YOU DO GREAT.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

>> THANKS.

>> ERIC: AT THE STATE CAPITOL, THERE'S ONE MONTH LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND PRIORITIES SUCH AS SCHOOL SAFETY, FRAUD REFORM, AND AN I.C.E.

RESPONSE HAVE NOT PASSED YET.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER GIVES US CONTEXT ON THE TOP ISSUES AND LEADERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

>> Mary: IT'S THAT TIME OF SESSION WHEN TALKS GO BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

>> DOWN TO ABOUT A MONTH LEFT OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

REALLY GRATEFUL, I THINK THERE'S SOME GOOD WORK GOING ON UP THERE.

>> THERE WAS ALIGNMENT ON SEVERAL KEY PRIORITIES, INCLUDING DOING SOMETHING TO SAVE HCMC, TAKING ACTION TO ADDRESS FRAUD AND GETTING A BONDING BILL.

>> EVERYTHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THAT ROOM AND AS WE MENTIONED, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT NEW THINGS COMING UP WITH ALL OF YOU.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT THIS YEAR, THEY'VE BEEN TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE EVEN LAST YEAR.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.

>> THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF POTENTIAL ALIGNMENT AROUND THE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO GET DONE THIS SESSION.

>> Mary: WE FOUND OUT THAT THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER WAS NOT INVITED TO TALKS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND HIS CAUCUS' VOTE WILL BE NEEDED TO BUILD A SUPER MAJORITY FOR A BONDING BILL, WHICH LEADERS SAY THEY WANT TO PASS IN THIS NONBUDGET YEAR.

>> TODAY IS A TAX DAY AND MINNESOTANS ACROSS THE STATE ARE REALIZING EXACTLY WHAT THE IMPACT IS TO THEIR POCKETBOOK OF MINNESOTA AND FEDERAL TAXES.

>> I GOT STOPPED 13 TIMES, 13 TIMES TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

>> Mary: NEARLY HALF OF THE EXPENSES IN HE DFL SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET ARE IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S CUTS.

>> WE HAVE 124 SEPARATE WHAT I WOULD SAY RETRIBUTION ACTIONS AGAINST MINNESOTA.

THE PRESIDENT PROMISED.

>> WE'RE STILL REELING FROM THE INCIDENTS OF METRO SURGE AND SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS VOW TO ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ACTION.

>> I.C.E.

IS STILL HERE.

THE EFFECT THAT THEY'VE HAD THROUGH OPERATION METRO SURGE, WE'RE STILL FEELING THOSE EFFECTS.

>> Mary: ONE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER SPOKE UP.

>> I AM NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH METRO SURGE.

I AM NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND SAY THIS WASN'T POORLY EXECUTED.

THERE WAS A LOT OF EMOTIONS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF LEADERS THAT SAID A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WISH HADN'T BEEN SAID.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE HAVE THIS NOW IN FRONT OF US.

MINNESOTA DOES NEED RELIEF, MINNESOTA BUSINESSES NEED RELIEF.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS HEARD FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO AGAIN TALKED OF OFF-DUTY OFFICERS BEING RACIALLY PROFILED, AS RAMSEY COUNTY ANNOUNCED AN INVESTIGATION OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICERS FOR KIDNAPPING.

>> Mr.

THAO IS AND HAS BEEN AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

THERE'S NOT A DISPUTE OVER THAT.

THERE'S NO DISPUTE THAT HE WAS FORCIBLY TAKEN OUT OF HIS HOME.

AND YOU CAN ASK YOURSELF, AS YOU LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES, IS THAT GOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT?

HAD >> WE ARE GOING TO BE DOGGED IN OUR PURSUIT OF THE TRUTH.

>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHETHER THAT WAS A KIDNAPPING CHARGE BY THESE FEDERAL OFFICIALS.

LOOK, ACCOUNTABILITY IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

WE WILL NEVER GET TIRED OF ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE ON THIS.

>> Mary: THEN HENNEPIN COUNTY FILED THE FIRST CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR AN I.C.E.

AGENT'S ON-DUTY ACTIONS.

>> I WAS REALLY PROUD TO SEE RAMSEY COUNTY ATTORNEY JOHN CHOI PURSUE CHARGES, I'M GLAD TO KNOW IT'S HAPPENING IN HENNEPIN COUNTY AS WELL.

>> Mary: CONVICTED FRAUDSTERS WOULD FACE A TAX PENALTY IN A BIPARTISAN BILL.

>> HIS IS SERIOUS BILL, THIS IS NOT A MESSAGING BILL.

>> I THOUGHT IT AS A REALLY CLEVER IDEA.

>> THE RESOLUTION ON IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATIONS IS DUMB.

>> THE MOST HAIR-BRAINED THING I THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN.

>> Mary: HOUSE REPUBLICANS HEARD A RESOLUTION OVER THE IMPEACH.

OF GOVERNOR WALZ FOR CORRUPT CONDUCT BE OF FRAUD.

>> WE HAVE ONE MONTH LEFT OF SESSION.

INSTEAD OF ASKING US WHAT MINNESOTANS ASKED US TO DO, THE REPUBLICANS ARE PROPOSING THAT WE SPEND THE REMAINING TIME IN PARTISAN ATTACKS.

>> WHAT MINNESOTANS ARE ASKING FOR IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE $9 BILLION RAUD IN OUR STATE.

>> IF WE WERE TO FINALLY CLOSE OUT THE SESSION IN MAY, MY HEAD WERE TO HIT THE BILL PILLOW THAT NIGHT, WE DIDN'T GET A SCHOOL SAFETY PACKAGE DONE, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT SENSE OF SADNESS.

>> WE ARE SO CLOSE TO DOING SOMETHING THIS CAREER ON THIS.

MY HOPE IS THAT WE STOP JUST LOBBING THINGS AT EACH OTHER AND ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND TALK.

>> WE CAN WORK HARD OVER THE NEXT MONTH, THAT WE CAN HAVE A PRODUCTIVE SESSION AND A GOOD END OF SESSION.

>> I HEARD COMMITMENT IN THAT ROOM TO ET THE WORK FOR PEOPLE DONE.

BEFORE WE'RE DONE.

AND THAT GIVES ME SOME HOPE AND MAYBE A LITTLE EASE AT NIGHT WHEN IT IT'S TIME TO TRY AND SLEEP.

>> WITH A TIED HOUSE YOU SAW THAT WE FOCUSED HEAVILY ON WHAT COULD BE AGREED UPON, THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE BUDGET AND ALL OF THE WORK DONE AST YEAR, I WOULD THINK THAT YOU COULD EXPECT THE