TO KEEP IT.

>> Cathy: WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> CATHY: GOVERNOR WALZ RESORTED TO EXECUTIVE ACTION FOR ISSUES THAT HE COULDN'T GET TRACTION ON IN THE DIVIDED LEGISLATURE.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER TAKES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE DIFFICULT ONGOING ISSUES OF FRAUD AND GUN CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: AS THE MEMORIAL FOR FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MELISSA HORTMAN REMAINS AT THE CAPITOL AND WILL STAY DURING SESSION, THE ISSUE OF THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT TOOK HER LIFE CONTINUES TO VEX POLICYMAKERS.

>> WE'RE ALL VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE NOW IN MINNESOTA.

AND THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN SAYING IT, THEY'VE BEEN SAYING IT SINCE JUNE 14th, THEY'VE BEEN SAYING IT SINCE THAT HORRIFIC DAY AT ANNUNCIATION, THEY CONTINUE TO SAY IT.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR WALZ COULD NOT GET A OALITION TO ADDRESS GUN CONTROL OR BAN ASSAULT RIFLES IN A SPECIAL SESSION.

SO HE TURNED TO EXECUTIVE ORDERS, ESTABLISHING A STATEWIDE SAFETY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE MORE DATA ON GUN VIOLENCE AND IMPROVE EDUCATION ON SAFE STORAGE OF WEAPONS.

>> THERE'S TOO DAMN MANY GUNS AND THE WRONG TYPES OF GUNS ON THE STREET AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR, HOW DO YOU DEFINE A ASSAULT WEM, I DAMN WELL CAN DESCRIBE WHAT A ASSAULT WEAPON IS.

>> Mary: ALREADY PUT OUT A STATEMENT IT'S A CLEAR COMMISSION OF EAKNESS.

JUST WEEKS AGO, HE PROMISED A SPECIAL SESSION AND A VOTE ON AN SUPREME, PARTISAN GUN BAN.

EFFORT COLLAPSED BECAUSE HE COULDN'T GET VOTES FROM HIS OWN PARTY.

>> YOU'RE SURPRISED BY THAT, MARY.

WHAT A WEAK, HORRIBLE THING.

COME AND SAY IT IN FRONT OF THE PARENTS.

MARY, CAN YOU STATE FOR THE RECORD, CAN YOU SAY THE NAME OF THE -- >> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR.

>> WHAT'S HIS NAME?

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY R CHAIR.

>> THAT WAS HIS FIRST THOUGHT IN THE MIDST OF THIS WITH PARENTS AND MINNESOTANS ASKING US, OKAY.

MAKE SURE YOU SPELL HIS NAME RIGHT.

>> WHAT HAPPENED TO US ON AUGUST 27th IS OT SOMETHING WE WILL EVER BE OVER.

THE AFTERMATH IS STILL INCREDIBLY RAW.

WHAT WE LEARNED AND WHAT TOO MANY COMMUNITIES LEARN IS THAT GUN VIOLENCE DOES NOT RESPECT GEOGRAPHY, FAITH, OR POLITICS.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS FROM THE ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL SHOOTING DISTRICT SAID THIS WAS PERSONAL.

>> AFTER THE ANNUNCIATION SHOOTING, PARENTS AND STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE SAID THAT WE NEED TO ACT ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THE TIME IS NOW.

SINCE THEN, ONE SIDE OF THIS DEBATE HAS STALLED.

CHANGED THE SUBJECT OR STAYED SILENT.

>> TO THE ANNUNCIATION FAMILIES IN MY COMMUNITY, TO THE PARENTS AND THE KIDS AND THE STAFF, WHO IN YOUR GRIEF HAVE FOUND DETERMINATION AND COURAGE, I AM SO INSPIRED AND PROUD OF YOU.

>> MY COLLEAGUES BROUGHT FORWARD A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS, THE REPUBLICANS BROUGHT ZERO PROPOSALS TO THOSE HEARINGS.

>> THE HOUSE IS TIED 67-67.

THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS MADE VERY CLEAR THAT THERE ISN'T ONE VOTE IN THEIR CAUCUS FOR GETTING WEAPONS OF WAR OFF THE STREET.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S TALK OF A SPECIAL SESSION HAS BEEN A PARTISAN POLITICAL STUNT FROM THE BEGINNING.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAS NOT BEEN INTERESTED OR HAS NOT ACTED AS IF HE'S INTERESTED IN FINDING BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF SCHOOL SAFETY, THE PROBLEM OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE PROBLEM OF MENTAL HEALTH.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS HAVE FELT STRONGLY IN THEIR BELIEF OF A U.S.

SUPREME COURT PROTECTING GUN RIGHTS.

>> YOU KNOW WHO'S ONE OF THE MOST PRO SECOND AMENDMENT GROUPS IS THE SUPREME COURT.

THEY'VE RULED A NUMBER OF TIMES, IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT, IT CANNOT BE DEPRIVED THROUGH STATUTE.

>> WE ARE THE MURDER GUN CAPITAL OF THE PLANET BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO PROTECT GUN MANUFACTURERS.

>> WE'RE SELLING GLOCK RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TURNING A BLIND EYE AND ALLOWING -- [ SCATTERED APPLAUSE ] >> WE ARE TAKING A STEP, A STEP TOWARDS SAFETY AND A STEP TOWARDS COMMON SENSE.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR SAYS GUN CONTROL WORKS, INCLUDING EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS THAT DEMOCRATS PASSED.

>> IT'S TIME TO START REPORTING THAT THAT IS ALL BULL [ BLEEP ] IT DOES DO SOMETHING.

IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAIR ALSO SAYS WITH THE DFL GOVERNOR SLIPPING POLL NUMBERS, FOLLOWING FRAUD SCANDALS THAT WALZ IS RESORTING TO EXECUTIVE ORDERS WHICH CREATE MORE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY.

>> THIS FRAUD HAS BEEN PERPETUATED ON YOUR WATCH AND THE WHISTLEBLOWERS WHO REACH OUT TO US WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT ARE TERRIFIED.

AND THEY FEEL THAT THEY'VE BEEN RETALIATED AGAINST ALREADY.

>> WE ARE AGGRESIVELY SUSPENDING PAYMENTS WHENEVER OUR INVESTIGATORS SEE EVIDENCE OF FRAUD.

>> NO ONE HAS ANY TOLERANCE FOR FRAUD.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR CREATED A NEW POSITION TO ADDRESS FRAUD AND THE STATE EXTENDED A LICENSING PAUSE TO ADULT DAY CARE SETTINGS.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES IS THE LATEST IN SERIES OF MEASURES THE AGENCY SAYS IT'S TAKING TO TIGHTEN OVERSIGHT AND PREVENT AND STOP FRAUD.

>> DHS FACED A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM LEGISLATORS AND THE PUBLIC ON NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH AND NOT GETTING ENOUGH PROVIDERS LICENSED OR APPROVED OR ENROLLED.

>> Mary: MEANWHILE, THE HOUSE FRAUD COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO QUESTION.

>> IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SEEMS CONCERNING, WE LIFT IT UP AND WE PASS IT OVER TO OUR PARTNERS WHO DO INVESTIGATE ANY SORT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

>> IT IS TIME FOR US TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

I'M DONE!

AND IT MAKES ME SAD TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR STATE.