>> "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> GUN CONTROL AND MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION ARE MOVING IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE HAVE HOUSE LEADERS ON LIVE, COMING UP ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

♪♪ >> "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY ... MANITOBA HYDRO, PROVIDING CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA ENERGY FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, A LEADING PRODUCER OF THE FUELS MINNESOTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY.

D.A.V.

OF MINNESOTA.

KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO MINNESOTA'S VETERANS.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY, PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY "I'MN."

GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA WHOLESALE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

>> WELCOME TO AL NAG AT THE CAPITOL, I'M MARY LAHAMMER COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY WHERE LAKERS WILL BE RECONVENING SHORTLY BEHIND US AND WE HAVE HOUSE MAJORITY JAMIE LONG AND MINORITY LEADER LISA DEMUTH.

THEY'LL BE ON JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL MEET A FIRST-TERMER WITH ROOTS IN THE TECH INDUSTRY AND CHAIR OF THE CIVILITY CAUCUS.

FIRST LET'S START WITH NEWS OF MARIJUANA IN LEGISLATION THIS WEEK.

>> AN RELATING TO CANNABIS.

>> THE HOUSE PASSED AN ENORMOUS MORE THAN 300-PAGE BILL TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN MINNESOTA.

>> THE BILL IS PASSED AS AMENDED AS AMENDED AND ITS TITLE AGREED.

TO.

>> MADAM SPEAKER.

>> 16 COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND OVER A DOZEN REPUBLICAN AMENDMENTS ADOPTED INTO THE BILL WE ARE GOING TO PASS A BILL TO LEGAL CANNABIS OFF THE HOUSE FOR TODAY.

IT'S TIME.

MINNESOTANS DESERVE THE FREEDOM AND RESPECT TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS ABOUT CANNABIS THEMSELVES.

>> BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WAS REAL BUT SO ARE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT POT IN THE STATE.

>> THE MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS AGREE THAT THE TIME TO END MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS HERE.

>> THERE'S A BROAD ARRAY OF VIEWPOINTS IN THE PARTY AND AMONG OUR CAUCUS.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT LEGALIZATION, SOME PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZATION?

SOME PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT EXPUNGEMENT.

BUT WE ALL NO MATTER WHERE YOU LAND ON THOSE ISSUES, THIS BILL HAS A LOT OF FLAWS.

>> PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CONCERNS, THOSE COME WITH A COST, THOSE COME WITH A COST PARTICULARLY TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHO WILL BEAR THE BRUNT OF THAT COST WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE PUBLIC EXPECTS US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT TAKING RESOURCES FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR OUR SCHOOLS OR OUR NURSING HOMES OR ANYTHING ELSE TO PAY TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.

>> A LONG DEBATE STARTED AFTER DARK AND STRETCHED INTO A SECOND DAY.

>> THERE IS NO CURRENT TEST LIKE A ROADSIDE TEST LIKE WE DO WITH ALCOHOL FOR CANNABIS THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CAN USE.

>> AS A FORMER LEADER IN THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY I TRAVELED THIS STATE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TALKING TO MINNESOTANS BORDER TO BORDER AND THE PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD ON THIS BILL WERE OVERWHELMING ASKING US TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE JUSTICE, AND THAT'S WHAT DEFINING SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS DO IN A GOOD LEGAL MARKET.

>> THIS BILL IS NOT READY FOR MINNESOTA WHEN IT'S PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS AND WHO GETS TO PARTICIPATE.

>> THERE ARE HYBRIDS THAT ARE REALLY POTENT.

THIS IS, THIS IS A NEW KIND OF A MARIJUANA.

>> IN STATES THAT THEY'VE DONE THIS ALREADY, NUMBER OF DEATHS AND DEADLY CRASHES INVOLVING MARIJUANA HAVE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED.

>> THE SENATE HAS -- SCHEDULED TO TAKE THEIR FIRST VOTE SOON.

>> I THINK WE DO HAVE THE VOTES IN THE SENATE.

I THINK THIS IS THE YEAR IT GETS DONE.

IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT LAST YEAR THE BILL DIDN'T GET ANY HEARINGS IN THE SENATE.

THIS YEAR IT'S MOVED THROUGH LIKE 15 SENATE COMMITTEES.

♪♪ >> JOINING ME NOW REPRESENTATIVE KRISTIN ROBBINS, YOU SAW HER IN THE STORY OPPOSING THE MARIJUANA BILL BUT SHE'S ALSO CHAIR OF THE CIVILITY CAUCUS WHICH WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT MUCH THIS SESSION, WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT BOTH OF IT.

LET'S START WITH THE ISSUE HERE.

MARIJUANA WAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION.

YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW COMPLICATED THIS ISSUE.

THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY A PARTY ISSUE, IS IT?

>> IT REALLY ISN'T I WOULD SAY MINNESOTANS WHEN YOU ASK THEM THE SMALL MAJORITY SUPPORT IT, I THINK THE POLL WAS 53% SUPPORT IT BUT WHEN YOU REALLY DIG DOWN AT THE NUANCES OF THE BILL I'M NOT SURE PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTING WHAT THIS BILL DOES.

>> IT WAS THE DETAILS.

IS THERE A BILL THAT YOU THINK YOU OR MORE MEMBERS OF YOUR CAUCUS COULD OR WOULD SUPPORT?

>> I THINK SO.

THERE WAS A LOT OF SUPPORT WE OFFERED AN AMENDMENT FOR JUST DOING EXPUNGEMENT AND THAT GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT ON THE FLOOR YESTERDAY SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD FIRST STEP.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE THIS REGULATORY FRAMEWORK IT WILL MAKE IT SAFER AND THAT'S WHAT THE MAJORITY'S GOAL IS.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE BILL DOESN'T REALLY ADDRESS SOME OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, CERTAINLY NOT ENOUGH LOCAL CONTROL, AND THEN THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> AND YOUR CAUCUS HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT AGE.

ORIGINALLY THIS WAS WRITTEN FOR 18, IT'S MOVED TO 21 BUT YOUR CAUCUS WANTED 25.

WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THAT NUMBER?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SHOWING THE BRAIN CONTINUES TO DEVELOP UNTIL AGE 25 AND THAT SECONDARILY THE WAY THAT CANNABIS INTERACTS WITH THE BRAIN SYNAPSES REALLY AFFECTS PEOPLE'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IN A WAY THAT ALCOHOL DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME REACTION.

AND SO I WOULD SAY IF WE'RE REALLY WANTING TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND BEST PRACTICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY REALLY DISPROPORTIONATELY STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS THAT THAT'S WHY KEEPING THE AGE LIMIT TO 25 I THINK WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOU IN AND YOUR CAUCUS AND PARTY HAVING A SAY GOING FORWARD FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, IT HELPS TO VOTE FOR A BILL SO YOU CAN GET ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BECAUSE THE SENATE IS TAKING THIS UP FRIDAY.

NEXT STEP IS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

DO YOU EXPECT YOUR MEMBERS WILL BE AT THE TABLE AND BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES?

>> YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT NOLAN WEST WHO VOTED FOR THE BILL FROM OUR CAUCUS WILL LIKELY GET ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE SENATE HAS SOME DIFFERENT APPROACHES SO I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON IN THE HOUSE WILL GET ADOPTED.

I KNOW THERE IS TALK ALREADY BEHIND THE SCENES THAT MORE LOCAL CONTROL PROVISIONS WILL BE INCLUDED, SO I KNOW CITIES AND COUNTIES REALLY ARE LOOKING FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE SAY ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> LET'S TALK CIVILITY CAUCUS.

YOU'RE NOT A QUIET MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, YOU DO SPEAK, YOU DO PUT IN OPPOSITION.

HOW DO YOU SEEK TO SPEAK IN A CIVIL MATTER AND HOW DO YOU BRING THIS, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCE IN THE CIVILITY CAUCUS TO BEAR?

>> YOU KNOW, I JOINED THE CIVILITY AUCUS WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN AND THEN AT THE TIME IT WAS LED BY ON OUR SIDE WES AND WHEN E RETIRED HE HANDED IT OFF TO ME AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I REALLY THINK THE INSTITUTION FUNCTIONS BEST WHEN WE KNOW EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE BECAUSE WHEN YOU KNOW SOMEONE YOU CAN NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH, YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEIR FAMILY.

>> LET ME JUMP IN, HOW HARD IS THAT WITH COVID, WE'VE HAD TWO YEARS PEOPLE DIDN'T GET TO TALK ABOUT IDS AND BIRTHDAYS AND KNOW EACH OTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS.

>> RIGHT, COVID WAS A REALLY DIFFICULT THING FOR THE LEGISLATURE AS INSTITUTION, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS LAST SESSION FAILED BECAUSE PEOPLE WEREN'T HERE.

I THINK CIVILITY CAUCUSES PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY PEOPLE MIGHT NOT TAKE OTHERWISE TO GET TOGETHER, TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, SORT OF ASSUMPTIONS YOU HAVE WHEN YOU'RE ALWAYS DOING BATTLE ON THE FLOOR AND I THINK IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT.

THIS SESSION WE'VE ONLY HAD THE CHANCE TO GET TOGETHER FOUR TIMES SO IT'S A BUILDING OR REBUILDING PROCESS AFTER COVID BUT I DEFINITELY THINK IT IS HELPING THE INSTITUTION FUNCTION BETTER.

>> DO YOU THINK MOVING FORWARD IT COULD RESULT IN LEGISLATION AND BILL AUTHORS AND COAUTHORS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, DO YOU SEE THAT SETTING SUBSTANTIVE >> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRIED TO DO WAS HAVE WHERE LUNCHES FOCUSED EARLY IN THE SESSION WHERE PEOPLE WOULD MEET WITH CHAIRS AND PITCH THEIR BILL AND ASK OR HEARINGS AND SEEK COAUTHORS, UNFORTUNATELY THAT ONE DAY OF THE CIVILITY CAUCUS WAS THE ONE DAY OF THE SNOW DAY.

>> OF COURSE.

>> THAT ENDED UP NOT HAPPENING, WE ID HAVE DURING COVID OVER ZOOM.

I DO THINK THAT HELPS.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK YOU AND YOUR CAUCUS ARE DOING ON GETTING HEARINGS AND GETTING YOUR BILLS AND GETTING COAUTHORS?

>> I'VE ONLY EVER SERVED IN THE MINORITY SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SPEAK ABOUT A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE BUT IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING.

I GET THE MAJORITY HAS A LOT ON THEIR PLATE AND THEY HAVE THEIR PRIORITIES BUT I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HAVE SOME OF OUR PROPOSALS GET MORE HEARINGS.

>> WHAT ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE SAY -- WIN AN ELECTION THIS IS THE BALLOT ECIDING HERE, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT, NO, THE PUBLIC HAS SPOKEN.

>> WHAT DOES THE PARTY HAVE TO DO.

>> WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS OUR CONCERNS WITH WHAT THE MAJORITY IS DOING, THE TRIFECTA IS PUSHING THROUGH THEIR AGENDA WHICH I THINK IS MORE EXTREME THAN A LOT OF MINNESOTANS THOUGHT THEY WERE VOTING FOR AND IT'S UP TO US TO COMMUNICATE THAT AND HOPEFULLY SHOW WE HAVE GOOD SOLUTIONS MINNESOTANS WILL SUPPORT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, REPRESENTATIVE.

>> THANK YOU.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> YOU TOO.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> LESS THAN A MONTH LEFT IN SESSION AND MERE MINUTES UNTIL THEY'RE DUE DOWN ON THE FLOOR.

WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THE HOUSE LEADERS WITH US.

DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY LEADER JAMIE LONG AND REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER LISA DEMUTH.

FIRST TELL US WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO OR GO BACK TO DOING DOWN HERE.

>> SURE, WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING UP THE JUDICIARY POLICY BILL RIGHT AFTER THIS AND THEN WE HAVE OUR HEALTH BUDGET BILL WHICH IS COMING UP LATER TONIGHT SO A BIG ONE.

>> A LOT OF LATE NIGHTS.

ARE YOU EXHAUSTED?

I JUST HEARD A MEMBER.

MINORITY CAUCUS SAY I AM EXHAUSTED ON THE RECORD.

>> IT'S BEEN A LOT OF LATE NIGHTS BUT I HAVE TO SAY AS WE WORK TOWARD THIS DURING SESSION, THIS IS KIND OF WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, GETTING THE VOTES ON THE FLOOR AND SEEING WHERE WE'RE AT AND IT DOES REQUIRE SOME LATE NIGHTS, THEY WON'T GO ON FOREVER BUT A LITTLE BIT TIRED, LITTLE FATIGUED.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY THAT'S KIND OF THE JOB OF TODAY.

THERE WAS A RALLY LAST NIGHT ON THE CAPITOL STEPS, YOU STARTED WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY BILL LAST NIGHT.

CONTINUED TODAY.

TALK ABOUT WHAT'S IN IT IN PARTICULAR GUNS BECAUSE THAT WAS A RALLY FOR GUN CONTROL.

>> SURE, WELL, WE ARE STEPPING FORWARD AND PASSING COMMONSENSE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION MEASURES, MEASURES THAT 90% OF THE PUBLIC SUPPORT, FOLKS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR.

>> WHAT ARE THOSE MEASURES?

>> SO WE HAVE UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR IN TENNESSEE AFTER THE TRAGIC SHOOTING THERE IS ASKING THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IN TENNESSEE TO PASS AND WE ALSO HAVE RED FLAG LAWS TO TRY TO HELP WITH FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH TEMPORARY MENTAL ILLNESS WHERE THEY MIGHT POSE A THREAT TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS THAT IF WE COULD TEMPORARILY TAKE AWAY THE WEAPONS UNTIL THE THREAT IS PASSED.

>> I DIDN'T HEAR A LOT OF REPUBLICAN UPPORT FOR THOSE IDEAS.

>> THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF SUPPORT.

THE GUN LAWS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE BOOKS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ACTUALLY ENFORCING THOSE AND HOLDING CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE.

SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND BEING ABLE TO BE SAFE GUN OWNERS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SUPPORT.

WE OFFERED A NUMBER F AMENDMENTS TO CHANGE THINGS, THEY WEREN'T ACCEPTED BUT IT'S WHERE IT IS AND IT WILL PROBABLY GO TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> SO IS THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM OR PROSECUTOR PROBLEM WHEN YOU HEAR THAT LAWS AREN'T BEING ENFORCED?

SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE GUNS IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO HARM AND SO WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TWO LAWS THAT ARE GOING TO BE TAKING AWAY SOME OF THOSE WEAPONS AND THAT'S WHY THE UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS HAD SUPPORT FROM EVERY SINGLE LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUP IN THE STATE, WE HAD STRONG SUPPORT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THE RED FLAG LAWS BECAUSE WE KNOW HOSE ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES.

>> ONE PROSECUTOR IN PARTICULAR CAME A LOT ON THE FLOOR, THOUGH SHE COULDN'T BE NAMED BY NAME OR THAT WAS DEBATED.

WHAT'S THE ISSUE GOING ON IN HENNEPIN COUNTY?

>> YOU KNOW, WE AVE LOOKED AT A TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE IN HENNEPIN COUNTY WHERE YOUNG WOMAN LOST HER LIFE, THERE WERE TWO MINORS THAT ACTUALLY CAME IN AND COMMITTED THE CRIME AND SHOT HER.

AND THOSE MINORS, JUVENILES, ARE NOT BEING HELD EVEN THOUGH THEIR AGES ARE VERY CLOSE TO BEING I BELIEVE IT WAS 15 AND 17, NOT BEING HELD OR TRIED AS ADULTS.

THAT IS WHAT WE REALLY FEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE.

THAT KIND OF FORMED A LOT OF OUR OPINION AND OUR DECISION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE'VE GOT TO HOLD CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE JUVENILES, IF THEY ARE REPEAT CRIMINALS OR DOING THINGS THEY HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE SPECIALLY SOMETHING LIKE TAKING A LIFE.

>> HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH ACCOUNTABLE AND JUVENILES SPECIFICALLY?

>> WELL, THE BILL WE JUST PASSED OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR HAD SOME REALLY IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS IN OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE KNOW THAT IS AN AREA WE NEED MORE WORK.

THERE WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT PILOT PROJECT IN RAMSEY COUNTY AND WE HAD INVESTMENT IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT OFTEN WORK WITH CROWD TO TRY TO HELP THEM AVOID FALLING INTO THE TRAPS AND CYCLES WHERE THEY'RE GETTING INVOLVED IN VIOLENCE, SO I THINK WE HAD A LOT OF IMPORTANT STEPS WE TOOK IN THIS BILL.

>> OU KNOW, I HAVE TO GO BACK TO WE'VE GOT, CARJACKING, FOR ANOTHER ITEM, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT NEEDS TO HAVE CRIMINAL PENALTY, CARJACKING DOES, FENTANYL IS ANOTHER AREA WE HAVE TO INCREASE THOSE PENALTIES.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

>> LET'S PIVOT TO MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION WHICH PASSED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TECHNICALLY IN THE HOUSE.

SENATE'S TAKING THIS UP FRIDAY.

IS THIS GOING TO BE LAW?

>> IT WILL BE, YEAH, IT IS TIME.

MINNESOTA'S READY, THE PUBLIC POLLS SHOW THEY'RE READY AND I THINK WE KNOW THAT PROHIBITION HAS FAILED.

WE HAVE A STATE WHERE CANNABIS IS WIDELY VAILABLE BUT NOT WELL REGULATED, NOT SAFE AND YOUTH CAN GET ACCESS TO IT SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIX ALL OF THOSE THINGS, MAKE SURE IT'S ONLY FOR ADULT USE, MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE.

>> ADULT IS NOW 21, ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AT 18.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> YOUR CAUCUS HAD AMENDMENTS TO OVE THAT UP TO 25.

>> WE DID AND I KNOW YOU SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVE ROBBINS ON THAT.

PART OF THE THING IS I THINK THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SUPPORT FROM REPUBLICANS ON DECRIMINALIZATION BUT TO KNOW WE DON'T HAVE TEST FOR IMPAIRMENT IS VERY CONCERNING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENTS FOR ROADS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SIDE OF SAFE, THERE'S SO MANY LEVELS WE CAN'T CHECK.

>> THE PUBLIC SUPPORTS THIS.

IT IS POPULAR.

>> EACH THOUGH THERE'S WIDE PUBLIC UPPORT THERE'S STILL THOSE AREAS OF CONCERN THAT HAVE TO BE WORKED ON.

WE NEED BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY ON THAT.

LOCAL CONTROL WAS ANOTHER THING, I KNOW I WAS HEARING DURING DEBATE I WAS FROM ONE OF MY MAYORS UNTIL ABOUT 11:30 JUST NOT SEEING LOCAL CONTROL TO SEE WHAT TYPE F MARIJUANA BUSINESSES COULD BE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> ANY CHANCE THAT GETS ADDRESSED IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE?

IS >> WE DO HAVE REALLY GOOD LOCAL CONTROL OPTIONS RIGHT NOW, CITIES CAN MAKE SURE THERE ARE BUFFER ZONES AROUND SCHOOLS.

>> THEY COULDN'T OUTLAW IT.

>> THEY CAN'T AND IN OTHER STATES WE'VE SEEN WHERE THAT HAPPENS YOU HAVE POCKETS OF BLACK MARKET THAT CONTINUE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM.

ONE DIFFERENCE WITH DECRIMINALIZATION AND OUTRIGHT LEGALIZATION, THAT KEEPS THE BLACK MARKET GOING AND WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT.

>> LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE HEINING UP OKAY, HAVE YOU TWO TAKEN A LOOK AT IT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE TAX BILL?

>> I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE SENATE OVERING VERY CLOSELY, BUT WE WERE HOPEFUL THERE WOULD BE ENDING ON THE TAX ON ASSOCIATE SECURITY, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT FROM THE BEGIN OF SESSION, WITH A $17.5 BILLION SURPLUS TO NOT BE RETURNING THAT TO MINNESOTANS WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING.

>> WE ARE LIFTING THE EXEMPTIONS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY TAX, SO ONLY THE WEALTHIEST 20% WOULD BE PAYING TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

SAME NUMBER IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, SO $100,000 AND RETIREMENT INCOME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE, AND THE REASON IS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HELPING WITH SOME OF THE LONG-TERM ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE OUR SURPLUS IS MOSTLY ONE-TIME.

AND WE DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS THAT ARE ONE-TIME SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THOSE IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO KEEP OUR STATE COMPETITIVE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE TAX INCREASES IN HERE?

>> TAX INCREASES WE DON'T NEED THOSE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, I UNDERSTAND MAJORITY LEADER LONG, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ONE-TIME EXPENSES OR ONE-TIME MONEY ON THE SURPLUS, THE CONCERN IS THAT THERE'S ABOUT $5.6 BILLION THAT ARE ONGOING AND WE NEED TO REDUCE THAT.

SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY TAX INCREASES.

>> AND WE NEED TO GET THE TWO OF YOU BACK DOWN TO THE FLOOR.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, APPRECIATE IT.

THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER HAD A CAREER SHIFT FROM THE TECH INDUSTRY TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

HIS MOTIVATION?

HIS KIDS.

HERE'S A LOOK AT REPRESENTATIVE LARRY KRAFT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE QUESTION I'D LIKE TO ASK EVERYBODY IS WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

>> I SPENT 25 YEARS IN THE HIGH TECH INDUSTRY AND MOVED TO ST. LOUIS PARK WHEN I WAS RECRUITED TO RUN SALES AND MARKETING FOR A MID SIZED TECH COMPANY HERE.

AND MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE ALMOST 20 EARS AGO, NINE ND A HALF TEN YEARS AGO AS I'M PUTTING AWAY MONEY FOR MY KIDS' COLLEGE AND THINKING ABOUT THEIR FUTURE I BECAME REALLY TERRIFIED ABOUT THE FUTURE THEY HAVE AND THE IMPACT CLIMATE CHANGE WOULD HAVE ON IT.

I MADE A CAREER SHIFT.

I WOUND UP RUNNING THIS SMALL NATIONAL NON-PROFIT FOR FIVE YEARS, IT HELPED YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE AND WE HELP STUDENTS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY BUT SOME OF THE MOST REWARDING STUFF HAPPENED IN ST. LOUIS PARK WITH STUDENTS FROM ST. LOUIS PARK HIGH SCHOOL THAT ENT BEFORE OUR CITY COUNCIL AND JUST DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB AND INITIATED THE PROCESS THAT LED TO THE ADOPTION OF ST. LOUIS PARK'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED IN EARLY 2018 AND IT'S THE MOST AGGRESSIVE IN MINNESOTA.

>> I HAVE TO TELL THE WORLD FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW I'M A GRADUATE OF ST. LOUIS PARK.

MY FORMER TEACHER PARENTS SELECTED PARK AS THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE KIDS FOR AN EDUCATION SO I MAYBE COME AT THAT WITH BIAS, IS THAT FAIR?

IS THAT STILL TRUE?

>> IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

MY KIDS HAVE ENJOYED SCHOOL THERE.

>> YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR 20 YEARS -- WHEN IT COMES TO REPRESENTATIVES FROM ST. LOUIS PARK THAT MAKES YOU KIND OF A NEWBIE BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD NAMES LIKE PEGGY FLANAGAN AND RYAN WINKLER AND STEVE SIMON.

DID PEOPLE KIND OF THINK YOU WERE A NEWBIE BEING THERE JUST 20 YEARS?

>> YEAH, I WOULD KNOCK ON DOORS AND HOW LONG YOU BEEN HERE AND MY FIRST CAMPAIGN I WAS 15 OR 16 YEARS AND I WAS LIKE, YEAH THEY WERE LIKE YEAH, I'VE BEEN HERE 30 OR 40.

YOU DEFINITELY GET A BIT OF >> >> BUT IT'S A VERY CIVICALLY ENGAGED COMMUNITY.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT?

>> I LOVE IT.

MY FIRST CAMPAIGN RAN ON CITY COUNCIL, I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL FOR THREE YEARS AS A CLIMATE CHAMPION TO IMPLEMENT THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

THE QUESTION I WOULD GET ASKED WAS, WHY DIDN'T WE DO IT FIRST?

IT'S A DIFFERENT FRAME LIKE PEOPLE ARE ILLING TO THINK DIFFERENTLY, BE ENGAGED AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY TO TRY STUFF.

>> SO IS THE WORK ALREADY DONE FOR SESSION BEING THAT 100% RENEWABLE BY 2040 IS SIGNED ASK DONE OR IS THERE STILL MORE WORK TO DO?

>> STILL MORE WORK TO DO.

THAT IS HUGE AND FANTASTIC.

BUT IT IS A FOUNDATION, THE WAY WE GET TO OUR CLIMATE GOALS IS BASICALLY YOU FIRST HAVE TO MAKE THE GRID CLEAN AND ELECTRIFY MOST EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> I DIDN'T COME TO THE LEGISLATURE TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

>> I'M SURE PEOPLE HAVE TOLD YOU THIS IS LITERALLY THE FASTEST PACE OF RENTAL SLAVE SESSION.

HOW HAS IT BEEN FOR YOU?

>> I HEAR THAT AND I HEAR THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND MY RESPONSE IS THIS IS NORMAL FOR ME.

I SAY WE'RE WORKING HARD BUT IT'S REWARDING TO GET STUFF DONE ALL THE WAY THROUGH SESSION AND WHY NOT?

WHY SHOULDN'T WE BE PASSING THINGS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AND MARCH VERSUS WAITING UNTIL APRIL OR THE LAST SECOND IN MAY.

>> RIGHT NOW THE FIRST RING SUBURBS AREN'T SO COMPETITIVE ANYMORE, ST. LOUIS PARK USED TO BE HELD BY REPUBLICANS AND USED TO BE KIND OF SWING SEATS.

HAVE YOU FELT AND SEEN IN THE LAST, YOU KNOW -- >> I ONLY GOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS FOUR YEARS AGO SO I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF HISTORY BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A COMPETITIVE ELECTION, I WAS UNOPPOSED AND I KNOW THAT FOLKS A COUPLE FURTHER RINGS THAT WERE AND I DID A BUNCH OF WORK THERE AND COULD FEEL THE DIFFERENCE.

YOU CERTAINLY SEE SOME OF THE -- THAT ARE HAPPENING AND FEEL SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE RESONATING WITH SUBURBAN FOLKS.

WARE NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IF IT JUST WORKS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL AND ST. LOUIS PARK, SO, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY VERY FOCUSED ON THE BENEFITS IT CAN HAVE ACROSS MINNESOTA.

>> NOW THE NEW ISTRICT LINES ARE VERY MUCH PARK, IT'S ST. LOUIS PARK IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR, WHAT WERE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUES AT THE DOOR?

>> ONE OF THE REASONS I DECIDED TO RUN, I WAS RETICENT AT FIRST BECAUSE I LOVED BEING ON CITY COUNCIL, THE REDISTRICTING MADE THIS DISTRICT JUST ST. LOUIS PARK.

KEY THINGS I HEARD, CERTAINLY REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM, PROTECTING DEMOCRACY AND CLIMATE, I ALSO HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT INFLATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST SURPRISE SO FAR?

>> I DIDN'T COME IN WITH A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS BUT I TELL YOU, ONE WAS THAT IN MANY JOBS WHEN YOU START THERE'S A RAMP UP PERIOD AND THERE WASN'T HERE.

IT WAS COME IN AT ONE LEVEL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE ALL IN FLAT OUT.

THAT WAS A SURPRISE, IT WAS FUN BUT YOU WERE GOING ALL OUT BEFORE YOU KIND OF REALIZE HOW DO I DO THIS JOB WELL SO IT TOOK A FEW WEEKS TO CATCH UP AND GET PROCESSES IN PLACE I THINK FOR ALL OF US NEW FOLKS.

♪♪ >> WHY DO YOU THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE SUCH INROADS IN THE IRON RANGE IN MINNESOTA IN PARTICULAR?

>> MINING IS BIG ISSUE AND WANTING TO SUPPORT A PARTY THAT IS DEFINITELY PRO-MINING, MY DAD WAS A 33-YEAR MINER AND FOR ME I TAKE IT PERSONALLY WHEN PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE AREA TRY AND ATTACK OUR WAY OF LIE OR AT LEAST WE VIEW IT AS AN ATTACK, MINING HAS BUILT EVERYTHING UP HERE ROM SCHOOLS TO ROADS.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN POLITICS NOW FOR 12 OR 123 YEARS AND TRYING TO OPEN THE REPUBLIC PARTY MORE TO BEING PROUNION AND SAYING, HEY, REPUBLICANS ARE GOOD FOR YOU, THEY'RE GOOD FOR BUSINESS.

I'VE BEEN A UNION MEMBER FOR 20, 30 YEARS NOW, I STARTED WORKING AT SUPER ONE FOODS PUSHING CARTS AND I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC EDUCATION NOW.

I'M ABLE TO GO TO THE UNION MEMBERS AND SAY, HEY, YOU HAVE A PRO-UNION REPUBLICAN.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

IN THE MEANTIME YOU WANT TO HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TPT.ORG/AATC, THERE YOU CAN WATCH THE FINAL EEKS OF SESSION LIKE FLOOR SESSIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING LIVE RIGHT BEHIND US, YOU CAN ALSO HEAR CONFERENCE COMMITTEES, WHICH IS KIND OF THE NEXT STAGE, HOUSE AND SENATE WILL WORK OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES ON BIG BUDGET BILLS, CONFERENCE COMMITTEES, PRESS CONFERENCES, AND MUCH MORE ALL ON THE PBS STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN ALSO INTERACT US WITH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ALL WEEK LONG.

AND "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON SPRING FLOODING WITH PAUL DOUGLAS AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THE MARIJUANA BILL, THE SENATE IS CONVENING ON MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, WE'LL HAVE THAT ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

TUNE IN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪ >> "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY "I'MN."

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>> "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.