>> MARY: A BUNCH OF NEW LAWS TAKE EFFECT NEXT WEEK.

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IS GETTING THE MOST ATTENTION, AND IT'LL BE JOINED BY NEW LAWS REGARDING CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS, ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS IN SCHOOLS, PRIVATE TRANSFERS OF FIREARMS, TRAFFIC RULES FOR BICYCLISTS, AND DISCRIMINATION BASED ON HAIR STYLE.

JOINING US NOW TO GIVE AN INSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE HISTORIC SESSION THAT PRODUCED THOSE LAWS ARE TWO FIRST-TERM LAWMAKERS.

D.F.L.

SENATOR CLARE OUMOU VERBETEN REPRESENTS ST. PAUL, AND REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE DANNY NADEAU IS FROM ROGERS.

WELL, SENATOR, EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT MARIJUANA AND WE DO AND DON'T KNOW, CONFUSION, ABOUT THE -- WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY AND WHAT WAS YOUR -- YOU WERE ONE OF THE CHIEF AUTHORS ON THIS.

>> YEAH, FOR ME THIS BILL WAS ABOUT RACIAL JUSTICE.

IT WAS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT BLACK MINNESOTANS ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE CHARGED AND RECEIVE THOSE CONVICTIONS FOR CANNABIS RELATED OFFENSES.

AND THAT THIS WAS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RIGHT THOSE WRONGS, TO LEAD ON EXPUNGEMENT.

AND TO MOVE US FROM THIS ILLICIT MARKET INTO A REGULATED ADULT-USE MARKET.

WHERE WE MADE SURE THE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO THEN PROFIT OFF THIS NEW MARKET ARE REALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED BY THE CRIMINALIZATION.

>> Mary: AND REPRESENTATIVE, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF YOUR CAUCUS VOLUNTEEREDDED FOR THIS.

THIS IS NOT STRAIGHT NO ISSUE.

>> I WAS A NO ON THIS BILL.

AND IT WAS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, I REALLY TRY TO FIND WAYS WHERE I CAN AGREE WITH BILLS THAT ARE -- >> Mary: YEAH, YOU VOTED FOR SOME D.F.L.

STUFF.

>> LOTS OF THEM.

AND THIS BILL UNFORTUNATELY WAS JUST LIKE SO MANY OTHERS.

IT JUST NEVER HANGED.

IT'S GOING TO PASS.

REGARD LAST OF HOW MUCH WE TRIED TO BURNISH THE ROUGH EDGES, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS, COULD BE, YOU KNOW, COULD BE PROBLEMATIC, WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY WERE KIND OF IGNORED.

THOSE VOICES WERE IGNORED AND THAT THAT WAS WHY I COULDN'T SIGN ONTO THIS ONE.

>> Eric: A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LOOK IN THE CANNABIS IN A KIND OF A LONG VIEW AT THE CAPITOL THOUGHT, A LOT OF NEW THINGS.

ONE-VOTE MAJORITY.

IT'S GOING TO BE IN SESSION, WHAT HAPPENED INTERNALLY FOR ALL THIS STUFF TO GET DONE?

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS SESSION WAS A LOT OF EW FACES AS MENTIONED.

REPRESENT MINNESOTA.

THAT LOOK LIKE MINNESOTA.

THAT WERE BUILDING A LEGISLATURE THAT REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITIES.

I CAME IN AS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK WOMEN TO SERVE IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

ONE OF THE FIRST QUEER BLACK WOMEN TO SERVE IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

OUR LARGEST CAUCUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INADDITIONAL IN AND OUT FOLKS.

ELECTING OUR FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT IN SENATOR BOBBY JOE CHAMPION.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR US, WE JUST -- WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THREE YEARS, AND WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT SHOT.

>> Eric: YOU REALLY LOVED THE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS WITH THE ROLLOUT OF YOUR SUBURBAN SOLUTIONS CAUCUS.

YOU'VE GOT SOME CRITICISM BOTH FROM DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, NO WOMEN STOOD UP.

I GUESS YOU DIDN'T HAVE A SPECIFIC BILL YOU'RE PUSHING.

IT REALLY SEEMED TO HAVE SPARKED A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE AND ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN '24.

>> I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

ACTUALLY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET LEGISLATORS, THEY'RE GOING TO COME TOGETHER THAT COME FROM THESE DISTRICTS THAT LITERALLY, THE -- I WOULD SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE LAST SESSION, STIFLED THOSE VOICES.

NOT JUST OURS.

I MEAN, WE CAN -- BUT IT STIFLED THE VOICES OF THOSE RESIDENTS IN THE SUBURBS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO STAND TOGETHER AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM.

AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH ANYBODY TO TRY TO MOVE THOSE POLICIES, RAISE THOSE VOICES, IN THE DISTRICTS, IN THE SUBURBS THAT WERE IGNORED.

>> Mary: BUT WHAT WITH WOMEN, SUBURBAN WOMEN, THEY ARE THE KEYS TO STATE ELECTIONS.

IS A WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO SYMBOLSYMBOLICALLY AND REALISTICALLY INCLUDE AND REACH OUT TO THEM AND APPEAL TO THEM >> YEAH, AND WHAT'S THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

>> Mary: BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A WOMAN ON IT.

>> NOT YET.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE.

TO COME, YOU KNOW, TO E PART OF IT.

AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

YOU'LL SEE TOWN HOWLS THAT ARE ROLLED OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO PEOPLE ON THOSE ISSUES AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL SEE A LOT MORE WOMEN INVOLVED IN THE SUBURB SOLUTIONS CAUCUS MOVING FORWARD.

>> Mary: AND A WOMAN OF COLOR RUNNING THEIR CAUCUS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN YOUR CAUCUS?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I GREW UP IN ROSEVILLE.

I HAVE FAL COLLEGE HEIGHTS AND LAUDERDALE AS WELL AS ST. PAUL.

IN NOT GUILTY DISTRICT.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ETWEEN THE D.F.L.

CAUCUSES AND THE G.O.P.

CAUCUSES AND I THINK WE'RE REALLY ON OUR SIDE EMBRACING, LOOKING LIKE OUR COMMUNITIES, LOOKING LIKE MINNESOTA.

WE'RE READY TO STEP UP AND LEAD AND REALLY BREAKING BARRIERS WITH FOLKS THAT WERE ELECTED THIS SESSION.

>> Eric: PRESIDENT TRUMP, DOES THAT IMPACT WHAT HAPPENS DOWN BALLOT FOR REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBERS RUNNING AGAIN?

>> YOU KNOW, MY OPINION, I FEEL THAT IT WILL.

I MEAN, THE TICKET ALWAYS HAS BEEN IMPACT.

I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT IN CERTAIN AREAS ACROSS THE STATE.

I THINK THE TOP OF THE TICKET ALWAYS HAS A FACTOR.

>> Mary: IS T AN ENTHUSIASM ISSUE WITH BOTH OF THEM IF THEY'RE BOTH BACK?

>> Eric: WOULDN'T IT BE FOR A YOUNGER GUY?

>> I THINK OUR PRESIDENT HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB.

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IN MINNESOTA NOW, THERE'S SO MUCH ENERGY OFF OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THAT'S WHAT I'M EARING.

IS, LIKE, YOU ACTUALLY DELIVERED, RIGHT?

LIKE FOLKS, PLEASE PROTECT OUR PREPRODUCTIVE ACCESS AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE DID.

BACK TO THE QUESTION ABOUT, LIKE, REPRESENTING WOMEN AND OUR NEEDS, RIGHT?

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT AUTONOMY AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN 2024.

>> Eric: THE CASE FOR A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE STATE HOUSE.

>> WHAT'S THE CASE?

OH, MY GOSH.

I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTE OVERREACH.

I MEAN, JUST AS EXCITED AS DEMOCRATS ARE FOR HOW FAR THEY WENT, YOU KNOW, I THINK INDEPENDENT VOTERS AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THOSE VOTERS THAT DON'T ALIGN, PARTIES ARE LOOKING AT THIS SAYING THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A HUGE SURPLUS.

AND THEY RAISED TAXES $10 BILLION AND WHEN IS ENOUGH, WHAT'S ENOUGH?

WE WANT THOSE POLICIES THAT WE CAN BUY INTO.

WE WANT SCHOOLS FUNDED.

WE WANT THEM FUNDED WELL.

WE WANT THEM HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

WE WANT POLICE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE BUT DON'T WASTE MONEY.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE TAXES?

I KNOW DEMOCRATS SAY, WE RAN ON STUFF PEOPLE -- BUT DID DEMOCRATS RUN ON RAISEING TAXES WITH A SURPLUS?

>> NO, AND WE PASSED THE LARGEST TAX CUT IN STATE HISTORY WITH THIS BILL.

AND I THINK WE ALSO PASSED AMAZING LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING TO PUT MONEY BACK IN THE POCKETS OF MINNESOTANS, THINGS LIKE UNIVERSITY MEALS -- UNIVERSAL MEALS, CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT, RIGHT?

JUST MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD EVERYDAY LIVES.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WITH THE DFL STANDS FOR AND WHAT WE DELIVERED IN THIS SESSION.

>> Eric: DID YOU HAPPEN TO HEAR SCOTT JENSEN ON THE PODCAST THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS WHERE HE BASICALLY SAID I'M PRO-CHOICE ABORTION, I'M PERSONALLY PRO-LIFE, BUT MILLION POLITICS-WISE, I'M KIND OF PRO-CHOICE.

HOW TOUGH OF AN ISSUE IS THAT FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS ARE NEVER GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR BEING, YOU KNOW, THE PARTY OF BRO-LIFE AND PROTECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

I MEAN, WE'VE ALWAYS STOOD ON THOSE ISSUES.

BUT I THINK YOU'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, AS TIME GOES ON, YOU'LL -- TALK ABOUT IT IN DIFFERENT AYS.

YOU KNOW, THE LAWS ARE WHAT THEY ARE.

TODAY.

YOU KNOW, SO I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT YOU'LL NEVER -- I MEAN, REPUBLICANS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO SUPPORT FAMILIES.

THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE BUILD THAT BETTER?

SO YOU'LL NEVER SEE THEM BACK DOWN FROM THAT.

>> Mary: I THINK PART OF HIS POINT TOO, PUSHED EVERYBODY TO THE EXTREME.

HE WAS LEFT AND RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THE EXTREMES KIND OF REALLY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK MY PROUDEST DAYS IN THIS SESSION WERE AROUND PROTECTING OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.

SO I THINK THERE'S A CLEAR CHOICE AROUND THINGS LIKE REPRODUCTIVE -- BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES, I HOPE REPUBLICANS JOIN ON THINGS LIKE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, ON FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS, MAKING SURE WE HAVE WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION IN THIS STATE.

I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN AGREE ON.

>> Eric: