IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> Mary: HOUSE LEADERS ARE HERE LIVE.

WE'LL DIVE INTO PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOUSING.

HUGE ISSUES UP HERE.

THAT'S 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 UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

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

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: DELIVERING NEARLY $4 BILLION TO BENEFIT ALL MINNESOTANS SINCE 1990.

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

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

>> Mary: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

I'M YOUR HOST, MARY LAHAMMER.

AND WE HAVE HOUSE LEADERS HERE LIVE TO TALK W -- ABOUT THE SESSION AHEAD.

THE HOUSING COMMISSIONER WILL ALSO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING SHORTAGE THAT NOW AS A BILLION-DOLLAR CASH INFUSION.

WE'LL MEET A REPUBLICAN FIRST-TERM REPRESENTATIVES WHO'S THE FIRST IN HIS FAMILY TO BECOME A LAWYER.

BUT, FIRST, THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ISSUE IS UNSTUCK, YOU MIGHT SAY, IT'S BACK AND RUNNING NOW, MOVED OUT OF SENATE COMMITTEE TONIGHT, AND WILL BE HEARD IN THE HOUSE TOMORROW.

AND THAT ALL HAPPENS AS THE FATAL SHOOTING OF BURNSVILLE FIRST RESPONDERS REVERBERATED THROUGH THE CAPITOL.

>> GUN VIOLENCE IS A TERRIBLE AND PERVASIVE ISSUE IN OUR STATE.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE LIVES LOST WAS PREVENTABLE.

>> Mary: GUN IOLENCE PREVENTION LEGISLATION IS BACK.

>> MY SON DID NOT MAKE IT.

THE OWNER OF THIS GUN HAS STILL NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> LISTEN TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE TELLING THESE STORIES.

LISTEN TO THE PAIN, LISTEN TO THE HURT, LISTEN TO THE LOSS.

AND THEN MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

>> THE APPETITE FOR HAVING THESE BILLS HEARD AND REALLY TO GET THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE EXISTS AND IT EXISTS WITHIN OUR BODY.

SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE WILL GET THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THIS YEAR.

>> MEMBERS, PLEASE RISE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> Mary: REACTION TO THE FATAL SHOOTING OF BURNSVILLE FIRST RESPONDERS WAS CERTAINLY FELT AT THE CAPITOL.

>> OUR CITY IS REELING FROM THESE PROFOUND LOSSES, AND WE STAND HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN SUPPORT F OUR COMMUNITY.

FROM THE OTTOM OF MY HEART FROM EVERYONE IN BURNSVILLE, WE'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TODAY TO SHARE IN OUR GRIEF AND TO SHOW OUR COMMUNITY THE COMPASSION WE NEED AS WE HEAL THIS TRAGIC LOSS.

>> Mary: IT CREATED FURTHER DELAY IN A FIX FOR TUDENT RESOURCE FFICERS AS LAWMAKERS HEARD FROM STUDENTS.

>> IT HAS BEEN A REALLY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION, NOT ONLY AMONG STUDENTS BUT WITH PARENTS AS WELL.

JUST MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS SAFE COMING TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN DAYS THAT WE DON'T, AND THERE ARE DAYS THAT A THIRD OF THE CLASS HAS BEEN PULLED OUT BY THEIR PARENTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE COMING BACK.

>> REALLY NOT MUCH OF AN EMPHASIS PLACED UPON MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH IS REALLY SOMEWHERE WHERE WE CAN CHANGE.

>> Mary: THE SENATE PRESENTED AN UPDATED BILL TO GET OFFICERS BACK IN SCHOOLS.

>> I BELIEVE THE BILL AS AMENDED IS A GOOD BILL.

IT REPRESENTS A COMPROMISED POSITION.

>> THIS BILL RETAINS THE PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF CHOKEHOLDS, BUT TO SAY THAT THERE'S NOT PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR STUDENTS OF COLOR AND OUR STUDENTS OF -- WITH DISABILITIES IS WRONG.

>> WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S A PROBLEM BEFORE WE START EMBARKING ON THESE OTHER ELEMENTS.

>> Mary: AND A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS ARE BACKING A SERIES OF POLICY PROPOSALS BEHIND BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> REALLY UNPRECEDENTED COALITION, A BIPARTISAN COALITION, ALL COMING TOGETHER, BRINGING FORWARD COMMON-SENSE SOLUTIONS, GROUNDED IN THE REALITY THAT MINNESOTA HAS A MASSIVE HOUSING SHORTAGE.

>> TO BE ABLE O CREATE GENERATIONAL WEALTH, THAT'S WHAT THIS BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LEGISLATORS IN A VERY BROAD SPECTRUM OF INTERESTS FROM AROUND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS TRYING TO GET DONE TODAY.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT SO THAT FOLKS WHO WANT TO BUY A HOME OF VARYING SIZES CAN.

♪♪ >> Mary: WITH ME NOW, WE 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.

♪♪ >> Mary: A RECORD FUNDING BOOST IS NOW IN THE PIPELINE FOR HOUSING AND THERE'S MORE POLICY PROPOSALS.

WITH US, HOUSING COMMISSIONER, JENNIFER HO.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE, THANK YOU.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT, FIRST OF ALL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEW THING, BECAUSE THERE WAS A BIG BIPARTISAN RESS CONFERENCE, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN AROUND HERE ANYMORE, AND THIS IS ON THE POLICY SIDE, DEALING WITH ZONING, KIND OF THAT MIDDLE HOUSING THEY TALK ABOUT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT LEGISLATORS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE HOUSING.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE I TRAVEL IN THE STATE.

CHISHOLM, WINONA, THIEF RIVER FALLS, PEOPLE ARE HURTING AND RENTERS ARE HURTING, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUY A HOME ARE FRUSTRATED THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ONE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD, EMPLOYERS ARE TRYING TO RECRUIT EMPLOYEES, THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.

PEOPLE NEED MORE HOUSING, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS TRYING TO DO.

>> Mary: DOES IT SPEAK TO HOW BAD THE CRISIS IS, THEN, WHEN THERE'S SO FEW THINGS THAT ARE BIPARTISAN STATEWIDE AND THIS ISSUE CLEARLY IS?

>> I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF HOUSING S A NONPARTISAN ISSUE.

IT TURNS OUT, WE ALL NEED IT.

>> Mary: BUT EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THIS IS -- ISN'T IT URBAN, SUBURBAN, EXURBAN, RURAL, IS THERE A PART OF THE STATE THAT DOESN'T HAVE SOME HOUSING SHORTAGE ISSUE?

>> THERE IS NO LEGISLATOR THAT I TALK TO, THERE'S NO PART OF THE STATE THAT I'VE TRAVELED TO WHERE PEOPLE SAID, HEY, COMMISSIONER, WE DON'T NEED WHAT YOU DO.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BEING FELT IN EVERY SINGLE PART OF THE STATE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING SOME BIPARTISAN WORK BEING DONE.

>> Mary: AND DO YOU LIKE THESE OUT-OF-THE-BOX IDEAS, LIKE, NOT REQUIRING A THREE-CAR IMRAJ, YOU KNOW -- THREE-CAR GARAGE, YOU KNOW, BACKING OFF ON SOME OF THE ZONING, SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS, IS THAT OKAY TO YOU?

>> THAT'S BASIC WORK THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE.

I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE OVER THE OURSE OF THE SESSION IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION, SEE IF FOLKS WHO HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON IT COMING OUT OF THE GATE CAN WORK OUT A COMPROMISE THAT FOLKS CAN LIVE WITH.

>> Mary: HUGE RALLY ALSO THIS WEEK, PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING, HOMELESSLY, UNHOUSED, THEY'D LIKE HALF A MILLION AT THE VERY LEAST.

>> B, BILLION.

>> >> Mary: HALF A BILLION IN BONDING, WHAT DO YOU WANT DOLLARWISE?

>> I WANT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

THE GOVERNOR STARTED WITH A MORE MODEST PROPOSAL, 50 MILLION, .5 MILLION FOR PUBLIC HOUSING PRESERVATION.

I'VE SAID TO THE ADVOCATES, THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, NEVER TOOK OFFENSE WHEN PEOPLE SAID, NOW WE WANT MORE AND THAT'S HAPPENED IN ALL THE PREVIOUS SESSIONS THAT I'VE BEEN A PART OF.

I THINK THE REAL QUESTION IS, CAN THEY PUT A BONDING BILL TOGETHER?

I KNOW IT NEEDS TO INCLUDE HOUSING.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MONEY YOU DID GET.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: RECORD BILLION DOLLARS.

WHERE IS THAT, HAVE YOU SPENT ANY OF IT, WHAT'S IT GOING TO DO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT THE PACKAGE IS THAT IT COVERS EVERYTHING FROM HOMELESSLY TO RENTAL HOUSING, TO HOMEOWNERSHIP.

AND THAT'S REALLY FANTASTIC BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE NEED IS FELT ACROSS THE WHOLE CONTINUUM.

A LITTLE MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE MONEY HAS BEEN MATCHED TO PROJECTS ALREADY.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE LEGISLATURE PUT MONEY INTO EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT HAD EXISTING PROCESSES THAT MY STAFF WERE ALREADY WORKING ON.

AND, SO, ABOUT A THIRD OF IT IS ALREADY DONE.

WHAT'S COMING OUT OF THE GATE IN THE NEAR FUTURE IS STUFF WHERE WE HAD A STRONG FEELING THROUGHOUT THE SESSION THAT IT WAS GOING TO PASS.

SO WE COULD BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT IT.

AND THEN WE GOT SOME BRAND-NEW STUFF THAT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, BUT THE LEGISLATURE KNEW THAT WHEN THEY CREATED SO MANY NEW PROGRAMS.

>> Mary: WHAT'S MOST EXCITING, INTERESTING IN THAT BUCKET?

>> WHAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT RIGHT NOW, FIST GENERATION HOME BUYER DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, $1508 M THAT THE LEGISLATURE PUT INTO IT, IT'S TWO PROGRAMS, ONE WILL BE RUN THROUGH COMMUNITY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, ONE WILL BE RUN THROUGH THE MINNESOTA HOUSING MORTGAGE LENDING INSTITUTE.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, THIS IS $30,000 OR MORE FOR A FIRST GENERATION HOME BUYER, AND THAT DIFFERENCE COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THINKING, THIS IS COMPLETELY OUT OF REACH AND I CAN DO THAT.

>> Mary: I READ A STAT RECENTLY, I IKE DATA, STUNNED BY THE AVERAGE AGE OF FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERSHIP.

IT WAS AT 33, I THINK, LAST TIME -- IT'S UP TO 36 YEARS OLD.

OLDEST IN HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.

DOES THAT JUST STUN YOU?

>> NOW YOU'RE MAKING E FEEL OLD, I THINK I WAS OLDER THAN 36 WHEN I BOUGHT MY FIRST HOME.

I MEAN, IT DOESN'T STUN ME BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW THAT'S GOING ON IN TERMS OF THE PRICE OF A HOME, THE SUPPLY OF HOMES, INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENTS, STUDENT LOAN DEBT, ALL THOSE THINGS.

BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WITH AN ADDITIONAL $30,000 OF DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, THAT SOME FOLKS WHO FEEL LIKE IT'S OUT OF REACH, REALLY SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THIS MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO BUY A HOME.

>> Mary: I WONDER IF ALL THIS INFUSION OF CASH, ALL THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT MAKES YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO STICK AROUND FOR THIS WHOLE TERM, ALL FOUR YEARS.

>> OH, I'M -- YEAH, IF THE GOVERNOR WILL KEEP ME, I'M HERE.

I LOVE THIS JOB.

IT'S A FANTASTIC JOB.

TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS BASIC HUMAN NEED ACROSS THE STATE, TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WILLING TO DO IT, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY FUN TO BE THE HOUSING COMMISSIONER WITH AN EXTRA BILLION DOLLARS.

>> Mary: IS IT THE BEST JOB IN STATE GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU KNOW, I TOLD MY CABINET PEERS THAT THE DAY BEFORE OUR FIRST DAY, THAT I HAD THE BEST JOB IN THE CABINET.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THAT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE HOUSING CONTINUUM, BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY NEED IT.

THEY REALLY REALLY NEED IT.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Mary: REALLY INTERESTING.

ALL RIGHT, THIS WEEK'S FRESHMAN LAWMAKER IS A REPUBLICAN WHO'S A LEADING VOICE IN HIS CAUCUS ON IMPORTANT LEGAL ISSUES AND HE EMBRACES NERDING OUT AND TAKING THE JOB SERIOUSLY.

REPRESENTATIVE, THE FIRST QUESTION WE ASK EVERY FRESHMAN, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR THIS JOB?

>> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND A QUESTION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CRUNCH THAT WE WENT THROUGH LAST YEAR.

I GREW UP IN A FAMILY WHERE I DIDN'T KNOW ANY LAWYERS OR ANY POLITICIANS.

AND BECAME THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL AND BE ELECTED TO OFFICE.

AND A BIG PART OF IT JUST IS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THE RULE OF LAW IS, HOW IMPORTANT OUR GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM IS TO EVERYTHING THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED, OUR FREEDOMS AND EVERYTHING.

SO I'VE BEEN FD -- I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS EXAMINE POLITICS FOR MANY YEARS.

AFTER THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS THIS LAST YEAR, THERE BECAME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ANDOVER AND RAMSEY, ANDOVER WHERE I GREW P, AND RAMSEY WHERE I LIVE NOW.

>> Mary: SO AFTER WATCHING YOU THROUGH ONE SESSION, I SEE YOU USING YOUR LEGAL BACKGROUND, I MEAN, DO YOU SEE IT?

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AS A JUDICIAL LAW CLERK AND AS A LAWYER IN COURT CASES REALLY TRYING TO PIECE BACK TOGETHER WHAT CERTAIN WORDS MEAN AND IN STATUTES OR IN CONTRACTS, SO IT'S REALLY VERY IMPORTANT, I THINK, THAT WE ARE VERY CAREFUL AS WE'RE WRITING STATUTES AND THINKING ABOUT HOW THE FUTURE IMPLICATIONS OF IT TO BE VERY NERDY AND TECHNICAL, THAT'S DEFINITELY BY, I FELT LIKE, A BIG PART OF MY ROLE AND CALLING AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS LAST YEAR.

>> Mary: IS IT KIND OF COOL TO BE ON THE FRONT END NOW OF LAWS BEING WRITTEN WHEN YOU'VE DEALT WITH THE BACK END OF IT SO MUCH AS A LAWYER?

>> IT IS.

IT'S A NEW EXPERIENCE.

AND AS A LAWYER, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WRITING CONTRACTS AND THINGS ON THE FRONT END AS WELL.

BUT, WHY -- BUT, YES, TO HAVE THIS, IT'S A BIG RESPONSIBILITY AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HOPE WE ALL TAKE VERY ERIOUSLY.

I CERTAINLY TRY TO TAKE IT VERY ERIOUSLY.

>> Mary: YOU LIKE TO DEBATE.

DID YOU DEBATE LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL?

>> I DID.

I DEBATED IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND IN COLLEGE, YEAH.

I WAS A COMPETITIVE DEBATER.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT GOT ME INTERESTED IN GOING TO LAW SCHOOL IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I LIKE THE RESEARCH AND THE ARGUING.

>> Mary: DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD BE EFFECTIVE GIVEN YOUR BACKGROUND IN THE LAW, IN DEBATING, IN BEING REALLY SPECIFIC ABOUT THE LANGUAGE GOING INTO LAW, DO YOU THINK IN THE MINORITY, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE ABLE TO HAVE SOME IMPACT?

>> I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT I HAD.

I CERTAINLY -- THERE CERTAINLY WERE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ARGUE, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY PUSH ON, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICS.

AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS AFTER THE SESSION ABOUT -- THAT AYBE SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS OR ISSUES OR CONCERNS WE HAD TO RAISE MIGHT BE ADDRESSED IN THE FUTURE.

AND I HOPE THAT THAT IS THE CASE.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR DISTRICT, I THINK OF NORTH METRO, ANOKA COUNTY, KIND OF LIBERTARIAN, I MEAN, ONCE JESSE VENTURA TERRITORY, SOME OF IT'S COMPETITIVE.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE POLITICS BE OF YOUR DISTRICT.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF FOLKS IN ANOKA COUNTY WHO, LIKE YOU SAID, VOTED FOR JESSE VENTURA.

IT USED TO BE, ESPECIALLY SORT OF NORTHERN ANOKA COUNTY, THERE USED TO BE SOME DFL STRENGTH.

I THINK THAT THE '98 ELECTION WITH JESSE ENTURA SHOOK THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.

AT LEAST THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT HAS BEEN FAIRLY SOLIDLY REPUBLICAN, BUT, YEAH, IT IS SORT OF POPULACE INDEPENDENT-MINDED VOTER, PEOPLE WHO FRANKLY, JUST KIND OF DON'T TRUST THE GOVERNMENT THAT TERRIBLY MUCH.

>> Mary: HOW DO YOU CONNECT WITH THOSE VOTERS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL?

NOW YOU'RE PART OF THE PROCESS, RIGHT?

>> NOBODY IS PERFECT AND WE SHOULDN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, TRUST ANYBODY TO HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OVER OUR LIVES.

I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES.

IT'S IMPORTANT WHY WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IN THIS COUNTRY A LEGAL SYSTEM WHERE THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGED IN COURT AND THE GOVERNMENT CAN LOSE IN COURT.

I DO TELL THEM THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I SEE, THAT I WORK WITH I THINK REALLY DO HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS.

WE DISAGREE ON THINGS, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FURTHER THE BETTERMENT OF OUR ENTIRE STATE.

I HAVE COACHED BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL FOR BOTH MY SONS, YEAH, I LOVE SPORTS, I LOVE THE COMPETITION, BUT EVEN MORE THAN THE COMPETITION, I THINK YOU LEARN THE LIFE LFNS ABOUT FAILING AND -- LESSONS ABOUT FAILING, GETTING BACK UP, LEARNING GRIT, LEARNING TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY, LEARNING TO WORK TOGETHER.

THERE'S SO MANY IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS THAT YOU CAN LEARN.

>> Mary: I'VE ALWAYS HEARD THAT SPORTS PREPARES PEOPLE FOR POLITICS, THERE'S A LOT OF ANALOGIES BETWEEN THE LESSONS YOU LEARN IN ATHLETICS AND AT THE CAPITOL.

DO YOU SEE THAT NOW COMING THROUGH?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CCOMPLISH ANYTHING ON YOUR OWN.

IN St. PAUL, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> Mary: SO YOU KNEW YOUR WAY AROUND POLITICS.

AND EVEN THE CAPITOL.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND MAYBE SOME OF THE SURPRISES YOU STILL HAD, KNOWING AS MUCH AS YOU DID COMING INTO THIS.

>> I'VE EEN INVOLVED IN SOME CAMPAIGNS, MY WIFE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME CAMPAIGNS, AND MY WIFE ACTUALLY WORKED AT THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S JUST NOTHING THAT CAN PREPARE YOU, I THINK, THERE'S NO PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD AND EVEN WORKING IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT LIFE IS LIKE AS A LEGISLATOR, JUST IN TERMS OF THE SHEER VOLUME OF HUMAN INTERACTION THAT YOU HAVE.

I'VE NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY SITUATION IN MY LIFE WHERE AS MANY PEOPLE WANTED TO TALK TO ME OR I HAD TO DEAL WITH AS MANY PEOPLE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AS THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WAS DEFINITELY A BIG ADJUSTMENT.

EVEN AS A MINORITY MEMBER.

>> WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, ALL THE RURAL PLACES, ON EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE WAS BLUE BECAUSE THERE WAS LABOR AND THERE WAS FARMER REPRESENTATION.

MUCH MORE THAN I SEE MY PARTY REPRESENTING NOW.

I HAVE NOT SEEN IN MY OPINION ENOUGH EVIDENT AND ENOUGH CARE AND INTENTIONALITY TO SMALL COMMUNITIES, TO RURAL PLACES.

MY FIRST CAMPAIGN EVER TO DOOR KNOCK IN RURAL PLACES AND TOWNSHIPS, I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE JUST, LIKE, WAIT, YOU'RE THE CANDIDATE, YOU'RE DOOR KNOCKING ME, AND I'M LIKE, YEAH, I WANT TO WORK FOR YOU.

YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU LIVED ON THIS LAKE FOR 25 YEARS, WE'VE LEFT RURAL PEOPLE OUT OF THE CONVERSATION.

EVEN IF WE DISAGREE FUNDAMENTALLY, I WOULD HAVE PEOPLE THANK ME FOR JUST SHOWING UP AND FOR JUST CARING.

I THINK THAT'S LITERALLY THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO.

>> Mary: ALSO ON NEXT WEEK'S SHOW, WE WILL HAVE FORMER LAWMAKERS, SENATORS, TO ANALYZE SESSION SO FAR.

IF YOU MISSED NY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, YOU CAN AHEAD -- HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

THERE YOU'LL ALSO FIND OUT HOW TO FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND X.

UPDATES PRETTY REGULARLY THERE.

AGAIN, ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

AND WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR SESSIONS, COMMITTEE MEETINGS, PRESS CONFERENCES, MUCH MORE ON THE STATEWIDE PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

ON PUBLIC TV FRIDAY NIGHT, ON "ALMANAC," ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS, KAOMI LEE WILL PROFILE St. PAUL CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT MITRA JALALI.

AND I'LL TAKE A MUCH DEEPER ISSUE YOU HEARD ALL THROUGH THE SHOW TONIGHT, THAT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THAT'S A CRISIS THAT'S GAINING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AND WE'LL SHOW KIND OF A POLITICAL ODD COUPLE WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER OVER THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND NEXT WEEK, WE WILL ALSO HAVE A BUDGET FORECAST, NEW UPDATED ECONOMIC NUMBERS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DIGEST.

SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON ALL THAT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHTMENT GOOD NIGHT.

CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM >> "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 UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

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

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: DELIVERING NEARLY $4 BILLION TO BENEFIT ALL MINNESOTANS SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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