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

>> CATHY: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE WILDFIRES NORTH OF DULUTH, MEET THE NEW ST. PAUL SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT AND ALL FOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE HERE.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THEIR BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS THIS WEEK UP AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: THERE'S A BUDGET DEAL AT THE CAPITOL, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY.

HEAR FROM LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE GOVERNOR, ALONG WITH PROTESTERS.

>> YOU'RE KILLING OUR COMMUNITIES!

>> 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.

>> CATHY: WE HAVE A VERY FULL HOUR FOR YOU TONIGHT, INCLUDING A CHECK-IN ON THE WILDFIRES NORTH OF DULUTH.

WE'RE GOING TO DIVE RIGHT IN WITH POLITICS AS THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION NEARS ITS END NEXT MONDAY.

THAT'S RIGHT, IT'S FINAL FRIDAY.

TONIGHT WE CONTINUE OUR DECADES-LONG TRADITION OF FILLING THE COUCH WITH ALL FOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AS THEY SPEND THEIR FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER BREAK WITH US.

>> ERIC: UP FIRST, A BUDGET DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED THURSDAY MORNING BY THE GOVERNOR AND THREE OF THE LEADERS.

BUT IT MET QUICK OPPOSITION FROM KEY DFL LAWMAKERS IN THE SENATE.

MARY LAHAMMER BRINGS US UP TO SPEED ON THE ACTION AND WHERE THINGS STAND.

[ ONE MINNESOTA, RIGHT? ]

] >> Mary: MOCKING THE ONE MINNESOTA MANTRA, GOVERNOR WALZ ONCE RAN ON, DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS PROTESTED A BUDGET DEAL MADE BY THEIR OWN LEADERS.

>> YOU'RE KILLING OUR COMMUNITIES!

>> Mary: HEALTHCARE FOR ALL UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WILL END, ONLY CARE FOR CHILDREN WILL REMAIN IN THE AGREEMENT.

[ KNOCKING ON DOOR ] >> GOVERNOR, WE'RE TOLD THOSE ARE DFL LAWMAKERS OUTSIDE THE DOOR.

>> PASSIONS, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU COMPROMISE.

THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO TRY AND WORK TOGETHER.

THESE EADERS KNEW THAT.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO HEAR THIS, I'M GOING TO HEAR IT, THAT'S THE WAY THIS SHOULD BE DONE, BUT I AM PROUD THAT THIS IS A SOLID BUDGET.

IT BROUGHT TOGETHER A DIVIDED LEGISLATURE IN A TIME AGAINST A BACKDROP OF TOTAL CHAOS IN D.C. >> OUR CAUCUS IS FULL OF IMMIGRANTS AND CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS, AND THIS IS A DEEPLY PERSONAL SSUE.

>> THIS IS A VERY VISCERAL AND PAINFUL ISSUE.

I'M NOT AT ALL SURPRISED.

[ PROTECT OUR WATER ] CHANTING: PROTECT OUR WATER.

>> Mary: WHILE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED BUDGET DEAL INSIDE.

OUTSIDE A LOUD PROTEST ERUPTED FROM THE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS CAUCUS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS.

>> I KNOW THAT THE FOLKS STANDING UP HERE RIGHT NOW ARE GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS.

>> ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE WHO LOOK DIFFERENT, WHO SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, WHO HAVE DIFFERENT CUSTOMS, WE DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEM, WE WILL NOT PAY FOR THEM, WE WILL NOT WELCOME THEM, THEY CAN SUFFER, THEY CAN DIE AND WE DON'T CARE.

>> Mary: THE ISSUE ALSO BROUGHT MANY LEADERS TO -- FROM THE FAITH COMMUNITY TO THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> THE ERY IDEA, FRANKLY, THAT SOME FOLKS IN MY COMMUNITY WOULD BE DENIED HEALTHCARE INSURANCE FOR REASONS THAT ARE INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO ME, BECAUSE OF DOCUMENTATION, JUST BOGGLES MY MIND.

>> IT'S IMMORAL -- IT'S A MORAL IMPERATIVE.

A A MORAL IMPERATIVE, ACROSS OUR TRADITIONS, ACROSS SACRED SCRIPTURES, GOD INVITES TO US CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

>> WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WE DO NOT ALLOW THAT LEVEL OF CRUELTY TO HIT HERE.

>> THE HUMANITY, TO BE ABLE TO SAY, OH, WE'RE GOING TO CUT MEDICAID, THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY, WELL, HOW IS THAT BUILDING UP A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS AND A FRIENDSHIP OF NATION OF NEIGHBORS WHERE WE DO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER?

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADER DID NOT AGREE TO THE DEAL.

ALL THE ANGST FROM BOTH SIDES COULD OVERSHADOW OR EVEN DERAIL THE BIPARTISAN DEAL.

HAS IT DERAILED?

IS IT JUST NOT A DONE DEAL?

WE JUST AD A BUNCH OF SENATE DEMOCRATS SAYING THEY'RE NOT VOTING FOR YOU IF YOU AND YOUR CAUCUS ARE NOT VOTING FOR IT.

>> IT'S GOING IT TAKE SOME TIME TO DIGEST THE REALITY OF THE DEAL THAT'S GOING ON THERE.

BUT THEN IT'S ALSO, IT'S NOT COMPLETELY WRAPPED UP IN THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES.

THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.

>> WITH THE VERY UNUSUAL START THAT WE HAD IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AT THIS POINT.

STANDING AS LEADERS, ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR, TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHERE WE HAVE REACHED TARGETS AND A DIRECTION TO CONTINUE THE STATE MOVING FORWARD IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE IN MINNESOTA HISTORY.

>> Mary: LEADERS SAY IT'S THE BIGGEST SPENDING UT IN MINNESOTA HISTORY, NEARLY 90% OF THE FUTURE SHORTFALL HAS BEEN ERASED.

TOUGH DECISIONS, LIKE CLOSING THE STILLWATER PRISON, PROVE NO ONE GOT EVERYTHING THEY WANTED.

>> 201 LEGISLATORS, SEPARATED BY A SINGLE VOTE, THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN AMERICAN HISTORY, WHERE YOU HAD A DIVIDED LEGISLATURE SO CLOSELY DIVIDED, AT A TIME WHEN WE SEE CHAOS AND DYSFUNCTION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: LET'S GET AN IN-PERSON UPDATE ON WHERE THE BUDGET DEAL STANDS FROM THE FOUR TOP LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH HAILS FROM COLD SPRING.

HOUSE DFL LEADER MELISSA HORTMAN IS HERE, SHE REPRESENTS BROOKLYN PARK.

DFL SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ERIN MURPHY CALLS ST. PAUL HOME.

AND REPUBLICAN SENATE MINORITY LEADER MARK JOHNSON FROM EAST GRAND FORKS ROUNDS OUT THE GROUP.

SENATOR JOHNSON, YOU WERE DEPICTED THERE IN MARY'S PIECE.

YOU'VE HAD TIME NOW TO DIGEST THE DEAL, I ASSUME.

AND IF LEADER MURPHY NEEDS VOTES FROM YOUR REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO NEED TO PROVIDE SOME VOTES IF SHE NEEDS THEM?

>> CERTAINLY.

I THINK OUR CAUCUS IS VERY INTERESTED IN MOVING FORWARD ON BIPARTISAN ISSUES.

AND WE'VE SEEN WITHIN THE SENATE, BOTH ON THE FLOOR AND IN COMMITTEES, AND I THINK WE CAN DO A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WOULD MOVE THIS AGENDA FORWARD AND HAVE MINNESOTANS BE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE END UP WITH.

>> Eric: A CONDITION FOR YOUR SUPPORT, A ACKAGE OF BUSINESS THINGS, OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY BUSINESS THINGS.

I THINK JUST THINGS THAT MINNESOTANS ARE INTERESTED IN.

SO YES.

>> Eric: DO YOU NEED REPUBLICAN VOTES?

I HEARD UP TO 17 VOTES I EARD YOU HAD TODAY UP THERE.

>> SO I THINK IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT IN THE SENATE, THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A REAL MODEL, OF WORKING ACROSS THE CHAMBER, WORKING ACROSS OUR DIFFERENCES.

AND I THINK AS WE ARE COMING INTO THESE LAST DAYS, LEADER JOHNSON AND I ARE GOING TO WORK REALLY HARD TO PASS THE BILLS WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> Eric: DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY YOU NEED?

LIKE ON THE HUMAN SERVICES BILL, FOR INSTANCE?

>> WE NEED 34 VOTES.

>> Eric: HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE?

>> WE NEED 34 VOTES.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> GIVEN THE AN -- >> Cathy: GIBB THE ANGST THAT WE'VE SEEN, I'M WONDERING, DID YOU ALL GET BACK TO YOUR CAUCUSES BEFORE YOU CAME TO THIS AGREEMENT?

DID YOU CHECK WITH YOUR CAUCUSES?

HOW DID THIS ALL WORK?

>> AS WE WERE WORKING IN THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET ROOM, ALL OF US TOGETHER, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT GOVERNOR WALZ INVITED SENATOR JOHNSON TO BE A PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, AS WAS LISTED, WE ARE SUCH A TIGHT MAJORITY/MINORITY RIGHT NOW IN THE LEGISLATURE, 101 DEMOCRATS, 100 REPUBLICANS.

IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL HEARD THE SAME THINGS AND THAT WE WERE WORKING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS.

AS FAR AS BRINGING THAT TO OUR CAUCUSES, WE DID THAT TOGETHER AFTER EVERYTHING WAS REACHED AT 9:00 YESTERDAY MORNING.

>> Cathy: SO, THE ANGST THAT WE'RE HEARING, NOW, DID YOU EXPECT THAT?

>> WELL, DEFINITELY.

WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING UR CAUCUSES INFORMED AS TO THE ISSUES THAT WERE ON THE TABLE.

IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US IN 2023 WHEN WE PASSED HEALTHCARE FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, THAT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENT, FOR OUR TEAM, AS I AID IN MARY'S PIECE, OUR CAUCUS IS FULL OF IMMIGRANTS.

THEY ARE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS, AND THIS IS VERY PERSONAL TO THEM.

THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE RECEIVING LIFE-GIVING CARE WHO WEREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR CARE BEFORE, AND, SO, THE IDEA OF LOSING THAT CARE, IT'S NOT JUST A STATISTIC, IT'S PEOPLE THEY KNOW.

>> Cathy: SUCH A FLASH POINT.

AND I'M WONDERING, CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR NEWSOM IS SCALING BACK THEIR PROGRAM, A SIMILAR PROGRAM IN CALIFORNIA.

WHY IS THIS GOOD PUBLIC POLICY?

TO -- >> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT'S NOT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY, IT'S NOT GOOD HEALTHCARE POLICY.

MINNESOTACARE, WHEN CREATED BACK IN 1992, IT IS A COVERAGE PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR A LIVING BUT DON'T GET THEIR COVERAGE THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER.

PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO LOSE COVERAGE ARE TAX-PAYING, WORKING MINNESOTANS, THEY ARE PAYING PREMIUMS AND CO-PAY FOR THEIR COVERAGE, THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR COVERAGE, AND THAT CARE THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING NOW WILL BE SHIFTED TO EVERYBODY ELSE.

SO THE HOSPITALS WILL SEE MORE UNCOMPENSATED CARE, AND ALL OF THAT IS GOING O SPREAD ACROSS EVERYBODY'S INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

SO IT IS PENNY WISE, OUND FOOLISH.

>> LEADER MURPHY AND I FOUGHT VERY VERY HARD TO AVOID HAVING TO MAKE THIS AGREEMENT.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE HOUSE GOP WANTED.

>> AND IT'S A VERY PAINFUL DECISION.

>> THE COMPROMISE HAT WE CAME TO KEEPS CHILDREN OF UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE ON THE PLAN.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR CHILDREN AS THEY'RE IN BETWEEN.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, THOUGH, WITH MINNESOTACARE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THAT PROGRAM, THERE'S NOTHING TO PREVENT THEM FROM GOING ON THE PRIVATE MARKET AND PURCHASING INSURANCE.

THERE'S NOTHING TO PREVENT THEM FROM GOING IN AND GETTING HEALTHCARE.

WHAT THIS IS SAYING IS THAT TAXPAYERS ARE NOT ON THE HOOK FOR 100% OF THE PREMIUMS FOR THIS.

AND, SO, THAT'S A REALLY NUANCED PIECE.

IT'S NOT A LACK OF COMPASSION, IT'S LOOKING AT WHEN WE STARTED OUT THE PROJECTIONS WERE 5700 PEOPLE THAT WERE GOING TO BE ON THIS.

IN FIVE SHORT MONTHS, BECAUSE IT JUST STARTED IN ANUARY OF THIS YEAR, IN FOUR AND A HALF, NOT EVEN FIVE FULL MONTHS, BUT BY APRIL 24th, THERE'S OVER 20,000 PEOPLE ON IT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE EXPLODING COSTS OF IT, IT IS UNAFFORDABLE AT THIS POINT.

FAITH COMMUNITIES, OTHER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GIVE TO GENEROSITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES CAN HELP PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY.

IT IS JUST SAYING THAT FOR THIS EXPLOSION OF PEOPLE, ADULTS, THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ON THE TAXPAYERS 100%.

>> THE REASON THAT O MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP IS A DEMONSTRATION OF THE NEED.

AND THE REASON WHY PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FOR A LIVING BUT DON'T GET THEIR COVERAGE THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER CAN'T GET IT ON THE PRIVATE MARKET IS BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE.

>> BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THERE'S SO MUCH RISK TO THE TAXPAYER AND TO MINNESOTA THAT WE COULDN'T CONTROL THE COSTS ON THAT.

AND WE HAVE A FINITE BUDGET WITHIN THE STATE.

SO US AS POLICYMAKERS, AS LEGISLATORS, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BOUNDARIES ARE.

IN THIS AGREEMENT, IT ALLOWS FOR COMPASSION, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR US TO CONTROL THE COSTS TO THE STATE AND PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS.

>> Cathy: IS THERE A DATE -- GO AHEAD.

>> PAY FOR HEALTHCARE FOR POOR PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA, THIS IS AN OTHER'ING.

THIS IS TREATING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHO ARE TAXPAYERS, WHO ARE WORKING, WHO ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, AND MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCHES, IT IS TREATING THEM IFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF THEIR LEGAL STATUS.

AND WE THINK IT'S CRUEL AND WE WISH THAT THIS WASN'T NECESSARY, BUT IT WAS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE DEAL.

>> ARE WE GOING TO DO IT AT THE EXPENSE OF NURSING HOMES?

OF FOLKS THAT -- ELDERLY THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE AS WELL, TOO?

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BALANCING THIS IN THE PRIORITIES THAT ARE RIGHT.

HOPEFULLY WE'VE DONE THAT.

I THINK THIS COMPROMISE WORKS THAT OUT.

>> Cathy: IS THERE A DANGER THAT THIS COULD DERAIL THIS WHOLE BUDGET DEAL?

BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE A COMPLETE LACK OF AGREEMENT HERE.

>> THIS IS A VERY HARD ISSUE, BUT THERE WERE OTHER HARD ISSUES THAT WE LOOKED AT.

WE AVE AN IMPENDING DEFICIT COMING UP, AND WE REALLY TOOK A LARGE CHUNK OUT OF THAT GOING FORWARD.

SO THE STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE, WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE IN MAKING CUTS ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT THERE WERE THINGS THAT AFFECT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AFFECT OUR SCHOOLS, THINKING OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE, EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME THAT WE WANTED TO DO MORE ON AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO, WE WERE ABLE TO JUST DO VERY LITTLE.

THIS IS ONE HARD DECISION OUT OF A NUMBER WHEN WE CAME FOR A COMPROMISE IN THE WORK THAT WE NEEDED TO DO.

>> Eric: TAX BILL?

FOLKS GOING TO SEE A TAX INCREASE?

>> THERE ARE SOME REVENUE INCREASES WITHIN THE AGREEMENT ITSELF.

>> Eric: ARE YOU FOR IT OR AGAINST 'EM?

>> WE'RE AGAINST THEM.

WHATEVER WE CAN DO HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS TO PROTECT MINNESOTA TAXPAYERS, IS WHAT WE'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN.

WE WANT A PRODUCT THAT COMES OUT THAT'S A COMPROMISE THAT WORKS FOR ALL MINNESOTANS.

AND WE'LL KEEP WORKING THERE UNTIL THE END.

>> Cathy: YOU SAID WEEKS.

>> WE MADE ALMOST $5 BILLION OF CUTS IN THE STATE BUDGET FROM LAST BIENNIUM TO THIS BIENNIUM.

>> Eric: ONE-TIME MONEY IN THERE.

>> A LOT.

ABOUT 4 MILLION.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> THE IMPORTANT THING TO RECOGNIZE, THOUGH, WE HAD RECORD SPENDING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, TOO.

SO THIS WAS TAKING A CHUNK OUT OF THAT GOING FORWARD, PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

THE OTHER THING WE DID IS NO MINNESOTA FAMILIES ACROSS THE BOARD ARE GOING TO SEE TAX INCREASES.

THEY'VE EXPERIENCED INCREASE IN FEES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE AFFECTED THEIR FAMILY BUDGET, WE WORKED TOGETHER TO REALLY HOLD THAT COST DOWN FOR MINNESOTA FAMILIES.

>> Eric: WHAT HAPPENED TO FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS, IS THAT STILL ALIVE?

>> WELL, THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS OF THE AGREEMENT.

WE WERE ABLE TO PROTECT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE 2023 WINS.

FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS, EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME, PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM SO, A LOT OF THE WINS THAT WE WORKED SO HARD FOR.

WHAT WE DID IN THE BUDGET AREA, WE TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE GROWTH IN FAST-GROWING PROGRAMS.

SO WHILE IN E-12 YOU SEE A CUT TARGET OF $420 MILLION, IT'S ACTUALLY A REDUCED INCREASE.

SO WE'LL STILL BE INCREASING FUNDING FOR OUR E-12 SCHOOLS, BY MORE THAN $1.4 BILLION, BUT WE WON'T BE INCREASING FOUNDING OUR E-12 SCHOOLS BY $1.8 BILLION.

SO WE JUST SLOWED DOWN THE GROWTH MAKE SURE THAT THE GROWTH IN SPENDING IN THE STATE CAN KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH IN REVENUES.

>> Cathy: SO YOU SAY YOU HAVE SOME WINS.

I'M WONDERING, GETTING BACK TO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BILL AND THE UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS, COULD THAT BE TAKEN OUT OF THE OMNIBUS BILL AND TRAVEL SEPARATELY?

>> WE ARE DEFINITELY TALKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE CERTAINLY AS YOU COULD SEE, MEMBERS OF OUC CAUSE DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR THAT.

SO IF THERE'S A STAND-ALONE BILL THAT REPEALS HEALTHCARE ADULT UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS, THAT BILL NEEDS TO TRAVEL SEPARATELY.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, THOUGH, IN AA -- IN A LOT OF THESE BILLS, YOU KNOW, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THERE ARE THINGS THAT MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAVEN'T WANTED TO VOTE FOR OVER YEARS BECAUSE OF ABORTION CARE THAT IS PROVIDED IN FUNDING IN THERE.

IT'S SOMETHING REPUBLICANS HAVE REALLY STOOD AGAINST, YET, IT'S PART OF, BY A COURT CASE FROM 1992, DOUGH VS. GOMEZ, THAT IS -- DOE VS. GOMEZ, THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

SO I THINK WHEN LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING AT BILLS, AND THIS S 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 LIKE, 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 LOSE 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 OWNS OF THE SESSION, HOW IS THIS A HALF GLASS FULL OR A HALF GLASS EMPTY OR WHERE DO YOU SEE IT?

>> WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT WE ACCEPTED 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.

YOU SAW IN 2005, A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, IN 2011, A PRETTY HARD SHUTDOWN.

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, BUT ALSO TO PRESERVE THOSE VERY SIGNIFICANT WINS FROM 2023 THAT I TALKED ABOUT, EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME, PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.

>> Eric: WHAT WOULD YOU AY, MADAM SPEAKER, ABOUT THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE SESSION?

>> WE HAVE HAD, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, A VERY CHALLENGING START.

WE HAD A TIE AND THEN WE HAD A ONE-SEAT ADVANTAGE.

THE DEMOCRAT CAUCUS STAYED UT FOR 23 DAYS.

UNTIL THEY CAME BACK IN FEBRUARY TO GET THE SESSION STARTED.

EVEN THOUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTED JANUARY 14th, WE COULDN'T DO THAT WORK.

I BELIEVE WE CAN GET THIS DONE.

WE ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF TIME.

BUT MINNESOTANS EXPECT US TO DO THE WORK.

>> Eric: JUNE 30th OR MEMORIAL DAY OR MONDAY NIGHT?

OR WHAT?

>> I SURE HOPE BY MEMORIAL DAY, IF NOT MONDAY NIGHT.

EVERYBODY'S BACK AT THE CAPITOL RIGHT NOW WORKING.

IT HAS BEEN, IN MY -- THIS IS MY 18th SESSION, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT SESSION I'VE EVER BEEN A PART OF FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

AND WE HAVE WORKED OUR WAY THROUGH IT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE FOUR OF US, AND MARK JOHNSON AND I GO FOR A WALK TOGETHER EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING, WE AGREED TOGETHER THAT HE WAS GOING TO COME INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS.

I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER.

WE'RE DOING IMPORTANT WORK TOGETHER.

WHICH IS WHAT MINNESOTANS EXPECT US TO DO.

BUT IT'S BEEN A HARD ONE.

>> Cathy: IT LOOKS LIKE -- YEAH, I BET IT HAS BEEN QUITE HARD.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: YOU JUST MADE A COMMENT A FEW MINUTES AGO, WEEKS.

SO I'M ASSUMING WHEN YOU SAID THAT, THIS IS GOING TO GO NTO SOME OVERTIME.

>> CERTAINLY.

WE'RE AT THAT POINT RIGHT OW, EVEN THE PAPERWORK ITSELF, GOING THROUGH THE REVISOR'S OFFICE, WE'LL HAVE TO SPEND SOME TIME GETTING THAT DONE.

YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE GET THIS WRAPPED UP BY MEMORIAL DAY.

I KNOW THE GOVERNOR'S SCHEDULE QUITE BUSY TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH, INTO NEXT MONTH.

SO I'M SURE HE'S KIND OF PRESSURING TO GET THINGS GOING, TOO.

SO I THINK WE'RE ALL ALIGNED ON MAKING SURE THAT THIS GETS DONE EARLIER RATHER THAN LATER.

>> ND EVEN WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED, WE HAVE DONE THE WORK, AND NOTHING HAS GROUND TO A HALT.

AND, SO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, EVEN WITH THE CONTROVERSY AND THE CHANGES AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GONE ON, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SOMEHOW BRING THIS TOGETHER AND WORK, WHICH WE ARE DOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT, IF THERE IS SOME LEFTOVER, WE WILL DEFINITELY GET THAT DONE.

>> WE GOT THIS DONE FIVE DAYS AHEAD OF 2019, AND IN 2019, WE NEEDED ONLY A ONE-DAY SPECIAL SESSION, WE GOT IT DONE BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

SO, IF ALL OF THE MEMBERS HAVE THEIR NOSES TO THE GRINDSTONE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME IN FOR A ONE-DAY SPECIAL SESSION BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

NOW, IF THEY'RE CONTENTIOUS, THEN THAT COULD PUSH IT INTO THE WEEK FOLLOWING LABOR -- OR MEMORIAL DAY.

I HOPE NOT.

>> Cathy: SO YOU ALL WILL HAVE TO REALLY GET YOUR CAUCUSES UNDER HEEL IN A SENSE, RIGHT, TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S MOVING FORWARD.

>> Eric: PERSUASIVE.

>> PEOPLE NEED TO BEND.

THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEY WON'T GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT.

>> Eric: GOTTA GO, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN.

THE TRADITION CONTINUES.

>> Cathy: GOOD LUCK.

>> Eric: THANKS.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

>> MR. SPEAKER!

[ INDISTINCT YELLING ] [ MANY YELLING AT THE SAME TIME ] >> THE MOTION PREVAILS.

[ BANGING GAVEL ] >> AS IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH ACTIVITY FOR ONE DAY, HOUSE SPEAKER DAVE JENNINGS HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WASN'T A CANDIDATE, NOT FOR GOVERNOR, NOT EVEN FOR HIS OWN SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

THE STUNNED MEDIA CALLED IT A BOMBSHELL, AND BOMBER DAVE JENNINGS IS WITH US TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

DAVE JENNINGS, OW COME YOU ADJOURNED THE HOUSE AT 5:00 A.M. TUESDAY MORNING?

>> WELL, BECAUSE WE HAD COMPLETED ALL OF THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BUDGET-BALANCING BILLS, THE TWO BUDGET-BALANCING BILLS, AND WE WERE NOWHERE NEAR AGREEMENT ON THOSE BILLS.

AND I COULDN'T SEE HAVING THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR THOSE TEN CONFEREES TO REACH AGREEMENT.

I BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WAY TO BRING PRESSURE TO BEAR ON THEM TO SETTLE UP SO THAT WE COULD GET IT OVER WITH WAS TO ADJOURN AND SEND THE REST OF THE LEGISLATURE HOME SO THE FOCUS OF ALL YOU FOLKS WOULD BE ON THEM.

♪ >> CATHY: THREE WILDFIRES BURNING NORTH OF DULUTH SINCE EARLY THIS WEEK HAVE GROWN TO SEVERAL THOUSAND ACRES WITH THE NUMBER OF EVACUATIONS AND BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

YESTERDAY'S COOLER WET WEATHER HELPED SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE FIRES AND STAVE OFF ADDITIONAL EVACUATIONS.

EARLIER TODAY GOVERNOR WALZ AND U.S.

SENATORS AMY KLOBUCHAR AND TINA SMITH SURVEYED THE AREA.

THE MULTI-AGENCY EFFORT INVOLVES FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL RESPONDERS, INCLUDING THE NEWLY ARRIVED FIREFIGHTING HOTSHOT CREWS FROM COLORADO, MONTANA AND TENNESSEE.

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS ONE OF THE AGENCIES WORKING ON THE FIRE EFFORTS.

JOINING US VIA ZOOM FROM IS -- FROM GRAND RAPIDS IS PATTY THIELEN, SHE IS HEAD OF THE DNR'S FORESTRY DIVISION.

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME.

>> THANKS, CATHY.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THE FIRES, CONTAINMENT FOR THE COTTON FIRE, AT LEAST 5% EARLIER THIS MORNING, WHAT'S THE LATEST?

25%.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A REPRIEVE WITH THE WEATHER THAT HAS COME THROUGH, BUT NOT -- WE'VE NOT GOTTEN A LOT OF PRECIPITATION.

IT HAS HELPED THAT IT'S A LITTLE COOLER.

WE DID HAVE A LITTLE RAIN.

SOME AREAS AS LITTLE AS A QUARTER INCH.

SOME OTHER AREAS AS MUCH AS THREE-QUARTERS OF AN INCH.

IT'S GIVING OUR FIREFIGHTERS A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK BECAUSE FIRE AT LEAST WON'T SPREAD AS QUICKLY IN HESE CONDITIONS.

CURRENTLY THE CAMP HOUSE FIRE IS AT ABOUT 15,000 ACRES AND LAST REPORT STILL ZERO PERCENT CONTAINED.

THE JENKINS FIRE IS A LITTLE OVER 15,000 ACRES AND ALSO ZERO PERCENT CONTAINED.

THE MUNGER SHAW FIRE IS 1600 ACRES, A LITTLE SMALLER, AND 25% CONTAINED.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE A HANDLE YET ON EVACUATIONS AND PROPERTY LOSS?

>> WE'RE REALLY SAD TO KNOW THAT THERE'S PROBABLY OVER 140 STRUCTURE THAT IS HAVE BEEN LOST, AND OVER 40 RESIDENCES.

CAN'T IMAGINE THE FAMILIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS.

WE'LL HAVE BETTER NUMBERS AS WE O FORWARD.

OUR PRIMARY CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS TILL FIRE SUPPRESSION AND LIFE SAFETY.

>> Cathy: HOW HELPFUL IS IT, PATTY, TO AVE THOSE HOTSHOT CREWS FROM THE OTHER STATES COME IN?

>> IT IS GREAT TO HAVE JUST ALL KINDS OF RESOURCES COMING IN FROM OUTSIDE.

WE'VE GOT A COMPLEX INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT IS FROM FIREFIGHTERS FROM THE NORTHEAST 20 STATES, MINNESOTA DOWN TO ISSOURI, AND ALL THE WAY TO THE NORTHEAST, MAINE.

THESE PEOPLE TRAIN TO BE ABLE TO COME AND WORK ON LARGE COMPLEX FIRES.

AND, SO, THAT TEAM HAS ARRIVED IN MINNESOTA AND IS MANAGING THE CAMP HOUSE FIRE AND THE JENKINS FIRE TOGETHER.

ONE OF THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAMS FROM MINNESOTA THAT WAS ON ONE OF THOSE TWO FIRES HAS BEEN REASSIGNED TO THE MUNGER SHAW FIRE.

THE COMPLEX INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM IS ALSO BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND WE'RE REALLY THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT SYSTEM FOR MOVING RESOURCES AROUND AND GETTING THEM HERE WHEN E NEED THEM.

>> Eric: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT A CAUSE OR CAUSES FOR THESE BLAZES?

>> ALL THREE FIRES ARE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

SO, AGAIN, OUR PRIMARY FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS ON SUPPRESSION.

WE DO HAVE INVESTIGATORS THAT ARE LOOKING INTO THE CAUSES.

>> Cathy: SAY, I'M NOTICING, PATTY, GREEN-UP IS UNDERWAY ACROSS THE NORTHLAND, BUT IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT IS DOWN HERE IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND, SPRUCE BUDWORM HAS BEEN JUST AWFUL, YOU KNOW THAT, IN THE NORTHERN FORESTS.

AND THIS LITTLE CRITTER HAS REALLY DEFOLIATED AND KILLED SO MANY TREES, THEY LOOK LIKE MATCH STICKS.

IS THAT REALLY SOME OF THE ISSUE THAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON HERE, BEYOND, OF COURSE, HAVING FIRE DANGER?

>> IT CERTAINLY IS.

SPRUCE BUDWORM IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING PEST.

WE'VE BEEN GETTING HIT HARD BY SPRUCE BUDWORM OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

IT REALLY HAS DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON BALSAM FIR AND BALSAM FIR, WHEN IT'S DRY AND DEAD, IS KIND OF A LADDER FIELD THAT ALLOWS FIRES TO GO UP INTO THE CANOPY.

WE'VE ALSO HAD A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER TIME IN BEING ABLE TO CLEAR AREAS WHERE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SPRUCE BUDWORM KILL BECAUSE SOME OF THE MARKETS IN FOREST INDUSTRY IN MINNESOTA THAT HAVE USED BALSAM FIR HAVE MOVED OUT AND, SO, WE DON'T HAVE -- WE DON'T HAVE THAT TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX LIKE WE USED TO.

>> Cathy: SO, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE DNR CAN DO ABOUT SPRUCE BUDWORM AT ALL?

OR NOT?

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CHECKERBOARD OF OWNERSHIP AND WE CAN DO -- I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME GROUPS THAT ARE GETTING SOME GRANTS TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THESE LANDS.

IT'S AN EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE TOOL OF TIMBER HARVEST TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE PRODUCTS.

>> Eric: LOOK OUT FOR THE WEEKEND, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WE'RE THANKFUL IT'S LIKELY TO REMAIN FAIRLY COOL AND HUMID OVER THE WEEKEND, AND EVEN INTO MONDAY, LATER ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY IT'S GOING TO START DRYING OUT AGAIN, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE FAIRLY DRY AND WARM FOR ABOUT A WEEK, WEEK AND A HALF AFTER THAT.

AND, SO, WE REALLY NEED PEOPLE TO BE VIGILANT WITH ANY FIRE, WHETHER IT'S A CAMPFIRE, WHETHER IT IS -- IF WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE'RE PERMITTING DEBRIS PILES AGAIN, SMOKING OUTSIDE, ANY OF THESE THINGS CAN CAUSE A FIRE, AND WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY MORE OF THESE THIS YEAR.

>> Eric: PATTY THIELEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE AND THE EXPERTISE.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: THANKS, PATTY.

>> THANKS.

>> ERIC: FORMER "STAR TRIBUNE" REPORTER CHUCK HAGA DIED EARLIER THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 75.

THE TALENTED WRITER'S TWO DECADES AT THE "STAR TRIBUNE" WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN STINTS AT THE "GRAND FORKS HERALD," IN A COMMUNITY HE CALLED HOME.

WE VISITED WITH HAGA BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 1997.

HE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM SPENDING THREE MONTHS IN GRAND FORKS, REPORTING FOR THE "STAR TRIBUNE "FROM THE RED RIVER VALLEY AS THEY DEALT WITH THE AFTERMATH OF THE SPRING'S HISTORIC RED RIVER FLOODING.

HERE'S PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FALSE TO PRETEND THAT THERE WASN'T A CONNECTION THERE.

THE ASSIGNMENT CAME ABOUT AT LEAST PARTLY BECAUSE I WROTE A VERY PERSONAL PIECE TOWARD THE END OF THE FLOOD ITSELF.

SAT ON MY BROTHER'S STOOP IN HIS BACKYARD AND WATCHED THE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY DOWNTOWN.

AND KNOWING THAT 50,000 PEOPLE WERE ON THEIR WAY OUT OF TOWN, INCLUDING MY SON IS EXAMINE MY TWO BROTHERS.

AND IT WAS SUCH AN OVERPOWERING MOMENT, AND I WROTE ABOUT IT VERY PERSONALLY.

AND TIM McGUIRE, THE EDITOR OF THE "STAR TRIBUNE" CAME TO ME AND ASKED ME, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT MOVING BACK IN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND LIVING PART OF THE RECOVERY AND WRITING ABOUT IT?

WE WERE HONEST ABOUT IT, UP FRONT.

WE SAID THIS IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE ENGAGED AND MORE ERSONAL THAN WHAT WE NORMALLY DO.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK TWIN CITIESAN UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT HAPPENED UP IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY?

>> I THINK A GREAT MANY DO AND YOU CAN MEASURE THAT BY THE NUMBER OF THEM, WHO WENT TO GRAND FORKS.

FOR A DAY OR TWO OR FOR A WEEK, MANY OF THEM.

THEY CAME UP IN THEIR OWN CARS, THEY CAME WITH A PLANE LOAD AND A BUS LOAD TO VOLUNTEER EXAMINE TO HELP PEOPLE CLEAN OUT THEIR BASEMENTS.

>> Eric: LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE PICTURES IF WE CAN.

>> SURE.

>> Eric: THESE ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WROTE ABOUT AND TALKED ABOUT?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO WAS CHIP AWAY AT THE STEREOTYPES THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE OF WHO LIVES IN GRAND FORKS, EAST GRAND FORKS.

AND I WANTED TO SHOW THE VARIETY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UP THERE.

THIS IS SUE AND CURTIS BOLSTAD AND THEIR YOUNGEST -- YOUNGER DAUGHTER, MELISSA.

AND WE FOLLOWED THAT FAMILY FOR A WHILE.

AND WROTE ABOUT THEIR RECOVERY.

KYMM HOLMES, THE CHEF AND ENTERTAINER AT SANDERS, AN EXCEPTIONAL RESTAURANT IN GRAND FORKS, TRAINED IN ITALY, SWITZERLAND, HE LOST TWO RESTAURANTS IN DOWNTOWN GRAND FORKS, THEY'RE SMALL BUT FINE RESTAURANTS.

WONDERFUL PLACES.

>> Eric: IS THE MORAL LIFE STOPPED OR IS THE MORAL LIFE GOES ON?

>> IT'S SOME OF BOTH.

AND DEPENDING ON YOUR MOOD AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, ANY DAY, PEOPLE ARE OPTIMISTIC OR PESSIMISTIC.

>> Eric: WHO'S THIS?

>> THIS IS MY GREAT AUNT.

AND I MENTIONED HER IN THAT STORY THAT I WROTE FROM MY BROTHER'S STOOP.

THE LAST I SAW HER, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE WAS GOING, THE LAST I SAW HER WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE GRAND FORKS HERALD, MOMENTS AFTER SHE TOLD THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO FLOOD HER BASEMENT, THEY KNEW THE HOUSE WAS GONE, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE SHE BUILT WITH HER HUSBAND, LATE HUSBAND, 30 YEARS AGO, AND SHE WALKED UP TO A FELLOW OUTSIDE HER HOUSE, AND TOOK HOLD OF HIS HEAD, AND PULLED HIS HEAD TO HER, AND SAID, DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO LOSE YOUR HOUSE?

AND IT TOOK ME WEEKS BEFORE I FOUND OUT WHERE SHE WAS.

>> ADIA: FOR SOME REASON, LILAC SEASON USUALLY TAKES ME BY SURPRISE, BUT THIS YEAR I WAS READY.

I’D BEEN SCANNING THE FORECAST, HOPING FOR A BREAK IN THE HEAT, SO I HAPPENED TO LOOK FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO SEE STORMS HEADING OUR WAY.

AFTER THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE MAKING LILAC SYRUP, I KNEW THAT THE WIND AND RAIN WOULD STRIP THE BLOSSOMS FROM THE BRANCHES, SO I NEEDED TO HARVEST THEM ASAP.

I INVITED MY MOM TO STICK AROUND AFTER DROPPING MY DAUGHTER OFF AND HELP WITH THE LILAC HARVEST AND SYRUP PREP.

THAT MEANT THAT I CLIMBED THE LADDER WHILE MY MOM AND TODDLER DAUGHTER PLAYED ON THE HAMMOCK BELOW; SWEETNESS ABOVE AND BELOW.

IT TOOK US THE BETTER PART OF TWO HOURS TO SEPARATE THE PALE PURPLE BLOSSOMS FROM THE STEMS AND STAMENS AS WE WORKED, CHATTED, AND WATCHED THE TODDLER DUNK HER HEAD INTO THE SPRINKLER AS IT SWAYED BACK AND FORTH, THEN RUN AWAY SCREAMING WITH LAUGHTER.

THE WORK WAS A WELCOME, CALMING MEDITATION WHEN- ALL TOO OFTEN THESE DAYS- I’M LOW-KEY UNSETTLED OVER WHATEVER OUTRAGEOUS HEADLINE I JUST READ OR THE ENDLESS MENTAL STREAM OF LIFE LOGISTICS.

WORKING WITH MY HANDS GAVE ME A SIMPLE GOAL, QUIET CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO KNOWS ME BEST, AND THREE GENERATIONS OF NECTAR-STICKY FINGERS BASKING IN THE WARM- BLESSEDLY NOT HUMID- SPRING EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR STAYING TO HELP WITH THE LILACS, MOM.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.

♪ >> ERIC: THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SAINT PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY SHE NOW SERVES.

SHE COMES FROM THE EDINA SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE SHE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS SUPERINTENDENT.

THE HOME-GROWN EDUCATOR STACIE STANLEY JUST FINISHED HER FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB AND JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

YOU ARE A St. PAUL CENTRAL GRAD.

>> YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.

CLASS OF '84.

>> Eric: I I -- I GET THAT PART, THE STEREOTYPE WOULD BE, WHY WOULD YOU TURN DOWN THE PLUSH JOB OF EDINA TO GO TO THE GRITTY St. PAUL SCHOOLS.

WHEN LED TO YOUR DECISION?

>> THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

TRULY, I AM JUST EXCITED TO COME BACK EXAMINE SERVE THE DISTRICT THAT RAISED ME, HELPED TO MOLD ME AND MAKE ME THE PERSON THAT I AM TODAY.

I SIT HERE WITH YOU BECAUSE OF ALL THE GREAT TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS AND LEADERS THAT I HAD THAT HELPED TO RAISE ME.

>> Cathy: SO YOU WENT BACK, I UNDERSTAND, TO St. PAUL CENTRAL, ONE OF THE FIRST DAYS ON THE JOB THIS WEEK.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE FOR YOU?

>> IT WAS AMAZING.

WE ACTUALLY DID A VIDEO A COUPLE F MONTHS AGO IN PREPARATION FOR THE KICKOFF.

AND, SO, I WAS THERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE THE SAME, RIGHT, SO MANY THINGS AT THE SCHOOL THAT ARE THE SAME, AND SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT.

BEING ABLE TO WALK INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND TO SEE MY FRIENDS, MY CLASSMATES, WHO ARE WORKING THERE NOW, THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN TO RECONNECT WITH THEM.

I ALSO WENT TO MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AS WELL AS MY MIDDLE SCHOOL THIS WEEK.

AND THAT WAS REALLY FUN TOO.

YOU KNOW, GET TO SPEND TIME IN CLASSROOMS, HAD STUDENT ASK ME T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT DOES.

SO I LWAYS ASK THEM, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT DOES?

ONE OF THEM SAID, YOU'RE LIKE THE PRESIDENT, RIGHT?

>> Eric: BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR YOU, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE TOP ONE?

>> BUDGET.

YOU KNOW, YOU WERE WITH OUR LEGISLATORS JUST NOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A CHALLENGE WITH BUDGET.

WE HAD A $51.1 MILLION REDUCTION FOR NEXT YEAR.

YOU KNOW, FORMER INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT JOHN TINE AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM WALKED THE DISTRICT THROUGH THAT.

WE HAVE THAT.

AND WE NEED THE MONEY.

SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL WHAT OUR LEGISLATORS ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THE GENERAL FUND TIED O THE -- GO AHEAD, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

>> Eric: WOULD YOU DO BETTER IF YOU HAD MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH THE FUNDING, I THINK THEY CALL THEM CATEGORICALS, THAN FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE?

>> I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER IN THAT WE'D HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO, LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, OUR NUTRITION SERVICES FUND, AT THE SAME TIME TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS AT THE LEVEL THAT WE WANT TO TO BE ABLE TO MEET OUR MISSION.

WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS TO ENSURE THAT WE MAKE WAY ON THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE LOST OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, WE NEED IT TIED TO INFLATION.

FOR INSTANCE, IF FUNDING HAD KEPT PACE AND WAS TIED TO INFLATION, ST. PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD GET ANOTHER $50 MILLION.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, YOU HAVE A 100-DAY PLAN, I UNDERSTAND.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WHAT MIGHT WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM YOU IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION?

>> YEAH, FOR SURE.

IT'S ABOUT LISTENING AND LEARNING, REALLY BEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT THIS WEEK.

I HAD TIME TO CONNECT WITH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITIES, CONNECTED WITH MEMBERS OF THE HMONG COMMUNITY, HAD A CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THROUGH SPOKESMAN ECORDER, I WILL BE OUT AND ABOUT AT SO MANY DIFFERENT EVENTS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKENDS REALLY CONNECTING WITH STAFF, CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS, CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES.

REALLY LOOKING FOR WHAT IS FABULOUS ABOUT ST. PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY AMAZING THINGS IN ST. PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

I'LL TAKE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, REALLY ANALYZE IT, SUMMARIZE IT, BRING IT TO THE BOARD, WITH A SET OF GOALS FOR MYSELF IN AUGUST.

>> Cathy: HOW ARE YOU DOING WITH TEACHER RETENTION?

>> YEAH, RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A SOLID PLACE RIGHT NOW WITH TEACHER RETENTION FOR NEXT YEAR.

IT ALWAYS GETS TRICKY OVER THE SUMMER, BUT WE'LL BE ABLE TO KNOW FOR SURE BY AUGUST 1st.

>> Eric: AND PROPERTY TAX IMPACT, DO YOU EXPECT THIS TO ROLL DOWN TO THE PROPERTY ROLL DOWN TO THE PROPE PROPERTY TAXPAYERS IN St. PAUL, HAVE YOU ASKED FOR A REFERENDUM, WHAT'S THE WAY FORWARD THERE?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE TALKED TO THE BOARD ABOUT IS THE NEED FOR REVENUE GENERATION.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THAT, REALLY BRINGING FORWARD SOME OPTIONS TO THE BOARD TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE.

I WILL SAY THIS, REALLY EXCITED THAT WE SAW OUR ENROLLMENT UPTICK A LITTLE BIT AND WE'RE KIND OF ANTICIPATING OUR ENROLLMENT TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> Eric: WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

GOOD LUCK, CONGRATULATIONS, COME BACK AND SEE US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

♪ >> ERIC: IN THE LAST ELECTION, PRESIDENT TRUMP GOT SOME OF HIS STRONGEST SUPPORT FROM GREATER MINNESOTA.

IN TODD COUNTY, HE WON BY A MARGIN OF 53 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT TO CENTRAL MINNESOTA TO FIND HIS BASE.

>> Kaomi: ON A RECENT EVENING IN LONG PRAIRIE, AREA REPUBLICANS MET AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT, AS THEY DO EVERY MONTH.

THE GROUP IS CALLED THE BASIC POLITICAL ORGANIZING UNIT, OR BPOU.

MANY HERE ALSO SAY IT'S LIKE A FAMILY.

>> IT'S AN ORGANIZATION OF LIKE-MINDED CONSERVATIVES THAT GET TOGETHER, WE HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY, LIKE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOMINATED WHEN YOU GO TO VOTE, YOU SEE WHO THE REPUBLICAN NAME IS, THE BPOUs, WE START WITH A PRECINCT CAUCUSES, GET DELEGATES, AND THEN THEY NOMINATE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WANT TO BE ON THE BALLOT.

>> Kaomi: JERRY IS THE LOCAL CHAIR.

HE SAYS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT.

>> ONE THING TRUMP'S DONE THIS TERM IS GETTING MORE OF THE WORD OUT, AND THEN WHEN YOU SEE THE DEMOCRATS JUST FIGHTING HIM ON REALLY STUPID THINGS, YOU KNOW, THIS OPEN BORDER WAS A DISASTER, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT.

>> Kaomi: PRESIDENT TRUMP WON TODD COUNTY WITH MORE THAN 73% OF THE VOTE LAST NOVEMBER.

THAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE REDDEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE.

FARMING AND EAT PACKING ARE THE LARGEST INDUSTRIES HERE IN THE COUNTY.

NON-HISPANIC WHITES MAKE UP 86% OF THE POPULATION.

FAITH IS IMPORTANT.

>> I SEE GOD MAKING SOME IG CHANGES.

>> YOUR FAITH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> OH, YEAH.

AND I THINK THAT GOD IS GOING TO BE SHOWING SOME TRUTH.

>> Kaomi: BUSINESS OWNER SAYS PEOPLE IN TODD COUNTY CARE ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, THE SECOND AMENDMENT, RIGHT TO LIFE AND THE QUALITY OF AREA LAKES.

ALTHOUGH TRUMP'S TARIFF POLICIES DON'T AFFECT HER BUSINESS DIRECTLY, SHE SAYS SHE AGREE WITH THEM.

>> I THINK THAT HE IS KICKING BUTT AND TAKING NAMES.

THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN A DOOR MAT FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD FOR A LONG TIME.

TRUMP HAS BEEN SAYING, ENOUGH.

>> Kaomi: REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WIENER OWNS A BUSINESS MAKING IVESTOCK BEGGED.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE POOREST COUNTIES IN THE STATE, TODD AND WADENA.

SO ECONOMICS PLAYS A BIG FACTOR, AND TAXES.

>> Kaomi: HE SAYS A LOT OF HIS CONSTITUENTS ARE FRUSTRATED WITH STATE GOVERNMENT AND WHAT REPUBLICANS SAY ARE BILLIONS IN SQUANDERED STATE SURPLUS.

>> WHAT I'M SEEING NOW IS WITH THE SHIFTS, THE DOWNSHIFT THAT IS ARE COMING FROM THE STATE, THIS IS REALLY AFFECTING PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE SHIFTING MORE AND MORE TAX BURDEN DOWN, AND WE JUST HAD THE QUESTION WHEN I WAS IN THE MEETING HERE, PEOPLE SAID, HOW MUCH ARE MY PROPERTY TAXES GOING TO GO UP?

>> I'M NOT NECESSARILY ON A TOUR, BUT I GO OUT AND SPEAK TO GROUPS WHO ASK ME TO COME, AND I'VE BEEN INVITED HERE TONIGHT.

AND I WILL BE DOWN IN ALBERT LEA ON MONDAY, AND I'LL BE ALL OVER HE STATE.

I WAS IN ALEXANDRIA A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

>> Kaomi: MIKE AMERY IS WITH THE CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK TOUTING SMALLER GOVERNMENT AND FEWER REGULATIONS.

HE'S DOING OUTREACH IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

>> TAKE A LOOK AT THE MAP.

I MEAN, IT GETS REDDER AND REDDER AND REDDER.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT 20 YEARS AGO, IT WAS A MUCH MORE BLUE AND RED, YOU KNOW, INTERSPERSED, BUT NOW IT'S ALL HARD DARK BLUE IN THE TWIN CITIES, AND DARK RED IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

WELL, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THAT MEANS THE SIDES RE NOT TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

>> Kaomi: FOR NONREPUBLICANS IN RED COUNTIES, THAT MEANS OFTEN HOLDING YOUR TONGUE.

THIS LIBERTARIAN IN LONG PRAIRIE DIDN'T WANT TO REVEAL HIS LAST NAME FOR FEAR OF RETALIATION AT HIS SMALL BUSINESS.

HE SAYS HE'S NOT A FAN OF TRUMP AND WORRIES ABOUT THE FUTURE.

>> A LOT OF THE MATERIALS THAT WE USE FOR PROCESSING DO COME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

I HAVEN'T HAD TO MAKE ANY PURCHASES YET THIS YEAR, BUT I'M AFRAID TO SEE WHAT THOSE TARIFFS ARE GOING TO DO.

>> Kaomi: I ASKED HIM IF HIS REPUBLICAN NEIGHBORS SUPPORTED TRUMP'S POLICIES.

>> SOME DO.

I THINK SOME ARE KIND OF MAYBE RETHINKING THEIR THOUGHTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TAKE THE CONSTITUTION AND ESSENTIALLY TEAR IT UP BY IGNORING THE BILL OF RIGHTS, YOU KNOW, SENDING PEOPLE AWAY.

WHEN YOU SEND SOMEBODY OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO A PRISON, THAT'S NOT A DEPORTATION.

THAT'S A CONCENTRATION CAMP.

>> Kaomi: LIFE-LONG RESIDENT LARRY SCHROEDER IS ALSO NOT REPUBLICAN.

HE ALSO DID NOT VOTE FOR TRUMP.

>> HE'S POWER HUNGRY.

IN MY STIMATION.

>> Kaomi: A VIETNAM VETERAN, SCHROEDER SAYS HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT CUTS TO FEDERAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE V.A.

>> IT'S AFFECTING THE VETERANS THAT ARE CALLING HIM AND WANTING HELP AND QUESTIONING THIS OR THAT AND, THEY GET PUT ON HOLD AND THEY HOLD AND FINALLY THEY GIVE UP IN FRUSTRATION.

AND THEIR ANSWERS AREN'T GETTING MET.

NO.

SO HE'S CUTTING AND IT'S AFFECTING EVERYBODY.

>> Kaomi: SCHROEDER SAYS HE REMEMBERS WHEN TODD COUNTY WAS MOSTLY DEMOCRAT IN THE 1960s.

REPUBLICAN PAM RAP WAS LIVED HERE FOR SIX YEARS, SOMETHING BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE SEEM TO AGREE ON IS PROBLEMATIC MEDIA COVERAGE.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF LIES BEING SPREAD.

WHEN I WATCH THE NEWS, I WANT TO SEE THE FACTS, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE NEWSCASTER'S OPINION.

I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THE FACTS ARE.

AND IF YOU REALLY REALLY TRULY SAY THE FACTS, WITHOUT TRYING TO BIAS THE PEOPLE WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO, THEN PEOPLE ILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

♪ >> CATHY: HAVE WE MENTIONED IT'S THE FINAL FRIDAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

OUR COUCHFUL OF EXPERTS IS HERE TO TELL US WHAT LEGISLATIVE LEADERS REALLY SAID EARLIER IN THE SHOW.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST.

BRIAN MCDANIEL IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER TURNED LOBBYIST AND STAND-UP COMEDIAN.

ANNETTE MEEKS IS A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE, WHO NOW HEADS THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

DEMOCRATS HERE TONIGHT... JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST AND A FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAN.

AND WE WELCOME BACK ALYSEN NESSE, PARTY LOYALIST AND A LOBBYIST.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

WHAT SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT?

OKAY, SO THE CONVERSATION WE HAD EARLIER TONIGHT WITH THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WAS INTERESTING.

AND I'M WONDERING, DO YOU ACTUALLY SEE HIS ENDING ON TIME, BRIAN McDANIEL?

YOU'RE UP THERE ALL THE TIME.

AND NOW THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES HAVE TO GET TO WORK, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IN JANUARY, WE COULD HAVE PREDICTED THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO FINISH ON TIME.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS.

AND WHAT HAPPENED ON THE 15th IS UNPRECEDENTED.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, I WORKED FOR THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, AND WE HAD MANY MANY MANY YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS, SOME WENT WELL, SOME DIDN'T GO WELL, SOMETIMES OUR CAUCUS WAS HAPPY WITH IT, SOMETIMES THEY WEREN'T.

BUT YOU HAVE TO LET THE CAUCUS GO THROUGH THE STAGES OF GRIEF WHEN THERE'S BAD NEWS.

AND THEY SKIPPED ALL OF THAT.

SO RIGHT NOW THEY ARE JUST GOING TO BE STUCK IN ANGER AND PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT JUSTIFIED, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO BARGAINING AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE ACCEPTANCE PART IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Eric: HAVE YOU SEEN THAT, WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LEADERS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY HAD REALLY HARD CHOICES TO MAKE, AND IT IS -- THE TYPES OF NEGOTIATION AND CCEPTANCE, AS BRIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, OF YEARS PAST, I JUST DON'T THINK IS THE REALITY OF TODAY.

AND THE MAKEUP OF THESE CAUCUSES IS DIFFERENT.

AND ALSO THE MAJORITIES ARE SO SLIM, THAT THERE'S MORE POWER WITH OTHER CAUCUS AND SUBCAUCUSES LIKE THE POCI CAUCUS.

>> I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHERE ONE MEMBER CAN DISRAIL -- WHAT'S THE WORD?

>> DERAIL.

>> THANK YOU.

DERAIL THE WHOLE THING.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF THAT.

THEY SAW THAT LAST YEAR WITH THE SENATOR WHO HELD UP THE WHOLE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THE END OF SESSION.

>> Eric: SENATOR FATEH, OVER THE UBER.

>> YES, THE UBER.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF THAT.

YOU EMPOWER ONE OR TWO MEMBERS TO HAVE THEIR WAY.

>> Cathy: JAVIER, I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR SAYS, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU COMPROMISE, THE YELLING, CHANTING, BANGING ON THE DOOR, THAT KIND OF THING.

CAN LEADER HORTMAN HOLD THE HOUSE CAUCUS TOGETHER?

>> THIS IS WHAT -- THIS IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN COMPROMISE HAPPENS.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SHUT OUT PEOPLE OF COLOR FROM A DISCUSSION THAT'S REALLY RELEVANT TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THIS STATE.

AND, LOOK, ON THE ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN A CENTRAL PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, ON HEALTHCARE FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, LET'S SET OME GROUND RULES HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, IMMIGRANTS IN THIS STATE CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN THEY RECEIVE IN BENEFITS.

WE HAVE ENTIRE INDUSTRIES THAT DEPEND ON THEM, WHETHER IT'S HOME HEALTHCARE, THE HOSPITALITY, AGRICULTURE, AND AGRICULTURE, IN FACT, THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT WOULD BE THAT IF YOU ARE AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, YOU SHOULD LIVE BY YOUR VALUES AND BOYCOTT FOOD BECAUSE IF YOU ATE THIS WEEK, YOU BENEFITTED FROM THE LABOR OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

AND, SO, THE HEALTHCARE WAS RESPONDING TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ESSENTIAL -- THE ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES WHO STAYED WORKING, THAT GOT SICKER FOR THAT REASON BURG DID THE PANDEMIC, SO THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO EMERGENCY ROOMS, WHICH IS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE, THIS BILL, THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO PRETEND LIKE THIS IS ABOUT FISCAL SANTI, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO GIVE SOME CREDIT HERE TO SPEAKER DEMUTH AND LEADER JOHNSON BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A SLIVER OF POWER, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A DEAL THAT REPUBLICANS FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY THE HALLMARK SAY GOOD DEAL OF WHEN EVERYONE WALKS AWAY A LITTLE BIT UPSET.

WELL, THERE ARE TWO CAUCUSES THAT FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE POSITION THEY'RE IN RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE BOTH GOP.

>> Eric: SO IF SENATOR MURPHY NEEDS REPUBLICAN VOTES, ASK BOTH OF YOU, HOW MANY CAN REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE SUPPLY ON THE HUMAN SERVICES BILL?

WHAT WOULD THEY WANT IN RETURN?

WHAT WOULD REPUBLICANS WANT IN RETURN?

>> I THINK THAT DEPENDS.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT JAVIER IS SAYING.

WE NEED TO HAVE SOME OPEN NEGOTIATIONS, AND THIS HAS BEEN DONE IN SECRECY BY THE FOUR LEADERS WITH THE GOVERNOR.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF -- LIKE THEY ALL OF A SUDDEN ANNOUNCED WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE STILLWATER PRISON.

WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

THERE WAS NOT A LEGISLATIVE HEARING ABOUT THAT ALL YEAR LONG.

SUDDENLY THEY ANNOUNCE, THIS IS PART OF THE DEAL.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL VERY ALIENATED BY THE PROCESS AND THE WAY IT SKIPPED OVER ANY TYPE OF GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY, SO IF YOU WANT SOME BUY-IN, YOU GOTTA HAVE BUY-IN WITH ALLOWING THEM TO PARTICIPATE.

>> TO YOUR QUESTION, ERIC, HE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO WORK OUT A DEAL IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF SENATE DEMOCRATS CAN VOTE FOR.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS FAR MORE LIKELY AND REASONABLE THAN PICKING UP GOP VOTES.

>> Eric: WHY IS THIS -- YOU TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WAS THINKING BACK, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST EMOTIONAL ISSUE SINCE GAY MARRIAGE.

>> UM-HUM.

>> Eric: THE UNDOCUMENTED HEALTHCARE.

>> RIGHT.

>> Eric: BUSINESS.

AND IS IT A COMPROMISE ACCEPTABLE WHERE IT'S JUST THE KIDS OR YOU'RE EITHER PREGNANT OR YOU'RE NOT?

>> HERE'S THE PROBLEM ON THIS ISSUE IS THAT FOR YEARS, WE HAD IMMIGRANTS, WHETHER IT WAS DRIVER'S LICENSES OR ANY OTHER ISSUE, IMMIGRANTS WERE ALWAYS A BARGAINING CHIP, WHERE DEMOCRATS WOULD PROMISE TO STAND UP FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND REPUBLICANS WOULD OPPOSE IT AND THEN WE'D ALWAYS AT THE LAST MINUTE HAVE A DEAL THAT WOULD UPSET BASE COMMUNITIES.

WE HAD IN A MOMENT OF ABUNDANCE, WE HAD AN ACCEPTANCE THAT IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY THE WAY I JUST OUTLINED BEFORE, THERE WAS A MOMENT OF ACCEPTANCE, AND NOW WE'RE JUST BACK TO THE DAYS WHERE, LIKE, FROM DAY ONE IMMIGRANTS ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATIONS.

WHY?

BECAUSE WE HAVE -- BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL ATMOSPHERE ON THIS, AND WE'VE BEEN PROUDLY STANDING UP TO THAT NATIONAL ATMOSPHERE AND NOW WE'RE NOT.

>> Cathy: WE'RE NO LONGER IN A TIME OF ABUNDANCE, THOUGH, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT A DEFICIT.

>> RIGHT.

SO WHAT THEY JUST DID IS GOING TO BE MORE COSTLY FOR MINNESOTANS BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE PREVENTATIVE CARE ARE, INSTEAD, GOING TO END UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

SO THIS IS BIASED AND RACISM, FRANKLY, LIKE, WITH THE ACE OF FINANCIAL -- OF TRYING TO BE FINANCIALLY SOLVENT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.

>> Eric: SOMEBODY AT THE CAPITOL SAID THEY DIDN'T THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS YET GRIPPED THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT TWO YEARS AGO.

THAT IT'S DIFFERENT NOW.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THAT IS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT CORRECT.

BUT THAT IS WHAT CAUCUS LEADERS ARE THERE TO COMMUNICATE AND BRING THEIR CAUCUSES ALONG.

THERE'S LOTS OF TIMES WHERE THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T ACTUALLY AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE DON'T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND ALL THE PARTS THAT ARE PART OF A CAUCUS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT SHOCKED THAT IT HAPPENED.

I'M SHOCKED THAT IT HAPPENED ON MAY 15th.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, IF YOU HAVE TO AGREE TO THIS, IF YOU'RE THE DEMOCRATS, IF YOU HAVE TO AGREE TO THIS, YOU AGREE TO HIS ON JUNE 30th AND SAY, WE FOUGHT LIKE HELL, BUT THOSE REPUBLICANS JUST WOULDN'T GIVE UP ON THIS.

WHEN YOU AGREE O IT ON MAY 15th, YOU'RE KIND OF SAYING, WE AGREED TO IT.

>> Eric: DOES IT SLIDE TO JUNE 30th OR CAN MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND BE A DEADLINE?

PLACE RUNS ON A DEADLINE USUALLY.

>> EAH, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING CLOSER O THE END OF JUNE, TO BE VERY HONEST.

THEY'RE SO FAR APART.

>> Eric: WHAT WILL CHANGE?

WHAT WILL CHANGE BETWEEN NOW -- >> HAT BRIAN SAID IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THEY'VE GOT TO BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE A LONG WAY.

WITH MY FRIEND, JAVIER, WHAT I WOULD DISAGREE WITH IS CALIFORNIA WAS ABLE TO WORK THIS OUT.

HOW DID CALIFORNIA DO IT?

AND WE CAN'T?

AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE'RE LACKING HERE WITH GOVERNOR WALZ COMING FORWARD A LOT SOONER THAN THE END OF SESSION, FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE END OF SESSION, AND SAYING, HERE'S THE DEAL.

>> THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCES ON THE FINANCES BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENED IN CALIFORNIA, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY A DROP IN THE BUCKET IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET.

BUT IMMIGRANTS WERE SACRIFICIAL LAMBS BECAUSE EVERYONE AGREED THAT THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.

>> Eric: GET IN.

>> I DO THINK THERE ARE STILL TIME FOR AN ALTERNATIVE COMPROMISE TO BE REACHED.

I REALLY DO.

>> Cathy: I WAS WONDERING, WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK, THE FACT THAT THE BUDGET OULD BE BALANCED INTO 2029 BIENNIUM, DOES THAT -- '28-29 BIENNIUM, WOULD THAT BE A SIGNAL THAT GOVERNOR WALZ MIGHT BE LOOKING AT A THIRD TERM?

THAT HE WOULD NOT WANT TO HAVE AN UNBALANCED BUDGET?

>> I THINK THE TWO MARQUIS THINGS THAT TIM WALZ HAS DONE THIS YEAR IS BRING STATE WORKERS BACK TO WORK WITHOUT TALKING TO THE UNIONS ABOUT IT FIRST.

AND TAKING, YOU KNOW, ADULT UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE, ADULTS OFF OF THE MINNESOTACARE WITHOUT TALKING TO THE CAUCUSES.

>> Cathy: STILLWATER STATE PRISON CLOSING.

>> I WOULD SAY AS N A WORSE -- HE'S IN A WORSE POSITION NOW, CERTAINLY FOR PRESIDENT, ALMOST FORGET ABOUT THAT, BUT FOR GOVERNOR, I THINK HE'S MORE VULNERABLE THAN HE'S EVER BEEN.

>> Eric: NEWS CONFERENCE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR STILLWATER PRISON.

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR SHOULD MAYBE EXPAND HIS CIRCLES OF ADVISORS.

>> 100%.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN CLOSE A PRISON AND NOT HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE UNION OFFICIALS THAT ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED, NOT LAY OUT A PLAN AND SAY, WHERE ARE THESE 1100 PRISONERS GOING TO GO?

IT WAS LIKE FANTASY LAND.

>> Eric: THERE'S A FOUR-YEAR FADEOUT, ISN'T THAT TIME TO COME UP WITH A PLAN?

PHASE-OUT.

>> Cathy: BUT NO ONE HEARD ABOUT IT UNTIL NOW.

>> I WAS SO FOCUSED ON THE OTHER ISSUES, I FOUND OUT IN THE GREEN ROOM, MY JAW HIT THE FLOOR.

WAIT, THEY'RE CLOSING A PRISON?

I WAS FOCUSED ON OTHER ISSUES IN THE BUDGET.

>> THAT WAS A REALLY BIG IMPORTANT ECISION THAT NEEDS LEGISLATIVE BUY-IN AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALL THE OTHER PROCESSES THAT YOU GO THROUGH WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, LIKE HAVING A MEETING WITH THE NION OFFICIALS AND EXPLAINING WHY THIS HAS TO HAPPEN.

>> I THINK THEY'RE MAYBE BANKING ON HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY MAR ARRESTTY NOT SENDING ANYONE TO PRISON ANYMORE.

>> Cathy: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU THINK THERE'S A DEFINITE DANGER THAT THIS DEAL COULD BE DERAILED.

>> I THINK IT'S ALREADY NOT A DEAL.

MORIARTY.

>> Cathy: IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Eric: MELISSA LÓPEZ FRANZEN GOT OUT OF THE SENATE RACE TODAY.

>> OH, REALLY?

>> Eric: BREAKING NEWS ON "ALMANAC."

>> Cathy: YES, IT'S TRUE.

>> IT HAPPENED LATE IN THE AFTERNOON.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT, PANEL.

THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, WE KIND OF RAN LONG BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS AT THE CAPITOL TONIGHT.

SO NEXT WEEK WE'LL HAVE THE ANSWER TO OUR MOST RECENT MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION.

COUPLE OF QUICK NOTES BEFORE WE GO.

IT'S "ALMANAC" VIEWER SURVEY TIME.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK BY HEADING TO TPT.ORG/ALMANAC SURVEY.

YOU HAVE JUST ABOUT A WEEK LEFT BEFORE THE SURVEY DISAPPEARS.

IT'S A WAY FOR US TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE AS WE PLAN UPCOMING SHOWS.

FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW-ENDING MUSIC, HERE'S A PRODUCER FAVORITE FROM THE ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 2018, THE "PLUCKED UP STRING BAND" MADE THE LONG DRIVE DOWN FROM GRAND MARAIS TO PROMOTE THE RELEASE OF THEIR FIRST- AND SADLY ONLY- ALBUM.

TAKE A LISTEN AND COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

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