>> ERIC: IT'S BECOME A NEARLY ANNUAL TRADITION HERE ON "ALMANAC."

WHEN LEGISLATORS RETURN TO THE CAPITOL, WE CHECK THE SCHEDULES OF LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND INVITE THEM TO JOIN US ON THE OLD COUCH.

WE'RE HAPPY TO WELCOME THEM BACK THIS YEAR.

DEMOCRATS HOLD THE MAJORITY SO THEY'RE UP FIRST.

NEWLY ELECTED DFL SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ERIN MURPHY IS HERE.

IT'S A TITLE SHE HAS HELD FOR JUST ABOUT A WEEK NOW.

DFL HOUSE SPEAKER MELISSA HORTMAN IS THE 61ST PERSON TO HOLD THAT TITLE AND HAS BEEN IN THE ROLE SINCE THE 2019 SESSION.

REPUBLICAN SENATE MINORITY LEADER MARK JOHNSON IS BACK.

HE HAS LED HIS CAUCUS IN THE MINORITY SINCE THE 2023 SESSION.

ROUNDING OUT THE GROUP.

REPUBLICAN HOUSE MINORITY LEADER LISA DEMUTH, WHO JOINED THE LEADERSHIP RANKS IN HER CAUCUS LAST SESSION.

THANKS, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING.

MADAM SPEAKER, DID I HEAR YOU RIGHTS IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS WHERE YOU SAID DO A BONDING BILL, DO AN INCOME TAX FIX AND GET THE POLICE FIXED IN THE SCHOOLS AND GO HOME?

IF YOU HAD ALADS DID I KNOW'S LAMP -- >> I THINK THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT NEED TO GETS DONE BESIDES THAT, I THINK THERE'S MORE WORK WE COULD DO TO PROTECT WORKERS, THERE IS A REAL IMBALANCE BETWEEN IT IS POWER OF EMPLOYERS AND THE POWER OF EMPLOYEES.

SO YOU COULD BE SOME MORE POLICY WINS FOR S THIS YEAR BUT I THINK THE MAJOR BUDGET WORK WAS LAST YEAR AND IT WAS A MAJOR BUDGET SO THIS YEAR, PEOPLE SHOULD CIRCUMSCRIBE NEAR EXPECTATIONS TO THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT A BUDGETS YEAR.

>> Cathy: LEADER DEMUTH, WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR ON THE AGENDA?

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A FIX ON THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ISSUE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SINCE AUGUST AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSER ON THAT.

THAT WILL TAKE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT SO WE'RE HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT.

IT IS A BONDING YEAR, WE'RE HAPPY TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS BUT WE DON'T HAVE A CAUCUS POSITION ON IT YET.

AND THEN I WOULD SAY NO NEW SPENDING.

>> Eric: LEADER MURPHY, MAYBE YOUR TONE HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT N THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS BUT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, WE'RE NOT HERE TO JUST BE HERE, WE WANT TO DO WORK.

THAT TRIGGERS IN MY MIND MORE SPENDING.

IS THAT WHAT WE GOT FROM THE SENATE DEMOCRATS HERE?

>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN THE LEGISLATURE AND REPRESENTING MINNESOTANS' INTEREST, I THINK WE SHOULD WORK AS HARD AS THEY ARE EVERY SINGLE DAY SO THIS WHEN I COME TO WORK, THAT'S WHAT I SAY.

WE HAVE IMPORTANT THINGS WE NEED TO DO THIS SESSION.

SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN LAID OUT HERE AND WE'RE GOING DO THE WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU LIKE THE TRIFECTA, NOT DIVIDED GOVERNMENT?

WHAT'S THE CASE FOR DIVIDED GOVERNMENT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA ARE REALLY AT A DETRIMENT BECAUSE OF THE TRIFECTA.

WE SAW LAST YEAR THE $17.5 BILLION BUDGET SURPLUS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON THINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH, ON TEACHER PENSIONS, ON HOUSING, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT REALLY WENT TO DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAT DIDN'T ADDRESS IT IS NEEDS ACROSS MINNESOTA IN A WAY THAT REPRESENTED BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

SO IT WAS A REALLY DISAPPOINTING YEAR FOR MOST MINNESOTANS AND A TIME RIGHT NOW WE CAN GO BACK AND START REPAIRING SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE CASE FOR THE TRIFECTA?

>> WE SPENT ON ALL THOSE THINGS, WE INVESTED A BILLOW-A BILLION DOLLARS IN HOUSING, WE'RE SO PFARR BEHIND ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE SPENT MONEY ON RETIREMENT, WE LOWERED THE RETIREMENT AGE BY A YEAR AND MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS THE GAMUT, WHETHER IT WAS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUDGETS OR TRYING TOE GET MORE COUNSELORS INTO OUR SCHOOLS TO HELP CHILDREN THIS SCHOOLS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.

WEAPON SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THOSE THINGS, SO WE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE PRIORITIES THAT MINNESOTANS HAD, WHICH WERE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AND AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.

>> WE FORGET THAT WE ALSO SPENT $750 MILLION ON A POLITICAL PALACE, AS WELL, THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO THINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ALSO SPENT MONEY ACROSS ON THE NONPROFIT SECTOR, ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS ON DIFFERENT NONPROFITS AND MOSTLY HIT MINNEAPOLIS, St. PAUL COUNTIES.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, I MEAN, THERE'S WAYS THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS MUCH BETTER BUT WE DIDN'T PRIORITIZE RIGHT.

>> Eric: ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE SORT OF OVERSIGHT OF SOME OF THESE HARITIES AND NONPROFITS THAT GOT IT?

>> I THINK WE EXPECT THAT THERE SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABILITY ON ANYONE THAT'S RECEIVED STATE DOLLARS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S PREVENTING MORE OF THAT?

IS IT JUST LACK OF INSPECTORS OR AUDITORS OR -- WHAT'S CAUSING -- YOU KNOW, THE FEEDING OUR FUTURE, THERE'S BEEN SOME OTHER THINGS.

WHAT BOUT THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, AS FAR AS RIDING HERD ON THE MONEY?

>> WELL, DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS, WE ENACTED LEGISLATION LAST YEAR THAT REALLY TIGHTENED UP THE GRANTS PROCESS FOR NONPROFITS, SO WE REQUIRED MANY MORE DISCLOSURES AND A LOT MORE SAFEGUARDS BEFORE THE MONEY GOES OUT THE DOOR.

WITH, YOU KNOW, FEEDING OUR FUTURE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZED THAT PROBLEM, STOPPED THE PAYMENTS AND WAS COURT-ORDERED TO CONTINUE FUNDING THAT ENTITY.

SO NONE OF US ANT TO SEE THAT HARD-EARNED TAX DOLLARS GOING TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE WORTHY CAUSE THAT IS WE ALL SHARE.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT ANY TIME THAT MONEY IS GOING OUT TO FRAUDSTERS, IT IS NOT GETTING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY NEED IT AND SO WITH FEEDING OUR FUTURE, ANOTHER $49 MILLION WAS JUST TALKED ABOUT, THAT SOMEBODY -- IT WOULD HAVE BEEN $17,000 PER DAY FOR OVER EIGHT YEARS, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY AND WE HAVE TO STOP THE BLEEDING.

WHEN WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IN FRAUDS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT ANY OTHER PROGRAM THAT THAT PERSON IS CONNECTED WITH AND STOP THAT SPENDING UNTIL IT CAN BE VERIFIED THAT IT IS FRAUD OR NOT.

>> Cathy: SENATOR MURPHY, WE HAD TWO OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ON TALKING ABOUT SPORTS BETTING, SENATORS KLINE AND MARTY.

WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH THAT BILL, BECAUSE YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE TRIBAL ENTITIES CONTROLLING THE SPORTS BOOKS UNDER THAT BILL BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HORSE RACING TRACKS, WHERE IS THE WIN-WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS?

>> SO I WATCHED SENATOR KLINE AND SENATOR MARTY HAVE THAT DISCUSSION HERE ON THIS COUCH AND WHAT AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB THEY DID, OVERING THE ARIETY OF ISSUES, AND I THINK THE ISSUES ARE IN THERE GOOD RAPIDS RIGHT NOW.

I'M REALLY PLEASED AT THE PROGRESS THEY'RE MAKING.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER HEARING I THINK IN THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE AND I THINK SENATOR KLINE HAS GOT HIS EYE ON THE VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS BUT HE WANTS TO KEEP OUR COMMITMENT TO THE TRIBES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS REVENUE GOING INTO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AS NECESSARY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REGULATING SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE PARTICIPATING IN, AND THEY'RE ENJOYING, AND WE'RE DOING IN IT A RESPONSIBLE WAY.

>> Cathy: SENATOR OHNSON, ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, I CAN GO ITHER WAY ON THIS.

IF IT'S INEVITABLE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE BEST BILL THAT POSSIBLY CAN COME OUT.

>> Eric: YOU'RE ON THE BORDER OFnd SO THEY ALLOW IT THERE, RIGHTS?

>> THEY ALLOW IT ALL AROUND US, EVEN CANADA, UP NORTH, AGAIN, I BORDER ON CANADA, S WELL, SO WE ARE AN ISLAND ON THIS, SO, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE TO BE COMING TO MINNESOTA, LET'S MAKE SURE IT'S A DEAL WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND.

>> Eric: PAT GAROFALO, ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF VERY SENIOR MEMBERS HAS ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT ALREADY SAID THIS, HE SAID MINNESOTANS ARE PAYING CADILLAC PRICES FOR MOBILITY-LEVEL GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> HE'S FLAT OUT WRONG.

THE REASON WHY MINNESOTA'S POPULATION HAS SUSTAINED COMPARED TO ALL OF OUR MIDWESTERN PEERS IS THIS IS A PLACE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.

IT'S EASY TO FIND A HOUSE IN NORTH DAKOTA BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE THERE.

THERE'S A LOT FEWER PEOPLE IN SOUTH DAKOTA BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE THERE.

WE HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS, WE HAVE GREAT AMENITIES IN TERMS OF THE CULTURE, THE ARTS HERE IN MINNESOTA AND MORE FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES PER CAPITA THAN MANY OTHER STATES.

>> AND WHEN WE WERE AT THE CHAMBER THE ANOTHER NIGHTS, DOUG LOON, WHO LEADS THE CHAMBER TALKS ABOUT THINGS WE NEED TO RECEIVES IN, HOUSING, CHILD, BROADBAND AND MAKING SURE MINNESOTA IS INCLUSIVE.

CONTINUES' AGREE MORE.

I KIND OF WANTED TO SAY TO HIM, YOU'RE WELCOME BUT I AGREE, THROWS ARE THINGS WE VERSIONED IN AND WE DID.

>> SEEMS LIKE YOU GO AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SAY HEY, WE'RE FROM MINNESOTA AND BEFORE THAT USED TO BE A POINTS OF PRIDE AND NOW YOU WANT TO BE THERE BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY, BUSINESS MIGHT BE THERE, AND NOW IT'S LIKE WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN POLICY, OUR I EXTREME ON TAX POLICY, SOCIAL POLICY, REGULATIONS, YOU GO DOWN THE LIST, PEOPLE SAY WHY ARE YOU DOING THERE OR THAT?

WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, AGAIN, I THINK IS A POINT OF KIND OF SLAME FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE EXTREME THAT WE WENT THROUGH SO LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE PULL SOME OF THAT BACK AND FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT ALL MINNESOTA CAN GET BEHIND.

>> WE NEED TO HAVE A TAX BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE GOING FORWARD, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM, WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM IN MINNESOTA AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS AS MUCH AS WE'RE INVESTING IN THEM ARE SCHOOL TEST SCORES FOR KIDS ARE NOT GREAT AT THIS POINT AND WE NEED TO ASSESS WHAT THAT IS.

IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO BE HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING SPENT.

>> Eric: THE IMMIGRANT SANCTUARY BILL, YOU CAME DOWN KIND OF TOUGH, DOESN'T HAVE THE VOTES, NOT GOING TO PASS, ISN'T THAT AN IMPORTANT CONSTITUENCY GROUP IN THE BIG UMBRELLA OF THE DFL THAT ARE SUPPORTING THAT?

>> IT'S NOT TOUGH OR NOT TOUGH U THE BILL DOESN'T HAVE THE VOTES AND IT IS BILL DOESN'T CHANGE CURRENT LAW.

RIGHT NOW, IF I.C.E.

SENDS A REQUEST TO THE STATES OF MINNESOTA TO ANY ENTITY IN A CIVIL ACTION, IT'S REALLY A MATTER OF DISCRETION OF WHETHER THAT ENTITY WANTS TO RESPOND TO THAT.

CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT, THE BILL THAT'S OUT THERE IS THE SAME AS CURRENT LAW.

WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ANY SORT OF CRIMINAL LAW REQUESTS AND I THINK THAT THE REPORTING ON THAT BILL WAS REALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

>> Eric: IT IS NEWS REPORTING YOU'RE SAYING.

>> IT DIDN'T COVER REALLY THE TRUE SUBSTANCE OF THE BILL.

>> WELL, I THINK -- BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SIGNALING OUTS TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS, WHATEVER IT IS CASE MIGHT BE, COME TO MINNESOTA, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU HERE.

WE'LL GIVE YOU THE COVER OF OUR LAW.

WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS GOING TO PUT BURDENS ON OUR SCHOOLS AGAIN, GOING TO PUT BURDENS ON OUR COUNTIES AND STATE BUDGETS WHICH ARE ALREADY, BECAUSE OF THE DEMOCRAT SPENDING LAST YEAR AT THEIR CAPACITY RIGHT NOW SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE TAKING CARE OF THEM IF THEY COME NOW?

>> WHEN WE LISTEN TO MINNESOTANS AND ESPECIALLY BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WORKERS, AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THE REASON WHY WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE IN MINNESOTA IS BECAUSE CONGRESS HASN'T DONE ITS JOB AND WE WATCHED THE CONGRESS ALMOST COME TO A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT AROUND IMMIGRATION AND CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT St.

CLOUD HE WOULD THAT.

THEY'RE PLAYING POLITICS WITH THIS ISSUE AND PLAYING POLITICS WITH LIVES AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE FORT PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: ENDS OF LIFE BILL.

>> Cathy: YES SO THE MEDICAL AIDS AND DOING BILL WAS UP PRIOR TO SIGNIFICANCE WHICH WAS KIND OF UNUSUAL, AND THIS OF COURSE FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND IT WOULD ALLOW FOLKS OF SOUND MIND WHO ARE DYING TO GIVE THEMSELVES A LETHAL DOSE OF MEDICATION.

WHY DID YOU ALLOW THAT BILL TO COME UP BEFORE SESSION?

THAT WAS A LITTLE UNUSUAL AND WHERE WOULD IT GO?

>> IN MINNESOTA, THE SPEAKER DOESN'T CONTROL WHETHER THE CHAIRS HAVE HEARINGS OR NOT, IT'S REALLY UP TO THE CHAIRS AND THE CHAIR OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAD A VERY LARGE BUDGET AREA, SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY LAST YEAR ON THE BUDGET AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY DURING THE REGULAR SESSION LAST YEAR TO HEAR THIS BILL BUT IT IS A BILL THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORT.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE MARRIAGE EQUALITY OR THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS, WHERE SOCIETY IS MOVING.

THERE WAS A TIME IN MINNESOTA WHERE THE VAST MAJORITIES OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY, NO, NOT IN OUR STATE, WE'RE NOT READY BUT I THINK AS MORE TIME GOES BY, THIS IS AN OPTION THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE FOR THEMSELVES.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT THE POINT YET WHERE WE HAVE THE VOTES IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE TO ENACT THIS INTO LAW BUT I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICY DISCUSSION FOR US TO BE HAVING.

>> Cathy: NOT A SLAM DUNK, IT IS CONTROVERSIAL.

>> IT IS VERY CONTROVERSIAL AND I THINK THE THING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE WERE PRIORITIES BUT ON BY A COMMITTEE CHAIR WHEN WE NEEDED A SPECIAL SESSION POTENTIALLY TO FIX THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ISSUE.

THOSE WERE THINGS WE WERE CALLING FOR DURING THE INTERIM, GAPE, THE GOVERNOR COULD HAVE CALLED THAT.

HE CHOSE NOT TO BUT FOR A COMMITTEE CHAIR TO HOLD THAT AS THE ONE COMMITTEE THAT WAS GOING TO BE HEARD ON ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT NEEDED FIXES, I THINK IT AS A LITTLE BIT OF OUT OF TOUCH WITH MINNESOTANS.

IT IS OTHER THING IS, JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE IS FACING A LIFE-TERMINATING DIAGNOSIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE DIGNITY IN A NATURAL DEATH, DURING THAT TIME WITH THEIR MEDICAL TEAM OR FAMILY SURROUNDING THEM.

SO I THINK IT IS OUT OF TOUCH AND TOO EARLY.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED FIXES TO DIFFERENT LAWS THAT WERE PASSED LAST SESSION.

CANNABIS IS ONE OF THEM.

WHAT FIXES WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE COME THROUGH THE SENATE?

I MEAN WHAT FIXES DO YOU THINK MIGHT POP UP THIS SESSION?

>> SO, IT IS UNUSUAL THAT WE STAND UP A NEW BODY OF LAW AND A NEW MARKET AND I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF YEARS, THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME BACK TO THE SET OF POLICIES IN THE MARKET TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS COMPLYING WITH WHAT MINNESOTANS WANT AND WE'RE GETTING THE RIGHT RESULTS.

>> Eric: DOES IT MATTER THAT THE HOUSE IS UP FOR REELECTION BUT THE SENATE IS NOT?

>> IT MATTERS TO ME.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

[ Laughter ] >> WELL MAYBE NOT O LEADER DEMUTH BUT I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT MINNESOTA ELECTIONS, THEY ARE SO LONG FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BY THE TIME THE ELECTION COMES AROUND IN NOVEMBER, MOST MINNESOTANS DON'T HAVE VERY TOP OF MIND THE SESSION.

THAT'S WHY I THINK, WHEN WE'RE IN St. PAUL, WHEN WE'RE IN SESSION, IT'S NOT A POLITICAL DISADVANTAGE FOR ANYBODY TO WORK TOGETHER AND GET THINGS DONE.

>> Eric: YOU'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE ONE BODY OR ANOTHER SINCE, WHAT, 2007?

>> 2007.

>> Eric: NATIONALIZED ISSUES MAKE THE LEGISLATIVE ISSUES DIMINISHED A LITTLE BIT OR IS IT STILL IMPORTANT WHAT THE VARIOUS PARTIES ARE DOING AT THE STATE LEVEL?

>> IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT CANDIDATES ARE COMMUNICATING CLEARLY WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICTS WHERE THEY'RE RUNNING, AND SOMETIMES NATIONAL ISSUES INSERT THEMSELVES IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT MAKES IT HARDER BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US AS CANDIDATES AND AS PEOPLE RUNNING FOR OFFICE TO BE IN CONTACT AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE PEOPLE WE HOPE WILL VOTE FOR US, AND THAT FOR ME IS A SACRED KIND OF COMMUNICATION THAT WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT.

>> Cathy: BY THE WAY, WHAT DO YOU NEED OUT OF SESSION HEADING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR?

>> WHAT WAS THAT?

>> Cathy: WHAT O REPUBLICANS NEED OUT F SESSION HEADING FOR AN ELECTION YEAR?

>> WE NEED TO PICK UP FOUR SEATS AND WE EXPECT TO BE IN THE MAJORITY WITH THE NEXT ELECTION.

WE'LL HOLD ALL 63 OF OUR 64 OF OUR SEATS, AND IT IS CONSTITUENTS WILL PICK UP WHAT WE NEEDS AND WE'LL