SOMETHING WE'RE GOING -- WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER ON, OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO BE SPINNING OUR WHEELS FOR TWO YEARS.

>> CATHY: REPORTERS ARE STILL SORTING THROUGH THE DETAILS OF ALL THE LEGISLATION PASSED DURING THE HISTORICALLY-PRODUCTIVE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WE JUST COMPLETED.

WE ARE JOINED NOW BY TWO OF THEM.

BRIANA BIERSCHBACH COVERS POLITICS FOR THE "STAR TRIBUNE."

TOREY VAN OOT IS A REPORTER FOR AXIOS.

IN THE TWIN CITIES.

SAY, TOREY, WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN, THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE PASSED A 30% INCREASE IN PER DIEM FOR HOUSE LAWMAKERS AND IT'S RETROACTIVE?

>> THEY DID.

SO, PER DIEM IS THE BUMP THAT LAWMAKERS GET, THE LITTLE PAYMENT THAT IS THEY GET FOR THE DAYS THAT THEY'RE CTUALLY IN SESSION.

I THINK IT'S $20, RIGHT?

SO WHAT THE HOUSE LAWMAKERS SAY, THIS BRINGS THEM IN LINE WITH THE SENATE.

THEY SAY, LAWMAKERS IN THE HOUSE, WE TRAVEL FROM ALL AROUND THE STATE, HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR DAY JOBS, LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES, PAY FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS, SHOULD GET THE SAME AMOUNT AS THE SENATORS.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE TREATED LESS.

SOME REPUBLICANS DIDN'T LIKE THAT.

AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TREATING OURSELVES, WE'RE GIVING OURSELVES SOME MORE.

AND SOME DEMOCRATS, I THINK AT LEAST TWO ABSTAINED FROM THE VOTE.

SO SOME TRICKY POLITICS THERE.

>> Cathy: DID THEY REPORT ON THAT?

IT WAS PRETTY QUIET.

>> THE "STAR TRIBUNE" DID.

MY COLLEAGUE ID THIS WEEK.

WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS HAPPENING, NECESSARILY.

IT WASN'T ANNOUNCED, IT WAS IN A RULES COMMITTEE MEETING.

THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION DURING SESSION THAT THEY WANTED TO DO THIS.

AND THERE WAS FUNDING PUT IN A BUDGET BILL FOR IT.

BUT THEN THEY HAD TO DO IT LATER.

AND IT WAS QUIETLY DONE.

AND I THINK IT'S A SENSITIVE ISSUE, LEGISLATIVE PAY.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

PEOPLE TEND TO GET UPSET ABOUT IT.

SO I THINK REPUBLICANS WERE SORT OF UPSET ABOUT THAT.

>> THEY RAISED THE LAST-MINUTE THING, TOO, AFTER THE SESSION, BEING DONE QUIETLY.

THE BIG PICTURE S, LAWMAKERS, PART-TIME LEGISLATURE, REN'T ACTUALLY PAID THAT MUCH, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO SOME OTHER STATES.

AND IT'S NOT REALLY A FULL-TIME JOB.

BUT IT IS A REALLY KIND OF TRICKY AND SENSITIVE POLITICAL ISSUE.

I WOULD GUESS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT ON SOME MAILERS NEXT YEAR.

>> Eric: YOU'VE GOT A FEATURE ONLINE ABOUT KIND OF A TAX TOOL.

WHAT HAVE YOU DETERMINED ABOUT THE RELATIVE BALANCE BETWEEN TAX CUTS AND TAX INCREASES?

>> WELL, WE KIND OF KNEW THAT GOING IN, YOU KNOW, WE KNEW THERE WAS $3 BILLION IN CUTS AND ABOUT A BILLION IN INCREASES.

IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, THOUGH, TO DIG INTO WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING, WHO'S REALLY GOING TO GET THIS.

AND I THINK PEOPLE REALLY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.

SO WE THOUGHT, IF WE CAN, LET'S TRY TO MAKE SOME CALCULATORS SO PEOPLE CAN SEE.

YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO GETTING A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE FRUSTRATED THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET A REBATE CHECK, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO QUALIFY FOR THE NEW CHILD TAX CREDIT, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO PLUGGED IT INTO THE CALCULATOR AND REALIZED THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOME BIG, YOU KNOW, DEDUCTIONS AND SOME MONEY BACK.

SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LEGISLATURE JUST DID.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT ARE THE FIRST IMPACTS THAT WE'LL SEE?

WILL THEY BE -- WILL WE SEE SOME OF THE TAX CUTS, TAXES CREDITS, THE REBATE CHECKS, GROW YOUR OWN MARIJUANA?

I MEAN, WHAT WILL BE SOME OF THE FIRST THINGS UT OF THE BOX IN TERMS OF -- >> WHAT HAPPENED THIS SESSION?

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> WELL, SOME THINGS HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED.

SOME LAWS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN EFFECT, INCLUDING THC, SELTZERS, ACTUALLY BEING ALLOWED IN LIQUOR STORES.

THE VOTING, VOTING RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE FELONY RECORD WHO ARE ON PROBATION, THAT'S ALREADY TAKEN EFFECT.

GROW YOUR OWN, OR POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, TAKES EFFECT IN AUGUST.

AND I THINK THE REBATE CHECKS, THEY'RE TARGETING AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, BUT THESE THINGS OFTEN TAKE A LITTLE IT LONGER THAN THEY SAY.

BUT THINGS ARE GOING TO START HAPPENING PRETTY SOON, AS THESE LAWS START TO TAKE EFFECT.

>> AND THOSE REBATE CHECKS, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, IF YOU FILE YOUR TAXES, AND YOU GAVE BANKING INFORMATION TO THE STATE, THAT HASN'T CHANGED, AND YOU QUALIFY, THOSE ARE JUST GOING TO END UP RIGHT IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, EARLY FALL.

THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT.

IF YOUR BANKING INFORMATION HAS CHANGED, YOU CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND GET THAT CHANGED.

>> Cathy: CAN SOMEONE HELP ME HERE, WHEN WE HAD THE GOVERNOR ON, WHAT WAS IT, TWO WEEKS AGO, LAST WEEK, I CAN'T REMEMBER, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SANFORD FAIRVIEW MERGER, THERE WAS TALK ABOUT A SPECIAL SESSION.

IS THAT STILL BEING TALKED ABOUT IN THE HALLS OF THE CAPITOL, HAVING A SPECIAL SESSION FOR THIS PARTICULAR MERGER?

>> THE LAST TIME I THINK EITHER OF US TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THAT WAS AROUND THE SAME TIMELINE AS YOU DID.

AND I THINK IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE MERGER.

SO I THINK THE QUESTION ABOUT THE SPECIAL SESSION IS WHETHER THE "U" -- WHETHER THE MERGER IS MOVING FORWARD AND AS PART OF THAT IF THE "U" S TRYING TO ESSENTIALLY TAKE BACK ITS TEACHING HOSPITALS AND THEY NEED SOME HELP FROM THE STATE.

SO, IF THAT HAPPENS, GOVERNOR WALZ, AND TOP LEGISLATORS ARE SAID THEY'RE INTERESTED AND OPEN IN A SPECIAL SESSION TO GET IT DONE.

BUT IT'S HARD TO SEE WHERE THAT'S ALL GOING TO GO.

>> Eric: A LOT OF YOUR BEAT INVOLVES COVERING THE GOVERNOR.

WHAT'S WITH HIS NATIONAL PROFILE AND THE DRONE THAT CAME THROUGH THE CAPITOL AND HE'S WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS -- WHAT'S OING ON WITH HIM?

>> YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK HE IS, FIRST OF ALL, EXCITED, HE HAD DIVIDED GOVERNMENT FOR HIS FIRST FOUR YEARS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A PRETTY BRUISING ELECTION.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT HE'S GIDDY AND HE'S EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES.

I ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME MORE PRESSURE AS REPUBLICAN STATES HAVE BEEN MOVING OF IN SORT OF THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS LEADING STATES LIKE MINNESOTA WHERE THEY HAVE A TRIFECTA TO SHOWCASE MORE WHAT DEMOCRAT-LED STATE MIGHT LOOK LIKE AS A WAY TO SORT OF TEE UP, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.

SO I THINK THERE'S MORE PRESSURE THERE.

BUT WALZ IS SOMEONE TO WATCH.

HE'S YOUNG, HE'S IN HIS SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR, THERE'S NO TERM LIMITS, BUT MOST GOVERNORS DON'T RUN FOR A THIRD TERM.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

>> Eric: AND YOU RIPPED THE LID OFF THE DROAP CONTROVERSY.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD CALL IT A CONTROVERSY.

DRONE.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC] IT'S ILLEGAL.

>> THE -- >> Eric: IT'S ILLEGAL.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, AT THIS BILL SIGNING EVENT THAT HE HAD, THIS CELEBRATION, THERE WAS A DRONE THAT WAS TAKING FOOTAGE, A LOT OF REPORTERS, PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE NOTICED IT.

BEAUTIFUL IS VIDEO CAME OUT, THEY HAD DONE ANOTHER DRONE VIDEO AT THE BRYANT LAKE BOWL HERE, THE EVENT WAS ORCHESTRATED TO GO VIRAL.

IT GOT 2.5 MILLION VIEWS IN TWO DAYS.

BUT, WHY, IT TURNS 0 -- YES, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION RULES ON THE WEBSITE DO SAY NO DRONES IN OR AROUND THE CAPITOL, THE DRONE WAS ACTUALLY INSIDE THE CAPITOL, TOO, BUT GOVERNOR WALZ STAFF DID GET PERMISSION.

TO THE ADMINISTRATION -- DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION GAVE THE DRONE THE OKAY ALL CLEAR TO TAKE OFF.

>> Eric: IS HE GOING TO BE WANDERING AROUND THE COUNTRY AS A BIDEN SURROGATE?

HE TOLD US HE HAD EEN IN CONTACT WITH THE CAMPAIGN AND WOULD BE DOING SOME TRAVEL ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT.

>> THAT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME.

HE'S ALREADY PLANNING SOME TRAVEL.

HE HAS A TRADE TRIP AS WELL LATER IN THE YEAR.

BUT THAT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME.

I THINK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNORS DO DO THAT.

THEY CAN DO IT IN THEIR OWN STATES.

I IMAGINE WHERE HE'S GOING TO BE NEEDED IS IN A STATE HERE BIDEN MIGHT HAVE MORE TROUBLE, LIKE A STATE LIKE WISCONSIN.

>> THINK HE'S BEEN IN FLORIDA, HE WAS IN BOSTON FOR SOME MEDICAL TECH, MED TECH CONFERENCES.

>> Eric: NATIVE AMERICAN CONFERENCE, I THINK, SOMEWHERE.

>> THAT WAS IN THE STATE, THOUGH.

>> Eric: THAT WAS IN STATE, OKAY.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WITH ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

HOW WOULD YOU WRAP UP THIS SESSION?

IN A COUPLE WORDS.

>> WELL, DEMOCRATS STAY IT'S TRANSFORMATIONAL IN A GOOD WAY, IT'S GOING TO CUT CHILD POVERTY, MAKE MINNESOTA, THEY LIKE TO SAY, A BETTER PLACE FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE SELL THAT GOVERNOR WALZ IS MAKING.

REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR THE OPPOSITE REASON.

THEY SAY THEY SPENT ALL OF THE $17 BILLION SURPLUS AND RAISED TAXES.

WHILE THEY WERE AT IT.

AND, SO, CERTAINLY A LOT OF CHANGES, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD, DEPENDS ON YOUR POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

AND ALSO HOW THEY ALL SHAKE OUT.

HOW THESE HINGS LIKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE, THINGS LIKE MARIJUANA, WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS WITH THEM WHEN THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE THING, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT, THEY PASS THESE LAWS, NOW GOVERNMENT HAS TO ENACT IT.

IT'S A READY, SET, GO FOR THEM.

>> Eric: THANK YOU, BOTH, FOR COMING.

HECK OF A JOB DUR