>>> STATEWIDE BROADCASTS OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS" ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MINNESOTA CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION FROM DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES THAT HELP FARMERS BETTER PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES TO THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN CORN BASED PLASTICS.

MINNESOTA CORN FARMERS ARE PROUD TO INVEST IN THIRD PARTY RESEARCH LEADING TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STANDING FOR AGRICULTURE, WORKING FOR FARMERS ON THE WEB AT MFU.ORG.

WE WELCOME YOU TO ANOTHER SESSION OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS", A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION FEATURING STATE LAWMAKERS ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSING IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE, ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.

NOW, HERE IS YOUR MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, BARRY ANDERSON.

>> Barry: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS".

I'M BARRY ANDERSON, YOUR HOST FOR THIS PROGRAM, AND WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU HAVE JOINED US FOR AN HOUR OF CONVERSATION FOR THE IMPORTANT POLISHES FACING THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE A DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS WHO WILL HELP TO UNRAVEL THE MYSTERIES OF ST. PAUL AND WE WILL GET TO THE GUESTS IN JUST A MINUTE.

BUT I WANTED TO OPEN THE EVENING WITH A MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE.

OVER THE LAST SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS OR SO WE HAVE LOST THREE FORMER STATE SENATORS WHO WERE ALSO FREQUENT GOETZS.

SENATOR JIM BICKERMAN, EARL, AND ALL INDIVIDUALS WERE FARMERS, AND ALL SERVED IN THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE FOR NEARLY A QUARTER CENTURY, AND ALL WERE LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THEY WERE ALL FREQUENT GUESTS ON OUR PROGRAM.

FOR MANY YEARS THE GUESTS WHO ARE ANSWERING QUESTIONS FOR YOU TODAY WERE PRECEDED BY THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE OFTEN HERE TO HELP US UNRAVEL THOSE MYSTERIES.

IN EACH CASE I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING ALL THREE OF THEM.

SENATOR VICKERMAN WAS A FARMER BY TRADE BUT WAS ALSO VERY ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY AND RELATED SPECIALITIES.

SENATOR VICKERMAN WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WE OFTEN WENT TO WHEN UNFORTUNATELY THE HOUSE MIGHT BE BUSY, AND SENATE MIGHT BE BUSY AND WE NEEDED A GUEST AND HE WAS ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING SENATOR RENCKE.

HE.

AGAIN A FARMER, AND GRADUATE OF UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

FINALLY A WORD ABOUT JOHN, WHO I KNEW VERY WELL.

HE REPRESENTED MUCH OF MCCLOUD COUNTY THROUGHOUT HIS NEARLY QUARTER CENTURY CAREER IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND PREVIOUSLY REPRESENTED THE HOUSE, REPRESENTED THE AREA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND WAS ALSO THE FIRST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF HUTCHISON WHERE I KNEW HIM DURING MY TENURE THERE AS CITY ATTORNEY.

EACH OF THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS PROVIDED TREMENDOUS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE STATE.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE SERVICES TO THE STATE AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

ON BEHALF OF THIS PROGRAM, OUR GUESTS THIS EVENING, AND THE GREATER AUDIENCE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WE SEND OUR BEST WISHES AND THANKS TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS.

SO LET US MOVE ONTO THE BUSINESS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TODAY.

WE WILL BEGIN THIS PROGRAM, AS WE DO EACH WEEK, BY GIVING OUR GUESTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEMSELVES, WHERE THEY ARE FROM, COMMITTEES THEY SERVE ON, THE DAY JOB, IF SO INCLINED AND OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION, AND LET'S BEGIN WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN WITH US BEFORE, AND THAT WOULD BE REPRESENTATIVE JOE MCDONALD.

TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELVES.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU FOR THE SENATORS WHO PASSED AWAY, AND I KNEW SENATOR RENKE.

I BELIEVE SENATOR RENKE WAS ALSO OUR SENATOR FOR A WHILE BEFORE REDISTRICTING.

>> Barry: LONG ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH AT LEAST TWO, MAYBE THREE.

>> MANY PHOTOS OF HIM AND MY FATHER.

MY NAME IS JOE MCDONALD, AND I'M FROM THE CITY OF DELANO, AND SERVING IN MY SIXTH TERM OF 11 YEARS NOW, AND SERVED 11, 12 AS MY FIRST TERM.

EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE WRIGHT COUNTY, AND MY REAL JOB, MY FULL-TIME JOB IS A PHOTOGRAPHER.

MY WIFE AND I OWN MCDONALD'S PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO WHICH MY FATHER FOUNDED.

I FOLLOWED IN MY FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS.

CARRYING ON THE FAMILY TRADITION, AND CURRENTLY I'M ON THE TAX COMMITTEE, A SMALL COMMITTEE CALLED TAXES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO ON INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION, WHICH IS A NEW COMMITTEE TO HELP BRING THE TRADES AND SKILL LABOR INTO SCHOOLS AND INTRODUCE TO OUR KIDS, OTHER CAREERS, AND THEN WHAT IS MY LAST ONE?

LABOR, INDUSTRY AND VETERANS AFFAIR, POLICY AND FINANCE, AND A GREAT COMMITTEE TO BE A PART OF AS WELL.

A LOT OF GOOD WORK AT THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ON YOUR SHOW AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE.

IN CASE I DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY BELATED ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

>> Barry: SENALSO JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME, SENATOR JENNIFER MCEWEN FROM DULUTH WHO IS HER FIRST TERM AS MINNESOTA STATE SENATOR.

WE WERE VISITING A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THE PROGRAM BEGAN.

SENATOR MCEWEN TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, IT'S A PLEASURE TO JOIN ALL OF YOU THIS EVENING.

Z THIS IS MY FIRST TERM.

MY NAME AND JEN MCEWEN.

I'M FROM DULUTH, GREW UP IN DULUTH.

I LIVED THERE WITH MY SPOUSE AND TWO KIDS.

I HAVE TWO KIDS THAT ARE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, ONE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, ONE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M AN ATTORNEY BY TRADE.

I STARTED OUT MY CAREER WORKING AT LEGAL AID ACTUALLY DOWN IN ARIZONA.

WE WERE IN ARIZONA FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THEN WHEN WE MOVED BACK HOME TO DULUTH, I WORKED AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR THREE YEARS, AND THEN MORE RECENTLY MOVED IN THROUGH DENTAL RECORDS, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING BEFORE I DECIDED TO RUN FOR SENATE.

I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE AND THRILLED TO BE JOINING ALL OF YOU.

>> Barry: WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU.

BUT OF COURSE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM, THIS IS NOT PUTTING A PLUG, WHICH IS REALLY ONE OF THE FINE PUBLIC DEFENDER OPERATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

MY BACK GROUND GROUND IS WITH SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL SERVICES AND I HAD A CHANCE TO BE A VOLUNTEER.

THE AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEER WORK THAT LAWYERS PUT IN NOT ONLY THROUGH OUR REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES BUT OTHER SERVICES IS NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD BY THE PUBLIC BUT IT'S A GREAT CREDIT TO MINNESOTA.

THAT'S THE SALES PITCH FOR THE LAWYERS.

IT WILL BE THE LAST TIME WE DO THAT TODAY.

LET'S MOVE ON.

ALSO INTRODUCED TO OUR VIEWERS SENATOR JASON RARICK.

TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

PREASHAPPRECIATE BEING ASKED BAK AGAIN.

I CURRENTLY LIVE IN THE PINE CITY AREA.

I CURRENTLY LIVE ON THE FARM MY PARENTS HAVE, AND MY SON IS PROUD TO SAY FIFTH GENERATION TO HAVE LIVED THERE.

A LOT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND I REALLY LOVE THAT AREA OF THE STATE AND ELECTRICIAN IS MY TRADE OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT SO HAPPY TO MOVE BACK AND GET MY GRANDPARENTS PLACED.

I SERVE ON FOUR DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.

I'M THE CHAIR OF THE LABOR COMMITTEE, VICE CHAIR OF HIGHER ED AND I'M ON THE JOBS COMMITTEE AND ENERGY COMMITTEE.

WITH MY BACKGROUND AS AN ELECTRICIAN AND UNION ELECTRICIAN, I HAVE REALLY BEEN DIVING IN DEEP TO THE JOBS SECTOR AND ENERGY SECTOR AND TRYING TO BRING MY BACKGROUND TO THE LEGISLATURE WITH THOSE TWO AREAS OF SPECIALTY.

I SERVED IN THE HOUSE FOR FOUR YEARS, AND THEN NOW I'M BEGINNING MY THIRD YEAR IN THE SENATE AND, YOU KNOW, HERE IN ALEXANDER, TALKING ABOUT THE LEARNING CURVE, ALWAYS LEARNING INSIDE, AND I DON'T THINK YOU EVER REALLY KNOW ABOUT THIS PLACE, BUT IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE, AND I JUST HOPE I KEEP DOING A GOOD JOB, AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT IFTS CHOSEN TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE.

>> Barry: FINALLY REPRESENTATIVE TODD LIPPERT FROM NORTHFIELD.

SERVING HIS FIRST TERM IN THE LEGISLATURE.

TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, REPRESENTATIVE LIPPERT.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

I'M ACTUALLY IN MY SECOND TERM IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I REPRESENT THE NORTHFIELD MONTGOMERY AREA, AN HOUR SOUTH OF THE CITY.

I'M A PASTOR BY TRAINING.

I HAVE BEEN AN ORDAINED MINISTER IN THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST SINCE 2003.

I HAVE SERVED CHURCHES AND I WAS A SENIOR MINISTER FROM THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST UNTIL LAST YEAR.

AFTER BEING ELECTED I DECIDED TO STEP AWAY FROM THAT POSITION, WAS INTO MORE THAN A FULL-TIME JOB.

I WANTED TO GIVE MORE TIME TO THE POLITICAL RACE.

I SERVED ON THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH POLICY COMMITTEE.

I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND THE HELP OF SMALL COMMUNITIES AND CARE GIVING ISSUES, AND ONE ISSUE I'M WORKING ON IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PAYING PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANCE A LIVING WAGE AS WELL AS COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION.

I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

>> Barry: ALL I WILL SAY ABOUT THE PRIVILEGE OF THE PASTOR SERVING SMALLER COMMUNITIES, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY FOR PARISHES, AND THE WAY THEY EXPLAINED IS EACH PARISH GETS 75% OF YOUR TIME.

>> I SERVED IN A 2 POINT PARISH MYSELF, AND THAT'S NOT FAR FROM THE TRUTH.

>> Barry: LET'S START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE LIPPERT.

WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS IN PAST WEEKS ABOUT THIS, SO THIS IS PROBABLY AS GOOD PLACE TO START AS ANY, THE ISSUE THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED THERE, PAYMENT OF WAGES FROM PEOPLE PROVIDING CARE SERVICES.

SO EXPLAIN TO OUR VIEWERS, AND WE WILL GO AROUND OUR VIRTUAL TABLE.

>> SURE.

SO I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT CARE GIVING ISSUES.

I THINK CARE IS ESSENTIAL TO WHO WE ARE AT HUMAN BEINGS AND NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT AS ESSENTIAL.

ONE SLICE OF THAT IS THE WORK OF PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANCE.

THEY PROVIDE CARE TO OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE HOME.

THEIR AVERAGE WAGE IS $12.38 AN HOUR.

IT'S LOW, AND THAT MEANS THERE'S HIGH TURNOVER IN THAT WORKFORCE AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THE CARE THEY NEED.

THIS WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE COVID AND EVEN MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM NOW.

FOR MANY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IT'S NOT ABOUT LIVING WITH DIGNITY, BUT A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

I HAVE A BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE REFORM TO THE FRAMEWORK AS A WHOLE.

WE NEED A DIFFERENT FRAMEWORK FOR STATE REIMBURSEMENT FOR PCA AGENCIES SO THEY CAN PROVIDE A LIVING WAGE TO PCA'S, AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION AND WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S MOMENTUM FOR THIS YEAR, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE VALUING OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO PAY THEIR CAREGIVERS.

THIS WILL BENEFIT ABOUT 100,000 MINNESOTANS, AND THERE ARE ROUGHLY 45,000 MINNESOTANS THAT DEPEND ON THE SERVICES AND 55,000.

82% OF THOSE PCA'S ARE WOMEN, AND OVER 60% ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THIS IS A KEY EQUITY ISSUE.

>> Barry: SENATOR RE RARICK, YOR THOUGHTS?

>> I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A NUMBER OF FOLKS, AND IT IS, I THINK, THE SADDETTES PART MENTIONED THE TURNOVER, AND YOU KNOW, SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THEM, ABOUT THE TIME THEY GET USED TO SOMEONE BEING IN THEIR HOME WITH THEM, AND THEN THE TURNOVER HAPPENS, AND NOW SOMEONE COMES IN, AND WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET THEM THE PAY THEY DESERVE WHEN THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR LOVED ONES.

TOO MANY TIMES I HAVE SEEN THEM FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS, AND EVERYBODY AGREES WE NEED TO DO IT, AND WE DO NEED TO COME TOGETHER ON THIS.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES AND NOT LET IT SLIP TO THE SITE.

>> Barry: SENATOR MCEWEN.

>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.

I WAS SPEAKING TO CONSTITUENTS UP IN DULUTH ABOUT THE VERY ISSUE A COUPLE DAYS AGO.

THIS IS TRADITIONALLY WOMEN'S WORK, TRADITIONALLY WORK THAT PREVIOUSLY WENT UNPAID AND NOW EVEN YEARS LATER IS LAGGING BEHIND.

IT'S BEING VIEWED AS THE SECOND CLASS TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT.

IT SHOULDN'T BE.

IT'S VITAL.

IT'S THE SALT OF THE EARTH WORK THAT CARING FOR OTHER PEOPLE, CARING FOR ELDERLY, CARING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

IT'S VITAL.

IT SPEAKS TO ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND I THINK PROBABLY ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE JOINING US TONIGHT AS WELL, THE WEALTH INEQUALITY THAT WE HAVE SEEN GROW OVER THE LAST DECADE SINCE THE '80s ESPECIALLY WHERE WE HAVE SO MUCH OF THE WEALTH THAT IS GENERATED THROUGH LABOR IN OUR COUNTRY, SYPHONED UP TO THE TIPPY, TIPPY TOP, TOP EARNERS AND THE WEALTHIEST CORPORATIONS WHILE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO GET BY WITH JUST THE BASICS.

WE KNOW THAT MOST AMERICANS COULDN'T AFFORD AN UNFORESEEN 400-DOLLAR BILL FOR SOMETHING, LIKE A CAR REPAIR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE.

WE ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY.

I'M SO GLAD THAT THIS WORK IS BEING DONE.

THIS IS A CRUCIAL PIECE, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR, ALSO, THERE'S A SENTIMENT AND THE HOPE WE CAN GET THIS DONE THIS YEAR.

BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED TO.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MCDONALD?

>> ON THE ISSUE OF THE PCA'S VERY IMPORTANT WORK, AND SINCE MY TENURE HAS BEEN HERE, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A TOPIC, WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS OFFER THE YEARS COMING TOGETHER.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WORK TOGETHER ON AND CARE DEEPLY ABOUT.

MUCH OF THE LEGISLATION I HAVE HAD THE 10 YEARS HAD TO DO WITH THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY PROVIDING FUNDS FOR VARIOUS GROUP HOMES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP AND WORK WITH THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.

VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER CERTAINLY.

THERE'S NO REASON WHY IN OUR STATE OF MINNESOTA THAT OUR PERSONAL CARE TENANTS MAKE LENS SOME OF THE WORK AT HOME DEPOT OR MENARDS.

IT'S AN ISSUE WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND GET BETTER AT.

>> Barry: WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO THIS.

IF NOT TODAY, IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

LET'S MOVE ON TO ANOTHER QUESTION.

IT COMES TO US VIA TWITTER OF ALL PLACES.

WHAT DOES THE PANEL THINK ABOUT THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BACKED BY FEDERAL RESERVE PRESIDENT AND MY FORMER COLLEAGUE RETIRED JUSTICE ALLEN PAIGE REMEMBE PERTAINING TO AN E EDUCATION.

LET'S START WITH YOU, MCEWEN.

WHAT'S YOUR VIEW ON THAT AMENDMENT, AND WE WILL GO AROUND THE TABLE.

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE AMENDMENT.

I SHOULD STUDY UP MORE ON IT.

I THINK WHAT THE AMENDMENT IS TRYING TO ADDRESS, WHICH IS EQUITY WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS IS CRUCIAL AND VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THAT -- I HAVE HEARD SOME CONCERNS FROM TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN REGARD TO THE FEAR THERE MIGHT BE LANGUAGE IN THAT AMENDMENT THAT WOULD FACILITATE UNDERMINING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THAT CONCERNS ME, AND LIKE I SAID I'M OPEN TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT IT, AND IT'S NOT THAT I HAVE STUDIED UP A LOT ON IT.

BUT THAT IS WHAT I KNOW ABOUT.

I KNOW THAT THE INTENT IS GOOD, BUT PERHAPS THERE'S A COMPROMISE THERE.

MAYBE THERE'S A LANGUAGE CHANGE THAT COULD BE MADE WITH THE AMENDMENT ITSELF OR PERHAPS THERE ARE OTHER WAYS WE CAN ADVANCE THE EQUITY AS WE KNOW IN MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA IS A REALLY GOOD PLACE TO LIVE, TO WORK, TO BE EDUCATED IF YOU WERE A WHITE PERSON.

BUT IF YOU ARE A PERSON OF COLOR, IT'S DOWN THERE WITH MISSMISSISSIPPI, WHICH IS ASHAM.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE PRIET VRIGHTVEHICLE OR NOT.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MCDONALD YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE AMENDMENT DEALING WITH ADEQUACY AND EDUCATION.

>> I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD CALL ON SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO BRING UP THE WORDING ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL BILL.

I HAVE RECEIVED MANY E-MAILS VERY CONCERNED WITH IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING COMPLETELY THE LANGUAGE OR MAYBE THE LANGUAGE IS NOT BEING VERY CLEAR.

BUT I HAVE MANY FOLKS THAT ARE HOME SCHOOLERS AND KIDS THAT ARE IN PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT BELIEVES THE LANGUAGE VERY MUCH WILL HINDER THOSE WHO WANT TO TEACH AND THOSE WHO ARE HOMESCHOOLED AND NOT GIVE THEM THE ABILITY OR SAME FOOTING AS THOSE IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

I'M VERY CAUTIOUS OF JUMPING ON TO THAT UNTIL I CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVE OF IT.

THE MOTIVE IS GOOD EDUCATION, AND THAT'S TRUE IN ALL RESPECTS.

BUT I NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH EXACTLY BECAUSE EVERY WORD MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

THERE'S SHALL, TO, JUST, AND EVERY WORD MAKES A BIG GIVE IN LAW.

I HAVE MANY CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND CHANGING THE WORDING ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD PROBABLY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DELICATE AND MAKE SURE ALL PARTIES ARE INTERESTED AND KNOW THE ISSUE WELL AND KNOW THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO HARM OUR HOME SCHOOLERS OR CHARTER OR MAGNET SCHOOLS.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT WE HAVE TO BE ADDRESSING RACIAL EQUITY IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE SUCH DEEP ACHIEVEMENT GAPS BY RACE AND WE HAVE TO TURN THAT AROUND.

I THINK THERE'S DEEP, DEEP RESPECT FOR JUSTICE PAIGE AND THE WORK HE'S DONE FOR RACIAL EQUITY AND HIS EFFORTS BEHIND THE AMENDMENT AS WELL.

THERE IS CONCERN RECOGNIZES, THT THIS AMENDMENT MIGHT HAVE CONSEQUENCES THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING EQUITY WHILE STRENGTHENING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT CAN DELIVER FOR ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF RACE, REGARDLESS OF GEOGRAPHY IS REALLY CRITICAL.

THIS CONVERSATION IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S NUANCED AND IT WILL BE CONTINUING.

>> Barry: SENATOR RARICK, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS.

I HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT THE LANGUAGE, BUT I DO BELIEVE IT HAS DISCUSSION HERE AT THE CAPITOL THAT WE NEEDED AND I THINK IT SPURRED A COUPLE OF BILLS WE HAVE SEEN THIS YEAR IN REGARDS TO TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE TEACHERS OF COLOR AND ESPECIALLY TEACHERS OF COLOR WHO ARE MEN BECAUSE THERE ARE SO FEW OF THEM IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND IF WE CAN BE DOING THINGS LIKE THAT, MAYBE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ISN'T NEEDED BUT IT MAYBE HAVE DONE ITS JOB OF RAISING AWARENESS AND GETTING THE LEGISLATURE TO ACT IN OTHER WAYS TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> Barry: WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE AS WELL AS THE WEEKS UNFOLD.

WE HAVE ANOTHER VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE PASSING ANY LAWS DEALING WITH POLICE REFORM ISSUES.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC REFORM ISSUES THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE PANEL THINK THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED?

LET'S START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE LIPPERT?

WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> POLICE REFORM IS A CRITICAL CONVERSATION AND A DEEP CONVERSATION WITHIN THE HOUSE DFL CAUCUS.

I THINK WE HAD -- AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD OVER THE SUMMER, WE HAD COMPREHENSIVE POLICE REFORM, ACCOUNTABILITY REFORM THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE ON A BIPARTISAN MEASURE, AND WE ARE CLEAR THIS IS JUST A START.

I THINK AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE SESSION, ONE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN RELATED TO TRAINING RELATED TO HELPING OFFICERS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND PROVIDING MORE SUPPORT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH TRYING TO TAKE PIECES OFF THEIR PLATE.

THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT I TALK TO ARE VERY OPEN WITH THAT, AND THINK WE CAN PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT THERE AND HELP DELIVER KEY SAFETY SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN SOME DIFFERENT WAYS THAT REALLY GET AT THE HEART OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH.

RELATED TO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IN SO MANY WAYS IS THE IMPACT OF POVERTY ON COMMUNITIES, SO WE CAN BE ADDRESSING THAT BY MAKING DEEP INVESTMENTS IN OUR STATE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LIGHTNING VOTE FOR POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL AS A HELDY COMMUNITY ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MCDONALD, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE POLICE REFORM QUESTION?

>> WE NEED REFORMS IN MANY AREAS IN OUR LIFE, POLICE REFORM, LEGISLATIVE REFORM.

WE ARE NOT A PERFECT PEOPLE.

THERE ARE MISTAKES MADE.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE REFORMS OF THE POLICE.

DEFUNDING THEM IS CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BE THE ANSWER.

THAT'S COMPLETELY THE WRONG WAY TO GO.

I KNOW THERE ARE SOME FOLKS IN OUR STATE THAT HAVE BEEN GETTING ON THAT BANDWAGON TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

IT'S A HORRIBLE IDEA.

IN SOME PLACES WE NEED FAMILY REFORM.

CHERNE NEED A FATHER, MOTHER, AND BOYS NEED THE DADS.

WE NEED TO REFORM THE FAMILY AS WELL AND GET BACK TO THE ROOTS, TEACHING GREAT THINGS OF MORAL VALUES, GREAT RESPECT FOR PEOPLE, AND IT'S NOT ABOUT POLICE REFORM.

IN MY OPINION, IT'S A BROADER ISSUE OF SECURING THE FAMILY, MAKING SURE CHILDREN HAVE GOOD PARENTS TO RAISE THEM, WHETHER IT'S A SINGLE PARENT OR NOT.

GOOD PARENTS, TEACHING THEM GOOD VALUES AND PRINCIPLES, AND WE NEED GOOD EDUCATION AS WELL.

WE ARE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE THE BIGGEST WIDEST GAP OF OUR STUDENTS OF COLOR AND WHITE.

WE NEED TO FIX THAT.

WE NEED VOUCHERS.

LET KIDS GET OUT OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT'S FAILING.

LET THE PARENTS TAKE THEIR KIDS OUT OF A SCHOOL AND BRING THEM INTO PERHAPS ANOTHER SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL OR PRIVATE SCHOOL.

THAT IS AN ANSWER TO REFORMS AS WELL.

IT'S A BIG ISSUE.

I THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN AND THE LEGISLATURE TO OFFER THOSE REFORMS, BUT IT STARTS WITH THE FAMILY.

>> Barry: SENATOR MCEWEN, YOUR THOUGHTS, POLICE REFORM.

>> POLICE REFORM.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WHAT WE WENT THROUGH AND WHAT WE ARE STILL GOING THROUGH IS A RECKONING OF RACIAL JUSTICE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

WE IN MINNESOTA WERE THE EPICENTER OF THAT RECKONING THAT HAPPENED WITH THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPLAUD REPRESENTATIVE LIPPERT'S COMMENTS AROUND THE ECONOMIC PIECE OF ALL OF THAT.

I THINK THAT THAT IS SPOT ON.

A LOT OF THESE ISSUES GO BACK TO NOT FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS PROPERLY.

THEY GO TO THE WEALTH INEQUALITY THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

THEY GO TO NOT HAVING A HIGH ENOUGH MINIMUM WAGE, NOT HAVING ENOUGH SAFETY NET.

THERE'S SO MANY PIECES ECONOMICALLY THAT ARE MISSING.

WE HAVE FALL THAN BEHIND THE REST OF THE WORLD IN SO MANY AREAS, ECONOMICALLY, AND HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR.

BUT SPECIFICALLY TO POLICE REFORM, AS REPRESENTATIVE LIPPERT NOTED, THE REFORMS THAT TOOK PLACE LAST YEAR WERE SOMETHING.

THEY WERE BIPARTISAN, AND IT WAS GOOD THERE WERE SOME PIECES THAT WERE MOVED.

BUT THERE WAS PROMISES MADE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS WAS JUST A START.

THIS WAS JUST THE BEGINNING, THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE COMING.

SO I THINK THAT IF IF WE DON'T S MEANINGFUL CRIM JUSTICE REFORM, THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA ARE WATCHING.

THE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE WATCHING US, TOO, TO SEE HOW WE HANDLE IT.

IT WAS SORT OF DISGRACEFUL THAT WE COULDN'T COME UP WITH A MORE COMPREHENSIVE REFORM PACKAGE, IN MY OPINION, AFTER WE WERE AT THE EPICENTER OF THAT RECKONING THAT WE WENT THROUGH, PARTICULARLY THE INTENSITY OF THAT SUMMER, THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PUSH FORWARD WITH MORE MEANINGFUL REFORMS WERE DISAPPOINTING.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, THE MOVEMENT TO THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE WAY WHERE WE ARE MEETING THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH, THE REASON THEY CALL 911 IN THE FIRST PLACE WITH THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCE IS REALLY WHAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT.

WE CAN'T BE PILING ALL OF THESE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEALING WITH PEOPLE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, PEOPLE DEALING WITH DIFFERENT ECONOMIC ISSUES, ALL ON THE POLICE FORCE OF A CITY.

I THINK THERE'S ALSO A DYNAMIC HERE THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT YET, WHICH IS A RELATIONSHIP THAT A POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS, PERHAPS IN A SMALLER TOWN, MIGHT BE VERY DIFFERENT AND LOOK VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE RELATIONSHIP THAT FOR EXAMPLE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS WITH THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS.

I KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS GOING TO LAW SCHOOL IN MINNEAPOLIS IT WAS QUITE SHOCKING TO ME TO SEE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE WERE LIVING THERE WAS DOG COLORED POLICE, UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY LIFE OR DEATH, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE SCARED OF THEM.

THEY VIEWED THEM AS AN OCCUPYING FORCE IN THE CITY, THAT THEY WERE VIOLENT, THAT THEY WERE DANGEROUS.

SO THAT WAS NOT THE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD HAD WITH THE POLICE FORCE COMING FROM WHERE I WAS LIVING IN DULUTH, ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE IN DULUTH HAD THAT EXPERIENCE WITH POLICE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT DYNAMICS AT WORK HERE.

WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD IN SO MANY WAYS TO THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> Barry: SENATOR RARICK, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> YOU KNOW, THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, T THIS HAS BEEN BROUGT TO THE FOREFRONT.

ARE THERE REFORMS NEEDED?

SURE.

IF WE ARE GOING TO DO REFORMS POLICE ASSOCIATIONS NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

ANYONE, NO MATTER WHAT GROUP YOU ARE IN, IF THERE ARE REFORMS TO YOUR CAREER OR YOUR JOB SECTOR, YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO HAVE A VOICE IN THAT.

THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, THIS IS COMING UP BECAUSE OF A -- THERE ARE A FEW BAD POLICE OFFICERS.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A FEW BAD ELECTRICIANS OUT THERE.

THERE ARE A FEW BAD TEACHERS OUT THERE.

THERE ARE A FEW BAD -- YOU NAME A PROFESSION.

I THINK WHAT WE CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD POLICE OFFICERS OUT THERE, AND THEY ARE DOING INITIATIVES TO REACH OUT AND GAIN THAT TRUST OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THOSE ARE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON SO THAT PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ARE ENCOURAGING THEIR YOUTH TO BECOME THE POLICE OFFICERS FOR THAT AREA IN THE FUTURE.

IT IS THAT -- IT WAS BROUGHT UP, THE SMALL TOWNS, PART OF THE REASON THAT DYNAMIC IS THERE THOSE POLICE OFFICERS LIKELY EITHER GREW UP THERE OR NOW THEY HAVE MOVED THERE AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW THE PEOPLE, AND SO YOU HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP, AND THAT'S WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

I THINK PART OF THAT REFORM HAS TO BE AROUND BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIPS AND THAT'S A TWO-WAY STREET.

PEOPLE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO SAY THERE ARE GOOD POLICE OFFICERS, AND WE HAVE TO PUT OUR TRUST IN THEM.

WE HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND START BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP, AND THEN WE WILL SEE TRUE REFORM HAPPEN.

>> MY I RESPOND TO THAT?

>> Barry: FIRE AWAY.

>> I HAD A GOOD FRIEND, AND SHE WAS SAYING OR STATED THAT THEY HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THAT AREA, THE THIRD PRECINCT, AND GOOD RELATIONSHIP, THAT THEY WORK HARD, GOOD FRIENDSHIPS ON BOTH SIDES, POLICE, RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES.

SENATOR RARICK IS RIGHT.

I THINK THE CONVERSATION SHOULD BE NOT THAT THERE ARE MANY GOOD POLICE.

99.9% ARE VERY GOOD.

THERE ARE A FEW BAD ACTORS AND WE WILL ROOT THEM OUT AND THEY MUST BE ELIMINATED.

BY NO MEANS, THE SERGEANT I SPOKE TO, PEOPLE DIDN'T FEAR THE POLICE LIKE SENATOR MCEWEN SAID.

SO TOO IS THE THE FACT THAT MANY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS AND RESPECT AND COMPANIONSHIP IN THE POLICE AND RESIDENTS IN THAT DISTRICT.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR SENATOR MCEWEN.

IN THE 11 YEARS I HAVE BEEN THERE, WE ALWAYS ADDED MORE MONEY AS THE BIGGEST POT IN THE PIE OF FUNDING FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, 48 BILLION WE SPENT.

HALF OF IT GOES TO EDUCATION.

IN THE TWIN CITIES AREA THEY ARE GETTING 14 TO 25,000 PER PUPIL AND STILL MANY ARE SEEN.

SENATOR MCEWEN, HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

MAYBE REPRESENTATIVE LIPPERT'S COUNTY, OUR PUPILS ARE GETTING ON THE AVERAGE 8 TO 9,000 PER PUPIL AND CERTAINLY WE DON'T HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE TWIN CITIES THEN.

BUT HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH SENATOR MCEWEN?

>> Barry: WITH THAT THOUGHT IN MIND WE HAD A VIEWER THAT WANTED TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION.

K-1.

SENATOR MCEWEN THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION PRIORITIES AND DISPARITIES.

WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING IN THAT AREA?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT.

WE HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY FULLY FUNDED EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FORMULA THAT WE USE TO ASSESS, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WEIGHT OF FUNDING EDUCATION WITH PROPERTY TAXES.

SO WE NEED TO RAISE REVENUES.

I MEAN, WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE REVENUES AND DECREASE THE SPENDING.

I'M NOT ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

I NEGLECTED TO SAY AT THE COMMITTEE, I'M THE DFL LEADER ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND THIS IS NOT MY WHEELHOUSE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS THEMSELVES.

BUT I DO COME FROM A FAMILY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS.

MY DAD WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER, SOCIAL STUDIES AND MY SPOUSE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AS WELL.

MY GRANDMOTHER TAUGHT ART, AND A LOT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS IN MY FAMILY.

I TRUST AND I KNOW THAT THEY, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO ARE SERVING ON THE SCHOOL BOARDS AREN'T JUST TAKING THIS MONEY AND DUMPING IT, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THEY ARE STRAPPED.

THEY NEED MORE RESOURCES, AND THEY NEED N MORE MONEY.

THIS IS SYMPTOMATIC AGAIN OF SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT FOR YEARS WHERE WE JUST HAVE NOT HAD THE POLITICAL RESOLVE TO RAISE REVENUE AND TO TAX PEOPLE FAIRLY.

SO WE ARE LONG PAST TIME TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE BEEN ON THIS TRICKLE DOWN MYTH, AND WE HAVE BEEN RIDING THAT WAVE FOR DECADES NOW, AND IT HAS NOT SERVED US WELL.

IT'S CREATED GREAT INSTABILITY, AND GREAT WEALTH INEQUALITY.

OUR SYSTEMS, WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION, OR SOCIAL SAFETY NET OR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ARE ALL KIND OF IN SHAMBLES HERE, AND NOW WE HAVE ACTUALLY THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REMAKE THINGS IN A WAY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

SO I DO FAVOR RAISING REVENUES.

I TRUST OUR TEACHERS.

I TRUST THE ADMINISTRATIONS THAT THEY ARE DOING THE BEST JOB THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY HAVE.

THEY ARE TELLING US WE HAVE NEVER FULLY FUNDED PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND I TRUST THEM.

I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE NEVER FULLY FUNDED PUBLIC EDUCATION TO THE EXTENT THAT WE NEED TO.

WE SHOULD HAVE WORLD CLASS PUBLIC EDUCATION.

WORLD CLASS.

WE SHOULD BE AT THE TIP TOP.

I KNOW WHEN I WAS COMING UP IN THE 1980s WE WERE VERY PROUD OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN DULUTH.

WE WOULD LOOK AT OUR GRADUATION RATES, LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATION, TYPE OF CLASSES WE NOO USED TO HAVE, AND WE WERE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

NOW THINGS HAVE FALL THAN TO THE EXTENT WHERE THE CLASS SIZES AREN'T REALLY HIGH, AND I KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED ARE ALL DOING THE BEST THEY CAN.

SO I DO BELIEVE IT.

VERY QUICKLY, I REALLY, THE BAD APPLES, AND WE ALL KNOW, THIS IS PART OF THE RECKONING, AND THIS IS PART OF THE RECKONING WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE RECOGNITION THAT IT IS NOT JUST A FEW BAD APPLES, THAT THERE IS SYSTEMATIC INJUSTICES, SYSTEMATIC RACISM WITHIN THE WAY THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DEALS WITH THE PUBLIC FROM BIRTH, INTERACTION, AND ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH THE FIRST APPEARANCE IN COURT, THE WAY THE TRIALS ARE CONDUCTED.

THE WAY THE OUTCOMES ARE.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE PRECINCT WAS BURNT DOWN, THE NIGHT IT WAS BURNT DOWN, MY SPOUSE AND I WERE WATCHING ALL OF THIS GO DOWN ONLINE LIVE.

I REMEMBER SEEING POLICE OFFICERS ON THE ROOF OF THAT PRECINCT BEFORE IT WAS BURNING AND THEY WERE SHOOTING PEOPLE WITH RUBBER BULLETS.

THEY WERE SHOOTING OUT CANISTERS INTO CROWDS.

IT WAS APPALLING.

WE JUST HEARD THE THREE REPORTERS LOST THEIR EYES FROM PROJECTILES THAT THE POLICE SHOT AT PEOPLE.

SO THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM OF A FEW BAD APPLES RUNNING AMUCK AND GOING TOO FAR AND NOT FOLLOWING THE TRAINING.

THE PROBLEMS RUN DEEPER THAN THAT, AND THERE ARE REALLY TALL HE WANTED PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS.

WE NEED TO FOLLOW THEM ON HOW TO SOLVE IT.

>> Barry: SENATOR RARICK, LET'S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION.

K THROUGH 12, PREK THROUGH 12, WHAT DO YOU SEE COMING OUT OF THE SESSION?

WHAT'S YOUR VIEW ON THE FUNDING ISSUES?

>> I WOULD DISAGREE.

MONEY INCREASING, SPENDING IS NOT THE ANSWER.

REPRESENTATIVE MCDONALD BROUGHT IT UP.

SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVE A LOT OF MONEY PER STUDENT AND OTHERS NOT NEAR AS MUCH.

YET THAT ISN'T REFLECTIVE OF WHERE THE BETTER RESULTS ARE FROM.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS TOUCHED ON EARLIER, AND I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A -- THE FAMILIES THAT GET INVOLVED WITH THEIR STUDENTS AND HELP THEM AND THAT HELP THEM BELIEVE THAT THEIR EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT, THAT IS WHAT'S CRITICAL.

YOU KNOW, IF A TEACHER IS IN A CLASSROOM, THAT TEACHER COULD BE THE BEST TEACHER IN THE WORLD AND HAVE ALL THE SUPPORT BEHIND THEM.

BUT IF THE STUDENTS, WHEN THEY LEAVE THAT CLASSROOM, HAVE NO SUPPORT, THAT TEACHER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THOSE STUDENTS.

WE HAVE TO STRESS TO FAMILIES HOW IMPORTANT THE EDUCATION IS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND HAVE THEM GET INVOLVED AND HELP SUPPORT THEM.

THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY ELEVATE THEM TO THAT LEVEL.

WHEN THEY HAVE HOPE AND BELIEVE THAT AN EDUCATION CAN BRING THEM UP, I LOOK AT -- MY BACKGROUND IN THE TRADES, AND I SAW SO MANY PEOPLE, MY FATHER'S GENERATION THAT CAME FROM THE FAMILY FARMS.

THEY HAD NOTHING.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT.

BUT THEY HAD NOTHING.

THEY WENT AND THEY BECAME THE PLUMBERS AND THE CARPENTERS AND PEOPLE WHO WORKED IN MANUFACTURING.

THEY BUILT THE MIDDLE CLASS.

THAT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.

IT JUST -- YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET TO WITH SO MANY OF OUR INNER CITIES.

I REMEMBER HEARING FROM FFA FOLKS FROM HUMBLE HIGH SCHOOL OF ALL PLACES.

WE COULDN'T BELIEVE WHEN THEY CAME INTO AG COMMITTEE.

HUMBLE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY AREN'T FARMERS THERE.

BUT THEY HAD INDUSTRIAL ARTS PROGRAM.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THE TWO BOYS THAT SPOKE TO US THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SIT IN MY ENGLISH CLASS, WHEN AM I EVER GOING TO USE THIS IN MY LIFE OR WHEN I SAT IN THE HISTORY CLASS, THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT BENEFITED THEM.

WHEN THEY GOT INTO THAT INDUSTRIAL ARTS CLASS, THEY SAW HOPE FOR A FUTURE.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE BUILDING INTO OUR STUDENTS.

BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T HAVE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, I DON'T CARE WHO IS IN FRONT OF THEM.

I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY WE POUR INTO THE SYSTEM, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SUCCEED.

THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS REALLY NEEDS TO BE.

THIS EMPHASIS ON TAXING THE PEOPLE MORE, AND ALREADY A HIGH TAXED STATE.

IF WE WOULD HAVE PASSED AN AMENDMENT THAT CAME THROUGH THE SENATE TO CREATE THE FIFTH YEAR INCOME TAX IN THE STATE WE WOULD BECOME EITHER FIRST OR SECOND HIGHEST TAXED STATE.

THIS IS ABOUT BUILDING THE FAMILY SUPPORT AND BUILDING HOPE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> Barry: EDUCATION, REPRESENTATIVE LIPPERT, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

>> OUR SCHOOL FUNDING HASN'T KEPT UP WITH INFLATION SINCE THE EARLY 2000'S.

IF WE WERE FUNDING THEM PROPERLY, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS MINNESOTA COULDN'T BE GOING TO THE COMMUNITY OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR LEVIES TO MEET BASIC NEEDS.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT BONDING ISSUES.

TRYING TO EXPAND A SCHOOL BUILDING ORDEAL WITH A DILAPIDATED SCHOOL BUILDING, BUT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO CUT THEIR STAFF.

THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE STOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATES BECAUSE OF THE LOW FUNDING, ATTRITION OF FUNDING AND ALSO THE CHALLENGE OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SUBSIDIES, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT FUNDING IT LIKE THEY SHOULD.

BOTH ARE WEIGHING ON OUR DISTRICTS.

WE PASSED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE THE LAST BIENNIUM BUT IT DIDN'T KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.

I THINK WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME OF ACCELERATING INEQUALITY.

INEQUALITY IS ACCELERATING IN THE PANDEMIC, EVEN MORE, AND TO SAY WE CAN'T ASK THOSE EARNING A MILLION DOLLARS IN MINNESOTA OR MORE, $20,000 A WEEK TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO OUR STATE IN TAXES SO WE CAN HELP STUDENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO ARE FALLING FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND CATCH UP AND HELP STUDENTS OF COLOR OR STUDENTS WHO ARE GROWING UP IN SMALL RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT IS FAIR AT ALL.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A MINNESOTA THAT IS TRUE TO OUR VALUES.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A MINNESOTA WHERE WE SAY WE NEED ONE ANOTHER AND WE CARE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.

I THINK OUR STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS THE ABILITY TO NEUTRALIZE.

I'M SOMEONE THAT GREW UP IN A TOWN OF 700 PEOPLE.

I HAD A GRADUATING CLASS OF 67.

I WNT TO A SMALL SCHOOL.

MY DAD WAS MY CHOIR DIRECTOR AT SCHOOL.

I HAVE CONCERNS THAT STUDENTS IN SMALL RURAL DISTRICTS NOW, PROPERTY TAX POOR DISTRICTS, AREN'T RECEIVING THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT I DID.

THE CHALLENGES ARE THE SAME IN PROPERTY TAX POOR OR MORE IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES IN CITIES, TOO.

WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO GET FUNDING TO OUR SCHOOLS, AND AS WE DO, WE WILL SEE BETTER RESULTS.

>> Barry: OTHER ISSUES RELATIVE -- I'M GOING TO ASK THIS TO YOU REPRESENTATIVE LIPPERT BECAUSE YOU RAISED THE POINT ABOUT THE SPENDING ISSUES.

ARE THERE ISSUES WITH THE PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF THE WAY WE SPENT MONEY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM?

IN OTHER WORDS, ARE THERE THINGS TO BE GAINED BY GIVING MORE LOCAL CONTROL OR REDUCING OBLIGATIONS ON DISTRICTS TO SPEND MONEY IN CERTAIN WAYS?

>> SO I THINK LOCAL CONTROL IS VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY VALUABLE.

YOU WILL HEAR FROM SCHOOL LEADERS REGULARLY.

THEY WILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT VARIOUS MANDATED POLICIES THAT WILL COME THROUGH THE STATE AND WANTING MORE FLEXIBILITY.

I THINK IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE BE AS WISE AS WE CAN POSSIBLY BE WITH TAX DOLLARS?

HOW ARE WE WISE WITH TAX DOLLARS?

WE CAN'T GET LOST IN THAT CONVERSATION AND IGNORE THE BIGGER PICTURE THAT WE SUDDENLY HAVEN'T BEEN PROVIDING THE SAME SORT OF FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AS WE DID BEFORE 2000.

WE ALSO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH STUDENTS CARING MORE CONCERNS AND BURDENS WITH THEM, A LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT STAFF.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES IN THE NATION FOR SUPPORT STAFF AS WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER STATES.

SO THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK THERE'S A BIGGER CONVERSATION, WHICH IS JUST GENERAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS.

>> Barry: WE ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO RESOLVE THIS QUESTION TONIGHT.

BUT I WILL CERTAINLY INTRODUCE THE TOPIC AND THERE WILL BE MORE IN CONVERSATION IN WEEKS AHEAD.

LET ME TURN IT TO YOU, SENATOR RARICK.

WE HAVE A VIEWER FROM LONDON TOUCHING ON AN AREA THAT YOU LET US KNOW EARLY YOU HAVE A LITTLE EXPERTISE IN.

THIS VIEWER WANTS TO TALK ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

ELECTRICIAN ELECTRICIANS KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, RIGHT?

WE WILL GO TO YOU FIRST.

THIS VIEWER IS CONCERNED AND WONDERING ABOUT WHERE AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLUG VEHICLES IN, AND GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS GOING TO HAVE AVAILABILITY.

I THINK THERE'S A LARGER QUESTION HERE ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND THE QUESTION ABOUT ELECTRIC CATION OF SOCIETY.

THE VIEWER IS CONCERNED ABOUT CHARGING FACILITIES.

IS THE LEGISLATURE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND MORE GLOBALLY WHAT DO YOU SEE THE LEGISLATURE DOING IN THE AREA OF ELECTRICCATION AND OTHERWISE.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> I KNOW FAR MORE ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO CHARGE THE VEHICLES THAN THE VEHICLES THEMSELVES.

BUT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, TO ME A COUPLE OF BIG PIECES AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS ENERGY REVOLUTION THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OUR ENERGY FUTURE NEEDS TO BE CLEANER, CHEAPER AND RELIABLE.

IT HAS TO BE ALL THREE TOGETHER.

ELECTRIC CARS ARE GOING TO PLAY A PART OF THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT STORAGE PIECE.

I THINK FOR ME, IF WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RENEWABLES LIKE SOLAR AND WIND AND WHATEVER OTHER TECHNOLOGY IS COMING DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT YET, THE STORAGE PIECE IS THE KEY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN TO KEEP OUR SYSTEM RELIABLE.

I BELIEVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES CAN BE PART OF THAT BECAUSE OF THE STORAGE IS THERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE KEY.

I THINK THAT KEEPS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW FROM LOOKING INTO THAT MARKET BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO END UP ON A TRIP SOMEWHERE AND NOW YOU ARE PARKED FOR FOUR HOURS CHARGING YOUR VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT RAPID CHARGING STATION AVAILABLE.

TECHNOLOGY TO ME IS WHAT'S GOING TO DRIVE THE FUTURE.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE THESE ELECTRIC VEHICLES EXTEND THEIR RANGE.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE A WIDE VARIETY -- HYDROGEN IS GOING TO PLAY A BIG ROLE WHERE WE GO WITH STORAGE AND POTENTIALLY REPLACE THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH HYDROGEN POWERED VEHICLES.

IT IS A VERY INTERESTING PIECE WITH THE ENERGY COMMITTEE AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS TO INCENTIVIZE PUTTING IN THESE CHARGING STATIONS, HELPING, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH RDA, GRANTS TO HELP PROMOTE THAT, AND THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE GOOD, AND YET I WANT TECHNOLOGY TO DRIVE IT, NOT A GOVERNMENT MANDATE.

WE ALL -- I KNOW A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND THEY LOVE THEM.

BUT THEY DON'T DO CONSTRUCTION WORK.

YOU KNOW, AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE FOR ME RIGHT NOW WOULD NOT WORK.

I END UP ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH WORK.

I CARRY LARGE LOADS, AND MAYBE SOMEDAY THAT TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO BE HERE AND THE GAS ENGINE WILL GO AWAY, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING FOR QUITE SOME PERIOD OF TIME.

ESPECIALLY IN RURAL MINNESOTA, THERE'S A WORRY ABOUT THAT THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT AND THEY DON'T SEE THE AFFORDABILITY, AND THEY DON'T SEE THE RELIABILITY THERE YET.

BUT I DO BELIEVE TECHNOLOGY AT SOME POINT IS GOING TO GET US THERE.

>> Barry: SENATOR MCEWEN, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I SUPPORT THEM 100%.

IT'S FOR THE CLEAN CAR STANDARD.

WE NEED TO PASS IT.

IT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO.

THE BIGGER ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS THAT WE ARE STANDING ON THE CLIFF OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE AT THE MOMENT IN TIME RIGHT HERE WHERE WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS, AND WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE SHE'S DECISIONS TO SMOOTHLY, RELATIVELY SMOOTHLY MAKE THIS TRANSITION, AND I KNOW THAT IN COMMITTEE I HEARD TESTIMONY ON THE CLEAN CAR RULES FROM INDUSTRY ASKING FOR THIS.

THEY ARE ASKING PLEASE HAVE THESE CLEAN CAR RULES SO WE CAN COMPETE TO MINNESOTA IS NOT GOING TO BE LEFT BEHIND.

GOVERNMENT ALL THE TIME DOES THINGS TO ENCOURAGE DIFFERENT PARTS OF INDUSTRY, OR TO DISCOURAGE OTHER THINGS.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PIECES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE ACTUALLY A LONG TIME AGO.

WE ARE KIND OF LATE HERE.

BUT ABSOLUTELY.

WE NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THOSE SALES.

WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE AND MAKE SURE DEALERS ARE BRINGING THE CARS IN SO THAT MINNESOTANS HAVE CHOICE.

THOSE ARE REALLY ABOUT ECONOMIC CHOICE, WHETHER PEOPLE CAN MAKE THOSE CHOICES AND I THINK IT WAS GM THAT ANNOUNCED BY 2030, IT'S VERY SOON, THEY ARE GOING TO BE HAVING AN ENTIRE ELECTRIC VEHICLE FLEET.

THEY ARE GOING TO STOP SELLING GAS VEHICLES.

ANOTHER CAR COMPANY WAS QUICK TO FOLLOW SUIT.

WE ARE HERE.

WE ARE MOVING.

THINGS ARE GOING TO BE MOVING VERY, VERY QUICKLY IN THE TRANSITION OF THE CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY.

THIS IS AGAIN THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO.

WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT YEARS AGO.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MCDONALD, YOUR THOUGHTS, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, CHARGING STATIONS, ET CETERA.

>> I LIKE WHAT SENATOR RARICK SAID.

I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SAID THE SAME THING.

THE BATTERIES HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.

WE HAVE TO PULL THE PRECIOUS MELTS OUT OF SOMEWHERE.

IT'S NOT COMPLETELY CLEAN.

IF I MAY, JUDGE, I WANT TO QUICKLY RESPOND, SINCE I STARTED WITH EDUCATION, I WOULD LIKE TO END WITH IT, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND WHAT REPRESENTATIVE LIPPERT AND SENATOR MCEWEN SAID REGARDING EDUCATION AND FUNDING.

JUST GIVE YOU A SCENARIO OF TWO SCHOOLS IN NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS.

ONE A CATHOLIC SCHOOL AND ONE IS THE JOHNSON PUBLIC SCHOOL.

GOOD FATHER O'CONNELL GOT ME INTERESTED IN THIS WHEN I STARTED THE LEGISLATURE.

ESSENTIALLY THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL, WITH THE SAME DEMOGRAPHICS THAT GO TO THE NELLY STONE JOHNSON, SAME STUDENTS OF COLOR, AND SAME FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHEON, THE STUDENTS AT ASCENTION SCHOOL ARE THREE TIMES BETTER IN THEIR READING, IN THEIR WRITING, IN THEIR SCIENCE AND TWO TIMES BETTER IN MATH THAN THE STUDENTS AT NELLY STONE JOHNSON.

THEY DO IT FOR $10,000 PER PUPIL.

THEIR GRADUATION RATE IS HIGH PERCENTAGE, UP IN THE 90s, I BELIEVE WHEREAS NELLY STONE JOHNSON, PUBLIC SCHOOL $24,000 PER PUPIL AND THIS IS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.

THEIR NUMBERS ARE -- GRADUATION RATES ARE FAILING, AND THEY HAVE A LOW, LOW PERCENTAGE OF GRADUATION RATES AND THEY SPEND THE MOST.

SAME NUMBER OF STUDENTS.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE LIPPERT, WE HAVE A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT.

YOU CAN EITHER RESPOND TO REPRESENTATIVE MCDONALD OR TALK ABOUT THE CLEAN CAR QUESTION THAT I ASKED SENATOR RARICK.

>> I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO COMPARE SELECTIVE PRIVATE SCHOOL TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

I THINK IT'S NOT APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.

RELATED TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE BALL IS DEFINITELY ROLLING DOWNHILL ON RENEWABLE ENERGY WITH UTILITIES AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS.

2025 WILL HAVE AN ALL ELECTRIC FLEET.

THEY WILL HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES ACROSS THEIR FLEET.

A TRUCK WITH ELECTRIC TRUCK WITH A THOUSAND HORSEPOWER.

THE PERFORMANCE HERE IS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY -- IT'S -- THAT PERFORMANCE IS RIDICULOUS, BUT I THINK WE WILL FIND THAT A PERFORMANCE ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS WHAT WE NEED.

WE NEED TO BE BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE OUT ACROSS THE STATE AND ALLOWING PEOPLE WHO WILL WANT TO PURCHASE THESE VEHICLES THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

>> Barry: I'M GOING TO THANK OUR PANEL THIS EVENING.

I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO YOU, THE VIEWERS, WHO CALLED IN WITH GREAT QUESTIONS.

WE HAD GREAT DIALOGUE AND EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

THE PROGRAM BELONGS TO YOU.

WE INVITE YOU TO CALL IN WITH OUR QUESTIONS FOR OUR UPCOMING PROGRAMS, AND WE WILL SEE IF THOSE QUESTIONS GET STORED AND SENT TO OUR NEW PANEL NEXT WEEK AND THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOW AS WE LOOK INTO THE PUBLIC POLISHES THAT FACE THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AGAIN, THANKS TO THE PANEL, THANKS TO THE VIEWERS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT WEEK AND ALL THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOW UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE GOES HOME.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

>>> THERE'S MUCH MORE ABOUT "YOUR LEGISLATORS" ONLINE AT PIONEER.ORG/"YOUR LEGISLATORS".

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"YOUR LEGISLATORS" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE MINNESOTA CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION FROM DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES THAT HELP FARMERS BETTER PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES TO THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN CORN BASED PLASTICS, MINNESOTA CORN FARMERS ARE PROUD TO INVEST IN THIRD PARTY RESEARCH, LEADING TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

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