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

>> Mary: THERE'S JUST DAYS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT APPEARS TO BE HEADED TO OVERTIME.

WE'LL TALK LIVE WITH SENATE LEADERS, 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/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."

LAWMAKERS HAVE FIVE DAYS LEFT IN THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND STILL HAVE MOST OF THEIR WORK LEFT TO DO, INCLUDING BUDGET BILLS AND PUBLIC SAFETY REFORM, THOUGH OVERTIME SPECIAL SESSIONS HAVE BECOME COMMONPLACE.

DESPITE THE LOOSENING OF COVID RESTRICTIONS LATE LAST WEEK BY GOVERNOR WALZ, A DEAL BETWEEN LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT MATERIALIZED.

SENATE LEADERS WILL JOIN ME LIVE IN THE STUDIO IN JUST A FEW MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE... WE'LL MEET A FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER WHOSE CONNECTIONS TO THE OPPOSITE PARTY RUN DEEP.

BUT FIRST, AMID SHIFTING COVID RESTRICTIONS AT THE LEGISLATURE AND AROUND THE STATE, THE HOUSE AND SENATE REMAIN FAR APART ON MOST KEY ISSUES.

[ Banging Gavel ] >> THE SENATE AMENDMENT WILL COME TO ORDER.

>> THE MINNESOTA SENATE STARTED TO RETURN TO NORMAL WITH MORE MEMBERS ALLOWED IN PERSON AND WITHOUT MASKS IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> THIS WILL BE A TRANSITION FOR ALL OF US, AS WE TRY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, AND WE'LL TRY OUR BEST TO TRY TO HONOR EACH PERSON AS THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THEIR OWN TRANSITION.

>> I THINK IT'S A BIG LEAP TO ASSUME THAT PEOPLE ARE IN FACT READY TO SAFELY COME BACK ON THE FLOOR BASED ON THEIR VACCINATION.

>> Mary: D.F.L.

LEADER KENT SAYS NOT EVERYONE IN HER CAUCUS IS FULLY VACCINATED YET AND THEY'RE NOT ALL READY TO RETURN TO THE FLOOR.

>> WE ARE LIMITING THAT ASPECT OF THEIR ABILITY TO REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND FOR STAFF WHO MAY NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING "NO," WHEN THEY FEEL WHETHER EXPLICITLY OR IMPLICITLY PRESSURED TO PARTICIPATE, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE INCREDIBLY CAUTIOUS ABOUT.

>> I RECOGNIZE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS WITHOUT A DOUBT HAVE HAD THE STRONG CONVICTIONS ABOUT WHICH WAY TO GO BUT IF SOMEBODY HAS BEEN VACCINATED AS MY CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNOR AND TALKING TO SOME IN THE HEALTH COMMUNITIES WHO ARE ALSO TALKING TO THE GOVERNOR, IF YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED, I -- YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WEAR A MASK AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO REQUIRE PEOPLE TO SHOW PROOF.

>> Mary: MEANWHILE, WORK CONTINUES ON THE BUDGET AND ADDITIONAL POLICE REFORMS, WITH TIME RUNNING OUT N THE REGULAR SESSION AND TENSIONS RISING.

>> WE ARE DOING THIS TOGETHER.

WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR LEGISLATION, WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR THE NEXT INCIDENT TO HAPPEN SO WE ARE IN A SENSE RIGHT NOW POLICING OURSELVES, BECAUSE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT WE WANT TO FIX TOGETHER.

>> IF YOU SAY YOU'RE WORKING ON IT, I WILL TRUST YOU BUT GET TO WORK ON THIS STUFF BECAUSE, IF YOU DON'T WANT -- IF YOU DON'T WANT LEGISLATORS INVOLVED, THEN GET THIS STUFF FIXED.

>> I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OF YOU TALK ABOUT THE DISPARITIES AND TALK ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONALITY IN WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT IS INTERACTING WITH CERTAIN COMMUNICATION.

I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OF THAT.

I DIDN'T HEAR ANY SOLUTIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN FIX THOSE DISPARITIES OR STOP THOSE PROBLEMATIC INTERACTIONS AND THAT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO ME.

>> THE IMPLICATION IS THAT WE AREN'T HOLDING OUR OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.

THE IMPLICATION IS THAT ALL OF US ARE EITHER CONDONING OR LOOKING THE OTHER WAY FOR THE DEREK CHAUVINS OF THE WORLD AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S NOT TRUE AND I FIND THAT OFFENSIVE.

>> Mary: AND GOVERNOR WALZ WEPT TO THE BALLPARK TO PROVE VACCINATIONS ARE A WAY BACK TO BIG GATHERINGS.

>> IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE HESITANT IT'S JUST THAT PEOPLE ARE BUSY AND THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS AND THEY WANT MORE INFORMATION.

I WAS ON WITH A GROUP OF FIVE OTHER GOVERNORS AND THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT THESE STATES THAT ARE GETTING REALLY HIGH VACCINATION NUMBERS ON THE 18 AND ABOVE, WE'RE APPROACHING 65%.

>> MARY: JOINING ME TO TALK MORE ABOUT COVID RESTRICTIONS, THE BUDGET, PUBLIC SAFTEY, AND MORE, REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR MARK JOHNSON, DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER.

AND D.F.L.

SENATOR SUSAN KENT, THE MINORITY LEADER.

WELCOME BACK TO THE STUDIO TO BOTH OF YOU.

HELLO TO BOTH OF YOU.

SPEAKER HORTMAN SAID TODAY IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT O FINISH ON TIME.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

AS LEADERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS TO MAKE SURE WE FINISH ON TIME.

WOULD HE HAVE A FEW ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP, NAMELY FEDERAL FUNDS, HOW YOU MIX THAT INTO THE BATCH AND COME OUT AT HE END OF THE YEAR, AND PRIORITIZE.

WHAT ARE UR PRIORITIES AT THE END OF THE YEAR, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF STRONG PRIORITIES THIS YEAR AND TAKEN A LITTLE MORE TIME TO WORK THROUGH THEM BUT STILL WORKING TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, REGULAR SESSION, TRYING TO END AT THAT TIME.

BUT IT DOES GET DIFFICULT.

>> Mary: SENATOR KENT, IS IT POSSIBLE IF THERE'S AGREEMENT MAYBE A COUPLE OF BUDGET BILLS COULD GET THROUGH AND SOME THINGS GET DONE BEFORE MONDAY BUT NOT EVERYTHING?

>> I AM OF THE BELIEF THAT WE NEED TO PUSH THROUGH AND DO THE BEST WE CAN.

I HAVE TO SAY, I'M REAL CONCERNED BECAUSE THE SENATE REPUBLICAN-LED CONFERENCE COMMITTEES ARE NOT SHOWING UP OR THEY SHOW UP AND THEN THEY LEAVE, OR THEY HAVE THE GAVEL BUT THEY DON'T CALL HEARINGS.

WE NEED TO BE DOING THE WORK.

THERE ARE THINGS OUR MEMBERS CAN BE DOING O MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO PASS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BY MIDNIGHT ON MONDAY.

>> Mary: CAN CONFERENCE COMMITTEES DO WORK IF THREE DON'T EVER BUDGET TARGETS?

THEY WERE BUSIER EARLIER IN THE WEEK, THEY'VE SLOWED OWN NOW AND WE'VE HEARD IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY WORK TO DO BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SPENDING TARGETS.

IS THAT THE HOLD-UP?

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS -- I SIT ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, TARGET IS A BIG ISSUE ON HOW TO PUT THE FINAL PACKAGE TOGETHER.

SO WE CONTINUE TO MEET.

WE'VE MET SINCE LAST WEEK, GOING THROUGH THIS WEEK.

TODAY WE TOOK SOME TIME TO LOOK AT PROPOSALS, SAME WITH THE TAX COMMITTEE.

THEY'RE CONTINUING TO MEET.

OTHER COMMITTEES ARE COATING TO MEET SO THE WORK THAT CAN BE DONE IS STILL TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD HERE UNTIL WE GET THOSE TARGETS.

>> Mary: LET ME FOLLOW UP BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUDICIARY HAVE A LOT OF NON-BUDGET THINGS ON THE TABLE, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT THE HOUSE BROUGHT AND THE REAL EXPECTATIONS FROM THE BROADER COMMUNITY TO DO SOMETHING ON MORE POLICE REFORM.

IS THE SENATE AT OME POINT LIKELY TO TAKE SOME OF THE HOUSE LANGUAGE ON THAT?

>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING HOUSE LANGUAGE.

WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO T. WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE PRIORITIES, SHARED PRIORITIES WITH POLICE, WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WITH ALL THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE REALLY HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH OUT BOLT SIDES ON HIS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SO WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO THAT, AT ALL, BUT WE HAVE TO.

WHERE WE HAVE SOME COMMONALITY THROUGH THAT.

>> Mary: SENATOR KENT, TODAY THE GOVERNOR WALZ AND THE FAITH COMMUNITY BASICALLY SAID IT'S A MORAL IMPERATIVE ON THIS.

SENATOR LATZ WAS QUOTING THE BIBLE AND SAYING IT WOULD BE A SIN NOT TO ACT.

HOW HEAVY AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DELIVER SOMETHING LIKE THERE?

>> I THINK THAT AS THE LEGISLATURE IS LISTENING TO MINNESOTANS, THEY KNOW THAT THIS MATTER ATTENTION, THIS IS IMPORTANT AND IT IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN MINNESOTA FEELS SAFE AND IS SAFE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES BUT WE DIDN'T EVER HAVE ANY OF THE HEARINGS DURING REGULAR SESSION ON THESE VERY QUESTIONS.

WE COULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS IN GREATER DETAIL AND NOW HERE WE ARE IN THE FINAL DAYS AND IT'S STILL A SENSE THAT THEY'RE STONEWALLING AND SLOW-WACK YUCK AND NOT ENGAGING IN THE CONVERSATIONS.

>> Mary: LAST WORD ON THIS STONEWALLING IT, SLOW-WALKING IT.

>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS SOME TARGETS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN REALLY PRIORITIZE WHAT E'RE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD.

WE ARE NOT STONEWALLING THIS, WE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING FOR THE SOLUTIONS SO THAT'S THE TYPE OF RHETORIC THAT'S STARTING TO STALL OUT THESE PROCEEDINGS AND MAKING PEOPLE KIND OF PULL APART.

WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO GET TO.

SO STONEWALLING IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE TERM TO BE USING.

>> Mary: NEXT POINT.

EARLIER WE HAD SENATOR JOHNSON L MOPE.

THAT IS KEY TO THE SESSION, REALLY, WE WERE LOOKING AT A BIG DEFICIT, NOW A BIG SURPLUS AND THE FEDERAL MONEY IS THE REASON.

HOW STICKY IS IT OR HOW EASY SHOULD IT BE WITH ALL THIS FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN, SENATOR KENT?

>> I WAS DESCRIBING EARLIER TODAY THAT OUR BUDGET IS LIKE THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHESS, MORE SO THAN EVER THIS YEAR.

YES, WE HAVE TO MAKE THE NUMBERS ADD UP ON A COLUMN, WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT IT OVER TIME AND NOW WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE FEDERAL FUNDS PLUG INTO THIS AND WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE CLARITY ON THAT UNTIL TUESDAY.

I THINK THE SPEAKER SAID EARLIER TODAY THAT THAT HAS CONVERSATIONS AND HOPEFULLY NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACT AND REALLY -- BECAUSE WE NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO HAVE A REAL VOICE IN HOW WE SPEND THAT AND HELP PEOPLE GET BACK FROM COVID, ND POSITION US TO MOVE STRONGLY INTO THE FUTURE.

>> Mary: SPEAKING ABOUT A VOICE, THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS WAS VERY CLEAR IN TALKING ABOUT THEIR DISAPPOINT.

HOW SOME OF THE FEDERAL MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT BY THE EXECUTIVE AND THE GOVERNOR, SO WHAT KIND OF COMPROMISE LANGUAGE DO YOU THINK COULD GET THROUGH IN THE LEGISLATURE HAVING SAY ON THIS?

>> SURE.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY BIPARTISAN INTERVIEW TODAY BECAUSE I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH SENATOR KENT ON HAVING THE LEGISLATIVE CONTROL OVER THAT FEDERAL MONEY WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT HAVE FLOATED OUT THERE, MAYBE GOVERNOR COULD HAVE SOME CONTROL, MAYBE EGISLATURE COULD HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER ALL OF IT.

YOU NOW, THAT'S, AGAIN, SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HASHING THROUGH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET TO THE TARGETS.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK YOU CAN AGREE ON THAT, DOES THERE SEEM TO BE SOME AGREEMENT COMING TOGETHER ON IT?

>> I THINK THERE ARE SOME OBVIOUS PLACES WHERE THERE ARE BIG NEEDS IN MINNESOTA AND I WOULD HOPE WE CAN GET TO THAT PRETTY SOON.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CLOCK, SPECIAL SESSIONS AREN'T SPECIAL ANYMORE, THEY'RE COMMONPLACE AND COVID OBVIOUSLY COME INDICATES THAO THINGS THIS YEAR BUT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DATES WE SHOULD ALERT VIEWERS TO.

ONE SOUNDS LIKE JUNE 41th, THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE COME BACK ANYWAY BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS.

IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> WE'RE LOOKING TO GET ON TIME.

IF WE GO PAST OUR TIME, WE'LL BE COMING BACK ON JUNE 14th AND FOUL WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT HAVE REALLY MIXED INTO THIS DISCUSSION, WE MIGHT NEED THAT TIME TO FINALLY FIGURE THINGS OUT.

>> Mary: IS THAT THE REALISTIC RETURN DATE AT THIS POINT, JUNE 14th?

>> SO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE BIPARTISANSHIP, AGAIN, WE REALLY WANT TO GET OUR WORK DONE DURING REGULAR SESSION BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THE EMERGENCY POWERS IS BECAUSE THERE IS A OT OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT IS TIED TO THAT, $40 MILLION A MONTH THAT GOES TO HELP FEED THE NEEDIEST MINNESOTA FAMILIES AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'LL BE COMING BACK JUNE 14th FOR SURE AND THAT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR LEGISLATORS WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN TO -- >> Mary: GO OVER.

>> RELIEVE THE PRESSURE.

>> NEXT DATE, YOU WON'T BE SURPRISED, JUMP 30th BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT OR STATE GOVERNMENT STARTS SHUTTING DOWN.

CAN BOTH OF YOU PROMISE NOT TO SHUT DOWN GOVERNMENT?

SENATOR JOHNSON?

>> YEAH.

SO, JUNE 30th IS A CRITICAL DEADLINE, BEEN MADE MORE CRITICAL DUE TO A MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT CASE, BEFORE WE USED TO HAVE A PANEL OF JUDGES THAT WERE ABLE TO DOLE OUT DOLLARS TO DIFFERENT AREAS AND BASICALLY FUND NECESSARY STATE GOVERNMENT.

THIS TIME ROUND, SINCE THAT COURT RULING, WE'RE NO LONGER ABLE TO DO THAT SO THAT MEANS A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, NOT JUST SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE OPEN, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE CLOSED BUT SHUT DOWN.

SO THIS IS A CRITICAL, CRITICAL DATE AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT OUR BUDGET EV THAT DATE.

>> Mary: THERE IS REAL IMPACT, JUNE 30th IS A SCARY DATE, ISN'T IT?

>> I THINK WE SHOULDN'T WAIT UNTIL JUNE 30th, I CAN WE SHOULD GET THIS DONE AS SOON AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND PROVIDE CERTAINTY TO ALL THE PROGRAMS AND ALL THE GREAT MINNESOTANS WHO HE DELIVER THOSE SERVICES IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT MINNESOTANS ARE EXPECTING US TO DO, WE HAVE ONE JOB AND WE NEED TO DO IT.

>> Mary: AFTER JUNE 30th, COMES JULY 4th.

I'VE LIVED THROUGH SOME GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT STATE PARKS AND THE OUTDOORS THAT MINNESOTANS LOVE COULD BE SHUT DOWN.

SENATOR JOHNSON, DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING SENATOR INGEBRIGTSEN HOLDING UP SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MONEY IN THE BUDGET OVER THIS CLEAN CARS ISSUE COULD END P SHUTTING DOWN STATE PARKS JULY 4th.

IS THAT AN ACCURATE DEPICTION?

>> NO, I -- I THINK RIGHT NOW, LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

I THINK SENATOR INGEBRIGTSEN HAS HIS DIFFERENCES AND I THINK REPRESENTATIVE RICK HAND SCENE HAS THEIR DIFFERENCES BUT IT'S WAY, WAY TOO EARLY TO BE TALKING ABOUT FULL-ON GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS AT THIS POINT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TIME TO BE DISCUSS ENGINE THIS AND COMING TO COMPROMISES, SO I -- I THINK IT'S JUST INAPPROPRIATE TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT AT THIS POINT.

>> Mary: SENATOR KENT, DEMOCRATS ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS, THOUGH, I'M HEARING ABOUT IT A LOT.

>> I AGREE.

SENATOR JOHNSON JUST SAID WE NEED TO COME TO COMPROMISE AND WHEN SOMEBODY COMES IN AND DRAWS THAT STRONG A LINE AND SAYS WE'RE GOING TO SHUT THIS DOWN UNLESS YOU GIVE US OUR WAY, THAT IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO WORKING TOGETHER AND COMING TO COMPROMISES AND IT'S NOT HELPFUL.

>> Mary: THE OTHER ISSUE BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE INTERPLAY IS TAXES.

THOSE OF US WHO ARE WRITING CHECKS ON MONDAY MAY NOT BE SO HAPPY, CHECKS TO THE STATE IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE THE STATE IS NOT IN CONFORMITY WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH COULD CREATE A LOT OF PAIN AND A LOT OF ANGST FOR MANY MINNESOTANS WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS RELIEF, UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF, OTHER FEDERAL CONFORMITY ISSUES.

IS THERE ANY CHANCE THIS GETS TIED UP NEATLY?

SEEMS LIKE THIS ONE IS ALREADY TOO LATE WITH THE TAX BILLS DUE ON MONDAY FOR INDIVIDUALS.

SENATOR JOHNSON?

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT A $4.4 BILLION BUDGET SURPLUS IN OUR STATE.

TAXES -- THAT SHOULD NOT BE A QUESTION RIGHT NOW IF WE'RE GOING TO RAISE TAX OR NOT.

THAT SHOULD BE AN OFF THE TABLE DISCUSSION.

WE HAVE WAY MORE MONEY IN THIS GOVERNMENT THAN WE NEED TO BE SPENDING AT THIS POINT.

>> Mary: AND YOU HEARD THE HOUSE KIND OF TOOK IT OFF THE TABLE, THE HOUSE LEADERS SAID IT'S NOT NECESSARY.

>> I HEARD THAT, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OFFICIAL REPORTS ON THAT YET BUT TO ME, I THINK THAT'S AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, THEN, IF THAT OES COME TRUE THAT THEY REALIZE THAT MINNESOTANS ARE NOT GOING TO BE UP FOR GETTING MORE TAXES PUT ON THEM AT THIS TIME.

>> Mary: SENATOR KENT, DO DEMOCRATS RISK ANGERING MINNESOTANS WRITING CHECKS ON MONDAY TO THE STATE?

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PPP CONFORMITY AND ALSO THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONFORMITY AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM THAT WE IN THE SENATE D.F.L.

HAD WHEN WE PASSED THE PPP CONFORMITY OUT OF THE SENATE, WE WANT TO PASS THAT.

WE WANT THAT TO BE THERE BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LEAVE MINNESOTA WORKERS BEHIND, WE SHOULD BE DOING BOTH.

I THINK THERE'S ROOM TO DO IT.

IT IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING TO TRY TO DO THAT AS AN ISOLATED ELEMENT SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE BUT THAT'S ONE MORE REASON TO GET OUR WORK DONE.

>> Mary: GREAT, QUICK FINAL WORD, HOW DID IT GO RETURNING TO THE SENATE THIS WEEK?

SENATOR JOHNSON?

>> IT WAS -- IT'S FUN TO HAVE THE ENERGY BACK AGAIN BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE OUT OF ALL THE PLACES IN THE STATE, THAT'S WHERE RELATIONSHIPS, COMMUNICATION, THAT'S WHERE THAT REALLY MATTERS.

>> Mary: REALLY QUICK?

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES BUILD I WORRY ABOUT OUR STAFF, MANY OF WHOM ARE YOUNGER AND HAVE UNVACCINATED KIDS AT HOME.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE NEEDED TO DO THIS WITH JUST ONE WEEK LEFT TO GO.

>> Mary: THANKS, YOU TWO.

APPRECIATE HAVING YOU WILL IN STUDIO.

>> THANKS A LOT.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> MARY: UP NEXT, A REPUBLICAN FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER WHO NOT ONLY LIVES IN A FORMER VICE PRESIDENT'S HOME BUT ALSO GOT A KEY RECCOMENDATION FROM OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR.

>> Mary: WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU RAN FOR OFFICE BUT I THINK IT'S DESTINY BECAUSE OF THE HOME YOU LIVE IN, RIGHT?

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE HERE?

>> YEAH, I SUPPOSE WE GO RIGHT INTO THAT.

SO I THINK IT WAS IN 2013, MY WIFE AND I, WE MOVED INTO A HOUSE THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY THE CHILDHOOD HOME OF A WALTER MONDALE.

HE'S A FAIRLY FAMOUS HUMAN BEING IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> SO I'M A HISTORY TEACHER, AS WELL, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY AWESOME, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT HE ACTUALLY ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT BACK IN THE 1980s FROM MY BACK PORCH.

HE MEANT A LOT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, HE MEANT A LOT TO SOMEONE FROM ELMORE, ESPECIALLY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU'RE ON, THE FACT THAT HE WAS HERE FOR MINNESOTA, HE WAS FOR MINNESOTANS AND HIS NUMBER-ONE GOAL REGARDLESS OF WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU'RE ON, YOU CAN'T ARGUE THAT HE WAS NOT FOR THE PEOPLE.

HE WAS ABSOLUTELY FOR PEOPLE.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO AND JUST SAY, HEY, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, IS IT FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE IF IT IS, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

AND I THINK WALTER REALLY LOOKED AT THAT AND THAT'S WHAT HE DID, THAT'S WHAT HIS LIFE WAS ALL ABOUT.

YOU LOOK AT HIS ENTIRE SERVICE AND THAT'S WHAT IT WAS, SO IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO ME THAT I WAS ABLE TO MEET HIM, TO SHOW THAT PICTURE AND JUST KIND OF THANK HIM AND PAY TRIBUTE TO SOMEONE FROM THE THER SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO WE HAVE VASTLY DIFFERENT POLITICAL IDEAS BUT THE COMMON GOAL IS ARE WE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE.

>> Mary: YOU ARE AMONG SEVERAL FRESHMEN WHO ARE REPLACING REALLY LONG-TIME KIND OF LEGENDARY LAWMAKERS.

I'VE HAD TO TALK TO A LOT OF FRESHMEN ABOUT THIS, NOT ONLY ARE YOU IN MONDALE'S SHOWED DA BUT ALSO BOB GUNTHER'S SHADOW.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

>> IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHEN YOU'RE IN IN St. PAUL AND YOU SAY WHO YOU ARE ARE YOU, BORNE OLSON AND WHO ARE YOU REPLACING, AND IT'S BOB GUNTHER.

AND THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IS KIND OF A SIDEWAYS AND THEY SAY, OH, MAN, YOU'VE GOT SUCH BIG SHOES TO FILL AND IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I JUST LAUGH AND I SAY, I'M GETTING TIRED OF HOW BIG HIS FEET ARE BECAUSE EVERYONE SAYS THAT.

I SAY IT JOKINGLY BECAUSE I LOVE BOB.

HE'S A SPECTACULAR MENTOR FOR ME.

I'M A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER SO I KNOW THE PROCESS BUT IT'S THE INS AND OUTS AND OH, YEAH, THIS GUY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, HE'S A GREAT PERSON, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS AND, WELL, MAYBE I'LL CALL HIM AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT YOU AND YOU GUYS CAN GET COFFEE OR SOMETHING.

BUT IT'S A LOT OF THE HIGHER LEVEL LOOK AT THE SITUATION.

>> Mary: LOOKING AT YOUR BACKGROUND, WHEN I HEAR YOUR BIOGRAPHY, TEACHER, SOLDIER, HAD HELD PREVIOUS OFFICE, OES THE GOVERNOR COME TO MIND THAT YOU KIND OF HAVE A SIMILAR BIOGRAPHY?

>> YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR, HE USED TO BE MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND I REALLY WANT TO MEET HIM SOMETIME JUST BECAUSE OUR RELATIONSHIP'S A LITTLE CLOSER THAN WHAT PEOPLE WOULD NORMALLY THINK, YOU KNOW, IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, EVERYONE'S CONNECTED IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM BUT ACTUALLY MY REPRESENTATIVE, TIM WALZ, HE NOMINATED ME TO GO TO WEST POINT BACK IN -- BACK WHEN I GRADUATED IN 2009 SO I DID HAVE THAT NOMINATION.

I DIDN'T END UP GOING TO WEST POINT BUT HE NOMINATED ME FOR THE POSITION, AND THEN ALSO MY COUSIN, HE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED IN IRAQ IN 2007 AND GOVERNOR WALZ, OR PREVIOUS REPRESENTATIVE WALZ, PAID FOR MY AUNT AND MY COUSIN'S FAMILY TO GO DOWN AND VISIT HIM WHEN HE WAS IN TEXAS IN THE HOSPITAL.

SO I HAVEN'T MET HIM YET AND WHEN I DO, I KIND OF WANT TO REMINDS HIM OF MY FAMILY AND THANK HIM PERSONALLY BECAUSE THAT WAS A SPECIAL THING.

>> Mary: HAT ABOUT THIS PHASE OF SESSION?

MANY FRESHMEN.

OUT THIS BECOMES THE MOST FRUSTRATING PART OF SESSION BECAUSE YOU'RE VERY BUSY, ALMOST UP UNTIL NOW, FRANKLY, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S CONFERENCE COMMITTEES AND FRESHMEN REALLY RARELY GET ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEES.

SO THIS IS THE PART WHERE YOU KIND OF GET TO BE A SPECTATOR.

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING OF THIS PHASE OF SESSION HERE TOWARDS THE END?

>> AS A FARMER, I SPENT A LOT OF THE TIME BACK HOME, YOU KNOW, UTTING SEEDS IN THE GROUND, WHICH IS REALLY KIND OF A NICE SITUATION TO BE IN BUT, YEAH, I'M KIND OF CHOMPING AT THE BIT, READY TO GO HERE AT THE ENDS.

THEY SAY THINGS ARE GOING TO GET LONG AND I'M THE KIND OF GUY WHO SAYS RING IT ON, LET'S DO THIS.

♪♪ >> I WORK WITH St. PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR, WHAT, ALMOST 11 YEARS, UP UNTIL THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF MY FRIEND, PHILANDO CASTILLE, WHO WAS MURDERED IN St. ANTHONY, IN FALCON HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA.

NORMALLY I WOULD SHOW UP, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 300 PEOPLE WITH A BULL HORN.

IRONICALLY, I WAS CALLED THE ANGRY BLACK MAN BECAUSE I WAS ANGRY THAT MY FRIEND HAD GOT EVEN MURDERED AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT MY FRIENDS N THE MEDIA ABOUT THE PERSON THEY ASSUMED HE WAS WHEN I KNEW EXACTLY WHO PHILANDO WAS.

MY STRATEGY WAS SIMPLE, ORGANIZE, STRATEGIZE, MOBILIZE, AND I'M HOPING THAT I INSPIRE A LOT OF YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN WHO LOOK JUST LIKE ME TO DO THE SAME THING.

YOU CAN BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE.

♪♪ >> IT'S TIME FOR ANNUAL "ALMANAC" SURVEY.

I'M MARY LaHAMMER AND IT'S YOUR CHANCE TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF OUR LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL COVERAGE AND MUCH MORE.

YOU CAN SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK AND OFFER STORY IDEAS BY TAKING THE SURVEY.

IT WILL TAKE JUST ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

YOU CAN FIND IT ALL AT TPT.ORG/SURVEYS, AND THANK YOU.

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

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN AGAIN NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHEN WE'LL KNOW IF THE LEGISLATURE FINISHED THEIR WORK BEFORE THEY ADJOURNED.

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

IF THE LEGISLATURE IS IN ACTION OVER THE WEEKEND, YOU CAN FIND IT HERE TOO.

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

TOP LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HORTMAN AND GAZELKA WILL JOIN ERIC AND CATHY IN THE STUDIO.

WE'LL REMEMBER JIM KLOBUCHAR.

THE LONGTIME "STAR TRIBUNE" COLUMNIST AND FATHER OF U.S.

SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR DIED EARLIER TODAY AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S.

AND I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE HISTORIC FIRST VOTE TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN MINNESOTA IN THE FINAL DAYS OF SESSION.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

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/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.