HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 HD490(CC1) at 192.168.16.242 >>> 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".

WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU HAVE JOINED US AS WE BEGIN TO MOVE INTO SPRING AND TEMPERATURES WARM UP TO GREEN EVERYTHING UP.

WHATEVER THE WEATHER IS, THIS PROGRAM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO INTERACT WITH "YOUR LEGISLATORS", HENCE THE CATCHY NAME.

WE HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY OUR NEXT HOUR ABOUT THE IMPORTANT PUBLIC ISSUES FACING THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE A DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS TO HELP UNRAVEL THE MYSTERIES OF ST. PAUL.

I WOULD INVITE YOU TO SHARE THE QUESTIONS.

I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOW YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEND YOUR QUESTIONS IN USING THE SAME ELECTRONIC MEANS THAT APPEAR ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR TELEVISION SCREEN EVEN THOUGH THE PROGRAM MIGHT NOT BE ON THE AIR.

WE WILL SEE THAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE LINED UP FOR OUR NEXT VISIT.

IN ANY EVENT, LET'S BEGIN BY INTRODUCING THE DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS.

WE BEGIN WITH ONE HOUSE MEMBER TONIGHT.

HOUSE IS IN SESSION MOST OF THE DAY, AND SCHEDULE SOMEWHAT FRACTURED, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THE SERVICES OF REPRESENTATIVE KIEL FROM NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA JOINING US THIS EVENING.

IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND TO TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT YOURSELF, THE AREA YOU REPRESENT, AND THE COMMITTEES YOU SERVE ON.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR VIEWERS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M REPRESENTATIVE KIEL, DEB, AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 1B, WHICH IS -- I FARM.

BUT 1B IS ALL OF POLKE COUNTY, RED LAKE COUNTY AND MOST OF PENNINGTON COUNTY.

ACTUALLY AS I STATED EARLIER, MY DISTRICT IS LARGER THAN THE TATE STATE OF DELAWARE.

BUT PEOPLE, NOT SO MUCH.

AS YOU ALL KNOW WE ARE ABOUT 40,000 PER CONSTITUENCY, AND I'M GUESSING IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT SMALLER.

AS I SAID, I FARM.

MY HUSBAND AND I FARM, AND WE ARE AT THE AVERAGE AGE, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO TRANSITION TO OUR SON, AND WE HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND OUR SON IS OUR FARMER.

AND I SERVE ON -- I HAVE ALWAYS FARMED BUT I HAVE CERTAINED ON SCHOOL BOARDS AND DID DIFFERENT THINGS IN THAT AREA, AND DID THE MARKETING FOR THE FARM, AND THAT WAS ALWAYS A GOOD AND A BAD THING, DEPENDING ON THE MARKETS, BUT ANYWAY, THEN I SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THIS IS MY SIXTH TERM.

THIS IS THE FIRST TERM I HAVE NOT SERVED ON AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE.

BUT I SERVED ON BOTH THE HEALTH FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE AND THEN I'M LEAD TO THE INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC COMMITTEE WITH REPRESENTATIVE GENE.

I'M ALSO ON THE ETHICS COMM      COMMITTEE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

ALTERNATE.

ANYWAY, I HAVE BEEN VERY HONORED TO SERVE IN DISTRIBUTE 1B.

IT HAS CHANGED.

WE HAD OUR FIRST REDISTRICT.

>> Barry: THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT SOME YEARS AGO, WHEN THE COURT WAS MAKING VISITS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO FERGUS FALLS, WHICH IS SOUTH OF YOU, BUT IT WAS INTERESTING, BECAUSE WE HAD A NUMBER OF LAWYERS FROM YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS WHO TRAVELED TO FERGUS FALLS FOR OUR COMMUNITY VISIT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ORAL ARGUMENT.

IT WAS A GREAT EVENING AND A GREAT CONVERSATION.

YOU REPRESENT SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

I WILL SAY THAT.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

ALSO JOINING US AND BEEN WITH US FREQUENTLY, AND I PARTICULARLY RECALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CRISIS AS THE CORONAVIRUS WAS BEGINNING TO UNRAVEL, MUCH OF OUR ACTIVITIES, NONETHELESS, WE HAD A PROGRAM LAST SPRING THAT SENATOR HOFFMAN AND SENATOR ABELER RESCUED US.

I KIND OF SAT AROUND AND LISTENED TO THOSE TWO GUYS TALK.

SENATOR HOFFMAN IS JOINING US THIS EVENING.

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE HIM.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF AGAIN TO OUR VIEWERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY GREAT TO BE BACK HERE.

I WILL NEVER FORGET WHERE SENATOR ABELER AND I GOT THE SHORT STRAW TO COME ON.

AT ONE TIME DURING THE DISCUSSION POINT YOU LOOKED AT US AND WENT LIKE THIS.

YOU KEEP GOING.

BUT THIT WAS HILARIOUS.

THERE WAS A LOT TO COVER.

I'M JOHN HOFFMAN, I LIVE IN CHAMPLIN, AND REPRESENT DISTRICT 36, AND WE HAVE A COMMONALITY CALLED THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER SITTING IN BETWEEN US.

AS WE GO FORWARD, DEB, I HOPE YOU GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON SUGAR BEAT.

I MISSED THE AGO AND HOUSING COMMITTEE, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE GREATER PART OF MINNESOTA, AND SO IT'S GOOD TO BE ON HERE WITH YOU AND ABSOLUTELY WITH DAVE SENJEM.

DAVE FORGET MORE THAN A DAY, JUDGE, THAN I WILL EVER KNOW WHEN IT COMES HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.

IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR DISCUSSION.

>> Barry: SENATOR SENJEM.

>> JOHN HAS ME WAY UP ON SOME PEDESTAL, WHICH I'M NOT WORTHY OF IT.

JUDGE, IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU AND YOUR VIEWERS, BEEN DOING THIS A NUMBER OF YEARS, GOING BACK, MY FIRST START, 2003 IN THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

I THINK THAT'S ABOUT 19 YEARS, AND I WOULD HAVE TO COUNT FINGERS TO BE SURE.

I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, FROM ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA, SERVED ON THE ROCHESTER CITY COUNCIL FOR 11 YEARS, SPENT MY WORKING LIFETIME AT MAYO CLINIC, RETIRED WITH A COUPLE FANCY TITLES AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS OFFICER AND INSTITUTIONAL BIOSAFETY OFFICER, AND WAS IMPORTANT INTERNALLY, BUT THAT WAS PRECOVID, AND NOW WE ARE ALL INSTITUTIONAL BIOSAFETY OFFICERS.

WE ALL KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES, AND SO GOOD TO BE HERE.

LEGISLATIVELY, I SUPPOSE I COULD SAY I SPENT MOST OF MY LEGISLATIVE LIFE HERDING THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE AS A CHIEF HERDER OR MINORITY HERDER, AND SPENT THE MAJORITY OF TIME WITH SENATOR LANGSTON.

LEROY ON THAT BONDING COMMITTEE, AND I'M STILL ON THE BONDING COMMITTEE.

ASSISTANT CHAIR THIS YEAR.

LOOK FORWARD TO A LOT OF GOOD SUMMERS AND MAYBE SUMMER TRIPS, AND MAYBE COME UP YOUR WAY AGAIN, AND MAYBE WE WILL EVEN COME TO YOUR DISTRICT, JOHN.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

>> I FELL IN LOVE WITH ENERGY A DECADE AGO.

THIS IS IN ENERGY TRANSITION.

WE WOULD BE BLIND TO THE WORLD IF WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT, AND WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT TRACK FOR A LOT OF GOOD REASONS, ECONOMICALLY AND OTHERWISE, AND A CLEAN EARTH AS WELL.

I THINK WE ALL WANT THAT.

I SERVE BRINGS ON ENERGY POLICY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND LEGACY COMMITTEE WITH SENATOR RUUD.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW BUSY WE ARE.

I MEAN, IF YOU SAW MY DESK, I WOULDN'T EVEN FLIP THE CAMERA ON IT, BECAUSE IT'S AN ABSOLUTE MESS, IT'S A PAPER QUAGMIRE.

THAT'S OKAY.

WE ARE ALL GETTING ALONG.

I THINK WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TOGETHER AND LOCKING ARMS ONCE AGAIN AND WALKING THE HALLS AND HAVING THAT CAMARADERIE THAT WE NORMALLY HAVE, BECAUSE THIS IS UNUSUAL.

THANK GOODNESS FOR ZOOM.

GOOD TO BE HERE, BARRY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PROGRAM.

>> Barry: WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM THE VIEWER THAT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE BONDING ISSUE.

SENATOR SENJEM, LET'S START WITH YOU.

THE BONDING COMMITTEE IN THE EVEN NUMBERED YEAR -- THIS IS A BUDGET YEAR SO WE NORMALLY DON'T HAVE A LARGE BONDING BILL.

BUT MANY YEARS THERE IS AT LEAST A SMALL BONDING BILL.

BRING OUR VIEWER UP-TO-DATE ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

>> IN OCTOBER YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW WE PASSED THE LARGEST BONDING BILL IN THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.

1.88 BILLION.

HAD A LOT OF THINGS IN THERE THAT PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO WORK.

WE DID IT IN GREAT RESPECT TO WHERE WE WERE ECONOMICALLY IN THE STATE, GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, AND MAKING IT VIRTUALLY A STIMULUS BILL.

I WAS OVER AT THE UNION HALL WITH THE 49ERS THE OTHER DAY, AND THEIR BENCH IS NEARLY EMPTY.

BECAUSE OF THAT BILL NEARLY EVERYBODY IS AT WORK.

I SUSPECT OTHER UNIONS ARE LOOKING AT IT THE SAME WAY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO -- I WOULD BELIEVE BY MAY 17th HAVE A BONDING BILL, AND YET IT WON'T BE 1.88 BILLION.

BUT I'M GOING TO GUESS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 3 TO 400 MILLION, AND HOUSING COMPONENT OF THE BONDING BILL HAS ALMOST BEEN ESTABLISHED AS PART OF THE BILL WHEREAS ROADS AND BRIDGES, WASTEWATER, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND MINNESOTA STATE, AS WE CALL IT NOW.

I'M GOING TO BELIEVE WE HAVE A BASIC BONDING BILL, NOT TOO MANY LOCAL PROJECT BUT GOOD SOLID PROJECTS.

>> Barry: SENATOR HOFFMAN, BONDING BILL.

>> YOU CAN KEEP CALLING IT MNSCU.

I KEEP DOING THAT.

AABELER WERE LAUGHING ABOUT IT N THE PROGRAM.

IT WAS $650,000 TO CHANGE YOUR NAME FROM MNSCU TO MINN STATE.

>> I STILL CALL IT MNSCU.

>> IT'S AMAZING.

EVERY TIME I HAVE BEEN ON HIGHWAY 10, THERE'S OVER 90,000 CARS THAT TRAVEL THE ONE STRETCH, HIGHWAY 10.

WHAT STARTED YEARS AGO AS A $350 MILLION PROJECT TO FIX A LOT OF THE BRIDGES AND MAKE WAY SO IT'S BECOME SAFER AND PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THAT MORE EFFICIENTLY.

WE ARE NOW DOWN THANKS TO DAVE SENJEM, AND LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID THE 1.88, THERE WAS MONEY IN THERE THAT HELPED US, BECAUSE WE HAD OUR CONGRESSIONAL FOLKS LEVERAGING FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR US AND BECAUSE OF THAT THE 300 SOME MILLION AND NOW WE ARE DOWN, AND WE CAN FINISH THE WHOLE PROJECT, AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY UNHEARD OF, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR DOING THAT, BECAUSE THERE ARE SHOVEL READY PROJECTS ON HIGHWAY 10.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

IT'S AMAZING STUFF.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT EVEN THE EACH AND ODD YEARS TOGETHER, AND CLEANING UP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WITH THE MILL POND, DAM, AND MILL POND, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, SENJEM, AND I TOLD YOU THIS, SINCE I HAVE BEEN BACK TO MINNESOTA I SAW PEOPLE ICE FISHING ON THE MILL POND THIS YEAR.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

WE HAVE TAKEN BASICALLY THE WATER THAT WAS DIRTY, POLLUTED AND GROSS, AND BECAUSE OF THE WORK WE DID WITH BONDING BECAUSE WE REPLACED THE OLD DAM BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO GET LEGISLATIVE CITIZENS, RESOURCES MONEY, WE HAVE NOW RECLAIMED THAT TO THE FISHERY THAT IT ONCE WAS.

THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE INPUT OF THE BONDING COMMITTEE.

I'M HOPEFUL WE WILL KEEP DOING BONDING BECAUSE OUR BOND RATING AS A STATE IS REALLY, REALLY STRONG, AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

WE DO NEED -- I LIKE THE FACT THAT DAVE SAID IT WAS KIND OF AN ECONOMIC BOOST TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK AND HOW WONDERFUL IT IS THAT THE 49ERS BENCH IS EMPTY.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

BECAUSE GUESS WHAT?

THEY ARE BUYING STUFF.

THEY ARE EVEN BUYING SUGAR CANE FROM DEB'S AREA.

>> NO SUGAR CANE.

>> THE OTHER THING IS THE INTEREST RATES.

YOU CAN'T BE FLIPPANT ABOUT IT, BUT LITERALLY IT WAS GIVING MONEY AWAY.

WE WILL NEVER SEE LOWER.

THE INTEREST RATES RIGHT NOW ARE SO FAVORABLE FOR TAKING ON THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE KIEL, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BONDING PROJECT.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE ANDERSON.

MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S A CLEANUP BILL FROM THE LAST BONDING BILL IN THE HOUSE THAT WE HAVE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MY DISTRICT, AND THAT'S LANGUAGE THAT THE PROJECT IS BEING HELD UP BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, BUT SOME SMALL ITEMS.

YES, WE ARE HEARING BONDING BILLS AND ALWAYS IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN THE VALLEY TO HAVE FLOOD MITIGATION, AND WE DO SO MANY PROJECTS EVERY YEAR SO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS AND OUR BUSINESSES.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BONDING BILL HAPPENS.

I THINK FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND MITIGATING FLOODS, WE ARE ABLE TO NOT SPEND $4.

THAT 1 TO 4 IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE ARE MUCH BETTER.

THE STATE HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT PROTECTING THE RUSTY DAWKINS AND ITS FLOW NORTH.

THIS YEAR, IT WON'T BE A PROBLEM.

WATER IS REALLY -- IN FACT, WE ARE DRY.

AS WET AS MINNESOTA WAS IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY SNOW.

WE HAVE NO SNOW ON THE GROUND AT ALL.

WE MISSED THE LANE LAST TIME.

WE ARE KIND OF HOPING FOR A LITTLE RAIN, THOUGH.

I'M SURE GUYS WILL GET IN THE FIELD SHORTLY.

>> Barry: WE HAVE A VIEWER FROM CASS COUNTY THAT WANTS TO ASK A HOUSEKEEPING QUESTION.

THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW ARE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS MADE AND DO THEY AFFECT LEGISLATIVE COMPENSATION?

AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO, IT DOESN'T.

TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT HOW COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.

LET'S START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE KIEL, HOW IS IT DONE IN THE HOUSE?

>> WE ARE ASKED WHAT OUR INTERESTS ARE AND WE REQUEST -- FIRST OF ALL THE COMMITTEE IS SET BY THE SPEAKER, AND THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES, AND THERE USUALLY ARE CHANGES EVERY BIENNIUM.

WE REQUEST SEATS AND DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.

I HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH THAT I'M REQUESTING A CHAIR POSITION OR LEAD IF YOU ARE IN THE MINORITY, AND THAT LIST IS PUT ON, AND THERE IS A COMMITTEE THAT SITS TOGETHER AND DOES EVERYTHING, DECIDES WHO GOES WHERE AND KIND OF WHAT YOUR INTERESTING, AND YOU GET ASKED BY LEADERSHIP, WILL YOU TAKE THIS ON INSTEAD BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT EVERYONE.

I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

I REQUEST THINGS, AND I ALSO GET INVOLVED IN COMMITTEES.

I LIKE TRYING SOMETHING NEW BECAUSE YOU LEARN MORE AS YOU SPREAD OUT.

>> Stacy: SENATOR HOFFMAN, HOW ABOUT THE SENATE?

OUT.

>> Barry: SENATOR HOFFMAN?

>> YOU PUT IN YOUR REQUEST, AND I DID, I PUT IN MY REQUEST AS PROBABLY ONE OF -- I DON'T KNOW.

ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS IN MINNESOTA THAT SERVED IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION?

THAT WOULD BE ME.

SO, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND FEDERAL EDUCATION REALLY WELL AND ALSO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

SO I NATURALLY FLOW THAT WAY.

THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BE ON WAS ENERGY.

I WENT AND GOT AN ADVANCED DEGREE IN ENERGY, AND I WANTED TO BE ON SENJEM'S COMMITTEE BECAUSE WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT IS THE DIRECTION WE SHOULD BE GOING AS A CITY.

SO YOU PUT IN ALL THESE REQUESTS, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU DON'T GET ANY OF THE ONES YOU REALLY WANT.

LIKE DEB, I PUT IN A REQUEST TO BE THE LEAD OF HUMAN SERVICES REFORM WITH NO OTHER THAN SENATOR JIM ABELER, AND YOU HAVE GOT TO WORK WITHIN YOUR LANE.

I GOT THAT.

BUT THE ONE THING I REALLY, REALLY SUPER WANTED WAS TO BE ON ENERGY, AND I DID NOT GET THAT, AND THAT'S KIND OF A LOTTERY THEY THINK.

DAVE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU CAN ANSWER THAT, EXCEPT IT'S UP TO THE DIFFERENT CHAIRS.

NO THE MINORITY LEAD AND THE MAJORITY LEAD THEN PICK AND THE HOUSE WHERE THEY PICK THEM.

IS THAT THE DIFFERENCE, DAVE?

>> WHAT WE DO IN THE SENATE OR AT LEAST HAVE DONE IN RECENT YEARS, YOU SUBMIT YOUR INTERESTS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, AND THAT GOES TO A COMMITTEE OF COMMITTEES AND THEY ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND FRAME IT UP, EACH INDIVIDUAL LOOKING AT THE CHEMISTRY, THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMITTEES.

SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED IS LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR AND WHEN THE COMMITTEES MEET.

WE ALL MIGHT WANT A COMMITTEE -- THERE ARE TWO COMMITTEES THAT MEET AT 3:00 ON TUESDAY, AND WE CAN'T DO THAT OF COURSE.

IT'S A REAL KIND OF MISHMASH, AND YOU HAVE TO ALMOST DO IT ON THE WALL A POST IT NOTES.

YOU JUST TRY TO MATCH THE INTEREST AND THE SKILLS WITH THE PERSON, AND IT'S NOT PERFECT BUT IT NEVER WILL BE.

WE GET PEOPLE -- I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAV -- SOMETIMES IT JUT DOESN'T WORK.

YOU HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD.

WHEN YOU ARE THERE LONG ENOUGH, YOU CAN SPIN AROUND A LITTLE BIT, MOVE AROUND AND DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.

I WANTED TO BE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OF ALL THINGS THIS YEAR.

FROM ROCHESTER WE ALWAYS HAD SOMEBODY FROM ROCHESTER AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD TIE WITH MY LEGISLATIVE LIFE.

GOT TO TAKE THAT, MOVE IT UP, BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE IT.

SO THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.

>> Barry: WELL, WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER, FROM THAT FAMOUS MINNESOTA TOWN TWITTER -- NO TOWN LIKE THAT.

BUT ANYWAY, THIS VIEWER WANTS US TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE ANY MARIJUANA LEGISLATION THAT MOVES THIS SESSION, AND THE VIEWER IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A NEED TO AMEND OUR STATUTES SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAUGHT WITH PERSONAL AMOUNTS OF THC PRODUCTS ARE NOT CHARGED WITH FELONIES AND IS THERE GOING TO BE SOME CHANGE IN THE CRIMINALIZATION ISSUES RELATIVE TO MARIJUANA?

SENATOR HOFFMAN, LET'S START WITH YOU.

ANYTHING GOING ON IN THE MARIJUANA AREA?

WHAT ABOUT THE VIEWER'S SPECIFIC CONCERN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE PLACE, RIGHT?

UNTIL WE CAN FIGURE OUT, A HOW TO REGULATE IT, B HOW TO TAX IT AND C WHETHER ANYONE IS GOING TO AFFECT THIS, AND THEY HAVE ALL GOT TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE ON THIS.

BECAUSE THERE'S A CRIMINAL ASPECT TO THIS, RIGHT?

I'M NOT A LAWYER.

I PLAYED TIME IN A PLAY, BUT I'M NOT ONE LEGALLY, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, JUDGE, AND WE LOOKED AT THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA SIDE OF IT.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY INCREASED WHERE THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING MORE SO, AND THEN I KNOW THERE'S A FEW BILLS IN THE SENATE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO GET A HEARING, DAVE, BUT THERE'S A FEW BILLS THAT LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF SOME OF THAT AND B, IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN X AMOUNT, IT'S NOT A FELONY.

THERE'S SOME CONVERSATION YOU HAVE GOING ON.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT IT'S MADE IT TO A JUDICIARY FOR A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, JUDGE, AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE HAPPENING, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS CONVERSATION.

HERE IS THE OTHER THING.

IT IS A SUBSTANCE.

REGARDLESS, IT'S LIKE ALCOHOL OR ANYTHING ELSE, RIGHT?

IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, WE NEED TO ABSOLUTELY LOOK AT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO THOSE THAT NEED RECOVERY HELP.

IT IS A SUBSTANCE, REGARDLESS, AND I WOULD HOPE, LIKE WE DO WITH ANYTHING ELSE, THAT WE SET ASIDE TAXATION OR MONEY AND HELP BE SUPPORTIVE, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEBODY NEEDS HELP THAT ISN'T ABLE TO REGULATE THE USE THAT THEY ARE DOING.

I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THIS DISCUSSION AS WELL.

THAT'S A HUMAN SERVICES DISCUSSION, RIGHT?

NOT NECESSARILY THE LEGAL SIDE.

KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW, DEB, ARE YOU SEEGAVE, AREYOU SEEING ANYT?

>> I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS ARE READY TO MOVE IT RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S EVEN ON THE EDGE.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING -- WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT JUST THE OTHER DAY.

IT'S ON THE EDGE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF E-MAILS ABOUT IT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S READY YET.

FROM THE STANDPOINT OF OUR CAUCUS, WE TEND TO LISTEN A LOT TO WHAT POLICE DEPARTMENT TELLS US AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TELLS US, AND THEY CONSISTENTLY JUST TELL US THAT NO, IT'S A BAD IDEA.

IT'S NOT GOING TO -- IT'S NOT GOOD FOR MINNESOTA.

SO WE ARE SORT OF LOYAL TO THOSE THOUGHTS, AT LEAST UP UNTIL THIS POINT.

I HAVE A LITTLE BILL ACTUALLY THAT I HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT THIS WAY, BUT IT MIGHT BE LEADING TO DECRIMINALIZATION IN A WAY.

HOW DO YOU FIELD TEST ON THE HIGHWAY A DRIVER THAT MIGHT BE UNDER SOMETHING OTHER THAN ALCOHOL, AND WE HAVE GOT THIS LITTLE PILOT STUDY RIGHT NOW FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS THAT IF IT PASSES AT LEAST, WE WILL FIELD TEST DRIVERS THAT THEY ARE SUSPECTED TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SOMETHING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND IT WILL BE COMPARED AGAINST ANALYTICS THAT MIGHT OCCUR IN A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.

I WOULD SAY THE OTHER THING -- I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T SAY THIS, BUT FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WE HAD -- I WILL CALL IT A DRUG HOUSE.

I WILL BE FLAT OUT, FACTIONAL.

THAT'S THE STREET NAME.

ACROSS THE STREET FROM US, AND MY GOODNESS SAKES, ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT, IT SEEMED, IT WAS JUST LIKE A SHOPPING CENTER, AND PEOPLE WOULD DROP IN FOR THE FIVE-MINUTE DEAL AND OFF AGAIN THEY WOULD GO.

POLICE DEPARTMENT KNEW ABOUT IT, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT KNEW ABOUT IT.

IN MY VIEW IT WAS ALMOST LEGALIZED.

IT WASN'T LEGALIZED BUT IT WAS ACCEPTED AS, YOU KNOW, A FACT OF ON GOING LIFE, THE FACT THERE ARE THESE HOMES ALL OVER.

ALL I'M SAYING I WAS SURPRISED.

I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT SORT OF TRAFFIC AND HAD NO IDEA THE USE OF THIS SUBSTANCE BY SO MANY PEOPLE, AND MANY HAVE BEEN VERY NICE CARS AND PROFESSIONAL LOOKING PEOPLE.

IT'S OUT AND ABOUT.

IT'S CERTAINLY WITH US, AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE KIEL, MARIJUANA QUESTIONS AND POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE WAY CRIMINAL OFFENSES ARE CATEGORIZED.

>> I DON'T SIT ON JUDICIARY BUT I DO KNOW THEY ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND MAJORITY LEADER WINKLER IS CARRYING THE REPORT OF THE DISCUSSION OF THE MARIJUANA USE, AND ALL OF THE ISSUES.

WE DID HEAR IT IN HUMAN SERVICES EARLY ON IN THE SESSION, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S STILL WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE HOUSE.

AS MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE ALLUDED TO, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS VERY CONCERNED.

I WORRY ABOUT THE USE OF ADDICTION AND HOW HIGH THAT CAN GO, AND I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE STRONG USES FOR OTHER DRUGS WE USE, ALSO, TO HELP PEOPLE GET THROUGH PAIN, DIFFERENT HEALTH ISSUES, AND THAT'S A CONSTANT CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE DO WE GO, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF -- A LOT TO UNPACK IN THAT DISCUSSION.

>> Barry: SO WE WILL START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE KIEL WITH THE NEXT QUESTION.

WE HAVE A VIEWER FROM CLEARWATER, TOWNSHIP OFFICIAL, AND IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VALUATION OF THE ENBRIDGE PIPELINE THAT IT IS CREATING FOR VARIOUS TOWNSHIPS, THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING TO PAY BACK LARGE SUMS OF MONEY, ACCUMULATING INTEREST, AND WHAT, IF ANYTHING, THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE DOING ABOUT THAT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

REPRESENTATIVE KIEL, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> FUNNY THING.

I TALKED TO A POLKE COUNTY OFFICIAL JUST TODAY ABOUT IT.

THERE'S REAL CONCERNS.

WE HAVE A TAX BILL THAT'S BEEN -- ENBRIDGE IS TAXED.

IT'S THE TAX THAT GOES FROM BORDER TO BORDER.

SO THE OIL THAT GOES THROUGH THE PIPELINE IS TAXED FROM PINSON COUNTY ALL THE WAY BY DULUTH.

ALL THE OIL THAT GOES THROUGH THERE, AND THEY ARE FEELING IT UNFAIR THAT THEY ARE TAXED FOR ALL THE WAY IT GOES THROUGH RATHER THAN JUST THE SECTION OF EACH COUNTY THAT IT GOES THROUGH, IF I'M EXPLAINING THAT.

CLEARWATER COUNTY IS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY NOT ONLY HAVE A FIGHT THERE WHERE ENBRIDGE CONNECTS, BUT THEY ALSO PAY A LOT OF TAX DOLLARS, AND ENBRIDGE IS PAYING A LOT OF TAX DOLLARS, BUT THEY ARE IN THE COURTS, AND IF THEY WERE TO WIN, CLEARWATER COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO PAY BACK QUITE A LARGE PORTION THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SINCE 2013.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF DOLLARS.

I BELIEVE BOTH RED LAKE COUNTY AND CLEARWATER WOULD BE DEVASTATED TO THE POINT OF GOING BANKRUPT.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE REALLY HIGH.

NO, NOTHING IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW TO MY KNOWLEDGE IN THAT.

WHEN IT GOES THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

WE TRIED WE WRITING IT, AND I WORKED WITH SENATOR CHAMBERLAIN IN THE PAST, CAN WE REASSESS THIS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE WAS INTERESTED IN HAVING ANOTHER DISCUSSION, AND THEY FEEL THEY WOULD WIN THAT ARGUMENT.

ELECTRIC COMPANIES ALSO HAD ONE THERE, THE ARGUMENT BACK IN 2014, '15, I THINK IT WAS.

THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT -- THE COUNTIES CLEARLY HAVE A CONCERN THAT THEY SHOULD STILL BE ADDRESSING.

AT THIS POINT THERE'S NOT BEEN MUCH CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

>> Barry: SENATOR SENJEM, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PASS.

I'M NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE.

NO SENSE TO FAKE IT.

>> Barry: SENATOR HOFFMAN.

>> DEB, YOU JUST GAVE ME SOME INFORMATION THAT I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF, DEB, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK -- JUDGE, I REALLY MISS BEING ON ENERGY COMMITTEE, BECAUSE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO SINK YOUR TEETH IN THE DISCUSSION.

BECAUSE MAYBE SENJEM CAN GO BACK TO HIS MAJORITY LEADER AND SAY CREATE ANOTHER SPOT HERE FOR HOFFMAN.

DEB, I HAD NO IDEA THAT -- TO HEAR ONE OF THE COUNTIES IS SAYING THIS MIGHT BANKRUPT US.

>> THEY HAVEN'T EVEN SAID IT, BUT THEY ARE TERRIFIED.

I HAVE TO ADMIT, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COUNTIES, SMALL COUNTIES THAT ARE POOR COUNTIES TO BEGIN WITH.

THIS IS A REAL SERIOUS CONVERSATION.

IT IS THE TAX DOLLARS WE GET.

LINE 3 IS IMPORTANT FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

BUT WITH MAKING SURE THAT THE LINE ACTUALLY HAPPENS, AND THE OIL -- WE GET A LOT OF TAX DOLLARS FROM ENBRIDGE.

THERE'S OIL FLOWING THROUGH, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT FOR OUR SMALL TOWNS AND OUR TOWNSHIPS AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COUNTIES, BUT IF WE DON'T GET THE TAX ISSUE SETTLED, THIS COULD BE, LIKE I SAID, IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY CONCERNING.

SOMETHING WE KEEP TRYING TO WORK ON BUT HAVEN'T GOTTEN VERY FAR.

>> Barry: LET'S MOVE TO AN ENERGY RELATED QUESTION, BECAUSE THAT IS A TOPIC THAT SENATOR SENJEM INTRODUCED TO US, AND WE HAVE HAD A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER AB ELECTRIC ISSUES, AND E ABILITY TO CHARGE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT QUESTION, YOU ALSO HAVE THE ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT ELECTRICCATION IS A GOOD IDEA.

SENATOR SENJEM, LET'S START WITH YOU, AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES, CHARGING OF VEHICLES.

>> THERE'S A RULE MAKING PROCEDURE PROCESS GOING ON, AND WE DON'T QUITE KNOW WHERE THAT IS GOING TO GO.

THERE'S A BILL THAT I THINK HAS BEEN HEARD IN THE HOUSE THAT IS SORT OF -- NOT NECESSARILY COMPLEMENTARY BUT NOT TAKING ON A CALIFORNIA STANDARD BUT DEVELOPING A MINNESOTA ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROGRAM, REBATES, THINGS LIKE THAT, SETTING UP CERTAIN TRAINING, DOING THE DEALERSHIPS AND SO ON.

THAT BILL HAS BEEN HEARD IN THE HOUSE.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD IT IN THE SENATE YET.

WE MAY BEFORE THE HE SAID OF THE SESSION.

WE WILL SEE.

AT LEAST CARS, YOU KNOW, BIG PICKUPS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

TOWING VEHICLES MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT FOR TRAVELING SEDANS, SO ON, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR IT THAT GENERAL MOTORS AND VOLKSWAGEN GOING 100% ELECTRIC BY 2030, THAT IS THE DIRECTION THAT THE AUTO MAKERS ARE GOING.

IRRESPECTIVE OF GOVERNMENT WE ARE NOT GOING TO STOP THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE TRENDY THING, AND IT CERTAINLY FALLS IN LINE WITH THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THE WORLD WILL ADVANCE IN THIS DIRECTION, AND SO WILL WE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF CHANGE.

I MEAN, YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS.

XCEL IS ON A PATH OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND OTTERTAIL IS COMING ALONG, AND MINNESOTA POWER, AND THEY ARE IN THAT NP LOOP, 10 IN, 100% BY 2050.

WE TALK ABOUT THE SUPPLY CHAINS.

DO WE REALLY THINK VOLKSWAGEN IS GOING TO HAVE 100% ELECTRIC CAR.

THE LARGEST STEEL PURCHASER IN THE WORLD, AND I ALWAYS LOOKED AT THEIR SPEC.

THEY SPEC IT WITH A PREFERENCE CALLED GREEN STEEL.

THE SUPPLY CHAIN IN ALL OF THIS STUFF, WHETHER IT'S CARS OR FOOD OR ANYTHING ELSE IS GOING TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS A GREENER KIND OF APPROACH.

YOU COME BACK IN 2030 OR '40, WE ARE GOING TO LIVE IN DIFFERENT WORLD.

I KNOW WE ARE.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE KIEL, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> IF THE MARKET IS GOING TO DO IT, I'M OKAY WITH IT.

BUT IF WE FORCE PEOPLE TO GO THAT DIRECTION TOO FAST, IT BECOMES A REAL PROBLEM.

I LOST TWO CAR DEALERSHIPS IN EAST GRAND FORKS TO GRAND FORKS, AND PEOPLE ARE PRETTY SHOCKED WHEN THEY SAY I WILL GO TO GRAND FORKS AND LICENSE IT.

WELL, YOU CAN'T LICENSE IT UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S BILL.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A BATTERY POWER.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU CAN RUN A TRACTOR 24/7, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHUT IT DOWN.

THE GPS HELPS US TO RUN IT ALL THE TIME.

WHEN THE RAIN IS COMING, WE CAN TRY AND WORK RIGHT UP UNTIL THAT POINT WHEN WE HAVE GOT THAT FIELDWORK DONE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WITH OUR CARS AND VEHICLES.

>> Barry: WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CAPABILITY BECAUSE OF THE CHARGING.

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S THE CONCERNS THERE.

HAVING IT WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS IN AN ECONOMIC WAY RATHER THAN FORCING IT BY STATE STANDARDS, AND THEN OUR CONCERN IS THAT WE ARE AWFULLY COLD UP HERE, AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT BATTERY LIFE CUTS WAY BACK WHEN IT STARTS TO GET 30 BELOW.

WE DON'T DRIVE VERY FAR, BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK SOMEPLACE 30 BELOW IN A CAR THAT WON'T RUN AT ALL.

THAT IS THE CONCERN, IS THAT WE PUSH IT A LITTLE TOO FAST.

>> Barry: SENATOR HOFFMAN, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, ENERGY RELATED VEHICLES.

>> DID I ALREADY TELL YOU THIS, BARRY?

I MISS BEING ON THE ENERGY COMMITTEE.

DEB, DAVE BROUGHT UP THE THINK TANKERS THE LAST TWO YEARS AGO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, AND THE FOLKS FROM XCEL WHO POPPED OUT, THE 85%, AND THEY WOULD ABSOLUTELY DO IT, AND THE FOLKS FROM NORTH OF HERE.

IT'S THE ONE NORTH OF HERE, CENTER POINT, NO HE SAID OUR CUSTOMERS ARE TELLING US THIS IS WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO, RIGHT?

THERE'S A MOMENT FOR THE MARKET TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION, AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THE QUESTION, DAVE AND WOULD ASK PEOPLE, AND SAID SHOULD WE LET THE MARKET DRIVE THE WHOLE THING, OR DO WE NEED REGULATION?

AND EVERYONE OF THOSE FOLKS FROM THE INDUSTRY SAID IT WOULD BE NICE TO FIND A MIX OF BOTH.

DRAWN ON THE MARKET TO DO THAT SIDE.

DAVE, YOU MENTIONED MINNESOTA POWER, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROJECTS THAT ABSOLUTELY BLOWS ME AWAY IS HOW MINNESOTA POWER TOOK A DC LINE, DC ELECTRIC LINE COMING OUT OF NORTH DAKOTA THAT WAS CONNECTED TO A COAL BURNING PLANT.

IT COULD BURN THAT WHOLE AREA TO WINDMILLS, AND THEY USED THE DC LINE TO GO UP TO POWER, AND USING IT TO ACTUALLY BE LIKE A BATTERY FOR IT.

IT'S BRILLIANT MAN, HOW PEOPLE ARE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, AND IN THIS CASE IT WAS BASE POWER UTILIZING WIND AND POWER.

THE OTHER THING THAT BLOWS ME AWAY IS THE SPACEX DUDE IS -- HAD SOME BIG SEMITRUCKS THAT THEY WERE BACKING WITH BATTERY POWER THAT WOULD GO FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES.

I WAS LIKE HOW DO SOME OF THE ENGINEERS COME UP WITH THIS STUFF.

THE DISCUSSION IS OUT THERE, AND I'M ABSOLUTELY JAZZED TO SEE THE DISCUSSION.

BUT IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE READY, NO.

1?

NO.

2, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT WHEN 28 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR IN OUR GAS TANKS GO TOWARDS ROADS AND BRIDGES IN MINNESOTA.

I THINK IT'S 28 CENTS, DAVE AND DEB.

THAT'S GONE.

I'M A TAX GUY.

I NEED TO TAX THESE ELECTRIC CARS TO HELP PAY FOR OUR ROADS, RIGHT?

I DON'T KNOW.

SENJEM, YOU FIX THIS PROBLEM.

WILL YOU?

>> WHAT WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED IS HYDROGEN, AND I KNOW BARRY, THIS PROGRAM, THE WORK THEY ARE DOING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN MORSE ON HYDROGEN AND AMODIA AMMONIA.

WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION OR ANYTHING ELSE, IT'S A POWERFUL IDEA.

I WOULD BELIEVE THAT WE MOVE OFF DIESEL ON FARM TRACTORS.

THAT FUEL IS GOING TO BE HYDROGEN.

IF YOU BURN IT IT SIMPLY EMITS WATER VAPOR AND YOU GET TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT WAY.

IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE PUT A BIG BATTERY ON A TRACTOR AND EXPECT IT TO PULL 68 BOTTOM PLOWS.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

EXACTLY.

RUN ALL OF IT.

BUT I DO KNOW -- I HAVE BEEN TO SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HYDROGEN AND AMMONIA FERTILIZER, AND THERE WAS A GROUP WORKING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE CONNECTED WITH MORRIS UNIVERSITY.

THERE'S A GROUP DISCUSSING.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENING.

I JUST WORRY ABOUT IT BEING PUSHED FASTER THAN WE CAN HANDLE.

>> Barry: THE THOUGHT OCCURRED TO ME, AND I DON'T TAKE A POSITION ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES.

BUT I DO RECALL, I THINK IT WAS THE SECOND STATE OF THE UNION -- MAYBE THE START OF THE SECOND TERM, I CAN'T REMEMBER, BUT GEORGE W. BUSH, BUSH 41 SPECIFICALLY REFERENCED DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROGEN AS AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE.

IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR IT MENTIONED AGAIN, THAT THIS IS ONE OF THESE CUTTING EDGE KINDS OF SCIENCE ISSUES THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE HEARING FROM IN THE YEARS AHEAD, AND HERE YOU CAN LOOK BACK 15 YEARS AND SEE IT IN THE CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING TODAY.

>> AND HE SAID SWITCH GRASS, TOO, BARRY.

NOW EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT SWITCH GRASS, SO, YOU KNOW, GW WAS AHEAD OF THE CURVE ON THAT ONE.

>> NOT TO GET TOO FAR INTO IT, AN HOUR OR SO AGO I WAS LOOKING AT THE WEBSITE FOR THE HYDROGEN CONSUL.

$300 BILLION OF INVESTMENTS RIGHT NOW, 300 BILLION.

THAT'S NOT BEING SPENT FOOLISHLY.

THOSE INVESTORS ARE NOT GOING TO SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THERE'S PROBABLY A FUTURE TO THIS.

>> Barry: WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM WOOD BUR WOOD WOODBURY.

IT'S A SPE TEACHER AND TRYING TO BRING AGRICULTURAL HANDS ON LEARNING TO STUDENTS AND CONCERNED MUCH OF THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FUNDING IS GOING TOWARDS COLLEGE READY STUDENTS AND WAS WONDERING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S WISE.

SENATOR HOFFMAN, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FUNDING AND LEARNING.

>> WISE.

THE QUESTION IS IT WISE?

WE GOT INTO THIS.

THE EDUCATION PENDULUM, AND GOT TO GET COLLEGE READY.

ALL OF A SUDDEN WE FORGOT ABOUT THE TECH INDUSTRIES, AND WE FIGURE OUT WAIT.

WE NEED IBEW FOLKS.

WE NEED AG PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS STUFF.

WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR TECH COLLEGES?

IT WAS LIKE WHOA.

SO NOW YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE THE PENDULUM GET A LITTLE BIT MORE BALANCED IN THERE.

NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE COLLEGE READY, JUDGE.

I'M SORRY.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, IF I WANT TO SPEND MY CAREER DOING SOMETHING THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE FROM ONE OF THE MNSCU COLLEGES, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE TO GET A TWO-YEAR DEGREE FROM ONE OF THE MINN STATE SCHOOLS THAT WOULD BE A ZERO CEK.

VO-TECH.

WHEN I FINISHED MY THREE-YEAR TERM AND GOT BACK TO SCHOOL BOARD ON THE HENNEPIN, THERE WAS A REAL PUSH, LOOK WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN INDIA.

LOOK WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN CHINA.

I SAT BACK AND SAID NOT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IN MINNESOTA, IN THE UNITED STATES EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT'S NOT THE CASE IN OTHER COUNTRIES, RIGHT?

KIDS THAT HAVE DISABILITIES OR NEEDS ARE NOT NECESSARILY GETTING THE SAME OPPORTUNITY OF AN EDUCATION AS THEY ARE IN MINNESOTA.

THAT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

THERE'S A COMMON SENSE PIECE THAT NEEDS TO COME IN HERE.

I APPRECIATE THE FACT THERE'S AN AG TEACHER ASKING THAT QUESTION.

HE NEEDS TO BECOME THE ADVOCATE AND MAKE SURE OUR HIGHER ED PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO HIM AND SAY LET'S GET SOME COMMON SENSE IN HERE, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO WANT TO GO TO THE COLLEGE BOUND PIECE.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO HAVE AND AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

>> CAN I ADD INTO THAT?

THE INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION WITH CHAIR PELOWSKI IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

FUNNY THING, I'M OLD ENOUGH THAT CAREER IN TECH CLASSES WERE FUNDED FEDERALLY AND STATEWIDE AND WE ARE PRETTY EXPANSIVE WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

IN FACT WE HAVE A PHYSICIANS ASSISTANT WHO STARTED IN -- A MEDICAL CLASS IN HER JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR, AND THIS IS WHAT REALLY IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR STUDENTS.

MY HUSBAND GOT A DOCTOR FRIEND THAT WHEN THEY WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER, HE TOOK CONSTRUCTION TRADE.

SO THROUGH COLLEGE HE PAID FOR COLLEGE BY DOING CONSTRUCTION TRADE JOBS.

SO NOT ONLY DOES HE HAVE THE SKILLS TO FIX THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE.

WE WOULD HAVE TO ASK THE WIFE IF THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS, BUT HE ALSO PAID FOR COLLEGE, AND SO IT WENT TWO WAYS.

I WORKED WITH DR. WESTRUM, WHICH IS ACTUALLY TORI'S UNCLE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, CROOKSTON, AND THE UNIVERSITY PULLED AWAY ITS AG EDUCATION TEACHERS.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF ROUNDS BECAUSE HE KEPT SAYING WELL, THE STUDENTS WILL TAKE A COUPLE YEARS OF CLASS IN CROOKSTON AND THEY WILL GO DOWN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND GET THE REST OF THEIR COOLING.

GUESS WHAT?

REAL STUDENTS DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO GO TO MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL.

WE LOST STUDENTS TO SOUTH DAKOTA AND DR. WESTRUM AND I WORKED ON THIS AND WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO CROOKSTON, AND IT'S A SMALL CLASS, BUT IT IS TEACHING STUDENTS AG EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOLS, WHETHER THEY ARE METRO SCHOOLS, URBAN SCHOOLS OR RURAL SCHOOLS, AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

WHAT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE THAT WE WORKED ON IS JUST FABULOUS.

IN HOUSTON COUNTY, THEY ARE WORKING ON A PROGRAM THE KIDS CAN TAKE ONLINE, AND THEN CAN DO SUMMER SCHOOL SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO RUN THAT BIG EQUIPMENT OVER IN THE IRON RANGE.

THEY LEARN THE OSHA RULES AND THEY LEARN HOW TO MANAGE THOSE THINGS.

WE HAVE -- I KNOW THE TRADE UNION 49ERS ARE WORKING ON HELPING WITH THAT.

UP IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS EAST GRAND FORKS IS WORKING WITH ROAD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY THAT DOES DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORK, AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO TRAIN STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SO THEY ARE CAREER READY SHORTLY AFTER SCHOOL OR THEY CAN GET A CERTIFICATION WITH THE MINN STATE SCHOOL OR YOU CAN GO ONTO THE UNIVERSITY IF YOU WANT TO GO FURTHER IN EDUCATION.

I WOULD THINK, GOSH, ISN'T IT GREAT TO BE ABLE TO KNOW HOW TO FIX YOUR TOILET OR IF YOU ARE A PLUMBER OR ELECTRICAL WIRING IN YOUR HOUSE?

THOSE THINGS ARE SKILLS NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE AWAY FROM YOU.

IF YOU LEARN AND MAKING MONEY DOING THAT, THAT'S GREAT.

OR IF YOU LEARN AND ARE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW PROVIDE YOURSELF WITH A CAREER EDUCATION, I JUST REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT FUNDING MORE OF THOSE.

WE HAVE GOT A PILOT PROJECT GOING THAT I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY CARRY AS A LOAN BILL.

I KNOW CHAIR PELOWSKI IS HOPING IT CAN BE A SINGLE BILL THAT WE PASSED AT THE HOUSE.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHO WAS CARRYING IT AT THE SENATE.

I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

THEN WE ARE USING BROADBAND TO BE ABLE TO TEACH SOMEONE THAT.

MNSCU, THROUGH BROADBAND, THEY CAN TEACH THEIR KIDS SO THEY ARE NOT DRIVING ALL OVER THE PLACE, THAT THEY ARE STAYING IN PARTS OF IT, AND MAYBE TEACHERS AROUND A LITTLE BIT.

ROCHESTER, I'M SURE, HAS SOME IDEAS WITH MEDICAL HEALTH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT EXPOSE OUR CHILDREN TO POSSIBILITIES.

WE WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THERE'S A POSSIBILITY FOR THAT.

>> Barry: SENATOR SENJEM, LET'S TALK ABOUT ROCHESTER AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND REPRIORITIZING THAT ASPECT OF EDUCATION.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I'M A 10,000 PERCENT FOR IT.

WE DO PRETTY WELL IN ROCHESTER.

WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED CTEC DOWN THERE, AND IT'S A VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL THAT STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE TO ATTEND IF THEY WANT TO SEEK VOCATIONAL.

THIS IS NOT JUST A PROGRAM.

IT'S A PLACE AS WELL AS A PROGRAM.

IF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN CTEC.

YOU CAN ENROLL IN MANY THINGS.

ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS AGO MAYBE, I HAD TWO TRIPS TO GERMANY TO TALK ABOUT THEIR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, AND I BECAME TOTALLY SOLD ON CERTAINLY THE IDEA.

WHAT THEY DO IS FANTASTIC, AND I HAVE JUST GOT TO TELL YOU.

I THINK IT WAS 2019, I HAD MAYBE A DOZEN PARLIAMENTIANS, AND WE GOT TOGETHER FOR A LUNCH AT C-TECH BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BRAG ABOUT OUR PROGRAM.

IT'S GOOD, AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT.

BUT LONG THE WAY THE GERMANS ARE PRESENTING THEIR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WITH STUDENTS THAT CHOOSE THAT ROUTE, THAT VOCATIONAL ROUTE, USUALLY ABOUT TENTH GRADE, WILL FIND THEIR WAY INTO A BUSINESS THREE DAYS A WEEK OR TWO DAYS A WEEK, AND DO THE D WORK.

THEY WILL EARN MONEY ALONG THE WAY AS THEY WORK, FON FACTORY OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

THEY GO OFF TO SCHOOLS AND LEARN A TRADE, LEARN A SKILL.

SO THE QUESTION COMES UP, ON THE ROCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ASKED, WHAT IS YOUR GRADUATION RATE?

AND THEY SAID -- VICE-PRESIDENT OF PARLIAMENT OVER THERE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

AFTER ABOUT THE THIRD TIME WHEN THEY FINALLY REALIZED THEY ALL GRADUATE.

IT WAS COUNTERINTUITIVE THAT EVERYBODY DOESN'T GRADUATE.

AS SHE SAID IN OUR PROGRAM THEY ALL GRADUATE.

THEY HAVE TO.

THERE'S EXPECTATIONS.

I'M NOT SURE EVERY LAST PERCENT OF THEM GRADUATE, BUT THAT'S THE MODEL.

>> Barry: IT'S THE OFFICIAL POSITION ANYWAY.

>> IT'S THEIR OFFICIAL POSITION.

IT'S A MODEL.

IT WORKS PRETTY WELL, AND IT MAY NOT CULTURALLY BE RIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY OR OUR STATE BUT CERTAINLY THE ANSWER ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION HAS GOT TO BE THE FUTURE.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT A LOT OF THE ENERGY JOBS.

NOT TO GET BACK TO THAT, BUT THE FASTEST GROWING BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA, IN FACT IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW, IS ENERGY.

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN THAT AREA, AND IT'S A LOT OF SKILL SETS.

YOU DON'T NEED AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER TO DO THAT, AND YOU CAN DO THAT A GOOD COUPLE OF YEARS OF TRAINING AND SKILL SETS THAT YOU GET, VOCATIONAL, AND WE HAVE GOT TO GO THAT DIRECTION.

IT'S JUST BEING FAIR TO OUR KIDS.

>> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED C-TECH DAVE.

IT WAS STARTED IN ANOKA RAMSEY, AND IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THAT YOU FUNDED.

I MEAN, YEAH, AND BASED ON THAT, YOU KNOW, SO, OKAY, HERE IS A FACTOID FOR YOU, BARRY.

GUESS HOW THE STEP PROGRAM IS MADE.

>> Barry: I WILL DEFER TO YOU, SENATOR HOFFMAN.

>> ABELER NAMED THE DANG THING.

SECONDARY TRANSECTION EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.

HE CAME UP WITH THE NAME.

BECAUSE AT THE TIME HE WAS GOING TO SHUT DOWN THE TECH COLLEGE, AND YOU SAID NO, WE ARE GOING TO RESCUE THIS.

THE OTHER THING YOU SEE, DEBORAH WITH THIS, THE INTERNATIONAL UNION PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADE FOLKS, THEY HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS WHERE THEY ARE GETTING THE FOLKS COMING IN, PLUS THEY ARE GETTING A TWO-YEAR DEGREE, AND THEY ARE LEARNING SOME PROGRAMS IN THERE, AND I THINK THE IBEW PLANT THAT IS OUT IN WESTERN WRIGHT COUNTY IS DOING THE SAME THING.

SO YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT HAPPENING, SO THEY ARE GETTING THEIR SECONDARY EDUCATION, PLUS THEY ARE GETTING PAID WHILE THEY ARE DOING IT.

THAT MODEL THAT DAVE IS TALKING ABOUT CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY REPLICATED AND I THINK WE ARE SEEING SMALL PRINTS OF IT RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> THE OTHER THING ALSO THESE KIDS ARE USUALLY, WHEN THEY FINISH THE CERTIFICATION, TWO-YEAR EDUCATION, HOWEVER THEY END IT, THEY ARE GETTING A JOB.

THE JOB IS WAITING FOR THEM.

OFTEN THE JOB IS OFFERING AID FOR THEIR SCHOOLING AS THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL.

SO THEN THAT'S HAPPENING IN QUITE A FEW PLACES.

>> Barry: SENATOR HOFFMAN, WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I LET YOU OUT THE DOOR WITHOUT SAYING A COUPLE WORDS ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION AND RELATED TOPICS, FIELDS THAT YOU ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.

I WILL GIVE YOU A MINUTE OR A MINUTE AND A HALF TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> I WILL TELL YOU, DEB KIEL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE FOUR MONTHS OF BATTLING TO GET MONEY AND HELP PROTECT AND SAVE SOME OF THE DAY PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE STEPPED IN AND GOT HOUSE MEMBERS TO ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND HOW VALUABLE THIS STUFF WAS TO DO.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT BATTLE.

HERE WE ARE.

BARRY, THE OTHER THING THAT'S COMING UP, THERE'S A CONVERSATION ABOUT QUALITY EDUCATION IN MINNESOTA, RIGHT?

JUSTICE ALLEN PAGE STARTED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

TO ME, THAT'S THE NEXT LEVEL, AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FREE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, BUT HOW DO YOU DEFINE QUALITY EDUCATION, ARE WE SURE KIDS WITH DISABILITIES ARE GETTING THAT?

THEY ARE NOT HAVING JOBS, AND WHAT ARE WE DOING BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE FOR PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

DAVE GETS IT.

DEB GETS IT.

THE THING I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR, SOME OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS, AND THE F MAP.

DIG A LITTLE DEEP IN THE F MAP MONEY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING IT TO KIDS WITH DISABILITIES AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES BEFORE ANY ADULTS GET THEIR FINGERS ON IT.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE UTILIZED FOR PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS FOR PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT'S STILL THERE, AND WE NEED TO KEEP DOING THAT.

>> Barry: THAT IS OUR LAST WORD FOR OUR PROGRAM THIS EVENING.

SENATOR HOFFMAN WOULD CONSUME THAT LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES.

I WANT TO THANK OUR PANEL.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT CONVERSATION WE HAVE HAD.

I WANT TO THANK OUR VIEWERS.

INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN THE WEEKS AHEAD UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE GOES HOME.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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