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

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR RELEASED HIS BUDGET.

WE'LL EVER HOUSE LEADERS AND AN EDUCATION EXPERT ON TO BREAK IT DOWN.

>> THIS IS MORE THAN A FISCAL DOCUMENT, IT IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.

>> WE DO NOT NEED TO RAISE TAXES ON ANYONE.

>> Mary: THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

>> MARY: WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

GOVERNOR WALZ RELEASED HIS AMBITIOUS BUDGET YESTERDAY.

WE'LL SPEND A GOOD CHUNK OF TIME TONIGHT ON IT.

IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL TALK LIVE WITH HOUSE LEADERS WINKLER AND DAUDT.

WE'LL MEET ANOTHER NEW MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO HAS A HIGHER PROFILE THAN NORMAL FOR A FRESHMAN.

A LITTLE LATER, FORMER MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT BERNADEIA JOHNSON WILL JOIN ME TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY IN EDUCATION AND THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP.

BUT FIRST TONIGHT, GOVERNOR WALZ RELEASED HIS "COVID-19 RECOVERY BUDGET" THAT SENATE REPUBLICANS SAY IS A NO-GO.

>> HAVE A THOUGHTFUL BUDGET THAT UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS MORE THAN A FISCAL DOCUMENT, IT IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.

>> Mary: THE DEMOCRAT CALLS FOR TAX INCREASES OF ESSENTIALLY 1% ON THE TOP 1% OF EARNERS, WITH A FIFTH TIER INCOME TAX RATE FOR COUPLES MAKING A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, AS WELL AS A TAX INCREASE FOR CAPITAL GAINS AND CORPORATION.

>> THOSE CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE PROFITED DURING THIS TIME TO PAY A FAIR SHARE.

>> Mary: THERE IS A BILLION DOLLARS IN NEW INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING MORE FOR EDUCATION, SUCH AS SUMMER SCHOOL AND SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS HIT HARD BY THE PANEL DID HE MEAN I CAN.

>> EXPANDING EXTENSIVE SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS IN AND OUTSIDE OF CLASSROOMS TO HELP STUDENTS CATCH UP ON LEARNING.

FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> Mary: TAXES ARE CUT FOR MORE THAN A MILLION OF THOSE WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES AND THE WORKING FAMILY TAX CREDIT IS EXPANDED.

>> THAT WOULD AFFECT A LITTLE OVER A MILLION TAXPAYERS AND THAT WOULD BE A DECREASE IN THEIR LIABILITY OF AROUND $36 PER RETURN.

>> YOU'VE GOT A HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THAT'S REALLY STRUGGLING, REALLY STRUGGLING AND YOU HAVE MANUFACTURERS OR HOME BUILDERS WHO CAN'T HIRE PEOPLE FAST ENOUGH.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS WHO CONTROL THE SENATE SAY TAX INCREASES ARE NOT THE ANSWER FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH.

>> THANK GOD THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.

DOES THIS PLAN BRING HOPE AND UNITY OR MORE DIVISION AMONG MINNESOTANS BASED ON MONEY?

DOES THIS PLAN HELP SMALL BUSINESSES RECOVER FROM THE WALZ SHUTDOWNS.

DOES THIS PLAN DO ANYTHING TO GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL IN THE CLASSROOMS OR ADDRESS THE FAILING SCHOOLS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL?

DOES THIS PLAN DO ANYTHING TO SPEED UP GETTING VACCINES OUT SO THAT MINNESOTANS CAN GET BACK TO LIVING SAFELY IN MINNESOTA.

WE DO NOT NEED TO RAISE TAXES ON ANYONE AND THAT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST A LINE IN THE SAND THAT WE'VE DRAWN.

>> Mary: IT'S A BUDGET THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNSUSTAINABLE.

LEAVES US 1.029 BILLION IN THE HOLE, IN THE TAILS.

IT'S FULL OF SHIFTS AND GIMMICKS.

>> THANKFULLY, THIS BUDGET WILL NOT BE THE BUDGET THAT MINNESOTANS -- THAT WE WILL PASS INTO LAW AND THAT WILL AFFECT MINNESOTANS.

AND FOR GOOD REASON.

AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE RECOVERING THIS FROM RECESSION CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC AND THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, WHAT WE NEED IS WE NEED STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH.

WE HAVE TO GROW OUR WAY OUT OF THIS RECESSION.

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PUTTING IN PLACE WILL HINDER ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

♪♪♪ >>> MARY: JOINING ME TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PRIORITIES, DFL HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER RYAN WINKLER AND REPUBLICAN HOUSE MINORITY LEADER KURT DAUDT.

WELCOME BACK TO BOTH OF YOU.

WELL, WE'RE GOING THE START WITH YOU, Mr.

MAJORITY LEADER.

YOU MAYBE HEARD THE MINORITY LEADER MOMENTS AGO ON TAPE SAYING YOU HAVE TO GROW YOUR WAY OUT OF THE -- OUT OF THIS RECESSION AND GROW THE ECONOMY AND HE SAYS THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DOESN'T DO THAT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY MINNESOTA NEEDS TO HAVE A STRONGER ECONOMY.

WE NEED TO HAVE A STRONGER ECONOMY FOR MINNESOTA FAMILIES, MINNESOTA WORKERS, FOR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND THIS ECONOMY HA THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT BY COVID HAS BEEN DEEPLY UNFAIR.

IT HAS HURT SOME PEOPLE DRAMATICALLY, IT HAS WIPED OUT SAVINGS, IT HAS WIPED OUT BUSINESS INVESTMENT, AND FOR OTHERS, THEY'RE NOT NOTICING A DIFFERENCE OR DOING BETTER THAN EVER.

>> Mary: IF I CAN JUMP IN, HOW DOES THE BUDGET GROW THE ECONOMY?

>> WELL, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MINNESOTA FAMILIES CAN HAVE THEIR KIDS IN CHILD CARE SO THAT THEY CAN GO TO WORK.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MINNESOTANS CAN GET ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH CARE TREATMENT, OTHERWISE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK.

CAME OUT TODAY THAT SHOWS OVER HALF OF MINNESOTANS FEAR THEIR ABILITY TO GET ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE BECAUSE OF THE POOR QUALITY OF COVERAGE THAT'S AVAILABLE IN THE MARKETPLACE.

SO WE HAVE A ROLE AS A STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THE ECONOMY BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES HAVE THE BASIC ECONOMIC SECURITY TO PARTICIPATE IN IT AND THOSE ARE THE KIND OF INVESTMENTS THAT THE GOVERNOR MAKES.

ASKING THOSE -- ASKING THOSE AT THE TOP WHO CAN AFFORD TO TO PAY MORE TO HELP MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

>> Mary: Mr.

MINORITY LEADER, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT WERE JUST BROUGHT UP, ACCESSION TO HEALTH CARE AND CHILD CARE, THAT CAN HELP, RIGHT?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US ON, MAY.

THIS IS A STARTING POINT, IT'S A WAY FOR HIM TO GIVE INPUT TO THE LEGISLATURE BUT ULTIMATELY THE CONSTITUTION LETS THE LEGISLATURE SET THE STATE BUDGET.

WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

EUROPE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, WE'LL TAKE THE GOVERNOR'S ADVICE.

WHEN THE PRESS ASKED HIM ABOUT SOME OF THE MOST REGRESSIVE PARTS OF HIS TAX PLAN, AND CALLED HIM OUT BECAUSE HE CLAIMS TO ONLY WANT TO TAX THE RICH BUT MUCH OF HIS TAX PLAN IS REGRESSIVE, ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF IT IMPACTS LOW-INCOME MINNESOTANS.

HE RESPONDED AND IT WAS SPECIFICALLY THAT THE CIGARETTE TAX, HE SAID, WELL, WE USE THE TEXAS CODE TO INCENTIVIZE O.DISINCENTIVIZE BEHAVIOR AND HE COULDN'T BE MORE RIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE GET OUR INCOME FROM TAX TAX AND SALES TAX AND HIS BUDGET WILL DISEASE INCENTIVIZE JOB GROWTH AND WAGE GROWTH AND THAT WILL HURT THE STATE AND HAVE LESS REVENUE.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND CHILD CARE.

>> LESS MONEY FOR -- GO AHEAD.

>> Mary: WHAT DAY CARE, WHAT THE MAJORITY LEADER MENTIONED, HEALTH CARE, DAY CARE, AND GROWTH TO HELP GET BACK TO THE ECONOMY?

>> WE'RE CAUGHT IN THIS THOUGHT THAT WE NEED TO EITHER INCREASE TAXES OR CUT SPENDING AND THE REALITY IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GROW OUR ECONOMY AND GROW OUR REVENUES IN THE STATE AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO EITHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE MORE INVESTMENTS IN CHILD CARE AND EDUCATION, BUT WE CAN'T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS US, AND THE REALITY IS, OUR MONEY COMES FROM INCOME TAX AND SALES TAX, SO THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN WILL DISINCENTIVIZE REVENUE GROWTH FROM THOSE SOURCES, AND THAT HURT OUR STATE AND BY, YOU KNOW, EFFECT, IT WILL HURT EDUCATION AND DAY CARE.

>> Mary: MAJORITY LEADER, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE INCOME TAX INCREASE?

IT'S KIND OF AKIN TO MAYBE WHAT MARK DAYTON WAS PROPOSING, TAX THE RICH, ABOUT 1% ON THE TOP 1% BUT IT'S A NO-GO IN THE SENATE.

IS IT WORTH IT FOR DEMOCRATS TO TAKE THIS VOTE IF IT CAN'T HAPPEN?

>> WELL, FOR ONE THING, MINNESOTA CAN AFFORD TO PROVIDE THESE RESOURCES TO FAMILIES.

WE HAVE TREMENDOUS RESOURCES IN THIS STATE.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL AS A LEGISLATURE IN ORDER TO BRING THOSE RESOURCES FORWARD AND ACTUALLY HELP FAMILIES.

SO TO START BY SAYING IT'S A LINE IN THE SAND AND WE WON'T DO IT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE WHERE REPUBLICANS WERE ON THE PROVIDER TAX TWO YEARS AGO WHEN ULTIMATELY WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT PAST WITH THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

WE KNOW THAT MINNESOTA FAMILIES ARE COUNTING ON THE STATE TO HEM COME THROUGH.

WE HOPE THAT A GROWING ECONOMY POWERED BY A BIDEN STIMULUS PLAN THAT IS ON ITS WAY, OR WILL BE ON ITS WAY SOON, WILL HELP US GET OUT OF THIS SITUATION AND WE WILL NOT HAVE TO ASK MORE MINNESOTANS TO PAY MORE.

BUT IF WE NEED TO FUND MINNESOTA'S PRIORITIES, IF WE NEED TO FUND THINGS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL, TO GETTING FAMILIES BACK TO WORK AND BACK ON THEIR FEET, THOSE WHO MAKE THE MOST SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY MORE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT COUPLES MAKING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

>> Mary: WILL THE HOUSE PASS THAT?

>> FOCUS ON ANYBODY.

[Overlapping Conversation] >> MINNESOTA FAMILIES NEED IT.

>> Mary: EXCUSE ME.

WHERE THE HOUSE PASS THAT, WILL YOU PUT THAT TAX THROUGH THE MINNESOTA HOUSE INCREASING TAXES FOR COUPLES WHO MAKE MORE THAN A MILLION?

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING RESOURCES IN THE STATE.

WE WILL PASS WHATEVER TAX IT TAKES IN ORDER TO FUND THE PRIORITIES OF MINNESOTA FAMILIES.

WE'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT PASSING THE GOVERNOR'S TAX PLAN, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM FOR US.

THE QUESTION IS, WHETHER AFTER WE GET OUR NEXT FORECAST AND LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND THE TOTAL NEEDS OF THE STATE, WHETHER WE NEED TO DO MORE.

AND WE WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL WE FIND OUT WHAT THE STATE ECONOMY IS GOING TO BE DOING IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE A GREAT DIVIDE ON THIS AND REPRESENTATIVE DAUDT, WHEN YOU WERE WITH MAJORITY LEADER GAZELKA, YOU WERE BOTH SAYING, HEY, LOCAL SCHOOLS ARE THE ONES WHO DECIDED TO STOP SCHOOL.

SO LOCAL SCHOOLS AREN'T GOING TO BE REWARDED FOR THAT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN THE GOVERNOR, DEMOCRATS, ARE TALKING BEEFED UP SUMMER SCHOOL, MORE FUNDING.

IS THIS GOING TOBACCO A REALLY BIG ISSUE ON EDUCATION?

>> I'M >> AGAINST PROVIDING SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DO THAT BUT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF INCREASING TAXES TO DO IT.

WE DO HAVE OUR RAINY DAY FUND, WE HAVE OUR RESERVES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE GETTING THE EDUCATION THEY NEED.

BUT THE NUMBER ONE THING WE CAN DO TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP RIGHT NOW AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE NOT FALLING BEHIND IS GET THEM BACK IN SCHOOL AND THE DATA SHOWS IN MANY, MANY STATES AND RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA, WE COULD FOLLOW THOSE OTHER'S LEADS TO GET OUR KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AND WE CAN DO THAT SAFELY.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL?

WOULD YOU SUPPORT SUMMER SCHOOL AND -- >> WE'RE CERTAINLY OPEN TO THAT.

I'M NOT AGAINST THAT BUT TO ME THAT'S A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT DECISION AND EACH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS TO ANALYZE WHETHER THAT'S A NEED FOR THEIR PARTICULAR KIDS.

PART OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR DID, IF HE WAIVED THE NUMBER OF DAYS THE KIDS NEEDED TO BE IN SCHOOL.

SO MANY KIDS HAVE NOT BEEN GOING FIVE DAYS A WEEK, ONLY FOUR DAYS A WEEK AND WE THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MUCH LESS IF HE CAN TERRORISM SINCE THEY'VE BEEN DISTANCE LEARNING THAN IF THEY WERE IN PERSON.

>> Mary: OKAY, LAST -- >> SO WE NEED TO SOLVE IT BUT THE NUMBER ONE THING WE CAN DO TO SOLVE IT MEET LIE IS GET THOSE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.

>> Mary: LAST WORD ON THIS, MAJORITY LEADER WINKLER, WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR EDUCATION, IS IT IMPORTANT TO GETS SUMMER SCHOOL THROUGH, AND GET KIDS BACK IN THE SCHOOL FULL TIME?

>> WE NEED TO GET KIDS IN SCHOOL AS FAST AS WE CAN SAFELY DO SO.

REPUBLICANS HAVE OPPOSED EVERY STEP THE GOVERNOR HAS TAKEN TO PROTECT MINNESOTANS FROM COVID-19 AT EVERY STEP OF THE ROAD.

SO WE CAN GET KIDS IN AS FAST AS WE CAN AND WE HAVE A LOT OF LOST GROUND TO MAKE UP.

KIDS ARRANGED THE STATE, ESPECIALLY KIDS AT GREATEST RISK NEED TO HAVE EXTRA SERVICES THAT MIGHT INCLUDE SUMMER SCHOOL, IT MAY INCLUDE OTHER WRAP-AROUND SERVICES AND THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD LEGISLATION TO HELP FUND THAT AT THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVEL.

WE CAN'T TELL THEM TO DO SOMETHING AND NOT PROVIDE THE MONEY AND STOP THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO RAISE REVENUE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THESE THINGS COST MONEY AND MINNESOTA HAS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR KIDS THROUGH A PANDEMIC.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE NOT TO DO THAT.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOTH OF YOU, FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

>> THAT'S, MARY.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: THIS WEEK'S FIRST TERM LAWMAKER CAME INTO THE JOB WITH BIG SHOES TO FILL.

DFL REPRESENTATIVE CEDRICK FRAZIER WAS ELECTED TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF LONGTIME DFL HOUSE MEMBER LYN CARLSON.

SO FAR, FRAZIER IS NOT SHYING AWAY FROM THE TASK, STARTING WITH A BILL TO RESTORE VOTING RIGHTS.

YOU'RE BUSY MAN.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PRESS CONFERENCES YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF.

THIS IS AN UNUSUAL START FOR A FRESHMAN, DO YOU KNOW THAT?

>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE WORK THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

IT'S REALLY TO GIVE THE RIGHTS BACK, TO RESTORE THE RIGHTS OF THOSE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE JUDICIAL PROCESS, HAVE DONE THAT I REMEMBER TIME AND NOW THEY ARE OUT OF INCARCERATION AND, REALLY, THEY'RE GIVING BACK.

THESE ARE GOOD NEIGHBORS.

THESE ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE PROVIDING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO LET THEIR VOICE BE HEARD AND TO ELECT THE OFFICIALS THAT REPRESENT THEM IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND I JUST THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PASS AND RESTORE THOSE RIGHTS SO THAT OUR NEIGHBORS CAN HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE THEIR VOICES LIKE EVERYONE ELSE DOES.

>> Mary: SO THIS HAS BEEN A BIPARTISAN ISSUE AND AS I MENTIONED, THE MINNESOTA TRADITION IS THAT ALL ELECTION CHANGES ARE BIPARTISAN.

SO DOES THIS MAKE YOU HAVE TO WORK A LITTLE EXTRA HARD ACROSS THE AIL AND MAKE THOSE FRIENDSHIPS?

HOW IS THAT GOING?

>> I'VE ALWAYS SAID, REGARDLESS OF THE DISTRICT I REPRESENT, WAYS 45A, ANY LAWS THAT GET ENACTED THAT I SPONSOR OR CO-SPONSOR OR ADVOCATE FOR, THEY IMPACT THE ENTIRE STATE SO FOR ME IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE IT'S BETTER FOR EVERYONE.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED YOUR DISTRICT, YOUR DISTRICT WAS REPRESENTED FOREVER BY LYN CARLSON.

SO YOU ARE ONE OF JUST A COUPLE OF FRESHMEN WHO ARE JUMPING INTO GIANT SHOES, REALLY LEGENDARY LAWMAKERS.

TELL ME ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON AND IS HE CONTACTING YOU, HAS HE BEEN ADVISING YOUR SESSIONS?

>> I'M REACHING OUT TO REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON AS MUCH AS I CAN.

LYNDON HAS BEEN IN THIS SEAT FOR A LONG TIME AND YOU CANNOT REPLICATE THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT HE HAS WITHOUT HAVING THOSE EXPERIENCES.

AND I'M A BIG LEAVER THAT IF SOMEONE HAS GONE THROUGH THINGS AND GONE THROUGH CHALLENGES AND THEY'VE OVERCOME THEM, YOU SHOULD LEAN ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO HELP YOU.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES.

IF THEY LEARNED FROM THEM, GET THAT KNOWLEDGE, USE THAT KNOWLEDGE AND MOVE FORWARD.

>> Mary: SO TELL ME ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT YOU THINK ARE NEW AND PRESSING FOR YOUR DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR.

>> YOU KNOW, THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN -- IT'S BEEN INSTRUCTIVE FOR EVERYONE SO FOR SOME COMMUNITIES, DISPROPORTIONATELY SO AND THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF MY DISTRICT.

WE ALSO HAVE TWO OF THE LARGER LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WITHIN MY DISTRICT AND AS YOU KNOW, AS A STATE, MOST OF THE CASUALTIES THAT WE'VE HAD, THE DEATHS THAT WE'VE HAD FROM COVID HAVE BEEN IN A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY SO THAT'S ABSOLUTELY A BIG ISSUE FOR ME AND OUR CONSTITUENTS TO DEAL WITH.

>> Mary: TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO MINNESOTA, I KNOW YOU WENT TO UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-MORRIS, KIND OF A TRANS PLANT BUT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE ADOPTED YOU IN THE STATE.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE STATE?

WHY DID YOU WANT TO STATE?

>> FIRST OFF, I MET MY WIFE HERE.

>> Mary: LOVE ALWAYS DOES IT.

>> LOVE DOES IT.

SHE'S BORN AND RAISED HER, FAMILY IS HERE, THREE DAUGHTERS, ALL BORN HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

SO YOU'VE GOT ME.

YOU GOT ME NOW.

YOU CAN'T GET RID OF ME NOW.

THIS IS HOME NOW BUT ORIGINALLY FROM CHICAGO ILLINOIS, FROM THE SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY KNOWN AS ENGLEWOOD, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF IT'S A WORKING CLASS, A WORKING CLASS POOR COMMUNITY.

LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS GROWING UP THAT WAY BUT HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE FROM THE TIME I CAME HERE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-MINNESOTA AND WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AT MANKATO AND THEN WENT TO WILLIAM MITCHELL LAW SCHOOL.

>> Mary: WE THOUGHT WE WERE REALLY WARM WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE PLACE AND WE FOUND OUT MAYBE THAT'S NOT SO MUCH.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE HARD TRUTHS AND THE NEW PUSH TO REALLY OPEN OUR EYES AND RECOGNIZE AT THE UNIVERSITY.

>> YEAH, I THINK YOU CAN SAY THESE THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT LOOK LIKE ME, THAT COME FROM THESE COMMUNITIES, RIGHT?

WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME INEQUITIES.

AS GREAT AS MINNESOTA S AND THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT THINGS ABOUT MINNESOTA.

-- WHEN I CAMPAIGNED, I TALKED ABOUT THE LIVABILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE WERE ALWAYS IN THE TOP 10, TOP 5, TOP 2, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR EVERYONE IN THIS STATE.

AND IT'S NOT BY HAPPENSTANCE.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE'RE PUSHING FORWARD POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS THE BEST OUTCOMES THAT THEY CAN HAVE?

AND EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO ALL THE GREAT THINGS MINNESOTA HAS.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: EARLIER THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR WALZ UNVEILED HIS EDUCATION PROPOSAL FOCUSED ON RACIAL INEQUITIES AND CLOSING THE LARGE ACHEIVEMENT GAP BETWEEN STUDENTS OF COLOR AND WHITE STUDENTS HERE IN MINNESOTA.

JOINING US TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LARGE ACHEIVEMENT GAP, EQUITY AND EDUCATION, BERNADEIA JOHNSON, FORMER MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT WHO NOW FOCUSES ON EDUCATION LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL JUSTICE, RACE, AND WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP IN HER TEACHING AT MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO.

WELCOME BACK TO OUR AIR, FIRST OF ALL.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU, AS WELL.

GREAT TO BE BACK ON "ALMANAC."

>> Mary: EXCELLENT.

THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING NOW ARE ISSUES YOU'VE KNOWN ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME.

TELL US WHAT'S DIFFERENT AND WHY WE MAY ACTUALLY NOW BE HAVING HONEST CONVERSATIONS AND MAY BE GETTING AT THIS ACHIEVEMENT GAP OR OPPORTUNITY GAP?

>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE TO SAY THE TERM "MAYBE," I'M NOT SURE IF WE STILL ARE HAVING THE RIGHT CONVERSATIONS, TO BE HONEST.

REPRESENTATIVE FRAZIER SAID EARLIER, HE AND I USED TO WORK TOGETHER.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER S NONE OF THIS SURPRISES ME.

IF HISTORY CONTINUES TO REPEAT ITSELF, AND UNTIL WE ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT IT, AND WE CREATE POLICIES AND RESOURCES TO FOLLOW THEM, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE IN THE SAME PLACE.

IT'S LIKE WE'RE A HAMSTER KEEP GOING AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND AND WE DON'T STICK TO ANYTHING THAT WE KNOW MATTERS.

>> Mary: SO WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE?

WHAT ACTION ACTUALLY HAS TO BE TAKEN TO GET OFF THAT LOOP?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE INEQUITIES ARE AND THE DISPARITIES ARE AND WE CAN'T HAVE A BLIND EYE TO THAT AND IT'S DISTURBING THAT THAT'S STILL HAPPENING SO WHEN I LOOK AT POLICIES AND PRACTICES, I DON'T SEE THE MATCH WITH WHAT WE'RE SAYING WE WANT.

SO THE WORDS HAVE TO LINE UP WITH THE ACTIONS THAT WE TAKE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, I MEAN, WHEN I LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN, I MEAN, IT'S VERY ASPIRATIONAL BUT I DON'T SEE IT AS A PLAN, I SEE IT AS A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS, THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD DO IT AND IT'S BROAD STATEMENTS BUT NO POLICY CONNECTED TO IT, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THE CLARITY AROUND WHAT'S REALLY NEEDED TO ADDRESS RACIAL INEQUITIES WITHIN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: SO WHAT KIND OF SPECIFIC POLICIES DO YOU THINK NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO ADDRESS THESE LONGSTANDING INEQUITIES?

>> SO, POLICIES SUCH AS WHO'S IN FRONT OF THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, WE TALK ABOUT GETTING MORE DIVERSE TEACHERS IN FRONT OF STUDENTS, ALL STUDENTS GENERALLY BENEFIT FROM HAVING DIVERSE TEACHERS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, TEACHERS OF COLOR, AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT I KNOW THIS PERSONALLY FROM MY EXPERIENCE AS A SUPERINTENDENT -- FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF MINNEAPOLIS, I COULD RECRUIT TOP TALENT, TEACHERS OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS TEACHERS.

THE FACT WAS, I COULDN'T RETAIN THEM BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES OF FIRST IN, FIRST OUT.

SENIORITY RANKS, NOT WHO WE KNOW WHAT REALLY MATTERS FOR OUR STUDENTS, SO THAT'S ONE SPECIFICALLY THAT I'M HONING IN ON THAT I'VE ALWAYS HAD A QUESTION ABOUT.

THERE'S NO POLICY CHANGES AND WE NEED THIS, OKAY, SO WHAT'S THE ACCOUNTABILITY?

WHO'S GOING TO DO IT?

AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE -- ENSURE THAT THAT HAPPENS FOR OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW NECESSARY IT IS.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER OPTION ATTENTION MINNESOTA LED THE WAY EARLY ON CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WHAT ABOUT CHOICE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEING PUSHED REALLY HARD BY REPUBLICANS, THAT SOME OF THE CHOICE OPTIONS, SOME OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY IN A PANDEMIC WHO ARE PUTTING KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM SHOULD BE AN OPTION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I BELIEVE IN CHOICE BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT PEOPLE GET A LITTLE SQUIRRELY WHEN IT STARTS TALKING ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER, I'M AGO KNOT PARTICULAR ABOUT SCHOOL TYPE.

WHAT I REALLY CARE IS ABOUT THE OUTCOMES THAT WE GET FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THAT THERE ARE STUDENTS, PARENTS AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE RESOURCES, THEY'RE DOING THESE CLUSTER PROGRAMS NOW, GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, ET CETERA, AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER S THE STUDENTS WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND ARE THE ONES WHO DON'T END UP WITH THE CHOICES THAT REALLY MATTER.

YOUR CHOICE IS GOING TO A SCHOOL THAT'S UNDERPERFORMING, DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, AND THE BEST TYPE OF LEADERSHIP THAT YOU NEED, AND THE TEACHERS THAT YOU NEED, THEN ALL OF THIS CONVERSATION DOESN'T LEAD TO ANYTHING.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT WHAT STUDENTS HAVE EXPERIENCED NOW FOR TWO SCHOOL YEARS, THE PANDEMIC STARTED LAST YEAR, THEY LOST TIME IN THE CLASSROOM.

AGAIN, NOW, THIS SCHOOL YEAR, LOSING TIME IN THE CLASSROOM.

THERE'S TALK ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL, WOULD THAT BE A SOLUTION FOR YOU?

>> WELL, SUMMER SCHOOL IS A GOOD SOLUTION AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REMEMBER DOING WHEN I WAS IN MINNEAPOLIS, WE EXTENDED THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND THE SCHOOL DAY, AND, YET, THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN REVERSED, AND THAT'S WHY I'M TALKING ABOUT POLICY.

IF IT'S LEFT UP TO INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS TO CHANGE, PRACTICES THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE THAT REALLY MATTER FOR STUDENT PROGRESS AND YOU CAN'T DO MORE TIME IF YOU'RE STILL DOING THE SAME QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION.

SO ADDING MORE TIME DOESN'T MATTER, EVEN IN THE SUMMER, IF KIDS ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> Mary: HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ULTIMATELY ABOUT HOW FAR BEHIND SOME KIDS COULD BE NOW OVER TWO SCHOOL YEARS?

>> OH, I'M DEEPLY WORRIED.

AND I THINK ABOUT THIS AS NOT ONLY A FORMER SUPERINTENDENT BUT AS A GRANDMOTHER.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE LOSS OF LEARNING DUE TO THIS PANDEMIC, IS REALLY HEART-BREAKING.

AND THEN YOU ADD THAT UP WITH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN KIDS NEED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN TERMS OF THE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT, THE CLIMATE, IT HAS TO BE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM.

YOU'RE MOSTLY SAFE AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY SAFE AROUND THE VIRUS.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH, BERNADEIA JOHNSON FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS WITH US ONCE AGAIN HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> MARY: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC, WATCH ANY OF OUR SHOWS, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S.

YOU CAN STREAM US LIVE, FOLLOW US ALL WEEK ON FACEBOOK, LOOK FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

DON'T FORGET, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MORE, ALL DAY EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK LIVE WITH GOVERNOR WALZ ABOUT HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, THEY'LL HAVE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE.

DAVID GILLETTE WILL RETURN WITH AN ESSAY.

AND I'LL TAKE A LOOK HOW THE HOUSE IS BUDGETING AND BONDING THROUGH A NEW LENS WITH EQUITY IN MIND AND NEW CHAIRS WITH GAVELS TO HELP USHER IN CHANGE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

CLEAR Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TV STATION.

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MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

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PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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