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

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING LATE AGAIN, AND THEY COULD BE CHANGING THE TATE'S LIQUOR LAWS.

WE'LL TALK TO A COUPLE LAWMAKERS ABOUT THAT AND ANALYZE THE POLITICS OF THE MOMENT WITH ERIC ESKOLA.

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: ELCOME TO "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

WE'RE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY, WHERE LAWMAKERS JUST WRAPPED UP A VOTE ON A BILL.

AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM SOME IMPORTANT LAWMAKERS ON IT IN JUST A MOMENT.

THERE'S JUST ABOUT TEN DAYS LEFT FOR LAWMAKERS TO PASS BILLS AND GET THEM TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BEFORE THE END OF SESSION.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEES ARE HARD AT WORK AND ONE OF THE BILLS, AS WE JUST SAID, THAT WAS HEARD AND PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY CHANGES THE STATE'S LIQUOR LAWS.

WE'LL TALK WITH KEY LAWMAKERS IN JUST MOMENTS.

AND LONGTIME "ALMANAC" HOST AND FORMER WCCO RADIO CAPITOL REPORTER ERIC ESKOLA WILL JOIN ME TO ANALYZE POLITICS.

AND THIS WEEK'S RETIRING LAWMAKER IS ANOTHER WOMAN WHO DECIDED TO PUT FAMILY FIRST.

WE START ITH A LOOK AT SOME OF THIS WEEK'S CONFERENCE COMMITTEES.

>> WELCOME, EVERYONE.

HERE IN PERSON, AS WELL AS ON ZOOM.

>> Mary: CONFERENCE COMMITTEES ARE UNDERWAY, NEGOTIATORS FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE STARTED BY TALKING ABOUT A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> ONE OF THE COMMON THEMES THAT WE WERE HEARING THE ENTIRE SESSION FROM EDUCATORS, FROM STUDENTS, AND FROM ADMINISTRATORS WAS THE NEED FOR LIFE LINES AND SUPPORTS FOR BOTH EDUCATORS AND FOR STUDENTS.

>> MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE ALWAYS -- PROBLEMS ARE ALWAYS A CHALLENGE AND WERE PRIOR TO COVID AND THE SHUTDOWNS.

AND ALSO PRIOR TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO WE'VE TAKEN AN APPROACH OF UNDERSTANDING THIS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS THERE AND IT IS SERIOUS.

>> WE KNOW THAT WE HAD WAY TOO FEW RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN'S NEEDS, AND THIS HAD DEVASTATING EFFECTS, NOT JUST TO CHILDREN IN CRISIS BUT ALSO FOR CHILDREN WHO, BECAUSE THEY LOST MENTAL HEALTHCARE, BECAME MORE EGREGIOUSLY ILL AND, IN FACT, DANGEROUS SOMETIMES TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

>> OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BECOME THE HUB OF THE WHEEL.

THEY TEND TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW WHEN STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ARE IN NEED, PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SUPPORTS WHEN POSSIBLE, AND CONNECT FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TO COMMUNITY ASSETS.

>> WE'VE GATHERED OVER 10,000 RESPONSES ON GOOGLE FORM OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED RACISM AND BULLYING BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE, RELIGION, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ECONOMIC STATUS OR DISABILITIES.

>> I HAVE FOLLOWED PSYCHOTIC KIDS INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

I'VE TALKED OTHERS OFF OF BRIDGES.

I'VE HELD UP DANGLING FEET OF A HANGING CHILD UNTIL EMS CAN ARRIVE.

>> Mary: THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ALSO GOT UNDERWAY.

>> SOME OF THESE ISSUES ARE SIMPLY GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR OUR REGULAR BUDGET YEAR, AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO COVER THE GROUND.

I FEEL LIKE A DUTCH BOY TRYING TO PLUG THE HOLES IN THE DIKE, AND I THINK WE ALL DO.

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME REAL GOOD CONVERSATIONS AS WE START TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THESE ILLS, AND I THINK WE CAN FIND SOME COMMON GROUND MAKE SOME THINGS HAPPEN.

I KNOW IT'S NOT A BUDGET YEAR, BUT IT'S A HISTORICAL, HISTORICAL SURPLUS THAT WE HAVE, AND I THINK WE CAN DO SOME HISTORICAL THINGS.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS ND THE GOVERNOR CONTINUE BEHIND-CLOSED-DOORS NEGOTIATIONS ON BROADER BUDGET AND TAX PROPOSALS.

>> WE'RE STILL DOING THE KIND OF HIGH-LEVEL BUDGET NUMBERS GOING THROUGH THE SIDE-BY-SIDE PROPOSALS OF THE -- OUR OFFICE, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

♪♪ >> Mary: WELL, MOMENTS AGO, THEY WERE BUSY PASSING GREEN BUTTONS, BOTH OF THEM, ON A LIQUOR LAW BILL THAT WOULD REALLY CHANGE SOME OF THE POLICIES IN THE STATE.

IT WAS A BIG DEAL, IT WAS A BIG VOTE.

AND THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL, ZACK STEPHENSON, A DEMOCRAT FROM COON RAPIDS, AND REPUBLICAN JIM NASH FROM WACONIA.

WELL, FIRST, Mr.

CHAIR, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT VOTE?

85 YES VOTES, THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER.

A GREAT NUMBER.

AND IT WAS A BIG BIPARTISAN VOTE, THAT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR SUCH A LONG TIME TO SEE MEANINGFUL LIQUOR REFORM, MODERNIZING OUR LAWS, FREEING THE GROWLER AND GETTING A -- GIVING A SHOT IN THE ARM TO CRAFT BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES AROUND THE STATE.

IT'S REALLY GREAT.

>> Mary: WE'LL DIVE INTO WHAT THE BILL DOES IN A MINUTE.

THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN ON TO SAY THEY PRETTY AGREE AND JUST VOTED TOGETHER ON A BILL.

>> WE GREEN A LOT OF THINGS.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I DON'T CARE FOR.

BUT THAT'S ALSO THE NATURE OF GOING INTO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE EDIT THIS SOME.

BUT IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE WE JUMPED ON AIR, IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OWNERS OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, THE CRAFT BEVERAGE MANUFACTURERS, AND DISTILLERIES, FARM WINERIES, BREWERIES, CIDER MANUFACTURERS, MEAD MANUFACTURERS, THEY ALL HAVE BANDED TOGETHER, COME HERE TO THE CAPITOL, THEY HAVE WORKED WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY ALWAYS BEEN THE VOICE OF NO.

MLBA, THE BEER WHOLESALERS, DIFFERENT GROUPS, THEY HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO ARE THE CREATORS OF THESE BEVERAGES AND THEY'VE OF WORKED TOGETHER AND THEY HAVE COME TOGETHER WITH AN AGREEMENT THAT THEY MADE.

WASN'T US THAT MADE THIS.

IT WAS THEM THAT MADE THIS.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT AND NOTABLE THING.

>> Mary: LET'S DIVE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE BILL DOES SPECIFICALLY.

>> AS I MENTIONED, IT FREES THE GROWLER, RIGHT?

NO LONGER WILL THERE BE ANY BREWERY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA THAT CAN'T OFFER THEIR CONSUMERS GROWLERS.

BUT, MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT IT DOES FOR THE LITTLE CRAFT BREWERIES AND THE CRAFT DISTILLERIES, MAYBE THE BUSINESS THAT'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT CASTLE DANGER OR SURLY, WE'LL LET THEM SELL DIRECTOR TO THE CONSUMERS, WE'LL LET THE DISTILLERIES SELL THE 750 MILLILITERS, THEY'RE MOST USED TO BUYING AT THE LIQUOR SALE, BUT LET THEM MAKE THE CASE TO THE PUBLIC.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT YOUR DISTRICT, I HEARD YOUR SPEECH WHY YOU SUPPORTED IT, THIS IS MY DISTRICT.

YOU KIND OF HAD TO VOTE YOUR DISTRICT, NOT NECESSARILY YOUR PARTY ON THIS ONE.

>> IT REALLY IS.

IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, EIGHT YEARS AGO, MY BILL WAS THE BILL THAT OFFERED THE ABILITY FOR DISTILLERIES TO SELL BOTTLES.

AND IT STARTED OFF AT 750, IT WAS NEGOTIATED DOWN TO 7 -- 375.

SO I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN FAVOR OF THAT.

AND I AUTHORED FREE THE GROWLER LONG BEFORE IT HAPPENED HERE.

AND I'VE BEEN BE DRIVING AROUND THE STATE DOING THESE VIDEOS THAT I'VE DONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE WANT TO MAKE THINGS PARTISAN UP HERE, A LOT OF TIMES.

THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.

AND THE CREDIT GOES, AGAIN, TO THE PEOPLE WHO BANDED TOGETHER AND SAID, WE NEED THIS, AND THEY REASONED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE, AGAIN, SAID TRADITIONALLY BEEN THE VOICE OF NO.

THAT'S THEM.

THAT'S THEM PUSHING US TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD.

SO THERE'S NO VICTORY LAP FOR ANY ONE LEGISLATOR HERE.

I THINK THAT IT'S THE VICTORY LAP FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MANUFACTURERS AND THE SELLERS AND THE DISTRIBUTORS, THEY ALL WIN.

>> Mary: YOU WERE JUST LOOKING THROUGH YOUR ROLL CALL.

DID YOU SEE A PATTERN, LIKE, REPRESENTATIVE NASH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE I DISTILLERIES OR BREWERIES OR SOME KIND OF INDUSTRY IN THEIR DISTRICTS, DID THAT SEEM TO BE A PATTERN OR IS THERE NO PATTERN?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH IS, CRAFT HAS BECOME SO POPULAR THAT IF WE SET OUT TO DO CHART WHICH MEMBERS HAD CRAFT BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES, IT WOULD BE ALL OF THEM.

THERE ARE NOW 200 CRAFT BREWERIES ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND A LARGE NUMBER OF DISTILLERIES AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK THAT PEOPLE LIKE REPRESENTATIVE NASH DID YEARS AGO AND MANY OTHERS.

TO OPEN THE DOORS.

SO IT'S VERY POPULAR.

SO, I'M JUST HAPPY THAT WE GOT THE BILL DONE TONIGHT.

>> Mary: AND IT'S NOT DONE YET BECAUSE THIS HAS TO GO TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, JUST AS A REMINDER.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

>> Mary: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS WHO HOLD THE GAVEL IN THE SENATE.

WHAT IS IT LOOKING LIKE THERE?

>> WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IN YEARS PAST, I THINK THE CHAIR HAS HEARD THAT AS WELL FROM THE SENATE, BRING US A BILL THAT HAS THE CONSENSUS OF THE PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS IN THE THREE-TIER ORGANIZATION.

AND THAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.

WITH THE HELP OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THE MANUFACTURERS, THEY ALL CAME TO AN AGREEMENT, THEY SAID, THIS IS THE BILL THAT WE CAN SUPPORT.

WE'LL DO THIS.

SO, I HOPE THAT THE SENATE WILL LIVE UP TO THE ADMONITION THAT THEY'VE GIVEN US IN THE PAST.

I THINK THAT THEY FEEL MUCH LIKE WE DO, THE TIME IS NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE FINALLY SAYING, THEY'RE NOTICING, THEY'RE WATCHING, AND OBSTRUCTIONISM IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE AN ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT TIME, THERE'S JUST ABOUT TEN DAYS LEFT TO PASS BILLS.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT GETTING THIS THROUGH?

>> I THINK WE'VE GOT TIME FOR A COMPLETE DISCUSSION ABOUT.

THIS I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'LL GET IT DONE.

I HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH SENATOR DAHMS WHO CHAIRS THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE, AND I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN HAVE GOOD DISCUSSIONS AND GET SOMETHING MEANINGFUL DONE.

>> Mary: DID SUNDAY SALES GIVE YOU A LITTLE LESSON, RUNWAY ON THIS?

>> I THINK IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE AISLE WORKING TOGETHER AND GET SOMETHING DONE BE, YEAH, I THINK IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

>> I THINK IT'S ALSO, THE POWER F SOCIAL MEDIA, SO YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF HASHTAGS AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

SUNDAY SALES WAS REALLY AN EFFORT AROUND SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WAS THE INITIAL SURLY BILL.

THAT WAS AN EFFORT THAT WAS DRIVEN ARGELY BY SOCIAL MEDIA AND IT'S THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WANT SOMETHING CHANGED, TALKING TO LAWMAKERS UP HERE, SAYING, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.

NOW GO DO THIS.

>> Mary: THE RAMIFICATIONS MAYBE DIDN'T HAPPEN ON SUNDAY SALES, TOO.

DID THAT KIND OF QUIET SOME OF THE OPPOSITION?

>> YEAH, THE SKY DIDN'T FALL ON SUNDAY SALES.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> JUST LIKE IF THIS BILL PASSES THE SKY WON'T FALL THE WAY THE CRITICS HAVE SUGGESTED.

I THINK THAT IS HELPFUL.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING USED TO THE FACT THAT CRAFT BEER IS HERE AND IT'S HERE TO STAY.

IT'S PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND ME ON A WARM SUMMER EVENING, LOCAL CRAFT BREWERY, STUMBLING DISTANCE FROM MY HOUSE, ENJOYING A BEER.

IT'S A GOOD DEAL.

>> Mary: DURING YOUR CAREER, YOU'VE SEEN THESE ISSUES CHANGE OVER TIME.

>> WE HAVE.

I'VE BEEN HERE NOW EIGHT YEARS.

INITIALLY, IT WAS NO, NO TO EVERYTHING.

AND, OH, THEY ASKED FOR THAT TWO YEARS AGO, AND WE GIVE AND WE GIVE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE MY MOM, I GIVE AND I GIVE, THIS IS THE THANKS I GET.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS THAT PEOPLE SAY, WE EXPECT THIS OF LAWMAKERS, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE A PARTISAN ISSUE.

AND BACK TO MY INITIAL POINT, THIS IS NOT ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUAL LAWMAKER.

THIS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FINALLY SAID, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO BUY, AND IF PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING IT, SAYING, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO SELL, LET'S GET TOGETHER, MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> Mary: THANKS, YOU TWO, FOR COME TOGETHER, RACING UP FROM THE FLOOR AND JOINING US TONIGHT.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mary: JOINING ME NOW, SOMEONE WHO HAS SEEN 26 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.

>> Eric: YUP.

>> Mary: "ALMANAC" HOST, FORMER CAPITOL REPORTER, ERIC ESKOLA.

THAT FELT KIND OF REMARKABLE, DIDN'T IT, A DEMOCRAT AND A REPUBLICAN COMING TOGETHER AGREEING ON AN ISSUE THAT HAS CHANGED A LOT WHILE YOU'VE BEEN HERE.

>> REGARD ALLIANCE OF THE ISSUE, GOOD LAWMAKING, BIPARTISAN SPONSORSHIP, THEY GET IT DONE.

DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO SURVIVE OUT OF CONFERENCE, IT SHOWED, WHEN THEIR MINDS ARE SET TO IT, AND YOU GOT THAT CONFLUENCE OF INTERESTS AND THE INTERESTS COME TOGETHER, YOU GOT A SHOT.

>> Mary: BUT HUGE HURDLE TO OVERCOME, FOR DECADES OF YOUR CAREER, THERE WAS NO TOUCHING, THERE WAS NO SUNDAY SALES, YOU COULDN'T BRING IT UP, YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET A VOTE ON THESE ISSUES.

AND THEY'RE MOVIN' NOW, THE MOMENTUM'S OING, ISN'T IT?

>> LIQUOR LOBBY WAS FORMIDABLE.

AND WITH THIS NEW, YOUNGER, HIPPER GROUP COMING IN AND THE FOLKS WANTING THAT PRODUCT, LAWMAKERS RE LISTENING.

>> Mary: WE HEARD, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD, A NEW YOUNGER LAWMAKER TODAY SAYING, DON'T LISTEN TO THE LOBBYISTS ON THIS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO LOBBYISTS.

I DON'T KNOW IF HAT WOULD BE SAID IN THE PAST.

>> Eric: IT'S A DIFFERENT APPROACH, I'LL SAY.

>> Mary: DEFINITELY.

LET'S TALK DIFFERENT APPROACH.

THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IS NOT HERE WITH THE GAVEL.

>> Eric: WELL, HERE'S SOCIAL MEDIA FOR YOU.

REPRESENTATIVE NASH WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THE SPEAKER ANNOUNCED HER COVID DISEASE ON TWITTER.

>> Mary: SHE DID.

IT WAS NOT A PRESS RELEASE.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> Mary: IT WAS A TWEET.

>> Eric: FROM THE PAST TWO YEARS OF COVID, THERE USED -- THEY'RE USED TO NEGOTIATING REMOTELY.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO HAVE AS FAR AS AN IMPACT ON THE NEGOTIATIONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SO WEIRD THIS YEAR.

AND I'M SURE IT'S WEIRD OR YOU TOO.

SPEAKER CALLED THIS A FULL-FLEDGED BUDGET SESSION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE EVEN YEAR.

>> Mary: WELL, THEY HAD OVER $9 BILLION TO SPEND.

>> Eric: 7 BILLION LEFT.

>> Mary: YES.

>> Eric: SO WE'VE NEVER BEEN ON THIS STREET BEFORE.

>> Mary: WITH THIS MUCH MONEY TO SPEND IN A NONBUDGET SESSION, YES.

>> Eric: RIGHT.

ARE THEY GOING TO SET TARGETS?

ARE THEY GOING TO EMPOWER THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES TO NEGOTIATE?

THE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE I HAVE SO FAR IS THAT THE LEADERSHIP IS STILL -- HAS A PRETTY GOOD REIN ON THE -- REIGN ON THE BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEES.

ARE THEY SENSITIVE TO THE CRITICISM OF THAT IT'S THE TRY UM VENT IN THE ROOM AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS A BACK BENCHER WAITING FOR TARGETS OR SOME WHITE SMOKE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

TRIUMVIRATE.

>> Mary: MAYBE.

EARLIER IN THE SHOW, PEOPLE GOT TO SEE THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES ARE DOING WORK, THEY ARE HEARING SOME DIFFICULT ISSUES.

WE FEATURED SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN SCHOOLS.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> Mary: AND IN EDUCATION, AND BRINGING IN THAT TESTIMONY.

IT MIGHT NOT BE REAL EXPENSIVE, BUT THAT'S HARD NOT TO ACT N THOSE ISSUES, IT SEEMS LIKE.

>> Eric: WELL, IT IS.

I THINK A LOT OF IT WILL DEPEND ON HOW THEY FEEL THAT THE FINAL TEN DAYS WILL AFFECT THE NOVEMBER LECTION.

AND I THINK IF THERE'S A DO NOTHING -- YOU WERE A "DO NOTHING" LEGISLATURE, I THINK THEY CAN POINT TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, THE BUSINESS WANTED, THE REPUBLICANS WANTED, THE HERO CHECKS THAT THE DEMOCRATS WANTED, VETS BILL GOT PEELED OFF, IT WAS PASSED, OPIOID MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPREAD AROUND, MAYBE THEY'VE GOT SOME PEACE IN THE VALLEY ON LIQUOR, WHO KNOWS.

SO I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAND FOR THE YOU ARE A "DO NOTHING" LEGISLATURE.

ISSUES LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION AND TAXES, ONE OF THE LOBBYISTS TOLD ME, THESE ARE BIBLICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO CHAMBERS.

>> Mary: BUT PRESSING ISSUE, LET'S TAKE PUBLIC SAFETY.

IF THE BATTLEGROUND IS STILL SUBURBS AND EXURBS, SUBURBS AND EXURBS CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY OF ISSUES ARE CREEPING OUTSIDE INTO THOSE AREAS.

SO THAT MEANS LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDE OF THE AISLE, BOTH CHAMBERS, I THINK, WANT TO DO SOMETHING ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> Eric: ISN'T THE DEAL JUST SITTING THERE, GET TOUGH FROM THE SENATE, PREVENT CRIME FROM THE HOUSE, RECRUIT -- MONEY TO RECRUIT SOME COPS, OFF WE GO?

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> Eric: DOES IT FIT THE POLITICAL NARRATIVE THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER?

SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANT TO VOTE ON THE FLOOR AND THEN HAVE SOMEONE TO BLAME.

AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE DOOR KNOCKING, YOU SAY, I VOTED FOR THIS, BUT THE OTHER CHAMBER WOULDN'T GO FOR IT.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT ON FAMILY LEAVE.

8 >> Mary: I WAS GOING TO THROW ABORTION INTO THAT, TOO, AS AN ISSUE.

THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING BUT THEY MIGHT PUT UP SOME VOTES TO TAKE TO THE CAMPAIGN, RIGHT?

>> Eric: IT LOOKS LIKE THE FAMILY LEAVE IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE SO DIFFERENT THEY MAY NOT MERGE.

BUT IF YOU'RE DOOR KNOCKING, YOU'RE A SENATOR, I VOTED FOR A FAMILY LEAVE BILL.

BUT THE HOUSE WOULDN'T GO ALONG.

IF YOU'RE IN THE HOUSE, I VOTED FOR A FAMILY LEAVE BILL, BUT THE SENATE WOULDN'T GO ALONG.

SO, AGAIN, I THINK THE ELECTION, IMPORTANCE OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTION CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED.

>> Mary: AND I CAN'T UNDERSTATE ENOUGH THAT THE BUDGET IS ALREADY BALANCED AND THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.

>> Eric: YOUR WEEKLY REMINDER.

>> Mary: IT'S IMPORTANT, ISN'T IT?

>> Eric: IT IS, IT IS, IT IS.

>> Mary: AND WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE, TOO, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ADMITTED, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING AND THEY DON'T.

>> Eric: DO YOU SENSE THE ATMOSPHERE AROUND HERE, THE AIR'S OUT OF THE BALLOON A LITTLE BIT?

I DON'T SENSE A BUNCH OF URGENCY.

>> Mary: NOT REALLY.

AND NOW NEGOTIATIONS MAYBE NOT IN PERSON, VIRTUAL, HYBRID.

>> Eric: WELL, THE REPUBLICANS, I THINK, CHAIR LIMMER, THE PUBLIC SAFETY, HE'S GOING TO BE DOWN IN ROCHESTER THIS WEEKEND.

>> Mary: FOR THE CONVENTION.

>> Eric: FOR HE CONVENTION.

>> Mary: I'LL BE DOWN THERE.

>> Eric: RYAN WINKLER HAS HIS COUNTY ATTORNEY ENDORSING CONVENTION.

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: HE'S THE MAJORITY LEADER.

>> Mary: WE'RE OUT OF TOWN.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

UP NEXT, THIS WEEK'S RETIRING LAWMAKER, DFL STATE SENATOR SUSAN KENT IS LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE AFTER A DECADE OF SERVICE.

SHE IS JOINING THE GROWING NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO ARE NOT RETURNING NEXT SESSION.

SENATOR KENT, THE QUESTION WE START WITH EVERYONE, WHY ARE YOU LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE NOW?

>> IT'S BEEN SUCH A HARD DECISION, BUT RECENT EVENTS HAVE ABSOLUTELY AFFIRMED THAT I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTS OF COVID ON MY FAMILY, PARTICULARLY MY ELDERLY MOTHER AND HER CARE, AND I'M HER ONLY FAMILY, OTHER THAN MY HUSBAND AND SON, AND, SO, I REALLY NEEDED TO DO THAT.

OF AND I REALLY JUST LOOKED AT THAT QUESTION, YOU KNOW, CAN I DO BOTH OF THESE THINGS WELL?

AND I REALIZE THE ANSWER IS NO.

AND, SO, I HAVE TO DO THIS ONE.

AND WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE WONDERFUL COME IN AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF WHAT WILL BE SENATE DISTRICT 47.

>> Mary: I WONDER IF THIS FURTHER PRESSES THE ISSUE OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING IN SOCIETY AND IN OUR JOBS AND IN OUR LIVES OF CARING NOT JUST FOR CHILDREN ON THE FRONT END BUT FOR OUR PARENTS ON THE BACK END.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND, YOU KNOW, -- AND THAT IS SOMETHING, I'VE WORKED ON THIS BILL NOW, I'VE BEEN THE CHIEF AUTHOR FOR SIX YEARS, AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING SO MANY AMAZING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE AND THEIR OWN PERSONAL CARE-GIVING STORIES, EVERYBODY HAS A STORY.

IT IS O POWERFUL.

AND IT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY MY PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE IN THIS -- ON THIS ISSUE OVER THESE YEARS.

>> Mary: THE OTHER ISSUE, WHEN I'M STARING AT A SUBURBAN WOMAN W THAT IS FOREFRONT NOW, CHOICE, THE ABORTION ISSUE IN LIGHT OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE COURTS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT LEAVING POLITICS IN LIGHT OF THE CHANGES AHEAD ON THIS ISSUE?

>> I'M NOT LEAVING POLITICS.

NEU I PERSONALLY WILL NOT BE RUNNING FOR OFFICE BECAUSE OF MY OWN CHALLENGES, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I'M STEPPING COMPLETELY AWAY.

AND THIS JUST LIGHTS A WHOLE NEW FIRE UNDER ME AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE.

THESE ARE HUMAN RIGHTS, THESE ARE OUR RIGHTS OVER UR OWN BODIES AND OUR OWN FAMILIES.

AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS BEING IN THAT.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION OVER THE NEXT, WHAT IS IT, SIX MONTHS.

>> Mary: DO WE SEE THE RESURGENCE OF THE SUBURBAN VOTER THAT FABLED SOCCER MOM DECIDING MAJOR ELECTIONS GOING FORWARD?

>> I THINK SO.

AND, IN FACT, I HAVE NIECES WHO ARE IN THEIR LATE 30s AND EARLY 40s, AND I REMEMBER HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, BECAUSE THEY KIND OF TOOK THIS FOR GRANTED, YOU KNOW, HEY JUST THOUGHT THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS, AND I JUST SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?

YOU NEVER KNOW.

AND WE'VE GOT TO STAY ATTENTIVE.

AND, SO, YOU HAVE A WHOLE GENERATION OF YOUNGER MOTHERS NOW WHO ARE REALLY CONCERNED AND THINKING ABOUT THEIR OWN LIVES, THEIR OWN FAMILIES, AND THEIR DAUGHTERS.

>> Mary: THE OTHER THING I THINK ABOUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT SUBURBAN WOMAN, HOW YOU TAKE THE REINS IN YOUR CAUCUS.

TAKING DOWN TOM BAKK IS NOT AN EASY TASK.

>> YEAH, I REMEMBER.

[ Laughter ] AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS NEVER PERSONAL.

FOR ME IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN UR CAUCUS AND OUR MEMBERS.

PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE THIS BE ABOUT POLITICAL IDEOLOGY.

NEU WE'RE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WORK REALLY CLOSELY TOGETHER, AND IT IS LIKE A FAMILY IN THAT WAY.

I REALIZED THAT OUR MEMBERS NEEDED TO FEEL HEARD AND RESPONDED TO IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

IT HAS MUCH MORE TO DO WITH HOW THE CAUCUS OPERATES AS OPPOSED TO HOW WE VOTE ON THINGS.

POLITICS IS CHANGING ALL AROUND OUR COUNTRY.

AND THOSE KINDS OF CHANGES REFLECT IT.

IT'S NOT PERSONAL.

IT'S NOT OLD BACK-ROOM DEALS.

IT'S ABOUT REPRESENTING US AS MEMBERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT GEOGRAPHY AND GENDER, THOUGH, HOW MUCH DID THOSE TWO MATTER IN LIGHT OF YOUR LEADERSHIP?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT GEOGRAPHY ABSOLUTELY MATTERED.

YOU KNOW, BUT OUR CAUCUS IS MORE THAN 50% SUBURBAN NOW.

YOU KNOW?

AND THAT IS A CHANGE IN FAIRLY RECENT YEARS.

IN TERMS OF GENDER, I WILL SAY THAT IN SOME WAYS IT DOESN'T MATTER, BUT IN SO MANY WAYS IT'S ALWAYS THERE.

JUST LIKE MY DECISION TO STEP BACK AND ASKING MYSELF THAT QUESTION, CAN I DO ALL THESE JOBS WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT MEN REALLY ASK THAT QUESTION VERY OFTEN.

>> Mary: PARTICULARLY THE WOMEN WHO ARE LEAVING THE SENATE, IT'S A LARGE NUMBER.

>> YES.

AND WE DID THAT IN 2016, I ALWAYS LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE, OUT OF 67 MEMBERS, WE HAD NEW MEMBERS, 20 OF WHOM WERE WHITE MEN.

WE LOST SOME GREAT AND STRONG WOMEN.

IT'S GOING TO BE SIMILAR THIS TIME, I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF THAT YOU'VE WORKED ON.

>> ONE OF THEM FOR ME ABSOLUTELY AT THE TOP IS STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND MINNESOTA'S HISTORICALLY BAD SUPPORT FOR WHAT WE CALL STUDENT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, WHICH IS COUNSELORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AND NURSES.

WE NEED THEM MORE THAN EVER RIGHT NOW.

>> Mary: I HAVE BEEN AMAZED AT EVERY RETIREMENT INTERVIEW IS HOW MUCH PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THEIR FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS THE AISLE.

MAYBE FRIENDSHIPS WE DIDN'T EVEN NECESSARILY KNOW ABOUT.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT AND MAYBE REVEAL SOME SECRET FRIENDSHIPS THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW?

>> ONE OF THEM THAT I THINK PEOPLE WOULD FIND INTERESTING IS ME AND ERIC PRATT.

HE AND I CAME IN TOGETHER AS TRUE FRESHMAN, WE'RE ABOUT THE SAME AGE, HE WAS IN COLLEGE, PLAYING COLORADO FOOTBALL, AT THE SAME TIME I WAS A STUDENT, TEXAS LONGHORN, WE'VE TRASH TALKED A LITTLE FOOTBALL.

MY ANALOGY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS LIKE A RIVER, IT'S BEEN FLOWING WAY LONG BEFORE SUE SANITY KENT EVER GOT HERE -- SUSAN KENT GOT HERE.

I'VE JUMPED IN, PADDLED ALONG, TEN YEARS NOW, TRIED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, I'M GOING TO GET OUT, THAT RIVER'S GOING TO KEEP FLOWING.

>> THERE ARE NEW LEADERS WHO ARE EMERGING AND AS LONG AS MY VOICE IS IN THAT ROOM, THEIR VOICE WON'T BE AS WELL HEARD.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT YOUR VOICE NO LONGER IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR, YOU STOOD OUT AS THE ONLY WOMAN ON YOUR PARTY'S SIDE BUT ALSO IN GENERAL.

HOW DOES IT LOOK NOT TO HAVE A WOMAN RUNNING FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE LIKE THIS ANYMORE?

>> THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK MINNESOTA POLITICS HAS TO UNPACK.

I WASN'T THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR THE DELEGATES AT THIS TIME.

AND I HADN'T DONE MY DUE DILIGENCE IN PREPARING TO FUND-RAISE FOR SOMETHING THIS BIG.

IT'S ABOUT $1.5 MILLION TO RUN IN A PRIMARY.

ON PAPER, I WAS A GOOD CANDIDATE, BUT THE DELEGATES WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE IN THE ERA OF TRUMP AND, FRANKLY, THE POLARIZATION THAT HAS COME IN POLITICS.

IT'S CHALLENGING FOR SOMEONE WHO JUST FOCUSES ON BLOCKING AND TACKLING AND GOOD POLICY.

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

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WHEN LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE JUST DAYS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

THERE YOU CAN REWATCH ANY OF OUR PROGRAMS AND FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, ESPECIALLY IN THESE CLOSING DAYS.

AGAIN, ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

AND WHEN THE LEGISLATURE'S IN SESSION, YOU CAN WATCH HOUSE, SENATE, LOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, PRESS CONFERENCES, AND MUCH MORE ON THE PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW AND FRIDAY NIGHT, ON "ALMANAC," ON PUBLIC TV, ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH A COUCH FULL OF POLITICAL EXPERTS.

KAOMI LEE WILL TOUR THE PURCEL CAN YOU TELL US HOUSE, THERE'S PUBLIC TOURS AGAIN OF THAT ARCHITECTURAL GEM.

I'LL BE DOWN IN ROCHESTER FOR THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.

THEY'LL BE ENDORSING CANDIDATES FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE.

WE WILL BE THERE AND I'LL HAVE LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.

THEY MIGHT GET TO GOVERNOR.

GOVERNOR'S RACE PROBABLY LOOKING LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE SATURDAY.

BUT OTHER STATEWIDE OFFICE, SECRETARY OF STATE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, THAT COULD BE HAPPENING FRIDAY.

SO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" FOR THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪ >> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "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: 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.