BUT I'M NOT.
GOOD LUCK, WE WISH YOU BOTH THE BEST.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
>> Eric: LAWMAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO WORK THROUGH THE NIGHT AND WEEKEND IN ATTEMPT TO FINISH BEFORE THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE.
THEY'VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED A LOT OF THEIR GOALS WITH A FEW KEY PRIORITIES REMAINING LIKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION.
POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER GETS US UP TO SPEED WITH PERSPECTIVE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND FROM THE LEGISLATURE.
>> HELP US PASS THIS AT THE END OF SESSION.
>> THERE COULD BE JUST DAYS LEFT TO LOBBY AND RALLY LAWMAKERS AT THE CAPITOL, AS ALL DEMOCRATIC CONTROL LOOKS TO EARLY ADJOURNMENT.
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, YOU'RE A FORMER LAWMAKER, NOW ERY INVOLVED IN THE ADMINISTRATION, SO YOU KNOW HOW HARD EARLY ADJOURNMENT IN A BUDGET YEAR IS.
UNPRECEDENTED, CAN YOU GUYS REALLY DO IT?
>> I THINK WE WILL COME VERY CLOSE AND I THINK WE CERTAINLY ARE GOING TO ADJOURN AT LEAST ON TIME.
>> CAN YOU REALLY FINISH EARLY IN A BUDGET YEAR?
THAT'S A HARDER TO ASK.
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.
I THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD AND DO THE THINGS THAT MINNESOTANS ASKED US TO DO, END GRIDLOCK AND FIND SOLUTIONS.
>> ON I'D LOVE TO SEE AN EARLY FINISH IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT BUT THAT WILL TAKE SOME AGREEMENT.
>> HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT PLEASED WITH THE RACE TO THE FINISH THEY THINK IS RUSHED.
>> WE STILL HAVE A NUMBER OF DAYS LEFT.
WHY WE ARE ACTUALLY TAKING THIS ACTION THIS SOON AS OPPOSED TO NEXT WEEK.
>> THE HOPE IS NEXT WEEK IS THE FINAL WEEK OF SESSION AND WE AREN'T GOING PAST THE 18TH.
SO THAT'S CERTAINLY THE SPEAKER'S INTENT.
>> THIS IS BEYOND THE PALE.
LIKE, WE NEED TO ACTUALLY DO THE PROCESS, INCLUDE THE PUBLIC.
I COULDN'T BE MORE UPSET TODAY.
>> WE OWE IT TO THE INSTITUTION TO START LISTENING TO THIS SORT OF THING BECAUSE THE PUBLIC IS INTERESTED BUT THEY CAN'T BE INTERESTED IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET DONE WITH UNIVERSAL MEALS, CODIFYING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.
THE CROWN ACT, $100 MILLION IN TAX CUTS FOR MINNESOTANS, THAT HAPPENED FAIRLY QUICKLY, AND, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN AROUND HERE FOR A WHILE, IT IS BREAK-NECK SPEED BUT IT'S ALSO THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
>> YOU HAVE A VISUAL AID OF SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, ARE YOU WILLING TO SHOW US WHAT YOU HAVE THERE?
>> I WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FOUNDERS OF THE PAID FAMILY ND MEDICAL LEAVE COALITION, AND SO WE HAD THESE FOAM FINGERS THAT WERE MADE HAT SAY PAID FAMILY LEAVE NOW.
AND FOR A WHILE IT WAS PAID FAMILY LEAVE NOW?
AND THIS SESSION, IT IS PAID FAMILY LEAVE NOW.
WE ARE GOING TO GET IT DONE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NAME HOW LONG THIS HAS TAKEN AND HOW THOUGHTFUL IT HAS BEEN OVER, YOU KNOW, REALLY LIKE THE LAST DECADE.
>> ANOTHER ISSUE A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING WITH MOMENTUM AND REALLY TRAGIC MOMENTUM IS GUN CONTROL.
IT'S IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY BILL.
>> IT'S IN.
>> YEAH.
>> IT'S IN.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS WITH CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WE WERE WORKING ON I THINK AS A MOM WHO HAS A KIDDO WHO HAS COME TO TALK ABOUT ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS, THIS IS, IT'S BEEN TIME.
>> TWO OF THE FLASHPOINTS WHICH IS HE GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROVISIONS, BACKGROUND CHECKS AND RED FLAG BILLS, I WANT TO TELL YOU THESE PROVISIONS ARE ENORMOUSLY POPULAR AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF MINNESOTA.
>> ONE OF THE BIGGER BUDGET BILLS PUBLIC SAFETY FINISHED AND LSO CREATES RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND MORE POLICE FUNDING.
>> THE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING IN YOUTH ARE HISTORIC AND CRITICAL AND I THINK THIS IS THE BEST BUDGET I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
>> I THINK IT REALLY HELPS RESTORE THE TRUST IN OUR SYSTEM THAT WE NEED IN MINNESOTA SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN STAY SAVE AT THE END OF THE DAY.
>> RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, ESPECIALLY FOR JUVENILES WITH LOWER LEVEL CRIMES TRYING TO HELP REFORM INSTEAD OF CREATING CAREER CRIMINALS.
WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT WORK?
>> I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SEEN AS YOUNG PEOPLE BUT ALSO HELD TO ACCOUNT.
AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY REALLY FOR THAT REFORM.
>> SOMEWHAT RELATED, EXPUNGEMENT IS IN LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.
DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE?
ARE YOU GUYS EXCITED TO SIGN THAT?
>> I FEEL REALLY HOPEFUL, I THINK FOR ME PERSONALLY I THINK THE EXPUNGEMENT PIECE IS ACTUALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS BILL.
>> GIVEN HE IMPORTANCE THAT THIS BILL HAS FOR MINNESOTANS AND THE DRAMATIC IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THEIR LIVES, WE GET IT RIGHT AND DON'T RUSH IT.
>> OUR LAWS ARE DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD AND EVERY DAY WE LEAVE THEM IN PLACE MORE HARM IS DONE.
WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER THIS BILL FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA THIS YEAR.
>> WE SAW WHEN THERE WAS REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE THEY PASSED A LOT, PUT THINGS ON THE BALLOT, LOST CONTROL OF THE CHAMBERS AND WERE TOLD OVERREACH.
DEMOCRATS CONCERNED ABOUT OVERREACH?
>> I HINK THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING IS, MARY, REALLY