>> 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.