♪♪ >> ERIC: ANOTHER WEEK AT THE CAPITOL, ANOTHER LAWSUIT FILED AS THE HOUSE D.F.L.

CAUCUS CONTINUES THEIR BOYCOTT OF SESSION.

AND THE SENATE D.F.L.

IS ON THE BRINK OF REGAINING THEIR ONE-VOTE MARGIN WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS COMPLETE.

SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT WITH THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

JEFF HAYDEN IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW A LOBBYIST.

SARA LOPEZ IS A PARTY ACTIVIST AND POLICY DIRECTOR AT UNIDOS MINNESOTA.

REPUBLICANS WITH US TONIGHT: ANNETTE MEEKS, A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE WHO NOW HEADS THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

HERE, TOO, BRIAN MCDANIEL IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW LOBBYIST AND STAND-UP COMEDIAN.

[ Laughter ] YOUR SKILLS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED AT THIS TIME.

>> AIN'T NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT IT.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: ARE THERE ANY CRACKS IN THE D.F.L.

UNITY IN THE HOUSE?

ARE MEMBERS, BACK BENCHERS SAYING WE'D LIKE TO GET GOING WITH OUR STUFF?

>> I DON'T SEE ANY CRACKS.

THEY ARE WORKING AWFULLY HARD.

I KNOW THAT I'VE HAD A BUNCH OF MEETINGS IN COMMUNITY WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

SO I THINK TODAY, ESPECIALLY ON THE ISSUES OF QUORUM AND MAKING SURE THAT REPRESENTATIVE TABKE CAN BE SEATED, I THINK THEY'RE UNITED.

>> Eric: ANNETTE?

>> I THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY UNITED ON THOSE TWO THINGS BUT I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE CRACKS THE MORE PRESSURE THAT'S GOING TO BE PUT ON THEM.

WE CAN JUST SEE RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE TO SAY, HONESTLY, WHO'S BEEN MINDING THE STORE FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS?

EVERY WEEK THERE'S A NEW FRAUD INVESTIGATION OPENED UP AND WE CAN'T EVEN HAVE HEARINGS ON THEM?

WE'RE LOSING MILLIONS AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN STATE FUNDS AND WE DON'T HAVE HEARINGS BECAUSE THEY WON'T SHOW UP?

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED PRESSURE.

BUT I'M WONDERING ABOUT PRESSURE ON SPEAKER DESIGNEE DEMUTH TO SEAT REPRESENTATIVE TABKE?

>> WELL, AND I THINK THAT HAS CHANGED.

I THINK ORIGINALLY -- IT WAS A TERRIBLE POSITION FOR BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TO BE PUT IN, YOU KNOW, A CITY ELECTION OFFICIAL THREW AWAY BALLOTS AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

BUT A COURT, YOU KNOW, MADE A PRETTY DEFINITIVE DECISION ON IT.

AND I THINK THAT HAS KIND OF LED TO REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE THE VOTES TO UNSEAT TABKE OR TO NOT SEAT TABKE.

SO THAT IS NOT -- ANY TIME YOU HEAR SOMEONE SAY THAT'S THE ISSUE, THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE.

AND THAT'S BEEN PRETTY WELL DOCUMENTED.

>> I ALSO BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRATS DID SOMETHING REALLY SMART TODAY, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM A LABOR BACKGROUND, WHEN THINGS GET STALLED, IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEND A WORKER.

SO THE FACT SENATOR GOMEZ AND JAMIE ONG WERE INVITED TO TRY TO GET TO A SOLUTION, I THINK THAT WAS PRETTY SMART.

AND I REALLY SEE THE PARTY COMMITTED TO TRYING TO FIND THAT SHARING POWER, AN AGREEMENT TO SHARE POWER.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE ISSUE, THOUGH, IS WE KIND OF SAID BEFORE, THE TABKE ISSUE IS SETTLED.

68 VERSUS 67 IS SETTLED.

SO NOW ARE WE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL MARCH?

TO HAVE PEOPLE COME TO THE CAPITOL?

THAT'S WAY TOO LONG.

THEY CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG.

>> Eric: THAT'S WHY I WONDER, SENATOR, WHEN DOES THE CLOCK START TICKING WHEN TIME REALLY BECOMES A FACTOR, OR ARE WE FAR AWAY FROM THAT TIME YET?

>> SO HERE'S THE THING.

I HAVEN'T HEARD LEADER DEMUTH SAY THAT THE TABKE ISSUE WAS SETTLED.

NOW, BRIAN MAY HAVE SOME FRIENDS THAT HE KNOWS.

I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT.

AND I WATCH IT PRETTY CLOSELY AND SO DOES BRIAN.

SO I THINK THERE'S THIS KIND OF CHATTER THAT HAPPENS, AND IT MAY BE TRUE.

BUT THE LEADER HASN'T SAID THAT YET.

AND SO I THINK THAT THAT WITH BE KIND OF THE FIRST STEP OF REALLY KIND OF APPLYING THE PRESSURE AND SAYING LISTEN, WE GOT TO GET TO WORK, AND THEN WHAT IS GOING TO BE KIND OF THE POWER SHARING THAT THEY NEED TO DO?

THEY LAID HOT A PLAN, AND THEN IRONICALLY THE SENATE FOLLOWED THE PLAN AND EVERYTHING WENT SMOOTHLY FOR HEM.

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN DISARRAY.

WHERE'S THE GOVERNOR?

WHY DOESN'T HE GET INVOLVED IN THIS?

DISWHR >> Cathy: WE ACTUALLY ASKED HIM AND HE SAID SEPARATION OF POWERS.

>> BUT I THINK THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS, AGAIN, HE UNDERSTANDS THESE HEARINGS ARE GOING TO START AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE VERY POSITIVE ABOUT WHAT HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN UP TO AND THE MONEY THAT THEY SPENT THAT THEY CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR.

I THINK HE'S JUST HAPPY KEEPING THIS THING GOING ON.

THEY'LL HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION TO RESOLVE THE BUDGET SOMETIME THIS SUMMER AND THAT'LL BE IT.

>> I DO BELIEVE THAT SHARING IS CARING.

I DO BELIEVE THE DEMOCRATS ARE COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO GETTING TO A POWER SHARING AGREEMENT.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH WORK TO DO.

THERE HAS BEEN FLOODS AND I MEAN, MINNESOTANS ARE EXPECTING TO JUST GET BACK TO WORK.

>> HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED.

WE HAD A POWER SHARING AGREEMENT.

WHEN WE THOUGHT WE HAD, YOU KNOW, 67-67.

THE COURTS DETERMINED, THAT THE DEMOCRAT IN ROSEVILLE DID NOT LIVE IN THAT SEAT.

WE DON'T HAVE AN EQUAL LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW.

AND WE ARE TOTALLY PRE-SUPPOSING THAT IN MARCH, WHEN WE HAVE THE SPECIAL ELECTION, THAT THE DEMOCRAT IS GOING TO WIN.

THE DEMOCRAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO WIN.

I AM NOT NAIVE.

BUT WE ARE JUST ASSUMING THAT -- >> WIN BY 30 POINTS.

>> AND HE PROBABLY IS GOING TO WIN, BUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE HAVE TO PRE-SUPPOSE AND PLAN FOR SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT RIGHT NOW, IF EVERYBODY SHOWED UP, THE REPUBLICANS WOULD BE ABLE TO ORGANIZE.

>> SO LET ME SAY TO SOMETHING THAT ANNETTE SAID.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO TAKE FULL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE FRAUD ISSUE.

HE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT A TASK FORCE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE A BILL, AN I.G.

BILL AND SO DOES REPUBLICANS.

>> Eric: BUT IT ISN'T A YEAR TOO LATE?

>> THE COW IS OUT OF THE BARN.

>> BUT PEOPLE LIKE ROB STUFF, AND THEN THE POLICE GO BEHIND THEM, FEGGING IT OUT, AND THEN THEY PUT THEM IN JAIL, RIGHT?

SO THIS IDEA THAT SOMEBODY IS NOT DOING ANYTHING AND PEOPLE AREN'T BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE, IS NOT RIGHT, IT'S NOT TRUE.

SO I THINK IT'S XEERAL TO SUGGEST THAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS THE DEMOCRATS TO STAY OUT -- THAT'S FAR OUT.

>> WHAT'S FAR OUT IS WASTING COLOSSAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT WERE IN DESIGNATED TO FEED CHILDREN -- >> I DON'T THINK TIM WALZ WANTED THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> I'M SURE HE DIDN'T.

BUT HIS ADMINISTRATION TURNED A BLIND EYE -- >> I DON'T THINK THEY TURNED A BLIND EYE.

>> WHERE'S BEEN THE INVESTIGATION?

>> I THINK THERE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATIONS.

WE WERE PART OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

>> Eric: GET SARA HERE.

>> I THINK PEOPLE GOT AHEAD -- THE CROOKS ARE OFTEN AHEAD OF THE AUTHORITIES.

>> AND ONE THING THAT HAS ALZHEALWAYS HAPPENED, EVERY TIME THERE'S A NEW BILL OR POLICY, REPUBLICANS ARE THE FIRST ONES TO JUMP BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY F.T.E.s.

>> Eric: TOO MANY STATE EMPLOYEES.

[Overlapping conversations] >> A COUPLE ORE NOT ENOUGH STATE EMPLOYEES.

BELIEVE ME, WE WON'T HAVE FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE IN THIS STATE.

IT'S THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE STATE IS GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM.

OUR PROBLEM IS, NOBODY WAS WATCHING WHERE THESE GOBS AND GOBS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WERE BEING +SP SP SPENT ILLEGALD REPORTING IT.

IT WAS -- >> THAT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY IS NOT TRUE.

THE STATE WAS REPORTING THIS ISSUE.

THE STATE -- ON THE FEED OUR FUTURE, THEY WENT TO THE COURTS ON THIS ISSUE AND THE JUJT WAS AMBIVALENT.

AND THEY COULDN'T DO THIS.

WE HAVE TO BE ACCURATE.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING ERIC ACTUALLY ASKED, WHICH WAS A GOOD QUESTION.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

[ Laughter ] >> WHO'S THE COMEDIAN NOW?

>> Cathy: THERE YOU GO.

[ Laughter ] SO I'M WONDERING WHEN DO WE START -- WHEN DOES THE RUBBER HIT THE ROAD IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE, RIGHT?

I MEAN, WHEN DO WE REALLY NEED TO GET THIS HOUSE IN ORDER?

>> IT NEEDS TO BE THERE NOW.

I'M EXHAUSTED THAT THIS IS STILL GOING ON.

BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, NO MATTER IF IT'S 7 7868-67, YOU NEAT 6 VOTES TO PASS A AB BILL.

SO IF EVERYBODY WENT THERE, THEY STILL NEED EACH OTHER TO PASS A BILL.

LET'S GET TOGETHER AND DO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

THE FEDERAL LEVEL, CONGRESS HAS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION.

DO WE HAVE ANYTHING LIKE A LIGHTS ON BUDGET BILL THAT COULD PASS?

>> YEAH, THE CONSTITUTION IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET IN MINNESOTA BY THE END OF THE BIENNIUM.

I MEAN, YOU CAN GET TO SPECIAL SESSIONS.

IT STARTS TO SPELL OUT, WHAT STARTS TO CLOSE.

UBUT PERSONALLY, I'VE HEARD SOMEBODY START CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA.

I THINK PRESSURE IS GOOD AND IT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.

>> I GR AGREE WITH THAT.

SEE?

THERE YOU GO.

CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS ARE ABOUT THE WORST WAY TO MAKE LAWS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO A BUDGET RESOLUTION.

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT MONEY IS GOING FOR, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CONTROVERSIES WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> Eric: EARLY PRIMARY?

MAYBE GET RID OF THE CAUCUS?

THE CHAIRMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THAT STUFF.

>> THAT WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE TO HAVE A MARCH PRIMARY THAT ALSO ALLOWS MORE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.

ESPECIALLY OUR OVERSEAS MILITARY.

IT'S A.D.A.

COMPLIANT.

DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE TO HAVE A MARCH PRIMARY.

>> Cathy: NOW, DOES KEN MARTIN BECOME THE CHAIR OF THE D.N.R.?

N.C. >> I THINK HE'S CAMPAIGNING QUITE HARD AND I THINK IT'S HAPPENING FOR HIM.

>> THERE'S SOME LAST-MINUTE BIG HEAVY HITTERS THAT ARE PUSHING FOR THE GENTLEMAN IN WISCONSIN, BUT EVERYTHING I HEAR SAID THAT HE HAS SOME REALLY SOLID VOTES.