>> ERIC: AS NOTED EARLIER IN THE HOUR, IT WAS ANOTHER BIG WEEK OF BILL SIGNINGS FOR GOVERNOR WALZ.

STILL A LOT TO TALK ABOUT COMING OUT OF THIS YEAR'S ACTION-PACKED SESSION.

GET OUT YOUR SCORECARDS, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SORT OUT WHAT NEW LAWS START ON WHICH DATE.

HERE TO HELP US, A COUCH FULL OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST THIS WEEK.

MELISA LOPEZ FRANZEN IS BACK.

SHE'S A FORMER DFL SENATE MINORITY LEADER.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME PARTY ACTIVIST AND FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER.

REPUBLICANS JOINING US TONIGHT, ANNETTE MEEKS HEADS UP THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION.

AND WE WELCOME BACK JEN DEJOURNETT, A REPUBLICAN POLITICAL OPERATIVE.

ANNETTE, AARDING TO THE GOVERNOR, NO PROPER-BUSINESS -- >> HE CAN KEEP SAYING WHAT HE WANTS, THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.

WE SAW RECORD TAX-RAISING IN A SESSION WITH A $17.5 BILLION SURPLUS THAT LITERALLY HAS BEEN SQUANDERED TO DEMOCRATS' SPECIAL INTERESTS.

IT REALLY ASK A SHAME WHAT'S HAPPENED.

BUT YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THE EFFECTS.

PEOPLE SAYING DON'T INVEST IN THE STATE, OTHER PEOPLE SAYING, WOW, NATIONAL REVIEW HAD A HUGE SCORCH THE EARTH POLICY -- ARTICLE THIS WEEK TALKING ABOUT WHEN POLITICS GOES BAD, LOOK TO MINNESOTA, THAT WILL SHOW YOU WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> Eric: SENATOR?

>> WELL, I THINK YOU HAVE TO SEE THE BUDGET NOT IN TWO-YEAR CYCLES BUT LONG TERM AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY CAME TO SEE THAT WE HAVE TO RECEIVES NOW TO SEE THE BENEFITS IN THE FUTURE AND T WON'T HAND OVERNIGHT SO YOU HAD A CHAIR AND A SENATE ABOUT SENATOR REST AND IN THE HOUSE, WITH AISHA GOMEZ, I THINK THEY CAME TO AGREEMENT THAT THEY NEEDED TO PIECE IT TOGETHER FOR THE LONG HAUL AND I THINK THEY ARE BETTING ON MINNESOTANS ON THE WORK AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN THEIR BUDGET.

>> WELL, SMALL BUSINESSES, WHETHER IT'S MOM-AND-POP BUSINESS OR THAT PIZZA PLACE DOWN THE STREET ARE REALLY CONCERNED.

SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT CAME OUT AROUND THE SICK AND SAFE TIME AND THE FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ARE GOING O HIT THEM HARD.

LIKE EVEN IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WERE ESTIMATING THE SICK AND SAFE TIME ON SOME OF THE COUNTY LEVELS TO BE OVER $200,000, SO EVEN THOUGH THEY INCREASED OUR BASE FUNDING BY $400,000, THEY TOOK IT ALL BACK, SO WHAT GOVERNMENT GIVES YOU, GOVERNMENT QUICKLY TAKES RIGHT BACK IN THE SAME ENTIRE BUDGET.

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO FIND, I THINK, THAT A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO FIND, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, CREATING AN INSURANCE PROGRAM LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT, THERE ARE NO BUSINESSES WERE SAYING, OH, LET'S GETS RID OF UNEMPLOYMENT BECAUSE IT SERVES A PURPOSE.

YOU PAY INTO IT AND THEN, LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO ATTRACT WORKERS WHO, LIKE, PEOPLE LOSE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF THEIR INABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF SICK ONES OR TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES WHEN THEY ARE SICK.

SO, LIKE -- THERE IS A LOT OF HOOTING AND HOLLERING ABOUT THIS BUT I THINK IN THE EN, THAT'S GOING TO BE BARELY FELT AND IF ANYTHING, FELT AS A BENEFIT.

DEMOCRATS CAME IN WITH A BOLD AGENDA, THEY DID -- THEY DID WHAT THEY HAD TO DO AND I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD.

THE FACT THAT A RIGHT-WING MAGAZINE DOESN'T LIKE IT IS NOT SHOCKING.

>> I THINK WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO HIT HOME IS PEOPLE'S FAMILY BUDGET DIDN'T INCREASE BY 38%, OUR STATE BUDGET DID.

AND THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Cathy: ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE MUSHROOMING IZE OF STATE GOVERNMENT, IN THAT THE SICK AND SAFE TIME IS -- THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE TO CREATE, RIGHT?

MARIJUANA WITH THE DISPENSARIES AND IT IS OFFICE OF -- THAT WILL BE CREATED O OVERSEE THAT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF JOBS -- >> Eric: OFFICE OF CHILDREN.

>> Cathy: OFFICE OF CHANGE, THAT'S RIGHT, SO THREE KIND OF LARGE SECTIONS OF STATE GOVERNMENT ARE BEING CREATED, ANY CONCERNS OVER THAT?

>> I'M CONCERNED.

NOBODY ASKED LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXACTLY HOW THEY WERE GOING TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE THINGS.

THEY FORCED IT UPON US AND THEY DIDN'T CONCERN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A RAMP-UP TIME, TOO, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE MARIJUANA POLICY, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THAT, HOW ARE WE GOING O ENFORCE IT, HOW DO WE CHANGE THE ORDINANCES TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.

ALL OF THAT COSTS US TIME AND THOSE ARE THE HIDDEN COSTS OF SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT GOT IMPLEMENTED.

NOT THAT -- IN A VERY RUSHED, IN A VERY HURRIED, IN A VERY NOT FULLY VETTED KIND OF WAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE PROBABLY IN THE NEXT SESSION THE LARGEST REVISION BILL EVER POSSIBLE WHEN THEY HAVE TO CLEAN UP SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT GOT SHOVED THROUGH WITHOUT EACH PIECE OF IT EQUALLY VETTED.

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT WAS PUSHED UPON ANYBODY.

THIS IS WHAT WE CAMPAIGNED ON ALL YEAR, WE WENT AND TALKED TO THE PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHAT OUR CAUCUS CAMPAIGNED TO TAKE OVER THE SENATE THAT THEY WANTED ACTION, THEY WANTED TO VOID AND STOP THE GRIDLOCK AND THAT'S WHAT HEY GOT AND THEY'VE HAD TEN YEARS TO VET SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, LONGER FOR MARIJUANA AS YOU HEARD EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM, THESE ARE NOT NEW IDEAS, THEY'VE BEEN ON THE BOOKS, VETTED, THOROUGHLY AND THERE'S BEEN INPUT FROM A OT OF PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO CHANGE IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION, THERE WILL BE ROOM FOR THAT BECAUSE THERE IS A REGULATORY PROCESS TO DO JUST THAT.

NOTHING IS ALL SET IN ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> Eric: HOW GOT GOVERNOR'S POINT THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE ARTIES OF -- NO POSITIVE AGENDA AND VOTERS DON'T LIKE THAT.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IS A FAIR CRITICISM BUT THEY ALSO THINK WHEN WE DO HAVE VALID CRITICISM, IT WAS JUST IGNORED.

WE COULDN'T EVEN GET AMENDMENTS PASSED TO MOST OF THESE BILLS.

WE HAD NO HEARING ON THE GAS TAX, WE HAD -- THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WERE JUST RUSHED THROUGH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, YOU CAN'T LOOK AT THAT AND BLAME REPUBLICANS FOR THAT, THAT'S ALL ON THE DEMOCRATS.

BUT I THINK WHAT'S MOST CONCERNING TO US, TALKING ABOUT THE POT BILL, FOR EXAMPLE, ALL OF THIS WAS CRAFTED WITH THE STATE KNOWS BEST.

SO YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY CAN'T SAY, WE DON'T WANTS A DISPENSARY IN OUR TOWN YOU CAN'T SAY THAT, EVEN IN A COUNTIES, EVEN COLORADO ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN AND WE HAVE A STATE KNOWS BEST.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT.

>> Eric: JAVIER, FOR A YOUNG GUY, A VETERAN OUR NOISIER AND I THINK JUST HAVING OBSERVED ALSO SCENE MANY YEARS MYSELF, I HAVE IS TO SAY THAT THE ORGANIZING AND THE VARIOUS GROUPS THAT CAME TOGETHER, ISAIAH, AND YOU COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON, THIS IS KIND OF A DISTRICTS RYE FOR ORGANIZING.

>> 100%, THANKS FOR SAYING THAT.

I THINK THE BACK STORY TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, LIKE WE HAD THE -- CAN'T UNDERESTIMATE THE QUESTION OF LEADERSHIP.

WEDNESDAY A ONE-VOTE MAJORITIES IN THE SENATE.

THAT'S TRUE BUT THIS IS ALSO THE RODUCTS OF DECADES OF ORGANIZING AND GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER.

I WITNESSED -- OR WAS TOLD ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS PEOPLE WORKING ON RESTORING THE VOTE FOR EX-FELONS AND FOLKS WORKING ON DRIVER'S LICENSES, LIKE LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER, SAVING EACH OTHER'S SEATS IN HEARINGS AND PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, AND AS A SENATOR SAID, THESE HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN VETTED FOR MANY YEARS BUT COMMUNITIES HAVE EEN ORGANIZING TO PLAYING IT HAPPEN FOR MANY YEARS AND THAT'S WHY THIS ESSION THAT THINGS WENT QUICKLY, THEY FUND THEIR JOB -- LIKE ALL THE THINGS WE ALWAYS COMPLAIN ABOUT DIDN'T LAP THIS TIME.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GRIDLOCK, WE GOT THE WORK DONE AND FINISHED ON TIME.

>> Eric: AGENDAS, DO THE REHABILITATION HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE ARE THOSE OF US THAT ARE TRYING AND TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER AND TRYING TO PARTNER WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO MAKE OUR DOLLARS GO FARTHER, BUT JUST RECENTLY I HAD SOMEONE THAT I ASKED TO PARTNER WITH TOLD ME THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED IN PARTNERING.

THEY DON'T PARTNER WITH ANYONE.

YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S REALLY SAD BECAUSE FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF THAT TRAVEL WITH THE STATE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MILES EVERY DAY, AND TALK TO REAL PEOPLE AND PEOPLE RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND WHO DO TRACH PROGRAMS OR PARTNER WITH OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE DOING GREAT THINGS AND WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD, TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT AREN'T INTERESTED IN WORKING TO PARTNER AND AREN'T WILLING TO DO BETTER FOR VERYONE SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR IDEAS FORWARD, WE CAN GET PEOPLE IN ELECTED OFFICE, IT'S JUST A REALLY SAD THING AND I HOPE INDIVIDUALS WITH THAT MINDSETS REALLY CHANGE THEIR MIND BECAUSE, TOGETHER, WE WIN.

IF WE'RE STRONGER TOGETHER.

>> Eric: WHAT IS THE PATH FORWARD FOR REPUBLICANS?

PARTICULARLY ON A STATEWIDE-RACE BASIS?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK WHOLESALE AT HOW WE NOMINATE PEOPLE AND WHAT OUR PROCESS IS.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT UNIVERSALLY, MOST REPUBLICANS AGREE UPON.

WE HAVE A FAULTY PROCESS THAT WAS DEVELOP IN THE 1950s, JUST TALKING WITH A OLD-TIMER POLITICAL ANALYST WHO SAID WE SETTLED ON THE CAUCUSES BECAUSE THEY WERE CHEAPER THAN PRIMARIES.

A TERRIBLE WAY TO PICK CANDIDATES.

>> AT THE SAME TIME YOU NEEDS THE BASE, TOO, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE PRIMARY AND STEAMROLL PEOPLE AND NOT WORK TOGETHER, THERE IS THAT PRIMARY PROCESS BUT YOU HAVE TO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: DEMOCRATS, HOW DO YOU ALL HOLD ON TO SOME OF THE SEATS THAT YOU WON, ESPECIALLY IF GREATER MINNESOTA BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE KIND OF A PROBLEM OUT THERE, DON'T YA?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED, AND OURS IS A -- WHEN I TALK TO NATIONAL GROUPS, I SAY THIS IS THE TALE OFF TWO TRIFECTAS.

IN 12012 AND 2014, WE HAD ADVOCATES GO TO WAR WITH THE SENATE MAJORITIES CAUCUS TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND INDEX IT TO INFLATION.

YOU'LL RECALL, THIS WAS EVERYONE WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT OVERSTEPPING AND -- AND IN THE EN, NECESSITY LOST THOSE MAJORITY ANYWAY.

SO THE LESSON HERE IS PEOPLE WANTS YOU TO ACT AND THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOUR SEAT IS TO GO BACK HAVING PROMISED WHAT YOU PROMISED TO DO.

>> WOULD SAY MY BIGGEST SURPRISE WAS HOW MUCH THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ACCOMPLISHED.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE AUTHOR OF THE PAID MEDICAL LEAVE BILL HAD HER OWN MEDICAL EMERGENCY, THE LEADER OF THE SENATE AD HER OWN MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

THEY STILL GLUED IT TOGETHER, THEY STILL MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS, SO IT CAN BE DONE WHEN PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON THE GOAL AND THEY ARE CAMPAIGN PROMISES, THOSE ARE CAMPAIGN PROMISES THAT WERE KEPT AND I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION TO EE WHAT THE REST OF THE POPULATION OF MINNESOTA HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT.

>> AND I THINK WE'LL REMINDS THEM OF THE PROMISES THEY DIDN'T KEEP.

THEY DIDN'T REDUCE THE TAX -- DIDN'T ELIMINATE THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITIES INCOME.

THEY RAISED TAXES ON MOST PEOPLE.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER NEXT ELECTION.

>> Cathy: WHY DO YOU THINK SUCH WAS DONE THIS SESSION?

WHAT DIDN'T GET THE ATTENTION THIS SESSION THAT SHOULD HAVE?

>> I THINK THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT SESSION, THE UBER BILL ACTUALLY BEING SOMETHING THAT IS BROUGHT UP AGAIN.

THIS WAS ORGANIZING BY EAST AFRICAN, VERY POOR WORKERS, DRIVERS WHO ARE BEING EXPLOITED AND I THINK FIGURING OUT THAT BILL WILL BE AN IMPORTANT THING AND I HOPE THAT HAPPENS EARLY NEXT SESSION.

>> I WOULD SAY THE NURSE'S BILL.

OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE THAT AT THE ENDS UNRAVELED, UNFORTUNATELY AND I THINK WE HAVE TO PLAYING SURE WE TAKE CARE OF OUR NURSES, THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR US THROUGH THICK AND THIN, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND WE OWE THEM A GREAT DEAL OF GRATITUDE AND RESPECT AND THAT ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> Eric: GOES SENATOR KLOBUCHAR HAVE A REPUBLICAN OPPONENT YET?

>> NO, THERE IS NO OPPONENT YET AND I THINK HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE AT SOME POINTS AND I'M HOPING THAT MANY OF US WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD AROUND AN OPERATION THAT CAN SUPPORT A CANDIDATE.

>> NOT THROBBING YOUR HATS IN THE RING?

>> NOT THROWING ANY HAT IN THE RING, NO THANK YOU.

>> Eric: WE'LL STAY TUNED FOR THAT.

>> ERIC: WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC.

THE PRODUCERS DUG IN TO THE ARCHIVES AND CAME UP WITH A FAVORITE FROM 15 YEARS AGO.

IT WAS THIS WEEK BACK IN 2008 THAT DAN WILSON OF SEMISONIC JOINED US IN STUDIO B.

HE TALKED WITH US ABOUT LAUNCHING A SOLO CAREER AND WAS HERE TO PROMOTE HIS NEW SOLO C.D.

TAKE A LISTEN TO THE TITLE CUT, "FREE LIFE."

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

BE CAREFUL.

♪♪ CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM ♪ LET'S TAKE A LITTLE TRIP DOWN WHERE WE USED TO GO ♪ IT'S WAY BEYOND THE STRIP A PLACE THEY CALL YOUR SOUL ♪ WE'LL SIT DOWN FOR A WHILE AND LET THE EVENING ROLL ♪ DON'T WORRY 'BOUT THE TIME WE'LL FIND A PLACE TO STAY ♪ THE PEOPLE 'ROUND HERE SEEM FAMILIAR IN SOME WAY ♪ LOOK KINDA LIKE WE DID BEFORE WE GOT SO COLD ♪ AND IN THE AIR THE QUESTIONS HANG ♪ WILL WE GET TO DO SOMETHING ♪ WHO WE GONNA END UP BEING ♪ HOW WE GONNA END UP FEELING ♪ WHAT YOU GONNA SPEND YOUR FREE LIFE ON?

♪ ♪ FREE LIFE ♪ LET'S FALL IN LOVE AGAIN WITH MUSIC AS OUR GUIDE