Week in Politics | Budget Surplus and Voting Rights

>> ERIC: LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO STAY BUSY IN ST. PAUL.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS INCLUDED A NEW STATE BUDGET FORECAST, DEBATES ABOUT CANNABIS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND FOREVER CHEMICALS, AND A BILL SIGNING RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS.

LET'S CATCH UP ON ALL THINGS POLITICAL WITH A QUADRIGA OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS.

DEMOCRATS GO FIRST SINCE THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF THE STATE CAPITOL.

SUSAN KENT IS THE FORMER SENATE MINORITY LEADER.

NO LONGER IN OFFICE, SHE STILL FOLLOWS THE LEGISLATURE CLOSELY.

HERE, TOO, IS LAWYER AND FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER ABOU AMARA.

REPRESENTING REPUBLICANS TONIGHT, BRIAN MCCLUNG.

NOW IN THE P.R.

BUSINESS, HE'S A FORMER TIM PAWLENTY STAFFER.

ANNETTE MEEKS IS HERE.

SHE'S THE FOUNDER OF THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

IS AABOU, YOU ARE TOUTING THE SESSION SO FAR AS THE MOST PRODUCTIVE HALF SESSION IN MINNESOTA HISTORY?

>> WITHOUT QUESTION.

TEN YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS AT THE CAPITOL, WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS DONE.

THEY ARE SHOWING THAT THEY'RE DOING WAY MORE THAN WE EVER DID.

AND SO I THINK IT'S THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN MINNESOTA HISTORY.

>> Cathy: ANNETTE, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> SADLY, I THINK IT IS FOR THEM PROBABLY THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL.

I THINK IT'S BUNCH OF PENT-UP DEMANDS FROM A BUNCH OF THEIR SPECIAL INTERESTS AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF LEAVING ANYTHING ON THE LEGISLATURE.

THEY'RE JUST GOING TO PASS IT ALL AND HOPE IT'S WRITTEN WELL, WHICH IT'S NOT, AND HOPE THAT IT SURVIVES COURT CHALLENGES.

IT WON'T.

AND JUST HOPE FOR THE BEST AS THEY MOVE IT AS FAST AS THEY CAN.

>> Cathy: I BELIEVE YOU MIGHT WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT.

>> LOOK, THESE AREN'T ABOUT COURT CHALLENGES.

THIS IS ABOUT WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.

AND FOR TEN YEARS MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THINGS FOR AFFORDABLE AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.

MIND YOU, THE BIGGEST TAX CUT IN MINNESOTA HISTORY IS BEING PROPOSED BY THIS GOVERNOR.

YOU'RE SEEING MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION AND LOWER PROPERTY TAXES.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR, FOR A DECADE.

IT'S BEEN STALLED BY REPUBLICANS.

>> Eric: LET ME TRY THIS SIDE.

BRIAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO SLOW DOWN A LOT NOW.

DEMOCRATS ONLY HAVE THAT ONE-VOTE MAJORITY IN THE STATE SENATE.

AND I KNOW ABOU'S EXCITED ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOTTEN DONE.

I DO NOT THINK THAT HAVING A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY THAT YOU WON BY 200 VOTES IS A MANDATE.

I THINK THAT MINNESOTANS ACTUALLY WANT PEOPLE AT THE CAPITOL TO GET THINGS DONE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY AND TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT SO FAR.

THE DEMOCRATS REALLY HAVE NOT BEEN LISTENING TO REPUBLICANS AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES.

I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME ISSUES COMING UP.

FOR EXAMPLE, COMPLETELY REPEALING THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

WHERE YOU MIGHT SEE THAT COME INTO PLAY.

BUT THUS FAR, IT REALLY HAS BEEN A ONE-PARTY PUSH.

>> Eric: SENATOR, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU IN THIS CONTEXT, THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HOUSE, THEY RUN EVERY TWO YEARS, SENATORS, EVERY FOUR YEARS.

HOW DOES THAT DYNAMIC PLAY INTO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN EVEN WITH JUST ONE PARTY IN CONTROL.

>> YOU KNOW, HONESTLY AS I LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON, AND I TALK TO PEOPLE THAT I'M STILL IN KUCH WITH OVER THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY HEARD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT AT THE DOORS.

YOU KNOW, I WAS IN FOR TEN YEARS.

I WAS IN THE MAJORITY FOR FOUR YEARS, I WAS IN THE MINORITY FOR SIX YEARS, AND I WATCHED THE GRIDLOCK HAPPEN.

AND MINNESOTANS ARE TIRED OF IT.

AND THEY WANT SENATORS TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES THAT MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER.

HOUSING, PROPERTY TAXES, EDUCATION, CHILD CARE, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THE LEGISLATURE'S FOCUSED ON.

>> I JUST HAVE TO SAY I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE MEMBER OF THE 201 THAT WERE ELECTED THIS PAST NOVEMBER THAT HEARD SOMEBODY SAY, PLEASE INCREASE OUR STATE BUDGET BY 25%.

I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE OUT FOR THAT LEVEL OF OF OUTRAGEOUS SPENDING BEING PROPOSED BY THIS GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE'S GOING AROUND -- IT'S NOT ONLY UNSUSTAINABLE, IT'S UNDESIRABLE.

>> Eric: D.F.L.

OVERREACH A POCKET?

>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT OVERREACH.

THIS IS ABOUT LISTENING TO WHAT MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.

THE PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN US CONTROL OF ALL OF GOVERNMENT.

AND WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?

LET'S NOT DO THE THINGS THAT MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR?

I JUST REJECT THAT PREMISE.

WE HAVE A HISTORIC SURPLUS, A HISTORIC MAJORITY AND LET'S DO SOME HISTORIC HINGS.

>> I KEEP HEARING THIS TALK ABOUT TAX BREAKS AND I WANT TO SEE THEM -- >> READ THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

>> HERE'S THE THING, THOUGH, WE HAVE A 17.5 BILLION, OR $19 BILLION SURPLUS, HOWEVER YOU LOOK AT IT.

MINNESOTA IS NONCOMPETITIVE IN BASICALLY EVERY TAX CATEGORY.

YOU KNOW, MOST STATES THEY MIGHT HAVE ONE TAX THAT'S HIGH BUT THE REST ARE LOW.

IN MINNESOTA, HIGH SALES TAX, HIGH INCOME TAX, HIGH PROPERTY TAX, DOWN THE LINE, AND THIS GOVERNOR IS NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT FUNDAMENTAL TAX RELIEF AND TAX REFORM.

REPUBLICANS HAVE PUT OUT A PLAN, $13 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF, REALLY MONEY BACK TO MINNESOTANS.

AND I THINK MOST MINNESOTANS SAID, WITH $19 BILLION IN SURPLUS, IF YOU CAN'T GIVE US REAL TAX RELIEF NOW, WHEN CAN YOU?

>> Eric: GO AHEAD, SENATOR.

>> THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THAT SURPLUS IS AS WE KNOW ONE-TIME MONEY THAT DOES NOT LEND ITSELF WELL TO TAX CUTS WITHOUT MAKING THEM BIG TAX CUTS TO THE WEALTHY AND REALLY POCKET CHANGE TO WORKING AND MINNESOTA FAMILIES WHO WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE RELIEF ON THE EXPENSE OF CHILD CARE, FOREVER, AND RELIEF ON THEIR HOUSING COSTS.

SO I MEAN, THIS IS A COMMON SENSE PLAN THAT FOCUSES ON THE NEEDS OF WORKING MINNESOTANS.

>> BUT HERE'S THE DEAL.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE BOTH PROPOSED FAX CUTS.

THE QUESTIONS ARE, WHO IS IT FOR?

DEMOCRATS HAVE PROPOSED CUTTING TAXES FOR MIDCAL CLASS FAMILIES.

REPUBLICANS HAVE PROPOSED CUTTING TAXES FOR BILLIONAIRES THAT DON'T LEGISLATIVE IN MINNESOTA.

>> THE TRUTH IS, REPUBLICANS PUT FORTH A REALLY GOOD TAX PROPOSAL THAT CUTS THE FIRST TWO RATES THAT EVERYBODY PAYS.

AND THAT'S REALLY A GOOD WAY OF GETTING US STARTED TO BECOMING A COMPETITIVE STATE.

AS BRIAN SAID, WE'RE NOT COMPETITIVE WITH ANYBODY EXCEPT CALIFORNIA.

>> THEN WHY DO WE HAVE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN AMERICA?

WHY DO WE HAVE THE MOST FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES PER CAPITA THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY?

GLESES HOW ABOUT THE REBATES -- >> Cathy: HOW ABOUT THE REBATES, BY THE WAY?

WILL THAT BE PART OF AN ULTIMATE TAX BILL AT THE VERY END?

>> WELL, LET'S HOPE SO, BUT WE DO EE THAT THE D.F.L.

LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE IS LUKEWARM AT BEST ON THOSE TAX REBATES.

AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THAT'S ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT GOVERNOR WALZ'S BUDGET.

IS HE DOES WANT TO GIVE SOME MONEY ACK.

I THINK IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

BUT THAT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT HE CAN BRING THE DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE ALONG BECAUSE I REALLY DO THINK WITH A BUDGET SURPLUS THIS SIZE, YES, SOME OF THAT IS ONE-TIME MONEY, SO A ONE-TIME REBATE IS A OKAY USE OF SOME OF THAT.

>> Cathy: SENATOR KENT IS WHY HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP LUKEWARM TO THE REBATE CHECKS?

>> I JUST THINK THERE ARE WAYS -- IT IS A SHORT-TERM LITTLE CONTRIBUTION TO PEOPLE'S BOTTOM LINES WHEN THEY KNOW IF WE CAN MAKE SOME REAL INVESTMENTS IN SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE ONGOING, REGULAR, AND SERIOUS COSTS TO FAMILIES, CHILD CARE, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

>> Eric: I WANT TO SHIFT GEARS A LITTLE BIT TO THE STATE PARTY'S DIRECTION.

THE MINNESOTA G.O.P., FINED $100,000 BY THE F.E.C.

FOR SOME SLOPPILY BOOK KEEPING.

AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT THEN THE MINNESOTA DFL PARTY IS HOLDING A MID-SESSION FUNDRAISER FOR THE PARTIED?

BUT NOT FOR NDIVIDUAL LAWMAKERS?

OR THE CAUCUSES.

AND SO IT'S LEGAL?

OR -- WHO WANTS TO HELP ME WITH THIS.

>> 'LL START WITH THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE DAVID HANN IS KIND OF THE LIKE THE GUY YOU SEE AT THE CIRCUS WHO HAS TO CLEAN UP AFTER THE ELEPHANTS.

>> Eric: THE NEW CHAIR.

>> RIGHT, AND UNFORTUNATELY ALL OF THESER ERRORS OCCURRED UNDER THE PREVIOUS CHAIR, NOT UNDER DAVID HANN.

HE IS A REMARKABLY CONSCIENTIOUS CHAIRMAN AND HAS DONE A GOOD JOB.

WITH THAT SAID, I THINK WITH THE D.F.L.

DID WAS SKIRTING THE LAW AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WALKING RIGHT UP TO THAT CLIFF AT THE GRAND CANYON AND LOOKING OVER IT IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS -- >> Eric: BECAUSE LAWMAKERS CAN'T RAISE MONEY DURING A SESSION.

>> RIGHT, AND YET THEY DID.

>> Eric: WHAT'S OING ON HERE, ABOU.

>> AS THE LAWYER ON THE PANEL, WE FOLLOWED THE LAW.

AND ANOTHER INSTANCE, REPUBLICANS WERE FINED FOR VIOLATING THE LAW.

>> FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> MY POINT REMAINING, IS THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAD VIOLATED NO LAWS.

IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THIS, GO FACULTY TO YOUR LEGISLATOR AND SEE IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE LAW.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE COMPLYING WITH MINNESOTA'S CAMPAIGN LAW.

>> WHEN YOU DO A FUNDRAISER AT A HOTEL THAT'S A BLOCK FROM THE CAPITOL AND YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SHUTTLE BUSES TO AND FROM THE CAPITOL AND YOU HAVE THE LEADERSHIP AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THERE, THAT'S WHAT MINNESOTANS WORRY ABOUT WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT MONEY ND POLITICS COMING TOGETHER.

SO, YES, I AGREE WITH YOU.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S CLEARLY LEGAL UNDER THE LAW.

BUT IS IT ADVISABLE?

I THINK NOT.

>> I REMEMBER NOT THAT LONG AGO WHEN I WAS THE CAUCUS LEADER AND WE WERE HAVING SPECIAL SESSIONS EVERY FIVE MINUTES DURING COVID, THERE WAS A BIG BOAT PARTY FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

I THINK THE DAY AFTER THE SPECIAL SESSION.

SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS IS -- IT IS FOLLOWING THE LAW.

>> THAT'S IGHT.

>> Cathy: SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME ISSUES ON THE FLOOR.

A BONDING BILL IS GOING TO BE ON THE FLOOR EVIDENTLY ON MONDAY WHAT THE HECK?

>> THEY ALMOST HAD A BONDING BILL LAST YEAR.

AND FUNDAMENTAL AGREED TO BY BOTH PARTIES LAST YEAR.

SO THEY'RE WORKING OFF OF THAT AS THE STARTING POINT.

OF COURSE THE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES SINCE THEN.

BUT THAT'S THE FOUNDATION OF IT.

THEY'VE HAD HEARINGS.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BRINGING IT TO THE FLOOR.

I THINK, THOUGH, IT'S SAFE TO SAY AT THIS POINT, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH REPUBLICAN VOTES TO PASS IT.

IT TAKES 11 REPUBLICANS IN THE HOW FAST, 7 REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE TO GET TO THAT 60% SIEWN MAJORITY, IT IS THE MAIN LEVERAGE POINT THAT MINORITY APPARENTS HAVE AT THE LEGISLATURE.

SO I WOULD NOT EXPECT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

BUT I THINK DEMOCRATS WANT TO TRY TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON.

>> Eric: INSTEAD OF BORROWING, >> WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

THE FORECAST CAME OUT THIS WEEK.

THAT IS THE OFFICIAL START OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS.

AND THERE'S JUST GOING TO BE A BIG CONVERSATION ABOUT ALL OF THESE ISSUES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT I WILL SAY, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT A BONDING BILL IN MARCH.

INSTEAD OF THROWING IT ONTO THE LEGISLATIVE FLOOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON THE LAST DAY.

>> Cathy:>> THEY CAN TALK ABOUT IT ALL THEY WANT IN MARCH BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO PROCESS.

>> IT'S A PROCESS.

>> RIGHT.

TO HAVE A VOICE, AND SAY HERE'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN THE BONDING BILL AND SEE IF THEY CAN'T MOVE IT FORWARD THAT WAY.

>> BEFORE YOU RUN A MARATHON, YOU BETTER STRETCH.

AND I HINK THIS IS A STRETCH OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMOCRATS TO SHOW WHAT THE BONDING BILL'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

IS THERE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE APPETITE FROM REPUBLICANS?

>> Eric: THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE GOAL IS TO MAKE MINNESOTA THE BEST STATE TO RAISE A FAMILY.

WHAT ROLE DOES GOVERNMENT PLAY IN TRYING -- REACHING THAT GOAL?

>> LOWERING COSTS FOR MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES.

WHEN YOU LOWER COSTS FOR MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES, PARENTS CAN SEND THEIR KIDS TO DAYCARE WITHOUT GOING BROKE.

PARENTS CAN AFFORD HEALTHCARE WITHOUT GOING BROKE.

>> AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT?

LOWER THE TAXES ON THOSE MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES AND LOWER THE REGULATIONS SO WE CAN HAVE MORE DAYCARES OPEN.

RIGHT NOW MITE'S ONE THE MOST HIGHLY REGULATED DAYCARE PROVIDERS IN THE NATION AND WE HAVE DAYCARE PROVIDERS BECAUSE OF COVID AND OTHER THINGS THAT COULDN'T SURVIVE.

AND SO WE HAVE A SHORTAGE NOT ONLY OF NEWBORN BUT OF INFANT CARE AND WE HAVE SO MANY REGULATIONS.

>> LABOR COSTS FOR ARING FOR VULNERABLE LITTLE CHILDREN, THERE'S NOT A WAY YOU CAN SCALE THAT UP AND MAKE THAT REALLY A LOT MORE EFFICIENT.

AND A BEST WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS TO BASICALLY HELP FAMILIES AFFORD IT, BY MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN PAY GOOD QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR LITTLEST MINNESOTANS, BUT RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE SMALL TOWNS AROUND THE STATE THAT ARE STRUGGLING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CHILD CARE AND IT'S A FINANCIAL ISSUE.

>> Eric: OKAY, THE REPUBLICAN GOAL -- THE REPUBLICAN PATH TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL OF MAKING MINNESOTA THE BEST STATE TO RAISE A FAMILY.

>> I'LL ADD, ANNETTE TALKED ABOUT, THEY NEED TO LOWER TAXES AND MAKE IT MORE FAIR FOR ALL MINNESOTANS.

BUT ALSO LET'S NOT FORGET SMALL BUSINESSES.

SMALL BUSINESSES EMPLOY MORE PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA THAN ALL OF THE BIG BUSINESSES COMBINED.

AND SO LET'S NOT REGULATE AND TAX SMALL BUSINESSES IN A WAY THAT HURTS THEIR AND TO HIRE PEOPLE, PROVIDE HEALTHCARE, TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THEM.

>> Eric: I'M GETTING THE HOOK HERE.

I GOT TO