REPORT OUR REGION'S LONGEST RUNNING PUBLIC A GROUND LAWMAKERS FROM NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA ARE JOINING US TODAY FOR A RECAP OF THE WEEK'S ACTIVITIES AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO CALL OR EMAIL YOUR LEGISLATIVE QUESTIONS AND HAVE THEM ANSWERED LIVE ON THE AIR MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT STARTS NOW.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT.

I'M YOUR HOST TONY SURTICH WITH JUST OVER 24 HOURS LEFT TO GET THEIR WORK DONE.

IT APPEARS MINNESOTA LEGISLATORS ARE HEADING FOR A SPECIAL.

SESSION LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE WEEKEND HOPING THE DIVIDED LEGISLATURE CAN REACH AGREEMENT ON SOME OF THE KEY BUDGET BILLS, BUT TIME IS RUNNING SHORT TODAY'S SHOW IS ONE LAST CHANCE FOR OUR VIEWERS TO ASK QUESTIONS TO THE LEGISLATORS WHO REPRESENT YOU.

PLEASE CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR EMAIL QUESTIONS TO ASK AT WDSE.ORG OUR GUEST THIS WEEK ARE JOINING US REMOTELY REPRESENTATIVE.

OLSON IS A DFL FROM DULUTH REPRESENTING.

DISTRICT 7B WELCOME BACK REPRESENTATIVE OLSON AND SENATOR JASON REHRICH IS A REPUBLICAN FROM PINE CITY REPRESENTING SENATE DISTRICT 11.

WELCOME SENATOR, ERIC GREAT TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

YEAH, SENATOR WORK.

WE'RE GONNA START WITH YOU.

WE'RE HERE AT THE END OF 24 HOURS LEFT.

THERE IS NO BUDGET AGREEMENT.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE GOING INTO A SPECIAL SESSION.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

AND WHY ISN'T THERE AGREEMENT AND YOU GUYS WRAPPING UP TOMORROW?

WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE BEEN GOING DOWN THIS ROAD.

IT'S BEEN GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND THIS YEAR WITH ALL THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WERE COMING IN AND THE WAITING SO LONG TO GET THE GUIDANCE ON HOW THAT CAN BE SPENT.

I THINK YOU JUST KIND OF THINGS WAITED A LITTLE TOO LONG BECAUSE OF THAT WAITING TO SEE THAT AND NEGOTIATIONS STARTED IN EARNEST PROBABLY WEEKS LATER THAN TYPICAL.

REPRESENT OLSON YOUR THOUGHTS READ, I THINK WE'RE YOU KNOW, WE'RE DIVIDED LEGISLATURE WE'VE WE GO TO THE END THEN I MEAN IT'S IT'S DIFFICULT EVEN IN THE BEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES TO GET A STATE BUDGET TOGETHER WHEN YOU'RE IN A DIVIDED LEGISLATURE, BUT TO SENATOR RARE EX POINT THE FEDERAL MONEY AND THE GUIDANCE COMING LATE, BUT I MEAN, I THINK WE BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE DID PASS OUR EARLY BUDGET BILLS AND WE GAVE THOSE PLENTY OF TIME OR CONFERENCE COMMITTEE STARTED MEETING.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING AND DOING THE WORK.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SOME OF UNKNOWNS AS IT COMES DOWN TO THE LAST MINUTE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE NUMBERS THAT WERE WE'RE STILL WORKING ON.

AND WITH SO MUCH LEFT UP IN THE AIR.

I'LL JUST REMIND VIEWERS.

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR OUR LEGISLATORS YOUR DEADLINE IN THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO GET DONE IS TOMORROW, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE CURRENT BUDGET STAYS IN EFFECT UNTIL JUNE 30TH, AND SO REPRESENT OLSON WHAT HAPPENS ON JULY 1ST, IF YOU GUYS DON'T GET YOUR WORK DONE.

I MEAN, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT IDEAL.

THE HOPE IS WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR WORK DONE BEFORE THEN, BUT THAT WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY WOULD NOT HAVE A STATE BUDGET OPERATING AND THAT'S WHEN WE TALK GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

AND SO THAT IS NOT A SITUATION THAT WE WANT TO PUT MINNESOTANS IN.

IT MEANS THEY CAN'T GO TO THE STATE PARKS OVER THE JULY THAT OUR BASIC SERVICES AREN'T THERE.

IT MEANS PEOPLE DON'T HAVE JOBS.

I MEAN IT HAS A HUGE IMPACT ACROSS THE STATE AND CERTAINLY ISN'T SOMETHING WE'RE USING AS A BARGAINING CHIP AT ALL.

I MEAN, WE REALLY WANT TO GET OUR WORK DONE AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE.

IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT.

YEAR FOR MINNESOTANS AND THEY NEED US TO ACT THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THINGS THAT THEY'RE THERE THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING AROUND HOUSING OR AROUND UNEMPLOYMENT THAT THEY REALLY HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN BRING TO BEAR.

SO IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE AND WE'RE HOPEFUL WE CAN AVOID THAT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND GET DONE BEFORE THE SENATOR ERIC STATE GOVERNMENT IN MINNESOTA IN PARTICULAR UNLIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES HAVE TO BALANCE ITS BUDGET EVERY TWO YEARS.

AND SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHY ISN'T THERE THE PRESSURE THAT IT SEEMS TO BE IN YEARS PAST TO GET YOUR WORK DONE ON TIME AND NOW HAVING TO GO TO ALMOST BRINKSMANSHIP TIME AFTER TIME.

WHAT IS THAT?

YOU KNOW, I THINK PART OF IT THIS YEAR IS A SECOND FACTOR IS THE REMOTE NATURE THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THAT IS REALLY SLOWED EVERYTHING DOWN AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW THROUGH THE MONTH OF JUNE TO COME TO THESE AGREEMENTS BEFORE YOU'VE HIT THAT CRITICAL POINT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYTHING THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING A ECHOES WHAT REPRESENTATIVE OLSON JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO PUSH THIS AND HAT LATE HAVE ANY SHUTDOWNS.

WANT TO GET BACK.

WE WE KNOW OUR NUMBERS NOW WE ARE NOW WE CAN WORK ON WHAT ARE THE BUDGET TARGETS FOR EACH ISSUE AREA AND AND LET'S GET TO WORK.

I THINK SHE'S CORRECT.

YOU ARE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN WORKING.

THEY'VE BEEN GETTING REAL CLOSE ON POLICY ISSUES.

IT'LL JUST BE THE BUDGET ISSUE THAT'S LEFT TO TO FOCUS ON AND AND I'M CONFIDENT WE GET IT DONE.

AND AND WE OWE IT TO MINNESOTA TO GET IT DONE.

WE GOT OUR FIRST QUESTION FROM A CALLER AND THE QUESTION DEALS AND WE'VE GOTTEN THIS QUESTION EVERY WEEK.

WILL THE STATE FOLLOW SUIT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FORGIVE 10,200 IN UNEMPLOYMENT TAXES, AND I'LL JUST COUPLE IN WITH THAT BECAUSE WE GENERALLY GET A QUESTION ABOUT BOTH THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE THAT FOLKS GOT AND THEN THE PPP LOAN PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS WAIVED TAXES ON IT.

THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING AND CONSIDERING WAVING TAXES THAT THE DEADLINE FOR SELLING IS TOMORROW.

SO THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO A TWO-PART QUESTION.

WE'LL START WITH YOU SENATOR ERIC LIKELIHOOD THAT THIS IS GOING TO PASS AND THEN WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO HAVE TO DO WHO HAVE ALREADY FILED THEIR TAXES EITHER BUSINESSES OR INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD TO DO THAT BY THE DEADLINE AFTER THE LEGISLATURE PET HOPEFULLY PASSES THIS LEGISLATION.

RIGHT.

YEAH.

I'M I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN COME TO THAT AGREEMENT.

YOU KNOW, THE THE SENATE HAS VOTED ON THAT SUPPORT THAT IDEA.

I THINK IT HAS BROAD SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IT'S IT HAS TO BE NEGOTIATED WITH SOME OTHER THINGS I AND I GET THAT SO I THINK WE CAN GET IT DONE THE TRICKY PART IS YEAH PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO FILE AMENDED RETURNS TO GET THAT COUNTED, BUT I DO BELIEVE BOTH THE PPP THE BUSINESSES WERE NOT EXPECTING TO HAVE TO PAY THE TAXES ON THAT AND UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE MISUNDERSTOOD, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE UNEMPLOYMENT FROM MINNESOTA.

YOUR INCOME TAXES ARE WITHHELD FROM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO THAT FOR THE FEDERAL PORTION OF IT.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT WAS UNDERSTOOD.

SO IF WE CAN GIVE SOME FORGIVENESS FOR THAT AS WELL.

I THINK WE CAN AND SHOULD DO THAT AND COME TO THAT AGREEMENT.

FIRST OF ALL, SIN HEARD A LOT OF RHETORIC AND SPEECHES BOTH SIDES POINTING FINGERS AT THE OTHER FOR WHY THIS TOOK TOO LONG FROM WHERE YOU'RE SITTING.

WHAT WAS THE HOLDUP OF GETTING THIS DONE BEFORE THE FILING DEADLINE OF TOMORROW?

I THINK YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD THAT WE SO BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE WE'VE PASSED THIS IN OUR BUDGET BILLS.

WE HAVE PASSED BOTH ISSUES YOU ABOUT ALREADY WE DID PASS THOSE WEEKS AGO IN OUR BUDGET BILLS.

AND SO THERE HAVE BEEN OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH BODY TO ACT ON THEM.

BUT YOU YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT WHICH IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE STATE HAS TO BALANCE.

AND SO THERE IS A FISCAL IMPACT TO PASSING THOSE AND SO TO THINK ABOUT YOU KNOW, WHAT THE AMOUNT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE SUM OF MONEY THAT WE WOULD HAVE PUT OUT THE DOOR EVEN BEFORE TALKING ABOUT THEIR YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO AN OFF-RAMP ON AN EVICTION MORATORIUM TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T HOMELESS IN A FEW MONTHS.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIND OUR HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED.

BIG QUESTIONS AT ALL HAVE FINANCIAL IMPACT AND THEY NEED TO BE CONSIDERED GLOBALLY.

SO THIS IS TOP OF MIND FOR BOTH BODIES, AND I KNOW THE GOVERNOR TOO AND IT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED THAT DIDN'T COME WITHOUT A FINANCIAL COST.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND SO IT WAS A PART OF OUR BUDGET BILL AND WE TALKED ABOUT GREAT.

SO IF WE DO THAT THAT MEANS WE ALSO NEED TO RAISE THE REVENUE TO BE ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR DOING THAT PROGRAM FOR THE PPP CONFORMITY WOULD HAVE COST THE STATE A LOT OF MONEY SO YOU EITHER HAVE TO CUT SOMETHING IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN OR YOU NEED TO BRING THAN YOU AND FROM THE HOUSE'S PERSPECTIVE.

WE WANT TO GENERATE REVENUE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THINKING TO NOT HURT PEOPLE FURTHER IN YOU KNOW, THE NEXT BIENNUM AND OUR BUDGET HERE.

SO WE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH OF WHO'S BEEN HURT DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND HOW DO WE HELP THEM?

AND IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN SMALL BUSINESSES.

IT'S BEEN WORKERS.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN REALLY KEEPING THAT ENTIRE PERSPECTIVE TOGETHER AS WE'VE BEEN MOVING FORWARD AND PUTTING THIS INTO THE BUDGET CONVERSATION.

NOW BOTH OF YOU ARE SERVING ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEES, AND SO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE SITTING IN A ROOM TRYING.

ASSOCIATE OVERALL WITH THE SPENDING AND REVENUE TARGETS WILL BE FOR THE ENTIRE BUDGET, BUT THEN EACH KIND OF FOCUS AREA HAS ITS OWN BUDGET SMALLER BUDGET AND SO SENATOR WORK.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU.

YOU'RE ON THE HIGHER.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEANING YOU'RE ONE OF THE SENATORS THERE'S FIVE SENATORS AND FIVE REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE SITTING DOWN TO TRY TO FIND COMPROMISE OR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO LEGISLATIVE BODIES.

CAN YOU TALK A BIT ABOUT HOW THAT'S GOING IN THE AREA OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND MAYBE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT YOU EXPECT TO COME OUT OF THAT AGREEMENT.

YEAH, YOU KNOW THAT'S THE HIGHER EDUCATION SO MANY OF THE THINGS HAVE BUDGET IMPLICATIONS.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE THE FEW POLICY PIECES THE THINGS THAT WERE THE SAME ARE VERY SIMILAR.

WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THAT.

WE'RE WAITING ON THOSE BUDGET TARGETS TO FIND OUT WHAT WE HAVE TO REALLY BEGIN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

SO WE'RE WE'VE HIT KIND OF A STANDSTILL AND THEN I'M ALSO ON THE JOBS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND SAME THING.

WE YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKED THROUGH MANY OF THE POLICY ISSUES AND STILL NEGOTIATING SOME IN THAT.

WAITING FOR THE BUDGET TARGET AND THEN THE REAL LIKE SO THEN WE FOCUS ON THAT AND THAT'S WHEN OUR REAL WORK BEGINS.

WORK IF YOU COULD MAYBE LOOK INTO A CRYSTAL BALL FOR THOSE WATCHING AT HOME WHO ARE EITHER IN COLLEGE PLANNING TO GO TO COLLEGE OR KIDS ARE IN COLLEGE.

WHAT WHAT IS THE STATE OF TUITION LOOKING LIKE IF YOU COULD MAYBE PROJECT AND LOOK AHEAD FOR NEXT YEAR?

YEAH, YOU KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS OUT THERE LOOKING AT WHETHER WE CAN FREEZE TUITION.

I KNOW OUR COLLEGES DON'T LIKE THAT OPTION.

THAT'S SOMETHING THEY NEED TO HAVE.

SO CAN WE LOOK AT SCHOLARSHIPS AND INCREASING WHAT WE PUT INTO SCHOLARSHIPS AND NO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY AS WELL THAT HAS COME IN AND WE'RE JUST STARTING TO GET A LOT OF THOSE ANSWERS WHERE THAT MONEY WENT TO TO ME TO SEE HOW BEST WE SHOULD USE THE STATE MONEY TO HELP OUR STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW AND OUR COLLEGES THEY HAD A LOT OF EXPENDITURES THAT THEY HAD TO PUT OUT TO GO REMOTE ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO KIND HELP ON BOTH ENDS AND AND GET THAT TUITION COST MANAGEABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT'S BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE ON BOTH CHAMBERS, I BELIEVE.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU SIT ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, WHICH SEES ALL THE BUDGET BILLS GO THROUGH.

DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS ON THE HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET AGREEMENT PROCESS?

I THINK SENATOR ERIC IS RIGHT.

I MEAN WE HAVE THAT THAT'S TYPICALLY A BILL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET DONE A LITTLE I MEAN QUOTE UNQUOTE EASIER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER BILLS BUT IT IS STILL IN THE MIX IN TERMS OF NEEDING TARGETS THE IMPLICATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

I MEAN, IT JUST GOT A LOT MORE COMPLEX THIS YEAR THAN IT TYPICALLY IS AND I MENTIONED DON'T SIT ON HIGHER ED, BUT I SIT ON WAYS I MEAN SO FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, WE SEE IT HOW IT FITS INTO THIS PUZZLE AND IT IS A BIG PIECE OF IT, BUT I'M HOPEFUL ONE OF THE BUILDS THAT WE CAN GET TO AGREEMENT ON, YOU KNOW SOONER AS SOON AS WE DO HAVE THOSE TARGETS AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD POLICY IN THAT BILL THAT I THINK CAN COME TO AGREEMENT TOO AS THEY WORK.

WE WORK FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THINK WE ALL ARE REALLY THINKING ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND THE DEBT THEY'RE CARRYING AND WHAT THAT MEANS AND FURTHER OTHER CONVERSATIONS TOO FOR OTHER AREAS OF OUR BUDGET WHEN YOU HAVE STUDENTS SADDLED WITH STUDENT DEBT, IT HAS OTHER IMPLICATIONS TO THE STATE TOO THAT FACTOR INTO OTHER BUDGETS AS WELL.

SO BUT HOPEFUL THAT THAT CAN GET DONE GREAT, AND AS A REMINDER OF FOLKS HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL.

THE INFORMATION IS AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN BOTH OF YOU MENTIONED JOBS AND YOU BOTH ARE SITTING ON THE JOBS CONFERENCE COMMITTEES.

WE'LL START WITH YOU REPRESENTATIVE OLSON ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT'S LOOKING POSITIVE TO COME OUT OF A POTENTIAL AGREEMENT ON THE JOBS BILL MOVING FORWARD.

SO AS MUCH AS WE HAVE PARTISAN DIVIDE OR TAKE SHOTS AT EACH OTHER ONE THING THAT IS GOING TO HOPEFULLY COME OUT IS SOMETHING THAT SENATOR ERIC AND I WORKED ON TOGETHER WAS THE FUNDING FOR THE PAPER MILL.

SO A NEW BUYER WOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING WITH SOME STATE FUNDING SOME FORGIVABLE LOAN SO LONG AS THEY MAINTAINED A CERTAIN JOB LEVEL SO WE WERE ABLE TO AGREE TO THAT I THINK IN ONE OF THE FIRST OR SECOND CONFERENCE COMMITTEES WE HAD WHICH IS A BILL THAT BOTH I CARRIED IN THE HOUSE AND SENATOR RARE.

IN THE SENATE, SO IT WAS A GOOD BIPARTISAN WORK.

WE DID TOGETHER TO GET THAT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE AGREED TO SOME SMALL STUFF AND I KNOW WE BOTH HEAR ABOUT CHILDCARE AND IN THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE PUT FORWARD A SERIOUS BUDGET AMOUNT ON THAT THAT WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THE TARGETS, BUT HOPEFUL THE SENATE CAN COME ALONG ON THAT ISSUE IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT TALKING ABOUT THERE AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF WORKER PROVISIONS THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON BUT I KNOW THAT'S A BIG DEAL ESPE.

ARE THOSE OF US IN NORTHEAST, MINNESOTA LABOR AND WORKERS IN WHAT IT MEANS FOR JOBS AND TAKING CARE OF OUR WORKFORCE.

AND SO WE HAVE WE HAVE A LOT TO WE HAVE AS CENTER AMERICAN.

I KNOW WE HAVE WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO YET IN THAT BILL, BUT WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS BUT THE BIG THING WILL BE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE TARGETS AND WHAT WE CAN DO.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE HAD A BIGGER BUDGET BILL IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT.

WE ARE WILLING TO SPEND ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

THE SENATE WAS A LOT SKINNIER SO WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT, BUT I'M REALLY HOPEFUL WE CAN MAKE SERIOUS INVESTMENT.

IN OUR WORKERS AND SEE THAT CHILD CARE IS A BIG PART OF SENATOR REHRICH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HOUSE AND SENATE THE TWO OF YOU WORKING TOGETHER ON THAT PAPER MILL BILL.

I KNOW YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION AND JOBS PROJECTS AS WELL.

CAN YOU TALK A BIT ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE JOBS BILL AND HOW THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING?

YEAH, YOU KNOW THEY THINK THEY'VE BEEN GOING VERY WELL.

WE'VE SAT DOWN A NUMBER OF TIMES A CHAIR PRATT AND I HAVE SAT DOWN A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH CHAIR NEWER AND CHAIR EKLUND AS WELL OUTSIDE OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TALKING ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN WORK ON WHERE CAN WE GET TO SOME CLOSER AGREEMENT?

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON SOME PROVISIONS THAT ARE NEEDED AROUND SOME MYTH AND JCF FUNDS THAT ARE LOCAL COMMUNITIES USE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO RETAIN JOBS AND IN THIS COVID AND THE SHUTDOWNS REALLY?

SHOULDN'T COUNT AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT EXTENDING SOME DATES AND HELPING THEM MEET THOSE GOALS BY HAVING ANOTHER YEAR TO BE ABLE TO MEET WHAT WAS EXPECTED.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SOME UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ISSUES, YOU KNOW THINGS THAT WERE EXPOSED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND REPRESENTATIVE NEWER AND I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON THAT AND I THINK WE'RE COMING TO SOME AGREEMENTS THERE AND THEN I THINK SOME OF THE BIG ONES THAT WERE AGREEMENT IS THERE IT'S JUST HOW WILL WE MAKE IT HAPPEN, BUT WHETHER IT'S GRANTS BUSINESSES OR SOME FORGIVABLE LOANS OR A REVOLVING CREDIT.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES TO RECOVER, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT WENT THROUGH THE SHUTDOWNS AND AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS WHAT CAN WE DO TO BEST UTILIZE THE FEDERAL MONEY AND THE STATE MONEY TO GET THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET AND GET THEM GOING AGAIN SO THAT THEY CAN SUCCEED AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE AGREE ON AGAIN.

JUST MAYBE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENCE ON HOW WE GET THERE, BUT I BELIEVE SOMETHING WE CAN COME TO AGREEMENT ON HERE IN THE SHORT TERM AND AND GET THAT DONE BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SUFFERED MUCH DURING THESE LAST.

10 11 12 MONTHS AND YOU MENTIONED TWO ACRONYMS AND I JUST WANT TO BE THE ALPHABET SOUP POLICE HERE.

YOU MENTIONED MYTH AND JCF.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THEY'LL STAND FOR FOR THE VIEWERS AT HOME WHO ARE IN TRACKING IS CLOSELY.

UM JOB CREATION FUND IS JCF AND MYTH IS I'M DRAWING A BLANK ON THAT ONE RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S SO MANY BUT IT MAYBE THEY'RE BOTH MINNESOTA INVESTMENT FUND.

THANK YOU.

THEY'RE BOTH FUNDS THAT ARE USED FOR BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM MAKE INVESTMENTS TO CREATE JOBS AND YOU KNOW PART OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE FORGIVENESS OF THAT IS THEY HAVE TO RETAIN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF JOBS.

WELL THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE OVER THIS LAST YEAR.

SO WE'RE GOING TO EXTEND THEIR PERIOD TO GET THOSE JOBS BACK IN PLACE.

SO A QUESTION NOW, WE'LL START WITH YOU SENATOR ERIC.

THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE DONE ON MONDAY, EVEN THOUGH YOUR WORK IS NOT DONE.

YOU'LL HAVE TO ADJOURN ON THE DEADLINE.

IT'S NOT LOOKING LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S PROBABLY GOING TO CALL YOU BACK INTO SPECIAL SESSION IMMEDIATELY THOUGH.

WE NEVER KNOW.

SO WHAT ARE THE NEXT FEW WEEKS LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS NEGOTIATIONS AND GETTING TO SOME SORT OF CONCLUSION CONCLUSION BY THE END OF JUNE.

YEAH, YOU KNOW IT IS MY HOPE, YOU KNOW, OFFICIALLY ALL THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES.

GO AWAY MONDAY AT MIDNIGHT.

IT IS MY HOPE THOUGH THAT THEY WILL BECOME LIKE WOULD BE DEEMED A WORKING GROUP AND UNOFFICIALLY CONTINUE TO WORK IN EACH BUDGET AREA EACH ISSUE AREA, AND THEN THOSE AGREEMENTS CAN BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE BODIES.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK AND I'M HOPING THAT THAT'S THE WAY IT WILL BE, YOU KNOW CONTINUING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WHETHER IT'S A YOU KNOW IN PERSON ZOOM MEETINGS LIKE WE'RE DOING THIS THROUGH KEEP THOSE CONVERSATIONS GOING KEEP THAT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE I THINK THAT'S YOU KNOW MUCH BETTER WITH THE MORE THE MORE MEMBERS WE CAN KEEP INVOLVED IN THE TALKS THE BETTER THE PRODUCT IS GOING TO BE AT THE END.

SO WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING WHEN THE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS AT MIDNIGHT BETWEEN THEN AND WHEN A SPECIAL SESSION STARTS LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION TO THE BUDGET?

YEAH, I I'M REALLY HOPEFUL.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SOME HOPEFUL AGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR LEADERS THAT WE WILL THE EXPECTATION IS THAT CONFERENCE COMMITTEES WILL MEET UNDER THE NEW WORK GROUP FORM.

WE DID THAT A LOT OVER THE I MEAN WE BASICALLY HAVE BEEN IN SESSION SINCE JANUARY OF LAST YEAR STRAIGHT THROUGH AND SO WE HAVE WE'VE COME BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO JUST KEEP WORKING AND THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO SO WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE FOR YOU KNOW SENATOR.

I TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR CONFERENCE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND OTHER CONFERENCE COMMITTEES WILL KEEP WORKING TO FIGURE OUT THE DEALS.

I MEAN WE'RE WAITING ON OUR LEADERS TO GIVE US THE NUMBER THAT EACH AREA CAN SPEND WITHIN THE BUDGET AND SO THEN ONCE WE HAVE THAT WE'LL JUST KEEP MEETING IN MY HOPE IS THAT WE DO IT AS PUBLICLY AND AS TRANSPARENTLY AS POSSIBLE, EVEN IF WE'RE OFFICIALLY NOT IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEES, AND THEN WE'LL GET CALLED.

BECAUSE WE HAVE EVERY EVERY MONTH FOR THE LAST OVER A YEAR WHEN WE HAVE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS, WHICH WOULD BE LIKELY THEN WHEN WE'VE COME TOGETHER TO VOTE ON A BUDGET DEAL AT THAT TIME.

SO I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF REST.

FOR MOST PEOPLE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD AND WE'LL JUST KEEP WORKING AND HAVE SOMEWHAT BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO THAT.

AND I REPRESENT OLSON YOU JUST MENTIONED EMERGENCY POWERS AND A QUESTION CAME IN AT THE EXACT SAME TIME AND THEY DIRECTED IT TO SENATOR WERICK SO WE'LL START WITH HIM AND HAVE YOU BOTH ANSWER SENATOR ERIC.

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO END THE MASK MANDATE FOR VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS.

IS IT TIME TO END THE STATE EMERGENCY?

AND WILL THERE BE CHANGES TO THE GOVERNOR'S ABILITY TO DECLARE EMERGENCIES MOVING FORWARD?

UM, YEAH, SO THE FIRST PART WITH THE MASK MANDATE, YOU KNOW, YEAH, I AM VERY GLAD.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WITH SUMMER AND TYPICALLY A TIME OF YEAR WHEN VIRUSES AREN'T TRANSMITTED AS MUCH SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, I THERE HAS BEEN TALK AND I KNOW WE VOTED A NUMBER OF TIMES TO REMOVE HIS EMERGENCY POWERS AND IT'S A BIGGER DISCUSSION THAN THAT.

REALISTICALLY.

THERE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS TIED TO IT.

I THINK WE WANT TO SEE SOME AS WE SAID MOVING FORWARD.

I THINK WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME THINGS CHANGED ON HOW HOW THOSE OPERATE AND WHAT CONTROLS THE GOVERNOR HAS.

I THINK YOU KNOW SOME OF THE CLOSING SCHOOLS IN BUSINESSES, I THINK THAT WAS BEYOND WHAT WAS PROBABLY ORIGINALLY INTENDED UNDER THE EMERGENCY POWERS.

AND SO I HOPE WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSIONS AROUND THAT AND AND LOOK AT WHAT IS APPROPRIATE IN THE FUTURE FOR WHAT THESE EMERGENCY POWERS SHOULD BE.

AND YOU KNOW, I'M HOPING THAT THEY CAN BE COMING TO AN END.

YOU KNOW, I THINK.

AND PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO WORK.

THE JOBS ARE OUT THERE.

I THINK IT'S YOU KNOW, WHAT THE VACCINATION WHERE IT'S AT.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN I THINK IT'S IT'S REALLY TIME TO START LOOKING AT GETTING THINGS BACK OPEN AND DOING WHAT WE CAN TO GET BACK TO.

AS CLOSE TO NORMAL AS WHAT WE WERE BEFORE KNOWING KNOWING SOME NEW THINGS AND HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF VIRUSES LIKE THIS.

HAVE ALSO YOUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS THE MASS MANNING GOING AWAY FOR VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS AND THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS BOTH NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.

STATE HAS DONE REALLY WELL ON VACCINE ROLLOUT.

I MEAN WE SAW THAT YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT RECOGNIZING THE GOVERNOR IN THE WORK.

HE'S DONE HERE OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW YEAR AND REALLY GUIDED OUR STATE THROUGH ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS.

WE'RE GOING TO YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH IN TERMS OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND AN ECONOMIC CRISIS LIKE WE SAW SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY AN INDICATION OF OUR ABILITY TO LIFT.

THE MASK MANDATE IS ALSO TIED TO OUR ABILITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING EACH OTHER SAFE BY DOING THE VACCINATIONS THAT WERE ADHERING TO THOSE THINGS.

SO HAPPY TO SEE IT GO BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT IN TERMS OF THAT WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE.

WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS IN VACCINATING AND I'M HOPEFUL OUR STATE KEEPS DOING THAT AND THEN I WILL SAY THOUGH AS A PARENT OBVIOUSLY, IT'S IT'S MIXED.

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE ON VACCINATED CHILDREN, THERE IS STILL A LITTLE OF THAT CONCERN ABOUT.

HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD AND KIND OF TRUSTING THAT EVERYBODY'S DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO TO KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MINNESOTANS DO AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO AND THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY GLAD OUR GOVERNOR HAS THOUGHT REALLY A LOT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST DOING ALWAYS WITH POLITICALLY RIGHT HE HAS DONE WHAT'S RIGHT TO KEEP US.

SAFE AND KEEP US MOVING FORWARD THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND HIS EMERGENCY POWERS HAVE REALLY BEEN NEEDED IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO SNAP BENEFITS AS WE'VE EXTENDED EMERGENCY AND HOW WE TIE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE IF WE NEED HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO BECOMING ACROSS BORDERS.

I MEAN JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ARE TIED TO THE EMERGENCY POWERS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T BE WEIGHING IN AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY AND WE HAVE WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF BILLS THAT ARE DEALING WITH HOW WE CHANGE PERHAPS CHAPTER 12 IN THE EMERGENCY POWERS, AND WE'VE HEARD THOSE IN COMMITTEES.

WE HAD AN ENTIRE COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE REALLY DEVOTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE REFORM AROUND THIS SO WE DO NEED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE AND BUT I AM YES, HAPPY THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON THAT.

RATES I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE STATE BUDGET BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITY AS WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO CLOSING OUT THIS SHOW.

MINNESOTA IS THE ONLY DIVIDED LEGISLATURE IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES WHERE DEMOCRATS CONTROL ONE BODY AND REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE OTHER BODY.

IT'S ALWAYS EASY TO TELL THE OTHER SIDE WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO COME TO COMPROMISE BUT A QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU AND REPRESENTATIVE.

OLSEN WILL START WITH YOU.

WHAT DO DEMOCRATS HAVE TO GIVE UP OR COMPROMISE THAT YOU FEEL IN ORDER TO GET TO IN A BUDGET AGREEMENT.

WELL, I WOULDN'T SEE IT AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE COMPROMISE THAT'S INEVITABLE AND YOU KNOW HAVING NOW GONE THROUGH ONE STATE BUDGET.

WE WILL COMPROMISE AND IT'S EVERYBODY WE'VE HEARD IT SAID MANY MANY TIMES.

EVERYBODY HAS TO BE A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?

OTHERWISE, IT'S NOT COMPROMISED.

AND SO WE'LL WALK OUT AND WE'LL ALL BE A LITTLE UPSET BUT WHO CAN'T BE UPSET?

WE CAN'T LEAVE MINNESOTAN HIGH AND DRY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T LEAVE PEOPLE BEHIND WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING THIS WHOLE YEAR WHO NEED US WHO SURVIVAL IS TIED TO WHAT WE DECIDE.

I THINK THERE'S LAYERS TO THINKING ABOUT OUR COMPROMISE SHOULD HANDS ON SOMEONE'S SHOULD NOT HINGE ON SOMEONE'S LIVELIHOOD THAT OUR COMPROMISE SHOULD HINGE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO ON FINGERING OUT WHERE THAT IS, AND I THINK YOU KNOW EACH PARTY BELIEVES THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE STATE AND FOR US, IT HAS REALLY BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR THE MINNESOTANS THAT HAVE BEEN MOST IMPACTED BY THIS CRISIS THAT WE'RE ALREADY ON THE, YOU KNOW, LIVING ON THE MARGINS AND JUST GOT PUSHED FURTHER DOWN.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP AT THE FOCUS AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN COMPROMISED COMES IT DOESN'T COME AT THEIR EXPENSE.

WHERE DO YOU SEE REPUBLICANS NEEDING TO COMPROMISE MOVE CLOSER TO DEMOCRATS IN ORDER TO GET A BUDGET SOLUTION?

YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE SPECIFICS OF THAT.

I'M NOT SURE.

I THINK WE JUST NEED TO ALL BE WILLING TO LOOK AT THE PROPOSAL WITH AN OPEN MIND THAT THE OTHER SIDE IS OFFERING AND BE WILLING TO CONSIDER THAT THROUGH THE THE FACTS THAT ARE THERE AND AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE THE IMPACTS OF IT WILL BE AND AND TO HAVE THAT DIALOGUE BACK AND FORTH.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S CRITICAL IN THE END.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE I THINK MAYBE ONLY THE ONE AREA LIKE THE JOBS.

IS PROBABLY YOU KNOW, WE'RE REPRESENTATIVE OLSON AND I WILL HAVE THE MOST INPUT AND AND I THINK IT IS JUST LISTENING AT WHAT THE WHAT THE OUTCOME IS AT THIS POINT.

I'M NOT SURE BUT LISTENING WITH AN OPEN MIND I THINK IS GOING TO BE THE KEY OVER THESE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND SEE WHAT SEE WHAT YOU CAN STEP BACK FROM A LITTLE BIT AND AGREE THAT OKAY THAT THAT'S NOT AS BAD AS WE MAYBE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT AND THAT'S THE WAY WE'LL COME TO THE COMPROMISE.

12 HOPEFULLY THAT COMPROMISES IN OUR NEAR FUTURE AND WE ARE OUT OF TIME IN THIS DISCUSSION.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SENATOR JASON REHRICH AND REPRESENTATIVE LIZ OLSON FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THIS IS OUR FINAL EDITION OF MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT THIS SEASON.

I'D LIKE TO THINK OUR TEAM HERE IN THE STUDIO DIRECTOR NICK STOLTMAN AUTO OPERATOR TONY DOYLE CAMERON MATTHEWS AND JOHN PANZER IN THE MASTER CONTROL JOE MAN ON THE FLOOR CREW AND GREG GRILL DOING A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

FOR MAKING ME LOOK GOOD HERE IN THE STUDIO.

FOR THE TEAM AT WDSE, I'M TONY SURDICH.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.