>> THEY'VE GOT THE SECURITY, THEY'LL HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COME IN AND MAKE SURE THE SECURITY AND THE CONTAINMENT -- >> Cathy: WOULD YOU BE THE FIRST TO JUMP IN THE POLL?

>> I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THEY'LL BE READY TO.

WE HAVE THE AUGUST 1 AND I THINK THEY'LL AKE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL APPLICATIONS JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE PREPARED TO DO SO AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

MY CONCERN WAS THAT THIS BECAME BIG BUSINESS THAT THE MONEY FLOWED OUTSIDE OF MINNESOTA RATHER THAN HOME-GROWN OPPORTUNITIES HERE, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> Eric: STEVE CRIMER FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS DOWNTOWN COUNCIL HAD AN OP ED IN THE COUNCIL THIS WEEK.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS CITY GOVERNMENT BUT HE DID -- I WANTED TO RUN IN BY YOU, BEWARE OF THOSE IN PUBLIC LIFE WHO DENOUNCE THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AND I THINK SOME REPUBLICANS ARE FEELING THAT MAYBE THIS AGENDA FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE WAS KIND OF ANTI-BUSINESS, ANTI-PROSPERITY?

>> WELL, I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE HEARD FROM BUSINESSES WAS HOW ARE WE GOING TO ATTRACT WORKERS?

WHAT ARE WE GOING DO ABOUT DAY CARE, HOUSING, EDUCATION OF OUR WORKFORCE AND I APPROACHED THIS ENTIRE SESSION LOOKING AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT ARE COPING AND IT'S INEVITABLE, WE'RE AN AGING POPULATION, HAVING FEWER CHILDREN, NORTHERN STATES ARE ALMOST ALL LOSING SOME OF THEIR POPULATION JUST DUE FEIT NATURE OF IT.

I WILL MAKE THE CASE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE WILL REVERSE SOME OF THAT AS PEOPLE MOVE BACK NORTH BUT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THIS DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE, SO I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

I THINK HAT YOU'RE SEEING A STATE THAT IS ATTRACTING PEOPLE, FIRST OF ALL, YOU'LL BE PROTECTED HERE, YOU'LL MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTH CARE DECISIONS, YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

I THINK THAT'S THE PRO-BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN THAT PLACE WHERE WE CAN'T THRIVE WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY OF THESE PRIVATE BUSINESSES CREATING JOBS SO PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LIVER, IF THAT'S IN ROSEAU OR ROCHESTER, WE NEED THE BUSINESS ECTOR TO BE THERE.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS, IS THAT BECAUSE -- ARE YOU -- SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE RAISING YOUR NATIONAL PROFILE AND TALKING ABOUT MINNESOTA AS A REFUGE STATE FOR A NUMBER OF -- ARE YOU DOING THIS FOR DEMOGRAPHICS OR FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES?

>> I THINK PART OF IT IS TELLING OUR STORY.

I'VE SAID THIS I THINK WE THE OLD MINNESOTA ADAGE, IF YOU DO A GOOD DEEDS AROUND TALK BIT, IT DOESN'T COUNT, THAT HUMAN BELIEVENESS OR WHATEVER.

I DO THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ITS, WE NEED REPUTATION TO GET OUT THERE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE SEE US AS A COLD STATE, SOME PEOPLE KNOW US FOR THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS, THEY MIGHT KNOW US FOR 3M OR WHATEVER, THEY KNOW US FOR GEORGE FLOYD.

I MEAN, THOSE THINGS ARE REALITY SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS TAKING US OUT THERE, SHOWING WHAT'S POSSIBLE AND THIS IDEOLOGICAL, THIS DRIVE TO THE BOTTOM OF LOWER WAGES, LESS RESOURCES, TELLING US THAT WE DON'T NEED AN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

WE DO.

WE ARE A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS AND WHICH KNOW THAT WONG OF THE SOLUTIONS TO OUR EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS AND OUR WORKER EMPLOYEE SHORTAGE IS GOING TO BE THROUGH LEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE MINNESOTA IS SET UP TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER.

>> Eric: THERE IS A SEGMENTS OF THE REPUBLICAN CONSTITUENCY THAT IS TALKING ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS WHEN ITS COMES TO EDUCATION.

AND I WONDER AS A CAREER TEACHER HOW MUCH PARENTAL INPUT DID YOU ENCOURAGE WHEN YOU WERE IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> ALWAYS, I ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO COME AND BRING KLEENEXES WHEN THEY CAME BECAUSE WE NEVER HAD ENOUGH.

ANY DOOR WAS ALWAYS OPEN.

THIS IDEAS THAT THE SYLLABUS WAS ALWAYS VERY PUBLIC, I WOULD INVITES PEOPLE TO COME IN THAT HAD EXPERTISE.

IT'S NOT BRING A PARENTS TO WORK DAY TYPE OF THING, WE WOULD DO THAT.

PARENTS ALWAYS HAVE THIS INPUT.

THE THING IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN SOME PLACES, ONE PARENT COMPLAINS ABOUT A BOOK AND WE BAN IT FROM THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PARENTS THAT WERE THEN DENIED THAT OPPORTUNITIES.

SO I THINK STRIKING THE PROPER BALANCE.

PARENTS ABSOLUTELY SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN THAT, THEY ALWAYS OF COURSE.

WHICH HAVE TOOK BOARDS FOR A PARTICULAR RON.

THAT DOOR IN MY ROOM WAS ALWAYS OPEN, NEVER SHUT FOR THAT VERY REASON, I ENCOURAGED FOLKS TO COME IN WHEREVER THEY COULD.

SOME OF THEM DID BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS, I THINK FOR MANY OF US, I THINK I'M A RELATIVELY SKILLFUL GEOGRAPHY TEACHER, I'M NOT SKILLFUL CHEMISTRY TEACHER.

I'M GLAD Mr. WALKER WAS DOWN THE HALLWAY.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO DO SO THEMSELVES HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO, HOME-SCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN OR CHOOSE ELSEWHERE BUT FROM A PUBLIC SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT PUBLIC INPUT.

>> WHERE ARE YOU ON THE SOCIAL ISSUES, ABORTION, GAY, THERAPY, SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL YOU BE A SUBTEXT FROM THE 2022 CAMPAIGN?

WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT?

>> I THINK PEOPLE MOVE TOWARDS FREEDOM, PEOPLE MAKE THEIR CHOICES ON THIS.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ENGAGE IN WHAT YOU DO AROUND YOUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS BUT ANOTHERS NEED TO.

WE NEED TO HAVE BODILY AUTONOMY ISSUES, THAT'S WHAT MOST OF THIS.

I THINK THERE'S FOLKS THAT TRY TO MAKE THESE SOCIAL ISSUES, THEY TRIED TO MAKE IT THE CENTERPIECE.

PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT ROADS HERE.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GIVE US OUR PROTECTION, STAY OUT OF OUR BUSINESS, OUR BEDROOMS AND FIX THE ROADS.

MAKE SURE MY TAXES AREN'T TOO HIGH BUT MAKE SURE I'M GETTING SOMETHING FOR THEM.

SO I WOULD JUST HAVE TO SAY IF REPUBLICANS CONNECT TO GO DOWN THE ROAD OF DENYING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE CARE, IF THEY CHOOSE TO DEMONIZE TRANSGENDER CHILDREN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY AND THE WRONG SIDES OF THE ELECTORATE.

THEY WON'T WIN N THAT ISSUE, YOU HAVE TO COME WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN ON HOW DO YOU PLAN ON TACKLING THIS ISSUE OF WORKER SHORTAGE.

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON TACKLING CRIME?

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON IT OTHER THAN JUST COMPLAINING?

YOU CAN'T BE IN THIS POINTS OF ROOTING FOR FAILURE AND I REALLY SEE THAT, THAT IT'S A NEGATIVE MANTRA ALL THE TIME.

THIS WON'T WORK.

WE DON'T LIKE THIS.

WELL, WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE?

IT CAN'T JUST BE TAX CUTS FOUR EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.

THAT IS NOT A WINNING SOLUTION.

>> Cathy: THIS MAY COME OUT OF THE LEFT FIELD HERE, GOVERNOR, BUT YOU MENTIONED THESE ARE ISSUES OF BODILY AUTONOMY THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS PAST SESSION.

I DID NOTES THAT THE PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED DEATH BILL DIDN'T HAVE A HEARING BUT CAME UP, IT WAS INTRODUCED.

IS THAT JUST A BRIDGE TOO FAR?

DO YOU THINK THAT BILL WILL EVER ASS?

>> I WOULD JUST SAY PERSONALLY IT'S ONE THAT I HAVE SOME INTEREST IN.

I WATCHED AS A TEENAGER AND MY FATHER WAS DYING IN THE HOSPITAL AND THERE WAS NO WANT THERE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON S AND HE ENDED UP STAYING THERE FOR A TIME LONGER AND THEN EVENTUALLY DIED.

IT STRAPPED MY MOM WITH INCREDIBLE MEDICAL BILLS AND I THINK THERE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST BEEN SOME COUNSELING.

I THINK THERE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST BEEN SOMEONE THERE TO SHARE THAT BUT NO ONE WAS WILLING TO -- THE LAW WOULDN'T DIET AND JUST STAY ON LIFE SUPPORT AND THERE WAS NO -- YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE A POSITIVE OUTCOME AND I THINK YOU SEE THESE SITUATIONS OF DEATH WITH DIGNITY NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED.

I THINK IT'S ONE THAT WE SHOULDN'T SHY AWAY FROM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOCIETY WILL ETERMINE WHEN E.WHERE THAT ENDS UP BUT I DO THINK IT'S ONE WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES.

THERE'S TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE HOW DO YOU -- HOW DO YOU GIVE PEOPLE PERSONAL AUTONOMY AROUND THIS IDEAS OF TERMINAL ILLNESS.

>> Eric: FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TWEET IF YOU NEED A REMINDER THAT ELECTIONS HAVE CONS CONSEQUENCES, CHECK OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA.

I'M SURE THE DEMOCRATS LOVE EX, REHABILITATION ARE FURTHER INFLAMED ON IT.

ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO ANY TRAVELING ON BEHALF OF THE BIDEN REELECTION CAMPAIGN?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS DELIVERED ON WHAT HE SAID.

>> Eric: HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE BIDEN FOLKS?

>> YEAH, WE'VE TALKED SOME, JUST THIS WEEK AND I'LL GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE, AND BOTH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND SPEAKER McCARTHY, WHO I UNDER ESTIMATED, HE DID IT, IT'S DONE FOR AMERICA, I APPLAUDS THE FOLKS WHO VOTED YES ON THIS A TOUGH VOTE, KIND OF PLUG YOUR NOSE ON SOME OF THIS BUT THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SPENDING, NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN IT'S A PROCEDURAL VOTE TO KEEP THINGS FROM US FROM DEFAULTING SO I THINK GETTING OUT THERE AND TELLING THE STORY THAT YOU CAN DO THESE ISSUES, YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC, YOU CAN GET THESE THINGS DONE, IS A GOOD MESSAGE.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN, PEOPLE WANTS TO SEE THE ROADS FIXED.

THAT'S WHAT I'M MOST INTO ITED ABOUT, THE BONDING BILL.

THERE WON'T BE THE PRESS OR THE DOCUMENTARY LIKE THERE IS ON MAR WAYNE, THE MANKATO WATER TREATMENT PLANT OR THE FOOD CONTROL IN MOORHEAD BUT THOSE ARE THE THINGS PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT.

I'M CONVINCED WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE ARE THE TWO THINGS, THEN IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, IT BECOMES EDUCATION.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW WHAT I NOTICED DURING THE SESSION, YOU MENTIONED THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

YOU JUST CALLED THE BONDING BILLING, RIGHT, BUT THIS ONE WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH BONDING IN IT, YOU ACTUALLY PAID CASH.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: AND USUALLY BONDING BILLS ARE BIPARTISANSHIP AND IN HE PAST ELECTION LAW CHANGES HAVE BEEN BIPARTISANSHIP BUT NEITHER WERE THAT WAY THIS WAY?

>> THE BONDING BILL WAS AND DEAN YOU ARE STALL DID A HECK OF A JOB ON THIS, IT WAS BEING HELD UP IN THE SENATE AND THEY HELD IT UP LAST TIME BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WAS VERY BIPARTISAN.

AND I SAID THE THING WITH THE ELECTION LAW, WE'VE GOT FOLKS WHO ARE DENYING THE 2020 ELECTION.

WE HAVE FOLKS THAT HAVE NOW TAKEN ELECTIONS TO THAT.

I DIDN'T START THIS AND I DON'T THINK DEMOCRATS STARTED THIS BUT I HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.

AND I THINK HERE IN MINNESOTA, ALL OF HESE CHANGES ARE SIMPLY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE REPUBLICANS HAVE GIVEN UP ON ELECTORATE WHERE THEY SAID, WELL, ALL THESE 55,000 FELONS ARE GOING TO ROW VOTE DEMOCRAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH TO SHOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.

NO CARE HOW THEY VOTE, I DON'T CARE HOW THE EXPANSION OR ANYBODY VOTES, THAT'S NOT MY CHOICE TO MAKE.

>> Eric: YOU DON'T THINK THE THUMB IS ON THE SCALE WITH THE CHANGES?

>> NO, GO OUT AND EARN ITS, EVER A MESSAGE THAT TRACTS PEOPLE TO GETTING THERE.

WHY WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT JUST EXPANDING VOTES TO MORE PEOPLE HURTS YOUR POLITICAL PARTY?

I WOULD REALLY DO SOME SOUL-SEARCHING ON THAT IF YOU'RE A FRAYED THAT IF MORE PEOPLE VOTE, YOU'LL LOSE ELECTIONS, THAT OUGHT TO TELL YOU KIND OF WHERE YOU STANDS, SO... >> Cathy: GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A POTENTIAL SPECIAL SESSION BECAUSE IT KIND OF CAME UP AT THE ENDS OF SESSION.

WHERE ARE WE WITH THE SANFORD HEALTH-FAIRVIEW HEALTH MERGER AND WHERE IS THE U OF M IN ALL THIS?

>> WELL, THE U OF M, I, AGAIN, GRATEFUL OVER THERE WITH THE INTERIM PRESIDENT WITH INTERIM PRESIDENT ETTINGER AND I IN THE MEETING WITH HIM, YOU KNOW, MY -- WHATEVER IT'S WORTH, PIE TWO CENTS, IF IT'S THAT, THAT THAT'S THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, TO ANYTHING OUT WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE MERGER, TO BRING IN THE EXPERTS THAT CAN HELP OH DO THIS.

THIS WAS A MEETING THAT GOVERNOR DAYTON AND GOVERNOR PAULINE' ASKED TO HAVE, WE BROUGHT IN THE U OF M FOLKS.

THEY'VE GOT AN INTERIM PRESIDENT NOW.

I BROUGHT IT UP, THIS IS WHAT A SPECIAL SESSION SHOULD BE FOR, NOT FOR NOT GETTING YOUR WORK DONE, IT SHOULD BE A SINGLE ISSUE THAT IS OF IMPORTANCE AT THE TIME AND I FLOATED IT, SEE IF E'LL GET THERE, BRING IN THE EXPERTS, CHART THE COURSES OF ACTION AND THEN GET SETS TO COME IN ON A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Eric: AUTISM WOULD BE THE TIME OF THAT?

>> SEEMS LIKE IT.

SEEMS LIKE COMING BACK -- FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD SANFORD AND FAIRVIEW SAYING WE WANT TO HAVE THIS DONE IN MARCH.

WELL, THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEN WE EXTENDED IT ON AND I THINK THE LEGISLATURE PUT A LITTLE MORE EETH IN WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CAN DO WHICH IS APPROPRIATE FOR MERGERS, ANTI-TRUST, THINGS LINING THAT BUT WE STILL NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND MY ROLE AS GOVERNOR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA THAT INCREDIBLE MEDICAL SCHOOL THAT PROVIDES OVER 75% OF OUR PHYSICIANS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA, THAT THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF AND ALSO THAT ACCESS TO CARE ACROSS ALL CORNERS OF THE STATE.

WE SEE CONSOLIDATION START TO COLLAPSE, WE NO LONGER HAVE A BIRTHING UNIT IN ALBERT LEA AND PEOPLE HAVE O TRAVEL 40 MILES.

MIGHT NOT OUND LIKE MUCH UNLESS IT'S FEBRUARY NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLIZZARD, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE EXPECT SERVICES TO BE CLOSER TO THEM, DON'T -- I THINK THAT BROADER ISSUE OF HEALTH CARE CONSOLIDATION IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE TALKED ABOUT.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE Y