IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> Mary: WE'LL TAKE A.I.

WITH THE HEAD OF I.T.

WITH THE HEAD OF THE STATE.

AND TALK ABOUT OME TO -- TALK TO SOME IMPORTANT LAWMAKERS.

>> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES: A LEADING PRODUCER OF THE FUELS MINNESOTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: DELIVERING NEARLY $4 BILLION TO BENEFIT ALL MINNESOTANS SINCE 1990.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

>> Mary: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

LEADING LAWMAKERS ARE HERE FROM A KEY COMMITTEE, WHO ARE REALLY IMPORTANT DECIDING WHAT TO DO OR NOT DO WITH ANOTHER BUDGET SURPLUS.

AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND WE WILL TALK WITH THE HEAD OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ABOUT THAT.

AND OUR FRESHMAN LAWMAKER IS THE FIRST JAPANESE AMERICAN TO BE ELECTED TO THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

BUT, FIRST, GOVERNOR WALZ AWAITS HIS FIRST IMPORTANT BILL.

>> WELCOME TO THE TRAIL HEAD AND TO THE LOPPET.

>> Mary: A LACK OF SNOW SENT THE GOVERNOR INTO ACTION TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> IT'S NICE O HAVE WARM WEATHER BUT WE AS MINNESOTANS KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL, AND IT IS CATASTROPHIC.

>> Mary: WALZ SHOULD GET HIS FIRST BIG BILL TO SIGN SOON.

>> MEMBERS, ANY DISCUSSION ON HOUSE FILE 3489.

>> Mary: A FIX TO THE STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICER ISSUE, WHICH PASSED THE SENATE AFTER A CONTENTIOUS DEBATE.

>> I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL PROVIDE CLARITY.

IT WILL PROVIDE CLARITY FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS.

AND, IMPORTANTLY, IT PROVIDES CLARITY FOR OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, REGARDING THEIR ROLE IN THE SCHOOL AND HOW THEY CAN BEST SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.

>> >> Mary: REPUBLICANS STILL RIPPED THE PROCESS THAT BROUGHT THE FIRST BILL ABOUT.

>> WE BROKE OUR PROCESS.

WE RUSHED THE BILL.

THIS FIX ENDED UP BEING THE CAUSE FOR SO MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SUSPEND THEIR SRO CONTRACTS.

I, IN ACT, LIVE IN A DISTRICT THAT SUSPENDED THEIR SRO CONTRACTS SOLELY BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR.

>> THERE HAS BEEN ZERO, NONE, NO INCIDENTS REPORTED OF SROs EVER ACTING IMPROPERLY.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE UBLIC COULD BE SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS SAYING, WELL, WHY IN THE WORLD DID WE END UP WITH THIS TERRIBLE SRO LAW THEN?

>> THIS WAS A GOVERNOR WALZ INITIATIVE.

GOVERNOR WALZ INITIATIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAD THE VERY INTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN WHICH WERE DISCOVERED.

WE REMOVED SCHOOL RESOURCE PERSONNEL, THE SCHOOL SAFETY PERSONNEL FROM OUR SCHOOLS AND VIOLENCE HAS CONTINUED.

>> I HAVE ASKED MULTIPLE PEOPLE, WHERE IS THE PROBLEM?

AND NOBODY CAN POINT TO THIS WRATH OF OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE ABUSING AND CAUSING HARM TO HILDREN.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> I THINK TOO MANY TIMES BILLS ARE INTRODUCED, MOVED AT SUCH SPEED AS WAS THE CASE WITH THIS ONE THAT THINGS GET OVERLOOKED, THAT FEEDBACK IS NOT ECEIVED.

>> Mary: BUT REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR IT.

SOME LEFT-LEANING DEMOCRATS VOTED AGAINST IT.

>> JUST CAN'T BELIEVE WHERE THIS BILL ENDED UP, AND I HOPE THAT WE GET SOMETHING BETTER BACK OUT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HOUSE HOUSE FILE TO ORDER.

>> Mary: CONFERENCE COMMITTEE GATHERED TO WORK ON THE BILLS.

>> WE WORKED HARD, WE FOUND COMPROMISES.

>> THANK YOU, MEMBERS.

SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THIS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

>> Mary: IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMITTEES AT THE CAPITOL, WAYS AND MEANS, ONCE CALLED WAYS TO BE MEAN.

BUT NOT ANYMORE.

NEU NOT WITH THESE CURRENT GUESTS.

AND THIS IS ALSO THEIR LAST SESSION AT THE CAPITOL.

WE AVE DFL CHAIR LIZ OLSON AND REPUBLICAN LEAD PAT GAROFALO.

NOW, MADAM CHAIR, I'M SORRY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO YOUR LEAD HERE, BECAUSE HE HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO.

HE MADE NEWS FRIDAY NIGHT ON "ALMANAC" SAYING, HE'S GOING TO RESCIND HIS RETIREMENT, IF A CERTAIN BILL DOESN'T GET PASSED.

TRUE OR NOT TRUE?

>> WELL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, MARY.

>> Mary: OH, STOP.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE -- YOU KNOW, EVERYONE KNOWS I'M A BIG FAN OF SPORTS BETTING, AND MY SNGD, WHEN I ISSUED THIS THREAT, THAT I WAS GOING TO RESCIND MY RETIREMENT, I GETS, LIKE, SIX OR SEVEN DEMOCRATS IMMEDIATELY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO VOTE FOR THE BILL.

BUT, NO, ALL KIDDING ASIDE, I DON'T THINK ANYONE BELIEVES THAT.

BUT, NO, I'M DONE.

NOT ONLY AM I RETIRING, I WILL NEVER RUN FOR ELECTED OFFICE AGAIN.

>> Mary: WOW, THAT'S A BIG DECLARATION.

REPRESENTATIVE, TALK ABOUT WHY YOU'RE LEAVING, AND IF YOU TOO ARE GOING TO VOW OFF OF IT.

>> OH, I'M DEFINITELY LEAVING.

I MADE THAT LEAR.

IT'S TIME WE HAD -- I HAD A GREAT EIGHT YEARS HERE.

AND AFTER PASSING THE STATE BUDGET WE PASSED LAST YEAR, A LOT OF THINGS GETTING DONE THAT ARE GOOD FOR MY COMMUNITY, GOOD FOR MINNESOTA, I FEEL LIKE THE LEGACY HEAR IS STRONG WITH WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, I HAVE A YOUNG CHILD AT HOME, I'M READY TO GO HOME, BE IN THE COMMUNITY I LOVE, AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTER.

IT'S BITTERSWEET BUT IT'S TIME.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED ALL THE WORK DONE LAST SESSION.

ALL THE BUDGET.

ALL THE MONEY.

WHAT'S LEFT TO DO OR NOT DO?

>> ADJOURN.

[ Laughter ] MARY, I DID SCREW UP ONE THING.

I HAVE TO SAY ONE THING.

TODAY IS MY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, JULIE, I LOVE YOU, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.

>> Mary: THANK YOU FOR LETTING HIM BE ON.

>> THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

NO, I MEAN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, WHETHER YOU THINK LAST SESSION'S SPENDING WAS A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE MATH INVOLVED.

THERE WAS A 36.5% INCREASE IN SPENDING.

THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, THERE'S AN ASSUMPTION THAT THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE REDUCED BY $4 BILLION.

EVEN WITH THAT ASSUMPTION, REVENUES ARE COMING -- ARE PROJECTED TO COME IN BELOW EXPENDITURES.

SO, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE SAY THINGS LIKE SURPLUS OR THINGS ARE GOOD, IT REALLY ASSUMES WHAT YOU BASE IT OFF OF FOR ASSUMING WHAT SPENDING IS GOING TO BE.

NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS MESSED UP.

>> Mary: THUS, NOT MUCH SPENDING XPECTED THROUGH YOUR COMMITTEE.

>> WE DO AGREE ON THAT.

>> Mary: OKAY.

>> BUT I THINK WE SET SUCH A GOOD BUDGET LASTEE, WE'RE VERY RESPONSIBLE, AND WE'VE WATCHED REVENUES CONTINUE TO GO UP OVER EVEN SINCE WE SET THE BUDGET LAST YEAR, WE'RE SEEING THAT TREND LINE GOING UP.

>> Mary: EVEN SINCE THE FORECAST.

>> CORRECT.

SO WE'RE WATCHING THOSE MONTHLY RETURNS COMING IN.

AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE EVEN AFTER ALL OF THE SCARE OF WHAT OUR STATE BUDGET -- >> Mary: LONG TERM, IS THIS SUSTAINABLE?

>> INTO REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO'S POINT -- AND TO REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO'S POINT, HE'S RIGHT, WE HAD A LOT OF ONE-TIME SPENDING, WE DID IT REALLY WISELY SO OUR BUDGET DOES SHRINK DOWN IN THE NEXT BIENNIUM, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO, IF WE LEAVE THIS PLACE AND DO IT IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS WE'RE HERE, OUR BUDGET, WE'RE SETTING OUR STATE UP FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS AS WELL.

SO I ALSO AGREE, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND.

WE SHOULDN'T SPEND A LOT OF MONEY.

WE SET OUR STATE BUDGET LAST YEAR.

IT WAS A REALLY GREAT STATE BUDGET.

WE SHOULD DO SOME BONDING, WE SHOULD DO SOME HIGH-PRIORITY OR CRITICAL ITEMS THAT WE MAYBE MISSED.

BUT I DON'T IMAGINE THIS TO BE A BIG SPENDING YEAR EITHER.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED BONDING.

THIS IS WHERE YOU GET TO BE IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY.

SORRY, IN THE MINORITY.

AND WITH THE NUMBERS.

THIS IS TECHNICALLY YOU WEREN'T NEEDED ON THE -- YOU WERE NEEDED ON THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

THIS IS THE OTHER THING WHERE YOU GET TO PLAY, WAGER.

FOR SURE THAT WE KNOW YOUR VOTES ARE NEEDED OR SUPER MAJORITY.

>> SPENDING WENT UP SO UCH, IT'S VERY HARD TO MAKE THE CASE THAT THE THING WE SHOULD DO THIS YEAR IS BORROW MORE MONEY.

SO, I THINK IT'S -- >> Mary: THIS IS SOUNDING SKEPTICAL.

>> IT IS SKEPTICAL, YEAH.

TAKE A LOOK AT, NO STATE IN THE COUNTRY INCREASED SPENDING IN THEIR BUDGETS AS MUCH AS THE DEMOCRATS IN MINNESOTA DID LAST YEAR.

IT'S OVER 36.5%.

AS A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, HOW DO I SAY, DEMOCRATS ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY, BUT, OH, LET'S GO BORROW ANOTHER BILLION DOLLARS.

>> Mary: BUT THE BUDGET FORECAST MAKES ROOM OR ALMOST A BILLION.

>> IGHT.

MARRY, AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

IN OUR SHORT-TERM SOCIETY, PEOPLE AREN'T LOOKING AT THAT.

BUT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS PRETTY MESSED U.

AND A GOOD WAY TO HELP REALIGN THINGS WOULD BE TO REDUCE INTEREST COST ON DEBT IN THE NEXT BUDGET.

>> I MEAN, WITH OUR BUDGET THAT WE SET ASIDE LAST YEAR, WE KNEW WE WOULD DO BONDING THIS YEAR.

SO WE ACTUALLY, IN THE BUDGET THAT PAT IS TALKING ABOUT, IT ACCOUNTS FOR THE DEBT SERVICE ON A BONDING BILL.

>> Mary: OF ALMOST A BILLION OR THE PREVIOUS NUMBER?

>> BIGGER THAN.

WE AD THE 830, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CAPACITY TO O 980, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE WILL.

BUT WE DO HAVE THAT FORECASTED IN ALREADY.

SO WHAT WE SAW COME OUT IN THE FEBRUARY FORECAST A, WHAT WE SAW ALREADY ANTICIPATED US DOING A BONDING BILL THIS YEAR.

AND I KNOW THERE ARE CRITICAL PROJECTS IN REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE STATE THAT VERY MUCH WANT A BONDING BILL THIS EAR.

AND IF REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT TO PLAY BALL, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS WE CAN STILL GET THINGS DONE FOR COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT TOO BUT THE HOPE IS THAT WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER AND DO A GOOD BONDING BILL FOR PLACES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Mary: I THINK SUBTLEY IMPLIED THERE WAS THE REMINDER, IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR, MAYBE NOT FOR EITHER OF YOU, SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN A BONDING BILL, ISN'T IT?

>> WELL, I THINK IF THERE'S ONE THING MINNESOTA NEEDS TO DO BETTER ON IS LOOKING MORE LONG TERM THAN SHORT TERM.

>> Mary: THAT'S HARD FOR VOTES.

THAT'S ARD WHEN YOU'RE UP EVERY TWO YEARS HERE.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, MARY, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS BORROWING $2 TRILLION A YEAR.

>> Mary: BUT YOU HAVE TO BALANCE A BUDGET, THEY DON'T.

>> YES.

BUT WE ARE COMING UP AGAINST A POINT VERY QUICKLY HERE WHERE VERY DIFFICULT CHOICES AS A NATION ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MADE.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT GIVEN THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH WE'VE HAD IN GOVERNMENT IN MINNESOTA, I DON'T THINK BORROWING ANOTHER BILLION DOLLARS IS A GOOD IDEA.

>> Mary: THIS SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HECK OF A TIME BUILDING THE SUPER MAJORITY.

>> WE MIGHT.

BUT I THINK THERE'S OTHER METHODS, TOO, THERE'S THE POTENTIAL OF, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO CASH OR WHATNOT, WE COULD THEN LOOK AT A LEANER BILL THAT FOCUSES ON WHERE WE CAN.

BUT I DO STILL THINK, I KNOW THERE ARE COLLEAGUES THAT, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO PROBABLY DOESN'T SPEAK FOR HIS FULL CAUCUS, THAT THERE ARE MEMBERS ACTIVELY WORKING TO WORK WITH US TO PASS A BONDING BILL BECAUSE THERE ARE KEY CONSTITUENCIES THAT PEOPLE WANT TO DELIVER PROJECTS FOR.

>> Mary: HA ABOUT SCHOOL LUNCHES, SOMETHING THAT SENDED -- ENDED UP BEING MORE POPULAR AND MORE EXPENSIVE THAN EXPECTED?

THE GOVERNOR IS SIGNALING, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD SPEND MONEY ON.

WILL YOU?

>> I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF -- SO, YES, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT LIKE HOW WE FORECAST OUT FOR THE PROGRAM.

WHICH IS GREAT.

KIDS CLEARLY WERE HUNGRY, THEY NEEDED TO BE FED.

I THINK WE ALL AGREE, THAT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING THAT WE WANT TO SPEND STATE RESOURCES ON, -- >> Mary: QUICK LAST WORD.

EYE ROLL I SAW.

>> LIKE, WE NOW HAVE CREATED ANOTHER MIDDLE CLASS ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM.

IT'S NOT THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE, THIS IS UNSUSTAINABLE SPENDING.

TAX CUTS ARE POPULAR, MORE SPENDING IS POPULAR.

BUT EVENTUALLY YOU RUN OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.

>> Mary: THANKS, YOU TWO, THIS PLACE WILL MISS BOTH OF YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mary: CYBER ATTACKS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, A.I., AS IT'S KNOWN, ARE REAL.

AND OUR NEXT GUEST HAS TO DEAL WITH THE THREATS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS IS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMISSIONER TOMES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

SO, YOU GAVE MAYBE THE MOST RIVETING TESTIMONY OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION SO FAR.

AND YOU ERE ASKED TO REVEAL WHAT THE STATE IS DOING ON A.I.

AND YOU'RE DOING A LOT.

GIVE US YOUR BEST SUMMARY.

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE RIVETING PORTION.

>> Mary: NOBODY KNEW THIS, HONESTLY, I DON'T FEEL LIKE LAWMAKERS OR THE PUBLIC KNEW THIS, THOUGH.

>> WELL, IT'S AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT OPIC AND CERTAINLY PERVASIVE IN ALL CORNERS OF OUR SOCIETY.

THERE'S BEEN SOME BREAKTHROUGHS, SOME INNOVATION, THIS NEW TERM, GENERATIVE A.I., HE ABILITY TO GENERATE EW CONTENT AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT I PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT AND I MENTIONED HIS WITH THE TAX COMMITTEE IS, YOU KNOW, IN OUR HISTORY OF MAN KINDE -- MANKIND, IF YOU WILL, REALLY, ONLY ANIMALS AND HUMANS HAVE CREATED NEW CONTENT.

NOW WE HAVE THIS NEW GENERATIVE A.I.

CAPABILITY THAT IS ALSO CREATING NEW CONTENT, NEW SONGS, NEW VIDEOS.

>> Mary: IT'S THAT BIG, THAT IMPORTANT.

>> IT'S THAT BIG, THAT IMPORTANT.

>> Mary: AND YOU'RE NOT WAITING AND STUDYING IT AND HOLDING BACK LIKE STATE GOVERNMENT DOES.

YOU'RE IN IT.

EXPLAIN HOW YOU'RE IN IT.

>> I DON'T THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO WAIT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE REALLY EXPECT AND ARE DEPENDENT ON THE VITAL SERVICES THAT GOVERNMENT PROVIDES.

AND IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE A BREAKTHROUGH IN TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES FASTER, TO PROVIDE -- >> Mary: LIKE WHAT?

>> PROVIDE FOOD BENEFITS QUICKER.

WELL, AN EXAMPLE IS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, IN OUR DRIVER AND VEHICLE SERVICES SPACE, WE HAVE AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-BASED BOT CAPABILITY THAT SPEAKS SOMALI, HMONG, SPANISH AND ENGLISH AND ALLOWS PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE SERVICES THAT THEY PREVIOUSLY WERE ALWAYS DEPENDENT ON OTHER PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE.

>> Mary: ALREADY IN USE.

>> ALREADY IN USE.

BEEN IN USE FOR SIX MONTHS AT LEAST.

>> Mary: WHERE ELSE, WHAT ELSE WOULD SURPRISE US?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT HIS TOPIC IN TWO BROAD LANES.

ONE IS, HOW DO YOU EMPOWER A WORKFORCE WITH THESE CAPABILITIES TO REALLY ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THE POWER IN A SAFE WAY TO DO THEIR JOBS, OFTENTIMES JOBS THAT HAVE WAY MORE DEMAND THAN WE HAVE CAPACITY.

>> Mary: YEAH, WE HAVE A LABOR SHORTAGE.

WE HAVE NEW STATE AGENCIES TO STAFF UP.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY, RIGHT?

>> NO.

PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS ARE WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THESE TYPES OF CAPABILITIES TO YOUR WORKFORCE, AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD TOWARDS THE SERVICE SIDE OF IT.

AND I THINK A.I., ONE OF THE THINGS THAT RIGHTFULLY IS MENTIONED FREQUENTLY, BUT THERE'S A PRETTY BROAD SPECTRUM, EVERYTHING FROM THE EXTREMELY CONCERNING AND SCARY IN TERMS OF NEW LANGUAGE MODELS BUILT ON DATA THAT HAS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN VERIFIED AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE OUTCOMES, BUT THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF SAFE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN LEVERAGE A.I.

IN A WAY THAT IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL.

>> Mary: THE INTERESTING PART, BECAUSE IN THE NEWS MEDIA, WE'RE MAYBE MORE ON THE SCARY SPECTRUM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: ABOUT MISINFORMATION.

AND JOBS REPLACED.

SO TALK ABOUT THE SCARY STUFF AND AREAS YOU ARE NOT USING IT AND DO NOT ANTICIPATE USING IT, YEAH.

>> MARY, WHY DON'T I START WITH THE NONSCARY SIDE.

SO WHEN YOU THINK OF THE WORK, FOR EXAMPLE, TECHNOLOGISTS THAT ARE COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS, YOU MAY HAVE A 50% GAIN IN EFFICIENCY BY LEVERAGING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES TO CO-GENERATE CODE.

>> Mary: THAT'S A LOT, 50%, YEAH.

>> THE FIRST INITIAL GENERATION OF DRAFT DOCUMENTS, PROBABLY AT LEAST AN 80% INCREASE IN JUST BEING ABLE TO DRAFT NEW DOCUMENTS.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT WHEN IT'S WRONG AND OFF AND SCARY?

THAT PART, YEAH.

>> THE HUMAN STILL HAS TO STAY IN CONTROL.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAY AT EVERY CORNER, WE HAVE A POLICY THAT COVERS ALL EXECUTIVE BRANCH WORKERS IS THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL AT THE INTERSECTION OF MAKING DECISIONS.

USE THESE TOOLS, USE THESE TOOLS TO SUMMARIZE INFORMATION, USE THESE TOOLS TO CREATE DRAFTS, BUT THEY'RE STILL DRAFTS.

LET THE HUMAN FINISH THE DRAFT.

>> Mary: SO YOU HAD A CHART OF WHERE A HUMAN TOUCHES IT.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> Mary: AND A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT HAS TO STILL BE HUMAN.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THAT PART?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE NAVIGATE THE SAFE SPACES BUT THAT WE DO IT IN A REALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY.

THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNANCE, HOW YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC, YOU SHARE WITH THEM WHERE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS BEING USED AND WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS, WE'RE EALLY, I THINK, ARE REALLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Mary: YEAH.

LAST TOPIC, CYBER ATTACKS, UNITED HEALTHCARE BASED HERE IN MINNESOTA JUST AT THE WHITE HOUSE, WHAT DO YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, T'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

I MEAN, THE FIRST THING I THINK THAT HAS TO BE UNDERSCORED AND RECOGNIZED IS THAT UNITEDHEALTH GROUP, OR CHANGE HEALTHCARE WAS THE VICTIM OF A CRIME.

THAT THEY WERE THE VICTIM -- >> Mary: PEOPLE COULDN'T GET THEIR MEDICINE.

>> OF A CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WHAT IT REALLY UNDERSCORES IS THAT THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF CRITICAL SERVICES THAT, YOU KNOW, MAKE UP THE TAPESTRY IN OUR COUNTRY REALLY CAN BE AT RISK.

AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE A VENDOR OR A COG IN THAT SUPPLY CHAIN WHEEL THAT WHEN THEY FAIL OR HEN THEY'RE THE VICTIM OF A CYBER EVENT AND THEY CAN'T RECOVER, MANY PEOPLE SUFFER.

>> Mary: WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

WE COULD DO A WHOLE 'NOTHER TALK ON THAT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

OUR NEXT FRESHMAN LAWMAKER WAS A NEW MOM HAD SHE BECAME A NEW LAWMAKER.

AND CAME IN WITH A DIVERSE FIRST-TIME CLASS OF LEGISLATORS.

REPRESENTATIVE, FIRST OF ALL, THE QUESTION WE START WITH EVERYONE, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

>> I CAN START, ACTUALLY, EVEN, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I WAS BORN WITH THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF MY FAMILY IN THIS COUNTRY.

I'M FOUR GENERATION JAPANESE AMERICAN ND MY GRANDPARENTS, ALONG WITH 120,000 JAPANESE AMERICANS WERE INTERNED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DURING WORLD WAR II, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A HISTORICAL EVENT, A LEGACY THAT HAS REALLY SHAPED, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF MY FAMILY AND HAS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF INFORMED HOW I LOOK AT PUBLIC SERVICE.

I'VE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, HAD A REAL SENSE OF GOVERNMENT DECISIONS AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES, RIGHT, AND WHO IS AT THE DECISION MAKING TABLE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> Mary: I'M GUESSING SOME OF OUR VIEWERS MAY KNOW YOUR FATHER.

>> MY FATHER IS AN AUTHOR AND ARTIST THAT HAS LIVED IN THE TWIN CITIES FOR A LONG TIME.

A LOT OF THE WORK THAT MY DAD HAS DONE IS REALLY AROUND KIND OF TELLING SOME OF THESE OFTEN UNTOLD OR MARGINALIZED STORIES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, SPECIFICALLY ASIAN AMERICANS IN AMERICA AND DONE A LOT OF WORK IN MINNESOTA TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE CENTERED IN OUR ART SPACES.

>> Mary: HAS THAT INFLUENCE FROM YOUR FATHER AFFECTED AND HAD AN IMPACT ON LEGISLATION AND PRIORITIES AND POLICIES FOR YOU NOW IN THE CAPITOL?

>> MY DAD IN HIS OWN WAY WAS AN ACTIVIST, RIGHT?

AND, SO, FROM A YOUNG AGE, I WOULD GO TO PROTESTS WITH HIM AND I WAS TAUGHT THAT USING YOUR VOICE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

A STORY THAT HE LIKES TO TELL, I THINK I WAS MAYBE 5 OR 6, AND ME AND MY FRIEND LED A PROTEST AT OUR THANKSGIVING ABOUT BEING RELEGATED TO A KID'S TABLE.

>> Mary: WAS THERE SPECIFIC LEGISLATION, WERE YOU ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING THAT FIRST SESSION SO FAR?

>> I WAS REALLY LUCKY TO COME INTO A SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MADE IT REALLY GREAT TO BE A DEMOCRAT IN MY FIRST TERM IN THE HOUSE.

I WAS NOT COMING IN EXPECTING A TRIFECTA BUT WAS JUST IMMEDIATELY IMPRESSED WITH OUR CAUCUS' ABILITY TO REALLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND GET THINGS DONE.

ONE OF THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME WAS THE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PLAN.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MORE KIND OF PERSONAL EVENT THAT IS LED ME TO RUN FOR OFFICE WAS BECOMING A MOM.

I WAS A 2-YEAR-OLD, AND WHEN HE WAS BORN, HE SPENT A FEW WEEKS IN THE NICU.

I WAS REALLY LUCKY, WHEN HE WAS BORN, TO BE AT A AT AN ORGANIZATION WHERE I HAD A PAID FAMILY LEAVE POLICY.

SO THAT I COULD SPEND TIME WITH HIM.

I SAW A LOT OF OTHER FAMILIES THAT HAD BABIES IN THE NICU THAT DIDN'T HAVE THAT BENEFIT.

PASSING THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAD WORKED ON FOR DECADES WAS REALLY MONUMENTAL AND ACTUALLY HAD MY SON COME AND SIT WITH ME SO THAT HE COULD BE THERE WHEN I PRESSED GREEN FOR THE FINAL TIME ON THAT BILL AND THAT WAS REALLY SPECIAL.

>> Mary: SO HOW DID IT GO FOR YOU BEING A NEW MOM, BECAUSE THAT CAN BE A LOT TO JUGGLE IN THE LEGISLATURE, THE HOURS ARE UNPREDICTABLE.

>> BOTH IS WHAT PROPELLED ME TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND ALSO THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE ABOUT BEING IN OFFICE.

WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT THE KIND OF WORLD THAT I WANTED MY SON TO GROW UP IN, YOU KNOW, AND THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED TO BETTER SUPPORT YOUNG FAMILIES, I FELT LIKE I HAD TO USE EVERY MECHANISM THAT I HAD TO MAKE CHANGE FOR HIM WHEN I THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE AND YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE HIM AND THE WORLD THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GROW UP.

IN BUT -- BUT IT'S INCREDIBLY HARD BEING A YOUNG PARENT IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND MY COLLEAGUES AND I TALK ABOUT IT A LOT, RIGHT, I DON'T THINK THESE POSITIONS WERE, NECESSARILY, CREATED FOR PARENTS TO BE THERE, RIGHT?

THEY WERE NOT CREATED FOR MOMS TO BE THERE.

>> Mary: BUT DOES IT HELP TO HAVE MORE YOUNGER WOMEN, BECAUSE IN THE PAST THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF YOUNG MOMS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND IT WASN'T UNHEARD OF THIS PAST SESSION, WAS IT?

>> I FEEL REALLY LUCKY TO COME IN AT THE TIME THAT I DID WHERE THERE'S MORE MOMS, THERE'S MORE YOUNGER PEOPLE, THERE'S MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND WE ARE WORKING TO CHANGE SOME OF THESE YSTEMS, RIGHT?

I WAS LUCKY TO SERVE IN THE HOUSE, WHICH AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DRINK WATER ON THE FLOOR AS OPPOSED TO -- >> Mary: WELL, YOU CAN IN THE SENATE NOW, THANKS TO SOME FRESHMEN.

>> AS CONTINUED, A LARGE PART OF THAT CHANGE WAS NEW MOMS.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE LARGE FRESHMAN CLASS, THE RECORD AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY AND THE RECORD NUMBER OF ASIAN LAWMAKERS, TOO.

HOW MUCH DID THAT HELP KIND OF BOLSTER BEING NEW O THIS OFFICE?

>> YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US, AND THERE WAS THE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS CAUCUS WAS CREATED IN 2016, I DEFINITELY KNOW THAT FOLKS LIKE ILHAN OMAR, WHO RAN IN THE DISTRICT THAT I GREW UP IN, ARE PART OF WHAT KIND OF PAVED THE WAY FOR ME TO SEE MYSELF IN THESE SPACES.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEW ENERGY AT THE CAPITOL, RIGHT?

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING DIFFERENT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE BEFORE.

>> Mary: I'M SURE YOU HAD EXPECTATIONS, WHAT WAS DIFFERENT, WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT IT?

>> I HAD NOT SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE LEGISLATURE, SO KIND OF EVERYTHING WAS NEW TO ME.

I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST SURPRISE WAS JUST THE PACE, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT PACE WAS DIFFERENT, IT DIDN'T REALLY FEEL LIKE WE HAD A TON OF TIME TO KIND OF EASE INTO THINGS.

I KNOW THAT OUR LEADERSHIP REALLY FROM THE BEGINNING WAS SAYING, LIKE, ANY MOMENT THAT WE ARE NOT PASSING BILLS IS A MOMENT THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE KIND OF UPSET.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF JOBS WHERE YOU START ON DAY ONE AND YOU GO BACK TO YOUR OFFICE AND I WENT BACK, ALREADY HAD TEN VOICE MAILS, I ALREADY HAD 30 EMAILS FROM CONSTITUENTS.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHEN IT HIT ME, LIKE, WOW, PEOPLE ARE REALLY RELYING ON ME, RIGHT?

THERE WAS A NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS WHO SAID, LIKE, I HAVE THIS ISSUE AND I'M NOW LOOKING AT YOU TO SOLVE IT.

AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, I'VE BEEN AT THIS JOB FOR TWO HOURS.

'.

BUT, YOU KNOW, OKAY, LET'S GO.

>> Mary: WITH SESSION -- WAS SESSION ULTIMATELY FRUSTRATING OR HARD FOR YOU?

>> IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

ONE OF THE FIRST FLOOR SPEECHES I GAVE, I HAD THIS SORT OF ROMANTIC VIEW ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ON THE FLOOR, WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION OF IDEAS, AND WE LISTEN TO THE OTHER SIDE, WE COMMUNICATE BACK AND FORTH.

IN ACTUALITY, IT'S MUCH DIFFERENT.

THE PARTY LINES ARE DRAWN, AND YOU COULD PRETTY ACCURATELY PREDICT THE WAY THE VOTE WAS GOING TO GO ON ALMOST EVERY SINGLE BILL.

WE GO THROUGH A TRAINING, FRESHMAN TRAINING.

AND WHEN WE DID THAT, WE WERE SET AT THE TABLES, DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN.

AND I SAID AT THAT TIME, WHETHER WE WERE IN THE MINORITY OR MAJORITY, I WOULD TREAT PEOPLE THE SAME.

ONCE YOU GET DOWN TO THE CAPITOL, THE ENVIRONMENT IS DIFFERENT.

THAT'S REALLY SAD BECAUSE PEOPLE YOU HAD A NICE CONVERSATION WITH WEEKS BEFORE, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S THIS ANIMOSITY, THERE'S THIS TENSION.

>> Mary: AND NEXT WEEK WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE FROM THE FRESHMAN YOU JUST SAW THERE.

AND WE WILL HAVE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN LIVE ON THE PROGRAM.

AND IF YOU WANT TO REWATCH ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, YOU CAN HEAD TO THE WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

THERE YOU CAN REWATCH ANY PARTS OF THIS SHOW, INTERACT WITH US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

AND FOLLOW THE LEGISLATURE, THAT'S HOUSE AND SENATE, FLOOR SESSIONS, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, CONFERENCE COMMITTEES, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY HAD SOME NOW, PRESS CONFERENCES, MUCH MORE ON THE PBS STATION YOU'RE WATCHING NOW.

AND ON PBS FRIDAY NIGHT, ON "ALMANAC," ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH METEOROLOGIST PAUL DOUGLAS ABOUT THE WARM WEATHER.

KAOMI LEE GOES TO WHAT'S KIND OF A DYING BREED, A SMALL FAMILY-RUN APPLE ORCHARD.

I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT FIRST BIG BILL THAT'S GOING TO BE HITTING THE GOVERNOR'S DESK SOON, DEALING WITH THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

WE'LL TALK TO THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO ACTUALLY HAD THAT JOB AS AN OFFICER IN SCHOOLS.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

GOOD NIGHT.

BYE-BYE.

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