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

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING LATE AS THE CLOCK TICKS DOWN.

WE'LL HAVE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS RUN UP AND JOIN US LIVE.

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

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES: A LEADING PRODUCER OF THE FUELS MINNESOTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY.

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

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

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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

I'M MARY LAHAMMER, COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY, WHERE YOU CAN PROBABLY HEAR BEHIND ME LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING, LATE INTO THE NIGHT.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING US LIVE AT 7:00, ON THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL, WE WILL RETURN YOU TO THE FLOOR ACTION AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE WITH THIS SHOW.

AS YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL, THERE'S JUST DAYS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND A LOT OF INTRIGUE AHEAD.

WE HAVE HOUSE LEADERS HERE IN THE GALLERY, WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM IN JUST MOMENTS.

WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM ANOTHER RETIRING LAWMAKER.

THIS ONE'S A DEMOCRAT WHO ORIGINALLY WON A VERY CLOSE RACE.

AND WE'LL HEAR FROM A REPUBLICAN FRESHMAN, THIS IS THE LAST ONE IN HERE, IT'S A SPECIAL ELECTION FRESHMAN.

HEAR FROM HIM LATER.

BUT, FIRST, ACTION HAS BEEN ON AND OFF AGAIN IN CRUNCH TIME HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

>> HEY, HEY!

>> Mary: SUPPORTERS OF THE LONG-AWAITED EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION DID NOT GET THE FLOOR THEY EXPECTED IN THE HOUSE, DELAYS AND DEBATES ON OTHER BILLS, BUT THEY HOPE TO PRESS FORWARD.

>> WE ARE PASSING THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR.

[ Cheers ] >> SO TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE HISTORY AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MINNESOTA EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

MINNESOTANS BELIEVE IN FAIRNESS.

THEY BELIEVE IN EQUALITY.

THEY OPPOSE DISCRIMINATION.

>> Mary: SO, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN EXACTLY WHEN AND HOW THEY'D HOPED.

>> AS THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF ROE APPROACHED US LAST YEAR, WE SAW WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DID.

WE SAW THAT A CASE THAT WAS AS GOOD AS LAW TO US WAS OVERTURNED AND RIGHTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM MANY MANY INDIVIDUALS.

LOOKING TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR BODILY AUTONOMY, WHETHER YOU'RE SOMEBODY WHO IS LOOKING FOR GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE OR YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO'S LOOKING TO HAVE ACCESS TO AN ABORTION, WE SAW THOSE RIGHTS BEING INFRINGED UPON.

>> I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR UNDERSTANDING AND SEEING THE TRANS COMMUNITY AND BEING WELCOMING US INTO THIS WORK.

WE DESPERATELY NEED THE INCLUSION.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> WE'VE SEEN HOW E.R.A.s WITH A LACK OF CLARITY AVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT, BUT TEXAS HAS HAD AN E.R.A.

FOR DECADES.

IT DOES NOT EXPLICITLY PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

AND AS A RESULT, PREGNANT INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN DEFENSELESS AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY LAWS THAT STRIP AWAY AUTONOMY AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

>> Mary: THE HOUSE BILL PUTS THE BALLOT ON THE IN 2026.

THE SENATE PASSED THE BILL WITH FEWER PROTECTIONS FOR WOMEN AND THEIR MARGIN IS STILL SLIM ON SOMETHING IN THE WORKS FOR GENERATIONS.

>> I'M VERY EXCITED.

[ Laughter ] I'M VERY EXCITED.

THIS WILL FEEL LIKE I'VE WOKEN UP OUT OF A VERY LONG ILLNESS.

>> WHAT E'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY IS THAT IN MANY CASES, WE HAVE SEEN IN REAL LIFE, FOLKS OF ALL LEVELS WHO HAVE ENDURED DISCRIMINATION AND DISREGARD AND DISRESPECT.

THAT OUR LAWS HAVE NOT ALWAYS EQUALLY PROTECTED EVERY INDIVIDUAL MINNESOTAN IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THIS BILL DOES EXACTLY THAT.

>> Mary: REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT A BIPARTISAN END TO SESSION.

>> BIPARTISANSHIP IS GOING TO BE THE SPOONFUL OF SUGAR THAT MAKES THIS WHOLE END OF SESSION GO DOWN.

IF WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WORKING TOGETHER, THAT'S WHAT MINNESOTANS EXPECT.

INSTEAD, YOU SEE A VERY VERY SHARP CONTRAST WHERE THE DEMOCRATS ARE RELYING ON ALLEGED FELON IN THE SENATE FOR THEIR ONE-VOTE MAJORITY TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN KEEP THEIR EXTREME AGENDA MOVING FORWARD.

>> I JUST WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE CHAOS OF ONE-PARTY DFL CONTROL IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS RIGHT NOW IN THE HOUSE ARE SPENDING THEIR TIME PASSING BILLS THAT A LOT OF THEM HAVE NO CHANCE OF ASSING IN THE SENATE, IN OUR LIMITED TIME LEFT.

I HAVE TO WONDER, HOW SERIOUS THEY REALLY ARE IN GETTING SOME OF THESE THINGS DONE.

>> Mary: WELL, YOU JUST SAW THEM THERE AND NOW THEY'RE HERE UP FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR WHILE THEY'RE IN ACTION.

THEY CAN RUN AWAY AND VOTE IF THEY HAVE TO.

YEAH.

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER JAMIE LONG AND MINORITY LEADER LISA DEMUTH.

THANK YOU YOU TWO FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU BET.

>> Mary: FIRST OF ALL, WHERE'S THE GLOBAL DEAL?

THERE'S DAYS LEFT, SHOULDN'T THAT BE HAPPENING SOON?

>> WELL, BY GLOBAL DEAL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BONDING BILL.

I KNOW THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

AND, SO, THERE ARE LOTS OF POSTURING AT THIS STAGE OF SESSION, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE INTEREST IN GETTING THAT DONE FROM BOTH PARTIES.

WE KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A BILL THAT HELPS OUT EVERYBODY IN MINNESOTA, GETS INFRASTRUCTURE BUILT, MAKES SURE OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

SO I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN GET THERE.

>> Mary: ARE YOU CONFIDENT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THERE BECAUSE THEY NEED YOUR VOTES?

>> THEY NEED OUR VOTES.

>> Mary: ON THE BONDING BILL, THUS, THE GLOBAL DEAL.

>> THEY DO NEED OUR VOTES.

THE FOUR LEADERS HAVE BEEN MEETING.

IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING.

WE'VE BEEN EXCHANGING OFFERS, I WOULD SAY THEY'RE LESS THAN SERIOUS RIGHT NOW, WITH LESS THAN FOUR DAYS, TODAY WAS FOUR DAYS LEFT, WITH LESS THAN THAT, TIME IS WINDING DOWN.

WE'RE UNDER 100 HOURS.

THERE IS SOME MOVEMENT, BUT NOTHING TO EALLY REPORT.

WE DID HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE WE WERE AT.

BUT NOT REAL SERIOUS YET.

>> Mary: WE ALWAYS JOKE WHEN THERE'S PUBLIC PRESS CONFERENCES AND WE SEE PUBLIC OFFERS, IT'S NOT VERY SERIOUS IN PRIVATE YET.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> WELL, I CERTAINLY WOULD SAY THAT THE OFFER THAT WAS PUT FORWARD YESTERDAY WAS NOT VERY SERIOUS.

I THINK IT WAS TAKING OFF THE TABLE OTHER UNRELATED BILLS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON HERE, LIKE THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, WHICH WE'RE TAKING UP TODAY.

SO I THINK THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THE MINORITY HAS TO KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE PART OF A CONDITION WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

BUT I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET AGREEMENT WITHIN THE WALLS OF THAT DEAL.

>> Mary: YOU WANT IT ALL LINKED, RIGHT?

>> IT WILL BE LINKED, AT SOME POINT.

YOU KNOW, THE BONDING BILL, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE GOOD, ROADS, BRIDGES, WASTE WATER, THE THINGS THAT WE TYPICALLY SUPPORT.

THE SIZE OF THE BILL, THE CONTENT OF THE BILL MATTERS.

BUT ALSO HOW WE FINISH OUT THIS SESSION WITH THE CONCERNS THAT ARE OVER IN THE SENATE.

IF DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WOULD RATHER WORK WITH AN ARRESTED FELON, FOR THE 34th VOTE TO PASS THINGS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.

ON ANYTHING THAT E DO AND WWE NOT NECESSARILY SEEING THAT AT THIS POINT.

>> Mary: SO YOU SAID EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, AND SHE SAID FELON.

ARE THINGS GOING TO COME TOGETHER NEATLY?

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE TOUGH.

ARE YOU GOING TO GET TO THE BILL?

YOU DIDN'T GET O ON MONDAY.

CAN THE SENATE PASS IT WITH THEIR NARROW MARGIN?

>> WE HAD A SEVEN-HOUR FILIBUSTER ON ONE BILL ON MONDAY.

SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO TAKE IT UP.

BUT I AM HOPING WE CAN TAKE IT UP TODAY SEEMS LIKE THINGS ARE MOVING AROUND AT A NORMAL PACE.

>> Mary: MUCH LATER TONIGHT?

>> WE'LL SEE.

THAT'S NOT UP TO US.

WE'RE HOPING WE CAN TAKE IT UP TODAY.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.

WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THE DEBATE.

IT'S OKAY IF FOLKS DISAGREE, BUT WE WANT TO PUT THIS BEFORE THE VOTERS AND GIVE THEM AN OPTION TO VOTE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS IN OUR CONSTITUTION, WHICH WE KNOW FOLKS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE SENATE SIDE OF THINGS?

THE SENATE HAS A DIFFERENT BILL.

>> HEY DO.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THEM, THEY THINK THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PASS THE BILL WE SEND OVER.

>> Mary: ARE YOU FILIBUSTERING AGAIN, ARE YOU TRYING TO STOP THE EQUAL RIGHTS?

>> WE ARE NOT TRYING TO STOP THAT.

IT WAS NOT A FILIBUSTER.

WE HAD CONCERNS OVER A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT, THAT'S WHAT WE STAYED ON MESSAGE AND TALKED ABOUT.

IN THE BACKGROUND, THOUGH, THE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT WOULD GET SIGNED BY THE SPEAKER, PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND MAKE ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR, THAT HAD NOT HAPPENED, WE HAD BEEN GUARANTEED THAT WOULD HAPPEN, FINDING OUT THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE ON MONDAY ALLOWED US TO TALK LONGER ON A CONCERNING CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT UNTIL WE WERE SURE THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AS FAR AS THE EQUAL RIGHTS, THE SENATE VERSION LAST YEAR PASSED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

THE LANGUAGE THAT IS PROPOSED HERE IN THE HOUSE IS NOT TRANSPARENT.

IT WOULD CONFUSE THE VOTERS.

AND THERE ARE DEFINITE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE FOR WHAT IS PROPOSED RIGHT NOW.

HAPPY TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

BUT IF IT DOESN'T MOVE THROUGH AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE NOT FILIBUSTER LONG DEBATES, AT SOME POINT DO YOU JUMP IN AND CALL THE QUESTION AND CUT OFF DEBATE SO YOU CAN GET DONE?

>> THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT OUR HOPE, RIGHT.

WE'RE HERE TO HAVE THE DEBATE.

>> Mary: YOU CAN DO IT, IT'S IN YOUR ARSENAL, RIGHT?

>> IT IS.

IT'S A TOOL WE HAVE.

OUR HOPE IS WE CAN HAVE THE DEBATES WE NEED TO HAVE, WE CAN HAVE THE VOTES WE NEED TO HAVE.

WE'RE INTERESTED IN THAT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS TIME TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION, TO OFFER AMENDMENTS.

BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING OUR WORK DONE.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE.

AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE VOTES TO PUT THOSE QUESTIONS BEFORE THE PUBLIC.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE SENATE, TALK ABOUT THE SENATE A LITTLE MORE.

NOR EFFORT TODAY, SENATOR DUCKWORTH TRIED TO GET SENATOR MITCHELL EXPELLED.

NONE OF THAT HAS WORKED, BECAUSE THEY HELD THE 34.

HOW MUCH DOES THAT DRAMA DERAIL OR DISTRACT THE REST OF SESSION?

>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO HE SENATE.

I JUST KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON FROM WHAT GETS REPORTED.

SO I DON'T KNOW THE INNER WORKINGS OVER THERE.

BUT IT DOES CALL INTO QUESTION WHY WOULDN'T THERE BE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON THE THINGS THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH AS OPPOSED TO VOTES AT 34-33.

AND THAT'S WHAT MINNESOTANS ARE LOOKING FOR.

LET'S JUST WORK TOGETHER ON THE THINGS THAT ARE PRIORITIES.

INSTEAD OF HEARING BILLS THAT AREN'T GOING TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE GOVERNOR FOR FINAL SIGNATURES AND COME INTO LAW, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON, NOT THINGS HAT ARE GOING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL AND DIE IN EITHER BODY.

>> Mary: YOU OBVIOUSLY COULDN'T HAVE PLANNED THIS OR SAW IT COMING.

BUT THE ONE VOTE THAT MATTERS OVER IN THE SENATE IS IN QUESTION.

IS IT SAME QUESTION, DERAILING, DIVERTING ATTENTION FOR YOU?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE IT IS GOOD POLITICAL THEATER.

WHAT I'D SAY, EVERYBODY IS ENTITLED TO DUE PROCESS.

WE'VE HAD MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES CHARGED WITH CRIMES AT POINTS IN THE PAST.

WHEN WE HAD MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES CHARGED WITH CRIMES IN THE HOUSE, WE WAITED UNTIL THERE WAS A RESOLUTION TO THE TRIAL, RESOLUTION TO THE CHARGES BEFORE WE MADE ANY DETERMINATIONS ABOUT ETHICS OR ANY OF THOSE OTHER DECISIONS THAT ARE RELATED TO OUR BODY.

SO THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT I THINK THE SENATE IS FOLLOWING.

AND I THINK THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

>> AND THERE'S NEVER BEEN SOMEONE ARRESTED ON FELONY BURGLARY CHARGES.

>> Mary: NO, BUT THERE WAS A FELONY ARREST LITERALLY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

>> YES, THERE WAS.

>> Mary: THAT I WITNESSED.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN, WHO WAS ARRESTED HERE.

FOR A FELONY.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: YEAH.

HOW DOES THIS PLANE LAND?

WHAT DO YOU SEE THIS ENDING NOW, LAST MINUTE LEFT HERE.

>> I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OTHER THREE LEADERS WILL CONTINUE IN A MEANINGFUL AND INTERACTIVE WAY.

WE OBVIOUSLY PUT OUT AN OFFER.

WE'RE READY TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ON THAT.

AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO THE CAUCUS, IF THERE ARE ACTUALLY SERIOUS OFFERS.

I BELIEVE WE CAN LAND THIS PLANE.

ON THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY MATTER TO MINNESOTANS.

THAT CAN MOVE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, INCLUDING BONDING.

>> Mary: CAN YOU LAND SUNDAY BE MIDNIGHT, YOU CAN'T PASS BILLS ON MONDAY, THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE FINAL FOUR DAYS WILL BE BUSY, WE'RE PASSING BUDGET BILLS, WE'RE TAKING UP THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, I THINK WE'RE DOING IMPORTANT WORK, WE'LL GET IT DONE.

>> Mary: OKAY, WE'LL FIND OUT SUNDAY NIGHT.

THANKS YOU TWO.

APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ >> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY ARE INDEPENDENTS AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT WHAT THEY CARE MOST ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

>> THIS WAS FUN!

[ Laughter ] TO BE INTERRUPTED.

[ Laughter ] TO BE FORCED TO ANSWER A QUESTION THAT'S DIFFERENT.

NOW THAT IT'S OVER, I ENJOYED IT.

[ Laughter ] >> Mary: WE WERE BOTH A LOT YOUNGER THERE.

>> WE WERE.

>> Mary: AS YOU WERE IN A VERY CLOSE RACE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW CLOSE DID IT END UP BEING YOUR FIRST TIME, DO YOU REMEMBER?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT TOTAL, BUT IT WAS WITHIN 3%, ABOUT 3% OF THE VOTE, WHICH IS REALLY CLOSE.

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY.

AND HOW ABOUT YOUR LAST ELECTION, I'M GUESSING IT WAS NOT AS CLOSE.

>> NO, IT WAS NOT AS CLOSE.

AND AS THE TRENDS HAVE GONE, I HAD MORE THAN 60% OF THE VOTE.

>> Mary: SO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SUBURBS, IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS IN THIS TIME THAT YOU HAVE SERVED IN THAT TREND?

>> I THINK ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY THERE'S BEEN KIND OF A SHIFT OF PARTY ALLEGIANCES OR WHO YOU THINK BEST REPRESENTS YOU, AND, OF COURSE, NONE OF US CAN PERFECTLY REPRESENT ANYBODY OTHER THAN OURSELVES.

>> Mary: DID YOU SEE IT COMING?

DID YOU FEEL LIKE IT WAS GETTING BLUER EVERY CYCLE FOR YOU?

>> WELL, AND THAT'S TRUE, I DID.

AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL POLITICS INFLUENCED IT.

AND THEN THERE WAS A SENSE, LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU FIT.

AND WE MOVED UP.

I MOVED UP.

AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES MOVED UP IN THE VOTE TOTALS THAT WE WERE GETTING.

>> Mary: SO YOU NOT ONLY WON, AND WON OVER AND OVER, YOU GOT TO CHAIR AND YOU HAD A BILL, A BIG EDUCATION BILL PASS EARLIER TODAY.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BILL.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT?

WHAT STANDS OUT?

>> OH, THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS.

AND SOME OF THE SMALLEST PROVISIONS THAT YOU DON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT, LIKE REDUCING PAPERWORK, IS GOING TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOLS.

BUT I THINK SOME OF THE MAJOR THINGS ARE ATTENTION TO MENTAL HEALTH FOR OUR STUDENTS TODAY, ESPECIALLY CELL PHONE USE, AND THEN ALSO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROHIBITING BANNING BOOKS IN LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Mary: HOW WAS THE TOTAL VOTE?

WAS IT BIPARTISAN?

OR NOT?

>> HE FINAL VOTE WAS NOT BIPARTISAN BUT I THINK THERE WAS SOME GOOD BIPARTISAN PROVISIONS IN THE BILL AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE BILL THAT EVERYBODY ON THE FLOOR CAN BE PROUD OF.

>> Mary: IS THAT ANOTHER TREND, HOW MUCH MORE PARTISAN THIS PLACE HAS GOTTEN ND FINAL VOTES AND THAT?

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT CHANGE?

>> I THINK PROBABLY THE FINAL VOTES AS BEING A TREND IS SOMETHING THAT IS EMERGING, AND SOME OF THAT IS JUST GETTING READY FOR THE ELECTION AND YOU WANT TO BE CLEAR AND ARTICULATE WHAT YOUR PARTY STANDS FOR VERSUS THE OVER -- THE OTHER PARTY.

SO THAT CLASH OF IDEAS, I THINK, IS A POSITIVE THING.

AND SOMETIMES IT TRANSLATES INTO VOTE TOTALS.

AND IT'S JUST -- THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES.

>> Mary: WHAT OTHER CHANGES HAVE YOU NOTICED?

OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOW PART OF A CAUCUS WITH MANY MORE WOMEN AND MUCH MORE DIVERSITY.

HOW MUCH HAS THAT CHANGED THE PLACE HERE?

>> I THINK IT REALLY HAS CHANGED IT.

I THINK THERE'S MORE OF AWARENESS OF THAT WORK/LIFE BALANCE AND MORE RESPECT FOR THE FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE GOING TO GET UP, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL EVEN THOUGH YOU WORKED UNTIL MIDNIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE.

SO I THINK THERE'S JUST MORE OF AN AWARENESS AND TAKING CARE OF FOLKS AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT EVERYBODY HAS LIVES.

>> Mary: SO WHAT LIFE ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE NOW?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, WHY ARE YOU RETIRING?

YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO I AM RETIRING RETIRING.

>> Mary: YOU REALLY ARE.

YOU'RE REALLY RETIRING.

>> I HAVE SEVEN GRANDKIDS, AND I JUST CAN'T WAIT.

NEXT WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, I'M GOING TO GO A PRESCHOOL GRADUATION, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS DURING SESSION YOU CAN'T DO AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THEM.

>> Mary: WHAT ARE YOU THE MOST PROUD OF?

AS YOU LOOK BACK AT YOUR ENTIRE CAREER, WHAT ARE THE MILESTONES?

>> THE MOST THING I'M PROUD OF, AGAIN, IT'S NOT ME DOING IT, BUT BEING PART OF IT, WE'RE TALKING A LOT MORE ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILD CARE, HAVING RELIABLE, SAFE, NURTURING CHILD CARE ACROSS THE STATE.

SO NOT ONLY IS IT IMPORTANT TO WORKFORCE, IT IS JUST CRUCIAL FOR HE DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR KIDS WITH WORKING MOTHERS, WORKING PARENTS, WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THAT SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION AND I THINK THAT'S A TREND THAT WE'VE IMPROVED ON AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I FEEL LIKE THE PART THAT I PLAYED IN IT IS MY MOST SIGNIFICANT ROLE.

>> Mary: THIS SESSION, HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS WERE HOPING FOR MORE ON THAT.

THEY WERE HOPING TO SPEND BIG MONEY AND REALLY HELP CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.

BECAUSE THERE'S A HUGE SHORTAGE IN THE STATE.

>> RIGHT.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE A DISAPPOINTMENT THIS SESSION, IN PARTICULAR?

>> YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING HOW FAR WE'VE OME AND WHAT WE'VE INVESTED IN THAT SEGMENT OF OUR ECONOMY AND OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, I THINK WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, BUT IT WAS THE LAST BUDGET BILL THAT WE MADE MOST OF OUR STEPS FORWARD AND THIS WAS A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET BILL AND THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO.

>> Mary: OKAY.

LAST QUESTION.

WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE FOR YOUR SUCCESSOR?

>> SO, WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT I DID, I DID GO DOOR TO DOOR, I KNOW EVERY STREET IN MY DISTRICT, I KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS, I KNOW THE FOLKS.

AND YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE TELLING YOU, WHAT THEY'RE VALUING, AND THEN YOU TAKE IT TO THE LOOR, AND YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT'S WHY YOU'RE THERE IS TO REPRESENT THEIR VOICE AND WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE HOPING TO SEE.

IT JUST KEEPS YOU GOING.

>> Mary: ARE YOU GOING TO MISS IT, THOUGH?

>> YOU KNOW, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, IT'S LIKE, YES, I'LL MISS IT.

IT'S BEEN THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME AND I'M SO HONORED THAT I WAS ABLE TO DO IT.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT.

THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER IS A REPUBLICAN WHO FIRST RAN FOR THE HOUSE 30 YEARS AGO.

OF BUT HIS PATH CHANGED AS HE WENT THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND IT HELPED PREPARE HIM FOR HIS NEW SEAT.

REPRESENTATIVE, FIRST QUESTION FOR ALL FRESHMAN, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN?

I SHOULD SAY FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> FOR THIS SPECIAL ELECTION, IT WAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR A LOT OF YEARS, AND BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN POLITICS AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR STATE OF MINNESOTA HERE.

AND, SO, WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY CAME ALONG, WHICH, HONESTLY, I RECEIVED A CALL, AND TO BE HONEST, I WAS EXTREMELY CONTENT TO WHAT I WAS DOING WITH OUR FAMILY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND I RECEIVED A CALL, ASKED IF I WOULD CONSIDER TO RUN FOR THIS POSITION, THIS SEAT.

>> Mary: HOW DID IT FEEL TO HAVE TO REPLACE SOMEBODY WHO CLIMBED TO THE VERY TOP OF THE LEGISLATIVE KIND OF ECHELON?

YOU'RE REPLACING A FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER IN KURT DAUDT.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> YES, IT IS.

I GLAD I HAD HIM IN MY DISTRICT, I'M GLAD I GOT TO KNOW HIM AS A FRIEND AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE.

YEAH, IT'S A BIG DEAL TO FILL THAT.

BUT HE WAS EXTREMELY ELPFUL, CAME ALONGSIDE, GAVE ME A LOT OF GOOD ADVICE, AS WE WALKED THROUGH THIS PROCESS HERE.

>> Mary: WHAT DID HE TELL YOU?

WHAT KIND OF ADVICE DID HE GIVE YOU?

HE'S SEEN A LOT, HE'S SEEN THE MAJORITY, THE MINORITY, THE GOOD, BAD, THE UGLY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

>> HE SAID I'D BE OKAY.

>> Mary: IF I HAVE MY RESEARCH RIGHT, YOU FIRST RAN FOR THE HOUSE ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO, RIGHT?

>> YES, I DID.

>> Mary: SO THIS HAS BEEN -- >> YOU HAVE DONE YOUR RESEARCH, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT.

>> Mary: VERY LONG TIME IN THE MAKING, WE COULD SAY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, WE COULD.

I RAN AT A TIME WHEN TEVE SVIGGUM AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, I GOT TO KNOW HIM VERY WELL, TIM PAWLENTY WAS THERE, KEVIN KNIGHT, A LOT OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME I RAN, I HAD A COUPLE OF GOOD RACES, KIND OF THE SAME SCENARIO, FIRST I HAD RUN PRIOR, WAS NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN, THE COMMITTEE WAS LOOKING FOR A CANDIDATE, MY WIFE AND I WERE NEWLY MARRIED AT THE TIME, NO CHILDREN.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK NOW WITH THE LIFE EXPERIENCE YOU HAD, YOU'RE BETTER SUITED TO SERVE THAN YOU EVEN WOULD HAVE BEEN 20, 30 YEARS AGO?

>> WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ENERGY 20, 30 YEARS AGO, I CAN TELL YOU THAT MUCH.

HOWEVER, THERE'S NO QUESTION, I AM SO GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO BE PATIENT AND WAIT, AS WELL AS BE INVOLVED DURING THE LAST 30 YEARS.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW BECAUSE OF BEING INVOLVED IN MY LOCAL BPOU, BECAUSE I SERVED ON THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, BECAUSE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THE LOCAL COUNTY ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMMITTEES, THE KNOWLEDGE, THE EXPERIENCE I'VE GAINED, 100%, I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER PREPARED TODAY THAN I WOULD HAVE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

>> Mary: MANY MANY LAWMAKERS HAVE KIND OF CUT THEIR TEETH IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND MOST WILL SAY, IT SHOULD ALMOST BE REQUIRED, THAT YOU ARE A BETTER STATE LAWMAKER WHEN YOU'VE SERVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

ARE YOU ALREADY SEEING THAT COME TRUE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I COME WITH A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE OF MY LOCAL INVOLVEMENT IN OUR TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT THAT I BRING TO THE TABLE, NOT ONLY THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE REPERCUSSIONS OF HAT STATE GOVERNMENT DOES TO THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT IT GOVERNS, CITIES, THE COUNTIES, TOWNSHIPS, SCHOOL BOARDS, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT I'VE GOT TO KNOW WITHIN THOSE POSITIONS AS WELL.

>> Mary: A LOT OF LAWMAKERS WILL SAY IT HELPS THEM BE LESS PARTISAN BECAUSE SO MUCH OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT HIGHLY PARTISAN.

DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE HELP YOU WORK THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE BETTER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MY EYES ARE OPEN MORE.

TO THAT.

AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, RIGHT.

SO SITTING IN THE HOUSE FLOOR RIGHT NOW, AS I'VE BEEN IN COMMITTEE A FEW TIMES, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE WORK TOGETHER, WHERE THE OTHER SIDE IS COMING FROM, WHAT'S IMPORTANT, AND REALLY WHAT THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE RESIDENTS OF MINNESOTA.

>> OU HAVE, I GUESS WE'LL CALL IT THE DISADVANTAGE OF COMING IN, NOT EVEN PART WAY, BUT, REALLY, IN THE HOME STRETCH OF SESSION.

SO HOW ODD IS IT FOR YOU TO BE SERVING RIGHT NOW WHEN MOST OF THE COMMITTEE WORK IS ONE, IT'S JUST THIS FINAL SPRINT?

>> PERSONALLY, IT WORKED OUT VERY WELL.

I'M A QUICK STUDY.

AND, SO, GETTING INTO BUSINESS, THE BIGGEST THING IS UNDERSTANDING THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.

AND, SO, IT'S TAKING A LOT OF STUDY AND QUESTIONS, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE REASONING, THE FOUNDATION OF THE BILLS AND THE LEGISLATION, AS WELL AS THE AMENDMENTS, THAT WE'RE VOTING ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

THERE IS TURF IN YOUR BACKGROUND.

RIGHT?

SOD IN YOUR BACKGROUND.

THAT WAS KIND OF THE FAMILY BUSINESS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

>> MY BACKGROUND IS, I GREW UP IN A FAMILY FARMING BUSINESS.

WE RAISED REGISTERED HEREFORD CATTLE, AS WELL AS KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS SOD, MY FATHER AND MOTHER ARE ENTREPRENEURS AND HE WAS NOT SCARED TO START OUT IN BUSINESS.

HE STARTED SEVERAL BUSINESSES AND SOD FARMING IS ONE OF THEM.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THAT AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

IT'S AN INDUSTRY I'VE GROWN TO LOVE, WE'VE BRANCHED OUT INTO LANDSCAPING AS WELL, THAT WHOLE GREEN INDUSTRY IS SOMETHING I'VE REALLY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF.

>> Mary: THE LEGISLATURE USED TO HAVE A LOT OF FARMERS.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: AND I THINK RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, WE HAVE THE FEWEST NUMBER OF FARMERS PROBABLY IN STATE HISTORY.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU?

ARE YOU SEEING THAT AND FEELING THAT SO FAR?

>> I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT IT'S NOT A SURPRISE AT ALL.

PEOPLE -- SOCIETY TODAY IS VERY REMOVED FROM AGRICULTURE.

YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE IDEA THAT YOU GO TO THE CITY TO FIND WORK AND JOBS, THAT'S REALLY DEPLETED THE AGRICULTURE.

AND THEN ON TOP OF IT, TECHNOLOGY.

YOU KNOW, THE FARMERS ARE MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS BEEN INRATE ISED OVER THE YEARS.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT NOW SERVING, PHYSICALLY BEING AT THE CAPITOL EVERY DAY, WHAT SURPRISES YOU ABOUT THE PLACE?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING I FOUND SURPRISING IS THE CAMARADERIE THAT IS SHARED BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES AND THE RELATIONSHIP THERE.

THERE CAN BE EXTREME DEBATE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND IT SEEMS LIKE TENSION THRIVES AND MAYBE TEMPERS, AS WELL AS THE VOICES IN THE DEBATE, AND AFTERWARDS THERE'S A LEVEL OF CAMARADERIE THAT THEY CAN GO BACK TO COMMITTEE, -- AND TALK THINGS OUT.

>> Mary: WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK TO TALK WITH POLITICAL REPORTERS ABOUT THE END OF SESSION AND IT WILL BE OVER BY THEN.

WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT THE ELECTION AHEAD WITH SECRETARY OF STATE STEVE SIMON.

IN THE MEANTIME, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S TPT.ORG/AATC.

THERE YOU CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO WATCH ANY SEGMENT IN THIS SHOW AND PAST ONES.

ALSO INTERACT WITH US ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, X AND MORE.

AGAIN, IT'S ALL ON THE PBS STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

AND NOW IN THE FINAL CLOSING DAYS OF THE SESSION, YOU CAN WATCH HOUSE, SENATE, CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, PRESS CONFERENCE ACTION, ON THE STATEWIDE PBS STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW, AND WE WILL ETURN YOU TO THE LIVE ACTION HERE AS SOON AS THIS PROGRAM IS OVER.

FRIDAY NIGHT ON "ALMANAC," A LONGSTANDING MULTIDECADE TRADITION CONTINUES OF ALL FOUR TOP LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, ALL BIG DOGS SCHEDULED TO BE THERE LIVE IN STUDIO, SO TUNE IN FOR THAT.

I'LL ALSO SPEAK WITH THE DESIGNER OF THE NEW STATE FLAG.

IT'S FLYING NOW HERE BEHIND ME, NOW THAT IT'S OFFICIAL.

HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT.

ALSO DIVE INTO THE REMAINING DAYS OF SESSION WITH TWO LAWMAKERS WHO JUST MADE HISTORY.

THEY CO-CHAIRED A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TOGETHER AND ARE THE FIRST TO DO SOMETHING.

WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT.

TUNE IN AND THANKS FOR WATCHING SO MUCH TONIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM >> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES: A LEADING PRODUCER OF THE FUELS MINNESOTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY.

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

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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