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

>> Mary: WE'LL TALK WITH A FORMER HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBER ABOUT THE IMPROVED BUDGET NUMBERS AND POLITICS AT THE CAPITOL.

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

♪ ♪ >> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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

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

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

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

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, FORMER LAWMAKERS JEFF HAYDEN AND MARTY SEIFERT WILL JOIN ME LIVE.

FORMER LAWMAKER TURNED AUTHOR MINDY GREILING TALKS ABOUT HER RECENT BOOK.

A LITTLE LATER, WE'LL MEET A FRESHMAN SENATOR WHOSE RUN FOR OFFICE WAS DELAYED DURING THE "ME TOO" MOVEMENT.

BUT FIRST, AS MANY INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN MINNESOTA CONTINUE TO FACE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, LAWMAKERS ARE PROPOSING SOME CHANGES TO THE TAX CODE AND TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO HELP WITH THESE HARDSHIPS, AND THERE APPEARS TO BE BIPARTISAN INTEREST IN THE ISSUES.

SENATE REPUBLICANS WANT TO MAKE SURE FEDERAL PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM FUNDS ARE NOT TAXED AT THE STATE LEVEL BY QUICKLY PASSING A TAX CONFORMITY BILL.

>> WE CAN CONFORM TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON P.P.P.

AND THAT'S THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM, AS YOU ALL KNOW.

THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WERE HURTING, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO ALLOWED THEM TO KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT LAY OFF EMPLOYEES WHILE THERE WAS A SHUTDOWN.

>> I AM SO PLEASED THAT WE HAVE SEEN THIS HUGE BUDGET TURNAROUND.

CERTAINLY IT IS GOOD NEWS FOR ALL MINNESOTANS.

AS CHAIR OF THE TAX COMMITTEE, I'VE BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND HOW DO WE GET OUR ECONOMIC ENGINES JUICED UP RUNNING AGAIN.

>> Mary: A FLOOR VOTE IS PLANNED THIS WEEK WITH AN AUTHOR WHO'S A FORMER DEMOCRAT, NOW INDEPENDENT, CAUCUSING WITH REPUBLICANS.

>> IF WE DON'T ACT, THE COST OF DOING THIS IS ABOUT $438 MILLION, ONE-TIME.

BUT THE IMPACT OF NOT DOING THIS IS WHEN MINNESOTA BUSINESSES START TO FILE THEIR RETURNS WHICH THEY'LL START TO DO FAIRLY SOON, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THE TAX.

>> THE MESSAGE FROM OUR PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS IS CLEAR.

A TOP PRIORITY FOR THIS SESSION MUST BE ON MINNESOTA'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

>> Mary: HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE PRIORITIZING WORKERS.

THEIR BILL ENSURES UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FOR HOURLY WORKERS.

>> MORE AND MORE MINNESOTANS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME PAYING FOR THE BASICS OF LIFE, WHETHER IT'S HEALTHCARE, CHILD CARE, HOUSING, RAISING A FAMILY, TRYING TO PUT KIDS THROUGH SCHOOL.

IT'S GETTING HARDER FOR MORNING WORKERS.

AND WHAT WE SEE IN THE SERVICE SECTOR ESPECIALLY, PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO ALL OF US, IS THAT WE UNDERVALUE THEIR WORK AND WE HAVE DONE THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

>> I ACCEPTED A POSITION WITH MY SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT IT WAS ELIMINATED A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE IT WOULD HAVE BEGUN.

MOST PEOPLE WOULD QUALIFY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IN THAT SITUATION.

I WAS DENIED BECAUSE STATE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW HOURLY SCHOOL WORKERS TO COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.

>> QUITE FRANKLY, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS HAS BEEN A LIFE LINE FOR MANY MINNESOTANS TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, PAY FOR RENT, AND THE IMPACT OF THIS BILL FOR SO MANY INDIVIDUALS, PARTICULARLY THE BIPOC COMMUNITY, WHO ARE ALWAYS THE FRONT-LINE WORKERS, WHO ARE DRIVING THE BUSES, THE HOURLY WORKERS, WHO ARE PAID THE LEAST, THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO FOR THEM IS TO GIVE THEM REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT THEY'LL HAVE AN INCOME DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

>> THIS BILL AUTHOR IS A POWERHOUSE FRESHMAN WHO HAS A SENATE REPUBLICAN CO-AUTHOR.

>> HOW ENCOURAGING IS IT TO EVEN HAVE A REPUBLICAN SENATE AUTHOR AT THIS POINT?

>> I THINK THAT THESE ARE, AGAIN, THESE ARE NOT PARTISAN ISSUES.

THESE ARE NONPARTISAN ISSUES THAT REALLY ARE ABOUT ENSURING THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR KIDS, THE PARAS AND THE BUS DRIVERS AND ALL OF THE FOLKS WORKING IN OUR SCHOOLS, THE HOURLY WORKERS, HAVE WHAT THEY NEED AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISING THAT THIS HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.

I REALLY HOPE WE CAN GET IT DONE THIS YEAR.

THIS IS LONG OVERDUE.

♪♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪♪ >> MARY: JOINING ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEIR FORMER COLLEAGUES ARE FARING THIS SESSION, TWO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, NOW LOBBYISTS, FORMER REPUBLICAN HOUSE MINORITY LEADER MARTY SEIFERT AND FORMER D.F.L.

SENATE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER JEFF HAYDEN.

THANK YOU, LAWMAKERS.

I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, SENATOR HAYDEN.

AND ALSO I'LL GET THIS TO FORMER REPRESENTATIVE SEIFERT TOO BECAUSE I THINK YOU BOTH SERVED WITH TOM BAKK, AND YOU MAY HAVE JUST SEEN OR HEARD IN THAT PIECE THERE, TOM BAKK, FORMER DEMOCRAT, NOW INDEPENDENT, IS CARRYING ONE OF THE REPUBLICANS' TOP PRIORITIES THIS SESSION WITH TAX CONFORMITY.

HAYDEN, HOW IS BAKK DOING?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

>> WELL, I TALK TO SENATOR BAKK FREQUENTLY.

HE SEEMS TO BE DOING WELL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT REPRESENTATIVE GREENMAN'S TALKED ABOUT THIS BEING A NONPARTISAN ISSUE.

THERE'S NOBODY -- I SHOULD BE CAREFUL HERE, BUT TOM BAKK KNOWS THE TAX CODE ABOUT AS WELL AS ANYBODY IN THE CAPITOL.

SO IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT HE'D BE CARRYING A BILL LIKE THIS.

DISPLAY REPRESENTATIVE SEIFERT, YOU CAN'T COUNT BAKK DOWN, CAN YOU?

HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS WHERE SOMEBODY'S BASICALLY BEEN A MEMBER OF THREE DIFFERENT PARTIES ESSENTIALLY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> YOU KNOW, OTHER THAN CHARLIE BIRD WHO WAS A SENATOR OUT WEST, THERE'S NOT TOO MANY THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF ALL OF THEM.

TOM BAKK TECHNICALLY IS NOT A REPUBLICAN -- >> Mary: BUT HE'S CAUCUSING WITH THEM.

>> MAYBE HE'S A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR DOWN THE ROAD AS A REPUBLICAN.

YOU LOOK OUTSIDE THE BOX, YOU CAN CAN'T GET MORE OUTSIDE THE BOX THAN BAKK.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THIS TAX CONFORMITY.

USUALLY THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE KIND OF AN EASY THING, BUT THIS COVID AND THE FEDERAL RELIEF AND THE INTERACTION BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL LAW HERE, IS THIS SOMETHING THEY CAN GET DONE, BECAUSE BUSINESSES FILE MARCH 15TH.

>> RIGHT, WELL, JUST LIKE WHAT SENATOR HAYDEN SAID, NOBODY KNOWS THE TAX CODE BETTER THAN TOM BAKK.

IF YOU WANT TO GET SOMEBODY HO WHO CAN NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF INTERPLAY BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, IT'S THIS GUY.

I MEAN, HE KNOWS THIS STUFF.

SOME OF THIS MONEY THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROBABLY CAN BE REFINANCED AND USED TO PAY THE ONE-TIME AMOUNT THAT WE'RE GOING TO ON LOSE IN TAX REVENUES.

I WATCHED YOUR OPENING SEGMENT ON, YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO HELP THE BUSINESS PEOPLE.

THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO HELP THE HOURLY WORKERS.

I THINK IN MINNESOTA WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO BOTH.

YOU CAN'T TAX THESE BUSINESSES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FEWER AND FEWER OF THEM.

I HAVE PERSONAL FRIENDS WHO AREN'T REALLY LOOKING FOR JOBS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND THEY'RE FRANKLY AS MUCH OR MORE THAN THEY WERE WORKING.

AT SOME POINT, THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A TRANSITION BACK TO NORMAL WORKING FOR PEOPLE.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND IN THE LEGISLATURE, THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WORK HARD TO CARE ABOUT THESE FOLKS AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.

>> Mary: SENATOR HAYDEN, HOW ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC AND RECESSION HAS HIT COMMUNITIES UNEQUALLY AND REALLY WE HAVE LAWMAKERS LOOKING AT THAT, THE GOVERNOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN TERMS OF SOME OF THIS RELIEF AND HOW THE SESSION PLAYS OUT?

>> IT'S FUNNY YOU HAVE SAY THAT.

I HAVE THE K-SHAPED ECONOMY IN MY NOTES AND WHAT THAT MEANS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWING IT, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT DID REALLY, REALLY WELCOME UNDER COVID.

THEY MIGHT HAVE NOT HAVE BEEN DOING EMOTIONALLY, BUT THEY MADE A TON OF MONEY, AND THEN THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO DID TERRIBLE.

THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, FRONT-LINE WORKERS, A LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR DID TERRIBLE.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A REALLY GOOD LOOK AT IT.

I'M GLAD THAT THEY'RE PUTTING THE HOURLY WORKER AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN THIS PACKAGE.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FEDERAL FUNS THAT ARE COMING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SUMMER SCHOOL.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO MENTAL HEALTH WORK.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REBUILD MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL AFTER THE UNREST.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE MONEY TO PROTECT IT SO THAT THE INTERLOPERS DON'T COME IN AND TEAR UP OUR COMMUNITIES AGAIN.

I HAPPEN TO LIVE RIGHT IN THE HEART OF SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS WHERE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED.

SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO LEGISLATURE TICKING IN ON THIS ISSUE, LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, SURPLUS WHICH, YOU KNOW, BIG CHUNK'S GOING TO COME OUT, AND INFLATION, AND THEN LOOK AT WHAT THE PACKAGE FROM WASHINGTON'S GOING TO BE AND SEE IF THAT'S ENOUGH AND I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S BEGUN BE.

>> Mary: MARTY SEIFERT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST BAILING THE STATE OUT AGAIN ON THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO BE FLUSH WITH CASH SINCE THAT HUGE TURN AROUND IN THE BUDGET FORECAST?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CHARACTERIZE IT AS A BAILOUT BUT IT'S NECESSARY FUNDS TO GET US TRANSITIONED BACK.

FRANKLY, THE GOVERNMENT ORDERED THESE SHUTDOWNS, AND SO THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TRANSITION US BACK TO NORMALCY.

THIS IN MANY CASES WAS NOT INDIVIDUALS DECIDING, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO JUST SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.

IT WAS BY GOVERNMENT EDICT THAT IT HAPPENED.

SO IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE GOVERNMENT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THIS.

THEY CAN'T JUST WASH THEIR HANDS OF IT.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT YOU CAN'T JUST SHUT EVERYBODY DOWN AND THEN WALK AWAY.

AND SO I THINK MOST OF US UNDERSTAND IT'S INCUMBENT ON THE GOVERNMENT TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AND START WITH YOU, SENATOR HAYDEN, BECAUSE THE HOUSE HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED THE WAY THEY'RE BUDGETING.

A LOT OF COMMUNITIES COLOR NOW HAVING INCREASED INFLUENCE.

BY WHO HAS THE GAVEL.

AND HOW EACH WAYS AND MEANS IS NOW TAKING EVERY BILL THROUGH THIS LENSE OF INCLUSION.

WHAT DIFFERENCE IS THAT GOING TO MAKE IN THE END?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

I AM ECSTATIC ABOUT THAT, AS YOU KNOW.

MYSELF, AND SENATOR CHAMPION WERE ARCHITECTS OF THE KIND OF FIRST BIG INCLUSION BILL OF 2016.

I WAS REALLY ABLE TO HELP ALONG THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE GOVERNOR, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE P.O.C.I.

CAUCUS, ABLE TO GET HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN THE BONDING BILL, CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL.

SOME OF THE WORK THAT I WORK ON, AS A LOBBYIST IS REALLY SUPPORTING THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS OTHERS.

SO I REALLY DOES THINK IT GETS US TO THIS ONE MINNESOTA, LOOKING AT A RACIAL EQUITY LENS.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S AN EITHER/OR.

I THINK THAT WE TRADITIONALLY LOOKED AT THE STATE, WE LOOKED AT THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE LEAD IN THESE DISPARITIES AND THERE'S A REASON FOR IT AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I DON'T THINK OUR PUBLIC POLICY REALLY FOLLOWED AND REALLY HELPED PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD IN THIS STATE.

>> Mary: MARTY, TALK TO US ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

SOME OF THE MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITIES NOW ARE IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

WE JUST HEARD THE FRAITZ ONE MINNESOTA.

HOW ARE WE DOING ON THOSE ISSUES STATEWIDE?

>> RIGHT, EXACTLY, IF YOU GO TO COMMUNITIES LIKE WILLMAR AND WORTHINGTON, THEY ARE AS DIVERSE OR MORE DIVERSE ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS THAN MINNEAPOLIS SAID.

SO LIKE SENATOR HAYDEN SAID, THIS IS ABOUT LIFTING EVERYBODY UP.

IT IS NOT ABOUT JUST ONE PARTICULAR CITY.

AND WE HAVE DIVERSITY IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE IT IN URBAN MINNESOTA.

AND SO HELPING HELP THEMSELVES, MAKING LIFE BETTER, PUTTING THOSE DOLLARS INTO THINGS LIKE EDUCATION.

SO PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO READ, WRITE, AND SPECK ENGLISH, BE ABLE TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE, BE ABLE TO GET A JOB AND ADVANCE THEMSELVES, THAT'S GOT TO BE A GOAL FOR EVERYBODY, AND FRANKLY, IF IT ISN'T A GOAL FOR EVERYBODY IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW, THEY GOT TO GET ON THE STICK AND GET THIS DONE.

I THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE OBVIOUSLY IS MORE DIVERSE THAN EVER BEFORE.

AND SO THE FOCUS THERE IS MOVING, YOU KNOW, IT'S MOVING THE CHEESE AROUND FOR PEOPLE OVER AT THE CAPITOL.

FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT USED TO LOOKING AT THINGS THROUGH THE LENS OF THE 21ST CENTURY, IT'S A CHANGE, BUT I THINK IT'S A CHANGE THAT'S LONG OVERDUE.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH, LEADERS.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

WELL, FORMER D.F.L.

LAWMAKER MINDY GREILING IS NOW AN AUTHOR.

HER DEBUT BOOK "FIX WHAT YOU CAN" CHRONICLES HER SON JIM'S DIAGNOSIS WITH SCHIZO-EFFECTIVE DISORDER, AND HER EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CARE FOR MINNESOTANS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES.

PRODUCER ALAUNA YUST SPOKE WITH GREILING RECENTLY ABOUT JIM, WHO IS DOING WELL TODAY, AND THE NEW BOOK.

>> Alauna: YOU WRITE ABOUT THINGS LIKE BEING AFRAID OF YOUR OWN SON AND STRAIN ON OUR MARRIAGE.

YOUR MARRIAGE.

YOUR SON'S ILLICIT DRUG USE.

IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU HOPED TO ACCOMPLISH BY WRITING SUCH A PERSONAL ACCOUNT.

>> MY PURPOSE WAS TO GET EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO ADVOCATE.

AND SO MANY PEOPLE DEALING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE NOT FORTHCOMING.

OUR FAMILY WASN'T INITIALLY EITHER.

SO I THINK IN ORDER TO CHANGE THINGS, YOU REALLY HAVE TO SHOW HOW HORRIBLE THE ILLNESS IS.

>> Alauna: AND, YOU KNOW, SO OFTEN, AS WE KNOW, LEGISLATION IS THE RESULT OF A LIVED EXPERIENCE.

IN THE CASE OF MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION, HOW COMMON IS IT FOR ADVOCATES AND FOR OTHER LEGISLATORS TO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY COMMON.

SENATOR CHRIS EATON IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

YOU KNOW, WORKING ON OPIOID LEGISLATION WITH HER SON.

REPRESENTATIVE GLORIA SIEGEL PROCEEDED ME AT THE LEGISLATURE.

SHE HAD A SON WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA.

SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, SHE HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH HAVING TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL TOO FAST WITH HER DAUGHTER.

SO I THINK IT'S VERY COMMON.

AND THE NEXT BEST THING IF THERE'S A COMPELLING STORY FROM A CONSTITUENT.

EITHER ONE ARE REALLY GOOD INSPIRERS OF LEGISLATION.

AND GETTING OTHER LEGISLATORS TO TAKE NOTICE.

>> Alauna: AND OF COURSE IN MINNESOTA WE HAVE TO ASK ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP.

WHEN YOU WERE WORKING ON MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION, DID YOU HAVE SUPPORT FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT WAS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE WHEN JIM FIRST GOT SICK AND I WAS FIRST WORKING ON THIS, I WAS IN THE MINORITY IN THE HOUSE.

SO IF I HADN'T WORKED BIPARTISANLY, I COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN ANYWHERE.

BUT THE BEAUTY OF SOMETHING LIKE MENTAL ILLNESS, IF THERE'S ANY BEAUTY, IT'S THAT IT HITS EVERYBODY.

IT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS.

>> Alauna: TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE BECAUSE OF THOSE EFFORTS, MINNESOTA BECAME ONE OF OR THE FIRST STATE TO HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CAUCUS, CORRECT?

>> WE WERE THE VERY FIRST STATE.

THERE IS ONE IN CONGRESS, HOWEVER.

THEY HAVE A BIPARTISAN MENTAL HEALTH CAUCUS.

AND SO WE MODELED IT AFTER THAT AND IT REALLY MEANT THAT IT ELEVATED THE ISSUE.

A LOT OF LEGISLATORS HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT THEY JUST WEREN'T ORGANIZED.

>> Alauna: YOU WRITE ABOUT SOME OF THE LESSONS YOU LEARNED IN SORT OF BALANCING A PERSON'S NEED FOR HELP, THEIR ABILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT HELP, AND A PERSON'S CIVIL RIGHTS.

AND I WONDER HOW ARE WE DOING NOW IN MINNESOTA?

HAVE WE PASSED LEGISLATION YET THAT SUCCESSFULLY WALKS THOSE LINES?

>> WHEN I WAS ABLE TO PASS WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CAUCUS WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT GOT US UP TO ABOUT A C-PLUS BY NATIONAL MEASURES.

ACTUALLY, THIS PAST YEAR, WE GOT AN A-PLUS FROM A GROUP THAT MEASURES CIVIL COMMITMENT LEGISLATION, THE TREATMENT ADVOCACY CENTER, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION PASSED IN 2020.

>> Alauna: AND FOR KNOWLEDGE, WITH YOUR POSITION AS A REPRESENTATIVE, YOU COULD EFFECT CHANGE AND YOU ALSO HAD CONNECTIONS THAT MOST PEOPLE MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD.

AND I WONDER, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO FEELS THAT PRIVILEGE, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR THOSE WITHOUT THE SAME REPRESENTATIVE LEBLGS AND CONNECTION -- PRIVILEGES AND CONNECTIONS.

>> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I WANTED TO WRITE THE BOOK.

I WANTED PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES I KNOW TO KNOW WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

I WANTED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE.

DO CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS.

DO CALL YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

DO CALL YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY.

WORK WITH YOUR CITY COUNCILS ON HOW YOUR POLICE IS TRAINED.

SO I WANTED TO HELP EDUCATE PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T AS PRIVILEGED AS ME TO KNOW WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

>> Alauna: AND THE TITLE OF THE BOOK IS "FIX WHAT YOU CAN."

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT WHAT CAN BE CHANGED?

LOTS CAN BE FIXED.

AND I ALWAYS SAY GO FOR THE THEPATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE, SO WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR SUPPORT, PASS THOSE THINGS WHILE YOU CAN, AND OFTEN ADVOCACY IS WHERE YOU CAN FIX THINGS.

YOU CAN'T ALWAYS FIX THINGS WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOT OF SOLACE AND SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT BY TRYING TO FIX THE SYSTEM.

♪♪ >> MARY: THIS WEEK WE MEET A FIRST-TERM SENATOR WHOSE ROAD TO THE LEGISLATURE WAS A BIT ROCKY, BUT SHE'S GLAD SHE RAN AGAIN.

>> OF IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME FIRST QUESTION FOR EVERYONE, SENATOR PORT, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN?

>> ESPECIALLY SORT OF EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC, BUT HEALTHCARE ACCESS, RACIAL DISPARITIES, EDUCATION.

WE CAN'T BE AFRAID OF THOSE ISSUES.

FOR ME IT WAS REALLY, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON COMMUNITY-CENTERED SOLUTIONS, BIG BOLD SOLUTIONS THAT REALLY TAKE US -- TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INNOVATION AND THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF MINNESOTANS AND PULL IT BACK TOGETHER WITH A PLAN.

>> Mary: HOW MUCH WAS IT RUNNING AGAINST SENATOR DAN HALL.

HE WAS AN OUTSPOKEN SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE, HAD LED ON ISSUES LIKE PUTTING THE MARRIAGE AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT.

SOCIAL ISSUES HAD TO BE IMPORTANT IN THE DISTRICT FOR YOU.

>> YOU KNOW, FOR SURE.

A BIG PART OF THE REASON I'M IN POLITICS IS BECAUSE OF THAT MARRIAGE EQUALITY CAMPAIGN.

THAT WITH THE VERY FIRST THING I EVER VOLUNTEERED ON AS A PHONE BANKER, YOU KNOW, BACK NINE YEARS AGO NOW.

AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I FELL IN LOVE WITH TALKING WITH VOTERS AND REALIZING THE POWER THAT WE HAVE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND SO WHILE THAT WAS CERTAINLY A HUGELY MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR ME FOR RUNNING AND FOR MAKING SURE THE VOICE THAT MY DISTRICT WAS SENDING TO THE CAPITOL WAS ACTUALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF IT, WE DIDN'T RAN AGAINST DAN HALL.

WE RAN FOR THE SOLUTIONS THAT MINNESOTANS NEED.

>> Mary: A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW YOUR NAME FROM THE #METOO MOVEMENT.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH THAT BECAUSE YOU SPOKE UP AND YOU SPOKE UP AGAINST A FELLOW DEMOCRAT.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT?

>> I LEARNED THAT WE STILL HAVE DEEP LOOT ROOTED MISOGYNY IN OUR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AND SORT OF OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

BUT I DON'T FOR A MINUTE REGRET IT.

I PAID A BIG PRICE.

AND IT WAS WORTH IT, BECAUSE IT WAS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH DOZENS OF WOMEN SINCE THEN HAVE REALLY SOLIDIFIED FOR ME THAT THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE.

AND I WILL SAY NOW BEING AT THE LEGISLATURE, PRETTY CLEAR THAT, LIKE, WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ASKING FOR THREE AND FOUR YEARS AGO WERE TO SET THESE SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO PROTECT NOT ONLY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAFF HERE, BUT ALSO THE FOLKS WHO INTERACT WITH THEM, REPORTERS, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC.

LOBBYISTS WHEN WE COME TO DO WORK AT THE CAPITOL AS WELL.

AND SO THE WORK ISN'T DONE.

BUT I DO THINK REALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF REACHED A TIPPING POINT OF WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

>> Mary: AND FOR VIEWERS, YOU SAID YOU PAID A BIG PRICE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND WHY YOU DECIDED TO CONTINUE IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND CONTINUE TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE DESPITE THE BACKLASH?

>> I WAS RUNNING A NON-PROFIT AT THE TIME AND WE LOST SOME DONATIONS ON THAT AS WELL AS TO MY OWN CAMPAIGN.

AND REALLY FOR ME DECIDING NOT TO RUN IN 2018 WAS ABOUT MY DISTRICT.

I WANTED MY DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HEALTHCARE.

YOU KNOW, HEALTHCARE WAS THE CONVERSATION IN 2018.

AND I KNEW IF IT WAS ME, THE CONVERSATION WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND REALLY TIED UP IN THE STORIES THAT WERE HAPPENING IN ME TOO.

AND IT ALLOWED ME ALSO TO SPEND MY TIME BUILDING MY NON-PROFIT THAT I COFOUNDED.

AND THAT HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF AND ALLOWED US TO MAKE SURE THAT MORE WOMEN GET ELECTED, THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR, THAT PEOPLE FROM THE QUEER COMMUNITY ARE BEING IN ELECTED OFFICE AND I THINK, LIKE, AT THE CORE THOSE CHANGES, WHO IS IN THESE ROOMS AT THE CAPITOL, IS REALLY SORT OF THE FIRST STEP TO CHANGING THAT CULTURE OF, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS A SAFE SPACE.

>> Mary: NOW THAT YOU'RE IN OFFICE SITTING LITERALLY IN OUR OFFICE RIGHT NOW, WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU ABOUT THE PLACE BEING INSIDE VERSUS OUTSIDE?

>> THE THING THAT DOES SURPRISE ME, RIGHT NOW I THINK IS JUST HOW HARD IT IS TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

TO REALLY GET TO KNOW OUR COLLEAGUES.

ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE AISLE.

THAT THAT'S -- IT'S A REALLY BIG CHALLENGE.

AND I THINK IT IS DEFINITELY CONTRIBUTING TO US NOT FINDING COMMON GROUND.

ON SOME THINGS.

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

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN AGAIN NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHEN WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO ANOTHER NEW LAWMAKER.

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

WATCH ANY OF OUR SHOWS, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S.

YOU CAN STREAM US LIVE.

FOLLOW US ALL WEEK ON FACEBOOK.

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

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

DON'T FORGET, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, PRESS CONFERENCES, AND MORE, ALL DAY EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

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

ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH A COUPLE OF LEGAL EXPERTS ABOUT JURY SELECTION AND THE UPCOMING DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL.

MIKE OSTERHOLM WILL TALK ABOUT COVID VACCINES, VARIANTS, AND MORE.

AND I'LL GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL WHERE FORMER D.F.L.

MAJORITY LEADER TOM BAKK IS NOW OFFICING AS AN INDEPENDENT, WHO CAUCUSES WITH REPUBLICANS AND IS CARRYING A TOP BILL.

TRUST ME; IT'S FASCINATING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

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

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

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

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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