>> STATE FAIR IS GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, GOVERNOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

KIND OF A PARLOR GAME OF PEOPLE KIND OF WONDERING WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

NOW, FORMER GOVERNOR RUDY PERPICH USED TO SAY, TOOK HIM ABOUT A HALF OF DAY WHEN HE WAS AT THE STATES FAIR TO DETERMINE HOW VOTERS FELT ABOUT HIM.

AND INSIDE SOURCES AS YOU HEARD MARY'S PIECE SAY YOU'RE WAVERING ON RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM AND YOU SAY -- SO I'M CURIOUS, ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE HEARING OUT HERE AT THE FAIR THAT COULD SWAY YOUR DECISION?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

I JUST -- [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] JUST SO YOU KNOW MARK SEELEY SAID IT IS GOING TO RAIN.

>> Cathy: OH, GREAT.

>> -- NO, JUST OUT HERE THIS IS, I SAID I THINK IN A TIME, AND I KNOW PEOPLE TALK POLITICS BUT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE HERE BECAUSE OF HE -- >> THINK THEY'RE A LITTLE TIRED OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTANT BARRAGE OF THINGS THEY'RE SEEING EVERY DAY.

>> Eric: THERE'S SOME TALK GOING AROUND AND I THINK THERE'S SOME SMOKE, MAYBE THERE'S SOME FIRE, THAT IT WOULD BE A SWITCH -- AMY KLOBUCHAR PRESUMABLY WOULD WIN GOVERNORSHIP, SHE WOULD APPOINT YOU TO HER U.S. SENATE SEAT.

IS IT BEING TALKED ABOUT?

THE STAFF'S GOTTEN TOGETHER?

>> NO, THIS IS THE FIRTH TIME -- I WAS -- SO I COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

LOOK, WE'VE GOT INCREDIBLE UNITED STATES SENATOR IN AMY KLOBUCHAR AND WHAT I SAID ABOUT THIS I DON'T, NO ONE, THESE ARE NOT YOUR JOBS, I OCCUPY THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA FOR ALL PEOPLE.

YOU DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO THE JOB, AND I AM TRYING TO ASSESS WHAT IS THE BEST FOR MINNESOTA -- AND PEOPLE AND SAY, LOOK, WE LIKE BUT WE'RE TIRED OF YOU, LIKE, GO PICK UP A NEW HOBBY OR SOMETHING.

>> AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

>> Eric: EVEN DEMOCRATS MANY OF THEM ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF FRAUD IN THE PUBLIC -- >> ME TOO.

>> Eric: WHY WEREN'T YOU QUICKER TO THE GAME, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ALLEVIATE IT?

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE AND WHAT'S YOUR EXPLANATION GOING TO BE?

>> YEAH, LOOK, THIS IS THE THING OF THE VICTIMS IN THIS.

BE VERY CLEAR, FRAUD IS -- I HATE THIS ORE THAN ANYBODY BECAUSE THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT HELP PEOPLE, WHAT MAKES MINNESOTA THE BEST TATE TO RAISE KIDS, THE BEST STATE TO LIVE, THOSE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BUT THESE ARE CRIMINALS.

THEY'RE GETTING 28 YEARS IN PRISON, WE ARE GOING AFTER WHERE THEY'RE AT.

-- IDEA THERE IS NOT -- THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FRAUD AND CORRUPTION.

AND THE IDEA IS THE LEGISLATURE GAVE US MORE TOOLS TO DO THIS.

NOW IF WE SUSPECT FRAUD I CAN STOP PAYMENTS.

THAT WAS NOT THE CASE BEFORE.

WE WOULD TAKE IT TO COURT -- BUT I THINK FOR ALL MINNESOTANS ON THIS I AM OUTRAGED THAT THESE PEOPLE WOULD DO THIS, I'M OUTRAGED BECAUSE IT'S MONEY MEANT TO HELP KIDS OR HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE OR HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

WE DO A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.

WE NEED MORE TOOLS ON THE FRONT END AND I WANT TO THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE TOOLS THEY GAVE US.

I HINK IT'S IMPORTANT, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION -- TRUMP ADMINISTRATION -- U.S. ATTORNEY IN MINNESOTA HAS REMAINED -- HELPING US OUT, GETTING THINGS DONE SO THAT'S A POSITIVE >> Cathy: SAY, I GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT, THERE'S SOME CONTROVERSY IN APPLETON, MINNESOTA, OVER THE NOW-CLOSED, IT'S BEEN CLOSED FOR A WHILE, THE PRISON OUT THERE IN APPLETON AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE OWNER'S REPORTEDLY EXPLORING A CONTRACT WITH I.C.E.

TO HAVE IT BECOME AN IMMIGRANT DETENTION CENTER.

[ BOOING ] IS THIS SOMETHING THE STATE COULD STEP INTO AND STOP OR NOT?

>> LET'S BE VERY CLEAR, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S JOB IS IMMIGRATION AND BORDER SECURITY.

MINNESOTA COMPLIES WITH ALL FEDERAL LAWS BUT I WILL HAVE TO TELL YOU, DIVERTING RESOURCES TO TAKE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RECEIVING CITIZENSHIP WHILE THEY'RE PROCESSING OUR FOOD, CARING FOR OUR PARENTS, GETTING AN EDUCATION IS NOT MAKING THIS COUNTRY ANY SAFER.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THIS ADMINISTRATION DO WHAT THEY WANT -- OUR JOB TO ASSIST -- ON NOT OUR JOB TO ASSIST I.C.E., IF THERE IS A WARRANT ON SOMEONE, IF OMEONE'S BEING RELEASED FROM A MINNESOTA FACILITY WE ALWAYS NOTIFY THEM.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY MAY NOT SHOW UP, THEY MAY NOT BE THERE.

AND THIS IDEA NOW OF RANDOMLY, NO ONE, NO ONE, AND THE WHOLE STRAWMAN ARGUMENT, NO ONE WANTS SOMEONE ILLEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY BUT LET'S BE VERY CLEAR, ATH TO CITIZENSHIP WAS GIVEN TO OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.

>> Cathy: I WISH, WISH,