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

>> Mary: WE'LL ANALYZE THE ETHICS PROCESS AHEAD AND THE REST OF SESSION.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "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.

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

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

LAWMAKERS HAVE JUST ABOUT TEN DAYS LEFT TO FINISH THEIR WORK AND PLENTY OF INTRIGUE REMAINS.

WE'LL TALK WITH SOME LEADING SENATORS IN A FEW MOMENT AND ANALYZE THE PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGIES TOWARDS THE END OF SESSION.

ALSO, WE'LL MEET A SPECIAL ELECTION FRESHMAN.

BUT FIRST, A SENATE ETHICS HEARING WENT INTO THE NIGHT AS MEMBERS TRY TO DEAL WITH THE FELONY ARREST OF ONE OF THEIR OWN.

AFTER HOURS OF DELAY WITH THE CROWD WATCHING >> THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE CONVENED TO CONSIDER THE FELONY BURGLARY CHARGES AGAINST SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL.

>> YOU DO SWEAR THE EVIDENCE YOU WILL GIVE RELEVANT TO THE CAUSE NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION SHALL BE THE TRUTH AND THE WHOLE TRUTH, SO HEN YOU GOD.

>> SENATOR MITCHELL WILL BE ANSWERING NO QUESTIONS, PERIOD.

>> MITCHELL NEVER SPOKE AND HER ATTORNEY PLEADED THE FIFTH FOR HER, AND SPOKE IN AN AGGRESSIVE COURTROOM MODE.

>> THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MORE INFLAMMATORY ONES I'VE HEARD WITH ALLEGATION ATTENTION OF OUR POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS, WITH DEMANDS OF WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO.

>> THE SEVERITY OF THE CRIMINAL CHARGES CALL FOR IMMEDIATE CTION FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ETHICAL CONDUCT AND THE SENATE AS A WHOLE.

>> THE 9-1-1 CALL TELLS US, Mrs. MITCHELL WAS ALONE AND FRIGHTENED BY AN INTRUDER SHE COULDN'T IDENTIFY.

>> WE ARE NOT HERE TO BE JUDGE AND JURY.

WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DETERMINE IF A MEMBER OF OUR BODY VIOLATED THE RULES OF OUR BODY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THESE PROCEEDINGS UNTIL THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

>> I AM GOING TO RENEW A MOTION FOR US TO RETURN ON JUNE 12th.

>> Mary: SO MITCHELL'S ETHICS HEARING WILL CONTINUE WHILE THE SENATE MOVED AHEAD ON MANY BILLS, INCLUDING ENERGY LEGISLATION.

>> WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE WHILE MODEST IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL IMPACT CONTINUES OUR STATE'S EFFORT TO PROVIDE RELIABLE, AFFORDABILITY AND CLEAN ENERGY.

>> AND GRATZ ANNOUNCED A DEAL ON UBER LYFT DRIVERS THAT THE COMPANIES DIDN'T EXACTLY SIGN OFF ON SO QUESTIONS REMAIN.

>> I THINK UBER AND LYFT WERE JUST AS SURPRISED.

OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE VERY QUICK TO SAY THEY EVER OT BEEN CONSULTED, THERE IS NO DEAL THAT'S BEEN ACHIEVED OR REACHED.

>> AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH REAL PROBLEMS AND REAL CRISES, TO HAVE ONE CREATED PURELY BY POLITICIANS IS EXCEPTIONALLY FRUSTRATING AND EVERYONE WOULD BENEFIT IF THE DFL WOULD JUST SIT DOWN AND COMPROMISE.

>> PEOPLE WERE ROBBED, BEATEN, GUNNED DOWN AND LEFT FOR DEAD, WHILE THEY LAY IN BED AT THE HOSPITAL, UBER AND LYFT DEACTIVATED THEIR APPS SO THEY CAN NO LONGER WORK INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE THAT WERE DOING WORK FOR THEM.

♪♪ >> MARY: THEY'VE BEEN WORKING LONG HOURS ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

DFL ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER NICK FRENTZ AND REPUBLICAN ASSISTANT MINORITY LEADER ZACH DUCKWORTH.

WELL, LET'S START WITH THE ETHICS HEARING WHICH IS WHAT ALL OF US IN THE PRESS CORPS WERE WATCHING LAST NIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY WITH?

ISSUE WITH SENATOR MITCHELL NOT BEING RESOLIDS AMOUNT WILL CONTINUE INTO ANOTHER ETHICS HEARING.

IT'S NOT OVER.

>> FIRST OF ALL, MARY, THANKS FOR HAVING OPE.

THE SENATE HAS NEVER FAILED TO WAIT FOR THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE TAKING ACTION ON AN ETHICS COMPLAINT.

AS YOU'VE REPORTED, WE'VE HAD MANY LEGISLATORS OVER THE YEARS WHO HAVE FACED CRIMINAL CHARGES AND THERE IS A REASON WE DO IT THAT WAY.

THE MAIN REASON IS, NONE OF US HAVE ALL THE FACTS AND IN ORDER TO BRING THOSE FACTS OUT, WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND LET THE CRIMINAL PROCESS RESOLVE.

>> Mary: SO WHY IS THIS DIFFERENT?

WHY SHOULD THIS PROCESS BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE?

>> I THINK THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA EXPECT SOME ACCOUNTABILITY, I THINK THEY'RE FRUSTRATED AFTER LAST NIGHT, THEY WANTED SOME ANSWERS AND THEY WANTED TO SEE SOMEONE BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR CONDUCT THAT FOLKS THINK MAYBE IS NOT UPSTANDING FORMING A MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN YET SO THE SAGA CONTINUES AND ALL THE WHILE THE MINNESOTA SENATE IS OPERATING WITH A BLACK MARK ON IT.

>> Mary: YOU THEY WOULD HER VOTE, TO BE FRANK, IT IS A ONE-VOTE MARGIN, OUR VIEWERS ARE AWARE OF THAT.

33-33 DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO GET ANYTHING THROUGH SO YOU NEED HER.

>> I THINK THE PEOPLE IN HER DISTRICT NEED HER.

ONE REASON YOU CAN'T JUST PLUG ANOTHER PERSON IN THERE IS THAT'S WHO THOSE VOTERS ELECTED AND THEY CAN REMOVE HER IF THEY CHOSE.

WHILE WE CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH IS A PRIVILEGE THAT WE GIVE TO ALL MEMBERS ABILITY CAN BE TAKEN AWAY BY THE AGREEMENT OF THE MAJORITY LEADER AND THE MINORITY, THE RIGHT TO BE ON THE FLOOR HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN AWAY.

>> Mary: RECALL IS POSSIBLE, IT'S.

>> UNDERWAY.

DOES THAT TELL OUT SOMETHING?

>> I'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT A MEMBER CAN DO THEMSELVES.

ONE IS TO RESIGN OR ONE IS TO JUST POTENTIALLY TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A LEAVE, THOSE ARE OPTIONS THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND AS FAR AS 3-33 GOES, THAT'S ASSUMING ALL REPUBLICANS VOTE ONE WAY AND THE DEMOCRATS ALL VOTE ONE WAY.

>> Mary: ITS AIDS NOT ALWAYS TRUE.

>> WE'VE SHOWN IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS THAT REPUBLICANS ARE WILLING TO JOIN OUR FRIENDS ACROSS THE AISLE ON GOOD BIPARTISANSHIP LEGISLATION.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ENERGY BILL, WHAT WAS THE VOTE ON THAT?

>> WE COMBINED 'BIND IT WITH COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE AND I THINK WE WERE 36 VOTES.

>> Mary: THAT INCLUDES REPUBLICANS, SO PEOPLE AT HOME CAN COUNT.

YOU NEED THE OTHERS TO GET ALL THE OTHER BILLS THROUGH.

>> IT'S A LITTLE CHOPPY IF WE'RE LANDING A PLANE, THERE IS AN OCCASIONAL CROSS WEDGED, A POTHOLE OR TWO ON EVERY END OF SESSION AND I THINK WHAT THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA RE SAYING, WE CENTER YOU P THERE TO GET WORK DONE AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT DON'T LIKE IT WHEN SOME OF THE WORK IS NOT DONE.

>> Mary: WHAT ARE THE POLICY POTHOLES AHEAD THAT YOU SEE?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO GET UBER AND LYFT FIGURED OUT, A BONDING BILL THAT HAS TO GET DISCUSSED, A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

JUST YESTERDAY WE RESOLVED A BIG ONE, MAKING SURE WE'RE UPHOLDING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND LIB FOR THE FOR PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: THAT WAS A BIG COMPROMISE.

>> IT AS, BIPARTISAN WORK CAN GET DONE BUT UNTIL OR UNLESS WE RESOLVE SOME SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT ARE OUTSTANDING ON SOME OF THESE BILLS AND IN GENERAL, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGHER TO LAND THAT PLANE.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT UBEHR AND LIFT.

DEMOCRATS HAVE A DEAL BUT DIDN'T TALK TO THE COMPANIES?

>> IT'S A DEAL BETWEEN THOSE PEOPLE THAT SAID STEADS AN AGREEMENT.

SOMETIMES LEGISLATORS SAY I HAVE THIS AND THIS BUT UNTIL YOU HAVE EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE HARD TO SAY THERE IS A GLOBAL DEAL AND FOR ISSUES LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE BUY-IN FROM EVERYBODY IF YOU WANT TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> Mary: UBER AND LYFT LEAVE, THOUGH, THAT IS A VERY BIG MPACT FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> WE DON'T WANT THAT.

WE WANT THIS TO GET WORKED OUT AND IN OTHER MAJOR MESH CITIES, THEY'VE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND THEY USUALLY GET IT WORKED OUT BUT WHAT YOU WANT FOR THEM TO DO IS MAYBE ATTENTION IN AIL ROOM AND WORK IT OUT.

IT SIMPLY WON'T WORK AND I THINK THEY WILL LEAVE IF THEY DON'T GET BUY-IN.

>> THEY'VE ALREADY BEGUN WINDING DOWN SOME OPERATIONS.

THIS IS NOT A BLUFF.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THINK THEY INTEND TO LEAVE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL PARTIES IN THE ROOM AND QUITE FRANKLY, I WAS A LITTLE DISEASE AINTERESTS PO'ED BECAUSE I THINK THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA WERE MISLED WHEN THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING AN AGREEMENT.

I DO COMPLIMENT FOLKS IN THE MEDIA FOR KIND OF SAYING, MAYBE THAT'S NOT TRULY THE INDICATION.

>> Mary: WE DO OUR JOB ONCE IN A WHILE.

>> YOU ABSOLUTELY DO.

>> Mary: TOMORROW YOU HAVE A GUN BILL UP.

THAT'S BEEN A TOUGH ISSUE FOR THE SENATE, A LOT OF RURAL MEMBERS, YOU'RE ONE OF THEM AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE UNS AND LIKE THAYER GUNS.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> FIRST OF ALL I I THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE THIS BASIC IDEA THAT WILD LIKE TO HAVE LEGS PEOPLE GET SHOT.

INTO THAT WE BRING SOME IDEAS AND SENATOR GUESS TO HAVE DAN FROM --ED >> Mary: DO YOU HAVE THE VOTES?

>> WE STILL TALK ABOUT IT AND I THINK WE WORKED THROUGH ALL THAT, TO BE BLUNT, I'M IN CAUCUS TONIGHT AND HAD TO LEAVE EARLY TO APPEAR ON "ALMANAC."

>> Mary: WE APPRECIATE THAT.

>> I THINK WHAT PEOPLE WANT 'WANT IS AN HONEST DEBATE AND I HINK WE GET THAT ON THE FLOOR FOR BOTH SIDES.

>> IT BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WOULD AGREE THAT WE WANT GUN SAFETY, PEOPLE TO BE SAFE, OF COURSE.

I AM DISAPPOINTED THIS BILL SEEMS TO TAKE TWO THINGS AND PAIR THEM TOGETHER, ONE WHICH IS VERY BIPARTISAN WAS ACTUALLY A BILL INTRODUCED BRING REPUBLICAN WHICH IS INCREASING PERMITS FOR STRAW PURCHASERS AND THE OTHER ONE IS A LESS BIPARTISAN PROVISION.

IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS, I THINK THE RIGHT THING WOULD HAVE BEEN TO UNCOUPLE THEM AND LET'S HAVE THE DEBATE ON THE OTHER ONE.

>> Mary: WHY NOT SPLIT THEM?

>> WE LEAVE THAT UP TO THE BILL AUTHOR AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO DO IS EMPOWER THE CHIEF OFFICERS.

WHEN I SERVED IN THE MINORITY, MY FRIENDS ACROSS THE AISLE DID THE SAME THING, THAT'S THE PERSON WHO KNOWS THE BILL THE BEST.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE COUPLED AND SOMETIMES NOT.

>> Mary: I SENSE A TOUCH ISSUE IN RURAL AREAS, BUT SUBURBAN VOTERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GUNS.

>> THEY ARE AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

I'VE GOT THREE LITTLE KIDS, I HAVE BINE ON A SCHOOL BOARD BEFORE, THERE ARE A LOT OF LEGITIMATE CONCERNS CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF FIREARMS IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE TO ENTAL THAT WITH CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND MAKE SURE THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO PASS SUCH LAWS, THAT THEY'RE PRACTICAL AND AREN'T GOING TO PUNISH LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS, WE WANT TO PUNISH THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY BREAKING THE LAW.

>> Mary: HE COULD OF SESSION, CHANGES OF GETTING OUT EARLY?

>> I WOULD SAY 30.0, IN THE ZERO RANGE.

>> Mary: DO YOU SHARE THAT?

>> I WOULD STAY THERE IS A 100% CHANCE OF US GOING OUT TO GET A BEER.

>> Mary: HE HAS TO GO TO CAUCUS.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL WAIT.

I'LL TAKE WHAT OFFER.

>> Mary: THANK FOR COMING ON.

>> MARY: IT'S TIME TO ANALYZE THE COMMUNICATIONS SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF SESSION SO FAR.

WE HAVE BLOIS OLSON OF FLUENCE MEDIA.

YOU CAN ALSO HEAR HIM ON THE MORNING TAKE ON WCCO RADIO.

YOU WERE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ETHICS HEARING LAST NIGHT AND YOU HAD SOME THINGS TO SAY ABOUT IT.

>> LOOK, I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE MORE OF A PLAN AND IT WAS CLEAR THERE WASN'T A PLAN FROM DEMOCRATS BUT EVERYBODY THINKS THERE WAS.

AND SO EVEN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CHAIRMAN CRITICIZING THE MEDIA AND ASKING -- >> Mary: YEAH, DEMOCRATS WERE CRITICIZING THE MEDIA.

LET'S SAY THAT OUT LOUD.

>> AND QUESTIONING THE SENATORS WHO WERE JUST BRINGING THE FILE FORWARD.

AND THEN I THINK NICOLE MITCHELL'S ATTORNEY IS GREAT IN COURT BUT THIS IS NOT A COURT OF LAW.

THIS IS FORM OF PUBLIC OPINION AND SO I DON'T THINK IT WAS A GOOD NIGHT FOR DEMOCRATS.

I COMPARED IT TO THE WELLSTONE MEMORIAL AND THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE YOUNGER FOLKS DON'T REMEMBER THAT ND THAT WAS A BAD MEDIA MOMENT FOR DEMOCRATS.

THE REAL QUESTION IS, S MINNESOTA TUNED IN TO THIS ISSUE?

WILL IT MATTER IN NOVEMBER?

IT CERTAINLY IS I WOULD SAY MORE THAN ONE POTHOLE FOR THE REST OF THE SESSION.

>> Mary: I DO KEEP WONDERING IN SHE IS ONLY LISTENING TO HER LAWYER WHO SAYS DON'T SAY ANYTHING AND P.R.

PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING TO HER BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MEDIA, YOU KNOW THIS, WE WILL PLACATE AND MOUSE AND CHASE UNTIL YOU SPEAK.

SHOULD SHE SPEAK AND STOP THIS CHASE THAT'S HAPPENING CONSTANTLY WITH THE ENTIRE PRESENTS CORPS HERE?

>> YES, SHE SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN RIGHT AWAY.

>> Mary: WHAT SHOULD HE HAVE SAID?

>> SHE SHOULD HAVE SAID I CAN'T SAY MUCH, WE'RE IN A TOUGH FAMILY SITUATION.

I'M GOING TO LET THE COURT PROCESS PLAY OUT AND I'M GOING TO GO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF WOODBURY IN THE SENATE.

SHE HASN'T SAID ANYTHING -- >> Mary: AND THEN YOU GO AWAY.

>> OR YOU CREATE A BUFFER BUT THAT'S THERE.

LOOK, MY SOURCES INSIDE DFL POLITICS SAY THERE IS NOT A P.R.

PLAN, THERE IS NOT COORDINATION AND, IN FACT, THAT SHE MAY NOT HAVE LISTENED TO ONE WHEN ONE WAS OFFERED.

>> Mary: THE PARTY CHAIR WANTS HER TO RESIGN, HAS BEEN VERY SPECIFIC, KEN MARTIN GAVE HER A DATE, HE WANTS TO HAVE TWO SPECIAL ELECTIONS IN THE SENATE, DO WE SEE THAT HAPPENING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO SPECIAL ELECTIONS, I WROTE THIS MORNING.

THEY BOTH HAVE TO LET THE GOVERNOR KNOW BY JUNE 5TH, THEY'LL APPEAR ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, KELLY MORRISON IS RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

THAT'S TWO SUBURBAN SEATS THAT IF SOMEHOW SUBURBS SHIFT MORE, REPUBLICANS COULD HAVE A CHANCE OF INNING.

>> Mary: MORRISON'S SEAT IS MORE COMPETITIVE THAN WOODBURY HAS BEEN.

>> IT IS, BUT THESE DISTRICTS ARE FROM THE TRUMP EAR ROW AND SO DEMOCRATS WHO COUNT DFL VOTES IN SUBURBS ONLY IN THE TRUMP ERA DON'T REMEMBER THE TIMES BEFORE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ECONOMY IS THE TOP ISSUE.

>> Mary: SO TRUMP'S BACK ON THE BALLOT, COMPETING IN MINNESOTA AND COMING TO MINNESOTA, AND AS THE INTERNET VERY QUICKLY POINTED OUT, IT WAS THE DAY HE GOT OFF FOR HIS SON'S GRADUATION AND, OH, THEN, HE'S GOING TO POP TO MINNESOTA AND DO A SPEAKING EVENT AND TRY TO COMPETE HERE AGAIN.

WHAT DO WE THINK OF THAT?

>> IT WILL RING ENERGY TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THEY NEEDS IN IT THIS STATE, THIEF NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL STATEWIDE AND THEY ARE ALL FOCUSED ON THE MINNESOTA HOUSE AND TRYING TO WIN BACK THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

THEY ALSO NEED THE MONEY AND HE'S GOING TO HELP THEM RAISE SOME MONEY.

>> Mary: BIG TICKET.

IF YOU'VE SEEN THE INVITATION, THERE'S $100,000 SEATS FOR THAT.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT HE CAN RAISE REALLY FAST FOR A PARTY THAT'S BEEN STRUGGLING AND LOSING THE MONEY GAME HERE.

>> CORRECT.

ABILITY I'M GUESSING THIS IS PART OF THE DEAL WHEN HE AND TOM EMMER WORKED OUT AN AGREEMENT POST THE SPEAKER SLIGHT.

>> YOU THINK IT GOES THAT FAR BACK.

>> I DO.

THERE HAD TO BE SOME SORT OF LAYOFF, YOU COME TO MINNESOTA, RAISE SOME MONEY FOR THE PARTY, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL ENDORSE YOU FOR PRESIDENT.

>> BECAUSE THEY TOOK EMMER OUT, HE WAS GOING TO BE THE NEXT SPEAKER.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: SPEAKING OF THE STATE HOUSE, THAT'S WHERE THE BATTLE IS BUT POINT ON HE THE INTERESTING PART OF POTENTIALLY TWO SUBURBAN SENATE SEATS.

THE HOUSE AND ENATE AND THE WHOLE DFL TRIFECTA COULD BE ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL.

>> IT COULD BE ONLY BALLOT, IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE FOLK CONSISTENTED ON THE HOUSE BUT MINNESOTANS DO BELIEVE THAT THAT BIG SURPLUS AND REVENUE, YOU CAN SEE IN THE POLL NUMBERS THAT THEY'RE NOT SURE ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY IN THIS ECONOMY WITH IN PLAYING WHAT IT IS AND THAT BECOMES ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE BIDEN AND TRUMP AND MAYBE WE'LL SPLIT OUR TICKETS.

>> Mary: BUT REPUBLICANS THOUGHT VOTERS IN THE TATE WOULD VOTE POCKETBOOK AND THEY DID NOT LAST TIME.

THEY VOTED ABORTION AND THAT ISSUE IS STILL IN PLAY, I THINK.

>> IT'S NOT AS IN PLAY, I DON'T ELIEVE, BUT I THINK SPOKEBOOK IS MORE IN PLAY.

I ALSO THINK THE IDEA THAT BLIND POWER OR POLITICS IN POWER OVER PRINCIPLE THAT WE'VE SEEN MAY START TO FADE.

YOU ALSO HAVE UNENERGIZED YOUNG VOTERS WHICH DEMOCRATS ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT.

BECAUSE OF TWO OLD CANDIDATES.

>> AND A WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

>> Mary: BUT THE U OF M SEEMED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY OUT OF THAT.

>> YOU HAVE A COLLEGE-AGE KID, I HAVE ONE, THERE ARE COLLEGE PARENTS WHO ARE, LIKE, WHERE SHOULD MY KID GO BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE I WANT THEM TO GO TO A SCHOOL THAT DIDN'T HANDLE THIS PROTEST WELL.

>> Mary: INTERESTING.

THANKS SO MUCH, BLOIS.

GREAT HAVING YOU.

>> MARY: THE HOUSE HAS TWO SPECIAL ELECTION FRESHMEN.

THIS WEEK'S DFL FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER CLAIMED ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS.

A MEMBER OF HER LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD AND MOTHER OF THREE, SHE INITIALLY DID NOT EVEN PICTURE HERSELF RUNNING.

FIRST QUESTION WE ASK EVERYONE, WHY DO YOU WANT TO RUN, BUT I SHOULD ASK ESPECIALLY IN A SPECIAL ELECTION?

>> I DIDN'T.

I WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD IN APPLE VALLEY, ROSEMOUNT, EAGAN, ANT I WAS VERY HAPPY, AND WHEN RUTH RESIGNED SOMEBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY REACHED OUT AND SAID, HEY, WOULD YOU CONSIDER RUNNING FOR THE HOUSE?

AND I WAS LIKE, NO!

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> Mary: IT WAS A HARD NO RIGHT AWAY.

>> IT WAS, YEAH, BECAUSE I -- YOU KNOW, WE KNEW WE WOULD HAVE FOUR SEATS OPEN IN THE NEXT ELECTION ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, WE KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE LIKELY A SUPERINTENDENT CHANGE, THE READ ACT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT THAT I WAS INVESTED IN AND THEY SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD MAYBE THINK ABOUT IT AND IT WAS LIKE I HAVE THREE YOUNG KIDS.

I WORK FULL TIME.

I CAN'T AFFORD THIS JOB.

>> Mary: WHAT CHANGED YOUR MIND, CLEARLY, SOMEBODY GOT THROUGH.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> THEY SAID THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON SCHOOL BOARD AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT PASSION TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

YOU CAN DO SOME OF THESE THINGS AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL, YOU KNOW, THEN MORE PEOPLE STARTED TO REACH OUT AND IT SORT OF SNOWBALLED AND HERE I AM.

>> Mary: HOW IS IT GOING FOR YOUR FAMILY SO AR SNUFF A ALREADY EXPERIENCED SOME LONG FLOOR SIGNIFICANCES, SOME LATE NIGHTS, WHAT'S THAT LIKE WITH YOUNG KIDS AT HOME AND A FAMILY?

>> SOMEBODY SAID IF YOU ASKED ME, IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND AND YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING, WHAT WOULD IT BE, AND SAID, TIME.

I WISH I HAD MORE TIME.

AND THAT LEADS INTO YOUR QUESTION, HOW IS IT WITH THE FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, I WAS THE REGIONAL COVID COORDINATOR IN THE PANDEMIC WITH SCHOOLS SO THEY'RE USED TO ME WORKING LONG HOURS.

THAT HASN'T BEEN NEW TO THEM.

MY YOUNGEST SON, WHEN WE WENT TO THE CAPITOL SAID, DAD, MOM'S WORKPLACE IS SO MUCH COOLER THAN YOURS.

HE WAS LIKE -- >> Mary: WELL, YOU GOT IS THAT THEN.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TRADE-OFFS OF BEING A MOTHER OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE NIGHTS THAT WE WERE ON THE FLOOR PRETTY LATE, I GOT HOME AND THERE WAS A LITTLE POST-IT NOTE ON THE DOOR FROM THE GARAGE COMING IN THAT SAID, DEAR MOM, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, IT'S PROBABLY REALLY LATE.

I HAD SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN AT SCHOOL TODAY AND IT MADE ME SAD AND I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU BUT YOU'RE NOT HERE.

I'M PROBABLY ASLEEP, I'LL TALK TO YOU TOMORROW.

>> Mary: OH, OKAY, THAT'S A LITTLE HEART-BREAKING, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> Mary: THAT'S HARD.

>> I REACHED OUT TO LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND AID HOW ARE YOU MAKING THIS WORK?

THEY SAID OUTSOURCE WHEN YOU CAN SO Y YOUNGEST HAS DYSLEXIA AND HAS TUTORING TWO DAYS A WEEK AT THE SAME TIME AS COMMITTEE SO MY DAD COMES AND HELPINGS, BRINGS HIM THERE SO THANKFUL THAT MY PARENTS LIVE CLOSE.

IT'S NOT EASY.

BUT IT IS WORTH IT.

>> Mary: WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT IT SO FAR BECAUSE SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD, HONEST DEPICTIONS OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE BUT NOW YOU'VE GOT A GOOD CHUNK OF SESSION UNDER YOUR BELT, WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU ABOUT THE PLACE SO FAR?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A LOT HARDER.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SUPER HELPFUL AND SUPER SUPPORTIVE.

UP COME IN BY YOURSELF, RIGHT, LIKE I WAS THE ONLY ONE, EVERYBODY ALREADY HAD A YEAR UNDER THEIR BELT, BUT THEN I'M ON SOME AMAZING COMMITTEES, RIGHT, ELECTIONS, HUMAN SERVICE FINANCE ND ED FINANCE.

>> THOSE ARE BIG COMMITTEES FOR A FRESHMAN, THAT'S NOT BAD IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT BUT I FOUND OUT LATER, SO -- BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT -- WHEN THEY DID THE FINANCE, RIGHT, YOU HAD SO MUCH TO SPEND, YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO SPEND, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND -- >> Mary: DID THAT SURPRISE YOU, THE DEMANDS FOR MONEY?

>> I'VE BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT, I WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND OSHA, I WORKED AT HENNEPIN COUNTY SO THAT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT WEIGHING WHAT DO WE FUND, I AVEN'T BEEN IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT PARTISANSHIP?

WE OFTEN HEAR FROM OUTSIDERS THAT THEY THINK THE PLACE IS BRUTAL AND PARTISAN AND SO MEAN, IS IT REALLY OR IS IT A LITTLE NICER THAN YOU WOULD HAVE EXPECTED?

>> I WORK WELL IN THE SQUISHY MIDDLE, NOT BEING SO EXTREME.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY SOME OF MY VIEWS ARE VERY STREAM, OTHER PEOPLE CALLED ME NOT PROGRESSIVE, PRAGMATIC WOULD BE A NICE -- PRAGMATIC PROGRESSIVE SO REACHING OUT ACROSS THE AISLE TO ME WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO BEGIN WITH.

I DID REACH OUT TO REPUBLICANS EVEN BEFORE BEING SWORN IN WHO WERE ON COMMITTEES OR WHO WERE WORKING ON THINGS THAT WERE OF INTEREST TO ME.

>> Mary: YOU'VE ALSO PROBABLY BEEN TOLD, THERE'S NO GUARANTEES YOU'RE IN THE MAJORITY AGAIN, RIGHT?

>> YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY BRINGS A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE TABLE, RIGHT?

THEY HAVE THESE REALLY RICH, GREAT EXPERIENCES HAT WE SHOULD ALL LEARN O DRAW FROM, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THERE ARE SOME THINGS WHERE YOU MIGHT -- WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SEE EYE TO EYE ON THAT BUT THERE ARE AREAS WHERE I DO THINK WE CAN MOVE THE BALL FORWARD IN A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE WAY.

>> Mary: HAVE YOU HEARD HOW HARD IT IS IN THE MINORITY?

>> ITCH HEARD THAT, YES.

I'M NOT GOING TO WORRY ABOUT THAT AS MUCH.

I THINK -- I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF BIGGER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT THIS NOVEMBER.

>> Mary: I'VE BEEN AROUND FOREVER AND MUCH SEEN YOUR DISTRICT BE VERY COMPETITIVE IN THE PAST AND IN MY CAREER.

IS IT KIND OF SOLIDIFYING A LITTLE BLEWER THERE?

>> YEAH, I WOULD THINK SO.

YES.

I THINK SO, YEAH.

IN THE SUPPORT I RECEIVED BOTH ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND RUNNING IN THIS RACE AND -- >> Mary: YOUR RACE WASN'T THAT CLOSE WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO IT, WAS IT?

>> NO, NO, NO.

>> Mary: USED TO BE BATTLE GROUND, GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY IS FROM EGAN, THE LAST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.

>> RIGHT, THERE ARE SOME STRONG REPUBLICANS WHO ARE MY CONSTITUENTS.

WHEN I RAN FOR SCHOOL BOARD, IT WAS A REPUBLICAN WHO REACHED OUT TO ME TO SAY, WOULD YOU CONSIDER RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD AND EVEN IN THIS RACE, I HAD SUPPORT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> BEEN INVOLVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR A LOT OF YEARS AND I'VE BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN POLITICS AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR STATE OF MINNESOTA HERE.

>> Mary: YOU FIRST RAN FOR THE HOUSE ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO, RIGHT?

>> YES, I DID.

I HAD A COUPLE GOOD RACES, KIND OF THE SAME SCENARIO, FIRST I HAD -- WAS NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN AND THE COMMITTEE WAS LOOKING FOR A CANDIDATE.

I AM SO GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO BE PATIENT AND WAIT, AS WELL AS BE INVOLVED DURING THE LAST 30 YEARS.

A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN MY LOCAL BPOU, BECAUSE I SERVED ON MY TOWNSHIP BOARD, BECAUSE I HAD THE STUDENT TO SERVE IN OUR LOCAL COUNTY ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMMITTEES, THE KNOWLEDGE, THE EXPERIENCE I'VE GAINED, 100%, I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER PREPARED TODAY THAN I WOULD AVE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

♪♪ >> MARY: WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER FIRST TERMER FROM A SPECIAL ELECTION JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.

OUR LAST ONE OF THE SEASON.

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IN THESE FINAL DAYS AND WEEKS IN THE SESSION, THE STATEWIDE PUBLIC TV STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN WATCH HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, PRESS CONFERENCES AND MUCH MORE ON THIS STATION.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE AND MINNESOTA'S UPCOMING PLAYOFFS, KAOMI LEE LOOKS INTO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY HERE IN MINNESOTA, AND I'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE IS UNIQUE AS IT WORKS ON TWO DIFFERENT CASES.

THAT’S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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

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