>> CATHY: IT WAS ANOTHER BUSY WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL BUT THE NEWS THERE WAS OVERSHADOWED BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SENATE MAJORITY LEADER KARI DZIEDZIC IS RECOVERING FROM CANCER SURGERY.

THE NEWS IS MADE MORE SIGNIFICANT DUE TO THE ONE-VOTE MARGIN IN THE SENATE.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE WEEK'S EVENTS, TONIGHT'S POLITICAL PANEL.

MELISA LÓPEZ FRANZEN JOINS US.

SHE WAS, UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE DFL SENATE MINORITY LEADER.

JAVIER MORILLO IS HERE, TOO.

HE'S A DEMOCRAT AND PARTY ACTIVIST.

REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH THIS WEEK, FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER GREGG PEPPIN, AND ANDY BREHM.

FORMER POLITICAL STAFFER AND PARTY ACTIVIST.

SENATOR LOPEZ FRANZEN, WHAT REALLY CONCERNING NEWS ABOUT SENATOR DZIEDZIC AND WE ALL OF COURSE HOPE SHE'LL BE OKAY.

WHAT DOES IT EAN FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SENATE?

>> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I LEFT HER A VOICE MESSAGE TODAY, I'VE GIVEN HER SOME SPACE.

, A A DEER FRIEND SO WE ALL WISH HER VERY WELL BUT A CRITICAL TIME IN THE JUNCTURE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION SO IT'S GOING TO BE TRICKY BUT CERTAINLY I KNOW THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ASSISTANT LEADERS ARE STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND I WOULDN'T EXPECT ANY LESS.

SO EVERYBODY'S STEPPING UP, I EVEN TOLD HER I WOULD BE WITH HER DURING THOSE LONG HOUR DEBATES IF I NEEDED TO HELP HER OUT SO WE'RE ALL HANDS ON DECK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS TRYING TO DO THE WORK OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND IT TAKES ALL OF US, SO WE'RE JUST PRAYING FOR HER.

>> Eric: IT'S-33 IN THE SENATE.

HAS THIS NEWS SHAKEN UP EXPECTATIONS OUT OF WHAT THE END PRODUCT MIGHT BE OF THE SESSION OR... >> YOU KNOW, I THINK SENATOR DZIEDZIC SO FAR HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF KEEPING DEMOCRATS TOGETHER ON BILLS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CONTROVERSIAL ND SO OBVIOUSLY HER ABSENCE, WHICH WE HOPE IS TEMPORARY, WILL BE FELT BUT I THINK EVERYONE'S FOCUSED ON HER HEALTH.

>> Eric: ANDY, IT'S KIND OFFERED A TIME-HONORED TRADITION IN THE CAPITOL THAT THE PARTY OUT OF POWER DOESN'T GET MUCH SAY ON WHAT'S GOING ON AND E'RE HEARING COMPLAINTS THAT THEY'RE NOT HEARING AMENDMENTS, THEY'RE NOT HEARING THEIR BILLS, WHAT'S THE LACK OF COOPERATION THERE?

>> WELL, ELECTIONS DO HAVE CONSEQUENCES, NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HAD A COUPLE OF STATE SENATE RACES GONE A DIFFERENT WAY BY A FEW HUNDRED VOTES, WE WOULD HAVE A VERY DIFFER OUTCOME AND I THINK WHAT MINNESOTANS WANT IS MODERATE GOVERNMENT AND WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT AT ALL, AND I THINK REPUBLICANS COMPROMISED ABOUT HALF THE STATE SO THE IDEA THAT HALF THE STATE HAS NO SAY IN THE PUBLIC POLICY OF THE STATE IS A PROBLEM, AND I THINK IT WILL -- I THINK IT'S GOING TO FARE POORLY FOR MINNESOTA.

I THINK WE HAVE VERY EXTREME POLICIES AND FOR THE DFL DOWN THE ROAD.

>> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THE REPUBLICAN ROLE HERE AS WE HEAD TOWARD -- >> YEAH, I THINK IN THEIR ZEST TO PASS LEGISLATION, THE DEMOCRATS ARE USING THEIR MAJORITY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IT'S JUST -- IT'S ONE AFTER THE OTHER AFTER THE OTHER, AND WHILE CERTAINLY ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, AS ANDY SAID, THEY'RE RUSHING THINGS THROUGH AT A PELL MEDICAL MACE.

YOU SAW JESSE VENTURE WHERE E.RAH WHO WENT ON A FILIBUSTER ABOUT MARIJUANA WHILE SOMEONE WHO HAD A VERY OMPELLING STORY TO TELL ABOUT THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA WAS SHUT OUT, SO THEY'RE IN SUCH A HURRY TO GET THEIR LEGISLATION THROUGH THAT THEY'RE GIVING SHORT SHIFT TO WHAT SHOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL CONVERSATION ATTENTION BY THEM AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

>> Eric: THERE WAS SOME PENT-UP DEMANDS AFTER THE REPUBLICANS HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE SENATE, IS THAT ONE OF THE REASONS FOR ALL THE ACTIVITY?

>> YES, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THERE ARE MORE REPUBLICANS BILLS BEING HEARD RIGHT NOW IN THIS SESSION LAP THE LACE SIX YEARS WHEN I WAS IN THE MINORITY.

SO THERE ARE CHANGES THERE AND THAT'S GOOD.

THE MODERATE DEMOCRATS THAT CAME IN, WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM BORDER COMMUNITIES LIKE ROB KUPEC, FROM MOORHEAD AREA, WE HAVE GRANT HAUSCHILD FROM THE DULUTH AREA, THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING WITH THOSE MODERATE VOICES AND YOU'RE SEEK THAT IN THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING MOVED, NOT AS QUICKLY AS PEOPLE THINK BECAUSE BIG LEGISLATION LIKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE IS STILL IN THE WORKS, I THINK IT'S GOING TO PASS, I THINK IT WILL BE GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE STATE BUT WE ARE TAKING THE TIME TO, YOU KNOW, VETS IT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS.

>> Cathy: SOME OF THE BIGGER BILLS ARE SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

LIKE I'M THINKING MARIJUANA, THE TAX REBATE, OF COURSE THAT COULD BE PART OF A TAX BILL AT THE ENDS THERE BUT SOME OF THE LARGER BILLS SEEM TO BE SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

>> I THINK A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT MOVED EARLY ARE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN DEBATED FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME AND OTHERS THAT NEED MORE DEBATE THAT IS HAPPENING.

I THINK WHAT WE SAW THIS WEEK IS THAT SENATE REPUBLICANS TOOK A PLAY BOOK IN NATIONAL REPUBLICANS, BEING OBSTRUCTIST.

CAN'T GET THEIR WAY SO THEY WON'T OTE FOR A BONDING BILL SO YOU HAVE CRITICAL PROJECTS, SENATOR DORNINK AND EICHORN WILL HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS WHY THEY WON'T HAVE THEIR SEWAGE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS FIXED AND SENATOR FARNSWORTH WILL HAVE TO PLAIN WHY THEY'RE DEFUNDING THE POLICE IN HIBBING NOW, THEY WON'T HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER FUNDED.

BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HOLD THE WHOLE THING HOSTAGE TO GETS WHAT THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH LEGISLATION.

>> IT'S CALLED COMPROMISE AND THE REASON THAT A BONDING BILL REQUIRES THE SUPER MAJORITIES IS SO THAT THERE'S COME PROMISE AND ALL REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING IS THAT MINNESOTA THAT HAS THE 6th HIGHEST INCOME TAX RATE IN THE COUNTRY, THAT OUR LOWEST TAX RATES REPRESENT THE HIGHEST TAX RATES IN 28 OTHER STATES, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOME TAX RELIEF FOR THE $17 BILLION DEFICIT.

EXCUSE ME, SURPLUS.

THAT'S A REASONABLE VIEW.

>> AND THEY ASKED FOR THAT TO GET TO THAT -- FOR THAT BILL -- A BILL TO COME OUT OF COMMITTEE THAT IT WAS VOTED OUT F COMMITTEE BY A DEMOCRAT WHO AGREED WITH THEM AND THEN THEY MOVED THE GOAL POST AND NOW WE'RE HOLDING THE BONDING BILL HOSTAGE.

>> Eric: WERE YOU INTRIGUED BY THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE SUGGESTION THIS WEEK THAT SOME PERMANENCY BE PLACED IN O.IN THE FACT -- IN FACT, IF THERE IS A SURPLUS, A PERCENTAGE OF IT GOES BACK TO MINNESOTANS, KIND OF AGE AUTOMATIC THING?

>> I THINK THAT'S A FAIR DISCUSSION TO HAVE.

I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW IS WHENEVER THERE IS A SURPLUS, THAT SOME GOES TO THE RAINY DAY FUND, SOME GOES TO THE SURPLUS AND SO I THINK IT'S LEGITIMATE TO SAY, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, PUT SOME IN THE PIGGY BANK TO SAVE FOR DOWN TIME, LET'S MAKE SURE THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA, THE TAXPAYERS OF MINNESOTA, THE FAMILIES GET A LITTLE SLICE OF THAT, AS WELL.

I THINK IT'S A COMPELLING ARGUMENT.

>> Eric: I KNOW DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO SPENDS BUT WHAT'S YOUR VISION OF WHAT THE TAX RELIEF BILL IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AT THE END?

>> WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE GOALS OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW IS TO HAVE THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY, AND RIGHT NOW, TODAY, WAS THE SIGNING OF THE BILL TO FEED KIDS, FEED CHILDREN.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THE PICTURE OF THAT CEREMONY BUT IT WAS ADORABLE, THESE LITTLE KIDS HUGGING THE GOVERNOR.

THAT IS WHAT THE VISION IS FOR OUR STATE.

WHY IS THAT A BAD THING?

WE'RE TRYING TO FEEDS EVERY SINGLE CHILD IN MINNESOTA SO THEY CAN LEARN.

SO WE'LL SEE MORE OF THAT TYPE OF THEME THROUGHOUT THE SESSION.

>> Eric: BUT TAX CUTS, IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY?

>> I AM NOT IN THE LEGISLATURE, I DO NOT HOLD THOSE KEYS RIGHT NOW BUT I WILL TELL YOU -- >> Eric: YOU DO HAVE SOME SPECULATION.

>> THERE'S TALK ABOUT THE REBATE COLLECTION THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD BEFORE SO THAT'S STILL IN PLAY.

THERE'S LOTS OF REASONS AND LOTS OF WAYS TO GIVE BACK.

BONDING IS A HUGE ONE, TO BRING BACK NOT ONLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUT JOBS IN THOSE DISTRICTS AND WE'VE SAID NO FOR THREE YEARS, THIS WOULD BE THE FOURTH YEAR WITHOUT A BONDING BILL AND THAT IS JUST OBSTRUCTIONIST AND NOT GOOD FOR OUR STATE.

>> WELL, I THINK, I MEAN, AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE THEME OF THAT, WHY ARE REPUBLICANS AGAINST -- OF COURSE REPUBLICANS ARE OT AGAINST PROVIDING MEALS FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT BUT WEALTHY FAMILIES DON'T NEED THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THEIR LUNCHES.

AND SO GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT BUT WE HEAR GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT.

WELL, THE BONDING BILL CREATES JOBS.

ACTUALLY, WHAT CREATES JOKES IS A VIBRANT PRIVATE SECTOR OF PRIVATE BUSINESSES INVESTING IN THE STATE AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE FLAILING BECAUSE OUR ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT KNOT COMPETITIVE SO WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING WE NEED STRUCTURAL TAX CUTS REDUCING THE BOTTOM AND MIDDLE TAX RATES PERMANENTLY SO THAT THE STATE BECOMES MORE COMPETITIVE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT HELPS A FAMILY.

THAT'S WHAT CREATES JOBS NOT GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT.

>> Cathy: SAY, WE STARTED THE HOUR TALKING ABOUT SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL LINE IN THAT THE SECONDS OF FOUR AUDITS, LEGISLATIVE AUDITS AND IT LOOKS LIKE A MESS SO I'M WONDERING, IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THE MET COUNCIL SHOULD BE REFORMED?

SHOULD COUNCILORS BE ELECTED?

I MEAN, DO YOU NEED A MET COUNCIL AT THIS POINT?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE, I AMONG THEM, THINK THAT THE MET COUNCIL SHOULD BE REFORMED AND I THINK -- THERE ARE SOME PROPOSALS OUT THERE PRECISELY FOR THE POSITIONS TO BE ELECTED.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S THE PARTICULAR REFORM THAT IS NEEDED BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT WITH THIS PROJECT, IN OTHER WORDS, THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK, GREG?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST A BOONDOGGLE BEYOND ALL BOONDOGGLES AND IT WENT FROM 1.2 BILLION AND TO BE DONE IN 2018, TO 2 BILLION TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR IN 2023, NOW IT'S 2.8 BILLION TO BE COMPLETED IN 2027, WE THINK.

I PUTS THE RESPONSIBILITIES FRANKLY ON THE DOORSTEP OF SENATOR DIBBLE AND REPRESENTATIVE HORNSTEIN.

THEY HAVE 40 YEARS AT THE CAPITOL, CUMULATIVELY, WHERE THEY'VE BEEN THE CHAIRS OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, ON AND OFF, AND THEY HAVE HAD PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO OVERSEE THIS PROJECT.

THEY'VE BEEN THE BIGGEST BACKERS, THE BIGGEST PUSHERS OF SOUTHWEST LIGHT AIL.

WHERE WERE THEY WHEN ALL OF THIS WAS TAKING PLACE?

I THINK THEY'RE THE ONES-AND NOW THEIR REFORM IS, ET'S ELECTS A MET COUNCIL.

IF THEY THINK THAT ELECTING 16 LIBERALISTS TO THE MET COUNCIL IS GOING TO SOLVE SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL, THEY'RE SADLY MISTAKEN.

>> Eric: WHERE ARE YOU ON THE RANKED CHOICE VOTING?

>> I WAS THERE AT THE CAPITOL TODAY SUPPORTING THE RALLY AND CONGRESSMAN -- MAYOR -- FROM ALASKA CAME TO SHOWCASE HOW SHE GOT ELECTED IN ALASKA.

I THINK IT'S A DEBATE THAT NEEDS TO BE VETTED AGAIN THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS.

WE PASSED TWO MORE COMMITTEE STONES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE TODAY.

I THINK THERE'S PROMISE.

WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S RIGHT SO WE DON'T GO BACK AND HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, LOSE TRUCE IN OUR ELECTIONS.

WE HAVE GREAT ELECTIONS BUT WE WANT TO PLAYING THEM BETTER AND BRINGING EVERYONE'S VOICES TO THE TABLE, LEGS RHETORIC, MORE PROBLEM-SOLVING I THINK IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE PROBLEM IT'S SUPPOSED TO SOLVE?

>> ONE PROBLEM IT SOLVES IS THAT LO TURNOUT PRIMARIES ARE A LOT LIKE -- A LOT LESS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE AS A WHOLE THAN GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE AND SO IT GIVES MORE PEOPLE A VOICE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT AND A MUCH MORE DIVERSE GROUP OF VOTERS.

>> WELL, FOR STARTERS, I MEANING RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS INCREDIBLY UNPOPULAR IN THE STATE OF INNESOTA, ABOUT 33% OF VOTERS FAVOR IT.

IT TENDS TO REWARDS EXTREMIST CANDIDATES, IT HAS -- TAKES AWAY THE MODERATING EFFECTS THAT OUR CURRENTS WAY OF VOTING DOES BUT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHY DEMOCRATS ARE FOR IT.

IN ALASKA, FOR EXAMPLE, 60% OF THE STATE VOTED FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES AND YET THEY'RE REPRESENTED IN CONGRESS BY A DEMOCRAT.

SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY DEMOCRATS LIKE IT.

>> BECAUSE ALASKAN VOTERS WERE REJECTING THE STREAMISTS.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT POLLS YOU'RE WATCHING BECAUSE THE ONES WE'RE SEEING ARE QUITE THE CARRY ABOUT THE POPULARITY, PEOPLE JUST NEED TO BE MORE EDUCATED ON THE ISSUE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS TO EDUCATE MINNESOTANS.

>> Cathy: LAST WORDS WITH GREG.

>> IT'S A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.

>> Eric: YOU'RE MIX ITSELF IT UP NOW AND WE'RE OUT O