IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> MADAM SPEAKER!

>> WE RISE TO BE RECOGNIZED ON THE QUESTION.

>> YOU HAVE THE VOTES FOR THE DAMN BILL!

>> Mary: EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH AT THE CAPITOL AS LAWMAKERS NEAR THE FINISH LINE.

WE'LL TALK TO A COUPLE OF STAND-OUT FRESHMAN ABOUT THE HISTORIC LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

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.

DAV OF MINNESOTA: KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO MINNESOTA'S VETERANS.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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

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: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

I'M YOUR HOST, MARY LAHAMMER, COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY.

YOU MAY HEAR, THERE ARE PROTESTERS BEHIND ME AND LAWMAKERS ARE SET TO RETURN TO THE FLOOR HERE ANY MOMENT.

WE ARE IN THE FINAL DAYS, MAYBE EVEN HOURS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND THERE IS HISTORIC ACTION UNDERWAY.

WE'LL HAVE LONGTIME POLITICAL REPORTER ERIC ESKOLA JOIN US, AS WELL S A STAND-OUT FRESHMAN DUO.

AND THEY'LL TALK ABOUT THIS VERY BUSY FIRST TERM.

THEY JUST WORKED OVERNIGHT, PASSING THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION IN HISTORY, AND TODAY THE HOUSE HAS PASSED PAID LEAVE.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE GENERATIONAL CHANGE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, BONDING, AND MARIJUANA.

>> MADAM SPEAKER!

MADAM SPEAKER!

MADAM SPEAKER!

GONNA BE A LONG DAY, MADAM SPEAKER!

>> IT'S GONNA BE A LONG WEEK, MADAM SPEAKER!

>> WE RISE TO BE RECOGNIZED ON THE QUESTION!

>> Mary: A LONG WEEK WHEN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WANTED TO TRY TO FINISH EARLY, BUT THAT'S DIFFICULT AFTER MARATHON OVERNIGHT SESSIONS FOR BILLS LIKE THE PUBLIC SAFETY PACKAGE WITH GUN CONTROL.

>> ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT WE WILL DEBATE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

>> IF YOU ASK THE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP IN THE RED T-SHIRTS HERE, THEIR END GOAL IS MAKING SURE THAT NOBODY HAS A GUN.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT DOES?

IT JUST MAKES VICTIMS OUT OF ALL OF US.

>> THIS SESSION WE ARE SEEING BROKEN PROMISE AFTER BROKEN PROMISE AFTER BROKEN PROMISE.

AND IT'S MINNESOTANS WHO WILL END UP PAYING THAT PRICE.

>> Mary: THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES RECRUITING AND RETAINING POLICE OFFICERS ALONG WITH JUVENILE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE EFORMS.

>> FOLKS CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL, WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE SIDE WHO HAS A BADGE OR THE INNOCENT VICTIMS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY.

IT TALKS ABOUT COMMUNICATION, HAVING CONVERSATION.

HAVING HEALING.

>> I CAME HERE TO DOT RIGHT THING.

THIS BILL IS THE RIGHT THING.

SO, NO, I DIDN'T GET PLAYED.

I DIDN'T LOSE.

WE DIDN'T LOSE.

THIS IS A DARN GOOD ILL. WE DID THE WORK.

WE DID IT IN A GOOD WAY.

>> OUR CONSTITUENTS DO DESERVE PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THIS BILL PROVIDES PUBLIC SAFETY TO EVERY MINNESOTAN IN EVERY CORNER OF OUR STATE.

THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL AND HISTORIC BILL.

>> Mary: TENSIONS FLARED, TRYING TO FIND A SUPERMAJORITY TO BORROW FOR A BONDING BILL FOR STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

>> PUT NO MONEY IN THE ACCOUNT FOR IT.

AND YOU COME ON HERE, YOU TALK LIKE YOU'RE FUNDING CLEAN WATER.

AND YOU'RE NOT.

AND YOU HAVEN'T.

FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE -- >> Mr. CHAIRMAN.

>> -- THERE IS NO FUNDING -- >> Mr. CHAIRMAN, SENATOR DRAHEIM, I FUNDED THOSE PROJECTS.

I FUNDED THIS PROGRAM IN 669.

THAT'S THE BILL THAT YOU REJECTED.

AND I RESENT YOU ACCUSING ME OF NOT FUNDING PROJECTS!

I WOULD LOVE TO FUND THOSE PROJECTS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO VOTE FOR THE DAMN BILL.

>> AND LAWMAKERS IRINED OUT THE DETAILS OF MAJOR MARIJUANA LEGISLATION.

IRONED OUT.

>> WE LANDED ON A 10% TAX TOTAL.

>> I APPRECIATE A CHANGE THAT WAS MADE IN TERMS OF APPROPRIATING MONEY TO THE OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY TO HELP FUND DRUG RECOGNITION TRAINING FOR PEACE OFFICERS.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY CRITICAL.

>> AGAIN, THIS BILL HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT ENSURING THAT THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN MOST HARMED BY PROHIBITION, DUE TO ENFORCEMENT, ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT >> TO GET THIS BILL TO THIS PLACE IS ENORMOUS.

AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR IT.

MINNESOTA WILL BE BETTER BECAUSE OF IT.

♪♪ >> Mary: WE HAVE A LARGE FRESHMAN CLASS IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND HERE'S A COUPLE OF STAND-OUTS FROM BOTH CHAMBERS.

WE HAVE REPUBLICAN HARRY NISKA AND DEMOCRAT CLARE OUMOU VERBETEN.

WELL, SENATOR, WE JUST SAW YOU, YOU HAVE BEEN BUSY.

TELL US WHAT TIME DID YOU STOP WORK THIS ORNING AND LEAVE THE FLOOR?

[ Laughter ] >> WELL, WE, AS AN ENTIRE BODY, WERE THERE UNTIL ABOUT 6:00 A.M.

I HAD TO DUCK OUT AROUND 11:30 TO GET SOME REST FOR THE BUSY DAY TODAY.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD OVERNIGHT THIS, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE DAYS THIS SESSION, JUST GETTING THE WORK DONE FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> Mary: HOUSE IS PULLING SOME ALL-NIGHTERS, TOO.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW ALL-NIGHTERS, WE WERE HERE UNTIL MIDNIGHT THE LAST TWO NIGHTS, ONE NIGHT WAS A LITTLE AFTER MIDNIGHT.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO GET DONE, I GUESS, BEFORE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE BY NEXT -- EARLY NEXT WEEK.

>> Mary: IS THIS WHAT YOU TWO SIGNED UP FOR?

ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THE HOURS AND THE PACE?

>> I'M NOT SURPRISED BY THE HOURS.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> MY WIFE WAS A LEGISLATIVE STAFFER BACK IN THE DAY.

AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN POLITICS.

SO I'VE PAID ATTENTION TO THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> I AM SURPRISED BY THE PACE AND, FRANKLY, THE LACK OF MODERATION AND THE AGENDA THAT'S BEEN GOING THROUGH HERE.

BUT NOT THE LONG HOURS, FOR SURE.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I'M READY TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

LIKE, I KNOW FOLKS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SO MANY OF THESE THINGS FOR SO MANY YEARS.

AND, SO, IF I NEED TO BE HERE UNTIL 3:00 A.M., UNTIL 6:00 A.M., TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER FOR FOLKS, LIKE, I'M UP FOR IT.

>> Mary: WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT WHATs -- WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND, PEOPLE MAY HERE YELLING, PROTESTING, SCREAMING.

THIS IS UBER DRIVERS, CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION, TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

>> IT'S NOT A VERY BALANCED PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

IT'S A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I THINK THE COMPANIES, UBER AND LYFT, ARE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO MAKE SOME CHANGES AND PROTECTIONS FOR SOME DRIVERS, BUT I THINK THAT THE LEGISLATION THAT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HEAR TONIGHT IS NOT QUITE READY YET.

AND IT'S REALLY PRETTY UNBALANCED PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT HAS EVEN MAJORITY SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE.

>> Mary: DOES IT HAVE SUPPORT IN THE SENATE?

IT'S BEEN HREATENING TO HOLD UP WORK IN THE SENATE.

>> I THINK WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT IN THE SENATE.

SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT SESSION IS HE SUPPORT FOR WORKING EOPLE.

ESPECIALLY IN OUR CAUCUS.

AND WHEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF FOLKS SHOWING UP AND SAYING, WE DESERVE, YOU KNOW, DIGNITY IN HE WORKPLACE, THESE ARE THE PROTECTIONS THAT WE NEED, WE WANT TO DELIVER FOR THEM.

>> Mary: ANOTHER BILL THAT'S COMING, MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IS DONE, HITTIN' THE FLOOR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT?

IT'S NOT STRICTLY A PARTISAN ISSUE.

>> NO, I THINK -- I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE READY FOR THAT -- THE ISSUE IS SETTLED ENOUGH IN MY MIND TO WHERE I THINK WE SHOULD WITH IT.

WE SHOULD GO AHEAD WITH IT.

I'M WOARD WE'RE GOING TO END WERE YOU WITH THE WORST OF WORLDS.

THAT'S WHAT'S ENDED UP IN SOME OTHER STATES WHERE THEY HAVE LEGALIZED BUT HIGHLY REGULATED MODELS.

WE STILL HAVE IN NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, A REALLY ROBUST ILLICIT MARKET, AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE HAVE SENT A MESSAGE TO EVERYONE THAT MARIJUANA IS A FINE THING TO DO AND IT REALLY HAS SOME PRETTY SERIOUS HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY CONSEQUENCES.

>> Mary: YOU'RE A FRESHMAN ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> YES.

>> ary: YOU HELPED WRITE THIS BILL IN COMPROMISE, THAT ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS, BY THE WAY.

HOW DID YOU LAND THAT?

>> WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE, I ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT RACIAL JUSTICE BEING, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M HERE TO DO, AND THIS IS SUCH A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF BEING A RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE.

AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL TO THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN LEADING THIS AND CENTERING THAT, MAKING SURE THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED THE MOST BY THE PROHIBITION, THAT'S NAMELY, BLACK MINNESOTANS, BLACK MEN, THAT WE'RE CENTERING THEM IN THIS PROCESS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THIS MARKET, THAT WE EXPUNGE THOSE RECORDS, RIGHT THOSE WRONGS.

AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE FINAL BILL THAT WE HAVE.

>> Mary: LET'S PIVOT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S RELATED TO THIS, THERE'S A LOT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

YOU TWO WERE BOTH INFLUENTIAL AND VOCAL ON THOSE BILLS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY BILL?

>> WELL, I THINK PUBLIC SAFETY, JUDICIARY, WHICH CAME TOGETHER, THOSE ARE TWO SUBJECTS THAT SHOULD BE NONPARTISAN.

UNFORTUNATELY, -- AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PROVISIONS THAT WERE GOOD.

BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WERE SOME PRETTY PARTISAN PROVISIONS IN IT THAT WERE TOUGH FOR ME TO SUPPORT.

THERE'S A FUNDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S CALLED BIAS INCIDENTS, BUT, REALLY, SWEEPS BROADLY ENOUGH TO COVER POLITICAL SPEECH.

I THINK THAT'S A DANGEROUS ROAD FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GO DOWN.

THERE'S SOME GUN CONTROL PROVISIONS THAT I THINK ARE -- DON'T REALLY DO THAT MUCH TO ACTUALLY STOP CRIMINALS.

THEY JUST CREATE CRIMINALS OUT OF LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS.

AND THEN THERE WERE THINGS WE COULD HAVE DONE ABOUT ACTUAL GUN CRIME THAT ENDED UP GETTING DROPPED IN THE FINAL PRODUCT.

>> I THINK THE BILL'S TRANSFORMATIONAL.

I'M SO EXCITED.

I THINK WE -- WE PUT $880 MILLION IN THE JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY BILL.

THERE IS SUPPORT TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, GUN VIOLENCE, SUPPORTING BEST PRACTICES TO KEEP LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE SAFE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, MAKING REFORMS THERE.

I JUST -- I THINK IT'S AMAZING.

AND I LOVE MY TIME ON THE COMMITTEE.

>> Mary: I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A FUN SEGMENT.

I'VE TALKED TO SOME TAFF ABOUT ADJECTIVES THEY WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE EACH OF YOU.

>> OH, NO.

>> Mary: LET'S SEE WHAT YOU THINK OF THEM.

REPRESENTATIVE NISKA, WHIP, SMART, HARD WORKER.

>> I TRY TO WORK HARD.

I TRY TO BRING SOME EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE FROM, OU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF THIS PLACE AND A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE HERE.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE VERY CAREFUL IN THE WORK THAT WE DO BECAUSE THE WORDS THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE LAW REALLY HAVE HUGE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE FUTURE.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO -- >> Mary: SENATOR, INTELLIGENT, FEARLESS, CONFIDENT.

>> OOH, I LIKE THOSE!

[ Laughter ] I MEAN, IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND I THINK FEARLESS REALLY STICKS OUT TO ME, JUST LIKE, I GOTTA FIGHT FOR MY COMMUNITY AND REALLY HONOR THE FOLKS WHO BROUGHT ME TO THIS PLACE.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT ONE OF THE BIG TOUGH BILLS AHEAD, TAXES, WE HAVE A RECORD LARGE SURPLUS, TAXES ARE BEING CUT AND TAXES ARE INCREASING.

WHAT'S YOUR SPIN ON BOTH THOSE?

>> YEAH.

I THINK WHEN I WENT OUT AND TALKED TO PEOPLE, WE HAD A MUCH SMALLER SURPLUS, PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO GET THE SURPLUS BACK IN THE HANDS OF MINNESOTANS, NOT ABOUT RAISING TAXES.

I WAS REALLY SURPRISED WHEN WE HAD A $17.5 BILLION SURPLUS THAT IT WAS A PARTISAN MESSAGE ON OUR SIDE NOT TO RAISE TAXES.

I'M NOT OR RAISING TAXES.

>> Mary: FINAL WORD ON TAXES?

>> WE ARE PASSING THE LARGEST TAX CUT IN STATE HISTORY.

IT'S AMAZING, AND WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE FOLKS WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

SO, I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE BILL.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FRESHMAN, APPRECIATE HAVING BOTH OF YOU ON TONIGHT.

♪♪ >> Mary: IT'S BEEN A FAST-PACED AND RATHER RAUCOUS SESSION.

WITH US NOW TO PROVIDE CONTEXT, LONGTIME POLITICAL REPORTER AND "ALMANAC" HOST, ERIC ESKOLA.

ERIC, THIS IS UNLIKE ANY SESSION, EITHER OF US HAVE EVER SEEN.

>> Eric: IF I OULD HAVE CALLED YOUR DAD, REPORTING LEGEND GENE LAMA'AMER, AND ASKED HIM WHAT HE THINKS, HE WOULD HAVE COMPARED THIS TO THE '70s, WENDY ANDERSEN, ALL KINDS OF PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION.

WORK LOAD, 3300 BILLS I THINK IT'S BEEN INTRODUCED.

OF COURSE THE QUALITY OF THAT IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, YEAH, IT'S BEEN A PRETTY REMARKABLE SESSION.

>> Mary: WHEN I THINK OF THE '70s, WHAT MY DAD WOULD SAY, THE COMPLEXION OF THE NEW LEGISLATURE, THE AMOUNT OF WOMEN, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

HE SAID, MMEDIATELY, IT WAS LIKE THE '70s WHEN THAT FIRST INJECTION OF WOMEN CAME.

HIS QUOTE TO ME WAS IT CHANGED THE CULTURE INSTANTLY.

I THINK THIS CULTURE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY HERE AGAIN.

>> Eric: WELL, IT'S BECOME DRAMATICALLY MORE DIVERSE, GENDER HAS BEEN -- WOMEN ARE MUCH MORE REPRESENTED THAN THEY WERE BACK IN THE '70s, OBVIOUSLY.

AND KIND OF A FRESH AIR IS BLOWING, I THINK, THROUGH THE CAPITOL.

AND I TOOK A LOOK AT MARK DAYTON'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS FROM 2013, TEN YEARS AGO.

DEMOCRATS HAD THE -- THAT WAS THE LAST TRIFECTA.

>> Mary: YES.

>> Eric: NOT ONE MENTION IN DAYTON'S SPEECH OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.

COULD YOU BELIEVE IT?

>> Mary: THAT IS HARD TO BELIEVE.

WHEN THAT'S BEEN A DRIVER THROUGHOUT MULTIPLE BILLS HERE, NOT JUST ONE BILL.

>> Eric: JUST TEN YEARS AGO.

AND TALKING TO FOLKS THAT WERE AROUND WHEN PAUL THISSEN AND MARGARET ANDERSON KELLIHER WERE RUNNING THE HOUSE, A COUPLE OF DEMOCRATS.

THEY WERE VERY SLOW AND MODERATE IN GOING FORWARD.

I THINK THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS THEIR TICKET TO RE-ELECTION.

THE NEW DEMOCRATS IN CHARGE HERE, IT'S AMN THE TORPEDOES, FULL SPEED AHEAD AND WE'RE GOING TO GET OURS WHILE WE'RE HERE AND MAYBE THE FUTURE WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

>> Mary: YEAH, I'VE HEARD DEMOCRATS ADMIT, THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CHAMBER ANYWAY IN TWO YEARS, GO FOR IT, DELIVER EVERYTHING.

AND THE THING WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IS THE GOVERNOR, WHERE HE PLAYS INTO ALL THIS, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED WENDY ANDERSON, HE MENTIONED WENDY ANDERSON IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE.

THIS IS A FAMOUS GOVERNOR, KIND OF BOY WONDER ON THE COVER OF "TIME" MAGAZINE.

OUR GOVERNOR'S KIND OF COURTING SOME NATIONAL MEDIA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK'S AHEAD FOR HIM?

WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

>> WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE, THEY NOTICE THE SAME THING.

BUT IT'S A MYSTERY TO ME.

HE'S NOT WRITING A BOOK, I KNOW.

THAT.

>> Mary: WHICH IS A MEASURE OF A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

>> Eric: SURE.

BUT I WONDER IF HE HAS SCRAMBLED TO THE FRONT OF THE PROGRESSIVE PARADE.

BECAUSE IT WAS A MODERATE CONGRESSMAN.

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY.

SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, RURAL DISTRICT.

>> Eric: AND HE WASN'T LIBERAL ENOUGH TO GET THE FL ENDORSEMENT FOR GOVERNOR.

BUT HERE HE OMES, LEADING THE PARADE, NOW HE'S THE PROGRESSIVE LEADER FOR THE -- SHOWING MINNESOTA TO BE THE WAY FOR THE OTHER 49 STATES.

>> Mary: SO WHO IS THE CANDIDATE, IF IT'S NOT HIM, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN HAS HAD, I WOULD SAY, THE HIGHEST PROFILE OF ANY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR I'VE COVERED AT EVERY BILL SIGNING, DOING SPEECHES, DOING TONS OF MEDIA.

DOES SHE BECOME THE HEIR APPARENT FOR THAT SEAT?

>> Eric: I WOULD THINK SO.

I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE IN 2026 -- '24, WELL, ANYWAY, WHEN TINA SMITH IS UP, IF SHE RUNS OR NOT.

AND I THINK THAT WILL BE A CHOICE FOR A LOT OF DEMOCRATS, THERE WILL BE A LONG LINE, IF AND WHEN TINA MITH DECIDES TO RESIGN OR RETIRE.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT WHAT'S AHEAD, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED, THE NUMBER OF HISTORIC BILLS ALREADY THROUGH.

BUT THERE'S KIND OF A DECENT LIST OF THINGS YET TO DO, AREN'T THERE?

>> Eric: THE GAS TAX HAS EMERGED.

>> Mary: YEAH, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT, RIGHT?

>> Eric: I WOULD THINK THE DEMOCRATS, YOU KNOW, ANN REST SAID THERE'S AN INSATIABLE APPETITE ON THE DFL SIDE TO RAISE TAXES, SHE'S THE DFL SENATE TAXES CHAIR.

>> Mary: YES.

>> Eric: AND I WONDER IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO GET INTO HOT WATER POLITICALLY, IT MIGHT BE THIS BUSINESS OF RAISING ANY TAXES WHEN THE SURPLUS IS $17.5 BILLION.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT LITTLE ANNOYING THINGS, LIKE A DELIVERY FEE, I'M HEARING PEOPLE KIND OF IRKED ABOUT THAT POTENTIAL.

>> Eric: IF A BONDING BILL COMES, REGENERATES ITSELF AS A BONDING BILL, INSTEAD OF THE $1.3 BILLION CASH, THAT WILL FREE UP MONEY THAT THEY WANT TO PLUG INTO OTHER THINGS.

BUT IF IT'S A $1.3 BILLION CASH BILL, INSTEAD OF BONDS, THAT'S CASH MONEY OUT THE DOOR RIGHT AWAY, AND THAT'S GOING TO LEAVE THEM SCRAMBLING FOR NEW REVENUE RAISERS.

>> Mary: FRIDAY NIGHT, THE "ALMANAC" TRADITION RETURNS, ALL FOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, LIVE IN PERSON, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR?

>> Eric: I THINK JUST THESE VERY QUESTIONS, JUST THE MONUMENTAL NATURE OF THE SESSION, IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, GOOD OR BAD, AND THEN LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT COMES UP IN THE INTERIM.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT, ERIC ESKOLA, CAPITOL REPORTING LEGEND, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT.

THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM REPRESENTATIVE IS FROM RED WING, AND SHE FELT THE RIGHT TIME AND PLACE TO ANSWER THE CALL TO HER POSITION.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

FIRST QUESTION, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I WAS VERY FRUSTRATED BEING AT HOME AND WATCHING PEOPLE I KNOW, THEIR BUSINESSES BEING SHUT DOWN AND NOT HAVING THE RIGHT TO WORK, THE SCHOOLS BEING SHUT DOWN.

AT THAT TIME I HAD A SENIOR AND SOPHOMORE, THAT WAS A REALLY HARD TIME, YOU KNOW, FOR A LOT OF PARENTS.

FOR PEOPLE NOT TO BE ABLE TO WORSHIP, YOU KNOW, I SAW SOME OF THE WORST-CASE SCENARIOS WHERE FAMILIES WERE NOT ABLE TO GO TO FUNERALS OF LOVED ONES.

IT REALLY FELT LIKE A BIG OVERREACH OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IT REALLY FELT, YOU KNOW, LIKE OUR FREEDOMS WERE BEING STRIPPED AWAY AND WAS VERY WORRISOME TO ME, JUST THAT OLD SAYING, YOU KNOW, IF NOT ME, THEN WHO?

IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN?

AND I REALLY HAD A HEART TO HEART WITH MYSELF, AND I JUST REALLY FELT CALLED THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS MEANT TO DO.

>> Mary: HOW MUCH DID AN OPEN SEAT HELP?

>> OH, YEAH, THAT HELPED GREATLY.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAD REPRESENTATIVE BARB HEELEY IN THE SEAT, AND AS YOU KNOW, SHE'S A REPUBLICAN, I'M A REPUBLICAN.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POLITICAL MAKEUP, BECAUSE RED WING WAS ONCE CONSIDERED VERY COMPETITIVE, AND A LOT OF MONEY WAS PUT INTO SOME PREVIOUS RACES.

BUT IT EEMS TO HAVE SOLIDIFIED NOW, FAIRLY RED, IS THAT FAIR?

>> MY DISTRICT IS GOODHUE, WABASHA, RED WING ITSELF, IT CAN GO BOTH WAYS.

RED WING I WOULD NOT CALL RED AT ALL.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE EEING IS THE TREND, THE TREND IS IT IS MOVING MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE.

>> Mary: WHY DO YOU THINK YOU AND YOUR DISTRICT ARE TRENDING MORE REPUBLICAN?

>> PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO BE VERY CONCERNED WITH OUR TAXES, THE LIVING WAGES.

WE'RE SEEING THIS TREND WHERE PEOPLE ARE HAVING MORE DIFFICULTY, SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH MONEY, THE DECISION MAKING THAT'S BEING -- HAPPENING AT A STATE AND A LOCAL LEVEL.

AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST STARTING TO BE VERY CONCERNED AND GET INVOLVED.

FOR MANY MANY YEARS, YOU KNOW, MYSELF INCLUDED, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN KIND OF GO TO SLEEP, YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING POLITICALLY.

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE SAYING FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE PAYING ATTENTION.

I BELIEVE THAT 10% OF THE RIGHT IS VERY EXTREME.

10% OF HE EFT IS VERY EXTREME.

AND I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY THINK 80% OF US WANT THE EXACT SAME THING.

AND IT TAKES SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF, I HAVE A BUSINESS BACKGROUND, I AM VERY USED TO WORKING WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL AGE GROUPS, ALL WALKS OF LIFE, JUST ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

I'M A PERSON THAT WORKS WELL WITH PEOPLE, PULLS PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND I'M ALSO VERY SOLUTION ORIENTED.

A LOT OF OUR DIVISION IS OVER ISSUES THAT DO NOT MATTER TO THE AVERAGE PERSON.

THEY'RE DIVIDING US ON FEAR AND THEY'RE DIVIDING US ON THINGS THAT ARE THE EXTREME ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANT GREAT SCHOOLS FOR OUR KIDS.

WE ALL WANT PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE ALL WANT THE ABILITY TO WORK AND TO KIND OF JUST PUSH BACK ON GOVERNMENT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, LET ME LIVE MY LIFE.

I DO FALL A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSERVATIVE ON SOME OF THE SOCIAL ISSUES.

I WOULD SAY I AM A COMMON-SENSE REPUBLICAN, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US WERE FEELING PRETTY GOOD GOING INTO THE ELECTION, AND I THINK FOR GOOD REASON.

WHEN I WAS OUT DOOR KNOCKING AND TALKING TO PEOPLE, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE I MET AT THE DOORS THAT SAID, THEY WERE MODERATES, OR THEY WERE INDEPENDENTS, AND SOME PEOPLE EVEN SAID THEY WERE DEMOCRATS, AND THEY WERE VOTING ED.

AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE HEARING AT THE DOORS.

I DID BELIEVE THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THE MAJORITY.

AND I THINK WHEN I WOKE UP WEDNESDAY MORNING, AND REALIZED HOW BAD IT WAS IN MINNESOTA, THAT WE LOST SOME MAJOR STATE RACES, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF FEEL GUT PUNCHED.

YOU KNOW, I GAVE MYSELF, I WOULD SAY, 24 HOURS OF FEELING A LITTLE BIT BAD FOR MYSELF.

BUT I AM AN OVERCOMER.

NOW IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

SO, MOVING FORWARD, WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN, AS REPUBLICANS, IS WE CAN COMMUNICATE BETTER, AND WE CAN GET OUR MESSAGE OUT.

I REALLY AM ABLE TO BRING TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS MY BACKGROUND IN SALES.

I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN MARKETING.

WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF SELLING OUR MESSAGE, OF MARKETING URSELVES, OF BEING VERY CLEAR IN WHAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

THE DEMOCRATS IN MINNESOTA AND I DO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO GO VERY EXTREME, WHERE THE REPUBLICANS ARE STRUGGLING IS WE ARE BEING OUTSPENT, YOU KNOW, BY SO MUCH MONEY.

AND THAT'S VERY HARD TO OVERCOME.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, I BELIEVE IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM.

AND I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED TO OFFICE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY DO WORK FOR PEOPLE, FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT THE POWERHOUSE FEMALE CAUCUS, THE GENDER DIVERSITY, THE RACIAL DIVERSITY, EEMS TO HAVE CHANGED THE CULTURE THERE JUST INSTANTLY ALMOST, IS THAT FAIR?

>> I THINK SO.

WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY INCREDIBLE WOMEN LEADERS IN OUR CAUCUS.

AND IT HAS HANGED IT, EVERYTHING FROM THAT VERY FIRST DAY WE HAD SESSION, TALKING ABOUT RULES AND WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE GOING TO DO REMOTE VOTING AND WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD HAVE WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE.

>> Mary: OF ALL THINGS.

>> THAT WAS OUR VERY FIRST BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ESPECIALLY YOUNG GIRLS COMING UP TO SEE THIS ARRAY OF FOLKS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM.

>> Mary: THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AND WRAP UP THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE OVER BY THAT CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE ON MONDAY.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW TO TUNE IN AND SEE OUR FAVORITE FORMER SENATOR, MICHELLE BENSON AND KARLA BIGHAM.

IT'S THE FINAL CHANCE TO TAKE THE "ALMANAC" SURVEY.

HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TPT.ORG/AATC.

THERE'S A LINK TO THAT SURVEY.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

ALSO CHECK OUT NY EPISODES OF "ALMANAC," "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL," FACEBOOK, TWITTER, ON THAT WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

AND WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE IN SESSION.

AS THEY ARE ABOUT TO BE BEHIND ME IN JUST MOMENTS.

YOU CAN WATCH ON THE STATEWIDE CHANNEL, MINNESOTA CHANNEL, NIGHTS, VERNIGHTS, WEEKENDS, WE ARE THERE FOR IT ALL.

SO TUNE IN, IN THE FINAL DAYS AND HOURS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BIG DECISIONS AHEAD, FRIDAY NIGHT ON "ALMANAC," ALL FOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, LIVE ON SET IN "ALMANAC," FOR THAT LONGSTANDING TRADITION.

I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE LATEST FROM THE CAPITOL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING SO MUCH.

GOOD NIGHT.

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