EVERYWHERE.

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

I'M MARY LAHAMMER, COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY.

WELL, THE GOVERNOR, WHO WAS A UNION TEACHER, HAS NCENSED THE STATE WORKERS UNION BY CALLING THEM BACK TO WORK IN PERSON, MORE THAN HALF OF THE TIME.

WE'LL ANALYZE THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

AND THE ONGOING IMPACT OF THE ARREST OF A STATE SENATOR, WHICH IS WHERE WE START.

[ BANGING GAVEL ] >> THE SENATE RETURNED, AGAIN, DOWN A MEMBER, AFTER THE RESIGNATION OF A SENATOR FOR SOLICITING SEX FROM A MINOR.

LAW ENFORCEMENT NOW SAY HE LIED ABOUT HAVING A GUN IN HIS St. PAUL APARTMENT OR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

CANDIDATES TO REPLACE HIM IN A SPECIAL ELECTION INCLUDE THE SON OF FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GAZELKA, THE WIFE OF HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE HEINTZEMAN, AND MOST CONTROVERSIAL, THE OUSTED REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR JENNIFER CARNAHAN, WHO RESIGNED AND HAD CONNECTIONS TO A CHILD SEX TRAFFICKER.

MEANWHILE, A BIPARTISAN COALITION ANNOUNCED A PROPOSAL TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

>> WE BUILT THIS BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL COALITION WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS -- >> FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE'VE HAD ROBUST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS.

WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF IT, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING -- WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO AVOID THIS.

THIS IS GOING TO GO FOR A LONG WAYS FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF STATE OFFICERS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH DISCUSSIONS SURROUNDING THE BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAME HIGHLY POLITICAL, HIGHLY POLITICIZED.

THIS IS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT BY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO SAY, WE'VE WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT.

IT'S TO THE DETRIMENT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: A PARADE CAME BEFORE THE FRAUD COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE ONLY HOUSE PANEL TO RETAIN A REPUBLICAN CHAIR AND MAJORITY IN THE TIE IN THAT CHAMBER.

>> OUR CONCERN THROUGHOUT THE HEARING IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF NEW MONEY BEING SPENT, BUT PROBABLY NOT A LOT OF GREAT CULTURE CHANGE THAT IS NEEDED TO REALLY ATTACK THE ROOT OF THE FRAUD.

>> SOME GOOD THINGS IN THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, BUT THERE ARE MANY MANY THINGS THAT ARE MISSING.

>> IF YOU WANT TO KNOW IF THE GOVERNOR'S TAKING FRAUD SERIOUSLY, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE CHANGES FOR THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES, AND HE'S ONLY INCREASING THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES BY 20% FOR THE TOP THREE HIGHEST THEFT CATEGORIES.

THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

>> WE HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE O.L.A.

THEY WILL DO THEIR INVESTIGATION OF AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE, THEY REPORT CRIMINAL FRAUD TO US NOW WHEN THEY DISCOVER IT IN THAT PROCESS.

>> CURRENT LAW RIGHT NOW REQUIRES EMPLOYEES TO REPORT TO THE O.L.A.

WHEN THEY SUSPECT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

>> OUR EMPLOYEES THAT DO SITE VISITS GO ALL OVER THE STATE OF INNESOTA NOW, AND WITH THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PROVIDERS AND SERVICES, WE NEED TO INCREASE HAT NUMBER BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE ROAD ALL THE TIME.

>> THE AGENCIES, ESPECIALLY DHS AND DCYF, ARE OPERATING UNDER ANCIENT SYSTEMS BUILT IN THE 1980s.