March 16, 2023

POSSIBLE BY MINNESOTA CORN, FROM DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES THAT HELP FARMERS BETTER PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES TO THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS.

MINNESOTA CORN FARMERS ARE PROUD TO INVEST IN THIRD PARTY RESEARCH LEADING TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION, STANDING FOR AGRICULTURE, WORKING FOR FARMERS ON THE WEB AT MFU.ORG.

>> Barry: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF "YOUR LEGISLATORS".

MY NAME IS BARRY ANDERSON.

I WILL BE YOUR HOST THIS EVENING AND ALL THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOW AS WE INTERVIEW "YOUR LEGISLATORS" AND GIVE YOU, THE VIEWER, AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO REPRESENT YOU IN ST. PAUL.

AS ALWAYS, THIS IS YOUR PROGRAM, AND WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO CALL IN WITH YOUR QUESTION OR SEND THEM TO US VIA VARIOUS ELECTRONIC MEANS THAT WILL APPEAR ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN, AND WE WILL SEE THAT YOUR QUESTIONS GET TO OUR PANEL.

WE WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE MINNESOTA CHANNEL IS A NIGHTLY PROGRAM ON AFFAIRS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND WE INVITE YOU TO TURN ON THAT PROGRAM FOR DAILY UPDATES ON WHAT'S TAKING PLACE AT THE LEGISLATURE.

WE BEGIN THIS WEEK, AS WE DO EACH WEEK, BY GIVING OUR GUESTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.

WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN WITH SENATOR STEVE CWODZONSKI FROM DISTRICT 49 IN EDEN PRAIRIE.

SENATOR, IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND TO TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT YOUR HISTORY, YOUR BACKGROUND AND COMMITTEES YOU SERVE ON AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU THINK YOU NEED TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR VIEWERS.

>> YEAH.

THANKS, BARRY.

I TAUGHT AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND AMERICAN HISTORY FOR 33 YEARS IN EDEN PRAIRIE MINNESOTA AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

I RETIRED IN 2016.

I WASN'T READY TO FULL ON RETIRE, SO I DECIDED TO RUN FOR STATE SENATE AND I HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND GOT ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF EDEN PRAIRIE AND MINNETONKA.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE AS PEOPLE WILL TESTIFY AND STUFF.

A GREAT GIG TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

THE COMMITTEES I SERVE ON ARE EDUCATION POLICY, EDUCATION FINANCE, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND VETERANS AND LASTLY ELECTIONS.

THOSE ARE THE COMMITTEES I'M ON, AND IT KEEPS ME BUSY, AND I GET TO SERVE WITH SENATOR RARICK ON ONE OF THOSE FOUR COMMITTEES.

THANKS.

LOOKING FORWARD TO TONIGHT.

>> Barry: GOOD.

DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

LET'S GO TO SENATOR JASON RARICK FROM PINE CITY, DISTRICT 11.

TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

OUTSIDE OF THE LEGISLATURE, I'M AN ELECTRICIAN, BEEN DOING THAT SINCE 1992 AND SINCE 2004, I HAVE BEEN ON MY OWN AS A ONE-MAN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR.

I GREW UP IN PINE CITY, BOUGHT MY GRANDPARENTS PLACE, AND SON IS FIFTH GENERATION TO HAVE LIVED THERE.

IT'S BEEN GREAT STAYING IN MY HOMETOWN AND IN 2014, I RAN FOR THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE FIRST TIME, SERVED FOUR YEARS IN THE HOUSE.

THEN IN A SPECIAL ELECTION MOVED OVER TO THE SENATE AND STARTED MY FIFTH YEAR NOW IN THE SENATE.

I WOULD AGREE.

IT'S QUITE AN HONOR TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF YOUR AREA AND PEOPLE OF THE STATE AND THE LEGISLATURE.

I TYPICALLY SERVE IN JOBS AND LABOR, AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT I'M NOT ON EITHER ONE OF THOSE.

I AM STILL ON ENERGY.

I'M ON HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THEN I'M ON EDUCATION FINANCE WITH SENATOR CWODZONSKI.

SO THAT IS A BRAND-NEW ONE FOR ME, AND IT'S A LOT TO LEARN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

BUT IT'S A GREAT COMMITTEE TO BE ON.

>> Barry: WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT ENERGY RELATED ISSUES.

WE ALWAYS GET QUESTIONS ON THAT STOP I CAN, AND BEFORE THE HOUR IS DONE, I EXPECT WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE AND RELATED ISSUES.

ALSO JOINING US FROM DISTRICT 39B IN NEW BRIGHTON, REPRESENTATIVE SENATOR FEIST.

TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

MY DISTRICT IS IN THE NORTH METRO, THE SOUTHERN PART OF NEW BRIGHTON, ST. ANTHONY AND COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.

I WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2020.

SO I'M IN MY SECOND TERM.

WHEN I'M NOT IN THE LEGISLATURE, I'M AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY.

I HAVE MY OWN LAW PRACTICE AND ALSO TEACH IMMIGRATION LAW AT AN ADJUNCT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS SCHOOL OF LAW.

I'M VICE-PRESIDENT WHICH I SERVE ON WITH REPRESENTATIVE MUELLER, AND I'M ALSO ON THE EDUCATION FINANCE COMMITTEE, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, WHERE I GET TO ALSO BE MY LAWYER NERD SELF.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AS WELL.

ALSO IN THE DFL HOUSE LEAD, SOMETHING CALLED CIVILITY CAUCUS, WHICH IS A BIPARTISAN BICAMERAL.

>> Barry: BEFORE THE PROGRAM BEGAN WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT, DOING WORK IN THAT SPACE, AND OF COURSE SENATOR CWODZONSKI ACTUALLY TAUGHT IN THAT SPACE.

WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THAT THIS EVENING AS WELL.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, JOINING US FROM DISTRICT 23B IN AUSTIN, REPRESENTATIVE PATRICIA MUELLER.

TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME AS THE FIRST TIME BEING ON THIS SHOW TONIGHT.

IT'S QUITE AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE.

REPRESENTATIVE PATRICIA MUELLER FROM AUSTIN, MINNESOTA AND 23B SURROUNDING AREAS, SOME OF OUR RURAL AREA, LYLE AND GRAND MED-AND BROWNSDALE, EDEN PRAIRIE AND REALLY GREAT AREAS THAT I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT.

I WAS A TEACHER FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS AND TAUGHT A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT I TAUGHT ENGLISH, EDUCATION FOR EIGHTH AND TENTH GREAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

I WAS ALWAYS A TEACHER IN CHINA FOR THREE YEARS, AND TAUGHT INDIANA FOR A LITTLE WHILE TEACHING ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH ENGLISH.

I WENT ON TO GET MY MASTERS WITH AN EMPHASIS IN LITERACY, AND JUST THIS PAST MAY, I JUST COMPLETED BY DOCTORATE IN LEADERSHIP.

HOPEFULLY WILL TEACH IN THE COLLEGE SYSTEM IN THE FUTURE.

I AM ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

I WAS ELECTED IN 2020 AND THIS IS MY SECOND TERM, CAME IN AT THE SAME TIME AS EDUCATION FEIST.

I WAS ON EDUCATION FINANCE, BUT BECAUSE OF A SCHEDULING ERROR OF THINGS, I WAS UNABLE TO BE ON BOTH.

REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR CONVERSATION.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MUELLER, I KNOW YOU HAD IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES IN TEACHING STUDENTS IN A VARIETY OF PLACES, GOING ON TOED GREAT THINGS.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW I WAS TALKING TO A PROFESSOR AT STANFORD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I WAS EXPLAINING TO HIM THAT AUSTIN MINNESOTA IS FAMOUS FOR MANY THINGS, INCLUDING THE SPAM MUSEUM.

HE DID NOT BELIEVE ME THAT THERE WAS SUCH A THING AS A SPAM MUSEUM AND REALLY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME WHEN I EXPLAINED TOM IT'S REALLY WORTH SEEING.

I'M SURE I DON'T NEED TO PLUG THE SPASM MUSEUM.

THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM AUSTIN CAN DO THAT.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOUR HOMETOWN CAME IN FOR SOME ATTENTION.

>> DEFINITELY WORTH A VISIT.

IT'S FREE TO VISIT.

FEEL FREE TO COME ON DOWN.

>> Barry: THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S MOVE ONTO THE NEWS OF THE DAY, WHICH NO DOUBT THERE ARE A VARIETY OF THINGS OCCURRING AT THE LEGISLATURE.

ONE OF THE TOPICS WE HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT IN THE PRECEDING WEEKS WAS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THERE WOULD BE A BONDING BILL AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE BONDING BILL.

SO I THINK THERE WAS SOME MANAGEMENT ON THE SENATE FLOOR TODAY.

I DON'T THINK IT'S THE LAST CHAPTER.

LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR RARICK.

WE WILL GIVE YOU THE FIRST GO AT IT.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BONDING BILL.

WE WILL GO TO THE SENATORS AND FINISH UP WITH REPRESENTATIVE MUELLER.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

TELL OUR VIEWERS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE BONDING BILL.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID ALL ALONG WE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF A BONDING BILL, BUT WE WANT IT TO COME WITH TAX RELIEF.

WE HAD SOME OF THAT DISCUSSION TODAY.

WE OFFERED AN AMENDMENT TO BRING THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX CUT, HAVE THAT BE PART OF IT.

THAT'S KIND OF BEEN OUR NO.

1, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FOR THAT.

DIDN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT THERE.

THE VOTE DIDN'T TAKE 60%, DEPENDENT GET THE 60% VOTE NEEDED IN THE SENATE TO PASS IT.

I AM VERY HAPPY THAT IT WAS BROUGHT UP BACK FOR RECONSIDERATION, AND THEN TABLED.

SO THE BILL IS NOT DEAD.

WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATIONS AND I'M HOPING WE WILL BE DOING THAT GLP.

>> Barry: SENATOR CWODZONSKI, YOUR TAKE ON THE BONDING BILL.

>> IT WAS INTERESTING.

AS HE POINTED OUT IT TAKES 3/5, ONE OF THE VIEW THINGS THAT THE SENATE THAT'S A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

WE DIDN'T GET THE 3/5, SO THE BONDING BILL KIND OF DIED TODAY FOR NOW AS JASON POINTED OUT, REPUBLICANS WANTED TO TIE IT IN WITH SOCIAL SECURITY TAX CUTS, AND WE WERE LESS THAN ENTHUSIASTIC TO WANT TO DO THAT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TWO SEPARATE BILLS COME THROUGH.

ANOTHER INTERESTING POINT OF VIEW ON THE BONDING IS SOME PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE BORROWING MONEY WITH THE SURPLUS.

DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE WANT A BONDING BILL THAT IS BORROWED AND SO WE MIGHT HAVE TWO DIFFERENT BONDING BILLS COME ON THIS SESSION.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE FEIST.

HOUSE IS A SPECTATOR TO THIS CONVERSATION, BECAUSE IT'S OCCURRING IN THE SENATE, BUT OF COURSE THE BILL DID ORIGINATE THERE, AND MAYBE YOU COULD TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BONDING BILL.

>> YEAH.

SO THE HOUSE DID OUR PART, AND WE ACTUALLY DID FAST THE GO AND THE CASH BONDING BILLS SEPARATELY IN THE HOUSE.

I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE BILLS THAT WE PASSED.

IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND REALLY SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THERE'S A REASON THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PASS IT WITH A SUPER MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE.

I KNOW FROM MY DISTRICT, ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WAS GOING TO RECEIVE FUNDING IN THE HOUSE BILL, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S PROJECTS LIKE THAT THAT ARE REALLY SERVING IN THE COMMUNITY IN A UNIQUE AND ROBUST WAY THAT ARE THE PERFECT TYPES OF INVESTMENTS THAT WE SHOULD BE MAKING.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE HOUSE BONDING BILL.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SENATE TO TAKE IT HOME.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MUELLER.

>> YEAH.

SO YOU HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OF THE COMMENTS MADE FROM MY COLLEAGUES HERE.

THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WITH THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SURPLUS, WHY DO WE NEED TO BE BORROWING ANY MONEY.

I WAS ONE OF THE LEGISLATORS FROM THE MINORITY PARTY THAT DID VOTE FOR THE BONDING BILL, AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT I DON'T CONSIDER THIS AS A SUPPLEMENTAL BONDING BILL.

THIS WAS THE FRAMEWORK THAT WAS NEGOTIATED IN 2022 AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN PASSED IN 2022.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS, AUSTIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT WAS INCLUDED IN THAT, AND IT WAS AN ASPECT THAT HAD BEEN CONTINUALLY BROUGHT BEFORE OUR LEGISLATORS FOR OVER A DECADE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT FINALLY WAS IN.

SO I HAD TOLD MY COMMUNITY BACK IN '22 THAT I WANTED TO VOTE ON IT.

THE MAJORITY PARTY DIDN'T BRING IT TO THE TABLE AND THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS, AND I DON'T WANT TO GO IN THERE.

BUT IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THEY DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO VOTE ON IT IN '22.

SO I ALWAYS CONSIDERED THIS THE '22 BONDING BILL.

I HAD GIVEN MY COMMUNITY MY SUPPORT AT THAT POINT AND I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND CHANGING IT JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO TEASE IT AS LEVERAGE.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SENATE IS DOING.

I KNOW WHY THEY ARE DOING IT.

FOR ME, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY PERSONAL.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS UPHOLDING THE PROMISE I MADE TO MY COMMUNITY.

>> Barry: ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE HAD A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER IN STEARNS COUNTY WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT NURSING HOME EXPENSES AND REIMBURSEMENT RATES, WHICH THE VIEWER REGARDS AS LATE AND OFTEN INADEQUATE.

THIS VIEWER HAD SOME EXPERIENCE IN SERVING AS A VOLUNTEER ON ONE OF THESE NURSING HOME BOARDS AND WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE PLAN OF ACTION IS FOR THIS IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

LET'S GO TO YOU, SENATOR CWODZONSKI.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

NURSING HOME ISSUES.

IT'S PART OF THE LARGER DISCUSSION ABOUT CARE EXPENSES, I'M SURE.

BUT THIS VIEWER IS CONCERNED ABOUT NURSING HOMES.

LET'S START THERE.

>> WELL, THIS IS HITTING CLOSE TO HOME FOR ME.

WE HAD TO PUT MY MOM IN A NURSING HOME IN A SECURED UNIT IN AUGUST AT THE HEIGHT OF THE CAMPAIGN.

SHE'S AN ONLY CHILD, AND I'M AN ONLY CHILD, SO IT'S JUST HER AND I.

SO ALL THE THINGS THAT I HEARD ABOUT NURSING HOMES, LIKE SHORTAGES AND IMPROPER PAY AND LACK OF STAFFING AND JUST WHO AND WE HAD TO SELL MY MOTHER'S HOUSE TO PAY, $10,000 A MONTH.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME, BUT BOY, MY LEARNING CURVE IN THE LAST FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS HAS BEEN VERY STEEP, AND I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR FROM THE LEADERS THE HOUSE THAT HAVE A LOT MORE EXPERIENCE.

BUT I'M FULL ON BOARD FOR ANY IDEAS THAT COME FORWARD BECAUSE THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAVE BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR MY FAMILY BECAUSE OF MY MOM, SO ANYWAY, I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR WHAT THE OTHER THREE HAVE TO SAY FOR SOLUTIONS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN AT THIS A LOT LONGER THAN I HAVE.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE FEIST, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> SO I HAVE DEFINITELY RECEIVED A LOT OF E-MAILS FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE WAIVER REIMBURSEMENT RATES.

I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THERE'S A LARGE CONSENSUS AROUND ON RAISING THOSE RATES.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT TO ENSURE NURSING HOME HIGH LEVEL CARE FOR OUR LOVED ONES.

TODAY IN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WE HEARD A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE AN ADVISORY BOARD TO CREATE OVERSIGHT WITHIN THE NURSING HOME INDUSTRY.

TODAY I ALSO PRESENTED A BILL TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT MINNESOTA IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WHERE IF YOU HAVE A LAWSUIT, IT DIES WITH YOU.

WE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAD FOLKS IN CARE FACILITIES THAT SUFFERED EGREGIOUS ABUSE.

DRAWING OUT THE CLAIMS AND WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO PASS AWAY.

WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THAT.

BIPARTISAN BILL.

IT'S COMMON SENSE.

WE WANT OUR HUSBANDERRING HOMES TO BE WELL STAFFED AND A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR FAMILIES, OUR LOVED ONES.

THIS IS GOING TO ENSURE WHEN THEY DON'T RISE TO THAT HIGH STANDARD THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

SO THAT BILL HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO CARRY IT.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MUELLER.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I LOOK AT THIS A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO I WOULD LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE THAT I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL E-MAILS AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COME TO MY OFFICE TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THE DIRE NEED THAT WE HAVE FOR WORKERS IN NURSING HOMES.

THEIR SALARY IS LEGISLATIVE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A LEGISLATURE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RAISE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DEFINITELY.

THEY ARE TRYING TO BE COMPETITIVE AND UNABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF BARRIERS THAT WE ARE PUTTING UP.

THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND COMPENSATE FOR.

REMEMBER I'M AN EDUCATOR.

SO I THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE GET MORE PEOPLE INTO THIS FIELD, AND HOW DO WE GET THE PIPELINE BUILT BACK UP.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON THAT MAY DETER PEOPLE FROM COMING INTO NURSING HOMES TO WORK, AND SO I HAVE LOOKED AT HOW WE HAVE APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR OLDER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, ALSO LOOKING AT HOW WE HAVE AN APPRENTICESHIP OR RESIDENCY PROGRAMS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO SUPPLY SORT OF THE PATIENT PROGRAM SO THAT WHEN A STUDENT GRADUATES FROM HIGH SCHOOL, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE DUAL CREDITS THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THAT WOULD THEN, ONCE THEY GRADUATED WITH THE LOCAL COLLEGE OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT ONCE THEY GRADUATE FROM THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO BE READY TO BE HIRED, ABLE TO BE RIGHT THERE IN THAT POSITION, AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS REALLY -- THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT FROM ALL OTHER ANGLES.

WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE NEED TO SPEND ON AN ISSUE, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE DON'T, BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LOOKING STRUCTURALLY HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO THE WORKFORCE.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE RARICK, THOUGHTS ON NURSING HOME ISSUES.

>> THIS ISN'T AN AREA THAT I TYPICALLY DEAL IN.

NEVER BEEN A COMMITTEE I SERVED ON.

WE ALL HEAR FROM FOLKS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND FACILITIES AND THE WORKERS, AND THE REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR THE FACILITIES AND PAY FOR THE WORKERS ARE WAY BEHIND WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

THE STORIES THAT WE HEAR OVER AND OVER, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOSING THE WORKERS IN THOSE PLACES TO THE HOSPITALS JUST BECAUSE THEY MAKE MORE MONEY.

SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS YEAR.

OTHERWISE I HEAR OVER AND OVER PEOPLE WHO ARE IN HOSPITALS, THERE'S NO BEDS AVAILABLE, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THE BEDS AREN'T THERE, BUT IT'S BECAUSE THE STAFF ISN'T THERE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE FACILITIES BE ABLE TO HAVE AS MANY PATIENTS AS THEY COULD HANDLE.

SO STAFFING IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE, THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN SO MANY SECTORS, BUT THIS IS A BIG ONE, AND IN HIGHER EDUCATION TODAY, WE HEARD TESTIMONY AROUND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THE NUMBERS, I BELIEVE THEY SENT 30,000 PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE TURNING 80 OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THIS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE LOSING WORKERS, BUT THE DEMAND IS GROWING.

DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND FIGURE OUT VERY, VERY SOON.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MAULER, LET'S MOVE TO A DIFFERENT TOPIC.

WHICH IS POST SECONDARY EDUCATION.

WE HAD ASKED VIEWERS ABOUT THAT GENERAL TOPIC.

LET'S START WITH YOU AS ONE OF THE EDUCATORS ON THE PANEL.

WHAT PRIORITIES DO YOU SEE IN THIS SESSION AND VIEWERS HAVE NOTED A VARIETY OF THINGS IN THIS AREA OF CONCERN, AND WE ALSO HEARD FROM REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI A COUPLE WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE DECLINING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTENDING COLLEGES, FIGHTING ATTENDANCE ISSUES, AND HAD ISSUES WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, WHICH ARE ALSO A CONCERN.

ALL OF THAT ADDS UP TO WHAT KIND OF PRIORITIES DO YOU SEE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE SESSION?

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER FOR MANY YEARS AND OFTEN WOULD TALK TO MY STUDENTS ABOUT HOW TO PREPARE FOR WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE READY FOR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAD PSEO WHICH ALLOWS OUR STUDENTS TO TAKE COLLEGE GRADUATES WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WHAT I WANT TO BE ABLE, FOR ME, YOU KNOW, I THINK AFTER COVID, EDUCATION HAS CHANGED.

WE HAVE TO REALLY BE ABLE TO GRAB ON TO THAT.

WE HAVE TO SEIZE THAT MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT OUR SYSTEM OF EDUCATION AND LOOK AT WHAT OUR EDUCATORS, OUR STUDENTS AND OUR PARENTS WANT AND WHAT THEY WANT IS MULTIPLE PEDIGREES.

COLLEGE IS AN IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT, BUT WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO WANT CAREERS THAT REQUIRE COLLEGE EDUCATION.

SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE MULTIPLE PATHWAYS FOR OUR STUDENTS IS GOING TO BE KEY, ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE LOOKING AT DECLINING ENROLLMENT FOR TRADITIONAL COLLEGE.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HOW WE CAN PARTNER OUR COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS TOGETHER SO WE CAN OFFER MORE AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES, MORE APPRENTICESHIP, RESIDENCIES, MORE HANDS ON AREAS THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO LEARN FROM EXPERTS IN THE BUSINESS, EXPERT IN THEIR FIELD THAT COUNT DULY FOR BOTH HIGH SCHOOL AND FOR COLLEGE SO THAT AGAIN ONCE THEY GRADUATE, THEY HAVE CERTIFICATIONS, AND THEY HAVE A TWO-YEAR DEGREE, AND SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP THEM BE ABLE TO GO AND GET A JOB RIGHT AWAY WHICH THEN WILL ALLOW THEM TO GET MONEY WHICH THEN ALLOWS THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION WITHOUT THE CRUSHING DEBT OF COLLEGE TUITION RIGHT NOW.

WE KNOW THAT THAT IS OVERWHELMING, AND THE ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO HELP WITH THAT, AND IS TO STRUCTURALLY CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE LOOK AT SCHOOL AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

>> Barry: SENATOR RARICK, HIGHER EDUCATION, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ISSUE AREA THAT I TOOK ON THREE YEARS AGO AND I HAVE BEEN DIGGING INTO, BUT 8 PLUS YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE, SOMETHING I TALK ABOUT WITH MY CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND AND HAVING GONE TO A TRADE SCHOOL, I'M ADAMANT WHEN I TALK TO KIDS THAT ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL, THEY NEED MORE THAN A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION IN TODAY'S WORLD.

BUT THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS TO GET THAT EDUCATION, TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM, AND AS REPRESENTATIVE MUELLER SAID, AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY ALREADY HAPPENING IS THINGS ARE CHANGING.

THE WORKFORCE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE EARLIER, THEY ARE IN SUCH DEMAND FOR IT, AND PINE TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN MY HOMETOWN OF PINE CITY, THEY ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT THEY FIND SOMEBODY, AND THEY WANT TO BRING THEM ON AND GET THEM WORKING RIGHT AWAY BUT THEY KNOW THEY NEED EDUCATION AS WELL.

PAIN TECH IS DEVELOPING PROGRAMS TO BRING THEM IN SO THEY ARE GETTING THAT TRAINING, BUT YET THEY ARE WORKING DURING THE DAY OR IN THE EVENING.

SO THIS IS THAT COMBINATION, SO THEY ARE NOT ONLY WORKING A JOB AND EARNING MONEY BUT THEY ARE GETTING SOME TRAINING, AND I THINK OUR SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START LOOKING AT THAT, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO MOVE EVEN BEYOND MANUFACTURING AND A LOT OF PLACES ARE GOING TO SAY HEY, WE JUST WANT TO GET YOU HERE, AND WE WILL TRAIN YOU IN SPECIFICS, BUT WE STILL WANT YOU TO GET THAT FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE DUAL PATHS LIKE THAT, WORKING AND GOING TO SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME, AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADAPT TO SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THAT MEET THE WORKFORCE, BUT STILL GET THAT EDUCATION THAT PEOPLE WANT AND COMPANIES ARE EXPECTING.

I THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THEN IN THAT REALM, TOO, I THINK THERE ARE THINGS WE REALLY -- WE HAD A PRESENTATION FOR THE MIN STATE SYSTEM, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO NO ONE FROM THEIR FAMILIES HAS NEVER GONE ON BEYOND A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND WORK IN LOWER WAGE JOBS, AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT REALLY NEED HELP THROUGH GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO BE THE FIRST ONE FROM THEIR FAMILY TO GET TO SCHOOL, GET THAT TRAINING SO THEY CAN MOVE INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND BEING TALKED ABOUT.

>> Barry: SENATOR CWODZONSKI, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE HIGHER EDUCATION ISSUES.

>> FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE TO GET RID OF THE STIGMA OF SNOT GOING TO COLLEGE.

IN MY YEARS OF TEACHING, I WOULD RUN INTO A SENIOR IN THE HALLWAY, AND GO UP TO HIM AND SAY WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR AND AND IF THEIR HEAD WENT DOWN, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO COME OUT OF THEIR MOWNTS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE INSTILLED THAT SHAME FOR THEM FOR ONLY GOING TO MANKATO OR HENNEPIN TECH, BUT SHAME ON US.

THE FIRST PLACE TO START IS NOT ASKING OUR KIDS WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO COLLEGE AND ASK THEM WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

THE OTHER THING YOU WOULD SUGGEST IS WHEN I WAS BACK IN THE DINOSAUR DAYS WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, I WAS ABLE TO WORK PART-TIME AND PAY TUITION AND RENT AND FOOD, AND THE LEGISLATURE USED TO FUND 60-40, TUITION OF POST SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

AND I THINK IT'S 40-60.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON THAT.

TUITION IS UNACCEPTABLE.

WE HAVE ALL KNOWN ABOUT COLLEGE LOAN DEBTS AND HOW IT'S STIFLING FAMILIES, AND CAN'T GET MORTGAGE FOR THE FIRST HOME BECAUSE THE COLLEGE LOAN DEBTS ARE TOO HIGH.

I JUST WANT TO, PATRICIA ALLUDED TO THIS, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN OUR COMMITTEE, JASON, EARLIER TODAY OR OTHER EDUCATION MAYBE, BUT I FOUND OUT WE HEARD A BILL, THAT IF A KID WORKS FOR 350 HOURS, AND WE USED TO CALL A CANDY STRIKE GIRL, OR BOYS, TOO, BUT FOR 350 HOURS OF WORK IN AN ELDER CARE FACILITY OR SOME SUCH FACILITY, THEY COULD EARN HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT.

WHAT A GREAT IDEA TO HELP WITH SHORTAGES IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND TURN KIDS ONTO THE POSSIBILITIES OF THAT BEING A CAREER PATH.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE FEIST, YOUR THOUGHTS, HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> WE HEARD THAT BILL, TOO, IN THE HOUSE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD, TOO.

SO I HAVE A BILL THAT IS A BIPARTISAN BILL I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT REPUBLICAN SENATORS HEARD SINCE LAST TERM THAT WOULD REQUIRE FAFSA COMPLETION FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.

IT HAS BROAD EXCEPTIONS, SO BASICALLY PSYCHOLOGY.

WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO OPT OUT INSTEAD OF OPTING IN, AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THE MOST RECENT DATA SAID WE LACK $49 MILLION IN PELL GRANTS ON THE TABLE THAT STUDENTS MISSED OR THAT WEREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID THAT DON'T KNOW IT.

WE ALSO HAVE DATA FROM OTHER STATES THAT HAVE DONE THIS, BUT HAVE SHOWN IN STATES THAT DO IT, LOW INCOME STUDENTS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO GO ON TO HIGHER ED AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M WORKING ON IT WITH ADVOCATES WITHIN THE TWO-YEAR COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SETTING.

BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS GO TO TWO-YEAR COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES.

BRIDGING THAT TOPIC, WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS WHAT THEY DID.

I THINK IN TENNESSEE IT'S THE FIRST PLACE.

I THINK IT'S A COUPLE OTHER STATES WHERE THEY BASICALLY EXTENDED THE K-12 CONTINUUM TO INCLUDE TWO-YEAR COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES.

THEY ARE A GREAT PLACE FOR US TO BE TRAINING OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE, AND I THINK OTHERS ACCEPT THIS, TOO.

THEY ARE REALLY CONNECTED IN THIS INDUSTRY.

SO A LOT OF STUDENTS GO THERE AND HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH THE FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT.

IT'S REALLY NEW CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY.

I THINK THAT'S FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND GREAT EQUITY THING.

GIVING MORE STUDENTS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE FUNDING OR KIND OF THE MOMENTUM TO GO ON TO HIGHER ED.

I THINK IF WE REQUIRED FAFSA AND PAID FOR THE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT STUFF FOR MINNESOTA.

>> IF I COULD FOLLOW UP ON THAT REAL QUICK.

>> Barry: GO AHEAD.

>> PINE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS WORKING ON THAT.

THEY PARTNERED WITH DENNIS FRANZEN.

HE CREATED FRANZEN BANKS.

HE CREATED A FOUNDATION AND STARTED WITH TWO COOLS, ONE FROM WEBSTER, WISCONSIN AND RUSH CITY, MINNESOTA THAT ANY KID WHO GRADUATES WOULD GET FREE TUITION IN PINE TECH.

WHAT THEY FOUND OUT, BECAUSE THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL THE OTHER PROCESSES IS THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR SO MUCH AID THAT HE'S EXPANDED THAT, AND IT'S 6 SCHOOLS HE OFFERS THAT TO.

PINE COUNTY WITH SOME OTHER ARPA MONEY EXTENDED THAT TO OTHER SCHOOLS, AND THERE ARE WAYS TO REALLY HELP.

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THAT MODEL OUT TO GET OTHER FOLKS IN THE SAME SITUATION AS A DENNIS FRANZEN OR OTHERS TO POOL TOGETHER TO REALLY HELP MAKE THAT POSSIBLE FOR THESE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND TECH COLLEGES, BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM, AND THERE IS A LOT OF HELP TO GET THEM THERE.

THEY ARE JUST NOT ALWAYS AWARE.

>> Barry: IT MIGHT BE WORTH NOTING HERE THAT IF YOU GO FAR ENOUGH BACK INTO OUR HISTORY, TWO-YEAR SO-CALLED, THEN, SO-CALLED VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS WERE IN FACT CONNECTED TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT RATHER THAN PART OF THE STATE SYSTEM.

SOME OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE MAYBE IT'S PROOF TO THE ADAGE THERE'S NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.

WE ARE DISCOVERING THINGS PERHAPS WE KNEW BEFORE.

THAT'S AS CLOSE AS I GET TO A POLICY STATEMENT.

SENATOR RARICK, LET'S MOVE TO K-12 EDUCATION OR WHAT WE WOULD CALL PREK EDUCATION.

THERE'S BEEN SOME ACTION ON THE BILL TO PROVIDE FOR STUDENTS BEING FED BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE PERCOLATING WITH RESPECT TO K-12 EDUCATION.

I'M GOING TO KEEP CALLING IT THAT.

BUT YOU REACH A CERTAIN AGE, YOU GET FIXATED ON THINGS.

TELL US WHAT'S HAPPENING ON EDUCATION ISSUES AND WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPENING IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRINCIPALS, SCHOOL BOARDS, TEACHERS, PARENTS AFTER BECOMING LEAD ON FINANCE.

WHAT I'M HEARING REPEATEDLY IS MONEY ON THE FORMULA IS THEIR NO.

1 PRIORITY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION CROSS SUBSIDY IS ANOTHER ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED THESE SPECIAL EDUCATIONS AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD FUND IT TO 40%.

THEY HAVE NEVER COME CLOSE.

SO I BELIEVE THE STATE NEEDS TO STEP UP AND HELP OUT AND ADD THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO, AND THEN EQUALIZATION IS ANOTHER PIECE.

A LOT OF THEM ARE SMALL PROPERTY, POOR DISTRICTS THAT JUST DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO TO THEIR TAXPAYERS FOR UPKEEP OR OPERATIONS.

SO IF WE CAN KIND OF EQUALIZE THAT SO WHEN THEY GO TO THEIR VOTERS FOR AN OPERATING REFERENDUM, THEY KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE.

THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, BUT THEY WILL GET A LITTLE MORE ASSISTANCE.

THOSE ARE THE TOP THINGS I'M HOPING WE WILL TALK ABOUT, ALSO HOPING -- AND WE ARE HEARING LOUD AND CLEAR FROM THE SUPERINTENDENTS, DON'T PUT ANYMORE MANDATES ON US RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU GIVE US 5 AND 5 ON THE FORMULA BUT PUT A BUNCH OF MANDATES, THAT MONEY IS GONE BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO TALK ABOUT TEACHER RAISES OR EXTRA COSTS FOR BUSSING.

THOSE ARE THINGS I WILL BE CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT IN COMMITTEE.

LET'S BE WISE WITH THE MONEY.

I HAVE HEARD THAT REPEATEDLY, TOO.

THEY DON'T MIND FUNDING AND HAVING THEIR TAX MONEY COME INTO THE STATE AS LONG AS THEY KNOW WE ARE USING IT WISELY, AND I KNOW THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEY USE EVERY PENNY AS BEST THEY CAN.

WE SOMETIMES HEAR STORIES THAT GET THE NEWS THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, AND PEOPLE TEND TO THINK EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LIKE THAT.

WHEN YOU GET OUT AND TALK TO MOST OF THESE, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

THEY ARE USING IT AS BEST THEY CAN, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M -- WHAT WE JUST PASSED, I WAS NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.

I WOULD RATHER SEE IT GO ON THE FORMULA OR SOMETHING.

BUT WE WILL HAVE OTHER DISCUSSIONS AROUND THAT, I'M SURE, AS WE GO FORWARD.

BUT A FORMULA AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, MY TIER 1 PRIORITIES.

>> Barry: SENATOR CWODZONSKI, K-12, PREK-12 EDUCATION.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL READING IS CONSTANTLY THE THIRD GRADE.

IF WE CAN GET ALL THIRD GRADERS UP TO READING LEVEL AT THIRD GRADE, WE KNOW THAT'S IN A CHILD AND SOCIETY'S BEST INTERESTS.

SO WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AND POLICY AND FINANCE HEARING FROM THE EXPERTS ON WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER IN THAT.

I THINK THREE MALES, THE ONE AND A FEW THINGS I REMEMBER FROM COLLEGE IS THE HIERARCHY OF NEEDS.

AT THE BASE LEVEL WAS THE PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.

IF THEY GO TO SCHOOL HUNGRY, THEY ARE GOING TO COME HOME FROM SCHOOL HUNGRIER, AND IF WE CAN HELP THEM OUT WITH A LUNCH THAT HELPS WITH THAT PHYSIOLOGICAL NEED, AND SPEAKING OF PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS, I DON'T WANT TO STEAL ANY OF REPRESENTATIVE FEIST'S AMMUNITION, BUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO HER AND I MET WITH A BUNCH OF YOUNG WOMEN ON SOME WESTERN SUBURB SCHOOLS AND I THINK SOME IN THE SOUTH METRO AS WELL.

THEY TALKED ABOUT EQUITY AND POVERTY AND INSENSITIVITY OF WOMEN HAVING -- YOUNG GIRLS HAVING ALL THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE WE DON'T SUPPLY THEM WITH FREE PRODUCTS IN OUR BATHROOMS.

I LISTENED TO THOSE YOUNG WOMEN AND IT JUST CHANGED MY LIFE.

I CAME HOME AND ASKED MY WIFE ABOUT IT, AND SHE TOLD ME SHE NEVER -- MEN JUST DON'T -- MEN NEVER HEARD THESE STORIES OR I NEVER DID.

I FOUND OUT FROM MY FEMALE TEACHING COLLEAGUES THAT THEY ALL KEEP SUPPLIES IN THEIR DESK DRAWERS.

NO KID EVER CAME UP TO ME AFTER CLASS.

THEY MUST KNOW MEN DON'T KNOW THESE THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW.

THE LEARNING CURVE FOR ME HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE YOUNG WOMEN AND REPRESENTATIVE FEIST FOR PUTTING THAT FORWARD IN THE HOUSE.

I'M THE CHIEF AUTHOR IN THE SENATE.

WHAT JASON, TOO, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL IS 4-2 ON THE FORMULA IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND IF WE CAN DO 5 AND 5 AND INDEX IT FOR INFLATION, THAT WOULD BE HUGE FOR THE SCHOOLS WITH RESPECT TO ALL THE ISSUES.

THE KIDS' MENTAL HEALTH PRECOVID AND CERTAINLY SINCE COVID AND NOT JUST FOR OUR STUDENTS BUT FOR THE TEACHERS AS WELL AND THE STAFF.

A LOT OF SUFFERING IS GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD REALLY LIKE US TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE THINGS AS WELL.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE FEIST, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> YES.

SO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I BECAME OBSESSED WITH THIS THINGS CALLED COMPENSATORY REVENUE, WHICH IS PART OF THE EDUCATION BUDGET.

IT'S 8.1% OF THE FULL EDUCATION BUDGET FOR THIS BIENNIUM AND $363 MILLION.

IT GOES TO SCHOOLS TO TARGET STUDENTS WHO ARE UNDERPREPARED TO LEARN AND NOT MEETING ACADEMIC STANDARDS.

THE PROXY THAT WE USED TO CALCULATE COMPENSATORY REVENUE IS THE LUNCH FORMS, BUT THOSE ARE GOING AWAY, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE UNIVERSAL MEALS.

SO IT CREATES A REALLY TRICKY MATHEMATICAL AND PRACTICAL CHALLENGE FOR ENSURING IT'S FOR ADEQUATELY AND STRATEGICALLY FUNDING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

SO I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A FORMULA TO UPDATE THE COMPENSATORY REVENUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO FUND AT THE CURRENT LEVELS AND ALSO THAT WE ARE ACCURATELY REACHING ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT COULD BE GENERATING REVENUE BUT WON'T BE PROVIDING THAT LUNCH FORM ANYMORE.

I'M NOT REALLY A MATH PERSON BUT I CAN BECOME A MATH PERSON OVER THIS ONE BILL.

I CAN ATTEST THAT I'M OBSESSED WITH COMPENSATORY REVENUE, AND I THINK IT'S OBVIOUSLY REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT REQUIRES A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OTHER, LIKE ACROSS THE BODY, ACROSS THE AISLE AND TODAY I MET WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OUT IN EAGAN.

ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO MEET WITH ME, I TRY TO TALK TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND THE PRACTICAL AND STRATEGIC QUESTIONS BUT HOW TO CREATE A FORMULA.

BECAUSE ANY DECISION WE MAKE, EVEN IF IT'S LIKE A TINY PERCENTAGE, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, EVERY LITTLE SPEAK HAS A HUGE RIPPLE EFFECT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING I'M OBSESSED WITH.

IT'S MY MISSION FOR THE SESSION IS UPDATE THAT FORMULA.

PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS, E-MAIL ME, AND I WOULD LOVE TO CHAT.

AS THE SENATOR MENTIONED, I ALSO AM REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER TO ADDRESS POVERTY IN OUR SCHOOLS.

PEOPLE MISS SCHOOL ON A REGULAR BASIS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD PRODUCTS.

THE COST OF ABSENTEE ITEMS IS HIGHER RATHER THAN PROVIDING THE PRODUCTS FOR FREE.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND ALSO JUST THE FACT THAT STUDENTS BROUGHT IT TO US MEANS A LOT.

THE WAY I DISCOVERED IT IS BECAUSE A 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT CAME TO ME AND NOW SHE'S TESTIFYING AT THE UN.

SHE'S A HIGH ACHIEVER.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY INSPIRING BILL TO BE WORKING ON.

THIS IS JUST AN AREA OF GREAT PASSION AND HIGH IMPORTANCE.

I WILL STOP TALKING NOW.

I COULD KEEP GOING.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MUELLER, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> THANK YOU.

BENEFIT OF GOING LAST IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I WANT TO SAY AND HOW I WANT TO RESPOND.

BEING A TEACHER FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, I HAVE HAD LOTS OF CONNECTIONS TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I HAVE BEEN VERY OPEN WITH MY SUPERINTENDENTS ABOUT THINGS THAT I -- WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE AND LISTENING TO THEM, SIMILAR TO WHAT SENATOR RARICK WAS TALKING ABOUT, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE MORE MONEY ON THIS FORMULA.

HERE IS THE THING.

ALL THE OTHER PARTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, A LOT OF THE MONEY THAT IS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE OFTEN REDISTRICTED, AND DON'T GO TO THE CLASSROOM, DON'T GO TO STUDENTS, DON'T GO TO TEACHERS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE UNRESTRICTED MONEY TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HONOR THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND HONOR THEM SO THEY CAN MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

HAVING MANDATES IS VERY DIFFICULT, AND I GET E-MAILS BY SUPERINTENDENTS, PRINCIPALS ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW EVEN IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE PAYING FOR THIS, THIS IS STILL MONEY THAT WE COULD BE SPENDING ON THINGS LIKE RAISING TEACHER SALARIES, ON LITERACY, ON ALL THOSE OTHER DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO.

OF COURSE OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING HAS TO BE FRONT AND SENATOR AS SENATOR RARICK SAID.

SOME OF THE OTHER -- WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LITERACY, I WAS ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT SPOKE VERY PASSIONATELY AT OUR PRESS CONFERENCE.

PART OF IT IS BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DEDICATING OUR RESOURCES TO THE SCIENCE AND READING.

WE HAVE TOO LONG BEEN USING A FAILED SYSTEM OF WHOLE LITERACY OR BALANCED LITERACY.

THIS IS NOT WORKING AND HAS RESULTED INTO THE STATISTICS THAT YOU HEARD SENATOR CWODZONSKI SHARE.

OVER HALF OF OUR THIRD GRADERS ARE NOT READING AT GRADE LEVEL.

IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

IT'S A HEALTHCARE CRISIS, PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS AND IT'S A CRISIS THAT REQUIRES US TO RESPOND, AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HOLD TO A SCIENCE DEGREE, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE THINK ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHER POLICIES THAT YOU HEARD FROM THEM, AND MANY PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS ALREADY AT A LOCAL LEVEL.

I THINK ABOUT THE BILL THAT I WAS SO HAPPY THAT REPRESENTATIVE FEIST BROUGHT THE BILL TO US ABOUT PERIOD POVERTY.

BUT EVEN IN THE OWN TESTIMONY, WE HEARD HOW LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ALREADY ADDRESSING THIS.

IN AUSTIN, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THIS, BECAUSE WHERE THEY ARE IN LIFE AND WHERE THEIR FAMILY IS IN LIFE.

OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LOCAL COMMUNITY OFTEN DONATE THESE ITEMS.

IN FACT, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO RUN WHAT WE CALL THE PACKER PANTRY.

ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SEND OUT AN E-MAIL AND OUR COMMUNITY JUST FLOODS THAT WITH RESOURCES.

SO WE ARE SEEING HOW OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THESE NEEDS IN A WAY THAT IS GOING TO BE UNIQUE TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.

EXCITED TO ADVOCATE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE MONEY GOING WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, UNRESTRICTED SO WE CAN HONOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ALLOW THEM TO RESPOND TO WHAT THEY SEE IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE FEIST, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU FOR JUST A SECOND TO TALK ABOUT FORMULA ISSUE.

I'M JUST WONDERING HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ON WHAT SHOULD REPLACE FREE AND REDUCED SCHOOL LUNCHES AS A MEASURE OF THE NEED FOR SUPPORT IN A PARTICULAR DISTRICT?

IF SO, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE DETERMINED IN FUTURE SESSIONS?

>> YOU ARE ASKING ME TO GET INTO THE WEEDS.

SO YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE ARE DOING IS -- >> Barry: WE WILL JUMP INTO IT.

BUT GO AHEAD.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE RELYING A LOT ON MEDICAID DIRECTOR EDUCATION, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT RUNS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT DATA APART FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

WHAT WE LEARNED IN NOVEMBER WAS THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS CAPTURING 90% ON AVERAGE OF THE STUDENTS WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH.

INITIALLY WHAT I DID WAS TRIED TO CAPTURE THAT LAST 10%.

WE KNOW IT'S NOT EVEN ACROSS ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH THAT IS CAPTURING.

FOR EXAMPLE, I BELIEVE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, ONE OF MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I THINK IT'S ABOUT 27% OF THE KIDS WHO SHOULD BE GENERATING THE FUNDING.

WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF A MULTIPLIER.

WE BOOSTED BASED ON THE MEDICAID DIRECT CERTIFICATION NUMBER.

WE ALSO HAD A WAY FOR ELL LEARNERS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND MY MOBILITY STUDENTS.

THESE STUDENTS ARE TYPICALLY THE STUDENTS WE WANT TO TARGET WITH THIS FUNDING.

IT'S ALSO DATA THAT IS ALREADY AVAILABLE.

SOME OF THE OTHER OPTIONS WOULD INVOLVE SCHOOLS GETTING MORE FORMS, AND WE WERE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM ANY TYPE OF FORMS.

WE WANTED TO MAKE ADMINISTRATIVELY EASY.

WE LEARNED THROUGH -- A WOULD HE GO OR SO AGO, THE DEPP OF EDUCATION RELEASED NEW DATA AND THE DIRECT CERTIFICATION IS NOT QUITE ACCURATE AS WE HAD THOUGHT.

I'M HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MATHEMATICALLY WE COULD GET IT UP.

BUT THE VARIATION AMONGST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, AND SO I DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S MATHEMATICALLY EASY, BUT ISN'T REALLY STRATEGIC IN TARGETING STUDENTS ADEQUATELY.

SO I WAS JUST TALKING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR EAGAN THIS AFTERNOON, AND HE HAD SOME IDEAS.

THEY ARE KIND OF MATH BASED, SPECIFIC TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

TRYING TO FIND THE ACCURATE ADMINISTRATIVELY EASY OPTION.

>> Barry: WE COULD DESCRIBE IT MAYBE AS A WORK IN PROGRESS, AT LEAST, AT THIS POINT.

>> IT IS, BUT I FEEL LIKE I HAVE CONSIDERED AND REJECTED A LOT OF OPTIONS.

WHILE IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, I THINK WE ARE REALLY COMING -- WE ARE HONING IT, AND WE HAVE NEW INFORMATION, NEW DATA, AND SO WE ARE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO HONE IN.

BUT I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AT.

>> Barry: WE WILL LEAVE THAT HIGHLY TECHNICAL BUT REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE MAYBE FOR SOME FUTURE DISCUSSION WITH OUR FUTURE GUESTS.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO HAS REMINDED US THAT WE SPENT VERY LITTLE TIME TALKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.

WE HAVE ABOUT 5 MINUTES LEFT.

LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR CWODZONSKI.

TELL US WHERE YOU SEE TRANSPORTATION GOING IN THIS SESSION.

>> WOW.

YOU KNOW -- >> Barry: TALK ABOUT 12.

>> YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, 6, 7 YEARS AGO WHEN I GOT ELECTED, SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL WAS A COOL THING, AND IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND IT WAS GOING TO BE UNDER BUDGET, WINK, WINK, AND FINISHED BY 2022.

THEN IT'S JUST BEEN, YOU KNOW, COST OVERRUNS.

IT'S GOING TO BE TWICE AS WHAT IT WAS EXPECTED TO COST.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DONE, I DON'T THINK NOW, UNTIL 2027.

IT'S JUST BEEN A HORRIBLE THING FOR THE SOUTHWEST AND FOR THE WHOLE STATE.

IT'S THE LARGEST AT WORKS PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.

I WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

THE AUDITORS REPORT HAS COME OUT.

DEALING WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE WRONG.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET PUBLIC TRANSIT RIGHT.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO LEARN A LOT OF VALUABLE LESSONS FROM THE MISTAKES WE MADE AND THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA WILL BENEFIT.

RIGHT NOW WE GOT A LOT OF MEANING TO FIND OUT WHAT WENT WRONG.

>> Barry: SENATOR RARICK, TRANSPORTATION.

>> WE HAVE GOT TO GET ACTIVE FOCUSING ON FIXING ROADS AND BRIDGES.

IF YOU ARE DRIVING AROUND ST. PAUL, YOU SEE POTHOLES AND I THINK THEY HAVE GOT TO COME UP WITH A NEW NAME.

BECAUSE THEY ARE FAR BIGGER THAN I HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE.

I SERVED ON TRANSPORTATION A FEW YEARS AGO.

IT WAS SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT, HIGHWAY USER TRANSPORTATION FUND IS BEING USED FOR A LOT OF ADMINISTRATION.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A PROBLEM.

THAT FUNDING ALL NEEDS TO GO INTO ROADS, AND WE ALL KNOW THE GAS TAX IS KIND OF A DYING SOURCE.

SO I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THE FULL -- USING SALES TAXES FROM AUTO PARTS AND LEASES AND ALL OF THAT, BUT 100% TO GO INTO TRANSPORTATION TO FUND OUR ROADS.

THAT'S WHERE I WOULD WANT TO SEE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES GOING.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE MUELLER, YOUR THOUGHTS ON TRANSPORTATION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT HAVING A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS ROADS AND BRIDGES, IS A CORE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT AND ANY TYPE OF FUNDING THAT WE DO IS EXPEDIENTIALLY FELT OUT IN THE RURAL AREA.

WE HAVE NOT ONLY -- NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE CARS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE, I GUESS, SIMILAR TO THE URBAN AREAS.

THEY HAVE ALL THE BUSES AND OTHER THINGS, BUT WE HAVE TRACTORS AND OTHER HEAVY EQUIPMENT THAT ARE USING THE ROADS AS WELL.

MAKING SURE WE HAVE FUNDING BUT IT'S ALSO BALANCED FUNDING, SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES OUT HERE, AND ALSO TO REMEMBER WE NEED TO HAVE A BALANCED APPROACH WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION.

IT IS NOT FEASIBLE FOR US TO THINK THAT OUR OUT OF STATE MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUDDENLY GO TO ELECTRIC CARS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY CONCERNING TO MANY MEMBERS AS WE WERE LOOKING AT THE BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE EVERYTHING TO BE ELECTRIC OR NONPETROLEUM BY 2040.

WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GOOD BALANCED APPROACH AND THAT OUR FUNDING IS BALANCED AS WELL.

>> Barry: POTHOLE PROBLEMS, I NOMINATE SEVENTH STREET IN ST. PAUL AS A PLACE TO BEGIN THE POTHOLE FIXING PROJECTS.

I THINK THERE'S A PIECE OF MY AXLE IN ONE OF THOSE POTHOLES.

REPRESENTATIVE FEIST, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

YOU GET TO BAT LAST, AND YOU WILL BE OUR LAST COMMENTATOR OF THE EVENING.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> THANKS.

SO I'M GOING TO GET REALLY GRANULAR.

THE THING THINKS MOST INTERESTED IN TRANSPORTATION ARE HIGHWAY 5 AND CENTRAL AVENUE, WHICH IMPACT MY DISTRICT.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO MINN DOT, THEY HAVE BEEN COLLABORATIVE AND DETAILED IN TRYING TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES, ACCESS ISSUES AND JUST MAKING THE ROADS SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE AND PLEASANT TO DRIVE ON AND TO BE A PEDESTRIAN ON.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT TRANSPORTATION FROM A MULTIMODAL PERSPECTIVE.

BIKING, WALKING PATHS, OUR ROADS AND OUR MASS TRANSIT.

>> Barry: WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE TRANSPORTATION BILL AT THIS MOMENT?

CAN ANYBODY PROVIDE US ANY GUIDANCE ON THAT?

THERE IS GOING TO BE A MASS BILL OF SOME SORT BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS, CORRECT?

>> NO, THERE'S NO TARGETS YET, BUT I'M SURE THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.

BUT IT'S A LITTLE WAYS OUT.

>> Barry: ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD.

I'M GOING TO THANK OUR PANELISTS THIS EVENING FOR A BROAD AND DEEP DISCUSSION ON THE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT ARE FACING THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

I WANT TO REMIND OUR VIEWERS THAT WE WILL BE BACK WITH YOU NEXT WEEK AND ALL THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOW UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE GOES HOME, UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF ST. PAUL.

I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THE MINNESOTA CHANNEL ON A NIGHTLY BASIS.

THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING.

>>> "YOUR LEGISLATORS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MINNESOTA CORN, FROM DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES THAT HELP FARMERS BETTER PROTECT OUR RESOURCES TO THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS.

MINNESOTA CORN FARMERS ARE PROUD TO INVEST IN THIRD PARTY RESEARCH LEADING TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION, STANDING FOR AGRICULTURE, WORKING FOR FARMERS, ON THE WEB AT MFU.ORG.

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC WWW.CAPTIONASSOCIATES.COM