>> ERIC: GOVERNOR WALZ RELEASED HIS SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET THIS WEEK, THE STATE AUDITOR RELEASED ANOTHER REPORT DETAILING INACTION ON FRAUD IN THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND LAWMAKERS AT THE CAPITOL WRESTLED WITH POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PARTISAN DIVIDE.

LET'S DIVE RIGHT IN.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

KARLA BIGHAM IS A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER WHO SERVED IN BOTH LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS.

SHE'S NOW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

WITH HER IS JAVIER MORILLO, LONGTIME UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST AND A FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN FOR THE DNC.

REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT.

BRIAN MCDANIEL IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW A LOBBYIST AND STAND-UP COMEDIAN.

AND, FINALLY, ANDY BREHM IS A FORMER PRESS SECRETARY FOR U.S.

SENATOR NORM COLEMAN, NOW A LAWYER AND COLUMNIST FOR THE "MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE."

ANDY, WHY IS I.C.E.-RELATED RECOVERY MONEY SUCH A TOUGH SELL?

AT THE LEGISLATURE.

IS IT BECAUSE IT'S JUST CONCENTRATED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND St.

PAUL?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF DIVIDE OVER OPERATION METRO SURGE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT HAPPENED HERE WAS OVERKILL.

AND WAS NOT GOOD.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY I TALK TO.

BUT I DO THINK THERE'S A FRUSTRATION STATEWIDE OF MINNEAPOLIS AND St.

PAUL'S INABILITY TO REALLY ENFORCE BASIC IMMIGRATION LAW, WHICH THEY'D LIKE TO SEE AND MOST PEOPLE SUPPORT.

SO I THINK WHILE THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, BEYOND THE PAIL AND PEOPLE WERE OFFENDED BY IT, THEY ALSO ARE OFFENDED BY THIS INABILITY OF THESE CITIES TO ENFORCE BASIC IMMIGRATION LAW, WHICH THEY'D LIKE TO SEE DONE.

>> THE IMPACT OF METRO SURGE WAS INCREDIBLY INTENSE, FOR BUSINESSES, FOR SCHOOLS, IT WAS DISRUPTIVE, AND IT WAS DISRUPTIVE BEYOND THE TWIN CITIES AS WELL.

IT WAS NOT SIMPLY MINNEAPOLIS AND St.

PAUL.

AND THIS IS ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE RESTITUTION TO FOLKS WHO SUFFERED.

AND, YES, EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, LARGELY AGREES THAT IT WAS OVERKILL.

AND, SO, IF WE AGREE THAT IT'S OVERKILL, THEN LET'S DO SOMETHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

>> Eric: IS THIS A BARGAINING CHIP FOR REPUBLICANS?

THEY KNOW DEMOCRATS WANT THIS BAD?

>> I MEAN -- >> Eric: AS THE NEGOTIATIONS PROCEED.

>> I MEAN, EVERYTHING'S A BARGAINING CHIP WHEN YOU'RE UP THERE.

I SAY IT'S HARD TO NEGOTIATE WITH REPUBLICANS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING.

BUT XAVIER AND ANDY ARE RIGHT, YES, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE OPINIONS ON METRO SURGE, BUT THE BUSINESS OWNERS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> RIGHT.

>> NO MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN IT, THEY HAD NO SAY IN IT, THEY HAD NO SKIN IN THE GAME.

AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW RESTAURANT OWNERS THAT WERE DOWN 75%.

AND IT WASN'T JUST MINNEAPOLIS AND St.

PAUL.

THOSE OF US OUT IN THE SUBURBS, THEY WERE IN OUR TOWN AS WELL.

>> SMALL TOWNS, RESTAURANTS CLOSED P BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET WORKERS TO, YOU KNOW, COME IN AND DO A JOB.

BUT I THINK THE OTHER ISSUE IS, THIS ECONOMY, BECAUSE OF HORRIBLE DECISIONS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION, TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE, HAS HURT WITH TARIFFS, GASOLINE PRICES ARE THROUGH THE ROOF, AND STOCK MARKET IS -- WELL, NOT AT 50,000 ANYMORE.

AND IT'S A PROBLEM ALL AROUND.

AND, SO, THIS MAKES, YOU KNOW, SENSE TO HAVE RELIEF FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, FOR OUR RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS.

>> Cathy: SO YOU MENTIONED THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL BARGAINING CHIP, I SUPPOSE.

WOULD ANOTHER BARGAINING CHIP TOWARD THE END OF SESSION BE THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL?

>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY.

AND SENATOR KREUN WAS TALKING ON THERE THAT EVERYBODY SAYS THAT THEY WANT AN OIG.

HOW YOU DO IT IS WHERE HE STICKING POINT IS.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL GET DONE.

>> IT EEDS TO GET DONE.

>> Eric: IS FRAUD KEEPING DEMOCRATS UP AT NIGHT?

>> I MEAN, I THINK EVERYONE -- LOOK, THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF FRAUD IS ZERO.

AND EVERYONE IS NOW, LIKE, FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING THAT.

SO WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE OIG, VARIOUS OTHER PROPOSALS AS WELL.

WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE ISSUE.

>> WELL, IT'S SO PERSUASIVE.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

SADLY, MINNESOTANS ARE ALMOST GETTING IMMUNE.

THE NEWS KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE.

THIS WEEK WE FIND OUT THAT PLEASE FELT LIKE THEY COULDN'T REPORT FRAUD BECAUSE IT DIDN'T COMPLY WITH SOME KIND OF RIDICULOUS BUREAUCRATIC RULE.

I MEAN, IF I WORKED AT A COMPANY AND YOU SEE FRAUD GOING ON, YOU REPORT IT.

SO THIS IS -- THIS SPEAKS TO A BIGGER ISSUE OF JUST THE CULTURE OF FRAUD IN OUR STATE GOVERNMENT THAT'S BEEN RUN BY DEMOCRATS FOR ALMOST 16 YEARS.

AND IT'S JUST UNACCEPTABLE.

QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK YOU HAVE A BUREAUCRACY THAT HASN'T CARED ENOUGH AND WE DO NEED TO CHANGE THE LEADERSHIP TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.

>> Eric: I WANT TO LET COMMISSIONER BIGHAM MAKE SOME NEWS TONIGHT.

>> UM-HUM.

>> Eric: I UNDERSTAND THAT SPORTS GAMBLING ADVOCATES ON MONDAY ARE GOING TO BRING A MOTION TO THE SENATE FLOOR TO REST THE -- WREST THE SPORTS GAMBLING BILL OUT OF THE FINANCE BILL WHICH IS CHAIRED BY SENATOR MARTY AND THE BILL IS RESTING COMFORTABLY IN THAT COMMITTEE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> DO YOU THINK SENATOR SEEBERGER WOULD LET ME TAG IN FOR JUST ONE DAY OF SESSION ON MONDAY?

YOU KNOW, LOOK, THEY NEED TO REGULATE AN INDUSTRY THAT NEEDS LIGHT BROUGHT TO IT.

YOU KNOW, SPORTS BETTING IS HAPPENING NOW IN MINNESOTA.

AND THEY NEED TO GET THIS DONE AND ACROSS THE LINE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PREDICTIVE MARKETS THAT ARE NOW IMPACTING -- >> Eric: YEAH.

>> -- A LOT OF THINGS, IT NEEDS TO BE REGULATED AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS AROUND IT.

>> Eric: GOT A SHOT IN THE SENATE?

>> KARLA'S GONNA GET MAD AT ME.

>> WHAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T THINK SO.

I WISH IT WOULD.

I WORKED ON THE ISSUE, I'M SOMEBODY WHO USES IT PERSONALLY LEGALLY, AS FAR AS ANYONE KNOWS.

BUT WE ALL KNOW, MINNESOTANS ARE -- THEY'RE DOING THIS.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT WHETHER WE'RE FINDING A WAY TO REGULATE IT ND CASH IN ON IT AS A STATE OR NOT.

SO THEY NEED TO COME TOGETHER ON IT.

WE'RE ALREADY MISSING -- I MEAN, SPORTS GAMBLING'S ALMOST -- WE'VE MOVED ON.

NOW IT'S PREDICTION MARKETS.

AND WE MISSED THAT WHOLE THING.

>> Eric: BUT THE MOTION IS COMING NEXT WEEK.

>> THAT'S -- YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD.

>> I THINK THIS ISSUE, THOUGH, I MEAN, IF IT'S TRULY ABOUT REGULATING IT, I'M OPEN TO THAT.

BUT, I MEAN, GAMBLING ADDICTION IS ON FIRE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

>> Cathy: ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> AND A LOT OF THESE REGULATED CASINOS OR GAMBLING OUTFITS ARE DECIMATING PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE VERY CAREFULLY.

THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT GAMBLE ONLINE WITHOUT ISSUE BUT MANY PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH IT.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH.

>> Cathy: CAN I ASK YOU ABOUT THE SAVE ACT THAT'S IN IN THE U.S.

SENATE.

THEY'RE GOING TO DEBATE IT OVER THE WEEKEND, THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

IS THIS BILL BASICALLY SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE EVERYONE REREGISTER TO VOTE?

>> YES, AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT FOR WOMEN TO REGISTER TO VOTE BECAUSE IT REQUIRES PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP AND NAMES TO MATCH WITH YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

AND MANY WOMEN WHEN THEY GET MARRIED, CHANGE THEIR NAMES.

IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR MANY MANY PEOPLE TO VOTE.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AS IF IT WAS -- AS IF IT IS JUST VOTER ID, IT IS NOT, IT IS MUCH MORE BURDENSOME AND ONEROUS.

>> Cathy: ANY REPUBLICAN WISH TO TALK BOUT THIS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHO IS VOTING THAT WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND THAT WE KNOW WHERE THEY LIVE.

AND, SO, -- BUT I THINK JAVIER'S RIGHT, THE SAVE ACT IS MUCH MUCH MORE THAN JUST VOTER ID, WHICH IS VERY POPULAR.

AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT JAVIER -- I'M GREEING WITH JAVIER WAY TOO MUCH, BUT SOME OF THE THINGS HAT HE SAID ABOUT HOW THIS IMPACTS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE CHANGING THEIR NAME, PEOPLE GET MARRIED, PEOPLE GET DIVORCED, ALL THAT, THAT'S 100% TRUE.

AND I THINK THAT WE WANT VOTING TO BE SAFE AND WELL REGULATED, BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT.

>> YOU ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY AMERICAN CITIZENS THAT ARE VOTING.

I MEAN, THIS IS AN 80/20 ISSUE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SUPPORT THAT 100%.

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE OVERLY BURDENSOME, I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THIS BILL, THERE ARE SOME PARTS THAT CONCERN ME, BECAUSE I SUPPORT STATES BEING IN CHARGE OF THEIR OWN ELECTIONS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE INTENT HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE VOTING.

AND IF THE RULES ARE TOO LOOSE, AS THEY ARE IN MINNESOTA, IT'S VERY POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT CITIZENS TO VOTE EXAMINE THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT -- >> THE CONSTITUTION AGREES WITH YOU, TOO.

>> I DIDN'T, IT DOES.

>> STATES ARE DO THAT.

>> Eric: THE DEBATE IS VOTER SUPPRESSION VERSUS VOTER FRAUD, RIGHT, ISN'T THAT THE TWO SIDES OF THE COIN?

>> I THINK IF YOU ASK PEOPLE, THEY WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE POLL NUMBERS FOR VOTER ID ARE VERY VERY HIGH.

THIS IS JUST MORE THAN THAT.

>> OKAY.

>> Eric: FLANAGAN/CRAIG.

>> YES.

>> Eric: NOW, CRAIG IS SAYING THAT GOING BACK TO HER SCHOOL BOARD DAYS, PEGGY FLANAGAN WAS ABSENT A LOT OF TIMES.

AND EGGY FLANAGAN TODAY CAME UP WITH ANOTHER GROUP OF ENDORSEMENTS FROM LEGISLATORS.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW -- >> Eric: WHAT'S HAPPENING?

I KNOW YOU'RE CLOSE TO -- TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, YES, I AM AND A STRONG SUPPORTER.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS TYPICAL PRIMARY FIGHT.

RIGHT NOW, REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG IS DOWN BY EVERY POLL THAT I'VE SEEN, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.

BY A LOT.

AND, SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF DESPERATE MOVES HAPPENING.

>> YEAH, I JUST THINK HAT ANGIE IS BY FAR -- AND I'M SUPPORTING HER PROUDLY -- THE MOST ELECTABLE BECAUSE SHE ACTUALLY SHOWS UP.

AND SHE DOES HER JOB.

SHE GOES TO PLACES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, EASY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH AND TOUGH TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH.

YOU TAKE ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE, YOU GO TO D.C., YOU PASS STUFF.

AND YOU'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT.

THAT IS WHY YOU ARE ABLE TO WIN TOUGH ELECTIONS, LIKE ANGIE HAS TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

SHE'S BY FAR THE MOST ELECTABLE.

>> SHE USED TO HAVE ON HER WEBSITE THAT SHE BOASTED THAT SHE VOTED 40% WITH TOM EMMER.

AND THIS IS WHY SHE'S BEHIND WITH EMOCRATS.

BECAUSE DEMOCRATS WANT SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE A DEMOCRAT WHEN THEY'RE IN OFFICE.

>> Eric: WILL THERE BE AN ENDORSEMENT AT THE CONVENTION?

>> OH, YEAH.

>> IT'S GOING TO A PRIMARY.

AND ANGIE IS BY FAR OUR BEST ON THE TOP OF THE TICKET WITH KLOBUCHAR.

>> BECAUSE SHE HAS MONEY AND NOT PEOPLE.

>> I'M VOTING FOR PEGGY ON THAT ONE, LOVE TO HAVE HER BE YOUR CANDIDATE.

>> AND THAT IS WHY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ISSUES IN THE PRIMARY BECAUSE PEGGY WILL GET LACED WITH THE FRAUD ISSUE, TOO.

>> Eric: THANKS, PANEL.

>> POINT TAKEN.