>> Eric: IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LAWMAKERS MUST END THEIR WORK UNLESS THEY AGREE TO GO INTO OVERTIME.

FEW THINK THAT'S LIKELY.

SOME OBSERVERS THINK THE LEGISLATURE ON COULD WRAP UP THEIR WORK EARLY.

LET'S PUT THAT IDEA TO THE TEST WITH A GROUP OF FOUR POLITICAL OBSERVERS.

ABOU AMARA, D.F.L., FORMER STAFFER, NOW AN ATTORNEY.

JANAE BATES, D.F.L.ER, MINISTER AND ORGANIZER ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC ISSUES.

REPUBLICANS JOINING S, BRIAN MCDANIEL, LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST AND LAWYER AND STANDUP COMIC.

THE REPUBLICAN IS A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER, LONG TIME REPUBLICAN PARTY ACTIVIST.

WELL, BRIAN, I HEARD THE SPEAKER WANTS THEM OUT BY MAY 12.

I HEARD SOMEBODY ELSE THANK YOU THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FINISH THE AGENDA BY MAY 22.

WHAT HEAR YOU?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYIN' A LOT OF THINGS.

I WORKED FOR HOUSE SPEAKER STEVE SVIGGUM EVERY YEAR I WORKED FOR HIM HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO BE DONE BY EASTER.

WELL, IT NEVER HAPPENED.

I MEAN I THINK THAT BEING DONE MAYBE A FEW DAYS EARLY COULD HAPPEN.

YOU HEAR THE 18TH A LITTLE BIT.

BUT CONSTITUTIONALLY WE'RE HERE 'TIL, WHAT 22ND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, LET'S JUST GET OUR WORK DONE, LET'S DO IT RIGHT, NOT RUSH ANYTHING THROUGH, AND THEN NOT TALK FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Eric: I'M GUESSING REPUBLICANS WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE THEM GO HOME EARLY.

>> IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC, I'D LOVE IT IF THEY WEREN'T RUSHING THINGS THROUGH BUT THEY CERTAINLY ARE, SOONER THEY CAN GET OUT OF TOWN THE BETTER AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

>> Mary: JANAE, YOU'VE BEEN BUSY, IN HALLWAYS, PRESS CONFERENCES, ARE YOU STUNNED BY THE PACE?

>> YEAH, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE PACE.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THEY'RE MOVING AT THE SPEED OF NEED REALLY, RIGHT?

IT'S LIKE TIME TO ACTUALLY REALLY BE ABLE TO GET SOME THINGS DONE AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.

>> AND MIND YOU THESE IDEAS AREN'T BEING PUSHED THROUGH RADICALLY IN THIS YEAR, YOU HAD TEN YEARS OF STUDYING THESE IDEAS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE BLOCKING THEM AND SO FINALLY WHEN THERE WAS ONTROL OF GOVERNMENT DEMOCRATS COULD FINALLY ENACT ON WHAT THEY KNOW MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.

>> Eric: I'M VERY CURIOUS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH MAYO AND THE MINNESOTA NURSES ASSOCIATION.

THE MAYO'S TOOK A PAGE OUT OF THE VIKINGS AND TWINS AND SAID IF WE DON'T GET CERTAIN THINGS TAKEN OUT OF THE HUMAN SERVICES BILL WE'RE GOING TO WITHDRAW A BILLION DOLLARS IN DEVELOPMENT IN ROCHESTER AND THE MINNESOTA NURSES WILL BE ON THIS SIDE OF THAT AND BIG FRIENDS AND ALLIES OF THE DEMOCRATS.

WITH WHO'S GONNA WIN THIS STANDOFF?

>> UM.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> UM.

HERE'S WHAT I THINK, I THINK THAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS, YOU'RE DEALING ITH A LOT OF MONEY, YOU'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES OF WHICH SOME OF WHICH LIKE ABOU SAID HAVE BEEN MANY MANY MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF PENT-UP DESIRE TO PUSH SOME OF THIS STUFF HROUGH.

DO I THINK THAT IN ORDER TO HELP THE NURSES YOU HAVE TO ALSO BE WORKING WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS?

100%, ABSOLUTELY.

DO I THINK THAT MAYO HAS A LOT OF, A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SWAY IN THESE THINGS?

YES, THEY DO.

BUT I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO REALIZE, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO THEY SAY IN HAMILTON?

YOU DON'T HAVE THE VOTES?

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHO HAS THE VOTES AND IF YOU'RE THE ONES WHO DON'T HAVE THEM YOU NEED TO WORK WITH THE OTHER SIDE.

>> Eric: ABOU, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> LOOK IT, TAKES TWO TO TANGO, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN PUBLIC, THERE WILL BE PRIVATE NEGOTIATIONS, YOU USED THE EXAMPLE THE VIKINGS, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD ONE, ULTIMATELY POSITIONS TAKEN, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU GET TO THE TABLE AND GET THINGS DONE.

LET'S NOT FORGET WHY MAYO CAN THRIVE A BIG PART OF THAT IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS INVESTED WITH DESTINATION MEDICAL CENTER, WE DID THAT TEN YEARS AGO.

>> Mary: TAPING SOMETHING TO CCO TODAY, WHAT MAYO WANTS, MAYO GETS, SOME OF US GO BACK AS FAR AS DESTINATION MEDICAL CENTER, THE THREAT WAS SIMILAR, IF YOU DON'T INVEST IN US YOU WON'T GET SOMETHING BACK.

>> I THINK A CORPORATION REALLY TRIED TO LEVERAGE BIG CORPORATE DOLLARS TO HAVE VETO POWER AT THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH ISN'T RIGHT, SO THEY SHOULD BE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THE NURSES FOR THIS NURSING BEDSIDE BILL THAT THEY WANT, THEY SHOULD BE WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE THAT MEDICATION IS AFFORDABLE FOR MINNESOTANS WHICH IS A THING -- >> Mary: IS THIS A UNION CLASH, BIG BUSINESS CLASH?

>> THE MAYO CLINIC IS THE CROWN JEWEL OF MINNESOTA AND LEGISLATORS SHOULD BE LISTENING.

THE FACT IT IS SO UPSET ABOUT A LAW THAT'S SO DETRIMENTAL TO ITS OPERATIONS I WOULD BE LISTENING CAREFULLY.

MAYO CLINIC IS A BIG CORPORATION, IT CAN TAKE INVESTMENTS ELSEWHERE AND DO JUST FINE.

THIS IS PART OF A PATTERN OF THE D.F.L.

AGENDA THAT HAS BEEN WAGING WAR ON BUSINESS.

MY CONCERN IS BUSINESSES THAT DON'T HAVE THIS VETO POWER OR INFLUENCES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE SHOULDN'T BE JUST LISTENING TO BIG BUSINESSES, ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD, BUT SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL.

>> Mary: THE STATE ECONOMIST SAID BUSINESSES OULD E LEAVING MINNESOTA, HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE GLOBAL TAXING AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO COME HERE, VERY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, WE ARE DESPERATE FOR WORKERS.

WHAT IS THIS PUSH AND PULL OF ATTRACTING PEOPLE AND SCARING PEOPLE AWAY, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

>> THE THING ABOUT THIS BILL IS A GREAT REFORM FOR TAX FAIRNESS AND IT'S GOING TO AFFECT SMALL BUSINESSES IN MINNESOTA OR BUSINESSES BASED IN MINNESOTA OR EVEN NATIONALLY, IT IS LITERALLY FOR MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS HIDING THEIR PROFITS IN OTHER COUNTRIES SAYING YOU HAVE TO REPORT THAT.

THAT IS A FAIR AND JUST THING TO DO.

>> IT'S NOT REAL.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T -- THERE'S NO MECHANISM REALLY FOR THEM TO DO THIS.

I SUSPECT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA, PROBABLY NOT GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

BUT I MEAN IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

WE'RE NOT GAINING A BUNCH OF POPULATION, I MEAN, THIS IS HAPPENING IN THE SOUTH ALL THE STATES THAT EVERYBODY SAYS THEY HATE, THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE ARE FLOCKING TO.

IF YOU LOOK AT HENNEPIN COUNTY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING, YOU LOOK AT WRIGHT COUNTY, PEOPLE ARE GOING.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE A MESSAGE NOT ONLY TO THE LOCAL POLITICIANS, STATE POLITICIANS, THE NATIONAL ONES THAT THESE -- IT'S NOT ONE BILL, IT'S NOT JUST THIS BILL IT'S A CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE MINNESOTA A PLACE YOU DON'T WANT TO START A BUSINESS, KEEP A BUSINESS, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO RETIRE.

>> Eric: CAN WE CHANGE SUBJECT, I'M ANXIOUS -- >> NO!

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: YOU OLITICAL SAVANTS, I WANT YOUR OPINION ON THIS.

THE VOTING CHANGES.

SIGNED TODAY BY THE GOVERNOR.

AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION.

16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS CAN PREREGISTER, EASIER ABSENTEE AND MAIL-IN, NO HARASSMENT AT THE POLLING PLACE.

STUDY FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DATA ON THIS, BOU, BUT DEMOCRATS MUST THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THEM.

>> NO, DEMOCRATS THINK IT'S GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THIS IS THE ARGUMENT HERE.

REPUBLICANS UNDERSTAND THAT THE MORE PEOPLE VOTE, THEY'RE FEARFUL OF THEIR IDEAS BEING IN A COMPETITION.

WE BELIEVE THAT IF EVERYBODY'S ENGAGED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS REGARDLESS OF THE RESULT IT IS GOOD FOR MINNESOTA, GOOD FOR AMERICA AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PUSHING.

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD A TRADITION THAT THE ELECTION REFORM BILLS WOULD HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, GOVERNOR PROMISED THAT, HE BLEW THAT THROUGH, THIS WHOLE NOTION, HAS ANYBODY TALKED TO ANYBODY THAT HAD A HARD TIME VOTING IN 2022?

>> YES, YES.

>> YES.

>> I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY BUT IT'S THIS RAM RODDING AGAIN WE SHOULD HAVE BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS ON HOW WE LEGISLATE OUR ELECTIONS, THAT HAS BEEN A TIME TESTED TRADITION IN THIS STATE AND YOUR PARTY BLEW THROUGH IT.

>> WELL, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THAT'S JUST WRONG, REPUBLICANS, YOU CAN DO BIPARTISAN WORK WHEN YOU HAVE A PARTY THAT ACCEPTS ELECTION RESULTS.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT PEOPLE LOST ELECTIONS THAT DONALD TRUMP LOST THE ELECTION, HOW DO YOU HAVE BIPARTISANSHIP?

>> I AGREE, WE SHOULD BE BELIEVING -- DONALD TRUMP EMBARRASSED HIMSELF AND MANY OF US WITH HOW HE HANDLED THIS.

I THINK THEY PROBABLY LEARNED HOW TO DO THIS, YOU KNOW, FROM GOVERNOR STACEY ABRAMS F GEORGIA WHO, YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE RAN THE FIRST TIME DIDN'T FOLLOW THAT.

BUT I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE I DON'T THINK, THIS IS MINNESOTA, IT'S NOT HARD TO VOTE HERE, PEOPLE DO VOTE HERE, BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT MAKING REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT VOTERS BELIEVE IN THE SYSTEM.

AND THAT HAPPENS WITH BIPARTISANSHIP, MAKING, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG, BELIEVING THAT ONE SIDE IS GAMING IT IS WHAT'S HURTING THE SYSTEM.

>> SECRETARY SIMON SPOKE TODAY AT THE BILL SIGNING AND MADE IT VERY CLEAR, MOST OF THE PROVISIONS THAT ARE IN THIS BILL ARE DONE IN RED STATES, BLUE STATES, EVERYBODY, IN PURPLE STATES.

MANY STATES ARE DOING THIS.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IT BECAME A PARTISAN ISSUE WHEN DEMOCRACY IS REALLY ABOUT EVERYBODY HAVING A VOICE.

>> Mary: OKAY, REPUBLICANS, THE ONLY THING REPUBLICANS ARE NEEDED FOR IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW IS BONDING.

DOES A BONDING BILL MATTER?

IS IT GONNA HAPPEN?

WE HAD SENATE REPUBLICANS LEAN IN AND MAKE AN OFFER, IT'S THE ONLY OFFER, BIG GLOBAL OFFER THAT'S BEEN MADE SO FAR HIS SESSION, LINKING AS WE KNOW TAXES AND BONDING, ALWAYS LINKED.

ARE REPUBLICANS GOING TO COME ALONG IN THE SENATE?

IT'S ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE.

>> PASSED THE HOUSE, GOT, WHAT 90, 91 VOTES, CHAIRMAN LEE AND LEAD DEAN URDAHL DID A FANTASTIC JOB THERE.

DO I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A BONDING BILL COMING OUT OF THE SENATE?

ABSOLUTELY.

DO I THINK THERE'S GREAT MOVEMENT?

I THINK THAT THERE REALLY IS.

I THINK IT'S RECENT MOVEMENT BUT IT IS HAPPENING.

DOES THE BONDING BILL MATTER?

YES, DOES IT MATTER AS MUCH AS PEOPLE WANT IT TO SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS?

NO.

BUT THEY'RE GONNA WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE IT DOES MATTER, PROVIDES JOBS, PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE WANT TO SEE ONE PASSED.

>> EVERYBODY LOVES JOBS, RIGHT?

>> EVERYBODY LOVES JOBS AND EVERYBODY LOVES CUTTING RIBBON CEREMONIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEY LOVE THOSE THINGS, LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN MINNESOTA PARTICULARLY IN GREATER MINNESOTA AND I THINK THIS S HERE DEMOCRATS CAN SHOW WE HAVE A STATEWIDE AGENDA, WE ARE NOT JUST INVESTING IN THE 7-COUNTY METRO, IN 87 COUNTIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> I AGREE EVERYONE LOVES JOBS, AND THE AY YOU DO THAT IS NOT BY CUTTING RIBBONS, YOU CUT TAXES AND CUTTING RED TAPE.

THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING PLANT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO OPEN IN THE IRON RANGE AND WEREN'T ABLE TO OPEN BECAUSE RED TAPE WAS TOO MUCH.

150 GOOD PAYING JOBS.

MINNESOTA IS SO HIGHLY TAXED AND PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO OPEN BUSINESSES ELSEWHERE.

BONDING BILLS ARE A GREAT WAY TO GET JOBS, I AGREE, BUT ULTIMATELY THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE THEIR BUSINESS AND RIGHT NOW MINNESOTA IS SO OUT OF THE LEAGUE HEY'RE FLEEING.

>> Eric: GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I THINK IN GENERAL, COMING BACK TO THIS POINT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT GREAT FOR MINNESOTANS AND IT IS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY'RE LIVING IN WHICH MEANS THAT WE'RE TAXING FAIRLY, MAKING SURE THAT CORPORATIONS ARE PAYING WHAT THEY OWE, NOT ASKING THEM TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT AND THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WORKERS NEED TO CONTINUE TO ACTUALLY BE THE ONES THAT ARE CREATING ECONOMY WE NEED.

>> Eric: SPORTS BETTING ON THE RISE HERE, OR?

THEY DIDN'T VOTE ON IT THIS WEEK, THEY COULD HAVE VOTED IN COMMITTEE, BUT DIDN'T.

>> NOPE, NOPE, NO.

MY FIRM HAS SOME -- THERE.

I'M GETTING NERVOUS, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS HAPPENING, IT'S GOING TO OTHER STATES OR BEING DONE ILLEGALLY.

THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE EVERYONE SHOULD GET TO THE TABLE, MAKE IT HAPPEN BECAUSE MINNESOTANS WANT THIS.

>> Eric: SOCIAL JUSTICE PEOPLE SEE SPORTS BETTING AS A TAX ON THE POOR OR SOMETHING THEY SHOULD DO?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE BILLS THAT ARE RUNNING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY HAVE A RACIAL EQUITY LENS AND ARE ACTUALLY LEANING INTO HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO GET WHAT THEY NEED.

>> Eric: IS MARIJUANA GOING TO MAKE IT?

>> YES.

FIRST OFF EVEN IF IT DOESN'T HAVE -- I AM SHOCKED IT'S HAPPENED AT THIS SPEED IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR SO I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

THERE ARE A COUPLE ISSUES ON MARGINS YOU GOT TO WORK THROUGH BUT FUNDAMENTALLY THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Eric: PAID LEAVE?

>> YES, YES, YOU WERE UP, ALL WAY THROUGH?

>> ABSOLUTELY THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT AND IT IS OVERDUE.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS, ARE WE SURPRISED THAT BOTH PAID LEAVE AND MARIJUANA LOOK LIKE IT COULD HAPPEN THIS SESSION?

>> I THINK AGAIN WE ALL SUPPORT THE IDEA OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, DOING IT N THIS ONEROUS WAY THAT PENALIZES WORKERS, PENALIZES BUSINESSES THAT MAKES MINNESOTA EVEN ORE COMPETITIVE.

WE EED TO DO THESE THINGS IN A WAY THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE PRIVATE ECONOMY.

>> AND MARIJUANA, BIPARTISAN IN INTEREST IT IN TOO.

>> BIPARTISAN INTEREST, THERE ARE THINGS THAT AREN'T WORKED OUT THAT NEED TO BE.

I THINK I EXPECTED A LITTLE BIT MORE REPUBLICAN SUPPORT BUT I THINK THAT THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IT, THEY GOT TO REMEMBER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MATTER BUT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

>> CALL ME OLD FASHIONED BUT I THINK EXPANDING GAMBLING AND MARIJUANA USE IN THIS STATE IS A REAL DANGEROUS IDEA.

THESE ARE HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC AREAS FOR A LOT F PEOPLE AND TAXING AND IT AND DOING IT ON THE ACKS OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REAL PRIMS.

>> Eric: I LIKE THE -- SHOT, GOOD -- OUT OF HAND AND I SAY THAT WITH ABOUT