>> Cathy: WITH THE STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICER ISSUE RESOLVED FOR NOW AT THE CAPITOL, WHAT WILL LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO NEXT?

WE'LL PONDER THAT WITH UR COUCH FULL OF POLITICOS.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST, BRIAN MCCLUNG, PR PROFESSIONAL, JEN DEJOURNETT IS A POLITICAL OPERATIVE AND VETERAN OF CAMPAIGNS, EMBER REICHOTT JUNGE AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ABOU AMARA.

TALKING ABOUT THE SRO LAW, A TRIUMPH OF BIPARTISAN AND COMPROMISE EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE THE NINE SENATE DEMOCRATS AND THREE DEMOCRATS AGAINST IT.

>> I THINK THAT VOTE TELLS YOU THE VAST MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS ND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES BELIEVE THAT HAS TO BE SOME ROLE FOR SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND I THINK THAT VOTE TAKE THES THAT.

>> SENATOR.

>> I THINK WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS THEY DIDN'T BRING EVERYONE TO THE TABLE LAST YEAR INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE A SOLUTION, YOU HAVE TO HAVE EVERYBODY A PART OF IT AND THEY IMPROVED THE BILL BY DOING THAT.

THEY HAD TRAINING AND STANDARDS AROUND THE STATE AND I THINK EVERYBODY BENEFITED BY THAT.

>> Eric: WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE BIPARTISAN NATURE OF THIS?

IS >> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE'VE BEEN HAVING SINCE LAST SUMMER AND REPUBLICANS WERE CALLING REPEATEDLY FOR A SPECIAL SESSION, WE COULD HAVE SOLVED THIS LAST YEAR.

GLAD IT GOT DONE NOW.

I WILL SAY ALSO THROUGH IN THAT PIECE YOU SAW REPRESENTATIVE JEFF WITTE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND AS AN SRO IT'S ANOTHER REMINDER OF WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CITIZEN LEGISLATURE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WITH THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE.

DEMOCRATS THIS WEEK HAD A BILL TO MAKE THE LEGISLATURE YEAR-ROUND A PROFESSIONAL LEGISLATURE.

WE WOULD LOSE THE VIEWPOINTS OF PEOPLE LIKE REPRESENTATIVE JEFF WITTE IF WE WENT IN THAT DIRECTION SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT.

>> Eric: THEY SURROUNDED THE FULL TIME LEGISLATURE WITH BIPARTISAN RESTRICTING COMMISSION AND END TO THE REVOLVING DOOR OF LOBBYISTS COMING OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

>> WELL, I OPENED UP A WHOLE 'NOTHER CAN OF QUESTIONS THERE.

LOOK, I THINK THAT THERE'S BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO A YEAR-ROUND LEGISLATURE.

THE IDEA THAT YOU WOULD TAKE WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND KEEP LAWMAKERS IN THERE, THEY HAVE ENOUGH BAD IDEAS IN FIVE MONTHS, I REALLY DON'T THINK WE SHOULD MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT.

>> Eric: FULL TIME LEGISLATURE >> NO, I THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING OR WANTING TO SERVE BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT THEY'RE BEING PAID.

I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I NEVER -- I ALWAYS KNOW MY TAX DOLLARS ARE SAFE WHEN THEY'RE OUT OF SESSION AND I KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PASS ANY MORE RIDICULOUS LAWS THAT ARE GOING TO INFRINGE ON THE FREE PARK WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN SESSION SO I SAY SHORTEN THE SESSION, LET THEM GET TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO MAKE A REAL LIFE INCOME, DO THE WORK UICKER, FASTER I THINK IT WOULD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN WAY AND WE'D GET MORE EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT F WE DID THAT.

>> Eric: DEMOCRATS I'M GOING LIKE THIS.

>> HERE'S THE DEAL, IF YOU WALK INTO IF IGROCERY STORE AND YOU'RE A STATE REPRESENTATIVE YOUR CONSTITUENT DOESN'T CARE IF IT'S DECEMBER OR IN SESSION, THEY WANT ISSUES ADDRESSED.

I THINK THERE'S SUBSTANCE TO IT, MAYBE NOT FULL TIME LEGISLATURE BUT THERE'S GOT A REFLECTION OF IT'S HARDER WORK THAN IT'S EVER BEEN IT'S GOT TON COMMENSURATE TO COMPENSATION.

>> I DON'T SUPPORT A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE AT ALL.

I HINK THE JOB SHOULD BE DONE IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AND YOU NEED TIME IN THE COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY BE IN ANOTHER JOB OR IN OUR, WITH YOUR FAMILY AND REALLY LIVING LIFE SO YOU CAN BRING THAT PERSPECTIVE BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Cathy: CAN YOU REALLY SHORTEN THINGS UP THOUGH AND DO DECENT LAWMAKING REALLY?

>> I THINK YOU CAN.

IF YOU GET RID OF SOME OF THE GAMESMANSHIP -- >> Cathy: WELL, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

>> I THINK IF YOU GET DOWN TO WHAT REALLY IS IS IMPACTING PEOPLE AND HOW DO YOU COME TO A SOLUTION TOGETHER I THINK YOU CAN DO IT.

OTHER STATES HAVE A HORTENED SESSION.

OTHER STATES ARE ABLE TO GET THEIR WORK DONE.

WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AND REALLY IT DOES GET THOSE LEGISLATORS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY LISTENING TO REAL PEOPLE AND HOW THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THEY'RE LESS IN A FISH BOWL WHERE THEY'RE HEARING PAID GOVERNMENTAL LOBBYISTS TELL THEM WHAT THE SOLUTION IS ND GETTING TOO MUCH CAUGHT UP IN THE NEGATIVITY AROUND THINGS.

>> Cathy: DISAGREEING?

>> A DISAGREE, I THINK THE SRO BILL IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

HOW MUCH ENGAGEMENT HAD TO HAPPEN, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE TABLE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN HAVE A FULL TIME JOB ELSEWHERE, THERE'S A LOT OF INTENT THAT HAD TO HAPPEN.

MAYBE IT'S NOT A FULL TIME LEGISLATURE BUT IT HAS TO BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE WORK WE'RE EXPECTING THEM TO DO.

>> Eric: I'M REALLY CONFUSED ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL AND PARTIES SEEM TO BE THEY LIKE IT NTIL THEY DON'T LIKE IT.

AND NOW UBER AND LYFT ARE BEING BANNED OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS MAYBE ON MAY 1ST AND THERE'S A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE TO NOT ALLOW CITIES TO MAKE THAT DECISION, THAT IT WOULD BE A STATEWIDE.

>> WELL, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT DON'T WORK CITY TO CITY.

AND GETTING IN A CAR AND DRIVING SOMEWHERE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

WHEN OU'RE GOING TO CROSS NUMEROUS JURISDICTIONS WHEN YOU ARE IN A RIDE-SHARING VEHICLE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR EVERY CITY ALONG THE WAY TO HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF RULES, DIFFERENT PAY STANDARD AND SO I THINK ON THE LOCAL CONTROL ISSUE OR NOT, I THINK WHAT YOU OUGHT TO LOOK AT IS IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, LOCAL EXPERIMENTATION, LOCAL OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN, BUT SOMETHING LIKE RIDE-SHARING IS NOT ONE OF THOSE THINGS AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO STEP IN.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE NINE OR TEN MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DECIDING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR RIDE-SHARING FOR THE ENTIRE METRO REGION OR POTENTIALLY THE ENTIRE STATE.

>> SENATOR?

>> I AM NOT A FAN NORMALLY OF PREEMPTION WHICH IS UNDOING LOCAL CONTROL.

BUT WE HAVE A MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL THAT IS GOVERNING BY IDEOLOGY AND NOT LEGISLATING.

BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T BRING THE COMPANIES TO THE TABLE TO HAVE A SOLUTION.

THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HAD THAT THE MAYOR PROPOSED.

I THINK IN THIS CASE IT IS UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO FIX THAT TO ACTUALLY HAVE A STATEWIDE STANDARD AND USE THE DATA OF THE STUDY THAT WAS PROPOSED, THEY HAVE REAL DATA AND BASE IT ON THAT SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REAL COMPROMISE AND A REAL SOLUTION.

>> I THINK THERE'S TWO PROBLEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE.

I THINK THE FIRST PROBLEM IS THERE ARE SOME REAL ISSUES THE DRIVERS ARE BRINGING TO THE TABLE AROUND SAFETY, JOB PROTECTION, IF THEY GET HARMED ON THE JOB AND THEIR PAY SCALE.

THAT ISN'T BEING ADDRESSED, THAT IS A COMPANY PROBLEM UBER AND LYFT HAVE TO SOLVE.

THE OTHER PART OF THE PROBLEM KIND OF GOING TO THE POINT OF NOT ALL VOICES AT THE TABLE, WHEN YOU KIND OF GET SINGLE PARTY CONTROL OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT PUSH AND PULL OF HAVING TO WORK THINGS OUT TO GET SOMETHING DONE DOESN'T HAPPEN.

SO I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT BUT, NO, YOU CAN'T CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR COMPANIES TO OPERATE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY SERVE ANYONE ESPECIALLY THE TRANSPORTATION VULNERABLE.

>> Eric: WHERE THE DRIVERS, DID UBER AND LYFT ENVISION THIS AS A LIVING WAGE, FULL TIME JOB FOR PEOPLE OR WAS IT A SIDE HUSTLE AS A PART TIME JOB?

AND I WONDER IF THEY SET THE BUSINESS MODEL UP WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE THEM A FULL LIVING WAGE BECAUSE IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO BE THAT.

>> THAT MAY AVE BEEN THE CASE OF HOW IT STARTED BUT THE REALITY THE VAST MAJORITY OF DRIVERS THIS IS THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME.

I DO THINK IT'S WELL INTENTIONED I ADMIT IT'S A PROBLEM.

IT'S GOING TO CAUSE SERIOUS PUSHBACK, THERE'S 18 MILLION RIDES IN MINNESOTA EVE YEAR THROUGH EASTBOUNDER AND LYFT AND IF YOU ADD IN THE JEWEL INFRASTRUCTURE, THE MALL OF AMERICA, THE AIRPORT, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT GOING TO BE SERVED.

AND I SUSPECT WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE ACTS OR NOT IN THE SUMMER WHEN PEOPLE FEEL THE IMPACTS OF THIS INCLUDING DRIVERS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM WON'T BE RECEIVING INCOME DURING THAT TIME I SUSPECT THEY MAY BE GOING BACK TO CITY HALL AND ASKING TO MODIFY THE PROPOSAL.

>> THAT'S WHATTED HEADLINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL CHANGES PAY STRUCTURE FOR LYFT AND UBER DRIVERS TO ZERO DOLLARS AN HOUR STARTING MAY 1ST.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO OPERATE HERE AND THAT IS NOT WORKABLE AND IT'S SOMETHING LIKE 10,000 DRIVERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SIDELINED IN THE MEANTIME.

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO RESTAURANT OWNERS IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS, THEY ARE SCARED WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE.

>> AND TO ABOU'S POINT IT'S BEYOND WHAT YOU SAID, IT'S PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIOR CITIZENS TRYING TO GET TO HEALTH CARE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR CRISIS NOT ONLY IN MINNEAPOLIS BUT AROUND THE REGION AND IT REALLY CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO GO FORWARD.

IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, THEY ACTUALLY DID LEAVE.

THERE WAS A THREAT TO LEAVE AND THEY LEFT.

THEY CAME BACK NINE MONTHS LATER, ES, BUT IT CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF CHAOS.

WE DON'T WANT THAT HERE.

>> Cathy: GOVERNOR WALZ BACK ON CNN AFTER VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WAS IN TOWN TALKING ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS.

HE HAD SOME INTERESTING THINGS TO SAY ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS ON CNN.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT WHAT'S HE UP TO?

>> ONE, IT'S CLEAR THE GOVERNOR'S PROFILE HAS BEEN RAISED, LEADING THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION, HE IS CLEARLY NOT JUST A VOICE BUT REPRESENTS A FIGURE THAT CAN REACH VARIOUS PARTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND HE KNOWS ABORTION IS KEY TO HOLDING THE BLUE WALL.

I'M GOING TO INCLUDE MINNESOTA IN THAT BLUE WALL FROM MINNESOTA TO WISCONSIN TO MICHIGAN TO PENNSYLVANIA, IF JOED BIDEN CAN WIN THOSE STATES HE WILL BE REELECTED.

>> YOU KNOW, I HOPE THIS ELECTION DOESN'T COME DOWN TO ONE ISSUE AGAIN.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> ABORTION IMPACTS LOTS OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT IF YOU'RE PRO-ABORTION OR PRO-LIFE WE ALREADY KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE.

THE REST OF US WHO WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THAT IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES NEVER GET A CHANCE TO HEAR CANDIDATES FULLY VETTED VIEWS ON THAT BECAUSE WE'RE STUCK ON ONE ISSUE.

AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE, I GET THAT BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES?

CAN WE FOCUS, CAN WE DRILL ON THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE DON'T WE NEVER HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE ISSUES AND THEN PEOPLE JUST, YOU KNOW, GO BACK TO THEIR CORNERS, OU TAKE A SIDE AND YOU MAYBE GO WITH SOMEBODY YOU DON'T WANT.

>> Eric: GOOD STUFF.