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

>> Eric: WELCOME BACK.

TONIGHT ON "ALMANAC" WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE FIRST-EVER AMERICAN POPE, A NEW BILL ALLOWING LAO AND HMONG VETERANS AND PLENTY OF POLITICS.

MARY LAHAMMER ITH HER IF I CANNER ON THE FULLS AT THE CAPITOL AS ALWAYS.

>> ADDRESSING WASTE, RAUD AND ABUSE HAS BECOME A BIPARTISAN ISSUE THIS SESSION.

WE'LL ANALYZE THE EVOLUTION OF THE TOPIC S THE END OF SESSION NEARS.

>> WE'VE HIT A GOOD SWEET SPOT IN THIS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET A GOOD FRAUD PACKAGE OUT OF THIS.

>> 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 DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> Eric: LOT TO COVER TONIGHT.

PROPOSED CUTS TO DISABILITY SERVICES, WOMEN'S SPORTS UPDATES, NIGHT SKY PHOTOGRAPHER, KEVIN KLING IS HERE WITH AN ESSAY.

>> Cathy: WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THIS WEEK'S INTERNATIONAL NEWS WITH MIDWESTERN TIES.

THURSDAY CARDINALS AT THE VATICAN ELECTED THE FIRST EVER AMERICAN-BORN PONTIFF, POPE LEO XIV.

JOINING US FOR A LOOK AT THE HISTORIC ELECTION, BISHOP KEVIN KENNEY WITH THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU HEARD THE NEWS AND WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS?

>> WELL, I WAS JUST FINISHING UP A FUNERAL AND SOMEBODY CAME UP AND WHISPERED THERE'S WHITE SMOKE, THERE'S WHITE SMOKE.

WE WENT INTO OUR GATHERING ROOM WHERE WE HAD A TV SET UP AND SO JUST WAITED AND WAITED AND WAITED UNTIL HE WAS PRESENTED.

>> WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> OH, WE WERE ALL SHOCKED, E WERE ALL AMAZED AND OVERLY EXCITED AND THE EMOTION WAS JUST INCREDIBLE, BUT TO THINK AN AMERICAN, AN AMERICAN POPE.

OH, MY GOODNESS, NOBODY EVER THOUGHT IN THEIR LIFETIME THEY WOULD SEE AN AMERICAN POPE.

>> Eric: WHAT'S BEEN THE HURDLE TO THAT, HAVING AN AMERICAN POPE?

WHY HAS IT TAKEN THIS LONG?

>> WELL, THE AMERICAN CHURCH IS YOUNGER THAN MOST, THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IS YOUNGER THAN MOST OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WORLDWIDE BUT THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF DISTRUST IN THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THEY'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT WE WERE ON THE OUTSIDE OR NOT PARTICIPATING COMPLETELY WITH ROME AND SO THIS IS REALLY AN AFFIRMATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Cathy: SO THE POPE CELEBRATED HIS FIRST MASS TODAY.

I NOTICED IN HIS HOMILY HE TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING I HAD TO LOOK IT UP.

SYNODALITY, SO DOES THAT MEAN HE'S GOING TO COMMUNICATE CHURCH ISSUES FROM MORE OF A GRASS ROOTS?

>> AND SO IT'S TO CONTINUE THAT GATHERING PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT FROM THE GRASSROOTS UP ABOUT ISSUES IN THE CHURCH AND WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY AND HOW WE ANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> Eric: LEO XIV, WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANT OF HIM TAKING THAT NAME?

>> I THINK I HAVEN'T HEARD FOR SURE, BUT I THINK BECAUSE OF HIS WORK IN LATIN AMERICA, AS WELL AS, LEO 13TH WROTE NEROMERVARUM WHICH I REALLY, I WAS A FEW YEARS BEHIND POPE LEO, I REMEMBER THAT IN MY THEOLOGICAL STUDIES BEING BIG NEW CHANGES ARE COMING, AND POPE LEO WORKED WITH WORKER'S RIGHTS AND RIGHT TO WORK AND SAFETY OF WORK AND BRIDGE BUILDER IN SOCIAL JUSTICE.

MY HINT, MY SUSPICION IS HE TOOK, LEO XIV TO CONTINUE TO BE A BRIDGE BULLEDDER IN TODAY'S ROLE AND LOOK AT THE RIGHTS OF HUMAN BEING AND DIGNITY IN EVERY ASPECT.

>> Cathy: I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE POPE, I HAD TO LOOK THIS UP TOO.

HE'S AN AUGUSTINIAN.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS AN ORDER OF ST. AUGUSTINE, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> CORRECT, YEP.

>> AND WHAT IS THEIR FOCUS?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I'M NOT ACTUALLY SURE.

>> Cathy: THAT'S KAY, I'LL HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU.

GOING BACK TO HIS HOMILY TODAY, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW HE THINKS THERE SHOULD BE MISSIONARY OUTREACH TO REBUILD FAITH IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

IS WHAT ARE YOU HOPING IT LOOKS LIKE?

>> I'M HOPING IT LOOKS LIKE TRUE MISSIONARY SPIRIT.

THAT'S PART OF THE AUGISTINAN MOVEMENT.

I STUDIED CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL UNION WHERE HE STUDIED AT THEOLOGICAL UNION IN CHICAGO AS WELL.

BUT IT'S A MISSION ASPECT OF LOOKING AT THE CHURCH FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A WORLDWIDE CHURCH, NOT JUST A ROME-CENTERED CHURCH, BUT TO BE ABLE TO BE MISSIONARIES OUT IN THE WORLD TODAY AND THAT'S WHAT POPE FRANCIS WAS, HIS IDEA WAS AS WELL THAT WE'RE ALL MISSIONARIES IN THE WORLD TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE WORLD AND HELP LIFT PEOPLE UP.

>> Eric: IS THERE A MAJOR CHALLENGE FACING THE NEW POPE?

>> THE WORLD.

AS IT IS TODAY.

BUT THE MAJOR CHALLENGE IS TO UNITE -- THE CHURCH IS DIVIDED IN MANY MANY DIFFERENT AREAS, IT'S REALLY GROWING IN AFRICA AND ASIA, THE UNITED STATES, WE'VE HAD OUR STRUGGLES HERE BUT I'M HOPING THIS WILL BE A REVIVAL WITHIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Cathy: I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY CATHOLICS, EVEN THOSE HO YOU MIGHT SAY LAPSED, ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT HIM.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

>> Cathy: SO DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT EQUATE TO MORE PEOPLE IN THE PEWS?

>> WELL, I HOPE SO.

AND WE'LL SEE HOW THIS GOES, BUT IT'S GOING TO BRING BACK THE JOY OF WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS TRULY ABOUT, RATHER WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SCANDALS AND BANKRUPTCIES AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER STUFF OVER THE PAST YEARS BUT TO SEE THIS JOY THAT POPE FRANCIS BEGAN BUT NOW POPE LEO XIV IS BRINGING IN HIS LIFE IN THESE FIRST FEW DAYS AND KIND OF AN UNKNOWN PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THE GENERAL CHURCH CAN BUT TO SEE HIS PRESENCE YOU JUST FEEL THAT, OKAY, THINGS ARE GOING TO BE OKAY AND THE MISSIONARY ASPECT AND THE LOVE, YOU KNOW, THAT HE'S GOING TO BRING THAT JESUS BROUGHT TO US IS GOING TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: THERE IS GOING TO BE A NEWS CONFERENCE MONDAY AND I'M CURIOUS, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM?

>> I JUST WANT TO HEAR WHO HE IS AND WHAT HIS VISION IS FOR THE CHURCH AND HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT'S GOING TO MOVE HIM REALLY TO BRING US TOGETHER AND TO UNITE THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS THE DIFFERENCES BUT YET WE CAN WORSHIP AND BE TOGETHER.

>> Eric: SO GLAD YOU COULD COME OVER AND SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THE GOVERNOR'S GONE ON THE FISHING OPENER WHICH IS A TRADITION THIS TIME OF YEAR AS LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE JOINING HIM IN A BOAT TO TRY TO CATCH A WALLY AND A SESSION-ENDING DEAL.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS US HOW ADDRESSING FRAUD IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS IS PICKING UP MOMENTUM TOWARD THE END OF THE SESSION.

>> MARY, I BROUGHT THIS NOTEBOOK JUST FOR YOU.

>> THIS IS A BINDER WITH ONE WEEK'S WORTH OF WORK FOR ONE LAWMAKER IN THE FINAL DAYS OF SESSION READY TO UFIGHT IN A TIED CHAMBER.

>> THIS IS THE WE SIMPLE NOTE, IT'S RIGHT HERE, IT SAYS "FRAUD EQUALS BAD."

THAT'S WHAT I THINK ALL OF US HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON.

>> IF IT'S A POLITICAL SLOGAN, YEAH, YOU CAN WRITE IT ON YOUR HAND, YOU CAN PRINT A LETTER BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT GOING TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

>> REPUBLICANS RAN JUST ONE COMMITTEE WITH A MAJORITY ALL SESSION LONG.

>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT BECAME PARTISAN OR THAT IT STILL MAINTAINED THE BIPARTISAN PROCESS OTHER COMMITTEES HAD?

>> YOU KNOW, WE REALLY TRIED HARD TO KEEP IT BIPARTISAN BECAUSE I REALLY DO SEE IT AS A SEPARATION OF POWERS ISSUE BUT CLEARLY WE HAVE A FIVE-THREE MAJORITY AND OUR COLLEAGUES DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAID IN COMMITTEE.

>> WE'VE HIT A SWEET SPOT IN THIS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET A GOOD FRAUD PACKAGE OUT OF THIS.

>> WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE WERE AN EFFECTIVE POLITICAL ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS WHO RAN ON IT, IN CLOSE RACES FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL AND STATE AUDITOR.

BUT DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S PRIVATE COMPANIES COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST GOVERNMENT THAT THEY'RE ADDRESSING.

>> IT'S SORT OF EASY TO TALK IN GENERALITIES ABOUT FRAUD AND PERHAPS THAT HAS A EFFECT OF UNDERMINING FAITH IN GOVERNMENT, ET CETERA.

WE REALLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, YEP, WE GREE FRAUD IS BAD AND LET'S TAKE ACTION IN A WELL INFORMED AND CONCRETE WAY.

>> BACK WHEN THE BIG FEEDING OUR FUTURE FRAUD CASE FIRST EMERGED IT OOK TIME FOR GOVERNOR WALZ TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL STATED WITHOUT MDE THERE WOULD BE NO INDICTMENTS.

FBI STATED SUCH A THING.

I WISH THERE WAS MORE OUTRAGE THAT CHILDREN MIGHT NOT HAVE GOT FOOD.

I WISH THERE WAS MORE OUTRAGE THAT WE HAD CRIMINALS THAT WERE BRAZEN AND TOOK THIS.

>> THERE IS, INTENTIONALLY OR NOT, A CULTURE OF FRAUD THAT HAS BEEN FOSTERED BY THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IN THIS WHOLE STORY IS THERE IS BIPARTISAN NEARLY UNANIMOUS SUPPORT THAT THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN DO, THERE'S MORE AUTHORITY THAT WE CAN PUT INTO IT, THERE'S MORE TEETH, THERE'S MORE LEGAL CHANGES AND A COMMITMENT TO THIS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THIS YEAR IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS TACKLING FRAUD WAS THE LINE THAT GOT THE MOST BIPARTISAN APPLAUSE.

>> DOING MORE TO PREVENT, INVESTIGATE, AND PUNISH FRAUD IN GOVERNMENT.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> FRAUD REFORMS ARE SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT THE BIPARTISAN BUDGET BILLS HERE IN THE HOUSE.

THE QUESTION IS HOW THAT WILL LINE UP WITH THE SENATE THAT HAS A D.F.L.

MAJORITY.

>> THERE BEING 60 AYES AND NOES THE BILL IS PASSED.

>> A BILL TO CREATE AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR ENERAL IS MOVING SEPARATELY AND SMOOTHLY SO FAR.

>> TAUGHT ME HOW TO WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, PEOPLE WHO I MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH, BUT WE FOUND COMMON GROUND AND WE BUCKLED DOWN AND WE KEPT OUR HEADS DOWN AND DID THE WORK.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO FRAUD IN MINNESOTA THE STATUS QUO ISN'T AN OPTION.

WE NEED ACTION, AND THIS BILL DOES THAT.

>> THIS BILL, ALTHOUGH IT'S A GREAT FRONT PAGE OF A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE, IT'S NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME!

>> IF THIS DOESN'T GO ALL THE WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND RELUCTANTLY GET HIS SIGNATURE, THEN WE WILL HAVE FAILED THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

>> WOULD YOU SEE THIS ISSUE OF WASTE, FRAUD, ABUSE BREAKING OFF FROM A GLOBAL DEAL AND RUNNING SEPARATELY?

>> THERE'S NO REASON THAT THIS O.I.G.

NEEDS TO BE PART OF A GLOBAL DEAL.

BOTH PARTIES SUPPORT THIS.

THE GOVERNOR IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE SAID HE WOULD SIGN THE BILL IF IT GOT THROUGH.

THIS HAS EVOLVED INTO A BIPARTISAN WORKING GROUP, WHERE WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY BEEN DOING CONFERENCE COMMITTEES FOR MONTHS.

>> THE THEFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS NEEDS TO BE A TOP PRIORITY, IT NEEDS TO BE PROSECUTED.

WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOOPHOLES AND CONTINUE TO DO SO I'M OPEN TO WHAT THEY BRING.

HOPEFULLY OPENING THE FLOODGATES FOR A CASCADE OF SIGNING COMING UP.

IT'S THE LAW.

[ APPLAUSE ] IT'S NOT THAT UNUSUAL, WE CAME BACK IN 2019, DID NOT GET A DEAL UNTIL AFTER MOTHER'S DAY.

IT IS GETTING LATE, THAT IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT BUT I THINK THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO GETTING THIS THING DONE ON TIME, A COMMITMENT TO BALANCING THE BUDGET S WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO BOTH IN THE FIRST BIENNIUM.

I THINK THERE'S STRONG CONSENSUS THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO DO IT IN THE SECOND.

IF WE DO THAT WE PUT MINNESOTA ON A REALLY STRONG PATH.

♪♪ >> Cathy: THE VIETNAM WAR ENDED 50 YEARS AGO.

THOUSANDS OF HMONG AND LAOTIAN SOLDIERS WERE RECRUITED TO HELP THE U.S.

IN SPECIAL GUERRILLA UNITS OR S.G.U.s IN THE C.I.A.

'S SECRET WAR.

AFTER THE WAR, MANY OF THOSE S.G.U.

SOLDIERS RELOCATED TO MINNESOTA WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THANKS TO MINNESOTA'S NEW S.G.U.

BILL THOSE SOLDIERS CAN BE NOW BE RECOGNIZED AS AMERICAN VETERANS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION ARE SENATOR FOUNG HAWJ AND KAOHLY VANG HER.

SENATOR HAWJ, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS RECOGNITION?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S GREATLY IMPORTANT.

OUR ELDERS HAVE BEEN HERE 50 YEARS AND MANY HAVE ALREADY DIED OFF AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING TIME FOR A MOMENT WHERE OUR STATE, OUR COUNTRY RECOGNIZES THE S.G.U.

AS FULL FLEXED VETERANS, NOT JUST BY -- FULL-FLEDGED VETERANS, NOT JUST BY WORDS ALONE BUT BY PUTTING IN STATUTE THAT THESE S.G.U.

GUERRILLA UNITS ARE VETERANS.

AND WE RECOGNIZE OURSELVES WHEN VETERANS DIE, THE BURIAL AT JACKSON CEMETERY OR HAZELWOOD, THEY HAVE A TOMBSTONE THAT INDICATED THEY'RE A VETERAN, BUT THAT IS OUR OWN FAMILY CONTRIBUTION TO OUR OWN RECOGNIZED.

I WOULD SAY 95% OF HMONG ARE DESCENDENT OF VETERANS OF THE S.G.U.

>> Eric: WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE RECOGNITION?

>> SO THE RECOGNITION INCLUDES THINGS LIKE DRIVER'S LICENSE DESIGNATION, LICENSE PLATE, USE OF SERVICE FACILITIES AT THE MDVA AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PIECES OF PRIVILEGES HAT WE WOULD SAY ARE NONMONETARY.

SO THINGS THAT THE DEPARTMENT CAN OFFER AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF REACTION IS IT GETTING IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> OUR COMMUNITY COULD NOT BE MORE THRILLED.

ESPECIALLY OUR S.G.U.

VETERANS WHO THEY WERE NEVER LOOKING FOR SOME KIND OF MONETARY BENEFIT, THEY WERE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE RECOGNITION OF JUST THAT THEY FOUGHT WITH THIS COUNTRY AND THAT THEY SACRIFICED BECAUSE DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

AND SO TO JUST HAVE THAT RECOGNITION IS THE HONOR HAT THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.

>> Cathy: IT MUST BE PRETTY EMOTIONAL AFTER ALL THIS TIME TO HAVE THE RECOGNITION.

>> YES, I'VE IN TEARS SO MANY TIMES BECAUSE I LIVED THAT LIFE IN MY EARLY YEARS AND SEE BODY BAGS COMING HOME ON A DAILY BASIS.

MY FATHER WORKED AT THE AIRPORT, SO, YOU KNOW, AND THE SAD PART IS THAT SOME OF THE BODY BAGS WERE CHILDREN NO LONGER -- NOT MUCH OLDER THAN ME BY TWO YEARS, AND NOT MUCH TALLER THE M-16S THAT THEY CARRIED.

IT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO BLOCK OUT OF MY MIND BUT IT'S PART OF MY HISTORY.

I'M EXCITED, IT'S PART OF MY MINNESOTA LEGACY, HMONG MINNESOTA LEGACY BECAUSE IN THE FUTURE, HMONG ALREADY, WE'RE ALREADY PART OF THE MINNESOTA SALAD BOWL HERE, SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST AN ADD-ON TO OUR LEGACY AS MINNESOTANS.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THIS, SOME PEOPLE WANT TO JUST PUSH THIS AWAY, BUT I WONDER, SOME OF THE HMONG VETERANS, MAYBE EVEN THOUGH WHO HAVE PASSED DID THEY EVER TALK ABOUT THEIR SERVICE?

OR WAS THAT SOMETHING YOU JUST NEVER BROUGHT UP?

>> I'VE SEEN SORT OF A CHANGE.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS A COLONEL IN THE SECRET WAR AND HE WAS ONE OF THE HIGHER RANKING MILITARY OR VETERANS, AND HE ALMOST NEVER TALKED ABOUT HIS SERVICE.

IT WASN'T UNTIL NEAR HIS PASSING THAT HE STARTED SHARING SOME OF THE STORIES ABOUT SOME OF THE BATTLES THAT HE WON THAT I REALIZED HOW SIGNIFICANT AND WHAT IT WAS THAT HE DID DURING THE SECRET WAR.

AND SO I THINK THAT THROUGH THE YEARS AND THE TRAUMA, IT WAS INITIALLY BLOCKED OFF SO THAT THEY DIDN'T SHARE A LOT OF THE STORIES BUT AS WE ARE REALIZING THAT OUR VETERANS ARE, WE'RE LOSING MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY, THAT THE URGENCY OF COLLECTING THEIR STORIES AND THE URGENCY OF RECOGNIZING THEM AND HONORING THEM IS WHAT IS PUSHING US TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD 20, 30 YEARS AGO.

>> Eric: ARE THE YOUNG PEOPLE KEPT UP TO DATE ON THIS AND APPRECIATE THE SACRIFICE?

OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT FADES WITH TIME?

>> I THINK OUR SCHOOLS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB OF TEACHING THE NEW GENERATIONS, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT, WE NEED TO PUT IT ON PAPER AND KEEP IT AS A MINNESOTA LEGACY SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST A HMONG HISTORY ALONE, BUT HMONG MINNESOTA HISTORY AND MINNESOTA HISTORY AS OUR POPULATION CONTINUED TO GROW.

WE STARTED HERE WITH JUST 20,000 IN POPULATION THE EARLY '70s OR THE EARLY '80s BUT NOW THE POPULATION BASED ON THE CENSUS IS ABOUT ALMOST 100,000.

THE SAME AMOUNT OF POPULATION AS BETWEEN 1965 TO '75 OF HMONG IN LAOS DURING THAT TIME.

THE CASUALTIES WHEN WE LOST 35,000 THAT'S ALREADY 1/3 OF OUR POPULATION AND THE 50,000 AS WE TRIED TO ESCAPE FROM LAOS.

IT NEARLY WIPED OUT OUR HMONG PEOPLE OUT OF LAOS.

>> Eric: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING BY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Eric: IT'S BEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED SESSION AND LAWMAKERS ARE NAVIGATING THEIR RESPECTIVE BUDGETS WITH JUST TEN DAYS LEFT IN THE REGULAR SESSION.

ONE BUDGET AREA STILL HAS LOTS OF QUESTION MARKS, IT'S EDUCATION.

AND JOINING US OW IS THE HOUSE D.F.L.

EDUCATION FINANCE COCHAIR, REPRESENTATIVE CHERYL YOUAKIM AND WITH HER IS THE REPUBLICAN CO-VICE CHAIR, REPRESENTATIVE BEN BAKEBERG.

WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.

THERE WAS A HUMONGOUS AMOUNT OF K12 MONEY, E12 MONEY IN THE LAST BIENNIUM.

WHERE'D THAT MONEY GO?

PEOPLE ARE PRESSING THE PANIC BUTTON AGAIN AFTER ALL THIS MONEY WAS APPROVED.

>> WELL, IT WENT INTO A LOT OF GOOD PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE BEEN UNDERFUNDED FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS AND NOT KEPT UP TO INFLATION FOR THOSE YEARS WAS A 0% INCREASE.

SO COMPOUNDING INCREASE PUT IT INTO A HOLE THAT WE FILLED ABOUT A THIRD WITH THE '24-'24 CYCLE BUT OUR DISTRICTS STILL NEED MORE INVESTMENT.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOUR CONSTITUENTS SAY WHEN THEY HEAR THIS AND THERE WAS A LOT OF MONEY SPENT AND NOW OF COURSE WE'RE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS WITH DEFICITS?

WHAT DO THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, WELL, FIRST OFF IT'S TEACHER APPRECIATION.

>> Cathy: HAPPY TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK.

>> I THINK PRETTY CONSISTENTLY FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD AS I'VE REACHED OUT TO EDUCATORS FRANKLY ACROSS THE STATE IS THAT THEY NEED FUNDING AND FLEXIBILITY, THEY NEED MANDATE RELIEF, AND THEY NEED LOCAL CONTROL.

SO YOU'LL HEAR, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT OVER 65 MANDATES, THERE'S ACTUALLY MORE THAN, AND FRANKLY, OME OF THEM ARE GOOD.

THERE ARE GOOD THINGS THAT OUR SCHOOLS NEED TO DO TO IMPROVE TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, THE READ ACT BEING ONE OF THEM.

HALF OF OUR STUDENTS AREN'T READING AT GRADE LEVEL SO THERE WERE INVESTMENTS INTO SCHOOLS.

BUT WHAT WE CONSISTENTLY HEARD FROM ACTUAL EDUCATORS, THE ACTUAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND IS GIVE US THE FUNDING, GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY, TRUST US TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR LOCAL DISTRICT, BECAUSE THE NEEDS OF PRIOR LAKE ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE NEEDS OF PIQUOT LAKES.

>> ARE THE FORMULAS NOW ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION?

>> YES.

>> Eric: THAT'S AUTOMATIC, RIGHT?

>> YES, THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I THINK WE DID IN '23 AND THAT WAS 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

AND IT HAS A % LOOR AND 3% CAP.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THAT IS BY FEBRUARY 28TH DISTRICTS WILL ALWAYS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING BECAUSE THE FORECAST ODEL WILL COME OUT, SO THEY HEARD THIS YEAR THEY'D GET 2.74% AND THEY CAN START THEIR PLANNING INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WAIT FOR US.

IT BRINGS STABILITY TO HEM.

>> Eric: SHOULD THAT FORMULA BE ON AUTO PILOT TO GO UP?

>> WELL, I THINK WE HEARD FROM DISTRICTS THAT HELPS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.

>> Eric: THE WORK HORSE PART OF THE BUDGET FOR EDUCATION IS THE FORMULA.

>> YEP, IS THE FORMULA.

THERE'S, WE ALSO WITHIN THE BILL THAT IS CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE TABLE, WE HAVE A NEW FUNDING STREAM CALLED BASIC SUPPLEMENTAL AID.

SO WHAT WE DID IS LOOKED AT AND WE LOOKED AT FUNDING FLEXIBILITY, LOCAL CONTROL, AND MANDATE RELIEF, AND WE LOOKED AT HALF THOSE BUCKETS THAT ARE NOT REACHING THE CLASSROOM AND WE PUT TOGETHER ABOUT $70 MILLION THAT WOULD GO INTO SUPPORT CHOOLS FOR FLEXIBLE FUNDING, THAT THEY DECIDE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL INTO BASIC SUPPLEMENTAL AID.

>> Eric: THE HOLDUP, THOUGH, IS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR SEASONAL, NON-TEACHER FOLKS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND THAT WAS, LOOKED LIKE IT WAS AGREED TO AND THEN THE RULES COMMITTEE PUT A HOLD ON IT.

WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT AND WHY IS THAT SUCH A STICKING POINT >> SO THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN NEGOTIATIONS.

YOU MIGHT HAVE A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT AND THEN YOU BRING IT BACK TO YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, TRY AGAIN.

AND THESE ARE ACTUALLY HOURLY WORKERS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND THEY'RE THE FOLKS THAT ARE PARAPROFESSIONALS THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS THAT HAVE THE MOST NEEDS, THEY'RE OUR BUS DRIVERS THAT AS CAT BRIGGS SAYS DRIVE A ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE THROUGH TRAFFIC, NUTRITION FOLKS, CLERICAL WORKERS, THAT LADY IN THE FRONT OFFICE THAT YOU ALWAYS WENT TO, AND THEY WERE THE ONLY HOURLY EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE THAT WORKED MORE THAN THREE MONTHS A YEAR THAT DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

>> Cathy: IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO DIG IN FOR A FIGHT ABOUT OR NO?

>> I THINK WHAT I'VE HEARD CONSISTENTLY FROM THE SCHOOLS IS THIS MANDATE WILL CRUSH SCHOOLS.

I ACTUALLY JUST GOT AN E-MAIL, CHAIR YOUAKIM GOT THE SAME ONE FROM ABOUT 70 SUPERINTENDENTS SAYING IF THIS MANDATE GOES ON TO SCHOOLS, IT WILL CRUSH BUDGETS FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AND THE COMPARISON TO SEASONAL WORKERS IS AN APPLES AND ORANGES COMPARISON, TO BE VERY HONEST.

SEASONAL WORKERS, AND I TALKED TO A LANDSCAPER THIS MORNING, HE ACTUALLY BUILDS INTO HIS BIDS THE COST OF PAYING INTO THAT U.I.

IF WE DO THAT IN SCHOOLS, SCHOOL BOARDS WILL HAVE ONE OF TWO OPTIONS.

IT WILL BE EITHER CUT THEIR BUDGET, WHICH MEANS THAT STAFF WILL BE REDUCED, SO THOSE SAME HOURLY WORKERS THAT WERE -- THEY'LL LOSE THEIR JOBS, YES.

OR WE CUT TEACHERS AND THEN CLASS SIZES GO UP.

THE OTHER OPTION IS WE COULD GIVE THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO LEVY IT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND IF WE RAISE PROPERTY TAX TAKES LOCAL LEVEL THAT WILL KILL THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DISTRICTS TO PASS OPERATING LEVIES.

>> Cathy: THIS SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF AN AGREEMENT HERE.

SO HOW -- >> Eric: I SEE THE WORDS "UNFUNDED MANDATE."

>> SO NO SCHOOLS HAD HAVE HAD TO PAY THIS YET.

WE HAD ENOUGH FUNDING WE PUT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, ACTUALLY THE LAST WO AND A HALF.

WE'RE SEEING RESULTS WITH FOLKS STICKING AROUND, YOU DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT A BUS SHORTAGE AS MUCH, PARAS COMING BACK IN THE FALL.

>> Eric: HELPS ETAIN WORKERS.

>> IT HELPS RETAIN WORKERS AND THERE'S WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO FUND IT INTO THE FUTURE, FIGURE OUT A FUNDING STREAM, WE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO LOCK UP MONEY UNTIL WE SAW A TREND LINE.

>> Cathy: BEFORE YOU GO I HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS.

UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, WILDLY POPULAR, SUPER EXPENSIVE.

IS THERE ANY MOVEMENT THERE?

IS THERE GOING TO BE ROLLED BACK A LITTLE BIT, OR IS THERE AN AGREEMENT ON WHAT TO DO?

AGAIN, THAT'S A PRETTY HEFTY EXPENDITURE.

>> YEAH, SO WHAT I WOULD SAY MSBA DID A SURVEY ON -- >> Eric: SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION.

>> YEP, SO THEY DID A SURVEY AND ONLY 5% OF DISTRICTS RESPONDED THAT THE U.I.

BENEFITS IS HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON REEDGE IT.

I'M A MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AS WELL SO I SEE.

UNIVERSAL MEALS -- >> Eric: 15 SECONDS, WE GOTTA GO.

>> ANDREW MYERS HAS A BILL FREEING UP $12 MILLION TO SUPPLEMENTAL AID THAT WOULD GO DIRECTLY INTO THE CLASSROOMS.

SO I FEEL STRONGLY THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY FOR MY KID'S LUNCH.

>> Eric: FLOOR DEBATE WILL BE GREAT.

>> DON'T NEED FOR DESKS OR BOOKS.

>> Cathy: THIS WILL BE AN INTERESTING DEBATE ON THE FLOOR.

>> Eric: THANKS, GUYS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪♪ >> THIS WEEK IN MINNESOTA MANY OF US TAKE TIME FOR GARDENING, ELECTING A NEW POPE, AND WATCHING OUR FAVORITE SPORTS TEAMS AND SORRY, PBS FANS, THE IMBERWOLVES AND TWINS ARE NOT A NEW KEN BURNS SPECIAL ABOUT ROMULUS AND REMUS.

IT'S TIME AGAIN TO CELEBRATE MOTHER'S DAY.

OR MOTHERHOOD, AS Y FRIEND NANCE SAYS, THE CAREFUL DISTRIBUTION OF GUILT.

NOW, THERE ARE BIOLOGICAL MOTHERS AND THERE ARE NURTURING MOTHERS AND THE TWO ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, BUT THEY CAN BE.

STUDIES SHOW THAT A YOUNG PERSON NEEDS AT LEAST THREE SUPPORTIVE ADULTS IN THEIR EARLY LIFE WHO ARE NOT THEIR PARENTS.

FOR ME, IT WAS MISS RUSSELL, MRS. KELLER AND Mr. BEIHOFFER.

THEY HELPED ME FIND THE BALANCE IN LIFE, TO FEEL SECURE AND SAFE BUT THEY ALSO CHALLENGED, FOSTERED GROWTH MOTHERHOOD IS NOT FOR THE TIMID, AND I’VE BEEN TOLD MY BROTHER AND I WERE WHAT WAS CALLED “HANDFULS”.

WE WERE ALWAYS GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR SOMETHING DONE IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE.

ONE TIME WE PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT, IT WAS MY TURN TO GET STITCHES AND WERE RUSHING TOWARD THE FRONT DOOR WHEN WE HEARD THIS HONKING HORN, AND WE SAW A VAN WITH SIDE DOOR OPEN, AND THERE WAS A WOMAN HAVING A BABY RIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT.

SHE WAS ATTENDED BY A DOCTOR AND NURSE BUT THIS IS WHERE THE BABY WAS BEING BORN!

WHAT DREW OUR ATTENTION TO THE VAN WAS THE HONKING HORN, IN THE FRONT WERE TWO BOYS, ONE HONKING THE HORN AS FAST AS HE COULD AND THE OTHER, DUMPING THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT CONTENTS OUT THE WINDOW.

IN BETWEEN PUSHES, THE MOTHER WAS YELLING "RILEY, KNOCK IT OFF”.

AND I LOOKED OVER AT MY MOM AND HER JAW WAS HANGING OPEN AND I’M THINKING “SEE, MOM, YOU’VE GOT NORMAL SONS.” I LIKE TO THINK THAT WITH ALL THE COUNTLESS GALLONS OF MECRURICHROME, WONDERBREAD BAGS, SPAGGHETTIOS, SCIENCE PROJECTS, AND RIDES TO BAND, BASEBALL, AND PLAY PRACTICE, THAT MY BROTHER AND I REALLY HELPED MY MOTHER GROW INTO THE AMAZING MOM THAT SHE IS TODAY.

SO, YES, LET’S SHOW GRATITUDE FOR THE MOTHERS WHO BROUGHT US INTO THE WORLD AND ALSO THE OTHER MOTHERS WHO HELPED US NAVIGATE THE WORLD.

WHETHER IT’S THROUGH FLOWERS, A CARD, A KIND WORD OR A HUG.

OR SIMPLY GO OUT HONK A HORN AND EMPTY THE GLOV COMPARTMENT OUTSIDE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> Eric: HOW ABOUT A BREAK FOR SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL?

TRAVIS NOVITSKY IS A NATURE AND NIGHT SKY PHOTOGRAPHER.

HE AND HIS WORK HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN DOCUMENTARIES, EXHIBITIONS, AND THE BOOK "SPIRITS DANCING," WHICH IS ALL ABOUT INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE OF THE NIGHT SKY.

HE IS ONE OF THE NEWLY ANNOUNCED RECIPIENTS OF THE MAADA'OOKIING GRANT FROM THE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION AND HE JOINS US NOW FROM HIS HOME IN GRAND PORTAGE.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THE GRANT?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW, I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO BE HERE IN PERSON BUT IT'S A BIT OF A LONG DRIVE.

>> Eric: HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.

WHAT DOES THIS ALLOW YOU TO DO NOW WITH THE GRANT?

>> YEAH, SO MY GRANT APPLICATION WAS FOR THE PURCHASE OF A CAMERA AND LENS THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE UPON, OR CONTINUE TO EXPAND UPON DARK SKY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

AND SO THIS PARTICULAR NEW CAMERA AND LENS, T WILL ALLOW ME TO CAPTURE REAL-TIME, TRUE LIFE VIDEO OF THE AURORA BOREALIS, NORTHERN LIGHTS AND OTHER WONDERS OF THE NIGHT SKY.

UP UNTIL THIS POINT I HAVE NOT HAD A CAMERA THAT COULD DO THAT.

CONTENT CAPTURED USING IT WILL BE USED IN PRESENTATIONS BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON AND WILL BE USED TO ASSIST IN DARK SKY DESIGNATION EFFORTS IN THE AREA AROUND GRAND PORTAGE WITH THE GOAL OF PRESERVING OUR VIEWS OF THE NIGHT SKY AND KIND OF REINFORCING CULTURAL CONNECTIONS O THE SKY.

HOPEFULLY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> Cathy: SAY, TRAVIS, ON AIR RIGHT NOW WE'RE ROLLING SOME OF YOUR AMAZING IMAGES, AND THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.

AND I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW, NIGHT SKY PHOTOGRAPHY IS SUCH AN ART.

WHAT'S THE SECRET?

WHAT'S, HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW TO GET THOSE AMAZING IMAGES?

>> I THINK A BIG PART OF THAT IS OF COURSE LIVING IN A PLACE WHERE I HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY DARK SKIES OR GOOD QUALITY DARK SKIES, WHERE YOU CAN GO OUT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT OUT IN YOUR YARD AND SEE THE MILKY WAY, SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, TRAVEL HALFWAY ACROSS THE STATE TO SEE IT.

SO THAT'S A KEY PART.

BUT ALSO JUST, YOU KNOW, KNOWING HOW TO USE THE CAMERA AT NIGHT, KNOWING WHAT EXPOSURE SETTINGS, WHICH HAS COME OVER THE COURSE OF MY CAREER AS A PHOTOGRAPHER.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING THIS, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO CAPTURE A GOOD IMAGE OF THE NIGHT SKY.

IT CAME WITH TIME AND WITH PRACTICE.

>> Cathy: AND OF COURSE YOU MENTIONED THAT THE GRAND PORTAGE AREA IS A GREAT PLACE TO SHOOT BECAUSE YOU'RE BE SURROUNDED BY INKY BLACKNESS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'RE IN SUCH A RURAL PART OF MINNESOTA.

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LIGHT POLLUTION AT SOME POINT?

OR ARE THERE EFFORTS TO TRY TO KEEP THE DARK SKIES AS DARK AS IT IS UP THERE?

>> I DO WORRY ABOUT IT AND I DO SEE IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE I GO.

EVEN IF THERE AREN'T RESIDENTIAL LIGHTS NEARBY, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE LAST NEW MOON, I TOOK A 15-SECOND EXPOSURE OF THE MILKY WAY AND IN THAT 15 SECONDS, THERE WERE 22 SATELLITES THAT STREAKED THROUGH THE SKY.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> SO THERE'S LIGHT POLLUTION UP THERE AS WELL, YOU KNOW, THE SUNLIGHT REFLECTS OFF THOSE SATELLITES AND WE SEE THEM STREAKING THROUGH OUR SKY AND IT'S NOT A NATURAL THING TO HAVE THOSE UP THERE.

>> Eric: WHAT DOES THE NIGHT SKY MEAN AS FAR AS IT'S PART OF THE NATIVE TRADITIONS?

>> WELL, ACROSS THE GLOBE MANY INDIGENOUS CULTURES, WELL, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THEM HAVE THEIR WN WAY OF CONNECTING TO THE NIGHT SKY AND THEIR OWN STORIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSTELLATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, USUALLY HAVE MORALS AND LESSONS OFTEN THAT ARE EMBEDDED IN THE STORIES.

>> Cathy: WOW.

YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M SO GLAD YOU GOT THIS GRANT.

TRAVIS, I'M WONDERING TOO, YOU WERE PART OF THAT PBS NORTH DOCUMENTARY.

WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP?

IS WHAT'S THE NEXT BIG PROJECT?

>> WELL, JUST TO KIND OF CONTINUE ON WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING, WHICH IS SO ACTUALLY IT WAS I THINK NOVEMBER OF 2022 WHEN WE LAST TALKED ON THE RADIO, AND THE DOCUMENTARY WAS JUST COMING OUT.

SO IN THAT TIME THE RESPONSE TO IT HAS BEEN REALLY INCREDIBLE.

I'VE BEEN TRAVELING ALL OVER GIVING PRESENTATIONS RELATED TO THE DOCUMENTARY AND TO THE "SPIRITS DANCING" BOOK THAT YOU MENTIONED.

AND EVERYWHERE I GO I'M JUST REALLY SURPRISED ND KIND OF OVERWHELMED BY HOW MUCH INTEREST THERE IS IN IT AND HOW MUCH CONNECTION PEOPLE HAVE TO IT EVEN WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN THE MILKY WAY.

>> Cathy: WOW.

>> PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT AND HAVE THIS MAYBE NOT AS MUCH APPRECIATION YET BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN IT BUT THEY HAVE A DESIRE TO WANT TO CONNECT TO IT.

AND SO THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT I DO IS TRYING TO CONNECT PEOPLE.

SO I DO HAVE A COUPLE THINGS ON THE BURNER RIGHT NOW FOR PROJECTS.

BUT MAINLY IT'S JUST THIS GENERAL SENSE OF TRYING TO KEEP CONNECTING PEOPLE TO IT.

>> Cathy: OH, TRAVIS.

>> Eric: TO BE CONTINUED, TRAVIS.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M SO GLAD YOU WERE HERE.

BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

♪♪ >> Cathy: PROPOSED STATE AND FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS COULD HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON SERVICES FOR MINNESOTANS WITH DISABILITIES.

FUNDING FOR DISABILITY SERVICES IS PRETTY COMPLEX, SO WE'RE GOING TO DIVE IN WITH MILO MUMGAARD.

HE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MID-MINNESOTA LEGAL AID.

MILO, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: IT IS COMPLICATED.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL DO GREAT WORK FOR FOLKS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION IF YOU GET MASSIVE BUDGET CUTS?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.

BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS WITHIN LEGAL AID WE HAVE THE MINNESOTA DISABILITY LAW CENTER, AND IT'S PART OF THE PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYSTEM THAT WAS CREATED ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO, AND YOU MAY RECALL WHY THAT OCCURRED.

BECAUSE IT WAS BORN OUT OF TRAGEDY.

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WERE PREVIOUSLY WAREHOUSED AND NEGLECTED AND ABUSED NOT ONLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT HERE IN MINNESOTA AS WELL.

SO OUR MINNESOTA DISABILITY LAW CENTER, AMONG OTHERS, LITIGATED THESE ISSUES AND EVENTUALLY IMPROVED THE SITUATION CONSIDERABLY, BUT THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT CAME IN TO CREATE THE PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYSTEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT ENSURING THAT THERE IS A LEGAL STRUCTURE AS WELL AS A SUPPORT SYSTEM THROUGH THE INSTITUTE ON COMMUNITY INTEGRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO ALSO DO POLICY WORK, EVALUATION WORK, AND TRAINING TO ENSURE THAT THIS ENTIRE ISSUE OF ENSURING THAT PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER WAREHOUSED, INSTITUTIONALIZED AND NEGLECTED DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE WAS A PRETTY LARGE RALLY AT THE CAPITOL WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES THERE, HAVING THEIR VOICES HEARD.

AND THERE SEEMED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF REINSTITUTIONALIZATION.

IS THAT AN ACTUAL TRUE FEAR?

WOULD THAT HAPPEN?

>> THAT IS A TRUE FEAR ECAUSE THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY SORT OF THE DEFAULT WHEN COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT -- RIGHT NOW OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE, WE ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT GO TO CHOICE, INDEPENDENCE, COMMUNITY LIVING, SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO ON.

ONCE THE INABILITY TO ENFORCE THOSE LAWS TAKES PLACE, THEN WHAT'S LEFT FOR THAT HE'S INDIVIDUALS IN TERMS OF THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS, THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND SO ON, AND ALL LIKELIHOOD THEY WOULD BE REINSTITUTIONALIZED, THERE WOULD BE A MOVEMENT TO DO THAT.

IT WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND IT WOULD BE THE EASIEST AND THE LEAST PROBLEMATIC FOR THE STATE IF THEY GO THAT DIRECTION.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH OF THIS IS GOING TO DRIBBLE DOWN TO THE COUNTIES?

THE GOVERNOR SAYS WE'LL STILL HAVE THE MOST GENEROUS DISABILITY BENEFITS IN THE COUNTRY BUT I'M GUESSING THIS IS GOING TO ROLL DOWNHILL TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT?

>> THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL FOLKS INCLUDING COUNTY FOLKS ABOUT THE DOWNSTREAM CONSEQUENCES OF THESE ISSUES.

IF FEDERAL FUNDING IS CUT, IF THERE IS INABILITY TO REPRESENT FOLKS WITH THESE KINDS OF ISSUES, THE COUNTIES ARE GOING TO BE STUCK WITH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THROUGH THEIR OWN MEDICAL PROGRAM, THEIR OWN SERVICE PROGRAMS HOW THEY CAN FILL THE GAPS.

WHEREAS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IT MAKES A HECK OF A LOT MORE SENSE TO SIMPLY RELY UPON THE SYSTEM THAT'S ALREADY BEEN CREATED, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S ALREADY THERE THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE AND ENSURES THAT THEY HAVE THAT INDEPENDENCE, THAT CHOICE, THAT SELF-DETERMINATION.

>> WOW, I'M WONDERING HERE, WHAT KIND OF WORK MIGHT NOT GET DONE ULTIMATELY IF YOUR, SAY YOUR ORGANIZATION TAKES A HIT?

>> WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE ABLE TO, WE OFTENTIMES CALL OURSELVES THE WATCHDOG OF THE STATE FACILITY SYSTEMS.

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO INTO FACILITIES AND OBSERVE AND TALK TO PEOPLE AND FIND OUT WHETHER THERE ARE ANY INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSES.

AND OF COURSE OVER THE YEARS THAT HAS ORESTALLED ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS AS WELL AS IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS AND HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

WE WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

IT WOULD ALSO BE IN THE COMMUNITY A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION WHERE WE ARE REGULARLY SOUGHT OUT FOR LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH HOW DO WE GET SERVICES SO THAT WE CAN LIVE INDEPENDENTLY SO IN THAT HE CAN LIVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE LEGAL RIGHTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

IF OUR ABILITY IS TAKEN AWAY TO REPRESENT PEOPLE IN THOSE CONTEXTS THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME ESTABLISHING AND GETTING THOSE SERVICES.

>> Eric: YOU'LL BE WATCHING THE HOUSE/SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> VERY CLOSELY, YES.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER TO TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>> APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

♪♪ >> Eric: STILL NEED SOMETHING TO DO FOR MOTHER'S DAY?

HOW ABOUT A MINNESOTA AURORA EXHIBITION MATCH, FROST PLAYOFF GAME.

MARIELLE MOHS IS A SPORTS REPORTER AT WCCO AND AND THE HOST OF A WEEKLY DIGITAL SEGMENT CALLED WOMN.

>> M-N. A PLAY ON THE INITIALS.

>> Eric: WOMEN'S SPORTS HAS JUST BEEN EXPLODING.

>> I FEEL LIKE I GOT ON THE TRAIN RIGHT AS IT LEFT THE STATION AND I'M HAVING A GREAT RIDE.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S BEHIND THIS INTEREST?

>> I THINK IT'S MORE EXPOSURE THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN AND PARTICULAR ATHLETES HAVE ESCALATED THAT, PAIGE BUECKERS, TAYLOR HEISE WITH THE FROST.

WE'VE SEEN THIS IN EVERY SPORT.

INDIVIDUALS WITH PLAYING A ROLE, GREAT STORIES ARE PLAYING A ROLE AND WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION.

>> Cathy: GLAD YOU BROUGHT THE FROST UP.

OKAY, I WAS A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT THE FIRST GAME.

ARE THEY IN TORONTO TONIGHT?

>> THEY'RE PLAYING AS WE SPEAK.

>> Cathy: I DON'T KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT DO YOUR SOURCES SAY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THEM GOING ALL THE WAY?

>> THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW LAST PLAYOFF WHERE THEY TOOK IT ALL THE WAY TO THE WALTER CUP.

FACED TORONTO AND LOST THE FIRST TWO GAMES IN SHUTOUTS AND SENT IT HOME FOR THE FINAL THREE GAMES AND THEY MOVED ON.

SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE UP 3-2, SO SECOND PERIOD, STILL A LOT OF GAME LEFT, WE'LL SEE.

BUT I'M REALLY HOPEFUL CONSIDERING WHAT WE SAW LAST YEAR AND THE FROST, THEY'RE ALL FIGHTERS.

THEY'VE PLAYED FOR OLYMPIC LEVEL TEAMS, THEY'VE PLAY FORD THE GOPHERS SO THEY KNOW HOW TO COME BACK FROM BEHIND.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE SITUATION WITH THE AURORA?

SORT OF NON-PARAPROFESSIONAL LEGAL, I GUESS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE TO JOIN?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THEY'RE REALLY FIGHTING FOR IT.

I KNOW THEIR STAFF IS, I'VE TALKED PERSONALLY TO ANDREA YAK WHO'S ONE OF THE FOUNDERS AND THEY HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN BIDS TO TRY TO GET A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE HERE AND I'M SUPER HOPEFUL THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE WE'VE PROVEN WITH AURORA WE'RE A GREAT MARKET FOR SOCCER.

THEY'RE SELLING OUT THEIR GAMES ON A VERY CONSISTENT BASIS AND I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR THIS UPCOMING SEASON BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN EVERY SEASON SO FAR THEY HAVE UNDEFEATED YEARS AND THEN THEY GET TO THE PLAYOFFS AND THEY LOSE.

AND THAT NARRATIVE, THEY'RE HOPING TO SHUT DOWN THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING THOSE PLAYOFF TEAMS THAT THEY LOSE TO AND THEY'RE PUTTING THEM IN THE PRESEASON.

>> Eric: WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL AT THE U.

>> YEAH, OH, MY GOSH, ANOTHER TEAM.

>> Eric: BIG DEAL.

>> IT REALLY IS AND THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF HOMEGROWN PLAYERS TOO WHICH CARRIES THAT HIGH SCHOOL CROWD INTO THE COLLEGE CROWD.

AND THEY'RE SELLING OUT THE PAV ALSO ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> Eric: WERE YOU A JOCK IN SCHOOL?

>> I WAS ACTUALLY A COMPETITIVE DANCER WHICH I ARGUE IS A SPORT.

I DID DANCE LINE.

>> Eric: YOU DID THE REPORT ON IT.

>> I DID, I WAS THE FIRST LOCAL NEWS REPORTER TO EVER COVER THE NATIONAL DANCE COMPETITION IN FLORIDA.

THE MOST DECORATED DANCE TEAM AND TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IS THE DANCE TEAM.

THEY DESERVE THE ATTENTION.

>> Cathy: IT'S AMAZING.

LYNX.

THEY HAVE A PRESEASON GAME THIS WEEKEND.

I LOVE THE LYNX.

>> SAME.

HUGE FAN.

>> Cathy: YEAH, WHAT DO YOU THINK MIGHT HAPPEN THIS SEASON?

>> WELL, THE TERM "REVENGE TOUR" HAS BEEN PASSED AROUND AT THE DRAFT PARTY BUT I ACTUALLY INTERVIEWED COACH REEVE LAST WEEK AND ASKED HER ABOUT THAT, IS THAT A TERM YOU'RE EMBRACING?

AND SHE SAID I'M NOT A VERY LONGFUL PERSON, THIS IS A FRESH START.

BUT WE'RE BRINGING BACK A VERY VETERAN ROSTER AND THEY HAVE A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER.

>> Eric: OFFICIATING IN THE FINAL AGAINST NEW YORK WAS I THOUGHT A LITTLE -- >> ATROCIOUS.

>> Eric: OF COURSE AND IT'S A MINNESOTA THING TO BLAME THE OFFICIALS BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS FAIR.

>> IT WASN'T FAIR AT ALL.

WE SAW BRITTANY STEWART VERY CLEARLY TRAVEL.

WE ALSO SAW THAT FINAL FOUL CALL WHERE ALANA SMITH WAS ALL BALL.

SHE DIDN'T TOUCH STEWART AT ALL AND THAT SENT HER TO THE LINE AND TIED UP THE GAME.

AND THEN TO SEE THE COMMISSIONER SAY THE TROPHY'S BACK WHERE IT BELONGS AT HOME, AND TO WHERE THE NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE.

I MEAN, IT WAS PRETTY -- THE BIAS WAS HORRIBLE, THE ELITE BIAS.

>> Eric: THERE A CAITLIN CLARK FACTOR IN GETTING GROWTH IN WOMEN'S SPORTS OR JUST BASKETBALL MAYBE ALONE?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE WANT TO -- I THINK IT'S FAIR TO GIVE CAITLIN CLARK A LOT OF CREDIT.

SHE'S DONE A GREAT JOB IN BRINGING THE NUMBERS.

AND WHEN THE CROWD SHOWS UP, THE INVESTORS SHOW UP, THE TV DEALS SHOW UP AND WE SHOW UP, MEDIA SHOWS UP.

>> Cathy: WHEN I IRST SAW YOU ON THE AIR YOU WERE A G.A.

REPORTER AND THEN YOU MADE THE LEAP TO SPORTS.

SO I'M SO HAPPY.

I MEAN, ARE YOU KIND OF LIVING A DREAM IN A SENSE?

>> HAPPY AND FULLY LEAVE LIVING A DREAM RIGHT NOW.

I'LL ADMIT IT, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LEFT THE BUSINESS BY NOW IF I STAYED IN NEWS JUST BECAUSE I WAS BURNT OUT.

I WENT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND COVERING CIVIL UNRESTS HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS, AND I'D DONE IT FOR TEN YEARS AND I FELT, OKAY, TIME FOR A NEW CHAPTER AND THEN I GOT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SWITCH TO SPORTS, AND IT GAVE ME A NEW LIFELINE IN THIS, IN JOURNALISM.

>> Cathy: HOW DO YOU SEE -- HAPPY TO EE YOUR DIGITAL SEGMENT.

>> Eric: WHERE DO I FIND IT IN >> ?

>> OUR DIGITAL SEGMENT IS EVERY FRIDAY, RIGHT NOW AT 7:00 P.M. [ LAUGHTER ] COMPETING WITH "ALMANAC."

WE PULL MOSTLY LOCAL HEADLINES OF WOMEN'S SPORTS BUT NATIONAL HEADLINES AS WELL.

>> Cathy: CCO.COM.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

YEAH, COME ON BACK.

>> I WILL.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Cathy: CRUNCH TIME AT THE CAPITOL.

CRUNCH TIME FOR "ALMANAC" TOO, WHAT THE HECK SO E'RE GOING TO JUMP INTO THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL PANEL BECAUSE INTERESTS A OT TO TALK ABOUT.

D.F.L.ERS UP FIRST, JEFF HAYDEN IS FORMER STATE SENATOR, LOOKING VERY, VERY NICE THERE.

KARLA BIGHAM SERVED IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND IS NOW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

REPUBLICANS JOINING US, AMY KOCH FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW A LOBBYIST AND ROUNDING OUT THE PANEL IS PAT GAROFALO, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE, CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA GROCERS ASSOCIATION.

PAT GAROFALO, THAT POWER SHARING AGREEMENT IN THE HOUSE, HOW IS IT HOLDING UP?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PEOPLE?

>> WELL, IT'S THE END OF SESSION, SO WHETHER IT'S REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, A GOOD 80 TO 90% OF THE EGISLATURE LOSES THEIR MINDS.

[ LAUGHTER ] THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

YOU GOT TO TEAR THINGS DOWN, REBUILD THEM.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A SPECIAL SESSION, WE ALL KNOW THAT.

THERE'S SOME GOOD LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE, THEY'LL WORK WITH REASONABLE PARTNERS IN THE SENATE.

CLEAN UP THE SENATE'S MESS LIKE THE HOUSE USUALLY DOES.

>> OH!

[ GROANING ] >> THERE'S BIG THINGS TO RESOLVE, QUITE A FEW FIGHTS TO RESOLVE BUT AT THE END DAY THEY'LL GET THE JOB DONE ND THEY'LL MOVE ON.

>> Eric: THE FREE MEDICAL CARE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IS A BIG ISSUE.

WHAT IF THEY JUST SAID KIDS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS?

WOULD THAT CUT -- >> I THINK WE LIKE TO CALL THEM UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

>> Eric: WELL, YEAH.

>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK OUT.

I WATCHED THE POCI CAUCUS' PRESS CONFERENCE AND THAT WAS KIND OF A RED LINE FOR THEM.

FOR INSTANCE THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE 5,000 PEOPLE, IT'S 20,000.

WORKING IN HEALTH CARE, HERE'S HOW IT WORKS, IF YOU DON'T GET PRIMARY CARE UP FRONT, THEY GET REALLY SICK AND END UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM SO SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY FOR IT.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT BUT IT COSTS A LOT MORE THAN THEY THOUGHT.

>> Eric: ISSUE AS A POLITICIAN?

IS >> YEAH, IT'S BOTH A POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR THE DEMOCRATS AS WELL AS A FINANCIAL PROBLEM.

SETTING ASIDE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS AND IMMIGRATION IS ON A HOT TOPIC ISSUE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WHEN HE'S IN TROUBLE HE BRINGS UP IMMIGRATION BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS BUT PUTTING THAT ASIDE THE NUMBERS JEFF INDICATED ARE SUPER PROBLEMATIC, THEY KIND OF BLEW A HOLE IF THAT BUDGET AND NOW EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE QUITE A FEW MORE PEOPLE, THEY'RE TAKING SLIGHTLY LESS BENEFITS THAN THEY THOUGHT BUT EVEN STILL AT QUADRUPLE THE AMOUNT IN THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS, IT'S A PROBLEM.

>> AND I THINK IT'S FORECASTING WHAT THE FEDS ARE GONNA DO RELATED TO MEDICAID, RELATED TO A LOT OF THE OTHER FEDERAL FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING DOWN THE CUTS, AS A COMMISSIONER, THE SHIFTS THAT ARE COMING ON, I THINK MINNESOTANS NEED TO KNOW WHEN THE STATE AND FEDS SHIFT ONTO THE COUNTIES, PROPERTY TAXES GO UP AND IT'S REAL AND IT'S GOING TO HURT.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT I THINK A LOT OF US ARE WATCHING IN IN THE COMING WEEKS AS THEY LAND THIS PLANE.

I AGREE WITH PAT THAT -- >> IT'S REPRESENTATIVE, BY THE WAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> JEEZ!

>> HE'S TRYING TO PICK A FIGHT.

>> SO THAT THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL SESSION, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THEY HAVE A LOT OF WORK YET TO DO AND THEY HAVE TO DO THE ONE-TWO STEP AND GET IT GOIN'.

>> Cathy: DID YOU THINK LISTENING O REPRESENTATIVES YOUAKIM AND BAKEBERG THAT EDUCATION FUNDING BILL MIGHT BE A LITTLE PROBLEMATIC MAYBE?

>> IT'S GONNA BE VERY PROBLEMATIC.

IT HAS BEEN.

SO WE HEARD A WEEK AGO OR SO THAT THERE WAS A DEAL IN THE HOUSE.

THAT BILL WENT TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THEN IT WAS, THEN THE DEMOCRATS SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT VOTING FOR THAT ILL, WE DON'T SUPPORT IT.

SO IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROBLEMATIC FOR A COUPLE DIFFERENT REASONS.

>> Eric: SAFE AND SICK TIME.

WAS IT EIGHT BLUE DOG DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE THAT ROLLED IT BACK FOR SMALL BUSINESS?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW.

>> Eric: WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> I SAW THAT, I THINK THAT THEY'RE HAVING SOME BUYER'S REMORSE THERE AND THEY'RE IN TOUGH DISTRICTS AND THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND WORK WITH SMALL BUSINESS, THEY'RE HEARING THAT THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS.

I THINK THAT THEY PROBABLY NEED TO PUSH THAT DOWN THE LINE A LITTLE BIT BUT I THINK THEY WANTED TO CLEARLY SAY THAT THEY WERE LISTENING TO SMALL BUSINESS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> Eric: PAID LEAVE, YOUR MEMBERS NERVOUS ABOUT IT?

>> OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AS EVERYONE SHOULD BE.

BUT LET'S REMEMBER THAT MINNESOTA'S STRATEGIC STRENGTH HAS BEEN, IS, AND WILL ALWAYS BE OUR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER AND COOPERATE.

SO RATHER THAN ATTACKING THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE AND REVISITING LEGISLATION THAT CANDIDLY IS UNPAID FOR AND S UNSUSTAINABLE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED, RATHER THAN ATTACKING THOSE PEOPLE WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING IT.

NOW, AS A CONSERVATIVE, OF COURSE I WISH D.F.L.ERS ARE GOING FARTHER AND REFORMING BILLS BUT ANY STEP IN THE DIRECTION IS A GOOD THING.

AND REALLY STOP KNEE CAPPING ANY LEGISLATOR WHO'S WORKING WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

>> IN THE NINE YEARS I WAS IN BOTH CHAMBERS THERE WERE NUMEROUS TIMES WE CAME BACK AND REVISITED POLICY BECAUSE WE MODERNIZED OR BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK FOR WHOMEVER, IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT POLICY IT WAS, WE HAVE THE IGHT TO REVISIT THAT, AND WE SHOULD AND WE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE ATTACKING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE REVISITING THINGS THAT AREN'T WORKING AND THEY'RE HEARING THE FEEDBACK.

>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO PAT GAROFALO, AND EVEN KARLA.

[ LAUGHTER ] THAT'S NOT HOW HE OPERATED AND THAT'S NOT HOW IT OPERATES OVER THERE.

YOU GO AFTER EACH OTHER.

NOW, IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE ALL JUST KIND OF GOT ALONG AND WENT BACK TO REVISIT IT BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE ON THE SIDE THAT FEELS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ISSUE, CORPORATE FOLKS GET SAFE AND SICK TIME, CORPORATE FOLKS GET PAID LEAVE.

>> YEP.

>> AND SO SAYING THAT OTHER FOLKS SHOULD DO IT.

SHOULD WE GO BACK AND MAKE SURE IT WORKS?

WE SHOULD, BUT THIS IDEA THAT WE SHOULD REVISIT IT AND PAT GAROFALO WASN'T ATTACKING PEOPLE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> LET THE TAPE REFLECT WAS ALWAYS ONE OF THE MOST CALMEST, MILD MANNERED.

>> I'VE BEEN IN THE ROOM.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> 20 YEARS, 20 YEARS.

>> THE TWITTER.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> SAY >> Cathy: IS THERE GOING TO BE A SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT FEE?

>> OH, GOSH.

NO.

COME ON.

>> Cathy: WHY?

JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION.

>> WHAT YOU DO HERE IS PUT A LOT OF THINGS ON THE TABLE SO YOU HAVE THINGS TO GIVE AWAY.

SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS IF IT'S NOT ON THE TABLE YOU CAN'T GIVE IT AWAY, SO YOU DON'T WANT TO START WITH YOUR BEST FIRST OFFER AND I DON'T THINK SOCIAL IMPACT WHATEVER IT IS TAX.

>> THE BEST PART OF EVERY END OF SESSION IS THE EXTREME RIGHT WING AND EXTREME LEFT WING DO THEIR BEST TO SABOTAGE THEIR OWN PARTY'S CHANCES AND THIS WEEK THE EXTREME LEFT WING WON BECAUSE WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

PROPOSING AT A TIME AFTER WE JUST HAD A 40% INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND THEY'RE COMING OUT AND PROPOSING TAX INCREASES, NOT EVEN GOVERNOR WALZ WAS PROPOSING THIS STUFF.

SO, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A FIRST IN THE NATION SOCIAL MEDIA TAX INCREASE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO CUT SPENDING AND THAT WILL BE A GOOD THING.

>> I'M BRINGING IT UP.

>> OH, NO.

>> THEY CAN TRY TO RAISE REVENUE OFF SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH IS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR AND THEY CAN TRY TO REGULATE IT.

BUT THEY CAN'T OFF OF SPORTS BETTING PLATFORMS AND REGULATE SPORTS BETTING, I'M JUST SAYING THE IRONY THERE.

LET'S GET IT DONE!

>> THAT'S ACTUALLY TRUE.

>> IT IS TRUE, ONE DAY.

>> WE HAD A STUDY OUT OF THE SENATE AND THAT IS -- >> Cathy: THIS IS GOING NOWHERE THIS SESSION.

>> WELL, IT APPEARS TO BE SO BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE A LOT OF REVENUE WE COULD GET.

>> JUST SAYING.

>> Eric: HOW DOES THIS SET UP THE 2026 CYCLE?

>> EVERYBODY'S JUMPING IN NOW, U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES, NOW WE'VE GOT SENATORS, THERE'S A RACE WITH ANGIE CRAIG STEPPING UP, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GOING TO U.S. SENATE, CANDIDATES THAT MAY COME FORWARD TO RUN WITH GOVERNOR WALZ AND OF COURSE THAT PLAYS INTO T, RIGHT?

THOSE FOLKS ARE SORT OF ON THEIR OWN, THEY'RE NOT RUNNING FOR THEIR CAUCUS ANYMORE, THEY'RE NOT VOTING TOTHEIR CAUCUS, THEY'RE VOTING FOR WHATEVER THE NEXT POSITION IS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHICH ALSO ADDS TO THIS, AS IF THIS SESSION HAS NOT BEEN BIZARRE ENOUGH ALREADY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ABSOLUTELY.

AND EVEN REPUBLICANS, KENDALL QUALS JUMPS IN, I SAW HIM IN THE RATHSKELLER THE OTHER DAY.

>> I'M HEARING FOR GOVERNOR WHICH WOULD BE GREAT.

>> YOU'RE FORGETTING ABOUT THE 800-POUND POWERHOUSE IN CONSERVATIVE CIRCLES, THAT'S OF COURSE THE PEOPLE ARE COMING, ROYCE WHITE.

NO.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: AREN'T, THE COUNTIES GOING TO BE A BIG LOSER IN THIS SESSION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NO, I MEAN, WE'RE TERRIFIED, WE'RE LOOKING AT DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASES FOR LEVIES.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL THAT IF WE DO NOT GET THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE REFORM AND THE ANDATE RELIEF THAT WE NEED AS FROM THE FEDS AND THE STATE.

ABSOLUTELY.

MINNESOTANS NEED TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR, THEY WILL FEEL THIS IF THE SHIFTS COME AND I JUST WANT TO SAY WE'RE GRATEFUL TO SENATOR HOFFMAN AND ABELER FOR THE COST SHIFTS OF RELIEF N THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE SIDE THAT THEY PUT IN THE SENATE ON THE STUDY THAT THEY DID FOR THAT, TASK FORCE.

>> Cathy: SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO VERY WELL EITHER THIS ESSION, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> WELL, THE SCHOOLS, IT'S HISTORIC FUNDING IN 2023 BUT IT'S THE MANDATES AND THE REQUIREMENTS AND YOU HEARD THE TWO CHAIR -- OR THE VICE CHAIR AND THE CHAIR TALKING ABOUT THAT, SO MUCH OF THE SCHOOLS IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND EXTENDED MANDATES AND ALL THE PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE AND EARNED SICK AND SAFE WHICH IS GOING TO REALLY IMPACT THOSE SCHOOLS AND THAT COULD BE SOLVED WITH SOME POLICY CHANGES AND REFORMS.

>> Cathy: ANGIE CRAIG VERSUS PEGGY FLANAGAN.

>> DON'T FORGET ABOUT MELISA LOPEZ FRANZEN.

PEGGY IS A PROGRESSIVE AND IS GOING TO REALLY PICK UP THAT GROUP.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHERE MY FORMER LEADER MELISA LOPEZ FRANZEN IS GOING TO LAND BUT SHE'S SMART AND PRACTICING NATTIC SO I THINK IT MAKES IT QUITE THE RACE ON THAT SIDE.

THREE REALLY DISTINCT WOMEN THAT ARE GOING TO.

>> Eric: SERIOUS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES?

>> NO ONE STEPPED IN, I WOULD LOVE TO SAY WE HAVE AN EQUALLY VARIETY OF CANDIDATES.

WE HAVE A GOOD BENCH BUT NO ONE HAS STEPPED FORWARD AND THERE'S A VARIETY OF REASONS FOR THAT AND WE NEED THEM.

STEP FORWARD, REPUBLICANS.

>> NEED TO GET THE PARTY TOGETHER.

THAT'S PROBABLY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: TERRIFIC.

ONCE AGAIN WE TALK TOO MUCH.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME FOR THE INDEX FILE BUT WE'LL DO IT AGAIN EXT WEEK.

JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FROM JEREMY MESSERSMITH PLAYED THIS JAUNTY TUNE FOR US BACK IN 2008.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, HAPPY FISHING OPENER, AND HAPPY BRENDAN HENEHAN DAY TO ANYBODY WHO CELEBRATES.

BE CAREFUL.

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