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

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS RE BACK FROM BREAK AND ALREADY TRADING ETHICS COMPLAINTS.

FORMER LAWMAKERS KNOWN FOR THEIR BIPARTISANSHIP WILL BREAK THAT DOWN AND THE REST OF SESSION AHEAD.

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.

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

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY.

IT'S BEEN A BUSY AND CHIPPY START TO THE SECOND HALF OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AS LAWMAKERS RETURN FROM THEIR SPRING BREAK.

WE WILL TALK TO A SPIRITED DUO OF FORMER LAWMAKERS AND A FORMER STATEWIDE OFFICE HOLDER WHO'S NOW A REPRESENTATIVE AND IS ABOUT TO RETIRE.

BUT FIRST A COUPLE OF LAWMAKERS GOT CAUGHT SNEAKING OUT OF COMMITTEE, GOING TO A BAR, AND A NIGHT THAT ENDED IN A DUI ARREST AND NOW ETHICS COMPLAINTS.

ETHICS COMPLAINTS WERE ISSUED AGAINST TWO REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS FOR DRINKING DURING AND AFTER SESSION.

ONE FOR REPRESENTATIVE ELLIOTT ENGEN, FOR DRUNK DRIVING, AND THE OTHER AGAINST REPRESENTATIVE WALTER HUDSON FOR DRUNKING WHILE CARRYING A PERMITTED WEAPON.

>> DISINGENUOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT PROCESS.

>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLES THAT I PLAY HERE AT THE CAPITOL IS AS A MEMBER OF THE EDUCATION FINANCE COMMITTEE WHERE TOGETHER WE MAKE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THE OVER 900,000 STUDENTS THAT ATTEND SCHOOL IN MINNESOTA.

I TAKE THAT WORK REALLY SERIOUSLY.

WE SAW THAT RIGHT BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE BREAK TWO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMITTEE LEFT.

>> NEARLY AN HOUR BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ADJOURNED, WHEN THERE WAS AN ENTIRE SECOND BILL THAT HAD NOT BEEN CONSIDERED TO GO DRINKING AT A LOCAL BAR.

AN ETHICS COMPLAINT IS A VERY SERIOUS THING.

I HAVE NEVER BROUGHT AN ETHICS COMPLAINT BEFORE.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE BROUGHT HERE IN MY TIME AT THE LETTER, BUT NOR HAVE A SEEN ACTIONS AS BLATANT AS THIS WHERE THEY ARE COMPLETELY DISREGARDING THEIR DOUBTS TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

>> Mary: THEY WERE BOTH LSO REMOVED FROM ALL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AFTER THEY WERE SEEN LEAVING COMMITTEE.

>> I DO THINK IT WAS AN APPROPRIATE MEASURE AS SPEAKER AND AS LEADER OF OUR CAUCUS.

I DID CHOOSE TO REMOVE THEM FROM THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.

THEY ARE STILL -- YOU SAW THEM ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, THEY ARE STILL VERY MUCH OF OUR CAUCUS AND THE WORK BEING DONE.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN THE DEMOCRATS HAD THEIR OWN ISSUE VERY SIMILAR TO THIS, THERE WERE NO LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST TWO DEMOCRAT MEMBERS EVER ON SAME DUI TYPE SITUATIONS.

>> Mary: ANOTHER COMPLAINT IS GENLSZ A D.F.L.

LAWMAKER, REPRESENTATIVE ALEX FALCONER FOR CLAIMS OF LOBBYING AND LEGISLATING FOR NORTHEAST MINNESOTANS FOR WILDERNESS AND SAVE THE BOUNDARY WATERS.

>> YOU CAN BE HERE AS AN ADVOCATE.

YOU CAN BE A LOBBYIST OR YOU CAN BE A LOBBYIST LOBBYIST.

HIGHLIGHTS THAT THERE WAS CARRYING OF LEGISLATION THAT WAS IN DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH WHERE YOU WERE GETTING PAID.

>> YOU ANNOT BE A LOBBYIST AND BE A MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

IT SAYS YOU CAN'T BE A LOBBYIST.

>> Mary: INTERNATIONAL ISSUES ALSO GRIPPED THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING, Mr.

PRESIDENT, FROM DONALD TRUMP IS NOT JUST RECKLESS RHETORIC.

IT IS A STATED WILLINGNESS TO DESTROY AN ENTIRE PEOPLE.

SO LET US BE CLEAR, THREATENING THE ANNIHILATION OF A NATION'S CIVILIAN POPULATION IS THE LANGUAGE OF GENOCIDE.

IT IS ILLEGAL.

IT IS IMMORAL AND IT IS PROFOUNDLY DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO INNOCENT LIVES ABROAD BUT TO THE RULE OF LAW AND THE INTEGRITY -- >> Mr.

PRESIDENT, Mr.

PRESIDENT.

>> THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE PERTAINING TO THE BUSINESS TODAY OF THE SENATE.

WONDERING IF Mr.

PRESIDENT WOULD BE ABLE TO REMIND MEMBERS TO STAY WITHIN AGENDA.

HISTORY IS WATCHING.

SO ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SWORN TO SERVE.

THE LEADER OF THE OTHER PARTY TRIED TO STOP DISCUSSION ON THE DAY THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS CALLEDFOR THE GENOCIDE OF AN ENTIRE COUNTRY.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: WITH US NOW, FORMER LAWMAKERS.

WE HAVE REPUBLICAN PAT GAROFALO AND DEMOCRAT KARLA BIGHAM AND ARLA SERVED IN BOTH PLACES.

GAROFALO JUST THE HOUSE.

YOU KNOW, SHE ELEVATED OVER TO THE SENATE?

>> ELEVATED.

THAT'S A DEBATABLE PROPOSITION.

>> Mary: WE'RE NOT GOING TO DEBATE THAT.

BUT LET'S DEBATE WHAT HAPPENED HERE WITH DRINKING AND LEGISLATING AND DRIVING.

BOTH PARTIES HAVE DONE IT.

BOTH CHAMBERS HAVE DONE IT.

THIS ONE IS BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE REASONS.

I SERVED 20 YEARS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

IT WOULD BE VERY COMMON FOR MEMBERS BACK IN THE OLDEN DAYS TO DRINK ALCOHOL BACK IN THEIR OFFICES TO HOST PARTIES.

MAYBE EVEN TO HAVE A DRINK OR TWO ON THE FLOOR DURING DEBATES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED FAIRLY RECENTLY -- >> Mary: BEFORE, DURING, AFTER SESSION?

>> AND I'M NOT DEFENDING -- YES, SO -- [Overlapping conversations] CORRECT.

AND SO NOW THERE ARE DIFFERENT STANDARDS.

>> Mary: YES.

>> AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF KNOWING LEGISLATORS INVOLVED AND YOU SEE THERE ARE TIMES WHERE PEOPLE MAKE A MISTAKE OR PERHAPS THERE'S A MORE SUBSTANTIVE PERSONAL PROBLEM.

I WOULD JUST CAUTION MY FRIENDS IN THE FL TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON THEIR SIDE.

AND YOU WANT TO TREAT REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW THE WAY YOU WANT THEM TO TREAT YOUR FUTURE MEMBERS.

IT DOESN'T DEFEND OR EXCUSE ANYTHING THEY DID WRONG ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

LIKE YOU SAID, WE'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO PLAY THE LONG GAME ON THIS BECAUSE SOMEBODY WILL MAKE A MISTAKE IN THE FUTURE AND YOU'RE GOING TO WANT THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO BE TREATED ON A PERSONAL LEVEL WITH RESPECT AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

>> Mary: ONE OF THESE SOMEBODIES IS ONING FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE.

I WOULD SAY THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THIS IS GETTING MORE ATTENTION OR DIFFERENT ATTENTION.

>> I THINK PART OF IT IS SKIPPING OUT ON COMMITTEE AND GOING TO A BAR.

AND I AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO.

IT IS NEVER OKAY TO DRINK AND DRIVE EVER.

AND IT IS BAD JUDGMENT.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

IN A COURT OF LAW.

I THINK AN ISSUE THAT AS THIS HAS PLAYED OUT THAT KEEPS GOING THROUGH MY HEAD IS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE'S BEEN SOME SERIOUS ETHICAL QUESTIONS, BUT HE ETHICS PROCESS DOESN'T SEEM TO KIND OF MATCH.

AND SO I THINK IT'D BE GOOD FOR OME MEMBERS OUTSIDE OF SESSION TO COME UP MAYBE WITH A REVIEW, MAYBE GET SOME, YOU KNOW, LAWYERS INVOLVED TO LOOK AT ETHICS AND SOME, YOU KNOW, PROFESSORS.

AND SEE IF THERE ISN'T A CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO, YOU KNOW, HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THINGS.

>> Mary: ONE CHANGE THAT ACTUALLY IS BEING DISCUSSED IS THE WEAPONS POLICY.

BECAUSE SUDDENLY, YOU KNOW, THIS SESSION IS VERY DIFFERENT WITH WEAPONS SCREENING AT THE FRONT DOOR, WEAPONS SCREENINGS AT THE GALLERY.

THE OTHER ISSUE AND ANOTHER REASON THIS IS BLOWING UP AND GETTING SO MUCH ATTENTION IS ONE OF THE MEMBERS WHO DID DISCLOSE HE HAD A PERMIT TO CARRY.

AND HE WAS DRINKING.

AND MAYBE CARRYING HERE.

WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE OR NOT.

BUT MANY, MANY MEMBERS, MORE THAN EVER, THAN I EVER REMEMBER SEEING OR KNOWING ABOUT ARE NOW CARRYING NOW.

SO THAT UADDS A WHOLE ANOTHER LAYER.

>> AGAIN, SMASKT OF FACTS OF THE CASE, THE REPRESENTATIVE IN QUESTION, THE POLICE DID NOT ADMINISTER AN INTOX LIESER.

SO I'M NOT JUSTIFYING IT.

BUT YOU CAN HAVE A BEER AND STILL BE CONCEALED CARRY.

YOU HAVE TO BE BELOW .04.

NOT THAT THAT MATTERS.

IT'S A DISTINCTION SOCIAL MEDIA TAKES NARRATIVE AND THEY RUN ITH THAT SOMEHOW THIS PERSON WAS BLASTED OR WHATEVER.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

PUTTING THAT ASIDE.

ANOTHER CHANGE THAT'S TAKEN PLACE IN THE LEGISLATURE IS THIS.

THEY NOW ALLOW REMOTE VOTING HERE, OKAY?

SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPORARY DURING COVID.

NOW IT'S PERMANENT.

SO THIS BLURRING OF THE LINES OF WHEN YOU'RE WORKING AS A LEGISLATOR AND WHEN YOU'RE NOT, THAT GETS MESSY.

WE'VE HAD LEGISLATORS CALLING IN AND VOTING FROM BARS.

ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

AND THIS IS THE SORT OF CONVERSATION THAT, AGAIN, AS AN INSTITUTIONALIST, AS SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO DEFEND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, I WOULD JUST ASK LEGISLATORS, AS YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT A SHORT TERM POLITICAL GAIN, THINK ABOUT THE LONG TERM OF THIS.

THINK ABOUT THINGS THAT UNTIL THE PAST PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER ON THAT COULD COME OUT IN AN ETHICS PROCESS.

>> Mary: CAN WE COME BACK TO THE WEAPONS ISSUE BECAUSE THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED ON BOTH SIDES OF HE AISLE ABOUT RESPONSIBLE PERMIT HOLDERS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THINK THAT DISCUSSION DOES NEED TO CONTINUE AND HAPPEN.

BUT I DO THINK THAT AN OVERALL ETHICS DISCUSSION AND REVISION AND REVIEW IS PROBABLY -- WHICH THAT WOULD MAYBE INCLUDE.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS SECURITY HERE WITH LAW, YOU KNOW, OUR TROOPERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS ARE HERE.

AND I THINK THEY ALSO HAVE THE DECISION AND DISCUSSION OF, ARE THEY GOING TO CONTINUE THE METAL DETECTORS AND SCREENING?

I MEAN, WHAT IS THE LONG TERM PLAN FOR SECURITY AND, YOU KNOW, FOR HOW THEY'RE -- >> Mary: AND THREATS ARE WAY UP.

[Overlapping conversations] >> AND LET'S -- OKAY, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS THAT MELISSA HORTMAN'S HURD, OKAY, HAS GOT NORTHBOUND IT'S RUNNING IN THE BACK OF THEIR MIND.

NO DOUBT THE LEGISLATORS HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY, TO BE LICENSED, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT IN A RESPONSIBLE FACTION.

AND SO I DON'T EXPECT THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY CHANGES TO THAT POLICY BUT I DO THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE AWARENESS OF RESPONSIBILITY INVOLVES WITH THOSE RIGHTS.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED HORTMAN AND I THINK SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ERIN MURPHY CALLED IT OUT BEFORE SESSION.

EVERYBODY'S STILL GLEEIVING AND HURTING AND IT IS AFFECTING SESSION.

IT IS AFFECTING BEHAVIOR, ARE YOU SEEING THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, I MEAN, I WAS TESTIFYING IN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE TODAY, AND IT WAS TESTY.

AND I JUST THINK THAT WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON NATIONALLY AS WELL, AND YOU SAW THAT WHEN MY GOOD FRIEND SENATOR DIBBLE WHOSE HAIR LOOKED AMAZING TODAY ON THE SENATE FLOOR, BY THE WAY -- >> Mary: SENATOR JOHNSTON'S HAIR LOOKED PRETTY GOOD TOO.

[ Laughter ] >> JUST ALL THAT PRESSURE AND EVERYTHING IS JUST HEAVY RIGHT NOW.

AND SO IT'S JUST DIFFICULT.

AND AS, YOU KNOW, PAT SAID, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH AND HOW THEY'RE PROCESSING THAT.

I MEAN, SHE WAS A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF BOTH OF US.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T -- IT FEELS WEIRD BEING HERE AND WE'RE NOT HERE ANYMORE.

AND WE'RE NOT MEMBERS AND IT FEELS WEIRD BEING HERE KNOWING SHE'S NOT.

>> Mary: THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT OKAY.

>> LEGISLATORS ARE HUMAN BEINGS.

JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU IN TV LAND, RIGHT?

AND THIS IS STRESSING PEOPLE OUT IN THE BACK OF THEIR MIND.

NOT JUST THE LOSS OF A FRIEND AND SUCH AN UNFAIR AND TRANLIC FASHION.

BUT ALSO IT PERSONALIZES A VULNERABILITY THAT EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL HAS.

AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT LEGISLATORS DON'T THINK IT'S AFFECTING THEM.

IT IS ALSO VERY LEAR IT IS AFFECTING THEM.

AND SO -- AND THIS IS -- THERE'S PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSER TO MELISSA THAN OTHERS, BUT EVERYBODY IN THIS CHAMBER AND IN THE SENATE NOW VIEWS THEIR PERSONAL SECURITY DIFFERENTLY AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE UNDER STRESS IN THIS HIGHLY POLARIZED POLITICAL -- THE MOST DIVIDED LEGISLATURE, EVENLY DIVIDED LEGISLATURE IN THE NATION, EVERYONE CLAWS AND STRESSED AND OUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE REALLY NICE HAIR.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK ALL MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF RECOGNIZING.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GETS INTO THE END OF SESSION WHERE EVERYONE LOSES THEIR MIND.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT -- [Overlapping conversations] >> Mary: THE TIED HOUSE.

THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO LEGISLATE.

>> YEAH, I THINK -- I HONESTLY FEEL THEY'LL GET A BONDING BILL DONE.

I DON'T THINK THEY'LL GET A LOT MORE DONE.

I'M -- I BELIEVE THERE'S A LOT OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR MODERNIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY FOR COUNTIES AND HOW WE PROCESS SOCIAL SERVICES WHICH WOULD BE RATEFUL FOR.

AND ALSO I THINK FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE -- >> Mary: INSPECTOR GENERAL, GAROFALO?

>> HERE'S THE THING.

IF THERE ISN'T AN INSPECTOR GENERAL BILL PASSED, SOMEONE NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY ASK WHY THAT'S BEING -- REMEMBER, THAT PASSED HE SENATE 60-7.

IF THAT GETS BLOCKED -- >> Mary: AND WE WILL BE TALKING TO AN AUTHOR OF THAT BILL IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, I THINK THE BONDING BILL, AND THEN HCMC HAS -- >> YES.

[Overlapping conversations] >> Mary: THANKS SO MUCH YOU TWO.

APPRECIATE IT.

♪ ♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪ ♪ >> Mary: OUR NEXT RETIRING LAWMAKER IS A FORMER STATEWIDE OFFICE HOLDER, A PAWLENTY ERA COMMISSIONER, AND ALL THAT BEFORE SHE JOINED THE LEGISLATURE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON, THE QUESTION WE START WITH EVERYONE IS WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR, AND I'LL SAY THIS OFFICE.

>> THIS OFFICE, YEAH, THE LEGISLATURE.

AS YOU KNOW, THERE WAS REDISTRICTING SO THERE WAS AN OPEN SEAT.

I'M HERE IN THE END OF MY SEETHE AND I THOUGHT I COULD DO SOME GOOD AT THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEW FACES UP THERE.

I HAVE A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.

>> Mary: YEAH, LET'S ALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE ONE OF THE DEEPEST RESUMES.

YOU'VE BEEN COMMISSIONER.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE CAN SAY THAT IN THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE.

>> EAH, I WAS A MAYOR.

>> Mary: DO YOU TALK ABOUT IT MUCH?

DO YOUR FELLOW LAWMAKERS KNOW THAT?

>> I DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK MOST OF THEM KNOW.

I THINK A LOT OF THE NEW FOLKS DIDN'T KNOW.

CERTAINLY THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE DIDN'T KNOW.

>> Mary: I WAS STATE AUDITOR.

LIKE, DOES THAT EVER HAPPEN IN COMMITTEE?

>> NO, IT HASN'T AT THAT POINT YET.

I AM ON THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COMMISSION AND MOST OF THE MEMBERS THERE AT LEAST, THE SENIOR MEMBERS KNEW THAT.

THEY PUT ME ON THAT.

I'M ACTUALLY THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT SUBCOMMITTEE.

[Overlapping conversations] >> Mary: TECHNICALLY YOU'RE A FRESHMAN.

>> YEP, I AM.

>> Mary: DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR COLLEAGUES AND YOUR CAUCUS ARE USING YOUR EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN STATE GOVERNMENT?

>> NO, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M IN THE COMMUNITY, MARY.

AND FRANKLY, AS WE ALL AW LAST SESSION, IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER, YOU KNOW, WHAT MY SIDE OF THE AISLE THOUGHT.

I MEAN, THE AGENDA WAS THE AGENDA.

IT WAS SET MONTHS IN ADVANCE AND IT WAS JUST PUSHED THROUGH, EXCEPT FOR AGAIN THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COMMISSION.

I CAN ARGUE THAT IS VERY NONPARTISAN.

EVERYONE ON THAT COMMITTEE IS THERE TO DO GOOD.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S THE EXCEPTION.

IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

I MEAN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF.

I KNOW THINGS.

I HAVE IDEAS.

YOU KNOW, GOOD IDEAS.

AND JUST TO MAKE GOVERNMENT BETTER.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS ARE MOVING AHEAD WITH SESSION INTRODUCING THEIR TOP THREE BILLS.

ALL ADDRESSING FRAUD IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> I CAN TELL YOU IT'S BEEN SHOCKING FOR ME TO COME BACK AND THE LAST TWO YEARS AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

THIS DID NOT EXIST.

MINNESOTA WAS A GOOD GOVERNMENT STATE.

WHAT WE WANT IS WE WANT THIS TO BE A NONPARTISAN, NONPOLITICAL OFFICE THAT HAS AUTHORITY, AND AUTONOMY.

SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO THEIR JOB WITHOUT THREATS FROM ANYONE OR ANY ANGLE.

IT IS A BILL THAT WE WORKED ON HARD.

BIPARTISAN.

BICAMERAL.

IT PASSED THERE.

ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY.

60- 60.

60-7.

TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, FOR THE CITIZENS SO THAT WE CAN STOP THE FRAUD AND START WORKING TO GET BACK THE PUBLIC TRUST.

BECAUSE, FOLKS, THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRUST ANYMORE IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> Mary: THE HOUSE FRAUD PREVENTION COMMITTEE HEARD SUSPICIOUS SPENDING IS ALREADY DECREASING.

>> THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

I MEAN, 62% DROP WHEN WE'RE ACTUALLY STARTING -- WE HAVEN'T EVEN IMPLEMENTED REALLY FRAUD PREVENTION, OR VERY LITTLE, BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT, SO WE'RE SCARING OFF THE FRAUDSTERS.

>> Mary: JOINING US NOW IN PERSON, THE VICE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE FRAUD COMMITTEE, REPUBLICAN PATTI ANDERSON.

WELL, REPRESENTATIVE, WE SHOULD START WITH FRAUD, BECAUSE YOU HAD HILYER 1, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL PASS THE SENATE.

IS IT GOING TO PASS THE HOUSE?

>> WE'LL SEE.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY MADE GOOD PROGRESS.

WE -- IT GOT, YOU KNOW, HUNG UP LAST YEAR.

THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T SUPPORT IT IN THE END EVEN THOUGH WE NEGOTIATED THIS, ALL FOUR PARTIES, OR ALL FOUR CAUCUSES.

AND -- BUT WE'VE COME BACK THIS YEAR.

WE'VE ACTUALLY MOVED, AND IT'S THE SENATE FILE THAT'S MOVING NOW AND TECHNICALLY MATT NORRIS IS ACTUALLY THE AUTHOR EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT REALLY THE AUTHOR.

>> Mary: BUT IT MIGHT HELP GET IT THROUGH THE SENATE TO HAVE THE DEMOCRAT.

BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS DO HAVE THE ONE-VOTE MARGIN IN THE SENATE.

>> SO IT'S THROUGH THE SENATE.

WE'VE GOTTEN IT THROUGH ALL THE UP TO WAY AND MEANS RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S SITTING IN WAY AND MEANS.

>> Mary: IS IT GOING TO GET TO THE FLOOR?

>> I HOPE SO.

IT'S OUT -- THE WAY T'S SITTING RIGHT NOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME MINOR CHANGES THAT WERE MADE ACTUALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SENATE AUTHORS.

WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL OF OUR WORKING GROUPS.

AND SO WE ALL AGREE ON ALL THESE CHANGES.

AND IT GOES TO THE FLOOR, YOU WILL HAVE 67 REPUBLICAN VOTES FOR SURE.

SO IT'S REALLY IN THE DEMOCRATS' BALLPARK.

>> Mary: AND IT WAS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE GOVERNOR AND DEMOCRATS WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASPECT?

>> THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

>> Mary: IT STILL HAS TO THE SENATE NOW BECAUSE IT CHANGED?

>> BUT THEY CAN PROBABLY CONCUR, AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN ESSENTIALLY PRECONFERENCED.

IT COULD GO ERY FAST.

>> Mary: THE ONLY MAJOR THING THAT HAPPENS, OUR FORMER LAWMAKERS WERE KIND OF HINTING AT IT.

>> YEAH, IT'S KIND OF FRUSTRATING, WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE SESSION AND WE'VE PASSED FOUR LITTLE NOTHING BILLS.

>> Mary: HOW HARD IS THE TIE?

YOU'VE BEEN AROUND POLITICS A LONG TIME.

>> WELL, IT'S BETTER FOR ME AS A REPUBLICAN THAN IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.

VOTING NO ON EVERYTHING.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S MADE PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO COOPERATE.

THE ONLY THING THAT GETS EVEN TO THE FLOOR BESIDES TRYING TO DO URGENCY ARE THINGS THAT ARE BIPARTISAN.

YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE TO COOPERATE.

SO IT'S DIFFERENT.

BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S MADE SOME, YOU KNOW, COMMITTEE HEARINGS ARE A LITTLE EXPLOSIVE SOMETIMES BECAUSE THINGS AREN'T GETTING OUT OF COMMITTEE.

>> Mary: IT'S TESTY.

IT'S TENSE.

DO YOU EEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE STILL KIND OF MOURNING AND STRUGGLING AND IT FEELS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY I DO AND IT'S DIFFERENT FOR BOTH.

I MEAN, EVEN I'VE HAD THREATS, SERIOUS THREATS AND I'M JUST A LEGISLATOR.

I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THE SPEAKER.

I'M NOT EVEN A OMMITTEE CHAIR.

SO IT'S -- I THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL MOURNING.

MELISSA.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR OWN SAFETY, FRANKLY.

>> Mary: YOU'VE HELD A LOT OF DIFFERENT OFFICES.

I'VE BEEN ASKING EVERYBODY, WHAT WAS THEIR FAVORITE?

SO STATEWIDE AUDITOR, COMMISSIONER, LEGISLATOR?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, BEING THE MAYOR.

WHICH IS A LONG, LONG, LONG TIME AGO.

BUT I WAS THE MAYOR IN EAGAN.

I ON HE COUNCIL FOR SEVEN YEARS.

>> Mary: WHY WAS THAT THE BEST?

>> BECAUSE IT WAS A GREAT TIME IN EAGAN'S DEVELOPMENT.

WE WERE, YOU KNOW, BOOMING.

WE WERE AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.

>> Mary: AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS LESS PARTISAN ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, IT'S MUCH LESS PARTISAN.

IT WAS A GOOD -- IT WAS GOOD.

AND WE HAD GREAT STAFF AND GREAT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND IT WAS GOOD.

BUT I'VE ENJOYED EVERYTHING I'VE DONE.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT STATEWIDE OFFICE FOR YOU?

BECAUSE YOU'RE PART OF THAT LAST WAVE WHERE REPUBLICANS WERE ABLE TO WIN STATEWIDE OFFICE.

WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW COULD YOUR PARTY GET BACK?

>> I MEAN, YEAH, THAT WAS IT, RIGHT?

WE'VE COME VERY CLOSE.

YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AGO, WE ALMOST WON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

BUT IT'S THAT 1%, WE JUST DIDN'T GET OVER THE EDGE.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE CANDIDATE QUALITY THIS TIME AROUND AND JUST THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S DOABLE STILL.

>> Mary: YOU DO.

DO YOU THINK MINNESOTA SHIFTED OR DO YOU THINK THE PARTY SHIFTED?

>> I THINK -- >> Mary: OR BOTH?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE BOTH I WOULD SAY.

I THINK BOTH.

I THINK RECENTLY, MINNESOTA HAS SHIFTED MORE THAN THE PARTY HAS SHIFTED.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT, I THINK THIS FALL.

YOU KNOW?

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Mary: WHY LEAVE NOW?

>> WELL -- [ Laughter ] I -- I'LL BE HONEST.

FOR MANY REASONS.

AND I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.

I WASN'T GOING TO BE HERE SUPER LONG.

I AVE A BUSINESS I'M RUNNING TOO.

AS MY HUSBAND JUST RETIRED.

SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF IT.

THERE'S JUST THE TENSION, THE THREATS, YOU KNOW, THAT WHOLE SORT OF THING WHICH PUTS A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION IN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, IS IT WORTH IT, RIGHT?

AND I CAME BACK HERE REALLY TO DO GOOD PUBLIC POLICY WORK.

FRAUD, TAXES, THOSE SORT OF FINANCIAL THINGS WHICH IS MY BACKGROUND.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WALKED INTO A TRIFECTA ORIGINALLY, AND WHICH MEANS I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

AND THEN THIS TIME, IT'S BETTER, I CAN DO SOME THINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW -- >> Mary: WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE AT ALL THE DIFFERENT LEVELS.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER RETIRING LAWMAKER.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE.

THERE YOU CAN WATCH THE HOUSE, SENATE, FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, ANYTHING YOU WANT ON THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

ALSO, ON STATEWIDE PUBLIC TELEVISION, FRIDAY AND "ALMANAC," ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK TO THE SECRETARY F STATE, AND I WILL KEEP LOOKING AT THE LEGISLATURE.

I'LL BE DIVING IN AND TALKING TO DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ABOUT THE ISSUE F RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP.

IT'S ON THE MINDS OF A LOT OF LAWMAKERS.

THANKS FOR ATCHING.

COME BACK AGAIN NEXT WEEK, AND JOIN US AGAIN ON "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

GOOD NIGHT.

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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.