SPEAKING OF AN ISSUE THAT IS ANOTHER FREQUENT FLYER FOR OUR GUESTS OVER MANY WEEKS, WE HAVE VIEWERS IN SMITH COUNTY WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE TAXATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND WONDER WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT.

LET'S START WITH YOU REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL.

TAXATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, AND WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> WELL, THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.

A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

WE CAME VERY CLOSE, I THINK, LAST SESSION TO PASSING AN EXEMPTION FOR -- TOTAL EXEMPTION FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.

BUT IT FELL BY THE WAYSIDE AS PRETTY MUCH EVERY OTHER BILL DID LAST SESSION.

AS TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, IN THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE CAUCUS WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TOTAL EXEMPTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND BASICALLY YOU COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING TAXED TWICE ON THE SAME MONEY.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TOTAL EXEMPTION.

I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME OBJECTION TO THAT THROUGH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TAX COMMITTEE AND THE MINNESOTA HOUSE AND MAYBE REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI WOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE MOOD IS WITH THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE.

I KNOW THAT THE SENATE REPUBLICANS, SENATOR HOWE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE A TOTAL EXEMPTION.

THERE MAY BE SOME HOPE.

I HEARD THE CHAIR OF THE TAX COMMITTEE THERE, SENATOR REST, IS IN LINE TO AT LEAST BE DOING SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THERE IS A STRONG MOVE TO GET THAT TOTAL EXEMPTION IF WE CAN OR MAYBE A PARTIAL EXEMPTION OR AGAIN MAYBE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

LET'S GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI, TAXATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

>> I WOULD SUPPORT A FULL REPEAL OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

BUT THERE HAD BEEN AN ELECTION, AND THE ELECTION CHANGED THINGS, ONE THE SENATE AS A BRAND-NEW MAJORITY.

THE NEW TAX CHAIR, BUT A VERY SEASONED TAX CHAIR IN SENATOR REST.

WE HAVE A BRAND-NEW TAX CHAIR IN THE HOUSE.

THIS IS NOT PAUL MARQUART BUT SENATOR GOMEZ, AND THE WHOLE VIEW OF HOW IT'S DONE NOW IN THE DFL HAS CHANGED.

I WOULD HOPE IF WE CAN'T GET A FULL REPEAL THAT WE WOULD AT LEAST GET SOME TYPE OF PARTIAL REPEAL OF SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

I THINK THAT'S MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN THAN A FULL REPEAL.

>> Barry: SENATOR HOWE, SOCIAL SECURITY TAX AND ITS STATUS IN UPCOMING YEARS.

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A BIG PUSH FOR IT.

A LOT OF ACCEPTANCE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IN THE SENATE TO DO THAT, TO REPEAL THE WHOLE THING.

WE TRIED TWICE TO BRING IT OUT OF COMMITTEE AND TO THE SENATE FLOOR, TWICE THIS SESSION AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT DONE.

THAT ONE VOTE REALLY PARTICULARS IN OUR CRAWL, I GUESS.

EVEN THE DEMOCRAT AUTHOR THAT WANTS A FULL TOTAL REPEAL WILL NOT VOTE TO BRING IT TO THE FLOOR.

I DO BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR IS -- HE DOESN'T WANT A FULL REPEAL, AND I THINK THAT, I HATE TO SAY IT, HE WILL PROBABLY GET HIS WAY.

I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD DO A FULL REPEAL AND NOT BE ONE OF THE 11.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I GOT A FEELING THEY ARE GOING TO MARCH TO THE GOVERNOR'S DRUM, AND WE ARE GOING TO GET A PARTIAL REPEAL PROBABLY ADJUST IT FOR INFLATION, AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE WE WILL SIT.

>> WHAT THE SENATOR SAID, HE MEANT 11 STATES.

THERE ARE ONLY 12 STATES IN THE UNION THAT TAX SOCIAL SECURITY AND THAT'S WHAT THE SENATOR WAS REFERRING TO.

>> Barry: SENATOR HOWE, LET'S GO