>> I EMBELLISHED IT, I DID, AND IT'S WRONG.

>> ERIC: THERE'S JUST TEN MORE CALENDAR DAYS LEFT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO ADJOURN THIS YEAR.

AND REALLY JUST A HANDFUL OF DAYS LEFT THEY CAN CONDUCT BUSINESS ON THE FLOOR.

OUR NEXT THREE GUESTS WILL BE MONITORING ALL THE ACTION CLOSELY, FROM THE HALLWAYS TO COMMITTEE HEARING ROOMS TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

BRIAN BAKST, LONGTIME CAPITOL OBSERVER, HE IS THE POLITICS EDITOR AT MPR NEWS.

JOHN CROMAN COVERS POLITICS FOR KARE 11 TV.

HERE TOO, OUR OWN MARY LAHAMMER, POLITICAL REPORTER AND HOST OF OUR SISTER PROGRAM "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

IS BRIAN, 'VE HEARD MIXED REVIEWS ON THE ETHICS SUBCOMMITTEE PROCESS AND WONDER IN ANY F THIS IS GOING TO TURN INTO NEW IS SENATE RULES ON IF YOU'VE BEEN CHARGED WITH A FELONY, CAN YOU VOTE OR IS THIS GOING TO JUST DISAPPEAR INTO THE NIGHT?

>> IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE RESOLVED ANY TIME SOON, SO IF THAT HAPPENS, IT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN AT SOME POINT IN THE INTERIM BUT THE SESSION HAS REALLY BEEN BEFORE NICOLE MITCHELL'S INCIDENTS AND AFTER THE INCIDENT BECAUSE THINGS WERE SEEMINGLY GLIDING ALONG TO A SOMEWHAT BORING FINISH AND THERE AS OME DRAMA INSERTED INTO THE SESSION.

>> Mary: IT'S CLASSIC MINNESOTA POLITICS, TOO, JUST EVERY TIME WHEN WE THINK IT'S SMOOTH SAILING, BAM, YOU KNOW, A BIG STORY HITS, A CANDIDATE GOES SWIMMING IN A POOL WITH TEENAGERS, WE'RE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THAT.

>> GRUNSETH.

>> YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO COME NEXT.

THE ETHICS COMMITTEE I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS ARE SEEING IT PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN THIS STRANGE DEADLOCKED POSITION OF THERE'S NO MAJORITY, SO YOU CAN'T REALLY GET CON CENSUS VERY EASILY WITH TWO DEMOCRATS, TWO REPUBLICANS AND THEN IRONIC TO POINT OUT THE CHAIR HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO AN ETHICS COMPLAINTS IN HIS PAST, AS WELL, SO HE HAS, YOU KNOW, SEEN IT BEFORE.

AND WE GOT TO SEE THE APOLOGY, TOO, IN THAT IECE THERE, WE DID HAVE THAT SITTING SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, DEAN JOHNSON, APOLOGIZE DURING SESSION, OWN IT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SEE ANYMORE.

WE SEE NO COMMENT AND SILENCE.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

>> WE HAD THE WHOLE KNOCK-DOWN DRAG OUT DEBATE OVER WHETHER YOU SHOULD HAVE AN ETHICS HEARING BEFORE THE CRIMINAL COURTS HAVE ACTED AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE LIKE, NO, WE SEE THE POLICE REPORT, THAT'S ENOUGH TO BRING DISREPUTE TO THE BODY.

AND SO WE CAN GO AHEAD ND DO OUR OWN INVESTIGATION NOW AND, YOU KNOW, MITCHELL'S ATTORNEY, RINGIS STROM AND THE DEMOCRATS ON THE PANEL ALL WERE SAYING, LET'S WAIT UNTIL ALL THE FACTS ARE IN.

>> Eric: THERE WASN'T MUCH SHOWING OF SENATOR MITCHELL, KIND OF GOT A SLICE OF HER FACE IN THE SHOT, WAS THAT ON PURPOSE OR -- >> THEY MADE CLEAR AT THE OUTSET SHE WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING SO THE CAMERA GOES TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TALKING BUT SHE WASN'T TALKING.

BUT KEEP IN MIND, 34-33, THAT ELEVATES EVERYTHING AND THAT'S WHY THIS ISSUE HAS HER -- HER STANDING HAS BECOME SUCH A IG ISSUE.

>> I HAD TO BRING THE CAMERA MYSELF TO THE HEARING JUST TO GET SHOTS OF HER TO CAPTURE THE VIDEO.

>> Mary: THE ONLY VIDEO ABLE WAS WHAT YOU JUST SAW, WAS THE SWEARING IN WHEN SHE TOOK THE OATH.

>> HOW AMENABLE ARE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE GOING TO BE FOR THE BONDING BILLING?

>> Mary: THEY DO STILL LIKE A BONDING PILL AND HOUSE MEMBERS.

THERE'S THIS OTHER CHAMBER THAT WE'VE BEEN LARGELY IGNORING DURING THE MICHIGAN HE WILL PROCESS, THEY LIKE PROJECTS, THEY IKE O BRING SOMETHING HOME.

ALTHOUGH IS IT BELTS FOR REPUBLICANS TO SAY LOOK AT DEMOCRATS, THEY CAN'T GOVERN?

DOES THAT HELP THE HOUSE WHEN THEY'RE ON THE BALLOT?

>> NOBODY HAS SAID NO WAY AND THAT'S THE KEY THING IS THAT THEY'RE ALL AT THE TABLE, LEADER DEMUTH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE NOON SHOW TO THE, SHE HAD TO BAIL BECAUSE SHE WAS IN NEGOTIATIONS AND THAT'S A SIGN THAT THEY'RE ALL AT LEAST TALKING AT THIS POINT.

>> I'VE GONE TO THOSE BONDING TOURS AND THE REPUBLICANS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY TICH AND THEY HAVE THEIR PROJECTS THAT THEY WANT, SO... >> Cathy: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.

REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAYS WE HAD STAKEOUTS OUTSIDE OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE, DOES IT?

>> NO, BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE, THERE'S SO MANY WAYS IN AND OUT OF THESE ROOMS NOW THAT YOU CAN'T -- THEY WOULD JUST AVOID US BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS FEELING LIKE ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE SEEMS LIKE A LOT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OR NOTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE TIED TOGETHER, EVEN IF PEOPLE WANTS IT TO BE SEEN ASPIRATE ISSUES RISING AND FALLING ON THEIR OWN.

>> Eric: THE SPEAKER BROUGHT THE SPORTS BETTING BACK FROM THE DEAD.

>> Mary: NOTION'S EVER DEAD, THINGS CAN BE MOSTLY DEAD BUT WE ARE SEEING I THINK A CHANGE IN NEGOTIATION ATTENTION FROM WHAT WE USED TO SEE, WHEN WE USED TO HAVE CHAIRS AND WE'D SET UP CAMP IMPASSE AND BE SENDING FOOD IN AND IT WAS HOURS AND HOURS.

>> SIT IN THE RAIN.

>> Mary: AND OTHER THING IS WE'RE IN THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE STAGE.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN CONFERENCE COMMITTEES WOULD ACTUALLY NEGOTIATE IN PUBLIC AND TOM BAKK WOULD GET CROWNED AND THERE WERE ALL KINDS F THEATRICS AND YOU WOULD WAIT WITH -- >> THE RUMBLE UNDER THE ROTUNDA.

>> PHIL KRINKIE.

>> Mary: AND NOW IT'S YOU CUT THE DEAL IN THE BACK ROOM AND COME OUT AND SIGN IT.

>> GUNS, GUNS.

WHERE ARE WE HERE?

>> THERE WERE THREE IN THE HOUSE AND NOW LOOKS LIKE ONE IS STILL ONLY ALIVE.

THAT'S THE ONE FOR THE IS STRAW PURCHASER AND THE BY THEY ARE BAN, AND THE OTHER ONE REPORTING LOST AND STOLEN THOSE ARE OUT MAINLY BECAUSE BACK TO BRIAN'S 34-33 THING, HAUSCHILD, THE SENATOR FROM HERMANTOWN WERE LIVING HERE IN HERMANTOWN, HE SAID NO TO THOSE TWO OTHER GEORGIAN BILLS.

>> Mary: ONE SENATOR CAN MAKE OR BREAK ANYTHING AND WE'RE SEEING THE RAMIFICATIONS.

>> Cathy: HELP ME OUT, I'VE KIND OF LOST CANNABIS.

>> I THINK THAT WILL GET DONE, THERE SEEMS TO BE APE CON CENSUS IF THIS LEGAL ANNABIS MARKET HAS TO WORK THEY HAVE TO GET THINGS MOVING AND THEY HAVE TO GET PLANTS IN THE GROUND, ENOUGH TO SERVE THE MARKET AND SO I THINK THAT WHAT THEY'RE GOING DO IS PASS A BILL THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THESE PROVISIONAL LICENSES, THE RETAIL AND CULTIVATION AND SOME OTHER ASPECTS AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO AT LEAST SET UP THEIR OPERATIONS, NECESSITY WON'T BE ABLE TO TOUCH THE PLANTS UNTIL THOSE RULES ARE FINAL SOMETIME EARLY -- >> Eric: MONDAY HOUSE -- >> Cathy: I'M SOME WERE.

WHERE ARE WE WITH A PERMANENT LEADER FOR THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT?

ARE WE STILL LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY?

>> STILL NO HIRE.

THEY HAVE SOME STAFFING AND I THINK CHARLENE IS STILL THE INTERIM, A VETERAN OF THE CAPITOL, WORN A LOT OF HATS THERE AND BECOME AN EXPERT.

>> THE TIMELINE HAS BEEN LATE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER SO WE'RE KIND OF IN THAT BALLPARK RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: STATE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENTS, HEARING IN THE HOUSE ON MONDAY.

SENATE HAS DIFFERENT WORDING.

WHERE IS THAT HEADED?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND IT DEPENDS ON WHEN YOU WANT ON THE BALLOT, THE HOUSE AND STATES?

HAVE DIFFERENT YEARS.

THERE IS A THOUGHTS OF MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT TO MUDDY THE BALLOT UP AND KEEN IT CLEAN FOR THE ENTIRE STATE HOUSE BEING UP NOW IN 2024, SO THE HOUSE WANTS TO PUSH IT OUT TO 2026 BUT THEN THERE IS A THOUGHT, IS THERE AN ENTHUSIASM GAP, PEOPLE NOT EXCITED ABOUT EITHER OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, DO DEMOCRATS NEED TO PUSH ENTHUSIASM SO T WILL BE INTERESTING IF THAT GETS FIGURED OUT.

>> Eric: AFTER YOU LOOK AT AURORA BOREALIS, YOU CAN UNFURL THE NEW PLAYING.

>> YES, AND I HAVE TO DECIDE IF I WANT TO GO THERE AND WITNESS IT WITH MY OWN EYES OR LIT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS DO THE WORK, WATCH THE VIDEO LATER.

>> Eric: IS IT A POPULAR FLAG?

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST -- THEY DELETES LIKE IT OR THEY DON'T AND IT'S HARD TO REALLY TELL AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT'S NOT UP THERE ON BUILDINGS.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ME TODAY BECAUSE DANA FERGUSON IS GETTING UP AT 4:45 TO BE THERE FOR THAT.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, DANA.

>> Mary: THE POLLS SHOW IT'S NOT POPULAR BUT CHANGE ISN'T NECESSARILY POPULAR.

>> Eric: DIDN'T THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE PUTS UP AN AMENDMENT THAT GOT BEAT, RIGHT?

ON THE FLOOR?

>> Cathy: SAY, I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING EARNING SAID.

THE SPEAKER SAID THE SPORTS BETTING IS STILL VIABLE.

DO WE KNOW WHAT A DEAL MIGHT BE, THE TRACKS WERE -- TRACKS ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.

>> Eric: CHARITABLE GAMBLING IS A PART OF IT.

>> Mary: BUT IF YOU THEY WOULD REPUBLICANS VOTES TO GET IT THROUGH, YOU NEEDS THE TRACKS.

SO THAT'S THE DIAL.

>> THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU GIVE THE TRACK ATTENTION AT THIS POINT.

>> EMS, REPUBLICANS WOULD LIKE THAT.

>> EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO RURAL PROVIDERS, THAT WILL BE PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THAT'S AT LEAST THE TALKING POINT, THE TALKING RANGE RIGHT NOW.

IT WILL BE TIED TO VOTES FOR THE BONDING BILL.

>> Eric: AND HOW ABOUT SOME KIND OF LOCAL OPTION FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING.

>> THAT'S ALSO ON THE FLOOR ON MONDAY.

>> Mary: BUSY DAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR ONDAY.

WATCH YOUR LEGISLATIVE TV ON STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: HOW DOES THIS SET UP THE 2024 HOUSE CAMPAIGNS?

>> Mary: THEY CAN JUST RUN ON EVERYTHING THEY PASSED LAST YEAR, EVEN IF THIS IS A DO-KNOCK SESSION.

THEY WERE COMPLETELY PREPARED TO DO THAT.

>> ERIC, I'M SURPRISED THAT YOU DIDN'T MENTION DONALD TRUMP IS COMING THIS WEEK, -- NEXT WEEK ON FLY BECAUSE PRETTY MUCH THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IS GOING TO DICTATE A LOT OF DOWN-BALLOT RACES, AS WELL.

>> Eric: STUFF IS ALL NATIONALIZE ARE THED, IS THAT TRUE?

>> IT IS, AND WE ASKED TOM EMMER TODAY ABOUT IT HE WAS IN BLAINE DOING HIGHWAY 5 AND HE SAID, LOOK, HE'S GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT AND WE'LL GET BEHIND HIM, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

SO THERE YOU GO.

>> Cathy: WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING WAS THAT TRUMP APPEARANCE AT THE GOTCH DINNER?

>> THOUGH O.WHO SNOWS?

IT'S HIS ONE ORR TWO CAMPAIGN APPEARANCES OF THE WEEK BECAUSE HE'S IN OURTS FOR FOUR DAYS A WEEK SO THE FACT THAT'S' COMING FOR THE G.O.M.B.S.

DINNER, SEEMS LIKE HE HAS AN EYE ON MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN -- >> Eric: HE FELT LIKE BACK IN THE DAY, HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: IT RAISES MONEY.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO GET YOUR NAZ REED TATTOO?

>> Eric: I'VE ALREADY GOT IT BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SHOW YOU WHERE IT I