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

>> WE GATHER TONIGHT IN THE LONG SHADOW OF ALL THOSE TRAGIC TRANSFORMATIVE LOSSES.

AND YET THE STATE OF OUR STATE REMAINS STRONG.

>> STATE OF THE STATE REACTION AND A BUNCH OF BIPARTISAN IDEAS ON HOUSING.

WE'LL TALK WITH COCHAIRS, THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO, PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

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

MINNESOTA LOTTERY, SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT PROTECT MINNESOTA'S ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE IRON MINING ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA, EDUCATING MINNESOTANS ON THE IRON ORE INDUSTRY AND ITS ROLE FOR AMERICAN STEEL.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL," I'M MARY LAHAMMER COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY.

THERE'S JUST TWO AND A HALF WEEKS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND MUCH OF THE WORK REMAINS, BUT THERE IS SOME BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON THE ISSUE OF HOUSING.

WE'LL TALK TO COCHAIRS IN A MOMENT AND THE RETIRING COCHAIR OF THE CIVILITY CAUCUS.

BUT FIRST, IT'S ONE OF THE LATEST STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESSES IN MINNESOTA HISTORY.

FOR A GOVERNOR WHO RAN FOR VICE PRESIDENT AND FACED UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES BACK IN HIS HOME STATE.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> GOVERNOR TIM WALZ DELIVERED HIS FINAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>> WELL BE IT'S BEEN NO SECRET, THIS HAS BEEN AN UNIMAGINABLY DIFFICULT YEAR FOR MINNESOTA.

OUR SEASON OF GRIEF BEGAN LAST SUMMER WHEN WE LOST MELISSA AND MARK AND NEARLY LOST JOHN, YVETTE, AND HOPE HOFFMAN.

WE ARE SO DEEPLY RELIEVED AND GRATEFUL THAT JOHN IS BACK WITH US.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> FOR THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO HAD TO COME HOME AFTER HIS ONLY UNSUCCESSFUL RUN FOR OFFICE, IT'S BEEN A TUMULTUOUS TIME.

>> FOR NO REASON AT ALL WE LOST TWO ORE OF OUR NEIGHBORS, RENEE GOOD AND ALEX PRETTI.

WE GATHER TONIGHT N THE LONG SHADOW OF ALL THOSE TRAGIC TRANSFORMATIVE LOSSES AND YET THE STATE OF OUR STATE REMAINS STRONG.

>> SLIDING POPULARITY, MOUNTING FRAUD, AND INCREASED THREATS TO HIS FAMILY ALL PRECEDED WALZ ENDING HIS LONG POLITICAL CAREER IN THE STATE.

>> IT IS MY LAST STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ LAUGHTER ] >> NEXT YEAR -- I'LL TAKE IT.

BUT THE THINGS WE IMPLEMENTED WILL BE HERE FOR DECADES.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE LOOKING TO CONCLUDE THE END OF SESSION.

>> THE STATE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING.

AS YOU WELL REMEMBER, WE HAD $18 BILLION OF SURPLUS THAT WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE TAXPAYERS OF MINNESOTA.

>> IT WAS A DISAPPOINTING SPEECH IN A LOT OF WAYS BUT REALLY KIND OF A FITTING END TO WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIVISIVE GOVERNOR IN MINNESOTA'S HISTORY.

>> IT IS NOT A LEGACY OF AFFORDABILITY.

IT IS NOT A LEGACY OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT IS NOT A LEGACY THAT MAKES MINNESOTANS PROUD.

>> THE GOVERNOR CLEARLY HAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE LEGACY AS HE FINISHES UP HIS LAST STATE OF THE STATE TODAY AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF MAKING THAT HAPPEN UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SPEAKER HORTMAN.

>> WHAT I HEARD WAS HOPE AND PRIDE.

IT WAS A LOT OF PRIDE IN THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AS A COMMUNITY AND COMING THROUGH A VERY TOUGH YEARS AND FRANKLY A VERY TOUGH EIGHT YEARS.

>> ALSO REMINDED US THAT THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER ARE GOING TOGETHER ARE GOI PERSIST FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME EVEN THOUGH HE WILL NO LONGER BE IN OFFICE.

>> THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ACTION IN THESET IS STILL BEING FELT AS THE SOMALI COMMUNITY CAME TO THE CAPITOL.

>> BEING HERE IS HOW WE HEAL IN COMMUNITY.

WE TAKE ACTION, WE WORK, AND WE FIGHT BACK.

SOMALIS ARE MINNESOTANS AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.

>> LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING CREATING COMPENSATION FOR THE MANY BUSINESSES STATEWIDE IMPACTED BY OPERATION METRO SURGE WITH $100 MILLION IN FORGIVABLE LOANS.

>> IS IT ENOUGH?

WE BELIEVE IT'S NEVER ENOUGH, RIGHT BECAUSE THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS ALONE SAID THEIR BUSINESSES WERE IMPACTED OVER $200 MILLION, WHERE THE CITY OF ST.

PAUL SAID THEY WERE IMPACTED 165 MILLION-PLUS, RIGHT?

AND THAT'S JUST SOME OF THEM.

BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD.

>> I WANT TO COMPLIMENT ONE PART OF IT.

MEMBERS, MANY TIMES WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EQUITY BETWEEN GREATER MINNESOTA AND THE METRO.

>> THE MAJORITY HAS COMPLETELY MISSED THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $9 BILLION OF FRAUD.

WE'VE HAD HOMELESSNESS OCCUR.

WE'VE HAD SERVICES NOT BEING PROVIDED TO MINNESOTA RESIDENTS BECAUSE THE MONEYS HAVE BEEN STOLEN.

AND THAT HAS A REAL ECONOMIC IMPACT AS WELL.

AND THE MAJORITY WANTS TO PRETEND LIKE IT DOESN'T EXIST.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE HARM THAT WAS DONE IN DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY WITH THE METRO SURGE WHERE OUR OWN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS ATTACKING MINNESOTANS.

AND IT HIT HARDEST ON SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE BUSINESSES, AND MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

AND IT'S CAUSED UNTOLD DAMAGE AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN A RESPONSIBLE AMOUNT.

>> THE SENATE ALSO PASSED INCREASED SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES FOR A VARIETY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS, INCLUDING LAWMAKERS WHO WERE SHOT IN THEIR HOMES.

>> THIS BILL IS NOT SELFISH.

YOU KNOW WHAT WAS SELFISH?

THE DUDE WHO DROPPED 26 BULLETS IN MY HOUSE.

EIGHT THROUGH MY WIFE, NINE THROUGH ME.

DO THE MATH AFTER THAT.

THE CALM HAS TO OCCUR.

I'M A LITTLE TRIGGERED RIGHT NOW.

>> WE'RE SEEING A HEIGHTENED, TOXIC RHETORIC THAT'S START TO GO METASTASIZE INTO THE BLOODSTREAM OF OUR COUNTRY.

>> THIS DEBATE JUST ISN'T ABOUT US, IT'S ABOUT OUR FAMILIES, OUR SPOUSES, IT'S ABOUT YVETTE HOFFMAN, IT'S ABOUT MARK HORTMAN.

NOT JUST MELISSA HORTMAN AND JOHN HOFFMAN.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THIS BILL THAT HAVE WORKED SO HARD TIRELESSLY.

♪ >> Mary: THAT SECURITY BILL THERE IN THE SENATE GOT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

ANOTHER ISSUE THAT IS SEEING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE HOUSE WITH THE COCHAIR MODEL IS HOUSING, THAT'S WHO WE HAVE TONIGHT.

REPUBLICAN SPENCER IGO AND REPRESENTATIVE MIKE HOWARD.

SO, Mr.

CHAIR, LAST NIGHT, HOUSING GOT A SHOUT-OUT IN THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

THAT MEANS SOMETHING, RIGHT?

THAT MEANS HE ISSUE IS KIND OF RISING TO THE TOP?

>> ABSOLUTELY, I MEAN, HOUSING'S A TOP THREE ISSUE FOR EVERY SINGLE MINNESOTAN AND THE WORK THAT MY COCHAIR AND I HAVE BEEN DOING IS REALLY TRYING TO ELEVATE HAT AND GET THE FIXES DONE THAT ARE NECESSARY TO UNLOCK HOUSING IN THE STATE.

WE'RE 100,000 UNITS SHORT.

>> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT LINE?

YOU USED TO HELP COMMUNICATORS HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THE SHOUT-OUT TO THE $1 BILLION INVESTMENT WE MADE IN 2023 THAT'S MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO HELP FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS TO HELP STABILIZE AND BUILD THE KIND OF HOMES WE NEED.

IT'S ONE ELEMENT OF THE SOLUTION WHICH IS BUILD MORE HOMES AND UNLOCK MORE HOME PRODUCTION.

THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO HELP US MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HEAR ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE LIVING IN A DISTRICT UP NORTH, NORTHERN MY.

IF OR IN A DISTRICT IN THE SUBURBS HERE, BLUE OR RED.

>> SO TODAY THERE WAS AN EVENT AND I THINK YOU WERE PART OF THIS, TALKING ABOUT $42 MILLION THAT WAS INVESTED AND WANTING TO CONTINUE THAT.

TELL US ABOUT THAT AND WHAT WAS BEHIND IT.

>> WE'RE WANTING TO INVEST AND THERE'S MULTIPLE THINGS WE'RE DOING IN HOUSING, THE STATEWIDE HOUSING TAX CREDIT WHICH I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO WHICH IS A BILL I'M LEADING ON IN THE TAX COMMITTEE, LAID OVER, HOPING TO SEE IT PASSED.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS TAX CREDIT HAS EVOLVED IN A WAY WHERE THE PORTAL OPENS FOR PEOPLE TO SUBMIT THEIR TAX CREDIT AND IT FILLS UP IN TWO HOURS.

AND IT'S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE'RE SEEING BUSINESSES COMBINE WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS TO BUILD OUT HOUSING THEY NEED, WHETHER IT BE WORKFORCE OR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

>> THAT BILL WAS BIPARTISAN, DID YOU SUPPORT THAT >> I WAS THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR WITH THE STATE HOUSING TAX CREDIT AND WE PASSED THAT WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN 2020.

AND IT'S A INCREDIBLE TOOL FOR BUSINESSES OR MINNESOTANS TO SAY I WANT TO RAISE MY HAND AND CONTRIBUTE TO HOUSING IN MY COMMUNITY AND PUT SOME OF MY SKIN IN THE GAME AND RECEIVE THIS TAX CREDIT.

THE MORE RESOURCES WE PUT INTO THIS THE MORE HOUSING WE CAN BUILD AND IT'S A TOOL THAT'S HELPING COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> SO WHAT ARE ODDS FOR ANYTHING HAPPENING?

BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE DYNAMIC, YOU SERVE IN OTHER COMMITTEES.

TIE VOTE, TIE VOTE, IN COMMITTEE, ON THE FLOOR.

TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE HOUSING MEASURES, ARE THEY GOING TO GET THROUGH?

STANDAREN'T, ARE THEY GOING TO GET BUNDLED INTO BIGGER BILLS?

WHAT'S IT LOOKING LIKE?

>> YEAH, I'LL START WITH THE BILL WE HAVE PROBABLY ON MONDAY NOW, MY COCHAIR AND I PUT TOGETHER A BIPARTISAN SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET BILL THAT'S ACTUALLY BUDGET NEUTRAL SO DOESN'T AFFECT THE GENERAL FUND AT ALL BUT IT'S GOING TO INFLUX ABOUT $163.2 MILLION INTO STATE HOUSING.

WORKFORCE HOUSING ALONG WITH HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS THAT BUILD ALL SORTS OF HOUSING AROUND THE STATE.

SO WE'RE REALLY HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT BILL DONE AND NEGOTIATE IT VERY QUICKLY.

I THINK WE WERE FIRST TO THE FLOOR LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, AND IF THAT DOESN'T SAY SOMETHING ABOUT HOUSING I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOES.

>> YOUR FRIENDS IN THE SENATE WILLING TO PASS TOO?

IS IS >> WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT MANY TIE VOTES IN OUR HOUSING COMMITTEE, I THINK THERE'S SHARED ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF OUR CHALLENGES WHICH IS TO ADDRESS THIS HOUSING SHORTAGE AND THAT'S WHAT THE BILL WE'RE HOPEFUL TO PASS WILL DO O HELP US INVEST IN WAYS O BUILD NEW HOMES AND TO INCLUDE MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THAT PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT WISELY AND RETURNED BACK TO PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR MINNESOTANS.

AND WE THINK THERE'S AGREEMENT WITH THE SENATE THAT WE CAN MOVE ON THIS AND ACTUALLY GET THINGS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> Mary: THE ISSUE THAT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION AND WHEN I SAID, OH, WE GOTTA HAVE THESE GUYS ON THE SHOW IS THIS PRESS RELEASE, WHEN THE CITY OF LAKEVILLE, BOOMING SUBURB SAID WE'RE STOPPING ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION, MORATORIUM, AND THE TWO OF YOU ISSUED A STATEMENT TOGETHER.

LAKEVILLE IS REPRESENTED BY REPUBLICANS, HOW DO YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES FEEL ABOUT YOU OPPOSING THAT MOVE?

>> WELL IT WAS AN INTERESTING THING THAT HAPPENS, HAVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE MEMBERS FROM LAKEVILLE BUT ALSO WITH THE MAYOR.

I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR AND IF YOU WATCH HIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HE TALKED ABOUT HIS CONVERSATION AND HOW WE'RE COLLABORATING ON THE BILL.

OUR PRESS RELEASE, OF COURSE WE'RE DISAPPOINTED, WE'RE IN A HOUSING CRISIS AND NEED TO BUILD MORE HOMES.

LET'S BUILD ON THIS STEP TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER TO PASS REAL REFORMS THAT CUT RED TAPE AND MANDATES SO WE CAN BUILD MORE DIVERSE HOUSING AND BRING AFFORDABILITY BACK TO THE STATE.

>> Mary: IT GOT ATTENTION.

IS THAT SOMEHOW A GOOD THING >> WELL, UM, IT'S A REALLY BAD THING WHAT LAKEVILLE'S DONE AND A SIGN OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING FAR TOO OFTEN WITH CITIES WHICH ARE PUTTING ROAD BLOCKS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO BLOCK MINNESOTANS TO EXERT THEIR FREEDOM IT FIND A HOME.

WHEN WE HAVE 100,000 UNIT SHORTAGE IN ONE OF OUR FASTEST GROWING AREAS IS SAYING BASICALLY PUTTING A "KEEP OUT" SIGN IT'S A HUGE ISSUE FOR ECONOMIC TRENGTH IN THE LONG-TERM AND IT'S A HUGE ISSUE FOR THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I THINK YOU SEE WHETHER YOU HAVE A D OR R BY THE SIDE OF YOUR NAME A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE A LOT OF DEEP CONCERN ABOUT NOT JUST THIS MOVE Y LAKEVILLE BUT ALL OF THE WAYS THAT CITIES ARE CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR A BROKEN STATUS QUO AND PUTTING THE BRAKES WHEN WE NEED TO BE STEPPING ON THE GAS TO BUILD MORE HOMES.

>> Mary: AND I'M SURE THE CONNECTION FOR AKEVILLE AND THE ISSUE OF HOUSING IN GENERAL IS ITS CONNECTION TO BROADER ISSUES, WORKFORCE, ECONOMY.

HOW MUCH IS THIS REVERBERATING THAT WE'RE STILL IN A SHORTAGE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT ALL KIND OF GOES BACK TO 2008, RIGHT?

WE LOST SO MANY BUILDERS WE NEVER RECOVERED FROM.

WE HAD COVID IN THERE, OTHER FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE, WE NEVER REALLY REINVIGORATED WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO INTO THE HOUSING MARKET AND NOW WE'RE REALLY STRUGGLING AS WE'RE TRYING TO EXPAND MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY, PROVIDE MORE JOBS AND STABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE GOT TO GET RID OF RED TAPE ND A LOT OF THESE LAND USE AND ZONING POLICIES ARE DOING THAT.

I ALWAYS SAY WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS HAVE IVERSE HOUSING OPTIONS WHEN WE GET SUPPLY BACK UP WE'RE GOING TO RETURN AFFORDABILITY AND STABILITY FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> AND CONSTRUCTION HAS SLOWED DOWN SINCE OPERATION METRO SURGE.

>> WE'VE SEEN ALL KINDS OF INPUTS INTO OUR HOUSING SYSTEM THAT HAVE SLOWED DOWN THAT IS AN ISSUE WITH OUR WORKFORCE.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE HIGHER INTEREST RATES, ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE SORT OF OUTSIDE YOUR CONTROL THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO REDUCE FRICTION, REDUCE BARRIERS, THAT'S WHEN OUR STARTER HOME ACT IS ALL ABOUT.

SOMETHING THAT SPENCER AND I HAVE WORKED ON NOW FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

UNLESS WE FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD THE KINDS OF HOMES MINNESOTANS WANTS WE'RE NOT GOING TO EVER MEET OUR MOMENT.

PUBLIC INVESTMENT ALONE, LOOK, I'M A DEMOCRAT, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE MAKING PUBLIC INVESTMENTS.

I'LL SAY PUBLIC INVESTMENT ALONE ISN'T GOING TO GET THE JOB DONE, WE NEED TO UNLOCK THE PRIVATE MARKET AS WELL >> Mary: IT'S UNBELIEVABLE HOW GEOGRAPHY HAS DIVIDED SO MANY STATES, THE WHOLE COUNTRY, POLITICS, THIS IS A STATEWIDE ISSUE AND THE TWO OF YOU ARE SEEING EYE TO EYE AND YOU'RE FROM VERY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

HOW IS THIS THAT BRINGS YOU TOGETHER?

>> I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS, BEING A YOUNGER LEGISLATOR, HOUSING IS THE ISSUE THAT I GET A RANDOM TEXT MESSAGE FROM A FRIEND SAYS SAYS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT HOUSING?

FOR ME I HEAR ABOUT FROM FOLKS LIVING IN THE METRO I'M FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES WITH OR FOLKS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

MIKE AND I REALLY LEANED INTO LEARNING EACH OTHER'S DISTRICTS.

CAME UP TO HIBBING AND LEARNED ABOUT THE CITY.

AND ALSO THE ISSUES OF MY DISTRICT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FORM THAT RELATIONSHIP, LEARN BECOME WHAT'S GOING ON IN HIS DISTRICT JUST LIKE MINE AND REALIZE OUR JOBS ARE TO OUR DISTRICTS BUT WHEN WE BECAME CHAIRS IT'S ALSO TO MINNESOTA TO FIND THE SOLUTION.

>> SUBURBAN ISSUE AS WELL.

>> YEAH, I THINK TO YOUR QUESTION HOW WE'VE TREATED THIS ISSUE, IT'S A BIPARTISAN ISSUE IS REFLECTIVE OF HOW MINNESOTANS FEEL, WHEN FOLKS ARE TRYING TO AFFORD THEIR RENT OR CAN'T FIND A HOME, THOSE ISSUES ARE PLAYING OUT ACROSS KITCHEN TABLES ON THE IRON RANGE IN, SUBURBAN AREAS, IN RICHFIELD, IN THE METRO AREA.

MINNESOTANS DON'T SEE THE HOUSING CHALLENGES AS A PARTISAN ISSUE AND NEITHER SHOULD WE.

>> I THINK MINNESOTANS WILL APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION.

THANKS, YOU TWO.

REALLY GOOD.

>> THANKS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Mary: THIS WEEK'S RETIRING LAWMAKER JOINED THE HOUSE IN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND NOW AFTER THREE TERMS HERE, THE IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AND CIVILITY CAUCUS COCHAIR IS LEAVING.

>> HE MEMBER FROM RAMSEY, REPRESENTATIVE FEIST.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I RISE TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SPEAK ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, OR MY FIRST TIME TO ALK ABOUT THE VETERANS ESTORATIVE JUSTICE ACT AND I PROMISE I WILL KEEP IT SUCCINCT.

THIS BILL CREATES A STATEWIDE ACCESS TO A SPECIALIZED, RESTORATIVE SENTENCING STRUCTURE FOR ELIGIBLE VETERANS WHO HAVE COMMITTED CERTAIN OFFENSE S A DIRECT RESULT OF SERVICE RELATED CONDITION.

>> NURSES AT THE BEDSIDE ACT IS GETTING A STRONG RESPONSE AT THE CAPITOL AFTER MAYO'S POWERFUL OPPOSITION.

>> ANY OMPROMISE THAT WE WOULD ENTER INTO WOULD HAVE TO ACHIEVE THESE BILLS' GOALS.

AND THEY CANNOT INCLUDE THE LANGUAGE THAT MAYO CLINIC HAS PROPOSED.

THAT WOULD GUT THIS BILL, THAT WOULD EXEMPT EVERY SINGLE HOSPITAL IN MINNESOTA FROM OUR BILL.

THAT IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> Mary: ONE OF THE BIGGER BUDGET BILLS, PUBLIC SAFETY, FINISHED, AND ALSO CREATES RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND ORE POLICE FUNDING.

>> THE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING IN YOUTH ARE HISTORIC AND CRITICAL AND I THINK THIS IS THE BEST BUDGET I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

>> Mary: REPRESENTATIVE SANDRA FEIST, A DEMOCRAT, AND REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE KRISTIN ROBBINS.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GETTING GOOD LEGISLATION PASSED.

WHEN I FIRST WAS ELECTED I KNEW I WANTED TO FOCUS ON DATA PRIVACY AND SO IF IN MY FIRST SESSION I WAS WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY SCOTT AND NOW SENATOR ERIC LUCERO.

AND I DEVELOPED THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND IT MADE ME REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE BIPARTISAN RELATIONSHIPS.

>> O YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE MORE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN IN THE CIVILITY CAUCUS BECAUSE YOU'VE LEARNED HOW TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE?

>> I WOULD SAY EFINITELY.

I THINK YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY YOU COULD BE IN THE MINORITY AND TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND INCORPORATE THEIR INPUT BECAUSE, ABSOLUTELY, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Mary: WITH US NOW IN PERSON, REPRESENTATIVE SANDRA FEIST.

WELL, IT'S NOTABLE BECAUSE YOUR VERY FIRST YEAR AND YOUR VERY SPEECH WAS THROUGH A MASK.

WHAT IMPRESSION DID THAT LEAVE TO START DURING A PANDEMIC HERE?

>> YEAH, WHEN I THINK BACK ON MY FIRST TERM I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOT ANYTHING DONE BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH WORK THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU JUST HAPPEN TO RUN IN TO SOMEBODY AS YOU'RE LIKE HEATING UP YOUR SAD NOODLES FOR LUNCH.

AND DURING OUR FIRST SESSION FOR THAT FIRST YEAR WE WERE MOSTLY REMOTE AND A OT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAD TO BE VERY DELIBERATE AND MOSTLY BY ZOOM.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE EXPERIENCES WITH THE BILL PASSING WAS ACTUALLY AT HOME WATCHING THE HEARING IN MY HOME OFFICE AND I WAS LIKE ON THE FLOOR SCREAMING AS LIKE DRAMA WAS HAPPENING, SO YOU CAN'T DO THAT WHEN YOU'RE LIKE ON THE ACTUAL HOUSE FLOOR.

>> Mary: I KNOW SOME OF THE SEASONED LAWMAKERS HAVE SAID THE COVID CLASS WAS A LITTLE BEHIND BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T DO ALL OF THOSE IN-PERSON RELATIONSHIPS.

AND IT TOOK A LITTLE LONGER FOR THEM TO BUILD UP THE BIPARTISAN ACROSS THE AISLE.

BUT FOLKS HAVE SAID THAT SINCE THEN THEY FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE ALL MADE UP FOR LOST TIME.

LIKE YOU WERE BEHIND BUT NOW YOU'VE CAUGHT UP AND MAYBE EVEN EVERYTHING THE STATE HAS BEEN THROUGH SINCE THEN HAVE BROUGHT YOU TOGETHER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT ANALYSIS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE CORONA CLASS IS CURRENTLY THE MOST AWESOME CLASS, WE STARTED OUT AWESOME AND CONTINUED TO BE AWESOME.

WE DEFINITELY FACED SOME CHALLENGES AND REALLY MADE AN EFFORT JUST TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.

WE WOULD MEET BY ZOOM AND DO WEIRD GAMES ON PHONES JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A RELATIONSHIP, AND, YOU KNOW, IT DEFINITELY WAS A CHALLENGING ERA TO COME IN, BUT WE'VE DEFINITELY MADE OUR MARK AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT.

>> Mary: AND THEN GEORGE FLOYD IS KILLED AND WE JUST SAW YOU A MOMENT AGO TALKING ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

YOU WERE PART OF SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS WHEN, BIPARTISAN, I THINK IT WAS BIPARTISAN OLKS SAID WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> YEAH, WELL, MY FIRST SESSION I CAME IN AND THE VETERANS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ACT WAS REALLY WHAT BROUGHT ME TO RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

I CAME IN IN THE MIDDLE F A VERY COMPLICATED BILL THAT HAD, AS REPRESENTATIVE ECKLUND SAID, SOME LAWYER ISSUES.

SO HE ASKED ME TO COME IN AND HELP AND I GOT TO KNOW VETERANS AND ADVOCATES AND TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WHICH IS A WAY TO ADDRESS HARM THAT ENSURES ACCOUNTABILITY BUT ALSO IS A HEALING PROCESS THAT CAN PROVIDE MORE CLOSURE FOR VICTIMS.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT PASSED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

THAT WAS THE BILL THAT I WAS ON THE FLOOR IN MY OFFICE SCREAMING ABOUT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF TEARS AFTER IT PASSED BUT IT'S KIND OF STUCK WITH ME MY WHOLE TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Mary: OU MENTIONED LAWYER ISSUES.

YOU ARE AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY.

>> YES.

>> Mary: WHAT HAVE THE LAST THROUGH -- FEW MONTHS THROUGH OPERATION METRO SURGE BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?

>> IT'S BEEN VERY TOUGH, I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE THE WORDS FOR IT.

JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS MY ROLE AS AN ATTORNEY, WHAT IS MY ROLE AS A LEGISLATOR.

THE REASON I'M LEAVING IS PRIMARILY BECAUSE I FEEL THAT I NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON MY WORK AS AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY.

BUT AS A REPRESENTATIVE I WAS ALSO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS LIKE SHARING INFORMATION WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND SO I JUST KIND OF STRADDLED BOTH OF THOSE WORLDS, AND DID THE BEST I COULD IN A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE TIME.

>> Mary: AND YOU ALSO LOST THE PERSON WHO WAS YOUR LEADER THROUGH YOUR ENTIRE TIME HERE, HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT, WE'RE LOOKING AT HER FLOWERS, I CAN SEE THEM RIGHT NOW, HER MEMORIAL RIGHT BELOW US ON THE FLOOR.

IT'S AN EVERYDAY PRESENCE, THE LOSS OF MELISSA HORTMAN, HOW ARE YOU FEELING IT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, SHE WAS THE GLUE THAT HELD US TOGETHER.

SHE WAS ALSO A PERSON THAT WE ALL TRUSTED.

AND SO T DEFINITELY WE FEEL A BIT UNMOORED, I THINK WE ALL TRY TO LIVE UP TO WHAT SHE WOULD WANT US TO DO, HOW SHE WOULD WANT US TO TREAT ONE ANOTHER AND HOW SHE WOULD WANT US TO FORGET OUR WORK WITH SERIOUSNESS AND INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT.

AND SO I THINK WE'RE JUST TRYING TO LIVE UP TO WHAT SHE WOULD WANT S TO, AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT >> Mary: WHAT ABOUT ADVICE FOR THE PERSON WHO REPLACES YOU AND THE WHOLE NEW CROP OF DOZENS OF LAWMAKERS WHO ARE COMING?

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?

>> I HAVE SO MANY OPINIONS.

I MET WITH THE PERSON WHO'S RUNNING FOR MY SEAT AND IT WAS LIKE 7 HOURS, SO I WAS LIKE I HAVE MANY OPINIONS FOR YOU.

YOU KNOW, I CO-LEAD THE CIVILITY CAUCUS AND I JUST THINK THAT HAVING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS DIFFERENCES IS SO IMPORTANT.

I FEEL VERY PASSIONATE, I'M VERY OPINIONATED, I'M VERY PROGRESSIVE, BUT I FEEL THAT SEEING THE COMMON HUMANITY IN PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE WITH US PASSIONATELY IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO OUR WORK AND TO SCRUTINIZE OUR OWN ASSUMPTIONS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING GOOD LAW.

>> Mary: CIVILITY HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO COME BY.

ARE YOU STILL FIGHTING FOR IT?

DO YOU STILL SEE IT BREAKING OUT HERE?

>> I'VE ALWAYS FOUND IT VERY EASY TO COME BY.

AND I THINK I JUST TRY TO APPROACH EVERYONE WITH THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS UST TALKING WITH A REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE WHO WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING OVER SOMETHING IN ONE OF OUR COMMITTEES LIKE EVERY TIME, IT FEELS LIKE IT COMES UP AND SAY MY THING AND HE SAYS HIS THING AND THEN WE WERE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AFTERWARDS AND I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ONE ISSUE.

AND HE'S LIKE I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, LIKE YOU SHOW UP, YOU'RE ALWAYS HAPPY, LIKE TO BE HERE AND HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, AND LIKE I WAS LIKE, WOW, I BARELY KNEW THIS PERSON, LIKE MOST OF THE TIME ALL WE DO IS FIGHT AND SO I FEEL LIKE THERE'S JUST A WAY YOU CAN SHOW UP WHERE YOU'RE STILL LIKE ASSERTING YOUR STRONG OPINIONS AND YOUR VALUES BUT DOING IT IN A WAY THAT'S LIKE I ALSO SEE YOU AND I HEAR YOU AND I WANT TO LIKE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

>> Mary: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Mary: WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER RETIREE AND SENATE LEADERS AND HOUSE LEADERS LAST COUPLE WEEKS OF SESSION HERE.

YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE, SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION, FLOOR SESSIONS AND MORE ON THE PBS STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW AND RIDAY NIGHT A VERY SPECIAL PBS PROGRAM, "ALMANAC" IS HITTING THE ROAD, WE'RE IN ST.

CLOUD, IT'S SOLD OUT SO YOU HAVE TO WATCH US LIVE ON AIR FROM ST.

CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY.

PLEASE TUNE IN AND COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

GOOD NIGHT.

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO, PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

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

MINNESOTA LOTTERY, SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT PROTECT MINNESOTA'S ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

AND THE IRON MINING ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA, EDUCATING MINNESOTANS ON THE IRON ORE INDUSTRY AND ITS ROLE FOR AMERICAN STEEL.

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