IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> Mary: WE HAVE FORMER SENATORS, A RETIRING REPRESENTATIVE AND A BRAND-NEW ONE.

ALL YOUR BASES COVERED, 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... MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES: A LEADING PRODUCER OF THE FUELS MINNESOTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: DELIVERING NEARLY $4 BILLION TO BENEFIT ALL MINNESOTANS SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

LAWMAKERS ARE AWAY ON ANOTHER QUICK HOLIDAY BREAK.

WE HAVE FORMER LAWMAKERS HERE TO BREAK DOWN WHAT'S LEFT TO DO THIS SESSION.

WE ALSO HAVE A RETIRING REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER WITH A LOT OF HISTORY AT THE STATE CAPITOL IS WITH US, AND OUR FIRST-TERM DFL LEGISLATOR IS PART OF A TREND OF SCIENTISTS TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO PUBLIC POLICY.

BUT FIRST, IT'S OMNIBUS BILL TIME.

SOME ARE EVEN GETTING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> THE BILL IS PASSED AND ITS TITLE AGREED TO.

>> Mary: BIG OMNIBUS BUDGET AND POLICY BILLS ARE MOVING OFF THE FLOOR IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE: WE ALL CARE ABOUT RETURN ON INVESTMENT, ECONOMIC VITALITY, JOB CREATION, THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN REORGANIZED IN THE BILL.

>> Mary: FROM JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, LAWMAKERS ARE FINDING SOME AGREEMENT.

THIS BILL HAS MULTIPLE PROVISIONS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO VICTIM SURVIVORS AND PROVISIONS THAT MAKE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MORE JUST.

>> LONG BEFORE I CAME INTO THE HOUSE HERE, THIS IS HOW I ENVISIONED PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS WOULD GO.

WE'D HAVE DISCUSSIONS, WE'D HAVE SOME ARGUMENTS, WE'D HAVE SOME DISAGREEMENTS AND WE'D MAKE BILLS BETTER.

FOR THE MOST PART, I CAN SAY THAT THE BILLS INCLUDED IN THIS OMNIBUS BILL ARE THAT.

GOING FORWARD, I HOPE WE HAVE THE SAME SPIRIT OF COOPERATION AND UNIFIED WORK IN THE NEXT BILL.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS AGREED THE BIPARTISAN BILL WILL MAKE THE STATE SAFER AND INCREASES PERMITS FOR MANDATORY REPORT YEARS WHO FAILED TO REPORT ABUSE.

>> THIS MAKES IT SO THAT THE JIMS AND THE KARENS AND THE JENNIFERS AND THE SUMMERS AND THE VALERIES HAVE A LITTLE HOPE.

AND THAT SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS BETTER WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR NAUGHT.

>> THIS BILL CORRECT HISTORICAL WRONGS AND FEDERAL MISTAKES.

>> Mary: THE HOUSE HIMSELF PASSED AN OMNIBUS ELECTIONS BILL WITH AN EYE TOWARDS EQUITY.

>> HERE IN MINNESOTA, WELL CHERISH OUR VALUES OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY AND EQUITY.

WE NDERSTAND THAT TO OVERCOME OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES, WE MUGS UNITE ACROSS GENERATIONS.

WE'RE BUILDING A DEMOCRACY THAT TRULY SERVES THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

>> OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE, WHEN EVERYBODY AS A VOICE IN THE DECISION-MAKING.

>> Mary: AROUND THE OR-RACING INDUSTRY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT MORE THAN ONE BILL.

>> IF WE AREN'T PART OF A SPORTS-BETTING BILL, IT CUTS US OUT AND WE WILL SEE ALL OF OUR REVENUES DECREASE BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER OPTION OUT THERE THAT WE WERE CUT OUT OF.

>> WE'RE NOT ASKING NOR A HAND-FROM THE STATE, WE'RE ASKING FOR THE STATE NOT TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL PUT US OUT OF BUSINESS.

A NEW SPORTS BETTING BILL THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE RACETRACKS IS GOING TO TAKE REVENUE FROM THE RACETRACKS.

♪♪ >> MARY: THESE TWO FORMER LAWMAKERS ARE NO STRANGERS TO THE EBB AND FLOW OF THE LEGISLATURE.

AND THE BREAKS AND COMING BACK FROM BREAK.

FORMER STATE SENATORS DFLER KARLA BIGHAM AND REPUBLICAN MICHELLE BENSON.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEW POLL THAT'S OUT, THE NEWS OF THE DAY, KSTP POLL THAT SAYS HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE SLIGHTLY UP IN THE RACE FOR CONTROL HERE.

LET'S GO TO THE REPUBLICAN FIRST.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY, AS YOU TAKE COMMON SENSE TO MINNESOTANS, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEIR TAXES WERE GOING TO GET RAISED, THEY DIDN'T KNOW A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE BEING PUSHED.

MINNESOTANS ARE PRETTY COMMON SENSE AND SO AS LONG AS REPUBLICANS STAY IN THE COMMON SENSE LANE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD SHOT IN THE FALL.

>> Mary: SHOULD DEMOCRATS BE WORRIED?

>> NO, IT'S LIKE SAYING I'M GOING TO LOSE TEN POUNDS FOR MY CLASS REUNION DOWN THE ROADS.

IT'S VERY EARLY IN APRIL TO DO THIS.

BOTH SIDES WILL BE CRAFTING MESSAGES AND GETTING OUT HERE AND THERE.

THEY HAVE SIX WEEKS LEFT OF SESSION, MAYBE, OR FIVE WEEKS LEFT OF SESSION.

>> Mary: IF THEY DON'T GO HOME EARLY.

>> WHICH I'M THAT WHEN I SEE IT.

BUT THAT'S WHEN THEY'LL REALLY GETS ON THE DOOR AND GET THE MESSAGING FOR BOTH SIDES.

FOR BOTH SIDES, THEY'LL FRAME IT UP.

>> Mary: I'M PRETTY SURE THEY WERE IN THE FIELD ON THIS POLL BEFORE THE ARIZONA ABORTION BAN HIT BECAUSE ABORTION ENDED UP AFFECTING MINNESOTA'S ELECTIONS AND NATIONALLY .

COULD THAT HAVE REVERBERATIONS?

>> IMMIGRATION AND INFLATION ARE GOING TO BE REALLY HIGH ON THE LIST.

WE'LL SEE WHAT KIND OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS GET PASSED BY THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO REALLY IMPACT VOTER TURNOUT AND REPUBLICAN -- >> Mary: WHICH IS STILL VERY MUCH UP IN THE AIR, ERA, ABORTION LANGUAGE GETS ON THIS CYCLE, NEXT CYCLE, TO BE DETERMINED.

>> AND THE YEAR-ROUND LEGISLATURE, IF WE HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TELLING PEOPLE LEGISLATORS WANT TO BE HERE YEAR' ROUNDS, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM SOME OTHER MESSAGING SO ET'S SEE HOW MUCH MONEY COMES IN ON ISSUES THAT MINNESOTANS DON'T REALLY WANT.

MINNESOTANS DON'T WANT A YEAR-ROUND LEGISLATURE BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS POPULAR AS SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS.

>> Mary: DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOUR OWN LEGISLATURE.

>> I DO BELIEVE THAT THE MESSAGING THAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL BRING WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE WONDERFUL, INCREDIBLE THINGS THEY DID ON THE CHILD TAX CREDIT AND A LOT OF THE INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, THE INCREDIBLE HISTORICAL MONEY THEY DID FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND A LOT OF THOSE WILL GET OUT THERE AND THE REPUBLICANS WILL BE GETTING THEIR MESSAGES OUT, TOO, SO LIKE I SAID, IT'S REALLY EARLY.

IT'S APRIL.

>> LET'S BE CLEAR, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE SAYING WE STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY SO WHEN DEMOCRATS SAY WE GAVE YOU ALL THIS MONEY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE SAYING, NOT SO MUCH.

THERE WERE A LOT OF MANDATES WITH THAT AND WHEN IT COMES O PUBLIC SAFETY, THE AVERAGE MINNESOTAN DOES NOT BELIEVE THE DEMOCRATS STAND BY COPS.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE OU BOTH SAW THAT PIECE THIS WEEK.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER SEEN SO MUCH PEACE IN THE VALLEY DOWN HERE IN HE HOUSE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHY THIS TIME AROUND HAS THAT BECOME A BIPARTISAN ISSUE?

>> WELL, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS A -- AN ISSUE THAT ACROSS THE STATE PEOPLE HAVE UNITED AROUND, AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT HERE TO SAY OUR BLESSINGS TO THE OFFICERS THAT WERE INJURED TODAY AND THANK GOD THAT THEY WERE NOT -- >> Mary: THIS WAS IN MINNETONKA TODAY.

>> IN MINNETONKA, IT WAS NOT A TRAGEDY THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED WAY TOO MUCH HERE IN MINNESOTA SO THANK GOD FOR THAT.

AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM.

BUT I DO THINK THAT SAFE COMMUNITIES ARE ALWAYS ON EVERYONE'S MINDS BECAUSE EVERYONE DESERVES THEM AND THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

THEY HAVE.

>> Mary: BUT THIS HAS CHANGED.

IT HAS GOTTEN MORE BIPARTISANSHIP.

>> LET'S BE REALLY, REALLY CLEAR.

THERE'S ONLY ONE PARTY THAT WAS SAYING DEFUND THE COPS.

AND THERE WAS ONE PARTY THAT WAS SAYING WE STANDS WITH THE COPS AND WHEN YOU ASK A COP, WHICH PARTY SUPPORTS THEM, IT'S THE REPUBLICANS NOT THE DEMOCRATS.

>> Mary: BUT YOU'RE NOT HEARING THAT DIVISIVE LANGUAGE ANYMORE.

[Overlapping Conversation].

>> I'M TELL YOU ONE PARTY THAT VOTED FOR THE HISTORICAL FUNDING AND THAT WAS THE DEMOCRATS.

>> THIS WAS A COMPROMISE BILL BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE REALIZED THEY HAVE TO TONE DOWN THE ANTI-COP RECEIPT RHETORIC.

OUR FIRST RESPONDERS GETTING SHOT IN BURNSVILLE, FIRST RESPONDERS GETTING SHOT TODAY.

THEY NEED TO KNOW EVERY SINGLE DAY, YES, THEY WILL E HELD ACCOUNTABLE BUT MINNESOTANS HAVE THEIR BACK AND THE RHETORIC FOR YEARS HAS BEEN COPS ARE AD.

FROM THE DEMOCRATS.

>> Mary: IS IT EASIER TO GET BIPARTISAN VOTE RIGHT NOW WHEN THE OMNIBUS BILLS AREN'T SO BIG AND CONTROVERSIAL ANYMORE?

IN YEAR TWO?

>> WELL, I THINK BUDGET YEAR ARE MORE DIFFICULT, YEA, I THINK THAT'S ACCURATE.

ALSO MORE DIFFICULT WHEN YOU'RE -- WHEN YOU'RE ARGUING OVER REVENUE STREAMS, RIGHT, AND CUTS OR -- >> Mary: BECAUSE THE SENATE WAS PUTTING UP VOTES ON JOBS BILLS TOGETHER.

>> MOST EVER THEM HAVE BEEN BIPARTISAN AND UNANIMOUS IN THE HOUSE.

>> AND UDGET BILLS, IN A BUDGET YEAR, WHEN YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR, HOWES AND SENATE AND THERE DOESN'T TO HAVE TO BE REALLY ANY BACK AND FORTH, THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIVOT THAN -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SENATE POSITION, WE'VE GOT REPUBLICANS TAKING A POSITION, NEGOTIATING AGAINST A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT PARTISANSHIP THAN WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIFECTA AND ALL THE VOTES GO ONE WAY.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED THE GOVERNOR, KIND OF ONE OF THE FAVORITE PARLOR GAMES AROUND HERE NOW IS THE GOVERNOR RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM, IS HE RUNNING FOR A FEDERAL CABINET BOGGS, OR PRESIDENT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK, WHAT'S NEXT FOR TIM WALZ?

>> I THINK HE'S BEING GOVERNOR.

I THINK HE IS.

I MEAN, I ACTUALLY -- >> Mary: IS HE GOING TO DO AN UNPRECEDENTED THIRDS TERM, THOUGH?

OTHERS HAVE TRIED AND DIDN'T GO SO WELL.

I GREW UP WITH RUDY PERPICH GIVING IT A TRY.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE THINKING, THEY ARE A TEAM, A UNITED TEAM AND I THINK THEY HAVE DONE INCREDIBLE THINGS FOR MINNESOTA AND -- >> Mary: DO YOU WANT HIM TO RUN AGAIN?

>> I THINK HE'S DONE A TREMENDOUS THING.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT HIM IN WHATEVER CHOICE THAT HE WOULD MOVE FORWARD ON.

>> BUT EVERY SINGLE ELECTED FISHING HAS EOPLE SAYING ON YOUR STAFF, YOU CAN DO BIGGER, YOU CAN DO MORE.

>> Mary: DOES HE RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND STILL KEEP HIS TOE IN THE NATIONAL OFFICE?

>> SO, THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE WAY TO STAY RELEVANT FOR PRESIDENT IS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN.

>> Mary: SO SOUNDS LIKE, YEAH, THAT WE THINK -- WELL, WHAT ABOUT MINNESOTANS?

WE DON'T HAVE TERM LIMITS, SO MANY OTHER POLITICAL REPORTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY YOU DON'T EVER TERM LIMITS BECAUSE WE HAVE REALLY HIGH VOTER TURNOUT.

IT'S JUST BEEN A TRADITION, AN UNSPOKEN RULE.

>> RIGHT.

>> Mary: DO OU GET IN TROUBLE FOR VIOLATING THAT?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, THE RULES HAVE ALL BEEN THROWN OUT.

>> Mary: THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

>> IN THE POST-COVID, AMOUNT RULES ARE GONE.

>> AND THE VOTERS DECIDE, RIGHT AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT.

>> Mary: ANY CHANCE OF EARLY ADJOURN.

>> 21 DAYS.

IF THERE IS A YEAR IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, IT'S THIS YEAR.

[Laughter] [Overlapping Conversation].

>> AND WHEN YOU WATCH THEM RUNNING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE DAYS WHEN THEY HAVE MONDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY SESSIONS, IT'S A GOOD WAY TO CREATE EARLY PRESSURE.

SO IF I'M LOOKING AT THESE TWO LEADERS, BOTH POWERFUL WOMEN SAYING WE NEED TO THE POWER TO COME EARLIER SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE ADJOURN LIGHTS, BURN THE LEGISLATIVE DAYS AND FORCE A BONDING BILL.

>> Mary: AND WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS, GOVERNOR, SUPREME COURT JUSTICES CAME TOGETHER FOR A GREAT GOAL, TO RESTORE THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE TO ITS PAST GLORY.

[Cheering] >> MARY: YOU JUST HEARD HIM THERE, RETIRING LAWMAKER AND LONG-TIME VOICE IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT, REPRESENTATIVE DEAN URDAHL.

I'M WONDERING IF WHAT WE JUST SAW THERE IS WHAT YOUR MOST PROUD OF, THAT TOP TO BOTTOM GENERATIONAL RESTORATION OF THIS BUILDING.

>> I THINK SO.

IF I WERE TO LIST OVER MY 22 YEARS, MY PROUDEST MOMENT, IT WAS MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CAPITOL RESTORATION.

LET ME MAKE CLEAR, THOUGH, I HAVE CHANGED JACKETS SINCE THAT DAY.

>> WE ALL QUESTION YOU ABOUT THAT.

LET'S REMINDS PEOPLE HOW LONG IT TOOK BECAUSE I ALWAYS SAY I SPENT TEN YEARS WORKING ON THAT DOCUMENTARY.

IT WAS TEN, 20 YEARS OF LEGISLATIVE EFFORT TO FINALLY GET THAT THROUGH.

>> RIGHT.

I WAS ELECTED IN 2002 AND BEFORE THAT TIME, WHEN I WAS NOT IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, DRIVING BY HERE AT NIGHT LOOKING AT THE BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND THINKING, BOY, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK SOME DAY, AND THEN FINALLY GETTING IN HERE AND WALKING AROUND AND LOOKING AND GOING -- >> Mary: AND WATCHES IT CRUMBLE.

WE SHOULD REMIND PEOPLE, THE BUILDING WAS FALLING OFF.

WE WERE IN DANGER.

THE WALLS WERE LEAKING, WATER GUSHED THROUGH THAT FAMOUS NIGHT IT FINALLY GOT THROUGH, RIGHT?

>> YES, YES.

>> Mary: IT WAS ALMOST BIBLICAL.

>> AND I WAS SPEAKING THAT NIGHT WHEN THE WATER STARTED COMING THROUGH BUT THAT WAS A POINT I WAS GOING TO MAKE, FROM THE OUTSIDE, NOT BEING HERE, EVERYTHING LOOKED GREAT.

BUT ONCE YOU GET IN HERE, AND YOU SEE THAT THE MURALS ARE BEING STAINED, THE WATER IS LEAKING, ARE CRUMBLING, THEY HAD TO PUT SCAFFOLDING AROUND THE CAPITOL TO -- >> Mary: TO PROTECT US.

>> TO PROTECT PEOPLE.

>> Mary: TO GETS IN AND OUT, YEAH.

>> AND SO IT BECAME PLAIN TO ME THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE DONE.

>> Mary: AND HAD TO BE DONE IN BIPARTISANSHIP, BICAMERAL FASHION.

>> RIGHT.

FOR ONE THING, IT HAD TO BE THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT BONDING WHEN IT STARTED AND WHEN WE REACHED THE VOTE ON ITS, I THINK THE DEMOCRATS NEEDED 6 REPUBLICAN VOTES TO GET THIS GOING AND WE MANAGED TO -- IN A MORE BIPARTISAN MANNER THAN THAT GET THEM THE VOTES BUT, I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS TO O SOMETHING AND THERE WAS A PLAN TO DIG OUT UNDER THE STEPS IN FRONT OF THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: I REMEMBER THAT PLAN.

YOU MENTIONED CAPITOL INVESTMENTS BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN YOUR SPECIALTY HERE IN YOUR TIME AND THAT REQUIRES BIPARTISANSHIP, SO TAKE US A LITTLE UNDER THE HOOD.

HOW HARD IS IT TO BUILD AND HELP BUILD A BIPARTISAN SUPER MAJORITY WHICH YOU'VE DONE TIME AND TIME AGAIN HERE?

>> IT'S NOT VERY EASY.

[CHUCKLING] I HAVE TO, IN MY ROLE GO, AGAIN, I'VE BEEN THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, I'VE BEEN THE REPUBLICAN LEAD ON THE COMMITTEE, AND THIS HAS BEEN -- I'VE BEEN HERE 2 YEARS AND 20 OF THEM, 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THIS COMMITTEE.

>> Mary: BUILDING VOTES.

BUYING VOTES?

NO, I DON'T -- I'M A PHILOSOPHY -- FIRST OF ALL, YOU DO THESE THINGS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SKILL, A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK AND PUTTING THEM TOGETHER AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.

>> Mary: RELATIONSHIPS AND PEOPLE HAVE TO LIKE YOU, QUITE HONESTLY, THEY HAVE TO LIKE YOU AND TRUST YOU -- >> TRUST IS THE WORD.

I MEAN, I BELIEVE IN, YOU KNOW, MY WORD IS MY BOND HERE, I'LL DO WHAT I CAN DO BUT I HAVE -- >> Mary: IS IT HARD BEING A NICE GUY ARE HAD, THOUGH?

HAS IT GOTTEN HARDER?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT -- IT'S HARDER TO BE HERE, I WILL SAY THAT.

>> Mary: IS IT MORE EXTREME, MORE PARTISAN?

>> I FIND IT TO BE MORE EXTREME AND MORE PARTISAN AND, YOU KNOW, MY GOING BACK TO THE BONDING BILL, WHAT I TRY TO DO AND, AGAIN, AS A REPUBLICAN LEAD ON A COMMITTEE, OKAY, THEN THE CHAIR BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE BECAUSE HAT BILL IS NOT GOING TO PASS RIGHT NOW UNLESS THEY GET 11 REPUBLICAN VOTES.

>> Mary: IS IT GOING TO PASS HIS YEAR?

>> I BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE A BILL.

>> Mary: OKAY.

LAST UESTION, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE OTHER PART OF YOUR LIFE, THE FILMMAKER, THE HISTORY TEACHER.

TELL US WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AND WHAT YOU HAVE COMING UP.

>> WELL, MY BOOK.

I'VE GOT A BOOK THAT'S TITLED "ENDS OF SESSION."

WHICH IS THE STORY OF MY LEGISLATIVE CAREER HERE.

WE'RE ABOUT UP TO MY LAST CHAPTER CALLED SINE DIE.

>> Mary: WOW.

>> AND WE'LL -- >> Mary: ANY MORE FILMS, PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW YOU'RE A HISTORIC FILMMAKER, RIGHT?

>> I HAVE NINE PUBLISHED BOOKS, A LOT OF THEM ON HISTORICAL FICTION AND RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT ONE THAT WE FINISHED A YEAR AGO CALLED "UPRISING," AND THAT CAN BE SEEN -- IT'S BEING STREAMED RIGHT NOW.

GO TO XUMO, GO TO EW MOVIES AND UPRISING.

>> Mary: ANOTHER PROJECT, TOO, IN THE WORKS?

>> LAST FALL WE ACTUALLY FILMED -- WELL, WE DID ONE MOVIE AND PARTS OF TWO OTHERS AND THE MOVIE THAT WE DID, "ASSAULT ON FORT RIDGELY" WHICH IS KIND OF A CONTINUE WAYS OF "UPRISING" WILL BE PROPOSAL ISSUED IN LITCHFIELD AT THE HOLLYWOOD THEATER ON APRIL 23rd.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH, REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL NOR YOUR SERVES AND CAREER.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN.

PEOPLE COME HERE WITH THE IDEA THAT WHAT THEY WANT TO DID IS THEIR BEST TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.

THAT SHOULD BE THE GOAL.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MARY: THIS FIRST-TERM DFL LAWMAKER IS ALREADY A CO-CHAIR IN A JOINT COMMITTEE ON WATER POLICY AND HOPES THAT HER SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND CAN HELP REACH ACROSS THE AISLE.

REPRESENTATIVE, FIRST QUESTION WE ASK EVERY SIMM FRESHMAN, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO ANSWER.

SO MY BACKGROUND IS ACTUALLY ALL IN LABORATORY GENETICS AND I WAS SEEING ALL THIS GREAT WORK BEING DONE AT THE BENCH BUT IT WASN'T NECESSARILY TRANSLATING INTO UP-TO-DATE OR GOOD POLICY SO I THOUGHT, BEING UNIQUE CIENTIST THAT I CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES, I GOT INVOLVED WITH MY UNION, GOT INVOLVED WITH MY COMMUNITY TO KIND OF LEARN HOW TO ORGANIZE AND LEARN HOW TO DRAFT POLICY LANGUAGE AND LEARN ABOUT POLICIES THAT I COULD BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE SCIENTISTS WHO KNOW THE SCIENTISTS, SCIENCE AND THE POLICY-MAKERS WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR AS MUCH OF THE SCIENCE.

>> Mary: I'VE BEEN AROUND POLITICS FOREVER, MY WHOLE LIFE AND THERE WERE VERY FEW TO KNOW SCIENTISTS FOR MUCH OF MY CAREER ND SUDDENLY THE CAPITOL IS FULL OF METEOROLOGISTS AND ACCREDITED SCIENTISTS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS THAT FOLKS IN YOUR PROFESSION ARE LEANING IN NOW TO PUBLIC POLICY?

>> I THINK IT'S JUST O MUCH OF OUR POLICY CONVERSATIONS ARE CENTERED AROUND SCIENCE AND EVERYTHING FROM CLIMATE CHANGE TO VACCINATIONS TO COVID RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, FENTANYL CRISIS, SO MUCH STUFF IS VETTED IN SCIENCE THAT I THINK FINALLY SCIENTISTS LIKE MYSELF, WE'RE TAKING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE AND SAYING IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO PUBLISH AND PRESENT AND KNOW THIS WITHIN OUR OWN SPHERES BUT WE NEED TO BE TAKING THIS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, TOO, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC WORK IS.

>> Mary: HOW IS IT TRANSLATING BECAUSE I'M GUESSING YOU'RE SITTING IN COMMITTEE AND LOOKING AT BILLS AND AS A SCIENTIST, YOU MIGHT BE TAKING A NONPARTISAN, VERY FACTUAL LENS ON IT SO HOW IS THAT KIND OF COLLIDING WITH POLITICS AT THE CAPITOL FOR YOU SO FAR?

>> I THINK THAT SCIENCE IS NOT REALLY POLITICAL.

YOU LOOK AT THE DATA ND YOU LOOK AT DATA, YOU MAKE INFERENCES AND CONCLUSIONS AND YOUR FINAL CONCLUSION IS BASED ON THE DATA IN FRONT OF YOU.

SO WHEN YOU'RE JUST TALKING STRAIGHT FACTS, I FIND THAT'S NOT REALLY POLITICAL AND I FIND THAT, YOU KNOW, ASKING QUESTIONS BASED ON FACTS IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE HELP ME CREECH ACROSS THE AISLE, AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, HEY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS AND UNDERSTAND IT BETTER TOGETHER.

AND I THINK IT DOES FORM BETTER POLICY, AS WELL.

>> Mary: DID YOU THINK THAT NONPARTISAN APPROACH HELPS IN YOUR DISTRICT, TOO?

YOU HAVE A PRETTY COMPETITIVE DISTRICT, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MY DISTRICT IS SOUTH MAPLEWOOD AND WOODBURY SO A LOT OF [INDISCERNIBLE] OUT ARE O.

-- 3MERS OUT HERE U SO A LOT OF SCIENTISTS EVEN IN MY DISTRICT AND I HAVE HEARD ON THE DOORS AND HEARD IN COMMUNITY THAT THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THAT KIND F FACTUAL BASE, THAT INDEPENDENT THINKING.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE COCHAIR OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER WHICH JUST GETS ME TO KNOW BETTER WHAT THE POLITICAL ECOSYSTEM IS LIKE, THE HISTORY OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN POLICY BUT ALSO TAKING MY CIENTIFIC BACKGROUNDS AS WELL AS THE INTEREST AND NEEDS OF MY COMMUNITY TO KIND OF BRING IT ALL TOGETHER AGAIN TO GET A REALLY GOOD, ROBUST AND COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME REALLY SMART POLICY THAT'S GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE FUTURE.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED YOU GET A COCHAIR, A SUBCOMMITTEE WHICH THIS FRESHMAN CLASS HAS PROBABLY NOT ONLY A RECORD SIZE BUT A RECORD AMOUNT OF INFLUENCE IN THE PAST IT WOULD BE VERY RARE FOR A FRESHMAN TO HAVE A GAVEL OR A COCHAIR.

HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT FOR YOU TO PROVIDE SOME LEADERSHIP?

>> IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

I TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR, MY FIRST TERM AND I ALSO SEE THAT AS OTHERS IN MY CAUCUS, IN THE -- MY COMMITTEE AND IN THE WATER COMMITTEE TO SEE THIS TYPE OF TALENT AND KNOWLEDGE I CAN BRING TO THE TABLE, AS WELL AS KIND OF LIKE MY PROFESSIONALISM AND MY APPROACH SO VERY HONORED, FEELING VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO FILL THAT ROLL.

I WAS ABLE TO HELP HOMEOWNERS GET SOLAR PANEL PANEL ONLY THEIR HOUSES WITHOUT THE INTERFERENCE OF THEIR HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION.

I HELPED WITH A CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL FOR DIG DIRECT TO CONSUMER GENETIC TESTING.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PIECES IN THERE THAT I FELT REALLY FULFILLED AND CONTRIBUTING TO.

>> Mary: IS THERE ANY PART OF YOU THAT MAYBE YOU DID TOO MUCH, YOU AND YOUR PARTY, OVERREACHED, OVER-PROMISED, THERE COULD BE BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS DOWN THE ROAD, ANY CONCERN ON YOUR PART?

>> HERE'S WHERE I KIND OF LET THE SCIENTIST, WE WILL SEE WHAT THE DATA SHOWS.

I ALWAYS THINK OF THE DOWN?

STREAM CONSEQUENCES AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES BUT I DO THINK OUR LEADERSHIP AND OUR CHAIRS ALSO WITH THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THEIR EXPERTISE AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEY ALSO KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT DOWNSTREAM IMPLICATIONS CAN BE.

>> Mary: WHAT WOULD PRICE PEOPLE THE MOST IF YOU WOULD TELL THEM ABOUT THIS IS WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE AT THE CAPITOL, LIKE WHAT'S YOUR BIG INSIDER SURPRISE NOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN THERE (THERE IS A LOT OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES WORK I THINK THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE.

I THINK PEOPLE SEE THE FLOOR SESSIONS AND THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT EVERYTHING IS LIKE, AND THAT'S NOT AT ALL WHAT IT'S LIKE.

THERE IS A LOT OF COLLABORATION, A LOT OF COLLEAGUE TO COLLEAGUE MEETINGS.

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TALKING TO OTHERS ACROSS THE AISLE TO TRY TO GET REALLY GOOD POLICY.

♪♪ >> GETTING MORE POLITICALLY INVOLVED AS A PASTOR, YOU KNOW, I HAD A LOT F PEOPLE CONDEMN ME OR THAT PASTORS SHOULDN'T GET INVOLVED POLITICALLY.

THAT DIDN'T SIT RIGHT WITH MY CONVICTS, EITHER.

THE DAY AFTER REDISTRICTING HAPPENED, I HAD A GOOD FRIENDS CALL ME THAT SAID YOU AND I ARE LIVING IN A DISTRICT WHERE THERE IS NO REPRESENTATION AFTER REDISTRICTING.

AND I SAID TO HIM, YOU SHOULD RUN.

HE SAID, NO, NO, YOU SHOULD RUN AND AFTER A WEEK OF PRAYER, I FELT THAT WAS THE PATH THAT OD WANTED ME TO GO DOWN.

WEWE CANNOT WE CAN'T BE DEMONIZING PEOPLE WE DON'T A.AGREE WITH, GETTING TO KNOW FOLKS BEHIND THE SCENES, WHEN THE CAMERAS HAVEN'T ON US.

YOU'VE GOT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS DOWN HERE.

YOU DO OR YOU CAN'T GET ANYTHING DONE >> >> MARY: WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH A PROFILE OF THE FRESHMAN REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER YOU JUST SAW THERE, REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS.

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MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN, A COUCH FULL OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS, AND I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES BUBBLING UP IN THE LEGISLATURE, AFTER NATION-LEADING LEGISLATION LAST YEAR.

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