LAKELAND PBS, THE BEMIDJI PIONEER, BRAINERD DISPATCH, RAPIDS ENTERPRISE AND NORTHERN COMMUNITY RADIO ARE PROUD TO PRESENT DEBATE NIGHT 2022, A LOOK AT OUR AREA LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES.

MODERATOR IS BETHANY WESLEY.

NOW THE SENATE DISTRICT 6 DEBATE.

>> BETHANY: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US LIVE AT THE LAKELAND PBS STUDIO IN BEMIDJI FOR DEBATE NIGHT 2022.

I'M BETHANY WESLEY, YOUR MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE EXCITING WEEK OF DEBATES COVERING TOPICS AND ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITIES.

NOW WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO SENATE DISTRICT 6.

OUR CANDIDATES ARE SENATOR JUSTIN EICHORN, REPUBLICAN PARTY AND STEVE SAMUELSON DEMOCRATIC FARMER LABOR PARTY.

PANELISTS ARE DENNIS WEIMANN, LAKELAND PBS NEWS DIRECTOR, HEIDI HOLTAN, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO AFFILIATE, KAXE NEWS DIRECTOR AND SHANNON GEISEN, RAPIDS ENTERPRISE EDITOR.

THE RULES FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 3 MINUTES FOR OPENING COMMENTS.

THE PANEL WILL THEN ASK QUESTIONS.

SOME WILL BE QUESTIONS OF THEIR OWN.

OTHERS WILL COME FROM THE PUBLIC.

CANDIDATES WILL ROTATE THE ORDER THEY SPEAK, BEGINNING WITH OPENING COMMENTS AND FINISHING WITH CLOSING COMMENTS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL GET 2 MINUTES TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE A ONE MINUTE REBUTTAL OPPORTUNITY.

CANDIDATES WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPTION OF USING ONE MINUTE OF BONUS TIME TO ADD ON TO ONE OF THEIR ANSWERS TONIGHT.

THIS COULD BE THE INITIAL QUESTION AND COULD ALSO BE THE REBUTTAL TIME, BUT IT CAN ONLY BE USED ONCE.

QUESTIONS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL WE ARE ABOUT 50 MINUTES INTO THE DEBATE AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO CLOSING COMMENTS.

CLOSING COMMENTS ARE 2 MINUTES.

WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED TONIGHT WITH OPENING COMMENTS.

STEVE, YOU CAN GO FIRST.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME AND INVITING US FOR THIS DEBATE.

I THANK LAKELAND PRVE AND MANY SPONSORS FOR THIS.

MY NAME IS STEVE SAMUELSON, AND I'M RUNNING FOR THE STATE SENATE?

DISTRICT 6.

I HAVE KIND OF LIKE TWO REASONS WHY I'M RUNNING.

THE FIRST REASON IS BECAUSE THE EXTREME PART OF THE CROW WING COUNTY PARTY FORCED MY FRIEND CARRIE RUUD OUT.

SHE HAD BEEN OUR SENATOR FOR OVER 10 YEARS.

EVERYBODY SEEMED TO LIKE HER.

SHE GOT A LOT OF, LOT OF VOTES.

THERE WAS NOBODY TO RUN, SO PEOPLE HAD A CHOICE.

SO I WAS TAKING CARE OF MY MOTHER WHO WAS AT HOME IN HOSPICE, AND BEFORE SHE DIED, SHE SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD RUN.

BECAUSE I WAS THE SMARTEST OR NOT GUILTY ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT BECAUSE SHE KNOWS MY CHARACTER AND SHE KNEW MY HEART AND KNOWS HOW I CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS THROUGH COMPROMISE.

SO OUR FAMILY GREW UP AROUND POLITICS.

MY DAD SERVED FOR 32 YEARS.

ON MY WEBSITE I HAD THE SAMUELSON FOOTPRINT AND ALL THE THINGS HE GOT ACCOMPLISHED, AND HE GOT THOSE ACCOMPLISHED BY WORKING TOGETHER.

SO THAT'S ENOUGH.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

JUSTIN.

>> FIRST OF ALL I HAVE GOT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO SHAN I DON'T KNOW, DENNIS AND HEIDI FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR SCHEDULES TO DO THIS FOR US.

I'M STATE SENATOR JUSTIN EICHORN.

I HAVE HAD THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE GRAND RAPIDS, BEMIDJI AREA, ITASCA, AND BELTRAMI COUNTIES FOR THE LAST YEAR AS YOUR STATE SENATOR.

HOPEFULLY AS WITH YOUR BLESSING I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE IN THE NEW DISTRICTS THAT ARE DRAWN, ITASCA COUNTY, CASS COUNTY.

I HAVE FOUR YOUNG KIDS, BEEN MARRIED FOR 15 YEARS.

I GREW UP IN A SMALL BUSINESS, COMPARED LIKE AN OUTDOOR MOUNTAIN OR CABELLA'S.

COMMERCE, AGING, IRON RANGE RESOURCES AND REHABILITATION BOARD.

I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING THE MINING AND FORESTRY CHAIR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I'M RUNNING AGAIN, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, JUST LIKE I DID IN 2016 WHEN I FIRST RAN.

I FOUND 2016 METRO DEMOCRATS ARE WERE DOING EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO LEAVE GREATER MINNESOTA BEHIND.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS UNCONSCIONABLE.

I THINK THAT'S THE CASE TODAY.

I HAVE FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN, AS I ALREADY MENTIONED.

I BELIEVE MY CHILDREN, ALONG WITH EVERY MINNESOTA CHILD, DESERVES A BETTER FUTURE THAN THE PREVIOUS GENERATION HAD.

I THINK THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND DRIVE THE STATE IN A BETTER WAY TO GIVE CHILDREN IN THE NEXT GENERATION AND OUR CURRENT GENERATIONS BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.

OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT FOR THE BEMIDJI AREA, LIKE THE BEMIDJI VETERANS HOME AND MANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT FOLKS TALKED ABOUT THAT THEY WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

I SPENT THE LAST 6 YEARS LISTENING AND LEARNING AND DOING THE WORK TO SERVE OUR AREA AND GREATER MINNESOTA AND OUR REGION.

I WOULD BE HONORED TO CONTINUE TO BE YOUR VOICE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HOPEFULLY SPIRITED BUT FUN AND FAIR DEBATE THIS EVENING AND READY TO GET ON WITH THE QUESTIONS.

>> Bethany: THANKS, JUSTIN.

WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR QUESTIONS THEN.

THE FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM HEIDI AND JUSTIN, YOU WILL ANSWER FIRST.

>> Heidi: THIS HAS TO DO WITH JOBS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

GOVERNOR WALZ AND IRRR AND OTHERS LOOKED TO ASSIST ENGINEERED WOODS IN A PROPOSED TIMBER MILL, THE OSB PANELS.

SOME SEE THE MILL AS A POSITIVE FOR THE AREA WHILE OTHERS ARE VOICING CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACTS IT COULD BRING TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO THE WATER OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

SO WHAT CAN HUBER BRING TO THE REGION AND CAN YOU LISTEN TO THOSE IN OPPOSITION AS WELL?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

WILL WE LISTEN TO THE OPPOSITION, WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT.

BUT I HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY SEE HIEWBERS PLAN, AND WE KNOW HUBER WILL CERTAINLY BE CUTTING WOODS, BUT WE HAVE SEEN THE WAY THEY CUT TIMBER IN OTHER STATES, THE WAY THEY HAVE DONE IT SUSTAINABLY, AND IN ORDER TO HAVE A HEALTHY FOREST, THEY NEED TO BE MANAGED FOR US.

SOME OF THE OPPOSITION HAS COME FROM THE LEECH LAKE BAND.

I UNDERSTAND THEIR OPPOSITION.

THE PROJECT ITSELF IS NOT GOING TO BE WITHIN LEECH LAKE TERRITORY.

HUBER IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A RIGOROUS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.

I BELIEVE FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN THEY WILL BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THE AREA AND ANY AREA THEY HAVE OPERATED IN THIS COUNTRY, THEY HAVE BEEN A GOOD STEWARD, COMMUNITY PARTNER.

THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO BACKFILL JOBS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE LOST AT THE BOSWELL ENERGY CENTER WHERE THE HUBER PLANT WILL BE LOCATED OFF THE BOSWELL ENERGY CENTER.

IT'S PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THEIR COMMUNITY GOES AS SOME OF THE POWER PLANTS TRANSITION OFF LINE.

IT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT NOT ONLY POTENTIAL ECONOMIC BOOST, I THINK, FOR THE GRAND RAPIDS AREA, BUT A HUGE MORAL BOOST FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE AREA AS WELL.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT.

ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING AT WORKING ON THIS SITE WANT THEM TO DO IT PROPERLY, CLEANLY, AND I THINK THEY WILL.

BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RIGHT REGULATORY SYSTEM TO DO THAT.

THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PLAN IN PLACE, AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB.

I THINK THEY CAN DO IT RESPONSIBLY.

>> Bethany: THANKS, JUSTIN.

STEVE?

>> I REALLY DON'T LIKE WHEN WE PIT ENVIRONMENT AGAINST A JOB GRAB, JUST LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT AND MINING.

THERE'S ENOUGH TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE TODAY TO DO ALL OF THIS STUFF SAFELY AND GOOD NOT FOR TE ENVIRONMENT.

THE PROBLEM IS, EVERYONE WANTS TO PICK A WINNER OR A LOSER.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BRING BOTH PARTIES TO THE TABLE AND WORK IT OUT.

MY BEST EXAMPLE IS WHEN MY DAD CHAIRED THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, HE TOOK THE LOBBYISTS FROM THE MCCL AND THE LOBBYIST FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND MADE THEM GO DOWNSTAIRS AND FIX THEIR LEGISLATION BIPARTISANLY TOGETHER, AND DO NOT COME OUT OF THAT ROOM UNTIL YOU DO IT.

IT TOOK THEM ALL DAY, BUT THEY DID IT.

SO YOU JUST NEED TO HAVE BOTH PARTIES GET TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER AND GET IT DONE AS SOON AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.

I KNOW IT'S POSSIBLE.

THAT'S THE THING THAT'S LACKING NOWADAYS IS THERE'S JUST NO CIVILITY.

THERE'S NO INTEGRITY.

THERE'S NO HONESTY.

NOBODY TRUSTS ANYBODY.

NOTHING BUT FINGER POINTING AND THAT DOESN'T GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED, JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST SESSION.

NOT BEING ABLE TO FINISH THE WORK.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

JUSTIN, REBUTTAL?

>> NO.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

SHANNON.

>> Shannon: A MINNESOTA NEW SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS, WHICH ARE STILL UNDER REVIEW WANT TO PROVIDE A BROAD ARRAY OF PERSPECTIVES AND PUBLIC SCHOOL LESSONS, ABOUT HISTORY, ECONOMICS, GEOGRAPHY AND FOR THE FIRST TIME ETHNIC STUDIES.

WHAT IS YOUR PROOPINION ON THE PROPOSED CURRICULUM?

>> SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

NOW, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE EDUCATION BOARD OR WHATEVER SETS UP THE CURRICULUM AND IT'S MADE UP OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN OPEN MIND.

WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, READING, WRITING, ARITHMETIC, GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, SOCIAL STUDIES AND -- THOSE WERE GREAT, GREAT TOPICS, EVEN GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S THE ONE I SHINED AT THE MOST WAS SOCIAL STUDIES.

SO I THINK NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THAT, AND I ALSO THINK THAT THE SCHOOLS CAN OPEN THEIR DOORS AND LET PARENTS COME IN AND SEE AND OBSERVE AND, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THEIR CURRICULUM WHEN THEY ARE PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T LIKE THIS DIVISIVENESS THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR -- ALL FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, STEVE.

JUSTIN.

>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

THERE ARE THESE NEW SOCIAL STANDARDS THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT, AND A LOT OF PARENTS WE HAVE HEARD CONCERNED FROM.

THEY ARE CONCERNED CRITICAL RACE THEORY WILL BE A PART OF THAT.

IT COULD CERTAINLY BE A PART OF THE PACKAGE.

I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT, MORE PARENTS LOOPED INTO THAT.

WHETHER IT'S THIS RULE OR ANY OTHER RULE, WHETHER IT HAS TO DO WITH MINING OR FORESTRY ARE TRI, THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO THAT.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCOUNTABLE SHOULD HAVE AN UP OR DOWN VOTE SAY IN THAT.

THAT'S ONE THING WE NEED TO DO.

WHAT WE DID ASK THE BOARD TO DO AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS TAKE A STEP BACK.

KIDS ARE STRUGGLING WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH OVER COVID.

READING, WRITING, AND MATH SCORES ARE ABYSMAL.

LET'S HELP STUDENTS GET ON THE RIGHT BACK BEFORE WE START DOING SOMETHING NEW, ESPECIALLY SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN SO CONTROVERSIAL AS THIS.

>> Bethany: OKAY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ON THAT.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THIS CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS BESIDES -- I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD IT DEFINED.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S EVEN REAL.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.

I ALSO DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH TEACHING THE HISTORY OF WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR COUNTRY IN THE LAST 250 YEARS.

>> Bethany: JUSTIN, REBUTTAL?

>> I WOULD COURAGE MR. SAMUELSON.

THERE'S A REASON THE PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

IT SHOULD INVOLVE LEGISLATORS AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND PARENTS AS WELL.

>> Bethany: OKAY.

THANK YOU.

QUESTION FROM DENNIS.

>> Ryan: ACCORDING TO THE MINNESOTA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION, CRIME NUMBERS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE RISEN DRASTICALLY SINCE 2018.

MURDERS, ROBBERIES, VIOLENT CRIME.

AS A LAWMAKER HOW WOULD YOU WORK TO REVERSE THIS INCREASE IN CRIME IN THE STATE?

>> THANK YOU.

I WOULD SAY THERE ISN'T A SPECIFIC THING THAT WE AS LEGISLATORS CAN DO.

IT TOOK A CULTURAL SHIFT TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE THE POLICE WERE TREATED THE WAY THEY ARE BEING TREATED TODAY.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO, WE CAN CONTROL ARE THINGS THAT WE STARTED TO DO THIS LAST SESSION THAT UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T PAN OUT THAT WE COULD CONTINUE.

ONE, PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO A LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER.

2, PROVIDING REESSENTIAL BONUSES FOR PEOPLE WILLING TO STAY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

ANYBODY WHO IS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL SHOULD THINK ABOUT HOW THEY TALK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

PART OF THE REASON PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE POLICE OFFICERS IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DEMONIZED.

THEY HAVE BEEN DEMONIZED IN THE MEDIA AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

WHEN I GO TO ST. PAUL YOU SEE A POLICE OFFICER AND A MEMBER MIGHT GO UP THERE AND BUY THEIR DINNER.

YOU SEE THE PERSON IN TEARS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE FIRST PERSON THROUGHOUT THE DAY THAT DIDN'T SWEAR AT THEM.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR POLICE DIFFERENT, TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT.

I HAVE BEEN ENDORSED WITH THE MINNESOTA POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT AND NOT DEFUND OUR POLICE, AND THAT'S WHAT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO.

>> Bethany: THANKS, JUSTIN.

>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS A BIG, BIG CONCERN.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THAT I VISITED WITH AND THE DEPUTY THAT RAN THE JAIL, THEIR MAIN PROBLEM NOWADAYS IS MENTAL HEALTH.

EVER SINCE THEY CLOSED THAT STATE HOSPITAL IN BRAINERD, THEY HAD NO PLAN.

SO NOW IT'S LEFT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND JAILS AND CORRECTIONS, A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO WITH THESE ADDICTION PROBLEMS AND MENTAL ILLNESS.

THERE WAS A 70-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO HAD DEMENTIA AND GOT THROWN IN JAIL FOR THREE DAYS, NO CLOTHES ON WHEN THEY BROUGHT HIM TO JAIL, AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS.

THE GUY DID NOT BELONG IN JAIL.

SO NOW WE ARE CRIMINALIZING THESE PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO INVEST IN ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH STARTING IN SCHOOLS AND THE WHOLE RECOVERY SYSTEM SHOULD BE A LOT EASIER.

I HAVE DEALT WITH ADDICTION MYSELF.

THANK GOD IN 1988, OR JANUARY 8th, I STOPPED DRINKING AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT 34 YEARS.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL OUT THERE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED THAT COULD GO AND BE PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, STEVE.

JUSTIN, REBUTTAL?

>> NOT NECESSARILY REBUTTAL.

BUT ANOTHER THING I FAILED TO MENTION, ANOTHER THING WE WORKED ON THAT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT STEP IS DEALING WITH MANDATORY MINIMUMS.

WE HAVE SEEN MEDIA STORIES WHERE SOMEBODY WHO COMMITTED A HEINOUS CRIME GETS BACK OUT AND BECAUSE THEY MADE THE BAIL AND COMMITS ANOTHER CRIME.

WE NEED TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE IN JAIL THAT NEED TO BE INCARCERATED FOR THE TIME UNTIL THEIR TRIAL COMES UP.

ADDRESSING THE MANDATORY MINIMUMS IS ANOTHER PIECE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, JUSTIN.

STEVE?

>> I'M GLAD THE SENATOR BROUGHT THAT UP.

WHEN A NEWCOMER RUNS AGAINST A SITTING SENATOR, THEY HAVE A RECORD.

JUSTIN VOTED TWICE AGAINST LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE DEDICATED $500 BILLION TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

ALSO TO NOT RAISE THE PENALTY ON STEALING CATALYTIC CONVERTERS.

THEY CARE MORE ABOUT THE JUNKYARD PEOPLE MAKING MONEY THAN THEY CARE ABOUT PEOPLE'S CARS BEING STOLEN.

THAT'S NOT REDUCING CRIME.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

STEVE.

WE WILL MOVE TO THE QUESTION FROM HEIDI.

>> Heidi: ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED THIS YEAR.

HOW WILL YOU APPROACH A WOMAN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IF YOU ARE ELECTED?

>> WELL, I HAVE TO START OFF BY SAYING I'M PRO LIFE, PRO LIFE TO A FAULT ALMOST.

BUT THAT WAS EASY TO SAY THAT, BECAUSE I'M A MAN, FOR ONE THING, BUT NO.

2, WE HAD ROE V. WADE.

WELL, NOW THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT COMES OUT -- OR THE SUPREME COURT COMES OUT AND OVERTURNS IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXTRA RIGHTS THEY ARE GOING TO START TAKING AWAY NEXT.

BUT THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE FOR A WOMAN, HER DOCTOR, AND THE GOVERNMENT.

FREEDOM IS CHOICE.

SO WITHOUT CHOICE, WOMEN ARE LOSING FREEDOM.

SO YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS TELLING A WOMAN WHAT SHE SHOULD BE DOING.

IT'S A TOUGH ENOUGH DECISION TO DO BY THEMSELVES.

SOME STATES ARE GETTING SO EXTREME THAT THEY WILL BE BANNING THE MORNING AFTER PILL OR TRYING TO CONTROL BIRTH CONTROL, WHICH WOULD STOP A PREGNANCY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING IF WE DON'T KEEP ABORTION RARE, SAFE AND LEGAL.

THE LEGAL PART IS SIMPLE.

YOU GO LOOK AT TEXAS.

CRIMINALIZING THIS, AND SO NOW I CAN GO HEY, MY NEIGHBOR IS GOING TO GO HAVE AN ABORTION AND GET SOME KIND OF REWARD BECAUSE I TOLD ON HER.

IT NEEDS TO BE SAFE, RARE AND LEGAL.

AND THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

>> Bethany: JUSTIN.

>> EVEN THOUGH THE SOWRT OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE, THEY SAID IT SHOULD GO BACK TO THE STATES.

IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE STATES TO MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THAT.

STATES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE BEACON OF GOVERNMENT AS DEFINED BY THE CONSTITUTION.

FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE AN ABORTION, THERE'S DOE VERSUS GOMEZ THAT WOULD ALLOW THIS THAT.

I THINK UNFORTUNATELY IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY TOUGH TO CHANGE THAT.

THE PROCESS WOULD BE IF THE LEGISLATURE DID PASS SOMETHING AND IT WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIGNED INTO LAW, THERE WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE A LEGAL CHALLENGE THAT WOULD KICK IT UP TO THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT AND PROBABLY BE THROWN OUT.

I THINK THE DISCUSSION NEEDS TO BE ABOUT HOW CAN IT BE SAFE AND RARE?

I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE ABORTIONS AT ANY POINT PERSONALLY.

BUT IF THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE A IT, THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION.

OVER 70% OF MINNESOTANS THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME RESTRICTIONS.

YOU HEARD EXTREME CASES FROM THE LEFT WHERE PEOPLE ARE PROMOTING ABORTIONS UP TO THE DAY OF BIRTH.

THAT, I THINK, IS WRONG.

WE AS A SOCIETY DECIDE AT WHAT POINT IS THAT BABY, AND COLLEAGUES ON THE LEFT THINK IT'S A KLUMPP OF CELLS, BUT FOR THE REST OF SOCIETY THAT BELIEVES IN PRO LIFE, WE BELIEVE IT'S A HUMAN BEING, HUMAN LIFE.

AT WHAT POINT DOES THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE WOMB BECOME A HUMAN?

IS IT WHEN THERE'S A HEART BEAT?

SECOND TRIMESTER.

THAT'S THE DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

WE COULD PROBABLY GET TO A PLACE IN THE STATE WHERE THERE ARE FEWER ABORTIONS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO WORK TOWARD THAT.

THE ONLY WAY ABORTION IS GOING TO GET OVERTURNED IN MINNESOTA IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

I WOULD NOT BE OPPOSED TO IT BEING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT QUESTION TO ALLOW EVERY MINNESOTAN TO DECIDE THAT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE OKAY.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, JUSTIN.

STEVE, A REBUTTAL?

>> THE PROBLEM WITH THAT TO ME IS FIRST AMENDMENT IS FREEDOM OF RELIGION.

I WAS RAISED CATHOLIC.

WENT TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL.

THIS IS A CATHOLIC THOUGHT.

THAT'S THE WAY THEY TEACH IT.

YOU GO TO A DIFFERENT RELIGION, TO THEM, LIFE DOESN'T START UNTIL THE BABY COMES OUT AND TAKES ITS FIRST BREATH.

SO WHICH RELIGION IS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF A WOMAN'S BODY?

THAT'S THE DISCUSSION THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

I SAY KEEP THE RELIGION OUT OF IT.

IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, STEVE.

JUSTIN.

>> I DIDN'T REALIZE WE WERE HAVING A THEOLOGICAL DISCUSSION, BUT RATHER ABOUT ONE -- AT A CERTAIN POINT LIFE BEGINS, AND THAT'S THE DISCUSSION WE NEED TO HAVE.

IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED EARLIER THERE ARE STATES LOOKING TO BAN BIRTH CONTROL AND MORNING AFTER PILLS.

NONE OF THAT IS EVEN BEING TALKED ABOUT IN MINNESOTA.

AGAIN, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHEN DOES LIFE BEGIN?

BECAUSE I THINK WE COULD SAVE MANY LIVES BY HAVING SOME RESTRICTIONS.

SO I THINK THAT DISCUSSION DOES NEED TO HAPPEN, AND IT'S HEALTHY FOR OUR SOCIETY TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, JUSTIN.

QUESTION FROM SHANNON.

>> Shannon: LONG-TERM SECURITY OF FRESHWATER SUPPLIES IS THREATENED BY AN ARRAY OF AQUIFER DEPLETION, CLIMATE CHANGE.

IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE TO PROTECT MINNESOTA'S NATURAL WATER RESOURCES?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO.

YOU MENTIONED CITY WATER SOURCES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF AGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS STATE, AND THAT'S ONE AREA WE WORKED AT ON OUR CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE THAT I SERVED ON, GETTING DOLLARS TO GREATER MINNESOTA CITIES SPECIFICALLY WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

THE CITY OF BEMIDJI HAD A WATER PROBLEM THAT WE HELPED GET MONEY FOR TO HELP THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

THERE'S SITUATIONS LIKE THAT ALL OVER THE STATE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HELP.

IT'S BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IT'S AN AREA THE STATE SHOULD PLAY A ROLE AND CONTINUE TO.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP OUR FRESHWATER SUPPLY.

ONE OF THOSE IS FORESTRY, HAVING A HEALTHY FOREST THAT'S MANAGED AND IT MEANS SOME OF THE TREES GET CUT, PART OF THE LOGGING INDUSTRY WILL ALSO HELP OUR FOREST.

ALLOWING THOSE TYPE OF ACTIVITIES, I THINK, IS HEALTHY.

I THINK IT HELPS OUR WATER SUPPLY.

WE ALL NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF WHAT WE ARE DOING, KEEPING THINGS CLEAN.

WE ARE BLESSED WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF FRESH, NOT ONLY FRESH BUT CLEAN WATER IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA THAT THEY DON'T HAVE IN MANY PLACES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

IF YOU LOOK AT A MAP, THERE'S INTERESTING WHEN SOME OF THE METRO FOLKS TELL US WE ARE DOING A BAD JOB MINING, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CLEANETH WATER IN THE STATE, IT'S IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA AND PROBABLY WE HAVE THE CLEANEST WATER IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS.

WE HAVE A RECORD OF SHOWING WE CAN KEEP THE WATER CLEAN, AND I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE ON THE COURSE TO KEEP DOING THAT, AND THE LEGISLATURE IS CERTAINLY PART OF THAT EQUATION.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU JUSTIN.

STEVE?

>> I WOULD SAY OUR WATER, LIKE OUR RIVERS ARE A LOT CLEANER NOW THAN THEY WERE IN THE '70s BECAUSE WE REALIZED WE HAD A PROBLEM.

YOU WERE TOLD NOT TO EAT FISH MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK OR SOMETHING BECAUSE OF THE ACID RAIN.

YOU KNOW, WITHOUT WATER THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY LIFE.

SO THAT IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE BONDING IS A GOOD IDEA FOR HELPING SMALL TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS OR WHATEVER TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE ON WATER, SO WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND BE MINDFUL.

THE OLD WAY WE DID IT IN THE BOY SCOUTS IS YOU LEAVE THE WOODS BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT.

SO YOU DON'T LITTER.

YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING.

I TRY TO LEAVE THIS PLANET EVERY DAY BETTER THAN IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, STEVE.

JUSTIN, REBUTTAL?

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT QUESTION FROM DENNIS WEIMANN.

>> Dennis: THIS IS A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER.

IT SIMPLY ASKS WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS?

>> Bethany: STEVE?

>> WOW.

THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM, AND IT'S A BIG PROBLEM ALL OVER.

I MEAN, WE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN BRAINERD, AND MY CHURCH IS -- THIS WEEK WE ARE GOING OVER AND VOLUNTEERING AT THE WARMING SHELTER.

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED INSTEAD OF TALKED ABOUT.

THEY JUST KEEP KICKING THIS ISSUE DOWN THE ROAD, AND THEN TALK ABOUT IT DURING THE ELECTION, AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO DO THE WORK, NOTHING HAPPENS.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER FOR THAT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S ENOUGH PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT COULD COME UP WITH IDEAS, THEIR GRANTS OR WHATEVER, TO BUILD LOW INCOME HOUSING.

WE NEED IT.

ALL THE CITIES NEED IT.

THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS TO JUST START SOMEWHERE.

I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW -- THE NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP IN WAS SOUTHEAST BRAINERD WAS FILLED WITH FAMILIES, AND THE PERSONS HAD A UNION JOB.

WELL, THE UNION JOBS ALL LEFT.

SO NOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ALL RENTALS WHERE THE RENT IS TOO HIGH FOR PEOPLE TO EVEN LIVE.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT, IN AND OUT, AND THAT'S MORE FOR CRIME.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING WOULD SAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS A GREAT PROGRAM, EXPAND THE HECK OUT OF IT.

INCENTIVIZE IT SOMEHOW.

BUT THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, STEVE.

JUSTIN.

>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING YOU COULD LOOK AT ON A COUPLE DIFFERENT FRONTS.

I THINK ON BOTH THE GOVERNMENT IS CERTAINLY PART OF THE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE SEEN -- LET'S TAKE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING FIRST.

WE HAVE SEEN AN AREA, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE SUBURBS, WHERE PERMITTING COST, THE COST OF GOVERNMENT CAN BE AS MUCH AS 25% OF A NEW BUILD, WHICH PRICES A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF THE MARKET.

IN GREATER MINNESOTA IN SOME CITIES, IN BAD SCENARIOS IT'S 15% OF A NEW BUILD BECAUSE OF THE COST OF GOVERNMENT PERMITTING REGULATIONS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

SHOULD WE HAVE SOME REGULATIONS?

CERTAINLY.

THERE ARE HEALTH AND SAFETY THINGS TO THINK OF.

WE HAVE A HOUSING COMMITTEE IN THE IN THE SENATE.

THEY HAD IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THEY SHOULD CHANGE SOME OF THAT.

THERE WAS GOOD BIPARTISAN DISCUSSION THERE.

THE OTHER PIZZA LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSE IS APARTMENT SECTION 8 HOUSING.

ONE SUGGESTION I HAVE HAD, THE STATE HAS APPROPRIATED TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SECTION 8 APARTMENT HOUSING.

WHEN WE DO THAT IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE COMPARED TO WHAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC WOULD BUILD.

THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR, IF I WAS TO GO BUILD IT.

I USED AN EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY THAT WAS BUILT ON THE WATER THAT WAS BUILT FOR ABOUT HALF OF THE COST OF THE SECTION 8 PROJECT OF A SIMILAR SIZE ACROSS TOWN.

SO WHY IS IT SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE WHEN THE GOVERNMENT BUILDS HOUSING WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.

WE CAN PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES AND CERTAIN IDEAS IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES IN THE NEW DISTRICT WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING AT HOW THEY DO NEW BUILDS, LOWER THE CITY FEES.

THE STATE GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE ABLE TO PLAY A ROLE IN HELPING CITIES DO THAT.

WE NEED TO FIND OUT OF THE BOX SOLUTIONS.

IT ISN'T JUST MORE APARTMENTS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO STARTLE LOOKING FOR HOW TO HELP PEOPLE ACHIEVE THEIR AMERICAN DREAM, WHICH IS OWNING THEIR HOUSE IN AN AFFORDABLE WAY.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, JUSTIN.

STEVE?

>> MAYBE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND GET SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS FIGURED OUT.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE ALL OF THESE EXTRA COSTS OR WHATEVER.

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME FOR BUILDING A HOUSE THROUGH A SECTION 8 HOUSE LIKE JUSTIN SAID AND A REGULAR HOME BUT THE SECTION 8 HOUSE COSTS MORE.

I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST A WAY OF -- TWO GOVERNMENTS NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT SOMETHING.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR THEY HAVE THAT HOUSING AUTHORITY DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW IN THEIR MEETING: I WOULD LIKE TO CHECK ON HOW THE PROGRESS IS GOING.

>> Bethany: THANKS, STEVE.

JUSTIN?

>> WHEN IT COMES TO CITIES WORKING WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT, IT'S CERTAINLY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

BUT WE NEED TO GIVE THEM LOCAL CONTROL OF THEIR CITY.

IF THEY WANT TO CHARGE PERMITTING FEES, IT SHOULD BE THEIR PREROGATIVE.

BUT CITIES THAT WANT IT SHOULD HAVE THE PREROGATIVE.

WE SHOULD LEAVE IT UP TO CITIES.

SET CRITERIA ON THE CODE SIDE OF THE STATE AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DO THAT.

BUT THEY BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR LOCAL CONSTITUENCY BETTER THAN SOMEBODY AT A STATE AGENCY TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT A CITY SPECIFICALLY SHOULD DO, ESPECIALLY IN GREATER MINNESOTA CONSIDERING STATE AGENTS ARE MOSTLY METRO CENTRIC.

>> I AGREE.

>> Bethany: THANKS, JUSTIN.

WE WILL MOVE TO A QUESTION FROM HEIDI.

>> Heidi: CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE WAS FOUND WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF GRAND RAPIDS LAST YEAR, AND IT'S BEEN FOUND IN OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE.

WHAT'S YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF CHRONIC WASTING AND WHAT IT MEANS, BIG PICTURE AND THE EFFORTS TO CURB IT?

>> I THINK IT'S A HORRIBLE DISEASE WE HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN COMING INTO OUR STATE MORE AND MORE.

THE STATE PROVIDED A LOT OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUDIES GOING ON THERE.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO STUDY IT.

WE DON'T WANT IT TO BECOME A BIGGER PROBLEM LIKE IT HAS BEEN IN OUR NEIGHBORING STATES.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A SOLUTION TO IT YET.

WE NEED TO KEEP WORKING ON IT.

THERE WAS ONE POSITIVE IN THE GRAND RAPIDS AREA, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

BUT THE DNR DID A LOT OF WORK TO HAVE PEOPLE CALL THE HERD TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T BECOME A PROBLEM, AND THERE HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE IN THE GRAND RAPIDS SINCE.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING IT SHOULD BE CONTINUED TO MONITOR, AND IT IS THE ROLE OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO MONITOR THAT.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO STAY IN ONE GENERAL AREA, THEY MOVE AROUND A LOT.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT AND DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE TO CONTINUE THAT WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.

>> Bethany: THANKS, JUSTIN, STEVE?

>> I AGREE.

ANY TIME THERE'S A DISEASE LIKE THAT RUNNING AROUND, WE NEED TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM JUST LIKE COVID.

IF YOU END UP TRYING TO POLITICIZE THAT ISSUE, THE CHRONIC WASTING THING, DISEASE, IT NEEDS TO BE REGULATED, STUDIED, FUNDED AND I THINK I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT THE DNR HAS DONE, AND I KNOW THAT MOSTLY IT'S KIND OF BEEN KEPT IN A SMALLER AREA THAN IT COULD HAVE BEEN WITH THE WAY DEER WANDER AROUND.

BUT IT'S SCARY WHEN THEY HAVE THE NEW DISEASES THAT COME OUT AND NEED TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT KIND OF STUFF AND STAY ON TOP OF IT SO IT DOESN'T GET WORSE LIKE IT DOES IN SOME OTHER STATES.

>> Bethany: JUSTIN, REBUTTAL?

>> NO REBUTTAL.

>> Bethany: LET'S MOVE ON TO A QUESTION FROM SHANNON.

>> Bonney: THE 2023 SHOULD HAVE A SURPLUS.

HOW SHOULD THE MONEY BE SPENT WITH REGARD TO TAX RELIEF.

BE SPECIFIC, PLEASE.

>> $9 BILLION SURPLUS?

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S PRETTY SAD THAT IT'S STILL SITTING THERE, BECAUSE IT'S GOT USED AS A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN THAT WE WILL GIVE IT AWAY THIS WAY.

MY THOUGHT ON THAT FIRST OF ALL IS THE TAXES.

OUR TAX SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REDONE.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF MONEY.

THE PLAN WAS ALREADY PUT OUT THERE TO HELP EDUCATION, TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES, TO HELP A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THEN EVEN LITTLE JESSIE CHECKS, BUT YOU KNOW ONE PARTY DIDN'T WANT THE OTHER PARTY TO LOOK GOOD ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH THIS MONEY.

IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE.

IT'S TAX DOLLARS.

IT SHOULD GO BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND NOT GET CARRIED OVER FOR THE NEXT ELECTION TO FIND OUT OH, WELL, THEN WE CAN BE IN CHARGE AND WE WILL BE THE ONES THAT HAND IT OUT.

SO WE WILL BE THE GOOD GUYS.

YOU ARE DEMONIZING ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER.

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY NICE IS AFTER A SPECIAL SESSION WAS HELD, THEY CAME TO A CONCLUSION BOTH PARTIES WENT OUT THERE TOGETHER TO DO A A PRESS CONFERENCE AND SAID LOOK WHAT WE DID TOGETHER.

BOTH PARTIES TOGETHER.

RIGHT NOW ALL THEY DO IS POINT FINGERS AT EACH OTHER AND HAVE THREE MORE POINTING BACK AT THEM.

THAT'S JUST NOT GETTING ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, STEVE.

JUSTIN.

>> ON THE $9 BILLION SURPLUS, THAT IS STILL THERE.

IT CANCELED BACK TO THE BOTTOM LINE.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH IT?

THE NO.

1 THING I HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHEN IT WAS KIND OF A BIG DEAL IN 2022 AND A LITTLE BIT THROUGH THIS CAMPAIGN SEASON IS GIVE THE MONEY BACK.

THERE'S A COUPLE WAYS WE WANTED TO DO THAT THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

ONE IS TO REPEAL THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY AS A BENEFIT, YOU ARE PAYING TAX ON THAT AS INCOME.

YOU ALREADY PAID TAX ON THAT.

WE DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.

WE ARE ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF STATES THAT DOES THAT.

WE WANT TO FULLY GET RID OF THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS ONGOING PERMANENT TAX RELIEF FOR MINNESOTANS.

WITH HOW HIGH INFLATION AS GOTTEN, THE FAMILY BUDGET HAS GOTTEN VERY STRETCHED.

ONE THING THE STATE OF MINNESOTA CAN DO IS MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T TAXED MORE THAN THEY SHOULD BE GOING INTO THE FUTURE.

INSTEAD OF GIVING THE CHECK BACK LIKE THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO DO WE WANTED TO GIVE LONG-TERM ONGOING ACTIONABLE TAX RELIEF THAT COULD GIVE FAMILIES $1,000 A YEAR EVERY YEAR IN PERPETUITY UNLESS THE TAX CODE WAS CHANGED AGAIN.

WE THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

IF WE START SPENDING THE MONEY, WE ARE GOING TO END UP SPENDING MONEY IN LONG-TERM AREAS.

ARE WE WILLING TO BE OPEN TO THAT DISCUSSION?

YES.

BUT THE NO.

1 THING WE ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE IS PLEASE GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK.

BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE MONEY YOU DO GET.

WE ARE GOING INTO A BUDGET YEAR AGAIN.

HAVING THE MONEY ON THE BOTTOM LINE WILL MAKE THE BUDGETING PROCESS A LITTLE EASIER.

THE ECONOMY IS UP AND DOWN WITH INFLATION.

OUR ECONOMY ISN'T AS STRONG AS IT MAYBE WAS PREVIOUSLIMENT WE ARE AT LEAST IN A PREPARED SPOT.

BUT THE NO.

1 THING I HEAR IS GIVE IT BACK, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, JUSTIN.

STEVE A REBUTTAL.

>> ONE SIDENOTE HERE IS WE TOOK OUR BOAT OUT AND WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TRIED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR GETTING THE BOAT WINTERIZED.

HE SAID YOU CAN'T GET IT IN HERE UNTIL THE SECOND WEEK OF NOVEMBER.

I SAID WHY IS THAT?

HE SAID BECAUSE WE SOLD SO MANY BOATS THIS SUMMER, UNBELIEVABLE, 6 A DAY -- OR 6 A WEEK.

I SAID THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE HE CONMY?

NO.

THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE ECONOMY.

BIG CORPORATIONS ARE MAKING RECORD, RECORD PROFITS DURING THE COVID.

THE INFLATION ENDED UP ON THE SMALL GUY.

SO I JUST BELIEVE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, WE HAD A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR PEOPLE TODAY.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, STEVE.

JUSTIN?

>> NO.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT QUESTION FROM DENNIS.

>> Dennis: AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, WHAT MEASURES, IF ANY, WOULD YOU SUPPORT TO REINFORCE OR ENSURE VOTER CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS?

>> Bethany: JUSTIN, YOU FIRST.

>> IN ORDER TO ENSURE VOTER CONFIDENCE, ONE OF THE NO.

1 THINGS IS IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE A VOTER I.D.

IT'S SOMETHING THE STATE COULD PROVIDE TO EVERY MINNESOTAN AND PROVIDE IT ON A NO COST BASIS.

THE NO.

1 THING I'M HEARING.

OTHER THINGS I THINK WE COULD DO.

CONCERNS WITH OUR VOTER ROLLS AS WELL, THO' THOSE SHOULD BE CLEANED AND CLEARED BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LONG PASSED ON THAT ARE STILL ON OUR VOTER ROLLS.

PROVISIONAL BALLOTS ARE ANOTHER PIECE THAT COULD BE A POTENTIAL TOOL FOR FOLKS TO FEEL MORE SECURE IN OUR ELECTIONS.

I THINK THOSE ARE JUST A FEW PIECES WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT, CERTAINLY MORE WE COULD DO, BUT I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT I THINK THE DECISION IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE.

I KNOW THERE'S A NATIONAL DISCUSSION AROUND ELECTIONS LATELY.

I THINK IT'S HEALTHY FOR A SOCIETY TO HAVE SOME LEVEL OF SKEPTICISM OF ITS GOVERNMENT.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE REAGAN ADAGE, TRUST BY VERIFY.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRUST THEM BUT ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND CHECKS WE HAVE IN PLACE TO ALSO VERIFY IF SOMEBODY BELIEVES THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S OUT OF PLACE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

>> I LIKE THAT TRUST AND VERIFY BUSINESS.

I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH OUR RECOUNTS.

I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 6, 7 DIFFERENT RECOUNTS FROM INTERNATIONAL FALLS DOWN TO ST.

CLOUD, MILLE LACS COUNTY, AITKIN COUNTY.

THE FIRST ONE WAS MY FATHER, WHO LOST IN 2002 BY 53 VOTES.

AFTER COUNTING IN A SENATE RACE ALL THE VOTES THERE WAS TWO BALLOTS.

THEY WEREN'T BAD BALLOTS BUT THEY WERE ARGUING OVER WHO IT WAS FOR.

WE HAVE PAPER BALLOTS.

THE PAPER BALLOTS ARE MARKED, AND THEN THE MACHINE COUNTS THEM.

I THINK MORE PEOPLE NEED TO VOTE.

BECAUSE WHEN I'M OUTDOOR KNOCKING, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE -- WE HAVE 56,000 REGISTERED VOTERS IN OUR DISTRICT.

WE ARE GOING TO BE LUCKY IF 40,000 VOTE.

THAT'S NOT GOOD.

MINNESOTA HAS AN EXCELLENT RECORD OF FAIR ELECTIONS.

AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE ON ALL THE CRIMES I CAN THINK OF, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK I WOULD WANT TO GO TO PRISON FOR VOTING ILLEGALLY.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE WAY WE HAVE IT SET UP NOW, YOU HAVE A NEIGHBOR AND A NEIGHBOR AT THE POLLING PLACE, AND WATCHING.

YOU CAN'T GET ANYMORE FAIR THAN THAT.

>> Bethany: JUSTIN.

>> NO REBUTTAL.

>> Bethany: WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR TENTH QUESTION FROM HEIDI.

>> Heidi: HOW IS OUR CHANGING CLIMATE AFFECTING THE FUTURE OF THE REGION IN TERMS OF JOBS AND THE LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS?

AND TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE INNOVATIONS YOU ARE SEEING AS PART OF THE FUTURE ECONOMY.

>> CLIMATE IS A VERY, VERY BIG ISSUE.

IT'S VERY BIG.

I TALKED TO A COLLEGE STUDENT TODAY FROM INDIANA.

VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS 19-YEAR-OLD PERSON.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND I CAN REMEMBER DRIVING TO CALIFORNIA WHEN I WAS YOUNG, AND COMING OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S FOGGY OR SMOGGY.

YOU COULDN'T SEE.

THEN I MOVED OUT THERE AND I WAS THERE FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND I HAD TO HAVE 3 JOBS TO GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE.

BUT I LIVED CLOSE TO THE MOUNTAIN CALLED MOUNT BALDY.

I COULDN'T SEE IT.

IT WAS ONLY FIVE MILES AWAY.

WE COULD SEE THE POLLUTION.

IT'S GETTING A LOT BETTER.

BUT I HAVE ALSO BEEN TO ALASKA, AND LOOKING AT THE ICE, YOU CAN SEE THE COLORS AND WHERE IT'S BEEN MELTING.

OUR PLANET IS WARMING UP, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW, I -- THEY NEED TO DO -- THEY NEED TO SWITCH TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

THEY CAN DO BOTH.

BUT IF THEY DON'T HURRY UP AND DO SOMETHING SOON, I WOULD REALLY HATE TO -- YOU KNOW, IS THE COUNTRY GOING TO BE ABLE TO LAST ANOTHER 250 YEARS.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS A BIG PROBLEM.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT JOBS THAT COULD BE FIGURED OUT WITH THESE RENEWABLES.

IN FARMS, YOU KNOW.

THERE'S ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT SMART PEOPLE WHO COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SOME KIND OF ENERGY.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, STEVE.

JUSTIN?

>> AS WE KNOW, CLIMATE HAS BEEN CHANGING ALL THROUGHOUT RECORDED HISTORY AND IT AFFECTS ALL OF US, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO US.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ASKED ARE ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DOING OR ARE IMPORTANT.

THE MINING AND FORESTRY POLICY CHAIR IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT FORESTRY AGAIN.

FORESTRY IS A HUGE PART OF THAT.

HEALTHY, MATURE MANAGED FORESTS SCRESSER CARBON MORE THAN GROWTH FOREST.

IF WE MANAGE OUR LANDS, PROVIDE THAT RESOURCE FOR ALL THE ECONOMY IN MINNESOTA.

NEW TREES GROW AND ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL CARBON SEQUESTRATION.

I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

HEALTHY FORESTS ARE CERTAINLY A HUGE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR AIR, OUR WATERS AND OUR GENERAL AREA IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA CLEAN.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

STEVE, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> KIND OF.

THAT ALL SOUNDS VERY GOOD, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE AG BILL IN '22 HAD A PROVISION WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO HELP FARMERS OUT FOR THE LAST DROUGHT THAT THEY HAD.

THEY WERE AWAY FOR 9 MONTHS FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, AND SENATOR EICHORN WAS THE ONLY SENATOR TO VOTE AGAINST THE BIPARTISAN AG BILL.

THE VOTE WAS 66-1.

SO I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THE REASON, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S AN EXCELLENT REASON.

>> Bethany: JUSTIN.

>> 2022 AG BILL WAS LOADED WITH A BUNCH OF OBJECTIONABLE SPENDING.

I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT, BUT IF YOU WANT TO CONNECT ONLINE WITH US, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT.

>> Bethany: WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ONTO THE QUESTION PERIOD AND MOVE RIGHT INTO CLOSING COMMENTS THEN.

JUSTIN, YOU WILL BE FIRST.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY ANOTHER THANK YOU TO LAKELAND PUBLIC TELEVISION FOR HOSTING US THIS EVENING.

WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

ONE MORE THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE BEMIDJI, BEMIDJIBELTRAMI AREA, IT'S AN HO SERVE YOU.

I WILL MISS MANY OF YOU BUT MY DOOR WILL BE OPEN TO YOU AS WE GO INTO THE NEW SENATE DISTRICT 6, GRAND RAPIDS, ITASCA, CASS AND CROW WING COUNTIES, LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING THAT AREA, GETTING TO KNOW THE NEW PEOPLE.

BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONNECTIONS I HAVE MADE WITH FOLKS IN THE BEMIDJI AREA AS WELL.

AS YOU GO TO VOTE THIS YEAR, YOU ARE NOT ONLY VOTING FOR INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES BUT ALSO PARTY AGENDAS AS WELL.

AS YOU HAVE SEEN RECENTLY IN THE STAR TRIBUNE ARTICLE, THE DEMOCRAT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THE REPUBLICAN LEADER OF THE SENATE THAT BOTH WROTE KIND OF LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, IF YOU WILL.

DEMOCRAT ONE DID NOT USE EVEN ONCE THE WORD CRIME OR PARENT, BUT IT USED EXTREME FOUR TIMES, ABORTION FIVE TIMES, TAX ONCE.

IT NEVER SAID YOU EVEN ONCE BUT IT MENTIONED DFL A DOZEN TIMES.

BY CONTRAST THE REPUBLICAN MESSAGE MENTIONED THE WORD PARENTS AND CRIME FOUR TIMES, KIDS OR CHILDREN 7 TIMES, TAX OR TAX RELIEF 10 TIMES.

THE WORD YOU WAS MENTIONED 9 TIMES.

THE WORD REPUBLICAN JUST THREE.

THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS ABOUT YOU.

IT'S ABOUT THE AVERAGE MINNESOTAN AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I HAVE FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN THAT DESERVE A BETTER MINNESOTA THAN THE MINNESOTA I GOT.

THE FIGHT FOR ME IS PERSONAL.

I WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR VOTE FOR THE NEW SENATE DISTRICT 6 TO BE ABLE TO SERVE NOT ONLY YOU BUT OUR STATE AND OUR REGION IN THIS BEAUTIFUL STATE AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR WAY OF LIFE.

PLEASE VOTE FOR JUSTIN EICHORN ON NOVEMBER 8th.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, JUSTIN.

STEVE?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER FOR US.

IT'S VERY NICE THE VOTERS COULD CALL IN AND HEAR US ANSWER QUESTIONS LIVE.

AGAIN, MY NAME IS STEVE SAMUELSON.

MY WEBSITE AND MY FACEBOOK SITE ARE ALL SAMUELSON FOR SENATE, AND I HAVE A VERY LONG VERSION OF WHY I'M RUNNING IN THERE.

I HAVE A ABOUT ME.

I HAVE THE SAMUELSON FOOTPRINT IN CROW WING COUNTY FOR THE PAST, GOING BACK TO THE '70s, AND HERE IS THE THING.

I'M NOT A PARTY GUY.

YOU KNOW, THE WAY IT'S RIGGED, YOU HAVE TO PICK ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER.

ONE PARTY IS -- YOU KNOW, I REFUSE TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE PARTY THAT FOLLOWS A HUMAN BEING AND THE OTHER PARTY -- IT'S HARD FOR A PERSON LIKE ME, BECAUSE I'M MORE OF AN INDEPENDENT PERSON, AND I'M ALSO SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T MIND TALKING TRUTH TO POWER AT ALL.

I HAVE FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

SO WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT -- HOW THAT SAYING IS, ABOUT SANITY.

YOU DON'T KEEP DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS.

SO IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO HAS AN INDEPENDENT VOICE, WHO IS WILLING TO WORK WITH BOTH PARTIES, NOT BLAME THE REPUBLICANS FOR SOMETHING, NOT BLAME THE DEMOCRATS FOR SOMETHING, WORK TOGETHER, AND WHEN YOU HEAR ALL THE RHETORIC, THAT'S WHY NOTHING GETS DONE.

I THINK IT'S TIME TO PUT A PERSON LIKE JESSIE VENTURA BACK IN THE SENATE.

THANKS.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, STEVE.

THANK YOU, JUSTIN.

WE THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

THANK YOU TO THE PANEL, DENNIS, HEIDI, SHANNON.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING IF YOU MISSED ANY PORTION OF TONIGHT'S DEBATE OF WOULD LIKE TO WATCH IT AGAIN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE LAKELAND PBS WEBSITE WITHIN 24 HOURS.

THAT WEBSITE IS LPTV.ORG.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

THE FUN CONTINUES TOMORROW AS WE LAUNCH INTO THE NEXT 3 DEBATES.

WE WILL START WITH STATE SENATE DISTRICT 2 AT 7:00 P.M.

THANK YOU.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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