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

>> THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS HERE LIVE AND WE HAVE THE LAWMAKER BEHIND ALL THE BIGGEST BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE, 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.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES: A LEADING PRODUCER OF THE FUELS MINNESOTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: DELIVERING NEARLY $4 BILLION TO BENEFIT ALL MINNESOTANS SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT A NEW BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES.

WE HAVE WHAT COULD BE THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN THE HOUSE TO DISCUSS A DEAL ON SPORTS BETTING AND MORE, PLUS OUR FRESHMAN LAWMAKER THIS WEEK NEVER THOUGHT HE HAD A CHANCE TO GET ELECTED.

BUT FIRST, GOVERNOR WALZ REVEALS HIS SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET PLANS.

>> GRANTED THE FONTS IS SMALL BUT IT DOES FIT ON ONE PAGE.

>> >> A ONE-PAGE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET FOR $226 MILLION IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR DESCRIBED AS RESTRAINED, WITH THE SURPLUS NEARLY GONE AND SOME CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON.

>> I'VE BEEN SAYING IT THIS YEAR AND I'LL CONTINUE TO SAY IT, THIS IS A BONDING YEAR, IT'S NOT A BUDGET YEAR.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO MEET THIS MOMENT WITH A SMALLER, INTENTIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, MAKING SURE THAT MINNESOTANS, ESPECIALLY, WORKING CLASS MINNESOTANS, ARE SEEING A BUDGET THAT IS NOT ONLY BALANCED BUT RETURNING SERVICES AND HIGH-QUALITY RESPONSES TO THE THINGS THEY NEED.

>> WE KNOW THAT MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY IS STRONG AND HEALTHY AND IT'S THROUGH THOUGHTFUL, SPECIFIC BUDGETING LIKE WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY THAT WE WILL KEEP IT THAT WAY.

>> Mary: MORE MONEY FOR GREATER MINNESOTA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WATER QUALITY AND FAMILIES WITH KIDS.

>> THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION MAKE MINNESOTA THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO DO ADVANCED PERIODIC PAYMENTS ON THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

>> LAST YEAR, WE MADE GENERATIONAL HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN MINNESOTANS.

>> WE LITERALLY HAVE A LIST UP HERE OF ALL THE MANDATES FROM JUST LAST YEAR.

>> Mary: MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS ROLLED OUT A BILL TO FIX WHAT DEMOCRATS PASSED LAST SESSION, FOR KIDS' EDUCATION, ALLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DELAY MANDATES.

>> THE BILL IS IN RESPONSE TO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM SUPERINTENDENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TEACHERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, THERE S SO MUCH THAT'S COMING AT THEM, ESPECIALLY OUR SMALL SCHOOLS, JUST DON'T HAVE THE BAND WIDTH IN ORDER TO INCORPORATE ALL OF IT IN THE TIMEFRAME THAT THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC QUITE UNDERSTANDS YET THE DESPERATE STATE OF AFFAIRS THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE FACING FROM THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF THE MANDATES THAT WE'VE PUT ON THEM LAST YEAR.

I HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM AROUND THE STATE, NOT JUST MY OWN, BANGING DOWN MY OORS, BEGGING FOR HELP.

>> I AM THE ONLY SENATOR AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW IN THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE THAT ACTUALLY WENT BACK TO WORK IN A SCHOOL THIS FALL AND HAT I SAW IN THE HIBBING SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE GETTING ABOUT HOW THIS HIS TORIC FUNDING IS HELPING SCHOOLS SO EVEN THOUGHS THERE IS THIS HISTORIC FUNDING, WE'RE HAVING TO LET TEACHERS GO AND SO THEY HAVE TO TRY TO FIND WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE.

ALMOST ALL OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MY SENATE DISTRICTS ARE CUTTING.

>> MARY: HERE WITH US NOW TO TALK BUDGET PRIORITIES, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN.

WELL, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, REPUBLICANS SAID THIS WAS STINGY.

DID YOU EVER THINK YOU WOULD BE PART OF A BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT WAS CRITICIZED AS STINGY?

>> I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT MINNESOTANS WANT TO PUT MORE INTO EDUCATION.

WE HAD A TREMENDOUS BILL THAT THEY COULD HAVE OTED NEXT YEAR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR WHEN THEY VOTE FOR MORE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

BUT I THINK THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, IT IS A GAME-CHANGER THAT WE HAVE BREAKFASTS AND LUNCH FOR EVERY KID IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE'RE HEARING FROM -- >> Mary: AND THEY NEEDS TO PAY FOR MORE MILK, TOO, THE GOVERNOR DID NOT PUT THAT IN THE BUDGET, RIGHT?

>> HERE'S WHAT I KNOW.

AFTER MANY YEARS OF DOING THIS, BUT AFTER SIX YEARS AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I KNOW THAT THE BUDGET THAT WE PRESENT IS NOT THE BUDGET THAT WE WILL END UP WITH.

>> Mary: WE SHOULD REMIND PEOPLE, YOU USED TO WORK JUST DOWN THERE.

>> JUST OVER THERE.

>> Mary: SO YOU'RE BRINGING LESSLY ACTIVE EXPERIENCE SO SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE COUNTING ON THE LEGISLATURE TO BRING THAT PARTS TO THE TABLE.

>> YOU KNOW, ALL OF THIS IS A NEGOTIATION.

WE CERTAINLY THINK THAT KIDS DRINKING MILK AT SCHOOL IS, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE INTERESTED IN DOING.

I THINK WE ALSO JUST WANT TO BE REALLY INTENTIONAL SO TWO MORE MONTHS IN THE LIFE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO LIVE A THOUSAND LIVES AND SO I KNOW THAT WE'LL GET TO A REALLY GOOD PLACE.

WE'VE GOT GREAT PARTNERS IN THE LEGISLATURE SO I'M EAGER TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFICS E JUST SAW THERE, SENATOR COLEMAN HELD UP PAGES AND PAGES OF MANDATES, THEY SAID THERE'S RECORD FUNDING AND ALL THIS GREATS MORE MONEY, THERE'S ACTUALLY MORE MANDATES THAN THERE IS MONEY AND SCHOOLS ARE CUTTING AND STRUGGLING.

>> I THINK THAT WE ARE IN A MOMENT WHERE WE HAVE INVESTED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AS A RECOVERING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I CAN TELL YOU THAT HAVING THAT PREDICTABILITY OF THE 2% EVERY YEAR IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE KNOW THAT.

THERE'S SOME DISTRICTS, OF COURSE, AS WE'RE COMING OFF OF SOME OF THE PANDEMIC FUNDING THAT THAT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT TRANSITION BUT I'M CONFIDENT, ESPECIALLY WITH, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY, WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO, THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE MADE IN THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE'RE ON THE TRACK, I THINK WE'RE ON TRACK TO CONTINUE TO BE IN A GOOD PLACE AND, YOU KNOW, I -- I KNOW THAT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE INCREDIBLY VALUABLE AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE MAKE IN OUR KIDS AND TEACHERS REALLY MATTER.

>> Mary: SPEAKING OF SCHOOLS, TOMORROW, YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN A SCHOOL AND TALKING BASICALLY ABOUT BANNING BOOK BANS.

>> YES.

>> Mary: YOU'RE SEEING THAT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED ABOUT IT A LOTS IN NATIONAL PRESS.

IS THE BILL NECESSARY HERE, IS IT NECESSARY TO ACTUALLY PUTS IN LAW TO BE PECIFIC ABOUT A BAN ON BOOK BANS?

>> I THINK IT IS, AND I THINK THE MESSAGE THAT WE HEAR COMING FROM FOLKS WHO ARE TAKING BOOKS OFF OF OUR SHELVES AND PROHIBITING WHAT IT IS THAT FOLKS CAN READ, IT'S, FRANKLY UNAMERICAN.

I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FREEDOM TO BE ABLE TO READ THE MATERIALS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US, LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO, AND I'M EAGER, RIGHT, FOR THIS EVENT TOMORROW WHERE WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT IT AND, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR'S A TEACHER AND HE CARES TREMENDOUSLY ABOUT THIS.

I'M A MOM AND I WANT TO DECIDE, YOU KNOW, WHAT BOOKS WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CHECK OUT OF THE LIBRARY AND, YOU KNOW, LIMITING WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO MY KIDDO IS NOT ANYTHING I'M INTERESTED IN.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN PUTTING THIS IN HIS BUCKETS OF THINGS HE NEEDS TO RECRUIT, WE NEEDS WORKERS, WE STILL HAVE A LABOR SHORTAGE, HE SAID COME TO MINNESOTA WHERE WE DON'T BAN BOOKS AND HAVE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

TALK ABOUT THAT, DOES I.V.F.

LEGISLATION NEEDS TO COME OUT.

IS THAT GOING TO BE A CRUCIAL ISSUE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND ACCESS TO ABORTION, I.V.F., BEING I BELIEVE TO DECIDE HOW AND WHEN AND IF WE DECIDE TO START A FAMILY, THAT ABSOLUTELY WILL BE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO, TOO.

IT IS UNCONSCIONABILITY TO ME THAT WE WOULD MAKE DECISIONS FOR ANYBODY REGARDING WHAT KIND OF FAMILY THEY WANT TO HAVE, AND SO I THINK, AS, YOU KNOW, CORPORATIONS ARE LOOKING AROUND AS WE'VE GOT WOMEN EXECUTIVES, RIGHT, WHO ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, MINNESOTA IS AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO COME AND IT'S N ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO COME FOR CORPORATION WHO IS SAY, WE'VE GOT TO RECRUIT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST.

HAVING STATE THAT'S LIMITING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IS NOT IT.

>> Mary: AND YOUR COHORT, WE SHOULD SAY, NOT SIDEKICK, THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED VERY PERSONALLY ABOUT I.V.F..

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF POLITICIANS OR GOVERNORS OUT THERE REALLY TELLING THAT STORY.

DO YOU THINK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR HIM, TALKING ABOUT HIS CHILDREN BROUGHT TO YOU BY I.V.F.?

>> I THINK IT MATTERS TREMENDOUSLY.

HE HAS BEEN SO VULNERABLE AND I THINK THAT THAT ATTERS.

THESE ARE DEEPLY PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS AND I LOVE THAT HIS DAUGHTER IS NAMED HOPE, RIGHT?

LIKE, MY HUSBAND WAS ALSO CONCEIVED BY I.V.F.

AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE, SO I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I BET THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE WHO WILL TELL YOU A SIMILAR STORY.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT WE CAN -- WE HAVE THESE -- THIS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND HELP COUPLES WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH FERTILITY OR FOLKS WHO WANT TO HAVE A CHILD, WE SHOULDN'T GET IN THE WAY OF THAT.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR IT, TOO.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

WE SHOULD WANT THAT.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT A JOB YOU GET TO DO AND YOU GET TO BE THE BOSS AND I LOVE THE GEEK-OUT ON CAPITOL AREA ARCHITECTURE PLANNING OARDS AND LITTLE DO YOU KNOW, I WATCH EVERY SINGLE MEETING, BEGINNING TO ENDS AND THERE IS A BIG EXCITING PROJECT I'M WORKING ON A STORY RIGHT NOW.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE CAPITOL MALL, WE'RE TALKING WADING POOLS, SPLASH PADS, CAFÉS, MAYBE A THOUSAND TREES?

THIS IS ENORMOUS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REDEVELOP THE CAPITOL MALL.

>> SO I'M SO EXCITED AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU DON'T SLEEP ON THE C.A.A.P.

BOARD BECAUSE IT'S WHERE THE PARTY'S AT, CERTAINLY.

>> Mary: AND YOU'RE THE CHAIR.

>> I'M THE CHAIR, YES, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DUTIES IN STATUTE, THAT IS ONE OF THEM.

BUT WE'VE HAD A REALLY EXCITING TIME, I THINK, ON THE CAP BOARD OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS COME TOGETHER AND REIMAGINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT MINNESOTA'S FRONT LAWN ESSENTIALLY LOOKS LIKE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PLACE IN SPACE FOR FOOD TRUCKS.

WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS A CULTURAL WALK WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE CULTURES FROM MINNESOTA, POTENTIALLY MORE LONG-TERM A CAFÉ, ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Mary: BIG STUFF, BIG STUFF.

BEFORE WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

WHAT'S NEXT?

ARE YOU RUNNING AGAIN?

IS THE GOVERNOR RUNNING AGAIN?

WHAT'S HAPPENING, YOU TWO?

>> I REALLY LIKE MY CO-WORKER, WE'RE HAVING A GOOD TIME.

I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH 2021, I TROWEL BELIEVE THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT HE APPLICATION IN OUR TIME.

>> Mary: NOT RULING OUT ANOTHER INTERPRETER?

>> NOT RULING ANYTHING OUT.

YEAH, YOU BETTER.

>> Mary: EXCELLENT, ALL RIGHT.

♪ >> MARY: SPORTS BETTING, PROTECTING CHILD STARS ONLINE AND UPDATES TO NEW MARIJUANA LAW, ALL THE WORK OF ONE OF THE BUSIEST LAWMAKERS AT THE CAPITOL.

REPRESENTATIVE STEPHENSON JOINS US BEFORE THIS FRIDAY'S DEADLINE.

OKAY, LET'S TALK WITH THE ONE THAT'S JUST MAKING NEWS.

YOU GOT ONE OF THE GROUPS WHO WASN'T SO EXCITED ABOUT YOUR BILL EXCITED ABOUT YOUR BILLS.

CHARITIES AND SPORTS BETTING, TELL ME ABOUT THE DEAL.

>> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, PASSING A BILL ABOUT GAMBLING IN THE LEGISLATURE IS REALLY HARD.

YOU HAVE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND FIND A COALITION AND BRING IT TOGETHER AND ONE OF THE BIG GROUPS THAT E'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ARE THE CHARITIES WHO, YOU KNOW, WE PASSED SOME BILLS LAST YEAR ABOUT E-PULLTABS, THEY HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT BUT WE WORKED TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT EVERYONE COULD LIVE WITH AND THIS WEEK HAD A BIG BREAK-THROUGH WHERE WE RESOLVED NOT ONLY THAT E-PULL TAB ISSUE BUT GOT THEM BEHIND THE SPORTS BETTING BILL.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE TRACKS?

EVERYBODY IS SAYING THAT'S THE LAST OUTSTANDING ISSUE.

>> >> WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO WITH THE TRACKS, AND OTHER THINGS.

I MEAN, THERE IS A BIG ISSUE ABOUT PROBLEM GAMING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE REALLY SERIOUSLY.

MOST PEOPLE CAN GAMBLE WITHOUT A PROBLEM BUT NOR A SMALL SET OF THE POPULATION, IT IS DEVASTATING.

>> Mary: AND THAT'S WHERE YOU LOSE DFL VOTES ON THAT.

>> YEAH, AND REPUBLICANS, TOO, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT, TOO.

WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT IN SESSION, I WORK AS A PROSECUTOR, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE RUIN THEIR LIVES.

>> Mary: SO ARE YOU THERE YET ON THAT ARTS, DO YOU NEED TO WORK OUT -- >> I THINK THAT WILL ALWAYS BE A THING THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

>> Mary: PARDON THE PUN BUT WHAT'S THE ODDS IT GETS DONE?

>> I THINK 50-50, STILL A -- >> Mary: STILL ONLY 50s-50.

>> A REALLY DIFFICULT BILL.

YEAH.

>> Mary: ANOTHER DIFFICULT BILL, YOU HAD MARIJUANA ELECTION STATION.

SOME UPDATES AND CHANGES, WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET HE LEGAL MARKETPLACE UP AND RUNNING AS FAST AS MOBILE TO -- >> Mary: IT LETTER BEEN FAST.

>> NO, NO, AND THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE NEED -- IT NEEDS TO BE DONE RIGHT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PUTTING IN ALL THE RIGHT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS, PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS ALL THAT STUFF AND THAT TAKES TIME TO DO THAT RULE-MAKING, TO MAKE YOU ARE HHH THE PUBLIC'S VOICE IS HEARD AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THE PROCESS.

SO IT DOES TAKE TIME BUT WE DO WANT TO TRY AND SPEED THINGS UP AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL TRY AND WORK ON THIS YEAR.

>> Mary: DO YOU HAVE MANY BILLS ON THAT, ONE BIG BILL?

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING YOUR PROCESS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE COMMIT' DEADLINES THIS TRIPE.

>> COMMITTEE DEADLINES COMING UP AND WE'LL HEAR SEVERAL BILLS ABOUT CANNABIS THAT MEMBERS HAVE BROUGHT AND WE'LL PROBABILITY PUT TOGETHER A PACKAGE OF BILLS ON THE SUBJECT.

>> Mary: THE OTHER ISSUE REALLY INTERESTING, GETTING SOME NATIONAL ATTENTION, PROTECTING THE ONLINE CHILD STARS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR PARENTS AND THE MONEY, KIND OF EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE TRYING DO IN YOUR BILL.

>> YEAH, SO THERE'S THIS THING THAT I THINK PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCING WHERE PEOPLE GET PAID MONEY FOR THE CONTENTS THEY PUT ON Facebook AND INSTAGRAM.

THE PROBLEM IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE PERSON MAKING THE CONTENTS IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 OR EVEN AY YOUNG -- >> Mary: IT HAPPENS.

>> FROM BIRTHS, RIGHT, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT SOMETIMES IS AN OKAY THING BUT THERE IS A REAL DARK SIDE TO THIS WHERE SOME PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR KIDS, PUTTING THEM IN HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE SIGNIFICANCES, SKIMPY CLOTHING, FOLLOWED BY PREDOMINANTLY OLDER MEN.

THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND PUT UNSOME GOURDS RAILINGS AND PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE UNDERSTAND THE AGE OF 14, JUST LIKE YOU CAN'T WORK ANY OTHER JOB, YOU'RE TO YOUNG TO BE DOING THIS JOB?

TERMS OF SEXUALITY PLIGHT EXPLOITATION, EVEN THINGS LIKE SEX TRAFFICKING.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE ON THAT ONE.

>> Mary: IS THERE A BILL YOU SPONSOR THAT DOESN'T NEED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT?

I MEAN, THIS IS KINDS OF YOUR WORK, ISN'T IT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH IS, THE LEGISLATURE IS NARROWLY DIVIDED AND IT MAKES SENSE TO TRY TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE TO FIND CONSENSUS.

>> Mary: ALL OF YOUR BILLS IN PARTICULAR TEND TO NEED OR GAIN SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

THAT'S A YOU EXT SKILL SET.

>> YOU HAVE TO WORK REALLY HARD AT EVERY DAY, THANK YOU AND YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING IS TO LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALK AND TRY TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY AND WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT THAT MORE OFTEN THAN I THINK PEOPLE EXPECT.

>> Mary: FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO GEEK OUT AND WATCH LEGISLATIVE TV ALL DAY, IF YOU'RE NOT CHAIRING A COMMITTEE OR PRESENTING A BILL IN FRONT HAVE OH US, RECORD AMOUNTS OF BILLS, 5,000 BILLS INTRODUCED, HOW MANY DO YOU THINK UP THIS SESSION?

>> I THINK I'M NOTICE 60s, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT HIGH, A LITTLE BIT HIGH FOR THE AMOUNT OF BILLS THAT WERE NTRODUCED BUT I THINK WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DO REALLY GOOD WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA HERE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

>> Mary: EXPLAIN HOW YOU MANAGE IT, HOW YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A LIFE AND HAVEN'T BURNED OUT QUITE YET.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GRIT TEAM AROUND YOU.

I HAVE PHENOMENAL STAFF HERE AT THE CAPITOL WHO WORK REALLY HARD AND ARE REALLY CAPABLE OF BOTH PARTISAN AND NONPARTISAN, BY THE WAY, AND THEN I HAVE A PHENOMENAL FAMILY THAT'S WILLING TO PUT UP WITH ME BEING GONE, MAYBE THEY SEE IT AS A FEATURE, NOT A BUG FOR ME NOT TO BE ARRANGED SO MUCH BUT IT'S A RARE OPPORTUNITY THAT I FEEL LIKE I HAVE RIGHT NOW AND I'VE JUST WANT TO SQUEEZE EVERY LITTLE BIT OUT OF IT.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK SOME OF YOUR APPROACH COMES OUT OF YOUR DISTRICT?

YOU COME FROM A COMPETE DID I HAVE DIRECT.

>> IT IS A BIT OF IT, WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, IT WASN'T CLEAR TO E I WOULD E HERE FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS AND I THOUGHT I'M GOING TO THROW EVERYTHING I HAVE INTO IT FOR THOSE TWO YEARS AND, I DON'T KNOW, IT'S JUST THE RHYTHM I'M IN.

IT'S BEEN THE SAME WAY EVER SINCE.

>> Mary: HOW DOES IT LOOK IN YOUR DISTRICTS AND FOR ALL DFL-CONTROL IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I THINK WE'LL GOT A GREAT STORY TO TELL ABOUT WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, FROM UNIVERSAL MEALS TO PULLING A THIRD OF KIDS OUT OF POVERTY, TO EXPANDING HEALTH CARE, TO PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT CASE TO MAKE TO THE VOTERS THAT WE SHOULD GET ANOTHER TWO YEARS AND I THINK WE'LL ET 'EM.

>> Mary: THANK SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, REPRESENTATIVE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MARY: THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER SAW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIS HOUSE SEAT AFTER REDISTRICTING AND OVERCAME HIS FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING ALONG THE WAY.

REPRESENTATIVE, THE QUESTION WE ASK EVERY FRESHMAN, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR THIS OFFICE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> WELL, I GUESS MY STORY IS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE.

I DID NOT PLAN ON GETTING INVOLVED IN POLITICS.

IT WASN'T MY GOAL, REALLY.

WHAT I GOT INVOLVED AND STARTED GOING TO LOCAL MEETINGS AND STUFF, REALLY WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS JUST HAVE A VOICE.

I WANTED IS TO BECOME A DELEGATE IN THE PROCESS.

THAT WAS REALLY ALL MY WIFE AND I REALLY WANTED TO DO.

WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WAS WITH REDISTRICTING, WE HAD NO SITTING REPRESENTATIVE.

I LOOKED AT MY WIFE AND I SAID, I THINK I'M GOING TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND SHE SAID, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR CHANCES ARE?

AND I SAID NOT A HOPE IN HECK.

>> Mary: WHY NOT?

>> FIRST ROUND?

WELL, I HADN'T BEEN INVOLVED, I HADN'T RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE, REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THE SYSTEM, DIDN'T KNOW HOW THINGS WORKED I SAID, YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN THE PROCESS.

IF NOTHING ELSE, WE'LL GO TO THE CONVENTION, I'M GOING GETS PAST THAT FEAR F PUBLIC SPEAKING -- >> Mary: SO, IF I CAN JUMP IN, YOU GOT OVER YOUR FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING BECAUSE YOU DON'T GETS ENDORSED AND ELECTED WITHOUT SPEAKING.

>> I WOULDN'T SAY ENTIRELY PAST THAT FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING BUT WENT TO THE ENDORSEMENT, THERE WAS THREE OF US RUNNING, FIRST ROUNDS OF VOTES, I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS AND I THOUGHT THERE'S NO WAY I COULD WIN.

>> Mary: WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS, WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE GOT BEHIND YOU?

>> THE FIRST SPEECH I GAVE WAS KIND OF PREPARED AND THE SECOND ONE WAS JUST SPEAKING FROM THE HEART, AND I THINK THAT CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE.

>> Mary: DO YOU TAKE THAT PRINCIPLE TO THE CAPITOL WHEN YOU WENT THERE, DID YOU DECIDE, HEY, I'M NOT GOING TO DO A CANNED SPEECH, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART AND CONNECT WITH PEOPLE?

>> PRETTY HARSH CRITIQUES FROM MY WIFE.

SHE SAID REALLY WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS STOP THE PREPARED SPEECH.

WHEN PEOPLE CAN HEAR YOU TALK, THEY'LL CONNECT WITH YOU.

AND AFTER THAT, I DID NOT PREPARE SPEECHES, I JUST, YOU KNOW, SPOKE ABOUT WHAT I KNEW, WHAT I WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT AND IT RESONATED WITH THE VOTERS.

I HAD A PRIMARY CHALLENGE, GOT THROUGH THAT AND LO AND BEHOLD, YOU KNOW, WON THE RACE.

BUT EVEN THEN, THE PRIMARY I ONLY WON BY 20 VOTES, 20 YEARS AGO -- MAYBE 25 YEARS AGO, THIS WAS A DEMOCRAT AREA.

OUR REPRESENTATIVE WAS MARY ELLEN OTREMBA, I WAS FRIENDS WITH HER SON GROWING UP IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE WAS A GREAT REPRESENTATIVE BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH, IT'S NOW A STRONG REPUBLICAN AREA.

WHEN MARY ELLEN WAS OUR REPRESENTATIVE, SHE WAS PRO LIFE AND PRO SECOND AMENDMENT BUT THAT WAS TWO CATEGORIES THAT ARE NOT BIG PARTY PLATTE FORMS AS FAR AS THE DEMOCRATS ANYMORE AND HERE IN RURAL MINNESOTA, BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES ARE VERY FIRM FOR MOST OF THE VOTERS.

>> Mary: I BET YOU WERE HOPING YOU WERE COMING INTO THE MAJORITY, LIFE IN THE MINORITY IS DIFFERENT, ISN'T IT?

>> VERY MUCH IS, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GO THROUGH A TRAINING OF FRESHMAN TRAINING AND WHEN WE DID THAT, WE WERE SET AT THE TABLES, DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, AND I SAID AT THAT TIME THAT WHETHER WE WERE IN THE MINORITY OR MAJORITY, I WOULD TREAT PEOPLE THE SAME.

BUT ONCE YOU GET DOWN TO THE CAPITOL, THE ENVIRONMENT IS DIFFERENT AND THAT'S REALLY SAD BECAUSE PEOPLE YOU HAD A NICE CONVERSATION WITH WEEKS BEFORE, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE'S THIS ANIMOSITY, THERE'S THIS TENSION.

>> Mary: WITH SESSION ULTIMATELY FRUSTRATING FOR HARD FOR YOU?

>> VERY FRUSTRATING.

I SPOKE ON IT ONE OF THE FIRST FLOOR SPEECHES I GAVE, I HAD THIS SORT OF ROMANTIC VIEW ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ON THE FLOOR, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION OF IDEAS AND WE LISTEN TO THE OTHER SIDE, WE COMMUNICATES BACK AND FORTH.

IN ACTUALS, IT'S MUCH DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW, THOSE PARTY LINES ARE DRAWN AND YOU COULD PRETTY ACCURATELY PREDICT THE WAY THE VOTE WAS GOING TO GO ON ALMOST EVERY SINGLE BILL.

>> Mary: DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE ABLE TO GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED?

DO YOU THINK -- DID YOU GET SOME AMENDMENTS, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD SOME INFLUENCE ON COMMITTEE AND FLOOR, WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT FELT LIKE, OKAY, I BROKE THROUGH.

>> I HAVE ONE BILL THAT WENT THROUGH AND OF COURSE WELD SOME BONDING PROJECTS THAT WENT THROUGH WHICH WAS A BIG PLUS FOR OUR AREA.

TODD AND WADENA ARE THE POOREST COUNTIES IN THE STATE SO ANY BONDING MONEY WE CAN GET OUT HERE IS DEFINITELY A BENEFIT.

THE LEARNING CURVE WAS PRETTY STEEP, HAVE TO ADMIT, I USED SOME DIFFERENT TACTICS OR TECHNIQUES ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE WE WEREN'T GETTING LISTENED TO SO I USED A LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR, MOVIE QUOTES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Mary: THAT MIGHT BE YOUR MOST FAMOUS MOMENT.

WAS IT MARIJUANA YOU HAD ALL THE MOVIE QUOTES ON?

>> THERE WAS MANY DRUG REFERENCES IN THE MARIJUANA SPEECH.

>> I NEW WE WOULD WALK OUT OF HERE TIRED, BLOODSHOT EYES, STIFF JOINTS, AS WE ZIGZAG THROUGH THIS DISCUSSION AND ROLLED UP A NEW FUTURE.

>> I NEW WE WEREN'T GOING TO GET IT PASSED, WE WEREN'T GOING TO GET AMENDMENTS BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A POINT SO I PUT AS MANY REFERENCES IN THERE AS I COULD, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THROW A LITTLE HUMOR, FUN IN THERE, I HAD SOME THAT LIKED IT AND SOME DIDN'T.

MY KIDS, THEY KIND OF CHUCKLED AT IT BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT IT LATER AND I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT WASN'T THE BEST WAY TO DISCUSS THAT BILL.

OVERALL, I THINK IT CONNECTED WITH SOME PEOPLE.

>> Mary: SO ULTIMATELY, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU LEARNED?

WHAT'S THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON THAT CAME OUTS OF A TOUGH SESSION?

>> I FEEL LUCKY IN A AY I GOT PAID FOR AN EDUCATION HERE THIS FIRST YEAR.

WILL IT AFFECT ME GOING FORWARD?

ABSOLUTELY.

POLITICS AND RELIGION ARE PROBABLY THE TWO MOST INFLUENTIAL THINGS IN OUR LIVES AND YET WE'RE OFTEN TOLD NOT TO TALK ABOUT THEM.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT.

>> FOR ME IT'S JUST BEEN REALLY, REALLY EXCITING, IS THE WAY I WOULD DESCRIBE IT.

TO SPEND THE TIME SORT OF BEHIND THE SCENES, SUPPORTING THE FOLKS DOING THE WORK, TO NOW BEING THE ONE DOING THE WORK AND HAVING HE CONVERSATIONS AND MOVING THINGS FORWARD HAS JUST BEEN REALLY, REALLY INCREDIBLE.

YOU KNOW, FOLKS ELECTED THE LEGISLATORS THEY DID BECAUSE THEY WANTED US TO GET TO WORK FROM MY ERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT TO SHOW.

WE HAD A LOT TO PROVE THAT WE WERE IN IT TO O THE WORK.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS IT'S LESS ABOUT THE AMOUNT, HOW MUCH ACTUALLY GOT DONE VERSUS WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE DONE.

AND THEN IT IS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE WORK AND THE KIND OF THINGS THAT HAVE GOTTEN DONE.

WHEN I THINK BACK OVER THE WORK WE DID OVER THE PAST SESSION, PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEIF, STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY, GUN SAFETY, I THINK THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY PAYING BIG DIVIDENDS FOR MINNESOTA AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

>> MARY: WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH POLITICAL REPORTERS TO DISSECT THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, AND WE'LL GET A CLOSER LOOK AT A REPRESENTATIVE WHO CHOSE POLITICS OVER A MUSIC CAREER, WHO YOU JUST SAW, THE BLOOMINGTON NATIVE AND FORMER CAPITOL STAFFER TURNED LAWMAKER.

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 X.

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 WHEN ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE, THEY'LL PREVIEW A NEW MINNESOTA EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTARY FEATURING THE LATE HENRY BOUCHA, AND I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO A MAJOR CHANGE TO THE CAPITAL MALL.

CAFES?

SPLASH PADS?

A THOUSAND NEW TREES?

THAT’S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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FLINT HILLS RESOURCES: A LEADING PRODUCER OF THE FUELS MINNESOTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY.

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AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

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