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

MATTER ARE.

POLITICAL REPORTERS, A FORMER POLICE OFFICER AND LEGISLATIVE STAFFER WHO ARE BOTH OW LAWMAKERS.

TUNE IN TO FIND OUT 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.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

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

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

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

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE CAPITOL WHERE POLITICAL REPORTERS ARE READY TO DISSECT THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

WE HAVE THE REPUBLICAN LEAD FROM THE HOUSE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER JOINS US, AND A FIRST-TERM DFL LAWMAKER WHO CHANGED HIS TUNE FROM MUSIC EDUCATION TO PUBLIC POLICY.

BUT FIRST, THE GOVERNOR HIT THE ROAD FOR THE SECOND TIME TO DELIVER HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

[Applause] >> GOVERNOR TIM WALZ WENT ON THE ROAD TO DELIVER HIS LATEST STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS.

>> TONIGHT I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS STRONG, MINNESOTA.

[Applause] >> WITH A SURPLUS NEARLY SPENT, A BIPARTISAN BONDING BILL WAS A PRIORITY.

>> I'M ASKING YOU TO JOIN ME AND NOT JUST AT THE RIBBON CUTTING BUT IN THE WORK TO GET IT DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS WERE NOT IMPRESSED.

>> OUR GOVERNOR JUST PAINTED A VERY ROSIE PICTURE OF MINNESOTA AND WHILE THINGS LOOK GOOD ON THE SURFACE, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU YOU WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.

UNDER A FULL DEMOCRAT-CONTROL IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, $18 BILLION OF SURPLUS WAS SPENT.

THERE WERE BROKEN PROMISES.

>> WE TOOK SOME BIG STEPS BACKWARDS IN THIS STATE AND SOME RECENT POLLING, YOU CAN SEE THAT MINNESOTANS OVERWHELMINGLY ARE SAYING THAT THEY DON'T FEEL AS IF THEY'RE BETTER OFF IN THIS GENERATION THAN THEY WERE THE LAST.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR TOUTED INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, HOUSING, EQUAL RIGHTS, GUN CONTROL, ALL UNDER THE DFL TRIFECTA THAT'S ONLY GUARANTEED THROUGH THIS SESSION.

>> WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE A LITTLE BIT OLDER, SOME A LOT OLDER, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT GRAYER BUT HOPEFULLY ALL OF US A LITTLE WEISER.

WE WALK OUT THE DOORS OF THE CAPITOL IN St. PAUL FOR THE LAST TIME.

WE'RE GOING O GET THAT OPPORTUNITY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, TO ASK OURSELVES A SIMPLE QUESTION.

WHAT KIND OF FUTURE HAVE WE BUILT?

NOT FOR US BUT OR OUR KIDS AND THE STATE THAT WE LOVE.

>> Mary: OWATONNA BUILT A STATE-OF-THE-ART HIGH SCHOOL THAT EVERYONE CELEBRATED AT THE ADDRESS.

>> I'M GLAD THAT THE GOVERNOR BROUGHT US HERE, IT DOES KIND OF SHOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE BAND TOGETHER AND THEY HAVE COMMITMENT AND THEY HAVE A VISION TO SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE GREAT.

MUCH LIKE WE DID IN THE 2023 SESSION.

>> THE THING I LOVED BEST ABOUT THE SPEECH WAS THE HOPEFULNESS OF IT AND IF WE'RE NOT THINKING EVERY DAY ABOUT HOW WE'RE BUILDING A FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR FAMILIES AND THE KIDS TO COME, WE'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT.

MINNESOTA IS A WONDERFUL PLACE.

IT'S A PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME BUT WE HAVE MORE TO DO TO MAKE SURE IT IS THE HOME FOR MORE AND MORE MINNESOTANS WHO ARE GOING TO COME LIVE HERE AND HELP US BUILD OUR FUTURE.

>> THE KIDS OF OUR STATES ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO THRIVE.

IF YOU'VE EVER DOUBTED THAT, I WOULD ASK EVERYONE, JUST COME ON DOWN TO OWATONNA, WALK THROUGH THESE HALLS AND JOIN ME IN DREAMING ABOUT THE FUTURES THAT WILL BE BUILT RIGHT HERE.

THANK YOU.

MAY GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

[Applause] >> MARY: HERE WITH US NOW TO HELP ANALYZE THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE, WCCO'S CAROLINE CUMMINGS, AND FROM OUR SISTER SHOW "ALMANAC," OUR VERY OWN ERIC ESKOLA.

SHE WAS THERE IN PERSON.

SO CAROLINE YOU WERE THERE IN PERSON.

TELL US ABOUT THE VIBE THAT MAYBE DIDN'T COME THROUGH.

THIS WAS NOT ON STATEWIDE TELEVISION BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE ROAD, IT WAS STREAMED.

WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE THERE?

>> WELL, IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN HERE.

IT WAS AN AUDITORIUM, OT NECESSARILY FULL BUT YOU COULD CHALK THAT UP TO NOT ALL LAWMAKERS MADE THE TRIP DOWN, ALSO IT WAS AN HOUR SOUTH.

SO, YEAH, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HIS SPEECH, IN THE ROOM.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE LOCATION WAS OBVIOUSLY DELIBERATE.

THE GOVERNOR MADE A LINK TO THE ONSTRUCTION OF THAT SCHOOL TO WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE AT THE CAPITOL, BASICALLY SAYING, YOU KNOW, VOTERS FOR A LONG TIME, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO PASS A BONDING REFERENDUM TO MAKE THIS SCHOOL THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE A REALTY AND LOOK, THE VOTERS DELIVERED US THE MAJORITY AND LOOK WHAT WE DID FOR MINNESOTA.

AND HE DREW THAT THROUGH A LINE SO CLEARLY THE BACKDROP WAS INTENTIONAL.

>> Mary: DOUBT E, THIS IS NOTHING NEW, US OLD-TIMERS HAVE SEEN GOVERNORS TAKE THE SHOW ON THE ROAD.

WHY DO YOU THINK THEY DO IT?

>> THEY'RE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE PEOPLE, THEY WANT TO BE WITH THE GRASS ROOTS.

I LISTENED TO THE SPEECH WITH AN EAR TOWARD WHAT'S HE GOING TO DO IN 2026.

>> Mary: THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

>> AND DID YOU NOTICE THAT PART ABOUT ONE OF THESE DAYS WE'LL ALL LEAVE THE CAPITOL AND WE WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND SOMETHING THAT WE DID GREAT FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> Mary: DIDN'T SOUNDS LIKE A THIRD TERM.

>> IT DIDN'T SOUNDS LIKE A THIRD TERM.

IF I WAS TAKING OUT ME WILL HE OR WON'T HE, BASED ON THAT ONE SEGMENTS OF THE SPEECH LAST NIGHT, I WOULD SAY, MAYBE NO THIRD TERM.

>> Mary: OR WAS HE TALKING TO LAWMAKERS ABOUT WHEN THEY WALK AWAY AND THINKING THIS IS THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE DFL TRIFECTA.

>> RIGHT, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS KIND OF A KEY PART OF THE SPEECH WAS NOT SO MUCH WHAT I WOULD LIKE LAWMAKERS TO DO TODAY, TOMORROW, BEFORE THIS WRAPS UP IN EIGHT WEEKS, IT WAS LET'S LIST OFF THE GREATEST HITS, IF YOU WILL, OF WE DID, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL MEALS, WE PASSED PAID LEAVE, CLEAN ENERGY, BENCHMARKS AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT THE DEMOCRATS HOLD UP AS, LOOK, YOU WERE DELIVERING FOR YOU.

>> Mary: KIND OF A VICTORY HAPPEN VIBE.

>> RIGHT.

>> Mary: WHERE ARE HE RUDY PERPICH BIG IDEAS IN THESE SPEECHES ANYMORE.

>> IT'S THE ENDS OF MARCH, AN AGENERAL DA-SETTING SPEECH COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN JANUARY.

>> 6 A ALREADY GOT A GLIMPSE OF WHAT HE WANTS FROM THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR, WHICH IS FAR MORE SCALED BACK THAN THE BIG -- >> Mary: BUT IT'S LATE IN SESSION.

I WAS GOING BACK AND REVIEWING, OTHER GOVERNORS DID DO JANUARY, FEBRUARY, STATE OF THE STATES WHERE YOU COULD TEE UP AN AGENDA.

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHY.

I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE EARLY ON BUT DID OU NOTICE THE BANK SHOT HE DID WITH THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE AND IVF.

>> YES, THE SUPREME COURT.

>> Mary: IT'S PERSONAL FOR HIM, HE'S BEEN CLEAR ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

>> BUT IT WAS A WAY TO INFER THAT THE MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS ARE THE SAME WAY, EXCEPT HE DIDN'T MENTION THE MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS.

HE BLASTED REPUBLICANS IN ALABAMA.

>> Mary: IS THAT BECAUSE HE'S THINKING ABOUT NATIONAL POLITICS?

>> PERHAPS.

ALSO I READ THAT MORE AS, YOU KNOW, ABORTION RIGHTS, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE THAT DEMOCRATS SAY IS DELIVERING THEM VICTORIES, THEY ACCREDIT THE SENATE FLIPPING FOR DEMOCRATS WITH ABORTION BEING A TOP ISSUE, SO I SAW THAT MORE AS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR WHERE THE MINNESOTA HOUSE BEHIND US IS ON THE BALLOT THAT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO COMMUNICATE THAT THAT ISSUE IS STILL RELEVANT, RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY SEE IT AS A WINNING ISSUE.

>> Mary: I HAD A REPUBLICAN TEXT ME WHO REMEMBERED A FORMER GOVERNOR WHO ALSO HAD NATIONAL AMBITIONS AND WAS MAYBE SIGNALING THAT IN THE STATE-OF-THE-STATE AND THIS PERSON SAID TO ME, DO YOU NOTICE THE AMERICAN FLAGS BEHIND THE GOVERNOR?

IS THIS A NATIONAL PHOTO OP?

ARE WE READING TOO MUCH INTO IT?

>> THAT'S OUR JOB.

>> Mary: IT IS.

[Laughter] >> Mary: OR IS THE MINNESOTA FLAG TO CONTROVERSIAL?

>> IT'S TOO CONTROVERSIAL.

I'M INTERESTED NOW IN THE PACE OF THE SESSION NOW THAT THIS IS OUT OF THE WAY.

I THINK THE STAFF WILL BE TOLD, SPEED UP THE PROCESSING OF THE BILLS.

I BETTER THERE WILL BE MANY CHANGES FOR THE SPEAKER AND SENATE MAJORITY LIEDER TO SAY LET'S LINE 'EM UP, NO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

THEY GET 120 LEGISLATIVE DAYS FOR THE BIENNIUM, I WONDER IF THE SPEAKER STARTS SQUEEZING THOSE A LITTLE BIT.

>> Mary: PRECONFEREE EVERYTHING.

>> NOT EVERYTHING BUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE A REAL -- I DON'T HINK THE DEMOCRATS FEEL THAT BEING HERE ANY LONGER IS HELPING THEM POLITICALLY IN NOVEMBER AND SO I DON'T KNOW -- IT'S A LONG -- >> Mary: BUT THEY TRIED TO GO HOME EARLY.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE THEY DONE IT?

>> ONCE, ONCE, NOT SAYING IT WILL HAPPEN BUT LOOK FOR IT.

>> Mary: THE OTHER THING WE DID HERE WAS THE ONE BILL THAT REPUBLICANS ARE NEEDED ON, 100%, HE DID REACH OUT ON THE BONDING BILL AND SAYING E NEED YOUR VOTES.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING?

>> WELL, LEADER DEMUTH, THE REPUBLICAN LEADER HERE IN THIS CHAIRMAN TIER AND SENATE MINORITY LEADER MARK JOHNSON AFTER TOLD REPORTERS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE INTERESTED IN COMING TO THE TABLE.

BONDING HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN SUCH A BIPARTISAN ISSUE, I MEAN, IT MUST BE BUT THAT THE THINKING IS, YOU KNOW, ROADS, WATER, INFRASTRUCTURE, THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR POLITICAL JERSEY IS.

>> Mary: BUT HE WANTS TO GIVE DEMOCRATS THAT VICTORY WHEN THEY'RE DEFENDING THEIR TRIFECTA.

>> THEY SAID THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT BUT THEY WANT TO KEEP IT TO THOSE IND OF, WHAT IS REAL INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF WATER, WATER PIPES, LEAD PIPES, ROADS, RIDGES AND DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, KINDS OF GO BEYOND THAT.

AND I THINK THEY HAVE SAID THAT THE DEMOCRATS' PROPOSAL IS A LITTLE BIT BEYOND WHAT THEY WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH.

>> Mary: WITH LOCAL PROJECTS.

>> THAT'S MAKING THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING, THAT'S REALLY SMART BUT THEN YOU HAVE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, RUBY SHRINER, INDECENT EXPOSURE, THE ABOLO CAP PULL IN St.

CLOUD, UBER, THE LIST GOES ON, AND THAT SPEAKS TO THE FACT MAYBE THEY CAN ET OUT OF THERE EARLY, SOME OF THIS STUFF CAN WAIT.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT YOUR VIEWERS, THE SPACE SHUTTLE, RUBY SLIPPERS, WHAT ARE YOU WCCO VIEWERS?

>> I APPROACH IT EVERY DAY ON WHAT HAS THE MOST IMPACTS ON A LOT OF VIEWERS AT HOME, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SPEAK TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE ISSUES THAT ARE LIKELY TO ALSO PASS BECAUSE THAT MATTERS, TOO, COVERING THE POLITICAL INFIGHTING MAY SEEM FUN, SOMEBODY AS WE LOVE TO, YOU KNOW, GET INTO THE WEEDS, IF YOU WILL, BUT, IKE, WHAT REALLY MATTER TOSS PEOPLE AT HOME.

>> Mary: HOUR SMART VIEWERS HERE IN MINNESOTA.

WE LOVE THEM.

>> WE'RE TALKING TO THE INSIDERS.

>> >> YES, I ALWAYS TRY TO -- I'M LIKE, I HAVE TO CHECK MYSELF.

IS THIS INSIDER BASEBALL OR IS THIS REAL LIFE?

>> Mary: YOU GET TO DO INSIDE BE ABLE HERE, DOUBLE E, DON'T THINK YOU ANSWERED THE QUESTION, WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE GOVERNOR?

IS IT PRESIDENT, IS IT A CABINET POSITION, SOMETHING NATIONAL?

>> I DON'T THINK HE KNOWS.

>> Mary: OKAY, THAT'S FAIR.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY HE'S LAYING SOME OF THE GROUNDWORK BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, HE DID -- IN THIS SPEECH WITH THE CALLING OUT OF ALABAMA, HE DID IT IN HIS LAST YEAR SPEECH, HE CALLED OUT FLORIDA WITHOUT REALLY SAYING FLORIDA ABOUT BOOK BANS, ET CETERA AND NOW HE'S MAKING A LOT OF NATIONAL TELEVISION APPEARANCES WHICH -- >> Mary: CNN ALL THE TIME.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME, YOU TWO.

WE OULD DO THIS ALL NIGHT.

>> NICE TO BATHE IN YOUR REFLECTED GLOW.

>> WITH MY HIGHLIGHTER.

♪♪ >> MARY: GUN STRAW PURCHASES, SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS, AND A LOOK AHEAD FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THIS SESSION, THE HOUSE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE REPUBLICAN LEAD, PAUL NOVOTNY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, REPRESENTATIVE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT, I THINK WHAT EMERGED REALLY AS THE BIGGEST GUN ISSUE WE DIDN'T SEE COMING NECESSARILY THIS SESSION ON STRAW PURCHASES, SOMETHING REPUBLICANS HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND SPONSORED BILLS, DEMOCRATS ARE NOW INTERESTED.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY.

>> WE'VE HAD THE BILL, REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT HAS HAD THE BILL SINCE 2019.

WE HAD IT ADDED ON TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OMNIBUS BILL LAST SESSION -- >> Mary: IT GOT UT OF THE HOUSE.

>> GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE, MADE IT TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, WAS DROPPED FROM THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHY, I WISH I COULD TELL YOU BUT THERE WAS NO REPUBLICANS, IF YOU REMEMBER, ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES.

>> Mary: DID YOU VOTE FOR THE BILL, THOUGH?

SOMETIMES THAT HELPS, YOU GET ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> I DID NOT, BECAUSE WE WEREN'T INCLUDED AND I HAD NO CONTRIBUTION TO THE BILL SO NO, E DID NOT VOTE FOR IT.

>> Mary: SO WHAT ABOUT THIS TIME AROUND?

ARE REPUBLICANS GOING TO BE VOTING FOR IT, DOES IT HAVE TO STAY SEPARATE OR FIT ETS ROLLED IN WITH OTHER THINGS OR INTO OMNIBUS -- >> THE ISSUE STAYS THE SAME.

I HOPE THEY BRING IT OUT AS A STAND-ALONE BILL, I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT SIGNED INTO LAW AS SOON AS WE CAN.

KEEP IN MIND WE TRIED TO DO IT AS AN URGENCY AS SOON AS WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH THE TRAGIC MURDER OF THE THREE OFFICERS IN BURNSVILLE.

>> Mary: THAT'S WHAT FORCED HAD ISSUE, ONCE WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ALLEGED ASSSAILANT THERE, YEAH.

>> WE TRIED TO DO THE URGENCY AND THE SAME DFL MEMBERS THAT VOTED AGAINST IT LAST YEAR SO THAT IT COULD BE INCLUDED IN THE OMNIBUS BILL BLOCKED IT FROM BEING HEARD.

>> Mary: COULD THAT BE A CAMPAIGN ISSUE?

>> I -- THAT'S UP TO THEM.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU THINK, THOUGH, WOULD THAT BEING FAIR GAME ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, YOU WERE AGAINST IT BEFORE YOU WERE BEFORE IT?

>> WE COULD HAVE HAD IT ON THE BILL -- WE COULD HAVE HAD IT ON THE FLOOR THAT DAY, WE COULD HAVE GOT IT OUT, GOT IT TO THE SENATE, WE COULD HAVE MADE IT LAW VERY QUICKLY.

IT HAS BEEN CLONED AND IT HAS BEEN REINTRODUCED AND ADDED TO A DIFFERENT BILL FROM THE DFL REPRESENTATIVE AND WE HEARD IT IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY LAST WEEK.

>> Mary: SENATOR COLEMAN WAS REALLY MAD OVER IN THE OTHER CHAMBER ABOUT THE CLONING, ESKOLA AND I WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOREVER, IT MEANS YOUR ISSUE MIGHT ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

I KNOW THE MEMBERS OF THE MINIMUM NORTH DON'T LIKE IT BUT IF THE MAJORITY MEMBER MIGHT MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.

>> I SAID IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE WE HAD, I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT WHO GETS THE CREDIT, I THINK IT WILL MAKE MINNESOTANS SAFER.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE DIDN'T DO IT LAST SESSION AND IT WASN'T LAW ALREADY.

THERE ARE SOME PROVISIONS THAT THEY'VE ADDED INTO THE BILL IN ADDITION TO THE CLONED LANGUAGE FROM REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT.

WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE REPORTING AND I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> Mary: IS THIS THE AUTOMATIC WEAPON ASPECT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT WAS IN IT?

>> THE TRIGGER ISSUE, IF YOU -- >> Mary: CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

YOU WERE A FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR IN TOP OF BEING LAW ENFORCEMENT SO YOU ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE MECHANICS HERE, RIGHT?

>> YES, GLOCK ARMOUR AND THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW IN THE BILL, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BINARY TRIGGERS AND THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY HAVE IS NOT ABOUT BINARY TRIGGERS.

THE LANGUAGE THEY HAVE WOULD MAKE MOST MODERN SPORTING WEAPONS DEFINED BY MINNESOTA STATE STATUTE -- >> Mary: AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

>> THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.

>> Mary: AND IS IT A PROBLEM STATEWIDE BECAUSE THIS IS STATEWIDE PROGRAM, MINNESOTANS DO LIKE THEIR GUNS.

THIS IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

WE'VE HAD I SENATE DFL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS THAT WAS QUITE PRO GUN AND A LOT OF RURAL DEMOCRATS ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE MORE OF THEM HERE, IT'S A COME INDICATED - ISSUE IN OUR STATE, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT BLACK AND WHITE.

>> YEAH, AND THE BIG CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT THIS CHANGE IN WORDS WOULD MAKE A WHOLE BUNCH OF GUNS THAT THEY DON'T CLAIM TO BE TARGETING, TARGET.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT YOU'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2020.

SO YOU'VE SEEN THIS KIND OF TRAJECTORY FROM GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING, LAW ENFORCEMENT KIND OF AT THEIR WORST TO NOW THE BURNSVILLE TRAGEDY, PEOPLE SEEPING LAW ENFORCEMENT KIND OF AT THEIR BEST, FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

GIVE US A PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT YOU'VE SEEN ON KIND OF THIS FULL CIRCLE OOD HERE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> RIGHT NOW, WE'RE -- I CONSIDER IT A CRISIS, IF WE'RE NOT THERE ALREADY, WE WILL BE VERY SHORTLY.

WE'RE ALREADY SEVERAL THOUSAND OFFICERS SHORT IN THIS STATE.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS SAY THEY PUT MONEY IN IT, IS THAT SHOWING UP -- >> WHICH MONEY?

THEY DID $300 MILLION THAT WAS VERY RESTRICTIVE IN WHAT IT COULD BE USED FOR.

>> Mary: MORE MONEY, MORE POLICY, HOW HOW DO YOU GET MORE OFFICERS?

>> MINNESOTA POLICE AND PEACE OFFICER ASSOCIATION RELEASED A SURVEY THEY DID AND THIS WAS BEFORE THE BURNSVILLE TRAGEDY.

THIS WAS FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR AND THEY REPORTED A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM THEIR RANK AND FILE MEMBERS THAT ARE VERY CONCERNING, ONLY.

>> Mary: WE ARE OUT OF TIME UNFORTUNATELY.

I'M SO SORRY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> MARY: THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER IS A BLOOMINGTON NATIVE, WAS ONCE A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND CAPITOL STAFFER, BUT THIS SESSION, YOU CAN ADD HOUSE DFL REPRESENTATIVE TO THAT LIST.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, THE FIRST QUESTION WE ASK EVERYONE, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT ONE TO START WITH.

I HAVE LIVED IN BLOOMINGTON MY ENTIRE LIFE.

MY PARENTS ARE STILL IN THE HOUSE I GREW UP IN.

I SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FIVE YEARS BEFORE I STARTED IN THE HOUSE AND SO I THINK -- I VIEWED IT AS A VERY NATURAL EXTENSION OF SERVING MY COMMUNITY AND GIVING BACK TO THE PLACE THAT HAS GIVEN TOO MUCH SO MUCH TO ME WHERE I GREW UP AND NOW WHERE I'M RAISING MY KIDS, AS WELL.

>> Mary: LOOKING AT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU KIND OF MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN TRAINING FOR THIS YOUR WHOLE LIFE, IS THAT FAIR?

[Laughter] >> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT MY WHOLE LIFE.

CERTAINLY A LARGE PORTION OF IT, WE'LL SAY.

LIKE I SAID, I GLUE UP IN BLOOMINGTON AND WENT TO SCHOOL ORIGINALLY TO BE A MUSIC TEACHER AND FOUND MY WAY INTO POLITICS AND WORKED ON CAMPAIGNS FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS AFTER COLLEGE AND GOT A JOB AT THE MINNESOTA SENATE WHERE I WORKED FOR TEN YEARS AND WENT TO GRADUATE SCHOOL, GOT MY MASTER'S DEGREE -- >> Mary: WHICH IS ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY, TOO, SEEMS LIKE EVERY STEP HAS BEEN KIND OF TRAINING YOU TO BE AN EXPERT ON PUBLIC POLICY, EVEN YOUR MASTER'S DEGREE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, WELL, YEAH, SOME WENT TO THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL AND GOT MY MASTER'S IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS SO SORTS OF A SELF-DESIGNED CONCENTRATION IN HEALTH, HOUSING AND POLICY LEADERSHIP.

>> Mary: HOW DIFFERENT WAS IT DOING SOME OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES WORK TO BEING IN FRONTS WITH THE MICROPHONE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUIP.

THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT I EXPECTED TO BE MORE DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE AND SOME THINGS THAT I THINK ENDED UP BEING A LOT MORE DIFFERENT.

THE BIGGEST THING THAT I REALIZED IS JUST HOW VALUABLE THE STAFF THAT DO THE WORK AROUND THE LEGISLATURE -- >> Mary: EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE STAFF.

YOU HAVE NEW APPRECIATION.

>> YES, YES, I WAS A STAFFER AT THE SENATE, HOW VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT THE WORK THAT THAT STAFF DOES REALLY IS.

FOR ME IT'S JUST BEEN REALLY, REALLY EXCITING IS IT IS WAY I WOULD DESCRIBE IT, TO SPENDS THE TIME SORT OF BEHIND THE SCENES, SUPPORTING THE FOLKS DOING THE WORK SO NOW BEING THE ONE DOING THE WORK AND HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS AND MOVING THINGS FORWARD HAS JUST BEEN REALLY, REALLY INCREDIBLE.

>> Mary: I'M NOT SURPRISED YOU USED THE WORD "WORK," BECAUSE MY IMPRESSION OF YOU AFTER ONE SESSION IS WORK.

YOU WORK, AND YOU'RE DOING NOT ALWAYS THE MOST GLAMOROUS WORK, YOU'RE UP DIGGING INTO TAX POLICY.

I THINK AS A PBS REPORTER I CAN APPRECIATE SOMEBODY WHO'S NERDING OUT, IS IT FAIR TO SAY YOU KIND OF NERD OUT ON THE SPECIFICS ON BILLS?

>> WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT AND, YES, I THINK THAT'S -- THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT REALLY EXCITE ME THE MOST.

I FOCUS A LOT OF PROPERTY TAXES AND PART OF THAT OBVIOUSLY IS, YOU KNOW, FROM MY BACKGROUNDS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUT THEY MEAN A LOT TO FOLKS, YOU KNOW, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR LOCAL PARTNERS ARE ABLE TO DO, AND THEY'RE VERY IN THE WEEDS AND YOU KIND OF -- MY ADD TODAY IS ALWAYS JUST BEEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF EASY TO SAY, WELL, SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS AND THEN I KIND OF REALIZE WELL, HEY, I'M SOMEONE.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE ASSETS OF BEING IN THE MAJORITY IN A TRIFECTA, YOU'VE WORKED IN THE SENATE SO YOU'VE SEEN MULTI-PARTY CONTROL OVER THERE.

SO YOU PROBABLY HAVE A DIFFERENT APPRECIATION OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN THE MAJORITY VERSUS THE MINORITY.

WHAT DO YOU SEE ON THAT?

SO I STARTED WORKING IN THE SUMMER OF 201, THE AST TIME WE HAD A TRIFECTA SO I'VE LITERALLY SEEN EVERY COMBINATION OF PARTISAN CONTROL AT LEAST WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE IN Y TIME AND YOU KNOW THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS IT'S ALWAYS BETTER TO BE IN THE MAJORITY THAN IN THE MINORITY.

FOLKS ELECTED THE LEGISLATORS THEY GOOD BECAUSE THEY WANTED US TO GET TO WORK, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE HAD A LOT TO SHOW.

WE HAD TO -- A LOT TO PROVE THAT WE WERE IN IT TO DO THE WORK TO GET THESE THINGS THAT WE'VE ERSON TALKING ABOUT, THAT WE KNOW WILL MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR MINNESOTANS ACROSS THE -- >> Mary: COULD THERE BE TOO MUCH WORK, TOO MUCH DONE, ARE YOU WORRIED AT ALL ABOUT BACKLASH?

>> I GUESS I WOULD SAY THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.

WHAT I'VE SEEN IS IT'S LESS ABOUT THE AMOUNT, HOW MUCH ACTUALLY WE GOT DONE VERSUS WHAT WE COULD HAVE DONE.

THAN IT IS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE WORK.

AND THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT HAVE GOTTEN DONE.

WHEN I THINK BACK OVER THE WORK THAT WE DID OVER THIS PAST SESSION, PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, STRENGTHENING OUR DEMOCRACY, GUN SAFETY, I THINK THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO -- THAT ALREADY ARE PAYING BIG DIVIDENDS FOR MINNESOTANS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

>> Mary: WHAT DID SURPRISE YOU?

YOU KNEW A LOT ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THE PLACE SO WHAT ENDED UP SURPRISING YOU?

>> I WOULD SAY WHAT I DIDN'T FULLY APPRECIATE ALWAYS WAS REALLY, TRULY HOW MANY PEOPLE ON SORT OF ALL SIDES OF ANY QUESTION, AND I THINK THIS CUTS ACROSS PARTISAN LINES, CUTS ACROSS IDEOLOGICAL LINES, BUT REALLY HOW MANY PEOPLE TRULY ARE WORKING IN GOOD FAITH TO DO WHAT THEY SEE IS MAKING THINGS BETTER.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SPEND THE HOURS AND HOURS ON THE FLOOR THAT YOU DO, YOU SEE KIND OF SOME OF THE BEST AND SOME OF THE WORST, AND I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, FOLKS REALLY ARE TRYING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M IN THE MINORITY, MARY, AND FRANKLY, AS WE ALL SAW LAST SESSION, IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT MY SIDE OF THE AISLE THOUGHT.

THE AGENDA WAS THE AGENDA, IT WAS SET MONTHS IN ADVANCE AND JUST PUSHED THROUGH.

IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF.

I KNOW THINGS, I HAVE IDEAS, YOU KNOW, GOOD IDEAS AND JUST TO MAKE GOVERNMENT ETTER.

THESE AREN'T MINNESOTA OR PHILOSOPHICAL, IT'S JUST ABOUT BETTERING THE WAY WE RUN THINGS.

YOU KNOW IN THE PAST, LEGISLATION COULD OCCUR BECAUSE MAYBE ONE PARTY CONTROLLED IN THE HOUSE, ONE CONTROLLED THE SENATE SO YOU HAD TO FIGURE IT OUT.

AND THOSE PEOPLE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE HELPED BRING THINGS OVER THE EDGE.

THEY DON'T EXIST ANYMORE, OR HARDLY EXIST.

IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD THAN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, EVEN TEN YEARS AGO.

>> Mary: WE'RE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON AND A WHOLE SLATE OF FRESHMEN WHO MAKE UMM THIS HISTORIC CLASS OF NEW LAWMAKERS.

A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

TUNE IN FOR THAT.

IF YOU MISSED PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, OR WANT TO RE-WATCH ANY EPISODES FROM THE PAST, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW "ALMANAC" ON FACEBOOK, LOOK FOR SESSION UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON X.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MORE ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH A COUCH FULL OF FORMER LAWMAKERS AND POLITICAL ANALYSTS, U OF M'S EPIDEMIOLOGIST, MIKE OSTERHOLM, AND I'LL PROVIDE CONTEXT ON THE HISTORY OF GOVERNORS GOING ON THE ROAD FOR STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESSES.

I'LL CHAT WITH A FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF WHO SAYS HE HAS PTSD FROM THE STRESS...

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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

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

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

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

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

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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