DEBATE NIGHT 2024 IS BROUGHT TO BY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MINNESOTA, EVOLVE CREATIVE LINDA AND DAVID HOMMES AND DAVID QUAM >> Announcer: LAKELAND PBS, THE BEMIDJI PIONEER, BRAINERD EXPRESS, ARE PROUD TO PRESENT DEBATE NIGHT 2024.

A LOOK ON THE OUR AREA LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES.

YOUR MODERATOR TONIGHT IS BETHANY WESLEY, AND NOW, THE MINNESOTA HOUSE DISTRICT 2B DEBATE.

>> Bethany: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO OUR FIRST NIGHT OF DEBATE NIGHT 2024 AT THE LAKELAND PBS STUDIO IN BEMIDJI.

I'M BETHANY WESLEY, YOUR MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

WE'RE STARTING AN EXCITING WEEK OF DEBATES WITH THE SECOND OF TWO STATE LEGISLATIVE DEBATES TONIGHT COVERING TOPICS AND ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITIES.

NOW, IN OUR SECOND DEBATE TONIGHT, WE WILL HEAR FROM TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 2B.

THE CANDIDATES ARE REPRESENTATIVE MATT BLISS FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND MICHAEL REYES FROM THE DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY.

WE HAVE THREE PANELISTS TONIGHT ASKING QUESTIONS OF OUR CANDIDATES.

THEY ARE DENNIS WEIMANN, THE NEWS DIRECTOR AT LAKELAND PBS, CHELSEY PERKINS, THE NEWS DIRECTOR AT KAXE, KBXE PUBLIC RADIO, AND ASHLEY McKENZIE, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPORTER AT THE BEMIDJI PIONEER.

NOW, FOR THE RULES FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING COMMENTS.

THE PANEL WILL THEN BEGIN ASKING QUESTIONS.

SOME WILL BE THEIR OWN QUESTIONS, OTHERS MAY BE FROM THE PUBLIC.

CANDIDATES WILL ROTATE THE ORDER THEY SPEAK, BEGINNING WITH OPENING COMMENTS, AND FINISHING WITH CLOSING COMMENTS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A ONE-MINUTE REBUTTAL.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF USING ONE MINUTE OF BONUS TIME EITHER DURING THE INITIAL QUESTION OR IN THE REBUTTAL.

QUESTIONS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL WE REACH THE 50-MINUTE MARK, AT WHICH TIME WE'LL MOVE TO CLOSING COMMENTS.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING COMMENTS.

NOW, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

OUR FIRST QUESTION WILL COME -- I'M SORRY, WE'RE NOT A QUESTIONS YET.

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN COMMENTS FIRST.

MICHAEL, YOU GET OPENING COMMENTS FOR THREE MINUTES.

>> Reyes: THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL REYES AND I'M RUNNING FOR HOUSE 2B.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT ME.

WORKED IN A LITTLE OVER 16 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I'M A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.

I'VE BEEN ON THE CASS LAKE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 11 YEARS.

I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER WHICH WE OWN A GYMNASTIC GYMS IN CASS LAKE AND ALSO A RESTAURANT.

SOME OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IS THE FIRST RESPONDERS, MENTAL HEALTH, THE HOMELESS, THE OPIOID AND DRUG USE, AND ALSO THE TAXES THAT AFFECT OUR LOCAL HOMEOWNERS AND OUR TOWNSHIPS.

SO WHAT AM I BRINGING TO THE TABLE?

I'VE BEEN ELECTED ON THE PIKE BAY BOARD, AND SO I HAVE THAT IN MY BACK POCKET AS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE MADE CHANGE.

I'VE ALSO WILL BE ELECTED TO THE LEECH LAKE HOUSING BOARD WHERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SEEMED AWKWARD OR VOTING ON AND CHANGE HAS CREATED MULTIPLE HOMEOWNERS.

SO WHEN YOU GO TO THE POLLS AND YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ELECTING, THE BACKGROUND I DO HAVE IN BEING ELECTED IS THAT I HAVE MADE CHANGE AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MICHAEL.

MATT, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING COMMENTS.

>> Bliss: THANK YOU.

I'M STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT BLISS AND THANK YOU TO LAKELAND AND THE MODERATORS FOR PUTTING ON THIS DEBATE.

I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO SERVE THE GOOD PEOPLE OF HOUSE DISTRICT 2B OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

PRIOR TO THE REDISTRICTING PLAN, I REPRESENTED HOUSE DISTRICT 5A FOR FOUR YEARS.

DURING MY TIME IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE, I'VE WORKED HARD TO EARN THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT, AND I'VE HAD THE ABILITY TO SIT ON SEVERAL COMMITTEES, SOME OF THEM INCLUDING THE VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, CHIM THE REPUBLICAN LEAD ON, THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, LABOR, INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION, AND HOUSING.

I'VE ALSO SERVED ON THE MINNESOTA TOURISM BUREAU.

I'M THE YOUNGEST OF TEN CHILDREN RAISED ON A FARM AND LEARNED FROM AN EARLY AGE A GOOD WORK ETHIC.

I SERVED IN THE NAVY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WAS TRAINED IN COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS AND I WENT ON TO HAVE A 32-YEAR CAREER IN THE TECHNOLOGY FIELD.

I'M A SMALL BUSINESS RESORT OWNER ON ONE OF OUR AREA LAKES AND I JUST FINISHED UP MY 24th YEAR IN THAT BUSINESS.

MY FAMILY HAS ROOTS IN THIS REGION THAT SPAN SEVERAL GENERATIONS AND I'M A PROUD NORTHERN MINNESOTAN.

I LOVE THIS AREA.

I MARRIED TO A WONDERFUL FIRST GRADE SCHOOL TEACHER WITH FOUR CHILDREN, ONE OF WHOM IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AS WELL.

WE HAVE EIGHT GREAT GRANDCHILDREN -- NO -- YES, EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN, FOUR DOGS, AND A CAT.

I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THE OUTDOORS AND WANT TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE A LEGACY FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.

I'M RUNNING AGAIN BECAUSE I WITNESSED FIRST HAND THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES WE WORK ON MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE DAILY LIVES OF EVERYBODY WE REPRESENT.

WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE A DIFFERENT PATH THAN THE ONE WE'VE BEEN ON, AND THAT HAS ALL OF US VERY CONCERNED WITH REGARDS TO INFLATION, CRIME, AND THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.

WE CAN DO BETTER AND WITH YOUR HELP AND SNT, I BELIEVE WE WILL.

I WANT TO BE THE VOICE OF OUR AREA AND ALLOW COMMON SENSE TO ONCE AGAIN BE INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A GOOD EXCHANGE OF IDEAS TONIGHT AND TO SHARING MORE ABOUT MY VALUES AND HOW I INTEND TO SERVE THE GREAT PEOPLE OF THIS REGION.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THE QUESTION PORTION.

ASHLEY, YOU'LL HAVE THE FIRST QUESTION.

MATT, YOU'LL ANSWER FIRST.

>> Ashley: THANK YOU.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ISSUES SURROUNDING OPIOID USE DISORDERS IN MINNESOTA IN GENERAL, ESPECIALLY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING OUR NATIVE PEOPLE.

AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WERE ELECTED, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID CRISIS?

>> Bliss: SURE.

WELL, OPIOID CRISIS AND JUST DRUG PROBLEMS OVERALL, YOU HEARD IN THE LAST DEBATE ABOUT THE DECLARATION OF BELTRAMI COUNTY BEING ONE OF THE HIGH TRAFFIC CRIME AREAS IN THE STATE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND WE NEED TO ALSO, ONCE WE GET THE PEOPLE, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THEM IN A COMPASSIONATE WAY AND GET THEM THE HELP THEY NEED.

ONE OF MY BILLS, I DID INTRODUCE TO ADDRESS WITH THE $17 BILLION SURPLUS WAS TO BUILD MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTERS, WHICH WOULD ALSO INCLUDE A LOT OF DRUG ABUSE CANDIDATES AS WELL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH IS DRUG ABUSE.

SO IF WE CAN GET THEM INTO SOME INTERVENTION SYSTEMS AND THAT'S SOMETHING I DID REQUEST FUNDING TO USE SOME OF THE $17 BILLION OF SURPLUS THAT WE HAD, DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE UNFORTUNATELY, BUT THAT'S THE AREA THAT I'D LIKE TO FOCUS IN.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MICHAEL?

>> Reyes: SO MY BACKGROUND IS IN DRUG PREVENTION, STARTING IN 2010, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HIGH RATE OF OPIATE USE IN THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY, YOU CAN TELL 2B HAS TWO OF THE THREE LARGEST INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WITHIN 2B, AND SO HOW HAS THIS BEEN ADDRESSED?

IT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.

AT ALL.

AND HOW CAN WE ADDRESS IT IS THAT YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE STATE CAPITOL AND YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES UP HERE.

THERE'S A LOT TO OPIATE ADDICTION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT SOMEBODY USING CONSTANTLY AND SAYING, WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE UP ON THEM.

IT IS NOT -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ENTERED INTO A BILL WAS A $24 MILLION WELLNESS CENTER, TURNED INTO THREE WELLNESS CENTERS ON THE LEECH LAKE RESERVATION, AND THAT BILL WAS COSIGNED BY MR. BLISS, BUT ALSO VOTED AGAINST BY MR. BLISS WHEN IT CAME TO VOTING.

AND SO HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT IS THAT WE START AT THE YOUTH AND WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THESE WELLNESS AND OTHER CHANGES SO PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO DO AND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GO BESIDES SITTING IN THE STREETS OR CAUSING CHAOS AT NIGHT.

AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OPIATE ADDICTION, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY COMPLEX, IT'S COMMUNITY-ORIENTED.

WE HAVE TO BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES SO THAT WE ALL CAN FACE THIS.

I PERSONALLY HAVE SEEN THIS IN FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE OVERDOSE, I HAVE HELPED, YOU KNOW, NARCAN PEOPLE, CPR, AND SO THIS HITS VERY HOME FOR ME THAT A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED, AND HOW DO WE ADDRESS IT?

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT STEP AT THE HOUSE, AT THE HOUSE, BUT ALSO COME BACK IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE ANY HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE COMMUNITY FIGHTING THIS BATTLE AND STANDING UP REGARDLESS OF WHAT PARTY YOU'VE -- PARTY YOU'RE FROM?

ADDICTION DOES NOT SAY DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLICAN, THIS IS WHO WE'RE ATTACKING.

IT'S EVERYBODY IS FOR A WHOLE AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO ADDRESS AND PUSH FOR.

>> Bethany: MATT, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Bliss: I'M G THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THEN WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM CHELSEY, AND MICHAEL, YOU'LL ANSWER THIS FIRST.

>> Chelsey: ONE OF THE LIMITING FACTORS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL MINUTE IS ACCESS TO CHILDCARE, PARTICULARLY AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE.

WHAT LEGISLATION WOULD YOU SUPPORT TO MAKE CHILDCARE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR RURAL MINNESOTANS?

>> Reyes: SO I WAS JUST IN A FORUM TWO WEEKS AGO.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE BRING UP RAISING TAXES.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO RAISE TAXES AND ONE OF THE THINGS I BROUGHT UP AND IT WAS OBVIOUSLY PRINTED WAS THERE'S GOING TO BE A REVENUE COMING TO MINNESOTA WITHIN THE NEXT SIX, SEVEN MONTHS, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CANNABIS TAX.

CANNABIS REVENUE.

AND WITH THAT REVENUE, THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD CREATE OUR WISH LIST AND THAT WISH LIST IS SO WE'RE NOT RAISING TAXES.

ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN AROUND IN THESE LOCAL TOWNSHIPS SEEN THAT TAXES, THEY AFFECT US.

THEY'RE AFFECTING OUR PEOPLE, THEY'RE PRICING PEOPLE OUT OF HOMES IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

OUR LIFELONG RESIDENTS ARE HAVING TO MOVE, SELL THEIR HOMES, BECAUSE SOME OF THEM NOW ARE LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME, SO THAT CANNABIS TAX I THINK WOULD HELP OFFSET SOME OF THESE COPAYS WITH CHILDCARE AND HOW CAN WE HAVE MORE WORKERS IF PEOPLE CAN'T PROVIDE AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE?

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MATT.

>> Bliss: THANK YOU.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN OUT OF THE METRO-CENTRIC, SOME PEOPLE CALL IT THE TRIFECTA, I CALL IT TRIPLE-DEMIC OF DFL CONTROL, THEY'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE HOME DAYCARE PROVIDERS.

ALL THE FUNDING SOURCES ARE DAYCARE CENTERS.

NOW, THEY'RE A GOOD OPTION FOR PEOPLE AND WE SHOULD SUPPORT THEM AS WELL, BUT WE CAN'T ELIMINATE THE HOME DAYCARE PROVIDERS.

WE'VE LOST MORE THAN A THOUSAND HOME DAYCARE PROVIDERS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.

YOU KNOW, IN DISTRICT 2B, WE'VE 40 MILES, 50 MILES BETWEEN TOWNS SOMETIMES.

IN THAT RURAL AREA, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT NEED DAYCARE.

WHY NOT ALLOW THEM MAYBE THROUGH A SCHOLARSHIP OR SOMETHING TO HELP PAY, BUT ALLOW THEM TO USE THAT WHERE THEY WANT TO.

LET THEM SPEND IT AT A HOME DAYCARE.

IF THEY WANT THAT FAMILY ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR CHILDREN, LET THEM SPEND IT THERE.

DON'T FORCE EVERYBODY INTO A GOVERNMENT-RUN DAYCARE OPERATION.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO DO IT, AND I WANT TO CAUTION PEOPLE.

MY OPPONENT, MR. REYES, HAS BROUGHT UP THE CANNABIS TAX.

LET'S WAIT AND SEE WHERE THAT METH THICK CAL MONEY TREE -- MYTHICAL MONEY TREE COMES IN AT BECAUSE EVERY PERSON I'VE SPOKEN TO IN THE CITIES AND STATES THAT ALLOWED THIS, THAT THEY'RE SPENDING MORE ON ENFORCEMENT AND REHAB THAN THEY ARE TAKING IN ON TAXES.

SO LET'S SEE, LET'S WAIT AND SEE WHERE THAT MONEY COMES IN BEFORE WE START SPENDING IT AND I GUARANTEE YOU IT'S NOT EVEN GOING TO COVER A FRACTION OF WHAT OUR DFL COUNTERPARTS IN ST. PAUL WANT TO SPEND.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: MICHAEL, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Reyes: YES.

SO YOU'RE SAYING IF WE DO GET THAT TAX REVENUE, YOU'D ACTUALLY PUSH FOR A BILL THAT STARTS SPENDING TOWARDS CHILDCARE?

THAT'S A QUESTION I WOULD HAVE TO ASK MR. BLISS, BUT ALSO, YES, I DO SUPPORT THAT HOME CHILDCARE, BUT THIS SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF SUBSIDIES AND ALSO PROVIDING SOME OF THESE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE FOOD THAT IS NOT COMING DIRECTLY OUT OF THEIR POCKET WITH SOME ASSISTANCE AND, YOU KNOW, JUST THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO RAISE TAXES, SOME PEOPLE WANT TO DO THIS, SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER SOLUTION OUT THERE.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MATT, REBUTTAL?

>> Bliss: JUST REAL QUICK.

I DID SAY I WOULD SUPPORT A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO GO TO THE PARENTS TO ALLOW THEM TO SPEND IT WHERE THEY WANT TO, AND THAT COULD BE AT A CHILDCARE CENTER, COULD BE AT A DAYCARE CENTER.

THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT THE DFL CONTROL IN ST. PAUL IS PUSHING EVERY DOLLAR TOWARDS THE DAYCARE CENTERS AND OVERREGULATING.

WE JUST HAD, I BELIEVE IT WAS 92 PAGES OF PROPOSED MANDATES AND REGULATION THAN THE HOME DAYCARE PROVIDERS HAD TO PROVIDE.

THEY COULDN'T HAVE DOG HAIR ON THE FLOOR.

THEY HAD TO HAVE SOIL SAMPLED OUTSIDE.

THAT'S UNREALISTIC.

KEEP THE KIDS SAFE, ABSOLUTELY, BUT LET'S MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A PLACE TO STAY AND ONCE WE GET THE HOME DAYCARES BACK IN THE SYSTEM, THE PRICE WILL BE START COMING DOWN.

>> Bethany: WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT QUESTION WHICH WILL COME FROM DENNIS, AND MATT, YOU'LL ANSWER FIRST.

>> Dennis: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGE FOR THIS PART OF THE STATE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES AND HOW DO YOU PROPOSE THAT WE MEET THEM?

>> Bliss: WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN BELTRAMI COUNTY, I THINK WE DO HAVE SOME GOOD ROADS.

THERE OBVIOUSLY ARE SOME ROADS OUT THERE THAT NEED SOME ASSISTANCE, AND THOSE THAT THE COUNTY SERVICE AID HIGHWAYS AND A LOT OF TOWNSHIP ROADS.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE'RE HAVING IS A LOT OF PILT MONEY, PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES, AND THAT'S THE MONEY THE GOVERNMENT PAYS THE COUNTIES, TOWNSHIPS, AND TOWNS FOR STATE LAND THAT IS NOT ON THE TAX ROLLS.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE COUNTIES GET ABOUT 33 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR WHAT THEY NORMALLY GET ON PRIVATE, BUT TOWNSHIPS WHO MAINTAIN THE VAST MAJORITY OF ROADS IN OUR AREA GET A MUCH SMALLER PERCENTAGE THAN THAT.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT FUNDING IS STABILIZED.

YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE TRAFFIC, MOST OF THE HIGHWAY FUNDING COMES FROM THE FEDERAL MONEY.

WE AS A STATE DON'T REALLY PUT A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY INTO IT.

MOST OF IT'S DONE THROUGH THE FEDERAL PROGRAM, BUT ONE THING WE DID BACK IN 2017-2018 WAS WE TOOK THE GAS TAX OR WE TOOK PARTS OF SALES TAXES FOR PARTS AND SERVICE AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF FOR AUTOMOBILES AND CAR RENTALS, AND MOVED THAT TO THE STATE TRANSPORTATION FUND.

I WOULD SUPPORT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO MOVE 100% OF THOSE TAXES INTO THE STATE TRANSPORTATION FUND.

IT'S ALREADY AN EXISTING STREAM AND WE CAN TAKE THAT MONEY AND MOVE IT TOWARDS TRANSPORTATION.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MICHAEL?

>> Reyes: WELL, I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS, REGARDLESS OF REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, THEY SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER IN RURAL MINNESOTA TO CREATE SOME KIND OF BILL OR COLLECT SOME MONEY BACK TO HERE BECAUSE IN RURAL MINNESOTA, WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE THIS SPIKE IN TOURISM DURING THE SUMMER, WHICH OUR ROADS ARE, YOU KNOW, WORN DOWN BY THE TIME WINNER COMES AND HERE THE LOCAL PEOPLE HERE, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT ALL YEAR LONG.

AND SOME OF THAT EVEN COMES INTO TOWNSHIPS.

SO BEING ON A TOWNSHIP SUPERVISING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A HIGH COST AND SO HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

THERE SHOULD BE SOME MORE FUNDING COMING IN FROM THE STATE, AND HELPING THE SMALLER TOWNSHIPS WITH SOME OF THESE ROADS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, HIGHLY TRAVELED TO RESORTS, DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, BECAUSE THEY ALSO NEED THAT TOURISM MONEY THAT WE GET TAXES FROM.

BUT ONE OF THE OTHER IDEAS THAT I HAVE, A LOT OF THESE COUNTIES, THE SEVEN COUNTIES THAT WE HAVE, A LOT OF THEM TOUCH RESERVATIONS, SO HAVING THAT COLLABORATIVE WITH THESE TRIBAL NATIONS TO HELP SHARE COSTS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DONE, THAT I'VE DONE WITH WORKING WITH THE TRIBE AND ALSO THE CITY ON THE PIKE BAY BOARD IS HAVING THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING COMING WITH THE FEDERAL DOLLARS AND HAVING THE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS SAVE COSTS, NOT ONLY TO TOWNSHIPS, NOT ONLY TO CITIES, BUT ALSO TAXPAYERS THEMSELVES.

>> Bethany: MATT, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Bliss: I'M GOOD.

>> Bethany: THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION FROM ASHLEY.

>> Ashley: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO MANY BUSINESSES IN MINNESOTA ARE FACING STAFFING SHORTAGES.

HOW WILL YOU ADDRESS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND CREATE INCENTIVES FOR BOTH ATTRACTING AND RETAINING WORKERS?

I THINK THAT'S -- >> Bethany: YES, MICHAEL, YOU HAVE THIS QUESTION.

>> Reyes: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU SAY IT'S GENERATIONAL WHY WE'RE NOT GETTING THE WORKERS.

IT'S A REALLY TOUGH QUESTION TO GET THERE.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF BIGGER BUSINESSES, SOME OF THE BIGGEST EMPLOYERS, YOU KNOW, IN THIS DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, ARE THE TRIBAL NATIONS AND THEIR CASINOS AND THE LOCAL ONES, PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO WORK, TRANSPORTATION, IS IT THE PAY?

IT ALSO COULD BE THE CHILDCARE.

THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS INTO THAT AND HOW DO WE GET THERE?

I THINK IT JUST STARTS WITH UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU'RE EDUCATING OUR YOUTH TO GET OUT AND GET JOBS, YOU'RE EDUCATING PEOPLE THAT MAYBE NEED THAT LITTLE PUSH, YOU KNOW, SO THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE STILL GOING OUT AND APPLYING FOR JOBS AND SOME OF THESE OTHER SERVICES ARE THERE, BUT ALSO HAVING GOOD EMPLOYERS TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T TREAT THEIR EMPLOYEES BAD AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, ON THE GOVERNMENT SIDE, WHAT CAN WE DO, WHAT KIND OF INCENTIVES.

I THINK WHEN YOU'RE OFFERING GOOD HEALTHCARE, GOOD BENEFITS, THAT'S A HUGE THING, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP TO CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ONE PERSON SAID, WHAT IF THEY PROVIDED THE CHILDCARE RIGHT AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE PUSH TO HAVE PEOPLE COME IN TO THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I MEAN, YOU ALMOST FINDING SOME INCENTIVES ALSO, AND IT'S A VERY TRICKY QUESTION.

AND ONCE I GET THAT ANSWER, I'LL LET EVERYBODY ELSE KNOW.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MICHAEL.

MATT?

>> Bliss: I DON'T KNOW IF I -- NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC HERE.

THE WORKFORCE THAT WE HAVE OUT HERE, THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS OUT THERE THAT FEEL LIKE THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO WORK LOCALLY.

YOU KNOW, I HEAR -- I GREW UP IN A FARMING FAMILY.

WE DIDN'T -- I HAVE ONE BROTHER WHO WENT TO COLLEGE.

I JOINED THE MILITARY AND MY OTHER BROTHERS, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT WENT TO COLLEGE, ALL JOINED THE MILITARY.

WE GOT REALLY GOOD TRAINING.

I GOT OUT AND GOT A GREAT JOB A CAREER, AND I THINK THAT WAS LACKING HERE IN THE BEMIDJI AREA ESPECIALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S TRIED TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR LATELY.

IT'S WEEKS OUT FOR AN ELECTRICIAN, PROBABLY LONGER THAN THAT FOR A PLUMBER.

I HEARD A NUMBER THAT THE AVERAGE AGE OF A SHEETROCKER, NOW, THAT'S A TOUGH JOB, IN BEMIDJI IS 37 YEARS OLD.

WE NEED TO GET THESE KIDS OUT IN THE TRADES AND UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE TRADES ARE WELL-PAYING JOBS.

THERE'S GREAT PAY AND A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES WILL PAY FOR YOUR TRAINING.

SO YOU CAN HAVE A JOB, GET TRAINED FOR THAT JOB, GET OUT AND HAVE NO COLLEGE DEBT AND HAVE A SIX-FIGURE INCOME WITHIN A FEW YEARS.

THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO GO.

I THINK WE NEED TO PUSH THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL INSTITUTE OF HIGHER LEARNING HERE IN BEMIDJI.

I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME SORT OF CONCERTED EFFORT TO GROW OUR OWN HERE AND KEEP SOME OF THESE HIGHLY TRAINED PEOPLE IN THE TOWN.

SO THERE'S A COMBINATION OF KEEPING THE COLLEGE-EDUCATED PEOPLE LOCALLY, BUT ALSO BUILDING THE BLUE COLLAR WORKERS FROM THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AS WELL.

>> Bethany: MICHAEL, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Reyes: NO.

>> Bethany: THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION FROM CHELSEY.

>> Chelsey: WHAT STEPS DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SHOULD TAKE TO SUPPORT CLIMATE RESILIENCY, SPECIFICALLY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA?

>> Bethany: MATT?

>> Bliss: SURE.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO HAVE A "ALL OF THE ABOVE" APPROACH ON ENERGY, BUT THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING IN ST. PAUL RIGHT NOW, WE PASSED A NET CARBON EMISSIONS ELECTRICITY BY 2040 BILL, WE LOVINGLY CALL IT THE BLACKOUT BILL BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE ROLLING BLACKOUTS IN OUR AREA.

BASICALLY WHAT THAT BILL DOES IS IT SAYS THAT WE WILL NO LONGER FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SOURCE ANY ELECTRICITY FROM MAYBE THAT'S PRODUCING IT USING CARBON-BASED FUELS, NATURAL GAS, COAL.

THERE'S A MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND THEY'RE GOING TO RELY ON SOLAR AND WIND, AND RIGHT BEFORE I CAME OUT HERE TONIGHT, WE'RE GETTING ABOUT 15% OF OUR ELECTRICITY IN MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY AS WE SIT, 15% FROM RENEWABLES.

ALL THE REST IS FROM CARBON-BASED EMISSIONS.

2040, FOLKS, THAT'S NOT THAT FAR AWAY.

WE NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A MORE MEASURED APPROACH IN GOING THAT WAY.

THE SCRUBBERS THEY PUT ON THE PLANTS NOW FOR THE COAL THAT SCRUBS OUT 98% OF THE CARBON, WE NEED TO DO IT IN A MORE METHODICAL AND MORE REASONED AND WELL THOUGHT-OUT APPROACH.

WE TRIED TO PUT IN AN OFF-RAMP SAYING IF THERE WERE BLACKOUTS, THAT WE COULD FIRE UP SOME OF THESE CARBON-BASED ENERGY PLANTS.

IN THEIR LAW, IT IS -- THEY CANNOT JUST MOTHBALL A PLANT.

THEY HAVE TO DECOMMISSION AND DISASSEMBLE THAT PLANT, SO WE CANNOT GO IN THERE AND REBUILD THAT PLANT.

HOW UN -- THAT'S SO UNSUSTAINABLE AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THEIR THINKING ON THAT.

IN MINNESOTA IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE HAD TWO SITUATIONS WHERE WE WERE DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO BLACKOUTS AND THAT'S WITH 15% OF OUR STUFF COMING FROM RENEWABLES.

IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE WITH 100%.

AND NOT TO MENTION NORTH DAKOTA IS ALREADY FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST US ON THAT BILL BECAUSE WE SOURCE A GOOD CHUNK OF OUR ENERGY FROM NORTH DAKOTA, AND THIS IS OUR LAW THAT IS PUTTING MANDATES ON THEIR BUSINESSES.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MICHAEL.

>> Reyes: CAN I GET THE QUESTION ONE MORE TIME?

>> Chelsey: SURE.

SO WHAT STEPS SHOULD THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TAKE TO SUPPORT CLIMATE RESILIENCY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA?

>> Reyes: SO, YOU KNOW, ON RESERVATIONS, THEY HAVE A STRICTER ENVIRONMENTAL CODE THAT PROTECTS THEIR ENVIRONMENT, AND WHAT MR. BLISS WAS SAYING ABOUT CARBON, ARE WE GOING TO GO COMPLETELY AWAY FROM IT, NO, WE'RE NOT, BUT WE HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE SO WE HAVE CLEAN ENVIRONMENT WITH THE COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING IN.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS I AGREE WITH AND DON'T AGREE WITH ELECTRIC CARS AND BATTERY CARS.

THAT ALSO CAN BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL -- NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, ESPECIALLY IF THOSE CATCH ON FIRE.

THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY TRAIN FOR AND HOW MUCH WATER IT TAKES TO PUT THESE OUT, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, THESE ARE OUTSIDE COMPANIES COMING IN AND MAYBE NOT ABIDING BY ANY REGULATIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN JUST PAY THE FINES OR FEES THAT ARE THERE.

AND AT THAT SAME TIME, THESE COMPANIES ARE COMING IN, THEY STILL HAVE TO HONOR TREATIES OF THOSE TRIBAL NATIONS AND I THINK WHEN THEY HONOR THOSE TREATIES TO 100% FULL, OUR ENVIRONMENT IS GOING TO BE SAFE.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE.

AND IF WE DON'T KEEP OUR ENVIRONMENT SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE AS WE SPEAK NOW, WE WON'T HAVE TOURISM.

A LOT OF OUR BUSINESSES WILL FAIL, AND SO THAT'S ONE THING WE HAVE TO THINK OF IN THE LONG RUN IS WE'RE KEEPING OUR ENVIRONMENT HERE -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE HEAD OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, SO BY US KEEPING THAT CLEAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WATER SOURCE IS SAFE.

>> Bethany: MATT, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Bliss: YEAH, REAL QUICK.

MY BUSINESS, I OWN A RESORT.

IT BASED ON OUR BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR FACILITIES WE HAVE, THE CLEAN WATER, THE FORESTS.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S WHAT DRIVES MY BUSINESS.

I OBVIOUSLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLEAN WATER AND AIR.

I DO WANT TO ADDRESS ONE THING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOLAR, AND THE NONENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLINESS OF IT.

THE SOLAR PANELS ARE BUILT, THE COMPONENTS ARE BUILT IN CHINA AND THE MATERIALS THEY USE ARE SOURCED FROM THE CONGO AND FROM USING CHILD SLAVE LABOR IN THE CONGO AND SLAVE LABOR IN CHINA.

AND THEY ARE NOT RECYCLABLE.

REPEAT, THEY ARE NOT RECYCLABLE.

THEY ARE HAZARDOUS WASTE AND THEN WINDMILLS ALSO, WE JUST RECENTLY, THERE WAS HUNDREDS OF WINDMILL BLADES STACKED UP IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA THAT ARE FINALLY BEING SHIPPED OUT OF OUR STATE.

YOU KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING?

THEY'RE GOING OUT WESTON BURIED IN THE DESERT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT RECYCLABLE OR ANYTHING EITHER.

WE NEED TO DO THIS IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY.

WE CAN'T GO 100% COAL-FREE, BUT THAT'S THE LAW THAT WAS SIGN INTO PLACE.

>> Bethany: MICHAEL, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Reyes: YEAH, I MEAN, MY REBUTTAL, I STILL HAVE TO FACT CHECK ALL THAT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW ALL THAT STUFF IS MADE AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WITH SLAVE LABOR.

WE HAVE FOR FIND SOME OTHER RESOURCES TO FOSSIL FUELS, BUT WHEN WE'RE COMING DOWN TO THE POINT OF IT IS THAT NORTHERN MINNESOTA, WE DO HAVE TO PROTECT WHAT WE ARE AND WE'RE KNOWN FOR OUR HUNTING AND FISHING AND OUR BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, SO IF WE DON'T MAKE SURE THAT'S PROTECTED, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE UP HERE?

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

WE'LL MOVE NOW TO DENNIS FOR OUR NEXT QUESTION.

>> Dennis: WE'VE ASKED OUR VIEWERS SO SEND IN QUESTIONS FOR THESE DEBATES AND WE GOT A GREAT RESPONSE THIS YEAR, MANY GOOD QUESTIONS, SO I'M GOING TO ASK QUESTION SPECIFICALLY FOR DISTRICT 2B, A VIEWER FROM PENSTRIKE SAYS, A REPORT IN THE MEDIA LAST WEEK STATED THAT ACROSS THE NATION, PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS ARE BUYING 19% OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AS THEY ARE PUT ON THE MARKET.

THIS REDUCES THE HOUSING AVAILABILITY FOR FAMILIES TO PURCHASE.

IF YOU ARE ELECTED, WOULD YOU SUPPORT COMMUNITIES' EFFORTS TO PASS ORDINANCES OR REGULATIONS THAT WOULD RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT THESE FIRMS COULD PURCHASE?

>> Bethany: MICHAEL, YOU GET THIS ONE FIRST.

>> Reyes: YES, THAT'S AN AWESOME QUESTION.

NO, THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT'S ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES HERE.

SO YES, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT 100%.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE HAVING PRIVATE CORPORATIONS BUYING THESE HOMES AND YOU'RE BUYING HOMES AT, SAY, $40,000 AND THEY'RE PAYING 60, $70,000, THAT'S DRIVING UP THE MARKET SO THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON FIXED INCOMES AND THE LAND TAXES ARE GOING UP BECAUSE OF THAT BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE MARKET IS, THEY'RE DRIVING UP THE MARKET BECAUSE CORPORATIONS ARE BUYING THEM UP.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE SMALLER TOWNS, THOSE OF US THAT LIVED HERE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE, KNOWING IT USED TO BE 70% OWNED, 30% RENTALS AND NOW YOU LOOK AT THE TOWNS AND CITIES AROUND HERE, A LOT OF THEM ARE MOSTLY RENTALS.

I WOULD SAY PROBABLY A MAJORITY, 60% OR MORE RENTALS COMPARED TO HOMEOWNERSHIP.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TAKING THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE LIFELONG, THE ECONOMY IS IMBALANCED WHEN YOU DO THAT.

I DO SUPPORT THAT 100%.

WE FIGURE OUT SOME WAY THAT WE'RE NOT TRIPLING OUR HOME -- SOME PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO SELL THEIR HOMES AND THEY CAN SAY MY HOME TRIPLES TO 150 AND IT'S ONLY WORTH $50,000, BUT IN REALITY, A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE, PROBABLY WAY OVER A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE HERE AND THEY STAY HERE AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES HERE, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SO WE DON'T HAVE CORPORATIONS BUYING UP ALL THE HOMES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE LACK OF HOUSING.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MATT?

>> Bliss: SO THIS BILL HAS COME FORWARD A COUPLE TIMES IN THE LEGISLATURE AND I HAVE VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED IT IN BOTH SITUATIONS, AND HERE'S WHY.

WHEN YOU SAY CORPORATIONS, YOU'RE THINKING OF THESE BIG MULTI-NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT COME IN WITH AN UNLIMITED BUDGET.

WELL, I'M GETTING OLDER.

YOU MIGHT MOT BE ABLE TO TELL, BUT I'M GETTING A LITTLE GRAY UP HERE.

I HAVE A BUSINESS.

I WAS THINKING MAYBE INVESTING IN A FEW RENTAL HOMES, AND I'M A CORPORATION.

I AM A CORPORATION.

SO BY LIMITING WHAT I CAN PURCHASE, I BELIEVE THE NUMBER WAS FOUR LAST YEAR, MIGHT HAVE EVEN WENT DOWN TO TWO, I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT ENDED UP, BUT YOU'RE TELLING ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN'T BUY.

THAT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN COME IN AND TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN'T INVEST IN.

AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY RESERVE THE PURCHASING OF THESE HOMES FOR NONPROFITS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE NONPROFIT SCANDALS HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WE'VE HAD THE LARGEST COVID-RELATED FRAUD THAT WAS RUN BY A NONPROFIT.

THERE ARE SOME GOOD NONPROFITS OUT THERE, DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT WHEN WE START ELIMINATING THE PRIVATE COMPETITION AND ONLY LETTING NONPROFITS IN, IT'S RIPE FOR ABUSE AND THE ONLY THING THAT YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING BY LIMITING WHAT I CAN PURCHASE OR WHAT A CORPORATION CAN PURCHASE IS YOU'RE ELIMINATING THE HOUSES THAT WILL GO ON THE MARKET, SOME AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING RATE, SOME AT MARKET HOUSING RATES, BUT YOU'RE ELIMINATING PROVIDERS BY DOING THIS, SO I DO NOT SUPPORT THAT AT ALL.

>> Bethany: MICHAEL, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Reyes: YES.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS BRINGING UP CORPORATIONS AND IT COULD BE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT'S DOING IT, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE MULTIPLE HOMEOWNERS AND THEY DO RENT OUT WITHIN THESE CITIES, BUT AT THAT TIME, THEY GET TO CHARGE THE RENT AND WHEN THESE RENTS ARE THERE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY SAID THERE WAS A COST OF FIXING THEN UP, BUT SOME OF THESE HOMES ARE VACANT.

THEY'RE USED FOR AIRBNBs AND SOME OF THAT, SO HOW IS THAT KEEPING OUR TOWNS SUSTAINABLE?

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE SUCH A DECREASE AND SEE SMALL BUSINESSES GOING AWAY BECAUSE HALF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THEM DON'T LIVE IN THEM FULL TIME.

WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THAT, GET BACK TO OUR SMALL TOWNS AND STRONG COMMUNITIES AND WHAT WE KNEW GROWING UP, SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD SUPPORT THIS BILL.

>> Bethany: MATT, REBUTTAL?

NA I'M GOOD.

>> Bethany: THEN ON TO A QUESTION FROM ASHLEY.

>> Ashley: THANK YOU.

I THINK THIS QUESTION IS STARTING WITH MATT.

SO THE BEMIDJI AREA HAS HAD PFAS CONTAMINATION IN THE WATER IN THE PAST WITH SOME WELLS EXCEEDING SAFE LEVELS AND I BELIEVE THE BUG-O-NAY-GE-SHIG SCHOOL LAST YEAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE PFAS IN THEIR DRINKING WATER.

IF ELECTED, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR A VETTING PROCESS FOR MAKING SURE WHEN THEY'RE BUILDING SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE DRINKING THE WATER WHERE -- >> Bliss: YEAH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE IN 2017-2018, THAT'S WHEN THEY FOUND THE PFAS IN THE WATER IN THE BEMIDJI DRINKING WATER.

AND I REMEMBER LOOKING INTO IT.

AND IT'S A -- IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY BAD THING THAT HAPPENED AND THAT WAS DUE TO THE FIREFIGHTING FOAM AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SINCE MOVED AWAY FROM THAT TYPE OF FOAM AND I THINK IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE GOING FORWARD.

I THINK MOST PLACES ARE MOVING AWAY FROM THAT TYPE OF TRAINING FOAM.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE -- AND I DON'T MEAN THIS AS A MINIMIZATION OF THE PROBLEM, BUT MINNESOTA HAS A LOT TIGHTER STANDARDS THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES AS FAR AS SAFE LEVELS OF PFAS, AND THEY -- THESE WELLS CAME IN RIGHT OVER THE PFAS.

AND I KNOW BEMIDJI DID INITIALLY CONSOLIDATE THEIR WELLS SO THEY DIVE DILUTED THE PFAS A LITTLE BIT SO IT WAS DOWN TO THE SAFE LEVELS AND THEN THEY INSTALLED THROUGH A BONDING BILL THAT MY PREDECESSOR WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH, GET A NICE FILTER SYSTEM IN THE CITY.

SO WE GOT RID OF THAT.

THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS VETTING PROCESS IN THE FUTURE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S -- WHAT FOREVER CHEMICALS WE'RE GOING TO FIND AND WE SHOULD BE TESTING, ESPECIALLY WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT AND DRINKING THE WATER.

SO YEAH, WE SHOULD LOOK AT ABSOLUTELY A STRINGENT TEST -- FUNDING OR -- NOT FUNDING, I'M SORRY, TESTING RITUAL FOR THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, MATT.

MICHAEL?

>> Reyes: YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS HITS CLOSE TO HOME WITH THESE LEVELS AND KIND OF WHAT MR. BLISS WAS SAYING ABOUT WITH THE FOAM THAT WE USED TO USE ON FIGHTING FIRES.

A LOT OF US HAVE WENT AWAY FROM THAT, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOOKING AT CLEAN WATER AND AIR AND PROVIDING GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, AND MR. BLISS WAS SAYING THAT HE'S ALL FOR THAT, THERE WAS A BILL THAT CAME THROUGH AND IT WAS VAGUELY FOR $7.2 MILLION FOR THE WATER SUPPLY, WATER SYSTEM THERE IN BEGLY, AND SO THE THING IS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO PUT MONEY TOWARDS?

IT'S THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF EVERYBODY, OF OUR KIDS, AND ONE THING WHEN I THINK ABOUT GOING THROUGH THESE DEBATES AND TALKING TO PEOPLE IS THAT THESE HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED, THAT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT YOU CAMPAIGN ON, SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE SAYING WE'RE GOOD TO GO BECAUSE THESE ISSUES COME UP WHEN YOU'RE IN OFFICE.

YOU HAVE TO STAND BY THEM AND YOU HAVE TO STAND UP FOR THEM BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ELECTED TO THESE SEATS HAVE TO ADDRESS IT.

SO WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THAT PFAS WAS IN THE SCHOOL, IT WAS.

THEY STILL HAD TO USE DEMOCRATICING WATER.

IT WAS BOUGHT FOR THEM AND HOW CAN YOU GO TO SCHOOL WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN DRINK OUT OF A WATER FOSS SET, IT'S NOT EVEN SAFE.

WE KNOW IF YOU HAVE CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE AND YOU'RE EXPOSING YOURSELF TO THAT FOR HALF YOUR LIFE FROM KINDERGARTEN UP TO 12th GRADE, WHAT EFFECTS ARE THERE?

I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN IT IN CASS LAKE ALONE WITH THE SUPERFUND SITE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPOSED TO THAT.

WHEN YOU'RE EXPOSED TO SOMETHING OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, IT'S GOING TO AFFECT YOU AT THE END OF YOUR AGE AND PROBABLY SHORTEN YOUR LIFE.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: MATT, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Bliss: >> Bethany: THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM CHELSEY.

>> Chelsey: SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA ARE FACING BUDGET CRISES IN THE WAKE OF FAILED REFERENDUM VOTES.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOLS IN GREATER MINNESOTA ARE EQUITABLY FUNDED?

B.

>> Bethany: MICHAEL, YOU GET THIS ONE FIRST.

>> Reyes: YOU KNOW, IT'S LOOKING AT THE -- OBVIOUSLY THE POPULATION.

IT'S ALSO MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS HAVE THE RIGHT CLASS SIZE TO A TEACHER.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE SOME CLASS SIZES THAT ARE HUGE UP HERE AND SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF FUNDING THERE, AND ALSO GIVE THEM SOME INCENTIVES.

THERE'S OTHER COUNTRIES THAT WHEN YOU'RE A TEACHER, THE SAME THING HERE, PUT YOU UP ON A HIGHER PEDESTAL BECAUSE YOU'RE THERE GIVING OUR NEXT GENERATION A BETTER LIFE AND THEY'RE EDUCATED.

WE HAVE A HARD TIME KEEPING TEACHERS, SO WHEN THERE'S BILLS ENACTED, IT'S HELPING THE SCHOOL BOARDS THAT ARE NOT TAXING ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

OUR PROVIDING STATE DOLLARS FOR SCHOOLS AND WE CAN USE THAT.

IT STILL COMES BACK TO THE THING THAT MR. BLISS SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM THE CANNABIS, BUT BEHIND DIFFERENT BONDING BILLS, THEY HAD A $18 BILLION SURPLUS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE TOOK IN PLACE SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE NEEDED AROUND THE AREA.

THAT'S HOW WE SHOULD BE USING THAT.

AND NOT GOING INTO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT GOING INTO OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, EMS, THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THE SURPLUS SHOULD BE GOING.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MATT?

>> Bliss: WELL, FIRST OFF, I WANT TO AGREE WITH THE LAST STATEMENT HE SAID.

WE SHOULD HAVE SPENT MORE OF THAT SURPLUS ON FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE A -- QUITE A HEALTHY DEBATE ON THE FLOOR WHERE IT WAS POINTED OUT IF WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THAT SURPLUS AND TAKEN THE $10 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL TAXES AND FEES AND HYPOTHETICALLY JUST WRAPPED IT IN OUR SCHOOLS, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A $30 BILLION INCREASE IN SCHOOL FUNDING.

THAT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY TAKEN CARE OF A LOT OF ISSUES.

WE KNOW THERE'S COMPETING INTERESTS AND THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THE LAST SCHOOL -- OR THE LAST BUDGET WE DID FOR THE SCHOOLS, THEY PUT OUT THAT THEY HAD RECORD SPENDING FOR OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

EVERY DOLLAR THAT WAS ON THAT BILL CAME WITH A MANDATE TO THE SCHOOLS.

WE'LL GIVE YOU THIS DOLLAR, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND THAT DOLLAR RIGHT HERE, AND BY THE WAY, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO COST YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE.

EVERY ONE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS I'VE SPOKEN TO OVER THE PAST YEAR ARE NOW IN A BUDGET CRISIS AND THEY'RE HAVING TO LAY OFF STAFF AFTER A RECORD FUNDING PERIOD.

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE SETTING MANDATES, THEY SHOULD BE SETTING STANDARDS.

WE NEED TO GET THEM OUT OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE HAVE A LOCAL ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD THAT THEY SHOULD BE FUNDING OUR SCHOOL ON A PER-CHILD BASIS.

OUR METRO SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED AT A LEVEL THROUGH THE STATE AT TWO TIMES WHAT OUR BEMIDJI SCHOOL DISTRICT IS.

THAT'STON CONSCIONABLE.

WE HAVE THE NEEDS UP HERE AS WELL AS DOWN THERE.

WE NEED TO GET THE FUNDING.

I WANT TO STRIP THE WHOLE FUNDING.

THE FUNDING IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS -- THEY CALL IT THE FORMULA AND IT'S JUST THIS LONG, LONG -- IT TAKES A PhD IN ECONOMICS TO FIGURE IT OUT AND THEN THEY TRY TO EXPLAIN IT TO US LAY MEN AND WE JUST NEED TO STRIP IT AND GO TO A PER-CHILD SYSTEM.

THE TRANSPORTATION SPARSITY BILL THAT WAS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT IN BEMIDJI AREA ESPECIALLY, I DID ALSO INTRODUCE A BILL TO HELP SCHOOLS WITH THEIR BONDING RENCHS BECAUSE THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY REFERENCED IN THIS QUESTION.

SCHOOLS IN A LOW TAX COMMUNITY, BELOW A 30% TAXABLE BASE, WOULD GET STATE-ASSISTED FUNDING FOR THEIR SCHOOL BOND REFERENDUM AND THAT WOULD ALLOW VOTERS TO -- YOU HAVE AN EXTRA MINUTE, YOU WANT TO USE IT?

>> Bliss: I'M GOING TO WRAP UP THIS QUICKLY.

IT WOULD ALLOW THE VOTERS TO APPROVE THE SCHOOL, BUT ALSO GET STATE FUNDING AND WOULDN'T HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE TAXPAYERS.

>> Bethany: MICHAEL, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Reyes: YES, WHEN YOU'RE SAYING PULLING THE MONEY OUT OF THESE SCHOOLS AND IT SHOULDN'T BE GOVERNMENT FUNDED, BUT OUR KIDS ARE MANDATED TO BE AT SCHOOL, ON IF THEY'RE MANDATED TO BE THERE, THERE SHOULD BE FUNDING PUT ASIDE FOR THE SCHOOL FOR THEM TO HAVE A HEALTHY, SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY'RE FORCED TO BE AT AT THE SAME TIME.

AND SO WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING SOME KIND OF FUNDING TO THEM AND AT WHAT RATE IT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT HEALTHIEST RATE AND THE BEST EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE FOR ANY CHILDREN THAT WANTS TO GO TO SCHOOL.

>> Bliss: I DO WANT TO SAY ONE THING.

>> Bethany: OKAY.

>> Bliss: IF I DID SAY IT, I APOLOGIZE.

IT WASN'T WHAT I MEANT TO SAY.

WHAT I MEANT TO SAY IS WE NEED TO SKRAPT CURRENT FUNDING SYSTEM -- SKRAN THE CURRENT FUNDING SYSTEM AND TAKE THE SAME POT OF MONEY AND ALLOW IT TO THE SCHOOLS ON A PER-CHILD BASIS INSTEAD THEREFORE MASSIVE FORMULA THEY COME UP WITH DOWN IN THE CITY.

OF COURSE, I THINK PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE A PUBLIC GOOD AND NEED TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THERE'S NO WAY I WOULD EVER SAY THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS THROUGH THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM DENNIS.

>> Dennis: WHAT CAN BE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE CONSTITUTION TO PREVENT AND TRY TO STOP THE NEXT SCHOOL SHOOTING?

>> Bethany: THIS QUESTION GOES TO MATT FIRST.

>> Bliss: SURE.

WELL, EVERY ONE OF OUR SCHOOL SHOOTERS HAVE HAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SO THAT GOES RIGHT BACK TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING BEFORE WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

ALSO, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR WHERE THEY -- THEY'RE GUN-FREE ZONES.

A SCHOOL SHOOTER WILL GO INTO A SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'LL HAVE THREE TO FIVE MINUTES OF UNINTERRUPTED MAYHEM TO DO AS MUCH DAMAGE AS POSSIBLE.

WE NEED TO HARDEN OUR SCHOOLS.

YES, I DON'T WANT OUR KIDS GOING TO FORT KNOCKS TO GO TO SCHOOL -- FORT KNOX TO GO TO SCHOOL, BUT THERE SHOULD BE SOMEBODY AT THE FRONT DOOR.

I'VE OFFHANDED SAID WE SHOULD REQUIRE SCHOOL TEACHERS TO GET A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT.

DON'T REQUIRE THEM TO CARRY A GUN, BUT PUT A SECOND THOUGHT IN SOMEBODY.

AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE THE ABILITY THROUGH THE PRINCIPAL TO ALLOW A TEACHER TO CARRY A GUN IF THEY WISH.

I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THEM A HARDENED MILITARY INSTALLATION, BUT IF THERE'S A SECOND THOUGHT OF SOMEBODY GOING IN WITH A GUN, THEM BEING STOND AT THE FRONT DOOR WITH THREE TO FIVE MINUTES OF THREE UNINTERRUPTED MINUTES OF MAYHEM.

THE PERSON SITTING OUTSIDE, THAT'S UNCONSHONABLE.

THAT'S WHERE I'D LIKE TO STAND ON THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MICHAEL.

>> Reyes: THIS ISSUE IS VERY COMPLEX.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO STOP THAT?

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR LOCAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND YOU'RE LOCKING THEM IN LIKE ANIMALS, LIKE THIS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THEM, BUT WE'RE ALSO HAVING THAT BEHAVIOR THAT YOU'RE LOCATION IN A PLACE, SO -- YOU'RE LOCKED IN A PLACE.

SO HOW DO WE PREVENT SCHOOL SHOOTINGS?

I'M NOT FOR TEACHERS CARRYING GUNS.

THAT'S -- YOU'RE JUST ALLOWING MORE GUNS IN SCHOOL, SO IF SOMEBODY HAS ACCESS TO A GUN FROM A TEACHER OR BREAK INTO A CAR OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL, THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOW MORE OF THESE INCIDENTS TO HAPPEN.

I THINK IF ANY POLITICIAN, ANY GOVERNMENT, ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT, ANYBODY KNEW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, I MEAN, I THINK WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, BE IN A BETTER PLACE.

I THINK REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING SOMEBODY AT THE FRONT DOOR, THEY HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, BUT ALSO PROVIDING THAT SCHOOLS GOT FUNDING, SO A LOT OF THIS FUNDING IS COMING THROUGH THE SCHOOL'S BUDGET AND HAVING A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER THERE, BUT HAVING THEM THERE IS ASSISTING.

YOU KNOW, ALSO WHEN YOU PUT IN SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOL, SOMETIMES IT CAN CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS THAN WHAT IT -- WHAT'S THERE WITH THEM WITH THE SCHOOL ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND WHAT LAW AND WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR, BUT HAVING SCHOOL OFFICER RESOURCES THERE FOR THAT REASON AND, YOU KNOW, I GET REALLY -- I REALLY COULDN'T TELL YOU THE ANSWER TO THIS.

I THINK IF SOMEBODY KNEW THAT WE WOULD PREVENT AND HAVE A LOT MORE PARENTS WITH KIDS THAT ARE HERE, SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MATT, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Bliss: YES, JUST REAL QUICK.

ONE THING I FAILED TO MENTION IN THE LAST ONE IS MOST SCHOOL SHOOTERS HAVE BEEN ON THE RADAR OF THE FBI.

THE THEY'VE KNOWN THE KIDS HAVE BEEN TRULKD.

THE MOST RECENT ONE, I ALREADY TOLD PEOPLE HE WAS GOING TO SHOOT UP THE SCHOOL AND HE STILL WAS ALLOWED TO HAVE THE FIREARM THROUGH HIS FATHER, OF COURSE, HE GAVE IT TO HIM.

TO HAVING THE ARMED TEACHERS, MY WIFE IS A SCHOOL TEACHER.

I DON'T WANT HER TO CARRY A PHI ARM IN SCHOOL, I REALLY -- A FIREARM IN SCHOOL, I REALLY DON'T, BUT I DO RISH THERE WAS MORE PEOPLE IN THERE.

NOT ALL SCHOOLS ARE CAPABLE OF HAVING A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.

WOO DID PROVIDE FUNDING IN 2017 OR 2018 TO HARDEN SCHOOLS AND WE ALLOWED A BLOCK GRANT TO THEM SO THEY COULD DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR THEIR SCHOOL FOR THE HARDENING OR SECURITY PURPOSES OF THEIR SCHOOL.

SO THAT'S -- I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT A LITTLE BIT.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: MICHAEL, REBUTTAL?

>> Reyes: NO THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THEN WE'LL MOVE TO A QUESTION FROM ASHLEY.

MICHAEL, YOU'LL ANSWER THIS ONE FIRST.

>> Ashley: THANK YOU.

OUR REGION IS HOME TO CRITICAL TRIBAL RESOURCES AND LANDS.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO COLLABORATE WITH TRIBAL NATIONS TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF THESE LANDS AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES THEY DEPEND ON, PARTICULARLY WITH THREATS LIKE INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> Reyes: WELL, BEING A LEECH LAKE BAND MEMBER, GROWING UP HERE, I'M ENROLLED IN LEECH LAKE.

MY FATHER IS ENROLLED IN WHITE EARTH.

A LOT OF FRIENDS ENROLLED IN RED LAKE AND NUMEROUS OTHER TRIBES, SO WORKING TOGETHER AND ALSO UNDERSTANDING TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, NODDING THAT THE SOVEREIGNTY THEY HOLD AND THE RIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE FOR TREATY RIGHTS, AND THAT'S THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND.

SO WORKING TOGETHER IS THE ONE THING TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND WHY THEY'RE HERE AND THE POINTS OF, SAY, WILD RICE AND WHY WE PROTECT IT SO MUCH.

THAT'S OUR MIGRATION STORY.

TO THE INDIGENOUS PERSON F THAT'S SOMETHING WE LOSE, THAT'S SOMETHING WE FOLLOWED HERE AND WE MIGRATED HERE TO, SO HAVING THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

LIKE I SAID, I'M STILL ON THE PIKE BAY BOARD AND WHEN WE STARTED THAT RELATIONSHIP AS OUR PIKE BAY SUPERVISOR, THAT IT CUT COSTS HAVING THAT HEALTHY WORKING -- THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

IT ALSO PROVIDES MORE BRAINS TO IDEAS, MORE THOUGHTS, AND YOU'RE IN AN AREA THAT IS 70%, YOU KNOW, TRIBAL LANDS.

SO WHY NOT HAVING A WORKING ROMNEY WITH THEM, WHO ARE YOU REALLY WORKING WITHIN THOSE TIMES, I MEAN WITHIN THIS AREA OF 2B?

I KNOW IT'S MORE BENEFICIAL TO TRIBES AND MORE BENEFICIARY TO WORK TOGETHER WITH YOUR LOCAL CITY MUNICIPALITIES, YOUR TOWNSHIPS, AND ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER BECAUSE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, THAT'S THE ONE WAY WE SURVIVE IS WORKING TOGETHER.

AND ME HAVING THE LEECH LAKE BAND ENROLLEES, THAT I'M ABLE TO UNDERSTAND TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MICHAEL.

MATT?

>> Bliss: THANK YOU.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO -- I'VE WORKED FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS FOR 20-SOME YEARS.

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE OPERATIONS OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

WE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL WHERE TREATY RIGHTS, AND YES, THE TREATY RIGHTS THE WAY THE CONSTITUTION IS WORDED IS THAT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND ALL TREATIES THERE UNDER ARE THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAW AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION DOES PROVIDE TO INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROPERTY UNDER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IN SOME TRIBAL AREAS IS THAT THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ARE NOW GOING OUTSIDE OF THE TRIBAL RESERVATIONS, FIVE MILE BUFFER OUTSIDE THE TRIBAL RESERVATIONS, AND ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL WHAT PRIVATE LANDOWNERS DO ON THEIR LAND.

NOW, THAT'S NOT SAYING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THAT AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE CONCERNED, BUT TO JUST STEP IN AND PUT A MORATORIUM ON IT WITHOUT CONSULTING THE LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND MUNICIPALITIES AND ALSO WORK WITH THE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF OVERSTEPPING.

BUT I THINK THE FARMERS OUT THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

THEY WANT TO HELP.

THEY WANT TO LIVE ON THIS LAND TOO, THEY WANT TO PRESERVE THE WATER AND EVERYTHING.

I KNOW A NOT OF NON-BANDERS THAT ARE RICERS AND THEY RELY ON THAT FOR A GOOD INCOME.

THERE'S A LOT OF LEECH LAKE TRIBAL MEMBERS AS WELL AS RED LAKE TRIBAL MEMBERS, THAT'S A HUGE PART OF THEIR INCOME AND TRADITION FOR GATHERING RICE AND HARVESTING IT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S THERE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME, BUT ALSO WORK WITH THE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MICHAEL, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Reyes: YES, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FIVE MILES OUTSIDE THE RESERVATION, IT'S ACTUALLY MORE THAN FIVE MILES BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CEDED LANDS, TRIBAL NATIONS THAT THEIR LANDS WERE CONDENSED DOWN TO REXES, TALKING ABOUT CONCEDED LANDS BY 1855, 854 TREATY RIGHTS.

THEY COVER ALL OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA, GO DOWN TO ST.

CLOUD, SO BY HAVING THAT, ALSO ANYTHING THAT'S OUTSIDE THAT CAN AFFECT THE RESERVATION, SO THEY DO HAVE A SAY OVER THAT.

AND THE ONE THING IS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER AND THAT'S THE ONE THING OF UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING FARMERS.

I'M NOT A FARMER, BUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT REGULATING THEM SO THEY CAN'T PROVIDE CROPS THAT ALSO FEED PEOPLE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MATT, REBUTTAL?

>> Bliss: I'M GOOD.

>> Bethany: THEN AT THIS POINT, WE'LL MOVE INTO CLOSING COMMENTS.

MATT, YOU GET CLOSING COMMENTS FIRST.

TWO MINUTES.

>> Bliss: THANK YOU.

ONCE AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK LAKELAND AND OUR MODERATORS FOR HOLDING THIS DEBATE AND TO MR. REYES AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I HAVE TO BE NICE TO MR. REYES BECAUSE I BELIEVE I'M IN THE LEECH LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICE AREA.

SO:MENT DL IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO REPRESENT THE GOOD PEOPLE OF DISTRICT TWO G AND I LOOK FORWARD TO REPRESENTING THEM ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

TONIGHT WE'VE HEARD TWO DIFFERENT VIEWS ON HOW BEST TO MOVE FORWARD AND ADDRESS ISSUES IMPACTING OUR STATE AND COMMUNITIES.

I PUT MY COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING ISSUES.

UNDER CRIME, INFLATION AND ENERGY AND OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THE PATH THAT THE DFL TRIPLE-DEMIC CONTROL IN ST. PAUL STEERED US.

WE MUSTSTON AND CHANGE THE COURSE AND WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN FIX THIS.

REMEMBER, EITHER VOTING HAS ALREADY STARTED AND IF YOU CAN, PLEASE VOTE EARLY AND BANK YOUR VOTE.

WE KNOW THERE CAN BE CHALLENGES ON ELECTION DAY.

REMEMBER, THIS IS MINNESOTA.

ELECTION DAY IS IN NOVEMBER.

WEATHER CAN HAPPEN.

PLEASE, IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY, PLEASE STILL DO, BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A SOLID PLAN TO DO SO.

EITHER WAY IT'S HIGHLY CRITICAL THAT YOU GET OUT AND VOTE AND MAKE SURE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DO AS WELL.

I ASK YOU TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE FOR ME, MATT BLISS, FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANKS, MATT.

MICHAEL.

>> Reyes: SO THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR TUNING IN, THANK YOU LAKELAND TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME OF MY PLATFORMS AND MY IDEAS.

ONE THING IS I'M NOT RUNNING, YOU KNOW, AGAINST MATT BLISS.

I'M SHOWING MYSELF AND HOW THERE CAN BE CHANGE AND ELECTING SOMEBODY THAT'S LIVED HERE HIS WHOLE LIFE, SOMEBODY THAT'S STILL FIGHTING, SOMEBODY THAT STILL LIVES HERE, AND PROVIDING ALL THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES I'VE LEARNED OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS TO HELP A BETTER -- HAVE A BETTER 2B REPRESENTATIVE.

I'M NOT SAYING MATT'S HAD -- HE'S DONE HIS DUE DILIGENCE AS A REPRESENTATIVE, BUT I THINK IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE.

LIKE HE SAID, EARLY VOTING HAS STARTED.

NOT WORKING TOGETHER IN THE HOUSE, IF IT'S REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND FIGHTING AMONGST EACH OTHER, WHO REALLY IS HURT IS THE CONSTITUENTS.

THE ONE THING YOU'RE GETTING WITH ME IS SOMEBODY THAT WORKS TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE, SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS HOW TO WORK AS A TEAM AND GET THINGS DONE.

SO WHEN YOU'RE GETTING YOUR BALLOT AND GOING TO THE POLLS, JUST SEE THAT THERE'S ANOTHER CHOICE, SOMEBODY THAT HAS SEEN THESE ISSUES FIRST HAND, THESE ISSUES THAT WE FACE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND RURAL MINNESOTA.

THE ONE THING THEY DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IS THE FIRST RESPONDERS.

THE ONE THING THAT I'M REALLY PUSHING FOR.

MR. BLISS SAID I AM A FIREFIGHTER AND NECESSARY MY AREA.

THERE ARE NEED -- HE IS IN MY AREA.

THERE ARE NEEDS THERE AND THEY'RE NOT BEING ADDRESSED.

HOW MANY OF US ARE VOLUNTEER FIRE FIERPTS.

THAT'S WHAT -- FIREFIGHTERS.

WHAT'S WE DEPEND ON IN RURAL MINNESOTA IS VOLUNTEER.

HOW CAN WE COMPENSATE THEM AND MAKE SURE OR RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE, WE HAVE SAFE DRINKING WATER, WE'RE HEALTHY AND HAVE BUSINESSES, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES STRIVE.

WE DO THAT BY VOTING NOW AND UP TO NOVEMBER 5th FOR THAT CHANGE AND I HOPE YOU VOTE MICHAEL REYES.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE DEBATE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU TO OUR PANELISTS FOR THE QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PORTION OF TONIGHT'S DEBATE OR WOULD LIKE TO WATCH IT AGAIN, IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE LAKELAND PBS WEBSITE WITHIN 24 HOURS.

THAT WEBSITE IS LPTV.ORG.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LOCAL CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT THIS ELECTION SEASON, VISIT BEMIDJI PIONEER.COM OR PICK UP A COPY OF THE BEMIDJI PIONEER VOTER'S GUIDE WHICH WILL ALSO BE MAILED TO SUBSCRIBERS IN THE OCTOBER 26th NEWSPAPERS.

THE DIGITAL VOTER'S GUIDE AND ALL ONLINE LOCAL ELECTION STORIES ARE FREE TO READERS REGARDLESS OF SUBSCRIPTION STATUS.

YOU CAN HEAR THE UP NORTH REPORT NEWSCAST ON 91.7 KAXE, 90.5K BXE, AND 89.9 IN BRAINERD OR ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP.

FINE MORE LOCAL NEWS AT ELECTION COVERAGE AT KAXE.ORG AND FOLLOW KAXE/KBXE ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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