Week in Politics | Bonding and More

>> Eric: HOW FAST ARE THINGS GOING AT THE CAPITOL?

A BONDING BILL CTUALLY PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

BONDING, ALSO KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC WORKS BILL, IS OUCH DONE IN THE DYING HOURS OF THE SESSION LATE IN MAY.

WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT POLITICS FOR THE NEXT TEN MINUTES OR SO.

HERE TO HELP US DO THAT REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH, LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST AND PODCAST HOST BRIAN MCDANIEL AND FORMER STATE SENATOR FRITZ FRITZ KNAAK.

DEMOCRATS WITH US KARLA BIGHAM AND JANAE BATES IS HERE, ORGANIZER WHO WORKS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC ISSUES.

SENATOR KNAK YOU WERE PART OF THE MINORITY IN THE STATE SENATE.

>> YES, I WAS.

>> Eric: WHEN YOU COULD FLEX YOUR MUSCLES WAS IN THE BONDING BILL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Eric: WHICH TAKES A 50% VOTE TO PASS.

NOW, CAN YOU KIND OF WEAVE THAT -- OUR EXPERIENCE OR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW WITH THE SENATE 34-33?

>> WELL, IT'S A REAL INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR REPUBLICANS AT SOME LEVEL TO DENY THAT THEY HAD A DEAL LAST YEAR.

I MEAN, THEY WENT IN, THEY HAD THEIR DEAL.

IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY ALL GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

BUT THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT THEY'VE GOTH GOT IT YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THAT MONEY, $17 BILLION, AND A REAL QUESTION HAS TO GET ASKED.

WHY ARE WE SPENDING MONEY ON INTEREST FOR PROJECTS WHEN WE HAVE CASH IN THE BANK, SO TO SPEAK, TO VOTE ON THOSE PROJECTS?

AND SO THERE'S A STRONG I THINK INCENTIVE FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, WE NEED THOSE PROJECTS, WE NEED THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, WHAT WE DON'T NEED IS TO BE PAYING INTEREST ON THE MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING IN ORDER TO BUILD THEM SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE DYNAMIC ENDS UP BEING IN THAT.

>> I TOO SPENT FIVE YEARS IN THE MINORITY SO I HEAR YOU, SENATOR KNAAK.

I WOULD SAY THAT RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME WHERE WE NEED THESE JOBS.

WE HAVE THE SPACE TO PASS A ROBUST BONDING BILL.

I THINK IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE WHEN THERE WAS SUCH BROAD REPUBLICAN SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE COMING OVER.

CHAIR PAPPAS DID A WONDERFUL JOB TODAY SENDING IT OUT OF FINANCE AND ONTO THE SENATE FLOOR.

SO YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE REASON TO STOP THE PROGRESS TO INVEST IN OUR ROADS, OUR BRIDGES, OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALONE ARE WORTH IT.

AND I KNOW THE REPUBLICANS WANT A TAX BILL BUT THAT'S UP TO THE HOUSE.

THAT'S WHERE THAT STARTS, SO I HOPE THEY DO HAVE A VOTE ON IT VERY, VERY SOON.

>> WELL, BUT THE PROBLEM IS YOU LOSE YOUR LEVERAGE.

I MEAN, IF YOU WAIT ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF WAITING 'TIL THE END FOR A BONDING BILL ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY IS YOU CAN KIND OF WAIT AND SEE AND SAY, WELL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A FEW OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

>> I MEAN, I THINK THOUGH WE'RE ALSO FINDING, MINNESOTANS ARE FINDING THE PACE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW A LITTLE WOBBLY BUT ALSO LIKE EXCITING BECAUSE FOR TOO LONG WE WERE FACING GRIDLOCK.

AND SO YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE WAS A DEAL AND I THINK MANY MINNESOTANS FELT WE GAVE TOO MUCH AWAY IN THAT DEAL THAT ENDED UP FALLING THROUGH ANYWAY.

SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT BOTH D.F.L.ERS AND THE G.O.P.

ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH.

>> Eric: THE FOLKS THAT YOU WORK WITH, GROUPS THAT YOU WORK WITH, ARE THEY SATISFIED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THAT AGENDA?

>> ON THE BONDING BILL?

>> Eric: WELL, NO, JUST SORT OF ON THE GENERAL ISSUES.

IT'S BEEN ISSUES, NOT BUDGET YET.

>> YES, YES, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT MOST CERTAINLY A LOT OF THESE GREAT AND AMAZING POLICIES THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN STUCK FOR SO LONG.

ACTUALLY MOVING.

>> WELL, I THINK ONE THING THAT THE ELECTORATE IS THIRSTY FOR IS BIPARTISANSHIP.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CHAIRMAN FUE LEE AND MINORITY LEAD DEAN URDAHL.

>> Eric: WAS T 21 REPUBLICANS?

>> 21 REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR THIS BILL.

IT WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL.

OF COURSE WHAT ELSE IS BIPARTISAN IS ELIMINATING THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

THAT ALSO IS SOMETHING THAT IS BIPARTISAN.

AND IN THE SPIRIT F COMPROMISE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GIVE UP SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T LIKE.

AND I THINK THAT WE'RE IN A POSITION NOW WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAVE -- A LOT OF TIMES I SAY IT'S HARD TO NEGOTIATE WITH REPUBLICANS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING.

WELL YOU KNOW WHAT?

THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT RIGHT NOW AND THIS CAN COME TOGETHER AND I HOPE THAT IT DOES.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HOLDING OUT FOR VOTES ON THE BONDING BILLS THAT WITH $17 BILLION THE DEMOCRATS CAN JUST DO A BILLION-DOLLAR CASH BILL THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY REPUBLICAN PROJECTS IN IT.

THE BILL THAT PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE HAS VERY IMPORTANT REPUBLICAN PROJECTS IN IT THAT WE SHOULD FIGHT FOR.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY.

THAT WAS HEARD IN HOUSE TAXES THIS WEEK.

BUT NO VOTE WAS TAKEN.

SO DOES THIS THING HAVE LEGS OR NOT?

>> I'D HAVE TO SAY FROM WHAT I'M SEEING IT DEFINITELY DOES.

AND I WOULD ANTICIPATE, IN FACT, THAT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IT WILL PASS JUST BECAUSE LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, THERE'S NOT REALLY, WELL, THERE'S SUPPORT ON BOTH SIDES, THERE'S OPPOSITION ON BOTH SIDES TOO OF COURSE, BUT I THINK THERE'S A REASONABLE CHANCE THAT IT WILL PASS.

>> I VOTED FOR FULL REPEALS, I VOTED FOR RAISING THE CAP SO THAT MORE SENIORS AREN'T TAXED ON IT.

LOOK, I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES ON BOTH SIDES OF IT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY SOCIAL SECURITY WAS NOT MEANT TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS MEANT TO GIVE MONEY TO OUR SENIORS.

AND SO THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO DO THIS AND ALL EYES ON THE SENATE ARE SHOWING.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO A FULL REPEAL BECAUSE DEMOCRATS RAN ON IT AND THEY SHOULD PASS THE FULL REPEAL TO MOVE ON AND GIVE THE SENIORS THE RELIEF.

AND IT'S A HUGE POLITICAL VICTORY, SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY DO, THEY DO THE FULL REPEAL.

>> SO I WANT TO PUSH BACK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS THIS PARTICULAR LIKE JUST FULL DEMOLISHING OF THAT PARTICULAR TAX I THINK IS WE HAVE TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS, IT IS ACTUALLY JUST A -- IT'S A HUGE CUT FOR THE WEALTHIEST RETIREES IN MINNESOTA.

AND THE REALITY IS IS THAT THAT 1.7 -- I'M SORRY, $1.3 BILLION IS REALLY JUST GOING TO GO TO THE WEALTHIEST SENIORS.

70% OF THAT GOES TO HEM.

WE'RE TALKING $2,000, YOU KNOW, $2,000 A YEAR FOR FOLKS MAKING A QUARTER-MILLION.

>> WELL, IT'S THEIR ONEY.

I MEAN, THEY'VE EARNED THIS MONEY.

THE STATE -- I MEAN THE GOVERNMENT TOOK IT WITH THE PROMISE OF WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO YOU AT SOME POINT.

AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO CUTS IT SHOULD BENEFIT THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST, BUT THIS MORE THAN ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT JUST SAYING, AH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR MONEY AND MAYBE WE'LL GIVE T BACK TO YOU IF WE LIKE YOU.

THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.

>> AND TAX YOU AGAIN ON IT.

SEE, THE SENIORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAXED ON IT.

SO I ALSO THINK THE ECONOMIC INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT THIS MONEY WILL PROVIDE WILL, YOU KNOW, BE A STIMULUS TO OUR ECONOMY.

SO I, AGAIN, I THINK IT WILL HAPPEN JUST THE ABILITY TO GET A TAX BILL THROUGH I BELIEVE A FULL REPEAL.

>> I JUST WANT TO NAME THAT I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING THIS BUT IT'S A UNIVERSAL BENEFIT, RIGHT?

THAT MAYBE WE'RE ALL PAYING MAYBE 2 TO 5% IN, RIGHT?

SO WE ARE LARGELY GETTING A LOT BACK MORE THAN WE PUT INTO IT WHICH MEANS WE ACTUALLY AREN'T GETTING DOUBLE TAXED.

THE SYSTEM WAS CREATED IN A WAY IN WHICH DOUBLE TAXING DOESN'T HAPPEN AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS IS A UNIVERSAL BENEFIT AND MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T TURN INTO A REGRESSIVE ISSUE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE SENIORS WHO NEED IT THE MOST WHO ARE NOT BENEFITING FROM THIS TAX CUT AT ALL, 60% OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY DON'T GET TAXED ALREADY.

>> Eric: MARIJUANA, PETER HAD A GOOD STORY IN MINNPOST.

THE BILL'S BEING REWRITTEN CAN CONCERNS WITH THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

>> YEAH, YOU CAN'T MESS WITH THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

YOU REALLY CAN'T.

IT IS SUCH A VERSATILE PRODUCT THAT IS SO SUSTAINABLE, WONDERFUL JOBS IN THAT.

LOOK, THERE'S A WAY TO DO THIS THAT'S A WIN-WIN FOR BOTH.

IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

IT'S A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE, IT'S AN ECONOMIC ISSUE.

IT'S A LIBERTY ISSUE IN GENERAL AND WE JUST NEED TO PASS THIS, IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AND DISCUSSED AND DISCUSSED AND I THINK IT'S POSSIBLY GOING TO BE NEXT SESSION BY THE TIME THEY GET DONE WITH IT.

IT'S VERY COMPLICATED.

I THINK THERE'S CONCERNS FROM SOME PEOPLE BUT, OH, MY GOSH, SENATOR PORT AND REPRESENTATIVE STEPHENSON DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB OF SHEPHERDING THIS THROUGH, HAVING TRANSPARENT CONVERSATIONS WHICH IS WHAT MINNESOTANS ASKED FOR, SO KEEP IT UP.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK IT NEEDS TO BE PASSED?

>> NO.

IN A WORD.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF EOPLE THAT WANT IT PASSED AND THERE'S MONEY FOR THE STATE.

BUT THERE'S ALSO CONCERN ABOUT LARGE AMOUNT OF CANNABIS SUDDENLY FLOODING THE MARKETS.

AND A LOT OF ISSUES HAVE BEEN RAISED BY THE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY INDUSTRY AND HE REST SAYING, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, SLOW DOWN A BIT.

LET'S SEE WHAT THE IMPACT IS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONCENTRATIONS THAT WERE HIGHER THAN PERHAPS WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON THE STREETS.

>> Eric: YOU GOT A CLIENT ON THIS ONE?

>> THIS TOUCHES EVERYBODY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

LOT OF COMMITTEES, LOT OF CLIENTS.

THIS IS SOMETHING -- I MEAN, IT'S GONNA PASS.

WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE IT'S PROPERLY REGULATED.

AND WHILE I THINK SLOWING IT DOWN IS IMPORTANT, WE HAVE LOOKED AT A LOT OF OTHER STATES TO SEE WHAT THEY'VE DONE RIGHT AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE WRONG BUT WE ALSO CAN'T REFER YET, THERE HAS TO BE SOME LOCAL CONTROL AS WELL.

>> Eric: JANAE, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS, I THINK THE WORRY IS THAT BIG MARIJUANA IS GOING TO COME IN.

>> MM-HMM.

>> Eric: AND I THINK THE INTENT IS TO HAVE LICENSES FOR LIKE YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH, SMALL COMMUNITIES, SMALL BUSINESS.

>> Eric: AND I WONDER IF THAT'S GOING TO GET SWAMPED BY BIG POT COMING IN.

>> I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME REAL INTENTIONALLY MOVING ALONG THIS PROCESS TO DO JUST THAT.

MOST CERTAINLY THIS IS GOING TO BE A RACIAL EQUITY ISSUE, SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE AS KARLA NAMED.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE WITH THAT INTENTIONALITY OF DOING THAT.

>> Cathy: SAY, WHAT HAPPENED TO SPORTS BETTING?

IS THAT AROUND ANYWAY?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> DID SOMEBODY SAY SPORTS BETTING?

>> Eric: YOU'RE THE GODMOTHER OF SPORTS BETTING.

>> SENATOR KLEIN AND AGAIN SENATOR STEPHENSON ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB.

IT IS MOVING.

I THOUGHT THE HEARINGS THIS WEEK HAVE GONE REALLY WELL.

AGAIN, A VERY TRANSPARENT.

>> Cathy: BUT TALK ABOUT THE POWER OF THE TRIBAL NATIONS N THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY, BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TRACKS AS WELL BEFORE THIS PROCEEDS.

I THINK THE SENATE, AGAIN, ALL EYES ON SENATE WITH THIS, BUT I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THE TRANSPARENCY THAT SENATOR KLEIN AND REPRESENTATIVE STEPHENSON HAVE DONE ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL, MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, GETTING ALL THE INPUT N AND I THINK REPRESENTATIVE TABKE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT REALLY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.

HE HAS CANTERBURY IN HIS DISTRICT, SO JUST KEEP THE DISCUSSIONS GOING.

THERE WILL BE AN AGREEMENT.

I THINK THAT HAPPENS THIS YEAR.

>> I'M CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO MENTION PAT GAROFALO RIGHT NOW.

[ LAUGHTER ] IN THE HOUSE.

>> Eric: OH, THE GODFATHER.

>> MY COLLEGE BUDDY.

BUT THIS IS ANOTHER THING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

AND I HINK THE ELECTION MADE IT PROBABLY EASIER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT LIKE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT BUT DIVIDED GOVERNMENT'S NOT ALWAYS GOOD FOR PASSING THINGS.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER THING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER STATES WE CAN SEE WHAT HAS WORKED WHAT HAS NOT WORKED BUT THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

AND ALL WE'RE DOING IT MISSING OUT ON MONEY.

>> -- IN THE LIVING ROOM IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE TRIBES CONTRIBUTEDED PRIMARILY TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD AND WHICH IS AN ISSUE THAT HASN'T BEEN FULLY EXPLORED YET.

IF THIS BREEZES THROUGH LIKE SO MUCH HAS, THERE WAS BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS