GETTING SPENT TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP.

>> AND NO LITERACY CHANGES.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT.

THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER DOESN'T FIT NEATLY IN A BOX.

I THINK SHE KIND OF LIKES IT THAT WAY.

THE NEW REPRESENTATIVE CALLS HERSELF THE MOST TATTOOED REPUBLICAN.

THE FIRST QUESTION WE ALWAYS ASK EVERYONE IS, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR THIS OFFICE TO BEGIN WITH?

>> I STARTED A GROUP BACK IN 2020 CALLED "LET THEM PLAY MINNESOTA," THROUGH THE GRASSROOTS EFFORT, PUSHING BACK ON GETTING KIDS, YOUTH SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES BACK, BACK ROLLING, LOCKED ARMS WITH 26,000 PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE, AND THEN ACROSS THE NATION TO HELP OUR KIDS.

AND WITH THAT, JUST MADE A LOT OF GREAT CONNECTIONS.

I LOVE POLITICS.

I WAS THE YOUNGEST FEMALE IN THE STATE YEARS AGO, I WAS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I DID THAT FOR SIX YEARS UNTIL WE MOVED OUT OF TOWN.

>> Mary: THIS IS PERSONAL.

AND THIS IS MAYBE PERSONAL FOR BOTH OF S. BECAUSE YOU HAVE ADDS ATHLETES AND YOU -- YOU HAVE ATHLETES AND YOU HAVE AN ATHLETE PLAYING SPORTS THE SAME PLACE MY DAUGHTER'S GOING TO BE PLAYING SPORTS.

TALK ABOUT HOW ISSUE THAT ISSUE OF LET THEM PLAY WAS?

>> YEAH, IT WAS VERY PERSONAL.

ME, I KNEW THAT IF OUR SON, YOU KNOW, OUR OLDER SON DIDN'T HAVE AN DOWNTOWN PLAY HIS JUNIOR YEAR, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE CHALLENGING, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, ALONG WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

I COULD SEE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH SUFFERING FROM JUST ISOLATION, NOT BEING IN THEIR DAILY SCHOOL.

>> Mary: AND ALSO THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS, IF I CAN JUMP IN, WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR DIVISION I ATHLETES.

WE'RE TALKING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS F DOLLARS KIND OF PER ATHLETE PER FAMILY, POTENTIALLY AT STAKE.

IF THEY CAN'T PLAY AND GET SEEN FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, RIGHT?

I MEAN, YOU GUYS HAD MONEY ON THE LINE, TO BE FRANK, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

AND WHERE OTHER STATES, THEN, WOULD GET A LEG UP ON GETTING THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS.

ALONG WITH THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND THE NEW CHANGES WITH THAT.

IT'S HIGHLY COMPETITIVE FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES.

>> Mary: I HAVE MET MANY WOMEN IN YOUR CLASS.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RESHMEN REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO I KIND OF CALL COVID MOMS, LIKE THEY GOT A LITTLE ANGRY, THEY GOT A LITTLE ACTIVE, AND NOW HEY'RE ACTUALLY MAKING POLICY.

IS THAT FAIR TO KIND OF SAY THERE'S A HANDFUL THAT THIS IGNITED YOU?

>> OH, DEFINITELY.

AND I EVEN THINK, WHAT'S SUPER EXCITING IS TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT LIVED THROUGH THOSE TIMES TO ALSO THEN MAYBE CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF WHERE THEY'RE GOING WITH THEIR CAREER OR, YOU KNOW, LOOKING INTO POLITICAL SCIENCE, LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT AVENUES FOR THEIR EDUCATION, BECAUSE THEY SEE THE VALUE OF LEADERSHIP.

SO THAT'S BEEN INSPIRING.

>> Mary: SO WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS SO FAR?

OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE FUN IF YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN COMING 'IN IN THE MAJORITY.

HOW IS LIFE IN THE MINORITY, HOW HAS SESSION TREATED YOU SO FAR?

>> I WOULDN'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, JUST SEEING IN THE PAST AROUND POLITICS, ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IT'S ENCOURAGING TO UNDERSTAND COMING IN AS A FRESHMAN, A TRUE FRESHMAN, THAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM THE BOTTOM UP AND TREAT OTHERS THE WAY THAT YOU'D WANT TO BE TREATED.

BUT ALSO JUST, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF AM JUST LIKE A BULLDOG WITH A SMILE.

SO I WILL BE PERSISTENT AND I WILL KIND OF KEEP COMIN' BACK.

>> Mary: DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING AMENDMENTS, YOU'RE MAKING FRIENDS, YOU'RE INFLUENCING OR IS IT JUST SHEER FRUSTRATION?

>> NO, THERE'S SOME MOVEMENT.

I GOT -- I HAD A EARING LAST WEEK.

A LOFT REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT -- A LOT OF REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT HAD VEN A HEARING ON A LOT OF BILLS.

SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THIS TOPIC.

AND JUST, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING PSEO.

>> Mary: DOES IT HELP, YOU'RE KIND OF A PEOPLE PERSON, DOES IT HELP AT THE LEGISLATURE, ARE YOU FEELING LIKE THAT SKILL IS ONE OF THE MORE EFFECTIVE SKILLS?

>> YEAH.

BEING A CONNECTOR IS A GIFT, I THINK.

IN DOING THIS JOB.

AND, AGAIN, I'VE SAID FOR YEARS, I LOVE POLITICS.

I LOVE WATCHING THE PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST FOR E MAKING CONNECTIONS, YOU KNOW, BUILDING THESE RELATIONSHIPS.

I LOVE TO SEE SOME RELIEF FOR OUR PEACE AND POLICE OFFICERS JUST TO GET MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO HELP THEM.

IT'S A CRISIS.

I'M VERY PASSIONATE WITH SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, ASSISTED LIVINGS.

AND JUST PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN PUTTING SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY IN DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS.

>> Mary: WHAT DID YOU HEAR THE MOST FROM VOTERS AND DOOR KNOCKING ON THOSE ISSUES?

>> AGRICULTURE S THE HEARTBEAT OF MY DISTRICT.

AND, SO, JUST YOU KNOW, FARMING AND REALLY WANTED TAX REFORM.

I MEAN, THE BIGGEST RESOUNDING THING IS, PLEASE, CAN YOU BRING SOME RELIEF TO MY PARENTS OR MY GRANDPARENTS THROUGH SOCIAL SECURITY TAX CUTS.

ANOTHER BIG THING OUT IN MY DISTRICT IS EDUCATION.

AND HOW COULD THERE BE MORE CHOICES.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN BEAUTIFUL ABOUT MINNESOTA, IS WE HAVE OPTIONS.

>> Mary: USED YOU'RE CARRYING A PSEO BILL, THAT IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS WE HAVE OUT THERE, YEAH.

>> I DID HOME SCHOOL MY KIDS FOR I ACHUNK OF TIME, FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS, AND WE TRAVELED THE WORLD JUST SO THAT MY KIDS COULD SEE THAT THE WORLD'S BIGGER THAN OUR LITTLE TEENY TOWN.

SO, YEAH, I'VE GOT SOME -- JUST SOME BEAUTIFUL -- I'M THE