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

[ BANGING GAVEL ] >> THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.

>> Mary: THEY'RE BACK.

THE HOUSE HAS RETURNED.

HEAR FROM SOME NEW FACES AND FORMER LAWMAKERS AS WE TALK ABOUT TACKLING FRAUD.

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, GENERATING OVER $4 BILLION FOR OUR STATE SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HEALTHIER.

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE.

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

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

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, SESSION IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY, WITH A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT HERE IN THE HOUSE.

BOTH CHAMBERS AND BOTH CAUCUSES QUICKLY TURNED THEIR FOCUS TO THE ISSUE OF FRAUD AND SO WILL WE TONIGHT.

WE HAVE THE NEW CHAIR OF A COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE, WE'LL TALK WITH HER IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT, FIRST, THAT'S HOW THEY LAUNCHED HOUSE COMMITTEE WORK THIS WEEK.

[ BANGING GAVEL ] >> THE HOUSE RETURNED TO WORK AND STARTED WITH THE COMMITTEE ON FRAUD AND STATE OVERNMENT.

>> WE ARE CURRENTLY SITTING AT ABOUT $610 MILLION IN RAUD OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

NOT ONLY IS THAT AN APPALLING WASTE OF TAXPAYERS' HEARD-EARNED MONEY, IT IS ALSO AN INDICTMENT OF STATE AGENCIES' FAILURES TO SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED SERVICES.

>> WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE PROGRAM AND THE SUPPORTING THE FOLKS AND HELPING.

AND THERE'S A PLACE FOR THAT.

100%.

BUT IT CAN'T BE ALL OF IT.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE STATE AGENCY STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE STATE MONEY IS USED PROPERLY.

AND, SO, THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE.

>> 592 INDIVIDUAL, UNIQUE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE GRANTS, A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WAS 462, STATE ARTS BOARD WAS 597.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR A COMMITTEE TO POSSIBLY DO DUE DILIGENCE ON THAT MANY NONPROFITS.

>> Mary: SENATE REPUBLICANS ALSO TOOK AIM AT STOPPING FRAUD.

>> THESE ARE BILLS THAT AREN'T COMPLEX, THEY'RE NOT HAD COMPLICATED.

THEY'RE SIMPLY FIXES THAT WE'VE BEEN -- THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S BEEN IGNORING FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.

>> REACHED OUT, MY OFFICE CALLED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

WE NEED A MEETING, WE NEED ONE HOUR OF HIS TIME.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE RESPONSE WAS?

NOTHING.

>> Mary: THERE'S A BIPARTISAN BILL TO CREATE N INSPECTOR GENERAL IN THE STATE, WHILE NATIONALLY SOME WERE LET GO.

>> MINNESOTANS WORK HARD FOR THEIR MONEY.

THEY DESERVE GOVERNMENT THAT IS EQUALLY DILIGENT IN PROTECTING IT.

>> I'D LIKE TO THANK SENATOR GUSTAFSON FOR HER EFFORTS HERE TO BRING PARTIES -- YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PARTIES TOGETHER, MAKE THIS A TRULY BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

>> Mary: AND WITH SENATE DEMOCRATS BACK IN CONTROL, THEY TOOK ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON.

>> WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT MINNESOTANS FROM THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE CHAOS AGENDA, TRUMP AND HIS MUSKETEERS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MINNESOTANS UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE HERE FOR THEM AND FOR OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE TOGETHER.

>> Mary: THE AGRICULTURE CHAIR SAYS ONE FARMER'S ALREADY LOSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL FREEZE.

>> THAT LACK OF CERTAINTY IS SOMETHING THAT FARMERS ALREADY STRUGGLE WITH.

WILL THEY HAVE RESOURCES, WILL THEY NOT?

THEY DON'T KNOW.

THAT ADDITIONAL STRESS IS TOXIC FOR FARMERS AND FOR PEOPLE IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

FARMERS DON'T KNOW HOW THE WEATHER'S GOING TO TREAT THEM.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRUST HOW THEIR GOVERNMENT WILL TREAT THEM.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS I GOT ELECTED WAS BECAUSE OF HIGH EGG PRICES AND EGG PRICES, EGG PRICES HAVE BEEN GOING UP.

ONE REASON HE.

THESE OTHER THINGS, HE KEPT HIS PROMISES TO ATTACK PEOPLE, HE KEPT HIS PROMISES THAT A LOT OF MINNESOTANS ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT.

ONE REASON HE GOT ELECTED.

>> Mary: HERE WITH US NOW, THE NEW FRAUD COMMITTEE CHAIR, YOU JUST SAW HER IN ACTION, SHE'S REPUBLICAN KRISTIN ROBBINS.

FIRST OF ALL OF, HOW IMPORTANT AND SYMBOLIC WAS THAT THE VERY FIRST COMMITTEE HEARING GETS TO BE YOURS?

>> YES, IT'S A GREAT COMMITTEE SLOT, 8:15 ON MONDAY MORNINGS, WE START THE WEEK OUT FOCUSED ON FRAUD, I THINK IT SETS A GOOD TONE FOR THE WHOLE WEEK AT THE LEGISLATURE.

ALL COMMITTEE CHAIRS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR FRAUD.

>> Mary: I WAS JOKING EARLIER, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD OF INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK A WHILE BACK FEDERALLY.

BUT T KIND OF BECAME FRAUD WEEK AT THE CAPITOL.

DID YOU KNOW THAT, DID YOU SEE IT COMING OR WAS IT LUCKY SCHEDULING?

>> YEAH, I JUST THINK IT'S HOW THE SCHEDULE WORKED.

I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY DRIVEN BY THE PUBLIC'S FRUSTRATION.

WE HAVE HAD $610 MILLION IN FRAUD THAT WE KNOW OF OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.

AND THE PUBLIC IS FED UP.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY DRIVING THE MOMENTUM ON GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

>> Mary: THE HEADLINES HAVEN'T STOPPED, AND THE INVESTIGATIONS HAVEN'T STOPPED.

DO WE HAVE GOOD HANDLE?

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN USING THAT $600 MILLION OR SO NUMBER.

I'VE HEARD SOME FOLKS SPECULATE THAT THIS COULD BE UPWARDS OF A BILLION.

>> RIGHT.

THERE'S ALLEGATIONS OF THAT.

WE STILL HAVE TO DO MORE DIGGING BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED.

AND IT'S SO SAD FOR MINNESOTANS.

THOSE ARE DOLLARS THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO BE HELPING PEOPLE, AND IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE HELPING PEOPLE, THEY SHOULD BE BACK IN MINNESOTANS' POCKETS.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE OTHER CHAMBER, A SENATE, YOU SAW THAT, A BIPARTISAN BILL PRESENTATION, IT SAILS OUT OF COMMITTEE.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: OVER HERE IN THE HOUSE, THERE WAS SOME PARTY-LINE VOTES N SOME OF THE FRAUD BILLS.

YOU'RE NOT IN THE SAME PLACE, WHY IS THAT?

>> YEAH, IT'S DISAPPOINTING.

HONESTLY, IT'S REALLY SURPRISING TO ME.

SO, I REALLY THINK FRAUD IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

AND WE HAVE GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE.

THE GOVERNOR CAME OUT WITH HIS PROPOSAL.

AND I CARRY A WHISTLEBLOWER BILL THAT'S EXPANDING WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS FOR STATE WORKERS.

>> Mary: DO YOU HAVE DEMOCRATIC CO-AUTHORS?

>> I DON'T.

IN THE SENATE, THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, BIPARTISANLY, OUT OF COMMITTEE.

AND IN THE HOUSE, THIS WEEK, IT PASSED ON A PARTY-LINE VOTE.

>> Mary: I MEAN BE, TO BE FRANK, IS THIS RESIDUAL HARD FEELINGS OF THE LAST MONTH, THE BOYCOTT, IS IT GOING TO BE HARD SLETTING IN THE HOUSE?

>> I HOPE NOT.

AT LEAST NOT ON FRAUD.

I THINK BUDGET ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE TOUGH, NO MATTER WHAT.

BUT I THINK FRAUD, IT'S A SEPARATION OF POWERS ISSUE.

THE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATES THE MONEY, AND WE SHOULD BE OVERSEEING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

SO, I THINK T HOULD BE BIPARTISAN THAT MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE WANT TO MAKE SURE MINNESOTANS' MONEY IS NOT WASTED.

>> Mary: IS IT HARD FOR REPUBLICANS TO MESSAGE ON THAT WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON?

YOU TALK ABOUT SEPARATION OF POWER, KEEPING AN EYE ON THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

WE SAW, YOU KNOW, INSPECTOR GENERAL BILL IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

WHILE THE PRESIDENT IS GETTING RID OF INSPECTORS GENERAL.

IS THAT HARD TO MESSAGE WITH WASHINGTON?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I MEAN, THE ISSUES IN MINNESOTA ARE SO ENORMOUS, AS DEMOCRAT U.S. ATTORNEY ANDY LUGER SAID, MINNESOTA HAS THE BIGGEST FRAUD PROBLEM HE'S SEEN IN THE COUNTRY, SO WE HAVE TO DO OUR WORK AND FOCUS ON THE STATE FRAUD ISSUES, GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, CLEAN IT UP, AND THEN PUT IN PROCESSES THAT WE CAN STOP IT IN THE FUTURE.

>> Mary: PART OF THE NEWS THIS WEEK WAS THE LETTER WRITTEN BY HOUSE LEADERSHIP.

>> YES.

>> Mary: YOU WERE ON THAT, TOO?

>> YES.

>> Mary: ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE NOW.

>> YES.

>> Mary: APPOINT A U.S. ATTORNEY.

HAVE YOU HAD A RESPONSE?

>> WE HAVE NOT.

BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO THE FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY, ANDY LUGER, WAS A DEMOCRAT, HE DID FANTASTIC WORK GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT FEEDING OUR FUTURE SCANDAL.

WE NEED ANOTHER U.S. ATTORNEY APPOINTED HERE IN MINNESOTA WHO CAN CONTINUE THAT WORK BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE DOLLARS ARE FEDERAL MEDICAID DOLLARS, AND, SO, IT'S OUT OF THE PURVIEW OF OUR COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT'S FEDERAL MONEY.

SO WE NEED THAT FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: IT WAS INTERESTING IN THE SENATE HEARING ON THE BILLS THAT THE CHAIR MADE A POINT TO SAY, ET'S NOT DO A WITCH HUNT HERE ON STATE AGENCIES.

AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR, I THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE TRIED TO MESSAGE THAT THE FRAUD WAS COMMITTED AGAINST STATE AGENCIES, THAT IT WASN'T NECESSARILY THE STATE AGENCIES, THAT THERE WERE CRIMINALS WHO ARE BEING CONVICTED, WHO ARE IN TRIAL THIS WEEK, IN FACT, ON THIS, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, GETTING IT CLEAR THAT IT WAS STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY THAT WAS STOLEN.

>> RIGHT.

YOU NOW, I THINK, IN GENERAL, THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE AGENCIES WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> AS THE O.L.A.

POINTED OUT IN THE HEARING THIS WEEK, A LOT OF IT IS TRAINING.

THE OFFICE OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT DOES NOT APPARENTLY DO TRAINING ON FRAUD PREVENTION OR ON, YOU KNOW, CLOSING OUT GRANTS.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> AND COMPLIANCE.

SO WE NEED TO BEEF UP THE TRAINING THAT STATE WORKERS GET.

BUT THEN WE ALSO NEED TO HOLD STATE WORKERS ACCOUNTABLE.

SO IF THEY ARE MANAGING A PROGRAM THAT IS FRAUDULENT AND THEY HAVEN'T NOTICED IT OR THEY HAVEN'T REQUIRED ROGRESS REPORTS OR THEY HAVEN'T PROPERLY CLOSED OUT A GRANT, WE DO NEED TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WORKERS, BUT THAT'S WHY I HAVE THE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION BILL.

WE NEED TO EXPAND WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS SO STATE WORKERS FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING FORWARD.

>> Mary: LAST QUESTION, ANOTHER BRANCH F GOVERNMENT, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

WE HEARD STORE KORAN SAYING HE CAN'T GET A MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR, HE HAS LOTS OF IDEA ON THIS, HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR, IS HE LEANING N ON THIS?

>> HE GAVE ME A CALL, WE SAW EACH OTHER WHEN HE BROUGHT BROWNIES TO THE FLOOR THE OTHER DAY, WE HAD A NICE GREETING.

I THINK HE'S VERY INTERESTED IN GETTING THIS WORK DONE.

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HE CAN DO IS HE'LL HAVE HIS PROPOSALS, THEY'LL CERTAINLY GET A HEARING.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS O GET HIS COMMISSIONERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE AGENCIES TO COME AND TESTIFY AND TO RESPOND TO OUR DATA REQUEST, THAT WOULD SHOW GOOD FAITH.

>> Mary: WHICH CAN NOW HAPPEN BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS OFFICIALLY ORGANIZED.

THANK YOU, CHAIR, NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> YES, YOU TOO.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Mary: RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A ONE-VOTE MARGIN FOR REPUBLICANS HERE IN THE HOUSE.

AND A ONE-VOTE MARGIN FOR DEMOCRATS OVER IN THE SENATE.

BOTH OUR NEXT GUESTS WILL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MUCH MORE.

WE HAVE THE FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, REPUBLICAN AMY KOCH.

AND WE HAVE A FORMER STATE SENATOR, SHE IS A DEMOCRAT, SHE ALSO SERVED IN THE HOUSE, SHE TALKS ABOUT BEING HOUSE TRAINED HERE A LITTLE BIT.

>> THE OTHER BODY.

>> Mary: AND A COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

WELL, LET'S START, MADAM COMMISSIONER.

IS THE HOUSE OFF TO A GOOD START HERE OR NOT SO MUCH?

>> I'M GLAD THEY'RE BACK.

MINNESOTANS ARE GLAD THEY'RE BACK, THEY NEEDED TO COME BACK.

LOOK, THEY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

MINNESOTANS EXPECT IT.

I THINK -- I APPLAUD THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON IN FRAUD.

I THINK THEY REALLY CAN GET THERE.

I THINK THE HOUSE NEEDS TO BE MORE LIKE THE SENATE.

>> Mary: RIGHT.

WHERE THEY'RE POSTING BIPARTISAN VOTES.

>> YUP.

>> Mary: AND BILL AUTHORS.

THE HOUSE IS NOT DOING THAT YET.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY NEED TO.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT.

I THINK THAT THAT WILL HELP IN -- WELL, JUNE, PROBABLY.

[ Laughter ] >> Mary: WE'LL GET TO THAT.

>> SO, AT THE END OF SESSION, IT WILL BE HELPFUL IF THEY START UNDERSTANDING NOW THAT BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND THAT RAPPORT.

>> Mary: FRAUD WEEK, GOOD ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS, CAN IT BE A GOOD ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS, TOO?

>> WELL, IT SHOULD BE.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> AND THEY SHOULD DIVE IN WITH IT.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S TELLING TO ME, WE HEARD FROM CHAIR ROBBINS THAT EVEN BIPARTISAN BILL LIKE HER WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION BILL, WHICH, RIGHT, I THINK IS THE RIGHT FIRST STEP, YOU NEED TO PROTECT AGENCY, PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING WITHIN THE AGENCIES TO FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THEY CAN COME FORWARD WITH INFORMATION AND OF NOT BE RETALIATED.

AND, YET, THAT BILL, SHE SAID, PASSED COMPLETELY WITH NO NO VOTES IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE AND IT PASSED ON BIPARTISAN LINES HERE.

AND THAT'S TELLING.

SO IT'S -- YOU KNOW, HERE SHE IS, PUTTING FORTH A VERY BIPARTISAN BILL THAT SHOULD HAVE BIPARTISAN AUTHORSHIP, AND, YET, YOU KNOW, I DON'T -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE DFL IN THE HOUSE ARE NOT SIGNING ON TO SOME OF THESE BILLS.

THEY SHOULD.

IT WOULD SERVE THEM WELL.

>> AND I THINK THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR REPORTS ARE ANOTHER INDICATION OF MAYBE GETTING SOME WORK THROUGH.

I ACTUALLY THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE'S AS A WHOLE HAS TO PAUSE ON SOME OF THESE REPORTS AND ACTUALLY DO THEM.

>> Mary: LISTEN TO THE REPORTS -- [ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> PUMPING THEM OUT.

>> Mary: THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR.

THE REQUESTS FOR YOU.

>> RIGHT?

RIGHT?

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> THIS THEY REQUEST THE REPORT.

>> Mary: RIGHT.

BUT EVERYBODY STILL LOVES THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: IS THAT ONE OF THE GREAT PARTS OF MINNESOTA GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE A NONPARTISAN TRUSTED AUTHORITY ON WHAT'S GOING WRONG IN GOVERNMENT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT'S LITERALLY MY FAVORITE AUDITOR IN THE STATE.

THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR.

BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JIM NOBLES PRIOR TO OUR EXISTING O.L.A.

>> YUP.

>> AND, ET, THAT TRADITION IS CARRIED ON BECAUSE THEY TAKE THEIR JOB VERY SERIOUSLY.

THERE'S NOT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT OUT THERE THAT CAN SAY THERE'S PARTISANSHIP IN THAT OFFICE.

>> Mary: WHICH IS SO HARD TO DO IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE.

IS THAT REMARKABLE THAT THERE'S A PREMISE -- >> IT IS.

>> Mary: -- AGREE ON TO MOVE FORWARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: SPEAKING OF THAT, HOW DO WE HAVE THE FEDERAL AND STATE INTERPLAY, BECAUSE NOW WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, MINNESOTA CAN'T SAY, OH, IT DOESN'T AFFECT US, IT'S NOT OURS.

IT'S AFFECTING MINNESOTA NOW.

>> I MEAN, THERE'S SOME RACQUETBALL GOING UP AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THAT IS A LOT OF CHAOS.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT IS NERVE WRACKING.

AND I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO PLAY INTO THE STATE LEVEL IN THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY, 10% OF OUR EDUCATION FUNDING FOR THE STATE COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> Mary: THAT'S A BILLION DOLLARS.

>> AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I WILL SAY, 80% OF OUR BUDGETS ARE MANDATED FUNDING FROM THE FEDS AND THE STATE.

SO IT IS GOING TO PLAY INTO THAT AND HOW THEY, YOU KNOW, PREPARE NTO MAY.

>> Mary: LET'S SEE A SLICE OF THIS.

WE HEARD EARLIER ABOUT FARMERS AND FARMERS IN MINNESOTA REALLY FEELING THIS.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE BIG INROADS WITH FARMERS IN MINNESOTA.

DOES THIS HURT THEM?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THE FARMERS, Y AND LARGE, YOU SEE A HUGE SHIFT AND MOST OF THE FARMERS THAT I KNOW, IN FACT, ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE VOTED FOR TRUMP.

THEY UNDERSTAND.

I THINK THAT THEY HAVE SOME CAUTION AROUND SOME OF THIS.

BUT MOSTLY THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO FARM, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SELL THEIR GOODS, AND THEY KNOW THAT BETTER FOR THE MARKET IS REPUBLICANS IN CHARGE OF THINGS.

CERTAINLY THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BORNE THAT OUT.

AND ALSO THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN RYE ROCKETING.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS, YOU KNOW, NEED REPUBLICANS AT A FEDERAL LEVEL TO FOCUS ON IT IS THINGS THAT PUT THEM IN OFFICE.

WHICH WAS INFLATION.

WHICH WAS FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE.

WHICH WAS, WANTING TO CONTROL THE BUDGET AND.

AND HERE I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING THAT IS A GENERAL RULE REPUBLICANS AND MOST AMERICA WOULD APPLAUD, MOST PRESIDENTS HAVE TRIED SINCE JIMMY CARTER TO CONTROL THAT BUDGET AND NO ONE HAS.

BUT THERE'S SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO, LIKE, TAKE A HAMMER TO SOMETHING AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE A SCALPEL.

>> YEAH.

>> AND KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE, AND NOT ALWAYS JUST TAKING A HAMMER TO SOMETHING IS WHERE I THINK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS STRUGGLED.

>> LAHAMMER.

>> I WILL SAY THAT INFLATION, GOT THE REPORT, INFLATION'S ALREADY UP.

AND THAT'S TRUMP'S AMERICA RIGHT THERE.

>> OKAY HE'S BEEN IN OFFICE A MONTH.

THAT'S COMPLETELY DISINGENUOUS TO SAY.

>> THE TARIFF -- >> HIS FIRST MONTH IN OFFICE IS GOING TO MESS WITH THE INFLATION OF BIDEN.

>> IT'S TRUCH'S AMERICA NOW.

IT'S TRUMP'S AMERICA.

TARIFFS, WHERE THE FARMERS BUY THEIR FERTILIZER FROM CANADA, MOST OF THEM, O, THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE.

THE SOYBEAN MARKET, CORN MARKET, WITH THE TAR RIPS, REALLY HURTS THE FARMERS' MARKETS.

THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW THAT.

THE UNCERTAINTY REALLY DOES HURT OUR AGRICULTURE.

HISTORY WITH CARGILL, WITH GENERAL MILLS.

AND ALL OF THAT TRICKLES DOWN.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> Mary: FARMS ARE HERE HUGE HERE.

>> I DON'T LIKE TARIFFS.

>> I KNOW.

>> BUT, ALSO, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW HE WORKS THIS, RIGHT?

HE IMPOSED TARIFFS ON CANADA AND MEXICO.

HE CUTS A DEAL ON WHAT HE WANTS.

>> WHICH IS ALREADY IN PLACE, PRETTY MUCH.

>> AND THE TARIFFS GO AWAY.

IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THE PANEL CANAL.

>> Mary: LET'S COME BACK STATE SIDE.

>> ALL I KNOW, FOOD PRICES ARE GOING UP, I WAS TOLD ARE COMING UP, THEY'VE GONE UP.

>> Mary: LADIES' NIGHT IS GETTING A LITTLE SPICY HERE.

SO LET'S BRING IT BACK STATE SIDE.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: EARLIER, WE HEARD THIS REFERENCE TO TO JUNE OR JULY.

SESSION IS SUPPOSED TO END IN MAY.

WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT JUNE AND JULY ALREADY?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD THE BOYCOTT FOR THE FIRST MONTH.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT'S JUST, IN A YEAR WITH A BUDGET, AND IN A YEAR WHEN YOU HAVE A 67-66 SPLIT OR 67-67 SPLIT, WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE SPECIAL.

BY THE WAY, 34-33 IN THE SENATE, BEST-CASE SCENARIO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 201 LEGISLATORS, 101 DEMOCRATS, 100 REPUBLICANS.

>> OKAY.

>> THAT'S A DEAD EVEN.

>> Mary: LAST WORD GOING TO THE BREAK TO JULY?

>> BOOK YOUR CAMPING FOR FOURTH OF JULY.

AT COUNTY PARKS.

NOT STATE PARKS.

>> A SHUTDOWN IS COMING JULY 1.

1.

>> A SHUTDOWN FOR ARKS IS COMING.

>> Mary: APPRECIATE YOU, LADIES.

GREAT STUFF.

THE FRESHMAN LAWMAKER IS QUICK ON HIS FEET AS AN ULTRA MARATHON RUNNER.

HE RAN ACROSS THE BOUNDARY WATERS, AN AREA HE SPENT THE LAST DECADE ADVOCATING FOR.

FIRST QUESTION I ASK EVERYBODY, WHY DID YOU RUN?

>> I'VE ALWAYS KIND OF BEEN IN THE POLITICAL SPHERE.

IN COLLEGE I WAS IN THE COLLEGE DEMS, WORKED WITH THE WELLSTONE CAMPAIGN, TRAGICALLY WHEN HIS PLANE CRASHED.

SO, POLITICS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING.

I JUST GOT THIS WINDY PATH OF HOW I GOT HERE.

I WAS A BIO MAJOR, DECIDED I DIDN'T WANT TO BE A DOCTOR.

WENT TO LOYOLA FOR IMMUNOLOGY PhD, I WAS WORKING WITH OBAMA CAMPAIGN WHEN I WAS INSPECT THE LAB.

IT WAS AT THAT POINT, OKAY, SOMETHING'S GOT TO CHANGE.

WENT BACK TO MINNESOTA.

GOT AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE DFL, GREW UP IN THE PARTY.

MOST RECENTLY FOR THE PAST DECADE, BEEN WORKING WITH THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE BOUNDARY WATERS.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN POLITICALLY ACTIVE.

AND WHEN LORI PRYOR ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT, JUST KIND OF LIKE, AH, I WONDER.

AND I WAS CTUALLY IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS, SOMEWHERE IS OUT THERE, FOUND THE COURAGE, YEAH, I SHOULD DO THIS.

IT'S KIND OF A UNIQUE SPOT FOR ME BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SO INVOLVED AND HAVE BEEN PUSHING ON PUBLIC ADVOCACY AND PROGRESSIVE ISSUES AND CAUSES AND, SO, IT'S JUST KIND OF THE TIME, MAYBE I CAN DO THIS FROM THE INSIDE, NOT JUST FROM THE OUTSIDE.

>> Mary: SO YOUR BACKGROUND'S VERY POLICY ORIENTED.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: IT SEEMS LIKE.

DID IT FEEL DIFFERENT TO GO TO THE POLITICAL SIDE A LITTLE HARDER?

>> I KNOW HOW TO RUN A CAMPAIGN, RUN CAMPAIGNS, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE ONE TELLING OTHER CANDIDATES WHAT TO DO.

BUT NOW THE SCRIPT WAS FLIPPED, I HAVE TO BE THE ONE LISTEN TO ADVICE, BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO.

BUT THEN I UNDERSTOOD FROM CANDIDATES THAT I'VE WORKED WITH PREVIOUSLY.

SUDDENLY IT'S MY NAME ON THE BALLOT, ON ALL THE LAWN SIGNS.

ALL THAT.

KIND OF LIKE, OH, I SEE WHERE THE CRAZY KIND OF CAMPAIGN BRAIN TAKES OVER.

NORMALLY SANE PERSON, BUT WHEN THEY'RE ON THE BALLOT, EVERYTHING CHANGES.

>> Mary: YOU'RE NOT AFRAID OF THE PHYSICAL CHALLENGE IN CAMPAIGNING BECAUSE OF YOUR BACKGROUND.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RUNNING.

>> I'M AN LTRA DISTANCE MARATHON RUNNER.

100-MILE DISTANCES.

I'VE DONE FOUR RACES AT 100 MILES AND MORE.

I'M THE ONLY PERSON TO RUN ACROSS THE BOUNDARY WATERS, HIKING TRAILS, EAST TO WEST, MEET IN THE MIDDLE, KEEP GOING, AS AN ADVOCACY PROJECT FOR A CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE BOUNDARY WATERS.

YEAH, ENDURANCE RUNNING, WHICH I THINK WILL FIT WELL FOR 8 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, BECAUSE IT'S AN ENDURANCE SPOT IN AND OF ITSELF.

>> Mary: I WANT TO BREAK THAT DOWN, IT DOES TAKE FOCUS, DETERMINATION.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: REYELLS.

I MEAN -- RESILIENCE.

HOW WILL THE QUALITIES YOU'VE LEARNED, NOT JUST MARATHONING, BUT ULTRA MARATHONING, HELP YOU THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES HERE?

>> YEAH, TOUGH TIMES.

I'VE BEEN RUNNING, TOO MUCH INFORMATION, CUT IT OUT, BUT MY LAST 100--MILE RUN, I SPENT A MARATHON DISTANCE OVERNIGHT PUKING, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE MY NUTRITION DIALED IN.

SO I KNOW THAT I CAN GET THROUGH ALMOST ANYTHING.

WHATEVER PAIN, WHATEVER PERSONAL SACRIFICE, WHAT'S -- WHATEVER'S GOING ON, HAVE MY EYE ON THE END OAL, GET THROUGH SESSION, GET A BUDGET PASSED FOR THE STATE.

AND WE CAN DO THAT.

AND, SO, IT'S JUST GUTTING IT OUT.

STICKING WITH IT.

YOU HAVE A GOAL.

YOU'RE GOING TO FINISH IT NO MATTER WHAT.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT THE HISTORY AND CHAOS, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY IF THE HOUSE IS GOING TO BE TIED, SLIGHTLY MAJORITY.

IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSE, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH NO MATTER WHAT WHAT.

HOW DOES FEEL FEW?

>> REGARDLESS HOW THINGS SHAKE OUT FOR WHEN WE START BUSINESS T DOES OFFER A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE'RE IN, ESSENCE, FORCED TO WORK TOGETHER.

YES, IT'S POLITICALLY POLARIZED TIMES, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO GET ANYTHING DONE, BY NECESSITY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET PASSED WITHOUT EACH OTHER.

AS A FRESHMAN MEMBER, I THINK IT OPENS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL LAST INTO THE FUTURE.

JUST BECAUSE IGHT NOW WE HAVE TO.

WE CAN'T IGNORE ONE ANOTHER.

SO, FROM THAT, FROM A GOOD GOVERNANCE STANDPOINT, I'M ACTUALLY PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT T. T. >> Mary: EDEN PRAIRIE, THE AREA, HAS GONE THE WAY OF THE WESTERN SUBURBS HAVE GONE, LESS COMPETITIVE, HAVE YOU SEEP THAT CHANGE?

>> YEAH.

SO I HAVE BOTH MINNETONKA AND EDEN PRAIRIE, SOUTHERN PART OF MINNETONKA, NORTHERN PART OF EDEN PRAIRIE.

AND, YEAH, IT'S, BACK IN 2010, '10 OR '12, I MANAGED THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE OUT THERE, AND WE JUST GOT SHELACKED AND FAST FORWARD A DECADE LATER, IT'S A BLUE DISTRICT.

>> Mary: WHAT HAPPENED?

THAT'S A BIG CHANGE IN TEN YEARS.

WHAT DID YOU SEE?

>> MY TAKE IS A LOT OF THE OLD KIND OF ROCKEFELLER REPUBLICANS HAVE RETIRED, MOVED ON.

PASSED AWAY.

NEW FAMILIES ARE COMING IN WHICH ARE MUCH MORE PROGRESSIVE MINDED IN THEIR IDEALISM.

AND, SO, THERE'S BEEN KIND OF A GENERATIONAL CHANGEOVER, AND THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE MOVING IN ARE DIFFERENT THAN IT USED TO BE.

AND, SO, THERE'S A LOT MORE PROGRESSIVE FAMILIES, THERE'S A LOT MORE DIVERSITY ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE DISTRICT, IN PARTICULAR, KIND OF NEAR THE EDEN PRAIRIE MALL.

A LOT MORE SOMALI, INDIAN, PAKISTAN, MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

>> Mary: HOW WILL YOU JUDGE SUCCESS AT THE END OF SESSION?

>> IF WE CAN JUST KEEP LIGHTS ON FOR THE STATE BUDGET, I THINK -- I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT MINNESOTA NEEDS.

THAT'S WHAT VOTERS EXPECT.

SO WE NEED TO PASS A BUDGET.

WE CAN'T BE FACING A SHUTDOWN AT THE END OF JUNE.

THAT WOULD BE AD FOR EVERYBODY.

>> AGRICULTURE, SINCE THE FOUNDING OF MINNESOTA, HAS HELD A VERY SPECIAL PLACE HERE.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE HINGS THAT I THINK PERSONALLY IS A VERY BIPARTISAN BILL THAT PEOPLE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO BECAUSE IF YOU EAT, YOU'RE INVOLVED IN AG.

AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND EVOLVING, BUT IT STILL COMES DOWN TO PEOPLE EATING AND PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT.

AND I HONESTLY THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THIS YEAR.

WE GOT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO PEOPLE, AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, GET TO KNOW PEOPLE ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE POLICY GETS MADE, THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING TO WORK, WHAT ISN'T GOING TO WORK.

AND OF ANYTHING I DO, THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING DOWN TO WORK.

>> Mary: WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE FROM THAT INTERVIEW NEXT WEEK, ALONG WITH POLITICAL REPORTERS, AND IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S TPT.ORG/AATC.

THERE YOU CAN REWATCH ANY PARTS OF THE SHOW, FIND OUT HOW TO INTERACT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, FACEBOOK, X, EVEN DOING A LITTLE BIT ON BLUESKY AND THREADS NOW.

CHECK IT ALL OUT.

AND ALSO WATCH THE LEGISLATURES IN ACTION ON THE PBS STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

HOUSE, SENATE, PRESS CONFERENCES, HEARINGS, MUCH MORE.

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

ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, ECONOMISTS.

I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE FIGHT AGAINST FRAUD HERE AND HOW THE HOUSE AND SENATE MIGHT BE TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

THEY'RE OFF TO THE RACES IN THE SENATE ON BIPARTISAN.

THANKS, GOOD NIGHT.

♪ ♪ >> "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, GENERATING OVER $4 BILLION FOR OUR STATE SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HEALTHIER.

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE.

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