A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS, THE STATE AUDITOR IS HERE.

WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER RETIRING LAWMAKER HAVE HIS SAY, AND MORE.

ALMANAC AT THE APITOL" COMING UP.

"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.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE ON COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT ENBRIDGE.COM/MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

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

I'M ERIC ESKOLA FILLING IN FOR MARY LAHAMMER.

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, STATE AUDITOR JULIE BLAHA DELIVERED THE STATE OF MAIN STREET YESTERDAY.

WE'LL TALK WITH HER ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.

THIS WEEK'S RETIRING LAWMAKER LOOKS BACK AT A LIFETIME OF SERVICE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT FIRST, IT'S A BUSY WEEK UP AT THE CAPITOL AS THE LEGISLATURE HITS THE MIDPOINT OF THIS YEAR'S SESSION WITHOUT A DEAL ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TRUST FUND, HERO PAY, PUBLIC SAFETY REFORM AND MORE.

JOINING ME NOW, A DUO OF LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

D.F.L.

REPRESENTATIVE RYAN WINKLER IS THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER.

HE HAILS FROM GOLDEN VALLEY.

AND REPUBLICAN SENATOR MARK JOHNSON IS THE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE.

HE CALLS EAST GRAND FORKS HOME.

SENATOR JOHNSON, IT WAS EITHER LOU HOLTZ OR ESOP IN ESOP'S FABLES WHO SAID WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, MORE WILL BE SAID THAN DONE.

AND I WONDER IF THAT SUMS UP WHERE WE'RE HEADED HERE IN THE 2022 SESSION.

>> I THINK WE'RE ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH RIGHT NOW WHICH IS A GOOD POINT TO REALLY EVALUATE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING IN THE FUTURE.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE LINING UP THE DECK TO SEE WHAT WE CAN GET DONE GOING INTO THE END OF THE SESSION.

I KNOW THERE HASN'T BEEN A WHOLE LOT THAT'S MOVED UP TO THIS POINT.

THE SENATE HAS BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE TRYING TO GET HITS MARQUEE PIECES DOWN AND PASSED OUT BUT WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINTS WHERE WE CAN START HAVING THE NEGOTIATIONS AND TALKS ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE AT THE END OF THE SESSION.

>> Eric: YOU HAVEN'T HAD HIGH PROFILE BILLS COME OFF THE FLOOR, CERTAINLY NOT AS MUCH AS THE SENATE.

WHAT'S THE HOLD-UP IN THE HOUSE?

>> WE ARE RUNNING REGULAR PROCESS.

WE ARE GOING TO PASS OUR BILLS THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS THAT IS GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MINNESOTANS, FOCUSING ON EDUCATION, ON HOUSING, ON THE NEED TO INVEST N PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ROBUST CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL, BONDING BILL, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT THROUGH OUR REGULAR COMMITTEE ORDER.

WE'VE ALSO PASSED A BILLION-DOLLAR BILL FOR FRONT-LINE WORKERS TO GET HERO PAY, WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR A LONG TIME.

AND HAVE MOVED FORWARD EARLY IN SESSION TO HELP COVER THOSE SAME WORKERS WITH WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

SO WHERE HE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THIS WORK HAPPENS TOWARDS THE END OF SESSION BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE OUR BILLS ARE MEETING THE NEEDS OF MINNESOTANS.

>> Eric: WE HAVE THIS HUGE SURPLUS BUT I THINK LESS THAN HALF OF IT IS ACTUALLY IN THE BANK AND I WONDER, YOU KNOW, WITH THE COVID AND WITH THE WAR IN UKRAINE, BONDING BILL, A LITTLE TAX RELIEF, TAKE IT TO THE ELECTION AND THEN IT WILL BE MONEY LEFT OVER IF THE STATE TO GIVE SOME DIRECTION TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 2023.

>> WELL, HERE'S WHAT I THINK.

WE'VE GOT A HISTORIC SURPLUS RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE AND OUR REAL FOCUS IN THE SENATE RIGHT NOW IS GETTING THAT BACK TO MINNESOTANS.

HOW DO WE HAVE MEANINGFUL ONGOING TAX RELIEF, NOT JUST THE ONE-TIME CHECKS, ONE-TIME THING HAPPENING FOR MINNESOTA WORKERS, BUT THIS IS AN HISTORIC MOMENT TO ACTUALLY MAKE SOME REAL SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE FOR MINNESOTA WORKERS, ONGOING, MONTH AFTER MONTH, PAYCHECK AFTER PAYCHECK.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE OCUSED ON.

WE HAVE REALLY PROPOSED FOR THE MARGINAL INCOME TAX THE FIRST YEAR TO CUT THAT IN HALF.

THINK HOW MUCH A NORMAL WORKING FAMILY IS GROWING TO BE SAVING, YEAR IN AND EAR OUT WITH THAT CHANGES.

ALSO WITH SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT, HOW CAN WE ELIMINATE THAT, FOR THE BENEFIT TAX THAT FOLKS ARE GETTING RIGHT NOW?

WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE SEE MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TIME WHEN I FEEL THAT MY PICK-UP TRUCK, IT WAS $114 TO DO THAT.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY PEOPLE ARE SPENDING.

HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE MONEY BACK SO THEY CAN GO ON WITH NORMAL LIFE.

>> YOU'RE ON WITH GOVERNOR WALZ AND IT IS ONE-TIME CHECKS?

>> WE THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO GREAT THINGS.

WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HUGE MISTAKES.

THE LAST TIME THE STATE WAS THIS FLUSH WITH MONEY, E MADE THE MISTAKE OF TAKING ONGOING TAX CUTS AND MAKING ONGOING SPENDING COMMITMENTS TO SCHOOLS WHICH WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO FULFILL.

>> VIN TUR RAH YEARS.

>> THE VENTURA YEARS.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN.

WE COULD OF COURSE CUT TAXES FOR MINNESOTANS ACROSS THE BOARD AT THE LEVEL SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE PROPOSING BUT THAT MEANS THEY WILL NEVER HAVE AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE, AFFORDABLE OUSING WILL BE A THING OF THE PAST, WE WILL NOT HAVE ADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION IN THIS STATE.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE GOOD SCHOOLS.

AND SO IT'S A CHOICE.

IT'S ALWAYS A CHOICE.

YOU GUILT WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

WE THINK THAT WITH THE NEEDS THAT MINNESOTA FAMILIES HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE CAN ACT TOGETHER AS A STATE TO BETTER SERVE WORKING FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES BY ACTING TOGETHER RATHER THAN SIMPLY CUTTING TAXES.

THE MAIN THING, THOUGH, IS WE CANNOT CUT OFF OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PUBLIC SERVICES IN THE YEARS AHEAD AND THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE PASS THE RECKLESS REPUBLICAN TAX BILLS.

>> BUT I WILL PUSH BACK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY FUNDED AT THIS MOMENT.

WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE ONGOING FUTURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE PULLING MONEY FROM FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THE GOVERNMENT S FUNDED.

LET'S FIRST MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES ARE FUNDED.

>> HE FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD CHILD CARE, THE SCHOOLS ARE IN ROUGHER SHAPE, MORE KIDS COMING TO SCHOOL WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS THAT ARE NOT BEING MET.

WE HAVE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY NOT ONLY IN THE METRO AREA BUT FOR GREATER MINNESOTA FOR THE WORKFORCE, THAT ALL COSTS MONEY.

TO SAY WE'RE FULLY FUNDED MISSES THE NEEDS OF A LOT OF MINNESOTANS.

>> BUILT YOUR SOLUTION THAT WOULD BE TAKING MONEY FROM MINNESOTA FAMILIES TO PAY THE GOVERNMENT TO FREE DISTRIBUTES THAT.

RIGHT NOW, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IS MAKING SURE MINNESOTANS CAN AFFORD THOSE THINGS.

AND THAT'S WHAT OUR PROPOSAL IS ALL ABOUT.

>> Eric: I THOUGHT THAT THE DEBATE THIS WEEK OVER MEDICAL AND FAMILY LEAVE WAS INSTRUCTIVE AS TO WHERE THE TWO PARTIES ARE.

YOU HAVE A VERY EXPENSIVE, ONGOING PROGRAM FOR LEAVES.

YOU HAVE, I THINK IT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED THIS PAST WEEK, THAT THERE WOULD BE INSURANCE COMPANY INVOLVEMENT AND SOME TAX INCENTIVES, PRIVATE SECTOR VERSUS PUBLIC SECTOR.

IS THAT A PRETTY GOOD EXPLANATION OF WHERE THE TRAIL CROSSES IS THIS.

>> I THINK THAT'S FAIR, YEAH.

WHAT -- AND THIS IS A BILL THAT WE DEVELOPED LAST YEAR AND SENATOR COLEMAN HAS TAKEN ON THIS YEAR ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVE RASMUSSEN ON THE HOUSE SIDE BUT IT'S VERY MARKET-BASED.

MARKET-BRACED PLAN, FOR BUSINESSES THAT WANTS TO ATTRACT WORKERS TO THEIR BUSINESS, IF THEY'RE A QUALITY COMPANY AND THEY WANT TO GIVE THIS BENEFIT, I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

IF YOU'RE IN A BUSINESS WITH SMALLER MARGINS, A FAMILY BUSINESS THAT MAYBE CAN'T AFFORD THAT, THAT'S AN OPTION FOR YOU, TOO.

BUT THE MORE YOU CAN OFFER YOUR EMPLOYEES, THE MORE COMPETITIVE YOU'LL BE IN THIS INVESTMENT WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE HARD TO FIND.

IZE WHAT'S THE BENEFIT OF THE HOUSE PLAN?

>> THE BENEFIT IS THAT PEOPLE WILL GET ACCESS TO PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE.

THE SENATE PLAN WOULDN'T MAKE SURE THAT ANYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THAT LEAVE.

IT CREATES AN OPTION AND I THINK WE COULD HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY AND SOME NEGOTIATION OVER THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS, BUT OUR PLAN ACTUALLY ALLOWS PEOPLE TO TAKE TIME OFF TO TAKE CARE OF A NEW BABY, IF THEY GET SICK, IF THEY HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER TO TAKE CARE OF, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOME PAID LEAVE, JUST LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OR JUST LIKE WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

IT'S A HUGE HOLE IN OUR ECONOMY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE CARE-GIVING NEEDS IN OUR FAMILIES AND WITHOUT PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND STAY ATTACHED TO THE WORK, TO THE WORKPLACE AND COME BACK, WHICH IS WHAT PAID LEAVE PROVIDES, PEOPLE ARE OPTING OUT OF THE WORKPLACE.

WE CANNOT HAVE THE LOW LABOR PARTICIPATION RATES THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW AND PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE IS ONE WAY TO HELP INCREASE THAT.

>> Eric: LEGALIZING MARIJUANA FOR RECREATIONAL USE IS A BRIDGE TOO FAR THIS SESSION BUT I TOOK A LOOK THIS WEEK AT THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND PURCHASING PROCESS NOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA, IT'S -- IT'S VERY DAUNTING.

ARE YOU GOING TO STREAMLINE THAT AT ALL OR -- >> WELL, ONE THING WE DID LAST YEAR WAS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO FLOUR, SO UNDER THE OLD PROGRAM, YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH A VERY EXPENSIVE PROCESSING REGIMEN AT THESE TWO COMPANIES AND IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE TO GET ACCESS TO IT.

BY ALLOWING FLOWER PEOPLE CAN CONSUME IT BY INHALING WHICH WILL BE A LOT CHEAPER UNDER THE MEDICAL PROGRAM.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT THE PAPERWORK INVOLVED?

>> WELL, IT'S HARD AND IT CLOSES OFF PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, VETERANS CAN'T GET ACCESS THROUGH THE V.A., DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT'S A MUCH BETTER CHOICE THAN OPIOIDS FOR A LOT F CONDITIONS THAT VETERANS FACE.

THE ANSWER, OF COURSE, IS LEGALIZATION BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR A ROBUST MEDICAL MARKET AND CHEAPER ACCESS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WE'RE NOT GOING GET THERE.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET ON CANNABIS THIS SESSION BUT I THINK WE'LL BE PUSHING.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH LINKING THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUNDS WHICH PREVENTS A TAX INCREASE TO SMALL BUSINESSES, LINKING THAT WITH THE HERO GRANTS FOR THE FRONT-LINE ORKERS?

>> I THINK RIGHT NOW, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE DEADLINES HAVE COME FOR THE U.I., UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FIX RIGHT OW.

WE GOT THAT OUT RIGHT AWAY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYERS AREN'T TAKING THE BIG HIT ON THAT.

WE -- NOTICES ARE JUST HITTING THE MAILBOX TODAY FOR EMPLOYERS AND I TALKED TO A FEW OF THEM TODAY, ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO FIVE TIMES AS MUCH ON THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO EFFECT HOW THEY CAN EMPLOY EMPLOYEES IN THE FUTURE HERE IF WE DON'T GET THAT FIXED RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: WHY NOT A CLEAN BILL?

>> WE THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF WORKERS AND FAMILIES IN THIS STATE.

WE KNOW THAT IF WE MASSED A U.I.

BILL ALONE, THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD HAVE NO REASON TO CONTINUE WORKING ON ANYTHING FOR WORKERS.

IT'S BEEN SUCH A STRUGGLE TO GET THERE SO FAR.

THE NOTICE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WENT OUT IN DECEMBER.

THIS ISN'T A SURPRISE.

THE PROJECTED INCREASES HAVE BEEN BAKED IN FOR SOME IME - AND WE HAVE THE PPORTUNITY TO PUT THESE TWO THINGS TOGETHER, GET THEM BOTH DONE.

THEY SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILIES, OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR COMMUNITIES, IT WILL HELP PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT, HELP PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICTS, THERE'S NO ONE CAN HE CAN'T DO BOTH.

>> Eric: WE SHOULD ENDS BY SAYING THIS IS NOT A BUDGET YEAR, THE BUDGET WAS PASSED, THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH MONEY SO IF YOU GO HOME, THERE'S NO SPECTER OF A SPECIAL SESSION OR GOVERNMENT IS THERE OUTDOWN OR ANYTHING, IT MIGHT BE MEEKLY GO AWAY AT THE END VERY MEEKLY, IT COULD, I SUPPOSE.

>> WELL, THE PROBLEM IS, PEOPLE THINK THAT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS GOING TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE ELECTION AND IT DOESN'T.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR MINNESOTANS AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND THEN GO FIGHT ABOUT THE OUTCOME DURING THE ELECTION SEASON, AND I HOPE WE CAN JUST TRY TO GET AS MUCH DONE AS WE CAN.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> Eric: HAT'S A GOOD BIPARTISANSHIP WAY TO STOP.

THANKS, FELLAS.

I LEARNED A LOT.

>> THANKS A LOT.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> ERIC: YESTERDAY, STATE AUDITOR JULIE BLAHA PRESENTED THE 2022 STATE OF MAIN STREET, LOOKING AT, IN LARGE PART, THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES LOCAL COMMUNITIES FACED DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

WELCOME, AUDITOR BLAHA.

BEFORE WHERE HE START, JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT YOU DO, YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCES OF CITIES AND COUNTIES, NOT EVEN TOWNSHIPS.

>> NO, WE CAN.

YOU KNOW, IN MINNESOTA, THE STATE AUDITOR FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON $40 BILLION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING, THOUGH JUST THIS LAST YEAR, WE'VE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL $20 BILLION OF OVERSIGHT -- FEDERAL FUNDS THAT GO THROUGH THE STATE.

>> Eric: BUT YOU CAN GO OUT AT SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL OR WELFARE FRAUD OR- >> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS THE TYPE OF AUDIT, RIGHT?

THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT ASK THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR TO DO SOME MORE OF THOSE SUBJECTIVE AUDITS THAT GO OVER THE QUALITY OF A DECISION.

MY AUDITS IN MY OFFICE, MINNESOTANS WANT ME TO BE FOCUSING ON THE DOLLARS, SO I'M DOING MORE OBJECTIVE AUDITS THAT ARE BASED ON WHERE THE MONEY GOES AND DID IT GO WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO.

>> Eric: CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE STAYED ON THEIR FEET, I THINK IS HOW YOU PUT IT IN YOUR REPORT.

EXPLAIN, HOW DID THEY DO?

>> WELL, YES, LIKE YOU SAID, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE OF MAIN STREET.

BASICALLY, WHEN I WAS -- WHEN I STARTED OUT, I WOULD SEE THE PRESIDENT GOT THE STATE OF THE UNION AND THE GOVERNOR GETS THE STATE OF THE STATE AND WE NEEDED SOMEONE TO TALK ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

SO SINCE WE COLLECT A LOT OF DATA ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WE PULLED IT ALL TOGETHER AND OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR BIG TRENDS.

I THINK THE BIGGEST TREND WE'VE SEEN THAT, YOU KNOW, GETTING COVID FUNDS DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL AND A LARGE NUMBER THAN THEY'VE EVER DONE BEFORE WAS A GOOD IDEA.

THIS WAS THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

>> Eric: THIS IS LIKE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THAT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

>> RIGHT.

>> Eric: AND LOTS GOT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.

WERE THERE CREATIVE WAYS HEY USED IT?

WHAT HOW DID THEY USE IT?

>> LEADERS WERE HANDLING RECORDS AMOUNT OF MONEY IN RECORD SHORT TIME WITH RECORD COMPLEXITY WHILE THEIR CAT'S WALKING ACROSS THE KEYBOARD BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING IT FROM THE KEYBOARD.

THREE DIDN'T JUST LOOK AT HEALTH CRISIS, OR KEEPINGS INFRASTRUCTURE ROLLING, THEY ALSO LOOKED AT FOCUSING ON THE ECONOMIC ISSUES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO DOING THAT AS A SYSTEM WAS REALLY EFFECTIVE.

A LOT OF PLACES, NOT ONLY, AGAIN, TRIED TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE BUT THEY ALSO TRIED TO GET CASH INTO RESIDENTS' HANDS AS DIRECTLY AS POSSIBLE, SO EITHER DIRECTLY TO RESIDENTS OR DIRECTLY TO BUSINESSES.

AROUND I THINK THAT'S THE STORY A LOT OF PEOPLE MISSED WAS HOW MUCH LOCAL GOVERNMENT DID TO RESPOND TO LOCAL ECONOMIC CRISES, AS WELL.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH DID PROPERTY TAXES, HOW MUCH WERE PROPERTY TAXES AFFECTED?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SURPRISINGLY, NOT AS MUCH AS WE THOUGHT.

MOST PLACES, ONE OF THE BIG FOCUSES WAS O.WAS, WE NEED TO KEEP THINGS STABILITY.

YOU ASK LOCAL GOVERNMENT PEOPLE, THE FIRST THING IS, WE JUST WANT TO KEEP THINGS SMOOTH.

WE WANT TO KEEP IT CONSISTENT, STABLE, WE WANT YOU TO TURN YOUR ATER TAP ON AND NOT THINK ABOUT US.

IS THEIR THING.

AND I HAVE TO SAY, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT OUR NUMBERS, I WAS EXPECTING LAST YEAR, AND EVEN THIS YEAR, THAT THE NUMBERS WOULD HAVE SHIFTED MORE, THAT WE WOULD HAVE SEEN MORE EBT, WE WOULD HAVE SEEN DROPS IN RESERVES AND WE DIDN'T.

A LOT OF THE CHOICES THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MADE KEPT THINGS STABLE AND THE BIGGEST THING THEY TOLD US, IN OUR LISTENING SESSIONS, WAS THAT THE C.A.R.E.S.

ACT MONEY AND THE ARPA MONEY WAS JUST AT THE RIGHT TIME, THAT WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFERENT STORY.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT LOCAL LIQUOR TAXES, ODGING, SALES TAX?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF HAT -- THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS TRICKY BECAUSE WHEN HE C.A.R.E.S.

ACT DOLLARS CAME OUT, THEY WERE VERY RESTRICTED, RIGHT, IT COULD JUST BE FOR COVID, VERY DIRECTLY RELATED INCHES.

AND A LOT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WERE SAYING IS OUR BIGGEST ISSUE IS LOSS REVENUE AND THAT IS PROBLEMATIC.

SO I THINK THE BIG IMPROVEMENT FROM C.A.R.E.S.

TO A.R.P.A.

WAS INCREASED FLEXIBILITY, LONGER TIME FRAMES AND MORE CLARITY, AND AS A RESULT, IT GOT MUCH EASIER THE SECOND ROUNDS BECAUSE THEY COULD PUT MONEY TOWARD THINGS LIKE WHERE THEY SAW LOST REVENUE, NOT SIMPLY VERY DIRECT COVID-RELATED ISSUES.

>> Eric: JUST 30 SECONDS LEFT.

THE RECOMMENDATION TO LOCALITIES, DON'T GO CRAZY WITH SPENDING, I SUPPOSE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY RARELY DO AND I THINK THAT'S WHY MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

YOU KNOW WHAT, WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH, CONSIDER YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THEY'VE LEARNED A LOT AND CAN HANDLE SOME BIG STUFF.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

LEARNED A LOT.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU BET.

>> ERIC: UP NEXT IS THIS WEEK'S INSTALLMENT OF OUR SERIES OF RETIRING LAWMAKER PROFILES.

REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR BILL INGEBRIGTSEN IS LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE AFTER SERVING FIVE TERMS.

AS A RETIRED COUNTY SHERIFF, PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FRONT AND CENTER IN HIS LIFE.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE THAT ARE UPSET THAT YOU ARE NOT RUNNING AGAIN?

AND THAT A MAN IS RUNNING IN THE DISTRICT YOU COULD HAVE RUN IN.

>> WE ALL BELIEVE -- >> Mary: SENATOR INGEBRIGTSEN, FIRST QUESTION WE'RE ASKING ALL THE RETIREES, WHY NOW?

>> WHY NOW, YOU SAID.

YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD 50 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT NUMBER IS IN MY HEAD AS BEING ENOUGH.

YOU KNOW, I WAS 34 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BEFORE COMING TO THE SENATE.

I WAS ELECTED THERE FOUR TIMES AS THE SHERIFF FOR 16 YEARS AND NOW IN THE SENATE, FIVE DIFFERENT TERMS WHICH ACCUMULATED UP TO 16 YEARS AND THAT'S BEEN KIND OF MY NUMBER SO I WANT TO LEAVE ON GOOD TERMS.

IT'S BEEN JUST AN ABSOLUTE HONOR.

>> Mary: HAS IT BEEN A HARDER STRETCH, YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST OUPLE YEARS TO BE REPRESENTING LAW ENFORCEMENT?

>> REPRESENTING LAW ENFORCEMENT, NO, NO, THAT'S MY FAMILY.

REALLY, TRULY IS MY SECOND FAMILY.

MY DAD WAS, AS YOU KNOW, SHERIFF IN KITTSON COUNTY YEARS AGO, WHERE WE ACTUALLY, WHEN I WAS AN ADOLESCENTS, WE MOVED INTO THE JAIL AND MY MOTHER COOKED FOR THE PRISONERS.

WE LIVED IN THE FRONT ART OF THE JAIL AND THE JAIL WAS IN THE BACK PART.

IN FACT, THEY WOULD LEAVE TOWN TO GO TO CONVENTION, I WOULD BE THE JAILER AS AN ADOLESCENTS.

IT WAS A JOB THAT I MOLDED RIGHT INTO, WANTED TO BE IN AND WHEN I COME DOWN HERE NOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S HALLENGES.

THERE'S CERTAINLY BEEN SOME CHALLENGES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

I'M VERY SAD ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE WORLD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE WAY THEY'RE BEING TREATED AND I WANT TO BE PART OF THAT FIX, IF I CAN.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT JUST YOU BEING PROTECTED PROPERLY AND GIVING THE POLICE THE TOOLS TO DO THAT, AND WE OUGHT NOT TO MAKE THAT ANY HARDER THAN IT ALREADY IS.

>> Mary: THE ISSUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY ND POLICE REFORM ARE FRONT AND CENTER THIS SESSION.

>> FRONT AND CENTER, FRONT AND CENTER.

IT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE, RELEVANT REALLY IS.

GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SCRUTINIZED NOW FOR A LONG TIME.

LAW ENFORCEMENT WEARS A UNIFORM AND THEY'RE OUT FRONT, THAT'S A PART OF GOVERNMENT THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS AND BELIEVE ME, THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I DO DOWN HERE.

I'LL GO HOME ON THE WEEKEND AND THEY'LL SAY, HOW WAS YOUR TRIP FROM WASHINGTON?

MEDIA-WISE, IT'S BEEN ON THE FRONT FOR A LONG TIME RIGHT NOW AND I HOPE IT'S JUST A PENDULUM SWING.

I'VE NOT SEEING ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY 50 YEARS OF BEING AROUND -- >> >> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE CHANGES YOU'VE SEEN, THE OTHER DAY IN COMMITTEE WHEN THEY WERE DISCUSSING BODY CAMPS, YOU SAID EARLY ON YOU WEREN'T IN FAVOR OF THEM, YOU WANTED PEOPLE TO TRUST YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES.

I THINK YOU REFERRED TO YOURSELF AS AN ALL HORSE.

>> THINGS CHANGE, I'M SUPPORT THE BILL, I'M JUST ONE OF THOSE OLD HORSES -- >> Mary: WHO'S COME AROUND AND MAYBE SEEN -- SO YOU'VE SEEN SOME VALUE IN CHANGING YOUR MIND... >> I DO, AND YOU DON'T SEE THAT.

HERE I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE MEDIA NOT SHOWING ALL OF IT AND I'M ONE MYSELF THAT'S GUILTY OF THAT.

NOW, THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT COME OUT OF THE CAMERA.

>> Mary: IN ALL THESE INTERVIEWS I'VE DONE WITH VARIOUS RETIRE AYES, DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, HOUSE, SENATE, MANY OF THEM SAID CHANGING THEIR MIND ON AN ISSUE WAS PROBABLY THE TOUGHIST BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY HAD DONE AS A LAWMAKER.

DO YOU SEE THAT?

>> YEAH, THERE'S BEEN TIMES THAT I'VE CHANGED MY MIND.

I LIKE THE JOKE HAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, JUST SO LONG AS EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT I'M ALWAYS RIGHT, I THROW THAT OUT THERE JUST AS A JOKE BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THERE IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT MINNESOTA DOWN HERE THAN WHERE I COME FROM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A DIVERSE STATE AND THERE'S DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW.

>> Mary: THE RURAL-URBAN DIVIDE HAS, YOU KNOW, TORN THE NATION APART AND MINNESOTA'S SEEN ITS FAIR SHARE.

I REMEMBER N, I BELIEVE IT WAS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TROUBLE WITH POLICE SHOOTINGS AND RACIAL RECKONING AND YOU KIND OF SPOKE UP AND SAID, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE SAME TROUBLE IN RURAL MINNESOTA, THIS MIGHT BE AN URBAN PROBLEM.

WITH INCREASING DIVERSITY STATEWIDE, WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING?

>> I JUST DON'T SEE ANYTHING DIFFERENT BUT, AGAIN, MARY, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM IT OR 16 YEARS AND ONCE IN A WHILE, I HAVE TO CATCH MYSELF BECAUSE I JUST AM NOT AN EXPERT WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Mary: BUT THE LEGISLATURE LOOKS TO YOU AS AN EXPERT ON THESE ISSUES.

>> YEAH, I KNOW, I KNOW THEY DO AND THAT MIGHT BE TO HEAR FAULT.

[Laughter] >> Mary: HOW ABOUT LESSONS, NOW THAT YOU CAN LOOK BACK?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO INCOMING LAWMAKERS AND POLICYMAKERS, WHAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL?

WHAT HAS WORKED THE BEST FOR YOU?

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT'S WORKED THE BEST FOR ME S THE CONTACTS AND THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISLE.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT.

I'VE BEEN PART OF HISTORY AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT THAT I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO BE IN THE SENATE WHEN OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE ACTUALLY TOOK THE SENATE OVER, AND THAT WAS IN 2011.

NOW WE ONLY HELD IT FOR TWO YEARS BUT THE 16 YEARS THAT I'VE SERVED, HALF OF IT'S BEEN IN THE MINORITY AND HALF IN THE MAJORITY.

THAT IN ITSELF IS HISTORY.

>> Mary: SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER BIT OF ADVICE IS TO REMEMBER, YOU COULD BE IN THE MAJORITY ONE DAY AND THE MINORITY THE NEXT, SO MAKE FRIENDS BOTH SIDES.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND BEING IN THE MINORITY IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD REALLY HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT YOU GOT AN ISSUE YOU WANT TO GET THROUGH, YOU HAVE TO BITE HARD AND GO OVER AND VISIT THE OTHER SIDES OF THE ISLE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S 67 OF YOU, YOU ALL COME DOWN THERE YOU WANT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE THAT ARE UPSET THAT YOU ARE NOT RUNNING AGAIN AND A MAN IS RUNNING IN THE DISTRICT YOU COULD HAVE RUN IN?

>> WE ALL BELIEVE WE HAVE A PATH ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND LIFE HAPPENS, SO IT'S A PAUSE, I SAY.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE AWAY FROM PUBLIC SERVICE BUT I WON'T BE A STRANGER TO THE LEGISLATURE.

AND I SAY I'M GOING TO SUPPORT OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME, OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE LITTLE KIDS WHO WANT TO COME INTO PUBLIC OFFICE KNOWING THAT IT'S REALLY HARD AND THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR WOMEN LIKE ME TO STAY IN POLITICS FOR THE LONG HAUL BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFICULT AND A BIG SACRIFICE.

LIKE I AID TO MY CAUCUS, IT'S ABOUT A TEAM, IT'S NOT ABOUT ONE PERSON, IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER.

I'M ACTUALLY VERY FLATTERED, HEARING SO MUCH OF THAT EMOTION.

IT'S BEEN HEART-WARMING.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

MARY WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH THE LATEST FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

IF YOU MISSED PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW OR WANT TO RE-WATCH ANY EPISODES FROM THE PAST, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW "ALMANAC" ON FACEBOOK, LOOK FOR SESSION UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MORE ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

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

CATHY AND I WILL TALK WITH LOUIS JOHNSTON ABOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY, OUR ANALYST DUO WILL LOOK AT WHAT HAS AND HAS NOT GOTTEN DONE AT THE LEGISLATURE, WE'LL LOOK A NEW TPT DIGITAL SERIES CALLED "OUTSIDE CHANCE."

AND THE NEWSHOUR'S FRED DE SAM LAZARO WILL SHARE HIS STORY ABOUT THE INCREASE OF REFUGEES CROSSING THE NORTHERN U. S. BORDER.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪ >> "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS CAPTIONED BY: PARADIGM REPORTING/CAPTIONING WWW.PARADIGMREPORTING.COM "A LMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS A 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.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE ON COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT ENBRIDGE.COM/MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

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

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