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

>> Mary: THEY'RE BACK AT THE CAPITOL.

WE'LL TALK TO TAX CHAIRS FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND THE I.T.

COMMISSIONER.

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

♪♪ >> "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.

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

WE'RE BACK AT THE CAPITOL HERE IN THE HOUSE GALLERY.

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, LAWMAKERS HAVE RETURNED TO THE CAPITOL AFTER THEIR SPRING BREAK AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO IN THE FULL TIME FIVE WEEKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, TAX COMMITTEE CHAIRS ARE HERE FROM BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

WE'LL HEAR WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THAT VERY LARGE SURPLUS.

WE ALSO HAVE THE I.T.

COMMISSIONER HERE TO TALK ABOUT A BIG AWARD AND WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED IN COVID.

THIS WEEK'S RETIRING LAWMAKER MAY BE LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE, BUT A PIECE OF HIS FAMILY WILL STAY BEHIND HERE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

BUT, FIRST, IT WASN'T A QUIET RETURN TO THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!

I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS ARE BACK AT THE CAPITOL AND SO ARE RALLIES.

THIS GROUP CALLED ON THE GOVERNOR TO SUPPORT BRING IT HOME FOR BOLD, COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO MINNESOTA'S HOUSING CRISIS.

>> HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE.

IT IS NOT A REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, OR INDEPENDENT PARTY ISSUE.

AND IT IS CERTAINLY NOT JUST AN ISSUE PERTAINING TO THE RICH OR THE POOR.

>> Mary: ORGANIZERS POINT OUT THAT THE STATE HAS MORE THAN $9 BILLION OF SURPLUS MONEY.

>> WE HAVE ENOUGH RIGHT HERE TO END THE DEVASTATION OF HOUSING INSECURITY AND HOMELESSNESS.

CAN I GET AN AMEN?

I BELIEVE THAT HOPE IS A VERB AND MY HEART IS FILLED WITH HOPE.

>> Mary: MEANWHILE, THE HOUSE IS MOVING ITS BUDGET BILLS THAT WILL FACE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE, $1.6 BILLION IN TAX AID AND CREDITS, ALONG WITH A BILLION IN NEW DUCATION SPENDING AND A BILLION FOR FRONT-LINE WORKERS.

BUT NOT UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS FOR BUSINESSES.

>> WE NOW HAVE AN HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH UP AND KEEP UP WITH THE NEEDS OF MINNESOTANS.

WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH IMPROVED FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS, INCREASED SERVICES TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS, LARGER INVESTMENT IN PRESERVING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE, ARE TARGETED TAX RELIEF TO FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES WHO ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

>> WHERE'S THE MONEY TO REVERSE THE TAX INCREASE THAT WENT INTO EFFECT?

WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS BUDGET RESOLUTION, WHEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC LOOK, WHERE'S THAT MONEY AT?

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW BUSINESSES ARE PAYING HIGHER TAXES WITH A $9 BILLION SURPLUS.

>> THAT IS MOVING FORWARD SEPARATELY AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IT DO SO, MOVING OF FORWARD, AND AS YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING SEVERAL YEARS TO HE -- TO RECEIVE OUR SUPPORT FOR WHAT THEY DID FOR US THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC THAT THEY RECEIVE OUR SUPPORT AS WELL.

>> THE GOVERNOR WAS AT LEAST MAN ENOUGH TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU HARMLESS.

BUT THE DFL HOUSE MAJORITY IS STANDING IN THE WAY OF THAT.

>> THERE'S BEEN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO FILL AND BACKFILL THIS FUND.

SO I WOULD REMIND MEMBERS THAT THIS IS A MORAL OBLIGATION, NOT ONLY TO THOSE HO HAVE SURVIVED BEING IN BUSINESS, BUT IT'S JUST A TRAGEDY HOW MANY WERE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS.

>> Mary: THERE'S ALSO LOADS OF FEDERAL FUNDS COMING TO THE STATE THAT IF LAWMAKERS CAN'T AGREE WILL GO TO THE GOVERNOR TO DISTRIBUTE IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

>> AFTER JUNE 15th, THE GOVERNOR GETS TO SPEND THE FUNDS HOWEVER HE LIKES, WITHOUT ANY OVERSIGHT FROM THIS BODY.

THIS BODY IS THE BODY OF GOVERNMENT THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPENDING IN THIS STATE.

>> Mary: JOINING ME NOW, TAX CHAIRS FROM BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

WE HAVE REPUBLICAN SENATOR CARLA NELSON AND DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE PAUL MARQUART.

WE'LL START WITH OU.

WE HEARD FROM LAWMAKERS IN THE HOUSE TALKING ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE NOT BEING IN HE BUDGET BILL, AND THEIR POSITION, REPUBLICANS' POSITION, IN THAT COMMITTEE WAS IT EQUATES TO A TAX INCREASE.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT PREMISE?

>> WELL, YES, THAT'S THE END RESULT.

AND LET ME JUST SAY, THE SENATE PASSED EARLY ON OFF THE SENATE FLOOR WITH GOOD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FULL PAYMENT BACK FOR THE FEDS AND PAYING THAT RESERVE, THAT U.I.

RESERVE SO THAT BUSINESSES WOULD NOT RECEIVE THAT ADDITIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT TAX.

>> Mary: ARE YOU RAISING TAXES BY NOT PASSING THIS YET?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK WE COULD GET THIS DONE, BUT WE NEED TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE FRONT-LINE WORKERS.

SO, THE HOUSE PLAN IS A MILLION -- A BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE FRONT-LINE WORKERS, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE SENATE'S AT 2.7 BILLION FOR U.I., THE GOVERNOR WALZ HAS SAID, LET'S DO THE 2.7, LET'S DO THE ONE BILLION FOR FRONT-LINE OF WORKERS AND MAKE IT WORK.

I THINK WE CAN DO IT.

>> Mary: CAN YOU DO IT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE FRONT-LINE WORKERS WE ALREADY AGREED TO 250 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR.

THE HOUSE HASN'T AGREED TO THAT.

SO LET'S AGREE TO THAT AND THEN MOVE FORWARD.

BUT, QUITE FRANKLY, THE HOUSE -- THE SENATE, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON PERMANENT, ONGOING TAX RELIEF.

MINNESOTANS ARE SUFFERING WITH SOARING INFLATION, AND, YET, OUR STATE COFFERS RE OVERFLOWING, $10 BILLION SURPLUS AND WE'RE NOT EVEN HALFWAY THROUGH OUR BUDGET YET.

SO IT'S TIME THAT WE REALLY FOCUS ON MINNESOTANS.

>> Mary: CAN WE AFFORD PERMANENT AND ONE-TIME RELIEF?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S WHAT THE HOUSE TAX BILL DOES.

OUR HOUSE TAX BILL WILL REALLY MAKE A MEANINGFUL AND OSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILIES, WORKERS AND SENIOR CITIZENS.

THERE ARE TAX CUTS FOR FAMILIES ON CHILD CARE COSTS, WE KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE HAT IS.

THERE'S CUTS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, TAX FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE THE LARGEST PROPERTY TAX CUT IN OVER 20 YEARS IN THE HOUSE TAX BILL.

>> Mary: SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, BIG PART OF YOUR TAX BILL.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE SOMETHING CLOSE TO AGREEMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, OUR TAX BILL PROVIDES A TAX REDUCTION FOR EVERYONE WHO PAYS INCOME TAXES.

SO EVERYONE ETS A TAX BREAK.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, REMOVING THE SOCIAL SECURITY, THAT DOUBLE TAXATION ON SOCIAL SECURITY IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT.

SO I THINK THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO.

I THINK THE DIFFERENCE, THOUGH, IS THAT THE SENATE BELIEVES THAT THAT PERMANENT ONGOING TAX RELIEF THAT WE TRUST MINNESOTANS TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW BEST TO USE THAT AS OPPOSED TO SPECIFYING ALL THESE DIFFERENT PIECES.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR WAS OUT TODAY TOUTING HIS REBATE CHECKS.

AS A FELLOW DEMOCRAT, WHY DON'T DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE SEEM TO AGREE WITH HIM ON SENDING SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK IN TERMS OF CHECKS?

>> WE DO HAVE A REBATE.

THERE IS A CHILD TAX CREDIT REBATE.

>> Mary: BUT IT'S NOT THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN?

>> NO, IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE GOVERNOR'S.

HE'S PUTTING OUT $2 BILLION ON THE EBATE, WHICH I TALKED TO A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT MONEY BACK, I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S DOING THE RIGHT THING.

WE HAVE ABOUT $300 MILLION IN THE DEPENDENT REBATE THAT GOES OUT, CHECKS THAT WOULD GO OUT EARLY TO THOSE THAT HAVE DEPENDENTS UNDER 17 YEARS OF AGE.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S IDEA, IT'S POPULAR, POLLS SHOW IT'S POPULAR, WE'VE SEEN THE JESSE CHECKS, THEY WERE POPULAR.

IS IT JUST TOO HARD FOR REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING REPUBLICANS WHO MIGHT BE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR THAT BIG OF A WIN?

>> WELL, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THOSE FOLKS, BUT I CAN SPEAK TO THE SENATE REPUBLICANS IN THE TAX COMMITTEE.

WE BELIEVE THAT PEMPLE -- PERMANENT, ONGOING TAX RELIEF.

AND THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE HERE.

IT'S NOT EVEN JUST THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PERMANENT AND ONE-TIME.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT $8 BILLION OF TAX RELIEF, WHEREAS, THE ONE-TIME TAX RELIEF OR THE CHECKS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S $2 BILLION OF TAX RELIEF, BUT $8 BILLION OF NEW SPENDING.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

THIS IS NOT A BUDGET YEAR.

THE SPENDING SHOULD BE IN THE NEXT BUDGET.

>> Mary: IT'S HARD NOT TO SPEND, THOUGH, WHEN THERE'S 9 BILLION EXTRA TO SPEND, THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE.

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT TAX CUTS IN OUR BILL.

BUT WE ALSO INVEST IN EDUCATION, IN THE CROSS-SUBSIDY, DOING AWAY WITH THAT, HELPING SENIORS IN NURSING HOMES, PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE THINK WE NEED A BALANCE.

I MEAN, THE SENATE BILL SPENDS, WHAT, $8.5 BILLION THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AND JUST IN THE FIRST BIENNIUM ALONE, THEY SPEND $113 IN TAX CUTS FOR EVERY $1 THEY PUT INTO EDUCATION.

$113 TO 1, WE DON'T THINK THAT'S A FAIR BALANCE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> Mary: ARE YOU CUTTING EDUCATION SHORT AND STUDENTS?

>> NO, WE'RE NOT.

YOU'RE TALKING TO A FORMER TEACHER, FORMER EDUCATION CHAIR.

WE HAVE INVESTED HEAVILY IN EDUCATION, HISTORIC RECORDS, BOTH IN THE CURRENT BUDGET AND THE PREVIOUS BUDGET, WHICH I WAS CHAIR.

BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS WE HAVE HAD DECLINING ENROLLMENT FOR OVER A DECADE.

AND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE PARENTS CHOOSING OTHER OPTIONS AS WELL.

AND IN EDUCATION, MONEY FOLLOWS THE STUDENT.

SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION FUNDING, WE HAVE TO BE TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH ARE WE FUNDING ON A PER PUPIL LEVEL.

>> Mary: YEAH, WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS WHO HAVE LEFT PERMANENTLY, THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND SOME OF THE NEW NEEDS WITH COVID, BOTH OF THOSE ARE ISSUES.

>> OH, HUGE ISSUES.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH WE THINK IS A HUGE ISSUE OVER COVID.

AND, YOU KNOW, INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SCHOOLS.

BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET THOSE STUDENTS BACK.

BUT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO INVEST NOW MORE THAN EVER BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT STUDENTS WHO FELL BEHIND DURING COVID THAT NEED TO CATCH UP.

AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND WE'RE INVESTING OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN EDUCATION, AND WE HEAR A LOT OF THE TIMES, WELL, WE DID A BUDGET LAST YEAR, AND IT WAS FULLY FUNDED.

WELL, WE MIGHT HAVE DONE A BUDGET, BUT IT WASN'T FULLY FUNDED.

YOU ASK ANY LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY IF THEY HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO PROVIDE A TOP-NOTCH, YOU KNOW, CARE FOR THEIR SENIORS, THEY DON'T.

YOU LOOK AT THE CROSS-SUBSIDY ON SPECIAL EDUCATION, IT'S NOT MET.

WE HAVE NOT FULLY FUNDED THESE IMPORTANT SERVICES.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT SENIOR SPENDING, I KNOW SENATOR HOUSLEY'S WORKING ON THAT.

>> YES.

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT SPENDING FOR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, FOR DISABLED HOMES AS WELL.

SO THE THING IS, WHEN YOU HAVE OVER $10 BILLION BUDGET SURPLUS, YOU HAVE $2.5 BILLION IN RAINY DAY FUNDS, AND YOU HAVE $1.5 BILLION LEFT OF UNSPENT FEDERAL MONEY, BELIEVE ME, WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO PROVIDE THE NEEDED ONGOING TAX RELIEF AND FUND THOSE NECESSARY THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW THAT CANNOT WAIT UNTIL OUR NEXT TWO-YEAR BUDGET.

>> Mary: VERY QUICK LAST WORD BECAUSE YOU TWO BOTH SAID YOU'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC, YOU THOUGHT IF ANYTHING GETS DONE IT'S TAX BILL, REALLY?

>> CHAIR NELSON AND I, I THOUGHT, PUT TOGETHER A REALLY GOOD TAX BILL LAST YEAR, WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

>> Mary: WHY SO OPTIMISTIC?

>> I THINK WE CAN.

BECAUSE WE ARE HONEST BROKERS, WE WILL NEGOTIATE HONESTLY, AND WE WILL COME TO A GREAT AGREEMENT THAT WILL EMPOWER MINNESOTA FAMILIES AND DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THAT'S WHAT I'M FOCUSED ON.

>> Mary: YOU AGREE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE?

>> WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.

I'M CONFIDENT.

>> Mary: OKAY, WE'LL BE WATCHING IT ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, AX CHAIRS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Mary: I.T.

COMMISSIONER TAREK TOMES RECENTLY WAS NAMED ONE OF THE TOP GOVERNMENT TECH LEADERS IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WELCOME, COMMISSIONER.

AND WHY DID YOU GET THIS HONOR?

>> WELL, GOOD EVENING, MARY.

AND, REALLY, IT IS A TREMENDOUS HONOR, BUT NOT NECESSARILY TREMENDOUS HONOR FOR ME, BUT, REALLY, AN HONOR FOR ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN STATE GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY.

CERTAINLY GOVERNOR WALZ HAS PRIORITIZED MAKING SURE THAT TECHNOLOGY PARTICIPATES IN SOLUTIONING, THAT ABILITY TO BRING THE RIGHT SERVICES TO PEOPLE ARE THERE, WE HAVE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FROM SO MANY PEOPLE, BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, FROM OUR BLUE RIBBON COUNCIL ON TECHNOLOGY, AND WONDERFUL TECHNOLOGISTS WITHIN MNIT THAT HAVE WORKED SO HARD OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

>> Mary: I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS BECAUSE I DARE SAY, WE'VE NEVER NEEDED TECHNOLOGY MORE TO REALLY SURVIVE.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN AND HOW IMPORTANT WAS THE BACKBONE OF TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP GOVERNMENT AND KEEP SOCIETY RUNNING?

>> YOU KNOW, REALLY, WHAT WE LEARNED, AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS A SURPRISE TO MANY OF US, CERTAINLY WITHIN TECHNOLOGY, IS IN THAT MOMENT OF CRISIS, WHEN YOU ARE MOST NEEDED, THAT MINNESOTA TECHNOLOGISTS AND PUBLIC SECTOR TECHNOLOGISTS WERE THERE, AND THEY WERE READY TO ANSWER THE CALL.

THEY WORKED UNBELIEVABLE HOURS WHILE DEALING WITH MANY OF THE SAME THINGS THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN SOCIETY DEALT WITH.

PEOPLE -- FAMILY MEMBERS WORKING FROM HOME AND CHILDREN DOING REMOTE DISTANCE LEARNING, AND, YET, THEY WERE SO INCREDIBLY DEDICATED.

IN MINNESOTA, WE WERE PREPARED.

OUR INVESTMENTS PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED US TO MOVE A WORKFORCE REMOTELY QUICKLY, AND TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT MINNESOTANS RELY ON, AND TO PROVIDE THE INNOVATION THAT WAS NECESSARY DURING THE, YOU KNOW, MOST CRITICAL PHASES OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> Mary: WHAT DON'T WE KNOW?

WERE THERE MOMENTS WHEN SYSTEMS WERE ON THE BRINK AND WE WERE STRETCHING TO THE LIMIT?

>> WELL, I THINK PRETTY CONSTANTLY.

WHEN YOU'RE FACED WITH UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AND A SHORT DURATION TO MEET THOSE CHALLENGES, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE OVER A MILLION PEOPLE VYING FOR 20,000 DOSES OF VACCINE IN DECEMBER, AND YOU NEED TO DEVELOP A DIGITAL MECHANISM FOR RECEIVING THOSE APPOINTMENTS, THAT'S A PRETTY UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE.

WE'VE HAD BLACK RIDAY IN OUR COUNTRY FOR A LONG TIME.

I JOKINGLY SAID THAT IT WAS EASIER AT SOME POINT TO RECEIVE A VACCINE THAN IT WAS TO GET A P.S.

5.

AND CERTAINLY WE SAW THAT OUR INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY WAS -- ALLOWED US TO REALLY MEET THOSE MOMENTS QUICKLY, WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS.

>> Mary: WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUE OF EQUITY AND THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN MINNESOTA.

DID TECHNOLOGY MAKE THAT BETTER OR WORSE, BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

I THINK TECHNOLOGY REALLY DOES SERVE AS A EQUITY CATALYST WHILE RECOGNIZING THAT THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IS REAL.

THAT NOT ALL PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED.

BUT ONE THING THAT DIGITAL ENTRYWAYS DO, IT ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE STEWARDS AND HELP PEOPLE, ASSIST PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY, IT ALLOWS THEM TO LEAN INTO THAT CONVERSATION.

SO, INITIALLY WITH THE VACCINE, CERTAINLY THOSE THAT HAD MEANS AND ACCESS BENEFITTED.

THEY WERE ABLE TO SECURE THOSE VACCINE APPOINTMENTS, BUT, QUICKLY, COMMUNITIES RALLY AROUND THOSE THAT DID NOT HAVE ACCESS AND HELPED SUPPORT TO SET UP AND CREATE THOSE APPOINTMENTS.

SO I THINK DIGITAL SERVICES REALLY IS A EQUITY CATALYST AND HELPS PROPEL ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND ALL OF OUR PEOPLE FORWARD.

>> Mary: LAST QUESTION.

WE REMEMBER DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU WERE CALLED UPON TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR ON SPORTS.

YOU'RE AN ATHLETE, YOUR KIDS ARE ATHLETES AND A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT ANGRY ABOUT SPORTS BEING SHUT DOWN.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN, WHAT'S THE GO FORWARD ON THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT WE LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND I THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE TO -- THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO LEARN, IT'S REALLY UNPREDICTABLE, AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO REWRITE THE RULES OF SOCIETY.

AND CERTAINLY SPORTS AND ATHLETICS AND THE VALUE THAT THEY PROVIDE TO PEOPLE AND THE IMPORTANCE THAT MANY PEOPLE, IS REALLY INTIMATE.

AND PEOPLE CARE DEEPLY.

WE WERE REALLY UCKY TO PARTNER WITH AMATEUR SPORTS COMMISSION AND REALLY MANY ATHLETES, PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ACROSS THE STATE, TO HELP GIVE US DVICE.

AND WE DID EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO RESTART SPORTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE REALLY HAD RELATIVELY F LITTLE DOWNTIME.

AND WERE ABLE TO RESUME THOSE ACTIVITIES.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT YOUTH SPORTS, THOUGH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I SAW THE MOST ANGER FROM PARENTS, YOU HAD TO HEAR AND FEEL SOME OF THAT.

>> FOR SURE.

AND PROBABLY MOST CONTROVERSIAL WAS PLAYING IN MASKS.

YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC.

BUT MOST OF THE SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS, EVEN THE YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS, OUR CONNECTIONS WITH THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE, WITH MINNESOTA YOUTH ACTIVITIES, THEY REALLY LEANED IN REALLY HEAVILY.

WE HAD A WONDERFUL CONNECTION AND RELATIONSHIP WITH MINNESOTA HOCKEY THAT HELPED ADVISE US AND, REALLY, WHAT IT REALLY DROVE HOME WAS THE NEED TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE, THE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND LISTEN TO THEM.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Mary: WELL, UP NEXT, THIS WEEK'S RETIRING LAWMAKER IS REPUBLICAN TONY ALBRECHT, HE WAS ELECTED IN 2012, AND HE MAY BE LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE AT THE END OF HIS TERM BUT A SPECIAL GIFT FROM HIS FAMILY WILL REMAIN.

REPRESENTATIVE ALBRIGHT, WE START AS WE DO WITH EVERYONE, WHY RE YOU RETIRING?

>> WHEN I FIRST FELT THE CALL ON MY HEART TO JOIN THE LEGISLATURE, IT WAS UNMISTAKABLE.

AND ABOUT A MONTH AGO, NOT EVEN MAYBE THAT, I FELT THAT SAME AND HEARD THAT SAME VOICE CALLING ME TO MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

AND THAT DIRECTION IS NOT KNOWN TO ME.

>> Mary: HOW MUCH DID THE COURT AND THE NEW LINES HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

>> NONE AT ALL.

I HAVE BEEN TRULY BLESSED TO SERVE SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING PEOPLE N SCOTT COUNTY.

>> Mary: YOU WERE KIND OF SURPRISED.

WE'VE HAD SOME VERY BIG NAMES IN HERE.

AND YOU SAID, MARY, WHY DID YOU CALL ME?

AND I AID, BECAUSE I THINK YOU WERE THOUGHTFUL AND EFFECTIVE.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF WITH THOSE WORDS?

>> I WAS NEVER ONE TO, YOU KNOW, GRAB THE LIMELIGHT.

I REALLY VIEWED MY POSITION AS A LEGISLATOR AS MORE OF CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH ANSWERS.

IF THERE WAS ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION KIND OF THAT I REALLY LOOK BACK ON AND SEE AS MEANINGFUL, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PANDAS LEGISLATION.

I WAS HELPFUL IN PASSING.

I'VE COME TO FIND OUT IN SUBSEQUENT MONTHS, JUST HOW MANY FAMILIES REALLY HAVE BEEN TOUCHED Y THAT LEGISLATION IN TERMS OF HELPING THEIR KIDS GET THE NEEDED HELP IN OVERCOMING THAT REALLY AWFUL DISEASE.

>> Mary: ONE OF THE IMPACTS THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE ON THE PLACE FOR SOME TIME IS THE PHYSICAL GAVELS THE SPEAKERS USE.

CAN YOU TELL US THE BACK STORY?

>> SO DURING ONE OF THE SESSIONS WHEN SPEAKER HORTMAN WAS USING THE GAVEL, I GOT A CALL FROM MY DAD, WHO IS A CARPENTER AND HE SAID, I'M MAKING ANOTHER GAVEL.

>> Mary: WILL YOU TELL US ABOUT THE WOOD?

>> THE WOOD COMES FROM A TREE IN STERLING TOWNSHIP IN BLUE EARTH COUNTY, AND IT'S VERIFIED THAT THE AGE OF THAT BLACK WALNUT TREE IS OLDER THAN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AND, SO, THE GAVEL THAT SITS ON THE ROSTRUM RIGHT NOW -- >> Mary: FROM YOUR DAD.

>> -- FROM MY DAD WAS BEQUEATHED AS A GIFT TO THE CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN PERPETUITY TO BE USED AT HIS PLEASURE DURING HOUSE FLOOR SESSIONS.

>> Mary: AND YOU DON'T THINK YOU'VE HAD AN IMPACT?

>> YOU'RE VERY KIND.

THANK YOU.

MASES WHAT ABOUT -- >> Mary: WHAT ABOUT FRIENDSHIPS, EVERY SINGLE RETIRING LAWMAKER HAS SURPRISED ME BY TELLING ME ABOUT A FRIENDSHIP ACROSS THE AISLE.

THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT.

AND I KNOW YOU HAVE THOSE.

CAN YOU TELL US AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE?

>> I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT A COUPLE OF THEM.

ONE IS, I WAS THE ENEFICIARY OF HAVING THE FIRST BILL GIVEN TO ME BY REPRESENTATIVE TIM MAHONEY, WHO TOOK ME UNDER HIS WING WHEN WE WERE BOTH SERVING, HE IN THE CHAIRMANSHIP AND I WAS A FRESHMAN TERM IN THE JOBS COMMITTEE.

AND HE GAVE ME A PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND ACK THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, IS THIS A GOTCHA MOMENT.

SO I REFUSED IT.

HE ACTUALLY PUSHED IT BACK ON ME, HE SAID, I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU OUT HERE.

AND I SAID, OKAY, ALL RIGHT, I'LL TRUST YOU.

AND THAT REALLY JUST BIRTHED SUCH A PHENOMENAL RELATIONSHIP.

AND THE OTHER ONE I MIGHT ADD THAT IS JUST REALLY SO SPECIAL TO ME IS WITH REPRESENTATIVE GENE PELOWSKI.

I REALLY VIEW HIM AS ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS IN THE CAPITOL, JUST AN ARDENT ADMIRER OF THE WAY THAT HE HAS HANDLED HIMSELF AND REALLY CONSIDER HIM AS A MENTOR F MINE.

>> Mary: SHOULD OUTSIDERS KNOW ABOUT THESE FRIENDSHIPS BECAUSE THE SIMPLISTIC BOILED-DOWN VERSION OF THE CAPITOL IS IT'S PARTISAN, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HATE EACH OTHER, BUT THE REALITY IS, YOU NEED EACH OTHER, AND YOU DO WORK TOGETHER, DON'T YOU?

>> I'VE MADE A LOT OF POPCORN IN THE LAST TEN YEARS AND INVITED ANYONE AND EVERYONE TO COME IN AND SIT ON MY COUCH.

AND SHARE A CONVERSATION AND A BAG OF POPCORN.

THAT REALLY DRIVES IT.

THAT'S THE ONLY CURRENCY THAT WE HAVE TO TRADE WITH ONE ANOTHER UP HERE IS OUR WORD.

BUT THAT WORD COMES BY RELYING UPON THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE'VE ENCOURAGED AND NURTURED OVER SO MANY MONTHS AND HOURS OF INTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS.

SO KEEPING OUR COOL, KEEPING YOUR EMEANOR AND JUST REALLY SAYING, LOOK, LET'S APPRECIATE THAT WE ALL COME TO ISSUES FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

>> Mary: ARE YOU CONCERNED IN YOUR TIME THERE AND ESPECIALLY THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WORKING REMOTELY AND THE PANDEMIC AND WITH INCREASED PARTISANSHIP THAT SOME OF THAT HAS DISAPPEARED?

>> YEAH.

I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THE DIVIDE HAS WIDENED.

THE CASS I AM AS BROADENED MEAN THE TWO PARTIES.

CHASM.

THERE HAS TO BE A POINT WHERE WE SET OUR EGOS ASIDE, WE SET THE PARTISANSHIP ASIDE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE HERE FOR A GREATER PURPOSE THAN OURSELVES.

>> Mary: WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE FOR OTHERS GOING FORWARD?

>> BE KIND, ALWAYS BE RESPECTFUL, TAKE TIME TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THEN SEEK THE BEST WAY TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND I TAKE THAT FROM TUTELAGE THAT A FORMER GOVERNOR, AL QUIE, GAVE TO ME A LONG TIME AGO.

BE PASSIONATE, BE PATIENT, BUT ALWAYS PERSEVERE TOWARDS COMMON GROUND.

>> Mary: YOU BEAT AN NFL FOOTBALL PLAYER, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S TRUE.

AND THAT WAS A CHALLENGING RACE.

I PLAYED UP MY OWN FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE IN THAT CAMPAIGN.

PLAYED FOUR SEASONS FOR THE TWIN VALLEY TIGERS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH FOUR TARGETED RACES TOTAL NOW.

TWO TARGETED RACES IN THE HOUSE, TWO TARGETED RACES IN THE SENATE.

THEY ARE VERY CHALLENGING.

I'M SO GLAD THAT I DID IT.

I ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE TO DO T ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANT TO GO BACK INTO TEACHING AND INTO EDUCATION.

WHETHER YOU LIKE POLITICS OR NOT, IT HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND, SO, IT BEHOOVES US ALL TO BE ENGAGED TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW CAMPAIGNS HAVE BECOME MORE NEGATIVE AND UGLIER NOW AND THAT THAT'S DISCOURAGING A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE FROM GOING INTO POLITICS.

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

WE'LL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

UNTIL THEN YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TPT.ORG/AATC, THERE YOU CAN REWATCH ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW OR ANY EPISODES FROM THE PAST.

AGAIN, ALL ON THAT WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW "ALMANAC" ON FACEBOOK AS WELL.

AND YOU CAN LOOK FOR SESSION UPDATES AND MUCH MORE FROM OUR TEAM EVERY DAY ON TWITTER.

AGAIN, YOU CAN FIND ALL THOSE LINKS AND CONNECTIONS AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

AND WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN WATCH HOUSE, SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, PRESS CONFERENCES, AND MUCH MORE ON THE PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

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

ERIC AND CATHY WILL HAVE THE LATEST ON AVIAN FLU AND AN UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE.

AND I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN UP TO SINCE THE BREAK, AS THEY RETURN TO THE CAPITOL, AND THE RETURN OF RALLIES AND CROWDS HERE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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

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