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

>> Mary: PUBLIC SAFETY CO-CHAIRS TALK IMMIGRATION, GUNS, AND EVEN BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.

ALONG WITH THE RETIREMENT OF A NO SHENANIGANS DEAL MAKER WHO WILL BE MISSED.

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: SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT PROTECT MINNESOTA'S ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE IRON MINING ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA: EDUCATING MINNESOTANS ON THE IRON ORE INDUSTRY AND ITS ROLE FOR AMERICAN STEEL.

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

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY.

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATIONS ON PUBLIC SAFETIES, IMMIGRATION, GUNS, STATE, FEDERAL ISSUES, AND THE RETIREMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE PAUL TORKELSON, A RESPECTED FARMER WHO'S QUIETLY THE GLUE BEHIND THE SCENES HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

WE BEGIN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S LATEST ATTEMPT TO TACKLE FRAUD BY BRINGING HEALTH INSURANCE WORK FROM PRIVATE HOMG E H.M.O.s AND COUNTIES TO THE STATE.

GOVERNOR WALZ ANNOUNCED MAJOR PLANS TO TRANSFORM THE STATE'S HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM.

>> YOU END UP WITH A BIT OF A FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER THAT YOU KEEP PUTTING BOLTS ONTO THE SIDE OF IT AND IT BECOMES VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO IS A ADMINISTER.

>> THE PROPOSALS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY ARE NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL.

THESE ARE BOLD IDEAS TO ADDRESS MAJOR CHALLENGES HEAD ON ON DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAID SERVICES FOR MINNESOTANS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ARE SKEPTICAL OF THE IDEAS.

>> AND MY SIDE OF THE AISLE REALLY BELIEVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS THE CORE OF OUR STATE ECONOMY TO ADD HUNDREDS OF NEW JOBS TO STATE GOVERNMENT IS REALLY MOVING US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

>> HEARD ABOUT WHISTLE BLOWERS AND THE WORK IS AND THE WORK I IS A AHEAD.

>> LEGISLATIVE ACTIONST, YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK IN FRONT OF YOU.

>> I HAVE CHOSEN TO BE PUBLIC.

IT IS CERTAINLY HARMED ME PROFESSIONALLY, PERSONALLY ... IT IS HARMED ME IN MANY WAYS TO BE PUBLIC, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO JUST OPENLY SPEAK ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

>> PEOPLE WHO WENT UP THE CHALLENGE OF THE COMMAND GOT RETALIATED AGAINST.

>> THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION IS CURRENTLY DEFYING STATE LAW TO ALLOW FRAUD TO HAPPEN.

>> Mary: NATIONAL LEADERS DEMANDED ACCOUNTABILITY ON IMMIGRATION CTION IN MINNESOTA.

>> AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL RAISED AWARENESS OF WHAT OTHERWISE OTHERWIYOIZIS, WHAT THIS ADMINI, IT'S DOING.

WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE ALL DAY LEARNING SO MUCH ABOUT HOW MINNESOTA IS A BEACON OF DEMOCRACY AND HOW WE NEED TO REPLICATE THIS ACROSS THE MINNESOTA.

>> OUR NATIONAL PARTNERS IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY ARE HERE BECAUSE WE ARE STRONG, AND WE ARE AT THE LENS OF A TARGET THAT IS NOT OVER.

I CAN SAY THAT IT'S NOT OVER.

OVER THE WEEKEND, WE HAVE SEEN FORCES OF I.C.E.

TURN INTO BOUNTY HUNTERS.

>> THAT IS AN EXPRESSION OF AN INTENT OF ETHNIC CLEANSING.

AND THAT'S THE BOWL THAT THIS SUPPORT WAS POURED INTO.

AND THAT DIDN'T VIOLATE SOMALI AMERICANS' RIGHTS, WHO, BY THE WAY, ARE MORE THAN 90% CITIZENS IN MINNESOTA.

WE'RE NOT TALKING -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CITIZENS, MORE THAN HALF WERE BORN IN THIS STATE.

WE'RE NOT PROTECTING THEIR RIGHTS.

WE'RE NOT PROTECTING LATINO RIGHTS.

WE'RE PROTECTING ALL OF OUR RIGHTS.

>> Mary: A HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARD THE BIPARTISAN BAN FOR WEAPONS FOR CERTAIN CRIMES.

>> TO MAKE URE THAT THOSE FIREARMS ARE TAKEN OUT F HANDS OF ABUSERS AND PEOPLE THAT COULD USE THEM TO HARM OTHERS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH TO CHAIR SCOTT WHO FOR YEARS HAS BEEN RAISING THIS ISSUE, AND HERE WE ARE TOGETHER PRESENTING A GUN BILL, REALLY.

AND REALLY WITH THE GOAL OF MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE FIREARMS DON'T HAVE THEM.

>> Mary: AND A BIPARTISAN BILL CRACKS DOWN ON THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> THIS REALLY DOES SPAN THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM BECAUSE THE HARM DOESN'T KNOW POLITICAL PARTY.

>> THE LAW IS NOT KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: AS YOU JUST SAW, BIPARTISANSHIP IS POSSIBLE ON DIFFICULT ISSUES.

AND WE HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY CO-CHAIRS HERE WITH US NOW.

REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE PAUL NOVOTNY ND D.F.L.

REPRESENTATIVE KELLY MOLLER.

FIRST OF ALL, CHAIR MOLLER, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT TO A BIPARTISAN, AS YOU SAID, GUN BILL.

IT'S TRUE.

IT'S POSSIBLE.

HOW?

>> SO THIS IS N ISSUE THAT I KNOW CHAIR SCOTT HAS BEEN LOOKING AT FOR A WHILE.

AND A LOT OF US, I'M IPROSECUTOR, HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO GET THE GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF ABUSERS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT COURTS ORDER, BUT IT'S NOT ACTUALLY BEING ENFORCED.

AND SO WHEN WE HAD THE TRIFECTA, WE HAD A TASK FORCE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AMONG SOME OTHERS AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FIREARMS.

AND THEY CAME BACK WITH A GREAT REPORT, AND SO SHE HAD HER BILL.

SHE TOOK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAME FROM THE REPORT.

I HAD A SEPARATE BILL.

WE HEARD THEM BOTH TOGETHER IN COMMITTEE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE O WORK TOGETHER TO GET SOMETHING PASSED.

>> Mary: AND THERE'S A LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT SITS ON THE COMMITTEE AND ALL OF YOU HAD SOME FEEDBACK.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE BILL?

>> I THINK IT'S GOOD.

I WAS WORKING WITH THE PROPERTY ROOM WHEN THAT BILL WAS FIRST PUT IN, IN 2017, I THINK, '16?

AND THE COURTS WERE PUTTING THOSE ORDERS OUT, BUT THEN THEY STOPPED.

I DON'T KNOW WHY.

BUT THEY JUST QUIT DOING IT, AND IT'S FALLEN BETWEEN THE CRACKS ALL THIS TIME, SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDER THOSE ORDERS AND ARE DANGEROUS SHOULDN'T HAVE ACCESS ON FIREARMS.

>> Mary: OKAY.

IS THERE MORE OF THE SAME COMING ON ANY OTHER MEASURES IN THIS COMMITTEE?

RELATED TO GUNS, PERHAPS?

OR IS THIS THE END OF IT?

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

I THINK THERE'LL BE OTHER GUN BILLS THAT WILL BE HEARD.

BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE REACHED BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON A LOT OF OTHER BILLS AS WELL.

>> Mary: ANY OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY, GUN RELATED BILLS THAT YOU THINK THERE COULD BE SOME BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT?

>> THINGS THAT ACTUALLY INCREASE SAFETY AND ARE CONSTITUTIONAL, YEAH, WE'LL -- >> Mary: WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT COULD BE?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BRICK BRING UP.

WE DON'T HAVE NOTHING IN THE HOPPER YET.

>> Mary: LET'S TAOS ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY YET.

I KNOW REPUBLICANS THOUGHT THEY COULD WORK WITH DEMOCRATS ON.

I KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAD A THREE-PAGE PLAN, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS MAYBE PAGE THREE THAT AWARD THE SCHOOL SEAFORT.

SAFETY.

JUST LIKE WE DID AT THE CAPITOL, IF THAT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK THE KIDS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT OR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WE ARE.

SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAKE THEIR SCHOOL SAFER AND HARDEN THOSE TARGETS, WE SHOULD DO THAT.

>> DEMOCRATS WANT A COMPREHENSIVE GUN PACKAGE, INCLUDING BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS, AND WHICH HAVE BEEN UPHELD AS CONSTITUTIONAL.

SO WE MAY HAVE SOME DISAGREEMENT ON THOSE BILLS.

AND WE KNOW THAT ABOUT 2/3 OF MINNESOTANS WANT THOSE THINGS AS WELL.

TO ETHAT IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT.

I KNOW THE SENATE IS GOING TO BE HEARING SEVERAL OF THOSE BILLS COMING UP ON FRIDAY.

WE'RE NOT DONE WITH SESSION YET AND WE'LL STILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THOSE.

>> Mary: WOULD YOU DO SCHOOL SAFETY STAND ALONE?

I KNOW WE HEARD FROM THE HOUSE SPEAKER TODAY THAT SHE WANTS WAS THINGS TO BE PULLED ASIDE.

>> I'M STILL INTERESTED IN A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE AND I KNOW WE ALL ARE, AND IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, A LOT OF THOSE BILLS ARE HEARD IN OTHER COMMITTEES TOO.

A LOT OF THEM ARE EDUCATION RELATED.

SO WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR MANY OF THOSE BILLS YET IN OUR COMMITTEE.

>> Mary: SOUNDS LIKE YOUR CAUCUS IS FRUSTRATED THAT THEY DON'T WANT THINGS BUNCHED TOGETHER.

THEY WANT AS MANY THINGS AS THAT CAN BE SEPARATED OUT AND GET OUT OF THIS CHAMBER.

>> THERE'S THINGS THAT WE AGREE WITH THEM ON AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN GET TO THE ONES WE AGREE ON AND WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND NOT BLOCK THE ONES THAT WE CAN'T AGREE ON.

YOU KNOW, THE ONES THAT WE CAN AGREE ON -- >> Mary: ANY OTHER SPECIFICITY?

>> I'D LIKE TO SEE THE SHIELD ACT ROUGHT UP, HAVE SOME ACCESS.

I'D LIKE TO SEE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS, CHANGING OF THE WAY REGULATIONS ARE DONE AND CODES, BUILDING CODES FOR SCHOOLS THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM OR ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

>> Mary: AND YOU MENTIONED THE CAPITOL, MAJOR CHANGES HERE.

DO YOU THINK THIS GOING FORWARD, BIPARTISAN, DO YOU THINK THIS GOING WELL, THE METAL DETECTORS, THE EXTRA SAFETY HERE?

DO YOU THINK THIS IS A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION GOING FORWARD?

>> I THINK IT IS.

I THINK IT IS GOING WELL.

WHEN PEOPLE SAW HOW EASY -- CAN SEE HOW EASY IT IS TO QUICKLY GET INTO THE CAPITOL.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE LONG LINES AND PEOPLE CAN STILL ACCESS THE CAPITOL AND I THINK THAT THAT HAS SHOWN TO BE TRUE WITH THE KINDS OF EQUIPMENT WE HAVE HERE.

I HEAR FROM STAFF AND MEMBERS WHO ARE REALLY HAPPY WITH IT.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S TURNED OUT TO BE A NONFACTOR.

>> Mary: IMMIGRATION IS STILL -- THERE'S STILL UPTICK IN I.C.E.

ACTIVITY HERE.

A LOT OF CONCERN.

ONE THING I NOTED IN COMMITTEE WHERE YOU AID, YOU CERTAINLY HAD SOME CONCERNS BUT YOU WERE QUIET ABOUT IT AS LAWMAKER.

YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T BEING LOUD, BUT YOU WERE QUIETLY EXPRESSING SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS AND SOME OF THE CHANGES.

COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE WORKED AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WORKED ON WAS MAKING THE CONNECTIONS AND STRSMING TO GETS INFORMATION.

SO OFTEN WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS SO ONE-SIDED ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND TRYING TO GET FACTS ABOUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE'S INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THEY SAW.

>> Mary: AND DO YOU THINK YOU GOT SOME CHANGE AND SOME INFORMATION THROUGH THAT KIND OF QUIET, LOW-KEY APPROACH?

>> I -- WITHOUT MENTIONING WHO OR WHAT, YES, WE MADE CONVERSATIONS TAKE PLACE.

WE ARRANGED FOR PHONE CALLS AND INFORMATION TO GET BACK AND FORTH.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN ABOUT 45 MINUTES IN A MENARDS HARDWARE AREA WORKING ON THAT ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

>> DID YOU SEE SOME OF THAT CHANGE HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES?

>> I DID NOT.

AND I'M VERY SKEPTICAL OF WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION SAYS THEY'RE DOING.

WE KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT LYING.

COURTS HAVE FOUND THAT THEY'VE BEEN LYING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING OR NOT DOING.

AND CERTAINLY OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF THIS OPERATION METRO SURGE.

SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE EFFORTS, THOUGH, BEHIND THE SCFORTS, THOUGH, BEHIND THE SCENRTS, THOUGH, BEHIND THE SCENESS, THOUGH, BEHIND THE SCENES., THOUGH, BEHIND THE SCENES., THOUGH, BEHIND THE I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

WE NEED TO DO THAT.

BUT ALSO, I THINK WE NEED TO PASS SOME LAWS TO PROTECT MINNESOTANS.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THE JUDGES HAVE SAID IN EVIDENCE AND SOME OF THE POLICE CHIEFS WHO STEPPED FORWARDS AND SAID THAT THEY HAD SOME OF THEIR OFFICERS RACIALLY PROFILED.

>> I SAW THAT REPORT AND WITHOUT SEEING WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, FROM BOTH SIDES, I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.

>> Mary: OKAY.

HOW ABOUT BEST PRACTICES?

YOU KNOW WEAPONS TRAINING.

YOU'LL DONE IT.

YOU KNOW PROPER USAGE OF WEAPONS AND I KNOW CONSULTING WITH LOCAL FOLKS THAT THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT SOME OF THE OFFICERS WEREN'T TRAINED PROPERLY AND WEREN'T USING PROPER WEAPONS PROTOCOL.

DID YOU SEE THAT R HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THAT?

>> IT WASN'T JUST I.C.E.

BORDER PATROL WAS THERE TOO.

I WASN'T THERE.

I'M NOT FOLLOWING I.C.E.

AGENTS ARE AROUND -- >> Mary: DID YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEVEL OF TRAINING?

>> WELL, THAT'S A REALLY BIG PICTURE, YOU KNOW?

ONE OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE FIRST SHOOTING'S BEEN ON FOR A LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW -- I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY HE'S A SEASONED OFFICER.

BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF USE OF FORCE TRAINING OVER THE YEARS.

I KNOW I'VE HEARD THE ALLEGATIONS OF THE ONE PERSON THAT WAS THE I.C.E.

SHORTLY AND THEN WAS FIRED OR QUIT, AND THEN HE MADE THE COUNTER-AL COUNTER-AALLEGATIONS AND I'M WITH THE MINNESOTA GOVERNMENT.

I DEAL WITH MINNESOTA I DEAL WITH MINNESO MINNESOTA PC SAFETY AND THAT'S WHERE MY FOCUS IS.

>> Mary: HAVE WE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF SURGE OF SUPPORT OF SAYING, IN CONTRAST, WE ARE APPRECIATIVE AND SUPPORTIVE OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT?

HAS THAT BEEN A KIND OF SILVER LINING IN THIS?

>> I THINK SO.

I CERTAINLY SEE IT AND HAVE TALKED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO IS UPSET WITH HOW THE FEDERAL AGENTS HAVE BEEN ACTING AND SAYING THAT IT ACTUALLY DOES HURT THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY REALIZING THAT WE REALLY DO HAVE A HIGH STANDARD FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHICH WAS MADE EVIDENCED BY SOME OF THE ACTIONS WE'VE BEEN EEING.

DISMAM QUICK LAST WORD ON THAT.

>> WE HEAR ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES, TINA LIEBLING TALKS ABOUT HOW THEY -- THE FEDS DON'T TELL THE LOCALS WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

BUT THE LOCALS ARE THE ONES WHO PUT IN THE BLOCKS FROM THEIR -- FOR ANY COOPERATION -- >> Mary: BUT ARE YOU SEEING MORE SUPPORT FOR OCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IS THAT A POSITIVE?

>> THAT'S A POSITIVE, I UESS.

BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THESE BLOCKS GOING ON, THE COMMUNICATION WOULD BE THERE AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PUTTING THE BLOCKS AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE THE ONES -- ARE COMPLAINS ABOUT THERE NOT BEING ANY COMMUNICATION.

I DON'T GET IT.

>> Mary: SORRY, WE'RE >> Mary: SORRY, WE'R OUT OF TIM.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪ ♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪ >> Mary: HE HAS CHAIRED SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL AND IMPORTANT COMMITTEES CURRENTLY WAYS AND MEANS, PREVIOUSLY BONDING.

BUT HE'S ALSO MENTORED AND CLOSED DEALS IN CRUNCH TIME, WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE.

RETIRING REPRESENTATIVE PAUL TORKELSON IS SOMEONE WHO ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> YOU HAVE TO GO BACK IN MY OWN HISTORY A LITTLE BIT HERE.

REDISTRICTING CHANGED MY LIFE DRAMATICALLY.

I WAS FORCED TO -- WELL, NOT FORCED TO, BUT I CHOSE TO MOVE AFTER REDISTRICTING BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE RUN TO HEAD TO HEAD WITH A COLLEAGUE.

I CHOSE TO MOVE TO A NEW DISTRICT, WHICH WAS REALLY MY OLD DISTRICT, BUT A NEW HOME.

I THINK MINNESOTA'S A GOOD GOVERNMENT STATE.

I THINK WE ALL CARE ABOUT GOVERNMENT, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO REDISTRICTING, IT'S A PLET POLITICAL PROCESS.

WAVE SEEN MANY STATES WHO HAVE TRIED OUTSIDE GROUPS.

OFTEN IT ENDS UP IN COURT ANYWAY BECAUSE IT GETS CHALLENGED BY CERTAIN GROUPS.

I DON'T THINK MINNESOTA'S READY FOR OPEN, FREE -- >> THE WIDE OPEN PRIMARY.

>> THE WIDE OPEN PRIMARY.

>> WHY NOT?

>> IT DOESN'T FIT WELL WITH OUR HISTORY, I GUESS, WOULD BE MY PERSPECTIVE.

>> Mary: WELL, GENTLEMEN, FIRST REPRESENTATIVE, WE'LL HAVE YOU RESPOND TO THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE HE SAYS IT'S TIME TO GET REAL AND HE WANTS TO KNOW WHEN HE'S GOING TO SEE YOUR BONDING BILL?

>> WELL, AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WE NEED TO EAT OUR VEGETABLES BEFORE WE GET OUR DESSERT AND BONDING IS REALLY DESSERT WHEN IT COMES TO THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Mary: A LARGER GROUP OF LEADING LAWMAKERS SPENT A WEEKEND BEHIND CLOSED DOORS HAMMERING OUT THE DEAL.

>> WE COMMITTED TO WORK TOGETHER ON THE BUDGET, TO GET THE BUDGET APPROVED ON A TIMELY BASIS OUT OF WAYS AND MEANS, >> IT HELPS TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.

BUT I'M SO PROUD OF OUR SPEAKER TO BE, AND MAJORITY LEADER, BECAUSE THEY HELD STRONG THROUGHOUT THESE NEGOTIATIONS AND NEGOTIATED IN A RESPECTABLE WAY.

I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE INSTITUTION AND THE INTEGRITIES OF THE INSTITUTION.

THERE'S SOME REPAIR WORK TO BE DONE.

>> Mary: HERE WITH US NOW IN PERSON, RETIRING REPRESENTATIVE, REPUBLICAN PAUL TORKELSON, ALMOST 20 YEARS.

>> ALMOST.

>> Mary: WE SAW IT THERE.

YOU RESPECT THE INSTITUTION.

IS THAT UNUSUAL THESE DAYS?

>> OH, I DON'T THINK IT'S UNUSUAL.

BUT THERE IS A LITTLE MORE ROBUST ACTIVITY THESE DAYS, IT SEEMS.

YOU KNOW, THE EXTREMES HAVE A LARGER VOICE, I THINK MUCH OF THAT'S DRIVEN BY SOCIAL MEDIA ECHO CHAMBERS THAT PEOPLE GET WRAPPED UP IN.

BUT UNDERNEATH THAT, I THINK THERE'S STILL A RESPECT FOR THE INSTITUTION.

>> Mary: WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM FOR YOU?

>> WELL, FOR ME, IT'S A LONG HISTORY OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND THEN WORKING FROM THAT, I GOT VERY ACTIVE IN FARM BUREAU AND LOBBYING HERE IN MENTAL HEALTH AND IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND SEEING HOW CHALLENGING IT IS TO MOVE THINGS THINGTHINGS FORTH.

WHEN YOU GET HERE AND ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK, YOU UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED FARM BUREAU.

BACK IN THE DAY, EARLY IN MY CAREER, IN MY FATHER'S CAREER UP HERE, THERE USED TO BE A LOT F LAWMAKERS HO IDENTIFIED AS FARMER.

THERE'S VERY FEW LEFT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY THAT'S CHANGED, BUT THAT'S A REFLECTION OF SOCIETY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A MUCH SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE FARMING.

THAT'S JUST THE NAILT THAT'S JUST THE NAIL NATURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER TIME.

AND POP LAIGS HAVE GROWN IN OUR MEMBERSHIP CENTERS.

BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS STILL HUGE.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT VOICE IS STILL HEARD.

>> Mary: AND YOU HAD TO MOVE.

YOU'RE A FARMER WHO HAD TO MOVE TO STAY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THAT'S NO SMALL FEAT.

>> WELL, I MADE A CHOICE.

YOU REMEMBER TONY CORNISH.

I COULD HAVE RUN AGAINST HIM FROM MY FARM ADDRESS.

INSTEAD, WE ENDED UP BUYING A HOME IN LAKE COUNTY.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING TO SELL THAT.

BUT IT WAS A GOOD MOVE.

IT'S ONLY TEN MILES FROM THE FARM.

SO I WAS ABLE TO DO BOTH JOBS PRETTY EFFECTIVELY.

>> Mary: SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IN RETIREMENT?

>> I'M GOING TO BE RETIRED.

I'LL BE 74 THIS SUMMER AND MY WIFE AND I HAVE SOME RETIREMENT PLANS.

>> Mary: I'VE BEEN TALKING TO YOUR COLLEAGUES, MOST NOTABLY HOUSE SPEECIAL LISA DEMUTH WHO WANTED ME TO REMIND THAT SHE CHOSE YOU, THAT YOUR LEADER POSITION WAS NOT ELECTED, BUT THAT IT WAS CHOSEN AND THAT YOU HAVE BEEN A REALLY KEY MENTOR TO HER.

AND SHE'S NOT SURE SHE WOULD BE WHERE SHE IS WITHOUT YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> I THINK LISA IS A TALENTED AND GIFTED LEADER.

BUT SHE WAS A LITTLE WET BEHIND THE EARS WHEN SHE WAS FIRST ELECTED LEADER OF HER CAUCUS.

I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED WHEN SHE TURNED ME AND ASKED ME TO BE HER NUMBER TWO BECAUSE WE WEREN'T REALLY ALL THAT WELL ACQUAINTED.

BUT WE FOUND THAT WE WORKED WELL TOGETHER AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUT A TEAM TOGETHER TO RUN OUR CAUCUS.

AND I'VE WATCHED GROW INTO THE JOB.

AND I'VE, YOU KNOW, I'VE TRIED TO HELP HER IN EVERY WAY AND SUPPORT HER IN EVERY WAY I CAN, AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MENTOR HER.

I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT, AND I THINK SHE HAS A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE.

>> Mary: WHAT'S YOUR SECRET SAUCE?

WE JUST SAW THERE, WHEN YOU SHOW UP BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, YOU ARE KNOWN AS THE -- A DEAL MAKER.

YOU GET IT DONE.

>> WELL, I THINK YOU, OVER TIME, YOU DEVELOP A REPUTATION, THAT'S REALLY ALL YOU HAVE HERE IS YOUR REPUTATION.

I THINK I'VE DEVELOPED ONE THAT -- OF AIRNESS, AND KINDNESS, BUT STILL ON UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TOUGH THE WORK IS AND HOW YOU REALLY HAVE TO -- YOU GOT TO BUCKLE DOWN TO GET IT DONE.

WE DO DISAGREE.

SOMETIMES THOSE DISAGREEMENTS DRIVE US APART.

BUT THEY SHOULDN'T DRIVE US SO FAR APART THAT WE AN'T GET BACK TOGETHER AND FIND SOLUTIONS.

I HONESTLY DON'T LIKE THE WORD COMPROMISE.

I LIKE THE WORD OR THE THEORY THAT WE FIND SOLUTIONS THAT WE BOTH CAN LIVE WITH.

I'M NOT GOING TO COMPROMISE MY VALUES.

THE ERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE IS NOT GOING TO COMPROMISE THEIR VALUABLES, BUT IF WE WORK HARD, WE CAN FIND PATHS THAT WE CAN BOTH AGREE WITH AND USE TO GET THE WORK DONE.

>> Mary: YOU'RE NOT DONE MAKING NEWS.

YOU WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW RESPONDING TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHANGES OF THE D.H.S.

WHAT I THOUGHT WAS FUNNIEST WHEN YOU SAID WHY IS THE GOVERNOR WAITING UNTIL WE'RE BOTH LEAVING TO REFORM THE TECHNOLOGY?

THIS IS SOMETHING YOU STILL WANT TO DO AND THINK CAN BE DONE?

>> YEAH, I'M VERY CONFIDENT.

THE FIRST THING THE GOVERNOR AND I DID TOGETHER WAS MNLARS.

THAT REFORM WAS A BIG DEAL.

GETTING THE DRIVER'S LICENSE SYSTEM OPERATING AND HIRING A COMPANY TO BRING IN SOFTWARE TO DO THAT.

WE NEED TO DO THE SIMILAR THINGS ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT.

BUT IT'S GOTTEN EASIER, HONESTLY.

WE DID MNLARS, THE DATABASE TRANSFER WAS A BIG SCARY DEAL.

NOW, THE EXPERTS TELL ME, WELL, WE CAN TRANSFER THOSE DATABASES NO PROBLEM.

AND THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET EASIER.

A.I.

IS GOING TO MAKE THIS EASIER TO DO.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE SMART ABOUT IT.

WE'VE GOT TO PUT TOGETHER WHAT THEY CALL AN AIRPORT SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE THIS IS BASIS THAT KIND OF COMMUNICATES BETWEEN ALL THESE DIFFERENT SILOS SO THAT WE BREAK THE SILOS DOWN AND PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY USE THE DATA.

YOU KNOW, I OFTEN SAY, IF YOU'RE A 25-YEAR-OLD AND YOU GO TO WORK AT YOUR COUNTY TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE ON THESE PROGRAMS, AND THEY SIT YOU DOWN IN FRONT OF A GREEN SCREEN THAT TAKES -- WHERE YOU HAVE TO ENTER THE SAME ADDRESS THREE OR FOUR TIMES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAY ON THAT JOB.

>> Mary: FINALLY, ADVICE.

YOU'VE EEN VERY EFFECTIVE HERE.

HOW DO PEOPLE DO IT?

>> WELL, IT'S A PEOPLE BUSINESS.

AND IT'S ALL ABOUT UILDING RELATIONSHIPS.

BUILDING A REPUTATION.

KEEPING YOUR NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE.

AND DOING THE WORK.

I, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SHOW HORSES AND THERE'S WORK HORSES.

I BELIEVE I'M A WORK HORSE, AND I'M PROUD OF THAT, BECAUSE I -- THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE HERE.

PEOPLE EXPECT GOVERNMENT TO WORK FOR THEM.

AND THAT REALLY SHOULD BE OUR GOAL.

AND IT'S MY GOAL.

>> Mary: WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

YOU WILL BE MISSED.

>> WELL, I'VE HAD A LOT OF TREMENDOUSLY KIND WORDS SAID TO ME OVER THESE LAST WEEKS, AND IT WARMS MY HEART.

>> Mary: THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE.

WELL, WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER LEGENDARY RETIRING LAWMAKER.

TRAILBLAZER, SENATOR SANDY PAPPAS, MAKE SURE TO TUNE INTO TO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT.

I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIPARTISANSHIP FINALLY BREAKING OUT HERE IN THE HOUSE.

IN ADDITION TO THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

GOOD NIGHT.

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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: SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT PROTECT MINNESOTA'S ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE IRON MINING ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA: EDUCATING MINNESOTANS ON THE IRON ORE INDUSTRY AND ITS ROLE FOR AMERICAN STEEL.

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