>> ERIC: SO MANY POLITICAL TOPICS, SO LITTLE TIME.

LET'S JUMP RIGHT INTO THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST.

SUSAN KENT IS A FORMER SENATE MINORITY LEADER AND A DFL LOYALIST.

ABOU AMARA, A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER NOW ATTORNEY.

REPUBLICANS TONIGHT, AMY FREDERIKSEN IS A FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW A LOBBYIST.

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

SAY, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR OWN ETHICS FILED AGAINST A DEMOCRAT.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

YEAH.

SO, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE FALCONER IS BEING ACCUSED OF LOBBYING ON -- SORRY -- ON VOTING ON THINGS THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY LOBBIED FOR.

AND, I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE LEADERSHIP OR STAFF SHOULD BE COUNSELING THE MEMBERS TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULDN'T CARRY THIS, YOU SHOULDN'T VOTE ON THIS.

THIS IS TOO CLOSE.

IF THE MEMBER CHOOSES TO DO SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE, THEN THAT'S UP TO THEM.

BUT THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE GIVEN, YOU KNOW, GOOD ADVICE.

>> Cathy: AS A CITIZEN LEGISLATURE, THOUGH, IS THE AREA KIND OF GRAY?

I MEAN, WOULDN'T LAWYERS VOTE ON BILLS THAT YOU WOULD KNOW ABOUT?

>> AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM, RIGHT?

SO WE HAVE A CITIZEN LEGISLATURE.

WHEN YOU VOTE ON POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT THE MINNESOTANS GENERALLY, IT'S GOING TO IMPACT YOU ON SOME LEVEL.

WE CAN DEBATE HOW CLOSE IT SHOULD BE.

BUT LET'S REMEMBER, THESE ARE NOT THE SAME THINGS.

ONE OF THEM IS ABOUT A JOB, ANOTHER ONE IS ABOUT CRIME.

THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE ABOUT WHETHER THERE'S, IN FACT, CRIMINALITY IN THEIR ACTIONS.

SO THESE TWO THINGS ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

>> Eric: GO AHEAD.

>> WELL, I JUST THINK WHAT'S DIFFERENT, AND THIS IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE ALL OF US COULD PROBABLY SIT HERE AND LIST 15 DIFFERENT MEMBERS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO, THAT HAVE HAD DUIs ND GOTTEN THEM DURING SESSION OR OUTSIDE OF SESSION.

AND, AGAIN, NOT SAYING THAT'S OKAY.

I THINK THAT DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IS WRONG, I'VE NOT EVER DONE IT AND WOULD NEVER DO IT.

IT'S DANGEROUS.

AND ALSO IT'S INTERESTING TO ME, THIS MOMENT THAT IT'S BEING TREATED IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY, I THINK.

>> WELL, I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THAT THEY LEFT COMMITTEE HEARING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE EEN DOING THEIR JOB.

AND THEY WENT TO A BAR.

WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN -- YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE ISSUE HERE.

THEY HAVE A JOB TO DO, THAT THEY ARE ELECTED TO DO AND THEY DECIDED THEY COULDN'T SPEND THEIR TIME DOING THAT AND, AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS HAD TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT WHO GETS ON WHAT COMMITTEES AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF, IT'S SERIOUS.

I REMEMBER -- I GOT REAR-ENDED ON A SNOW-COVERED 94 ONE MORNING ON THE WAY IN TO THE CAPITOL AND I FELT TERRIBLE THAT I WAS GOING TO MISS MY HEARING THAT MORNING.

YOU KNOW?

BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.

>> Eric: NOW -- >> IT IS THE EXTRA -- IT'S THE EXTRA STUFF AROUND THINGS, RIGHT?

>> Cathy: NOW THE SPEAKER STRIPPED REPRESENTATIVES ENGEN AND HUDSON FROM THEIR COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WAS THAT ENOUGH?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THINK ABOUT THIS.

THEIR REWARD FOR NOT SHOWING UP TO WORK WAS TAKING THEM OFF OF THE COMMITTEES WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THE WORK.

MAKE THAT MAKE SENSE.

>> SORRY.

I THINK IT IS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF A LEADER, THAT IS SOMETHING -- THAT'S WHAT THEY CAN DO.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T UNELECT SOMEONE, THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.

BUT A LEADER CAN SAY TO THEM, AND IT IS ACTUALLY A PUNISHMENT TO BE TAKEN OFF YOUR COMMITTEES, AND VERY MUCH SO.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING WITHIN HER PURVIEW THAT SHE CAN ACTUALLY DO.

TO SAY, THIS IS NOT OKAY.

>> Eric: BUT NICOLE MITCHELL, SHE SPENT THE WHOLE SESSION LAST TIME -- >> TWO YEARS, WO SESSIONS.

VOTING.

>> Eric: YEAH.

SO, YOU KNOW.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PART OF WHAT ABOU IS SAYING IS 100% RIGHT.

COMPARED TO A REGULAR DUI, THERE IS MORE TO THIS.

AND A REGULAR DUI WILL NOT GET YOU TAKEN OFF COMMITTEES, BUT BECAUSE THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE, I THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE.

THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSEQUENCES.

AND WE NEED TO HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO A HIGHER STANDARD.

>> Cathy: IS REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON'S GUN, THEN, MACK A DIFFERENCE IN ALL THIS?

BECAUSE HE WAS -- RIGHT?

HE'S ALLOWED TO CARRY IT.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES, THIS IS TRUE ITH MY FORMER SENATOR AND IN THIS CONVERSATION, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS ETHICS SYSTEM.

BECAUSE WE KEEP SAYING, WELL, WE CAN'T DEAL WITH ANYTHING UNTIL THERE'S A CONVICTION, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DEFEND THEMSELVES IN THE CURRENT ETHICS ROCESS WITHOUT INCRIMINATING THEMSELVES, RIGHT?

AND, SO, WE -- THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE RULES, LOOK AT THE ETHICS PROCESS, AND PERHAPS RAISE THE BAR A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF THE STANDARDS AT WHICH WE SAY, YOU'RE OUT.

>> LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES.

IF SOMEONE HAD A SUPER MAJORITY OR IF SOMEBODY HAD JUST BIGGER MAJORITIES THAN WE HAVE, THESE WOULD BE DEALT WITH VERY DIFFERENTLY.

BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE A TIE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A ONE-VOTE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE, EVEN IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO DO WHATEVER THE RIGHT THING IS, THERE IS SUCH GREAT CONSEQUENCES TO THAT, THAT THEY HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

>> Eric: SINCE FEBRUARY, YOU'VE BEEN TELLING US, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING THIS SESSION.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED, ISN'T IT?

>> AT LEAST IN TERMS OF THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE, THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A MAJORITY, THEY CAN ACTUALLY WORK THROUGH SOME ISSUES AND GET THEM BEFORE THE FULL BODY SO THEY CAN GET THEM OFF OF THE FLOOR.

I'M ACTUALLY CONCERNED, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE END GAME, THE SENATE'S GOING TO BE AT THE 2-YARD LINE AND THE HOUSE IS GOING TO BE WAY, 30, 40 YARDS BEHIND THEM, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU SOLVE THOSE THINGS, OTHER THAN SMASHING THINGS THROUGH A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AT THE END TO TRY TO GET THINGS THROUGH.

>> IT IS NOT A FORMULA FOR SUCCESS AT ALL.

I HAVE NOT SPENT A TON OF TIME AT THE CAPITOL.

BUT IN TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE AND IN THE TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN THERE, IT'S -- IT IS A PROBLEMATIC SESSION.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE SECURITY.

IT IS SUCH A CONSTANT REMINDER OF, YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING, THE MINDSET, THE GRIEVING.

IT'S A TOUGH SESSION.

>> AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN BUILDING TO, RIGHT?

THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, THE DEEP PARTISAN DIVIDE, WHICH, UNPRECEDENTED, ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED, WITH 67-66, LIKE ACKNOWLEDGING ALL OF THAT, AND ALSO SAYING THAT IT'S INCUMBENT ON LEADERS STILL TO GET THINGS DONE.

AND ALSO I WOULD CAUTION, LIKE, I THINK IN AN ELECTION YEAR, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, WELL, WE'LL JUST WAIT UNTIL THE ELECTION, AND THEN WE'LL MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT REPUBLICANS SAID THAT IN 2022, DIDN'T PASS A BUDGET WITH $12 BILLION IN SURPLUS, DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AND CAME BACK TO A TRIFECTA.

IT CAN BITE OU IN THE BUTT TOO.

>> Eric: DOES IT MATTER THAT THE GOVERNOR'S A LAME DUCK?

>> NO.

IN FACT, I THINK THAT MAKES IT EASIER.

HERE'S WHY.

THE POLITICS OF TIM WALZ ARE NO LONGER IN THE ETHER TO TRY TO MOVE FOLKS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO I THINK THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS, HOW DO YOU GET AN END GAME IN THE HOUSE?

THAT GETS REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP ON BOARD WITH STUFF, THAT GETS ENOUGH DEMOCRATS SO YOU CAN GET SOMETHING THROUGH THE HOUSE OR AN ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, YOU STAFF IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU CAN GET FOLKS OFF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES, GET FOLKS OFF THE FLOOR.

>> THERE HAS TO BE A WILL TO DO SOMETHING.

ONE OF THE TWO SIDES NEEDS TO BE WILLING TO CRAWL OVER RUSTY RAZOR BLADES TO GET SOMETHING.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT REALLY EXISTS.

I THINK YOU'RE 100% RIGHT.

THE SENATE IS DOING MORE.

THE SENATE IS WANTING O DO OMNIBUS BILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK ANYONE S LOOKING TO GIVE UP SOMETHING BIG TO GET SOMETHING BIG THIS SESSION, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I JUST CAN'T SEE THEM MOVING THAT FAST.

>> Cathy: DOES THAT MEAN, AN IMPORTANT BILL, LIKE WE JUST HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER, WOULD THAT RUN INTO TROUBLE BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU JUST OUTLINED?

>> EAH.

I THINK THERE'S A BAND-AID SOLUTION AND THERE'S AMOR A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

I THINK THE BAND-AID SOLUTION, IN THIS CONTEXT, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A SALES TAX, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT SHORT-TERM IDEA BUT I ACTUALLY THINK THEY MAY NEED TO CONSIDER A CASH BILL BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY MIGHT SOLVE THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM, AND AVOID SOME OF THE POLITICS THAT THEY DIDN'T GET THROUGH LAST SESSION.

THIS BILL SHOULD HAVE PASSED LAST YEAR.

THE FACT THAT IT DIDN'T TELLS ME THAT THERE'S SOMETHING INTERNAL GOING ON ON BOTH SIDES.

AISLE THAT'S NOT LETTING IT GET THROUGH.

>> IS THAT TRUE?

>> I AGREE.

AND I DO THINK, ACTUALLY, HAT THEY'RE MOVING TOWARDS IS SOME KIND OF A ONE-SESSION FIX TO KICK IT TO NEXT YEAR.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT, AGAIN, WHAT I'LL JUST CAUTION, THAT DOESN'T BUY ANYTHING BUT A MATTER OF A FEW MONTHS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HCMC.

AND THE IMPACTS ON STATEWIDE, WE HEARD ABOUT THAT ALREADY, ARE ENORMOUS SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN TO HCMC.

>> IT HAS TO GET DONE.

WE HAVE TO SUPPORT HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT FORMER FERGUS FALLS MAYOR BEN SCHEURER RUNNING FOR AWED TO TORE ON THE -- AUDITOR ON THE DFL SIDE AS A POTENTIAL AMY KLOBUCHAR RUNNING MATE?

>> WE'VE ALL HEARD MANY NAMES, SOME OF THE NAMES ARE VERY INTRIGUING, VERY INTERESTING.

I DON'T CERTAINLY HAVE ANY INSIDE INFORMATION THERE.

>> I THINK WHOEVER AMY PICKS IS GOING TO BRING A LOT OF SKILL SETS AND PERSPECTIVES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE VOTING FOR AMY KLOBUCHAR AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET, I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO MATTER MOST.

>> Eric: AG -- MAYBE THE OIG DISCUSSION PROBABLY WE SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT.

>> I WOULD JUST CHIME IN ON THE RUNNING MATE CONVERSATION.

I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW HELPFUL IT WOULD BE SINCE SHE HAS DONE ALL HER LEGISLATING WORK IN WASHINGTON TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH St.

PAUL.

>> MAKES SENSE.

>> SO THE OIG IS INTERESTING, TOO, IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE HCMC, IT FEELS LIKE IT'S A FIRE BURNING, IT NEEDS TO GET DONE, EVERYONE SEEMS TO AGREE THAT IT NEEDS TO GET DONE, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT IT WHERE THEY CANNOT COME TO A DECISION.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO GET DONE LAST YEAR.

IT GOT VERY VERY CLOSE,S HAVE AHEAD STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND YET THERE'S SOME PIECES OF IT THAT FOLKS ARE JUST NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP.

AND IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH.

AND I DON'T -- I DON'T GET IT BECAUSE IT'S A WIN FOR EVERYBODY.

THAT'S NOT AN ELECTION WIN, RIGHT?

THAT'S JUST A GOOD THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THE STATE.

AND IT'S A IN FOR EVERYONE.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WINS POLITICALLY.

>> Eric: BUT IT'S HOW INDEPENDENT THE OIG IS, RIGHT?

ISN'T THAT THE POINT?

WHO'S APPOINTING WHO?

>> THAT'S PART OF IT.

AND ALSO ANOTHER POINT OF IT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT'S A FULL CENT, LAST YEAR IT WAS A HALF CENT, SO I WONDER HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE NUMBERS OF WHAT THE HOSPITAL ACTUALLY NEEDS VERSUS WHAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE WILLING TO GIVE ON THAT SALES TAX.

>> Eric: 3.8 BILLION DOLLAR TAX CUT FROM THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS.

>> WELL, I MEAN, AGAIN, I THOUGHT MAYBE TAXES HAD A SHOT THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE CONFORMITY ISSUES AND THE HCMC AND THE CHILD CARE TAX THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS TALKING ABOUT.

BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE -- AGAIN, MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN.

WE GOT FIVE WEEKS LEFT.

>> WE DON'T HAVE A AX BILL, MEANS WE DON'T HAVE NY FEDERAL CONFORMITY, THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT GOING INTO THE ELECTION.

>> THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE, TOO.

>> Cathy: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> REFEREE: THERE NEW IDEAS COME OUT OF THE CAPITOL?

>> NO.

[ Laughter ] NO.

WITH ALL THESE THINGS, IT'S LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP TO GET IT.

>> Eric: YEAH, YEAH.

>> AND THERE'S JUST NOT -- IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> IT'S A NONBUDGET YEAR, ELECTION YEAR.

>> EVEN-NUMBERED YEAR.

>> Eric: TAKE IT TO THE PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: FIVE WEEKS LEFT.