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

>> Mary: PUBLIC SAFETY'S ON TRIAL IN MINNESOTA FROM MINNEAPOLIS TO THE STATE CAPITOL.

WE'LL TALK WITH LAWMAKERS AND A POLITICAL REPORTER.

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

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PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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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."

JURY SELECTION HAS BEGUN IN THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT TWO VERY DIFFERENT PROPOSALS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING AT THE LEGISLATURE RELATING TO THAT TRIAL.

MY CAPITOL PRESS CORPS COLLEAGUE DANA FERGUSON JOINS ME TO TALK THROUGH A BUSY COMMITTEE DEADLINE WEEK.

AND WE'LL MEET A FIRST-TERM HOUSE MEMBER WHO SAYS HIS PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER BEGAN BACK IN THE 1980S DURING THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION.

BUT, FIRST, THE HOUSE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO PASS A LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING BILL TO DEAL WITH POTENTIAL CIVIL UNREST.

EARLIER THIS WEEK THE SENATE TOOK UP THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY BILL WITH SOME POINTED FLOOR DEBATE, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE TIMING.

>> AS THE TRIAL BEGAN FOR THE FIRST POLICE OFFICER CHARGED IN GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH, THE SENATE, LED BY REPUBLICANS, PASSED A BILL TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CASE OF MORE CIVIL UNREST.

>> PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE AND DO NOT USE THE TRAUMA AND THE PAINFUL, THE PAINFUL MOMENT THAT MY CITY IS LIVING RIGHT NOW AND THAT MANY OF YOU ARE USING FOR YOUR POLITICAL GAIN AND YOUR POLITICAL PURPOSES TO DIVIDE OUR COMMUNITY AND TO DIVIDE THIS BODY.

>> WHEN ALL THIS IS GOING ON IN OUR BACKYARD, IT IS EVEN MORE OUT OF TOUCH, EVEN HARMFUL AND INSULTING FOR US TO PASS THE POLICE FUNDING BILL ON THE FIRST DAY OF A TRIAL ABOUT A POLICE BRUTALITY AND MURDER.

>> Mary: THE BILL HAS $20 MILLION SO OTHER COMMUNITIES CAN COME TO THE AID OF ANY CITY NEEDING ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING MINNEAPOLIS.

>> I ALSO LOOKED UP, WELL, HOW MANY CARJACKINGS HAVE THERE BEEN IN MINNEAPOLIS, HOW MUCH IS THAT UP.

AND I'LL JUST GIVE THE ANSWER, DEPENDING ON WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO, IT'S UP 300% UP TO OVER 500%.

IF YOU'RE A COMMUNITY MEMBER OF MINNEAPOLIS, I'M CONVINCED YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO STOP THAT.

>> THE ISSUE IS NOT CARJACKING.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYWHERE IN THIS BILL, AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT YOU WANT TO STICK TO THE BILL ITSELF.

BUT IT SEEMS AS IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, AT LEAST IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDS OF THE BILL WHEN YOU WANT TO STAY ON MESSAGE ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS BILL IS THAT IT ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE THAT NOTION OF BEING ONE MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS POINT TO THIS LEGISLATION SAYING CIVIL UNREST IS NOT A NATURAL DISASTER.

>> INSIDE THIS CHAMBER IT SEEMS ALMOST STERILE IN OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION THAT IS SO ROOTED IN A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE THAT WE ALL EXPERIENCED IN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS SAY GOVERNOR WALZ IS THE ONE WHO ASKED FOR THE FUNDS IN PREPARATION FOR THE TRIAL INSIDE THE HEAVILY GUARDED HENNEPIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER.

>> THE GOVERNOR BROUGHTED FORWARD THE WANT FOR THIS MONEY.

THIS BODY IS STEPPING UP AND SAYING, WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT.

WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT FROM ROSEAU COUNTY TO ROCK COUNTY, ALL OVER THE PLACE, ALL OVER THE WHOLE STATE, WE'RE WILLING TO PUT TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS OUT HERE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IF THEY NEED IT.

IF THEY NEED IT.

>> IF ANYBODY VOTES AGAINST THIS BILL, YOU'RE VOTING AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

>> WE'VE GOT A BILL TOGETHER THAT ACTUALLY ISN'T THAT FAR OFF FROM WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD ASKED US TO DO.

AND WE JUST DID IT IN A WAY THAT WAS ACCOUNTABLE.

>> WE ALL KNOW WHAT PRECIPITATED IT, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANYONE IN THIS CHAMBER THAT AGREES OR CONDONES WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT THERE WERE MANY DIFFERENT DECISIONS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO KEEP THE AFTERMATH FROM BEING WHAT IT WAS.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: THE PARTISAN DIVIDE ON PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES IS VISIBLE IN HOW DIFFERENT THE DFL-CONTROLLED HOUSE PROPOSAL IS.

JOINING ME LIVE VIA WEBCAM TO TALK ABOUT THAT BILL, CHIEF AUTHOR AND DFL STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS MARIANI.

HERE TOO, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN JOHNSON, THE GOP LEAD ON THE HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, LET'S START WITH YOU AND TELL ME WHAT'S IN YOUR BILL CURRENTLY?

CAN YOU EXPLAIN IT BRIEFLY?

>> WELL, IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE BILL, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS ALL STARTED.

THE CONTEXT.

AND TO BE VERY BRIEF, ALL OF THIS STARTED BECAUSE THERE WAS A GROSS VIOLATION OF A CITIZEN'S HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

IT WAS VIOLATED BY FOUR STATE LICENSED PEACE OFFICERS WHO WERE EMPLOYED BY THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PERSON'S RIGHTS THAT THEY VIOLATED IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

THAT'S WHERE THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION BEGINS, NEEDS TO START, IT NEEDS TO START WITH UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN THERE'S A VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS, OF HUMAN RIGHTS THAT THERE ARE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT COME AS A RESULT OF THAT.

WHAT DID WE SEE?

WE SAW MASSIVE PROTESTS ACROSS ALL RACES, ACROSS ALL WALKS OF LIFE, MINNESOTANS INDIGNANT THAT SOMEONE'S CIVIL RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS WOULD BE SO GROSSLY VIOLATED.

THEY CAME OUT IN LARGE PROTESTS TO EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PUBLIC ASSEMBLY.

IT'S THE FIRST HUMAN RIGHT IN OUR STATE AND OUR FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS AND WITHIN THAT IT CREATED, WITH SUCH A LARGE OUTPOURING OF PEOPLE, IT CREATED ALL SORTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS WHO REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT -- >> Mary: HOW ABOUT MOVING FORWARD, IF I CAN INTERJECT, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THE BILL DOES, WHAT DOES YOUR BILL TRY TO DO?

>> WELL, WHAT THE BILL DOES IS IT PROTECTS PEOPLE, IT PROTECTS PERSONAL PROPERTY, IT PROTECTS PERSONS, AND IT PROTECTS THEIR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

THE TWO ARE INSEPARABLE.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT.

>> SO HERE YOU HAVE -- YOU HAVE A LEGISLATOR HERE, WHO'S IN A PROGRESSIVE WING, WHO PUSHED FORWARD THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BILL, WHO'S SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE SHOULD MAKE THIS INVESTMENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ORDER TO PROTECT PROPERTY AND PEOPLE.

>> Mary: WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> AND WE SHOULD ALSO PROTECT PEOPLE'S HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT.

>> Mary: OKAY.

REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON, WHAT DOESN'T THE HOUSE BILL DO AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR CHAMBER DO ON THIS ISSUE?

>> WITH THIS BILL, IT WAS BROUGHT FORTH BY THE GOVERNOR, SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, PUTTING TOGETHER FUNDING TO BACKFILL WHAT THE PROPERTIER OWNERS IN THE REST -- PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE REST OF THE STATE ARE GOING TO BE PAYING TO HELP OUT OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

THIS CAN BE USED ANYWHERE, THIS IS BROUGHT FORTH BY -- BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION IN MINNEAPOLIS WITH THE TRIALS COMING UP.

AND, UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS LOADED UP WITH A LOT OF POLICY DECISIONS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF IN COMMITTEE AND COULD BE PUT IN THE BIGGER PUBLIC SAFETY OMNIBUS BILL AT THAT TIME.

THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO GET THE FUNDING OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAD THAT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BILL EARLIER, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN JULY.

WE'VE RUN INTO SOME ISSUES WITH THAT BILL ALREADY THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.

BUT FOR NOW, WE JUST NEED TO GET THIS FUNDING OUT THERE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH ALL THE POLICY IN IT, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE FORWARD.

IN FACT, THE DFL MAJORITY COULD NOT PASS IT OUT OF THE HOUSE WITH ALL THE POLICY THAT THEY PUT IN IT.

>> Mary: OKAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, DO YOU HAVE A BILL YET THAT YOU CAN GET VOTES FROM YOUR OWN CAUCUS TO GET IT OUT OF THE CHAMBER TO EVEN POTENTIALLY CONFEREE SOMETHING WITH THE SENATE?

>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, WE HAD A BILL THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM, ON PRECISELY THOSE POLICY ISSUES.

I AMENDED THE BILL IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE NEUTRAL ON OUR ABILITY TO MOVE THE BILL FORWARD.

AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THE MINORITY PARTY, AFTER HAVING MADE COMMITMENTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT TO VOTE FOR THE BILL, CHANGED THEIR MIND.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND.

YOU KNOW, SEEMS TO ME THAT PEOPLE'S SAFETY OUGHT TO BE PRIMARY TO EVERYBODY.

BUT, YEAH, WE HAVE THE BILL THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF ALL SORTS OF CONSTITUENCIES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO PASS LAW, IS COMPROMISE, IS REASONABLE PROPOSALS, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BILL BEFORE US.

>> Mary: REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON, WHAT ABOUT THE SENATE BILL, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE HOUSE?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO BRING IT UP.

I'M SURE WE COULD PASS THAT.

>> Mary: ARE THERE THE VOTES FOR IT?

COULD YOU PASS IT?

>> I BELIEVE I CAN GET THE VOTES OUT OF OUR CAUCUS TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD PASS.

BUT WE HAVE TO GET THE BILL BEFORE US THAT WE CAN VOTE FOR.

THE SENATE WILL NOT VOTE FOR ANYTHING WITH ANY POLICY IN IT BECAUSE IT DOES NEED TO BE DEALT WITH MUCH CLOSER.

I WANT TO GET THIS BILL PASSED BECAUSE WE NEED THAT -- THAT FUNDING IS IMPORTANT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE AND WE SHOULD SET THE POLITICS ASIDE AND JUST GET THIS FUNDING TAKEN CARE OF.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE TIMING, REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, AS WE SAID AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW, THE FIRST TRIAL'S ALREADY UNDERWAY.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING THIS MONEY OUT IN TIME?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

WHICH IS WHY OUR COMMITTEE MOVED OVER A MONTH AGO, WHY WE BROUGHT THIS BILL UP WEEKS AGO, AND THEN THE MINORITY REPUBLICAN PARTY STOPPED IT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S POLICY IN THE SENATE BILL.

YOU KNOW, SO LET'S NOT, YOU KNOW, PRETEND THAT SOMETHING'S NOT THERE THAT'S NOT THERE.

WE CAN GET TO AGREEMENT ON POLICIES WITH THE SENATE.

WE JUST NEED THE MINORITY REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN THE HOUSE TO STOP PLAYING GAMES AND LET US PASS THIS BILL FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN MEET THE SENATE AND GET THOSE RESOURCES OUT QUICKLY SO WE CAN HELP PROTECT PEOPLE'S PROPERTY AND LIVES.

>> Mary: SAME QUESTION, WHAT ABOUT THE TIMING?

IS IT ALMOST GETTING TO BE TOO LATE ON THIS, REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON?

>> IT'S GETTING CLOSE.

WE NEED TO GET IT DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE MAJORITY HAS ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS IT, IF THEY COULD GET THEIR MEMBERS TO PASS IT.

TO ACTUALLY VOTE FOR THE BILL.

BUT THEY HAVE CONCERNS -- THEY MUST HAVE HAVE CONCERNS IN THERE.

AND THEY HAD A NUMBER OF MEMBERS THAT I KNOW WOULD VOTE -- WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR THE ORIGINAL BILL WITHOUT THE AMENDMENTS ON IT.

AND MY SIDE OF THE HOUSE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY VOTED FOR IT JUST AS IT WAS.

WE JUST WANTED A LITTLE BIT OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN WHERE THE FUNDING WENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE PUSHING FOR.

AND NOT ALL THE POLICIES THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE INSTEAD.

>> Mary: AND EARLIER, REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI HAD SAID MORE POLICE FUNDING, REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON, BESIDES POLICE FUNDING, POLICE REFORM, DO YOU WANT TO DO A PART 2 REAL QUICKLY ON THAT?

>> POLICE REFORMS, WE DID SOME LAST JULY.

THESE REFORMS HERE CHANGED THOSE AND THEY BARELY HAVE TAKEN EFFECT.

USE OF DEADLY FORCE WENT INTO EFFECT MARCH 1st, AND IN MID FEBRUARY WHEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE MADE THEIR ADVISORY RULINGS TO THE P.O.S.T.

BOARD RULES COMMITTEE, THAT WAS PUT IN THE RULES TOGETHER.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT.

I'M SORRY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

ZOOM IS SO HARD.

SORRY TO HAVE TO CUT YOU BOTH OFF.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Mary: THANK YOU.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: WE'RE JUST ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FRIDAY IS THE FIRST COMMITTEE DEADLINE, SO THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF ACTIVITY.

HERE TO HELP ASSESS WHERE THINGS ARE AT THE MIDPOINT, DANA FERGUSON, CAPITOL REPORTER FOR THE FORUM NEWS SERVICE.

HER BYLINE APPEARS IN NEWSPAPERS ALL OVER GREATER MINNESOTA.

WELL, DANA, LET'S START WITH THE ISSUE WE SPENT THE ENTIRE SHOW ON SO FAR, THIS PUBLIC SAFETY MONEY.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR BEHIND THE SCENES, IS THERE SOME DEAL IN THE WORKS, SINCE THE FIRST TRIAL'S ALREADY UNDERWAY?

>> WHAT I'VE HEARD SO FAR IS THAT FOLKS REMAIN IN CLOSED NEGOTIATIONS, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ON THE FLOOR HAVE SAID THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THIS, THEY'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT THEY CAN GET SOMETHING DONE IS, BUT AS YOUR GUESTS JUST BEFORE WE MENTIONED, THERE'S A TICKING CLOCK HERE, FOLKS ARE REALLY EAGER TO GET THAT FUNDING AND HAVE IT THERE AS BACKUP.

BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS HAVE SAID, EVEN WITHOUT THE HELP FROM THE LEGISLATURE THAT MINNEAPOLIS HAS ENTERED INTO MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS.

THEY'RE READY IF THEY NEED THAT BACKUP.

FOLKS HAVE COME TO THEIR AID FROM ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND THEY'RE KIND OF OPERATING AS THOUGH LAWMAKERS MIGHT NOT GET THIS DONE IN TIME.

AT LEAST FOR THIS TRIAL.

>> Mary: THE OTHER ISSUE THAT LAWMAKERS MAY NOT GET DONE IN TIME AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON FEDERAL TAX CONFORMITY, AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE PAYROLL PROTECTION THAT BUSINESSES GOT, AND THEN ALSO POTENTIALLY UNEMPLOYMENT, WHETHER THE STATE IS GOING TO TAX BOTH OF THOSE THINGS FOR BUSINESSES AND WORKERS.

BUSINESSES START FILING ON MARCH 15th.

THAT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO GET THIS DONE IN TIME, DOES IT?

>> NOT UNLESS THEY'RE REALLY WORKING LATE AT NIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK.

WE'VE HEARD DIFFERENT FEEDBACK FROM DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ON THIS.

WITH THE NEW FACTOR OF THE FEDERAL COVID AID PACKAGE COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE TODAY AND EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED AT THE END OF THE WEEK BY PRESIDENT BIDEN, THAT'S SORT OF A NEW FACTOR IN ALL OF THIS, NOT JUST IN THE PPP AND TAX CONFORMITY CONVERSATION BUT ALSO IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING CONVERSATION TOO BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE MONEY COMING TO THE STATE, THERE'S GOING TO BE MONEY GOING TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND THAT COULD HELP PROVIDE FUNDING THAT WOULD HELP MINNEAPOLIS PAY BACK SOME OF THOSE AGENCIES COMING IN AND HELP THE STATE AS THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE POTENTIALLY TO CONFORM STATE TAX LAWS SO THAT THESE BUSINESSES THAT TOOK OUT THE LOANS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THAT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE MIGHT NOT HAVE TO PAY STATE INCOME TAXES ON SOME OF THAT FUNDING THAT THEY GOT.

>> Mary: I KNOW THE THING I'M WATCHING THAT'S INTERESTING IS KIND OF A WILD CARD ON THIS, SENATOR BAKK, FORMER DEMOCRAT, NOW INDEPENDENT, CAUCUSING WITH REPUBLICANS, CARRYING THIS BILL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT DYNAMIC?

>> CERTAINLY IT'S UNIQUE.

AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WATCHING ALL YEAR, RIGHT?

NOW THERE'S THIS NEW FORCE IN TOWN, THE TWO-PERSON SENATE INDEPENDENT CAUCUS, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH REPUBLICANS MUCH OF THE TIME, BUT WE'VE SEEN THEM BREAK OFF AND SIDE WITH DEMOCRATS ON PROPOSALS THEY CAN'T AGREE TO.

CERTAINLY THEY'LL HAVE TO WIN OVER A COUPLE OF DEMOCRATS IF THIS IS TO PASS.

THEY'VE SAID THEY'RE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THAT, THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE MARQUART IN THE HOUSE TO FIND SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE ON TAX CONFORMITY.

BUT FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN OUTSIDE OF THESE PRIVATE ROOMS, IT'S NOT CLEAR YET WHAT THAT DEAL IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

>> Mary: AND WHAT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR, HE'S HIT THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON HIS EMERGENCY POWERS, STILL PUSHBACK IN THE LEGISLATURE, BUT IS THAT BIPARTISAN YET?

>> THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR UNROLLING THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, IN PARTICULAR IN THE HOUSE WE'RE SEEING A SELECT COMMITTEE WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN RESTAURANTS OPEN AT MORE CAPACITY OR GYMS OR DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND TRYING TO REALLY HONE IN ON THAT ASPECT AND SAY, ONCE WE HIT CERTAIN TIERS OF HEALTH CONCERNS AS MORE VACCINES GO OUT, AS CASE COUNTS COME DOWN, HOSPITALIZATIONS COME DOWN, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT RESTAURANTS ARE GETTING MORE FOLKS IN WHO MAYBE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND NOW DON'T HAVE THE SAME RISKS OF CONTRACTING COVID AND HAVING THOSE DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS AND SORT OF GETTING US BACK TO A SENSE OF NORMAL PRE-2020 NORMAL, RIGHT?

>> Mary: YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT, DANA.

BUSY WEEK AT THE CAPITOL.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MARY: THIS WEEK WE MEET A FIRST-TERM HOUSE MEMBER WHO SAYS HIS ROAD TO THE LEGISLATURE BEGAN DURING THE REAGAN ERA.

I ASK EVERYBODY IN THESE INTERVIEWS, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN, WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I STARTED MY JOURNEY TOWARD THE LEGISLATURE BACK IN 1984 WHEN I RAISED MY RIGHT HAND AND I PLEDGED THAT I WOULD UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, WHEN I JOINED THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

I WENT TO BASIC TRAINING AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, I BECAME AN INFANTRY MAN.

I SERVED ABOUT FOUR YEARS AS A PRESIDENTIAL GUARD FOR PRESIDENT REAGAN.

AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD KID, STANDING WITHIN FIVE FEET OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IT TENDS TO LEAVE A BIT OF AN IMPRESSION ON YOU.

I LOVED BEING AROUND MY FELLOW SOLDIERS.

I LIKED BEING PART OF THE MISSION AND BEING PART OF SOMETHING LARGER THAN MYSELF.

AND IT'S NOT THE COMFORT OF BEING A COG IN THE WHEEL.

IT'S BEING SOMEBODY THAT IS ACTUALLY DRIVING SOMETHING FORWARD.

I LOVED THAT.

>> Mary: HOW IS THE WORK OF SESSION STRIKING YOU SO FAR?

I'VE SEEN YOU IN COMMITTEE.

YOU SEEM TO BE REAL ACTIVE AND ENGAGED IN COMMITTEES.

HOW IS FLOOR SESSION GOING?

HOW'S IT GOING MEETING FELLOW LAWMAKERS?

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A VIRTUAL BACKGROUND OF THE HOUSE.

YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO HANG OUT.

>> NO.

>> Mary: IN THE SAME SENSE.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ABLE TO CONNECT AND GET THAT CAMARADERIE?

>> NO, MA'AM.

WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO DO A PERCENTAGE OF IT.

POLITICS IS A RELATIONSHIP BUSINESS.

IT'S ABOUT LOOKING SOMEBODY IN THE EYE AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AND WHAT THEY'RE FEELING.

AND THEN MAKING COMMITMENTS, IF YOU CAN, AND THE WAY THAT I TALK TO MY CONSTITUENTS, TO MY FELLOW LEGISLATORS, AND TO LOBBYISTS IS, I PROMISE YOU I'LL LISTEN.

I'LL BE OPEN TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

AND IF I DON'T AGREE, AND IF I CAN BASE IT OFF OF FACTS AND IF I CAN BASE IT OFF OF EXPERIENCE, I PROMISE YOU, I'LL LOOK YOU IN THE EYE AND SAY, NO, I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU.

WE'RE LOSING THAT HUMAN INTERACTION.

AS YOU CAN -- BECAUSE YOU CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT A PERSON WHEN YOU'RE FACE TO FACE WITH THEM.

YOU SHOW YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT MY BACKGROUND IS ALL ABOUT.

>> Mary: YOUR DEGREE IS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

RIGHT?

DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> Mary: AND THAT DEBATE, PROBABLY ONE OF THE TOUGHEST ISSUE THE LEGISLATURE'S HAD TO FACE SO FAR, HAS TO DEAL WITH EMERGENCY PREPARATION.

SO HOW ARE WE DOING AT THAT?

HOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE SHAPING THAT ISSUE?

>> WE NEED TO GET BEYOND THE NARRATIVE.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS PROTECT OUR PUBLIC.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT CITIZENS ARE SAFE.

PROBABLY THE BEDROCK OF A CIVILIZED SOCIETY AND A GOVERNMENT IS GETTING EVERYBODY EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

AND THE WAY THAT YOU DO THAT IS THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY, THROUGH A SERIES OF WELL-THOUGHT-OUT AND ENFORCEABLE LAWS.

THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH THE BILL THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT, IT'S WHAT'S CALLED THE S.A.F.E.

ACT IS $35 MILLION OF ALLOCATIONS THAT CAN BE USED FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

NOW, THE PROBLEM WE'VE GOT IS, I LIKE THE BILL.

I REALLY DO.

BUT THE AMENDMENTS THAT CAME INTO IT, AND THIS IS A PROCESS THAT I'M LEARNING IS HOW THE AMENDMENTS WORK.

>> Mary: AMENDMENTS ARE MESSY.

THEY ARE DIFFICULT.

>> THEY ARE MESSY, I LOVE THAT THEY'RE MESSY BECAUSE IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE A BETTER BILL.

>> Mary: WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING THAT THEY WANT YOU TO ADDRESS MOST OF ALL?

>> CERTAINLY.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS A BIG ONE.

AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY A REASON WHY I RESONATED WITH THE CITIZENS OF MY DISTRICT 38A.

YOU KNOW, FROM CIRCLE PINES OVER TO HUGO, LINO LAKES, BLAINE, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR THAT I REPRESENT, DOOR AFTER DOOR THAT I WENT TO, AND WE KNOCKED ON OVER I BELIEVE IT WAS 12,000 DOORS DURING THE SEASON, I HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN SOME REALLY SIMPLE MESSAGES.

GET THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF OUR BUSINESS.

LEAVE US ALONE.

BUT PROTECT US AT THE SAME TIME.

THE DICHOTOMY OF THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE, ON THE ONE HAND, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALLOCATING THE RESOURCES THAT ARE APPROPRIATE TO DO THAT JOB, WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, BEING ABLE TO PAY FOR THAT SERVICE.

I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE REALLY SMART DECISIONS PRIOR TO AN EVENT.

AND HAVE THE RESOURCES, IN THIS CASE, MONEY, AVAILABLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO WEIGH THAT AGAINST WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST US LONG TERM?

THAT'S WHY I WANT TO PUT THE CONTROLS ON IT TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A BLANK CHECK.

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

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN AGAIN NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

UNTIL THEN YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

WATCH ANY OF OUR SHOWS, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S.

FOLLOW US ALL WEEK ON FACEBOOK.

LOOK FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

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

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

ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH REPORTERS COVERING THE CHAUVIN TRIAL.

DAVID GILLETTE RETURNS WITH A LOOK AT AN HISTORIC CANOE TRIP TO HUDSON BAY.

AND I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE LEGISLATURE IS DIVIDING AND COMING TOGETHER ON THE DIFFICULT ISSUE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING AND PROTECTION.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

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.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY·.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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

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.