>>> THIS WEEKS RETIRING LAWMAKERS SERVED FOR 15 YEARS WITH A REAL DEDICATION TO HEALTHY AND HUM SERVICES, AND THAT'S WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW, SO WE'RE HOPING HE SHOWS UP, BUT ALSO IN NEGOTIATIONS, WE HEAR, AS A BIG GLOBAL DEAL APPEARS TO BE COMING TOGETHER HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

USUALLY, YOU CAN FIND HIM IN THE BACK ROW HERE AT THE CHAMBER.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE CAREER OF REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JOE SCHOMACKER.

>>> STRONG, BIPARTISAN COALITIONS ARE NOT NLY INTERESTED IN MORE MONEY FOR NURSING HOMES, BUT ALSO CHANGING THE WAY FUNDING WORKS.

>>> IF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THE TATE WERE GROWING AT THE SAME RATE THAT THE NUMBER OF SENIORS ARE GROWING IN THE STATE, WE WOULD NEED 1,200 NEW CLASSROOMS IN MINNESOTA.

>>> THE SEPARATE 5% CAMPAIGN IS BACK, BIGGER AND MORE FOCUSED ON HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS, AND THEY WERE SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED TO BE LEFT OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, BUT THEY EXPECT LAWMAKERS WILL STEP UP AGAIN.

>>> HOME-BASED CAREGIVERS SAYING THEY'RE LEFT OUT AND THEY WERE SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?

>>> A LOT OF THE SAME, THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR ELDERLY AND DISABLED ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW.

IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO MAKE A PRIORITY IN THE STATE AND I THINK THERE'S BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR AND THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE OUT THERE WITH US ON THAT ONE.

>>> THE MEMBER, REPRESENTATIVE SCHOMACKER.

>>> THANK YOU, Mr.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FOR THIS.

I THINK THAT'S A WORD I'VE BEEN USING A LOT THIS AFTERNOON.

AND WOULD JUST -- CRAP, I WAS GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.

JUST VOTE FOR THE BILL.

>>> I'M EXCITED FOR THE NEW EXPERIENCES THAT 'M GOING TO HAVE MOVING FORWARD.

I'M EXCITED THAT I'M FINALLY PUSHING MYSELF TO GO OUT AND SERVE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

BUT I'M NOT EXCITED TO SAY GOODBYE.

24-YEAR-OLD JOE MIGHT BE A LITTLE DISILLUSIONED WITH 39-YEAR-OLD JOE AND HOW HE GOT THROUGH LAST YEAR, BUT YOU WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, AND YOU GET THROUGH WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

BECAUSE POLITICS, OF COURSE, IS THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE.

>>> WE HAVE NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TODAY.

WE HAVE NO FURTHER COMMITTEE MEETINGS SCHEDULED.

SO WE GETTING TO OUT AND SERVE OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND NEW AND EXCITING WAYS.

WE ARE ADJOURNED [ BANGING GAVEL ] [ APPLAUSE ] ♪ >>> AGAIN, CO CHAIR SCHOMACKER, WE HEAR IS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN NEGOTIATIONS RIGHT NOW WITH HIS FELLOW CO CHAIR ON THE HUMAN SERVICES BILL AS LAWMAKERS GET VERY CLOSE TO COMING