♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >>> STATEWIDE BROADCASTS OF YOUR LEGISLATORS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MINNESOTA CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION FROM DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES THAT HELP FARMERS BETTER PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, TO THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN CORN BASED PLASTICS MINNESOTA CORN FARMERS ARE PROUD TO INVEST IN THIRD PARTY RESEARCH LEADING TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION.

STANDING FOR AGRICULTURE, WORKING FOR FARMERS ON THE WEB NFU .ORG.

♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >>> WE WELCOME YOU TO ANOTHER SESSION OF YOUR LEGISLATORS.

A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION FEATURING STATE LAWMAKERS ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSING IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA.

♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >>> JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE ON TWITTER, AND FACEBOOK.

NOW HERE'S YOUR MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, BARRY ANDERSON.

♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >>> WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US.

WE HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE CALL IT YOUR LEGISLATORS BECAUSE OUR GUESTS ARE, YOUR LEGISLATORS HENCE THE CATCHING NAME.

WE INVITE YOU TO CALL IN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES THROUGH THE VARIOUS ELECTRONIC MEANS THAT WILL APPEAR ON YOUR SCREEN AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WILLINGNESS OF OUR LEGISLATURES.

AS WE BEGIN OUR PROGRAM THIS EVENING WE WILL BE DRE INTRODUCING OUR PANEL TO YOU.

WE NORMALLY HAVE FOUR GUESTS RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO.

WE EXPECT THE OTHER TWO TO JOIN US SHORTLY.

LET'S BEGIN THIS EVENING AS WE DO EACH WEEK BY INTRODUCING OUR PANEL OF GETS.

GUESTING.

STARTING WITH NICK FRENTZ.

SENATOR FRENTZ TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF, THE COMMITTEES YOU SERVE ON YOUR DAY JOB.

THAT SORT OF THING.

YOU'VE BEEN A FREQUENT GUEST, BUT REMIND OUR VIEWERS NONETHELESS.

>> I REALLY APPRECIATE BEING INVITED ON THE SHOW.

IT IS MY FAVORITE AND YOU CAN PRINT THAT OR TWEET IT SNAP GRAM WHATEVER YOU WANT.

I'M COMING FROM THE BASEMENT OF MY HOME IN NORTH MANKATO.

THIS BLUE SCREEN IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT FROM WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IF I WERE TO SHOW YOU WHAT IS REALLY BEHIND ME.

I DO REPRESENT SENATE DISTRICT 19 AND PROUDLY SO.

THAT ROUGHLY SPEAKING IS MANKATO, NORTH MANKATO, ST. PETER, NICOLLET COUNTY AND PART OF BLUE EARTH.

I SERVE AS A ASSISTANT MINORITY LEADER AND ON THE AGRICULTURE FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE, THE RULES COMMITTEE, THE PENSION COMMISSION, THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COMMISSION AND I'M THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE.

THIS IS MY SECOND TERM SO I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY IT'S THE START OF MY 5th YEAR AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

>> YOU'RE DAY JOB IS AS A LAWYER I BELIEVE IS THAT CORRECT?

>> WELL SINCE YOU MENTIONED IT, YA.

MY SECRET OTHER LIFE I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING LAWYER HERE IN MANKATO FOR ABOUT 32 HOURS WHICH I ALSO LIKE.

WHEN I GET A CHANCE TO GET BACK FROM ST. PAUL I WORK WITH ABOUT A DOZEN OTHER GREAT LAWYERS AND I LIKE THAT VERY MUCH.

>> VERY GOOD WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICIES OF THE DAY FOR YOU.

THERE MAY BE LAWYER TALK TOO.

THAT HOPEFULLY WON'T DRIVE EVERYONE AWAY.

LET'S MOVE ON, DEAN URDAHL, DEAN REPRESENTS DISTRICT 18A IN GROVE CITY.

DEAN AND I GO BACK A YEAR OR TWO.

MAYBE A DECADE OR TWO, EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> THANK YOU.

GREAT TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

I HOPE I DON'T BREAK UP TOO MUCH HERE.

I DID TRY TO --, BUT IF I DO I'LL BE A CASE IN POINT AS TO THE NEED OF BROADBAND IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

I'M IN MY 10th TERM IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

PRIOR TO THAT I WAS A HISTORY TEACHER FOR 35 YEARS.

TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS.

I SERVE ON THE CAPITOL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE.

I'M THE REPUBLICAN LEAD ON THE COMMITTEE.

ALSO I SERVE ON LEGACY POLICY.

I'M ALSO -- PUBLISHED BOOKS MAINLY ON HISTORICAL FICTION AND -- YOU ARE WITH ME HERE IN MY HOME.

JUST A LITTLE SOUTH OF GROVE CITY THIS EVENING.

GLAD TO BE HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION.

>> I SHOULD PROBABLY JUST ASK YOU, DO HAVE YOU A BOOK COMING OUT OR ARE WE BETWEEN BOOKS AT THIS POINT?

>> KIND OF.

ONE OF THE THINGS OVER THE TIME WE'VE BEEN TAKING I HAD TIME TO BEGIN A STORY OF THE 18 YEARS I'VE SPENT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I'VE NOT AT LEAST A COUPLE MORE YEARS TO FILL IN.

THE NAMES, WE ARE CONSIDERING CHANGE SOME TO PROTECT THE GUILTY.

, BUT THAT BOOK WON'T BE PUBLISHED UNTIL I'M INTERN [ INAUDIBLE ] >> WE'RE WORKING ON DEAN'S VIDEO SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE BREAKING UP PROBLEM ADDRESSED.

JOINING US BY TELEPHONE IS REPRESENTATIVE GENE PELOWSKI I WOULD GUESS AM I CORRECT ABOUT THAT?

>> YES YOU ARE CORRECT.

I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET IN ON ZOOM AND YOUR ID NUMBER TELLS ME IT DOESN'T WORK.

SO I CAME IN THROUGH THE PHONE.

>> DEAN, THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR THE ID NUMBER THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE -- MAYBE YOU'RE DIALING THE WRONG NUMBER?

>> I'M WORKING OFF OF WHAT I WAS SENT SO I'M GOING TO A WEBSITE AND I'M CLICKING ON ZOOM AND AS IT COMES UP IT TELLS ME PLEASE ENTER YOUR MEETING PASS CODE, I HAVE TRIED THE PASS CODE OR THE NUMBER I THINK IS THE PASS CODE AND IT TELLS ME IT DOESN'T WORK.

>> WELL THERE'S MORE EXCITING ON TELEVISION THAN WATCHING TECH SUPPORT IN ACTION.

SO WE'LL HOPEFULLY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH IT AND IF YOU CAN'T YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST FINE.

WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT REGARDLESS AND WE'LL JUST WE'LL JUST TAKE IT FROM THERE AND SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT.

LET'S BEGIN WITH A LITTLE DISCUSSION FROM EACH OF YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ARE THE ISSUES OF THE DAY AND THINGS THAT YOU ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

GENE YOU WERE THE LAST TO JOIN US WHY DON'T YOU FIRST INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR VIEWERS AND WHEN YOU'VE DONE THAT WHY DON'T YOU LAUNCH INTO WHATEVER YOU THINK ARE THE ONE OR TWO SIGNIFICANT ISSUES AND YOUR PRIORITIES IN THIS SESSION.

>> I THINK I WILL JUST FOCUS ON THIS SESSION PRIMARILY.

I'M CHAIRING THE INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE WHICH ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING JIM RICE WOULD SAY AS A TITLE TO ONE OF HIS COMMITTEES.

THIS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO FOCUS ON THE TOPIC THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE ON THIS PROGRAM.

THAT IS RELINKING OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGES WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND PROVIDING HANDS ON LEARNING ONCE AGAIN, TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

AND THE SIMPLEST WAY TO SAY THIS IS EVERY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, SHOULD GRADUATE IN MINNESOTA, WITH THE OPTION OF HAVING A TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE AND AN EMPLOYABLE SKILL SET.

30 YEARS AGO THAT WAS COMMON, AND WHEN WE SEPARATED THE WHAT WERE THEN VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS FROM OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, THAT SLOWLY DRIED UP.

THERE ARE POCKETS OF IT, BUT CERTAINLY NO LONGER EXISTS ACROSS OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

I'M ALSO CHAIRING THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE PROCESS REFORM WHICH TOMORROW WILL HAVE THE FIRST HEARING ON CHAPTER 12 AND A REVIEW OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS OF THE GOVERNOR OVER THE LAST 7 OR 8 MONTHS THEN WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN COME TO A COMPROMISE WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON HOW TO INCORPORATE SEPARATION OF POWERS AND THE FUTURE EMERGENCIES SUCH AS THE PANDEMIC THAT WE ARE NOW GOING THROUGH.

I'M ON THE PROPERTY TAX DIVISION, RULES AND LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATION, STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE AND ELECTIONS AND WAYS AND MEANS.

AND I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE HAVE THIS SESSION WOULD BE THE BUDGET, AND COVID.

THOSE WOULD BE THE TWO OVERRIDING ISSUES AND HOW WE ADDRESS COVID IN THIS PANDEMIC, AND THEN HOW WE ADDRESS THE BUDGET.

I'M EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN THIS LATEST STIMULUS PACKAGE THAT THE LATEST STIMULUS PACKAGE THAT %-úY LAST YEAR AND IT WOULD SEEM WE'RE GOING TO GET ABOUT $4 BILLION IN MINNESOTA THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO MAKE AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT WILL EASE OUR BUDGET PROBLEMS SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SOMEONE ELSE.

>> THANKS REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI.

WE'RE DELIGHTED YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO JOIN US AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES YOU HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED.

JOINING US ALSO IS SENATOR ABELER FROM DISTRICT 35 IN ANOKA.

SENATOR ABELER DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

MAYBE YOU CAN TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND SOME OF THE ISSUES YOU THINK OF ARE SIGNIFICANCE IN THIS SESSION.

>> THANKS I'M JUST GLAD TO BE HERE.

I WAS TRAPPED IN THE ETHER I WAS FLOATING THROUGH SPACE AND DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET OUT.

I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WE ARE GIVING OUR VIEWERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH TECH SUPPORT LIVE AND ON THE AIR I'M SURE THEY'RE THRILLED AT THAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE'RE ALL HERE AND OFF AND RUNNING.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND THE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED AS IMPORTANT IN THIS SESSION.

>> THANKS.

I'M ABELER FROM ANOKA.

I'VE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO SERVE WITH REPRESENTATIVES PELOWSKI AND URDAHL IN THE HOUSE.

NOW I SERVE WITH SENATOR FEAEH IN THE SENATE AND BEEN HERE LONGER THAN I MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT OVER 22 YEARS.

KIND OF SCARY HOW TIME GOES BY.

[ AUDIO DIFFICULTIES ] >> I THOUGHT I WOULD GO WIDER THAN DEEPER IN MY EXPERIENCES AND TURNS OUT YOU BECOME MORE AND MORE FOCUSED ON A TOPIC I SPEND A LOT OF TIME DOING DISABILITY ISSUES AND COUNTY SERVICES AND LIKE THAT.

AND SO I LANDED BEING A CHAIR AGAIN WHICH I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE A CHAIR AGAIN THEN THE VOTERS DECIDED DIFFERENTLY.

SO THAT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING.

WITH THE BUDGET AND CHALLENGES, IT'S YOU KNOW, HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY KIND OF REFLECTS US AS A CULTURE.

IT'S REALLY NOT A PARTISAN MATTER AT ALL IT'S A MATTER HOW DO WE BEST SERVE.

SO SENATOR JOHN HOFFMAN AND I HAVE BEEN TOGETHER ON YOUR SHOW.

HE WILL APPRECIATE THE SHOUTOUT SO WILL HIS MOM.

HE AND I ARE WORKING TOGETHER HE'S THE LEAD ON THAT COMMITTEE SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US.

THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE SPENDING OUR TIME A LOT.

>> MAYBE YOU CAN IDENTIFY A COUPLE ISSUES YOU THINK ARE SIGNIFICANT THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON OR CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> WELL I THINK THE TWO MAIN ISSUES WE'LL BE WORKING ON IS COVID AND IS THE BUDGET.

I'M CERTAINLY INTERESTED IN CLEAN ENERGY AND AS THE RANKING MEMBER ON THE SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE PROUD TO SEE THE GOVERNOR INTRODUCE HIS 100% CLEAN ENERGY BILL TODAY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE LONG ON THAT AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN SEE SOME PROGRESS.

I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY WANT US TO GO.

IN AGRICULTURE WE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED IT TWICE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE PROGRESS ON RURAL BROADBAND.

IT'S BEEN A NEED, BUT THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS REALLY BROUGHT IN THE RELIEF.

WE ASKED KIDS FROM GREATER MINNESOTA TO GO HOME AND STUDY ONLINE AND A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE ANY INTERNET AT ALL MUCH LESS THE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET THAT IS NECESSARY TO REALLY HAVE A SOLID CONNECTION.

SO I HOPE THIS IS A NONPARTISAN ISSUE.

WE HAVE A LOT TO GAIN BY SEEING THE WHOLE STATE HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES COMING THROUGH.

I'M INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT EMERGENCY POWERS.

I'M CERTAINLY INTERESTED IN THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

AND IF IT'S NOT TOO MUCH TO HOPE FOR, IT'S BEEN A LONG YEAR MAYBE A TINY BIT MORE UNITY AND BIPARTISANSHIP WOULD BE FUN IF NOTHING ELSE.

THAT'S HOW I SEE IT THREE WEEKS IN.

>> REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL YOUR THOUGHTS ON PRIORITIES OR OTHER ISSUES YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING.

>> FIRST OF ALL IT'S ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED -- THE BUDGET YEAR.

THAT'S OUR MAIN PURPOSE IS TO DO A BUDGET AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND WE'LL BE DOING THAT.

AND AGAIN, THE COVID ISSUE.

THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY AS WELL.

BUT ALSO GETTING OUR SCHOOLS OPEN.

FULLYOPEN AS SOON AS WE CAN.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING THAT WE HAVE TO BE LOOKING FOR.

BUT THEN SOME OF THE AREAS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BIENNIUM IS NOT THE BONDING YEAR.

LARGER BILL IS USUALLY THE SECOND YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH BONDING THIS YEAR.

IT'S BEEN A BIT OF A STRUGGLE THE LAST YEAR.

THERE ARE STILL SOME NEEDS OBVIOUSLY IN THE STATE.

WE'LL BE LOOKING AT GETTING SOMETHING DONE.

HOW BIG THIS YEAR IF AT ALL THIS YEAR REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

TAKING A GOOD LOOK AT IT.

COUPLE OTHER ISSUES, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT I HAVE TALKED I THINK OTHER TIMES ABOUT [ INAUDIBLE ] I CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD THAT GOAL.

ALSO THE STANDARDS ARE BEING REVIEWED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS REGARDING HOW HISTORY IS BEING TAUGHT.

WE'LL BE TAKING A GOOD CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS.

>> SO LET'S WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW IN THIS ERA OF COVID AND SO FORTH, HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH VISITING WITH CONSTITUENTS.

HOW ARE YOU ESTABLISHING WITH OTHER LEGISLATURES WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO GET THE WORK DONE?

OUR MOST VETERAN IS REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI.

THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT WAS WHEN YOU FIRST SHOWED UP HERE MANY YEARS AGO.

TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU'RE HANDLING IT.

>> YOU HAVE ILLUSTRATED IT TONIGHT.

THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE HAD BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL AND SORT OF A HURKY JERKY ZOOM AND MY ABILITY TO GET IN.

THESE ARE THE MAIN STRESS POINTS WE'VE HAD SINCE THE END OF MARCH WHEN WE STARTED TO DO ZOOM AND DO REMOTE.

HOW WE CONNECT IS PRIMARILY THROUGH THIS MEDIUM.

I ANSWER ALL MY OWN EMAILS AND I RESPOND TO MY OWN PHONE CALLS SO I HAVE NO AUTOMATIC RESPONSE.

I'M THE ONE THAT WILL RESPOND FIRST THEN WE'LL FIND OUT IF WE CAN HELP AND HOW WE CAN HELP INDIVIDUALS.

ALL OF THE MEETINGS I'VE HAD ARE ALL ZOOM WITH MY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WITH MY CITY, MY COUNTY, WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WITH HIGHER ED.

EVERYTHING IS EITHER ZOOM OR SOME TYPE OF A ZOOM MECHANISM.

SO WHAT THE FOLKS ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW THIS IS HOW WE OPERATE.

WE EVEN OPERATE THIS WAY IN THE HOUSE FLOOR.

WHEN YOU SEE 134 LITTLE PICTURES ON THE SCREEN IT'S SORT OF A PER VERSION OF HOLLYWOOD SQUARES.

MUCH SMALLER.

>> SENATOR FRENTZ.

>> I HAVE TO TIP MY HAT ANYONE THAT CAN WORK IN A HOLLYWOOD SQUARES ON YOUR LEGISLATORS.

THE BAR HAS BEEN SET HIGH WE'LL TRY TO LIVE UP TO.

WE'RE NOT HAVING MEETINGS WITH CONSTITUENTS IN PERSON.

WE'RE NOT HAVING MEETINGS WITH ADVOCATES AND LOBBYISTS IN PERSON WE'RE DOING THAT BY ZOOM.

I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO NORMAL AS SOON AS WE CAN SAFELY DO THAT.

I WOULD SAY THERE'S AN INCREASE IN MEMBERS SITTING ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

SENATOR ABELER AND I ARE ON THE FLOOR ONCE IN A WHILE.

WE HAVE MORE THAN WE USED TO.

THERE IS A TINY BIT OF DIRECT PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH SENATORS NOT ONLY ON THE FLOOR, BUT THE TUNNELS AND SENATE BUILDING YOU BUMP INTO THEM.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A BUNCH OF IN PERSON MEETINGS, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OF THAT AND I BELIEVE WE SAW AN EMAIL SAYING THAT WE HOPE TO MOVE TO HYBRID COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHICH WOULD ALLOW THOSE MEMBERS THAT ARE ABLE TO BE THERE IN PERSON.

WE HAVE GOP REPRESENTATION, TRYING TO GET THE BEST TRANSITION BACK TO NORMAL INCLUDING NOT JUST THE PROTOCOLS, BUT THE TECH TOO.

THERE'S SOME ELECTRONICS AS WE SEE HERE TONIGHT AND HOPING FOR A RETURN TO NORMAL AS SOON AS WE CAN SAFELY DO IT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL -- >> SINCE I AM FAIRLY TECHNOLOGICAL IMPAIRED, I MANAGED TO DO SOMETHING I FEEL PRETTY GOOD.

I MANAGED TO GET MYSELF HOOKED UP SO THAT I COULD VOTE REMOTELY.

FOR OUR FLOOR SESSION.

SO PRIMARILY -- AS OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE ZOOM.

WE HAD MEETINGS WITH FREQUENTLY NOW THAT'S ALL ZOOM TOO.

DO ACTUALLY HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY LOGGED INTO A MEETING OF A NONPROFIT GROUP IN LITCHFIELD.

ALL MASKS AND SOCIALLY DISTANCED.

>> SO I'M GOING TO REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO JOIN US BY PHONE IF YOU WOULD BECAUSE THE BREAK UP IS CONTINUING AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU.

LET ME GO TO SENATOR ABELER ON THIS SAME QUESTION.

>> WHAT NUMBER DO I CALL?

>> IT'S ON THE EMAIL THAT WAS SENT TO YOU AND WE'LL SEND YOU ANOTHER ONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SENATOR ABELER.

>> THANKS YOU KNOW AND I THINK ALL OF THIS TECHNOLOGY MAYBE IT'S ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?

I'M ACTUALLY SENATOR URDAHL MENTIONED HE'S PROUD OF GETTING THIS STUFF TO WORK AND IT IS NOT GOOD FOR GOVERNMENT.

AND EVEN TONIGHT I THOUGHT THAT SENATOR FATEH WAS GOING TO BE ON SO SORRY NICK I DIDN'T EVEN, ANYWAY.

SO, BUT SO, THERE ARE SOME SLIGHT BENEFITS.

IF YOU LIVE FAR AWAY, AND WANT TO PARTICIPATE, YOU'RE GOING TO PARTICIPATE AS EQUALLY AS SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN ST. PAUL.

AND IN TERMS OF THE MEETINGS AND SO ON.

BUT THE COLLABORATION THAT HAPPENS, ON A SCREEN, THERE'S NOTHING COMPARED TO SITTING DOWN WITH A CUP OF COFFEE WITH TWO OR THREE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES SORTING OUT SOMETHING AND CREATING.

WE'RE SITTING IN A COMMITTEE MEETING WITH PEOPLE SO YOU CAN CHECK THEIR BODY LANGUAGE AND SO YOU FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PARTICIPATING.

AND SO WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE, BUT I THINK THAT REPRESENT PELOWSKI WILL AGREE THAT THE MORE WE'RE ON ZOOM THE MORE THE POWER IS CENTRALIZES.

FEWER PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN LITTLE ZOOM ROOMS OR IN FEAR OF GETTING TOGETHER SO AT SOME POINT THE GOVERNOR AND THE TWO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS BECOME MUCH MORE INSULATED AND ISOLATED.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT COULD BE MADE ARE NOT GOING TO BE AS MIGHT BE AS BROAD THINKS AS THEY MIGHT BE.

SO BAD IDEAS AREN'T GOING TO PASS, BUT SOME GOOD IDEAS AREN'T GOING TO PASS EITHER.

HERE WE ARE WE'RE DURABLE AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST, BUT IT'S JUST NOT QUITE THE SAME.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IN THE COURSE OF OUR BEGINNING PORTION OF THIS PROGRAM.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI.

BECAUSE THE DISCUSSION THAT YOU LED YOU LED US IS HAVING TO DO WITH CONNECTING SCHOOLS AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND SOME OF THOSE ISSUES I THINK ARE ISSUES WE'VE DISCUSSED HERE.

ONE OF YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUES A FRIEND OF MANY OF US ON THIS PROGRAM AND SOMEBODY I KNEW FOR MANY YEARS SENATOR DILL WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HAVING YOU EXPAND ON THAT AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT GET DONE IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON THAT TOPIC.

>> SURE WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST HOUSE MINISESSION IN OVER 22 YEARS IN WINONA IN OCTOBER, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH OF 2019, WE HAD A MAJOR HEARING AT THE TECH COLLEGE WITH WINONA STATE, WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WITH BUSINESSES.

THE TOPIC WAS HOW DO WE RECONNECT OUR TECHNICAL SCHOOLS TO OUR K-12 SYSTEM SO WE CAN DO JUST WHAT I SAID IN THE BEGINNING.

EVERY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF GRADUATING NOT JUST WITH THE TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, BUT WITH A EMPLOYABLE SKILL SET.

WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT IS A BILL THAT WILL RECREATE THE LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION FOR WHAT WE USED TO CALL INDUSTRIAL ARTS TEACHERS NOW THEY ARE INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY TEACHERS BECAUSE WE NO LONGER LICENSE THEM OR CERTIFY THEM IN MINNESOTA.

SO WINONA STATE WOULD BE THE BEGINNING WITH THE TECH COLLEGE OF HAVING A UNIQUE TWO PLUS TWO, TWO YEARS AT WINONA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM, TWO YEARS AT THE TECH COLLEGE AND WE WOULD RELICENSE AND RECERTIFY THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

MY COMMITTEE THIS SESSION HAS ALREADY STARTED HEARINGS WITH AN ARRAY OF DIFFERENT GROUPS STARTING WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND OTHERS HOW DO WE PUT IT BACK INTO THE HIGH SCHOOLS WHAT ONCE WAS COMMON AND THEN SHARE THE RESOURCES OF OUR TECH COLLEGE SO THAT THESE STUDENTS CAN GRADUATE WITH AN EMPLOYABLE SKILL SET.

THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE THREE THRUSTS OF THAT COMMITTEE.

THE OTHER IS GOING TO BE BROADBAND AND DISASTER AID.

SO, BUT WE WILL BE SPENDING THE LYONS SHARE OF OUR TIME ON THAT TOPIC.

>> SENATOR FRENTZ YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS EDUCATION ISSUE?

>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

WE WANT TO HAVE THE BEST MATCH FOR EACH AND WE HAVE -- [ AUDIO DIFFICULTIES ] >> DEAN YOU NEED TO MUTE YOUR COMPUTER THERE.

>> I'M FINE.

[LAUGHTER] >> HOW'S THAT?

>> HOW ARE WE DOING DEAN HAVE WE GOT THAT?

>> I THINK SO.

>> WE'LL GO TO SENATOR FRENTZ, BUT AS LONG AS WE'VE GOT YOU AND THE AUDIO IS WORKING LET'S HAVE YOU TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

[LAUGHTER] >> ALL RIGHT.

LIKE HE SAID WE NEED BETTER BROADBAND.

>> SO, REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS EXPANSION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, LINKING IT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL, TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM AT WINONA STATE.

I KNOW THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT BOTH YOU AND SENATOR DILL WORKED ON MANY YEARS AGO.

SOMETHING THAT CROPPED OFF THE RADAR SCREEN UNFORTUNATELY.

GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT VERY QUICKLY.

>> I THINK VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, YOU KNOW IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AND OBVIOUSLY IN THE V VO TECH AND COLLEGE AREAS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE MADE THE MISTAKE OVER THE YEARS I THINK IN PUSHING TOO HARD TO GET EVERYONE INTO A FOUR YEAR ACADEMIC SITUATION WHERE THE NEEDS AND THE JOBS ARE REALLY IN THE VO TECH AREA.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO DO THAT THROUGH A SYSTEM THAT IS AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE.

>> ALL RIGHT SENATOR FRENTZ.

NOW WE GET TO YOU.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I BET WE ALL AGREE WE WANT THE BEST MATCH FOR EACH KID.

AND THESE ARE OPTIONS THAT A LOT OF KIDS SHOULD BE LOOKING AT AND WE SHOULD HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS BE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT NOT WHAT THEY'D LIKE THE KID TO DO, BUT WHAT THE KID LIKES TO DO AND WHAT'S THE BEST FIT.

A COUPLE FACTORS DRIVING THAT OVER THE LAST 30 OR # 40 YEARS INCLUDE THE ABILITY FOR STUDENTS TO BORROW THEY CAN GO TO A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE A LITTLE EASIER.

THAT'S A BAD THING WHEN IT PILES UP STUDENT DEBT AND I'M SURE IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF FUN, BUT YOU HAVE TO HELP THESE KIDS THINK LONG-TERM.

I'M ALL FOR WHAT REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI IS TALKING ABOUT.

WE HAVE SOUTH CENTRAL COLLEGE HERE IN NORTH MANKATO A MILE FROM HERE.

WE'VE WORKED TO REINTRODUCE AGRICULTURE EDUCATION INTO THE TWO PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS HERE AND I THINK WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IS YOU WANT THE KIDS TO HAVE A GOOD FIT.

I SHOULD JUST THROW IN ANOTHER PLUG FOR THE TRADES.

ONE OF THE OTHER ECONOMIC DRIVERS THAT I THINK WILL HELP SUPPORT THIS KIND OF THING IS THE MONEY THAT THESE KIDS CAN MAKE AFTER REASONABLE APPRENTICESHIP IS REALLY SOMETHING.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

AND I THINK ONCE MORE FAMILIES GET AN HONEST LOOK AT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHOOSING THAT PATH AND WILL HAVE MORE AND MORE BETTER FITS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR THE STATE AND OBVIOUSLY A GOOD THING FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

>> SENATOR ABLER.

>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

ALL OF THE COMMENTS ARE SOLID, THE TRADES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING SOME YOUNG PEOPLE TO GO INTO THEM EITHER MEN OR WOMEN.

IT'S SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY.

NORTHLAND TECH WAS SLATED TO BE CLOSED DOWN BY THE BOARD AROUND 2,000 WHEN I WAS FIRST IN OFFICE.

AND OUT OF THAT OUT OF THE ASHES OF THAT EFFORT, ACTUALLY WE BURNED DOWN THE EFFORT, BUT OUT OF THE OUTCOME OF THAT WAS A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND A PROGRAM CALLED STEP WHICH IS SECONDARY TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM WHERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACTUALLY TAKE TECHNICAL COURSES AND SOME CAN GRADUATE WITH A SKILL THAT IS ACTUALLY VERY EMPLOYABLE RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL WHICH WAS REALLY NICE FOR SOME OF THEM.

SO FOUR YEAR DEGREES ARE TERRIFIC FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS AND NOT AT ALL FOR OTHERS.

SO GIVING EVERYBODY A CHANCE.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT SENATOR FRENTZ ABOUT ONE OF THE ISSUES YOU IDENTIFIED THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT IN OUR FIRST THREE PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR.

THAT IS THE SO-CALLED CLEAN ENERGY ISSUE.

AND YOU KNOW I TRY TO STAY OUT OF THE SORT OF CROSS EXAMINING OUR GUESTS ABOUT PARTICULAR ISSUES, BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN YOUR OBSERVATION ABOUT HOW DOES MINNESOTA AVOID SOME OF THE PROBLEMS OTHER STATES HAVE, CALIFORNIA BEING THE MOST OBVIOUS EXAMPLE IN DEALING WITH THE INTERMITTENT NATURE AND YOU KNOW THE LACK OF DENSITY ASSOCIATED WITH SOLAR AND WIND POWER WHICH ARE TWO OF THE PRINCIPLE ALTERNATIVE FUELS THAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN YOUR OBJECTIONS IN THOSE ISSUES.

>> IN THE ENERGY SPHERE, RELIABILITY AND COST ARE PROBABLY TWO MAIN FEATURES.

I'M VERY GLAD TO REPORT IF WE'RE CHEERING FOR BIPARTISANSHIP, SENATOR DAVE, WHO IS THE NEW CHAIR OF THE SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE HAS HELD A NUMBER OF HEARINGS WITH WITNESSES THAT ARE REALLY BRINGING QUALITY NEW INFORMATION TO MINNESOTA, HOW WE CAN DO THIS, AND DECARBONIZE AND DO OUR SHARE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND AVOID SOME OF THE RELIABILITY ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN OTHER STATES.

BOTH BECAUSE WIND AND SOLAR ARE NOT CONSTANT AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THE PACKED OUT USE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL AND WHERE SOMETIMES GETS BELOW 110 IN THE SUMMER AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T.

SO, I THINK WE CAN DO IT.

IN PARTICULAR, WE HAD TESTIMONY FROM THE UTILITIES, WE'VE HAD TESTIMONY FROM MISO OUR MULTISTATE BASICALLY TRANSMISSION EXCHANGE.

IF WE AGREE WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR SHARE WE STILL HAVE 20, 25 YEARS TO REDUCE THE KIND OF CARBON OUTPUT WE CAN DO INDUSTRY, TRANSPORTATION.

IRONICALLY ON THE ENERGY COMMITTEE, DON'T TELL SENATOR I SAID THIS SENATOR ABELER WE HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE UTILITIES AND ELECTRIC GENERATION THAT'S ACTUALLY THE LEG OF THE TRIPOD THAT HAS DONE THE BEST IN THE LAST 20 YEARS WE'VE REDUCED OUR CARBON OUTPUT ABOUT 30%.

SO LONG STORY SHORT, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY STRATEGY, WE CAN DO THAT AND AVOID THE PITFALLS OF THE LIABILITY OF WIND AND SOLAR AND STILL PROVIDE TRANSMISSION, AND A CLEAN RENEWABLE SOURCE AND THE ENERGY SECTOR THE BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR IS INTRODUCING IS BY 2040, LAST NOTE ON THAT WOULD BE THE CLEAN CARS INITIATIVE WHICH WE CAN TALK ABOUT TONIGHT IF YOU WANT.

THAT'S THE RULE MAKING BY THE PCA WHICH WOULD REQUIRE MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE MORE ELECTRIC CARS AVAILABLE.

YOU KNOW THE MARKET SENDS SIGNALS TO US AND SOMETIMES GOVERNMENT SENDS SIGNALS TO THE MARKET, BUT I CAUGHT THIS SIGNAL THIS WEEK, AS SMALL AMERICAN COMPANY THAT WE KNOW HERE IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA IS GENERAL MOTORS.

NOT ONLY ANNOUNCED IT WAS THEIR GOAL TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO SELL EVERY PERSON AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, BUT THEY ACTUALLY CHANGED THEIR LOGO WHICH I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU COULD DO WITH GENERAL MOTORS.

I JUST THOUSAND DOLLAR FORD WOULD BE THE -- THE CEO MADE A POINT TO SAY, WE'RE MOVING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND SO THAT TRANSITION IS COMING AND I THINK THE STATE CAN BE A PARTNER IN THAT, NEITHER MOVING TOO FAST OR TOO SLOW AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL CLEAN ENERGY YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK WIND, SOLAR AND ELECTRIC ENERGY, ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILES CERTAINLY HAVE THEIR PLACE.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA EMISSION STANDARDS BEING ADOPTED IN MINNESOTA.

FOR ONE THING, IT COULD COST ANOTHER $1,000 PER VEHICLE, MANDATING ELECTRIC VEHICLES I THINK ARE GOING TO MINNESOTANS LOVE SUVS AND TRUCKS.

AND I THINK IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR MINNESOTANS TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THEM READILY IN THE FUTURE.

I ALSO THINK THAT YOU KNOW, ONE SIZE IN ENERGY DOESN'T FIT ALL.

AND CALIFORNIA IS A MUCH DIFFERENT STATE FROM MINNESOTA E.. AND I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND NOT JUMP RIGHT INTO THESE CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS STANDARDS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE WINONA MINISESSION IN 2019 AGAIN.

WHEN WE'RE PAST THIS PANDEMIC, WE'VE GOT TO DO MORE OF GOING OUT ACROSS THE STATE LISTENING.

ONE OF THE HEARINGS DURING THE MINISESSION WAS THAT MY ENERGY ELECTRIC CO-OP, THEY SHOWED THE ENERGY ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH SOLAR, WIND AND EXPERIMENTING WE HAVING LARGE BATTERIES THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY HAVE IN YOUR HOME, AND YOU COULD GET THREE DAYS OF ENERGY OUT OF THAT BATTERY CHARGED BY WIND, SOLAR OR SOME OTHER SOURCE, THAT WOULD COMPENSATE FOR THE TIMES WHEN THOSE WOULD BE DOWN.

THEY ALSO HAVE STATIONS NOW, MY ENERGY, FOR CHARGING YOUR CAR.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

BECAUSE THE MARKET HAS TO BE THERE AND SOME OF THESE ELECTRIC CO-OPS ARE SHOWING US THE MARKET IS THERE THEY'RE DOING IT.

WE NEED TO HELP THEM CONTINUE TO DO IT.

THE OTHER FACTOR WITH MI ENERGY AND ELECTRIC CO-OP THEY ARE ALSO DOING BROADBAND.

THEY ARE PIGGY BACKING TO MAKE SURE HELP URDAHL HE CAN HAVE A FULL BLOWN SYSTEM WHEN HE COMES ON PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.

>> THAT WAS SMOOTH.

YOU'VE BEEN AT THIS A WHILE.

>> SENATOR ABELER.

>> GO AHEAD DEAN.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY WE CALL HIM MR. SMOOTHIE IN THE HOUSE.

REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI.

>> SENATOR ABELER YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS HIS NICKNAME.

ANYWAY WE WON'T GO THERE VERY LONG.

MINUTE SOCIETY IS A STATE UNIQUE TO ITSELF.

IT HAS A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS.

I'M UNCOMFORTABLE PERSONALLY WITH CALIFORNIA DECIDING WHAT OUR STANDARDS SHOULD BE AND I WAS ONE OF THE REPUBLICANS THAT VOTED FOR THE EARLY 25 BY 25 WHICH WAS CONTROVERSIAL AT THE TIME.

AND THEY'VE EXCEEDED THAT.

AND IT GOT HIGHER AND MY LOCALS TELL ME THEY ARE PUSHING 50 NOW.

THERE HAS TO BE A OFFRAMP WHERE IF IT DOESN'T GO LIKE YOU HOPED AND THESE GIANT BATTERIES NEED TO BE SMALLER AND PRACTICAL AND THEY HAVE TO LAST A LONG TIME.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP IN AN ELECTRIC CAR YOU BETTER PLAN FOR SOME LONG GAS STOPS OR REST STOPS TO RECHARGE YOUR CAR.

AND SO THE TIME IS COMING WE'RE MOVING THERE, BUT I DON'T SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE I HAVE NOT BRIEFED ON THE 20 BY 2040 PLAN.

I DO REMEMBER MY LOCAL ENERGY COMPANIES TELLING US TO YOU KNOW WE'RE GETTING THERE, GIVE US A CHANCE TO GET THERE.

WE'RE ALL WANTING TO DO THAT, BUT THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE STORY WHICH SENATOR FRENTZ WILL KNOW BEFORE I DO I DON'T SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE.

MINNESOTA IS A THOUGHTFUL STATE.

CLEAN ENERGY IS A PRACTICAL MATTER AND I THINK AS WE COLLABORATE WHICH IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT US TO DO WE CAN COME UP WITH GREAT IDEAS.

MINNESOTA IDEAS CLEAN STANDARDS ET CETERA.

>> FRENTZ FRIEND THE LAST WORD ON THE ADOPTION OF CALIFORNIA STANDARDS WHICH I THINK IS YOU KNOW I THINK THAT ISSUE OF COURSE CONCERNS THE RULE MAKING AUTHORITY.

OUTSIDE OF THE LEGISLATURE.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS THE POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY REGULATING POLLUTION.

WE HAVE 14 STATES IN THE COUNTRY ALREADY USING THESE STANDARDS AND I BELIEVE NEVADA AND NEW MEXICO ARE GOING TO I DON'T THINK I DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING ANY LEGISLATURE JUST SAID ON THIS TOPIC.

I THINK THE REMAINING ISSUE IS HOW MUCH OF A HURRY ARE WE REALLY IN AND WHAT I WANT TO SEE IN OUR CARBON REDUCTION EFFORTS IN MINNESOTA IS FOR US TO DO OUR SHARE AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE OUT OF THE SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE IS AN HONEST LOOK AT HOW MUCH OF A HURRY WE'RE IN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE OTHER PART I GUESS SINCE YOU GAVE ME THE LAST WORD, THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE LAST, LAST WORD YOU GIVE ME, IS THAT THE MANUFACTURERS ARE SIGNALING THEY THINK ELECTRIC VEHICLES WILL ACTUALLY BE A SAVINGS OUT HERE IN GREATER MINNESOTA, BUDGETS ARE TIGHT, OUR AVERAGE PER CAPITA INCOME LOWER THAN IT IS IN THE METRO.

I LIKE TO THINK OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTANS IN PARTICULAR AS VERY INTERESTED IN STRETCHING A BUCK.

AND THE OPERATION OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE FOR TEN YEARS, AND THE REPAIRS THAT YOU AVOID I THINK IS LESS.

AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION AND I BELIEVE IN THE COMMITTEE PROCESS AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH SENATOR ABELER WHEN WE'RE THERE IN PERSON IT'S BETTER JUST LIKE A KID IN SCHOOL IN PERSON IS BETTER.

A LITTLE PLUG FOR THE IN PERSON WORK COMMITTEE SENATOR.

>>> LET'S TALK ABOUT BUDGET RELATED ISSUES.

BECAUSE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A BUDGET YEAR AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY OF THE I SHOULDN'T SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY.

OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPINIONS, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY A CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY PRIORITY.

LET'S START WITH OUR MOST VETERAN LEGISLATURE REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI MAYBE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE HAPPENING IN THE BUDGET AND WHAT AREAS YOU THINK ARE REAL PRIORITIES.

>> WE'RE STARTING TO GET THE FIRST REAL NUMBERS FROM THE IMPACT OF THE FEDERAL STIMULUS THAT WAS PASSED IN 2020.

AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

HIGHER EDUCATION IS GETTING OVER $300 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY, IT HAD BEEN RUNNING AN $8 MILLION DEFICIT WHICH IS A HUGE DEFICIT FOR A UNIVERSITY OF ITS SIZE.

WE NOW PROJECT THAT BECAUSE OF THAT INFLUX OF FEDERAL MONEY, THEY'RE GOING TO GET ALMOST $9 MILLION.

NOW THAT'S ONE TIME MONEY, BUT IT WOULD ALLEVIATE OVER THIS BUDGET CYCLE, THE PROBLEM THAT THEY'VE BEEN FACED WITH.

WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE THAT WE HAVE, THEY'RE GETTING ABOUT $1.4 MILLION.

ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY IS GETTING ABOUT $2.9 MILLION.

WE EXTRAPOLATE THAT ACROSS ALL OF HIGHER ED I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT BUDGET SCENARIO THIS SESSION.

WE KNOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM OF ABOUT A BILLION SOMETHING.

IF THIS MONEY GOES THIS WAY ACROSS ALL OUR BUDGETS, I THINK WE'LL BE INTO MORE TWEAKING BUDGETS THIS SESSION, AND THEN RIDING WITH THE FEDERAL MONEY, AND THEN SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO ONCE WE GET OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND INTO THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.

SO IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS FEDERAL MONEY IS GOING TO BE A HUGE BOOM FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING WITH OUR BUDGETS THIS SESSION.

>> SENATOR ABELER.

>> RIGHT AND, I'M HAPPY THAT SENATOR PELOWSKI IS SO ON TOP OF HIS LOCAL STUFF.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN REALLY GOOD AT THE NUMBERS AND I HAVE NOT BEEN EXSUPPOSED TO MY NUMBERS AND MY LOCALS.

ON THE HUMAN SERVICES SIDE THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF PRESSURE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO FREE MONEY I WANT TO POINT OUT TO FOLKS.

$1.8TRILLION AND THE $900 BILLION AND A MILLION PROPOSED A COUPLE TRILLION, OUR DEFICIT THE DEBT IN THE COUNTRY IS ALMOST $25 TRILLION.

FOR THE N NUMERICALLY IMPAIRED THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

WE HAVE NOT SPENT IT VERY CAREFUL.

IF YOU GIVE WINONA $9 MILLION THEY WILL SPEND IT VERY CAREFULLY.

THE CLOSER YOU PUT IT NOW IN THE INSTITUTIONS THEY KNOW THAT THE MONEY IS SHORT THEY WILL SPEND IT WISELY.

I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN OUR MORE GRANULAR DECENTRALIZED WAY.

BUT SOME OF THE WAY AND EVERYBODY MEANS WELL SO THERE IS NO CRITICIZING ANYBODY'S INTENT, BUT THE EFFECT WHEN YOU GET SO MUCH MONEY IT'S LIKE IF YOU'RE ON VACATION AND YOU DECIDE TO BUY THE $3 DOUGHNUT INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 50-CENT DAY OLD ONE BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

YOU BURN THROUGH A LOT OF CASH, BUT HAVE LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN A LOT OF THESE THAT COME TO HUMAN SERVICES IN PARTICULAR.

THINGS YOU WOULD NEVER BUY WE'RE BUYING BECAUSE IT'S FREE.

AND WHEN WE'RE CERTAINLY FACING A DEFICIT AND THE PRESSURE IS GOING TO LAND ON THE AREA THAT I'M SPENDING MOST OF THE TIME IN WITH THE HEALTH SIDE AND HUMAN SERVICES OF HEALTHCARE THERE IS GOING TO BE DESPERATE DECISIONS TO HAVE TO MAKE.

I'M CONCERNED THAT THE DEBTS MAY BE DEEPER THAN WE FEAR PARTICULARLY SINCE A LOT OF THE NUMBERS ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT AND SO ARE PROBABLY ARTIFICIALLY LOW BECAUSE OF PEOPLE DROPPING OUT OR PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING SOME OF THIS STIMULUS DOLLARS.

SO THIS IS THE TIME AND I SAY THIS ONLY BECAUSE THE FOUR OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE TO, THE FOUR OF US COULD ACTUALLY SOLVE THIS AND THE TONE WE HAVE HERE AND IN OUR DAILY WORK IS JUST LIKE THIS.

AND SO WITH THAT TONE WE CAN GET AROUND THESE TROUBLES.

I HOPE THE TONE STAYS SO POSITIVE AS THAT.

>>> REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BUDGET PRIORITIES?

>> WELL OBVIOUSLY OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS BALANCING THE BUDGET.

I MEAN THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONCERN.

THE MAIN PORTION OF OUR BUDGET IS EDUCATION.

THE K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION.

ABOUT 42% OF OUR BUDGET I THINK IS K-12 EDUCATION.

AND IT LOOKS LAST YEAR, THAT WE WERE FACING A DEFICIT MAYBE OF $6 BILLION FOR THE THIS BIENNIUM.

BUT, FORTUNATELY THAT DIDN'T PROVE TO BE THE CASE.

THE FORECAST THAT CAME OUT SAYS WE HAVE 6, $700 MILLION SURPLUS THIS YEAR.

NEXT YEAR IT DOES LOOK LIKE A $1.2 BILLION OR SO DEFICIT.

BUT NOT AS BLEAK AS IT APPEARED BEFORE AND HOPEFULLY THE FEBRUARY FORECAST WILL NOT BE WORSE AS IT COMES OUT.

BUT YOU KNOW THAT SAID, IT WAS LOOKING LIKE WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE CUTS TO EDUCATION AND YOU KNOW CUTS TO EVERYTHING.

NOW THE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION IS YOU KNOW MAYBE WE CAN HOLD HARMLESS.

MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ANY CUTS MAYBE IT CAN JUST GO WITH WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

WE HAVE TO BE VERY JUDICIOUS IN HOW WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND VERY CAREFUL WITH OUR PRIORITIES.

AND CERTAINLY THE FEDERAL MONEY IS A BOOM TO US.

BUT WE STILL ARE GOING TO HAVE TO AGAIN BE VERY JUDICIOUS IN WHAT WE WERE DOING THIS BIENNIUM AS FAR AS OUR BUDGET IS CONCERNED.

>> SENATOR FRENTZ BUDGET ISSUES?

>> AS WE OFTEN SAY ON THIS SHOW THE BEST PART OF THE MINNESOTA BUDGETING PROCESS IS ALSO THE TOUGHEST.

IT HAS TO BALANCE.

SO THAT I AGREE THAT WE'LL HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND I THINK A GOOD LEGISLATIVE SESSION REQUIRES A LOT OF REVIEW AND A LOT OF LOOKING AT THE WAY THINGS ARE LOOKING AND ARE WE GETTING OUR BANG FOR THE BUCK AND IS OUR REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT GOOD?

I THINK WE'LL SEE ALL OF THAT TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE BUDGET THIS SESSION, I HOPE THAT WE DON'T PROJECT ANY WORSE THAN $1.3 BILLION OF DEFICIT.

KEEP IN MIND WE'RE SITTING ON ABOUT $2 BILLION IN THE RAINY DAY FUND.

SO IMAGINE A FAMILY THAT SPENDS $48,000 EVERY TWO YEARS WHEN THEY HAVE $2,000 IN THE BANK.

THERE ARE WAYS TO AS REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI SAYS GET TO A TWEAKING BUDGET.

ON THE SUBJECT OF FEDERAL STIMULUS THIS SHOULD BE ANOTHER YOUR LEGISLATORS PROGRAM.

BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A SWORD THAT CUTS BOTH WAYS AND I BELIEVE THERE IS BIPARTISAN CREDIT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN THIS IN 2020.

WE SAW STIMULUS DOLLARS WE DO HAVE TO PAY IT BACK SENATOR ABELER, BUT THERE IS ALSO AN ARGUE IT PREVENTED THINGS FROM BEING A GREAT DEAL WORSE.

SOME OF THE STIMULUS MONEY KEPT SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES OPEN.

KEPT SOME OF OUR WORKERS FROM BEING IN MUCH WORSE SHAPE.

PROBABLY REDUCED HOMELESSNESS.

THOSE ARE GOOD THINGS.

AS FAR AS THE PROPOSAL BY THE PRESIDENT FOR $1.9 TRILLION THAT SURE IS A BIG NUMBER, BUT IN THERE SOMEWHERE I HOPE IS SOME COMPROMISE THAT WILL PREVENT A LOT OF STATES FROM MAKING MORE SERIOUS CUTS.

TO THAT I WOULD JUST ADD FINALLY IN MY VIEW OF THE VARIOUS STATE BUDGETS MINNESOTA IS IN BETTER SHAPE THAN AVERAGE.

THAT'S A GOOD THING AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PROTECT THAT INCLUDING OUR CREDIT RATING.

>>> SO WE FROM A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET AND TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES.

AND THE VIEWER ALSO MENTIONED A CONCERN ABOUT AS WE MOVE TO MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES WHICH, DESPITE ALL THE DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW, ARE FAIRLY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NO GAS BEING PUMPED AND THAT MEANS THERE'S NO GAS BEING TAXED.

AND THE VIEWERS WONDERING WHAT THAT MEANS FOR ROAD FUNDING IN THE FUTURE.

REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> WELL I HAVE LONG SAID THAT THE GAS TAX IS A UNCERTAIN, UNSTABLE SOURCE OF FUNDING INTO THE FUTURE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER OTHER FORMS OF REVENUE AS FAR AS OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS CONCERNED.

WE DID MAKE SOME MOVES A COUPLE YEARS AGO TO TAX TRANSPORTATION RELATED PRODUCTS.

EQUIPMENT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND SO, GOING FORWARD, AS I SAID, WE CAN'T DEPEND ON THE GAS TAX, LONG-TERM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER STABLE SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

>>> SENATOR ABELER.

YOU'RE MUTED THERE SENATOR ABELER.

THERE YOU GO.

>> I'VE GOT A FACE FOR RADIO AND VOICE FOR PRINT I WAS TRYING TO SPARE YOU ALL OF THAT.

I HAVE LONG SAID THIS IS A PROBLEM.

AT THE HEART OF IT IS PEOPLE ALL WANT ROADS AND THEY WANT THEIR TRANSIT AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALLY WANT TO PAY FOR IT.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO CHALLENGING AND BACK IN 2008 WE RAISED OUR GAS TAX 8.5 CENTS TO QUITE A LOUD CRY OF ANGST AND AT THE END PEOPLE WERE HAPPY WE FIXED A BUNCH OF BRIDGES AFTER ONE HAD FALLEN DOWN.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE MANAGE MORE BY CRISIS THAN EVERY GOVERNOR LATELY HAS TRIED TO COME UP WITH A ROBUST PLAN TO FUND IT, AND IT'S JUST A CHALLENGE.

AND IT SO IT INVARIABLY YOU HAVE TO FIND SOME MORE MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE.

ONE OF MY CITIES RAMSEY HAS A PLAN TO PUT IN SOME FRANCHISE AND PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO PAY THOSE.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PAY A DIRECT FEE OR DIRECT ASSESSMENT.

SO IT'S LIKE THE WEATHER EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S JUST REALL REALLY HARD TO SOLVE AND IF WE DON'T WE WIND UP WITH CRUMBLING ROADS.

AS REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL MENTIONED THE GAS TAX IS NOT A RELIABLE SOURCE, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO PAY ON THEIR ELECTRIC CAR OR REGULAR CARS.

SO WHAT WE'RE BRINGING VIEWERS IN IS THE CHALLENGE NOT TO DO THE RESOLUTION PART.

I WILL SAVE THE SOLUTIONS FOR MY OTHER COLLEAGUES.

>> REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI.

>> WELL, WE JUST HAVE A BRAND-NEW BRIDGE THAT WE DEDICATED TWO YEARS AGO IN WINONA, AND THEN WE RESTORED THE OLD BRIDGE SO WE HAVE FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC GOING TO WISCONSIN.

THAT WAS ABOUT A $300 MILLION PROJECT.

THE RESULT OF THAT PROJECT IS TRANSFORMED DOWNTOWN WINONA.

WE HAVE MORE ACTIVITY IN DOWNTOWN WINONA IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST INCLUDING FASTENLE BUILDING A NEW COMPLEX.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND INVESTMENT WINONA HAS SEEN THE IMPACT OF IT AND THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO KEEP THAT INFRASTRUCTURE UP AND RUNNING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE BRIDGES THAT HAVE TO BE CLOSED BECAUSE OUR BRIDGE WAS CLOSED DURING THAT '07 CRISIS WHERE WE HAD ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE BRIDGES AND WE HAD A TRAUMATIC IMPACT IN WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN CONGRESS AND DOWNTOWN WINONA.

ONE EXAMPLE IS THE GROCERY STORY GO TO THE OWNER PULLED ME OVER THE FIRST DAY THAT BRIDGE WAS CLOSED AND SAID GENE IT LOOKS LIKE I'M GOING TO LOSE ABOUT $70,000 THIS WEEK IN INCOME.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ROADS AND BRIDGES I AM ALL FOR THEM AND WE HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT HERE.

I AGREE.

FUNDING IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE, BUT THE ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE.

>> SENATOR FRENTZ.

>> WELL, I AM SUDDENLY REGRETTING EVEN MORE HAVING TO LEAVE THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE WHICH I WAS PROUD TO SERVE ON THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

EACH POINT MADE HERE IS ACCURATE IN ITS OWN WAY.

I TEND TO ASK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AS REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI DOES.

DON'T JUST ASK WHAT IT COSTS ASK WHAT IT PAYS.

SINCE I WAS A BRIGHT YOUNG CANDIDATE IN 2015 I HAVE BEEN RUNNING AROUND SAYING WE DO NOT NEED NEW TAXES EXCEPT IN TRANSPORTATION.

I SUPPORTED A GAS TAX INCREASE.

I AGREE IT'S NOT PREDICTABLE IN THE LONG-TERM, BUT IT IS THE WORKHORSE.

TALK TO THE FOLKS AT MN/DOT OR VISIT WITH YOUR COUNTY ENGINEERS I GOT AN EARFUL FROM A ENGINEER ABOUT UNDERFUNDING ROADS AND BRIDGES.

SO THE QUESTION IS NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE'VE BEEN, BUT WHERE WE'RE GOING, WE DO HAVE A SET FEE, AND I'VE SEEN ESTIMATES THAT EV IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $300 OF THEIR SHARE OF ROAD REPAIR DAMAGE EACH YEAR.

ALTHOUGH WE CAN'T GET THEM TO PAY A GAS TAX WE CAN ADJUST THE ANNUAL FEE SO THEY ARE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE.

RIGHT NOW URN, YOU MENTIONED WE DON'T SELL A LOT OF THEM.

ABOUT 2% OF NEW VEHICLE SALES ARE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

BUT AS THAT NUMBER GOES UP, AND IT MOST CERTAINLY WILL, IF THE FEE IS SET PROPERLY, SO THAT THEY ARE PAYING -- [ INAUDIBLE ] >> SENATOR ABELER YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ON THAT POINT?

>> NO I WAS JUST SMILING HERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE A WHOLE SHOW ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.

AND I JUST, TO TELL YOU IN '07 I SAW THIS COMING THE BRIDGE FELL DOWN AND I BEGAN TO PROMOTE SOME OF THE VERY THINGS N THINGS SENATOR FRENTZ WAS TALKING ABOUT ABOUT THE NEED FOR FUNDING.

THAT 8.5% GAS TAX TOOK A FEW COLLEAGUES OUT OF OFFICE.

I THINK BECAUSE I HELPED PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AS BOTH PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED, THE BENEFITS AND THE NEED AND SAFETY AND COMMERCE.

AND THE PARTNERSHIP THAT EVOLVED WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AGREEING TO FUNDING STREAMS AND SO I THINK PART OF IT IS EDUCATION.

WHEN I DID MY VOTE TO OVERRIGHT THE GOVERNOR WHO I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTING AND I LIKED HIM A LOT EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE POINT.

OR OTHER POINTS TOO, BUT THIS ONE.

MY LOCALS WERE BEHIND ME IN GETTING THE MONEY BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD THE NEED AND THOUGHT IT MADE SENSE.

GIVEN THE CHALLENGES THOSE SAME LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE TRYING TO JUST STAY OPEN.

SO I THINK THAT SENATOR FRENTZ MENTIONED AND REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY GET FOR IT, AND THEN THEY'LL PAY.

BUT THAT HAS, THAT CASE HAS NOT BEEN MADE LATELY BROAD ENOUGH TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THAT FUNDING ACCOMPLISHED.

THAT'S THE NEXT STEP I THINK.

>> IF I COULD JUST ADD, COULD I JUST ADD ONE POINT.

THAT IS THAT ALTHOUGH THE AMOUNT VARIES, FROM EXCE SESSION TO SESSION WE DO DO BONDING FOR TRANSPORTATION.

WE DID IN LAST BILL ABOUT $300 MILLION IN TRUNK HIGHWAY BONDS AND ROUGHLY $150 MILLION IN LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES.

THAT VARIES FROM BONDING BILL TO BONDING BILL.

IT IS A SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION AS WELL.

>> REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI, YOU'VE BEEN WITH US BEFORE WE'VE ALWAYS MADE IT A POINT TO DISCUSS BRIEFLY THE PRIORITY FOR YOU, CONCERNS ABOUT FUNDING FOR MNSKU, MINNESOTA UNIVERSITY.

WE'VE TALKED GENERALLY ABOUT THE BUDGET.

ARE THERE PRIORITIES OR CONCERNS IN HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING THAT YOU'RE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THERE THIS SESSION?

>> UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED.

BUT WHEN I SAW THE IMPACT OF THIS FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN, I HAD, I BREATHED A GREAT SIGH OF RELIEF.

IN K-12 APPARENTLY THERE IS $588 MILLION COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO WE'RE SEEING AN INFLUX OF MONEY THAT'S GOING TO GO DIRECTLY TO EITHER THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUDGET DEFICITS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, AS AN INSTITUTION LIKE WINONA OF $8 MILLION, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ELIMINATING FACULTIES THAT WOULD BE RETRENCHMENT AND PROGRAMS.

IF WE CAN SAVE FACULTY AND PROGRAMS IN THE SHORT-TERM WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS IN THE LONG-TERM.

AND NOW THAT WE WANT TO DO A REUNIONIFICATION AND LINKING OF OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGES IN OUR K-12 SYSTEM I THINK THE INFLUX OF FEDERAL DOLLARS WILL GIVE US AB OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT ALL THE BETTER.

I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, BECAUSE MAINLY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IS IT'S GOING TO HELP US.

IT WILL MAKE THIS BUDGET PROBLEM MUCH EASIER TO HANDLE AND MORE PRODUCTIVE.

WE'LL SAVE JOBS AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO PRODUCE MORE JOBS.

>> I WANTED TO GIVE YOU SENATOR ABELER A FEW SECONDS TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK YOU'RE DOING ON THE DISABILITY SIDE AND WHAT PRIORITIES YOU THINK YOU WILL SEE THIS SESSION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND IT'S A BIPARTISAN EFFORT WITH SENATOR HOFFMAN AND A WELL BALANCED BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE THAT IS VERY INTERESTED IN DOING IT.

WE'RE TRYING TO PULL APART THE PROGRAMS AND SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE THEM BE MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE.

PUTTING INDIVIDUALS INTO MORE INDEPENDENT SITES IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE LESS EXPENSIVE AND BETTER.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE AREAS WE CAN TO MAKE THE MONEY GO AS FAR AS IT CAN.

SO THE PEOPLE WILL BE CONFIDENT WHEN THEY DO PAY THEIR TAXES AND TRULY HELPING THE PEOPLE.

AND THE THING WE'RE FOCUSING ON IS THE CLIENT NOT THE PROVIDERS.

SO WE SHOULDN'T PROTECT PROVIDERS AT I THE EXPENSE OF PROVIDERS, BUT WE NEED PROVIDERS TO ADAPT TO THE MODERN TIMES.

IT'S VERY PRODUCTIVE.

SOMETIME YOU CAN HAVE US BACK AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

>>> WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR PANEL THIS EVENING.

I WANT TO THANK OUR VIEWERS WHO TOLERATED OURE OUR EFFORTS TO DO LIVE TECH SUPPORT.

WE HOPE WE DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM IN WEEKS AHEAD, MY GUESS IS WE PROBABLY WILL.

HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION.

WE'RE DELIGHTED YOU JOINED US.

WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE VIEWERS THAT SPENT THE LAST HOUR WITH US.

INVITE YOU TO BE BACK WITH US NEXT WEEK AND ALL OF THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOW UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE GOES HOME.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

>>> THERE IS MUCH MORE ABOUT YOUR LEGISLATORS ONLINE AT PIONEER .ORG/YOUR LEGISLATORS FIND OUT ABOUT THE HISTORY, WHO HAS BEEN A GUEST AND WATCH PAST EPISODES AND DISCUSSIONS BY TOPIC.

TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.

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