>> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION 19:00:01:27 ASSOCIATION.

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

DAV OF MINNESOTA: KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO MINNESOTA'S VETERANS MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

>> MARY: WITH THE SNOWSTORM, BUSINESS AT THE CAPITOL CONCLUDED AND LAWMAKERS HAVE GONE HOME.

SO, WE BRING YOU THIS SPECIAL LOOK AT A NUMBER OF NOTABLE FIGURES WHO HAVE LEFT THE LEGISLATURE.

WE START WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS, THAT OF SENATOR TOM BAKK.

HE WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 1994, HERE IN THE HOUSE AS A DEMOCRAT, THEN WENT OVER TO THE SENATE AND BECAME MAJORITY LEADER.

AND IN 2020, HE LEFT HIS PARTY TO CAUCUS WITH THE REPUBLICANS AND OFFICIALLY BECOME AN INDEPENDENT.

I SAT DOWN FACE TO FACE FOR A RARE IN-PERSON INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR BAKK ABOUT HIS FINAL EMOTIONAL SESSION.

TOM BAKK, SAME QUESTION EVERYBODY GETS AS THE FIRST QUESTION, WHY NOW?

>> YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.

AND I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS LEAVING.

AND I JUST THINK I'M PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT TOO OLD AND A LITTLE SHORT ON ENERGY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND MY EXPERIENCE TO PROBABLY A THIRD OF A NEW LEGISLATURE.

A LOT OF THE LEGISLATURE'S GOING TO TURN OVER.

>> MARY: THIS CANNOT BE EASY FOR YOU, THOUGH.

YOU'VE HAD A HUGE IMPACT, PHYSICALLY ON THIS BUILDING, IN LEADERSHIP, YOU LED ONE CAUCUS, YOU CAME CLOSE TO LEADING ANOTHER CAUCUS.

YOUR IMPRINT HERE IS BIG.

THAT HAS TO BE HARD TO LEAVE.

>> YOU KNOW, A SPENT A COUPLE MONTHS REALLY MULLING IT VERY HARD.

AND I CAME TO A POINT OF DESCRIBING IT LIKE, THERE ARE PROBABLY ONLY A COUPLE TIMES IN LIFE WHEN YOU COME TO A FORK IN THE ROAD, WHEN YOU TAKE IT, LIFE IS NEVER THE SAME.

I LOVE THIS PLACE.

BUT EVERYBODY'S REPLACEABLE.

>> MARY: HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR IS YOUR BEST FRIEND AND OFFICE MATE HERE ACROSS THE HALL, HOW HARD WOULD IT BE TO BE HERE WITHOUT DAVID TOMASSONI?

>> THAT KIND OF CUTS BOTH WAYS.

BECAUSE HIM AND I ARE CLOSE, CLOSE FRIENDS.

I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ONE-TWO PUNCH FOR THE IRON RANGE AND MAYBE FOR RURAL MINNESOTA IN GENERAL FOR A LONG, LONG TIME HERE, DECADES.

>> BONDING IS BIG.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> I TOLD YOU WE WERE A ONE-TWO PUNCH.

>> AND BEING WITHOUT MY SIDEKICK HERE SEEMED PRETTY DIFFICULT, AND, AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS PULLED TO STAY BECAUSE LEAVING THE IRON RANGE WITH NO SENIORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST PLACE TO LEAVE THEM.

>> MARY: WHAT ABOUT THE POLITICS OF IT?

DOES YOUR SEAT AUTOMATICALLY GO REPUBLICAN?

>> NO, I THINK IT'S A SWING DISTRICT NOW.

AND I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

I THINK SWING DISTRICTS ARE A GOOD THING.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE SWING DISTRICTS IS THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE PREVAILS.

>> MARY: YOU HAVEN'T TALKED THAT MUCH ABOUT BEING THE KING OF THE IRON RANGE DELEGATION AND YOUR TIME AS TAX CHAIR.

TO ME, IT SEEMED LIKE YOU ENJOYED THAT JOB ALMOST MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

>> PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

AND I TAKE SPENDING MONEY, AND I THINK ALL TAX COMMITTEE MEMBERS TAKE SPENDING MONEY MORE SERIOUSLY THAN OTHER MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

EVERY DIME WE SPEND WE TAKE OUT OF SOMEBODY'S WALLET.

AND THAT'S SERIOUS.

>> MARY: DO YOU LEAVE WANTING TO BE DESCRIBED AS A DEMOCRAT, A REPUBLICAN, AN INDEPENDENT?

HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE THOUGHT OF?

>> I'M A CARPENTER.

AND IF THERE'S ONE OCCUPATION OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S MORE PROBLEM SOLVERS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT CARPENTERS SOLVE PROBLEMS BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, YOU NEVER GET ANYTHING BUILT.

I THINK THAT'S HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED, NOT AS A DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN, INDEPENDENT, SOMEONE WHO CAME HERE WHO JUST WANTED TO GET WORK DONE, WHETHER IT'S BUILDING A NEW STADIUM, TRAILS, ONE OF MY PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IS ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT AND I KNOW WHO REALLY DID IT AND IT WAS ME.

I WAS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND I HAD TO GET UP AND WALK OUT OF THE MEETING BECAUSE I TOLD HIM I WASN'T GOING HOME WITHOUT IT.

I THINK THE VIKINGS WOULD BE A TEAM IN CALIFORNIA BUT FOR ME.

WE'RE SITTING IN THERE WITH ALL THE PLAYERS, ABOUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A NEW STADIUM.

AND NO ONE HAD AN IDEA.

AND THE SPEAKER SAID, I'LL PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE BUT I'M NOT RAISING TAXES TO PAY FOR IT.

I SAID, HOW ABOUT IF WE USE ELECTRONIC PULL TABS?

NOT ONE PERSON IN THE ROOM KNEW WHAT IT WAS.

I KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT ELECTRONIC PULL TABS BECAUSE I WAS A FORMER TAX CHAIR.

AND THE GOVERNOR LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT DOES IT RAISE ANY MONEY?

AND I SAID, ABOUT $70 MILLION A YEAR.

AND HE LOOKED OVER TO HIS COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE AND HE SAID, MYRON, YOU LOOK INTO THAT.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE STADIUM GOT SOME LEGS UNDER IT.

I WAS JUST THE MINORITY LEADER AT THE TIME.

BUT WHEN WE FINALLY GOT THE BILL UP TO THE FLOOR, I HAD TO PUT MORE VOTES UP FROM MY CAUCUS, THE MINORITY CAUCUS, THAN THE MAJORITY DID TO GET IT OVER THE FINISH LINE.

THIS CAPITOL, THE NEW SENATE BUILDING, YOU CAN SEE MY PERSONAL GROUNDBREAKING ON IT.

>> MARY: THAT'S GOT TO STAND OUT FOR YOU.

THAT HAS TO BE ONE OF YOUR TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS, NOT JUST THE CAPITOL RENOVATION BUT THE SENATE BUILDING TOO.

>> THE CAPITOL COULDN'T HAVE BEEN RENOVATED WITHOUT THE NEW SENATE BUILDING, COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE.

THAT'S WHY FOR 40 YEARS, GOING BACK TO NICK COLEMAN, LEADERS WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WE KNEW THE CAPITOL NEEDED THE RENOVATION, NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THE SENATE, UNTIL A CARPENTER CAME ALONG.

I THINK TO BE REAL LEADERS, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE A LITTLE LONELY SOMETIMES.

MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOUR VISION OF WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> MARY: SO WHAT'S YOUR SECRET?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOTTEN AN AWFUL LOT DONE.

HOW DID YOU DO IT?

WHAT CAN PEOPLE LEARN FROM YOU?

HOW CAN THEY DO THE SAME?

>> I WAS LUCKY.

WHEN I CAME HERE, IRV ANDERSON WAS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE FROM INTERNATIONAL FALLS, DOUG JOHNSON, MY SENATOR, WAS ONE OF THE FIXTURES IN THE SENATE.

THOSE TWO PEOPLE TOOK ME UNDER THEIR WING AND TAUGHT ME HOW THIS PLACE WORKS.

AND HOW IMPORTANT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IS.

YOU CAN GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE HERE, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE THE CREDIT.

THAT IS MY BEST ADVICE FOR FUTURE LEADERS.

>> MARY: REPUBLICAN SENATOR JULIE ROSEN WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2002.

IN HER 20 YEARS AT THE CAPITOL, SHE BUILT A TOUGH GET 'ER DONE REPUTATION.

AND SOME OF HER TOUGHEST TASKS WAS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT THAT LITERALLY BUILT A STATEWIDE LEGACY.

>> MY SOURCES SAY YOU HAD CONSIDERED RETIRING BEFORE, AND EVERYONE TALKED YOU OUT OF IT BECAUSE YOU ARE A GET 'ER DONE LAWMAKER, AND FRANKLY, SENATORS HAVE SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN THE SENATE WITHOUT YOU GETTING IT DONE.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> WELL, THAT'S VERY KIND.

BUT I AM GOING TO THROW THE MAJORITY LEADER, SENATOR MILLER, UNDER THE BUS BECAUSE EVERY TIME HE WOULD TALK ME INTO RUNNING AGAIN.

HE'S ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS HERE.

AND I DID IT FOR HIM.

I DID IT BECAUSE I TRULY LOVE THE PEOPLE I SERVE IN DISTRICT 23 AND IT'S JUST BEEN AN HONOR BEYOND BELIEF TO SERVE THEM.

>> MARY: WHAT ABOUT THAT UNIQUE SKILL AND REPUTATION, THOUGH, IF YOU HAVE A BIG, TOUGH, LARGE, THORNY EXPENSIVE BILL, SENATOR ROSEN BECAME ONE OF THE PEOPLE YOU WANTED TO GO TO.

LET'S TAKE THE VIKINGS STADIUM, FOR INSTANCE.

>> BUILD THE STADIUM.

>> YOU DON'T WORK ON A BILL THIS HARD TO HAVE IT FAIL.

>> MARY: THAT WAS NOT EASY LIFTING.

HOW DID YOU DO IT?

>> NOBODY WANTED THAT BILL.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND IT WAS THE COMBINATION OF KNOWING HOW TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AROUND THE CAPITOL.

HAVING A HOUSE MEMBER, REPRESENTATIVE MORRIE LANNING, AND GOVERNOR DAYTON, COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT THE THREESOME.

NEVER IN MY 20 YEARS HAVE I EVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK SUCCINCTLY WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE HOUSE AND MOVE SOMETHING FORWARD WITH DIFFERENT PARTY LINES BUT AN AGENDA THAT WE DID NOT MOVE WITHOUT THE OTHER ONE BEING BEHIND.

IT WAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT I WAS VERY BLESSED TO BE A PART OF.

AND THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE STADIUM WHEN IT WAS BEING BUILT, I DID BREAK DOWN AND I CRIED.

IT'S A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE STATE.

>> MARY: I REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST CAME TO THE CAPITOL, HOW YOU HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

YOUR NICKNAME WAS SENATOR METH.

>> METH KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES.

>> MARY: IT WAS BECAUSE YOU OWNED THAT ISSUE.

AS A FRESHMAN, YOU CAME TO TOWN AND SAID, I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

IT'S GOING TO BE BIPARTISAN.

IT'S A PROBLEM.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU BECAME SENATOR METH?

>> THANK YOU, MARY, FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

IT JUST GIVES ME CHILLS.

I'LL TAKE THAT NICKNAME ALL DAY LONG.

THE METH LABS WERE COMING UP INTO THE SENATE DISTRICT THAT I SERVE, AND, SO, GOT A GROUP OF 30 PEOPLE TOGETHER, TWICE A MONTH, FOR NINE MONTHS TO DEVELOP THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE METH PACKAGE EVER IN THE ENTIRE NATION.

AND ONE OF THOSE PIECES WAS PUTTING YOUR SUDAFED BEHIND THE COUNTER.

IT DID MAKE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THOSE METH LABS AND IT BROUGHT METH DOWN JUST DRASTICALLY IN THE STATE.

>> MARY: DO YOU HAVE SOME GOOD FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS THE AISLE THAT MAYBE WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT?

>> OH, I HAD MANY.

I ADORED SENATOR BERGLIN.

>> MARY: LINDA BERGLIN WAS A TOUGH COOKIE, LET'S JUST BE HONEST.

>> YEAH, SHE WAS A TOUGH COOKIE.

ABSOLUTELY ADORED HER, RESPECTED HER.

WE GOT A LOT DONE TOGETHER.

AND SHE DID HELP ME OUT.

SHE MENTORED ME QUITE A BIT.

I WORKED WITH GOVERNOR DAYTON ALL DAY LONG BECAUSE WE DIFFERED IMMENSELY IN MANY AREAS, AND WHEN HE'D GET MAD AT ME, I KNEW IT.

HE WAS CONSISTENT AND HE WAS VERY FORWARD.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

AND, OF COURSE, GOVERNOR WALZ, HE WAS MY CONGRESSMAN IN THE FIRST DISTRICT.

SO I KNOW HIM VERY WELL.

AND WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND HE'S DONE A WONDERFUL JOB TOO.

AND, OF COURSE, GOVERNOR PAWLENTY, I MEAN, HOW CAN YOU -- I MEAN, HE WAS SUCH A JOY WITH GREAT SPIRIT.

AND SENSE OF HUMOR.

>> MARY: ANOTHER LITTLE KNOWN FACT, SOMETHING YOU DO AWAY FROM THE CAPITOL, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR BULL?

>> BULLS, PLURAL.

>> MARY: OH, PLURAL.

>> YES.

I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST FEMALE CONTRACTORS, STOCK CONTRACTORS IN THE NATION.

I'VE DONE IT FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

AND FINALLY WON THE WORLD FINALS WITH SMOOTH OPERATOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

>> MARY: HOW ABOUT PARTING ADVICE?

YOU HAVE BEEN A VERY EFFECTIVE LAWMAKER WHO GOT THINGS DONE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

HOW DID YOU DO IT AND WHAT WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE TO DO AS WELL?

>> IT'S THE SAME ADVICE I RECEIVED FROM DUANE BENSON BACK IN 2001, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS, DO THIS WELL.

YOU CAN GET A LOT DONE IN THE MINORITY.

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE.

BECAUSE I LEFT CHILDREN AT HOME TO DO THIS JOB.

SO I WASN'T GOING TO WASTE MY TIME HERE.

AND HE ALWAYS SAID, IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

AND I THINK I'VE DONE WELL WITH THAT.

>> DFL STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS MARIANI HAS REPRESENTED ST. PAUL FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

HE'S DECIDED IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER CHAPTER IN HIS LIFE.

>> THIS HAS BEEN COMING FOR QUITE A WHILE.

YOU KNOW, LAST THREE YEARS, YOU KNOW, WHEN MY PARTY GOT -- REGAINED CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, I WAS OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHAIR A COMMITTEE THAT I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO CHAIR.

THE SPEAKER WISELY DRAGGED ME INTO IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, TRAGICALLY, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AFTER THAT GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED IN MINNEAPOLIS.

AND IT THRUST OUR COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, MY CHAIRMANSHIP, RIGHT INTO THE EYE OF THE STORM.

>> MARY: DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEEDED TO STAY TO SEE THAT THROUGH, AS WELL, TO GET SOME OF THE POLICE REFORM THROUGH?

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE DELVED INTO IT RIGHT AWAY WHEN I WAS OFFERED THE COMMITTEE.

WE'RE A LITTLE BIT PROPHETIC, BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE ROCKET THIS WAS A PATTERN THAT WE'VE SEEN, IT WOULD CONTINUE AND HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVENE.

>> MARY: WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE POLICE REFORM, BUT YOU'VE DONE MANY OTHER THINGS ON IMMIGRATION AND EQUITY.

WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU IN YOUR CAREER?

>> YEAH, WHEN I CAME INTO THE LEGISLATURE, I HAD A LOT OF WORK AS AN ACTIVIST ON IMMIGRANT RIGHTS.

WHEN I TOLD PEOPLE THAT THAT WAS OF INTEREST TO ME, FOLKS WERE LIKE, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH STATE LEGISLATION?

AND I WAS JUST STUNNED.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, WHAT DOES THAT NOT HAVE TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATING LOCALLY.

AND FOR ME, I CARRIED A NUMBER OF THOSE BILLS.

BUT PROBABLY THE ONE THAT I FEEL MOST GOOD ABOUT IS THE MINNESOTA PROSPERITY ACT OR THE DREAM ACT, WHICH OPENED UP OPPORTUNITY IN OUR STATE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS TO UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS.

WE PROVIDE NOT ONLY ACCESS BUT WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID AND ASSISTANCE TO THOSE STUDENTS.

>> MARY: 30 YEARS AGO WHEN YOU CAME IN, I THINK PEOPLE ASSUMED MOST OF THE DIVERSITY WAS URBAN, AND WE'VE SEEN INCREDIBLE GROWTH, ESPECIALLY IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY OUTSIDE THE METRO.

SO HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THOSE RURAL LAWMAKERS TO CHANGE ON ISSUES, BREAK WITH PARTY, RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH THEIR DISTRICTS ARE CHANGING?

>> REGARDLESS OF THE ISSUE, I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE HALLMARK OF A TRUE LEGISLATOR, TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT.

YOU KNOW, WHICH IS, OUR WHOLE SYSTEM IS SET UP FOR US TO BE THE VOICES OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> MARY: YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN 30 YEARS, YOU'VE SEEN A LOT MORE DIVERSITY COME TO THE CAPITOL, PARTICULARLY IN THE HOUSE.

LOOKING OVER THE LANDSCAPE NOW, HOW IMPORTANT, WHY DOES THAT MATTER FOR MORE DIVERSE VOICES TO GET THERE?

>> THAT'S WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE, AS MINNESOTANS.

YOU KNOW, IF IT'S GOING TO BE GOVERNMENT, OF, BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE, THEN THOSE PEOPLE'S VOICES NEED TO BE THERE.

CHANGE, BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, I CAME IN THE '90S AS WELL AND REMEMBER IT BEING A VERY WHITE, VERY -- >> YEAH.

>> MARY: AND, YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT COMPLEXION AT THE CAPITOL HAS CHANGED AND IS CHANGING, HAS THAT BEEN REALLY REMARKABLE FOR YOU TO WITNESS?

>> IT'S BEEN REMARKABLE, FRANKLY, IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE LAST FEW YEARS.

QUITE HONESTLY, FOR MOST OF THOSE YEARS IT WAS A PRETTY HOMOGENOUS GROUP, AND IT WAS HOMOGENOUS NOT ONLY IN RACE BUT ALSO IN GENDER.

THE CHANGE HAS HUGE, MARY, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

WE'VE SEEN IT WITH THE CREATION OF THE POCI CAUCUS, FOR INSTANCE, AND THE DFL IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE OF COLOR, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE AS WELL.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN DRAMATIC.

AND I THINK IT'S ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE.

>> MARY: SO, FOR NEW LAWMAKERS COMING IN, BASED ON YOUR DECADES AND DECADES AND DECADES OF EXPERIENCE NOW, WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE?

WHAT WORKS?

WHAT'S EFFECTIVE?

>> DON'T THINK THAT IT'S ABOUT YOU.

THAT'S A HUGE MISTAKE.

I THINK IT'S TRUE GENERALLY, BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS WORK, AND THIS INSTITUTION, THIS IS ABOUT THE INSTITUTION.

YOU APPROACH IT WITH RESPECT, WITH A SENSE OF NURTURING IT AND TENDING TO IT, BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF IT, YOU SHOULD FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, ABSOLUTELY.

AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE LISTENING TO PERSPECTIVES THAT MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE.

OCCASIONALLY, MAYBE EVEN MORE THAN OCCASIONALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND ON STUFF THAT'S REALLY GOING TO MATTER.

>> MARY: REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE ROD HAMILTON HAS EXPERIENCED A LOT OF CHANGE IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE AND HERE AT THE LEGISLATURE SINCE HE FIRST TOOK OFFICE MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO.

>> I WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND MY TOES WERE TINGLING.

YOU AND I HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON, RIGHT?

I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.

I'VE ALWAYS TOLD PEOPLE BACK HOME, DON'T VOTE FOR ME OR AGAINST ME, BECAUSE I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, WHEN I FIRST RAN, I WAS PHYSICALLY YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO RUN, TOO, JUST LIKE YOU, MARY.

I DID.

AND I WAS RUNNING.

AND TODAY I'M IN A WHEELCHAIR.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE EQUATION, BUT THAT'S NOT THE FINAL PIECE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.

IT ISN'T.

IT'S GREATER THAN THAT.

WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED, I FELL INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION.

AND WHEN I BROKE DOWN AND SAID, YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOME HELP.

I ALSO WANT TO RAISE THE UNDERSTANDING THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS REAL AND IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP.

>> THIS IS REAL PEOPLE.

>> MARY: ONE WORD I THINK OF AS EMPATHY, AS A LAWMAKER AND AS A HUMAN BEING, I SEE YOU SHOWING EMPATHY.

HELPED YOU BE A MORE EMPATHETIC LAWMAKER?

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

WITHOUT A DOUBT.

WHEN YOU WALK OR ROLL IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES, YOU LOOK AT LIFE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO I GUESS THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I PRIDED MYSELF ON, TOO, IS THAT YOU JUST LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND HEAR WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE.

>> MARY: YOUR DISTRICT HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN ALMOST THE TWO DECADES YOU'VE BEEN THERE.

AND YOU HAVE STOOD OUT AND STOOD UP AND TALKED ABOUT REFUGEES, IMMIGRATION, DIVERSITY, AND EMBRACING THAT.

WHEN NOT NECESSARILY A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU WERE DOING THE SAME.

>> I WAS INVITED DOWN TO THE CITY OF WORTHINGTON, PEOPLE WERE REACHING OUT TO ME AND SAYING -- SAID, COME DOWN, AND MEET WITH THE IMMIGRANTS, MEET WITH THE REFUGEES.

SO I GO DOWN THERE.

THEY WERE SHARING THEIR PERSONAL STORIES.

AND NOT ONLY DID I GAIN A GOOD UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THEIR STORIES, I MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS BY DOING THAT.

MARY, OVER 80% OF THE STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY IN WORTHINGTON ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR, MIDDLE SCHOOL IT WOULD BE ABOUT 75%, HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT 70%.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR FUTURE.

>> MARY: I THINK IT DOES CONNECT WITH AGRICULTURE.

YOU'VE BEEN AN AGRICULTURE CHAIR, THE REALITY IN AMERICA, IN MINNESOTA, WE NEED IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, TO PICK, PROCESS OUR FOOD.

>> IT USED TO BE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, IF YOU WILL, COMING TO THE UNITED STATES.

NOW WE HAVE A BIT LARGER INFLUX OF PEOPLE COMING UP FROM CENTRAL AMERICA.

THAT'S PART OF IT, THE FIRST GENERATION, BUT YOU ALSO LOOK AT THE SECOND GENERATION, WE HAVE MANY BUSINESS OWNERS AROUND HERE, WE'VE SAID A LOT OF TIMES WE FEAR WHAT WE DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND.

WHETHER IT'S THE WAY WE CHOOSE TO WORSHIP, THE WAY WE DRESS, THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN.

IF WE WOULD SIMPLY TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER, WE'LL FIND BEAUTY ALL AROUND US.

I SUPPORTED THE DREAM ACT.

THAT WAS IN-STATE TUITION FOR STUDENTS WHO WERE UNDOCUMENTED.

I SUPPORT THE DRIVER'S LICENSE BILL, AND THAT'S FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

AND THE REASON I DO THAT IS BECAUSE I MET THE FAMILIES, I MET PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS.

>> MARY: HOW HARD IS IT TO DEFY YOUR PARTY AND YOUR PARTY LEADERS ON THAT?

>> IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND THAT'S KIND OF THE FILTER THAT I RUN THINGS THROUGH.

>> MARY: ANY REGRETS?

>> THE MOST DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT PART IS BEING AWAY FROM FAMILY.

WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, OUR SON WAS IN SIXTH GRADE, OUR DAUGHTER WAS IN FOURTH GRADE.

AND I DIDN'T REALIZE OR TOOK IT FOR GRANTED THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT ACTUALLY TAKES TO BE A LEGISLATOR.

THEY ALWAYS SUPPORTED, THEY WANTED THEIR DAD TO DO THIS.

BUT I WAS THE ONE THAT MISSED OUT.

I CAN'T GET THAT BACK.

>> MARY: HOW ABOUT ADVICE FOR OTHER LAWMAKERS?

>> ONE WOULD BE, YOU HAVE TWO EARS AND ONE MOUTH.

USE THEM ACCORDINGLY.

LISTEN TO PEOPLE.

IT'S INCREDIBLE THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY BEING PROVEN WRONG FAR OUTWEIGHS THE PRIDE OF BEING RIGHT.

AND, SO, IF YOU CAN LEARN STUFF FROM OTHERS, THAT'S VERY VALUABLE, RIGHT?

THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS IT'S OKAY TO CHANGE YOUR POSITION ON THINGS, JUST BY ONCE AGAIN, THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY LISTENING TO OTHERS, I'VE CHANGED MY POSITION ON THINGS.

>> MARY: FINALLY TONIGHT, DFL MINORITY LEADER MELISA LÓPEZ FRANZEN WAS NOT ORIGINALLY PLANNING TO LEAVE THE LEGISLATURE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

BUT THEN REDISTRICTING PAIRED HER WITH ANOTHER DFL SENATOR.

IS IT AS SIMPLE AS REDISTRICTING?

>> OF COURSE NOT.

>> MARY: WITHOUT REDISTRICTING, THOUGH, IN THE SAME DISTRICT, WOULD YOU FOR SURE BE RUNNING AGAIN?

>> OF COURSE.

>> MARY: WHAT POSSIBLY IS NEXT?

>> IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

TO HAVE THE CORNER OFFICE AT THE CAPITOL, I CAN PINCH MYSELF.

I GREW UP IN PUERTO RICO, NEVER KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO END UP HERE.

AND HERE WE ARE.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S NEXT.

AND I'M HAPPY AND EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.

I'M VERY SAD ABOUT LEAVING THIS PLACE AND IT WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.

>> MARY: YOU KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE UPSET THAT YOU'RE LEAVING AND UPSET TO BE LOSING AN UP-AND-COMING WOMAN, A MEMBER OF THE POCI CAUCUS, A PERSON REALLY SEEN ON THE ASCENDENCY.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE THAT ARE UPSET THAT YOU ARE NOT RUNNING AGAIN?

AND THAT A MAN IS RUNNING IN THE DISTRICT YOU COULD HAVE RUN IN?

>> LIFE HAPPENS.

SO IT'S A PAUSE, I'D SAY.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE AWAY FROM PUBLIC SERVICE BUT I WON'T BE A STRANGER TO THE LEGISLATURE.

I SAY I'M GOING TO SUPPORT OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME, OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE LITTLE KIDS WHO WANT TO COME INTO PUBLIC OFFICE, KNOWING THAT IT'S REALLY HARD AND THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR WOMEN LIKE ME TO STAY IN POLITICS.

>> MARY: I WAS IN AN EDINA BOOKSTORE AND AN EMPLOYEE PULLED ME ASIDE AND SAID, I AM SO ANGRY THAT THE SENATOR FROM EDINA DOESN'T GET TO RUN AGAIN AND I WANT HER TO BE THERE, AND I'M MAD AT THE PERSON WHO IS RUNNING.

YOU'VE SEEN -- THERE HAS BEEN KIND OF A VISCERAL REACTION, AND IT'S NOT STRICTLY PARTISAN.

>> LIKE I SAID TO MY CAUCUS, - IT'S ABOUT A TEAM.

IT'S NOT ABOUT ONE PERSON.

IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER.

AND I'M ACTUALLY VERY FLATTERED OF HEARING SO MUCH OF THAT EMOTION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU THINK IT'S LONELY, BUT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND THEY CARE AND THEY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.

SO IT'S BEEN HEART WARMING.

>> MARY: WHAT ABOUT NOT JUST WOMEN RUNNING AND WOMEN GETTING ELECTED, BUT WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP?

THE SENATE HAS STILL ONLY HAD ONE FEMALE MAJORITY LEADER.

WE'VE HAD, I BELIEVE, TWO MINORITY LEADERS, STILL, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING JUST A HANDFUL SO FAR.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I EVEN BUMPED INTO FORMER SENATOR AMY KOCH THE OTHER DAY AFTER I HAD ANNOUNCED AND WE'RE PLANNING TO MEET UP BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

IT IS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS.

AND IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.

AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF US IN THIS ASCENSION, IF YOU WILL.

SO WE NEED OTHER WOMEN TO STEP UP AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM REGARDLESS OF PARTY LINES.

>> MARY: THE POCI CAUCUS HAS GROWN QUITE A BIT.

DEFINITELY IN THE HOUSE AND KIND OF SLOWLY IN THE SENATE.

HOW ABOUT GETTING MORE DIVERSE VOICES AT THE CAPITOL?

WHAT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THIS NEW REDISTRICTING, A LOT OF DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FROM OTHER MEMBERS, INCLUDING LATINO MEMBERS, GOING TO GO FROM TWO TO ZERO IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

THERE'S MORE RETIREMENTS, AS WELL, FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE HOUSE, RENA MORAN, REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO BACKWARDS IN TERMS OF OUR DIVERSITY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE IT IN OUR MEMBERS, THAT WE ARE CONSCIOUS ABOUT BRINGING THOSE VOICES TO THE TABLE AND IN OUR STAFF.

>> MARY: YOU HAVE BEEN THERE ALMOST A DECADE.

YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF A LOT OF BILLS.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

>> I AM MOST PROUD OF JUST GETTING TO KNOW MY COLLEAGUES AND WORKING ACROSS PARTY LINES.

I HAD ONE HEARING WITH SENATOR INGEBRIGTSEN RIGHT NEXT TO ME, WE'RE PRESENTING THE SAME ISSUE OF YOUTH INTERVENTION, AND WE PRESENTED THAT TOGETHER IN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

I'M GOING TO MISS THAT TYPE OF WORK THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T NECESSARILY SEE DAY TO DAY.

>> MARY: EVERY RETIREE HAS REVEALED THAT THEY HAVE REALLY GOOD, SOMETIMES SECRET FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS THE AISLE.

DO YOU HAVE SOME BUDDIES THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT?

>> SENATOR ABELER COMES TO MIND.

HE'S ALWAYS REACHED OUT PERSONALLY WHEN THERE'S GOOD AND BAD NEWS ON MY END.

HE ALWAYS EXTENDS A HAND OR A NOTE AND A TEXT.

AND THAT'S REALLY APPRECIATED.

NOT ALL MEMBERS DO THAT.

>> MARY: YOU'VE BEEN THOUGHT OF FOR A LOT OF OFFICES.

YOU KNOW, YOUR LEGAL BACKGROUND, TOO.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN LAW, A JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT, ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT APPEALS TO YOU NOW?

>> NO EYE ON ANY PARTICULAR PLACE.

I THINK POLITICS IS A LOT OF TIMING AND LUCK AND A LOT OF HARD WORK, AND IF THOSE ALIGN AGAIN FOR ME IN THE FUTURE, I'M OPEN TO IT.

BUT IF I ONLY HAD TEN YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, TO BE MY ONLY PUBLIC SERVICE IN ELECTED OFFICE, I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT WORK.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

WATCH ANY OF OUR SHOWS, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S, CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE SERIES OF RETIRING LAWMAKER PROFILES.

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WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, PRESS CONFERENCES AND MUCH MORE ON THE CHANNEL YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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