INDUSTRY AND ITS ROLE FOR AMERICAN STEEL.

>> WELCOME TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL," I'M MARY LAHAMMER COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY WHERE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS HISTORY.

IT'S ALSO THE FINAL SESSION FOR GOVERNOR WALZ WHO JOINS US LIVE HERE IN THE HOUSE GALLERY.

GOVERNOR WALZ, YOU'VE BEEN BUSY SIGNING BILLS.

GOOD SESSION, RIGHT?

>> GOOD SESSION.

>> UNEXPECTEDLY PRODUCTIVE SESSION.

TIED HOUSE.

>> YEAH.

>> ONE-VOTE MARGIN IN THE SENATE.

ARE YOU SURPRISED HOW MUCH GOT DONE?

>> NO, I THINK WE HAVE SERIOUS LEGISLATORS AND I SAID FOR EIGHT YEARS, I THINK PEOPLE FORGET FOR ALL BUT TWO OF THOSE YEARS WE HAD DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

WE GOT EIGHT BUDGETS DONE, NO SHUTDOWNS, AND INVESTED IN MINNESOTA.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

IT WAS CHALLENGING, BEEN A TOUGH YEAR.

IT'S AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF OF COURSE OF MURDER OF MELISSA AND MARK AND -- >> RIGHT HERE ALL SESSION LONG THE FLOWERS, THE MEMORIAL THAT HUNG OVER THE WHOLE SESSION.

>> YEAH, I THINK SO AND I THINK IT FOREVER HANGED THIS PLACE.

BUT I DO THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WAS THE SPIRIT OF THE LEGISLATORS HERE.

VERY CONTENTIOUS, THESE ISSUES AND THERE'S DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS, THE ANNUNCIATION SHOOTING ADDED INTO THAT AND THIS WINTER WITH I.C.E.

AND AGAINST THAT BACKDROP OF THE DYSFUNCTION IN D.C., LONGEST SHUTDOWN IN AMERICAN HISTORY IN D.C.

WE FIGURED OUT A WAY TOGETHER IN THIS DIVIDED GOVERNMENT TO GET SOME GOOD THINGS DONE.

WE HAD TO COMPLY WITH HR1, WHETHER WE AGREED WITH IT OR NOT -- COMPLIED TO, AND HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER THOSE WERE PRIORITIES.

>> YEAH, TALK ABOUT THAT.

THAT WAS -- THAT'S A RESCUE FOR THE SAFETY NET HOSPITAL.

>> YEAH, AND I THINK THE THING THAT CAME OUT OF THIS WAS THE LEGISLATORS TOOK TIME TO LEARN THE ISSUE.

I THINK AT FIRST BLUSH YOU HAVE A HOSPITAL THAT THEY'RE NOT RUNNING IT RIGHT OR WHATEVER.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

IT PROVIDES 25% OF THE UNCOMPENSATED CARE.

WHEN I WAS THERE TODAY, A CASE CAME FROM SLEEPY EYE HOSPITAL.

>> LEGISLATORS UNDERSTOOD THAT SO THEY UNDERSTOOD THE HOSPITALS IN SLEEPY EYES, WILLMAR, THE DIFFICULT -- IS WE'RE DEALING WITH A BROKEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

MINNESOTA, IT'S OINTERDEPENDENT, THESE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS WORK TOGETHER BUT THEY'RE UNDER STRESS AND THEY ALL PROVIDE DIFFERENT -- MAYO CLINIC PROVIDES SOME OF THAT TOP CARE -- AS MUCH OF THE UNCOMPENSATED CARE, AND OF COURSE IN OR A AREAS WHERE YOU SEE A CONSOLIDATION NOW YOU'RE DRIVING 40 MILES FOR A BIRTHING UNIT.

I THINK DEALING WITH HOSE THINGS, DEALING WITH SAFETY, ESPECIALLY SAFETY OF THE LEGISLATORS IN THE SHADOW OF MELISSA'S MURDER AND THEN JUST TAKING CARE OF SOME THINGS THAT NEEDED TO GET TAKEN CARE OF, THEY DID A NICE JOB OF THAT.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT DIDN'T -- THE ANNUNCIATION SHOOTING, THERE WERE HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE UP HERE ASKING FOR 2001 CONTROL, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

IS THAT YOUR BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT?

>> YEAH AND AGAIN, I O BACK TO THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE ON THIS ISSUE, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S FOLKS THAT DO NOT BELIEVE THAT HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINE BANS OR THINGS, OR ASSAULT WEAPONS COULD MAKE THE -- WOULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

MY WHOLE POINT THE ENTIRE WAS WE DESERVE TO HAVE A VOTE ON IT'S INCREDIBLY POPULAR AMONGST THE PUBLIC, NOT GETTING THAT DONE I THINK FOR THE LEGISLATORS THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHAT'S HEALTHY IN OUR SYSTEM, DEBATE IT UP UNTIL NOVEMBER BUT I STILL DON'T THINK IT'S GOING AWAY.

AND WHEN YOU TRAVEL AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY OTHER COUNTRIES DON'T LIVE LIKE THIS.

AND WE CAN DO BETTER.

>> IS IT A POLITICAL ISSUE -- DO YOU THINK IF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE -- NOT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, DO YOU THINK IT WOULD HAVE COME TO THE HOUSE FLOOR?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT SPEAKER DEMUTH WAS THINKING, I THINK IT IS A TOUGH POSITION FOR HER.

I THINK IN THE CASE I MADE AND I WASN'T BEING FACETIOUS, I THINK THE ODDS WERE PRETTY GOOD, THIS IS HER AND I OUR LAST SESSION AND OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS SHE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF BRINGING THINGS TOGETHER, VERY DIFFICULT TO GO BACK TO YOUR CAUCUS AND STILL DO HINGS.

I HAVE TO DO THAT ALL THE TIME.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR HER, TIED HOUSE, AND LOSING HER MENTOR.

>> AND THIS IS DIFFICULT, I HAD TO DRAG MY CAUCUS ALONG ON THINGS WITH PAYMENT WITHHOLDING.

WITHHOLDING THE SENATE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

THE TOOLS I KNOW WE NEED TO HAVE, THESE ARE TOOLS WE'VE BEEN SKING FOR AND THEY DELIVERED ND IT'S NOT ALWAYS THAT, I KNOW SHE HAD TO GO BACK AND DRAG HER CAUCUS ALONG, THIS WAS ONE THAT WAS APPARENTLY A BRIDGE TOO FAR.

THERE'S JUST SOME OF THESE THINGS I THINK YOU GOT TO DECIDE IT'S NOT WORTH IT TO SELL YOUR SOUL ON THEM AND THIS IS ONE I THOUGHT WE SHOULD HAVE VOTED.

>> WHAT ABOUT ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION ND COMPETENT FOR THAT , THAT SEEMED BIPARTISAN INTEREST.

THERE'S VERY HIGH IMMIGRATION POPULATIONS IN REPUBLICAN RURAL AREAS, ARE YOU SURPRISED NOTHING GOT THROUGH ON THAT?

>> WELL, WE'VE SEEN IT AND SAW WITH PRIMARIES THIS WEEK, WE STILL HAVE A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT DOESN'T WANT TO BREAK WITH THE PRESIDENT AND I'M NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES, BUT I TALKED TO PEOPLE IN CONID DIFFERENTIALLY, THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT LIAM SHOULD HAVE BEEN -- OR ALEX PRETTI SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOT.

MOST OF THAT MONEY BETTER END UP IN MINNESOTA IF THAT'S THE CASE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF CLAIMS TO MAKE AND WHETHER THAT'S THE PRETTI FAMILY, GOOD FAMILY, OR JUST THE STATE OF MINNESOTA THAT LOST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

>> -- DONE TALKING ABOUT THAT ISSUE OR DO YOU THINK THAT HELPED PROPEL YOU BACK ON A NATIONAL PLATFORM?

>> WELL, I'M NOT DONE, NO, I'M NOT DONE AND I'VE STILL GOT SIX MONTHS TO DO THIS JOB.

I WANT TO ADD TO THIS, I THINK THE THING THAT GOT LOST, I UNDERSTAND THAT, I BECAME A LIGHTNING ROD FOR A LOT OF THIS.

I THINK I HAD A VERY STRONG REPUTATION WHEN I CAME HERE AND I THINK I'M LEAVING WITH SOME OF THAT WILLINGNESS TO COMPROMISE, TO SAY YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THIS.

I SAT IN THAT ROOM AND YOU CAN ASK ANYBODY IN THAT ROOM I WAS THE ONE FOR THE LAST TWO SESSIONS SAYING WE HAVE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE ON HOW WE DO THIS, AND I FOUND ALLIES ON BOTH SIDES BUT NOT ALWAYS, EVERYBODY WANTS TO SPEND AND IT'S GOOD THINGS BUT WE COULDN'T.

THE THING I'M MOST PROUD OF IS MINNESOTA'S FINANCIAL HEALTH IS AS STRONG AS ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> DESPITE THE FRAUD, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S THE MOST VEXING ISSUE AND A LOT GOT ACCOMPLISHED IN BIPARTISAN FASHION.

>> IT'S A PART OF IT, FRAUD IS STEALING FROM US.

THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN FISCAL -- HISTORIC RESERVES, AAA BOND RATED, REDUCING THE STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE, INVESTING IN ROADS, BRIDGES AND THOSE THINGS.

THIS IS WITH A CASE WHERE COMPROMISE COMES IN.

I AM PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

BUT COSTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE RIGHT NOW AND I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO TAKE A PAUSE.

THE THING I TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF OWITH WAS I WOULD HAVE LEGISLATORS COME IN AND SAY WHEN I GO TO THE GAS TATION THE ONLY THING PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO ME ABOUT LICENSE TAB FEES, AND I SAID REALLY, THEY'RE NOT TALKING TO YOU ABOUT $4.50 IN GAS?

>> WELL, TAB FEES GOT CUT, SENATE REPUBLICANS PUT THAT ON THE TABLE.

>>, YEAH, AND I THINK -- YOU HAVE TO BE SITUATIONAL ABOUT THIS.

THE PRESIDENT ISN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING, HE SAID HE DOESN'T THINK ABOUT IT.

TAB FEES AT THIS MOMENT WHEN YOU'RE PAYING HIGH GAS, HIGH GROCERY PRICES WE NEEDED TO HELP.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COURT, THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTS OF YOUR LEGACY.

CHIEF JUSTICE.

MY CFSS STATE SUPREME COURT.

YOU HAVE NOW APPOINTED THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT AND LEANED ON DIVERSITY.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, AND THIS ISN'T LIKE YOUR WOKE FOR WOKE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE SEE THEMSELVES AS REPRESENTED.

AS MINNESOTA BECOMES MORE DIVERSE, LIFE EXPERIENCE IMPACTS JUSTICE BEING SERVED.

AND I THINK THE REASON YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF GROUSING ABOUT THIS IS MINNESOTA HAS JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMITTEE THAT IS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND MOST OF THE JUDGES COME THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO ME AND THEN I INTERVIEW FINALISTS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY, LOOK, THEY ARE JUST GOOD.

I DID NOT HIRE DEMOCRATIC JUDGES.

>> AND WE HEARD UALIFIED, THAT WORD CAME UP OVER AND OVER.

>> AND YOU HAVE THE FIRST TIME IN MINNESOTA HISTORY SOMEONE WHO SERVED ON DISTRICT COURT, SUPREME COURT COURT AS WELL AS PUBLIC DEFENDER.

>> HAT'S HISTORIC.

>> YES, AND I THINK WE HAVE DIVERSE IN THAT.

WE HAVE EXPERTS IN CORPORATE LAW.

>> AND NONPARTISAN, THIS COURT DIDN'T ALWAYS RULE IN YOUR FAVOR DESPITE YOU APPOINTING THEM, YOU DIDN'T LOVE EVERYTHING THEY DID, RIGHT?

>> NO, BUT I HOPE YOU SAW THE ONE EXCEPTION ABOUT PAYMENT WITHHOLDINGS THAT CAME UP THIS WEEK, WHEN THEY MAKE THESE DECISIONS, IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF US, LOOK, I DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH IT BUT I WILL RESPECT AND HONOR IT.

>> GOVERNOR, WHAT'S NEXT >> I THINK I'M GOING TO TEACH SOME SCHOOL, I'M GOING TO FINISH UP IN SIX MONTHS.

-- CLIMB A MOUNTAIN TOGETHER.

>> THE FAMILY HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT, I BET THEY'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> YEAH, BUT IT'S AN HONOR TO DO IT AND ONE THING I'VE LEARNED IS THERE'S PRIVATE SECTOR, BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NON-PROFITS THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO SERVE AND I THINK THESE JOBS DO HAVE ISHELF LIFE TO THEM AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA -- SO I'M AT PEACE WITH THIS DECISION AS YOU SAID I THINK LIKE I SAID DOWN HERE WHEN I WAS IT WAS MY LAST SPEECH THERE WAS SOME CHEERING ON THAT.

I THINK THE IMPACT WE MADE ARE GOOD, WE DIDN'T FIX IT ALL AND DIDN'T GET