AGO, WE'RE NOT BUILDING ENOUGH 6 OF OF THOSE.

♪♪ >> CATHY: THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NOT AS BUSY AS LAST YEAR, BUT IT CERTAINLY HASN'T BEEN COMPLETELY QUIET.

AMONG THE THORNY ISSUES LEGISLATORS ARE TACKLING: STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICERS IN SCHOOLS, PROPOSED GUN RESTRICTIONS, AND AS WE JUST HEARD, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ALL ON OUR TOPIC LIST FOR THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST.

JAVIER MORILLO, FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER AND LONGTIME LABOR ORGANIZER.

WINTANA MELEKIN, D.F.L.

ACTIVIST CURRENTLY TOILING AWAY UP AT THE CAPITOL.

REPUBLICANS WITH US TONIGHT: FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW LOBBYIST AMY KOCH.

AND ANDY BREHM, LAWYER AND FORMER PRESS SECRETARY TO U.S.

SENATOR NORM COLEMAN.

SENATOR KOCH, I WAS GOING TO START WITH LEGISLATIVE STUFF, BUT I THINK I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THIS.

ABOUT DEAN PHILLIPS.

SO HE RIPS SENATOR KLOBUCHAR AND CALLS RUNNING -- SAYS THAT SHE'S RUNNING AGAIN IS BE SUCH.

RIPS GOVERNOR WALZ.

RIPS SENATOR MITH.

DOES HE HAVE A OLITICAL DEATH WISH?

>> OU NOW, I HAVEN'T UNDERSTOOD EVEN THE WHOAL -- SINCE HE'S DECIDED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

I THINK THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS, SOMETIMES IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, YOU GET CAUGHT IN A BUBBLE.

AND THE BUBBLE GETS SMALLER, AND IT KIND OF CLOSES IN AROUND YOU AS YOU GET CRITICISM.

YOU CLOSE TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AND YOU START TO SEE EVERYBODY AS SORT OF AGAINST YOU.

AND I THINK MAYBE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE.

BECAUSE IT'S NEVER BEEN THE STYLE OF CONGRESSMAN PHILLIPS EVERY.

HE'S ACTUALLY BEEN SORT OF A HAPPY WARRIOR, VERY FRIENDLY, ALL SIDES WELCOME.

COMING COM AND HAVE SOME COFFEE AYE ATHLETIC MY TRUCK OR WHATEVER.

SO I JUST THINK THAT HAS HAPPENED IS THIS CAMPAIGN, AS THEY GOT CRITICISM REALLY STARTED TO CLOSE AROUND ITSELF AND YOU SEE HE RESULTS.

WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

>> I MEAN, IT'S UNHINGES BEHAVIOR AT THIS POINT.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE THE DEMOCRATIC HIERARCHY STAY SAYING ABOUT THIS?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S WORRYING ABOUT IT VERY MUCH.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST TODAY THERE WAS NEWS ABOUT HIS CAMPAIGN BEING INVOLVED IN A DEEP FAKE AD THAT WAS FAKING JOE BIDEN'S VOICE TO URGE PEOPLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TO NOT VOTE.

I MEAN, LIKE HE HAS SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH EXPENSIVE CONSULTANTS, NOT VERY GOOD ONES, LIKE THROE AWAYS FROM REPUBLICANS.

THE GUY WHO BROUGHT US SARAH PALIN FOR EXAMPLE.

YEAH.

AND SO HE'S JUST GETTING I THINK AMY'S RIGHT.

HE'S IN SOME KIND OF A BUNKER LISTENING TO ALL THE WRONG PEOPLE.

AND DOING BIZARRE THINGS.

IT FEELS LIKE A BIZARRE DECLINE.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING UNHINGED ABOUT WHAT HE'S SAYING AT ALL.

I MEAN, HE'S SAYING THAT A PRESIDENT THAT'S 81 YEARS OLD WITH A 38% APPROVE RATING MIGHT NOT BE THE MOST ELECTABLE GUY.

AND I THINK HE STRUCK AN INDEPENDENT PATH AND A LOT OF VOTERS I TALK TO SAY HE MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THE LONG KNIVES CAME OUT FOR HIM A LONG TIME.

THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT WENT AFTER HIM HARD.

ALL HE WAS SAYING LET'S HAVE A COMPETITION.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?

I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THE SAILISAME THING IN THE REPUBLICN PARTY?

>> I THINK THAT DEAN PHILLIPS IS PLAYING AT SENATOR KLOBUCHAR'S AGE.

I'M NOT THE BIGGEST FAN OF SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, BUT I THINK THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT SHE DOES WRONG HAT RE NOT ABOUT HER AGE.

SOMEHOW TRYING TO DISMISS HER LEADERSHIP, I FIND TO BE OFFENSIVE AND DISRESPECTFUL.

I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT I'M FRUSTRATED ABOUT DEAN PHILLIPS IS THAT HE'S NOW TRYING TO SEND A PLAY FOR PROGRESSIVES, BUT NOT HAVING PLEA PROGRESSIVE VALUES.

REALLY LACKS DIRECTION OR STRATEGY.

>> Eric: STATESIDE, I DID A LITTLE MINIMAL RESEARCH TODAY, AND SENATE BILL INTRODUCTIONS ARE ON A PACE TO BREAK THE MOST RECORD FOR AN EVEN-YEAR SESSION SINCE 1920.

I KNOW THAT'S BONDING PROJECTS AND EARLY DEADLINES AND STUFF.

BUT A LOT OF ACTION OVER THERE FOR A QUIET DAY.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF ACTION.

IT'S ALSO SURPRISING THAT 1920.

AND THIS WAS LIKE WHEN THEY WERE CRANKING THEM OUT BY HAND I ASSUME.

>> Eric: WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS?

>> SO WE'RE GOING TO GET THE BUDGET FORECAST NEXT WEEK, WHICH TELLS THEM IF THERE'S MONEY -- RIGHT NOW THE BUDGET FORECAST DOES NOT LOOK GOOD, RIGHT?

THE OUTYEARS, THERE'S DEFICIT IN THE OUTYEAR WHICH IS A PROBLEM.

SO WE'LL FIND OUT NEXT WEEK IF THAT CONTINUES.

IF THAT CONTINUES, IF THE TREND CONTINUES AND HERE IS THAT, I THINK VERY LITTLE HAPPENS THIS YEAR.

I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF POLICY.

THEY'RE GOING TO WORK -- THEY'RE GOING TO FIX SOME ERRORS THAT WERE MADE LAST YEAR AND THEY'RE GOING TO LARGELY GET OUT OF DODGE.

MAYBE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT BONDING BILL.

>> Eric: ARE YOU PROGRESSIVES WORRIED THAT NOT ENOUGH'S GOING TO GET DONE?

>> NO, I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO GET DONE WHAT THEY NEED TO.

I THINK THEY HAVE AMAZING LIERP AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL GET IT DONE.

>> Eric: REPUBLICANS' JOB IS TO WIN THE HOW FAST, STATE HOUSE BACK.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD HELP REPUBLICANS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, THE MORE DEMOCRATS DO, THE ETTER IT WILL PROBABLY BE FOR REPUBLICANS.

BECAUSE I MEAN, LAST SESSION WAS NOTHING SHORT OF A TRAIN WRECK, AND MINNESOTANS ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT SEEING AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS SIMPLY WASTED.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SITTING READY TO GO AND I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE A GREAT SHOT OF TAKING BACK THE HOUSE.

I MEAN, THIS EXTREME AGENDA DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH MOST MINNESOTANS.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE THERE, EIGHT COMPETITIVE SEATS OUT OF 134?

>> RIGHT, YEAH, AND WHAT YOU SEE REPUBLICANS FOCUSING ON IS THING LIKE THE FLAG, LIKE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES, RIGHT?

THERE ISN'T A COHERENT REPUBLICAN AGENDA IN MINNESOTA OR NATIONALLY.

EXCEPT, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE AWAY RIGHTS, EXCEPT, YOU KNOW, IN ALABAMA, A PETRI DISH HAS MORE RIGHTS THAN WOMEN DO.

SO THAT KIND OF EXTREMISM IS WHAT WE WILL BE RUNNING AGAINST.

BECAUSE DEMOCRATS, WHAT DEMOCRATS DID THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS ENACT AN AGENDA.

THEY WERE, LIKE, I CAN'T COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THE YEAR THAT WE WOULD ALWAYS COMPLAIN ON THIS COUCH THAT THEY WON'T GET THEIR JOB DONE.

LAST YEAR THEY PASSED A RECORD NUMBER OF BILLS.

THEY GOT IT DONE ON TIME.

AND NOW THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB.

WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.

AND THEY ARE -- I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO LIKE WHAT THEY DID, BECAUSE THEY'RE DEMOCRATS.

>> BUT THE IDEA THE REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE AN AGENDA IS RIDICULOUS.

I MEAN, THEY DO.

REPUBLICANS BELIEVE THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LIVE WITHIN ITS MEANS.

IT GREW BY 40% LAST SESSION.

WE THINK THAT OUR STATE NEEDS TO BE COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF BEING A BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S NOT.

THOSE OF THAT NEED JOBS NEED THEM TO STAY HERE.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT RESONATE WITH VOTERS.

YOU CAN PRATT ALE OFF THE TALKING POINTS ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN ALABAMA, BUT REPUBLICANS HERE ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING MINNESOTA A SAFER PLACE.

I MEAN, OUR CITIES ARE CRIME INFESTTH AND THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO SOLUTIONS ON THE TABLE.

I THINK IT'S APPEALING TO MOST PEOPLE -- >> Eric: IS THE LACK OF VOTES FOR THE IMMIGRANT SANCTUARY BILL DISAPPOINTING?

SHOULD THE LEADERSHIP USH THAT HARDER?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IS ACTUALLY A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT NEEDS A LOT MORE WORK BEFORE WE GET IT DONE IN THIS YEAR.

I MEAN A IMMIGRANT MYSELF.

I AIM KAIM TO THE UNITED STATES AS A REFUGEE.

I DON'T THINK THE CURRENT PACKAGE IS PREPARED FOR THAT AND I THINK THERE'S SOME WORK TO BE DONE ON THAT.

BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IF THE REPUBLICANS WERE DOING WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO, THEY WOULD HAVE WON THE ELECTIONS AND THEY DIDN'T.

THEY HAVE BECOME DYSFUNCTIONAL, UNSTRATEGIC AND LACK OF VISION.

FOLKS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN BANNING BOOKS, TAKING LUNCH FROM LITTLE CHILDREN.

THEY'RE INVESTED IN A STRATEGY THAT TALKS ABOUT WRAP AROUND SERVICES MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE JOBS, CHILDREN HAVE THINGS TO EAT.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT CAME OUT OF LAST YEAR'S SESSION IS THE STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICERS WHICH NOW IS IN ON ALL THE HEADLINES BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, FIXES TO THE BILL -- >> Cathy: AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BIPARTISAN.

>> IT IS BIPARTISAN TO GET THE STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICERS BACK BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME REALLY SWEEPING LEGISLATION THAT WAS BASED ON WHAT LEGISLATORS WANTED TO DO INSTEAD OF TALKING O THE COMMUNITIES AND TALKING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TALKING TO THE PARENTS AND THAT CAUSED A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM.

IT PUT STUDENTS AT RISK.

IT CONCERNED A LOT OF PARENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND THEY CONTINUE.

RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE MANY SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLLING.

THEY JUST DID A STUDENT SURVEY.

94% OF STUDENTS WANT S.R.O.s IN THEIR SCHOOL.

7% OF THEM SAID THAT THEY WOULD FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE MEETING WITH THEIR STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICER TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON.

THEY'RE INCREDIBLY POPULAR.

THEIR WHOLE POINT IS THEY EMBED IN THE SCHOOL AND THEY PROVIDE TRUST AND THEY PROVIDE SAFETY.

>> Cathy: JUST CURIOUS, HOW DID THIS ISSUE THAT WAS SO PARTISAN BECOME BIPARTISAN THIS SESSION?

>> THINGS MOVED WAY TOO QUICKLY LAST YEAR AND THINGS WERE NOT FULLY VETTED.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

HISTORIC THINGS WERE DONE.

MANY MISTAKES WERE MADE.

AND THINGS LIKE THIS WENT WITHOUT OUTSIDE INPUT.

>> LET'S BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THIS BIPARTISAN BILL IS GOING TO DO IS SIMPLY GOING TO CODIFY WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALREADY SAID ABOUT THE PREVIOUS LANGUAGE.

ALL THIS SHOWS IS THAT YES, AS ANDY SAID, REPUBLICANS RUN ON CRIME AS AN TOISH RILE PEOPLE UP.

THE S.R.O.

ISSUE WAS A FAKE ISSUE.

THIS BILL IS DOING NOTHING EXCEPT THE EXACT SAME THING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALREADY SAID ABOUT THE ORANGE LANGUAGE.

THE LANGUAGE, THE BEHAVIOR THAT THAT BILL BANS WAS BANNED IN PRISONS.

AND WE WANT TO BE OKAY WITH THAT BEING -- I MEAN, HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS.

THIS IS A FAKE ISSUE.

>> Eric: WE'RE GETTING THE HOOK.

IT W