>> Cathy: GOSH, IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK IN MINNESOTA POLITICS.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL KICK OFF WITH COURT CASES, SPECIAL ELECTIONS, POSSIBLE TIES AND A WHOLE LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

GOING TO DIVE RIGHT IN WITH THIS WEEK'S FORMER LAWMAKER PANEL.

FORMER HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER RYAN WINKLER IS HERE.

KARLA BIGHAM, FORMER STATE SENATOR AND HOUSE MEMBER.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THINGS FORMER STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AMY KOCH AND FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE KURT DAUDT.

SPEAKER DAUDT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT -- [ LAUGHTER ] SECRETARY SECRETARY OF STATE SIMON SENT THAT LETTER THAT SAYS THAT IT'S A QUORUM AT 68.

I'M WONDERING WILL THIS WIND UP IN COURT?

>> IT PROBABLY WILL IF HE REMAINS STEADFAST WITH THAT POSITION AND HE THINKS HE'S GOING TO COME IN AND DO A ROLL CALL AND THEN SAY THERE'S NO QUORUM AND GAVEL OUT.

THE PROBLEM IS, AND DON'T KNOW IF HE'S THOUGHT ABOUT IT OR NOT BUT IT'S NOT ADDRESSED IN HIS LETTER OR ANYWHERE ELSE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE NOWHERE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO JUDGE THE RULES OF THE HOUSE, THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE HOUSE, THE -- ANY OF IT.

IT -- OUR CONSTITUTION DOESN'T ENVISION THAT.

AND IT ACTUALLY CREATES A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.

WE WILL BE WITHOUT -- IF THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL BE WITHOUT A LEGISLATURE FOR LIKELY MORE THAN A MONTH.

AND THE HOUSE JUDGES ITS OWN RULES, IT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S MEETING THE CONSTITUTION, AND IT DOES THAT THROUGH ITS OWN PROCESS.

VOTES, MAKING A POINT OF ORDER AND THEN OVERTURNING THE RULING OF THE SPEAKER AND WHOEVER HAS THE MOST VOTES WINS, THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT WORKS.

IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T LIKE THAT, IF THEY FEEL HARMED BY THAT THEY CAN TAKE THAT TO COURT.

BUT THE SECRETARY OF DOES NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE THAT AUTHORITY.

>> THERE IS NO OF REPRESENTATIVES WITHOUT 68 VOTES.

IT DOESN'T EXIST.

IT'S 68 PEOPLE MILLING AROUND IN A ROOM TALKING TO EACH OTHER UNTIL YOU GET TO 68.

THE STATE CONSTITUTION HAS NOT BEEN TESTED ON THE LANGUAGE.

BUT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS ALWAYS USED 68 VOTES AS A STANDARD FOR PASSING BILLS.

YOU WOULD AGREE WITH THAT, 68 VOTES FOR PASSING BILLS, ALL BEEN THAT WAY.

AND THE STATE CONSTITUTION SAYS HAS THE SAME LANGUAGE FOR PASSING BILLS AND FOR A QUORUM.

IT IS 68.

THE VAST MAJORITIES OF STATES -- >> WE'VE HAD SPEAKERS WITH 67 VOTES -- >> WE'VE LITIGATED THIS -- WITH THAT 68 YOU'RE JUST PEOPLE MILLING AROUND A ROOM.

>> BUT SETTING ASIDE THE QUORUM WHICH MINNESOTANS DON'T GIVE A FROG'S FAT PATOOT ABOUT, THIS IS ABOUT LEGISLATORS NOT SHOWING UP THE FIRST DAY.

>> Eric: AND GETTING PAID.

>> WELL, ITS NOT CLEAR, I DON'T THINK THEY GET PAID BECAUSE THEY DON'T ORGANIZE.

MINNESOTANS DON'T CARE ABOUT A QUORUM, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SPEAKER OR MAJORITY LEADER, APOLOGIZE TO Y'ALL, BUT THEY DON'T.

THEY CARE ABOUT THE WORK GETTING DONE.

AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THERE'S GOING TO BE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHY WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT THIS QUORUM WHICH THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE NOT SHOWING UP ON THE FIRST DAY FOR A JOB THEY RAN FOR AND PEOPLE ELECTED THEM TO GO TO THE HOUSE AND VOTE.

>> LOOK, I WASN'T SPEAKER, BUT -- IT'S 68 VOTES, WE ALL KNOW THAT.

THE HOUSE NEEDS TO TAKE SOME ADVICE FROM THE SENATE WHICH I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH LEADER MURPHY AND LEADER JOHNSON WHERE THEY ARE HAVING PRODUCTIVE, FRUITFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THE BEGINNING PART OF SESSION HERE.

AND THAT IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

THEY -- TO AMY'S POINT, STOP FIGHTING EACH OTHER, START FIGHTING FOR MINNESOTA.

START FIGHTING FOR THE ISSUES THAT MINNESOTANS CARE ABOUT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO START FOCUSING ON.

>> BUT IT TAKES BOTH SIDES TO PUT DOWN SWORDS.

>> Cathy: THAT'S TRUE, SO IF D.F.L.ERS DO BOY BOYCOTT THE FIRST COUPLE WEEKS OF SESSION WHO WINS THE BATTLE OF PUBLIC OPINION ON THIS, TO YOUR -- >> I THINK TO BELIEVE THE REPUBLICANS DO -- >> NOBODY IS.

>> AND MINNESOTANS DO LOSE BUT IF DEMOCRATS DO THAT THE NONPARTISAN STAFF THAT WORK SO HARD TO MAKE THEM ALL LOOK GOOD IS NOT GOING TO GET PAID FOR A MONTH.

AND THAT'S PRETTY HARSH.

>> IT'S THE REPUBLICANS MAKING THE CHALLENGES, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.

YOU NEED EACH OTHER TO PASS THINGS.

>> WELL -- OR THEY COULD ALL SHOW UP ON THE FIRST DAY OF SESSION AND TAKE A VOTE FOR SPEAKER AND THE ONE WITH THE MOST VOTES WINS.

>> IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THIS WAY.

>> -- IT WASN'T THE REPUBLICANS THAT DETERMINED CURTIS JOHNSON DIDN'T LIVE IN HIS DISTRICT, IT WAS A COURT AND HE COULD NOT BE SEATED.

A COURT, NONPARTISAN COURT.

>> THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT APPEALING IT.

THAT'S HOW BLATANT IT WAS, THEY BROKE THE LAW AND CHEATED -- >> REPUBLICANS HAVE CHALLENGED THE TABKE ELECTION AND THEY'RE NOT -- >> THAT'S IN SHAKOPEE.

>> AND THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO ABIDE BY THE DECISION OF THE COURT, THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO IGNORE THE COURT'S DECISION AND NOT SEAT HIM ANYWAY.

THERE IS A DISTRICT -- >> THEY'VE ALREADY SAID THEY WON'T.

>> THEY SAID THEY DON'T CARE.

>> THEY DON'T CARE.

>> AND YOU HAVE GOT A SPECIAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 28TH SO PEOPLE IN ROSEVILLE CAN HAVE ACTUAL REPRESENTATION AND THEY'RE TRYING TO STOP THAT ELECTION FROM HAPPENING TOO.

>> AND JUST LIKE A QUORUM -- >> ITS JUST TURNS OUT THEY DON'T WANT THE DEMOCRATS TO HAVE 67 PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE SO THEY CAN HAVE THIS ARGUMENT -- >> HAS JUST LIKE A QUORUM THE LAW IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE HOUSE WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THAT MEMBERS GETS SEATED OR NOT, NOT A JUDGE.

>> THE HOUSE CREATED LAWS FOR AN ELECTION CONTEST, THE HOUSE AND SENATE CREATED THESE STATUTES, THEY HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED, THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO BE BOUND BY THE LAWS THEY HAVE PASSED.

>> Eric: GOING BACK TO THE ROSEVILLE SEAT, THOUGH, WHY IS IT UP TO REPUBLICANS TO BAIL OUT THE DEMOCRATS WHEN IT WAS THE DEMOCRAT'S CANDIDATE THAT VIOLATED THE RESIDENCY?

IS >> IT ISN'T.

>> THERE'S A SPECIAL ELECTION COMING UP, LET'S CFSS LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.

>> WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT THE STATE ON HOLD TO WAIT FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO FINALLY GET IT RIGHT AFTER THEY BROKE THE LAW.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ASKING MINNESOTANS TO DO AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO NOT PAY NONPARTISAN STAFF FOR A MONTH TO GET THERE?

LET'S SHOW UP, DO OUR JOBS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SESSION AND VOTE AND WHOEVER HAS THE MOST VOTES WIN JUST LIKE IN 2025.

>> THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA ELECTED 67 DEMOCRATS AND 67 REPUBLICANS.

>> NO, THEY ELECTED 67 REPUBLICANS AND 66 DEMOCRATS.

>> NO, THAT DISTRICT, THOSE VOTERS DID NOT KNOW THAT CANDIDATE DIDN'T LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

>> CHEATED?

IS >> HE LIED, HE LIED.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO SET SOMETHING UP FOR TWO YEARS?

THAT'S THE OTHER ISSUE HERE TOO, SO I MEAN, LOOK -- >> IT'S NOBODY'S FAULT BY THE DEMOCRATS.

>> -- TOWARDS THE ISSUE THAT MATTER TO MINNESOTANS AND LOOK WHAT WHAT THEY SENT THE MESSAGE OF FOCUSING ON THE ISSUES, STOP FIGHTING EACH OTHER.

>> BUT TO THAT, SENATOR BIGHAM, THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA WANT THEM TO GET TO WORK.

THEY HAVE A BUDGET THAT'S DUE.

THAT IS CLEAR -- >> THAT'S TRUE, 68 PEOPLE TO GET TO WORK.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING WHERE IS THE OVERNOR ON THIS, CAN HE CALL A SPECIAL SESSION?

>> NO, BUT -- >> HE COULD.

>> AND -- LAY OUT A PLAN AND A SCHEDULE FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE A FRUITFUL AND VERY PRODUCTIVE SESSION AND THE GOVERNOR DOES LEAD VERY WELL DURING TIMES OF CRISIS SO GET THEM ALL IN A ROOM -- >> WELL, WHERE IS HE NOW?

>> Eric: IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SET UP FOR HIM TO GET A WIN, HE WOULDN'T WALK IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS AND -- >> E'S GOT TO HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT IS ACTUALLY CALLED TO ORDER.

>> IN THE END -- >> AND THEY GOT TO HAVE LEADERS >> .

>> THE GOVERNOR COULD CALL A SPECIAL SESSION BUT THEY WOULD HAVE THIS NEW PROBLEM.

>> Eric: WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, FEBRUARY, MARCH, WHENEVER, WHAT DOES THIS PORTEND FOR A BUDGET?

>> THAT'S THE DRAMA P FRONT, IN THE END THEY ARE ALMOST DEAD-EVEN ANYWAY.

RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> IN THE END ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO ABSOLUTELY ALL FOUR CAUCUSES AND THE GOVERNOR AT A TABLE.

SO ACTUALLY THE DRAMA JUST MAKES IT HARDER IN MARCH AND APRIL AND MAY TO GET WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO GET DONE.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN NEW HOUSE LEADERSHIP THAT MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF SPEAKER DAUDT BECAUSE THEY SHOULD REALIZE THEY'RE THEY'RE JUST MAKING IT HARDER TO DO WHAT THEY ALL HAVE TO DO IN THE END.

>> IN REALITY THEY'RE CHASING A TITLE AND I HAD THAT TITLE AND THERE IS POWER THAT GOES WITH IT, YOU GET TO APPOINT COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND APPOINT MEMBERS TO COMMITTEES BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU DO NEED 68 VOTES TO HAVE A BILL AND HAVING THIS ADVERSARIAL BATTLE AT THE BEGINNING MAKES IT MUCH TOUGHER AND IS IT WORTH IT FOR A TITLE THAT REALLY IF YOU ELECT A SPEAKER UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY POWER, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE OTES TO BACK IT UP YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER.

>> AND A SHUTDOWN, WHO'S GOING TO GET BLAMED FOR IT?

THE PERSON WITH THAT GAVEL.

>> WE'LL SEE.

>> Cathy: SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH SENATOR MITCHELL?

>> SO DISAPPOINTING.

>> Eric: SHE WANTS TO DELAY HER TRIAL UNTIL AFTER SESSION.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HER, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALLY KNOWS.

>> SO DISAPPOINTING.

I REPRESENT THE BEST PART OF WOODBURY, HAS THE BREWERY.

IT'S O DISAPPOINTING WHAT SHE'S DONE TO THE COMMUNITY AND BODY TO BE HONEST, SHE SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED A LONG TIME AGO.

>> Eric: DEMOCRATS NEED THAT VOTE, RIGHT?

IT'S 33-33 WITHOUT HER.

>> THE SENATE, IT'S 33-33 GOING IN BECAUSE OF THE UNFORTUNATE DEATH OF SENATOR KARI DZIEDZIC, AND THEY TRIAL MAKES THE REAL WILD CARD OUT OF THE SENATE.

DON'T SLEEP ON THE SENATE BECAUSE OF THIS TRIAL AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE THE RIGHT -- THEN, NOW SHE SHOULD HAVE STEPPED DOWN.

THERE IS SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT SHE DID, SHE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT AND SORT IT OUT IN COURT BUT SHE SHOULD NOT BE SERVING IN THE SENATE AND NOT REPRESENTING PEOPLE IN WOODBURY AND SHE SHOULD HAVE HAD GOOD CONSCIOUS TO STEP OWN.

>> AND LET'S END ON THIS.

[ LAUGHTER ] ALL OF THESE GOOD FOLKS, REMEMBER KARI DZIEDZIC, THEY'LL BE BETTER OFF.

>> Eric: THE PANEL HAS OLVED ANOTHER ONE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: THERE WE GO.