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

>> ERIC: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SPEAKER EMERITA MELISSA HORTMAN.

SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR AND CONGRESSWOMAN BETTY MCCOLLUM WILL JOIN US IN STUDIO.

MARY LAHAMMER WAS UP AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

>> Mary: WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE STATE IS REMEMBERING FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MELISSA ORTMAN.

>> SHE'S THE LONGEST SERVE CAREGIVER WOMAN SPEAKER IN MINNESOTA HISTORY.

>> THE SECOND MINNESOTA MIRACLE AND SHE WAS AT THE HELM.

>> Mary: THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA: THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> ERIC: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

WE ARE GOING TO SPEND MUCH OF TONIGHT'S SHOW HONORING THE LEGACY OF SPEAKER EMERITA MELISSA HORTMAN AFTER SHE AND HER HUSBAND MARK WERE ASSASSINATED IN THEIR HOME EARLY LAST SATURDAY MORNING.

WE'LL HEAR FROM CURRENT AND FORMER COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING A GROUP OF FORMER LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WHO KNEW AND WORKED WITH HORTMAN.

AND WE'LL TALK WITH TWO MEMBERS OF MINNESOTA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

>> CATHY: BUT WE'RE GOING TO START WITH A LOOK BACK IN TIME.

SPEAKER EMERITA HORTMAN HAS BEEN A REGULAR GUEST ON OUR SHOW FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES.

WE DUG INTO THE ARCHIVES THIS WEEK, AND WE'RE GOING TO SHARE SOME SERIOUS AND SOME NOT-SO-SERIOUS CLIPS TONIGHT.

WE START WITH A SHORT EXCERPT FROM HER VERY FIRST STUDIO APPEARANCE ON THE SHOW, WHEN SHE WAS A YOUNG LAWMAKER ADVOCATING FOR A PRIMARY SEAT BELT LAW.

TAKE A LOOK, AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Eric: WHAT HAPPENED THERE ON THE FLOOR LAST NIGHT?

IT WAS AN ODD COALITION THAT DEE DEFEATED THIS BILL.

>> WELL, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT DIVIDES LEGISLATORS NOT UPON PARTISAN LINES BUT IDEOLOGICAL LINES.

9 FAR RIGHT AND THE AR LEFT TEND TO BE A BIT MORE LIBERTARIAN AND REALLY DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT INVOLVED IN DECISIONS LIKE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WEAR A SEAT BELT.

>> Eric: WHY IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A RIMARY?

>> WE KNOW THAT WE'LL BE SAVING 20 TO 40 MINNESOTA LIVES IF WE ENACT THE PRIMARY SEAT BELT OFFENSE AND WE KNOW WE'LL BE PREVENTING DOZENS OF SERIOUS INJURIES.

THERE'S A PUBLIC COST TO THAT.

IT'S $278,000 A YEAR.

NOT TO MENTION THE LOSS TO THE FAMILIES.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: HERE WITH US NOW, THE TWO MOST SENIOR MEMBERS OF MINNESOTA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

DEMOCRATIC U.S.

SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR TOOK OFFICE IN 2007.

SHE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO REPRESENT MINNESOTA IN THE U.S. SENATE.

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN BETTY MCCOLLUM IS THE DEAN OF THE DELEGATION.

SHE HAS REPRESENTED THE 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SINCE 2001 AND WAS JUST THE SECOND WOMAN ELECTED FROM MINNESOTA TO SERVE IN THE U.S. HOUSE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

DEAN OF THE DELEGATION, TELL US HOW -- WAS IT DIFFICULT TO GET PROPER WORDING AROUND THE TEN PEOPLE IN THE DELEGATION SAYING, THIS WORDING IS RIGHT AND WE NEED TO HONOR HORTMAN AND WE NEED TO DECRY THE VIOLENCE AND SO FORTH?

>> WELL, I CALLED THE MEMBERS AND BROKE THE NEWS TO SEVERAL OF THEM.

AND THEN SENATOR KLOBUCHAR AND I SPOKE AND I SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVE EMMER AND JUST SAID, THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE HAVE TO SHOW OUR VALUES.

WE HAVE TO SHOW YOUR VALUES THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT THE WAY YOU SETTLE DIFFERENCES.

AND IT WAS -- IT WAS EASY.

IT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY EASY.

>> Eric: WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST MEETING WITH MELISSA HORTMAN?

>> WAY BACK, I THINK SIMILAR TO BETTY, WHEN MELISSA WAS FIRST RUNNING.

I WAS JUST WATCHING OUR TAPE THERE AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I REMEMBER.

SHE HAD A FEW ELECTIONS WHERE SHE DIDN'T WIN.

I WAS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, CAMPAIGNED WITH HER, CAMPAIGNED A NUMBER OF TIMES.

WATCHED HER DOOR-KNOCK.

I MEAN, SHE KNEW PRACTICALLY EVERYONE IN THAT DISTRICT.

FOR SOME REASON, I JUST KEEP SEEING DORITOS AND YOUNG KIDS AND SHE WAS BALANCING, WHEN SHE GOT THERE, SHE WAS BALANCING LITTLE KIDS, BEING A GIRL SCOUT LEADER, BEING SUNDAY SCHOOL LEADER, AND HAD A BEAUTIFUL MARRIAGE WITH HER HUSBAND MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA, WHO BY THE WAY, THE OTHER DAY, THEY HAD HOURS OF MEMORIES ABOUT HIM FROM HIS WORK COLLEAGUES AT NVENT.

HE WAS A OOL PLAYER.

VERY GOOD, AND HE ALSO WAS A DIVER AND HAD AN INCREDIBLE LIFE HIMSELF AND I THINK WE SHOULD REMEMBER HIM FOR THE SAKE OF SOPHIE AND COLIN AND THEIR WHOLE FAMILY AS WELL.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT'S NATURAL TO LOOK BACK I THINK AND RECOLLECT THE LAST THING THAT WE HAVE SAID TO SOMEONE WHO HAS PASSED.

AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SAID TO ONE ANOTHER THE LAST TIME YOU SAW SPEAKER HORTMAN.

>> WE WERE ON A PANEL TOGETHER.

I HAD -- AS AMY WAS POINTING OUT, I WAS PART OF THE RECRUITMENT TEAM BACK IN 1998 WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING.

AND SO MINDY GREILING AND I WHO WERE IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE, WHO WAS IN LEADERSHIP, WE WOULD GO OUT AND DOOR-KNOCK WITH HER.

SO WE HAD A RELATIONSHIP THAT SPANNED ME RECRUITING HER TO TRY TO GET TO CONGRESS.

WE ALL MAKE FAMILY DECISIONS ANDS THE TIMING JUST WASN'T RIGHT.

BUT LATELY WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON BEING WITH MY STATE LEGISLATORS, SENATE AND HOUSE, IN MINNESOTA, TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE CUTS TO MEDICAID WAS GOING TO MEAN, THE CUTS TO S.N.A.P.

AND THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL AND THE RECONCILIATION.

AND SO WE WERE SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER AT A TOWN HALL IN STILLWATER.

NOT TOO LONG AGO.

BUT SHE WAS A GREAT LEGISLATOR.

AND WE WORKED ON A LOT OF FEDERAL ISSUES TOGETHER.

WE HELPED DEVELOP WHAT'S CALLED THE MINNESOTA FORWARD FUND TO BRING MORE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY HERE TO MINNESOTA.

AND SO I GOT O KNOW HER PERSONALLY, UT GOT TO WORK WITH HER PROFESSIONALLY.

>> Cathy: DID YOU SEE HER AT THE HUMPHREY MONDALE DINNER.

>> I DID.

BUT I'D CALL HER, SHE'D BE REALLY DIRECT.

I REMEMBER HER ON THESE DFL BUS TRIPS THE LAST FEW WEEKS BEFORE AN ELECTION.

EVERYONE SITTING THERE CALLING THEIR FRIENDS AND GOING OUT, GETTING THEIR SPEECHES READY.

SHE WOULD HAVE SPREADSHEETS ON HER LAP, LOOKING AT EACH HOUSE DISTRICT AND WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE AND WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THERE.

AND THAT WAS PART OF HER MISSION.

SHE WANTED TO GET THINGS DONE.

SHE LED THE HOUSE TO GET FREE SCHOOL LUNCH AND WORK FAMILY LEAVE AND WAS AT THE HELM, AND THEN THIS LAST YEAR, I REMEMBER SEEING -- I HUNG WITH HER AND THE EPUBLICAN LEADER, LISA, IN THAT VERY ROOM THAT BETTY AND I WERE JUST IN FOR A BIG HALF HOUR BEFORE WE WERE ALL ON YOUR SHOW TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE UPCOMING SESSION.

SO THIS YEAR WAS A TRUE TEST WITH THAT POWER-SHARING ARRANGEMENT.

AND THEY WERE STILL ABLE TO GET A BIT BUDGET.

SO SHE WAS JUST THIS REMARBLABLE LEADER WHO SOMEHOW CAME FROM JUGGLING EVERYTHING AS A MOM TO JUGGLING EVERYTHING WITH ALL THESE COALITIONS AND GETTING EVERYTHING DONE AND HER COLLEAGUE ZACH STEPHENSON WAS SAYING THE THER DAY, EVERY TIME SHE WAS HIT DOWN ON THE MAT, SHE GOT UP AND THAT DEFINED HER.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK WERE UNIQUE QUALITIES ABOUT SPEAKER HORTMAN'S LEADERSHIP?

>> SHE WAS A MEMBER'S MEMBER, AND A LEGISLATOR.

SO SHE KNEW HER CAUCUS.

SHE KNEW THEIR STRENGTHS.

SHE KNEW THEIR WEAKNESSES AND THAT HE THAT SHE WORKED TO DEVELOP THEIR WEAKNESSES INTO STRENGTHS AND YOU HEAR THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHEN YOU TALK TO MINNESOTA HOUSE MEMBERS.

WU ALL TALK ABOUT BEING HOUSE BROKEN.

I WENT TO HE BIG HOUSE BUT I'M STILL IN THE HOUSE.

BUT SHE WASN'T AFRAID TO SHARE POWER.

SHE WASN'T AFRAID TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE.

AND THAT'S WHAT MADE HER SUCH A WONDERFUL LEADER.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

WE WOULD BE OUT DOING DOOR KNOCKS STANDING IN THE BACK BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO SEE THE LEGISLATORS WHO WERE OUT THERE RUNNING, PRACTICE THEIR SPEECHES, BEFORE THEY WENT DOOR KNOCKING.

AND THEN WE'D TAKE THEM ASIDE AND MAYBE GIVE A CRITIQUE OR TWIN METALS, BUT SHE WAS A MEMBER'S MEMBER, ALWAYS LOOKED OUT FOR THEIR WELFARE AND THAT'S WHY THERE WILL BE SUCH A BIG HOLE IN EVERYBODY'S HEART THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE MEMBEREDDED.

>> Eric: WE ALL SAY THERE'S NO PLACE FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE, AND YET IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S PART OF THE DEAL THESE DAYS.

>> WE HAVE SEEN THESE INCREASE IN THREATS AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE, JUDGES.

IN THE CONGRESS, WE'VE GONE FROM 1900 IN 2016 TO JUST LAST YEAR, OVER 9,000 THREATS.

AND THIS IS ON BOTH SIDES.

AISLE.

AND I THINK SOME OF IT IS THE INTERNET.

AND I'VE BEEN A BIG BOOSTER OF TRYING TO GET SOME RULES OF THE ROAD IN PLACE, THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNBALANCED READ THIS STUFF AND THEY BELIEVE IT AND THEY GO OUT AND DO HORRIBLE THINGS.

I THINK THE WAY THAT CONGRESSWOMAN MCCLUNG, CONGRESSMAN EMMER, SENATOR SMITH AND I AND ALL OF OUR DELEGATION COME TOGETHER, WE NEED TO SEE MORE OF THAT, CONDEMNING VINYLS TOGETHER.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE SECURITY OF MEMBERS.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT OVERALL, JUST PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR, WHO IS SAYING THIS KIND OF STUFF, BECAUSE IT GETS AROUND, AND AGAIN, WHETHER IT IS THE ATTEMPT ON SPEAKER PE LOS WRITE'S HUSBAND, THE BLUDGEONING, WHETHER IT IS THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP, WE'VE JUST SEEN WAY TOO MUCH OF THIS.

>> Eric: ARE THERE FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS THE AISLE IN THE HOUSE?

>> THERE ARE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN VERY EXTREME RHETORIC.

SOMETIMES VIOLENT TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER.

AND THERE'S A GROUP OF US ACROSS THE AISLE THAT CAN AGREE WITH -- ITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE, THAT CAN STICK TO THE FACTS, BECAUSE WE KNOW AS LEADERS, AS TEACHERS, AS MENTORS, OUR WORDS HAVE POWER.

AND IF WE HOOSE TO GO DOWN THE PATH OF NOT TALKING TO EACH OTHER ITH CIVILITY, WE SET THE TABLE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OR FOR SOMEONE AT A TOWN HALL TO DO THAT.

AND I THINK BEING A FORMER SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, I BRING A LOT OF THAT WITH ME TO CONGRESS.

AND SO WE STRIVE TOWARDS THAT AND I THINK OUR DELEGATION IS REALLY GOING TO REFLECT ON HOW WE PROJECT HE VALUE OF CIVILITY BECAUSE WE NEED TO BRING THAT BACK.

>> Cathy: WELL, YOU KNOW, SENATOR SMITH WENT UP AND TALKED TO SENATOR LEE ABOUT, WORDS DO HAVE POWER AND YOU ALSO TALKED TO HIM ABOUT HIS DISTASTEFUL TWEETS.

>> REALLY BAD STUFF OUT ON THE INTERNET.

BASICALLY.

MOCKING THIS SITUATION.

AND I JUST TOLD HIM, T WASN'T ONE BIT FUNNY.

TINA SPOKE VERY FORCEFULLY WITH HIM.

AND SO WHEN THE NEXT DAY, WHEN I TALKED TO HIM ON THE PHONE, SHE SAID HE WAS GOING TO TAKE IT -- HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO TAKE IT DOWN, HE DID AND I DO THINK WE HAVE TO CALL THIS STUFF OUT WHEN IT HAPPENS.

IT IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL WHEN PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR OWN PARTIES CALL IT OUT TOO, BECAUSE PEOPLE WATCH AND THEY LISTEN, AND AS BETTY SAID, IT'S N ALL OF U.S. AS LEADERS.

COURAGE IS WHETHER YOU'RE WILLING TO STAND NEXT TO SOMEONE YOU DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> Eric: YOU TWO FEEL SECURE?

DO YOU HAVE SECURITY?

OR IS IT CAPITOL ENOUGH?

>> I HAVE THE ENTIRE ST. PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE WONDERFUL MEMBERSHIP AREA, RAMSEY AND WASHINGTON COUNTY, I -- WE AS THE PUBLIC ARE WELL CARED FOR.

>> I THINK RIGHT NOW AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THE MANHUNT AND EVERYTHING THAT HATCHED.

FOR ME, THIS LAST WEEK HAD HAS BEEN ABOUT INNOCENCE AS NON-ELECTEDS.

WE HAD SECURITY DURING THAT TIME, BUT THE FACT HE WAS OUT AND NO ONE KNEW WHO HE WAS GLON HIT NEXT AND THE FACT THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT APPREHENDED HIM LIKE THEY DID -- >> Eric: WE'LL PICK UP THE STORY FROM THERE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING OVER TONIGHT.

>> AND JOURNALISTS BE SAFE TOO.

♪ ♪ >> NOW ON THE GENERAL REGISTER - >> Mary: REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ HORTMAN HAS BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE OR MORE THAN A DECADE.

ALWAYS SEEN AS AMBITIOUS AND SMART, BUT FOR HER LAST SIX TERMS, SHE HADN'T REALLY STOOD OUT.

UNTIL SHE WAS ELECTED MINORITY LEADER, GOT MAD, AND WENT VIRAL.

>> I HATE TO BREAK UP THE 100% WHITE MALE CARD GAME IN THE RETIRING ROOM, BUT I THINK 'TIS AN IMPORTANT DEBATE.

>> MINORITY LEADER, WOULD YOU APOLOGIZE TO THE BODY?

>> I'M REALLY TIRED OF WATCHING WOMEN OF OLOR, IN PARTICULAR, BEING IGNORED.

SO I'M NOT SORRY.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ >> CATHY: WHEN MINORITY LEADER HORTMAN AT THE TIME CALLED OUT SOME MALE HOUSE MEMBERS FOR THEIR TREATMENT OF FEMALE LAWMAKERS OF COLOR, ONE OF THE PEOPLE SHE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT WAS THEN STATE REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY FLANAGAN.

MARY LAHAMMER CAUGHT UP WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN THIS WEEK.

>> Mary: YOU WERE ON THIS LIST AND HOW YOU'RE HANDLING THE FACT YOU ERE ON THIS GUNMAN'S HIT LIST.

>> I THINK ALL OF US ARE -- IT'S JUST ALL SO UNBELIEVABLE AND I THINK THE THING THAT I'VE HEARD FROM MOST FOLKS IS JUST, IT DOESN'T SEEM REAL.

AND, YOU KNOW, I -- WE'RE ALL MOURNING OUR AMAZING FRIEND.

MELISSA.

AND MARK.

AND I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO GATHER ON THE FRONT STEPS WITH EVERYBODY ON THE CAPITOL.

THAT WAS REALLY POWERFUL TO BE ABLE TO JUST HUG EACH OTHER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE TOLD PEOPLE, I LOVE THEM, MORE THAN IN THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS.

AND SO IT'S INCREDIBLY FRIGHTENING, BUT WHAT WOULD JUST COMPOUND THIS TRAGEDY WOULD BE IF GOOD PEOPLE SHRUNK AWAY.

FROM LEADERSHIP.

DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

OR NOT TO GET INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY OR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SO I THINK ONE OF THE BEST WAYS WE CAN HONOR MELISSA IS TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR TIME TOGETHER IN THE HOUSE.

THERE'S SOME PRETTY PRECIOUS TAPE OF THE TWO OF YOU EARLY ON WHEN SHE BECAME A BREAKOUT STAR WITH THE SORRY, NOT SORRY MOMENT.

WHO'S LITERALLY GOT HER BACK AT THAT MOMENT?

>> MYSELF, ALONG WITH THEN STATE REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR.

THAT MOMENT WAS SO POWERFUL, I THINK, FOR A LOT OF WOMEN OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

SHE STEPPED UP FOR US.

I THINK SHE TOOK A POLITICAL RISK TO TELL THE TRUTH.

AND JUST DIDN'T EVEN FLINCH.

SHE KNEW IT WAS THE RIGHT THING.

AND WHEN ASKED TO APOLOGIZE BY ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE JUST SAID, NO, I WON'T.

>> Mary: EVEN RESIGN.

SHE WAS ASKED TO RESIGN.

REMEMBER THAT?

YEAH.

>> YEAH.

UM -- >> Mary: WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT HER THROUGH THAT AND HER ADVOCACY FOR YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS CAUCUS WHICH YOU HELPED FOUND?

>> YEAH, I LEARNED THAT THAT'S WHAT LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE.

AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOMENTS WHERE SHE JUST, LIKE, LEVELED UP.

WHERE WE WERE LIKE, THERE IS OUR LEADER.

SHE HAS OUR BACK.

WE HAVE HER BACK.

AND THAT WAS MELISSA.

AND SHE TAUGHT ME A LOT JUST IN, YOU KNOW, I FIRST MET HER IN 2003.

WHEN I WAS VOLUNTEERING ON THE KARI EDWARDS CAMPAIGN AND SHE WAS JUST THIS REALLY SUPER COOL CANDIDATE, AND SHE WAS TOUGH, AND I ADMIRED HER AND TO SORT OF SEE OVER, OU KNOW, 20 YEARS AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO BE LED BY HER, AND KNOW THAT SHE STOOD UP FOR ME AND SO MANY OTHERS, THAT WAS A MODEL OF LEADERSHIP IN THAT MOMENT, AND I THINK IT REALLY CHANGED A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD IN THE HOUSE, AND IN THE SENATE GOING FORWARD.

WE NOW HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT IS EVEN MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES IT SEEKS TO REPRESENT.

AND IT'S GOOD FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.

MELISSA REALLY CREATED SPACE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

FOR THAT TO OPEN UP AND THRIVE.

>> Mary: ANOTHER ONE OF HER BREAKOUT ISSUES EARLY ON WAS GUN CONTROL.

WHEN SHE TOOK OVER POWER, BECAME SPEAKER, SHE SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

HOW DO WE FEEL WITH THAT ISSUE, ESPECIALLY NOW?

>> EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE SAFE, RIGHT, IN IN ERICH HOME, IN THEIR SCHOOL, IN THEIR PLACE OF WORK, IN COMMUNITY.

AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE FELT REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

WE HAVE TO JUST BE VERY CLEAR THAT GUN VIOLENCE IS UNACCEPTABLE.

AND THE ABSOLUTE TRAUMA THAT WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED, WE HAVE TO DETERMINE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE, MEMBERS, STAFF, THE PUBLIC, WHO GATHER IN OUR HOME, IN MINNESOTA'S HOME, IN THE CAPITOL, FEEL SAFE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO, TO WORK TOGETHER.

REGARDLESS OF HOW -- >> Mary: THAT'S SOMETHING YOU HAVE SAY ON, AS -- YEAH.

YOU ACTUALLY DO HAVE SOME POWER.

DO YOU EXPECT METAL DETECTORS, RAMPED UP SECURITY?

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING FOR CHANGES?

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT MY JOB IS TO RELY ON THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND SO WE ARE GOING TO GET READY TO HAVE SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT AND INTENTIONAL DISCUSSIONS.

AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE BIPARTISAN STATEMENT THAT CAME OUT FROM THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND CAPITOL AREA SECURITY, LEGISLATORS WHO SERVE, WHO SAID THAT THEY ARE READY TO DO THE GOOD WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS SAFE.

THAT IS PART OF WHAT I AM TASKED TO DO.

I TAKE THAT INCREDIBLY SERIOUSLY AND WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES.

♪ >> SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, MELISSA HORTMAN!

>> Mary: HORTMAN'S ELEVATION TO SPEAKER WAS PRETTY EASY.

AFTER NOT ONE INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT LOST, 34 NEW DEMOCRATS WON, 19 OF THE NEW MEMBERS ARE WOMEN, BUT NOT ACTUALLY MAKING ANY GENDER GAINS IN THE CHAMBER.

>> WOMEN VOTERS IN SUBURBS MADE THE DIFFERENCE, WHY?

>> SUBURBAN DWELLERS BELIEVE IN CLIMATE CHANGE, TRANSIT, FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS, AND A POLITICS OF DECENCY.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: AS THE EARLY MORNING SHOOTINGS AT HOMES OF TWO LAWMAKERS HIT NEWS LAST SATURDAY, THE LARGEST MANHUNT EVER IN MINNESOTA WAS COMING TOGETHER QUICKLY AMONG THE CHAOS.

AND THE SAFETY OF OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE WAS TOP OF MIND.

IN THE DAYS SINCE, QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT PEOPLE IN PUBLIC SERVICE HAVE ARISEN, INCLUDING GOVERNOR WALZ SAYING THAT ALLOWING GUNS IN THE STATE CAPITOL SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED.

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER BOB JACOBSON WAS PART OF THE COORDINATED FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS.

HERE, TOO, COLONEL CHRISTINA BOGOJEVIC, HEAD OF THE MINNESOTA STATE PATROL, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

THIS SEEMS LIKE SUCH A UNIQUE ONE-OFF.

HOW MUCH IS TRAINING AND HOW MUCH IS PREPARATION AND HOW MUCH IS JUST AD LIBBING AS THE TWISTS AND TURNS OCCUR?

>> WELL, IT'S A GREAT WE.

FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR HAVING US ON THE SHOW TONIGHT AND OUR CONDOLENCES TO BOTH OF YOU.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAD MELISSA HORTMAN ON YOUR SHOW SEVERAL TIMES SEVERAL TIMES AS YOU MENTIONED.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

>> SO SORRY.

AN EVENT LIKE THIS CERTAINLY WAS UNANTICIPATED.

WE TRAIN ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO RE READY TO DO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND SEARCHES ALL THE IME.

AND WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

BUT A SCENARIO SUCH AS THIS WHERE SOMEONE WAS PLANNING TO NOT ONLY HARM AND ULTIMATELY KILL STATE EGISLATORS ON THE SAME IGHT, THROUGH A SERIES OF EVENTS, THIS JUST ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT.

WE'VE TRIED TO LOOK BACK AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY A UNIQUE SITUATION.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S CHILLING TO THINK THAT SOMEONE WENT TO THAT PLANNING TO THINK ABOUT KILLING AND HARMING LEGISLATORS AND IN THE WAY THAT THEY DID.

>> Cathy: LOTS OF MOVING PARTS TO THIS MANHUNT.

WOW.

SO MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES INVOLVED.

43 HOURS.

WERE THERE MOMENTS WHERE Y'ALL SAT BACK AND THOUGHT, ALL RIGHT, WHERE IS THIS GUY?

I MEAN, ANY MOMENTS OF FRUSTRATION IN AMONGST ALL OF THIS THAT WAS GOING ON?

>> I WOULD SAY MANY MOMENTS OF FRUSTRATION.

BUT THAT S ONE THING THIS REALLY SHINED A LIGHT ON MINNESOTA LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A WHOLE.

THEY KEPT THEIR NOSE DOWN.

THEY KEPT LOOKING.

THEY KEPT WORKING TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH NEW PLANS AS NEW INFORMATION WOULD COME IN.

>> Cathy: AND WALK US THROUGH -- HAVE YOU BEEN EVER A PART OF SOMETHING THIS BIG IN YOUR CAREER?

>> NO, AS THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED, THIS IS HORRIFIC.

HISTORICAL, LOOKING BACK, IT HASN'T HAPPENED.

SO I HAVE NOT BEEN AND I WOULD GUESS MANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE NOT BEEN.

AGAIN, IT JUST SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THE WORK HAT WAS DONE IN THOSE 43 HOURS.

>> Cathy: A LOT OF LESSONS TO BE LEARNED.

WILL THERE BE ANY AFTER ACTION REPORT THAT YOU MIGHT LOOK AT TO TAKE SOME OF THE LESSONS YOU LEARNED AND I HOPE THERE'S NEVER SOMETHING LIKE THIS AGAIN, BUT I'M SURE THERE'S MAYBE SOME LEARNING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE LEARNING ALL THE TIME.

AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY WAIT FOR FORMAL AFTER ACTION REPORT.

WE ARE LEARNING FROM WHAT'S HAPPENED ALREADY.

THESE DISIPTS THESE DISIP INCIDENTS ARE FLUIDD WE'RE NEVER PERFECT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NEVER PERFECT.

BUT WE HAVE DONE REALLY WELL, I THINK, AS THE COLONEL HAD MENTIONED, TO BRING TOGETHER RESOURCES LIKE WE DID FROM MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

TO BE ABLE TO COORDINATE THEM.

SENATOR HOFFMAN WAS SHOT AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING.

ON A SATURDAY MORNING.

THAT BEGAN THIS INVESTIGATION.

I GOT THE FIRST CALL 2:33.

WE STARTED GETTING RESOURCES MOVING AND AVAILABLE.

AND TO -- 43 HOURS LATER, TO BE ABLE TO GET THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ACTUALLY ARREST THE SUSPECT AND BRING HIM INTO CUSTODY I THINK WAS UST A MIRACLE.

AND THAT MIRACLE GOES TO THE TRAINING AND THE DEDICATION AND THE URGENCY OF GETTING THIS DONE SO THAT WE COULD PROTECT OTHERS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND REALLY PROUD OF HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT CAME TOGETHER TO DO THAT WORK.

>> Eric: IS THE STATE CAPITOL SAFE?

>> YES.

>> Eric: ARE YOU -- HAVE YOU TAKEN ANY PRECAUTIONS -- I DON'T WANT YOU TO TELL ABOUT THEM BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY TOO MUCH.

BUT HAVE STEPS BEEN TAKEN SINCE SATURDAY AT THE CAPITOL?

>> IT HAS.

THE MINNESOTA STATE PATROL IS CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING AT THE SECURITY PLANS AT THE CAPITOL AND AFTER THE HORRIFIC EVENT, WE SAT DOWN AND LOOKED AT WHAT WE CAN DO IMMEDIATELY AND WHAT WE CAN DO LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE.

>> Cathy: RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF BOB FLETCHER, I REMEMBER, HE SENT A LETTER TO LEADERS BACK IN JANUARY SAYING, I REALLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE METAL DETECTORS, X-RAY MACHINES, YOU KNOW, BAG CHECKS AT THE CAPITOL.

MIGHT YOU AGREE WITH THE SHERIFF, AND MIGHT WE SEE THAT IN THE FUTURE?

>> WE DO SIT ON THE ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR CAPITOL SECURITY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE DISCUSSIONS ON WHAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT AT THE CAPITOL.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS.

>> Cathy: AND MONEY WAS I THINK APPROPRIATED THIS PAST SESSION FOR AN INCREASE IN CAPITOL SECURITY, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> >I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

OR NOT?

[ Laughter ] >> I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS AN INCREASE FOR CAPITOL SECURITY.

THIS SESSION.

HOWEVER, IN THE PAST, THERE HAS BEEN.

TO INCREASE OUR STAFF.

>> Cathy: OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH WORSE COULD THIS HAVE BEEN?

>> CERTAINLY, NOT TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION, BUT I THINK -- I THINK WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE IN A -- IN THE SENSE THAT MORE PEOPLE WERE NOT INJURED.

WE STILL GRIEVE AND, YOU KNOW, OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE HORTMAN FAMILY AND CERTAINLY TO THE HOFFMAN FAMILY.

THAT THEY WERE INJURED, AND MURDERED AND IN THIS INCIDENT.

BUT I THINK WITHOUT THE SWIFT RESPONSE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, NOW, ALSO I ADD THAT WITNESSES TO THIS, AS WE WERE MOVING IN AND DOING THE SEARCH FOR THE SUSPECT, ESPECIALLY IN SIBLEY COUNTY, WITNESSES WERE COMING FORWARD.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE MEDIA ALSO FOR HELPING S TO ET THE WORD OUT ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, TO SHARE INFORMATION, TO SHARE THE PHOTO.

AND THAT REALLY LED, I THINK, TO US BEING BLE TO FIND THE SUSPECT, TO BRING HIM INTO CUSTODY.

AND THEN WITH THE OVERWHELMING FORCE THAT WE HAD FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHO ALL WANTED TO BE A PART OF THIS, WHO ALL WANTED TO BRING HIM INTO CUSTODY, I THINK THAT HELPED LEAD TO REALLY A SAFE RESULT.

NO POLICE OFFICERS OR SHERIFFS DEPUTIES OR TROOPERS WERE INJURED AND WE BROUGHT THE SUSPECT INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT HIM BEING HARMED EITHER.

>> Cathy: HOW CONFOUNDING WAS IT AS A LONG-TIME LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO HAVE A GUY IMPERSONATE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND DO THIS HEINOUS ACT?

>> I THINK EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THROUGHOUT THE STATE REALLY TOOK THAT PERSONALLY.

BECAUSE WE WORK REALLY HARD WITH THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

TO BUILD THAT TRUST.

AND HOW QUICKLY THAT CAN GO AWAY WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> Eric: OBVIOUSLY WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND REALLY GLAD YOU COULD COME OVER HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

>> HANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

♪ >> WELL, HEY, EVERYBODY, AND WELCOME TO THE WRAP.

MY NAME IS DAVID GILLETTE.

SO GUESS WHAT, MINNESOTA.

YOU HAVE A BRAND-NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

HER NAME IS MELISSA HORTMAN.

SHE'S SITTING WITH ME NOW AND WE FIGURED THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REBOOT OUR GET TO KNOW YOU SEGMENT THAT WE CALL TEN QUESTIONS.

WELCOME.

>> I'M READY.

>> ARE YOU READY?

SO AS YOU KNOW, THE BASICS HERE, SOME SERIOUS QUESTIONS BUT MOSTLY NOT VERY SERIOUS QUESTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE TO GIVE A SPEECH, A PRETTY BIG SPEECH.

EXTENSIVE NOTES OR TRUST YOUR GUT?

>> TRUST MY GUT.

>> OKAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO FAMILY POTLUCK.

MAKE IT YOURSELF OR BUY AT THE STORE?

>> BUY AT THE STORE.

>> OKAY, SLIGHTLY MORE SERIOUS, YOUR FIRST RUN FOR THE MINNESOTA HOUSE WHICH I BELIEVE WAS IN 2002 -- >> '98.

>> OH, WAS IT '98 AROUND 2002, NOT SUCCESSFUL.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM STARTING YOUR CAREER IN POLITICS THAT WAY?

>> YOU ARE ALWAYS BAD T SOMETHING BEFORE YOU ARE GOOD AT SOMETHING.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS I TALK TO REALLY LIKE TO HEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY AFRAID OF FAILING.

♪ >> INTRODUCING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FIRST EVER "ALMANAC" SIDE DISH SHOW DOWN.

[ Applause ] SOUND EFFECTS AND ALL, I LOVE IT.

EACH LAWMAKER STANDING BESIDE ME, INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR, HAS PREPARED A FAVORITE DISH AND THERE WILL BE TWO AWARDS THIS EVENING.

FIRST THE AUDIENCE FAVORITE AND THIS IS WHERE YOU GET TO VOTE SO TAKE OUT OUR PHONES AND FIRE UP TWITTER AND SECOND THE CELEBRITY JUDGE AWARD.

TO KICK THINGS OFF, EACH CASTILE WILL HAVE ONLY 30 SECONDS, I AM GOING TO ENFORCE THIS, UNFORTUNATELY, TO TALK ABOUT YOUR DISH AND DIVIDE WHY YOU THINK IT'S A BEST AND TO KEEP THINGS FAIR -- OH NO!

SPEAKER MELISSA HORTMAN, FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> SO WHAT I HAVE HERE IS SQUASH WITH BROWN SUGAR AND BUTTER.

I PUT IT OUT TO A VOTE.

AND THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSES WERE THAT A CORN SQUASH WITH BROWN SUGAR AND BUTTER WAS A FAVORITE THANKSGIVING SIDE.

>> FAMILY PLATING?

>> AND THEN MY GRANDMOTHER GAVE ME HER CHINA AND THIS PLATE I THINK IS PROBABLY AROUND 100 YEARS OLD.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: IN THE WAKE OF THE MURDERS OF MELISSA AND MARK HORTMAN AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS OF OF JOHN AND YVETTE HOFFMAN, MANY MINNESOTANS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY HOPE OF CIVILITY RETURNING TO POLITICS.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE ASKING THAT QUESTION, AND ANSWERING IT AS WELL THIS WEEK, IS SHANNON WATSON, HEAD OF MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH THE MISSION TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY DIFT WEEK FOR ANYONE WHO HAS WORKED AT THE CAPITOL AND JUST GENERALLY AS A MINNESOTAN AND I JUST KEEP HEARING FROM PEOPLE, THEY ARE JUST SHOCKED THAT HAPPENED IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

HOWEVER, I WONDER, MAYBE IT IS US NOW?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING AND WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS.

THAT BEING SAID, WHEN YOU HAVE A LIST OF LEGISLATORS AS TARGETS, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME OF THAT, THAT HAS COME HOME TO MINNESOTA UNFORTUNATELY.

>> Eric: I WONDER IF THERE'S A BIT OF GENERATION GAP, THAT THE OLDER FOLKS IN POLITICS WHO REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA EXCEPTIONALISM AND WENDY ANDERSON WITH THE FISH AND ALL THAT, THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT CAN HAPPEN HERE, BUT THE YOUNGER PEOPLE IN POLITICS MAY JUST SAY IT'S PART OF THE TICKET TO ADMISSION.

>> I THINK THE SOCIAL MEDIA HAS MADE IT SO MUCH MORE WHERE, YOU KNOW, CONSTITUENTS ARE UPSET OR VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, THAT STUFF GETS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR STEP VIA YOUR PHONE SO MUCH ORE OFTEN, AND WE ALL ARE SORT OF LIVING OUR LIVES ONLINE.

THAT IT'S EASIER TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE BOTH KNOWN AND SORT OF EXPOSED, SO I THINK THAT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> Cathy: I WAS TALKING AS I SAID TO YOU OFF AIR, SENATOR MURPHY WAS ON MPR WITH ME AND SHE FEELS THAT WE'VE CROSSED A LINE HERE WITH THIS HORRIBLE EVENT.

AND SHE WAS DRYING TO FIGURE OUT WILLING -- TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.

SO DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS AT THIS POINT?

>> I DO.

AND I FINALLY -- I FINALLY, LIKE, IN THE GREEN ROOM FIGURED OUT MY ANALOGY.

SO, LIKE, WHEN THERE'S A WILD FIRE, AND PEOPLE LOSE THEIR HOMES, AND THE TV CAMERA COMES, AND INTERVIEWS THE PERSON WHOSE HOUSE HAS BURNED DOWN AND SAID, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU GOING TO REBUILD?

AND THE PERSON SAYS, WELL, YEAH, I THINK SO.

BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW.

IT WOULD BE REALLY UNHELPFUL FOR AN ARCHITECT TO BE STANDING THERE WITH HOUSE PLANS AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW I FEEL.

I'M THE ARCHITECT WITH THE HOUSE PLANS.

AND SO WE DO KNOW SOME THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN HELP.

WE DO HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE ENORMOUSLY RESPECTFUL OF THE PROCESS, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES, AND JUST THE GRIEVING THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO GO THROUGH.

>> Cathy: HOW ARE YOU DOING?

YOU'RE AT THE CAPITOL ALL THE TIME.

>> I'M OKAY -- I'VE HAD MY HEAD DOWN DOING WORK THIS WEEK AND TRYING TO FOCUS ON THAT AND TRYING TO -- SO MY -- MY DAD WAS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 37 YEARS, AND MY MOM WAS A JOURNALIST.

SO I COMPARTMENTALIZE PRETTY WELL.

I WENT TO THE CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL AT THE CAPITOL, WHICH WAS SO, SO WELL DONE.

THE NO SIGNS, NO SPEECHES THING MADE THAT JUST AMAZING.

IT FELT LIKE CHURCH TO ME.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE I FELT MY COMPOSURE WAVERING A LITTLE BIT.

>> Eric: ARE THERE GOING TO BE A OT OF RETIREMENTS BEFORE THE 2026 ELECTION?

OR DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGHER TO RECRUIT CANDIDATES?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.

IT'S -- IT'S MORE REAL NOW.

BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TO SOMEONE WE KNOW.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE, THIS IS A CONCERN.

FOR CANDIDATES.

THIS IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN PEOPLE RUN FOR OFFICE.

I USED TO WORK WITH A LOT OF FIRST-TIME CANDIDATES, PARTICULARLY FIRST-TIME FEMALE CANDIDATES, AND 20 YEARS AGO, WOMEN DIDN'T NECESSARILY WANT TO RUN WHEN THEIR KIDS WERE LITTLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED MOM, THEY NEED TO HELP WITH SOCKS AND SHOES AND BATH TIME AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WOMEN, THESE DAYS, THAT HAS SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO RUN WHEN -- OBVIOUSLY NOT UNIVERSALLY, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO RUN WHEN THEIR KIDS ARE OLD ENOUGH TO READ SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL THE THREATS AND THE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THEIR PARENT.

SO I THINK THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE NOTHER ONE OF THOSE, IS YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS THE SITUATION, YOU KNOW THAT MAYBE IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU.

AND IS IT STILL IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO DO PUBLIC SERVICE OR SERF THIS WAY TO TAKE THAT RISK?

TAKE CALCULATED RISK?

>> Cathy: WE WERE TALKING.

OBVIOUSLY YOU SAW THAT, WITH SENATOR KLOBUCHAR AND REPRESENTATIVE MCCLUNG.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S TRUE.

WORDS HOLD WEIGHT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: RIGHT?

AND SO I WONDER HERE, AS YOU KNOW, IN OUR CURRENT POLARIZED POLITICS, WE TEND TO -- NOT WE, SOME PEOPLE TEND TO DEHUMANIZE THE OPPONENT, AND ATTACK THEM.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO TRY TO REPAIR SOME OF THAT?

JUST -- DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS TO EVEN HOW TO START THOSE STEPS?

>> SO JUST THE MAIN ONE IS THAT I DO THINK, LIKE SENATOR KLOBUCHAR SAID, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SORT OF POLICE UR OWN AND TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE ONE ON ONE.

I AM NOT AT ALL SURPRISED THAT IT TOOK HOSE ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS FOR SENATOR LEE TO TAKE THAT POST DOWN, BECAUSE NOW, LIKE YOU GET SO MANY LIKES OR HATES OR WHATEVER ON THE INTERNET, IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

EVEN IF IT'S IN THE THOUSANDS OR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

IT MEANS SOMETHING WHEN A COLLEAGUE SAYS, THIS ISN'T -- THIS IS NOT ENOUGH.

SO, LIKE, THOSE ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND THEN THE BIGGEST PIECE IS WHEN YOU'RE CALLING -- INSTEAD OF CALLING SOMEBODY OUT, CALL THEM IN, BECAUSE THE THING THAT MAKES PEOPLE NOT WANT TO SORT OF BACK DOWN OR SORT OF CROSS THE AISLE OR SAY SOMETHING SORT OF AGAINST THEIR OWN TEAM IS THAT PEOPLE WILL TURN AROUND AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK, YOU SAID THIS.

LIKE, WHY WOULD I DO THAT?

>> Eric: CALL OUT -- >> CALL PEOPLE IN, INSTEAD OF CALL PEOPLE OUT.

>> Eric: GOOD ADVICE.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER, SHANNON.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THE BIPARTISANSHIP REPORT.

>> AUGUST.

♪ >> Eric: ARE YOU LOOKING AT CODIFYING ROE V. WADE IN STATE LAW OR PUT IT TO A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

I HEAR SOME PEOPLE SAY DOE V. GOMEZ ARE A LITTLE SHAKY.

>> IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE HAD LEGISLATION TO CODIFY ROE IN MINNESOTA STATE LAW AND I THINK WE CAN MOVE THAT RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

IT'S A HARDER QUESTION OF WHETHER WE SHOULD DO A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, WHAT THAT PHRASING LOOKS LIKE.

HOW DO YOU SET UP A VOTE SO THAT THE ELECTORATE HAS TIME TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT WHAT THE QUESTION MEANS AND THE LEGAL IMPORT.

SO I THINK WE FEEL THAT WE TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR THIS MORNING, WE FEEL THAT WE CAN MOVE QUICKLY ON SOMETHING TO PROTECT THAT IGHT IN STATE STATUTE.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: MANY OF MELISSA HORTMAN’S COLLEAGUES CAME TO THE CAPITOL TO VISIT THE MEMORIALS AND REMEMBER THEIR FRIEND AND CHERISHED LEADER.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER COVERED HORTMAN HER ENTIRE POLITICAL CAREER, AND MARY TALKED TO SOME KEY LAWMAKERS WHO ALSO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: WORDS ARE HARD TO COME BY WHEN THE UNSPEAKABLE HAPPENS, FROM A NIGHT TIME CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL -- TO MAKESHIFT MEMORIALS OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE STATE CAPITOL, WHERE MELISSA HORTMAN WORKED FOR 20 YEARS BEFORE AN ASSASSIN HORRIFICALLY ENDED ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL CAREERS IN ALL OF MINNESOTA POLITICS.

THESE LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN THERE FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> KIND OF COMES AND GOES.

IT'S HARD.

>> OUR LIVES JUST INTERSECTED SO MUCH FOR 21 YEARS.

>> WE HAD THE PLEASURE, HONOR, GREAT FUN OF DOOR KNOCKING WITH HER.

>> Mary: WOULD YOU BE HERE WITHOUT MELISSA HORTMAN?

>> NO, I WOULD NOT.

I MET HER WHEN I WAS 18.

MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.

SHE'S BEEN A GOOD FRIEND.

AND IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE.

>> FOR ME, SHE'S VERY INFLUENTIAL.

I MEAN, SHE AS TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED NOW WAY BEFORE THEY WERE POPULAR.

>> SO FRANK AND I, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, GO BACK 30 YEARS AND WE WORKED HARD BUILDING THIS MOVEMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION.

>> MADAM SPEAKER.

>> THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] >> WANTED TO MAKE HER PROUD.

>> YOU WANTED TO MEET HER EXPECTATIONS.

BECAUSE SHE WAS WORKING SO HARD AND DOING SO MUCH AND TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING, YOU FELT LIKE YOU NEEDED TO MATCH THAT LEVEL OF EFFORT.

>> JUST SO SELFLESS.

SHE CREATED LEADERS.

>> 2023, THE SECOND MINNESOTA MIRACLE AND SHE WAS AT THE HELM ALONG WITH ANOTHER PHENOMENAL SELFLESS, TOTALLY GUILELESS LEADER IN DAUGHTER YI DZIEDZIC.

TO THINK THE TWO F THEM BEING THE WOMEN FOR THE MOMENT AT THAT POINT IN HISTORY, WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE WHAT WE DID WITHOUT THEM.

>> Mary: NOW BOTH THE LEADERS ARE GONE, SOMETHING THAT WAS UNTHINKABLE AS THEY KEMPT THEIR CAUCUSES TOGETHER IN TRIFECTA OF MAKING HISTORY.

>> AS THESE BIG MEN WHO ARE GOOD AT DRIVING DEALS AND ARE VERY TRANSACTIONAL, AND THESE TWO GOT IT DONE JUST THROUGH HUMAN CONNECTION.

>> SHE'S THE LONGEST SERVING WOMAN SPEAKER IN MINNESOTA HISTORY.

ONE OF THE LOSTEN SPEAKERS OVERALL.

>> FIRST INTERVIEW I HAD AFTER BEING NAMED SPEAKER, SOMEBODY SAID WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE THIRD WOMAN SPEAKER OR A WOMAN PEAKER?

AND I SAID, JUST LIKE BEING A SPEAKER.

BUT I'M A WOMAN.

>> Mary: WHILE MELISSA HORTMAN WON HER LAST ELECTION BY ALMOST 30 PERCENTAGE POINTS, WHEN SHE FIRST CAME TO THE CAPITOL 20 YEARS AGO, HER MAWRNLG YINL OF VICTORY WAS JUST TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS AND SHE HAD UN AND LOST TWICE BEFORE THAT.

SO HER TENACITY WAS APPARENT IN THE MOMENT SHE ENTERED POLITICS.

>> IT'S NOT COMMON KNOWLEDGE, BUT IT SHOWS JUST HOW INCREDIBLY COMMITTED SHE WAS.

AND THAT THIS WAS IN HER JUST RESILIENCE.

>> SHE'S TOUGH, RESILIENT.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE APPRECIATE THAT AS MUCH, BECAUSE SHE WAS WARM AND FUNNY AND AUTHENTIC AND HUMAN.

AT ALL TIMES.

>> SHE WAS A PERSON WHO WOULD GET KNOCKED DOWN AND GET RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN AND KEEP GOING, WHICH WAS A HUGE PART OF HER REASON FOR HER SUCCESS WAS THE FACT THAT SHE JUST KEPT OING AND GOING AND GOING.

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO CALL BULL [BLEEP] WHEN YOU SEE BULL [BLEEP].

AND WE SEE PLENTY OF IT.

>> Mary: WHEN SHE ROSE UP THE RANKS, SHE MAINTAINED HER FARE LEASE HUMILITY AND CARE OF MEMBERS.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF SPEAKERS AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF VERY HIGH RANK AROUND HERE WHO REALLY BELIEVED THE TRAPPINGS OF THEIR STATION, AND WOULD NEVER HAVE JUST ALLOWED PEOPLE TO INVADE THEIR OFFICE AND USE THEIR FURNITURE AND EAT ALL THEIR SNACKS TO CARRY ON A NEGOTIATION LIKE THAT.

>> WHEN WE WOULD HAVE A CAUCUS MEETING, AND BE PREPARING FOR A LONG NIGHT ON THE FLOOR, SHE WOULD SAY, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FOOD, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WATER.

>> KINDNESS DOESN'T MEAN WEAK TBHEAS, TBHEWEAKNESS, THAT YOU CAN BE KD AND STRONG AND SHE DEFINITELY WAS THAT.

SHE WAS AN INCREDIBLY STRONG WOMAN BUT SHE MADE A POINT OF TREATING EVERYBODY AROUND HER WITH KINDNESS AND GIVING PEOPLE GRACE.

>> Mary: HOW WORRIED ARE WE ABOUT PEOPLE WANTING TO RUN AND WHAT POLITICS LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD?

>> I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

IT'S CORROSIVE.

IT'S OW DANGEROUS.

>> ANYONE IN PUBLIC LIFE RIGHT NOW, I THINK, THERE'S CONCERN.

AND I JUST HOPE THAT MELISSA HORTMAN'S EXAMPLE WILL INSPIRE PEOPLE TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, INSPIRE PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED IN HER COMMUNITY.

>> I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE NATURE OF OUR OLITICS GETTING SO TERRIBLE AS TO DRIVE PEOPLE OUT, BUT I ALSO WILL TELL YOU THAT IN TIMES LIKE THIS, WE DO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET INVOLVED.

>> I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WILL BE HURT BY THAT VOTE.

AND I'M -- >> Mary: HORTMAN'S INAL POLITICAL DECISIONS INCLUDING TAKING A PAINFUL VOTE TO KEEP GOVERNMENT GOING AND GIVING UP HER SPEAKER'S GAVEL IN A TIED HOUSE.

[ Applause ] >> IT HONESTLY MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOST SELFLESS ACTS IN THE HISTORY OF THIS LEGISLATURE.

>> I THINK THAT THIS SESSION WAS BOOK ENDED BY INCREDIBLY SELFLESS ACTS BY SPEAKER MELISSA HORTMAN GIVING UP THE SPEAKERSHIP AND THEN TAKING THAT VOTE.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: LONGTIME VIEWERS KNOW THAT IT IS A DECADES-LONG TRADITION TO GATHER ALL FOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ON THE FINAL FRIDAY OF SESSION TO SEE WHERE THINGS STAND WITH THE ADJOURNMENT DEADLINE LOOMING.

THIS YEAR'S FINAL FRIDAY CONVERSATION WAS CENTERED ON JUST LAST MONTH, THE DEAL STRUCK TO REMOVE STATE HEALTHCARE SUPPORT FOR UNDOCUMENTED ADULTS.

HERE'S REPUBLICAN SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH AND D.F.L.

SPEAKER EMERITA MELISSA HORTMAN ON THE NEED FOR COMPROMISE TO PASS A STATE BUDGET.

TAKE A LOOK, AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH A COUCH FULL OF FORMER LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

>> WHEN LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING AT BILLS AND THIS IS NOT JUST OMNIBUS BILLS, BUT AREAS OF THE WORK THAT WE DO, WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE BILLS, THERE ARE THINGS IN THERE THAT WE DON'T LIERKS AND THEN THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DO.

AND SO IT'S REALLY HARD DECISIONS AS WE GET INTO MORE OF THESE SOCIAL ISSUES OR DIVIDING ISSUES.

AND COMPROMISES THAT CAN BE MADE, SOME THAT DON'T MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY BUT WE STILL HAVE TO GET THE WORK DONE AS CLOSE TO ON TIME AS POSSIBLE.

>> Eric: AS A YOUNG PERSON WHO'S ONE OF THE VETERANS OF THE LEGISLATURE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE SPEAKER EMERITA, IF YOU GOT ENOUGH OUT OF THIS SESSION GIVEN ALL OF THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE SESSION, HOW IS THIS A HALF GLASS FULL OR A HALF GLASS MPTY OR WHERE DO YOU SEE IT?

>> IT'S WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT WE ACCEPTING THIS DEAL.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN MINNESOTA STATE GOVERNMENT IS TO FUND MINNESOTA STATE GOVERNMENT.

OUR JOB THIS YEAR WAS TO ADOPT A TWO-YEAR BUDGET.

A PRETTY HARD SCHOENBERG IN 2011, THAT IS DEVASTATING FOR PEOPLE WHEN ALL THOSE FAMILIES OF STATE WORKERS DON'T GET PAYCHECKS, WHEN MINNESOTANS CAN'T ACCESS THE SERVICES THEY NEED.

SO THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO KEEP GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONING.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: WE HAVE A COUCH FULL OF FORMER LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO END OUR HOUR TOGETHER TONIGHT.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST.

FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MARGARET ANDERSON KELLIHER WAS THE SECOND WOMAN TO FILL THAT ROLE IN MINNESOTA.

AND RYAN WINKLER, FORMER D.F.L.

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER DURING SPEAKER HORTMAN'S TENURE.

REPUBLICANS HERE: AMY KOCH IS A FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, THE SECOND WOMAN TO FILL THAT ROLE IN MINNESOTA.

AND KURT DAUDT, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER WHO SERVED DURING SPEAKER HORTMAN'S LEADERSHIP YEARS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

YOU ALL HAVE SERVED IN LEADERSHIP AS I MENTIONED.

YOU ALL HAD SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY SERVED WITH REPRESENTATIVE HORTMAN, AND I DON'T WANT TO FORGET SENATOR HOFFMAN TOO.

YOU'RE ALL COLLEAGUES OF SENATOR HOFFMAN'S, AND I WANT TO KNOW, HOW'S IT BEEN LIKE FOR ALL OF YOU THIS WEEK?

I'M GOING TO START WITH RYAN WINKLER.

>> TOTAL DEVASTATION.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE LOSING A SISTER OR FAMILY MEMBER.

IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

>> Cathy: SPEAKER DAUDT.

>> IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ALL WOKE UP KIND OF IN SHOCK ON SATURDAY MORNING, LEARNING THE NEWS.

AND I HAD THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A WORK TRIP START ON SUNDAY.

SO I HAD BEEN OUT OF TOWN UNTIL LAST NIGHT.

AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T SEEM REAL, LIKE I'M READING A MOVIE SCRIPT THAT -- A HORRIBLE SCARY MOVIE SCRIPT, BUT I SOMEHOW KNOW IT'S NOT REAL BUT IT IS.

>> Cathy: SENATOR KOCH?

>> IT -- IT'S SHOCKING.

IT'S BEEN DARK.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHERE I'VE ONE DOWN SOME NEWS OR TWITTER HOLES THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE, AND THEN I'VE HAD TO PULL MYSELF UP.

AND I REMEMBER THINKING, TO BE SO THANKFUL FOR HER CHILDREN'S WORDS.

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW IN THIS MOMENT THEY HAD THE COMPOSURE AND THE GRACE TO SAY WHAT THEY DID.

BUT IT WAS A LIGHT FOR ME.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AS A WAY OUT OF THIS.

AND A WAY TO LOOK FORWARD.

AND SO -- >> I'LL JUST SAY, SEEING THOSE PICTURES OF SENATOR DZIEDZIC AND SPEAKER HORTMAN ARE REALLY HARD.

BOTH VERY GOOD FRIENDS.

I THINK BOTH WOULD SAY, I MENTORED THEM, TO HAVE THEM BOTH GONE IS VERY HARD.

TO HAVE MELISSA GONE IS PARTICULARLY HARD FOR ME.

WE WERE SORT OF STRANGE TWINS.

IN SOME WAYS.

[ Laughter ] SHE -- JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

AND I, YOU KNOW, WE -- WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKERS TOO, AND PARTICULARLY IN THESE RELATIONSHIPS, OU KNOW THE FAMILY.

YOU KNOW -- I KNEW MARK.

I KNEW MARK ACTUALLY THROUGH MY TECHNOLOGY WORK TOO.

AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S A NIGHTMARE THAT I CAN'T QUITE WAKE UP OUT OF, AND PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, SENATOR HOFFMAN AND HIS WIFE ARE AMAZING ADVOCATES.

THEIR DAUGHTER HOPE IS A HERO IN THIS.

AND WE JUST HAVE TO HOLD THEM CLOSE HERE.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT FOLKS WHO HAVE PASSED, AT LEAST MAYBE THIS IS JUST ME, BUT I ALWAYS TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT I LEARNED FROM THEM BECAUSE WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH ANYBODY, YOU CAN ALWAYS LEARN FROM THEM, AND I'M WONDER' SPEAKER DAUDT IS THERE A PARTICULAR LESSON?

>> I THINK A LOT ACTUALLY.

SHE DEFINITELY MADE ME A BETTER LEGISLATOR AND A BETTER LEADER.

SHE AND I WERE PROBABLY EACH OTHER'S PRIMARY POLITICAL OPPONENTS DURING HER CAREER AND DURING MY CAREER.

I REMEMBER HER COMING UP TO ME ONE TIME AT THE ROSTRUM WHEN I WAS SPEAKER, AND KIND OF -- IT PRECEDED THE SCOREY, PRECEDED THE SCORE SORRY, NOT SY MOMENT, AND SHE REALLY WANTED THE PEOPLE IN THE CHAMBER TO HEAR THE VOICES OF THE MINORITY WOMEN IN HER CAUCUS.

AND IT -- SHE HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE PEOPLE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAVING AN ELECTION CERTIFICATE AND IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO SPEAK UP AND BE HEARD.

AND SHE USED THE POWER THAT SHE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD.

>> Eric: WAS SHE TOUGH IN CAUCUS?

WE DON'T GET TO SEE -- >> MELISSA HORTMAN?

>> >> [ Laughter ] >> Eric: YEAH.

>> YES.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: SHE HAD A GROWINGLY DIVERSE CAUCUS, HOUSE DEMOCRATS.

AND I -- SHE SEEMED TO PLAY THAT CARD VERY WELL, TO GET EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

>> YES, I MEAN ORGANIZATION THAT'S OBVIOUSLY TRUE.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY TRUE.

BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF METRO METRO WAS THAT HE -- -- MELISSA HORTMAN WAS SHE WAS VERY INSECURE AND UNSURE OF HERSELF BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

SHE WOULD BE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR INPUT AND EVEN ALL THROUGH THIS SESSION DURING A TIE AND THE THREE WEEKS WHERE THEY WERE NOT COMING IN BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE QUORUM ISSUE, CONSTANTLY QUESTIONING WHETHER SHE HAD DONE THE RIGHT THING.

AND EVEN AT THE END, WHEN SHE HAD TO TAKE THAT VOTE THAT SHE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE, IT WAS, MAYBE I SCREWED THIS UP, RIGHT?

THIS WAS, LIKE, SOMEBODY WHO LIVED WITH HER VULNERABILITIES ENOUGH THAT SHE OVERCAME THEM, RIGHT?

SHE TOOK HER INSECURITIES, SHE FIGURED OUT WHAT SHE NEEDED TO DO, AND THEN SHE TOOK ACTION, AND THEN SHE WAS THE TOUGH MELISSA HORTMAN THAT PEOPLE SAW.

>> Cathy: I AM SURPRISED TO HEAR THIS.

>> I JUST LIKE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE FORGET HOW MUCH THIS CAUCUS HAS CHANGED.

BUT WHEN MELISSA GOT ELECTED, SHE REALLY BROUGHT THE SUBURBAN CAUCUS TO THE DFL CAUCUS.

THE D.F.L.

CAUCUS HAD BEEN HAVING A WAR BETWEEN THE CITIES AND THE COUNTRY.

AND SHE BROUGHT SUBURBAN PEOPLE.

SHE RECRUITED THEM TO THIS CAUCUS.

AND THEN THE CAUCUS KEPT CHANGING.

AND SHE CHANGED WITH IT.

YOU KNOW, BACK WHEN WE WERE DOING THE OVERRIDE OF THE TRANSPORTATION BILL, I CHOSE HER TO BE THE POINT PERSON, TO ANSWER EVERY QUESTION ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, ONLY ONE PERSON WAS YIELDED TO DURING HAT WHOLE DEBATE.

AND THAT WAS MELISSA HORTMAN.

OR SHE WOULD DECIDE WHO ELSE.

REMEMBER, SHE WASN'T THE CHIEF AUTHOR OF THE BILL.

BECAUSE OF HER LAWYER SKILLS, BECAUSE OF HER ABILITY AND DEBATE, SHE STARTED TO RISE EARLY IN TERMS OF SHOWING THAT LEADERSHIP.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED FROM HER, BECAUSE I AM NOT A LAWYER.

BUT LEARNING THAT ABILITY TO DEBATE AND TO BRING THAT HUMOR TO THE DEBATE WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SHE DID IT WELL.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO GET BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID.

BECAUSE I AM SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT SHE HAD SOME DOUBTS ABOUT HER LEADERSHIP BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T SEEM LIKE -- >> BUT THAT'S WHERE THE STRENGTH CAME FROM.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

THERE IS VULNERABILITY -- >> SHE HAD THE CONFIDENCE TO SIT AND QUESTION AND NOT FEEL LIKE SHE WAS GIVING SOMETHING UP.

>> Cathy: THERE IS STRENGTH IN VULNERABILITY, PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU?

>> NO, FIRST OF ALL, AS WOMEN, NOT SURPRISED AT ALL.

BUT ALSO, SHE -- THINGS I LEARNED FROM HER ARE, I WATCHED HER CAREER.

WE STARTED THE SAME YEAR, TWIESK, I IS TWIESK, 2005.

OUR KIDS WERE IN SWIMMING TOGETHER.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE THE SAME CLASS AND BOTH WENT INTO THIS TINY CLOWB OF LEADERSHIP.

AND I ADMIRED HER GREATLY BECAUSE IEFD NO DOUBT WHAT SHE SOMEWHAT GOING THROUGH, AND SHE DID NOT SHOW IT ND SHE SHOWED IT RIGHT UP TO HER LAST VOTE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

HOW IS YOUR CAUCUS GOING TO TAKE IT?

ARE THEY GOING TO BE UP SET WITH HER?

AND I THINK THAT I LOOKED AT IT AS, SHE TOOK THE VOTE SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO.

AND THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED AND WILL BE HER LEGACY AND IT'S THAT KIND OF STRENGTH THAT SHOWN THROUGH IN EVERYTHING SHE DID.

>> AND THAT -- THE WHOLE POINT IS, THEY ALL KNEW IT TOO, BECAUSE THE MAIN PART OF HER STRENGTH WAS THAT EVERYBODY ON THAT CAUCUS TEAM KNEW THAT SHE WAS DOING IT FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE.

SHE WAS NOT PUTTING HERSELF- ANE WAS NOT PUTTING HERSELF- AND WAS NOT PUTTING HERSELF- AND HES NOT PUTTING HERSELF- AND HER NOT PUTTING HERSELF- AND HER PRT PUTTING HERSELF- AND HER PRIOPUTTING HERSELF- AND HER PRIORITTING HERSELF- AND HER PRIORITIING HERSELF- AND HER PRIORITIESG HERSELF- AND HER PRIORITIES FHERSELF- AND HER PRIORITIES FORRSELF- AND HER PRIORITIES FORWAELF- AND HER PRIORITIES FORWARDF- AND HER PRIORITIES FORWARD.- AND HER PRIORITIES FORWARD.- >> SHE WASN'T ASKING THEM TO VOTE IN A WAY THAT THEY FELT REAR.

>> Cathy: AND YOU GUYS KNOW THIS INTIMATELY, BECAUSE BEING LEADERS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THESE VERY TOUGH DECISIONS BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW BEHIND THE SCENES.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> AND YOU ALSO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE THE PARENT OF THE CAUCUS, RIGHT?

AND SHE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, DISPLAYED THAT MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE, RIGHT?

SHE REALLY DID TAKE CARE OF HER CAUCUS AND LOOKED OUT FOR THEM AND MADE SURE THEY WERE HEARD.

AND IN A WAY THAT I'VE NOT SEEN ANYBODY ELSE DO.

SO THAT DOES NOT SURPRISE ME A BIT.

>> SO I WAS GOING BACK THROUGH EMAIL AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE AND I ALSO SHARED WAS THIS DESIRE TO KEEP LEARNING AND SHE WANTED TO GO TO THE KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT, SHE DID, AND SO SHE WROTE TO ME, I'M SEEKING THE MASTER'S TO BECOME A STRONGER AND A MORE EFFECTIVE LEADER, AND I AM NOT, CANNOT, AND WON'T BE A PRIMA DONNA.

ALL POLICY SUCCESS COMES FROM TEAM WORK.

AND ONLY THE BEST LEADERS FORM STRONG TEAMS.

THAT'S MELISSA HORTMAN.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: DO YOU EXPECT CANDIDATES TO RETIRE EN MASSE?

OR DO YOU EXPECT TOUGH TO RECREATE CANDIDATES IN THE NEXT CYCLE.

>> I THINK FIRST WE ARE GOING TO SEE A BIG CHANGE IN HOW THE LEGISLATURE DOES BUSINESS.

SECURITY'S GOING TO TIGHTEN UP AND PRECAUTIONS ILL BE TAKEN.

IT HAS TO BE.

I'VE I'VI'VE BEEN IT'S "THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE" BUT THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE AND THEY HAVE TO.

AND SECOND OF ALL, I HOPE NOT.

I HOPE THAT HER KIND OF LEADERSHIP INSPIRES EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

I HOPE THAT PEOPLE SEE THAT SHE CAME TO THE CAPITOL.

SHE JUST PUT HER HEAD DOWN.

SHE WORKED HARD AND SHE ACCOMPLISHED GREAT THINGS AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WOULD BE HER LEGACY, AS WELL AS BY THE WAY, SENATOR HOFFMAN.

I WANT TO GIVE LOVE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE HE AND YVETTE ARE HEALING AND THAT'S BEEN ONE OF MY BRIGHT SPOTS HIS WEEK AS WELL.

I HOPE THAT WE LOOK AT THOSE LEADERS AND SAY I'M NOT SCARED, I'M INSPIRED.

>> Eric: THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING HERE.

>> Cathy: AND WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CATHY: THANK YOU TO FORMER LEADERS AND ALL OF TONIGHT'S GUESTS FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US AT THE END OF A TOUGH WEEK FOR OUR STATE.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOME IMAGES FROM THE PUBLIC CANDLELIGHT VIGIL HELD AT THE STATE CAPITOL ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR MELISSA AND MARK HORTMAN.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

GOOD NIGHT.

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