♪♪ >> Eric: WITH JUST 17 DAYS LEFT, THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION REMAINS: WILL LAWMAKERS GET THEIR WORK DONE ON TIME?

SO TIME TO CHECK IN WITH OUR FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER DUO.

MARGARET ANDERSON KELLIHER SERVED AS THE DFL SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE FOR TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, FROM FROM JANUARY 2007 TO JANUARY 2011.

ALSO SERVING TWO SESSIONS AS HOUSE SPEAKER, REPUBLICAN KURT DAUDT HELD THAT POSITION JANUARY 2015 TO JANUARY OF 2019.

WELCOME BACK.

THE POWER OF THE SPEAKER AT THE END OF THE SESSION.

THERE'S AN EDUCATION BILL THIS YEAR TIED UP IN RULES COMMITTEE.

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THERE WAS SOME TENTATIVE AGREEMENT, THE SPEAKER BROUGHT THE BILL TO THE CAUCUS, THE D.F.L.

CAUCUS AND THEY SAID NO SALE.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH POWER DO YOU SPEAKERS HAVE?

AND HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE TO BOW TO THE WILL OF THE CAUCUS?

IN A PRIVATE MEETING.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WELL, CAN'T TALK ABOUT HE PRIVATE MEETING BUT I WILL SAY THIS.

THIS IS THE SEASON OF GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT FOR EVERYONE AT THE CAPITOL.

>> YES.

>> AND THAT INCLUDES LEGISLATORS.

AND SO ONE OF YOUR MAJOR JOBS AS THE LEADER OR AS A LEADER IS TO HELP PEOPLE THROUGH THAT SEASON OF DISAPPOINTMENT.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT'S COMING CLOSE NOW, WHERE YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY TO FOLKS AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, HERE'S OUR CHOICES, IF WE WANT TO FINISH ON TIME, IF THAT'S THE PRIORITY, THEN YOU HAVE TO GIVE HERE.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, THEN THIS IS WHERE THE PRESSURE GOES.

>> Cathy: HOW DID YOU HANDLE THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE SPEAKER HAS A LOT OF POWER IN A NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCE.

I LOVED THE JOB AND HAD FUN AT IT AND I ENJOYED THE END OF SESSION BUT IT COMES AT YOU QUICKLY.

THIS S A DIFFERENT SCENARIO, THOUGH, WHERE YOU HAVE A TIED HOUSE, 67-67 WITH NEITHER PARTY HAVING THE 68 VOTES THAT THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES TO PASS LEGISLATION.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS UNFOLDS.

NOW I'LL NOTE ON THAT EDUCATION BILL, THAT BILL DID GET OUT OF COMMITTEE, SO THERE WERE DEMOCRATS VOTING FOR IT TO GET IT TO THE FLOOR.

>> Eric: BUT THE RULES COMMITTEE SAID NO I THINK AFTER A CAUCUS MEETING, I BELIEVE.

>> RIGHT, CORRECT.

SO THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HAS CHANGED THEIR MIND AND THE BACKGROUND ON THAT IS DEMOCRATS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS GAVE SCHOOL WORKERS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WHICH THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY OT HAD.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WOULD BE AN EASY CUT, BUT APPARENTLY THE TEACHERS UNION SPOKE UP AND SAID, NOPE, WE DON'T WANT YOU VOTING FOR THAT.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE TO -- DO YOU AT SOME POINT HAVE TO SAY THIS IS GOING TO BE DONE AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL AND CAUCUS IS GOING TO HAVE TO TRUST ME?

>> YES.

AND IT CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE, LET ME SAY.

I MEAN, THAT IS, AND THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE, IN SOME WAYS THE WHOLE EXERCISE IS ABOUT THAT.

IT'S UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR MEMBERS NEED AND FOR SOME MEMBERS IT'S A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

OTHERS, IT'S ENDING ON TIME.

OTHERS IT COULD BE JUST THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THEY GET TO DO.

AND SO UNDERSTANDING THAT ABOUT EACH MEMBER OF YOUR CAUCUS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE MORE THAN ONE PERSON WOULD COME STORMING AT ME ON THE LAST NIGHT AND SAY I AM EQUAL TO YOU WITH AN ELECTION CERTIFICATE, YOU ARE NOT MORE POWERFUL THAN ME.

AND THEN THEY MIGHT NOT TALK TO ME FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.

>> Cathy: THIS SOUNDS EXHAUSTING.

>> IT CAN BE.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND THE END OF SESSION WHILE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S THAT FINAL WEEKEND AND I THINK IT ALWAYS ENDS ON A MONDAY NIGHT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S THREE WEEKS.

YOU DON'T SLEEP, YOU'RE AWAKE ALL NIGHT, BUT I THINK I WOULD GIVE IT PROBABLY A 50/50 SHOT AT FINISHING ON TIME RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S AN OLD PHIL GRAHAM QUOTE THAT SAYS, WHERE HE SAID BALANCING THE BUDGET IS LIKE GETTING INTO HEAVEN.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET INTO HEAVEN BUT NOBODY WANTS TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THERE.

>> YES.

>> AND THEY'VE GOT SOME WORK TO DO.

I FEEL LIKE IT PROBABLY WILL SEEM LIKE THEY WON'T BE GETTING DONE RIGHT UP UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE AND THEN IT WILL ALL COME TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: I WAS TALKING TO BRANDON BIERSBACH OF THE "STAR TRIBUNE," THIS STICKY WICKET, WHERE UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS CAN GET CARE THROUGH MINNESOTACARE.

REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING TOO EXPENSIVE, EMOCRATS ARE SAYING THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD DEAL.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE SHE THOUGHT IT COULD DERAIL THINGS.

>> I THINK IT WILL DERAIL THINGS.

I THINK THERE'S TWO THINGS FOR SURE THE REPUBLICANS WILL DIG IN ON.

ONE IS THERE WILL BE NO TAX INCREASES.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE DEMOCRATS UNDERSTAND THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL TAKE THAT POSITION.

SO I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WILL PROBABLY WALK AWAY FROM WANTING TO INCREASE TAXES.

BUT THIS ISSUE OF GIVING HEALTH CARE BENEFITS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE GET MATCHING FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR, IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEW, THEY JUST GOT THE BENEFIT AS OF JULY 1ST, EXCUSE ME, AS OF JANUARY 1ST SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HISTORICALLY HAD.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT NOW IS PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT THREE TIMES THE ENROLLMENT AND POTENTIALLY THREE TIMES THE COST OF WHAT WAS PROJECTED EVEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO IN THE FEBRUARY FORECAST SO INSTEAD OF 200 MILLION FOR FOUR EARS IT COULD BE 600 MILLION.

IT'S AN EASY THING TO CUT AND I THINK THE REPUBLICANS WILL IG IN AND SAY WE'RE NOT DOING IT.

>> THEY MAY DIG IN BUT IT'S REALLY A COST AVOIDANCE ISSUE ABOUT OUR HOSPITALS WHERE PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE HURT OR INJURED THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO ANYWAY.

AND SO IT'S REALLY A SHIFT I THINK FROM COUNTY TAXPAYERS OVER TO THE STATE AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WORKS.

SO, I DON'T KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT THAT THEY'RE GONNA DIG IN BUT I DO THINK THE MORAL ISSUE HERE IS ABOUT PROVIDING THE CARE O THERE CAN BE MORE PREVENTATIVE CARE.

>> AND I THINK THE REPUBLICANS, THE PUBLIC'S ON THE SIDE WITH REPUBLICANS, THIS HAS BEEN POLLING ABOUT 80% AND YOU SEE TRUMP REALLY DOUBLING DOWN ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.

>> Eric: THERE'S A $360 MILLION PLACEHOLDER IN THE SENATE BUDGET FOR REVENUE RAISING.

AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO TIM PAWLENTY WHEN A CIGARETTE TAX WAS MARKETED AS A HEALTH IMPACT FEE.

[ LAUGHTER ] ARE WE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THAT LEDGER DOMAIN?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW HERE.

I MEAN, I THINK THE REAL CONCERN HERE IS THOSE OUT YEARS FOR THE BUDGET.

THAT IS WHERE I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE MOST SERIOUSNESS BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR CARES A GREAT DEAL, SO DO LEGISLATORS, BUT THE GOVERNOR CARES A GREAT DEAL WHAT HAPPENS AND SO CUTTING THE GROWTH AND SPENDING ON SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS WHICH HE HAS PROPOSED I THINK MAKES SOME SENSE.

>> Eric: I THINK THE SENATE IS LOOKING FOUR YEARS DOWN THE LINE, I THINK THE HOUSE IS MORE LOOKING AT TWO YEARS DOWN THE LINE.

AND YOU REMEMBER LAUREN SOLBERG WHO CHAIRED WAYS AND MEANS WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT A SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS A SHORTFALL COMING IN THE OUTYEARS AND HE SAID, WELL, THAT'S WHY WE MEET EVERY YEAR, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT NEXT YEAR.

>> I REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE.

I NEVER LIKE TO SEE ANYONE LEAVING, KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD OR LEAVING A PROBLEM UNSOLVED AND I THINK THE HOUSE TARGETS ARE HIGHER THAN I'D LIKE TO SEE, THE GOVERNOR'S NUMBERS ACTUALLY IN HE TAILS, THE NEXT BIENNIUM WERE LOWER THAN THE HOUSE TARGETS, SO.

>> AND YOU HAVE THIS FEDERAL UNCERTAINTY.

I MEAN, THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS SESSION MAY END ON TIME, BUT IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THESE FOLKS WILL BE COMING BACK TO THE CAPITOL AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT YEAR AS THE FEDERAL -- >> YEAH, WE COULD LOSE FEDERAL MONEY FOR SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AND HA HAVE TO BACKFILL THAT.

>> SO BALANCING THIS THING UP AND MAYBE EVEN SAVING SOME OF THOSE GOOD IDEAS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF THINGS.

>> Cathy: ERIC AND I WERE TALKING OFF AIR ABOUT THE FISHING OPENER NEXT WEEKEND AND YOU KNOW HOW Y'ALL HAVE BEEN IN THE BOAT WITH HIM.

>> I WAS NEVER IN THE BOAT.

I WAS NEVER INVITED TO THE BOAT BUT I O FISH.

>> Cathy: THAT IS TRUE.

BUT ALL FOUR WILL BE IN THE BOAT I GUESS FOR FISHING OPENER DIPLOMACY.

>> THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

AND ACTUALLY WALZ DID NOT DO THAT HIS FIRST TERM ALWAYS, I THINK HE DID IT SOMETIMES, BUT I THINK IT WAS THE BEST THING AND IT HAPPENS RIGHT BEFORE THE END OF SESSION AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT HE'S DOING THAT.

>> Cathy: ALL BE IN THE SAME BOAT LITERALLY.

>> REALLY GOOD.

>> Eric: COULD SPEAKER DEMUTH BE A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OR SENATOR?

>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IT'S WIDE OPEN AND I THINK SHE ABSOLUTELY COULD.

BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW SHE CLOSES OUT THIS SESSION AND SHOWS HER LEADERSHIP.

BUT I THINK SHE'S DOING A GREAT JOB SO FAR.

>> Eric: YOU FOLLOWED HER AT ALL, HOW SHE'S DOING?

>> I REALLY LIKE HER A LOT.

WE HAVE SOME GREAT WOMEN CANDIDATES ON THE D.F.L.

SIDE, ALL THREE FRIENDS.

I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.