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

>> Eric: TONIGHT WE'LL DISCUSS WHAT THE STATE BUDGET MIGHT MEAN FOR YOU, WE'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF INFLUENTIAL STATE SENATORS, AND A COUPLE OF CAPITOL TROARTS BRING US UP TO DATE.

ALL THAT AND MORE, COMING UP, "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

♪♪ >> "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.

DAV OF MINNESOTA: KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO MINNESOTA'S VETERANS.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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

ERIC ESKOLA FILLING IN FOR MARY LAHAMMER.

WE'RE MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND TONIGHT WE HAVE A DUO OF POLITICAL REPORTERS TO TAKE A LOOK AT OME OF THE STATE'S NEWEST LAWS.

WE'LL MEET A FIRST-TERM REPRESENTATIVE WHO STARTED HIS CAREER AS A TEACHER.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO START TONIGHT WITH A PAIR OF INFLUENTIAL SENATORS, JOHN HOFFMAN AND JIM ABELER.

THEY ARE LEADS OF THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

CHAIRMAN HOFFMAN, LET ME START WITH YOU.

THE HEARINGS THIS WEEK WERE WRAPPED AROUND THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEADERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMING UP WITH BUDGET TARGETS.

AND I THINK A HALF DOZEN TIMES TODAY IN COMMITTEE, YOU EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT IN YOUR TARGET.

WHAT'S GOING TO BE MISSING FROM WHAT YOU WANT TO DO?

>> I'M GLAD -- HALF A DOZEN TIMES.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

YOU COUNTED HALF A DOZEN TIMES.

I MUST HAVE SAID IT AT LEAST 20 TIMES TODAY ON IT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT OF OUR NEEDS FOR THE LONG-TERM CARE INDUSTRY, RIGHT, IS THIS $5.4 BILLION, ADD IT UP, SAY, ALL RIGHT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO TRULY FIX IT?

>> TO GET TO $20 AN HOUR.

>> Eric: THAT'S THE PAY WAGE FOR A PROVIDER?

>> CORRECT, YEAH.

>> Eric: WORKFORCE.

>> GIVE BACK 1.3 BILLION FOR TWO YEARS, 1.5 BILLION ONGOING IN THE TAILS WHEN YOU LOOK AT FACT THAT 30% OF OUR BUDGET REALLY IS IN HUMAN SERVICES, TO ME, IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE.

>> Eric: THE NURSING HOMES, THERE WAS A VERY POIGNANT MOMENT IN THE COMMITTEE HERE EARLIER IN THE WEEK WHERE A FELLA CAME ON AND SAID, WHAT, IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, THERE WERE 11,000 -- >> 11,000 PEOPLE TURNED AWAY.

>> Eric: AND IT BASICALLY STOPPED THE HEARING.

I MEAN IT WAS A DRAMATIC MOMENT.

>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER.

AND WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

HELLO!

COMMITTED TO ONE MINNESOTA.

WHAT ABOUT THE SENIORS?

WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

>> Eric: IS THE STATE, THOUGH, MOVING TOWARD A NEW MODEL OF SENIOR CARE HAT IS NOT A NURSING HOME, THAT'S HOME CARE, COMMUNITY CARE, SOME OF THE THINGS -- THE PROGRAMS THAT I HEAR ABOUT IN THE COMMITTEE?

>> THAT'S BRAND -- BRAND-NEW NEWS TO ME WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THIS YEARS AGO.

JIM AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE SILVER TSUNAMI, IT'S NOW HERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

IN K-12 EDUCATION 850,000.

IT'S BEEN THE SAME FOR MANY MANY YEARS.

SO THAT WOULD BE A FIRST FOR ME.

BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THIS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT 11,000 NUMBER THAT WAS SAID, THERE WAS A PAUSE BECAUSE IT WAS A SHOCK.

AND THEN MY MIND WENT TO, THE 20%, ALMOST 20% OF THE BED SPACE IN OUR HOSPITALS ARE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD EITHER BE IN THEIR HOME, IN ASSISTED LIVING, OR IN NURSING HOMES.

AND IF WE CAN'T FIX THE SYSTEM, RIGHT, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO PROGRAMS THAT ARE MANDATED SERVICES UNDER MEDICAID.

HOSPITALIZATION AND NURSING HOMES.

SAD.

>> Eric: COVID DID WHAT TO THE INDUSTRY?

TO HUMAN SERVICES IN GENERAL.

>> IT'S A BIG MESS.

THERE'S A CONTINUUM OF CARE.

PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES, NEED HOME CARE WORKERS.

THEY GO INTO A FACILITY, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GETTING COVID.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DIED IN NURSING HOMES.

AND THEN PLUS WAGES WENT UP, LIKE, 5 BUCKS IN A YEAR.

AND IT PUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM ON ITS BACK.

AND SO BEFORE PEOPLE DIDN'T MIND WORKING OR $14, NOW YOU GET CLOSE TO 20.

SO WE'RE SHORT 53,000 WORKERS IN INDUSTRY.

THAT'S A LOT TOO.

AND THAT'S WHY 11,000 PEOPLE ARE TURNED AWAY FROM NURSING HOMES BACK IN OCTOBER.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED REALLY $5 BILLION TO BRING PEOPLE UP TO 20 BUCKS AN HOUR OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Eric: WANT TO JUMP TO A DIFFERENT TOPIC.

I WAS INTERESTED IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, YOU ANNOUNCED THAT YOU HAD A DEATH THREAT OVER THE MARIJUANA BILL.

>> I DID.

>> Eric: I KEEP HEARING A LITTLE BIT OF MURMURING THAT MAYBE IT'S NEXT YEAR FOR LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL POT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CARED ABOUT IN OUR COMMITTEE WAS THE FACT THAT YOU GOT TO HAVE SUBSTANCE PREVENTION, YOU GOT TO HAVE TREATMENT AND YOU GOT TO HAVE RECOVERY.

IF YOU'RE HAVING IT.

BECAUSE ADDICTION IS ADDICTION IS ADDICTION, RIGHT, ERIC, WE KNOW THAT.

AS I STARTED TO VOICE THAT OUT, AND WE GOT THAT LANGUAGE IN THERE, LET'S HOPE IT STAYS IN THERE.

BUT PEOPLE WERE ALREADY -- THEY WERE BACKED UP SAYING, THEY MADE A COMMENT, AND I WON'T GO INTO DEPTH ABOUT THE COMMENT WAS, BUT IT WAS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

ABOUT HOW DO YOU GET TO HOFFMAN BECAUSE THEY SEE ME AT THE CUB STORE, THEY SEE ME ALL OVER THE PLACE IN CHAMPLIN, SEND HIM A HORSE HEAD.

SO I JUST SAY, JIM KNOWS SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW FROM MY WIFE'S RADIO AND TV DAYS, RIGHT, HER MORNING SHOW PARTNER, LAST NAME'S FRATO, FATHER WAS LOU FRATO, RIGHT?

TO ME, THAT'S NOW -- WHEN SHE COMES DOWN AND SAYS TO ME, I'M SCARED, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO AT THAT POINT?

>> Eric: YOU TALKED ABOUT IN COMMITTEE ABOUT SPENDING THE MONEY WISELY IN HUMAN SERVICES.

AND I GOT THE IMPRESSION YOU DON'T THINK IT'S MABEL TOTALLY BEING SPENT -- AYBE TOTALLY BEING SPENT APPROPRIATELY.

>> WE SPEND, I THINK, $30 BILLION IN TWO YEARS IN THE AREA THAT WE SERVE TO SERVE 100 OR 200,000 PEOPLE.

AND HOW DO YOU MAKE IT GO THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY?

WE'RE BESIEGED BY A LOT OF FEDERAL RULES AND DEPARTMENTAL RULES.

AND IF WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY, WE ACTUALLY DO COULD DO A BETTER JOB.

WE NEED SOME RAW MONEY AS WELL.

UNDER OUR WATCH WE TRIED TO STRETCH IT TO GO AS FAR AS IT CAN TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE AN APPEALS PROCESS?

THE TARGET ARE BROAD OUTLINES, THEN FILL IN THE PROGRAMS UNDERNEATH THE TARGET.

IS THERE AN APPEALS PROCESS WHERE YOU CAN GET MORE?

OR WHAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD HERE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP NEGOTIATED WITH LEADERSHIP.

RIGHT?

BUT THEY DIDN'T COME BACK TO THE RANK-AND-FILE EMBERS OF THE CAUCUS SAYING, HERE, WHAT DO OU GUYS THINK OF THIS?

THEY SAID, HERE YOU GO.

AND I LOOKED AT, HERE YOU GO, AND WHAT I NEED, AND I SAID, THERE'S A DISCONNECT HERE, RIGHT?

AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE SOME MONEY COME BACK, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

WE'RE ABOUT $400 MILLION TO MAKE THINGS WORK, ABOUT $400 MILLION SHORT.

AND THAT WOULD BE $185 MILLION IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS AND $215 MILLION IN YEARS THREE AND FOUR.

>> NOT TO MENTION THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE COST.

>> THANK YOU, JIM.

THAT WAS THE OTHER ONE.

>> Eric: $600 MILLION SOMETHING.

>> EXACTLY.

HERE'S THE KICKER.

THE ONLY WAY THAT THESE FOLKS GET PAID, A VENDOR, AN ORGANIZATION GETS PAID IS WHEN THE STATE DECIDES TO UP THEIR GAME.

NOW YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU MONEY, BUT THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY.

TO ME, IT'S NOT OKAY.

THE SAME TIME, SAFE AND SICK, HERE YOU GO -- >> COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, IMPACT NURSING HOMES AND GROUP HOMES.

THAT IS OTHERWISE ACCOUNTED FOR, WE PUT IN THE AMENDMENT TO PAY FOR THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HARM THE PLACES BY DOING THE GOOD OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE PACE OF THE SESSION, AS FAR AS GETTING IT RIGHT?

ENORMOUS REVISOR'S BILL CORRECTING A LOT OF MISTAKES?

[ Laughter ] >> IT'S LIKE, OKAY, DRINKING WATER FROM A FIRE HOSE, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, THAT THE PACE IS THERE, THEY MOVED THE TIMELINES UP.

FOR EXAMPLE, JUST THIS BUDGET PROCESS, ABOUT GETTING A FORECAST, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST NOT APPEN UNTIL LIKE LATE IN APRIL.

>> RIGHT.

>> HERE WE ARE, LATE IN MARCH AND IT'S HAPPENING.

SO WE'RE A MONTH AHEAD OF WHERE WE SHOULD BE.

AND, YOU KNOW, MY WIFE SAYS, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN FIVE DAYS, WELL, SHE'S COMPLETELY SERIOUS BECAUSE I GET HOME, BY THAT TIME, SHE'S IN BED, SHE GETS UP, GOES DOES ER SCHOOL WORK IN THE MORNING, THAT'S IT.

>> Eric: A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THE SENATE WAS GOING TO REMAIN REPUBLICAN AFTER THE ELECTION.

AND IT DIDN'T.

AND I WONDER HOW FRUSTRATING OR TRAUMATIC THAT HAS BEEN FOR THE REPUBLICAN SENATE CAUCUS.

>> IT'S HARD TO BE LEFT OUT.

THE BEST GOVERNMENT IS WHEN PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER.

JOHN AND I BOTH MODELED THAT, WHEN I WAS A CHAIR, NOW WHEN HE'S THE CHAIR.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT US TO DO.

WORK TOGETHER, GET THINGS DONE.

THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT GETTING THINGS DONE IS.

BUT THEY FIGURE THEY TRUST US.

THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

IT'S BEEN SO ONE-SIDED, SO FRUSTRATING.

A FEW THINGS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT ARE SMALL.

BUT PEOPLE WANT US TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND I JUST URGE THE GOVERNOR AND THE EADERS, REPRESENTATIVE HORTMAN AND SENATOR DZIEDZIC AND THE REST OF THE SENATE HERE TO WORK WITH US.

BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AGAINST EVERYTHING.

IT'S BETTER WHEN PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER.

YOU GET A BETTER PRODUCT.

>> Eric: HOFFMAN AND ABELER.

>> GOT IT.

>> Eric: ACROSS THE AISLE, SITTING TOGETHER ON THE SENATE FLOOR FOR HOW MANY YEARS?

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> I DON'T KNOW, TEN YEARS.

>> I'VE BEEN HERE 24.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> Eric: THANKS, FELLAS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER HAS SOME IDEAS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL LEADERS, AND HE HAS SOME EXPERIENCE TO BACK HIM UP.

TAKE A LOOK.

- >> Mary: REPRESENTATIVE HILL, THE QUESTION WE ASK EVERYONE, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN?

>> I GOT INVOLVED IN THIS RACE BECAUSE OF A FEW REASONS.

NUMBER ONE, I'VE BEEN A LONGTIME TEACHER, AND HAVE WATCHED SINCE THE OUTSET OF MY CAREER ALMOST 25 YEARS AGO THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE FACING.

>> Mary: AS A TEACHER, YOU KNOW EDUCATION.

THIS SESSION'S HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

WHAT ACTION, WHAT LEGISLATION DO YOU NEED?

>> YOU KNOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE NEED TO LISTEN DEEPLY TO OUR EDUCATIONAL LEADERS.

AND MAKE SURE THAT WE EQUIP THEM TO DO THE CHALLENGING JOB OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF EVERY LAST STUDENT IN MINNESOTA.

IT IS GOING TO BOIL DOWN TO SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING, I BELIEVE.

>> Mary: HOW MUCH DOES MONEY MATTER?

>> IT MATTERS A GREAT DEAL.

I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN OPERATING IN MINNESOTA SCHOOLS ON A SCARCITY MODEL OR THE DURATION OF MY CAREER.

THERE WERE SOME YEARS IN THE EARLY 2000s WHERE THE FORMULA DIDN'T INCREASE.

WE HAVE FALLEN WAY BEHIND DUE TO THOSE YEARS WHERE THERE WAS A ZERO PERCENT INCREASE.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT OTHER ISSUES, YOU'RE IN A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT THERE IN THE STILLWATER AREA.

>> I GREW UP IN STILLWATER, MINNESOTA.

AND WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL REMINDER OF WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.

WALTER MONDALE, SENATOR NELSON, ALL THOSE YEARS AGO PUT IN PLACE THIS BEAUTIFUL JEWEL THAT IS CONSTANT, YOU KNOW, I CAN DRIVE FIVE MINUTES AND BE AT THE RIVER.

AND IT NEVER FAILS TO PUT ME IN AWE.

IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.

MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA'S WORKERS HAVE A FAIR SHOT AND LIVABLE WAGE AND CONDITIONS THAT ARE FAIR AND APPROPRIATE.

AND, SO, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MAIN ISSUES.

ALSO PROTECTING A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO MAKE HER OWN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE DECISIONS.

>> Mary: YEAH, YOU HAVE LOT OF SUBURBAN WOMEN IN THAT DISTRICT.

DID THAT MATTER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE I HEARD ON THE DOORS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DID A GREAT DEAL OF -- GREAT DEAL MORE LISTENING THAN SPEAKING ON THOSE STOPS.

MY WIFE, EMILY, AND I HAVE THREE LITTLE GIRLS.

AND THEY'RE A CONSTANT REMINDER OF WHY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA.

AND WE NEED TO PUT POLICIES IN PLACE THAT ENSURE THAT THEIR GENERATION, TEN GENERATIONS AFTER THEM GET TO ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME.

>> Mary: HOW CLOSE WAS YOUR RACE?

HOW TOUGH IS POLITICS IN SUCH A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT?

>> POLITICS IS TOUGH EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW.

OUR RACE ENDED WITH ME ON TOP BY 8 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

>> Mary: SO NOT THAT CLOSE, RIGHT?

>> WELL, DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK, MARY.

>> Mary: WELL, SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HAD HUNDREDS OF VOTES IN THEIR MARGIN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH SENATOR HOUSLEY.

WE'VE MET ALREADY AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LIST OF THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TOGETHER ON AND MOVING FORWARD.

THE ONE GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS ELECTION AFORRED ME WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- AFFORDED ME WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME GETTING TO KNOW VOTERS FURTHER NORTH FROM WHERE I LIVE.

OUR DISTRICT IS A TALL AND RELATIVELY THIN DISTRICT.

IT HUGS THE RIVER AND GOES UP THROUGH MAR APPROXIMATE REASON AND SCANDIA, WHICH ARE BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL PLACES.

>> Mary: SO FAR IT'S BEEN A BUSY START TO SESSION.

PEOPLE DESCRIBED BE IT AS KIND OF DRINKING THROUGH A FIRE HOSE.

WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU ABOUT THE PROCESS SO FAR?

>> I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN MY CAUCUS.

THEY HAVE REALLY SPENT TIME FOCUSED ON HE STRATEGY OF MOVING PRIORITIES ORWARD.

WE HAVE A MANDATE TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THE VOTERS.

AND, SO, I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED THERE.

I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE NONPARTISAN STAFF HERE AT BOTH THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING AND IN THE APITOL.

WE HAVE WONDERFUL AND BRILLIANT AND CAPABLE FOLKS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH OR UNDERSTAND THAT MACHINE, 'LL CALL IT.

I WANT VIEWERS TO KNOW THAT, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, HAVING BEEN DOWN HERE JUST A VERY SHORT TIME, MINNESOTA'S GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, IS IN WONDERFULLY CAPABLE HANDS WHEN IT COMES TO THAT NONPARTISAN STAFF.

>> Mary: DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS EVER BREAKING WITH YOUR CAUCUS?

>> WELL, I GUESS IT WOULD ALL DEPEND ON HAT THE BILL WOULD BE FOR.

I WANT TO DO WHAT THE CONSTITUENTS OF MY DISTRICT COMMUNICATE WITH ME.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT IS TO DO NOT WHAT St. PAUL WANTS, BUT WHAT THE PEOPLE FROM DISTRICT HOUSE 21B WANT.

THERE IS A LOT OF DIVERSITY.

MY KIDS WENT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL IN WORTHINGTON, AND THEY WERE IN THE MINORITY.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK THE REST OF THE STATE REALIZES THAT YOUR KIDS GO TO A HIGH SCHOOL IN RURAL MINNESOTA THAT IS MAJORITY MINORITY?

>> I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW.

I THINK EVERYBODY KIND OF IS PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR OWN WORLD.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

SO THEY HAD EXPOSURE TO OTHER CULTURES THAN THEIR OWN.

♪♪ >> Eric: WE JUST KEEP SAYING IT, THIS HAS BEEN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR THE BOOKS.

LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN PASSING NEW BILLS VIRTUALLY EVERY WEEK AND GOVERNOR WALZ HAS ALREADY SIGNED MANY OF THOSE BILLS INTO LAW.

BUT LET'S DISCUSS THIS WITH A COUPLE OF VERY EXCELLENT CAPITOL REPORTERS.

DANA FERGUSON COVERS POLITICS FOR MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO.

TOREY VAN OOT WRITES AND EDITS AND REPORTS FOR AXIOS, THE WEBSITE.

DANA, WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT DFL PRIORITIES FROM THE BUDGET TARGETS THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK?

HOW TO SPEND THIS AMAZING SURPLUS.

>> WHAT WE LEARNED IS THAT YOU REALLY CAN HAVE IT ALL IF YOU HAVE THIS MUCH MONEY.

AND THAT AMOUNTED IN BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS F NEW FUNDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE ALMOST $18 BILLION BEYOND THE CURRENT BUDGET LEVELS, A LOT MORE GOING TO EDUCATION, SOME GOING TO AX CUTS, ADDITIONAL PLANS LIKE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE AND THE -- IN THE WORKS.

AND NOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS, LIKE WE JUST HEARD, HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEND IT, E'LL FIND OUT IN THE NEXT BE COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> Eric: TOREY, THE HEADLINE IN THE MINNEAPOLIS PAPER THIS MORNING WAS DFL PROPOSES 30% SPENDING INCREASE.

DOES THAT NEED SOME CONTEXT OR IS IT REALLY THAT MUCH?

>> WELL, IT NEEDS SOME CONTEXT IN THAT WE'RE STILL WAITING TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO BE ONGOING SPENDING VERSUS ONE-TIME SPENDING, I THINK.

YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD THE CHAIRS PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON SOME OF THESE NUMBERS.

THESE ARE THE TARGETS.

THESE ARE THE GOALS.

IT'S LIKE SETTING YOUR FAMILY BUDGET, RIGHT, HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND ON GROCERIES OR GAS VERSUS, YOU KNOW, ENERGY VERSUS AGRICULTURE, AT THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF NEGOTIATING TO BE DONE STILL.

ON ISSUES WITHIN THOSE BUDGETS, YOU HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT WANTING MORE MONEY FOR CERTAIN PRIORITIES.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS.

WE KNOW MORE MONEY IS LIKELY GO TO BE SPENT AND REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN CRITICIZING THAT A LOT.

WE HEARD I THINK RUNAWAY TRAIN OF SPENDING, GIVE MORE BACK TO TAXPAYERS, OUT OF CONTROL.

SO, THAT'S THE MESSAGE WE'RE HEARING BACK FROM REPUBLICANS.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE HOW IT ALL SHAKES OUT BY THE END OF MAY.

>> Eric: ON THE TAX QUESTION, THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING, THIS IS A RECORD $3 BILLION TAX CUT.

BUT, OF COURSE, THAT'S IN RELATION TO AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS.

IS THAT PRETTY SKIMPY AS FAR AS TAX RELIEF ARE CONCERNED?

WHAT ARE REPUBLICANS SAYING AS FAR AS WHAT WOULD BE A BETTER ALTERNATIVE?

>> GOP LAWMAKERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY'RE VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT $3 BILLION NUMBER IN THE SCALE OF AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS.

THEY WERE HOPING AND EXPECTING TO SEE MORE OF THAT GO TOWARD TAX RELIEF OF SOME KIND, WHETHER IT'S SOCIAL SECURITY TAX ELIMINATION, THE FULL ONE, ONE-TIME REBATES, OTHER CREDITS.

AND THEY'RE JUST NOT VERY HAPPY 'WITH THE $3 BILLION THAT'S OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

DEMOCRATS SORT OF COUNTERED THAT AND SAID, WELL, IF WE HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO TAKE OUT A BONDING BILL, THE $1.5 BILLION BONDING BILL LAST WEEK, THAT COULD FREE UP SOME MONEY.

INSTEAD, THEY'RE GOING TO USE CASH FOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROJECTS AND, SO, THAT MONEY THAT COULD HAVE GONE BACK TO TAXPAYERS, THEY SAY IS NOW GOING TO BE GOING TO PROJECTS.

>> I THINK YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE SOME DEBATE WITHIN THE DFL ABOUT HOW TO DIVVY UP THAT CHUNK OF MONEY FOR TAX CUTS.

I MEAN, WE HAVE DIVISION OVER REBATES, SPEAKER HORTMAN DID SUGGEST YESTERDAY THAT THERE MAYBE IS APPETITE, SOME ROOM FOR SMALL REBATES, SOME ROOM FOR SOME SOCIAL SECURITY TRIMS.

BUT YOU HAVE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS IN BOTH CHAMBERS WHO RAN ON THE FULL ELIMINATION.

YOU HAVE PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS IN BOTH CHAMBERS WHO DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO DO REBATES, WHO WANT TO DO TARGETED TAX CUTS.

LOWER-INCOME PEOPLE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT TO WORK ON FROM BOTH PARTIES ON THIS STILL.

>> Eric: WHY WAS THE GOVERNOR'S ORIGINAL BUDGET AT, I THINK, WHAT WAS IT, $3 BILLION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, NOW IT'S -- WHAT IS IT -- 8?

>> 650.

OF 650.

>> Eric: ALMOST DOUBLED, YEAH, WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> THINK THERE'S BEEN SUCH A CHANGE SINCE LAST SPRING WHEN THEY CAME TO THE TABLE WITH THAT FIGURE AND JUST A SENSE ALL OVER THE STATE THAT THERE'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT POLICE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE SAID THEY NEED MORE FUNDING TO BRING ON ADDITIONAL OFFICERS OR TO INVEST IN OTHER KINDS OF PROGRAMS THAT THEY THINK COULD HELP THEM GET CRIME UNDER CONTROL.

AND THE GOVERNOR HEARD THAT.

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT.

HE MAYBE CHANGED FROM WHAT THEY HAD TALKED ABOUT WITH REPUBLICANS IN TERMS OF HOW THAT MONEY COULD BE SENT OUT.

THERE MIGHT BE MORE LOCAL CONTROL UNDER SORT OF THE PITCH THAT THEY HAVE NOW.

BUT JUST IT SEEMS LIKE A SENSE THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS OUT THERE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME MONEY SPENT TO FIX THEM.

>> YEAH, HE PREVIEWED THAT A LITTLE ABOUT IN -- IN HIS REVISED UDGET, TOO.

300 IN THE FIRST TO 550, NOW WE'RE UP TO 650.

AND IT WAS MOSTLY GOING MORE BACK TO COMMUNITIES STRUGGLING WITH OFFICER SHORTAGES.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RISING NATIONAL PROFILE?

>> YEAH.

SO, I'M SURE THAT YOUR VIEWERS HAVE NOTICED THAT THE GOVERNOR'S BEEN ON THE NATIONAL SCENE QUITE A BIT LATELY.

>> Eric: WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> HE WAS ON CNN, PBS LAST WEEK.

I THINK HE'S TAKING A MOMENT TO SORT OF SHINE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST DEALING WITH NEGATIVE THINGS.

THE COVID PANDEMIC, WITH THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNESOTA, NOW THAT THERE'S THE DFL TRIFECTA, THEY WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT THEY'RE GETTING A LOT DONE, A LOT OF PRIORITIES THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS THAT ARE NO LONGER JAMMED UP.

TOREY, I'M SURE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THIS, TOO.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING NATIONALLY, THERE'S A REAL CONTRAST IN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN STATES WITH NEW DFL TRIFECTAS, MICHIGAN AND MINNESOTA, ACTING FAST, ON, LIKE YOU SAID, THE PROGRESSIVE PRIORITIES.

THERE'S A BILL PROTECTING TRANS RIGHTS COMING UP.

AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THAT.

ABORTION RIGHTS.

VOTING FOR FELONY OFFENDERS, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE IN CONTRAST TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN RED STATES, RUN BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING SOME WHO ARE POTENTIALLY RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

>> Eric: I CHECKED WITH HIS PRESS SECRETARY THIS EEK, TO SEE IF THE GOVERNOR WAS WRITING A BOOK, WHICH IS OFTEN A PRELUDE TO A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

AND SHE ASSURED ME HE IS NOT.

>> HE IS NOT.

>> IT COULD HAVE GONE IN THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY IF HE WERE WRITING IT.

>> THERE'S MORE NATIONAL INTEREST, RIGHT.

LIKE DANA SAID, THERE'S A CHANCE FOR US TO COME UT OF THE PANDEMIC, GEORGE FLOYD, TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY FEEL IS POSITIVE, THEIR PRIORITIES.

BUT FROM A NATIONAL PRESS PERSPECTIVE, REPORTERS ALSO LOVE A STORY OF CONTRAST SO THAT I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY DRIVING SOME OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION.

>> THERE'S NOT REALLY BEEN ONE DEMOCRATIC FIGURE THAT'S BEEN THE COUNTER TO GOVERNOR DESANTIS OR SOME OF THE OTHER BIGGER REPUBLICAN FIGURES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

SO I THINK HE SEES SORT OF A LANE FOR HIMSELF AND WHERE THAT LANE GOES ULTIMATELY WE DON'T REALLY KNOW YET.

>> Eric: JUST A MINUTE LEFT.

BUT I WONDER ABOUT THE GROWING DIVERSITY, AGE, GENDER, THERE'S A TRANSGENDER BILL TOMORROW ON THE FLOOR, ONE OF THE CHAMBERS.

HOW IS THAT CHANGING THINGS AROUND HERE?

JUST THE DIVERSITY.

>> I THINK IT BRINGS MORE PERSPECTIVES TO THE TABLE.

YOU HAVE FOLKS WHO HAVE ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCES.

YOU KNOW, RACE, GENDER, PARENTS, NONPARENTS, YOUNG, OLD, STUDENT LOANS, NO STUDENT LOANS, DIFFERENT JOBS.

AND IT BRINGS MEMBERS WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND WHO ARE VERY PASSIONATE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

ON THESE ISSUES.

>> Eric: A LOT OF THEM ARE RELATIVELY NEW MEMBERS BUT ARE THEY DRIVING THE DISCUSSION WITH LEADERSHIP?

>> I REALLY THINK THEY ARE.

THE FRESHMAN THAT ARE NEW TO THE CAPITOL AND ARE BRINGING SOME OF THOSE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES I THINK ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE LEIGH FINKE, WHO'S GOING TO BE BRINGING THE TRANSGENDER BILL TOMORROW, THE FIRST TRANSGENDER LAWMAKER IN MINNESOTA AND IS LEADING SORT OF A NATIONAL CHARGE OVER THIS ISSUE AND U.S.A. TODAY NAMED HER MINNESOTA WOMAN OF THE YEAR.

>> Eric: WELL, THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT WORK.

WE'LL BE WATCHING -- WE'LL BE LISTENING ON PUBLIC RADIO, READING AXIOS, WHAT'S THE WEBSITE?

>> AXIOS TWIN CITIES.

GOOGLE IT.

>> Eric: AND YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE THERE.

>> FREE NEWSLETTER, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

>> Eric: PRICE IT RIGHT.

THANKS, GUYS.

THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEKMENT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

♪♪ >> Eric: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN.

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MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT, 7:00.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

FOR MARY LAHAMMER, ERIC ESKOLA, NICE TO SEE YOU.

GOOD NIGHT.

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>> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.