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

>> Mary: STATE WORKERS ARE FURIOUS WITH THE GOVERNOR.

WE'LL DIVE INTO THAT AND TALK WITH FORMER SENATE LEADERS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR CHAMBER.

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.

WELL, THE GOVERNOR, WHO WAS A UNION TEACHER, HAS NCENSED THE STATE WORKERS UNION BY CALLING THEM BACK TO WORK IN PERSON, MORE THAN HALF OF THE TIME.

WE'LL ANALYZE THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

AND THE ONGOING IMPACT OF THE ARREST OF A STATE SENATOR, WHICH IS WHERE WE START.

[ BANGING GAVEL ] >> THE SENATE RETURNED, AGAIN, DOWN A MEMBER, AFTER THE RESIGNATION OF A SENATOR FOR SOLICITING SEX FROM A MINOR.

LAW ENFORCEMENT NOW SAY HE LIED ABOUT HAVING A GUN IN HIS St. PAUL APARTMENT OR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

CANDIDATES TO REPLACE HIM IN A SPECIAL ELECTION INCLUDE THE SON OF FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GAZELKA, THE WIFE OF HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE HEINTZEMAN, AND MOST CONTROVERSIAL, THE OUSTED REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR JENNIFER CARNAHAN, WHO RESIGNED AND HAD CONNECTIONS TO A CHILD SEX TRAFFICKER.

MEANWHILE, A BIPARTISAN COALITION ANNOUNCED A PROPOSAL TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

>> WE BUILT THIS BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL COALITION WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS -- >> FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE'VE HAD ROBUST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS.

WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF IT, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING -- WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO AVOID THIS.

THIS IS GOING TO GO FOR A LONG WAYS FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF STATE OFFICERS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH DISCUSSIONS SURROUNDING THE BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAME HIGHLY POLITICAL, HIGHLY POLITICIZED.

THIS IS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT BY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO SAY, WE'VE WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT.

IT'S TO THE DETRIMENT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: A PARADE CAME BEFORE THE FRAUD COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE ONLY HOUSE PANEL TO RETAIN A REPUBLICAN CHAIR AND MAJORITY IN THE TIE IN THAT CHAMBER.

>> OUR CONCERN THROUGHOUT THE HEARING IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF NEW MONEY BEING SPENT, BUT PROBABLY NOT A LOT OF GREAT CULTURE CHANGE THAT IS NEEDED TO REALLY ATTACK THE ROOT OF THE FRAUD.

>> SOME GOOD THINGS IN THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, BUT THERE ARE MANY MANY THINGS THAT ARE MISSING.

>> IF YOU WANT TO KNOW IF THE GOVERNOR'S TAKING FRAUD SERIOUSLY, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE CHANGES FOR THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES, AND HE'S ONLY INCREASING THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES BY 20% FOR THE TOP THREE HIGHEST THEFT CATEGORIES.

THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

>> WE HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE O.L.A.

THEY WILL DO THEIR INVESTIGATION OF AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE, THEY REPORT CRIMINAL FRAUD TO US NOW WHEN THEY DISCOVER IT IN THAT PROCESS.

>> CURRENT LAW RIGHT NOW REQUIRES EMPLOYEES TO REPORT TO THE O.L.A.

WHEN THEY SUSPECT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

>> OUR EMPLOYEES THAT DO SITE VISITS GO ALL OVER THE STATE OF INNESOTA NOW, AND WITH THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PROVIDERS AND SERVICES, WE NEED TO INCREASE HAT NUMBER BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE ROAD ALL THE TIME.

>> THE AGENCIES, ESPECIALLY DHS AND DCYF, ARE OPERATING UNDER ANCIENT SYSTEMS BUILT IN THE 1980s.

AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: WELL, IT'S BEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED YEAR HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ITH THE GOVERNOR, WE HAVE BLOIS OLSON, HEAD OF INFLUENCE MEDIA AND YOU CAN HEAR HIM ON WCCO RADIO.

SO, BLOIS, THE STATE WORKERS UNION SAYS THEY WERE JUST BLIND-SIDED BY THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK WE'RE PERSONALLY A LITTLE SURPRISED BECAUSE DIDN'T WE KIND OF NOW THIS WAS COMING?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN OUT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

I KNEW ABOUT IT TWO WEEKS AGO.

BUT I DIDN'T CHASE IT BECAUSE IT WAS -- I KNEW IT HAD TO ROLL OUT PRETTY SMOOTHLY.

BUT I DON'T THINK THE UNIONS FOUND OUT UNTIL MONDAY, LATE MONDAY.

AND THAT'S ODD FOR A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TO DO THAT.

>> Mary: WHO'S BEEN ON GOOD TERMS WITH THE UNION.

>> OVERALL HE'S BEEN ON GOOD TERMS WITH UNIONS AND THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

>> Mary: YUP.

>> HE HAS NEVER BEEN AS POPULAR AS GOVERNOR DAYTON WITH STATE EMPLOYEE NIONS, INCLUDING MAPE SPECIFICALLY.

>> Mary: JUDGE IS THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, EARLY ON, I THINK THEY JUST GOT OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT ON A FEW THINGS.

SOME OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY STUFF ON I.T., SOME F THAT STUFF.

I THINK THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY.

AND YOU REMEMBER THAT NEITHER ONE OF THOSE UNIONS ENDORSED HIM IN THE PRIMARY IN 2018 AND WE KNOW THAT EVERYBODY HAS LONG EMORIES IN POLITICS.

>> Mary: AND ISN'T THAT A PRIMARY WHERE HE RAN AGAINST ERIN MURPHY WHO'S NOW THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER?

JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE HOW THIS ALL COMES BACK AROUND.

>> IT IS.

AND THAT IS WHO THOSE UNIONS ENDORSED IN 2018.

>> Mary: YUP.

>> SO JUST KNOW THAT THAT'S A RELATIONSHIP TO WATCH.

>> Mary: LET ME GIVE YOU A COUPLE QUOTES.

BECAUSE MAPE CALLED THEM A BAD BOSS.

AFSCME SAID BLATANT DISRESPECT.

I MEAN, IS THIS DAMAGING GOING FORWARD FOR HIM IF HE REALLY DOES WANT TO RUN AGAIN?

>> SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS, DOES HE HAVE A STRATEGY TO RUN AGAIN?

OR IS IT JUST, HERE'S WHO I AM, HERE'S WHAT I'VE DONE, LET'S GO.

POLITICAL OPERATIONS NEED FACTIONS AND COALITIONS.

AND WHILE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO SOME REPUBLICAN, THERE'S STILL A CHANCE HE'S CHALLENGED IN A PRIMARY AND THAT THEY WOULD ENDORSE HIS OPPONENT.

SO, THERE ARE BIG -- THEY'RE BIG PIECE OF THE PUZ HIS HE WILL FOR THE DFL PRIMARY.

>> Mary: AND IF HE CAN'T WIN HIS PRIMARY AND STILL HAS NATIONAL AMBITIONS, THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM.

>> YES.

HE HAS TO EITHER NOT RUN AGAIN AND PURSUE NATIONAL AMBITIONS OR WIN A THIRD TERM WHICH IS ALSO VERY CHALLENGING.

>> Mary: AND WHAT ABOUT HIS TRAVELS, BECAUSE HE'S BEEN DEFENDING IT, SAYS IT'S NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, AND ALSO MAKING THE POINT, AND I DO HEAR A LOT OF DEMOCRATS SAYING, THERE ISN'T A VOICE FOR THE PARTY NATIONALLY.

AND HE SAYS HE'S FILLING A VOID, USING HIS PLATFORM.

IS IT WISE?

>> WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHETHER IT'S WISE.

I KEEP COMING BACK TO THIS.

DOES HE HAVE A PLAN AND A STRATEGY?

NOBODY ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE IS LAYING OUT A VISION FOR THE FUTURE.

BUT POLITICIANS HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> Mary: HE IS GETTING A CROWD, PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP.

>> PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP.

BUT, AGAIN, THAT ENERGY IS NATURAL.

BUT THE INTERESTING THING IS, IT'S NEGATIVE ENERGY.

DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY WORRIED THEY HAVE A TEA PARTY MOMENT ON THEIR HANDS, HAT THEY HAVE A FACTION OF THEIR PARTY THAT IS GOING TO GO FAR BEYOND SOMETHING THAT CAN WIN, AND WE REMEMBER THAT REPUBLICANS FELT BLOWBACK FROM THE TEA PARTY.

>> Mary: LET'S TAKE IT BACK HERE STATE SIDE NOW.

I MEAN, THE HOUSE TIED, THE SENATE WAS TIED.

I BELIEVE YOU POINTED OUT IN SUNDAY TAKE HOW LONG THE LEGISLATURE WAS ACTUALLY FULLY STAFFED.

HOW LONG?

>> THAT WAS TWO HOURS AND 15 MINUTES.

>> AND RETRACE WHY THAT WAS TRUE.

>> SO THE HOUSE WENT TO A TIE AT 3:30 LAST MONDAY.

AND SENATOR EICHORN, FORMER SENATOR EICHORN WAS ARRESTED AT 5:45 P.M. THAT'S TWO HOURS AND 15 MINUTES THAT WE HAD ALL LEGISLATORS NOT ETAINED, DISQUALIFIED, AND ABLE TO SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Mary: YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT THAT OLD.

BUT WE'VE BEEN AROUND DECADES HERE.

NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED.

>> NO.

NO.

WELL, LIKE, THAT'S WHAT I SAY, NOTHING HAS BEEN SIMPLE ABOUT THIS SESSION.

AND, SO, WHEN PEOPLE SUGGEST THAT THERE IS A WAY TO LAND THIS SESSION AND THIS BUDGET SMOOTHLY, I'M LIKE, HOW COULD YOU EVER THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A SMOOTH LANDING ON A BUDGET WHEN NOTHING THIS SESSION HAS BEEN SMOOTH?

>> Mary: BUT SO FAR, ESPECIALLY NOW THE HOUSE, I AM HEARING THAT THE CO-CHAIRS ARE REALLY DOING WELL AND THEY THINK THEY'RE MAKING PROGRESS AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TO DO THESE TINY LITTLE OMNIBUS BUDGET BILLS, WHAT THEY CAN AGREE ON.

>> YUP.

>> Mary: AND THEY WENT FROM, YOU KNOW, BOYCOTT TO HATING EACH OTHER, TO SUING EACH OTHER.

TO NOW IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING WELL.

>> WELL, I THINK THE CHAIRS ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.

>> Mary: OKAY.

>> I THINK IN THEIR CAUCUSES, THEY STILL HAVEN'T RELEASED ONE SINGLE VOTE TO VOTE FOR A BIPARTISAN BILL.

THAT'S GOING TO BE -- >> Mary: LIKE A SIMPLE CROSSOVER, THEY HAVE HAD BIG BIPARTISAN BILLS.

>> THEY'VE HAD BIG CROSSOVER.

NOT A ONE OR TWO.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO STAY THAT WAY.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO GIVE ONE VOTE TO A BUDGET UNTIL THEY'RE REALLY REALLY READY.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE OF FRAUD, THAT'S A THING I KEEP POINTING OUT, THAT'S THE ONE COMMITTEE, ONE ISSUE THAT DOES NOT GO TO CO-CHAIRS AND DOES NOT STAY BALANCED.

REPUBLICANS HAVE AN EDGE ON FRAUD, DON'T THEY?

>> THEY DO HAVE AN EDGE, THEY HAVE AN EDGE POLITICALLY ON IT.

I'VE BEEN WORKING ON HAT RE THE DIFFERENCES, BECAUSE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT FRAUD, TOO, BUT -- AND REPUBLICANS, WHAT RE THE DINNERS BETWEEN THEIR PROPOSALS?

DIFFERENCES.

I THOUGHT THE MOST INTERESTING THING WAS, THE INTERIM COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES SAYING THAT THE FRAUD BILL WAS NOT LEGAL, EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD SUPPORT IT AND, SO, THERE'S -- >> Mary: I THINK SHE'S A LAWYER, TOO, BY THE WAY.

I HAPPEN TO KNOW HER FROM BACK IN THE DAY.

>> THERE'S DISSENSION EVEN IN THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH RELATION TO FRAUD.

BUT, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HEARING ABOUT FRAUD FOR MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME.

>> Mary: NOT JUST FRAUD WEEK.

THANK YOU, BLOIS.

WE'LL CHECK IN AGAIN.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> YEAH.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Mary: TWO SENATORS ARRESTED IN TWO YEARS.

LUCKILY, WE HAVE SOME FORMER, AND I BET THEY'RE GLAD THEY'RE FORMER, SENATE LEADERS.

WE HAVE FORMER MAJORITY LEADER AMY KOCH, SHE'S A REPUBLICAN.

AND FORMER MINORITY LEADER SUSAN KENT, SHE'S A DEMOCRAT.

WELL, SINCE THIS TIME IT HAPPENED ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

I MEAN, THERE'S STILL FALLOUT, THERE'S STILL A NEW AHEAD LINE TODAY, SENATOR EICHORN, PROBABLY WASN'T HIS FIRST TIME.

NOW, NOT THAT THAT'S A SURPRISE, SOLICITING SEX ONLINE.

THIS STORY ISN'T GOING AWAY.

>> NO, THE STORY IS NOT GOING AWAY.

THIS IS INTERESTING.

SO HE HAS GONE, TYPICALLY, A STORY SORT OF WHENDZ THE PERSON STEPS DOWN.

BUT THIS ONE HAS A LOT OF JUICY, SALACIOUS DETAILS, AND I JUST DON'T THINK WE'VE HEARD THE WHOLE STORY.

I THINK THERE'S MUCH MORE TO THIS, AND THEY'RE SORT OF SLOWLY UNCOVERING.

SO I DON'T THINK IT GOES AWAY ANY TIME SOON, EVEN HOUGH THE SENATE REPUBLICANS WERE VERY SWIFT IN THEIR, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

>> >> Mary: THEY WERE, YES.

BUT YOU'VE SEEN THE CAUCUS BE SWIFT AGAINST ONE OF THEIR OWN, TOO.

>> WELL, I HAVE.

>> Mary: JUST SAYING.

>> I DO THINK COMPARATIVELY, THIS IS NOT -- THIS IS NOT APPLES TO APPLES SITUATION.

>> YES.

>> Mary: WE'LL GET TO THE -- [ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> HERE'S THE DEAL, RIGHT, THE ALTERNATIVE IS, IF SOMETHING'S JUST WRONG, IT'S JUST WRONG.

>> Mary: RIGHT.

>> AND IT GOES TO JUDGMENT.

IT GOES TO, RIGHT, LIKE ALL OF THESE THINGS, BESIDES BEING ILLEGAL AND BEING, YOU KNOW, AND GROSS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, THINGS ARE JUST WRONG.

AND WHEN THEY'RE JUST WRONG, CALL IT, IT'S BAD FOR THE INSTITUTION, AND WE'LL GET TO THE OTHER SENATOR, I'M SURE.

>> Mary: YELL, WE WILL.

>> AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO LEAVE THAT OUT FOR THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS WRONG, IT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH AND THEY DID.

AND I'M PROUD OF THE REPUBLICANS FOR DOING THAT.

>> Mary: THE CURRENT FORMER SENATOR FROM WOODBURY, GOT DRAGGED BACK INTO THIS THE, AND THE WHOLE DEAL THAT THE DFL CAUCUS HAS NOT REALLY DEALT WITH, OF ANOTHER FELONY ARREST AND CHARGE.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> Mary: OF NICOLE MITCHELL, HOW DAMAGING IS THAT STILL FOR THE CAUCUS?

>> I AGREE WITH AMY.

IT'S A JUDGMENT ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS STILL NEW IN THE SENATE AND WE WOULD GET LECTURES AT THE END OF SESSION, DON'T DO STUPID STUFF AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO BE HERE DOING YOUR JOB.

>> Mary: IS THAT NOT HAPPENING ANYMORE?

IS NOBODY HAVING THE DON'T DO STUPID STUFF TALK ANYMORE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE NOT HERE.

HINT TO FRIENDS, BE SURE AND TALK ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE TIMING WAS TERRIBLE.

>> Mary: I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, STEVE SVIGGUM, GIVING THOSE SPEECHES, TOO, BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TO BE FRANK, THE RURAL LAWMAKERS WHO ARE DOWN HERE HAVE A LITTLE MORE TEMPTATION WHEN THEY'RE NOT GOING HOME EVERY NIGHT.

>> SURE.

>> Mary: THAT'S FAIR, ISN'T IT'S HARD ON FAMILIES, DIFFICULT.

>> IT IS HARD ON FAMILIES, YOU SPEND ALL NIGHT, ALL DAY, IT'S VERY TOUGH ON FAMILIES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO SORT OF DRAW A LINE BETWEEN DOING SOME DUMB THINGS.

REMEMBER THERE WAS A BIG EXPOSÉ THAT THEY WERE BRINGING IN COOLERS OF BEER, THAT WAS THE MOST SHOCKING THING.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> IN 2005 AND WHATEVER.

SHOCKING, NOT SHOCKING.

>> Mary: RIGHT.

>> THIS IS JUST NEXT EVEL, RIGHT, THIS IS A CHILD WHO'S BEING SEX TRAFFICKED.

YOU TALK ABOUT PROSTITUTION, SHE'S BEING USED BY ADULTS.

AND YOU'RE BUYING INTO IT.

>> Mary: YES.

>> THERE'S JUST SO MANY WRONG THINGS.

BUT, ALSO, THE SENATE DFL HAVE GONE ON FAR TOO LONG WITH NICOLE MITCHELL.

SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPELLED.

IF SHE WASN'T GOING TO DO IT HERSELF, WHICH SHE APPARENTLY DOESN'T HAVE THE JUDGMENT TO, DO AND I DON'T THINK COMPARING CRIMES, WELL, THIS IS A LESSER FELONY.

SURE, GOOD FOR YOU.

>> Mary: BUT THERE'S A ONE-VOTE ADVANTAGE.

WASN'T THIS THE TIME, IF YOU WANTED TO GET RID OF HER, GET RID OF HER.

>> LISTEN, I'M THE ONE WHO CALLED FOR HER TO RESIGN A YEAR AGO, YOU KNOW.

BECAUSE OF THE JUDGMENTISH R ISSUE.

BUT I DO THINK, AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU THE OTHER DAY, I FEEL LIKE WE OUGHT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT CHANGING THE RULES.

BECAUSE IT USED TO BE PEOPLE, IF THEY GOT CAUGHT DOING SOMETHING BAD, THEY WOULD RESIGN.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE, LOOK AT DONALD TRUMP, SANTOS.

>> Mary: THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST EXPULSION, IT'S NEVER HAPPENED.

>> THE PROCESS INCLUDES THE ETHICS HEARINGS, THE THE ABILITY TO DEFEND YOURSELF, WHICH YOU CAN'T DO IF YOU'RE DEFENDING YOURSELF IN A COURT OF LAW.

SO I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE SENATE TO RECONSIDER THE PROCESSES BY WHICH THEY CAN DO THIS BECAUSE, I AGREE, THERE ARE SOME DOWNSIDES IF YOU JUST EXPEL PEOPLE WILLY-NILLY.

BUT, I MEAN, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AGAIN.

>> SOMEONE TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAMED OUTRAGE HIS WEEK AND ACTUAL OUTRAGE DASH -- FEINED OUTRAGE.

FRANKLY, IN REGARD TO Y EXPERIENCE.

WHICH WAS THIS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, OUTRAGE, YOU KNOW, THAT SOMEBODY JINKED UP, VERSUS -- >> WHICH WASN'T UNIQUE IN THE HISTORY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

GINNED.

WHAT WAS UNIQUE WAS THAT THE WOMAN GOT PUNISHED FOR IT, TO BE FRANK.

>> HOW MANY MEN -- YES.

>> BUT VERSUS ACTUAL OUTRAGE, THESE ARE CRIMES, THERE ARE VICTIMS IN BOTH OF THESE CASES.

AND IT'S -- IT'S LIKE SPITTING IN THE VICTIM'S FACE WHEN YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF IT OR IT'S LIKE, SAYING, WE'RE SOMEHOW BETTER THAN YOU AND WE KNOW BETTER THAN YOU AND WE DON'T HAVE TO -- WE DON'T HAVE TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.

>> Mary: SO NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT YET ANOTHER SPECIAL ELECTION DURING SESSION.

JUST ALL THESE UNPRECEDENTED THINGS THAT KEEP LINING UP.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CANDIDATES.

BECAUSE, INTERESTING, YOU'VE GOT GAZELKA, FORMER LEADER'S SON, YOU'VE GOT A CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE HEINTZEMAN'S WIFE, AND THEN, MOST INTERESTING, YOU HAVE THE FORMER REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR, WHO NOW SAYS SHE MIGHT SUE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLAIMING SHE HAD TIES TO A CHILD SEX TRAFFICKER.

HAVE YOU HEARD THAT?

>> YES.

>> Mary: DISAVOWING ANY CONNECTION TO ANTON LAZAR OWE.

>> EXCEPT THAT THEY HAD A PODCAST TOGETHER.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN SUE -- >> AND WAS HE AT THE WEDDING, AMY KOCH?

>> INDEED, HE ATTENDED EVENTS, INDEED HE DID.

>> Mary: THAT WAS NOT A LARGE WEDDING, JUST TO POINT -- >> NO.

>> Mary: POINT IT OUT, JUST TO OUT YOU HERE -- I DON'T MEAN TO OUT YOU, YOU KNOW THIS, RIGHT?

>> AND, AGAIN, YOU CAN FOLLOW THE DONATIONS TO THE STATE PARTY WHILE SHE WAS THERE.

AND, AGAIN, THEY HAD A PODCAST TOGETHER.

HOW CAN YOU CLAIM THAT YOU WERE NOT TIED TO SOMEONE -- AND I HAVE A PODCAST WITH XAVIER MORILLO, BRIAN McDANIEL, I'M NOT GOING TO BE DISAVOW THEM, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO.

THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE.

THE PLOOF IS OF IN THE PUDDING.

>> Mary: SHE IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL RIGHT NOW, SHE IS THE S THE MAYOR OF NISSA.

>> RIGHT.

>> Mary: IT'S POSSIBLE SHE COULD BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS RACE.

>> IT IS AMAZING THAT PEOPLE KEEP GETTING ELECTED, IN SPITE OF VERY TROUBLING RECORDS.

AND WE'RE IN A PRETTY TROUBLING MOMENT IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> Mary: AND BROUGHT BACK INTO THE FOLD.

DIDN'T THE CURRENT PARTY CHAIR INVITE HER TO THE INAUGURAL?

>> OH, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

SO I CAN'T SPEAK -- [ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> WHAT I'LL JUST SAY, FOLKS, THERE HAS -- THE OTHER THING THERE HAS TO BE, IS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, I BELIEVE IN FORGIVENESS, RIGHT.

SOMEONE'S GOT A D.U.I., SOMEONE MAKES MISTAKES.

>> ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> FORGIVENESS, BUT THAT CANNOT COME WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND WHAT I SEE FROM THESE FOLKS ARE, JUST LIKE TOTAL -- IT LIKE IF IT'S DELUSIONAL REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THAT YOU HAVE HURT PEOPLE.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT YOU HAVE DONE WRONG.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND BECAUSE OF THAT, NOT ONLY THAT, I WILL RETAIN MY POSITION OF POWER TO ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO FEIN THAT DELUSIONAL PREMISE.

>> Mary: DOES IT MAKE PEOPLE LESS LIKELY TO EVEN WANT TO RUN AND SERVE, IT'S ALREADY HARD?

>> I THINK WE'RE ALREADY SEEING IT, YOU KNOW.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SEE THE HEATED RHETORIC, WHO SEE SOME OF THE BEHAVIORS, AND IT IS DISSWAYSIVE, I THINK, TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD TAKE THIS FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> A LOT OF SACRIFICES.

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS DIDN'T ELECT A NEW WOMAN.

>> THERE'S THREE IN A CAUCUS OF 32.

>> Mary: THEY MIGHT GET ONE IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> THEY MIGHT.

>> Mary: THANK YOU, LADIES, APPRECIATE IT.

WELL, THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER IS THE FIRST KENYAN-BORN LAWMAKER ELECTED TO MINNESOTA AND SHE CREDITS FORMER U.S.

SENATOR PAUL WELLSTONE WITH STOPPING THE DEPORTATION OF HER FAMILY AT THE LAST MINUTE.

REPRESENTATIVE, FIRST QUESTION I ASK EVERYBODY, WHY DID OU WANT TO RUN?

>> SO, I WANTED TO RUN BECAUSE I WANTED TO BRING A NEW VOICE, A FRESH VOICE TO THE HOUSE, AND BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

I REPRESENT THE MOST DIVERSE DISTRICT IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THE FACT THAT I HAVE WORKED IN NONPROFIT WORLD, ADVOCATING FOR A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I RAN ON THE PLATFORMS THAT I RAN ON, REPRESENTATION MATTERS, AND IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE OF THAT.

THERE'S BEAUTY IN DIVERSITY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, LITERALLY, YOU COME TO MY DISTRICT, YOU ARE IN MINNESOTA, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MINNESOTA IS.

YOU KNOW, THIS MELTING POT OF CULTURES, OF TRADITIONS.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: AND IMMIGRATION IS CERTAINLY A PART OF IT, A LOT OF THE DIVERSITY DRIVING MINNESOTA'S DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE ARE NEW AMERICANS.

IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES.

>> 33% OF THE POPULATION IN MY DISTRICT IS AFRICAN AMERICANS/AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS.

SO YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, LIBERIANS, KENYANS, SOMALIS, WHO ARE CONCENTRATED IN THAT DISTRICT.

BUT THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE A HEALTHY POPULATION OF THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE HMONG POPULATION AS WELL.

>> Mary: IMMIGRATION IS DRIVING MUCH OF THE GROWTH OF MINNESOTA BUSINESSES.

SO HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN KIND OF THE VALUE THAT NEW IMMIGRANTS BRING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, NOT ONLY ARE WE BRINGING THAT CULTURAL AND TRADITIONS, YOU KNOW, THE FOODS, THE MUSIC, AND ALL OF THE FUN STUFF THAT COMES WITH CULTURE, BUT ALSO BUSINESSES.

YOU KNOW, INNOVATIVE BUSINESSES, RIGHT NOW IN MY DISTRICT, IMMIGRANTS REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE FABRIC OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

NOT ONLY MY DISTRICT, BUT AROUND THE STATE.

AND AS YOU STATED, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHERE IT HAS SHOWN THAT, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRANTS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE LITERALLY DOING THE JOBS THAT, YOU KNOW, MANY OF US AMERICANS DO NOT WANT TO DO.

YOU KNOW?

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD, IF YOU LOOK AT THE HEALTHCARE FIELD.

IF YOU LOOK AT MANUFACTURING, YOU SEE A LOT OF POPULATION OF IMMIGRANTS THERE.

SO THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS IN THIS STATE IS TRULY WHAT MAKES THIS STATE, ESPECIALLY THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE, RUN.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT I CAN TO FIGHT FOR THOSE RIGHTS, AS AN IMMIGRANT MYSELF, YOU KNOW, BEING THE FIRST KENYAN-BORN TO WIN IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, IT'S TRULY A TESTAMENT OF HOW FAR THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION HAS COME IN THE STATE.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL STORY.

>> YES.

>> Mary: KENYA TO MINNESOTA.

>> YES.

>> Mary: TELL ME WHY MINNESOTA.

WHAT LANDED YOU HERE?

>> ASK MY DAD, HE HAD 50 PLUS CHOICES BACK IN THE 1980s AND HE CHOSE THE COLDEST STATE IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE U.S.

BUT I SEE WHY NOW.

WE WERE LITERALLY 48 HOURS AWAY FROM BEING DEPORTED FROM THIS COUNTRY.

IF IT WASN'T FOR SENATOR PAUL WELLSTONE, THAT GREAT SENATOR PAUL WELLSTONE, AND WITHIN 48 HOURS, OUR CASE WAS OVERTURNED.

SO, YOU KNOW, BACK THEN, I WAS JUST A LITTLE KID, YOU KNOW, PRETEEN.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THAT MOMENT.

WHEN I REFLECT BACK NOW, 22 PLUS YEARS LATER, HERE I AM AS A REPRESENTATIVE IN THE HOUSE OF -- IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT THE AMERICAN DREAM IS STILL REAL AND WE STILL HAVE A DEMOCRACY TO FIGHT FOR.

AND THAT ALONE FOR ME IS MOTIVATION FOR ME TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY, PUT IN THE WORK, AND REALLY SERVE MY CONSTITUENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: THERE'S A PHRASE, WHAT WOULD WELLSTONE DO, I WONDER WHAT WOULD WELLSTONE THINK, THIS LITTLE GIRL, AND FAMILY ENDS UP GETTING ELECTED?

>> IT IS CRAZY, JUST TO EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND, WHAT WOULD PAUL WELLSTONE SAY NOW?

YOU KNOW?

IT WOULD GO BACK TO WHO HE IS AS A PERSON.

IT ALWAYS CAME DOWN TO PEOPLE.

MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE, NO MATTER THE BACKGROUND, NO MATTER WHERE YOU CAME FROM, NO MATTER WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, YOU HAD A FAIR SHOT AT YOUR OWN AMERICAN DREAM AND WHATEVER THAT LOOKED LIKE.

>> Mary: WHAT DID YOUR DISTRICT AND WHAT DID THE VOTERS TELL YOU, YOU'RE COMING UP HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, DID THEY HAVE FRESH MESSAGES, YOU KNOW, NEW MESSAGES ABOUT, HERE'S SOME THINGS THAT MAYBE DIDN'T GET DONE BEFORE THAT I WANT DONE NOW, WHAT MESSAGE DID THEY GIVE YOU?

>> THEY TOLD ME, GO IN THERE AND BASICALLY PUT IN THE WORK.

YOU KNOW?

MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AN OPEN DOOR.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE LISTENING.

MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE HAVING THAT CRITICAL THINKING TO HINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, AND TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE.

>> Mary: O IN LIGHT OF THAT, HOW WILL YOU JUDGE SUCCESS?

CAN IT HAPPEN IN REALTIME?

IS THERE A SPECIAL SESSION?

SHUTDOWN?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IF YOU'RE ASKING ME WHAT WOULD A SUCCESSFUL SESSION LOOK LIKE, ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, PASSING A BALANCED BUDGET, AND I HONESTLY TRULY BELIEVE, AND MAYBE THIS IS ME BEING OPTIMISTIC, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO IT.

>> Mary: AND NEXT WEEK WE'LL HAVE A REPUBLICAN FRESHMAN AND WE'LL HAVE SHANNON WATSON FROM MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE TALKING ABOUT INTERESTING STATS ON BIPARTISAN VOTING.

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

THERE YOU CAN REWATCH ANY OF THE EPISODES, INTERACT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALSO WATCH THE LEGISLATURE, HOUSE, SENATE, FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, PRESS CONFERENCES, AND MORE ON THE STATEWIDE PBS STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

"ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY, ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH CONGRESSWOMAN ANGIE CRAIG, I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT FEDERAL WORKERS SPEAKING OUT HERE AS THE GOVERNOR HEADS TO OTHER STATES TAKING ON THE ADMINISTRATION.

THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪ 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, 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.