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

>> Mary: WE'LL TALK WITH GOVERNOR WALZ, LIVE ABOUT COVID RESTRICTIONS, THE BUDGET, RACIAL JUSTICE, AND MORE IN THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT'S COME UP ON "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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

LAWMAKERS HAVE LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO.

GOVERNOR WALZ WILL JOIN ME LIVE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

WE'LL MEET A FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER WHOSE STUDENTS ENCOURAGED HER TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

BUT FIRST, HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE BIG BUDGET ITEMS AND COVID QUESTIONS LEFT TO RESOLVE.

STILL IN A PANDEMIC, THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BILL MIGHT BE AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT AND COMPLICATED BUDGET BILLS LAWMAKERS MUST PASS TO KEEP GOVERNMENT GOING.

>> WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN IN MINNESOTA AND IN THE WORLD.

THIS PANDEMIC HAS SHONE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A ROBUST PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM AND ON THE SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES THAT EXIST IN OUR STATE.

>> THIS BILL WILL HELP FINANCIAL HARDSHIP EXPERIENCED BY FAMILIES AND CHILDREN DURING THE PANDEMIC AND ALSO ASSIST THE WORKING FAMILIES TO GET BACK TO WORK.

THIS BILL ESTABLISHES AN ANNUAL COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR M NIP FAMILIES.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS WERE FRUSTRATED WITH DEMOCRAT MEMBERS BEHIND THE BILL, THEY SAY ARE OUT OF BALANCE BY THE BUDGET RULES.

DEMOCRAT NUMBERS.

>> IF YOU SEND THIS BILL OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY, IT WILL BE UNPRECEDENTED AND LITERALLY FOR NO REASON.

THERE IS NO DEADLINE, WE HAVE WEEKS BEFORE THE END OF SESSION.

>> TROUBLING IS NOT A WORD THAT, YOU KNOW, I USE LIGHTLY.

BUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IN THIS CHAMBER IS THE INTEGRITY OF OUR WORK.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO STICK US, STICK US RIGHT.

NAIL US RIGHT.

YOU CAN'T SEND A BILL OFF THIS FLOOR THAT IS OUT OF BALANCE AND CLEARLY THIS IS OUT OF BALANCE.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR WALZ CONTINUES TO PUSH VACCINATIONS TO HELP SOME SORT OF RETURN TO NORMAL.

>> I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'RE PAST 4 MILLION SHOTS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN IN MINNESOTA OF THE VACCINES.

WE ARE LEADING THE NATION IN THE SPEED OF THOSE THINGS.

88% OF SENIORS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, AND THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO UP.

>> AND THE SENATE HELD HEARINGS ON SPORTS DECISION MAKING, QUESTIONING THE GOVERNOR, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE.

>> SINCE MOST SPRING SPORTS ARE PLAYED OUTDOORS, WE KNOW THAT OUTDOOR SETTINGS ARE LESS RISKY, WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THOSE SPRING SPORTS INHERENTLY HAVE MORE DISTANCE AMONGST PLAYERS, THE QUARANTINE ASSESSMENT, GUIDANCE IS DIFFERENT.

>> THE DATA, ON QUARANTINE DAY 11, GOVERNOR WALZ HAD DECIDED TO QUARANTINE BECAUSE OF AN EXPOSURE, JUST LIKE MINE.

BUT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO QUARANTINE FOR ONLY TEN DAYS.

HE APPLIED THE SAME RULES TO ME AS HE APPLIED TO HIMSELF, I COULD HAVE SWAM IN THE STATE MEET.

THIS IS NOT FAIR.

>> TRY NOT TO GET TOO UPSET.

I HAVE RELIED ON THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S DATA AND EXPERTS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR TO HELP ME MAKE JUDGMENTS ABOUT WHAT POLICIES SHOULD BE COMING OUT OF THE SENATE.

>> IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT HOLDING THESE KIDS IN A SPOT WHERE THEY'RE HEALTHY IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS LETTING THEM PLAY AND THE ARGUMENTS I'M HEARING TODAY, IT'S DISGUSTING AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED.

>> THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO US BY CITIZENS.

THIS HAS NOT BEEN A PARTISAN ISSUE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

SO IT'S NOT PARTISAN.

YOU WANT TO SCREAM AT SOMEBODY, SCREAM AT CITIZENS.

>> A LOT OF FRUSTRATED CITIZENS, PEOPLE, PARENTS AND KIDS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCONSISTENCIES BETWEEN WHAT THEY HEAR AND SEE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO YELL AT THE PEOPLE, YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: JOINING ME TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET, COVID RESTRICTIONS AND MORE, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

WELCOME BACK TO THE STUDIO, GOVERNOR.

OUR FIRST OFFICIAL "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" STUDIO GUEST.

>> WE HAVE TWO VACCINATED FOLKS.

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY.

>> SOCIAL DISTANCED.

IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT, GOVERNOR, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH COVID.

NEXT WEEK, TELL US WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

GIVE US YOUR VERY BEST PREVIEW, WE HEAR THE DIAL'S GOING TO BE TURNED UP, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOSEN SOME RESTRICTIONS.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

>> WELL, WE'RE IN THAT PROCESS NOW.

WE'RE REACHING OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS, OF COURSE, LISTENING TO THE HEALTH EXPERTS.

I GET BRIEFED WEEKLY FROM MODELING OUT OF MAYO CLINIC, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, MINNESOTANS ARE TAKING THE VACCINE AT A HIGHER RATE THAN ANY PLACE IN THE COUNTRY.

WE'RE REACHING UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS AMONG SENIORS.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE WEATHERED THE B.1.1.7 KIND OF SURGE, AND WHAT WE'RE ASSESSING NOW IS, OF COURSE, ALMOST EVERYTHING'S OPEN, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE SOME CAPACITY LIMITS, CERTAINLY SOME TIME LIMITS, YOU SAW CDC MAKE SOME CHANGES AROUND MASKING, THOSE THINGS, OF COURSE, WILL APPLY HERE.

AND THEN I THINK WE START THINKING LONG TERM, WHAT ARE THESE BIGGER VENUES LOOK LIKE, HOW DO WE GET -- AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT -- WHAT'S THE STATE FAIR, WE COULD BE GOING.

>> Mary: IS THE STATE FAIR GOING TO BE ON, DO YOU THINK, RIGHT NOW, LOOKING AT THE TRAJECTORY, DOES IT LOOK LIKE -- >> I THINK LOOKING AT THE TRAJECTORY, THERE'S EVERY REASON WE WILL.

>> Mary: WITH RESTRICTIONS FOR SURE OR TO BE DETERMINED?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED.

>> Mary: OKAY.

>> I THINK WE'VE WEATHERED THIS.

THERE VERY WELL COULD BE ANOTHER ONE, ANOTHER SURGE.

BUT WHAT I SAID WAS, IF WE WERE OUT RACING, WHICH WE DID, WE'RE ALWAYS ONE OR TWO IN THE SPEED OF GETTING THESE VACCINES OUT, WE ENDED UP IN A LITTLE BETTER PLACE THAN MICHIGAN.

NOW TODAY IT SHIFTED BACK TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, THEY'RE CLOSING DOWN IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE REACHED THAT 70% PLUS ON VACCINATIONS, ASSUMING THE VARIANTS DON'T MUTATE TO THE POINT WHERE OUR VACCINES DON'T WORK, WE'RE IN A SOLID SPOT.

SO I THINK NEXT WEEK, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS THAT CONTINUOUS TURN BACK TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IS THE MORE NORMAL AND I'M ANTICIPATING IN THE SUMMER THERE'S NO REASON THOSE TYPES OF THINGS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR, YOU WERE JUST WATCHING THAT PIECE OF TAPE, YOU SAW THE SENATE HEARINGS, YOU HAD A STRONG REACTION AND FOLKS ARE HAVING A REALLY STRONG REACTION TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON SPORTS.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?

BECAUSE THERE WERE PARENTS, THERE WERE STUDENTS THAT JUST SAID, IT WAS ARBITRARY, UNFAIR, THEY'RE VERY UPSET.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT ARBITRARY AND IT CERTAINLY IS UNFAIR.

COVID IS TERRIBLE, WHAT WE SAID IS, IT HITS CERTAIN THINGS HARDER.

IT PUTS CERTAIN ACTIVITIES MORE AT RISK.

FOLLOWING THOSE CDC GUIDANCE AND THE BEST HEALTH GUIDANCE AROUND THIS.

TRYING TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE.

I MEAN, IT'S A TRAGIC WEEK, WE LOST A YOUNG CHILD IN SCHOOL, TRYING TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE.

WE KNOW THAT KIDS NEEDED TO GET BACK INTO SCHOOL, IN-PERSON LEARNING.

AND WHAT WE KNOW WAS, WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF SPREAD FROM ORGANIZED ACTIVITY AND SPORTS.

SO TRYING TO PUT IN -- >> Mary: LET ME JUMP IN.

IS THAT DOCUMENTED BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN QUESTIONED REALLY -- >> YES.

>> Mary: -- THE DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN FROM SPORTS.

>> YES, YES.

>> Mary: SEEING THAT SPREAD.

>> YES, NATIONALLY, INTERNATIONALLY.

>> Mary: AND IN MINNESOTA?

>> IN MINNESOTA.

AND TRYING TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE.

LOOK, I SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE AROUND YOUTH SPORTS.

I COACHED IT, I OFFICIATED IT.

AND TONIGHT, JUST COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN MY SON PLAY, WE WERE OVER AT MINNEHAHA ACADEMY AND WATCHED HIM PLAY OVER THERE IN THAT GYM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I KNOW THIS IS PAINFUL, I KNOW THIS IS HARD.

THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE LEARN AS WE GO ALONG, THERE'S THINGS THAT WE LEARNED, WHAT SPREAD COVID FASTER, BUT THE BEST HEALTH ADVICE, AND IT'S TRUE, EVERYWHERE, IS TO TRY AND MITIGATE THOSE SPREADS.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION FOLKS HAVE.

BUT I THINK TRYING TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE BASED ON SAFETY, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR CHILDREN, THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE IMPACT ON YOU POLITICALLY, DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE THE BIGGEST GAINS IN THE STATE IN THE SUBURBS, A LOT OF THESE VERY UPSET PARENTS, WHO ARE WELL-FUNDED, THEY HAVE PUBLIC RELATIONS, THEY HAVE LAWYERS, THERE IS SPECULATION THAT YOU COULD BE REALLY DAMAGED POLITICALLY IN THE SUBURBS BECAUSE OF SPORTS IN SCHOOLS.

>> IF IT MEANT SAVING KIDS, THAT'S FINE.

I'LL GO BACK TO TEACH SCHOOL AND COACH, WHICH IS SOMETHING I LOVE.

I HAVE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A POLITICAL UPSIDE OF DOING THE VERY THINGS THAT I LOVE AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO PEOPLE.

BUT IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO PUSH FALSE INFORMATION.

AND, AGAIN, COVID IS POLITICIZED ENOUGH.

THERE'S JUST A LOT OF FOLKS THAT JUST DON'T BELIEVE IT.

THEY JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S THERE.

AND I MEAN, I FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT IT, I'M IN IT, MY FAMILY'S IN IT, MY SCHOOL WAS IN IT.

BUT WE RELIED ON THE BEST DATA.

WE'VE KEPT OUR KIDS SAFE.

WE'VE SLOWED COVID.

WE RANK AT THE VERY TOP OF THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT WE KEPT DOWN, WE RANK NEAR THE VERY TOP THE ADEATHS PER 100,000, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A MUCH LARGER POPULATION.

SO MEASURED AGAINST THAT, IF IT MEANS PEOPLE ARE POLITICALLY GOING TO VOTE AGAINST ME BECAUSE I MADE A DECISION BASED ON THE BEST HEALTH ADVICE, WITH KIDS, THEN I'LL TAKE THAT.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT REQUIREMENTS, ARE YOU LOOKING AT REQUIRING VACCINES, REQUIRING MORE TESTING GOING FORWARD?

WE ARE SEEING SOME COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SAY THEY'RE GOING TO REQUIRE -- >> YEAH.

AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES HAVE THAT.

THE ONE THING IS, THIS VACCINE IS STILL UNDER EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION, SO YOU CAN'T HAVE A REQUIREMENT ON THAT.

I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GET THIS.

I STILL THINK HERE WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS, INCREDIBLE UPTAKE OF THIS, OF THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO HAVE TAKEN IT.

AS I SAID, PROBABLY REFLECTS, WE VOTE, WE FILL OUT THE CENSUS, AND WE TAKE PUBLIC HEALTH SERIOUSLY.

I THINK WHAT I'M LOOKING AT MORE IS MUCH MORE OF A CARROT THAN A STICK.

I LIKE THIS IDEA OF TRYING TO MAKE THIS AS EASY FOR PEOPLE, THESE BUSES, TALKING TO A WOMAN, WE PULLED UP IN FRONT OF HER APARTMENT, SHE'S SO BUSY, SHE'S NOT ANTIVAX, SHE'S NOT HESITANT, SHE SAID, IT'S JUST REALLY BUSY, SHE HAD LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, SPANISH SPEAKER WAS THERE, BROUGHT HER DOWN TO THE BUS, 20 MINUTES LATER SHE'S BACK IN HER APARTMENT, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE BUDGET, JUST A FEW WEEKS LEFT IN SESSION, AND THE PEOPLE OF COLOR, INDIGENOUS, POCI CAUCUS, HAS SAID THEY WANT THESE ISSUES OF RACIAL EQUITY SEPARATED FROM THE DRAMA AND THE STALEMATE THAT HAPPENS WITH A BUDGET.

ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THAT TO TRY AND GET THAT DONE?

>> WELL, IT'S HARD TO SEPARATE THINGS.

THESE ARE UNIVERSAL AGREEMENTS.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, AND I APPRECIATE, WE HAD A HEARING ON YOUTH SPORTS, LET'S HAVE A HEARING ON VIOLENCE AND THESE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.

>> Mary: IN THE SENATE YOU MEAN?

>> IN THE SENATE.

LET'S HAVE A HEARING ON GUN SAFETY.

LET'S NOT DECIDE TO PICK SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK IS A POLITICAL WIN OR THAT RILES PEOPLE UP, LET'S HAVE SOMETHING THAT MAKES REAL CHANGE.

AND, SO, I AM STAND WITH THEM THAT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WE CAN'T DO THESE THINGS.

I REJECT THE MAJORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE'S STATEMENT THAT THE CHAUVIN TRIAL PROVED THE SYSTEM WORKS.

DAUNTE WRIGHT IS DEAD.

COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DO NOT FEEL SAFE.

AND POLICE, POLICE TODAY, THE POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION'S INTERNATIONALLY IS SAYING WE NEED TO MAKE THESE MOVES.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS BEGGING US TO DO SOME OF THESE REFORMS.

YOU SHOULD NOT DIE BEING STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC STOP.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MINOR OFFENSES THAT WE KNOW SO MANY FOLKS -- WE LOOK AT THE LIFE OF PHILANDO CASTILE, THAT STATISTIC, HE WAS PULLED OVER 49 TIMES IN 13 YEARS.

ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THE LEGISLATION CURRENTLY IN THE HOUSE THAT WOULD LIMIT THE NUMBER OF MINOR OFFENSES?

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT ALSO LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY THE DAUNTE WRIGHT CASE, THE WARRANT FOR HIM WAS SENT TO THE WRONG ADDRESS, AND CHANGING THE PROCESS ON THAT TOO.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: LESS OF THESE INFRACTIONS THAT CREATE THE DEADLY ENCOUNTER.

>> WE'VE HAD PEOPLE OVER THE LAST YEAR MISS COURT CASES BECAUSE THEY GOT SENT THE WRONG ZOOM LINK.

I MEAN, IT'S TOUGH.

WE HAVE PEOPLE DRIVING ALL OVER WITHOUT TABS BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO GET THEM.

SO, YES, LEADING IN THIS -- OF COURSE, THE POCI CAUCUS -- REPRESENTATIVE FRAZIER HAS BEEN PUSHING ON THIS, AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WHAT I'VE SEEN IS, I'M A LEGISLATOR MYSELF, I SEE A VERY VISIONARY, SMART LEGISLATOR PUSHING THIS PIECE OF IT BECAUSE IT'S BROADLY SUPPORTED.

DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, POLICE, ADVOCATES SAY LET'S DO THIS.

NOT ONLY WILL IT SAVE LIVES IT WILL PROBABLY SAVE US MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.

RETHINKING THINGS LIKE CASH BAIL, WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO FOR US TO PUT SOMEONE IN ON A MINOR OFFENSE, HAVE THEM LOSE THEIR JOB, THEN LOSE THEIR CAR, THEN LOSE THEIR HOUSE, AND THEIR CHILDREN THEN ARE TRYING TO LEARN FROM A HOMELESS SHELTER, DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR, YOU MENTIONED OUR CIVIC PRIDE, OUR VACCINATION RATE AND OUR CENSUS FORMS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS, YOU'RE A FORMER MEMBER OF CONGRESS, YOU KNOW WHAT THESE BOUNDARIES LOOK LIKE, MINNESOTA BEING ABLE TO, BY THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH, HOLD ON TO THAT EXTRA CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, WHERE DO YOU SEE THE LINES SHIFTING AND THE IMPACT?

>> YEAH, AND I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS ON THIS, I'VE BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE OF NONPARTISAN OR JUDICIAL REDISTRICTING.

WE'LL REACH A STALEMATE BECAUSE WE HAVE SPLIT GOVERNMENT.

IN THIS CASE, I'M PRETTY GOOD WITH THAT.

AND THEY'LL BE MADE FAIRLY.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS, FOR MINNESOTANS, HAD WE LOST THAT, EACH ONE OF THOSE OTHER SEVEN WOULD HAVE HAD ABOUT ANOTHER 170 -- OR 120,000 PEOPLE ADD ON, IT SHRINKS CHES YOUR VOICE, IT SLIMPTION YOUR VOICE IN CONGRESS AND TO KEEP OUR EIGHT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

NOW THE QUESTION WILL BE, WHAT HAPPENED WITH STATE HOUSE AND STATE SENATE SEATS AND THIS IS BASED ON MIGRATIONS OF FOLKS, IT'S NOT ALWAYS AS EASY AS YOU THINK, OH, PEOPLE LEFT THIS STATE TO GO TO THIS STATE, IT MUST BE THIS REASON, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO TELL.

INSIDE A STATE, I THINK PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THIS, URBAN, SUBURBAN AREAS HAVE TENDED TO TREND DEMOCRAT A LITTLE MORE AND RURAL AREAS HAVE TRENDED REPUBLICAN SO IT WILL DEPEND ON WHERE THOSE POPULATION SHIFTS LAND.

>> Mary: YOU USED TO REPRESENT SOUTHERN MINNESOTA DOWN IN THE FIRST DISTRICT, THERE'S POPULATION GROWTH DOWN THERE, THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE METRO AREA.

HOW DOES IT FACTOR IN, DOES IT GET MORE COMPETITIVE?

>> I THINK SO BECAUSE THAT'S MANKATO AND ROCHESTER.

IT'S WINONA.

IT'S THOSE PLACES.

THE THING THAT I WORRY ABOUT IS, THOUGH, IS THAT ANYBODY GETS JOYFUL ABOUT A PRETTY CLEAR DIVISION MAKES IT REALLY HARD, I WAS SAYING IT USED TO BE LIKE ON THE AG COMMITTEE IN CONGRESS, IT WASN'T DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, IT WAS SOYBEANS VERSUS COTTON.

NOW IT'S MUCH MORE, THERE WERE VERY FEW, BASS YOU CAN'T -- BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FIND THEM, THERE'S NO RURAL DEMOCRATS LEFT, AND THERE'S NO URBAN REPUBLICANS.

>> Mary: HISTORY WILL BE MADE TONIGHT, PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSING THE NATION, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS PRESIDING OVER THE CHAMBER.

YOU MADE HISTORY HERE IN MINNESOTA.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT REPRESENTATION.

YOU PICKED A WOMAN OF COLOR TO BE YOUR RUNNING MATE AS WELL.

WHAT HAS THAT MEANT FOR YOU TO HAVE PEGGY FLANAGAN BY YOUR SIDE AND HOW HAS IT IMPACTED?

>> WHAT IT MEANS IS TO HAVE A DIFFERENT VOICE AT THE TABLE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

HAVING SOMEONE WHO'S LIVED THAT EXPERIENCE, BRINGS THAT VOICE TO A TABLE, AND THEN POLICY IS CRAFTED WITH THOSE VOICES.

I THINK TONIGHT, ALSO, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF JUST LIKE THERE WERE IN MINNESOTA, A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LITTLE GIRLS SEEING, THAT'S WHERE I CAN END UP, THAT'S WHERE I SHOULD END UP.

AND THAT'S A POWERFUL STATEMENT ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

AND IF OUR GOVERNMENT REFLECTS THE WAY OUR SOCIETY LOOKS, THAT'S A MUCH BETTER -- YOU'RE GOING TO GET MUCH BETTER POLICY.

>> Mary: LAST QUESTION, WE'RE STILL AN INCREDIBLY PARTISAN PITCH TIME, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE CALMED YET.

WHAT'S YOUR FINAL WORD ON THAT?

>> WELL, I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

I CAN'T MAKE THAT WORSE.

I THINK I CAN CALL OUT WHERE I DISAGREE VERY STRONGLY WITH REPUBLICANS.

I'M NOT INTERESTED IN RESTRICTING VOTING, FOR EXAMPLE.

BUT I HEAR 'EM.

IF THEY WANT TO COMPROMISE AROUND TAXATION OR SOME OF THESE BILLS, AND I THINK EACH OF US NEEDS TO TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

AND IF YOU LISTEN TO FOLKS, TRULY LISTEN, YOU'LL HEAR SOME TRYING TO DO THAT.

AND I'M NOT POLLYANNAISH, BUT I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH, GOVERNOR.

NICE TO HAVE YOU IN THE STUDIO.

>> OH, IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >> MARY: UP NEXT, OUR SERIES OF FRESHMAN LAWMAKERS CONTINUES.

THIS WEEK, WE MEET A TEACHER TURNED LAWMAKER WHO WAS ENCOURAGED TO MAKE THE CAREER SHIFT BY HER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WHY DID YOU WANT THE JOB?

WHY DID YOU WANT TO COME TO THE CAPITOL?

>> WELL, I'LL BE HONEST, I DIDN'T.

[ Laughter ] BUT I WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

I WAS ASKED TO RUN SEVERAL TIMES AND JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THIS WAS THE THING FOR ME OR THE TIME OR WHATEVER.

I HAD TOLD -- I WAS TEACHING TENTH GRADE ENGLISH AT THE TIME AND I WAS TELLING MY STUDENTS THAT I HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASKING ME TO RUN FOR OFFICE, AND THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING, AND I SAID, I'M TOTALLY NOT DOING THIS.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

AND THEY SAID, Mrs. MUELLER, YOU ALWAYS TELL US THAT OUR VOICE MATTERS.

I'M LIKE, YOU CAN'T USE MY WORDS AGAINST ME.

>> Mary: WHO TALKED YOU INTO IT ULTIMATELY?

>> MY STUDENTS TALKED ME INTO IT.

>> Mary: THE SENATE SEAT FLIPPED OVER THERE, THE HOUSE SEAT FLIPPED OVER THERE, THERE WAS MAJOR CHANGE IN THE AUSTIN AREA WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS, WHY IS THAT?

>> MY SLOGAN DURING MY CAMPAIGN WAS BE BRAVE, BE FREE, AND WITH A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING WITH THE PANDEMIC, I THINK THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH SOME PEOPLE TO REALLY, LET'S NOT LIVE IN A PHILOSOPHY OF ZEROISM, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, RESPECTFULLY LOOKING AT HOW TO REACT TO THIS PANDEMIC WITHOUT COMPLETELY SHUTTING EVERYTHING DOWN AND RUINING OUR ECONOMY AND OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR SCHOOLS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WE DOOR KNOCKED OVER 10,000 DOORS.

AND WE WENT TO PLACES THAT I WAS TOLD BY THE CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY HADN'T SEEN A POLITICIAN THERE IN 15 YEARS.

>> Mary: YOUR DEMOGRAPHICS THERE HAVE CHANGED, DIVERSITY AND EQUITY, INCLUSION, THOSE ISSUES MATTER, I'M GUESSING, MORE THAN EVER DOWN THERE, AS YOUR DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE SHIFTED.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CHOOSING TO CALL AUSTIN THEIR HOME.

AND SOME OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE COST OF LIVING AND BEING ABLE TO FIND A GOOD JOB AND BEING ABLE TO RAISE THEIR FAMILY WITH SOME REALLY GREAT AWESOME TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT AUSTIN IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE REALLY TOTALLY TORN THE CITY APART AND, INSTEAD, WE HAVE COME TOGETHER AND REALLY EMBRACED THESE ETHNICITIES THAT HAVE COME IN AND SHARED THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR LIVES WITH US AND IT HAS MADE US SUCH A BETTER COMMUNITY.

>> Mary: AUSTIN AND SPAM ARE SYNONYMOUS AND THAT'S ALSO PART OF THE REGION THE REGION IS MORE DIVERSE, TOO, IS BECAUSE OF THAT HISTORY OF FOOD PROCESSING.

TELL ME HOW THAT HAS CHANGED YOUR COMMUNITY AND HOW THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THE COMMUNITY HISTORY, BOTH THOSE THINGS.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

OBVIOUSLY WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY COMMUNITIES THAT IS CONSIDERED SMALL BUT HAS A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY IN MY DISTRICT.

SO NOT ONLY DO I HAVE LEGACY FARMERS, I HAVE A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY, WHICH IS JUST AWESOME.

ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT, THOUGH, IS THE HORMEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND THE HORMEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE HAS REALLY TOP-NOTCH RESEARCHERS THAT COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WE HAVE A LOT OF VISITING SCHOLARS THAT COME AS RESEARCHERS.

AND ARE LOOKING AT HOW TO, YOU KNOW, BEAT CANCER AND LOOK AT, I MEAN, JUST REALLY INNOVATIVE THINGS.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT ALSO COVID AND THE FOOD INDUSTRY BECAUSE THOSE AREAS HAVE BEEN HIT.

HOW HAS THE IMPACT BEEN FOR, YOU KNOW, THOSE ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO HAD TO KEEP GOING IN TO WORK DURING THIS PANDEMIC?

>> YEAH.

THE PANDEMIC REALLY ILLUMINATED HOW DELICATE BALANCE SOME OF OUR FOOD SOURCES ARE AND THE FOOD CHAIN AND, SO, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO BE SAFE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE PROPERLY PROTECTED, BUT SOME OF THAT ALSO AFFECTED, YOU KNOW, THAT HAD A RIPPLE EFFECT OUTSIDE OF ALL OF THE SPECIFIC CHANGES.

>> Mary: YOU'RE IN THE HOME STRETCH, ACTUALLY.

WHAT ARE THE SURPRISES SO FAR, BIGGEST SURPRISE?

>> THIS JOB IS OVERWHELMING.

IT'S ALL CONSUMING.

AND IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.

I DON'T TAKE THIS JOB LIGHTLY.

I TOOK A LEAVE OF ABSENCE SO THAT I COULD JUST DO THIS JOB.

BECAUSE MY CONSTITUENTS DESERVE TO HAVE A FULL-TIME LEGISLATOR FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY NEED.

♪♪♪ >> YEAH, I RAN FOR THE MINNESOTA HOUSE IN 2016 AND AGAIN IN 2018.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING TO ME ABOUT THE PROCESS OF RUNNING FOR POLITICS THAT IS VERY UPLIFTING.

I KNOW THIS MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE BIT NAIVE, AND I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, BUT I'M A LOT MORE INTERESTED IN THE PROCESS THAN I AM IN THE RESULT.

AND, SO, THROUGH THE ACTIVE CAMPAIGNING, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMUNITIES STRONGER, SO THAT'S WHY I'VE STAYED IN THE BUSINESS.

>> Mary: HAVE YOU DISCOVERED SINCE YOU'RE NOW IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE SENATE IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE HOUSE?

>> YES.

THAT IS TOTALLY TRANSPARENT.

OBVIOUSLY NEVER HAVING SERVED IN THE HOUSE, I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS IN THERE, I WAS FAIRLY INVOLVED WITH THEM, I WAS CAMPAIGNING WITH THEM, IT'S COMPLETELY A DIFFERENT WORLD.

AND TO BE TOTALLY CANDID, BECAUSE IT'S JUST ME AND YOU, RIGHT, I THINK THAT I ENDED UP WHERE I BELONG.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN AGAIN NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHEN THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE FEWER THAN TWO WEEKS LEFT BEFORE ADJOURNMENT.

WE'LL BE HERE THE WHOLE WAY.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC, WATCH ANY OF OUR SHOWS, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S.

FOLLOW US ALL WEEK ON FACEBOOK, LOOK FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

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, EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

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

ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH ATTORNEY GENERNAL KEITH ELLISON ABOUT THE CHAUVIN TRIAL VERDICT AND WHAT'S AHEAD, KAOMI LEE HAS AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING ENBRIDGE LINE THREE, AND I'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BROADER CONTEXT OF HOW MINNESOTA'S CENSUS FORMS SAVED A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

"ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TV STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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