>> Eric: IF YOU BELIEVE SOME CAPITOL OBSERVERS LAWMAKERS MAY HAVE THEIR WORK DONE BY NEXT FRIDAY BUT OTHERS THINK THIS IS WISHFUL THINKING AND THAT THE LEGISLATURE PER USUAL WILL BE PULLING ALL NIGHTERS NEXT WEEKEND.

WHAT'S LEFT TO BE DONE, WE'LL CHECK IN WITH A GROUP OF ANALYSTS.

ON THE D.F.L.

SIDE, MELISA LOPEZ FRANZEN, SENATE MINORITY AS A DEMOCRAT UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR.

KARLA BIGHAM, LEFT THE SENATE TO BECOME A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

REPUBLICANS FOR US FORMER TIM PAWLENTY SPOKESMAN NOW A PR PROFESSIONAL BRIAN MCCLUNG AND WE WELCOME TO THE PANEL BECKY SCHERR, WORKED ON G.O.P.

CAMPAIGNS, POLITICAL STAFFS, NOW A PR CONSULTANT AND POLITICAL PODCASTER.

MADAM LEADER, WHAT IS IT LIKE THIS TIME OF YEAR AT THE CAPITOL FOR THOSE OF YOU IN LEADERSHIP AND WITHOUT LEADERSHIP.

>> ELL, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNOW WHAT DAY IT IS TODAY AND THEY'RE LITERALLY ON THE SENATE FLOOR RIGHT NOW DEBATING THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUDICIARY BILL.

THAT MIGHT GO ALL HE WAY TO MIDNIGHT IT, MIGHT GO TO TOMORROW, HOPEFULLY BEFORE MOTHER'S DAY ON SUNDAY THEY WILL BE DONE WITH THE BILL.

>> Cathy: YOU WERE LAUGHING THERE EARLY.

>> I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM SENATOR FRENTZ AT 4 IN THE AFTERNOON SAYING GOOD MORNING.

NO, NICK, IT WAS NOT MORNING.

THIS IS JUST CHAOTIC RIGHT NOW AND IT'S, YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THINGS ONE AND PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR PROVISIONS, MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ARE ALL IN THERE, SO IT'S HECTIC.

>> Eric: BECKY, JUST FOR A KIND OF ILLUMINATING THIS CRAZINESS AT THE END THE REPUBLICANS TODAY WERE COMPLAINING THAT THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AS EXAMPLE, 300-PLUS-PAGE BILL DROPPED AT 2:00 A.M.

EARLIER TODAY.

IS TRANSPARENCY GETTING LOST IN THIS RUSH TO ADJOURNMENT?

>> I THINK TRANSPARENCY IS BIG THING HAT WE'RE LOSING RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEES WITHOUT REPUBLICAN VOICES ON THEM, THEY'RE COMING TOGETHER AFTER NEGOTIATING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS ARE, AND THE LEGISLATORS ARE LARGELY BEING LEFT OUT OF IT.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK, BRIAN?

>> WELL, AND THAT IS REALLY A PROBLEM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT THERE'S ONE PARTY CONTROL, DEMOCRATS HAVE THE HOUSE, SENATE, AND GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THEY SAID WE WILL BE MORE TRANSPARENT, WE WILL DO THIS IN PUBLIC AND I THINK THEY DID A GOOD JOB, RIGHT, I'LL GIVE THEM CREDIT HAVING TARGETS SET EARLIER AND TRYING TO HAVE A BETTER PROCESS EARLIER ON IN THE SESSION BUT NOW WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THAT SAME BEHAVIOR WHERE THE FINAL DECISIONS ARE GETTING MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND THINGS ARE POPPING P IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE THAT HAVEN'T HAD A HEARING, THAT HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

AND SO I DO WISH, AND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM, DOESN'T REALLY MATTER, HASN'T MATTERED WHETHER IT'S SPLIT-PARTY CONTROL OR ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND WE ALL NEED TO, YOU KNOW, SHINE A LIGHT ON IT AND TRY TO DO A BETTER JOB.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, SENATOR, I WAS WATCHING THE LEGAL MARIJUANA CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WHICH MEANS I PROBABLY HAVE NO LIFE BUT I WAS WATCHING IT AND IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT OF IT WAS PRE-CONFEREED IN A WAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS TRANSPARENCY, THERE'S A LOGJAM, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

AND SOME OF THE STAFF WORKING ON ONE BILL MIGHT BE HUNG UP WITH ONE BILL AND CAN'T MOVE THE OTHER.

SO MOTIONS ARE HAPPENING BEFORE THEY GET TO CONFERENCE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT HAVING DISCUSSIONS IN AN OPEN FORUM BECAUSE THEY ARE MEETING IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

IT IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE LAST SIX YEARS AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE FOR TEN THE LAST SIX YEARS THERE REALLY WASN'T MUCH TRANSPARENCY, THERE WASN'T MUCH DONE SO WE'RE EXCITED THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY MEETING AND PASSING THESE BILLS LIKE THEY ARE TODAY.

>> PEOPLE SAYING THEY MISSED THE TRIBUNAL?

THAT ISN'T EVEN A THING THIS YEAR, I MEAN, COME ON.

THE CHAIRS ARE NEGOTIATING THIS, CONFEREES ARE NEGOTIATING, THE ACTUAL MEMBERS, RANK AND FILE ARE ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING.

I SPENT SIX EARS UP THERE WHERE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES DIDN'T EVEN MEET BECAUSE THEY HAD TO GO RIGHT TO THE TRIBUNAL BECAUSE THERE WASN'T TIME.

SO I THINK THIS IS A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY AND I GIVE THE MEMBERS CREDIT FOR TAKING THE CONTROL ACK OVER THEIR OWN BILLS AND, NO, I THINK IT'S NOT ABNORMAL THE TO PRE-CONFEREE THINGS, NOT AT ALL.

>> Eric: ARE REPUBLICANS READY TO VOTE FOR SPORTS BETTING -- >> YES, THEY ARE!

>> Eric: SHE'S THE GODFATHER OF SPORTS BETTING.

>> I THINK SO, IT DOES APPEAR THAT THERE IS SOME SUPPORT ON BOTH SIDES, E WERE TALKING ABOUT IT EARLIER.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BEING WORKED ON FOR A COUPLE OF SESSIONS NOW, SO I DO THINK SO.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I WOULD BET ON THE OVER, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND SENATOR KLEIN HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB PULLING THAT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE HERE AND, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY DO NEED THE REPUBLICANS' VOTE, THERE ARE KNOWN DEMOCRATS THAT WILL NEVER TOUCH THAT VOTE WITH A TEN-FOOT POLE.

THEY'LL GET IT DONE, THEY NEED THE REVENUE IN THE TAILS.

>> Cathy: SPEAKING OF REVENUE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TAX BILL, SHALL WE?

THERE IS THE REBATE IN THE BILL, LOOKS LIKE $250 PER PERSON UP TO FIVE IN A HOUSEHOLD, INCOME LIMITS WITH THIS.

REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER DEMUTH SAYS, QUOTE, BIG WHOOPTY-DOO.

SO IT'S SMALLER THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTED.

>> IT IS, AND WE TALKED BOUT THIS IN THE SHOW THAT THE DEMOCRAT LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE LUKEWARM AT BEST, EVEN IF THEY WERE GOING ALONG WITH SOME REBATE I GUESS IS SOME SURPRISE.

BUT I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE $250, REALLY?

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

WE HAVE AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS.

I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT MINNESOTANS ARE GOING TO REMEMBER IF THIS SESSION IS THAT WE HAD AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS AND ONE-PARTY CONTROL BY DEMOCRATS AND THEY RAISED TAXES ON TOP OF THAT.

IN WHAT WORLD IS $18 BILLION IN EXTRA REVENUE NOT ENOUGH?

AND SO, YEAH, OH, GREAT, $250, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BUT IT IS NOT -- >> YOU MISSED PIECES THAT ARE PART OF THE TAX BILL.

>> THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED ANOTHER 2 OR 3 OR $6 BILLION ON TOP OF THIS, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING A HOLE WHEN IT COMES TO REVENUE, HOW IS THERE A HOLE WHEN YOU HAVE $18 BILLION IN SURPLUS?

>> WELL AND THEN GIVING A LOT OF MONEY BACK TO FAMILIES, WORKING FAMILY TAX CREDIT, CHILDCARE TAX CREDIT, THAT IS HELPING LIFT KIDS OUT OF POVERTY AND FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY, PAYING FOR ALL THE MONEY FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES, THOSE ARE DOLLARS THAT ARE ALSO GOING TO FAMILIES.

IF YOU ADD IT UP WE'RE GIVING A LOT BACK TO MINNESOTANS, THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY TO HELP FAMILIES THE MOST.

>> ISN'T IT THEIR MONEY?

I MEAN, $18 BILLION SURPLUS THEY WERE OVERTAXED ALREADY, SO GIVING THEM THEIR MONEY BACK IN A WAY THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEND THEIR MONEY.

>> -- IF -- WERE GOVERNOR AND WE HAD AN $18 BILLION IN SURPLUS WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT $18 BILLION IN REBATES AND TAX CUTS.

WE'D BE SAYING THIS IS TOO MUCH, LET'S FIND A WAY TO GIVE IT BACK.

>> LEADER LOPEZ AND I ARE OLD ENOUGH REMEMBER WHEN THE REPUBLICANS WERE CALLING THESE CHECKS GIMMICKS.

ONE MINUTE THEY'RE CALLING THEM GIMMICKS, NEXT MINUTE THEY'RE SAYING WHOOPTY-DOO.

THESE ARE INVESTMENTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, BROADBAND, EDUCATION, $2.4 BILLION IN EDUCATION AGREED TO TODAY THAT IS GOING TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, CROSS THE SUBSUBSIDY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, WE CAN GO ON.

THE PUBLIC SAFETY BILL IS AMAZING.

YOUTH INTERVENTION PROGRAMMING THAT WE BOTH WORKED ON TIME FINALLY GETTING ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

PEOPLE ARE FREAKING OUT BECAUSE FOR SIX YEARS THERE WAS OBSTRUCTION, NOTHING GETTING DONE BECAUSE OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE, AND NOW WE'RE DELIVERING ON THINGS THAT FAMILIES AND MINNESOTANS HAVE WANTED.

>> Eric: BUT WHY NOT A BROAD BASED EVERYBODY GETS A LITTLE SOMETHING OUT OF THE TAX BILL INSTEAD OF PICKING THESE INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES THAT KIND OF CREATE WINNERS AND LOSERS >> WELL, I MEAN, THERE'S A LITTLE IT FOR EVERYBODY N THAT TAX BILL.

THERE'S SOME SOCIAL SECURITY RELIEF AS WELL, IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE PIECE OF IT LIKE I MENTIONED, THE CHILDCARE TAX CREDIT FOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE KIDS.

THERE'S OTHER PIECES -- >> Eric: THESE ARE SPECIFIC GROUPS, THESE AREN'T THE BROAD CITIZENRY OF MINNESOTA.

>> WELL ALL OF US ARE AFFECTED BY TAXES WHETHER YOU LIVE IN A DISTRICT, WE ALL AY IN, TO YOUR POINT EARLIER WE ALL PAY INTO THE SYSTEM AND WE HOPE WE GET PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH CARE AND WE'RE DOING ALL OF THAT IN ONE BIG BRUSH IN A VERY HISTORIC SESSION, $4 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF SO IT IS HISTORIC, LOOK AT THE FINE PRINT, LOOK AT THE BILL OVERALL AND SEE ALL THE BENEFITS TO MINNESOTANS.

>> Cathy: CAN SOMEONE HELP ME OUT HERE?

EVIDENTLY THE D.F.L.

IS MOVING AHEAD WITH A CASH ONLY BONDING BILL.

MOST NORMAL PEOPLE WOULD SAY, SO WHAT?

WHY IS THAT A BIG DEAL?

>> IT'S NOT REALLY A BONDING BILL, WE'RE JUST SPENDING CASH FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR STARTERS.

SECONDLY MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THE STATE INVESTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THEY DO THAT THROUGH BORROWING, THEY DO IT THROUGH BONDING.

AND THAT'S A MECHANISM TO USE THE STATE'S RESOURCES TO GO OUT AND DO MORE AND BIGGER PROJECTS.

AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A BONDING BILL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, DISAGREEMENTS OVER THAT.

AND SO NOW THIS WOULD E AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE HAVE SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE TO THAT.

IT TAKES A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE, 60% TO PASS IT SO REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT UNLESS WE SEE OTHER SIGNIFICANT TAX RELIEF OR OTHER THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN THAT SITUATION.

IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE MAKING PROGRESS ON TRYING TO GET SOME REPUBLICANS TO COME ALONG TO DO BONDING BUT APPARENTLY THAT'S NOT WHERE IT'S HEADED.

>> REPUBLICANS ARE DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST, WHAT THEY DID FOR SIX YEARS, OBSTRUCT.

THE ONE THING THEY COULD HAVE DONE TO HELP PROGRESS IS PUT UP THE VOTES TO REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITY, BRING PROJECTS TO THEIR COMMUNITY, THEY DID WHAT THEY ALWAYS DO AND REOBSTRUCTED.

>> Eric: BECKY, MIKE, A COUPLE OF REPUBLICANS COULD GO TO LEADERSHIP, HEY, WE COULD USE THIS PROJECT, MAYBE WE COULD VOTE TO GET INVOLVED OR IS THERE REPUBLICAN SHUTOUT ON THE BONDING BILL?

>> I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS TO GO IN AND NEGOTIATE, WHETHER MORE MONEY FOR NURSING HOMES, TAX RELIEF, MAYBE NOT INCREASE TAXES TO THE LEVEL THEY ARE.

I'M HOPEFUL AND I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE HOPEFUL THAT DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP WILL COME ALONG AND MAKE THAT AGREEMENT.

>> Cathy: SO DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL ADJOURN EARLY?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: I LIKE THAT.

NO OOO.

>> I MEAN, WHY, RIGHT?

IT'S A NICE IDEA BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT THERE ARE THOSE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE AND TUSSLE OVER AND THE PRESSURE OF A DEADLINE IS WHAT GETS SOME PEOPLE TO YES.

SO IN ALL LIKELIHOOD MAY 22ND THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE YOU CAN COUNT ON THE LEGISLATURE BEING THERE.

>> Eric: AND THE GUN BILL, THE GUN CONTROL BILLS ARE WRAPPED IN HE BROADER OMNIBUS PUBLIC SAFETY BILL?

IT'S BEING DEBATED SO THEY CLEARLY AVE THE VOTES SO IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND I'LL SAY KSTP HAD A POLL OUT YESTERDAY AND IT SHOWED VERY BROAD SUPPORT, MORE HAN 70% FOR UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, MORE THAN 60% SUPPORT FOR THESE KIND OF RED FLAG LAWS.

SO THESE ARE PROVISIONS THAT DO HAVE BROAD SUPPORT.

IT WAS A QUESTION MARK IN A 34-33 SENATE IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ALL THE DEMOCRATS BUT IT'S LOOKS LIKE THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> NOTHING