♪ ♪ >> Mary: OUR RETIRING LAWMAKER IS A LONG TIME VOICE ON THE SENATE JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WHERE HE HAS SERVED AS CHAIR.

HERE'S A LOOK BACK AT THE NEARLY 40-YEAR CAREER OF SENATOR WARREN LIMMER IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF COMPANY IN THE GOVERNOR'S DOG HOUSE AS REPUBLICANS LINEUP AGAINST MANY OF PAWLENTY'S NEW POLICY INITIATIVES.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S GONE A LOT OF NEW AREAS RATHER QUICKLY, AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A REAL BEDROCK OF FOUNDATION LAID.

AND IF I WAS GOING TO GIVE ANY ADVICE, I'D SAY COME ON OVER, LET'S HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THINGS.

WE GOT A BIG FAMILY TO TAKE CARE OF.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE DISCUSSION, RATHER THAN JUST EXPECTING THE FAST ROLLOVER VOTE.

YOU REMEMBER THE LAST TWO BONDING BILLS THAT WE'D PASSED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS?

SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN OVER A BILLION DOLLARS.

AND THIS BODY, THIS MAJORITY PARTY, HAS NOW DECIDED THAT A MERE $4 MILLION, AND BY THE WAY, ALL THESE PROJECTS HAVE TO -- HAPPEN TO FALL IN REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS, THEY SAY NO.

WE'RE NOT LISTENING TO THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA.

THIS IS A SHAMEFUL DAY IN MINNESOTA.

[ PEOPLE HOUTING INDISTINCTLY >> Mary: SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS LAUNCHED TWO MAJOR CAMPAIGNS SINCE LAWMAKERS APPROVED PUTTING THE PROPOSED MARRIAGE AMENDMENT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

HOW HAS THE ISSUE CHANGED OVER ALL THIS TIME?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK UNLIKE THE DEPICTIONS IN THE PAPER, OR IN THE PAPER, ON THE FILM, I'M FINDING THAT THE EMOTION HAS KIND OF DISSIPATED A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S KIND OF BOILED OFF.

AND NOW PEOPLE ARE READY FOR A GOOD DISCUSSION.

AND THEY'RE HAVING THAT DISCUSSION.

THEY'RE HAVING THAT DISCUSSION IN THE CHURCHES AND COFFEE SHOPS AROUND THE STATE.

I'M PERSONALLY FINDING PEOPLE THAT ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM AND WE CAN OCCASIONALLY GIVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES TO THE PUBLIC.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, LINED UP TO SHARE THEIR OPPOSITION TO GAY MARRIAGE, MANY OF THEM WERE BACKERS OF THE FAILED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO DEFINE MARRIAGE AS A UNION BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN.

SOME MORE EXPERIENCED REPUBLICANS SAW AN OPPORTUNITY, PERHAPS A NECESSITY TO SOFTEN THE MESSAGE.

>> OH, I TRY TO PERSUADE DEMOCRATS ON ALMOST EVERY ISSUE AROUND HERE.

[ Laughter ] I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH YOU.

WE DON'T KNOW QUITE HOW LONG THIS KIND OF FORCED MARRIAGE IS GOING TO LAST, BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PARTICIPATING AND HOPEFULLY WORKING ON ISSUES THAT YOU AND I AND OUR RESPECTIVE CAUCUSES CAN AGREE ON.

>> Mary: HERE WITH US NOW, SENATOR WARREN LIMMER.

A LITTLE BLAST FROM THE PAST.

>> YEAH, I WAS TOUGH, RIGHT?

[ Laughter ] >> Mary: LET'S START AT THE BEGINNING.

>> OH, NO.

>> Mary: BECAUSE THE BEGINNING WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Mary: AND YOU WERE HOLDING HIM TO ACCOUNT THERE.

BECAUSE WE REMEMBER, TIM PAWLENTY WAS A PRODUCT OF THE HOUSE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND HE KIND OF FORGOT THERE WAS A SENATE HE HAD TO ATTEND TO.

SO WHAT HAPPENED AFTER YOU CAME ON "ALMANAC" AND REMINDED THE GOVERNOR THAT YOU EXISTED OVER THERE IN THE SENATE?

>> I THINK HE FINALLY REMEMBERED THAT HE NEEDED THE OTHER HALF OF THE GOVERNMENT TO AGREE WITH HIM IN ORDER TO PASS ANYTHING.

EVERY GOVERNOR NEEDS A COALITION, AND IT HAS TO INCLUDE BOTH CHAMBERS.

>> Mary: YEAH, AND I WILL SAY BECAUSE I DO REMEMBER THE STORY, HE SHOWED UP TO CAUCUS.

AND I BELIEVE HE SAID, F YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GO ON "ALMANAC" AND GET ME TO SHOW UP, YOU HAVE ANOTHER THING COMING.

WHICH HE DID EXACTLY THAT.

SO IT WORKED.

IT WORKED.

WELL DONE.

[ Laughter ] LET'S ALSO TALK ABOUT THE CO-CHAIRING, BECAUSE YOU GOT TO SEE WHAT IT WAS LIKE.

YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE IS GETTING ALL THE ATTENTION NOW FOR CO-CHAIRS.

WE JUST HAD CO-CHAIRS ON.

BUT YOU GOT A TURN AT CO-CHAIRING NOT THAT LONG AGO.

HOW WAS THAT >> IT WAS TENSE.

IT SEEMED LIKE REPUBLICANS -- WE KNEW WHERE IT WAS GENERALLY GOING TO GO.

WE HAD CO-CHAIR FOR A DAY OR TWO, AND THAT WAS ABOUT IT.

AND A LITTLE TENSE.

I BROUGHT IN A SPEAKER FROM THE CENTER FOR THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT.

AND THE OTHER SIDE REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO LISTEN TOO MUCH, BUT THEY SAT THERE AND GAVE THE RESPECT.

AND I THINK THEY ALL SIGHED A BIG BREADTH OF LIFE TO GET IT OVER WITH, AND NOW THEY'RE STILL IN THE MAJORITY.

>> Mary: THEY ARE.

BUT YOU DID GET A CHANCE TO HAVE THE GAVEL ALL BY YOURSELF.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Mary: HAT WAS IT LIKE?

BECAUSE AGAIN YOU'VE BEEN AROUND HERE, TO BE THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

YOU WERE PART OF THAT GROUP.

>> EAH, YOU KNOW, I HAD BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, FINALLY WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE MAJORITY.

I DESCRIBED IT THEN AS A 15-YEAR-OLD KID THAT WAS WATCHING DAD DRIVE THE CAR.

ALL YOUR LIFE.

AND YOU FINALLY HAD THE CHANCE TO GET THE KEYS AND DRIVE IT OURSELVES.

AND THAT WAS AN EXCITING TIME.

A LITTLE NERVE-WRACKING, BUT WE GOT THE HANG OF IT RIGHT AWAY.

>> Mary: PROBABLY THE HIGHEST PROFILE THING WAS PUTTING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THAT, WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT EXPERIENCE?

>> I LEARNED THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THE OPINION OF THE PUBLIC.

ON EVEN A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.

DIDN'T GO THE WAY I WANTED, BUT NEVERTHELESS, YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE WILL OF THE PUBLIC.

AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU REALLY NEED TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC, AND THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS HAVE THAT BIG FAMILY TALK FROM WARROAD TO WORTHINGTON, AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S AT STAKE.

AND THEN LET THEM DECIDE.

>> Mary: HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR PERSONAL OPINION?

A LOT OF AMERICANS AND MINNESOTANS HAVE?

>> THE ONLY THING I'VE CHANGED IS THAT BATTLE IS OVER.

>> Mary: OKAY.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH THE RULING, I THINK IN 2014, BY THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT.

AND SO THAT'S DONE.

I DON'T THINK I'M EVER GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO OVERTURN A SUPREME COURT DECISION, NOT EVEN BEING AN ATTORNEY MYSELF.

SO I THINK THAT ISSUE IS BEHIND US.

>> Mary: AND YOU REMEMBER THE TIME.

IT WAS EMOTIONAL.

AND THERE WAS A DEBATE WHEN WE WERE ON THE COUCH THERE ON TELEVISION.

YOU WERE DEBATING SENATOR SCOTT DIBBLE, I HEARD ENATOR SCOTT DIBBLE IN COMMITTEE SAY MY GOOD FRIEND WARREN LIMMER.

>> WE'VE WORKED ON NUMEROUS THINGS SINCE THEN.

A LITTLE TENSE AT FIRST.

BUT, YOU KNOW, COMMON -- COMMON GOALS BRING YOU TOGETHER.

AND COMMON RESPECT.

AND THAT WAS ALWAYS THE CASE BETWEEN US.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, I CONSIDER HIM DEAR FRIEND AS WELL.

>> Mary: WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED, THOUGH, THAT THAT REALLY PERSONAL EMOTIONAL ISSUE DIDN'T DERAIL YOUR FRIENDSHIP, THAT THERE'S NOT BITTER FEELINGS, THAT THE TWO OF YOU HAVE MOVED ALONG AND WORK TOGETHER TO THIS DAY NOW?

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S CLIMATE IN POLITICS, THAT WE MUST COME TOGETHER AS WARRING TRIBES, AND THERE'S NEVER A QUARTER TO BE GIVEN, AND WE CAN'T SURVIVE LONG AS A NATION THAT WAY.

WE HAVE TO COME TO COMMON GROUND.

AND WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT TWO OR MORE PARTIES ARE NOT GOING TO AGREE AT THE SAME TIME ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES INTO THE FUTURE, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENT ELEMENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY, LOOK AT SLAVERY.

HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE WE FINALLY GOT TO A POINT THAT SLAVERY WAS FINALLY ADDRESSED.

AND IT TOOK A WAR.

WE DON'T WANT THAT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET IT DONE.

AND THAT'S -- IT REALLY IS A BENEFIT TO A DEMOCRACY.

AND THAT'S NEEDED TODAY.

>> Mary: IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO FIND SOMEONE TO REPLACE YOU.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

IS YOUR SEAT THAT MUCH UP FOR GRABS?

ARE REPUBLICANS THAT WORRIED ABOUT HOLDING ONTO THAT?

ARE YOU THAT IRREPLACEABLE?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> MY WIFE WOULD SAY I'M REPLACEABLE.

>> Mary: BUT THERE ARE VERY FEW SEATS THAT DON'T HAVE A CANDIDATE.

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INTERESTED PARTIES RIGHT NOW.

THE PARTY STRUCTURE IS DOING THEIR JOB OF INTERVIEWING THEM.

AND I WOULD IMAGINE THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAVING THEIR SECOND ENDORSING CONVENTION -- >> Mary: IS IT REAL COMPETITIVE?

COULD YOU HOLD ONTO IT AS AN INCUMBENT.

>> ANY DISTRICT IN MINNESOTA CAN FLIP.

AND, YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO, THE D.F.L.

SPENT A MILLION AND A HALF TO GET RID OF ME.

AND IT DID NOT FLIP.

SO THERE IS A BEDROCK OF SUPPORT THERE.

FOR CONSERVATIVE EPUBLICAN.

I BELIEVE IT'LL HOLD.

>> Mary: AND FINALLY, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

>> HMM.

I THINK THE BEST WAY OR THE BEST THING TO BE PROUD OF IS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE.

I -- I -- EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID, PEOPLE WOULD COME UP TO ME AND TALK, AND I WOULD DO THE SAME, AND IT REALLY SERVED ME WELL IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

I LOVE MEETING PEOPLE.

EVEN IF THEY DISAGREE.

I BRING THEM ALL INTO MY OFFICE.

REMEMBER, WE HAD SCHOOL KIDS THAT SWARMED MY OFFICE OVER GUN ISSUES.

AND YOU OPEN THE DOOR, YOU LET THEM COME IN AND YOU LET THEM BLAST AWAY, BECAUSE WE NEED THAT O