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

[Cheering] >> Mary: A BIG BILL SIGNING WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE LIKES OF FOR DECADES AROUND THE CAPITOL.

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.

D.A.V.

OF MINNESOTA: KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO MINNESOTA'S VETERANS.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS HISTORY, AND IT MADE LOTS OF HISTORY.

WE WILL ANALYZE IT ALL WITH A COUPLE OF FORMER SENATORS, A P.R.

AND POLITICAL PRO, AND A FRESHMAN FIRST-TERMER.

BUT FIRST, A NEW STATE BUDGET IS NOW LAW IN A DRAMATIC SIGNING CEREMONY WITH GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

♪♪ [Cheering] >> Mary: THE GOVERNOR BUNDLED ALL THE BIG BUDGET BILLS TOGETHER FOR A MASSIVE BILL SIGNING.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT BANKING POLITICAL CAPITAL FOR THE NEXT ELECTION, IT'S ABOUT BURNING POLITICAL CAPITAL TO IMPROVE LIVES.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.

[Applause] >> I GOT TO TELL YOU, WE ARE A TEAM.

THIS WAS A TEAM EFFORT THIS YEAR.

>> WE MADE MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE KIND WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THIS STATE SINCE THE FIRST MINNESOTA MIRACLE.

>> THE SENATE IS NOW ADJOURNED.

[Cheering] >> Mary: THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED WITH ELATION.

>> EVERYBODY'S BEEN SO NAUGHTY, YOU CAN APPLAUD.

[Applause] >> Mary: BIPARTISANSHIP PASSAGE OF THE LARGEST BONDING BILL IN HISTORY BROUGHT TOGETHERNESS.

>> BEING SO UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHICH PROJECTS COULD ALL FIT IN AND REALLY APPRECIATE HOW EVERYBODY WORKED TOGETHER.

>> IT'S BEEN A REAL BIPARTISAN EFFORT AND I'M VERY-I'M SPEECHLESS.

I THINK I'M GOING TO CRY.

>> Mary: NURSING HOMES ALSO GOT BIPARTISAN ASSISTANCE.

NURSES GOT SOME PROTECTIONS BUT SAW THEIR STAFFING MANDATES GUTTED.

>> BECAUSE OF THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF CORPORATE HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVES.

THAT BILL HAS DIED.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT, IT'S A IG DAMN DEAL.

I'M WE'LL PROUD OF IT.

>> Mary: OVERALL, REPUBLICANS REMAINED FRUSTRATED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC TRIFECTA.

>> THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST PARTISAN SESSION M NOT IN MY MEMORY BUT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS STATE.

>> WE ENDED ON A HIGH NOTE TONIGHT BECAUSE THE LAST FEW BILLS HAVE BEEN BIPARTISAN BILLS WITH A LOT OF SUPPORT AND IT TOOK A TEAM EFFORT WITH ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.

>> WE'LL BE WEEKEND ON TIME TONIGHT AND HAVE DONE OUR WORK TO FUND OUR STATE BUDGET.

>> THIS LOOKS LIKE MINNESOTA.

AND AFTER THIS LAST ELECTION CYCLE, THE FOLKS WHO ERVED IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE LOOK MORE LIKE MINNESOTA TOO.

[Applause] AND I WANT US TO REMEMBER THAT THAT'S ALSO WHY WE'VE HAD SOME OF THESE BIG WINS THIS SESSION.

>> Mary: AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERSTATE THE IMPACT OF THE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS CAUCUS ON THE UNPRECEDENTED JOT COME.

>> WHAT MINNESOTA MAY BE KNOWN FOR RIGHT NOW IN THIS MOMENT IS SEEING GEORGE FLOYD MURDERED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ON CAMERA, E'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE.

ALL THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT MINNESOTA IS BETTER THAN THAT.

>> IT'S A DOMINO EFFECT, ALL RIGHT?

WE'RE CHANGING THOSE POISONS AND SOME MEDICINES OF HEALING.

>> THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE MINNESOTA SUCCESS STORY.

[CHANTING] >> Mary: WHAT'S NOT KNOWN YET IS IF THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN THE UBER BILL BACKED BY THE SOMALI COMMUNITY?

>> I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND I BELIEVE HE'LL DO THE IGHT THING.

>> Mary: BUT NO COMMITMENT YET?

>> BOUT A MONTHS AGO BEFORE THE BILL PASSED, WE SAT DOWN WITH STAFF AND WALKED THROUGH THE BILL AND THEY MADE A COMMITMENT AT THAT TIME THAT THEY WOULD SIGN THE BILL.

>> Mary: I WANT TO APOLOGIZE WE HAD A LITTLE TECHNICAL ERROR BOULEVARD THIS AND EVERYBODY IS WORKING NOW AND IN TIME FOR OUR GUESTS, FORMER SENATORS ANALYZE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR IN THIS SESSION.

IT'S A LOT FORMER DEMOCRATS SENATOR -- FORMER SENATOR, WE NEED TO SAY IT IN OTHER WORDS, I THINK YOU'RE STILL A DEMOCRAT.

>> YES, YES.

>> Mary: AND MICHELLE BENSON, FORMER SENATOR, REPUBLICAN.

LET'S START WITH THE BILL SIGNING.

IT'S BEEN A FULL DECADES, MARRIAGE EQUALITY SINGS THE LAST TIME ANYTHING LOOKED LIKE THAT BILL SIGNING TODAY.

>> VERY EXCITING, WHAT A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS SESSION.

YOU THINK MR.

THE INVESTMENTS IN SCHOOL, TRANSPORTATION, MINNESOTANS IN GENERAL WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHILD CARE CREDIT, ALL THE DIFFERENT CREDITS THAT ARE REALLY TARGETED TO HELP FAMILIES, JUST REALLY GOING TO MAKE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON FAMILIES AND IN THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: I USED THE WORDS "UNPRECEDENTED," I THINK YOU MIGHT SAY THAT NOT AS MUCH IN A GOOD WAY.

>> I HAVE DEEP CONCERNS AS WE GO INTO A RECESSION, THE PROGRAMS, THE PERMANENT SPENDING PUT IN PLACE ARE GOING TO DRIVE US TO A DEFICIT AND AS WE SAW, ANNUAL REST SAID THERE'S SORT OF THIS INSATIABLE APPETITE NOR TAXES.

THEY WENT AS FAR AS THEY COULD GO ON TAXES SO WHEN DEFICITS COME, THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO RAISE TAXES TO FILL THAT HOLE SO LACK OF PRUDENCE IN SOME OF THE SPENDING E HAD $19 BILLION, MOST OF IT WAS ONE-TIME MONEY AND THEY COULD HAVE MADE REALLY BIPARTISAN INVESTMENTS.

THEY COULD HAVE DONE A LOT OF THE PRIORITIES THAT THEY WANTED TO BUT THEY WENT ALL IN AND, YOU KNOW WHAT, IN A POLITICAL STANDPOINT, GO ALL IN BECAUSE YOU GOT ONE SHOT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT THE REALITY IS, THIS PERMANENT HIGH LEVEL OF SPENDING HURT CALIFORNIA AND IT'S HURTING ILLINOIS, AND MINNESOTA'S SETS UP TO BE NEXT.

>> Mary: A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO LOSE PEOPLE, HIGH INCOME FOLKS ARE GOING TO TAKE OFF, WE'LL BE IN DEFICITS LIKE THE OTHER STATES.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> NO, ECAUSE OF WHAT WE OFFER, THE QUALITIES OF SERVICES WE OFFER OUR RESIDENTS HERE AND, YEAH, I MEAN, THAT -- THE TAXES ARE PART OF GETTING THE WONDERFUL EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE THAT OTHER STATES, QUITE HONESTLY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO AND IT'S COVERED.

IT'S PREVENTIVE AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, MY GOD, HOW MANY YEARS DID WE HAVE TO FIGHT OVER $25 CO-PAY FOR INSULIN?

EPI PENCE.

>> ACTUALLY, WE DID THAT.

I CARRIED IT.

THAT WAS BIPARTISAN.

>> WE GOT IT, I GOT IT.

>> I DID IT.

>> WE GOT IT.

SO ALL OF THESE ARE PERMANENT AND ONGOING AND WILL REALLY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF MINNESOTANS AND THEY SAY THAT THE SKY IS FALLING AND EVERYTHING.

IT'S NOT GOING TO.

WE REALLY INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE HERE.

>> Mary: WERE YOU SURPRISED BY HOW PARTY I LINE THE SENATE VOTES WERE IN PARTICULAR?

>> THEY HAD 34, THAT MEANS THEY COULD LET NO ONE OFF AND SO EVERYBODY HAD TO WALK THE PLANK -- >> Mary: VERY FEW REPUBLICANS CROSSED THE POINT -- >> THERE WERE QUITE A FEW BILLS THAT HAD 41.

>> Mary: BUT NOT CONTROVERSIAL BILLS.

>> THEY WERE OMNIBUS BILLS.

>> ON THE BIG -- THEY'RE ONLY OMNIBUS BILLS S DEFINED -- AG IS ALWAYS BIPARTISAN.

JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> Mary: BUT TAKE SOMETHING LIKE MARIJUANA, WHERE WE SAW FIVE HOUSE REPUBLICANS CROSS AND NO -- AND WE SAW REPUBLICANS VOTE AGAINST THE PRINCE BILL.

THERE WAS A DIFFERENT GUY NAM MICK IN THE SENATE.

>> THERE ERE FEW REPUBLICANS WHO WERE JUST GOING TO VOTE NO ON EVERYTHING, MARK BUESGENS USED TO VOTE NO ON EVERYTHING SO WE'VE GOT SOME OF THOSE IN THE SENATE BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TOGETHER TO BRING MORE PEOPLE AND HAVE LESS CONFLICT AND LESS CONTROVERSY.

THAT'S NOT -- IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN THINGS THROUGH, YOU CAN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO NOD AND SAY OKAY.

>> Mary: SENATE COULD FLIP.

COULD THIS BITE DEMOCRATS' BACK?

>> THOUGH.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY, THE REPUBLICANS DID NOT HAVE A COHESIVE STRONG MESSAGE THIS YEAR AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR MESSAGE CONTINUES TO BE, EVERYTHING ABOUT GUNS, GOD, GYNECOLOGY AND GAYS.

AND THAT WAS RESOUNDINGLY REJECTED IN NOVEMBER AND THEY WANT INVESTMENTS IN OUR EDUCATION, IN OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, IN OUR HEALTH CARE AND THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRATS DID, THEY PROMISED AND DELIVERED.

>> PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION AND UTTING TAXES, MAKING GOVERNMENT RIGHT-SIZED WERE THE THREE THINGS REPUBLICANS RAN ON.

THE PRINCIPLES F SUPPORTING THE SECOND AMENDMENT, ET CETERA, WEREN'T FRONT AND CENTER BUT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE PASSED HERE ALSO WEREN'T FRONT AND CENTER ON DEMOCRAT CARDS.

THEY TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

BUT THEY -- >> THEY PASSED IT.

>> THEY'RE LETTING MORE PEOPLE OUT F PRISON EARLIER, AND SO WHAT'S THAT GOING TO DO?

WE SEE PEOPLE CYCLING THROUGH THE SYSTEM OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> Mary: YOU TWO LIKE PROCESS AND YOU VALUE THE INSTITUTION, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE INSTITUTIONAL THINGS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT CHANGED.

LET'S TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, ELECTION LAW.

WE'VE HAD A LONG, UNWRITTEN POLICY BUT AGREEMENT THAT ELECTION LAW CHANGES WOULD BE BIPARTISAN.

NOT ANYMORE.

>> YEAH, AND IT REALLY STIFLED MEANINGFUL REFORM FROM HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THAT AGREEMENT, AND NOW YOU HAVE SOME OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL UPDATED AND INVESTED ELECTION LAWS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE REALLY ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND THAT -- THINGS WERE SO STALLED FROM HAVA, FEDERAL FUNDS WERE STALLED AND HELD HOSTAGE FOR YEARS -- >> WE'RE STILL NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH HAVA BECAUSE WE DON'T -- >> Mary: WHAT ABOUT IMPACT ON THE INSTITUTION?

>> WE DON'T EVER PROVISIONAL BALLOTS WHICH WAS IN HAVA.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.

TAKING AWAY SOME OF THE INSTITUTIONAL PROPER PRICE, I KNOW IT SOUNDS STUFFY BUT IT'S WHAT YOU BUILD CONNECTIONS OF TRUST.

ANN REST AND MARY KIFFMEYER COULD TALK ABOUT ELECTION, THEY KNEW WHAT THEY COULD BRING TO THE FABLE AND THAT BUILT COMITY AND TRUST, AND MINNESOTA HAD REALLY HIGH VOTER TURNOUT LEADING THE NATION OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

WE HAD HIGH LEVELS OF TRUST IN OUR ELECTIONS AND THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE WE WENT PARTISAN ON ELECTION BILLS.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT.

>> I JUST THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN MORE BIPARTISAN BILLS PASSED.

WHAT I'M WATCHING PASS, THEY'RE PASSING 40, 39 IN THE SENATE, 41, THERE HAS BEEN MORE BIPARTISAN BILLS THAN I ACTUALLY THOUGHT WERE GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL -- >> THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BILLS WERE STRAIGHT ALONG PARTY LINES AND EVERY DEMOCRAT SENATOR WAS THE DECIDING VOTE.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU TWO.

GREAT INSIGHT AS ALWAYS.

>> MARY: IT'S BEEN A SESSION MARKED BY ALL-NIGHT FLOOR SESSIONS AND FAST-PACED BILLS.

>> MARY: IT HAS BEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED SESSION NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT.

JOINING ME NOW, BLOIS OLSON, CEO OF FLUENCE MEDIA.

YOU CAN ALSO HEAR HIM ON THE "MORNING TAKE" ON WCCO.

WHERE WE BOTH VENTURE FROM TIME TO TIME.

BOBLOIS, BECAUSE YOU -- I SAID EARLIER IT HAD BEEN A DECADE SINCE WE'D SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT BILL SIGNING.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> I HEARD LAST WEEK THAT'S HOW THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT SO I KIND OF WAITED TO SEE HOW THEY WERE GOING TO SET IT UP, HOW SESSION ENDED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS WHAT THEY WANTED IT TO BE.

IT WAS A PRODUCTION.

AND THIS GOVERNOR AND THIS PARTY, THE DFL CURRENTLY IS REALLY BIG INTO CELEBRATIONS FOR VICTORY.

WHICH IS A DIFFERENT THING, YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT DECORUM AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THE OTHER THING WAS, WAS IT WASN'T ONE MINNESOTA AND THAT'S HAT THEY BRANDED IT BECAUSE I THINK THAT -- >> Mary: THEY WERE ALL THE UNION BUSES AND -- >> THERE WAS.

>> Mary: PEOPLE WERE THERE.

>> BUT LET'S BE CLEAR.

THE DFL PARTY SENT OUT A CALL FOR ACTIVISTS AND INSIDERS TO COME TO THE BILL SIGNING.

SO THIS WASN'T A GUBERNATORIAL EVENT, IT WAS A POLITICAL EVENT, WHICH IS FAIR, THEY HAVE POWER.

BUT WHEN THE PARTY SENDS OUT AN ALERT AND SAYS PLEASE COME SUPPORT THIS GREAT THING, IT'S AND THAT'S NOT AS KIND OF THAT- NATURAL AS I THINK THE MARRIAGE EQUALITY SIGNING WAS.

THAT WAS A NATURAL MOMENT OF BREAK-THROUGH.

THIS WAS KIND OF A FABRICATED MOMENT.

>> Mary: INTERESTING COMPARISON.

THE OTHER THING WE'VE BECAUSE OF, ESPECIALLY IN THE SENATE, THE LACK OF REPUBLICANS VOTING FOR BILLS, GETTING ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEES, REPUBLICANS DIDN'T GETS TO GO TO MANY BILL SIGNINGS, THEY DIDN'T GETS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT SPECTACLE MUCH THIS YEAR.

IS IT WORTH PEOPLE VOTING FOR STUFF, DO YOU THINK THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR MARIJUANA WILL GET INVITED?

>> I THINK THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS HAD A TOUGH TIME WITH LEGISLATIVE BRIDGES.

THEY'VE GOTTEN BETTER BUT I THINK THEY ALSO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT, AND, LOOK, POLITICAL CULTURE RIGHT KNOW MAKES IT HARD FOR BOTH SIDES TO DO THAT.

>> Mary: WHO WANTS TO EVEN SHOW UP AND BE THERE?

RIGHT.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR BEFORE.

HE'S GOOD ONE ON ONE, HE WOULD BE GOOD AT THAT BRINGING PEOPLE IN AND I DID NOTICE A COUPLE OF THE BIPARTISAN BILLS EARLY IN THE SESSION THAT REPUBLICANS WERE THERE.

>> Mary: YES, YES, DEFINITELY.

>> I THINK IT'S JUST THE WAY IT ENDED.

I THINK THERE WAS A DIFFERENT SENSIBILITY IN THIS CAPITOL, IN THE PARTIES, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY REFLECT OUT DURING A LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> Mary: THE OTHER THING, OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN NOTICING AND THE HUGE CHANGE UP HERE IS REALLY HAVING A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WITH A HIGHLY ELEVATED ROLE, WHO SPEAKS AT EVERY BILL SIGNING, WHO REALLY HAD THE CROWD WITH HER TODAY, AND IT HAS STARTED THIS BUZZ OF IT'S NOT WRITTEN IN LAW HERE BUT GOVERNORS TYPICALLY DON'T RUN FOR A THIRD TERM.

IS PEGGY FLANAGAN THE HEIR APERSONALITY?

>> THIRD TERMS ARE REALLY ARD FOR GOVERNORS NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WE LEGISLATIVE ROLES THIS YEAR THAT WILL CHALLENGE WHETHER OR NOT PEGGY FLANAGAN -- >> Mary: OKAY, NAMES, NAMES.

>> I'LL JUST SAY TWO, NICK FRENTZ AND ZACK STEPHENSON.

I THINK BOTH OF THEM WERE HIGH-PROFILE ROLLS.

WHY WOULDN'T YOU THROW IN A MELISSA HORTMAN OR CAR RE DZIEDZIC.

I THINK THROWS TWO ARE THE STORY.

WE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT GOVERNOR'S GET WHAT GOVERNORS WANT, THAT FLIPPED IN TIME.

THOSE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS GOT WHAT THEY WANTED.

I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF GOVERNOR WALZ BEING A FORMER LEGISLATOR, HE'S GOT A TOTALLY DIFFERENT STYLE IN DEALING WITH LEGISLATIVE ISSUES BUT I THINK SPECIFICALLY THOSE TWO DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT.

WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH WHAT HAPPENED OR NOT, THEY LED VERY CHALLENGING CAUCUSES THROUGH VERY TOUGH ISSUES.

>> Mary: ESPECIALLY THE SENATE.

ONE VOTE MARGIN, DZIEDZIC KIND OF AN UNKNOWN, DEFINITELY AS A LEADER AND THEN GETS A DEVASTATING CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND SURGERY IN THE MIDDLE OF SESSION.

IS IT JUST MIRACULOUS SHE PULLED OFF THE SESSION SHE DID?

>> ANYBODY WHO'S KNOWN KARI DZIEDZIC FOR 25 OR 30 YEARS KNOWS THAT SHE'S ALL GRIT AND I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL.

>> Mary: IS HAT IN THE HOCKEY WORLD YOU SPEAK?

>> I THINK IT'S HOCKEY, NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS.

I MEAN, SHE'S GOT A GREAT PEDIGREE SO, YEAH, TOUGH AND FORTITUDE.

LIKE, JUST PLAIN OLD FORTITUDE.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT REPUBLICAN LEADERS.

ARE THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS THE NEW BENCH AND THE NEW FUTURE OF THE PARTIES HERE?

>> I THINK THEY ARE BUT I FOUND IT INTERESTING LATE LAST NIGHT I GOT A NOTES THAT THE REPUBLICANS AND THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WERE GOING TO COMMENT ON THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> Mary: I SAW THAT.

>> SO ALL FOUR SENT OUT A UNIFIED STATEMENT.

I THINK REPUBLICANS KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOT TO FIND A NEW TUNE.

>> Mary: AND A NEW SPOKESPERSON, NEW FACE.

LEADER DEMUTH HAS GOTTEN GOOD REVIEWS FOR BEING A LIKEABLE, POSITIVE, NEW FACE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HER POSSIBILITIES?

>> HER PERSONALITIES, I THINK SHE DID WELL, I THINK SHE TOO KEPT A CAUCUS TOGETHER THAT HAD SOME WILD CARDS.

I THINK MINORITY LEADER JOHNSON IN THE SENATE FIT THE PERSONALITY.

HE PUSHED WHEN HE HAD TO.

I THINK THAT LAST DEAL ON BONDING AND -- >> Mary: THAT WAS A BIG DEAL THEY GOT.

>> IT WAS A BIG DEAL THAT REPUBLICANS GOT, THEY HELD VERY FIRM AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE PLAYERS BEHIND THE SCENES, WHEN I ASKED, SAID, THEY NEVER STOPPED TALKING AND THAT SAYS THAT THERE IS TRUST AND THEY DO WANT TO WORK TOGETHER AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL.

>> Mary: IT SEEMED LIKE PEOPLE LIKED THE LEADERS IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.

>> THEY LIKED EACH OTHER.

THESE ARE ALL LIKEABLE PEOPLE.

>> Mary: WHICH MATTERS IN THE EN, WITH WE DON'T WANT TO OVERSTATE THAT.

THANK FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATED MY DAY WITH YOU.

>> MARY: THIS WEEK'S FINAL FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER IS A SENATOR FROM PLYMOUTH WHO WAS FIRST DRAWN TO POLITICS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> THAT IS SUCH A GREAT QUESTION.

SO, ACTUALLY, WHEN I WAS 17, SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, OUR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS ENCOURAGED ALL OF US TO GO TO OUR PRECINCT CAUCUSES AND SAID WE WOULD GET EXTRA CREDIT IF WE DID.

AND I DID GO TO MY PRECINCT CAUCUS.

IT WAS IN 1980 AND THE ROOM WAS FULL OF PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT ON A CAUCUS NIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND SO I WAS BIT BY THE POLITICAL BUG PRETTY EARLY ON.

>> Mary: WELL THEN I SHOULD JUMP IN AND SAY WHAT TOOK SO LONG?

>> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I LIVED IN SENATOR ANN REST'S DISTRICT AND REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON'S DISTRICT AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LIVE IN A SOLIDLY BLUE DISTRICT, THE OPPORTUNITIES AREN'T THERE.

AND SO IN 2016, I RAN FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I RAN THREE TIMES, SO THIRD TIMING'S THE CHARM.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I BELIEVE IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM AND I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED TO OFFICE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY DO WORK FOR PEOPLE, FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR DISTRICT.

ON PAPER, SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE COMPETITIVE.

>> THAT AREA HAS PROBABLY BEEN CHANGING AND I KNOW SENATOR ANN JOHNSON STEWART HELD THE SEAT PRIOR TO ME.

SHE WORKED REALLY HARD TO FLIP THAT SEAT BUT THEN I THINK REDISTRICTING, PLYMOUTH PROBABLY HAS SHIFTED MORE I WOULD SAY BLUE, I THINK I GOT JUST UNDER 578% OF THE VOTE.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT TREND PROBABLY IN A LOT OF SUBURBS, WHERE THE BLUE IS KIND OF KEEPS PUSHING OUTWARDS IN DISTRICTS THAT WERE PRETTY RELIABLY RED IN THE PAST ARE GOING THROUGH THAT PURPLE TO BLUE CHANGE.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT ISSUES, WHAT DID YOU HEAR, WHAT DID YOU TALK ABOUT THE MOST AND WHAT DID YOU HEAR THE MOST?

>> UNQUESTIONABLY, THE TOP ISSUE WAS ALMOST ALWAYS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, MAKING SURE THAT WE MAINTAINED REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WHICH WE'VE DONE, AT LEAST IN PART.

THE OTHER THING THAT I HEARD A GREAT DEAL ABOUT WERE CONCERNS ABOUT MAKING SURE OUR SCHOOLS GET FUNDING, A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR SCHOOLS N PARTICULAR.

I'VE HEARD A LOT BOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION AND I'M THE CHIEF AUTHOR FOR THE BILLING THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE CROSS-SUBSIDY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

>> Mary: WHICH IS BIG.

LETS ME JUMP N ONE OF THE EARLY BIG PRESS CONFERENCES ON EDUCATION, TOP ISSUE, MORE THAN ONE FRESHMEN IS CARRYING A BILL AND BEING PROMINENT.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> I WILL SAY THIS, MARY, WE HAVE 14 FRESHMEN OUT OF 34 IN OUR CAUCUS, I AM SO BLESSED TO BE AMONG THIS FRESHMEN CLASS OF REALLY INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEINGS.

THEY'RE SMART, THEY'RE MOTIVATED, THEY'RE PASSIONATE.

EVERYBODY HAS STEPPED UP AND KIND OF FOUND THEIR NICHE SO WE'VE-OH- >> Mary: BUT CHIEF AUTHOR, THAT'S MORE THAN -- CHIEF AUTHOR NEVER WENT TO [INDISCERNIBLE] BEFORE.

>> ELL, WE ARE IN A ANY DAY AND AGE, I THINK.

EVERY FRESHMAN, SENATOR IN OUR CAUCUS HAS A VICE CHAIR POSITION AND I THINK IT'S UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'VE GOT A HUGE CROP OF PEOPLE COMING THAT WE NEED TO DO SOME LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND MENTORING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE READY TO CARRY ON THOSE MANTLES WHEN THE TIME COMES.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT THE POWERHOUSE FEMALE CAUCUS.

YOU KNOW, THE SENATE IN PARTICULAR WAS VERY MALE, VERY WHITE AND THE DIVERSITY, THE GENDER DIVERSITY, THE RACIAL DIVERSITY, SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED THE CULTURE THERE JUST INSTANTLY ALMOST, IS THAT FAIR?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK THERE WERE A NUMBER OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO KIND OF GOT EITHER REDISTRICTED OUT OR PUSHED OUT, YOU NOW, THEY ONLY HAVE THREE OUT OF 33 ON THEIR SIDE.

WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY INCREDIBLE WOMEN LEADERS IN OUR CAUCUS AND IT HAS CHANGED IT, EVERYTHING FROM THAT VERY FIRST DAY WE HAD SESSION, TALKING ABOUT RULES AND WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE GOING TO DO REMOTE VOTING AND WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD HAVE WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE.

>> Mary: OF ALL THINGS.

>> THAT WAS OUR VERY FIRST BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ESPECIALLY YOUNG GIRLS COMING UP TO SEE THIS ARRAY OF FOLKS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM.

>> Mary: YOU HAVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF SESSION UNDER YOUR BELT NOW.

WHAT SURPRISED YOU SO AR?

>> I THINK WHAT SURPRISED ME AND MAY SURPRISE OTHERS WHEN YOU COME OFF A CAMPAIGN, YOU HAVE AN OPPONENT AND THERE'S SOME ADVERSARIAL NATURE, SOMETIMES TO CAMPAIGNS.

WHAT I HAVE FOUND HERE IS THAT OFTENTIMES, WE DISAGREE VERY, VERY VEHEMENTLY IN COMMITTEE OR ON THE FLOOR BUT I THINK HAVE AT LEAST A REASONABLY COLLEGIAL RELATIONSHIP OFF THE FLOOR.

AT LEAST FOR MOST.

>> Mary: AND DO YOU THINK WITH THAT VERY CLOSE MARGIN IN THE SENATE, THAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO NEED REPUBLICANS NOT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE ON BOARD ON EVERY ISSUE.

YOU'VE BEEN LUCKY TO KEEP THE CAUCUS TOGETHER BUT THAT'S -- CAN BE HARD ON SOME ISSUES.

>> I THINK OUR CAUCUS HAS BEEN VERY DISCIPLINED AND THERE ARE OCCASIONS ON THE FLOOR THAT WE HAVE HAD A REPUBLICAN OR TWO VOTE WITH US ON BILLS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ARE ENCOURAGING OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDES OF THE AISLE TO WORK WITH US.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND IN LAW?

HOW ARE YOU FEELING THAT COMING THROUGH AND ASSIST YOU AS YOU'RE WRITING LAWS?

>> I'M A FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY, I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME AS AN ATTORNEY NEGOTIATING, TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE THROUGH A PROCESS THAT'S EALLY DIFFICULT.

A LOT OF IT IS ABOUT MANAGING EXPECTATIONS AND TRYING TO REALLY SORT OF MANAGE THE EMOTIONAL PARTS OF A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS, SO I THINK I COME TO ALL OF THIS WITH THAT SORT OF LENS OF HOW CAN WE REACH CONSENSUS IF AT ALL?

AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T.

>> MARY: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THIS IS OUR FINAL SHOW OF THE SEASON, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE COVERING THE STATE'S NEW LAWS ON OUR SISTER PROGRAM "ALMANAC."

WILL SUMMER LONG, WE'LL REALLY DIVE INTO THOSE BILLS, MAYBE SOME YOU DIDN'T KNOW AND ANALYZE THAT FOR YOU.

TUNE IN FRIDAYS AT 7:00 TO CATCH IT LIVE.

IF YOU MISSED PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, OR WANT TO RE-WATCH ANY EPISODES FROM THIS PAST SEASON, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW "ALMANAC" ON FACEBOOK.

LOOK FOR UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON, AND I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THIS SESSION BEING CALLED THE SECOND MINNESOTA MIRACLE.

ANOTHER COMPARATIVE, TRIFECTA.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

THANKS FOR THE AMAZING CREW BEHIND THE SCENES THIS WHOLE SEASON.

GOOD NIGHT.

CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM "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.

D.A.V.

OF MINNESOTA: KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO MINNESOTA'S VETERANS.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

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

MORE AT SHAKOPEEDAKOTA.ORG.

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