>> ERIC: A LARGER BUDGET SURPLUS THAN EXPECTED, A POSSIBLE COMPROMISE ON SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, CAUCUSES AND A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY JUST A WEEK APART.

SO MANY POLITICAL TOPICS FOR TONIGHT'S PANEL TO PONDER.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST.

ANNETTE MEEKS IS BACK, FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER, NOW HEAD OF THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

BRIAN MCCLUNG IS A FORMER TIM PAWLENTY SPOKESMAN, NOW A P.R.

PROFESSIONAL.

DFLERS WITH US TONIGHT, ABOU AMARA IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW A PRACTICING ATTORNEY.

AND WE WELCOME BACK SARA LOPEZ, POLICY DIRECTOR AT OO-NI-DOS MINNESOTA WHO HAS SPENT MANY HOURS AT THE LEGISLATURE.

BRIAN, THE SPENDING, VITAL INVESTMENTS OR RECKLESS SPENDING?

>> WELL, RIGHT, THAT'S ALL IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> Eric: ISN'T THAT WHAT THE QUESTION IS RIGHT NOW?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A QUESTION RIGHT NOW.

I THINK IT'S BEEN A QUESTION OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

LAST YEAR THERE WAS AN $18 SURPLUS AND -- $18 BILLION SURPLUS AND DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE THE TRIFECTA SENT BACK ZERO DOLLARS OF THAT ESSENTIALLY IN TAX CUTS AND REFUNDS.

EVEN THE CHECKS THAT DID GET BACK, PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE CHECKS, MISSED THEM, NOW GETTING THE SECOND ROUND, THIRD ROUND, SO SMALL MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN CARE.

NOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS, SURE, THERE'S A SURPLUS IN THE IMMEDIATE TERM.

BUT THAT $1.5 BILLION SPECIFY DATE -- DEFICIT PROJECTED FOR THE NEXT BUDGET PERIOD, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO WEIGH HEAVILY ON LEGISLATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THIS YEAR.

THERE'S SOME MONEY TO SPEND, MAYBE, ON THINGS LIKE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, SOME THINGS WITH IMMEDIATE NEEDS, I THINK THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS OUT OF THE BUDGET FORECAST THIS WEEKMENT.

BUT ONGER-TERM, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

>> Eric: ON THURSDAY, THE SPEAKER IN THE MORNING SAID SHE WAS ALREADY GETTING TEXT MESSAGES FROM MEMBERS WHO WANTED TO SPEND MORE MONEY OF THE SURPLUS.

CAN THE LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNOR SAY NO TO THE PROGRESSIVES WHO WANT TO DO MORE?

>> I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK TOWARD PROSPERITY.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE VERY DILIGENT, INTENTIONAL ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE EXTRA TAX DOLLARS.

AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE MORE EQUITY IN THE WAY THAT WE SPEND THE MONEY.

MORE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF MINNESOTA, BRIDGES AND ROADS.

BUT ALSO WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE WORKER, CONTINUING TO BRIDGE THE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC GAPS IN THE STATE.

>> Cathy: THE LANGUAGE USED IS KIND OF INTERESTING.

A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE.

IS THAT NOT A BUDGET SHORTFALL?

>> IT'S NOT A UDGET SHORTFALL, HERE'S WHY.

WE HAVE A SURPLUS RIGHT NOW OF $3 BILLION, ASSUMING WE DON'T HAVE SPEND 10, 15% OF IT, WE WON'T HAVE A PROJECT DEFICIT MOVING FORWARD.

THIS SURPLUS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

AGAIN, IT'S THE BLUE ECONOMY.

DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, SENATE, GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND HAVE CONTINUALLY DELIVERED SURPLUSES.

AND NOW WE'RE IN A POSITION, I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE STRUCTURAL SPENDING.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE ONE-TIME SPENDING THIS SESSION AROUND BONDING, OTHER THINGS.

THAT DOESN'T IMPACT US LONG TERM.

>> I THINK OUR BIGGER PROBLEM IS, WE JUST SPEND TOO MUCH.

AND THERE'S BEEN NO ADULTS IN THE ROOM TO SAY, ENOUGH.

AS BRIAN POINTED OUT, THEY SPENT AN EXTRA $18 BILLION LAST YEAR, THEY DOLED OUT GRANTS OF A ILLION DOLLARS THAT ARE BASICALLY UNACCOUNTABLE, THEY DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE STATE AGENCY.

>> Eric: TO THE NONPROFITS.

>> RIGHT TO THE NONPROFITS.

NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND WHO'S ACCOUNTABLE.

YOU LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, NOW YOU WANT TO SPEND MORE?

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT ADO YOU SAID, WE COULD HAVE -- ABU SAID, WE COULD HAVE A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE NEXT TIME.

>> THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE HAVE A SURPLUS.

DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL.

AND YOU CONTINUE TO POINT THE FINGER, THE REALITY IS THE REALITY.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE AS A STATE.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN MINNESOTANS.

AND THE SPENDING, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE SPENT TON.

FEEDING OUR CHILDREN.

WE SPENT IT ON.

WE SPENT IT ON MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAD HEALTHCARE.

WE SPENT IT ON MAKING SURE PEOPLE COULD RETIRE WITH SOME DIGNITY.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE SPENT IT ON.

IT'S NOT JUST ABSTRACT MONEY.

IT'S ABOUT THE VALUES THAT MINNESOTANS CARE ABOUT.

>> Eric: BRIAN, YOU WANT TO GET IN?

>> BACK TO THE OVERALL POINT, YOU KNOW, THIS BUDGET NOW IS $72 BILLION IN GENERAL FUND SPENDING, WHEN GOVERNOR PAWLENTY LEFT OFFICE IN 2010, IT WAS $30 BILLION.

>> WITH A DEFICIT.

>> SO WE'VE MORE THAN DOUBLED STATE BUDGET SPENDING IN THOSE 13 YEARS OR O SINCE THEN.

SURE, THERE'S BEEN INFLATION, BUT NOBODY'S AYCHECK HAS DOUBLED DURING THAT TIME, INFLATION HASN'T DOUBLED DURING THAT TIME.

SO THE PROBLEM IS, DEMOCRATS ARE SETTING THEMSELVES UP FOR A FUTURE DEFICIT BY OVERSPENDING.

>> Eric: SARA, I WONDER WHAT POLICY ISSUES, YOU WOULD SUPPORT OR PROGRESSIVES ARE SUPPORTING IN THE NAME OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY?

ARE THERE SOME POLICY THINGS GOING ON THIS SESSION?

>> WELL, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND CONTINUING TO INVEST IN WORKFORCE, THINK THAT THOSE ARE THREE VERY SOUND INVESTMENTS.

THE STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE IS REALLY SMALL.

THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR STATE IS GOOD.

SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE INVESTING.

>> Cathy: HEY, LET'S TALK SOME POLITICS HERE.

SO, PRECINCT CAUCUSES WERE HELD THIS WEEK.

I MEAN, LIKE WHO SHOWED UP?

I MEAN, NOT MANY PEOPLE AT ALL.

NEXT WEEK IS SUPER TUESDAY, THE PRIMARIES.

IS IT KIND OF WEIRD FOR VOTERS, I MEAN, THE SYSTEM, PRECINCT CAUCUSES, WHAT IS THAT, PRIMARY, I MEAN, DOES IT CONFUSE VOTERS?

DOES IT JUST -- DOES IT INCREASE PARTICIPATION FOR THE PRIMARIES?

I DON'T KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?

>> IT WAS REALLY CONFUSING.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FIRST-TIMERS AT MY CAUCUS, YES, I WENT IN THE ICE STORM.

AND IT'S NOT ONLY UNCOMFORTABLE TO SIT THERE AND ARGUE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS, BUT IT'S ALSO UNCOMFORTABLE FOR FIRST-TIMERS WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WE HAD A GROUP AT OUR TABLE THAT WERE SAYING, WHEN DO WE VOTE FOR PRESIDENT?

WELL, THAT'S NEXT TUESDAY.

AND THAT'S ALL JUST SO DISJOINED.

THEY CAME TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, HEY CAME TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE POLITICS.

BUT THE WHOLE WAY IT'S SET UP IS JUST -- IT'S OBSOLETE, IT'S UNPLEASANT, TALKING ABOUT EQUITY, THERE IS NO EQUITY IN HAVING PRECINCT CAUCUSES N 7:00 ON A TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE WORK.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE CHILD CARE ISSUES.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S AN OBSOLETE THING, WE NEED TO GET RID OF.

>> Cathy: ADIEU, DO YOU AGREE?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

IT CAN BE VERY CONFUSING.

IN TERMS OF ACCESS AND EQUITY, IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.

IF WE CAN STREAMLINE ELECTIONS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAN AGREE ON THIS, TO MAXIMIZE TURNOUT, BECAUSE, ULTIMATELY, WE WANT TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT.

SO I'M IN AGREEMENT ON THE PRINCIPLE.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN QUIBBLE WITH.

>> IT'S A BAD SIGN WHEN PEOPLE LIKE US WHO ARE POLITICAL INSIDERS, WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FOR DECADES, ARE SAYING, THIS SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND DON'T DOESN'T WORK.

I WENT TO PRECINCT CAUCUSES FOR 20 PLUS YEARS, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A YOUNG STAFFER, WHEN I WAS REALLY INVOLVED IN POLITICS.

YOU COULD NOT PAY ME ENOUGH TO GO TO PRECINCT CAUCUSES TODAY.

IT IS JUST NOT A GOOD EXPERIENCE.

HOWEVER, IT'S STILL THE WAY, ESPECIALLY FOR -- IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THAT CANDIDATES END UP RECEIVING THE PARTY NDORSEMENT.

THE PEOPLE WHO GO TO PRECINCT CAUCUSES, AS SMALL A GROUP AS THAT IS, HAVE AN OUTSIZED INFLUENCE IN DECIDING WHO THEIR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO GETS THE ENDORSEMENT.

AND, SO, THAT'S THE REALITY OF IT.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THAT.

I'M FOR MORE OF AN OPEN PRIMARY SYSTEM.

I THINK THAT'S A BETTER WAY TO REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE BROADER ELECTORATE.

BUT, OVERALL, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE PRECINCT CAUCUSES THING IS JUST NOT WORKING GREAT.

>> I LOVE PRECINCT CAUCUSES.

I SHOWED UP TO MY CAUCUS, AND IT'S ALWAYS VERY NICE TO RUN INTO YOUR NEIGHBORS, TO MEET NEW NEIGHBORS.

AND, TO ME, THEY'RE LIKE SMALL LABORATORIES OF DEMOCRACY, RIGHT?

YOU GET TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES, YOU GET TO KNOW WHO'S DOING WHAT, AND, HONESTLY, IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE, JUST TO LEARN TOGETHER WITH OUR NEIGHBORS IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT EVERYBODY'S PRIORITIES ARE.

SO WE DID HAVE A GREAT TIME AT MY CAUCUS.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU.

IT IS GOOD TO GET TOGETHER AS A NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT I THINK THEY SERVE AN OUTDATED PURPOSE.

TO NOMINATE CANDIDATES, I WANT TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

THAN THE 12 PEOPLE THAT LIVED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT IT DOES PRESENT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERSHIP.

IT'S VERY EXCITING, TOO, I'M A NEW AMERICAN, SO FOR A PERSON LIKE ME TO HAVE THIS SUPER OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED IN DEMOCRACY AND BE PART OF IT, IT FEELS REALLY GOOD.

I KNOW THAT FOR NEW AMERICANS, IT'S ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE, LIKE, WOW, THIS IS DEMOCRACY AT ORK.

>> Cathy: SAY, SPEAKING OF THE PRIMARIES NEXT EEK, ABU, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS, DO YOU SEE A CONCERTED EFFORT, THE UNCOMMITTED AGAINST BIDEN VOTE HAPPENING HERE IN MINNESOTA AS HAPPENED IN MICHIGAN?

>> SO I EXPECT TO BE A COMPONENT OF IT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE AS MUCH AN IMPACT, I THINK DEMOGRAPHICALLY MICHIGAN IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HERE.

I THINK THIS IS POLITICS WORKING AT ITS BEST.

WE HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF A COALITION SAYING, I NEED YOU TO LISTEN TO MY ISSUES AND YOU HAVE A POLITICIAN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT RESPONDING TO THOSE ISSUES.

AT LEAST RHETORICALLY NOW, SO I SUSPECT AS WE GET CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PRESIDENT BIDEN ALTER HIS POSITION WHEN IT COMES TO THE WAR AND I THINK THAT'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO BRING THE COALITION TOGETHER TO WIN IN NOVEMBER.

>> Eric: NIKKI HAILEY CAME HERE TO CAMPAIGN IN MINNESOTA BEFORE SUPER TUESDAY.

DONALD TRUMP IN 2016 FINISHED THIRD I THINK AMONG THE REPUBLICANS IN MINNESOTA PREFERENCE.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE UESDAY?

>> I THINK NIKKI HAILEY WILL PICK UP A GOOD CHUNK OF DELEGATES ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

AND WE WERE JUST TALKING AHEAD OF TIME, SUPER TUESDAY IS OVERSIZED, THERE'S 854 REPUBLICAN DELEGATES UP FOR GRABS ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

THAT'S A LOT WHEN YOU NEED 1215 TO BE NOMINATED, SO I WOULD GUESS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL CARRY SEVERAL OF THE BIGGER STATES, PICK UP ENOUGH DELEGATES, BUT I THINK HIGHWAY KRIS HAILEY WILL COME OUT OF -- NIKKI HAILEY WILL COME OUT OF MINNESOTA AND SOME OF THE OTHER STATES WITH ENOUGH DELEGATES TO KEEP HER IN A LITTLE LONGER.

>> Eric: IS SHE A JUST IN CASE CANDIDATE, JUST IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS TO TRUMP?

>> I THINK THERE'S NO STOPPING DONALD TRUMP.

I DON'T REALLY SEE A SCENARIO WHERE THE REPUBLICAN BASE DOES NOT VOTE FOR HIM, EVEN IF HE'S INDICTED, RIGHT?

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

THEY ARE BOUGHT IN.

SO I THINK ALL OF THE POTENTIAL DOWNSIDES TO TRUMP ARE BAKED IN FOR MOST REPUBLICAN VOTERSMENT.

AND THEY'RE HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION.

I'M GLAD TO SEE NIKKI HAILEY STAY IN.

I APPRECIATE HER VOICE.

I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT'S SAYING ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, ABOUT WHY WE SHOULD FIND AN ALTERNATIVE.

I THINK IF SHE WERE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, SHE WOULD WIN IN AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE LAND SIDE, BUT THAT'S NOT LIKELY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

LANDSLIDE.

>> athy: WHEN DOES DEAN PHILLIPS DROP OUT?

WHEN DOES HE FINALLY STICK A FORK IN IT?

>> I THINK PEOPLE PROBABLY JUST STOP PAYING ATTENTION.

I THINK HE'S COMMITTED TO THE CONVENTION AT THIS POINT.

HE'S ALREADY DECIDED HE'S NOT GOING TO RUN FOR HIS HOUSE SEAT.

SO HE'S NOT GOING BACK TO CONGRESS.

WHAT'S THE POINT OF DROPPING OUT NOW?

>> Eric: HOW DEEP IS THE DIVISION AMONG DEMOCRATS WITH THE HAMAS VERSUS ISRAEL DEBATE?

>> THAT'S A EALLY GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK VOTERS HAD A SMALL WIN IN MICHIGAN THAT SENT A VERY VERY BIG MESSAGE, RIGHT?

WE HAVE TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE TRAPPED BETWEEN TWO DYSFUNCTIONAL SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT.

THE QUESTION IS, WHO DO WE WANT TO PROTECT, THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OR THE INTERESTS OF TWO DYSFUNCTIONAL SYSTEMS?

>> Eric: IS IT A SERIOUS DIVISION IN THE PARTY?

>> I THINK WE'RE HAVING SOME VERY SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS AND ASKING SOME BIG QUESTIONS.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE.

AS WE GET CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY, THE PRESIDENT HAS TO MAKE SURE HE LISTENS TO THOSE VOICES AND REMINDS VOTERS THAT IT IS BETWEEN HIM, HE WILL LISTEN TO THAT COMMUNITY, OR BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP WHO ADVOCATED FOR A MUSLIM BAN, THAT IS THE CHOICE VOTERS WILL HAVE IN NOVEMBER.

>> Eri