HAVE HOUSE LEADERS, DFL MAJORITY LEADER JAMIE LONG, AND REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER, LISA DEMUTH.

WELCOME, YOU TWO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT'S BEEN A TOUGH REAL ISSUE THIS WEEK IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

FIRST OF ALL, YOUR CAUCUS MEMBERS CAME OUT WITH A BILL TODAY AND SAID, THIS COULD GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, THIS DEALS WITH GUN THEFT AND HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO MAYBE SHOULDN'T HAVE GUNS.

>> WELL, JUST FIRST I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRAGEDY IN BURNSVILLE, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A TOUCHING MOMENT ON THE FLOOR, WHERE THE BIPARTISAN DELEGATION FROM BURNSVILLE CAME OGETHER AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE HURT IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND I THINK WE TOOK A NEEDED PAUSE ON THE SRO BILL THIS WEEK, OUT OF DEFERENCE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT WE'RE IN A SHORT SESSION AT THE CAPITOL SO THE WORK CONTINUES, AND I THINK THERE WAS AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION TODAY ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

WE PASSED TWO IMPORTANT BILLS LAST YEAR ON RED FLAGS AND CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS.

AND I THINK WE'RE JUST TRYING TO EXPAND THE CONVERSATION ABOUT SAFETY AND PART OF THAT IS KEEPING GUNS SAFE, SAFELY STORED AND DEALING WITH GUNS THAT HAVE BEEN STOLEN.

>> Mary: A MEMBER OF YOUR CAUCUS SAID IT WAS DISRESPECTFUL FOR DEMOCRATS TO DO THAT PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, TO BE TALKING GUN POLICY IN LIGHT OF THESE DEATHS.

>> THE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE IN BURNSVILLE HAS REVERBERATED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.

BURNSVILLE IS IN OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR PRAYERS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, FIREFIGHTERS, EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED.

THIS IS A DIFFICULT TIME.

WE CHOSE TO TAKE A PAUSE ON THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ISSUE AT THE REQUEST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

NOT THAT THAT WORK ISN'T IMPORTANT, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE URE THAT WE WERE STEPPING BACK, STILL DOING THE WORK BEHIND THE SCENE, BUT REALLY STEPPING BACK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

>> Mary: IS THERE A POLICY RESPONSE?

IS IT FAIR?

>> YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT I LOOK AT THAT IS, THE PERSON THAT DID THE SHOOTING IN BURNSVILLE NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAD FIREARMS.

AND WE KNOW THAT.

SO I WOULD SAY, PASSING ADDITIONAL GUN LAWS, OUR CRIMINALS DO NOT FOLLOW THE LAWS WE ALREADY HAVE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT S THE ANSWER.

I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

DEFINITELY OT TODAY AND NOT IN THIS TIME.

>> Mary: DOES IT HAVE THE VOTES?

YOU SAW REPRESENTATIVE HER SAYING, I THINK IT DOES.

>> WELL, WE'RE, I THINK, JUST STARTING THE CONVERSATION ON THAT.

SO THE BILL THAT REPRESENTATIVE HER IS BRINGINGSTERED FOR DEALING WITH GUNS THAT HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN STOLEN AND REPORTING THAT, WHICH I THINK IS A COMMON HEN SENSE -- COMMON-SENSE PROVISION WHICH A LOT OF GUN OWNERS COULD SUPPORT.

BUT THE BILLS THAT WE PASSED LAST YEAR DO DEAL WITH TRYING TO PREVENT INDIVIDUALS FROM HAVING ACCESS TO GUNS WHO SHOULDN'T, OLKS WITH CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS AND FOLKS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.

>> Mary: AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, YOU SAW THE SENATE HEARING, SAYING THERE'S A COMPROMISE, IS IT A BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE YET?

>> REPRESENTATIVE JEFF WITTE HAS BEEN OUR LEAD ON THIS ISSUE.

HE'S A FORMER SRO.

27 YEARS THAT HE SERVED ON THE BURNSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE HAS LED ON THIS ISSUE SINCE AUGUST.

SO I WOULD SAY -- >> Mary: IS HE IN THE ROOM?

IS HE INCLUDED IN THIS LATEST COMPROMISE?

>> WE HAD GOTTEN ASSURANCES FROM CHAIR MOLLER LAST WEEK THAT HE WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSIONS OVER THE WEEKEND.

AND HE WAS.

AND I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT HE WAS A PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, LOOKING AT AMENDMENTS AND ACTUALLY LOOKING AT A FIX.

SO HE HAS BEEN A PART OF THAT.

>> Mary: DO YOU NEED REPUBLICAN VOTES, BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME DEMOCRATIC VOTES, AT LEAST ON THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE CURRENT VERSION.

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE WORKING TO FIND SOMETHING THAT CAN HAVE BROAD AGREEMENT.

I THINK OUR GOALS, I HOPE, ARE THE SAME, WHICH IS THAT WE WANT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN THEM TO BE ABLE TO.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO PROTECT STUDENTS AGAINST DANGEROUS CHOKEHOLDS, DANGEROUS PRONE RESTRAINTS, SO THAT SHOULD BE A SHARED GOAL, AND I THINK IF WE'RE ALL WORKING TOWARDS THAT END, WE CAN GET THERE.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK HOUSING.

WE HAVE THE HOUSING COMMISSIONER.

BILLION SPENT LAST YEAR.

BUT A NEW BIPARTISAN BILL THERE, KIND OF POLITICAL ODD COUPLE, I'M CALLING THEM, COMING FORWARD AND SAYING, HEY, THIS POLICY WITHOUT DOLLARS ATTACHED, THEY'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN KIND OF ATTACKING ZONING AND TRYING O GET AFTER, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO BUILD MORE TOWN HOUSES, CONDOS.

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, WHY IS THAT?

>> BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE HOUSING SHORTAGE AND THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD WHAT THEY NEED.

CLEARLY, WITH THE SURPLUS THAT WAS SPENT THROUGH AND NOT RETURNED TO TAXPAYERS LAST YEAR, KNOWING THAT ALL THE EXPENSES -- >> Mary: A LITTLE BIT WAS RETURNED.

>> LITTLE BIT.

VERY LITTLE BIT TO SOME TAXPAYERS.

BUT KNOWING THAT OUR LIVES IN MINNESOTA ARE MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES THAT WERE PASSED AND INCREASE IN METRO AREA SALES TAX AND EVERYTHING, LOOKING FOR A BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON A BILL THAT COULD HELP WITH HOUSING IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

LOCAL CONTROL IS AN IMPORTANT THING IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO I WOULD SAY THE WORK IS GOING TO, AS YOU SAW, ROLLED OUT TODAY, IT HAS BEEN GOING ON, IT WILL CONTINUE.

AND IF THERE'S BIPARTISAN FIXES AND BIPARTISAN BILLS THAT COULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR SOLUTIONS, WE WOULD LOOK AT THAT.

>> Mary: CITIES DID NOT LIKE THIS OUT OF THE GATE.

THEY WANT TO HANDLE ZONING THEMSELVES.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.

I WILL NOTE THAT LAST YEAR WE DID RETURN A BILLION DOLLARS TO TAXPAYERS IN THE FORM OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH WILL HELP REDUCE COST.

I THINK THAT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POLICY CIRCUMSTANCE.

WE KNOW WE HAVE A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN THIS STATE.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY YOUNG FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STARTING OUT WHO JUST CAN'T FIND HOMES.

THERE ISN'T AVAILABILITY.

SO WE NEED TO FIGURE UT HOW WE CAN BE PARTNERS WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

AND DOES HAVING A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A THREE-CAR GARAGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY MAKE SENSE OR CAN E TRY TO HAVE SOME OPTIONS WHERE THERE CAN BE ADDITIONAL HOUSING AVAILABILITY FOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, ONE OF THE IDEAS IS BONDING.

WOULD YOUR CAUCUS BE OPEN TO SOME BONDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

>> I KNOW THE BONDING WORK HAS BEEN GOING ON AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR STATEWIDE IMPACT.

I WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT WHATEVER IS IN A BONDING BILL.

WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION ON IT.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE'LL SUPPORT BONDING THIS YEAR.

BUT ALL THE IDEAS AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROVISIONS WOULD BE LOOKED AT EQUALLY.

>> Mary: MUST MAKE YOU A LITTLE NERVOUS, THE MINORITY LEADER JUST SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT A BILL.

YOU NEED THEM.

>> IT'S GOOD POSTURING AT THIS STAGE OF THE SESSION.

BUT I THINK WE KNOW THAT THERE'S BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR GETTING A BILL ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

WE HAD BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE WORK GOING ON OVER THE INTERIM, OVER 200 SITES VISITED, WORK ON LOCAL BONDING PROJECTS.

AND THESE ARE ROADS, BRIDGES, SCHOOLS, WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, THESE ARE THE BREAD AND BUTTER NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Mary: VOTES ARE NEVER EASY ON THAT ONE.

WHAT ABOUT NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME, WE WILL KNOW THE UPDATED BUDGET FORECAST NUMBERS.

WHAT DO YOU SUSPECT, WHAT IMPACT WILL IT HAVE?

>> I THINK THE BUDGET FORECAST IS GOING TO SHOW HIGHER AS EXPECTED, AS WE SAW EVEN IN NOVEMBER.

THAT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME.

OUR CONCERN, THOUGH, IS THE SPENDING THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

SO EVEN AS YOU HEARD IN NOVEMBER, HIGHER THAN EXPECTED, A LITTLE BIT OF A SURPLUS, THEN IN TWO YEARS, THE WORDS THAT WERE USED WERE STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE.

THAT IS A DEFICIT.

WE EXPECT THAT THAT WILL STILL BE THERE AND WE'VE GOT MAKE SMART DECISIONS, NO EXTRA SPENDING, NO NEW SPENDING.

>> Mary: STILL HOLDING BACK ON SPENDING REGARDLESS WHAT THE FORECAST SHOWS?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT A DEFICIT.

THAT IS A DEFINED TERM.

BUT WHAT I'LL SAY IS, WE INVESTED LAST YEAR IN GROWING THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

AND OUR -- IN OUR IN FACT, OUR , OUR SCHOOLS, OUR HOUSING, WE KNOW THAT'S GOING TO PAY DID I DIVIDENDS FOR STATE ECONOMY GOING FORWARD.

I DO THINK NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO SHOW HIGHER REVENUE COMING IN.

>> Mary: NEXT TIME WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.

ALL OF YOU ARE ON THE BALLOT, RIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HOLDING ON, FIGHTING TO GET IT BACK?

>> CAUCUSES ARE NEXT WEEK.

>> Mary: IT'S COMING.

>> LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION.

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