THERE, AND EVERYWHERE.

>> WELCOME TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

I'M MARY LAHAMMER COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY WHERE IT IS CRUNCH TIME HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND IS THE GOVERNOR, WE THINK ARE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS RIGHT NOW AND THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH A DEAL SOON, LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LEFT IN SESSION, TO SOLVE THOSE BUDGET TARGETS.

WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE WITH SOME SENATORS IN JUST A MOMENT.

WE'LL ALSO CHAT WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WE'LL MEET A FIRST-TERMER WHO TOOK THE HOUSE A TIE AFTER A SPECIAL ELECTION.

BUT FIRST JUST SOME OF THE ACTION AT THE CAPITOL.

>> THE NEXT BILL ON THE CALENDAR FOR THE DAY IS HOUSE FILE 2434.

>> THE BIGGEST BUDGET BILL OR HUMAN SERVICES HIT THE HOUSE FLOOR.

>> WE WOULD NOT WANT TO HAVE TO DO THIS IN THE WAY THAT IT IS BEING DONE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A CHARGE TO GOVERN IN THIS STATE.

AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING AS WE LOOK AT THIS BILL.

THIS IS WHEN WE'RE TASKED WITH CHANGING THE WAY THAT WE SPEND OUR BUDGETS.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT BILLS I'VE EVER HAD TO DO.

I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE FEELING THE PAIN THAT WE SEE HERE.

THAT WAS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY ON US.

>> NOW IT'S ON TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEES AND FINAL COMPROMISES IN THE LAST WEEKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

WELCOME.

>> THE ONLY COMMITTEE REPUBLICANS RAN IN THE HOUSE TOOK ON WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE ALL SESSION.

>> THE MISSION OF THE COMMITTEE IS REALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT TAXPAYERS' HARD-EARNED MONEY IS GOING TO THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDILY.

AND WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT VULNERABLE MINNESOTANS, THIS IS THE BUSINESS MODEL OF FRAUD WE IDENTIFIED, VULNERABLE MINNESOTANS ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

>> IT'S BECOME REALLY APPARENT THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE IN REGARDS TO OVERSIGHT WITHIN STATE AGENCIES.

>> THERE IS INTENTIONALLY OR NOT, A CULTURE OF FRAUD THAT HAS BEEN FOSTERED BY THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

>> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD SOME NOTES WITH ME AND THIS IS THE VERY SIMPLE NOTE.

IT'S RIGHT HERE.

IT SAYS "FRAUD EQUALS BAD."

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK THAT ALL OF US HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON.

>> IF IT'S A POLITICAL SLOGAN, YEAH, YOU CAN WRITE IT ON YOUR HAND, YOU CAN PRINT A LETTER.

BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT GONNA HELP THE PEOPLE F MINNESOTA, IT'S NOT GONNA HELP ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING OUR BUDGETS AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GONNA HELP WHOEVER WHO WE ARE LOOKING TO PROTECT.

>> SERVICE ON THE FRAUD PREVENTION COMMITTEE INFORM SOMEBODY VERY WELL ABOUT THE ANTIFRAUD PROVISIONS THAT ARE MOVING ON THE VARIOUS BILLS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T END UP COMING IN FRONT OF OUR COMMITTEE.

>> ND A SENATE DEMOCRAT WANTS TO FIND CONSISTENT FUNDING FOR THE STATE SPORTS FACILITY, U.S. BANK STADIUM.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES DO WE WANT TO COME BACK THE TO LEGISLATURE EVERY TIME THERE'S A CAPITAL NEED?

OR DO WE WANT TO PROVIDE A STABLE ONGOING SOURCE OF FUNDING BY TAKING BREAKDOWN IN THE ELECTRONIC PULLTAB REVENUE AND APPLYING IT TO CAPITAL NEEDS?

>> TATE LAWS SAYS THAT THE PEOPLE'S STADIUM, U.S. BANK STADIUM IS OWNED BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

NOT TO MENTION IT BEING ONE OF THE BEST STADIUMS IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS AN ASSET OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND IT IS OUR