THIS PLACE.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THAT RARE COMMITTEE VOTE BEFORE SESSION EVEN BEGINS NEXT MONTH IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY TOPICS WE'RE GOING TO COVER WITH THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL PANEL.

THERE'S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT, SO LET'S JUMP RIGHT IN.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT: ABOU AMARA IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW ATTORNEY IN TOWN.

WINTANA MELEKIN IS BACK.

SHE'S A D.F.L.

ACTIVIST WHO IS GEARING UP TO SPEND TIME AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS UPCOMING SESSION.

REPUBLICANS WITH US TONIGHT: JEN DEJOURNETT IS A POLITICAL OPERATIVE AND VETERAN OF CAMPAIGNS.

BRIAN MCCLUNG, FORMER TIM PAWLENTY SPOKESMAN, NOW A P.R.

PROFESSIONAL.

BRIAN, YOU'RE GOING TO DO WORK SUPPORTING THE END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT.

>> YEAH, SO I MEAN, FULL DISCLOSURE, COMPASSIONATE CHOICES S A CLIENT OF OUR FIRM.

BUT AS I LOOK AT IT, REALLY, AS A CONSERVATIVE, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU DON'T NEED GOVERNMENT TO BE INVOLVED.

AND THIS IS ABOUT YOUR OAB AUTONOMY AND YOUR PERSONAL DECISIONS TEND OF LIFE.

AND THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE.

A PERSON HAS TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH A TERMINAL ILLNESS.

HAVE SIX MONTHS OR LESS TO LIVE.

TALK TO TWO DOCTORS.

THIS IS IN PLACE IN TEN STATES AND WASHINGTON, DYED C. D.C. AND THERE HAS BEEN NO EVIDENCE OF MISUSE OVER THE NEARLY 30 YEARS IT'S BEEN IN PLACE.

SO I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH MANY OF THESE MINNESOTANS WHO ARE FACING TERMINAL ILLNESS.

THEY WANT THIS AS A CHOICE.

DID OF IT DOES NOT IMPOSE THAT PERSPECTIVE ON ANYONE ELSE.

IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT THIS, YOU DON'T NEED TO DO IT.

>> Cathy: BUT, JEN, THERE ARE WAYS TO EXPHIT EXIT THIS WORLD AND EASE THE LAST DAYS SO WHY DOES THE STATE NEED TO SANCTION MEDICAL AID IN DYING.

>> WELL, IT DOESN'T AND FIRST OF ALL, IT'S NOT A REPUBLICAN POSITION.

AND IT DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE DEMOCRATS EITHER.

SECOND OF ALL, THIS BILL'S CHANGED.

THE LAST BILL HAD TWO DOCTORS THAT HAD TO SIGN OFF.

THIS CURRENT BHL HAS ONE.

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.

HAVE YOU READ THE BILL, JEN, NO.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> THE OTHER THING IS DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF SAFE GUARDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

AS REPRESENTATIVE ANNE NEU BRINDLEY SAID.

I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HEALTHCARE EQUALITY AND DISPARITY.

ARE THERE SAFE GUARDS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT N MAKING SURE THERE'S MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT?

ADDITIONALLY, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S NOT A FINANCIAL PRESSURE OR OTHER PRESSURES GOING ON IN THAT PERSON'S LIFE.

HAVE WE SUPPORTED VIRDS WITH THE PROPER SUPPORTS LIKE HEALTHCARE, RESPITE CARE FOR THEIR CAREGIVERS.

OTHER SUPPORTIVE NEEDS.

MY DAD DIED OF TERMINAL CAPTION.

HE WAS GIVEN SIX MONTHS.

HE IVED TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO SEE HIS FIRST GRANDCHILD BORN.

HIS QUALITY OF LIFE MATTERED BECAUSE WE HAD THE MEANS TO DO SO.

>> Cathy: SAY, ABOU, THIS CAME UP WELL BEFORE SESSION STARTED.

WHICH IS PRETTY RARE.

WHY THAT TIMING?

>> WELL, I THINK PART IT SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO E A RED OR A BLUE ISSUE.

THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE A MORAL QUESTION FOR LEGISLATORS AT THE CAPITOL.

AND O GRAPPLE WITH THESE QUESTIONS, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NEED SOME EXTRA TIME.

I SUSPECT, I DON'T KNOW THIS, THIS MAY ABE SESSION WHERE THE FOUNDATION IS LAID FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

BUT IT'S NOT THE END OF THIS CONVERSATION.

IT'S CLEAR BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST HEARD THAT THERE ARE SOME DEEP FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TALKED AND MINNESOTANS HAVE TOO BE ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS.

>> I THINK FOR ME, I'M ACTUALLY UNDECIDED MYSELF, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE -- PROVIDING THAT OPTION, BUT I WORRY ABOUT WHAT GUARD RAILS ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT INEQUITABLY USED ON COMMUNITIES.

I DO INHERENTLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD PASS SOMETHING.

I DO BELIEVE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I THINK WE NEED MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT SET UP IN A WAY WHERE FOLKS WHO HAVE LESS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, LESS ACCESS TO RIGHTS ARE PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY THINK THIS IS THE ONLY OPTION OR THE BEST OPTION FOR THEIR LOVED ONE OR THEMSELVES.

>> Cathy: THIS HAS COME UP LIKE THE PAST NINE SESSIONS, THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS NOT A NEXT CONVERSATION.

AND AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN IN PLACE NEARLY 30 YEARS INCE OREGON FIRST PASSED IT.

WHAT JEN WAS SAYING IS NOT TRUE.

THIS BILL REQUIRES AT LEAST TWO DOCTORS TALK TO THE PATIENT.

IT REQUIRES THEM TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF SAFE GUARDS AND AGAIN IN THE NEARLY 30 YEARS HIS HAS BEEN N PLACE IN TEN STATES, THERE VRCHES BEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF MISUSE.

SO IT'S BEEN CLEARLY VETTED AND AGAIN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CHOOSE THIS OPTION, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

LESS THAN HALF OF ONE PERCENT OF PEOPLE IN OREGON ACTUALLY CHOOSE THIS OPTION.

WHEN THEY'RE DYING.

SO YOU CAN MAKE THIS CHOICE OR NOT.

BUT IT SHOULD BE UP TO THAT INDIVIDUAL.

>> Eric: JOE BIDEN TO DULUTH-SUPERIOR.

ABOU?

AND PETE STAUBER, THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN IN THE 8TH DISTRICT GETTING SOME HEAT.

WHAT WAS HIS VOTE ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL?

HOW DID IT AFFECT THE BLATNIK BRIDGE, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING?

HERE'S HIS VIEW OF IT.

STAUBER VOTED AGAINST INFRASTRUCTURE BILL BUT HE SAID PASSAGE OF THAT DID NOT GUARANTEE MONEY FOR THE BRIDGE AND THAT THE FIRST MnDOT APPLICATION WAS TURNED DOWN AND THEN STAUBER JOINED WITH A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF MINNESOTA CONGRESS PEOPLE TO PRESSURE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO INCLUDE THE BRIDGE FUNDS AND THAT BIPARTISAN PRESSURE WORKED, SAYS CONGRESSMAN STAUBER.

>> YEAH, THAT'S A LOAD OF CROCK.

FACIALLY, IT DOESN'T PASS THE SMELL TEST.

HERE'S THE REAL.

FIRST CONGRESS HAS TO MAKE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

AND THEN YOU GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

IF YOU'RE IN THE WAY AT STEP ONE, YOU CAN'T CLAIM CREDIT ON STEP TWO.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

THE SECOND THING IS, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, REMEMBER, THEY TALKED ABOUT ALL INFRASTRUCTURE.

NEVER PASSED ONE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PASSED A INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE FRUITS OF THAT LABOR.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

BECAUSE NOW WE'RE GOING TO THE 2024 ELECTION.

THE BLUE WALL, WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA, JOE BIDEN CAN SELL SOMETHING TANGIBLY TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY TO SAY I'M HELPING TO BUILD THIS COUNTRY BACK.

GIVE ME A ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

>> I THINK THERE ARE OTHER BARRIERS FOR PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS THAT ARE GOING TO CREATE ISSUES FOR BIDEN.

I THINK THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WAS A NET POSITIVE AND IT WAS A GREAT THING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND MINNESOTA IN PARTICULAR.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE THE DECIDER OF WHETHER FOLKS SUPPORT BIDEN AGAIN OR NOT.

>> Eric: THE 8TH DISTRICT USED TO E A DEMOCRATIC STRONG HOLD.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> WELL, WHAT HAPPENED IS THOSE VOTERS CAME HOME TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHERE THEIR VALUES WERE ALL ALONG, RIGHT?

SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S A REPUBLICAN AREA NOW.

AND YOU SEE ALMOST ALL OF THE STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS UP THERE ARE REPUBLICAN.

I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING PART HERE REALLY IS THAT JOE BIDEN CLEARLY HAS A THING FOR WISCONSIN.

I MEAN, THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME HE'S BEEN THERE RECENTLY.

AND I THINK WHAT THIS IS SIGNALING IS THAT WISCONSIN IS HIGH UP ON THE LIST AND MINNESOTA IS PART OF THAT TOORKS RIGHT?

SO I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE KIND OF VISITS AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE ELECTION.

>> Cathy: CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE CANNABIS DIRECTOR SEARCH?

I MEAN, OF COURSE WE HAD THE AUDITOR ON EARLIER.

TALKING ABOUT HER AUDIT.

BUT IT'S NOW A NATIONWIDE SEARCH EVIDENTLY AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE LOOKING NATIONWIDE SINCE ERIN DUPREE STEPPED DOWN.

ARE THEY HAVING TROUBLE FINDING SOMEONE?

>> YEAH, SO MY SENSE OF IT IS THEY WANTED TO STAND IT UP REALLY QUICKLY, BUT THEN THAT CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS, SO NOW THEY'RE TAKING A STEP BACK AND SAYING, LETS GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME.

WE'VE GOT NATIONAL COMPARE TOMORROWS WHO HAVE ACTUALLY DONE THIS WORK.

AND I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO HELP US IN THE LONG TERM.

IN THE SHORT TERM, IT MIGHT BE A BIT MORE CLUNKY.

>> WELL, I THINK LOTS OF TIMES IN MINNESOTA STATE GOVERNMENT, WE GET KIND OF PAROCHIAL AND WE THINK IT HAS TO BE A MINNESOTAN AND I THINK AFTER THEY WENT THROUGH THAT PROGRESSION THE FIRST TIME, THEY'RE SAYING, THERE ARE MEME WITH EXPERTISE IN THIS IN OTHER STATES.

LET'S TRY TO BRING THAT IN.

BECAUSE I THINK NOT ONLY DO YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY WITH SOME EXPERIENCE IN THIS, YOU ALSO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT CAN HELP THE LEGISLATURE UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FIXES THAT WE NEED.

HOW CAN WE MAKE THAT LEGISLATION BETTER?

>> Eric: NIKKI HALEY HANG AROUND UNTIL MINNESOTA'S MARCH 5TH PRIMARY >> >> I HOPE ALL CANDIDATES HANG AROUND FOR A BIT, BECAUSE EVERYBODY WHO VOTES, IT'S A GOLD MINE OF VOTER DATA.

THAT GOES TO ALL POLITICAL PARTIES.

BUT THE TRUTH IS NEVADA DOESN'T MATTER.

THE DELEGATES THERE AREA ALREADY GOING TO BE ASSIGNED BECAUSE OF THEIR PROCESS.

SOUTH CAROLINA IS GOING TO BE AN UGLY MESS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE HOW SOUTH CAROLINA WORKS.

SO THAT IS PRETTY MUCH FROM TH.

CAROLINA FRIENDS DERKSZ >> Eric: YOU WERE DOWN THERE RECENTLY.

>> I WAS JUST DOWN THERE.

HOW THAT VOTE'S GOING TO GO.

I THINK SHE MAYBE HANGS AROUND IF HER DONORS TICK AROUND.

WHICH T.B.D.

ON THAT.

BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO VOTE BECAUSE WE WANT THAT DATA.

>> Eric: AND DEAN PHILLIPS WILL HE BE AROUND ON MARCH 35TH >> I THINK HE'S GOING TO STAY AS LONG AS HE CAN.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT HIS PLAN, GOAL, RRG VISION IS AT THAT POINT.

BUT I DON'T SEE HIM DROPPING OUT.

>> Cathy: HE WANTS TO GO TO THE CONVENTION.

>> YEAH, IT FEELS LIKE HE'S WATCHING AN EPISODE OF THE "WEST WING" AND FEELS LIKE THAT'S AN END GAME.

I AM FLUMMOXED.

I AM CONFUSED.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE STRATEGY.

MAYBE THIS IS PART OF A KIND OF FIRST RUN AND HE TESTS IT AGAIN IN 2028.

I'M NOT SURE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

>> IEP I WANT TO SPENDS A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTINCT.

THERE'S THREE ANNOUNCED.

TWO I BELIEVE ARE COMING FORWARD.

SO WE MIGHT FIVE ON OUR SIDE WHICH IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT FROM THE LAST TIME I WAS ON AND WE HAD NONE.

SO I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING THAT THERE IS A PATH.

AND I THINK A DEFINITE PATH THAT DEFINITELY HELPS US INTO 2026.

>> THEY WILL ALL LOSE TO KELLY