>>> STATEWIDE BROADCASTS OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS" ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MINNESOTA CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION FROM DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES THAT HELP FARMERS BETTER PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES TO THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN CORN BASED PLASTICS, MINNESOTA CORN FARMERS ARE PROUD TO INVEST IN THIRD PARTY RESEARCH LEADING TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STANDING FOR AGRICULTURE, WORKING FOR FARMERS ON THE WEB AT MFU.ORG.

WE WELCOME YOU TO ANOTHER SESSION OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS" A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION FEATURING STATE LAWMAKERS ASKING QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSING IMPORTANT ISSUES, AFFECTING THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE, ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.

NOW, HERE IS YOUR MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, BARRY ANDERSON.

>> Barry: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THE 41st SEASON OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS".

BRAINERD PUBLIC TELEVISION WELCOMES ALL OUR VIEWERS ACROSS MINNESOTA TO THIS PROGRAM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU THE VIEWER TO INTERACT WITH "YOUR LEGISLATORS", HENCE THE CATCHY NAME.

WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU HAVE JOINED US AND THIS IS MY 31st SEASON.

MY NAME IS BARRY ANDERSON, AND MY JOB IS TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY.

THIS IS YOUR PROGRAM, AND WE INVITE YOU TO SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS SO WE CAN SHARE THOSE WITH OUR PANEL AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.

I WILL BEGIN INTRODUCING THAT PANEL IN JUST A BIT.

BUT I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING WE ARE OPERATING UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE CAUGHT YOU MAY BE AWARE WE HAVE COME TO YOU FROM THE STUDIOS OF THE ST. PAUL NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK.

ONE OF THE FINE, FINE PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNELS, STATIONS, AND THIS YEAR, OF COURSE BECAUSE OF COVID-19, THAT'S NOT FEASIBLE, WE ARE HOPING TO GET BACK THERE IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD AS WE GET ON THE BACKSIDE OF THIS CRISIS, BUT FOR NOW, ANYWAY, WE ARE GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING THIS PROGRAM, YOU AND I AND ALL THE FOLKS WHO WILL BE WATCHING IN A METHOD THAT MANY OF US HAVE BECOME FAMILIAR WITH OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, VIA ZOOM, WEBEX, AND MICROSOFT TEAMS, AND NONETHELESS THE PROGRAM REMAINS THE SAME.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR LEGISLATORS.

WE INVITE YOU TO CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS OR SEND THEM TO US BY THE VARIOUS ELECTRONIC MEANS THAT WILL APPEAR ON YOUR SCREEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM AND HIGHLY EFFICIENT COMPETENT STAFF, AND YOU WILL SEE I GET THOSE QUESTIONS AND WE WILL SHARE THEM WITH THE PANEL.

LET'S BEGIN THE PROGRAM THIS EVENING AS WE DO EACH WEEK FROM NOW UNTIL WHENEVER THE LEGISLATURE GOES HOME BY INTRODUCING OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS.

LET'S START WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF OUR PROGRAM, BEEN WITH US ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, SENATOR MARK JOHNSON.

SENATOR JOHNSON, WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU COULD JOIN US.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHERE YOU ARE JOINING US FROM, BECAUSE OF COURSE WE ARE NOT ALL GATHERED AT ST. PAUL TOGETHER.

GIVE US SOME IDEA OF THE COMMITTEES YOU SERVE ON AND YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATURE.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS, AS THEY SAY.

>> THANK YOU, JUSTICE ANDERSON.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

THESE ARE PRETTY UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE SHOW ONCE BEFORE, AND ON THAT OCCASION YOU WOULD THINK YOU SENT IN A GUEST HOST ON THAT ONE.

THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME BEING TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.

IT'S QUITE AN HONOR BEING ON THE PROGRAM, AND I'M THE STATE SENATOR MARK JOHNSON, AND I LIVE IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA, EAST GRAND FORKS, AND IF I OPEN UP THE SHADE OVER HERE, YOU WILL BE LOOKING ON THE NORTH DAKOTA SIDE OVER THERE, LIVE PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT.

BUT WHEN I'M NOT ON THE LEGISLATURE, I AM A CONCRETE CONTRACTOR AND A LAWYER.

ASK ME HOW THOSE TWO WORK TOGETHER.

I'M NOT SURE YET.

A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH IS WHAT WE DO.

THEN WHEN I'M ON THE LEGISLATURE, I'M THE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEAD, WHICH IS A NEW POSITION, AND CHAIR OF REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL BE ONE OF THE HOT TOPICS NOT ONLY THIS YEAR BUT THROUGH THE SUMMER AND INTO NEXT YEAR THE WAY THE DATA LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE COMING TO US.

A NUMBER OF THINGS GOING ON THERE.

GETTING EXCITED TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Barry: DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

SHOULD ALSO MENTION WE WERE IN THE PLUMBER FERGUS FALLS AREA AND HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT THERE.

ALSO JOINING US, BEEN WITH US IN THE PAST, I BELIEVE.

SENATOR MELISSA FRANZEN, AND WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU COULD BE WITH US.

TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> THANK YOU, JUSTICE, AND I HAVE BEEN AROUND IN REAL TIME AND PHYSICAL PROXIMITY WHEN WE USED TO BE TOGETHER.

I MISSED THAT BUT CERTAINLY THANKFUL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND ALSO AN ATTORNEY BY TRADE.

I KNOW WE ARE STACKING UP THE PANEL WITH ATTORNEYS.

WE CAN ALL VOUCH FOR EACH OTHER.

SINCE 2012 BEENLECTED AS THE FIRST DEMOCRAT IN MY DISTRICT, AND THE COMMUNITIES OF EDINA, BLOOMIBLOOMINGTON, H EDIN PRAIR.

I HAVE TWO LITTLE KIDS, FIVE AND FOUR AND I WAS COMMENTING EARLIER HOW DIFFICULT THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A LEGISLATURE, PSEU PSEUDO-STAY AE MOM.

WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME BOAT TOGETHER.

>> Barry: WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU HAVE JOINED US AND THE JUGGLING PIECE, BOY, CAN WE SYMPATHIZE WITH THAT.

FROM NORTH BRANCH DISTRICT 32B, AND REPRESENTATIVE NEU BRINDLEY.

DID I PRONOUNCE THAT CORRECTLY?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

I HAVE BEEN ON THE PROGRAM ONCE BEFORE AS WELL, BUT I WAS REPRESENTATIVE NEU THEN.

WHICH I SUPPOSE IS THE FIRST INTERESTING THING ABOUT ME.

I LOST MY HUSBAND SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND I RECENTLY MARRIED.

FIVE CHILDREN, AND MY HUSBAND HAS FIVE CHILDREN.

TOGETHER WE HAVE THE BRADY BUNCH.

IT'S LARGE, HAPPY CHAOS.

I REPRESENT, WYOMING, NORTH BRANCH AND LOTS OF COMMUNITIES IN BETWEEN AND I WILL SERVE ON THE STATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND WE HAD SEVERAL COMMITTEES ROLL INTO THAT COMMITTEE.

I HAVE DONE RELATED WORK, BUT THAT WILL BE FUN THIS YEAR.

I WILL BE ON THE LEAD ON THE REPUBLICAN HOMELESS COMMITTEE AND.

>> Barry: I HAVE TO TELL YOU I WAS GIVEN YOUR FAMILY BRAKE BACKGROUND, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ZOOM AND WEBEX KIND OF APPEARANCES AND MADE A COMMENT ABOUT YOU LOOK AT THE SCREEN WHERE EVERYONE IS SHOWN AND KIND OF REMINDS YOU OF THE BRADY BUNCH.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

>> ABSOLUTELY NO.

>> Barry: LAST AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, JOINING US FROM DULUTH, REPRESENTATIVE LIZ OLSON.

REPRESENTATIVE OLSON, WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU COULD BE WITH US.

TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, COMMITTEES AND SO FORTH.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS, JUSTICE ANDERSON, AND GLAD TO BE HERE WITH EVERYONE.

YES, I REPRESENT DISTRICT 70 WHICH IS THE CENTRAL AND WEST PARTS OF DULUTH, AND I AM STARTING MY THIRD TERM THIS YEAR, AND I SERVED AS THE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER AS WELL AS SPEAKER PRO TEM AND THE WAYS AND MEANS VICE CHAIR AS WELL AS A FEW IMPORTANT COMMITTEES AND MY BACKGROUND, I REALLY GOT INVOLVED IN THE LEGISLATURE THROUGH LEGISLATURE ADVOCACY, AND MIXED NONPROFIT AND FAITH WORK AND DID A LOT OF WORK AROUND PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER ISSUES, AND I USED TO LOAD THE BUSES WITH ADVOCATES THAT WOULD COME TO THE CAPITAL AND ADVOCATE ON THOSE ISSUES, AND I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE.

GREETING THE FOLKS AS THEY CAME OFF THE BUS, MAKING SURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.

IT'S A NICE TURN, AND I AM REALLY ENJOYING THIS PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.

I'M DOING THE JUGGLING THE SAME AS EVERYBODY HERE.

I HAVE JUST FLEW HOME GREETED MY FIRE-YEAR-FIVE-YEAR-OLD AND SAIE TO BE QUIET NOW.

I SAID AFTER I'M FINISHED, I WOULD READ HER A STORY, AND CUDDLE.

>> Barry: WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ROLES YOU ARE DISCUSSING THERE, WHEN I JOINED THE COURT OF APPEALS 20 YEARS AGO, SOME OF THE TRIAL LAWYER BUDDIES WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE CHANGE WAS MOVING IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY ADVOCATING IN FRONT OF A JUDGE, AND THE PRINCIPLE PROBLEM IS YOU HAVE TO RESTRAIN YOURSELF SO YOU DON'T COME OFF THE BENCH AND TELL THEM HOW YOU THINK THE CASE SHOULD BE TRIED.

NOBODY IS INTERESTED IN YOUR OPINION ON THAT.

LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE OLSON, AND WE WILL GO IN REVERSE ORDER HERE, GO BACK ALONG OUR LIST OF GUESTS.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE AS THE KEY ISSUES, PARTICULAR PRIORITIES FOR YOU AND ANY OTHER COMMENTS YOU WANT TO MAKE ABOUT HOW YOU SEE THE NEXT FEW WEEKS UNFOLDING.

>> SURE.

WE WERE ON ZOOM AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US.

WE ARE STILL LIVING IN A PANDEMIC THAT ARE OVER SHADOWING MUCH OF OUR WORK IN THE LEGISLATURE.

CANNING FOR THOSE OF US THAT SERVED BETWEEN THE LAST SPECIAL SESSION, WHAT WE ARE WALKING INTO RIGHT NOW.

FROM THE DFL CAUCUS, WE INTRODUCED A SET OF LEGISLATION TODAY THAT WAS FOCUSED AROUND THE URGENT PRIORITIES THAT ARE LEFT OVER, AND THE NEEDS OF MINNESOTANS DIDN'T GO AWAY WITH THE TURN OF THE CALENDAR PAGE, AND WE HAVE URGENT NEEDS FROM CHILD CARE, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS, AROUND EDUCATION, AND AROUND MAKING SURE OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS ARE PROTECTED, THAT TYPE OF THING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS THAT REALLY IS RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC WE ARE STILL LIVING THROUGH.

BUT WE ALL KNOW IT'S A BUDGET YEAR, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO COMPROMISE WITH THE SENATE AND WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR TO PASS A BUDGET AND PUT FORTH PRIORITIES THAT DON'T MAKE THINGS WORSE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING SO MUCH RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT COVID HAS REALLY EXPOSED A LOT OF THE INIQUITIES WE KNOW HAVE EXISTED FOR SO LONG IN OUR STATE, AND NOW IS A TIME WE CAN DO THINGS TO COME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T MAKE THINGS WORSE FOR THE LONG HAUL.

WE HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US, BUT I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN DO IT WELL, DO IT TOGETHER AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT REFLECTS THE MINNESOTA PRIORITIES AND VALUES THAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING US TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF IT.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE NEU BRINDLEY, TELL US ABOUT THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU SEE.

>> AS REPRESENTATIVE OLSON TALKED ABOUT, I THINK THE NO.

1 PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US, I HOPE SO, IS REALLY DEFEATING COVID AND BRINGING OUR ECONOMY BACK.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT WE NEED TO REOPEN MINNESOTA SAFELY.

SO THAT, I THINK, IS FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND FOR US, PART OF THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS INVOLVED IN THOSE DECISIONS.

CLEAR WE ADVOCATED FOR AND CONTINUE ADVOCATING AS THE JUDGE'S EMERGENCY POWERS, BUT THERE'S WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF THAT WORK, AND CODIFIED A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CODIFIED FOR OFF RAMPS, FOR THE DEPARTMENTS, AND WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ALREADY.

BUT THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE.

FORTUNATELY, I THINK, AT THIS POINT THE GOVERNOR RECOGNIZES ALSO THAT WE NEED TO GET THERE, THAT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

AS EVERYONE KNOWS THERE'S QUITE A FEW MEMBERS OF THE DFL CAUCUS THAT SUPPORT ENDING THE EMERGENCY POWERS, AND WE ARE GOING TO WORK TOWARDS THAT, BECAUSE WE THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN MINNESOTA SAFELY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF EYES ON THE ISSUES SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THINGS FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS, AND AS REPRESENTATIVE OLSON SAYS, THIS IS THE BUDGET YEAR, AND WE ARE FACING A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT FOR THE NEXT BIENNIUM, AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT, AND WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PRIORITY OF MAKING SURE THAT WE PROTECT MINNESOTANS AGAINST TAX INCREASES WITH A BUDGET DEFICIT, AND IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH, AND WE NEED TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS BUT OUR BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY DECIMATED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

I SAW A REPORT TODAY THAT WE LOST 10,000 BUSINESSES HAVE CLOSED DOORS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE LAST THING WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS RAISE TAXES ON THE BUSINESSES AND YOU REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT, THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, BE CREATIVE AND PROTECT MINNESOTANS MOVING FORWARD.

>> Barry: SENATOR FRANZEN, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I SERVE ON COMMERCE, AND I SERVE ON FULL FINANCE, WHICH MEANS I WILL LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE BILL THAT WILL HAVE THE FISCAL IMPACT FOR OUR STATE, AND I ALSO SERVE ON HEALTH REFORM AS WELL.

IF YOU HAD ASKED MIA MY ME A WEK AGO THIS QUESTION, I WOULD HAVE ANSWERED SIMILAR TO REPRESENTATIVE OLELY AND BRINDLEY IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET BEING THE FIRST PRIORITY AND GETTING THE ECONOMY AND DEFEATING THE PANDEMIC, BUT AFTER THE LAST 24 HOURS MY FEELINGS HAVE CHANGED ON WHAT THE PRIORITIES SHOULD BE IN TERMS OF A STATE GOVERNMENT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO IN STILL FAITH IN GOVERNMENT, TRUST IN GOVERNMENT AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE, BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE OUR DEMOCRACY CRUMBLED FROM THE STATE CAPITOL TO THE U.S. CAPITOL AS WELL WITH THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED 24 HOURS AGO AND WHAT THEY ARE DESCRIBING AS AN INSURRECTION AND COUP.

MY LITTLE FIVE-YEAR-OLD ASKED ME WHY ARE THERE BAD GUYS, AND MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING, AND WE WERE TRYING TO ANSWER A VERY DEEP QUESTION TO A FIVE-YEAR-OLD, AND WE CAME UP WITH SAYING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE GOOD EXAMPLES, SOMEONE TO GUIDE THEM, TO HELP THEM, AND MAYBE THEY ARE DESPERATE AND DON'T FIND ANOTHER WAY TO ACT OR SOMETHING OF THAT FACT, AND I THINK IN THIS CASE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR LEADERSHIP, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR AN EXAMPLE, AND I THINK EVERY LEGISLATOR HERE ON THIS PANEL AND BEYOND, EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL SHOULD UPHOLD OUR CONSTITUTION AND OUR LAWS, AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE DO, DAILY WORK, PASSING A BUDGET, BALANCED BUDGET FROM MINNESOTA AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS THE RULE IN THE PROCESS, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING THAT.

>> Barry: SENATOR JOHNSON.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT'S EXACTLY ALONG THE SAME LINES THAT I WAS THINKING WITH SENATOR FRANZEN HERE, PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR HOPE RIGHT NOW.

WE SAW THIS EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE RIOTS THAT BURNED UP MINNEAPOLIS AND PART OF ST. PAUL.

PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICE IS BEING HEARD.

I THINK WE SAW IT YESTERDAY.

SOME OF THAT SAME REACTION.

PEOPLE CALLED THEM DIFFERENT MOVES, DIFFERENT MOVEMENTS BUT I THINK THERE'S AN UNDERLYING SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE TWO.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT ACTUALLY REPRESENTS OUR COMMUNITIES DOWN IN ST. PAUL.

YOU KNOW, JUST TODAY, WE DID A FEW THINGS IN THE MINNESOTA STATE SENATE TO REALLY WORK HAND IN HAND WITH OUR DFL COUNTERPARTS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS, THROUGH THE RESOLUTIONS THAT WE DID, SOME OF THE COMMITTEE EXPANSIONS AS SUGGESTED BY SENATOR MARTY, AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS, JUST TO SHOW THAT BIPARTISAN SHIP AND SHIP.WE WANT TO MAKE SURE GOVERT IS DOING THE THINGS WE SHOULD BE DOING.

ROADS AND BRIDGES, MAKING SURE WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, GOING INTO A BUDGET YEAR.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THE BREAD AND BUTTER.

WHEN WE AREN'T ABLE TO MEET IN PERSON AND WE ARE DOING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ZOOM AND WEBEX AND THOSE THINGS, IT GETS SO DIFFICULT TO DEVELOP ANY SORT OF NEW AND EXPANSIVE PROGRAM THAT WE ARE POURING NEW IDEAS AND ENERGY INTO WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE PERSON OF CONTACT.

THE LEADERS HAVE SET A BAR SAYING WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE GET DONE WHAT GOVERNMENT IS DESIGNED TO DO, CONSTITUTIONALLY DESIGNED TO DO.

WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THAT.

A COUPLE OF THINGS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP AS WELL.

AND WE CAN DO THAT WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.

WE HAD A STRUCTURAL SURPLUS GOING INTO COVID.

WE CAN'T TURN AROUND AND PUT OUR HEELS ON THE THROATS OF BUSINESSES ASKING FOR MORE MONEY AFTER WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE LAST NINE MONTHS.

AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW OUR SERVICES AND GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE DELIVERED.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS WITHIN OUR MODEL RIGHT NOW.

LOOKING AT OFFICE SPACE.

WE CAN SAVE A LOT OF MONEY IN REDUCING THE FOOTPRINT, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE REDUCTION OF SERVICES BASICALLY BUT FINDING THE THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT CAN BE DOING TO BE SAVING MONEY, AND THEY OWE IT TO THE TAXPAYERS AT THIS MOMENT TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THEY CAN TIGHTEN THEIR BELT AS WELL.

>> Barry: WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CENTER FOR RURAL POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS ONE OF THOSE NONPARTISAN RESEARCH AGENCIES THAT MINNESOTA HAS AND RECEIVED FUNDING AND I THINK THE VIEWER IS WONDERING IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS ON THE FOREFRONT OF THE MINDS OF ANY OF OUR PANELS, BUT MORE BROADLY, WE SHOULD USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE IDENTIFY FOR BUDGET PURPOSES ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT AND MAYBE WHAT THE BUDGETING PROCESS IS.

ANYONE WANT TO TAKE THAT QUESTION OR HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> GO AHEAD.

>> I SIT ON FINANCE, AND THIS IS, I BELIEVE, MY THIRD YEAR.

AND IT'S BEING NEGOTIATED.

I HAVE BEEN A LOBBYIST BEFORE, AND IF YOU ARE NOT AT THE TABLE, YOU ARE ON THE MENU IS SOMETHING I LIKE TO SAY.

IF WE HEAR FROM YOU, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE YOU ON TOP OF MIND BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE RESOURCES TO HIRE A LOBBYIST AND NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE ABILITY TO GO TO THE CAPITOL AND WITH THE REMOTE CAPITOL AND REMOTE SESSION, IT'S EVEN HARDER.

FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR CASE.

ORGANIZATIONS ARE ASKING FOR MORE AND MORE MONEY, BUT WE NEVER HAD A STRUCTURAL SURPLUS IN THIS LAST CYCLE.

WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO A DEFICIT.

WE HAVE A SMALL SURPLUS, AND WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO A DEFICIT IN THE NEXT BIENNIUM.

WE ARE IN TROUBLE AND HAVE TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

I HAVE A DISTRICT, AND I'M A BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF, UNDERSTANDING BUDGETING, AND I GREW UP WITH THAT FRAYS IN MY HOUSEHOLD WITH MY FAMILY AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE MORE ACTIVE WITH CALLING, E-MAILING, TEXTING AND AT THE SAME TIME WE ACKNOWLEDGE NOT EVERYBODY HAS TOOLS OF BROADBAND AND INTERNET.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO REACH OUT TO LEGISLATORS AND REACH OUT TO ALL DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE IN COMMITTEES OF RELEVANCY, AND I THINK EVERYTHING SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND EVERYONE SHOULD FIGHT FOR THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

>> Barry: MAYBE IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO TALK A LITTLE BIT -- LET ME PICK ON YOU, REPRESENTATIVE OLSON.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO POINTS TO THE FACT, AND WE HAVE THE SURPLUS AND DOESN'T THAT MEAN WE SHOULDN'T MAKE ANY CUTS AT ALL.

>> I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT.

HOW I CAME INTO THIS OFFICE WAS 2009.

WHEN WE WERE NOT SMART AT BUDGETING, WE WEREN'T DOING WELL, AND OUR STATE WAS IN A MAJOR DOWN TURN AND IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET THERE WERE DIFFICULT DECISIONS MADE, INCLUDING LINE ITEM VETOING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR STATE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SITUATION THAT LOOKS SIMILAR.

AND REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE THAT DECIDED THAT THAT WAS THE WAY WE WOULD BALANCE THE BUDGET AND THAT WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF DEFICITS AND WE WOULD DO THAT.

I ABSOLUTELY DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE CANNOT GO BACK TO, THAT SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY LIVING ON THE MARGINS, WE TALKED ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY FOLKS, ESPECIALLY IN THE WORLD, PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY SORT OF FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BALANCING THE BUDGET AND TIGHTENING BALLOTS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT MAY BE WAYS THAT WE CAN TIGHTEN UP INEFFICIENCIES BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE A BROADER CONVERSATION AROUND PRIORITIES AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BUDGET AS A STATE.

WHO ARE WE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IN THIS BUDGET, AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT OVER THE YEARS, A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

THANK GOODNESS FOR GOVERNOR DAYTON AND WHAT GOVERNOR WALZ HAS DONE, THAT WE HAVE RESTORED A SMART BUDGET, MADE SURE WE HAD BUDGET RESERVES, AND IT'S BEEN SMART FOR THEM.

WE HIT A DAY LIKE TODAY, AND WE HAVE MONEY, AND WE HAVE WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.

WE HAVE THAT THERE, AND I THINK IT'S MORE OF A PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP DOING AND MAKE SURE THE BUDGET REMAINS STRONG.

>> Barry: BUDGETING PROCESS, THE SURPLUS, THE RAINY DAY FUND.

HOW DOES ALL OF THIS FIT TOGETHER?

>> WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE A HEALTHY DAY FUN AND IF THERE'S EVER BEEN A RAINY DAY IN MINNESOTA, THIS IS IT.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY DIFFICULT SEVERAL MONTHS FOR FAMILIES AND FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

THEY HAVE INSURANCE FOR ACTS OF NATURE, AND THEY TAKE ON RISKS FOR ECONOMIC DOWN TURN, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEY HAVE NO RESOURCE WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS THEM DOWN AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A RAINY DAY, AND CERTAINLY I THINK WE ARE OPEN TO USING ANY FUNDS THAT ARE READILY AVAILABLE.

I WOULD CAUTION THAT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE RAINY DAY FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE JUST NOW SO AS WE WORK ON OUR BUDGET, WHEN WE DO A BUDGET WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT SPENDS MONEY IN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL IN SPENDING THOSE RAINY DAY DOLLARS.

IF WE DO SO, THAT THOSE ARE PAYING FOR THINGS NOW THAT ARE NOT GOING TO ADD TO A DEFICIT LATER ON.

WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS IN HOW WE DO THIS, AND AS SENATOR FRANZEN SAID, SHE'S EXACTLY RIGHT, AND NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING AND LOOK FOR EFFICIENCIES, AND WE MAKE SURE WHATEVER POPULATION IS BEING SERVED WE LOOK AT THE BEST WAY THAT THOSE FOLKS ARE BEING SERVED.

AND BELIEVE THAT OUR PRIORITY IS PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AND TAKING CARE.

>> Barry: YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT THE BUSINESSES WE ARE LOOKING AT.

T THE FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THAT AND RIGHT HERE I HAVE A NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING, BUT IT'S NOT THEM.

THE FOLKS THAT OWN IT ARE THE NUMBERS AND THOSE SORTS OF PEOPLE AND RAISING TAXES ON BUSINESSES, RAISING TAXES ON FAMILIES, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

IT'S PRETTY INSENSITIVE TO THOSE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW WHO ARE ON THEIR KNEES IN CRITICAL SITUATION, AND WE HAVE GOT THE DAY FUND WHICH, YOU KNOW, I THINK REPRESENTATIVE OLSON MAY HAVE FORGOT THAT SENATE REPUBLICANS AND HOUSE GOP DID A LOT OF WORK BACK IN 17 AND 18, AND LAST ESPECIALLY THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS IN THERE AND WHEN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS HAPPENS THAT WE HAVE THE RAINY DAY FUND READY TO GO.

WE HAVE ALSO DONE WORK WITH BALANCING THE BUDGET, WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION, FAMILIES, MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT FOR FAMILIES SO THEY HAVE MORE CASH IN THEIR POCKET WHICH HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE BEEN SAVING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE FACED WITH COVID.

SO THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, AND WE ARE TAKING CARE OF FAMILIES, MAKING SURE THE STATE IS SECURE IN THOSE SITUATIONS THAT COME UP.

IF WE HAVE TO DIP INTO THE DAY FUND, I GET IT, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROTECTING OUR MINNESOTA FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THE VOLATILE ONES.

>> Barry: LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS.

I'M NOT SO MUCH INTERESTED IN THE -- I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, BUT I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION PUBLICLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT SITUATION SHOULD HE GIVE UP THOSE POWERS.

HAVE THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSIONS OR HEARINGS ON THE QUESTION GOING FORWARD?

AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TOO BROADLY HERE BUT TYPICALLY REVIEW EMERGENCY POWERS IN THE CONTEXT OF A FLOOD OR TORNADO OR CROP FAILURE OR SOME SORT OF IMMEDIATE EVENT?

WE HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED NOW TO A LONGER TERM EVENT AND MAYBE THAT CAUSES US TO THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE STRUCTURE OF THOSE EMERGENCY POWERS SHOULD BE GOING FORWARD.

ARE THERE CHANGES THAT SHOULD BE MADE?

ARE THERE ANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT, NOT SO MUCH ABOUT HOW THIS PARTICULAR EMERGENCY HAS BEEN HANDLED AS IT MIGHT INFORM US GOING FORWARD.

WHO WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THAT.

>> ONE COMPLICATED BIG QUESTION.

>> I WILL TAKE A CRACK AT IT TO BEGIN WITH.

BUT I THINK YOU ASKED TWO DIFFERENT PARTS.

>> Barry: PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR QUESTIONS.

>> I WILL DO TWO OF THEM ANYWAY.

I THINK STRUCTURALLY LOOKING AT 1231 WHICH ALLOWS THE GOVERNOR TO HAVE THOSE EMERGENCY POWERS, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND I DO THINK WHEN YOU READ THE STATUE ITSELF, WHAT IT IS, IT'S TRYING TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR TO DO QUICK ACTIONS TO ALLOW THE COMMUNITIES TO HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO FIGHT WHATEVER ISSUE IS OUT THERE.

RIGHT AWAY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION, OR WHEN COVID STARTED, THE LEGISLATURE JUMPED RIGHT IN, AND THE SENATE REPUBLICANS GOT TOGETHER A PACKAGE AND $550 MILLION TO HELP WITH THAT.

THERE WAS ALSO A 2.1 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT CAME IN.

THE RESOURCES ARE THERE AND IT'S READY TO GO.

OVER THE YEARS THEY WERE ALLOCATED AND SPENT.

THERE'S REALLY BEEN A FAILURE IN EXECUTION IN GETTING THE RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITIES.

MAYBE GIVE IT SO BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE THROUGH ON GOING EMERGENCY POWERS.

THE SECOND PART IS HAD WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO REMOVE THOSE POWERS AGAIN.

AND IN REALITY POLITICALLY WITHOUT THE HOUSE BEING ABLE TO PICK UP THE VOTE ON THAT, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ANYWHERE, AND I THINK WE HAVE A NEGOTIATION, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME IDEA HERE.

IF THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO KEEP THEM, WHAT IS IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

WHAT WE SEE AT THE RIOTS LAST YEAR, I THINK IT'S PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN GOVERNMENT.

WITH THE GOVERNOR HAVING THESE EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE POWERS, PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE A VOICE IN GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE UNREST IN RURAL MINNESOTA, THROUGH BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE GETTING RILED UP, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO WAY TO SPEAK TO THE GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE NO WAY TO INFLUENCE WHEN OUR BUSINESSES CAN OPEN, WHERE WE CAN TRAVEL, WHO WE CAN MEET WITH, IF OUR CHURCHES CAN BE OPEN.

THAT'S BUILDING UP SO MUCH FRUSTRATION THAT WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE A VOICE IN THAT.

WE HAVE GOT TO CHANGE WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW BEFORE PEOPLE GET COMPLETELY DI DISENFRANCHISD FROM OUR GOVERNMENT.

>> Barry: SENATOR OLSON, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A RUN AT THAT.

>> TAKING IT IN REVERSE ORDER THERE, GOING BACKWARDS WHERE SENATOR JOHNSON LEFT IT.

I THINK WE HAVE HAD A VERY INVOLVED LEGISLATURE AND THE FACT WE HAD SEVEN SPECIAL SESSIONS WHERE WE ALL GOT TO WEIGH IN.

THE LEGISLATURE WAS INCREDIBLY INVOLVED IN THE COVID RELIEF AND WHAT NOT.

EMERGENCY POWERS ARE THERE FOR A REASON AND WE HAVE OUR ABILITY TO EXECUTE OUR POWERS AT THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.

THE PANDEMIC THAT'S REALLY THE PROBLEM.

AND IT'S REALLY WE ARE IN A CRISIS THAT'S KILLING PEOPLE, AND WE ARE IN NEW TERRITORY.

TO GO BACK TO THE FIRST PART OF OUR QUESTION, I DO THINK THERE'S CONVERSATION AROUND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE LIVED THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO DO IT BETTER, AND WE ARE LEARNING WHAT WE NEED TO DO AROUND 1231 FOR SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT STRIPPING THE GOVERNOR OF ITS POWERS SO WE CAN OPEN BACK UP.

IT'S ABOUT TALKING ABOUT HOW IS OUR GOVERNOR RESPONDING IN THESE SITUATIONS THAT ARE TOTALLY UNCHARTERED, AND TODAY WE REMOTE VOTED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WE DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.

WE ARE LIVING THROUGH SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED AND HAVING OUR GOVERNOR BE ABLE TO RESPOND IN A WAY AND HAVE THE LEGISLATURE WEIGH IN, AND WE HAVE BEEN DONE A VERY GOOD JOB AND IN RESPONDING AND HAVING THE GOVERNOR HAVE THE POWERS OR US STILL HAVING THE POWER AS THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T EXAMINE GOING FORWARD WHAT WE DO WITH THAT STATUTE.

AND IT'S GOOD TO HAVE WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND WHAT IT'S LIKE IN THE FUTURE.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE NEU BRINDLEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> FORTUNATELY THE SPEAKER ACTUALLY HAS BEEN VERY OPEN AND WE APPRECIATE THAT FROM HER.

I THINK BEING BACK IN SESSION, THERE'S A NEW MAKEUP IN THE LEGISLATURE OBVIOUSLY, AND THE HOUSE MAJORITY IS SMALLER THAN IT USED TO BE, AND THINK THERE'S PRESSURE THERE, AND THAT PRESSURE IS A GOOD THING HERE.

IT'S GOING TO FORCE THE CONVERSATIONS TO HAPPEN IN A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY AND I THINK ALL OF US, INCLUDING SENATOR JOHNSON, IN THE VERY BEGINNING, WE UNDERSTOOD THE NECESSITY OF THE EMERGENCY ORDER AND WHEN COVID FIRST HIT, THERE WERE A LOT OF UNKNOWN.

THE PANDEMIC WAS HAPPENING QUICKLY.

WE DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S NOT THE SITUATION WE HAVE TODAY.

WE TALK ABOUT EMERGENCY POWERS, AND RIGHT NOW THE GOVERNOR IS ISSUING AN EMERGENCY ORDER AND AT THE BREAKNECK SPEED ONE EVERY THIRD DAY, AND VARIOUS DEGREES OF IMPORTANCE.

SOME OF THEM ARE MINOR TECHNICAL ISSUES.

SOME OF THEM ARE MORE SIGNIFICANT BUT IT'S HARD TO ARGUE THAT AT THIS POINT THE GOVERNOR IS ACTING IN AN EMERGENCY CAPACITY AND I THINK THOSE QUESTIONS ARE HAPPENING.

THIS HAS BEEN OUR ARGUMENT FROM THE BEGINNING.

WHEN ONE PERSON IS IN CHARGE OF TAKING THESE POSITIONS, I UNDERSTAND HE RELIES ON THE EXPERTS, BUT STILL ONE PERSON MAKING THE DECISION, AND THINGS FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.

EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC, THE GOVERNOR HAD A POLICY IN PLACING COVID POSITIVE PATIENTS IN NURSING HOMES.

IT HAD A DISASTROUS IMPACT.

WE ALL KNOW THE DEATH RATE AMONG OUR JUNIORS AND CONGREGATE CARE FACILITIES.

IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

I THINK IF WE HAD ADDITIONAL EYES ON THAT ISSUE EARLY ON, WE COULD HAVE COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT SOLUTION, AND THAT'S WHAT WE THINK IS GOOD.

WE THINK THERE'S A REASON THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE INVOLVED HERE AND THAT'S IT.

I'M OPTIMISTIC MOVING FORWARD.

>> Barry: SENATOR FRANZEN YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> THIS IS A VERY BIG QUESTION.

I WOULD LOVE THE EMERGENCY POWERS TO GO AWAY QUITE FRANKLY.

BUT WE NEED A PLAN.

IF WE TAKE THEM AWAY, WHAT'S THE PLAN TO CODIFY CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE AGREE ON, THAT'S GREAT.

WE NEED A PLAN SO WE KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

I WAS TALKING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT FROM ONE OF MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS YESTERDAY, THEY ARE NOT BACK TO NORMAL UNTIL THEY HAVE A CONTROL IN THE PANDEMIC WHERE IT'S 30 CASES PER 10,000.

THEY ARE UPWARDS OF 50 RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS THE NUMBER OF DATA THAT THEY ARE USING, AND IT'S A HARD THING TO DO.

WE ARE DEALING WITH SOMETHING WE DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.

WE HAVE A NEW TYPE OF COVID OUT THERE THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND YET AND WE DON'T KNOW THE IMPLICATIONS OF IT.

WE ARE PLAYING WITH SOMETHING SERIOUS.

I FIND IT INTERESTING TODAY ON THE SENATE FLOOR WE SPENT OVER AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT THE MASK MANDATE WHERE THAT IS SOMETHING OF CONTENTION, THE SIMPLE ACT OF WEARING A MASK.

I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T HAVE MANDATED IT, BUT I'M NOT THE GOVERNOR.

TO SOME EXTENT I MIGHT AGREE WITH THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS.

BUT WE ARE NOT MANDATING THE VACCINE, AND WE SEE PEOPLE TAKING IT.

IT'S HOW WE MESSAGE THINGS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO CALM DOWN AND SAY THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE ALL LOVE.

I DON'T LIKE WEARING A MASK, AND I WEAR IT BECAUSE I MAKE SURE PEOPLE AROUND ME ARE SAFE AND KIDS CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

IT'S A MUCH M IN TRUCIVE MANDAT.

BUT THEY ARE TAKING IT BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT WILL KEEP THEM SAFE.

I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH REMOVING EMERGENCY POWERS IF WE HAVE A PLAN AND NOT TALK ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER BUT ACTUALLY DID.

THAT'S MY TWO CENTS ON THAT.

FRANKLY WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO BECAUSE WE STILL KNOW SOME OF THESE EMERGENCY POWERS IF THEY END TOMORROW, IT WOULD IMPACT THE COURTS BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE INUNDATED WITH PEOPLE COMING TO YOU TO SOLVE THOSE ISSUES IF WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN.

WE KNOW TELEMEDICINE HAS HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE.

IF WE TAKE AWAY THE EMERGENCY POWERS, MAYBE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE INTERIM OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN JUST UNDER THIS TIME FRAME, THEY MIGHT GO AWAY.

WE MIGHT NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LET PEOPLE FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS, BUT THERE'S IMPLICATIONS OF REMOVING THEM TOMORROW.

BUT I THINK THERE'S A PATH, AND FRANKLY I DO WANT MORE INVOLVEMENT WITH THE LEGISLATURE, AND I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THEM OF HOW THEY WOULD WORK IN CASES OF A PANDEMIC, WHICH THEY WERE NOT WRITTEN OR INTENDED TO, BUT WE ARE LEARNING AT THAT, AND POINTING FINGERS AT ONE PERSON, IT'S NOT ONE PERSON.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SCIENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DR. FAUCI, PEOPLE WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS ESPECIAESPEEPIDEMIOLOGICAL INFOD REALLY ASSUME GOOD INTENT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, THAT WE ARE TRYING TO OPEN UP THE ECONOMY, AND I WORK WITH BUSINESS OWNERS ALL THE TIME IN MY DISTRICT PLEAING FOR US TO OPEN AND I'M TRYING TO DO MY BEST TO REPRESENT THEM.

I THINK WE WILL GET THERE, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE ABOUT TALKING ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER.

IT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

>> ONE SECOND THERE YOU SAID -- I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE PLAN ISSUE.

I THINK PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A VOICE ABOUT THAT PLAN, AND ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE GOVERNOR ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING IT HASN'T GONE VERY FAR.

WE CAN'T HAVE A PLAN, CAN'T HAVE NEGOTIATIONS ON THAT BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T WANT TO, AND YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT EXPERTS AND SCIENCE.

WE HAVE COMMUNITY EXPERTS, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF HOW THINGS ARE RUNNING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THEY NO LONGER HAVE A VOICE IN BEING ABLE TO DO IT.

OUR SUPERINTENDENTS OVER HERE, THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT HAVE BEEN VERY UPSET BECAUSE THE SAME PLAN THEY PUT FORTH IN THE SPRING TO OPEN UP IS THE SAME PLAN THEY OPENED UP THIS FALL.

THEY WEREN'T ABLE THIS SPRING BUT IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH LATER THIS FALL.

THESE DIFFERENT THINGS WHERE THEY NO LONGER HAVE INFLUENCE AND THAT'S THE FRUSTRATION WE ARE HAVING.

THAT'S SOMEPLACE WE NEED TO OPEN UP.

WE ARE THERE IN SESSION, READY TO TALK ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT, AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO.

>> CAN I JUST RESPOND TO THAT?

WE HAVE A HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND WE CAN BRING SOMETHING TO THE GOVERNOR THAT WE AGREE ON AND WE CAN'T BRING THE GOVERNOR FOR NOT SIGNING SOMETHING, WE HAVE TO GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO SIGN.

>> LET'S DO THAT.

>> Barry: A VIEWER FROM COTTAGE GROVE.

THIS VIEWER IDENTIFIES HIMSELF AS A DISABLED VETERAN, MOVED BACK TO MINNESOTA, AND SHE'S WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THE LEGISLATURE WILL SEEK TO EXPAND BENEFITS FOR VETERANS IN HER SITUATION AND POINTS TO TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA, STATES THAT SHE THINKS ARE DOING A LITTLE BETTER JOB IN TERMS OF PROVIDING THOSE BENEFITS.

VETERANS ISSUES, VETERANS BENEFITS, QUESTIONS HAVE COME UP PERIODICALLY ON THIS PROGRAM AND I'M NOT SURPRISED TO SEE IT HERE.

WHO WANTS TO TAKE A RUN AT THAT.

READY?

REPRESENTATIVE NEU BRINDLEY, LET'S PICK ON YOU.

VETERANS SERVICE BENEFITS AND ISSUES.

WHAT'S YOUR VIEW ON THAT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD THANK THE VIEWER FOR HER SERVICE, AND SECOND OF ALL VETERANS ISSUES ARE VERY BIPARTISAN, I THINK.

WHEN IT COMES TO OUR VETERANS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALL AGREE WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE THAT SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND SACRIFICED.

SO CERTAINLY, I THINK WE HAVE DONE A RECENTLY GOOD JOB AND WAS ALWAYS HAPPY TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL WAYS TO HELP AND SERVE OUR VETERANS AND AGAIN AS A VIEWER INDICATED SHE'S A DISABLED VETERAN AND SERVED OUR COUNTRY, AND THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS HELP CARE FOR HER NEEDS NOW, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES.

>> Barry: ONE QUESTION, ONE RESPONSE, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC ISSUES OF CONCERN TO CONTACT YOUR VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOU RESIDE AND I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW WHAT A GOOD GRASP THEY ARE.

LET THE LEGISLATORS KNOW THERE ARE VARIOUS CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE IN VARIOUS STATUTES.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION ANYTHING ELSE ON THE VETERANS SERVICE ISSUE?

WE WILL MOVE TO ANOTHER QUESTION.

WHAT DO WE SEE AS PRIORITIES IN THE PREK-HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AREA OF LEGISLATION?

OF COURSE, THIS IS A BUDGET YEAR, BUT ALSO EDUCATION POLICY QUESTIONS ALSO POP UP.

REPRESENTATIVE OLSON, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN ON THE K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION, AND NOW IT'S PREK-12.

>> WE NEED TO GET THE PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL SO WE CAN GET THE KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

BECAUSE IT'S A BUDGET YEAR, IT'S A PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE AN IMPACT AND IT TAKES INVESTMENT.

IF WE ARE GOING TO DO EDUCATION, WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE.

WE HAVE UNDERFUNDED OUR SCHOOLS FOR A LONG TIME, AND THESE ARE THE TIMES WHEN WE SHOULD BE INVESTING AND ALL OF US HAVE SEEN MORE CLEARLY WHAT IT TAKES RIGHT NOW AND WHAT ARE SCHOOLS HAVE DONE IT'S A HERCULEAN EFFORT.

THE NEXT DAY THEY ARE PROVIDING PROFESSIONALS AND DELIVERING FOOD TO FAMILIES, AND WE ARE SEEING THOSE FROM THE SCHOOLS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALL THE WAYS WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR SCHOOLS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH AND TO MAKING SURE THE SERVICES, AND TO BE QUITE FRANK, IT NEEDS INVESTMENT.

WE CAN'T JUST WRITE POLICY THAT'S GOING TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS, AND IT TAKES HAVING THE POLITICAL COURAGE TO SAY THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE MINNESOTANS CARE ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS, AND IT TAKES FUNDING AND MAKING SURE WE FUND IT, AND MAKE SURE WE FUND AND PROTECT OUR FRONTLINE PARAPROFESSIONALS AND SUPPORT STAFF THAT WE SEE.

IT'S SO VALUABLE.

WE HAVE DONE THAT AND WE HAVE PUT FORWARD A REVENUE PACKAGE THAT WENT STRAIGHT INTO FUNDING THE EDUCATION SYSTEM FROM PREK ALL THE WAY UP TO GRADUATING SENIORS AND BEYOND.

IT'S REALLY SOMETHING.

NEU BRINDLEY, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PREK-12 EDUCATION.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY IS WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF FUNDING EDUCATION.

CERTAINLY WE HAVE INCREASED THE EDUCATION BUDGET BY 2% EVERY YEAR, AND WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS AND WE THINK THERE'S A MISPERCEPTION OUT THERE.

I WILL PUT IT IN SENATOR FRANZEN'S DISTRICT, AND IT'S SORT OF THE COLD STANDARD FOR FUNDING AND THE REALITY IS MINNEAPOLIS STUDENTS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FUNDING THAN THOSE IN THE EDINA.

I WAS ABLE TO SERVE ON THE SELECT COMMITTEE FOR RACIAL INJUSTICE OVER THE SUMMER, AND THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE REALLY EYE OPENING.

FIRST OF ALL, I BELIEVE K-12 EDUCATION IS THE CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE OF OUR TIME.

UNFORTUNATELY SADLY WE DID NOT HOLD COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON K-12 EDUCATION, BUT THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE, IN PARTICULAR THE PANDEMIC IS INCREASING THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTES IN OUR STATE.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A REAL ISSUE TO DEAL WITH WHEN THIS PANDEMIC IS OVER AND KIDS HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND IN THIS PANDEMIC AND JUST AGAIN, THOSE THAT TESTIFIED ON THAT COMMITTEE, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THIS THEY ARE OFTEN RECENTLY HIRED TEACHERS AND THEREFORE THEY ARE THE FIRST LET GO WHEN LAY OFFS ARE HAPPENING, AND THERE WAS A TEACHER OF THE YEAR ACTUALLY, A YOUNG WOMAN, A PERSON OF COLOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR LAID OFF FROM HER JOB.

SHE WAS THE FIRST ONE TO GO AND SHE WAS RECOGNIZED THE QUALITY OF HER TEACHING, AND WE NEED TO REALLY EXAMINE POLICIES LIKE THIS AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE BEST TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM AND SERVING THE KIDS THE BEST WAY THEY CAN.

>> Barry: YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK THE ISSUE OF EARLY EDUCATION IS AN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS THE ENTIRE STATE AND SOMETHING I HAVE WORKED ON MANY YEARS ABOUT PRIORITIZING FUNDING FOR QUALITY EARLY ED ACROSS THE STATE.

BUT WE COMPETE WITH FUNDING BUT WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR EVERYTHING.

BUT I WANT TO SAY IN LINE OF THE QUESTION ON THE VETERANS AND DISABILITY SERVICES WE KNOW THIS PANDEMIC AND TALKING TO MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEY ARE ALREADY PREPARING FOR A BIGGER CLASS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO NEED STUDENTS, THAT ARE GOING TO NEED SERVICES, NOT JUST FOR DISABILITY BUT THE POTENTIAL RISK BECAUSE OF VARIOUS FACTORS, AND NOT THE NORMAL TIME FRAME WHERE THEY PROJECT 10%.

WE ARE GOING TO NEED MORE RESOURCES, MORE TEACHERS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP WITH STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO NEED MORE HELP TO GET THROUGH THESE, AND THEY MIGHT STABILIZE, AND THE POINT IS THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON ZIP CODE.

WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT NEED THE RESOURCES AND AGAIN, THEY DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS OTHERS HAVE, BUT WE CAN'T IGNORE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING AND THAT WE HAVE MORE NEEDS THAN WE EVER HAD BEFORE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT RESOURCES BUT INNOVATION AND FINDING WAYS TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THOSE INNOVATIONS THAT WE ALREADY ARE EXERCISING WITH THIS PANDEMIC, BUT WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A HUGE NEED.

FOR VETERANS I HAVE WORKED ON ISSUES ON VETERANS AND THEY HAVE BEEN WHEN CONSTITUENTS COME TO ME, AND I DO NOT SERVE ON THOSE COMMITTEES, AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH YOU LEARN, AND HOW MUCH YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP VETERANS WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO HELP US AT THE CAPITAL TO HELP WITH ISSUES.

DON'T DESPAIR, AND PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR LEGISLATOR AND WE WILL CERTAINLY LOOK TO HELP A GROUP OF VETERANS FOR OUR STATE.

>> Barry: SENATOR JOHNSON, K-12, PREK-12 EDUCATION.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE EDUCATORS THAT ARE OUT THERE LISTENING TO THE SHOW TODAY.

THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD KIDS AT HOME OVER THE LAST YEAR SAW FIRSTHAND THE VALUE OF OUR EDUCATORS IN THE CLASSROOM, AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

AS REPRESENTATIVE NEU BRINDLEY SAID, WE HAVE REALLY BEEN INVESTING IN OUR SCHOOLS, IN OUR TEACHERS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN.

I WAS ELECTED IN 2016.

EACH YEAR WE HAVE PUT INSIGNIFICANT RESOURCES INTO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM TO THE POINT WHERE K-12 EDUCATION TAKES UP ABOUT 42, 43% OF OUR STATE BUDGET.

IF YOU ADD IN HIGHER EDUCATION, IT'S NEARLY 50% OF OUR STATE BUDGET GOES INTO EDUCATION BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSETS, AND ONE OF THE JEWELS OF MINNESOTA IS OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

AND NOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCORES ARISING WE HAVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE NEW WAYS TO USE THAT MONEY.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE RY OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT SENATOR ROGER CHAMBERLAIN TAKING OVER THE K-12 COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE.

HE'S SOMEONE ABLE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND TRYING TO GET MORE OUT OF OUR STUDENTS, OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS, AND IN A WAY THAT'S CREATIVE, IN A WAY THAT MATCHES THE 21st CENTURY ECONOMY AND SOCIETY, AND THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOT TO BE LOOKING AT.

IT CAN'T BE THE SAME OLD SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

I THINK THAT THERE'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO MAKE THOSE THANKS FOR OUR KIDS.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW OPPORTUNITY NOW IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.

>> Barry: AS LONG AS WE ARE TOUCHING ON K-12 EDUCATION, WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION, AND MAYBE ONE OR TWO ISSUES THAT YOU THINK ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

REPRESENTATIVE OLSON, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONTINUUM AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO AROUND OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY AND OUR TRAIT SCHOOLS AND OUR PIPELINES, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING A LOT AROUND THE EDUCATION WORLD, FROM AN ENTIRE VANTAGE POINT AND REPRESENTING A DISTRICT THAT HAS A PLET PLETHORA IN OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ESPECIALLY AS WE COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC TO THINK WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND WHAT NOT PLAY IN THAT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT, AND OBVIOUSLY THE FUNDING THING WILL BE COMING UP AS WE PUT TOGETHER THE HIGHER ED BUDGET WHICH WILL BE DIFFICULT THINKING ABOUT TUITION FREEZES AND HOW COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE DOING IN THIS ECONOMY THEMSELVES AS WELL.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE NEU BRINDLEY, WE HAVE A MINUTE OR SO, MINUTE AND A HALF, QUICKLY, HIGHER ED.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE OLSON ELUDED TO IT AS WELL.

I THINK THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NEED AND ACTUALLY I THINK IT'S VERY BIPARTISAN THE GOAL OF MORE TECHNICAL EDUCATION, MOVING KIDS INTO THE TRADE, I THINK WE ARE COMING TO A PLACE WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THAT A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE EDUCATION IS NOT THE RIGHT PATH FOR EVERYONE, FOR THOSE KIDS THAT THAT IS THE RIGHT PATH FOR, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT OPTION, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF KIDS WHO THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT OPTION, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT THOSE KIDS ALSO HAVE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY WITH TECHNICAL EDUCATION, THE TRADE, ET CETERA.

>> Barry: SENATOR FRANZEN.

>> I BELIEVE ON THE TRADES, AND APPRENTICESHIP IS ANOTHER ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE MORE SIGNIFICANCE IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION WHERE YOU CONNECT YOUR EMPLOYERS TO THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, WHETHER IT'S TECHNICAL COLLEGE OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE.

BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM TO GAIN A LOT OF SKILLS AND GO GET A REALLY GOOD JOB IN THE TRADES.

>> Barry: SENATOR JOHNSON, YOU HAVE GOT 15 SECONDS.

IT'S YOURS.

>> IT'S ALL BEEN SAID AND NOT EVERYBODY SAID IT, BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT'S BEEN SAID.

WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT A MX OX OF EDUCATION.

>> Barry: I WANT TO THANK OUR PANEL THIS EVENING, AND MAIDEN VOYAGE HERE AS WE BEGIN A NEW SEASON OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS".

WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE AFFECTING EVERYONE.

THIS IS A MINOR PROBLEM COMPARED TO THE MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH AS A RESULT OF OUR PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE, BUT I'M VERY GRATEFUL YOU JOINED ME.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE VIEWERS THAT SENT IN ALL THE WONDERFUL QUESTIONS.

I WANT TO REMIND THEM, THEY CAN SEND THEM IN DURING THE WEEK.

WE WILL BE BACK HERE AGAIN A WEEK FROM THURSDAY NIGHT AND EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT THAT FOLLOWS UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE GOES HOME.

THANKS TO THE PANEL, AND THANKS TO THE VIEWERS AND GOOD NIGHT.

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