♪ ♪ >> Eric: JUST A MONTH AWAY FROM RHYMERIES, LOT TO DISCUSS.

SUMMERTIME POLITICAL PANEL.

REPUBLICANS, FRITZ KNAAK, REPUBLICANS, FRITZ KNAAK.

REPUBLICANS, FRITZ KNAAK.

PAT AROFALO.

D.F.L.ERS, KARLA BIGHAM, D.F.L.

FORMER STATE LAWMAKER, SERVED IN BOTH CHAMBERS, NOW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

ROUNDING OUT THE PANEL, ABEAU AMARA, FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER NOW AN ATTORNEY.

SENATOR, YOU ARE AN EXPERT IN VOTING MATTERS.

LEGAL VOTING MATTERS.

>> UH-OH.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT USUALLY STARTS SOMETHING BAD.

>> Eric: OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR SAID ELECTION DAY VOTERS MAYBE NOT BEING VERIFIED ENOUGH, INACTIVE VOTERS HAVE BEEN ON THE ROLLS FOR TOO LONG.

>> CORRECT.

>> Eric: APPARENTLY DOJ MONITORS ARE COMING IN FOR THE PRIMARY AND FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION FROM THE FEDS.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS?

>> I THINK WE SHOULD WELCOME IT.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, COME ON.

I THINK I'M NOT TERRIBLY CONCERNED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF A TWEAKING THAT WAS BEING RECOMMENDED.

I THINK THE SYSTEM IS FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND.

AND I THINK THAT IF SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO COME IN AND OBSERVE LET THEM COME AND IN AND OBSERVE, I'M REALLY FRANKLY STILL IS A LITTLE PUZZLED BY THE POSITION TAKEN BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE ABOUT NOT ALLOWING ACCESS TO THE FEDS IN TERMS OF VOTER, ALL THE VOTER INFORMATION.

WHY NOT?

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HIDE.

IF ANYTHING I THINK WE COULD SET OURSELVES UP AS A BIPARTISAN EXAMPLE OF HOW IT SHOULD BE RUN IF YOU'RE OPEN ABOUT IT.

>> IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE OJ AND LAWSUITS, THEY'RE 0 AND 10 ON THIS ISSUE THAT FRITZ JUST BROUGHT UP.

AND THE DOJ WON'T SAY WHY THEY WANT THE, AND WHAT HEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE INFORMATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE SAME LEGAL POSITION AS THE OTHER STATES THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ENTITLED TO THIS PRIVATE INFORMATION.

THIS IS OUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, OUR SOCIAL SECURITY STUFF.

THEY DON'T NEED IT.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WOULD SAY ABSOLUTELY NOT TO BIG FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF INFORMATION FROM THE STATE.

THAT'S THE OLD REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHERE ARE YOU GUYS AT NOW?

YOU'RE SAYING TAKE EVERYTHING.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO IN MINNESOTA, WHEN IT COMES TO DATA, STATE LEVEL DATA THAT'S ABOUT US, WE DROLL IT, WE PRESERVE IT.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OBSERVING IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTIONS, ALL FOR IT.

>> THERE'S ONE THING THAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN MINNESOTA THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH FRAUD SCANDALS IS THAT THE HONOR SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.

I WISH WE HAD A MINNESOTA WHERE YOU COULD 100% TRUST EVERYONE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THIS CONCEPT OF BEING ABLE TO VOUCH FOR STRANGERS, SHOW P AND VOTE ON ELECTION DAY AND SOMEONE ELSE NEXT TO YOU SAYS, YEAH, THEY'RE A GOOD GUY OR GOOD GAL SO THEY GET TO VOTE.

I'M SORRY BUT WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN INTEGRITY.

IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO TEAR DOWN THE WHOLE SYSTEM BUT ET'S INVITE, LIKE FRITZ IS SAYING, Mr.

KNAAK IS SAYING, I APOLOGIZE, LET'S INVITE THAT, HAVE VISIBILITY, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> I'M ALL FOR THAT.

>> Eric: ARE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES GOING TO DEBATE?

I THINK WE HAVE AN INVITATION IN FOR THE PRIMARY.

>> I HONESTLY HOPE SO, THE MORE EXPOSURE THEY GET, I MEAN, IF SOMEONE INVITES THEM TO DO A SOAPBOX IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS, TAKE IT.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THEY HAVE IS NO ONE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE, MORE EXPOSURE THEY GET THE BETTER.

>> Eric: 26% UNDECIDED?

>> I THINK THAT'S WHY THERE'S MAJOR CONCERN, IF YOU'RE LISA DEMUTH, YOU GOT TO PLAY IT SAFE HERE.

ON ON ONE LEVEL YOU'RE TRYING TO APPEAL TO MODERATES, ON ONE LEVEL YOU'RE TRYING TO APPEAL TO RESEARCHERS, SOMEONE LIKE MIKE LINDELL WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT A WEDGE BETWEEN THOSE BASE OF VOTERS.

>> THE IMPORTANT THING IS WE WANT TO AVOID A PILLOW FIGHT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YIKES.

>> I THINK ALL THREE OF THESE CANDIDATES HAVE DEBATED QUITE A BIT DURING THE CAUCUS PROCESS.

PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE PRIMARY DEBATES, GO AHEAD BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I JUST, I DO NOT SEE THIS AS BEING RELEVANT DECIDING FACTOR.

ULTIMATELY THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN MINNESOTA AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GO BACK TO THE LAW FREAK SHOW OF DEMOCRATS HAVING TOTAL CONTROL IN MINNESOTA, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT, WHO'S THE BEST ARTICULATE MESSENGER FOR THAT YOU DON'T NEED A DEBATE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

>> WE'VE HAD ONE DEBATE HERE FOR OUR SENATE CANDIDATES AND THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE AND I KNOW THERE'S AN OPEN INVITATION ON WCCO WITH BLOIS OLSON.

>> MPR.

>> MPR.

BUT THEY NEED TO DO MORE DEBATES AND I THINK IT WOULD BE WISE TO SEE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN AND CONGRESSWOMAN CRAIG DEBATE MORE.

>> LET'S JUST BE HONEST, OKAY, IT'S SUMMERTIME IN MINNESOTA, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO WATCH DEBATES ON TV.

>> PLENTY OF ADS RUNNING.

>> I HEAR THE SHOW WAS QUITE POPULAR THAT FRIDAY NIGHT THEY WERE ON.

>> WE HAD GOOD NUMBERS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> MORE EXPOSURE YOU GET THE BETTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: NOW, PAID LEAVE.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: IS POPULAR.

AND IT IS SENDING OUT MORE IN BENEFITS THAN THE PAYROLL SYNTAX PROVIDING TO PAY FOR IT, SO WHAT HAPPENS >> ERIC, IT TURNS OUT, AND FIRST OF ALL, ERIC, CATHY, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> IT URNS TURNS OUT WE TELL PEOPLE WE'LL PAY YOU AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK, PEOPLE LIKE IT.

IMAGINE THAT, A BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS TO PAY PEOPLE NOT TO WORK ON TOP OF THE WORKER'S COMPENSATION SYSTEM, ON TOP OF UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM, THIS IS ALL LAYERED IN AN ECONOMY WHERE WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS AND IT TURNS OUT THAT WE'RE SHOCKED, SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO GET PAID NOT TO WORK.

>> Eric: IS HE TAX GOING TO GO UP?

>> NO, NO, I THINK TWO THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

>> WHOA, NO, IT'S NOT?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, WHEN THEY WERE INITIALLY IMPLEMENTED THERE WERE COST OVERRUNS OVERRUNRUNS AND THEN YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AND TWEAK THEM AND FEW THEM.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

POINT NUMBER ONE.

POINT NUMBER TWO I DO THINK THERE ARE WAYS YOU CAN SUSTAIN THIS MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT MASSIVELY INCREASING TAXES OR INCREASING THEM AT ALL.

FOR ONE EXAMPLE IF YOU HAD A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT SAID YOUR EMPLOYER PROVIDED AT THE LEVEL OR ABOVE IN TERMS OF PAID LEAVE THAT YOU WOULD BE OPTED OUT OF THAT PROGRAM.

THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF A WAY TO TAKE THE TAX BILL OFF F A LOT OF MINNESOTANS AND STILL ENSURE THAT WE HAVE UNIVERSALITY IN THE PROGRAM.

>> THAT'S ALREADY THE LAW, THOUGH.

>> NO, NO, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE COLLECTION, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO INCREASE TAXES, FLATLINE THEM AND CERTIFY IF YOUR BUSINESS PROVIDES IT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY MORE.

>> LET'S BE VERY CLEAR, THE PAYROLL TAX WAS .7%, THEY'VE ALREADY DIALED IT UP TO .8%.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE OF WASHINGTON THAT HAS A MODEL LESS GENEROUS THAN OURS, DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON ARE TALKING ABOUT A 2% PAYROLL TAX.

AND MY FAVORITE LINE OF THIS PROGRAM OUT THERE, THEY TALK ABOUT HOW THIS PROGRAM IS TOO POPULAR TO NOT FULLY FUND.

>> I DO BELIEVE THE ACTUARIAL STUDY THAT WILL COME OUT AT THE END OF THE MONTH WILL GIVE A LOT MORE ANSWERS CLEARLY AND I DO BELIEVE THERE WILL BE CHANGES NEXT SESSION.

>> 100%, 100%.

>> Cathy: SAY, I HAVE TO ASK YOU ALL, I ASKED THIS TO OUR POLITICAL SCIENCE FRIEND DAVID SCHULTZ.

MITCH MCCONNELL, WE DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT MY QUESTION TO HIM WAS WHERE'S THE LINE, FOR OUR THREE FORMER LAWMAKERS, WHERE'S THE LINE BETWEEN PATIENT PRIVACY AND TRANSPARENCY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL >> FRANKLY IT'S UP TO THE SENATOR IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO DISCLOSED OR NOT DISCLOSED.

AND IT'S A PROBLEM, BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE FUNCTION OF THE SENATE.

AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO DEFER TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE LIFE OF THE INDIVIDUAL SENATOR.

AND I THINK THE REASON WHY THERE'S HESITATION ISN'T ANY LACK OF WANTING TO TALK ABOUT ON THE PART OF THE REPUBLICANS AND RESPECTING, RESPECTING SENATOR MCCONNELL'S WISHES I SUSPECT.

>> Cathy: AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IF IT IMPACTS THE ELECTED OFFICIAL'S ABILITY TEED THE JOB, IT IS -- TO DO THE JOB, IT IS ABSOLUTELY A MUST TO DISCLOSE WHAT IS GOING ON.

MY DEAR FRIEND THE MAYOR OF COTTAGE GROVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS SURGERY AND HE DISCLOSED THAT ON FACEBOOK AND THERE WAS AN ARTICLE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO TO LET PEOPLE KNOW, HERE'S MY MAYOR PRO TEM, I'LL BE BACK.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE A COMMISSIONER, WHETHER YOU'RE A LEGISLATOR, LITTLE DIFFERENT WITH LEGISLATORS BECAUSE THEY'RE ART-TIME BUT REGARDLESS, YOU CAN'T DO THE JOB, THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT THE ACTUAL MEDICAL SSUE.

>> YOU'RE NOT A FORMER LAWMAKER, SHE ASKED FORMER LAWMAKERS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> FAIR, FAIR, I'M GOING TO JUMP IN ANYWAY.

>> Cathy: 30 SECONDS, GO AHEAD.

>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE MEDICAL CONDITION, AT SOME POINT IF YOU'RE MISSING FOR A MONTH.

IF I WERE GOVERNOR BESHEAR I WOULD SAY IF I DON'T HEAR FROM MITCH MCCONNELL WITHIN 30 DAYS, I'M GOING TO DEEM HIM MISSING AND FILL THAT SEAT.

>> IT'S A TOUGH ISSUE, WE DEAL WITH IN SOCIETY AND THE LEGISLATURE IS THE SAME WAY.

I DO THEY NEED A SERIOUS CONVERSATION, WE HAVE A MINIMUM AGE TO BE IN CONGRESS, WE SHOULD