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

>> DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION?

>> I DO.

>> BIPARTISANSHIP IN THE SENATE IS DEAD.

>> AN ELECTION OUTCOME CHANGES THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE SENATE AND NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE IN THE HOUSE TO GET GOING HERE.

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 PROVIDES BY ... MANITOBA HYDRO, PROVIDING CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDRO POWER.COM.

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

MINNESOTA LOTTERY, GENERATING OVER $4 BILLION FOR OUR STATE SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

THE SHAKOPEE MID WACK TAN SIOUX COMMUNITY, A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, HEALTHIER HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE.

>> WELCOME TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY AND THE TIE IN THE SENATE IS OVER.

WE CAN TELL YOU AT THIS MOMENT THERE ARE LAWMAKERS NOT VERY FAR AWAY WHO ARE TALKING AS THEY TRY TO GET A DEAL TO COME BACK HERE INTO SESSION.

WE WILL ANALYZE IT ALL WITH A COUPLE OF MEDIA INSIDERS AND TALK ABOUT LAWMAKERS TRYING TO FIND THE MIDDLE.

LITTLE LATER IN THE SHOW WE'LL TALK WITH A NEW LAWMAKER WHO FLIPPED A SEAT IN ONE OF OUR KEY ACES TO WATCH.

BUT FIRST WE START WITH THE SENATE CHANGING THE BALANCE OF POWER HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

>> I DO.

>> THE SENATE WELCOMED A NEW MEMBER.

IT STILL STANDS AS THE ONLY CHAMBER ABLE TO DO BUSINESS AS DEMOCRATS REGAINED POLITICAL CONTROL THERE.

>> THE D.F.L.

MAJORITY HAS RETURNED AND I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EVERYONE IN THE SENATE.

>> MINNESOTANS HAVE SENT IN A DIVIDED SENATE AND A DIVIDED HOUSE AND IF WE THE TIE IN THE SENATE IS OVER >> BIPARTISANSHIP IN THE SENATE IS DEAD.

>> DEMOCRATS PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS SPOKE UP.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE POCI CAUCUS WILL NOT BE SILENT.

>> FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS OKAY FOR US TO BE TREATED AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS.

>> WE'RE HONESTLY CALLING ON OUR COLLEAGUES TO STAND WITH US, NOT JUST OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE D.F.L.

MAJORITY BUT ALSO REPUBLICANS WHO ALSO WANT TO STAND UP TO HATRED AND BIGOTRY AND ACTUALLY STAND FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS.

>> BLACK ENTREPRENEURS DAY AT THE CAPITOL BROUGHT A BIG BIPARTISAN CROWD.

>> IT IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND BLACK PEOPLE ARE IN THE CAPITOL FOR BLACK ENTREPRENEURS DAY!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THAT'S NOT DEI, THAT'S GOOD BUSINESS, PEOPLE, THAT MAKES SENSE.

[ APPLAUSE ] AND WE IN MINNESOTA, I REFUSE TO ERASE OUR SHARED HISTORY.

>> WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THAT WILDFIRES IN LOS ANGELES AND PLANE CRASHES ARE BECAUSE OF DEI, THIS IS A LIE.

>> IT WAS NOTED THAT HOUSE DEMOCRATS BOYCOTT KEPT THEM AWAY BUT HOUSE REPUBLICANS DID SHOW UP.

>> THIS IS NOT HARD, FOLKS, WE NEED TO GET GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY!

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY ANNOUNCED A RECALL EFFORT AGAINST HOUSE DEMOCRATS FOR REFUSING TO COME TO THE CAPITOL.

>> MINNESOTANS RE COMMONSENSE PEOPLE, AND THEY KNOW BETTER THAN THE BLACK BACK FLIPS THAT THE D.F.L.

IS TRYING TO DO IN JUSTIFYING THEIR NOT SHOWING UP FOR WORK.

>> E HAVE HEARD FROM MINNESOTANS ALL ACROSS THE STATE THAT THEY ARE FED UP.

THEY ARE FED UP WITH WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE DOING.

>> WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS I'M VERY ENCOURAGED BY MY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOME TYPE OF INCREASED MOTIVATION TO ACTUALLY COME TO A DETERMINATION.

>> WE'RE STILL WAITING TO SEE WHETHER THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SEEN THEIR SHADOW AND ARE CARRY THROUGH ON THEIR THREAT TO DEPRIVE MINNESOTA OF A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FORM ANOTHER SIX WEEKS.

>> AND SENATE DEMOCRATS SOUNDED THE ALARM ON THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF A BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDING.

>> HOW ARE WE GOING TO TELL BLACK KIDS WE'RE NOT GOING TO HIRE TEACHERS THAT LOOK LIKE YOU NYMORE?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO TELL INDIGENOUS KIDS WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HISTORY ANYMORE?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO TRAUMATIZE AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF CHILDREN IN MINNESOTA SO WE CAN UPHOLD THIS ANTI-DEI THING, RIDICULOUSNESS COME COMING OUT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

>> HOW DO YOU SAY THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL WHEN IT'S BILLIONS OF DOLLARS?

WHEN IT'S THE MONEY THAT GOES RIGHT DIRECTLY TO OUR SCHOOLS?

>> I'M NOT SURE IF I COULD TEACH THIS TO MY STUDENTS RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT SURE I COULD CONVEY TO THEM HERE IS WHAT I THINK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS REALLY UP TO.

♪ ♪ >> JOINING ME, COUPLE OF MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS INSIDERS, YOU CAN CATCH HIM FRIDAY NIGHTS A"ALMANAC" AND TOILED HERE AT WCCO RADIO FOR DECADES.

>> STILL SLUGGING AWAY.

>> AND CURRENTLY ON WCCO IN THE MORNINGS AND DOING MEDIA, BLOIS OLSON.

GIVE US THE TAKE.

WE HAVE SEEN LAWMAKERS IN THING.

>> I KNOW REPUBLICANS ARE CAUCUSING TONIGHT CURRENTLY AND I KNOW DEMOCRATS CAUCUSED EARLIER TODAY.

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A DEAL YET BUT I THINK THEY'RE CLOSE AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME THEY CAN BE BACK AS SOON AS TOMORROW.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN TOUCH AND GO THE WHOLE TIME.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND WE KNOW THE SUPREME COURT'S GOING TO HEAR ARGUMENTS TOMORROW ON THE REPUBLICANS' LAWSUIT AGAINST STEVE SIMON.

AND I THINK IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN YOU GO, WELL, YOU GOT TO LET THAT PLAY OUT BEFORE YOU FINALIZE THE DEAL BECAUSE IF YOU WIN THAT -- >> UNLESS DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY GIVING UP SOME SKIN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND I HAVE HEARD THEY'VE GIVEN UP SOME STUFF, I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS.

>> PETER CALLAHAN'S GREAT PHRASE FROM MINNPOST IS MINNESOTA IS GOVERNMENT BY NEWS CONFERENCE.

AREN'T WE KIND OF TIRED OF HAVING THEM PARADE OUT?

THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP TODAY.

>> NO, WE SHOULD -- THIS IS OUR INSIDER INFO BECAUSE WE DID HAVE HOUSE LEADERS BOOKED FOR THE SHOW AND THEY BOTH THROUGH THEIR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT CANCELED TODAY.

SORRY, GUYS.

>> THIRD RATE, THIRD CHOICE.

>> PLAN A.

BUT WE ALWAYS SAY WHEN THEY STOP TALKING TO US THAT MEANS THEY'RE STARTING TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.

THAT GETS MORE SERIOUS, RIGHT?

>> AND WE KNOW THEY TALKED THIS WEEK IN-DEPTH AND MET FOR HOURS.

>> SUPREME COURT'S AN IMPORTANT DEADLINE AND DATE TOMORROW, RIGHT?

THEY WERE TRYING TO MAYBE GET SOMETHING DONE BEFORE THAT?

>> LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WE KNOW.

MARCH 6TH IS THE REVENUE FORECAST, VERY IMPORTANT TIME FOR THEWHAT WILL BE USED TO MAKE DECISIONS MARCH 11TH IS THE DISTRICT 40B ROSEVILLE REDO.

>> WHICH COULD GET THEM BACK TO A TIE.

>> YEAH, SO WITH EKNOW THAT.

>> YES.

>> I THINK THEY'VE BLOWN PAST WHAT IS AEVER GOING TO BE A MAY.

>> CORRECT.

WHICH WAS GOING TO BE HARD NO MATTER WHAT.

>> YES IN, A BUDGET YEAR THAT'S ALWAYS HARD BUT WHEN YOU'RE AT LEAST FOUR WEEKS BEHIND IT'S HARDER.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT ARE THE DYNAMICS GOING FORWARD, FOR INSTANCE, WHAT DO THE REPUBLICANS NEED TO SUPPLY A VOTE, FOR INSTANCE?

>> SO I HINK REPUBLICANS NEED THE SPEAKERSHIP AND THE CHAIRS.

>> THAT'S A LOT, RIGHT?

>> IT IS, BUT IF THEY HAVE THE CHAIRS AND A TIE THAT MEANS THEY STILL NEED A DEMOCRATIC VOTE TO MOVE STUFF.

>> LAST TIME THERE WAS A TIE IN THE HOUSE JOAN GROWE TOLD US HOW GOT THE CHAIR AND SHE SAID DEMOCRATS GOT A BETTER DEAL.

>> DIDN'T IN YEARS -- MAY HAVE DISPLAYED THAT?

>> BUT IF REPUBLICANS GET BOTH THAT'S A HUGE VICTORY FOR THEM.

>> IT IS A HUGE VICTORY BUT AGAIN THEY'RE STILL GOING TO NEED A D.F.L.

VOTE TO GET THINGS THROUGH.

AND LET'S FACE IT, DEMOCRATS NO MATTER WHAT AREN'T GOING TO GET ANYTHING -- THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY PRESERVATION.

AND REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET SOME THINGS.

>> MM-HMM, GET SOME THINGS ROLLED BACK OR CHIPPED AWAY.

>> ROLLED BACK.

AND THERE ARE SOME DEMOCRATS WHO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE STUFF NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED.

>> DID YOU ENJOY THE KSTP SURVEY POLL?

MORNING CONSULT?

, NO -- >> YEAH, KSTP.

>> SO IT TURNED OUT THAT DEMOCRATS' NO-SHOW, SHOULDN'T GET PAID, SEAT BRAD TABKE DOWN IN SHAKOPEE AND JOIN THE POWER SHARING AGREEMENT.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THAT?

>> WE LEARN THAT PEOPLE, FIRST OF ALL IF THEY KNEW ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND TOOK THE POLL QUESTIONS, THEY'RE WATCHING THE SHOW.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND THEN SECOND, THAT NOBODY REALLY WANTS THE IGHTING IT TON.

>> IS THE VISUAL GETTING OLD?

IS IT STARTING TO REALLY HURT DEMOCRAT THE THIS EMPTY CHAMBER >> WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS VISUAL FOR THE NEXT 20 MONTHS, PERIOD.

IT'S GOING TO BE IN ADS -- >> BUT IT WILL BE A MIDTERM.

>> WELL, MIDTERMS AREN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE, MARY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALWAYS THERE'S SOME SURPRISE ISSUE THAT BUBBLES UP.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> AND NOW THIS YEAR IT'S CAPITOL SECURITY BASED ON YOUR GOOD REPORTING.

>> YES.

>> YEAH.

>> WAS THE LAST STRAW THE TRANS ACTIVIST WITH THE BULLHORN IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING?

>> I THINK IT FORCED REPUBLICANS TO TALK ABOUT SAFETY, THE GOVERNOR WANTED IT IN HIS BONDING BILL THERE WAS MONEY TO UPGRADE SAFETY AND WHEN THE CAPITOL WAS RESTORED YEARS AGO THEY WERE ETTING CLOSE TO DOING A BIG UPGRADE.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> I KNOW IT'S WIRED FOR SECURITY AND THEY COULD PLUG IN THE MAGNOMETERS QUICKLY AND O CHECKS QUICKLY WITHIN A FEW WEEKS.

>> I THINK TALKING TO PEOPLE INSIDE THE BUBBLE THE LAST TWO WEEKS I THINK PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHY THIS ISN'T HAPPENED UNTIL NOW.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE SENATE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE NEWS OF THE WEEK?

THE SENATE'S NO LONGER TIED.

DEMOCRATS RETURN TO POWER.

DOES IT MATTER?

>> WE'RE STILL WAITING TO SEE -- WELL, I THINK WE WATCHED THAT SENATE SWEARING IN AND THE POWER SHARING AND SENATOR SEEBERGER GAVE A VERY COMPELLING SPEECH WHERE YOU THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE WAS AND SHE SAT OUT A VOTE AND SHE STILL VOTED TO GIVE THEM THE MAJORITY AND IT JUST PROVES WE ARE N THIS DYNAMIC WHERE PARTY AND POWER OVER PRAGMATIC PEOPLE IS STILL THE ERA WE'RE IN.

BUT THE SENATE'S STILL SHARING SOME GAVELS THIS WEEK.

>> THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD SIGN.

I THINK SENATOR PAPPAS IN THE END WITH KARIN HOUSLEY MIGHT SHARE BONDING, CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

>> AND YOU NEED TO BECAUSE YOU NEED REPUBLICANS GALORE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT'S A VERY LOW HANGING FRUIT FOR COOPERATION.

>> YEAH.

>> SO WHAT DO WE THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN HE SUPREME COURT?

>> I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT ILAWYER BUT I OFTEN PRETEND THAT A MIGHT BE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN THIS IS THE -- >> IT'S BEEN SPLIT DECISIONS, DEMOCRATS GOT SOMETHING, REPUBLICANS GOT SOMETHING.

>> YEAH, RISK-REWARD.

THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

I THINK THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO COULD RECOGNIZE ARE DEMOCRATS.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE SENATE FOR A SECOND.

THE BLUE DOGS, THEY FELT LEFT OUT WITH THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS CAUCUS, QUEER CAUCUS, POCI CAUCUS, NOW THERE'S 8 OF THEM THAT ARE BLUE DOGS, WHAT DO THEY ADD TO THE MIX NOW?

>> I HAD SOMEBODY TELL ME TODAY FROM MANKATO WHEN THEY'RE MORE THAN LIP SERVICE I'LL BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

>> WE'LL BE WATCHING THE VOTES.

THANKS, GENTLEMEN.

>> THANKS, MARY.

>> OU BET.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ALL RIGHT, POWER SHARING AGREEMENTS ARE CRUMBLING HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

OUR NEXT GUEST REALLY CARES ABOUT THAT.

SHANNON WATSON FROM THE MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE.

>> YOU'RE USUALLY A VERY OPTIMISTIC PERSON, ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO FIND OPTIMISM RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT.

>> OKAY.

>> OPTIMISM NUMBER ONE COMES EASY FOR ME.

NUMBER TWO THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIMISM STILL TO SEE.

SO THE SENATE SWORE IN THE 34TH D.F.L.

MEMBER AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DISSOLVED THAT POWER SHARING AGREEMENT.

BUT YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW IT TO WATCH THE COMMITTEES.

>> OTHER THAN THE LEADER SAYING BIPARTISANSHIP IS DEAD.

>> I THINK SOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH HIS JOB AND THAT WAS SORT OF THE MESSAGE THAT -- YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO BE A MINORITY LEADER BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF THE -- >> AND QUOTES IS ALL YOU'VE GOT, RIGHT?

IF YOU DON'T HAVE POWER, YOU HAVE QUOTES.

>> YEAH, QUOTES IS -- BUT THERE ARE A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS THAT HAD GAVELS STILL THIS WEEK.

THERE WAS A LOT OF REPUBLICAN BILLS TILL BEING HEARD.

SO WHAT I'M SEEING IS I'M SEEING BIPARTISANSHIP HAPPEN NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BUT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.

AND THAT'S ACTUALLY PROBABLY A BETTER CASE THAN IT IS JUST WHEN THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT.

>> OKAY, I CAN HEAR IT IN THE SENATE.

>> YEP.

YEAH.

>> THE HOUSE, IT WAS CALLED GROUNDHOG'S DAY HERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> HALF THE CHAMBER IS STILL GONE, HEY'RE GOING TO THE COURT AGAIN.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT CAN'T GIVE YOU A LOT OF OPTIMISM.

>> IT'S JUST, IT'S SUCH A UNIQUE SITUATION AND I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE A POWER SHARING AGREEMENT AND THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE LIKE A DIVISION OF POWER AGREEMENT.

AND SOMETIMES I THINK ONE OF THE BEST EXPRESSIONS OF POWER IS HOW MUCH YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE UP BECAUSE LIKE YOU JUST TALKED TO THE OTHER TWO, LIKE THAT 68D VOTE TO GET ANYTHING PASSED IS GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF POWER WHETHER THEY SIT AT THE FRONT OF THE ROOM OR NOT.

>> BECAUSE THE SENATE DOES NOT NEED BIPARTISAN BILLS OTHER THAN THE BONDING BILL.

>> CORRECT, YEP.

>> BUT NOW THE HOUSE IT HAS TO HAPPEN FOR ANYTHING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE MATH.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND I THINK THIS IS THE ONE CASE WHERE BEING IN THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE MINORITY WOULDN'T BE AS BAD AS IT NORMALLY WOULD BE BECAUSE YOU STILL NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE -- I MEAN, IT'S LIKE IF EVERY BILL WAS THE BONDING BILL.

>> WHAT ABOUT QUANTITY OF BILLS?

ALREADY HAVE JUST ENORMOUS NUMBERS IN THE SENATE, OBVIOUSLY NOTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE.

>> MM-HMM, RIGHT.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK THAT ALL SHAKES OUT AND ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION YET TO HOW MANY BIPARTISAN COAUTHORS THERE HAVE BEEN ON BILLS?

>> YEAH, I HAVEN'T RUN NUMBERS YET.

I HAD HOPED TO BECAUSE I'M HEARING SENATORS -- JUST TODAY TWO DIFFERENT SENATORS WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW SENATOR ANN REST SHE'S LIKE WE HAVE HEARD 40 BILLS SO FAR THIS YEAR, 20 OF THEM HAVE BEEN D.F.L.

BILLS, 20 HAVE BEEN REPUBLICAN -- >> YEAH, IN THE TAX COMMITTEE TODAY, 50/50, I WAS STUNNED BY THAT.

>> AND SENATOR FRENTZ IN THE ENERGY COMMITTEE HE WAS ENDING THE HEARING AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THAT COMMITTEE THEY HEARD THE FIRST D.F.L.

BILL TODAY THAT THEY HAD HEARD, THE OTHER ONES HAD BEEN REPUBLICAN BILLS AND HE SAID HE HAD COMMITMENT TO I BELIEVE IT WAS MAKING IT EITHER PROPORTIONATE OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMITTEE.

SO I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT OF HOPE THERE.

>> SO DESPITE, YOU JUST HEARD OUR MEDIA ANALYST SAY THE BLUE DOG DEMOCRATS AREN'T A THING BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BROKEN ON VOTES BUT YOU'RE SEEING SOME OF THE MODERATES MAYBE HAVE AN EXCUSE NOW AND THE ABILITY TO REACH OUT AND SHOW OME MODERATION?

>> I THINK COVERAGE MATTERS, IT IS REALLY HARD -- I THINK THE BRAVEST PERSON IN THE BUILDING THIS WEEK WAS JUDY SEEBERGER STANDING UP AND SAYING WHAT SHE DID.

>> EVEN THOUGH SHE VOTED WITH HER CAUCUS.

>> EVEN THOUGH SHE VOTED WITH HER CAUCUS.

>> OKAY.

>> BECAUSE LIKE IT'S REALLY HARD TO GO ALONE AND, YOU KNOW, SAY LIKE I'M NOT NECESSARILY COMFORTABLE DOING THIS, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SENATORS WHO HAVE DONE THIS IN THE PAST.

I'M NOT TERRIBLY COMFORTABLE DOING THIS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY KEEP GETTING HIT WITH IS, WELL, THESE LAST TWO YEARS YOU VOTED WITH YOUR CAUCUS THE ENTIRE TIME.

THEY VOTED WITH THEIR CAUCUS ON THE THINGS THAT MADE IT TO THE FLOOR.

>> YEP.

>> WE HAVE NO IDEA ALL THE THINGS THAT COULD HAVE MADE IT TO THE FLOOR THAT THEY STOPPED IN THE CAUCUS ROOM.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THAT -- >> BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

>> BEHIND LOSED DOORS, BEHIND THE SCENES.

YOU DON'T, I MEAN, IN BEING A SENATOR OR BEING A REPRESENTATIVE, BEING A LOBBYIST, YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT THE BILLS YOU KILLED.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE POLL WHEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MAJORITY, THE MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS WANTED A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN THAT POLL, DIDN'T THEY?

>> THEY DID, AND I THINK SOME OF IT IS BECAUSE THEY SITUATION IS VERY CONFUSING TO PEOPLE WHO FRANKLY DON'T WATCH YOUR SHOW.

>> IT'S OKAY, WE'RE NOT NORMAL.

>> NORMAL MINNESOTANS, LIKE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND -- >> HESE ARE HIGH INFORMATION VIEWERS.

WE LOVE THEM.

>> YES, HIGH INFORMATION VIEWERS.

BUT LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO WATCH THE SHOW LIKE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MATTERS TO HAVE A GAVEL AND WHY A PARLIAMENTARY MOVE WOULD MATTER.

MOST MINNESOTANS DON'T GET IT, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, THEY HEAR WE'RE ARGUING OVER POWER AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, THERE'S GOVERNMENT.

>> AND QUICKLY A CLEAN FINISH, IS THIS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE WE'RE AT LEAST A MONTH BEHIND ON STARTING THE HOUSE >> I DON'T THINK IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, I THINK IT'S UNLIKELY BUT AT THE SAME TIME LIKE THEIR JOB IS CONSTITUTIONALLY TO GET THAT BALANCED BUDGET DONE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND I THINK NO MATTER WHAT ELSE HAPPENS THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO VIEW THEIR ROLE SERIOUSLY TO MAKE THAT BE THE FOCUS.

>> WE'LL CHECK IN AGAIN LATER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, SHANNON.

WELL, THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER IS A REPUBLICAN WHO FLIP AID SEAT IN ONE OF OUR RACES TO WATCH BY A WIDER MARGIN THAN EVEN SHE EXPECTED.

HOW DIFFERENT DOES LIFE FEEL NOW THAT YOU WON THIS ELECTION?

>> IT FEELS GREAT, I'M MORE BUSY, JUST AS BUSY AS I WAS BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN BUT THE INTENSITY HAS GONE DOWN NOW.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED AT ALL IT WAS CLOSE?

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSE, RIGHT?

>> YES, I WAS EXTREMELY SURPRISED IN HOW LARGE I WONG SO, YES, IT WAS A GOOD SURPRISE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WON?

>> IF I HAVE TO GUESS, INFLATION, EVERYBODY'S TIRED OF FINANCIAL BURDENS WHETHER YOU'RE RED, BLUE OR PURPLE, THAT'S ONE THING ON EVERYBODY'S MIND IN THIS ELECTION, THAT'S WHAT I HEARD OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHEN I WAS AT THE DOORS.

WHEN I WAS AT MY STORE I HEARD PEOPLE TELLING ME THEIR FRUSTRATIONS.

>> I'M ERICA SCHWARTZ.

>> I'M ALL IN ON REPUBLICANS, SO GO GET 'EM, BE A TIGER UT THERE >> .

AT YOUR STORE, WHAT DO THEY ASK YOU WHEN THEY COME IN >> PEOPLE ASK ME HOW I'M DOING ON THE JOB AND NOT TO FORGET THEM AND ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND WORK HARD AND I SAID OF COURSE NOT, THAT WAS THE WHOLE PLAN AND THE WHOLE GOAL.

>> AND YOUR STORE -- YOUR LIFE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE, OR ALREADY CHANGED PRETTY DRAMATICALLY.

>> IT ALREADY HAS, GOOD THING THE COMMUNE WITH MY HUSBAND AND MY FAMILY AND THE STAFF AT THE STORE AS WELL, LETTING THEM KNOW I'LL BE UNAVAILABLE GOING FORWARD.

>> YOUR HUSBAND ACTUALLY WANTED YOU TO WON.

>> HE IS WONDERFUL, HE WAS UP ALL NIGHT STUFFING, RAISING FUNDRAISERS FOR ME.

MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS 19, HOLDING THE SIGNS, SHE WALKED, EVERYTHING, IT WAS REALLY A FAMILY AFFAIR.

>> I THINK PROBABLY YOUR FIRST TV INTERVIEW BECOME BACK THEN, LIFE HAS PROBABLY GOT YOU DOING MORE INTERVIEWS.

>> I'M STILL NOT USED TO BEING SO PUBLIC.

IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE NOW WHEN I'M AT THE STORE OR WHEN I'M EVEN OUT AT RESTAURANTS PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ME FROM THE COMMERCIALS, THE FLYERS, MAILERS, EVERYTHING.

I WAS A VERY PRIVATE PERSON BEFORE THIS.

>> I BETTOR, IND OF AN INTROVERT, ARE YOU NATURALLY INTROVERTED?

>> I WAS MORE QUIET, YEAH.

>> ARE YOU STEPPING OUT OF THAT?

>> I HAVE TO IN ORDER TO FULFILL THIS ROLE BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO REACH OUT AND TALK TO E. >> SO YOU'RE PUSHING YOURSELF.

>> THIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN TRAIL EVEN WINNING IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY, THE PEOPLE I'VE MET ALONG THE WAY HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY UNFORGETTABLE.

THE SUPPORTERS THAT I'VE HAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN AMAZING.

>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GAINED CONFIDENCE THROUGH THIS PROCESS?

>> YES, DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY.

>> HOW SO?

>> PEOPLE ARE RELYING ON ME IT'S SO FORCING ME TO STEP OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE.

PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO MAKE CHANGE CHANGES AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE SAID ALL ALONG THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

>> ARE YOU PLANNING ON VOTING NOW THAT YOU'RE OF AGE?

>> MOST LIKE LEACH, THIS YEAR WILL BE MY FIRST VOTING EXPERIENCE.

>> >> -- WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT YOUNGER VOTERS AND WHERE THEY'RE AT?

>> I HAD A LOT OF COLLEGE AGED KIDS COMING INTO MY STORE PAYING FOR GAS WITH TWO DOLLARS WORTH OF QUARTERS, I HAD ONE GENTLEMAN COME IN AND GOT EIGHT DOLLARS WORTH OF GAS AND PAID ME ALL IN DIMES.

I'M STARTING TO BELIEVE THAT FINANCIAL BURDEN IS HITTING EVERYBODY WHETHER YOU'RE BLUE OR RED, PURPLE, IN MY DISTRICT.

>> ISSUES YOU'RE HEARING NOW HEAR AT THE CAPITOL VERSUS THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

>> PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED WITH GETTING SOME SORT OF TAX RELIEF, PERMANENT TAX RELIEF, PEOPLE ARE STILL LOOKING HOPING THAT THE GAS PRICES WILL GO DOWN, GROCERY PRICES WILL GO DOWN.

NOW AS A STATE REP I HAVE TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND DO WHAT I CAN AND MY PART.

I CAN'T CHANGE EVERYTHING FOR MINNESOTA BUT I CAN DO MY PART.

>> HOW DOES T FEEL COMING TO WORK IN THIS BUILDING?

>> REALLY COOL.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I RAN FOR ANY TYPE OF OFFICE FOR ME IT'S QUITE AMAZING THAT THIS IS WHERE I WORK AT NOW.

I'M A NEWCOMER, I'M NEW TO OFFICE, I'M NEW TO RUNNING FOR ANYTHING, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE BRAND NEW, SO WHAT TO EXPECT, I'VE BEEN TAKING IT AS IT'S COMING.

>> YOU KNEW YOUR RACE WAS IMPORTANT, YOU KNEW IT PROBABLY WAS ONE OF THE SEATS TO FLIP FOR THE CHAMBER TO FLIP.

WHAT ABOUT THE TIE POSSIBILITY?

DID YOU SEE THAT COMING AT ALL?

>> NOT THE TIE, NOT AT ALL BECAUSE ALONG THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THE RUMOR SAID THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FLIP WINONA'S SEAT AND MY SEAT THAT MORE LIKELY WOULD HAVE THE MAJORITY.

THERE'S A NEW SET OF RULES SO WE HAVE TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON EVERY ISSUE NOW GOING FORWARD WE HAVE TO WORK ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER.

>> AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, HAVING TO WORK TOGETHER IT BEING A REQUIREMENT?

>> IT'S BETTER FOR MINNESOTANS, LET'S DO IT.

THIS IS WHY WE'RE ALL HERE, WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE, THAT'S THE MAIN REASON, WE HAVE TO MAKE MINNESOTA BETTER.

AS A FRESHMAN I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF BILLS PASSED I AM ABLE TO WRITE PERSONALLY, MAYBE NEXT YEAR, THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS COAUTHOR A BILL AT THIS POINT.

>> TALK TO ME ABOUT COLLABORATION AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR PAST THAT YOU HAD TO WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND COLLABORATING HOW YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT HERE.

>> EFORE I WAS A STUDENT RECRUITER AT SOUTH CENTRAL COLLEGE SO I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH STAFF AND PROMOTE EDUCATION.

EVERY JOB I'VE WORKED AT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TRAINER, ALWAYS BEEN A EAM PLAYER, LISTENING TO EVERYBODY'S INSIGHTS AND HOW TO DO SOMETHING BETTER AND PUT MY SPIN ON THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I'M JUST HERE TO ISTEN AND HELP.

I'M FRESHMAN SO I AM VERY, VERY NEW COMING ND GOING TO DO MY PART TO SEE WHERE I FIT IN THE NICHE OF THIS GROUP.

♪ ♪ >> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN POLITICALLY ACTIVE MOST RECENTLY FOR THE PAST DECADE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE BOUNDARY WATERS AND WHEN LAURIE PRYOR ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT I WAS LIKE, HUH, I WONDER.

AND I WAS ACTUALLY IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS AND SOMEWHERE OUT THERE FOUND THE COURAGE THAT, YEAH, I SHOULD DO IT.

I'M A ULTRA DISTANCE MARATHON RUNNER, ONLY PERSON TO HAVE RUN ACROSS THE BOUNDARY WATERS, LINKING TWO HIKING TRAILS THAT MEET EAST AND WEST AND MEET IN THE MIDDLE, THERE'S AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE BOUNDARY WATERS SO, YEAH, ENDURANCE RUNNING WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO FIT WELL FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS ABOUT YOU IT'S AN ENDURANCE SPORT IN AND OF ITSELF.

I KNOW I CAN GET THROUGH ALMOST ANYTHING AND LIKE WHATEVER PAIN, WHATEVER PERSONAL SACRIFICE, WHATEVER'S GOING ON I KNOW JUST HAVE MY EYE ON THE END GOAL, GET THROUGH SESSION, GET A BUDGET PASSED FOR THE STATE.

JUST GUTTING IT OUT AND STICKING WITH IT.

YOU HAVE A GOAL, YOU'RE GOING TO FINISH IT NO MATTER WHAT.

♪ ♪ >> WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH FORMER LAWMAKERS AND MAYBE A DEAL HERE IN THE HOUSE AS NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING.

IN THE MEANTIME HEAD IT OUR WEBSITE TPT.ORG/AATC, THERE YOU CAN INTERACT WITH US ON ALL KINDS OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND ALSO WHEN THE LEGISLATURE'S IN SESSION YOU CAN WATCH HOUSE, SENATE FLOOR SESSIONS, PRESS CONFERENCES AND MORE ON THE STATEWIDE PBS STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

FRIDAY NIGHT TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" I WILL HAVE SOME CLIPS FROM THE SUPREME COURT HEARING AS THEY DECIDE ANOTHER POLITICAL ISSUE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪ >> "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDES BY ... MANITOBA HYDRO, PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBA HYDRO POWER.COM.

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

MINNESOTA LOTTERY, GENERATING OVER $4 BILLION FOR OUR STATE SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HEALTHIER HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE.

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