>> Mary: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL," I'M MARY LAHAMMER, COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY, AND WE HAVE SENATORS HERE TO TALK ENERGY ISSUES, AS NO STATE HAS BEEN SPARED FROM THE RISING GAS AND OIL PRICES.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT, FIRST, THE LATEST ON LEGISLATIVE PLANS TO ADDRESS FRAUD, EDUCATION REFORM, AND THE GOVERNOR'S REVISED BUDGET.

ALONGSIDE A DAY CARE CLASSROOM, GOVERNOR WALZ ANNOUNCED A REVISED BUDGET HE SAYS WILL LOWER COSTS FOR FAMILIES GOING FORWARD.

>> WHETHER IT BE THE CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE OR THINGS THAT YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA KICK DOWN THE ROAD, THIS TRANSITION TO AN AI ECONOMY, WE'RE POSITIONED WELL, MINNESOTA'S A DIVERSE ECONOMY READY TO GO, BUT IF WE DON'T MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT, WE'RE GOING TO FALL BEHIND.

>> THE LARGEST, BY FAR, CHILD DEPENDENT CARE CREDIT IN THE NATION.

AND IT IS GOING TO SAVE MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.

>> Mary: SENATE REPUBLICANS REVEALED EDUCATION INITIATIVES AND REACTED TO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

>> A LOT OF HOSE ARE DRUMMED UP IDEAS FROM THE PAST, NOT ORIGINAL ATTEMPTS AT TRYING TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN BE HELPING OUT MINNESOTANS.

HE'S BEEN -- THESE HAVE FAILED IN THE PAST, THEY DON'T HAVE REPUBLICAN SUPPORT, QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK HE HAS THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE DEMOCRATS AS WELL EITHER.

>> SCHOOL SAFETY ISN'T A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT ISSUE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERY MINNESOTAN CARES ABOUT.

AND THIS BILL HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE SENATE.

>> REQUIRES SCHOOLS TO NOTIFY PARENTS AND TEACHERS WITHIN 24 HOURS OF A VIOLENT INCIDENT ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, INCLUDING DETAILS ON INJURIES OR WEAPONS INVOLVED.

>> EVEN THOUGH DURING A DEMOCRAT TRIFECTA, THEY BRAGGED ABOUT RECORD SCHOOL FUNDING, AN EXTRA $2.2 BILLION INTO EDUCATION, VIRTUALLY EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT AROUND THE STATE CAME BACK AFTERWARDS, SAYING, WE'RE IN THE RED.

ALL THE NEW MANDATES THAT WERE ADDED ATE UP ALL THE NEW FUNDING.

>> IT ALLOWS THEM TO OPT OUT OF SPECIFIC NEW MANDATES PASSED IN '23 AND '24.

ALL WITH FULL TRANSPARENCY THROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSIONS AND VOTES.

WE DO THIS NOT JUST BECAUSE LOCAL CONTROL IS A GOOD THING FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS, BUT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES THAT MINNESOTANS ARE FACING.

>> Mary: SENATE DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCED THEIR PLAN TO TACKLE FRAUD.

>> IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO COMMIT TO THE VIGILANCE NECESSARY AND OVERSIGHT TO TAKE THE REPORTS R HAT WE GET FROM THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, SIGNALS THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM INSIDE THE AGENCIES, AND EVENTUALLY WHAT WE GET FROM THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL ERIOUSLY.

>> WE CAN ALSO, FOR THE FIRST TIME, REIGN IN THE INFLUENCE OF THIRD-PARTY NTITIES THAT RECRUIT AND PROFIT OFF F PROVIDERS.

>> THIS IS NOT A LEFT OR A RIGHT ISSUE.

THIS IS A RIGHT OR A WRONG ISSUE.

>> WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR TECHNOLOGY, IF WE CONSIDER THESE PROGRAMS IMPORTANT AND WE DO.

AND WE WANT TO FIGHT FRAUD.

AND WE DO.

>> WE NOW HAVE ALL FOUR CAUCUSES ON BOARD.

WE'VE GOT THE GOVERNOR ON BOARD.

EVERYBODY WANTS THE OIG.

>> Mary: A NEW BILL WOULD PROTECT PEOPLE'S LICENSE PLATE DATA AFTER IMMIGRATION AGENTS USED THE INFO AGAINST MINNESOTANS.

>> WE KNOW THAT WE FOUND THIS ISSUE BECAUSE OF OPERATION METRO SURGE, BUT THEN IT QUICKLY GREW INTO SOMETHING THAT WAS MUCH MUCH BIGGER AND BROADER AND WIDER THAN THAT AS TO A MASSIVE DATA PRIVACY BREACH.

>> ANY OF OUR DATA COULD BE COLLECTED BY THESE LICENSE PLATE READERS AND CAR REGISTRATIONS.

THEY'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO E ACCESSED FOR AN ACTIVE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

>> THE AGENTS WERE DRIVING AROUND AIMLESSLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WATCHED IN HORROR AS THE TWO VEHICLES DRIVEN BY FEDERAL AGENTS PULLED UP IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.

AND SLOWED DOWN.

WE WATCHED AS AN AGENT USED A CAMERA THAT LOOKED VERY PROFESSIONAL TO TAKE MULTIPLE PHOT