MINNESOTA'S NATION LEADING HEALTHCARE SYSTEM COMES OUT OF THIS CAPTURING THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE ARE LEARNING INTEL MEDICINE PREPARES FOR CONSOLIDATION BECAUSE THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL IMPACT FROM SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND STRESSES THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE SYSTEM, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ARE DONE IN AN ORDINARILY FASHION, AND SO WORKING ON A BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND THEN MAKING SURE THEIR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM REMAINS STABLE, FUNCTIONAL AND NATION LEADING AS WE COME OUT OF THIS HISTORIC PANDEMIC.
>> Barry: SENATOR STEWART.
>> I AGREE OF COURSE WITH OUR HIGH PRIORITIES OF GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED AND CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL AND COVID RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WITHOUT QUESTION.
BUT THE THINGS I'M GOING TO BE RAISING AT THE LEGISLATURE ARE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY IMPORTANT TO US AS A SOCIETY AND THAT'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO I REALIZE WE ARE IN A BUDGET YEAR, AND WE HAVE A BUDGET TO BALANCE, BUT IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF INVESTING IN OUR PIPES AND SEWERS AND OUR ROADS AND OUR BRIDGES.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M FOCUSING ON IN TERMS OF BRINGING TO FOCUS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE HAVING TO TIGHTEN OUR BELT AND HEAR THAT METAPHOR ALL THE TIME.
THE REALITY IS IF YOU HAVE A BIG HOLE IN YOUR ROOF, YOU CAN ONLY PUT A TARP ON IT FOR SO LONG.
WE HAVE BIG HOLES IN OUR ROOF AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE NATION.
JUST THIS MORNING, I PULLED TOGETHER A GROUP OF ENGINEERS WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION.
WE HAD 50 PEOPLE ON THE CALL.
IT WAS VERY EXCITING AND WE TALKED ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHY WE CAN'T KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ANY LONGER, AND I REALIZE WE HAVE MANY, MANY PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW, BUT WITH MY EXPERTISE IN ROADS AND BRIDGES, THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY GOING TO BE TRYING TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON.
>> Barry: WE WILL BE BACK WITH INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AND ALSO THE BONDING ISSUES THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE VERY CONCERNED WITH, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A FACTOR AS WELL.
I WANT TO KNOW WITH 50 PEOPLE ON A ZOOM CALL, DID EVERYBODY REMEMBER TO MUTE THEIR MICROPHONE?
>> WE DID.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY EMBARRASSING TOILET FLUSHES.
>> VERY GOOD.
REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD, IDENTIFY A COUPLE ISSUES FOR US THAT ARE OF CONCERN TO YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
>> YES, I MEAN FRONT AND CENTER ON EVERYONE'S MIND IS THE PANDEMIC, AND HOW DO WE AS LEGISLATORS HELP OUR CONSTITUENTS, HELP MINNESOTA ANSWER STAY SAFE AND WHETHER THESE ECONOMIC STORMS WERE CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC.
HOUSING, THAT'S AN AREA THAT I'M PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE A MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS IN OUR STATE AND FOR GOOD REASON.
PEOPLE NEED TO STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE UNDOUBTEDLY AND THAT HAS SAVED LIVES.
BUT WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE AN OFF RAMP OFF THAT MORATORIUM SO WE DON'T HAVE A HARD STOP.
THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE OF FOCUS AND GENERALLY WHEN YOU FACE A BUDGET I WOULD ARGUE OUR TOP TASK ISN'T SOLELY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
OUR TOP TASK IS TO MAKE SURE MINNESOTANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN HARMED THE MOST DURING THE PANDEMIC, CAN WEATHER THE ECONOMIC STORMS AND WEATHER THE BUDGET THROUGH THAT PLAN AND THOSE VALUES.
IT'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGING WORK, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
>> Barry: WELL, WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR VIEWERS, AND THIS QUESTION CAME UP A LITTLE BIT LAST WEEK, AND OF COURSE IT'S GAINED SPEED BECAUSE OF SOME BILL INTRODUCTIONS, AND IT'S THE EVER PRESENT RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BILL.
HOW DOES OUR PANEL FEEL ABOUT THAT, AND WHAT DOES THE PANEL THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
TWO OF OUR VIEWERS ARE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF IT.
ANOTHER VIEWER POINTS TO CONCERNS ABOUT MEDICAL ISSUES AND OTHER THINGS AND IS NOT IN FAVOR OF IT.
BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION INTRODUCTION OF THESE BILLS AND WHERE THEY MIGHT GO.
LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR STEWART.
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
>> THIS CAME UP IN MY LEGAL WOMEN VOTERS DEBATE DURING THE CAMPAIGN, AND I SAID THIS 56-YEAR-OLD GRANDMA ENGINEER IS ALL IN FAVOR OF LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.
YOUR JAW MAY DROP.
YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT.
BUT I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE FOLLY OF -- AND THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WORD.
THE UNEFFECTIVENESS OF TRYING TO ENFORCE AND CRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA, AND I THINK THAT THERE'S MANY BENEFITS TO BE HAD FOR THE STATE IN TERMS OF REVENUE GENERATION FROM TAXING MARIJUANA AND FROM REGULATING IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR IT WILL GET IN THE SENATE BECAUSE OF COURSE THE DFL IS IN THE MINORITY, BUT I WILL STAND BEHIND IT, AND I WILL WORK TOWARDS ADVANCING THAT.
I'M IN FAVOR OF IT WITH THE REGULATIONS THAT WE PUT ON OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES LIKE ALCOHOL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, BUT I CERTAINLY AM IN FAVOR OF LEGALIZING IT.
>> Barry: SENATOR BENSON, YOUR THOUGHTS ON LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
>> WE HAVE A ROBUST CANNABIS PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN MORE AND MORE EFFECTIVE FOR MINNESOTANS, AND WE HAVE IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN MAKE THERE.
I THINK REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES THAT CAUSE SOME OF THE INJUSTICES THAT WE ARE SEEING AROUND MARIJUANA IS WHERE THE FOCUS, IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES, LET'S MAKE THE FOCUS THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAYBE HAVE SMALL QUANTITIES.
THERE IS SOME INJUSTICE IN A SMALL QUANTITY OF MARIJUANA RESULTING IN CHANGING IMPRISONMENT, FINES, ET CETERA.
BUT LEGALIZATION, GUMMY BEARS WITH MARIJUANA IN IT END UP WITH THREE-YEAR-OLDS, AND WE CANNOT HAVE LEGALIZED MARIJUANA WITHOUT SOME SIGNIFICANT CONTROLS.
IF YOU GIVE CANNABIS TO A THREE-YEAR-OLD WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION, WITHOUT DOCTOR'S GUIDANCE, THERE SHOULD BE SEVERE PUNISHMENT FOR YOU.
IF YOU TRY TO SELL IT OR DISTRIBUTE IT TO KIDS IN JUNIOR HIGH, YOU WILL MESS UP THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
YOU OFFERED THEM SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID WAS NO BIG DEAL.
IF YOU SMOKE ON THE WEEKEND AND THEN GO TO WORK AND DRIVE A FORKLIFT INTO A K CO-WORKER, ITS NOT LIKE YOU HAD A BEER ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
BEFORE WE CHARGE DOWN THE PATH, LET'S UNDERSTAND WHAT LEGALIZATION LOOKS LIKE.
COLORADO HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN AUTOMOTIVE ACCIDENTS.
THEY HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS.
BEFORE WE CHARGE DOWN THE PATH, LET'S HAVE A REASONABLE DISCUSSION.
I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON ADVANCING GOOD MEDICAL CANNABIS POLICIES BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT IT CAN HAVE ON CHILDREN WHO HAVE SEIZURES, GETTING THEM BACK TO SCHOOL, ALLOWING THEM TO LEARN TO READ BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT CONSTANTLY SEIZING, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO PROCEED WITH SOME CAUTION.
I SEE REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD HAS A VISITOR.
>> IT'S LIKE THE ABC C ABC CLIPE SAW.
>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD, WHO IS THAT?
>> KELVIN, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS LUKE SKYWALKER.
>> Barry: WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE HIM JOIN US THIS EVENING.
LET'S DISCUSS REC NATION RECREAL MARIJUANA.
>> I GREW UP -- WE MOVED AWAY FROM HERE AS A KID AND LIVE IN COLORADO.
I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE A POLICE CHIEF OF A LOCAL AREA, AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, JIM, HERE ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE SEEN THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU GET PULLED OVER AFTER CONSUMING TOO MUCH ALCOHOL, THERE IS A ROADSIDE TEST YOU CAN PERFORM.
THERE ISN'T ONE FOR MARIJUANA RIGHT NOW, AND THAT HAS CAUSED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PROBLEM FOR MY FRIEND AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE OF COLORADO.
THE TAXING REVENUE, I THINK THAT THAT IS A BIT OF A PROBLEM THAT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY GET DEDICATED TO THE THINGS THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO GET DEDICATED TOWARDS.
I USED TO OWN A BUSINESS AND NOW A RECOVERING BUSINESS OWNER, AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE WORKPLACE THINGS THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TEST FOR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WRITE POLICY FOR.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IT'S STILL FEDERALLY, IT'S NOT PERMITTED.
SO IT'S A CASH BUSINESS.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE TRANSFER OF A CASH PURCHASE IN THE SHOP TO A BANK WHEN IT'S FEDERALLY AN ILLEGAL ACTION.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS FOR US TO TRY TO GET THIS DONE IN A BUDGET YEAR OR THIS BIENNIUM, I THINK IS CERTAINLY A DIFFICULT TRAFFIC.
I AGREE WITH SENATOR BENSON THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND THE MEDICAL USAGE.
I DO BELIEVE THERE ARE MEDICINAL USES FOR MARIJUANA, I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT.
FOR US TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT LEGAL FOR RECREATIONAL BEFORE WE HAVE THAT UN INDIANAPI DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT AGREES WITH THE COMPONENTS.
CERTAINLY THE TAX REVENUE IS AN ENTICING THING, BUT AT WHAT COST DOES IT COME?
I WOULD SAY I AM A NO AT THIS POINT, BUT THE LIBERTARIAN STREAK IN ME REALLY WANTS TO LISTEN.
BUT UNTIL WE GET SOME OF THESE THINGS ADDRESSED, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US TO PUSH A LAW THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
>> REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD?
>> I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER AND COAUTHOR ON THE BILL FOR ADULT USE CANNABIS, AND I THINK IT'S AN ISSUE WHERE THE LEGISLATURE HERE IS BEHIND THE PUBLIC.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC REALLY SEES AS A PARTISAN ISSUE.
WE TALK WITH FOLKS, AND LOOK AT THE STATES AROUND US, WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING AT RED STATES OR BLUE STATES.
THIS IS SORT OF THE PATH.
OUR DRUG LAWS RELATED TO MARIJUANA SIMPLY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
THE BALANCE OF THE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT.
WE HAVE DEEP RACIAL INIQUITIES, AND AS WE DO MOVE TO ADULT USE CANNABIS, I THINK THAT WE CAN DO SO IN A WAY THAT REGULATES THE MARKET AND WE CAN EXPANDING EXPUNGERECORDS.
THE REVENUE THAT MIGHT COME WITH US, AND IT'S VERY LOW ON THE LIST AS THE REASON TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE REASON TO MOVE FORWARD IS IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO WITH THE HEALTH AND JUSTICE AND FREEDOM OF MINNESOTA.
>> Barry: WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.
VERY QUICKLY, SENATOR STEWART ADDRESSED IT BRIEFLY, AND SENATOR BENSON, DO YOU SEE -- HOW DO YOU SEE THIS DEVELOPING IN THE SESSION?
DO YOU SEE IT AS HAVING LEGS TO PASS OR NOT?
>> NOT A FULL LEGALIZATION, AND I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME APPETITE FOR CHANGES WITH CRIMINAL STATUTES BUT FULL LEGALIZATION IS GOING TO HAVE A VERY TOUGH ROW TO HOE: WE DON'T HAVE A ROADSIDE TESTS.
DRIVERS DRIVING HEAVY EQUIPMENT HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY ARE COMING TO WORK AT AN IMPAIRED LEVEL FOLLOWING CONSUMPTION.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS TIERING DOWN THAT TEENAGERS END UP HAVING MORE ACCESS, AND WE KNOW IT IS IMPACTFUL TO THE MENTAL HEALTH OF A DEVELOPING BRAIN.
IN FACT IT CAN PUSH PSYCHOSIS FORWARD.
>> Barry: SENATOR STEWART, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT?
>> YEAH, I HAVE NO ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET VERY FAR, AND TO REPRESENTATIVE NASH'S POINT, WE OF COURSE HAVE STUFF TO DO.
WE ARE NOT RAMMING IT THROUGH OR PUSHING THIS THROUGH.
I THINK REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD IS RIGHT.
THE PUBLIC IS AHEAD OF US ON THIS.
I THINK WITHOUT A QUESTION, THIS IS A RESEARCH HERE, AND A GATHERING DATA AND MOVING FORWARD AT APPROPRIATE PAYS IS GREAT.
BUT WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE, BUT I DON'T EXPECT MUCH THIS SESSION.
>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE NASH IN THE HOUSE?
I FIND MYSELF UNFORTUNATELY IN THE MINORITY.
I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE THIS COME TO FLOOR AS A BILL.
OUR CAUCUS WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE, AND HONESTLY I APPRECIATE SENATOR STEWART'S COMMENT ON THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ADDRESSED AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY DFL HOUSE COLLEAGUES TO REMEMBER THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GET A LAW PASSED DOESN'T MEAN IT'S READY TO GO IN THE SOCIETY THAT YOU ARE THERE TO GOVERN, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A ROADSIDE TEST OR UNDERPINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED THAT IT'S RECKLESS.
>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SESSION, PARTICULARLY ON THE MARIJUANA ISSUE.
>> I DO HOPE THE HOUSE WILL MOVE FORWARD AND IT WILL PASS THE HOUSE FLOOR, AND I FULLY EXPECT IT TO BE A BIPARTISAN VOTE.
THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED LAST YEAR AFTER HEARINGS AND PUBLIC INPUT ACROSS THE STATE, PROBABLY MORE WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS BILL THAN MANY POLICY BILLS AT THE LEGISLATURE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE DO NEED A FULL COMMITTEE PROCESS TO VET THE ISSUES, ET CETERA, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN MOVE THE BILL FORWARD AND PASS IT WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
I WOULDN'T GIVE UP HOPE ON PASSING IT, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF MINNESOTANS SHARING THEIR STORIES WITH LEGISLATORS.
IF YOU ARE LISTENING AND YOU BELIEVE WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD, E-MAIL AND CALL YOUR SENATOR AND LET THEM KNOW, AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, TOO.
>> INTERESTING WE NO LONGER SAY MARIJUANA.
WE SAY CANNABIS.
WE HAVE CHANGED THE TERMINOLOGY TO MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE IN THE CONVERSATION.
>> Barry: WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER THAT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE IN-HOUSE -- I SHOULDN'T SAY IN-HOUSE, CONSTITUTIONAL.
BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING WELL UNDERSTOOD BY THE PUBLIC AND IT'S REGENT ELECTIONS, AND THIS VIEWER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE VIEWER CHARACTERIZES AS UNDERREPRESENTED UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES IN GREATER MINNESOTA, NOTING SPECIFICALLY ROCHESTER, MORRIS AND CROOKSTON AND VERY LIKELY DULUTH.
THE VIEWER IS WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME CHANGE IN THE WAY REGENTS ARE SELECTED.
THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN AROUND A WHILE, AND THERE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN CHANGES IN THE PROCESS OVER THE YEARS.
SENATOR BENSON, YOU ARE OUR VETERAN HERE.
LET'S START WITH YOU.
WHAT ABOUT REGENTS ELECTIONS?
ARE THERE GOING TO BE ANY CHANGES?
>> I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY CHANGES IN LAW, BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, I THINK LISTENING IN PARTICULAR TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO JOIN THE BOARD AS A REGENT, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE PAST OR THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO TAKE THE POSITION, ASKING THIS QUESTION SAYING HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BRING THOSE CAMPUSES INTO A DEEPER CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THEY SERVE MINNESOTANS, AND AS WE SAW EARLY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE ARE DISTANCE WORKING, AND OUR CAMPUSES ARE GANS LEARNING, SO DO WE NEED TO TRANSFORM THE WAY OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM SERVES MINNESOTANS BASED ON WHAT WE ARE ALL GOING THROUGH, AND AS PEOPLE CHANGE THE WAY THEY WORK AND WHERE THEY WORK, THEN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM NEEDS TO START ALIGNING HOW THEY WORK, AND I THINK OUR GREATER MINNESOTA CAMPUSES HAVE SERVED SPECIFIC NEEDS FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEY CAN DO THAT, BUT IT'S MOVING TOWARDS BEING AN I.T.
CAMPUS.
HOW GREAT WOULD IT BE IF WE COULD HAVE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT IN GREATER MINNESOTA BY LEVERAGING THAT CAMPUS.
>> REPRESENTATIVE NASH, I'M GOING TO GO TO YOU IN PART BECAUSE OF THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S UNDERREPRESENTATION AND NEED SOME CHANGE HERE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I SERVE AS A TRUSTEE AS A COLLEGE MYSELF, AND ONE OF THE BENEFITS WE HAVE ON THAT BOARD IS A DIVERSITY OF VOICES AND I THINK IF WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE APPLYING AND HAVE APPLIED TO BE REGENTS, HAVING THAT OUT OF STATE VOICE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO DO COME OUT OF STATE THAT ARE WORKING THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
I'M NOT QUITE IN THE OUT STATE, BUT MOST PEOPLE TO WACONIA THINK I LIVE IN THE STICKS.
IT'S IMPORTANT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE PEOPLE IN MORRIS OR DULUTH, OR WHEREVER THEY FOUND THEMSELVES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, BRING VALUABLE INFLUENCE, BRING THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR AND AROUND WHO ARE GOING TO ENTER THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE VOICE OF SOMEBODY WHO IS ALMOST STRICTLY METRO CENTRIC IS MORE VALUABLE THAN SOMEBODY FROM THE OUT STATE.
I THINK THAT SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE APPROPRIATE AND APPORTION REPRESENTATION FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF WHAT MANY PEOPLE THINK IS THE ONLY UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA -- I ACTUALLY HAVE FRIENDS TO SURPRISE TO FIND OUT THERE WERE DIFFERENT CAMPUSES.
I THOUGHT IT WAS SHOCKING.
I THINK WE NEED TO WORK BETTER AND MORE DELIBERATELY TO FIND A WAY TO THOSE OUT OF STATE VOICES REPRESENTING FAMILIES AND STUDENTS ON THE REGENTS BOARD.
BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
THEY ARE THERE TO HELP SET POLICY AND DIRECTION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EVENTUALLY GOING TO LEAVE THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, GET THAT PIECE OF PAPER TO EXPLOIT THE COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE OR GO INTO LAW OR WHATEVER AND THEY NEED TO RECOGNIZE WHAT THOSE STUDENTS HAVE ACETAMINOPHEN SETS AND ASPIRATIONS.
>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I'M SERVING ON THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, AND I'M KIND OF GETTING A CRASH COURSE IN REGENTS AND PARTICIPATED IN ONE OF THE GO ANSWERER LAST TERM AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS POLITICALLY SPEAKING IS A BIT, I WOULD SAY, ODD.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE GOAL IS TO ELECT REGENTS THAT REPRESENT AND HELP GOVERNOR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, AND OF COURSE WE WANT TO HAVE VOICES FROM ACROSS THE STATE, VOICES OF ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES, AND THIS YEAR, I BELIEVE, WE ARE ELECTING FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING THE FIRST DISTRICT IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, SEVENTH DISTRICT IN WESTERN MINNESOTA, FOURTH DISTRICT, AND THE SIXTH DISTRICT, I BELIEVE.
THREE OUT OF THE FOUR OF YOU ARE GREATER MINNESOTA, AND YOU WILL BE ELECTING THESE FOLKS THERE.
BUT AS TO THE PROCESS, I THINK SOME OF THE CONCERN HAS BEEN WE HAVE THIS STEP BY STEP PROCESS, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY, THE HOUSE AND SENATE CAN EITHER TAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS OR GO HOME, TAKE A VEER, LEFT, RIGHT, AND I THINK THE GOAL SHOULD BE REGENTS SHOULD REALLY HAVE THE YOU AND CAMPUS ACROSS THE STATE IN MIND AND THEIR FUTURE IN MIND, AND I THINK WE HAVE GOOD APPLICANTS THAT HAVE STEPPED UP TO SERVE THIS YEAR.
>> Barry: I THINK RESPONSE SPECIFICALLY TO THE QUESTION THE VIEWER ASKED, WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE PANEL, SPEAK UP IF I'M SUMMARIZING THIS CORRECTLY, THE CURRENT SELECTION PROCESS IS GOING TO BE USED THIS YEAR AND THERE LIKELY WILL BE NO CHANGES.
IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING?
>> YES.
>> Barry: I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF.
>> I HAVE TAUGHT FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE FOUR CAMPUSES AND WHAT SENATOR BENSON SAID IS EXACTLY RIGHT.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE THINK OF THE UNIVERSITY AS A WHOLE AS FIVE DIFFERENT BODIES, HAVING TAUGHT THERE FOR SO LONG, AND I REALLY DO SEE THE EMPHASIS ON THE MAIN CAMPUS HERE, AND THE MAIN THREE CAMPUSES HERE IN THE METRO AREA, BUT I HAVE TO SAY AT LEAST FROM AN ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE WE WORKED HARD WITH DULUTH TO GET A -- SATELLITE CIVIL ENGINEERING CAMPUS, AND PROGRAM GOING UP IN DULUTH BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZED THAT TO BE STRONG WE CAN'T JUST HAVE ONE LOCATION FOR EACH ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
WHEN I WAS DIRECTOR OF THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY WITH ROCHESTER ON SOME OTHER APPLIED PROGRAMS, AND SO I THINK THE REGENTS THAT COME FROM GREATER MINNESOTA CAN MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS, AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY SMART WAY TO LEVERAGE THE FACILITIES AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S MANY, MANY -- I'M WITH ENGINEERING, SO I'M GOING TO USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE.
BUT THERE'S MANY PEOPLE, STUDENTS AND PARENTS, WHO DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.
TWIN CITIES CAMPUS BECAUSE OF SIZE OR DISTANCE FROM HOME, WHATEVER, SO I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE OFFER OTHER OPTIONS.
THE ENGINEERING CAMPUS AT DULUTH HAS REALLY FLOURISHED, AND FRANKLY I WOULD SEND MY CHILD THERE, AND I DID SEND MY CHILD THERE, BY THE WAY, AND MAINLY I DIDN'T WANT HER, YOU KNOW, AT THE CAMPUS I WAS AT.
I THINK THERE'S MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN THE VALUE OF THE GREATER MINNESOTA CAMPUSES AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO I'M NEW HERE, AND I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE REGENT SELECTION OTHER THAN WHAT I EXPERIENCED SO FAR.
>> Barry: WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM THE VIEWER, AND WE WERE TALKING WITH LEGISLATORS THAT DEAL WITH MATTERS THAT ARE ENACTED INTO LAW, AND THIS VIEWER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LINE FREE PROJECT IN LIGHT OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE RECENTLY MADE RELATIVE TO THE KEYSTONE PROJECT IN D.C., AND THIS VIEWER WOULD BE CONCERNED IF SOMETHING SIMILAR WERE TO BE HAPPENING HERE.
THE WAY I WILL PHRASE THE QUESTION, SETTING ASIDE THE LEGAL ISSUES, WHICH FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, I DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN DISCUSSING, BUT SETTING THOSE ASIDE, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK OUR PANEL, WILL THIS SESSION FEATURE ANY LEGISLATION RELATIVE TO THE LINE FREE PROCESS, AND I WILL START WITH YOU, SENATOR STEWART, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF AN INFRASTRUCTURE QUESTION.
>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE'S NOT A LOT WE CAN DO AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AROUND LINE 3.
I THINK IF ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO IMPEDE THAT PROGRESS, IT WOULD BE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
I WOULD NOT EXPECT TO SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN AT THE STATE LEVEL.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS PROTESTS HAPPENING, AND SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THOSE, BUT AS AN ENGINEER, PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THE PERMITTING PROCESS, I CAN'T ENVISION A WAY THAT AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE WE COULD HAVE ANY IMPACT THERE.
MAYBE SENATOR BENSON KNOWS.
>> Barry: SENATOR BENSON, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
>> THEY HAVE JUMPED THROUGH EVERY HOOP.
THEY HAVE DONE ALL THE THINGS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.
THEY KEEP CHECKING BOXES AND MORE THINGS KEEP GETTING ADDED TO THE LIST BY AGENCIES THAT RESPECTFULLY AREN'T FOLLOWING THE PROCESS THAT THE LEGISLATURE AUTHORIZED.
FINALLY WE HAVE GOTTEN ACROSS WHAT WE THINK IS THE FINAL STEP, AND THE FEDS ARE GOING TO MESS WITH THIS.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ON WHAT THEY DID WITH KEYSTONE.
THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY TO MESS THINGS UP, STOP THE PROGRESS, I SHOULDN'T SAY MESS THINGS UP.
I THINK KEYSTONE WAS IMPORTANT.
CANADA THOUGHT KEYSTONE WAS IMPORTANT, AND LINE 3 IS IMPORTANT TO NORTHERN MINNESOTA, TO THE TAXPAYERS, TO SAFELY TRANSPORTING THROUGH NEW PIPELINE INSTEAD OF AN OLD PIPELINE.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO STOP THE MOVEMENT Z OF OIL BY SHUTTING DN THE PIPELINE.
IT WILL GO THROUGH THE OLD ONE.
ULTIMATELY THIS NEEDS TO GET DONE, BUT WASHINGTON, I'M FAIRLY CONFIDENT, WILL TRY TO MESS THIS ONE UP.
>> REPRESENTATIVE NASH.
>> THANK YOU.
WHILE I AGREE WITH SENATOR BENSON AND SENATOR STEWART, THE MOTION HAS BEEN STARTED.
THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.
I WAS HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH FRIENDS AT NEVADA STATE, AND WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO REPLACE AN AGING PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
HAVING A CIVIL ENGINEER HERE, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS, BEST MAN AT MY WEDDING WAS A CIVIL ENGINEER, AND IT WAS HIM I WAS TALKING TO, AND IT WAS CURIOUS TO HIM WHY YOU WOULD GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO REPLACE SOMETHING THAT IS AGING AND ECOLOGICAL DISASTER POTENTIAL OUT OF AN OLDER PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WOULDN'T BE IMPOTENCE ENOUGH TO REPLACE WITH A NEW PIPELINE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA, THAT'S A LOT OF JOBS IN A TIME WHEN THEY ARE HURTING AND TO SENATOR BENSON'S PERSPECTIVE, THEY HAVE JUMPED THROUGH EVERY POSSIBLE HOOP, AND THEY HAVE DOTTED EVERY I AND CROSSED EVERY T BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE FEDS AND OTHERS ADD MORE I'S TO DOT AND T'S TO CROSS.
A LITTLE BIT LIKE DOING CHORES FOR MY MOM BEFORE I COULD GO OUT AND PLAY BASEBALL.
I WOULD FINISH THE LIST, AND SAY I'M DONE.
SHE WOULD SAY WAIT.
THERE'S MORE.
THERE'S MORE YOU CAN DO TO GO OUT AND PLAY.
I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE.
THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE SUPPOSED TO DO, AND NOW THEY KEEP FINDING MORE TO IMPEDE THE PROCESS.
>> DO YOU AGREE THIS IS NOT LIKELY TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL IN THIS SESSION?
>> LEGISLATIVELY IT WILL PROBABLY WON'T.
FROM AN ADVOCACY PERSPECTIVE I'M IN FAVOR OF IT AND WE BEAT THE DRUM TO SAY THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING.
POTENTIAL DISASTER IS HIGH, AND WE ARE IN FAVOR OF PUTTING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO WORK TO BUILD THIS PIPELINE.
>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH OTHERS THAT I'M NOT SURE THIS IS GOING TO BE A SPECIFIC BILL OR LEGISLATIVE ISSUE THAT COMES BEFORE THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.
I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LINE 3 IN PARTICULAR AS RELATED TO TREES I SAY WE HAVE WITH OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, AND AS I UNDERSTAND, IF FULLY IMPLEMENTED THIS LINE 3 LIEP LINE WITH A WOULD DOUBLE THE QUANTITY OF PETROLEUM AT A TIME WE SHOULD TRANSITION TO CLEANER ENERGY.
THOSE ARE THE POINTS OF CONCERNS.
BUT AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE IT'S GOING TO BE BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.
>> Barry: LET'S GO TO ANOTHER INFRASTRUCTURE QUESTION.
I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, SENATOR STEWART.
THE QUESTION HERE FROM A VIEWER IN CHASKA, A VIEW ABOUT FIBEROPTICS, AND THIS VIEWER NOTES LIMITED CONNECTIVITY ISSUES THAT WE EXPERIENCED IN GREATER MINNESOTA, AND AS AN ASIDE WE HAD AN ISSUE IN THIS PROGRAM WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE LITCHFIELD AREA AND WE ENDED UP TALKING TO HIM ON THE PHONE.
IT OBVIOUSLY IS A CONCERN.
I WOULD NOTE THE STARLING PROJECT IS A PIECE OF THIS CONVERSATION.
IT'S NOT JUST FIBEROPTICS BUT OTHER THINGS.
INFRASTRUCTURE MORE GENERALLY BUT ALSO THIS QUESTION, SPECIFICALLY SENATOR STEWART, AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE CIVIL ENGINEERING BACKGROUND.
>> TODAY WHEN I HAD MY LISTENING SESSION WITH MY ADMINISTRATION FRIENDS, WE SHOWED A CROSS SECTION OF A ROAD, AND EVERYBODY SEES THE ROAD AND YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH STUFF IS UNDER THAT ROAD, INCLUDING WATER, SEWER, TELEPHONE.
AS ENGINEERS, AND I'M A CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER, THE ROAD IS EASY TO BUILD, IT'S THE UTILITIES WHICH CAUSES THE MOST HEARTACHE.
THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY HERE.
SO I WOULD SAY FIBEROPTICS IS BECOMING MORE -- I CAN'T THINK OF A JOB RECENTLY WHERE WE WERE DIGGING UP A ROAD AND THERE WASN'T FIBEROPTICS THERE.
NOT ONLY IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE DEAL WITH NOW, AND YEAH, I CONSIDER IT PART OF MY DUTY SO MAKE SURE IT'S TAKEN CARE OF BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY.
IF WE ARE BUILDING NEW ROADWAYS, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FRANKLY TO NOT INCLUDE FIBER OPTIC WHEN THE ROAD IS BUILT UP OR DUG UP SO THAT WE HAVE A SAFE AND PROTECTED WAY TO GET IT TO THOSE AREAS THAT NEED FIBEROPTICS OR THAT NEED BROADBAND.
I THINK RIGHT NOW, TOO, WE DEFINITELY IN MY INDUSTRY ARE REFRAMING BROADBAND, AND INTERNET SERVICE AS A UTILITY, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK OF IT THAT WAY, BECAUSE IT'S NO LONGER A LUXURY, WE HAVE TO HAVE CONNECTIVITY LIKE WE HAVE TO HAVE SEWER AND WATER AND ACCESS.
MORE AND MORE WE ARE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME, SEE CHILDREN LEARNING FROM HOME, AND FROM OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR FIRE RESCUE, ET CETERA, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY HAVE THE SAME ACCESS.
I WAS TALKING TO A CONSTITUENT AND I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HIM.
I ASKED MY LA WHERE IS THAT GUY FROM?
HE'S FROM GOLDEN VALLEY AND HE HAD CRAPPY INTERNET.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
SO I THINK THERE'S THE MYTH IF YOU ARE IN THE METRO AREA YOU HAVE GOOD CONNECTIVITY, AND THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
AS A CIVIL ENGINEER, I'M GOING TO BE DEFINING BROADBAND AS ONE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONNECTIVITY IN PARTICULAR.
YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH SENATOR STEWART, AND I WAS VERY PLEASED THAT GOVERNOR WALZ INCLUDES $50 MILLION FOR HIS BROADBAND IN THIS BUDGET.
IT'S THE KIND OF INVESTMENT WE NEED TO BE MAKING FOR THE LONG-TERM.
I ALSO WANT TO BIGG PIGGYBACK ON SOMETHING SENATOR STEWART SAID, IT ISN'T CLEAR WE HAVE CHALLENGES TO BUILDING OUT ACCESS TO BRAD BAND, MINNESOTA, AND IN PARTICULAR OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED BETTER INTERNET.
WE HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT OF THAT.
WHILE KIDS ARE TRYING TO GO TO SCHOOL VIA ZOOM THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR AS WELL, IT REALLY SHOULD BE AN INVESTMENT.
IN GENERAL IT'S TIME TO INVEST IN AN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I HOPE WE CAN PASS A ROBUST BONDING BILL, AND INTEREST RATES LOW, WE NEED TO INJECT INTO OUR ECONOMY, AND THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE BONDING BILL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE NASH, INFRASTRUCTURE I.T.?
>> WORKING FOR THE LAST 16, 17 YEARS, AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF CONNECTIVITY, AND MY PER SECRETARYIVE IS I'M NOT SURE IT'S THE GOVERNMENT'S JOB TO PROVIDE THAT, AND I BELIEVE FINDING PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO DO THAT AND I THINK JUSTICE, ANDERSON, YOU TALKED ABOUT SPACEX AND A PRIVATE COMPANY CREATING A DIFFERENT AVENUE TO GET CONNECTED ISN'T NECESSARILY UNDER A ROAD TO SENATOR STEWART'S POINT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT THE JOB OF A GOVERNMENT IS TO PROVIDE THE THINGS THAT IT'S TASKED WITH, AND IT'S ODD THE CALLER IS FROM CHASKA BECAUSE ONE OF MY TOP INITIATIVES IS MAKING SURE HIGHWAY 212 IS CARRIED ALL THE WAY OUT FROM ONE POINT IN CARVE EVERY COUNTY TO THE END POINT IN CARVER COUNTY BECAUSE IT'S A DANGEROUS ROAD, AND THAT WOULD BE MY TOP INFRASTRUCTURE POINT IS LET'S BUILD THE ROADS AND LET'S MAKE IT EASY FOR COMPANIES WHO WANT TO BRING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET TO DO SO, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GOVERNMENT'S JOB.
>> Barry: SENATOR BENSON YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CONNECTIVITY ISSUE AND INFRASTRUCTURE MORE GENERALLY.
>> ONCE AGAIN, GOVERNMENT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOME LEVEL OF INFRASTRUCTURE, CLEAN WATER, ROADS, BUT AS OUR COMMUTES CHANGE, TELEHEALTH BECOMES MORE PREVALENT, HOPEFULLY WE MOVE TO FLEXIBLE LEARNING MODELS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON THIS STUDENT AND NOT THE CONSTITUTION, AND YOU ARE GOING TO NEED SUPPORT FOR THOSE THINGS.
USUALLY REPRESENTATIVE NASH AND I ARE VERY MUCH ON THE SAME PAGE.
IN THIS CASE IF WE ARE GOING TO PUT SOME BACKBONE, SOME ARCHITECTURE UNDER ROADS AS WE BUILD THEM AND IF WE ARE GOING TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT HAVING RAPID ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AS PART OF A BACKBONE, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY USING, AS YOU MENTIONED SPACEX, STAR LINK, RAPIDLY EMERGING TECHNOLOGY, AND BLUE HORIZON IS GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE PUT INTO SPACE.
THERE CAN BE SOME BLEPPED OF SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE BUT ALSO INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TOR TO EMERGING CHOICES.
IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE AN INDIVIDUAL'S CHOICE AND I THINK IN THE VENEER FUTURE HOW THEY ACCESS SOME PRETTY EFFECTIVE INTERNET.
>> Barry: SENATOR STEWART I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU.
YOU MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING HERE.
I ALSO WANT TO MOVE ON TO YOUR WORK ON THE BONDING COMMITTEE AND SEE WHAT YOU SEE DEVELOPING IN THAT AREA IN THIS SESSION, AND LET'S TAKE A MINUTE OR TWO JUST TO RUN THROUGH THAT.
SENATOR STEWART.
>> I AM CERTAINLY THE MOST JUNIOR PERSON ON THE BONDING COMMITTEE.
BUT WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASKED TO CONSIDER SEVERAL REQUESTS FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES, FROM HENNEPIN COUNTY, ET CETERA, TO FUND PROJECTS THAT ARE LONG OVERDUE AND FRANKLY DON'T HAVE MANY OTHER AVENUES FOR FUNDING AND SO I AM LEARNING FROM MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT SOME OF THEM FIND EARMARKING DISTASTEFUL AND THEY DON'T WANT TO SET ASIDE MONEY FROM A GIVEN PROJECT, BUT I'M ALSO SEEING THE EVIDENCE THAT THESE ARE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT UNLESS WE COVER THEM IN A BONDING BILL THEY WILL BE COVERED.
SO AT THE RISK OF SAYING ANYTHING THAT IS NOT QUITE RIGHT, BECAUSE I'M STILL LEARNING ABOUT THIS, I WOULD LOVE IT IF WE WOULD HAVE A BONDING BILL THIS YEAR.
AS SMALL AS IT MAY BE.
WE HAVE THE FIRST MEETING TOMORROW, AND I SHOULD FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT.
TO REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD'S POINT, I FULLY SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHERE WE HAVE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT.
WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS LITERALLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHO ARE LOOKING FOR WORK AND WHEN WE KNOW THAT EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON A BONDING PROJECT PROJECT BRINGS BACK 7 TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY THROUGH PAYROLL, THROUGH GAS AND OTHER VEHICLE TYPES OF -- MY HUSBAND JUST BROUGHT ME DINNER.
HOW SWEET, THROUGH OTHER TYPES OF EXPENSES, THROUGH SALES TAX FRANKLY, AND THROUGH LODGING, AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY SMART TIME TO LOOK AT EVEN A SMALL BONDING BILL.
SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.
>> Barry: SENATOR BENSON, TYPICALLY WE HAVE SEEN NEXT YEAR IS TYPICALLY THE MAJOR BONDING SESSION.
BUT IT'S FAIR TO SAY DURING YEARS I HAVE BEEN DOING THE PROGRAM OFF YEAR TYPICALLY OR VERY OFTEN, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY, THERE IS AT LEAST A SMALL BONDING BILL.
DO YOU THINK WE WILL SEE ONE THIS YEAR AND YOUR COMMENT ON PROJECTS AND SO FORTH THAT WILL GET THERE.
>> GIVEN THAT SENATOR BATCH HASI GUESS THERE'S GOING TO BE A SMALL BONDING BILL.
I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY A GOOD POLICY TO BORROW AND BORROW AND BORROW, BUT IF WE CAN FIND SOME PRACTICAL THINGS TO DO, IF WE CAN CATCH UP ON SOME OF OUR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A VERY PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF A BONDING BILL, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT OVER BIG BANG SORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
WE ALSO HAVE A BUDGET TO PASS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO DEBATE AND PASS BILLS IN A DISTANCE LEGISLATING ENVIRONMENT.
I WOULD LOOK AT A DEFERRED MAINTENANCE BONDING BILL.
BUT SENATOR BAKK IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.
>> Barry: HE'S BEEN A GUEST HERE MANY TIMES, AND THAT'S A FAIR REPRESENTATION.
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT BOTH SENATORS SAID.
ONE ASPECT IN PARTICULAR THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS HOUSING.
I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN PASS HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS HAD A LOT OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND CAN HELP LEVERAGE PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO BUILD HOUSING THAT MEETS COMMUNITY NEEDS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.
ONE THING WITH HOUSING, THE NEEDS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT BUT WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CHALLENGES IN THE METRO AREA, AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE, AND HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS WILL ALLOW OR IS JUST AN EXCELLENT TOOL TO LEVERAGE PRIVATE INVESTMENT, AND WE MAY HAVE HAD AFFORDABLE CRISIS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND IT'S DEEPENING NOW, AND THIS WOULD BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS IN A MEDIUM SIZED BONDING BILL.
>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE NASH, SMALL OR MEDIUM SIZE BONDING BILL AND MAYBE TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE, AND OTHER THAN HIGHWAY 212 AND SOMEONE GOING FROM APPLE VALLEY TO HUTCHISON, AND I HAVE A INVESTED AND SELFISH INTEREST, AND YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT.
>> APPARENTLY EVERY YEAR IS A BONDING BILL NOW, AND I THINK IF WE ARE GOING TO TALK BONDING, AND I WILL PICK ON SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE, MEMBERS NEED TO HAVE BONDING CHAIRS AND BONDING COMMITTEE MEMBERS LISTEN TO ACTUAL NEEDS MORE INTENTLY.
IT IS A VERY VERY POLITICIZED .
CIVIL ENGINEER HERE, AND YOU CAN WEIGH IN ON THIS.
PART OF THE MATERIALS BUILT THAT USED TO BUILD THIS LEVY BACK IN THE 60s ARE APPARENTLY OLD CARS, AND THEY HAVE A LEVEE THAT'S IN THE CITY OF CARVER WITH SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS, AND I HAVE HAD THIS REQUEST IN FOR YEARS, BUT BECAUSE I AM REPUBLICAN AND A VERY STRONG REPUBLICAN DISTRICT APPARENTLY THAT'S NOT INTERESTING ENOUGH TO PUT THAT ISSUE INTO A BONDING BILL, AND YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THAT THE LONGER YOU ARE HERE.
IF WE ARE TO DO A BONDING BILL, WE NEED TO ACTUALLY HAVE AN HONEST ASSESSMENT OF WHAT IS WORTHY OF BEING BONDED AND I POINTED OUT AT THE END OF THE LAST SESSION WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT BONDING BILLS, WE HAVE AMPHITHEATERS IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS, AND WE HAVE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE CLEARLY FLUFFY.
I WILL USE OTHER WORDS AND OTHER AUDIENCES, BUT THEN WE HAVE THINGS LIKE THE CITY OF CARVER THAT NEEDS A LEVEE AND OTHERS THAT THEY ARE DOING WASTEWATER WITH, AND A WASTEWATER TREATMENT BAG WHERE THEY PUT Z IT INTO THE BAGS, AND LET'S HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FACT THAT EVERY DISTRICT HAS A NEED FOR SOMETHING AND NOT JUST MAKE IT SO THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE LOUDEST OR THE SMARTEST OR THE PRETTIEST GET SOMETHING IN THE BONDING BILL.
PARTICULARLY IN A YEAR RIGHT NOW WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH A BUDGET, AND I THINK TOO WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE INIQUITIES AROUND VACCINATIONS.
THERE ARE BIGGER THINGS WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT, AND WE CAN LEAVE BONDING TO NEXT YEAR.
>> REPRESENTATIVE NASH, I AGREE WITH YOU, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN.
I DON'T THINK INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD BE A POLITICAL ISSUE.
I ALSO KNOW FROM FRANKLY BEING AN ENGINEER BUT ALSO TEACHING THAT THERE ARE OBJECTIVE WAYS TO MEASURE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN TERMS OF NEED AND VALUE, AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT OBJECTIVITY CAME INTO THE DISCUSSION, AND WE DON'T HAVE BRIDGES TO NOWHERE.
WE LOOK AT TRAFFIC COUNTS.
WE LOOK AT OTHER DATA THAT SUPPORTS THAT.
SO I DO KNOW YOUR COUNTY ENGINEER, AND I WILL TALK TO LYNN AND GET DETAILS ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS LEVEE THAT'S BEEN BUILT ON OLD TRUCKS, AND I'M NOT SURPRISED.
I WAS THE ENGINEER AT THE AIRPORT.
WE BUILT THE AIRPORT ON A DUMP, SO I HAVE SEEN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING, INCLUDING BODY PARTS, SO I AGREE WITH YOU.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE MORE ENGINEERS IN THE SENATE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, IMPORTING SOME OBJECTIVITY AT SOME OF THESE DECISIONS.
>> SOMEBODY SHOULD GIVE HER A GAVEL.
>> I HAVE GOT A PEN.
I HAVE GOT A CALCULATOR.
>> DON'T GIVE THE GAVEL, BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD LOSE THE MAJORITY IN THE.
>> SENATOR BENSON, CAN YOU TELL US QUICKLY WHEN WE ARE GOING TO GET NUMBERS FROM FINANCE AND THE DEADLINES ON BUDGET ISSUES.
>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T REMEMBER THOSE RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
MARCH 20th WOULD BE THE THIRD FINANCE DEADLINE, AND SO THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR BUDGET FULLY ROLLED OUT AND VISIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC.
>> Barry: ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT THOUGHT IN MIND, WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR PROGRAM.
I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING, FOR OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT PUBLIC POLISHES OF INTEREST TO MINNESOTANS AND I WANT TO REMIND ALL OF OUR VIEWERS WE WILL BE WITH YOU NEXT WEEK AND ALL THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOW UNTIL THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US AND GOOD NIGHT.
>>> THERE'S MUCH MORE ABOUT "YOUR LEGISLATORS" ONLINE AT PIONEER.ORG/"YOUR LEGISLATORS".
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