"ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TV STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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/LINE3US.

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.

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

I'M ERIC ESKOLA FILLING IN FOR MARY LAHAMMER.

IT'S BEEN A BUSY NEWS DAY OVER AT THE CAPITOL.

GOVERNOR WALZ, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN AND HEALTH COMMISSIONER MALCOLM HAVE ALL ENTERED A PRECAUTIONARY 10-DAY QUARANTINE AFTER A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.

THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY NIGHT, WILL BE POSTPONED AND HE WILL WORK REMOTELY.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE STRESSED THAT NONE OF THE THREE WERE IN A SITUATION THAT IS CONSIDERED CLOSE CONTACT BUT THEY WERE IN THE SAME LOCATION ON MONDAY.

WE HAVE A FULL SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT SO LET'S DIVE IN.

HOUSE LEADERS HORTMAN AND DAUDT WILL JOIN ME LIVE VIA WEBCAM IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

AND WE'LL MEET A FIRST-TERM HOUSE MEMBER WHO FOUND HER PRIORITIES AS A CANDIDATE CHANGING AFTER THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

BUT FIRST, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUE TO FIGHT ABOUT GOVERNOR WALZ'S EMERGENCY POWERS, TAXES AND MORE.

THINGS GOT A BIT HEATED EARLIER THIS WEEK IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS MORE.

>> BIG NEWS TODAY, THE SENATE ASK MOVING FORWARD A BILL ADDRESSING EMERGENCY POWERS.

>> Mary: WHILE NEARLY EVERY STATE IS STILL IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY, SENATE REPUBLICANS SAY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TIM WALZ IS ABUSING HIS EMERGENCY POWERS SO LIKE 40 OTHER STATES, THEY'RE LOOKING TO REIN IT IN.

>> USING THE EMERGENCY POWERS UNDER SECTION 12 AND THE STRESS OF THAT USE SHOWS THAT THERE'S AN IMBALANCE AND IT'S BECOME REALLY OBVIOUS THAT WE NEED TO RESTORE BALANCE TO THE USE OF THOSE EMERGENCY POWERS.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS DEFENDED THE D.F.L.

GOVERNOR DURING THE UNPRECEDENTED RECORD YES-LONG EMERGENCY.

>> LET'S LAND THIS PLANE SAFELY, WORKING TOGETHER, NOT JUMP OUT WITHOUT A PARACHUTE.

>> Mary: THEY SAY THE STATE IS NOW RANKED HIGH ON CARING FOR CHILDREN DURING THE PANDEMIC AND DISTRIBUTING THE VACCINE.

>> SENATE FILE 4 WOULD LEAD TO RENEWED DEATH AND MOST FOR MINNESOTANS.

EVEN AS WE CAN SEE THE FINISH LINE AT THE END OF THIS LONG YEAR.

>> THEY DO NOT WANT US UP HERE WEEK AFTER WEEK DOING THIS PARTISAN BICKERING AND POKING AT A GOVERNOR THAT THIS BODY IN THE MAJORITY DOES NOT AGREE WITH.

>> THERE ARE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT BUT THERE ARE TWO BODIES THAT MAKE UP THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND THE VOTERS HAVE SEEN FELT TO PUT A NARROW MAJORITY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THIS BODY.

THEY HAVE SEEN FIT TWO ELECTIONS IN A ROW TO PUT THE D.F.L.

IN THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE.

AND WOULD HE HAVE A D.F.L.

GOVERNOR ALSO COURTESY OF MINNESOTA VOTERS.

>> Mary: HOUSE REPUBLICANS ALSO TOOK AIM AT DEMOCRATS, THE ONES IN POWER OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE BODY.

>> FIVE BILLS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR IN TEN WEEKS.

DO YOU KNOW THAT'S THE SLOWEST START IN RECORDED HISTORY?

AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE A PANDEMIC, AND MINNESOTANS NEED YOU.

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO ASHAMED OF ANYONE IN MY LIFE.

>> IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO LEAD, GET OUT OF THE WAY.

>> THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE JUST PARALYZED RIGHT NOW.

>> WE'VE USED OUR TAX POWERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RICH AND WELL-CONNECTED DON'T RUN RAMPANT THROUGH THE TAX CODE AND GRAB WHATEVER THEY CAN.

AND IN FACT, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE REVENUE AND TAX DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE WORKERS AND FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: THE LEGISLATURE HAS MISSED THE DEADLINE TO EXEMPT BUSINESSES FROM STATE TAXES ON FEDERAL PAYROLL PROTECTION MONEY.

THE SENATE PASSED INDEPENDENT SENATOR BAKK'S BILL WITH A BIG TRIPARTISAN VOTE.

>> INSTEAD OF PUTTING I IT ON THE FLOOR AND DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR MINNESOTA, WE GET EXCUSES, EXCUSE AFTER JUST.

>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA NOW IS THAT PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS LAST YEAR, THEY'RE HURTING AND SHORT ON MONEY, THEY'RE RUSHING TO TILL OUT THEIR TAX RETURNS IN THE HOPES OF GETTING A TAX REFUND TO GET SOME MONEY IN THE BANK TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

UNFORTUNATELY A BIG CHUNK OF THEIR FEDERAL TAX REFUNDS ARE NOW GOING TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> LET'S BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER.

THAT'S THE WAY IN WHICH WE'RE GOING TO STRENGTHEN OUR STATE'S ECONOMY AND MAKE THIS STATE BETTER.

WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THIS BILL AND THAT WHILE IT INCLUDES CERTAINLY SOME GOOD ITEMS, LEAVES THOSE FOLKS HIT THE HARDEST BEHIND.

♪♪♪ >> ERIC: EMOTIONS ARE INDEED RUNNING HIGH IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE THIS SESSION.

JOINING ME NOW LIVE VIA WEBCAM, THE TWO HOUSE LEADERS YOU JUST SAW IN ACTION.

D.F.L.

HOUSE SPEAKER MELISSA HORTMAN HAILS FROM BROOKLYN PARK.

HERE TOO, REPUBICAN MINORITY LEADER KURT DAUDT FROM CROWN, MINNESOTA.

THANK YOU TWO FOR JOINING US.

MADAM SPEAKER, IS TAXING THE FEDERAL P.P.P.

BUSINESS LOANS AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, IS THAT PART OF THE D.F.L.

HOUSE BUDGET PLAN?

>> WE WILL BE LOOKING AT ENACTING SOME TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO GOT P.P.P.

LOANS AND THOSE WHO RECEIVED UNEMPLOYMENT.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FOCUS THOSE TAX CUTS ON THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

THERE IS A LOT OF BUSINESSES WHO DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR P.P.P.

LOANS THAT ARE TEETERING ON THE EDGE OF WHETHER THEY CAN MAKE IT OR LOST MONEY IN 2020.

AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF COMPANIES THAT DID GET P.P.P.

LOANS AND LOST MONEY AND THEY WOULDN'T SEE ANY BENEFIT FROM THE SENATE APPROACH.

WE THINK THAT THE RIGHT APPROACH IS TO LOOK AT THOSE BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED HELP THE MOST AND MAKE SURE THAT WITH OUR LIMITED TAX DOLLARS, WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING THOSE WHO ARE HIT THE HARDEST.

>> Eric: LEADER DAUDT, TWO-PART QUESTION FOR YOU, WHERE ARE YOU ONLY TAXATION OF FEDERAL BENEFIT, NUMBER ONE, AND NUMBER TWO, WHY WHICH ARE YOU SO FIRED UP ON THE FLOOR EARLIER THIS WEEK?

>> THANK YOU, ERIC, FOR HAVING ME ON, FIRST OF ALL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WOULD BE TAXING THESE FEDERAL BENEFITS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP BUSINESSES KEEP EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND ALSO, MOREOVER, WE'RE TAXING THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

600, ALMOST $700 MILLION OF OUR SURPLUS RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS PROVING OFF OF MONEY THAT WAS CENTER BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP MINNESOTANS.

AND THE FACTS -- I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH WHAT THE SPEAKER IS SAYING RIGHT NOW IS THAT SHE THINKS THESE ARE TAX CUTS.

THESE ARE NOT TAX CUTS, THIS IS TAKING MONEY RIGHT OUT OF MINNESOTANS' POCKETS, MONEY THAT WAS CENTER TO HELP THEM.

THEY'RE NOT REDUCING TAXES FOR BUSINESSES.

THIS IS LETTING THEM KEEP THE MONEY THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GET AS FEDERAL AID TO KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED.

AND THEY SPENT THAT MONEY ALREADY ON THOSE PAYCHECKS.

>> Eric: MADAM SPEAKER, I'M WONDERING AS YOU LOOK AT NEGOTIATIONS NOT TOO FAR AWAY ON THE GLOBAL DEAL, LEADER GAZELKA IN THE SENATE I THINK HAS SAID THAT THERE WILL BE NO TAX INCREASES.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FINESSE THAT TO GET SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE OUT OF THE END OF THIS THING?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS HOW >> Eric: LEADER DAUDT, THE ONE-TIME MONEY IS ONE THING AND THE DEMOCRATS AND THE GOVERNOR SAY, WELL, WE CAN'T MEAL UNMET NEEDS ON AN ONGOING BASIS WITHOUT MORE REVENUE.

WHAT'S THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN ANSWER TO THAT?

>> I THINK THE REALITY IS, MINNESOTANS AND MINNESOTA BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN HURTING BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND RAISING TAXES ANY TIME REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE FISCAL SITUATION IS FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WOULD BE WRONG IN THIS SITUATION.

BUT THE REALITY IS, WE HAVE A $FOUR.2 BILLION SURPLUS AND IF YOU THINK OF HOW MUCH THAT HAS TURNED AROUND SINCE LAST SUMMER WHEN THEY WERE PROJECTING A $4.5 BILLION GIVE SIT, IF WE CAN'T -- DEFICIT, IF WE CAN'T FIND A WAY TO MAKE ENDS MEET -- I JUST THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT DEMOCRATS AUTO RESPONSE IS ALWAYS, WE NEED TO RAISE TAXES.

WE HAVE A $4.2 BILLION SURPLUS, THE LARGEST SURPLUS IN PROBABLY MY LIFETIME IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AND IT'S UNCONSCIONABILITY TO THINK AT THIS TIME, WHEN THE STATE IS SO FLUSH WITH CASH, THE DEMOCRATS WOULD BE WANTING TO TAKE MORE MONEY OUT OF MINNESOTANS' POCKETS, AT THIS TIME, WHEN THEY'RE HURTING SO MUCH.

>> Eric: MADAM SPEAKER, YOU HAVE 70 VOTES IN YOUR CAUCUS IN THE HOUSE, TAKES 68 TO PASS A BILL.

I'VE BEEN WANTING TO ASK YOU THIS.

YOU GOT 63 VOTES WHEN YOU BROUGHT THE S.A.F.E.

ACT, THE MUTUAL AID MONEY TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AND I THINK IT'S VERY RARE WHEN THE MAJORITY BRINGS A BILL TO THE FLOOR AND IT DOESN'T PASS.

AND I GUESS SOME OF THE URBAN MEMBERS OF YOUR CAUCUS DON'T WANT TO GIVE POLICE MONEY BUT ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE WITH COHESION IN THE CAUCUS WITH SOME OF THESE NEW MEMBERS THAT DIVERSE MEMBERS THAT REFLECTING MAYBE A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE THAN WE'VE SEEN AT THE CAPITOL?

>> NO, WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH THE S.A.F.E.

ACT IS WE HAD NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE.

WE HAD WORKED CAREFULLY WITH THE MINNESOTA POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION, THE CHIEFS OF POLICE AND THE MINNESOTA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION AND THERE WAS A BELIEF AMONGST THE LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUP THAT THERE WOULD BE REPUBLICAN VOTES FOR THIS BILL IN SUFFICIENT NUMBERS THAT IT WAS FINE THAT WE WERE A LITTLE BIT SHORT.

SO WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES, ON OUR VOTE COUNTING, WE WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH CONFIDENCE THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME REPUBLICAN VOTES FOR THE BILL.

THERE WERE SOME FORMER POLICE OFFICERS, SOME FORMER SHERIFFS IN THE MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN CAUCUS BUT WE UNFORTUNATELY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET ANY REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE TO VOTE WITH US.

SO THAT WAS A CASE OF KIND OF TRUSTING ANOTHER PEOPLE'S VOTE COUNTS AND I GUESS EMERGED MY LESSON AS A NEW SPEAKER OF A CLOSE MAJORITY TO ONLY TRUST MY OWN VOTE COUNTS.

>> Eric: WELL, LEADER DAUDT, HAD YOU PROMISED A COUPLE OF VOTES ON THIS OR... >> NO, WE DID NOT.

IN FACT, I THINK THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, AND THAT'S A LESSON THAT WE CAN LEARN GOING FORWARD.

WE WERE NEVER CONTACTED, NEVER CONSULTED, WE DIDN'T NEGOTIATE ON THAT BILL.

WE HAD NEVER COMMITTED VOTES.

WE BELIEVED THAT FUNDING IS VITALLY NECESSARY BUT AS WE HAVE PUT OUT IN OUR PROPOSALS BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE A STAND-ALONE BILL.

IN FACT, OUR POSITION IS SO REASONABLE, IT'S CLOSER TO THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION, ACTUALLY, THAN THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS' POSITION, BUT OUR POSITION IS SO REASONABLE THAT THE "STAR TRIBUNE" ACTUALLY ENDORSED OUR POSITION, AND WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE THAT APPROACH THIS SESSION.

NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO PASS THAT S.A.F.E.

ACT BUT WE BELIEVE THE P.P.P.

EXEMPTION NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW.

WE NEED TO DO THE UNEMPLOYMENT EXEMPTION SO THAT MINNESOTANS DON'T GET STUCK WITH AN UNEXPECTED TAX BILL OFF OF THIS UNEMPLOYMENT SUPPLEMENT AND WE ALSO WANT TO FUND SUNDAY SCHOOL AND THIS WEEK WEARY GOING TO BRING ALL FOUR OF THOSE BILLS TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, DEMOCRATS ARE NOT LEADING ON THESE ISSUES.

>> Eric: MADAM SPEAKER, IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT YOUR SENATE COUNTERPART, SENATOR GAZELKA, WILL NOT NEGOTIATE THE BUDGET UNTIL THE EXECUTIVE POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR GO AWAY?

>> WELL, I SURE HOPE THAT WOULDN'T BE THE CASE.

I THINK HE COULD LOOK TO A RECENT EXAMPLE WHEN REPRESENTATIVE DAUDT TOOK A POSITION THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE A BONDING BILL UNTIL THE GOVERNOR RELINQUISHED HIS EMERGENCY POWERS AS AN EXAMPLE OF A FAILED STRATEGY.

WE IN FACT PASSED THE LARGEST PUBLIC WORKS BILL IN MINNESOTA HISTORY IN OCTOBER, WITH 25 MEMBERS OF HIS CAUCUS.

SO I THINK SENATOR GAZELKA, IF HE TAKES AN EXTREME POSITION LIKE THAT AND TRIES TO TIE UNRELATED ISSUES IN WITH THE BUDGET, MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY TOSS THE KEYS TO HIS CAUCUS TO ANOTHER CAUCUS.

>> Eric: WHAT DOES THE STATUS LEADER DAUDT OF THE -- THE MONEY -- THE EXECUTIVE POWERS, I'M TRYING TO SAY.

>> YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD -- THEY SHOULD END.

WE BELIEVE THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD STEP UP AND DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC AND RESPOND TO THE PANDEMIC ALONGSIDE THE GOVERNOR.

WE'VE BELIEVED FOR MONTHS THAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EVER ANTICIPATED THAT THIS THING WOULD GO ON FOR 12 MONTHS.

IT'S TIME TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS NOW AND IT'S TIME FOR THE LEGISLATURE AND THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE TO STEP UP AND DO THEIR JOBS, NOT JUST ON THE EMERGENCY POWERS BUT ON ALL OF THESE OTHER BILLS, AS WELL.

>> Eric: MADAM SPEAKER, WITH ALL THE TAXES MINNESOTANS PAY, I WONDER IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE STATE SERVICES.

HERE WE HAVE YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE TODAY FROM THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR SAYING THAT THE WAITING TIMES FOR DRIVER'S LICENSES IS WAY TOO LONG.

ARE WE GETTING SERVICES FOR OUR MONEY HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE LAST BUDGET THAT WE HAD AND WHETHER IT WAS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE NEEDS IN MINNESOTA, IT CLEARLY WAS NOT.

YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A MEETING WITH ABOUT 35 TEACHERS THE OTHER DAY TALKING ABOUT THE STATE FUNDING THAT WE HAD IN THE CLASS SIZES THAT THEY DEAL WITH AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, WITH A HYBRID SYSTEM, TEACHING JUST PART OF THEIR GROUP OF STUDENTS IN PERSON, THEY FIND THAT THERE'S NO BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS, THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE THESE ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS AND THEY'RE SAYING, THIS IS THE SIZE OF CLASSES THAT WE HAVE NEEDED ALL ALONG.

SO THE EXISTING STATE BUDGET IS REALLY NOT SUFFICIENT TO MEET OUR NEEDS IN A RANGE OF AREAS.

YOU KNOW, NONE OF US PROBABLY IN OUR LIVES BUY THE CHEAPEST HOUSE, THE CHEAPEST CAR AND THE CHEAPEST EVERYTHING.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU UNDER-INVEST IN A SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM, YOU DON'T HAVE QUITE THE SERVICES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

CERTAINLY, WE WANT GOVERNMENT TO WORK WELL AND TO BE EXCELLENT IN EVERY CASE WHERE IT'S OPERATING BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE EXISTING STATE BUDGET AND SAY, IS IT SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MINNESOTANS?

AND I KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IN EDUCATION, THE CURRENT BUDGET THAT WE PASSED IN 2019 IS NOT SUFFICIENT.

IT'S A COMPROMISE BUDGET.

WE HAD TO GO WAY DOWN FROM WHAT WE KNEW WAS ADEQUATE IN ORDER TO COMPROMISE WITH REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE, AND I THINK THIS IS A TIME FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AND SAY, HOW DO WE INVEST IN A BUDGET GOING FORWARD THAT REALLY SERVES THE NEEDS OF MINNESOTANS, IN A WAY THAT'S EXCELLENT AND ONGOING.

>> Eric: LEADER DAUDT, SHOULD I LOOK FOR THE THIRD WEEK IN MAY OR JUNE 30th FOR A SETTLEMENT HERE?

>> BOY, IF WE CAN'T GET THIS DONE IN THE THIRD WEEK IN MAY, WE OUGHT TO TURN IN OUR ELECTION CERTIFICATES.

I'M HAPPY TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND BE HELPFUL, WE JUST NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE AND UNFORTUNATELY ON THE S.A.F.E.

ACT WE WEREN'T AND I THINK WE SAW THE RESULTS OF WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

BUT THAT'S WHY THIS WEEK WE'VE COME FORWARD AND SAID THESE ARE ISSUES WE SUPPORT AND WE WILL HELP YOU PASS THEM BUT WE WANT TO BE PART OF THAT SOLUTION AND YOU CAN'T REALLY LEAVE US OUT IN THE DARK AND THEN EXPECT US TO VOTE FOR YOUR BILLS.

>> Eric: ENJOYED THE VISIT.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU BOTH THE REST OF THE WAY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >> ERIC: WE'VE BEEN INTRODUCING YOU TO SOME OF THE NEW LAWMAKERS OVER AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.

MARY RECENTLY TALKED WITH A FIRST-TERM HOUSE MEMBER WHO IS LEARNING THAT, OFTEN, PRIORITIES SHIFT AND EXPAND ONCE YOU TAKE OFFICE.

>> SO, FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM ALL FRESHMEN IS WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN AND GET INTO THIS?

>> PROBABLY TWOFOLD.

ONE WAS CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH I FEEL IS EXISTENTIAL CRISIS OF OUR GENERATION AND I -- >> Mary: MAYBE SLIPPED TO THE BACKGROUND, TOO, BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE REASON YOU GOT IN BUT WHEN'S THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN POLITICS OR THE LEGISLATURE?

>> RIGHT.

IT'S REALLY TRICKY.

I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE WE HAVE TO CHEW GUM AND WALK AT THE SAME TIME.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS RIGHT NOW WHICH IS ARE HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMIC SITUATION BUT ALSO STILL THINK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN 20 YEARS, AND SO WHEN WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT YOUNGER -- THE YOUNGER GENERATION, THEY'RE REALLY THINKING ABOUT THAT.

THEY'RE, LIKE, BUT WHAT IS IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHEN I'M 30 YEARS OLD?

AND I THINK THAT, FOR ME, IS REALLY GROUNDING AND I'M LIKE, YEAH, GOOD, KEEP THINKING ABOUT THAT.

WE NEED YOUR PERSPECTIVE HERE.

WE NEED YOU TO KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT.

>> Mary: YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE EASIEST PATH BECAUSE YOU TOOK ON A LONGTIME INCUMBENT POWERFUL COMMITTEE CHAIR.

THAT IS GREAT.

>> IT WAS TERRIFYING.

YES, IT WAS DEFINITELY A TRICKY PATH AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD SAY IF IT WAS BRAVE BUT IT WAS SOMETHING I REALLY FELT WAS NECESSARY AND THAT MARSHALLY TIES INTO THE OTHER REASON THAT I RAN.

THE OTHER REASON I RAN WAS I FELT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY WHEN DOING THE TYPE OF WORK FROM OUR STATE LEGISLATOR, FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN PARTICULAR.

I FELT THAT THERE WAS NOT -- THAT HE WASN'T MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY WERE AT AND THAT WE NEEDED TO DO MORE OF THAT AND WE NEEDED TO -- ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OUR DISTRICT IS KIND OF STRANGE, 66B RUNS FROM THE EAST SIDE OF St. PAUL ALL THE WAY OVER TO COMO PARK AND SO THERE IS A REALLY DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST ETHNICALLY AND RACIALLY BUT ALSO SOCIOECONOMICALLY AND THE NEEDS ARE SO DIFFERENT.

AND SO, REALLY, WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS TO TRY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AND MEET THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT INSTEAD OF ASKING THEM TO COME TO THE CAPITOL OR ASKING THEM TO COME TO MY TOWN HALL, SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WAS FOCUSED ON IN RUNNING BUT ALSO THAT I CONTINUE TO TRY TO BE FOCUSED ON AS A REPRESENTATIVE.

>> Mary: DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE PART OF THIS KIND OF VOICE FOR CHANGE THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BUNCH OF WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR COME INTO THE CAPITOL AND REALLY FORCE SOME CHANGE IN A PLACE THAT DOESN'T CHANGE EASILY.

>> NO, I HAD NO IDEA.

AND I THINK -- WE HAVE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN, LIKE, CITY COUNCIL RACES, ESPECIALLY SOMEWHAT IN St. PAUL BUT ALSO IN MINNEAPOLIS.

I DID NOT ANTICIPATE BEING PART OF SUCH A LARGE COLLECTIVE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE COMING IN TO DO THIS WORK.

>> Mary: IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, YOU WERE IN THIS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

SO I RAN -- I RAN UP TO THE CAUCUS, I LOST THE D.F.L.

ENDORSEMENT BY TWO VOTES.

AND THEN I DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE, FULLY -- FULLY, LIKE, JUST -- I WAS DONE.

I PACKED UP ALL OF MY STUFF, I WAS LIKE, OKAY, GUESS IT WASN'T MY TIME.

AND IT WAS ACTUALLY THE GEORGE FLOYD KILLING THAT BROUGHT ME BACK INTO THE RACE WHERE I DECIDED THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE SOME NEW VOICES AND THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND I THINK GEORGE FLOYD HIT ALL OF US REALLY HARD BECAUSE OF THE VIDEO TAPE AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING.

BUT IT ALSO HIT REALLY HARD BECAUSE PHILANDO CASTILLE WAS KILLED, YOU KNOW, IN SIMILARLY HORRIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT'S RIGHT ON THE BORDER OF MY DISTRICT.

AND IT WAS REALLY HEART-BREAKING TO HEAR PEOPLE CONTINUOUSLY SAID HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TO GEORGE FLOYD WHEN IT HAD LITERALLY JUST HAPPENED FOUR YEARS AGO TO PHILANDO CASTILLE.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOUR KIDS THROUGH FILL LAP DO CASTILLE AND GEORGE FLOYD AND YOU RUNNING FOR OFFICE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME REALLY IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THESE I, ESPECIALLY FOR MY 7-YEAR-OLD WHO HAS BEEN WITH ME THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

SHE'S A GREAT LITTLE ORGANIZER IN HER OWN RIGHT NOW AND BEING FORCED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH A 7-YEAR-OLD, A 6-YEAR-OLD AT THAT POINT, WITH A 6-YEAR-OLD REALLY HELPED ME UNDERSTAND ALL THE FEELINGS THAT I WAS HAVING AROUND THIS.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >> Mary: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND BECAUSE HOW YOU GOT TO POLITICS IS NOT THE TYPICAL ROUTE.

>> NO, I GUESS NOT.

AS A YOUNG MAN AND YOUTH GROWING UP, I'VE HAD MY ISSUES, AS HAS BEEN OUT IN THE MEDIA, AND I'VE OWNED THAT.

I'VE OPENED THAT AND I'VE BROUGHT MYSELF UP.

I'VE WORKED HARD AND SOMETIMES I TRIED TO REMIND MYSELF TO BE HUMBLE IN THAT EXPERIENCE BUT I ALSO LIKE TO PROJECT IT BECAUSE I WANT TO HOLD MYSELF TO A STANDARD TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT THERE IS A PATH, THERE IS A PATH TO BEING SUCCESSFUL AND THERE IS A PATH TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

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

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN AGAIN NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHEN MARY LAHAMMER WILL BE BACK IN STUDIO.

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.

DAVID GILL LEGAL'S BACK WITH A LOOK AT HISTORIC CANOE TRIP TO HUDSON BAY AND MARY DETAILS THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE STATUTE -- A STATUTE OF COLUMBUS THAT WAS ILLEGALLY REMOVED FROM THE CAPITAL GROUNDS LAST YEAR AND WHETHER IT WILL BE RETURNING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

BE CAREFUL.

"ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TV 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/LINE3US.

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.