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

>> Mary: EDUCATION AND VOTING WILL GO BACK TO SCHOOL ON BOTH IMPORTANT ISSUES.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

"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.

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

VOTING AND VOTERS' RIGHTS ARE CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANT BUT OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD REDISTRICTING PROCESS AND HOW THE NEXT CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION COULD PLAY OUT.

WE'LL MEET A RETURNING FRESHMAN LAWMAKER WHO SAYS THERE'S ENOUGH "FANCY PEOPLE" AT THE CAPITOL AS HE EMBRACES HIS DIFFICULT PAST CROSSING PARTY LINES.

AND WE'LL HEAR A LAWMAKER'S PERSONAL STORY ABOUT CHILDHOOD ABUSE THAT LED TO A RARE MOMENT ON THE FLOOR.

BUT FIRST, EDUCATION ISSUES ARE PROMINENT IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE THIS WEEK.

THE SENATE PASSED SEVERAL BILLS DEALING WITH SCHOOLS AND THE HOUSE RELEASED BUDGET TARGETS INCREASING SPENDING FOR EDUCATION ALONG WITH PASSING A BILL TO FUND SUMMER SCHOOL TO DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC DISRUPTIONS TO LEARNING.

AS MORE STUDENTS START RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM, SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING AT EDUCATION OPTIONS, LIKE A SHORT CALL SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS' PILOT PROGRAM.

>> WHY WE WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM, LEARNING TOGETHER.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT STUDENT SAFETY.

STUDENT SAFETY IS COVERED IN THIS BILL.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS BUT REPUBLICANS STRESS THAT SCHOOLS NEED FLEXIBILITY NOW MORE THAN EVER.

>> LET ME GIVE YOU A RURAL PERSPECT TERRORISM OF OUR DISTRICTS.

NOT EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AS BIG AS THE METRO SCHOOLS.

AND SOMETIMES THEY ONLY OFFER A COUPLE HOURS OF CLASS AND THAT EVEN IS A HARDER SUBSTITUTE TO FIND SOMETIMES BECAUSE SOMEBODY FULLY LICENSED IS USUALLY NOT ABLE TO COME IN FOR TWO OR THREE HOURS A DAY.

>> Mary: A FRESHMAN IS CARRYING THE BILL TO HELP ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF SUCH INSTITUTES.

>> I EMAILED ALL THE SUPERINTENDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT TO GET AND SEE WHAT THEY WANTED AND I GOT TO TALK TO NOT ALL OF THEM BUT MOST OF THEM AND THEY ALL SUPPORTED THIS BILL.

>> Mary: THE SENATE ALSO WANTS STANDARDIZED TESTS TO GO AHEAD.

>> ASSISTANCE BE GIVEN SO WE HAVE A GOOD MESS YOU WERE, ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF WHERE THE KIDS ARE AND WHERE WE NEED -- WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO CATCH THEM UMM.

>> A DREADED TIME FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR STAFF AND FOR ADMINISTRATION.

THE STRESS, THE ANXIETY AND THE DISRUPTION THAT IT TAKES IN OUR SCHOOL YEAR, IN A REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR IS REALLY, REALLY TOUGH.

OUR STUDENTS ARE JUST GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND NOW THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE M.C.A.s.

>> >> Mary: BUT SOME DEMOCRATS AND EDUCATORS HAD CALLED ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO SUSPEND TESTING THIS YEAR.

>> WE BELIEVE FOR ACADEMIC RIGOR, FOR PRECIOUS INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, AND FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS, IT IS IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW TO SUSPEND TESTING.

THE ONE THING I LEARNED WORKING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR TEN YEARS IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR JOBS IS CARING FOR OUR KIDS AND CARING FOR EACH OTHER.

OUR KIDS AND OUR FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING.

>> Mary: THIS TEACHER INSTRUCTS ENGLISH LEARNING AND HAS MANY IMMIGRANT STUDENTS OF COLOR WHO SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> THESE FAMILIES TRUST US.

AND I REALLY HATE THE IDEA OF BETRAYING THAT TRUST BY USING THE PRECIOUS LITTLE TIME THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER IN PHYSICAL SCHOOL THIS YEAR TO ADMINISTER STANDARDIZED TESTS THAT ARE UNLIKELY TO TELL US ANYTHING THAT WE DON'T ALREADY KNOW.

>> Mary: THIS SUBURBAN TEACHER NOTES IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF TRAUMA FOR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

>> I HAD ONE STUDENT LOG IN FROM A CLOSET AT GRANDMA'S HOUSE AND ANOTHER FROM A WAL-MART PARKING LOT.

AT TIMES SOME HADN'T LOGGED IN VIRTUALLY OVER TWO MONTHS.

>> Mary: THIS FAMILY SAID GOING TO SCHOOL IN PERSON FOR A TEST IS NOT WORTH THE RISK.

>> I WILL NOT LIKE TO HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL JUST FOR A TEST.

>> STUDENTS THAT ARE RETURNING FACE TO FACE NEED TIME TO GET ACCLIMATED AND TO PROCESS EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.

THEY DO THIS BY TALKING WITH THEIR FRIENDS IN PERSON AND THEIR TEACHERS IN PERSON, NOT SITTING DOWN TO TAKE A TEST.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: MORE PEOPLE IN THE EDUCATION AND YOUTH SPORTS WORLD WOULD BECOME MANDATORY REPORTERS OF ABUSE OF KIDS UNDER A BILL PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY BY THE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

A MINNESOTA ATHLETE WHO LED THE CHARGES OF ABUSE AGAINST U.S.A.

GYMNASTICS HELPED INSPIRE THE BILL.

BUT WHAT STOOD OUT WAS AN EMOTIONAL PERSONAL STORY FROM A LAWMAKER ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE AISLE FROM THE BILL AUTHOR WHO SUPRISED MANY WITH HIS REVELATIONS.

>> FOR 17 YEARS OF MY LIFE, I WAS ABUSED CHILD.

IT WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE TO BE BEATEN WITH BASEBALL BAT, BROOM HANDLES, FISTS, I WAS OFTEN KICKED BY MY FATHER.

AND IT LED TO A GREAT MANY HOSPITAL VISITS THAT WERE ALWAYS EXPLAINED AWAY AS, WELL, JIM FELL.

AND AS I DUG THROUGH IT LATER IN LIFE, I FOUND OUT THAT MY MOTHER KNEW AND SHE ALLOWED IT TO PERSIST.

ALSO, AS I DUG THROUGH, I FOUND THAT A GOOD NUMBER OF MY OLD COACHES AND DAY CAMP LEADERS AND OTHER CAMP LEADERS, SPORTS CAMPS, THAT THEY KNEW BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY WAY TO LET IT BE KNOWN BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T MANDATORY REPORTERS.

THERE WERE A LOT OF NIGHTS THAT I WOULD PRAY FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND SAVE ME AND NO ONE CAME.

AND WHEN YOU FIND OUT LATER THAT YOUR MOM KNEW AND MOM WAS A MANDATORY REPORTER AS THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING, THAT MADE IT A LITTLE BIT WORSE.

>> WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE NASH FOR SHARING THAT WITH ALL OF US.

AS I HAVE REMINDED MY COMMITTEE AND TESTIFIERS, VULNERABILITY IS NOT WEAKNESS, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF STRENGTH TO SHARE THAT STORY AND I THINK IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> THE CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL.

THERE BEING 130 AYES AND 3 NAYS, THE BILL IS PASSED AND ITS TITLE IS AGREED TO.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: MINNESOTA COULD LOSE A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT IN THE 2022 ELECTION CYCLE.

AND THAT MEANS ONE THING IS CERTAIN: REDISTRICTING.

THE COURTS HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF APPOINTING A PANEL TO HANDLE REDRAWING POLITICAL LINES.

PRODUCER ALAUNA YUST SPOKE WITH MINNESOTA ELECTION OFFICIALS PAST AND PRESENT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS AND WHAT COMES NEXT.

>> REDISTRICTING STARTS WITH THE CENSUS >> ONCE RESULTS ARE IN, A SET NUMBER OF CONGRESSIONAL SEATS ARE DIVIDED AMONG EACH STATE.

IF THE NUMBER OF SEATS CHANGES, THE LEGISLATURE TAKES UP THE TASK OF REDISTRICTING, OR AT LEAST THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD GO.

>> REDISTRICTING SHOULD BE A RELATIVELY SIMPLE MATTER OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE ENACTING A LAW, SENDING IT OVER TO THE GOVERNOR AND HAVING A BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN SIGN INTO LAW.

THAT PROCESS HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE 1913, SO WE ARE NOW OPERATING ON OVER 100 YEARS OF FAILURE.

>> THERE IS A DEADLINE FOR MINNESOTA TO REDRAW THESE LINES.

THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO COME TO AGREEMENT.

CAN YOU TALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THEY DONALD REACH AN AGREEMENT?

>> SO, ESSENTIALLY, IT'S -- I BELIEVE IT'S 25 WEEKS BEFORE THE STATE PRIMARY, WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR THING REDISTRICTED, SO TYPICALLY THAT WOULD OCCUR IN FEBRUARY OF 2022.

IF THAT DOESN'T OCCUR, SOMETHING WILL HAVE TO BE DETERMINED BY THE COURTS AND THEY'LL INSTRUCT US ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE REDISTRICTED FOR 2022.

>> IN MINNESOTA, WE SEE MANY EXAMPLES OF REDISTRICTING HAPPENING THROUGH THE COURTS.

SO IN 1932, FOR EXAMPLE, COURTS DREW UP NEW MAPS AND IN THAT YEAR, THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES BECAME AT-LARGE ELECTIONS, MEANING THAT THE CANDIDATES WITH THE MOST VOTES WON, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY WERE FROM.

COULD THAT SCENARIO POTENTIALLY PLAY OUT IN 2022 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS?

>> IF WE LOSE ONE OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, WHICH APPARENTLY IS A REAL POSSIBILITY, WE WOULD GO FROM 8th TO 7 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND UNDER THE FEDERAL LAW, THE DEFAULT POSITION, IF NOTHING HAPPENS FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THAT ALL SEVEN OF OUR REMAINING U.S.

REPRESENTATIVES WOULD HAVE TO RUN AT-LARGE AGAINST EACH OTHER.

SO WE WOULD HAVE ONE HUGE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT WOULD ENCOMPASS THE ENTIRE TERRITORY OF THE STATE.

EACH VOTER WOULD THEN HAVE A CHOICE OF ELECTING UP TO SEVEN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

>> AN AT-LARGE ELECTION COULD PLAY OUT IN ANY NUMBER OF WAYS, EITHER PARTY COULD SWEEP ALL SEVEN SEATS OR GEOGRAPHIC AREAS COULD BE REPRESENTED IN CONGRESS IN WAYS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY MATCH THEIR POPULATIONS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, HERE WE ARE AGAIN, WE HAVE THE ONLY DIVIDED LEGISLATURE IN THE UNITED STATES AND SO I THINK YOU CAN GUESS WHERE THAT IS GOING TO LEAD US THIS TIME.

>> MARY: JOINING ME NOW FROM OUR MEZZANINE STUDIO, ONE OF THE GUESTS YOU JUST HEARD FROM AND ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS IN A REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT FILED THIS WEEK, JOE MANSKY.

WELL, JOE, LET'S START WITH THE LAWSUIT.

THERE IS A BUNCH OF FOLKS WE HAVE COME TO KNOW WELL, PETER WATSON, YOU, TALK ABOUT WHY FILE THIS SUIT.

>> MARY, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW AND, YOU KNOW, ALSO, THAT OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN UNABLE TOO, WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR, ENACT A LAW TO PROVIDE NEW CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND THIS YEAR, IN FACT, NOTHING WAS GOING ON IN JANUARY AND SO WE FINALLY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT SOMEBODY HAD TO ACT AS A CATALYST TO AT LEAST GET THIS PROCESS GOING BECAUSE AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, SHOULD NOTHING HAPPEN, WE WOULD GO TO THIS AT-LARGE FORMAT.

IF WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE LOSING ONE OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, WHICH APPEARS LIKELY AT THIS POINT.

>> Mary: SO YOU JUST SAID LIKELY.

LET'S SAY THIS OUT LOUD SO PEOPLE HEAR THIS.

YOU THINK MINNESOTA IS LIKELY TO LOSE A SEAT AND LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE AN EVENLY DIVIDED FOUR REPUBLICANS, FOUR DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW FROM MINNESOTA, AND THAT MEANS A POLITICAL BALANCE COULD BE UPSET.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND GOING BACK TEN YEARS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUR VIEWERS HERE, WE GOT THE 435th, WHICH WAS THE LAST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT WAS ALLOCATED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WE BEAT OUT MISSOURI TEN YEARS AGO BY 14,000 PEOPLE.

IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW, WE MIGHT BE ON THE LOSING END OF THAT FORMULA AND, AGAIN, IF THAT IS THE CASE, WE LOSE ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS AND, AGAIN, SHOULD NOTHING ELSE OCCUR, WE HAVE THIS FREE-FOR-ALL RACE WHICH WOULD BE STATEWIDE AND, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO THE 1932 SITUATION, THAT NOBODY FROM NORTHERN MINNESOTA WAS ELECTED A MEMBER OF CONGRESS IN THAT AT-LARGE ELECTION.

THE ENTIRE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, ALL NINE MEMBERS, CAME FROM THE METROPOLITAN AREA AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD VERY EASILY HAPPEN AGAIN IF NOTHING ELSE TAKES PLACE IN THE INTERIM.

>> Mary: SO WE COULD HAVE MAJOR PORTIONS OF THE STATE LOSE THEIR INFLUENCE BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD POPULATION LOSSES, WE STILL REALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA SEATS AND THAT SOUTHERN MINNESOTA SEAT.

SO IN THAT SCENARIO, THAT MAY HURT RURAL MINNESOTA, IT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE KNOW THAT THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE, AS THEY HAVE BEEN FOR DECADES, CONTINUE TO LOSE POPULATION, AND THE POPULATION OF THE STATE, OF COURSE, IS GROWING.

OUR STATE POPULATION PROBABLY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS HAS GROWN BY ABOUT 6.5 PERCENT BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN UNIFORM STATEWIDE.

CARVER COUNTY, SCOTT COUNTY HAVE BEEN GROWING BY ABOUT 15% BUT MANY RURAL MINNESOTA COUNTIES HAVE ACTUALLY LOST POPULATION AND THE CONSEQUENCE OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT ONCE THE REDISTRICTING IS DONE, HOWEVER THAT HAPPENS, FEWER REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS WILL BE REPRESENTING THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

>> Mary: AND WHEN WE TALK POPULATION OF RURAL AREAS, SOME OF THE BIGGEST GROWTH HAS BEEN FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, IMMIGRANT POPULATION, REFUGEE POPULATIONS THAT ARE REALLY FUELING THE ECONOMY AND WE'VE SEEN DEFINITE POCKETS OF GROWTH.

I KNOW TODAY COMMON CAUSE DID AN EVENT TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE DIVERSE VOICES HAVE A SAY IN REDISTRICTING.

HOW DOES THAT FACTOR IN?

>> YEAH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND THAT'S THE UNFORTUNATE THING ABOUT NOT HAVING AN ACTIVE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, OR, YOU KNOW, IN -- IN THE ALTERNATIVE, TO HAVE A REDISTRICTING COMMISSION THAT VOTERS AND OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC WOULD THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN, TESTIFY TO, AGAIN, EITHER THE LEGISLATURE OR SOME COMMISSION, AND GIVE PEOPLE SOME INDICATION OF WHAT KIND OF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES MAKES SENSE FOR THEM BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY IS EVERYONE REPRESENTED EQUALLY, BUT THAT EVERYBODY'S INTERESTS ARE EFFECTIVELY REPRESENTED BOTH HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE AND St. PAUL, AND IN CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON.

>> NATIONALLY, I HEAR SO MUCH THE QUESTION OF HOW CAN MINNESOTA BE SO COMPETITIVE?

THEY LOOK AT WE HAVE THE ONLY DIVIDED LEGISLATURE IN THE NATION.

AS WE MENTIONED, OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE AND I ALWAYS SAY IS ONE OF REASONS IS BECAUSE THE COURTS HAVE DRAWN OUR LINES AND MINNESOTA HAS A TRADITION OF FAIR, NON-PARTISAN JUDGES AND COURTS.

SO WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT HAVING THE COURTS DRAW THE LINES IF THEY'VE KEPT THEM REALLY COMPETITIVE?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU ASK A VERY GOOD QUESTION AND, AGAIN, YOU CAN'T ARGUE WHAT THE RESULT -- WITH THE RESULT THAT WE'VE HAD IN RECENT DECADES OF THE COURT SYSTEM DRAWING THE REDISTRICTING PLANS.

HOWEVER, I AM OBLIGED TO POINT OUT THAT FORMALLY, IT'S THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S DUTY TO ENACT LAWS AND ONE OF THE LAWS THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO ENACT EVERY TEN YEARS IS TO RECREATE OUR DISTRICT BOUNDARIES SO THAT, AGAIN, EVERYBODY IS REPRESENTED EQUALLY.

AND PERSONALLY, AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH I AM A LITIGANT IN THIS LAWSUIT, MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT THE LEGISLATURE PERFORM ITS FUNCTION AND TO ENACT A LAW TO PASSION A BILL THE GOVERNOR IS WILLING TO SIGN, AND I'LL POINT OUT THAT IF THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE UP TO IT, THAT THE ALTERNATIVE IS, HAVE THEM CREATE, BY LAW, A REDISTRICTING COMMISSION OF PEOPLE THAT -- AS GOVERNOR VENTURA PROPOSED, WHICH WOULD BE MADE UP OF CITIZENS, AS GOVERNOR CARLSON PROPOSED WOULD BE MADE UP OF RETIRED JUDGES, BUT SOME SORT OF A GROUP THAT COULD ACT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE LEGISLATURE AND COULD PROVIDE -- PROPOSE PLANS TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR THEIR ENACTMENT.

>> Mary: WELL, ALL RIGHT.

THANKS SO MUCH.

WE'LL KEEP WATCHING IT.

JOEL MANSKY, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: A VARIETY OF VOTING CHANGES ARE MOVING THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SENATE THIS SESSION.

MINNESOTA'S LONG TRADITION OF BIPARTISAN ELECTION LAW CHANGES ARE BEING PUT TO THE TEST.

RESTORING THE VOTE FOR FORMER FELONS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES I'LL EXPLORE MORE FRIDAY NIGHT, HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK.

>> SO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE THERE RIGHT NOW WITH 60,000 MINNESOTANS WHOSE LIVES ARE TRANSFORMED OVERNIGHT, IF WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE IT LAW.

THAT WE INCLUDE EVERYBODY, AND BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT MESSAGING THAT EVERYBODY CAN VOTE.

SEE, UNDERSTAND THIS, ME, MYSELF, I WAS CONVICTED OF A FELONY WHEN I WAS 19 YEARS OLD AND FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS, I THOUGHT I COULDN'T VOTE.

HERE'S THE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE LAWS THAT ARE JUST JIM CROW RESIDUALS.

YOU START TO BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN'T VOTE AT ALL SO THE HOPELESSNESS IS REAL.

♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >> EACH WEEK THIS SESSION, WE'VE SPOKEN WITH FIRST-TERM LAWMAKERS, ALTERNATING BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

THIS WEEK'S REPRESENTATIVE IS TECHNICALLY A FRESHMAN BUT IS A FAMILIAR FACE TO MANY AT THE CAPITOL AND HIS HOME COMMUNITY OF St. PAUL PARK.

REPRESENTATIVE FRANKE, I KNOW YOU'VE SERVED BEFORE BUT WE'RE GOING TO CALL YOU A FRESHMAN AND I SAID YOU GET THIS INTERVIEW BECAUSE YOU'RE AN EXTRA INTERESTING RETURNING FRESHMAN.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO THE PLACE?

YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.

THE >> I OWN A BAR AND A RESTAURANT AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING BUT WHEN I STARTED TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY, I FOUND A PASSION.

I FOUND SOMETHING THAT I REALLY ENJOY.

I LIKE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND HELPING MAKE DECISIONS AND HELPING PEOPLE OUT IN THEIR LIVES, AND IN THE COMMUNITY SO THAT'S THE MAIN DRIVING FORCE BEHIND WHY I DECIDED TO COME BACK.

>> Mary: 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 OWNED THAT AND I 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, AND IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT AND YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT AND GOD WILLING, YOU GET TO ACCOMPLISH THESE THINGS, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S POSSIBLE.

SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF ANOTHER REASON WHY I DO WHAT I DO.

>> Mary: YOU'VE DEFINITELY TALKED ABOUT YOUR BATTLES WITH ADDICTION, YOUR RUN-INS WITH LAW AND YOU HAVE TOTALLY OWNED THAT AND USED THAT TO APPLY KIND OF A LENS TO LOOK THROUGH LAW-MAKING AND THAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE, YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS PREDICTABLE ON EVERY ISSUE.

>> CORRECT, THAT IS CORRECT.

YOU KNOW, I GUESS WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING DECISIONS IN LAW-MAKING, SOMETIMES I HAVE TO BE THE VOICE OF REASON AND BRING FOR INSTANCES OR SCENARIOS TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DOWN THESE PATHS, HAVE NOT LIVED OR SEEN THE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN OR DONE THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE, AND REMIND THEM TO PUT THEMSELVES IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S SHOES, TO HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING, MAYBE HAVE THAT LITTLE BIT MORE COMPASSION.

I TRY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, I TRY TO DO THE BEST THAT I CAN AND MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS THAT I CAN AND, YEAH, SOMETIMES THAT GETS ME IN HOT WATER, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> Mary: WHEN I SAY YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS EASY TO PREDICT ON VOTES, ONE INTERESTING VOTE THAT WAS NOTED RECENTLY WAS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

NOT A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE VOTING FOR THIS.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOTE.

>> I SEE THE BENEFITS AND I SEE THE DETRACTORS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, AND I WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION TORT DETRACTORS.

AS I MENTIONED IN COMMITTEE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK SOME OF THE CONVERSATION WE'RE LEAVING OUT IS, YES, THERE ARE ALL THESE POSITIVE AND, YES, TEMPORARILY WE'LL SEE A BOOM IN TAXATION AND MONEY FOR THE STATE.

BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE, NO MATTER WHICH STATE YOU LOOK AT, THE D.H.S.

BUDGET INCREASES RIGHT ALONG WITH THAT LEGALIZATION AND WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS, YOU KNOW.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE PRESENT BILLS AT THE CAPITOL, WE ONLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE POSITIVE STUFF.

WE ONLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GET OUR OBJECTIVE ACROSS THE GOAL LINE.

BUT THE TOUGH PART IS WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO SAY WHAT TYPE OF EFFECTS OR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THIS LEGISLATION.

AND SOMETIMES I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS AND THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO BRING THE FOCUS TO BECAUSE I THINK A PERCENTAGE OF THIS FUNDING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DEDICATED BACK TO -- PERSONALLY, I WOULD SAY A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THIS FUNDING NEEDS TO BE DEDICATED BACK TO THE ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT NOT ONLY ARE GOING TO BE A RESULT OF THIS LEGISLATION BUT I THINK IT WILL GIVE US A LEG UP BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEY ANNOUNCED GOING TO BE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMITTEE.

I WAS APPOINTED THE LEAD OF THAT COMMITTEE FROM OUR CAUCUS - >> Mary: AS A FRESHMAN TECHNICALLY, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT, TECHNICALLY AS A FRESHMAN, I WAS APPOINTED TO LEAD A COMMITTEE.

AND I THINK PART OF THAT GOES TO MY PASSION AND MY UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ADDICTION.

SO I'M VERY HAPPY AND PROUD TO BE IN THAT POSITION AND TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

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

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN AGAIN NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS WE HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR FAVORITE INTERVIEWS WITH FIRST-TERM LAWMAKERS, AND INTRODUCE YOU TO A NEW ONE.

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 MEET THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S NEW HEAD OF VACCINE EQUITY, OUR LEGAL EXPERTS WILL ANALYZE THE CHAUVIN TRIAL, AND I'LL TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT SOME VOTING BILLS THAT ARE UP FOR DISCUSSION AT THE LEGISLATURE.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com CLEAR "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.