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

I'M ARY LAHAMMER, COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY, WHERE THERE'S ABOUT A MONTH LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND NOT MUCH ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE STILL FAR APART ON ALL OF THE MAJOR ISSUES.

I WILL TALK WITH POLITICAL REPORTERS IN JUST A MOMENT ABOUT THE IMPEACHMENT EFFORT AGAINST THE GOVERNOR WHICH DIED ON A TIE VOTE TODAY IN COMMITTEE.

BUT FIRST A BROADER LOOK AT A WEEK ALREADY FULL OF POLITICS.

>> WE'RE STILL REELING FROM THE INCIDENTS OF METRO SURGE AND SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS' TOP PRIORITY IS ADDRESSING THE EFFECTS OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ACTION IN THE STATE.

>> I.C.E.

IS STILL HERE.

THE EFFECT THAT THEY'VE HAD THROUGH OPERATION METRO SURGE, WE'RE STILL FEELING THOSE EFFECTS.

>> I.C.E.

METRO SURGE IMPACT IS NOT OVER.

THE FEAR IS REAL, AND THE FISCAL IMPACT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE FELT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

>> MINNESOTA'S SMALL BUSINESSES NEED IMMEDIATE, STRATEGIC RELIEF.

>> WHEN THE TWIN CITIES OR MINNEAPOLIS EXPERIENCES THIS KIND OF DAMAGE, IT IMPACTS THE WHOLE STATE.

>> WE WORK SO HARD TO KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN.

>> Mary: ONE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER, WITH EMPLOYEES AND CONSTITUENTS WHO ERE IMPACTED, SPOKE UP.

>> I AM NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH METRO SURGE.

I AM NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND SAY THIS WASN'T POORLY EXECUTED.

THERE WAS A LOT OF EMOTIONS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF LEADERS THAT SAID A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WISH THAT HADN'T BEEN SAID.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE HAVE HIS NOW IN FRONT OF US.

AND MINNESOTA DOES NEED RELIEF.

MINNESOTA BUSINESSES NEED RELIEF.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS HEARD FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO AGAIN TALKED OF OFF-DUTY OFFICERS BEING RACIALLY PROFILED.

AS RAMSEY COUNTY ANNOUNCED AN INVESTIGATION OF EDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICERS FOR KIDNAPPING, BURGLARY, AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT.

>> Mr.

THAO IS AND HAS BEEN AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

THERE'S NOT A DISPUTE OVER THAT.

THERE'S NO DISPUTE THAT HE WAS FORCIBLY TAKEN OUT OF HIS HOME.

AND YOU CAN ASK YOURSELF, AS YOU LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES, IS THAT GOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT?

WHEN YOU RUSH TO HIRE THOUSANDS OF AGENTS AND YOU GIVE THEM FIVE WEEKS OF TRAINING, THIS WAS TO BE EXPECTED.

THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE THE PROFESSIONALIZED TRAINING.

>> WE ARE GOING TO BE DOGGED IN OUR PURSUIT OF THE TRUTH.

AND, SO, THAT MEANS UTILIZING EVERY AVAILABLE AVENUE OF TRUTH FINDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

I ALSO WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET THIS GO.

>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHETHER THAT WAS A KIDNAPPING CHARGE BY THESE FEDERAL OFFICIALS.

LOOK, ACCOUNTABILITY IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

WE WILL NEVER GET TIRED OF ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE ON THIS.

>> Mary: HOUSE REPUBLICANS HEARD A RESOLUTION LED BY THE FREEDOM CAUCUS ON THE IMPEACHMENT OF OUTGOING GOVERNOR WALZ ALLEGING CORRUPT CONDUCT FOR PERMITTING WIDESPREAD FRAUD.

>> WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO TAXPAYERS INSPECT THE TATE AND WHEN $9 BILLION WORTH OF FRAUD TAKES PLACE.

I WOULD EXPECT A MORAL OUTRAGE WHETHER YOU HAVE A D OR R BEHIND YOUR NAMES.

>> WHAT ACTUALLY GETS STUFF DONE INSTEAD OF JUST CATERING TO A NARROW BAND OF FOLKS AND THE NARROW BAND OF LEGISLATORS THAT SEEM TO HAVE ALZ DERANGE.

SYNDROME.

>> WE HAVE ONE MONTH LEFT OF SESSION.

AND INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE THINGS THAT MINNESOTANS ARE ASKING US TO DO, LIKE REDUCE THEIR COST OF LIVING, LIKE DEAL WITH GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, THE REPUBLICANS ARE PROPOSING THAT WE SPEND THAT TIME, THE REMAINING TIME OF SESSION IN PARTISAN ATTACKS.

>> WHAT MOST MINNESOTANS ARE DEMANDING, ESPECIALLY TODAY ON TAX DAY, IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR FRAUD SCANDAL THAT'S EMBARRASSING OUR STATE.

THERE BEING 8 AYES AND 8 NAYS, THE MOTION DOES NOT PREVAIL.

>> Mary: THER HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE FOCUSED ON PASSING A SCHOOL SAFETY PACKAGE.

>> IF WE WERE TO FINALLY CLOSE OUT THE SESSION IN MAY, MY HEAD WERE TO HIT THE PILLOW THAT NIGHT, AND WE DIDN'T GET A SCHOOL SAFETY PACKAGE DONE, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT SENSE OF SADNESS.

>> THESE ARE AREAS HERE WE FIND AGREEMENT.

WE SHOULD BE ACTING -- THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT US TO DO IN THE LEGISLATURE, ACT ON THINGS WHERE WE FIND AGREEMENT.

>> WE ARE FOCUSING ON SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN GET DONE