COMPARISON SHOP.

>> FORMER SENATORS JOIN PLEA TO TALK ABOUT A LOT OF ACTION ALREADY.

WE HAVE FORMER REPUBLICAN SENATOR MILLION BENSON AND DEMOCRAT SENATOR KARLA BIGHAM.

KIND OF A HEAVY DAY WITH OFFICER ATTENTION FOR THE FUNERAL ACTION HERE PAUSED, BIG PICTURE.

IT'S BEEN A COMPLICATED COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THINGS HERE.

LET'S STALK ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HEAVY WEEK AND WE CAN'T FORGET THAT AND, YOU KNOW, BLESS THESE HEROS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND LET'S REMEMBER THAT.

I THINK WORDS MATTER.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFER, WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND REMEMBER THAT.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ONE THAT HAS BEEN ONE TO MAKE SURE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS THE EQUIPMENT, THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND EVERYBODY DESERVES TO HAVE THE SAFE COMMUNITY.

>> Mary: A LOT MORE POSITIVE APPRECIATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS RIGHT NOW, I THINK.

>> I THINK WE'RE FAR ENOUGH FROM THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD THAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO COME BACK TO SORT OF A GROUNDEDNESS.

THE DEFUND THE POLICE MOVEMENT WAS COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE AND SO THANKFULLY NOW, WE'RE REMEMBERING THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO RUN TOWARDS BULLETS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO RUN TOWARDS DANGER, WHO ON YOUR WORST DAY, THEY WILL SHOW UP BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY PROMISED TO DO.

IF THERE IS A BAD ACTOR, THE GOOD GUYS WANT 'EM OUT AND WHAT WE NEED NOW IS FOR PROSECUTORS TO HAVE THE BACK OF COPS WHEN THERE ARE BAD GUYS WHO COME AFTER OUR FAMILIES AND -- >> AND TO CONTINUE FUNDING.

LAST SESSION WAS RECORD AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ONE-TIME MONEY.

COUNTIES COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE GRATEFUL FOR THE MONEY WE RECEIVED SO TO CONTINUE THAT WOULD BE A GREAT, STRONG MESSAGE, AS WELL.

>> Mary: LET ME JUMP IN.

GEORGE EMPLOYED IS STILL BEING TALKED ABOUT IN THIS BUILDING AS THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER BILL IS GOING THROUGH HE PROCESS.

>> SURE.

>> Mary: FOLKS ARE REMEMBERING, PRONE RESTRAINTS WERE A PROBLEM AND AN ISSUE BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM SO IT IS STILL RELEVANT TO HIM ESPECIALLY HE THAT FILL -- >> SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS WEREN'T DOING THAT SO THEY ASSOCIATE OF PUSHED THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER INSTEAD OF SAYING, WHAT PROBLEM ARE YOU TRYING TO SOLVE, THEY WANTED MORE DATA.

OKAY, MORE DATA AND THANK GOODNESS FOR REPRESENTATIVE WITTE WHO WAS A BURNSVILLE POLICE OFFICER, WAS A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, WHEN THEY REACHED OUT TO HIM, HE SAID, OKAY, HERE'S WHAT A SUCCESSFUL BILL -- >> Mary: THEY HAVE A COMPROMISE HERE, A UNANIMOUS BILL BUT SENATOR DUCKWORTH SAID NOT SO FAST.

>> THAT'S BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE SOME ACTION ON THE SENATE SIDE, AS WELL.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY NEED THE BILLS TO LINE UP EXACTLY BUILT KUDOS TO REPRESENTATIVE WITTE FOR, AFTER OWED' BEEN TOLD HE COULD JUST TAKE A SEAT TO BE WILLING TO BE AT THE TABLE IN THIS MOMENT AND SAY THIS IS WHAT THE SOLUTION LOOKS LIKE.

>> I THINK SENATOR WEST LUND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF, I THINK, THROUGH THE INTERIM LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS THAT WERE TRUE, RIGHT, I MEAN THROUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THROUGH STAKEHOLDERS, THROUGH STUDENTS, EVERYBODY.

NOW YOU'RE RIGHT THEY AVE TO GET IT THROUGH THE SENATE AND THEME.

IT'S IN FINANCE THIS WEEK, I BELIEVE THEY'LL HAVE A SENATE VOTE NEXT WEEK OR WHATEVER.

I BELIEVE THEY'LL BE GETTING THAT COMPROMISE.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT THAT MADE VERY LITTLE NEWS.

IT WAS CAUCUS NIGHT LAST NIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE EVEN COVERED IT, DID ANYBODY GO?

IS THE SYSTEM BROKEN?

>> IT WAS VERY QUIET.

>> VERY QUIET.

>> AND THE CAMPAIGNS WERE NOT DRIVING PEOPLE OUT.

2016, WE HAD PEOPLE OUT THE DOORS AND SITTING IN THEIR CARS BECAUSE IT WAS COLD AND THEY WERE WAITING TO GET IN AND SIGN UP.

I AS A CONVENOR THEN AND I WAS A CONVENOR LAST NIGHT.

IT WAS REALLY QUIET AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO START HAVING A CONVERSATION AND PEOPLE -- GRASS ROOTS PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO LIKE THIS BUT LAST NIGHT WAS EVIDENCE THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT A DIFFERENT WAY TO ELECT OUR CANDIDATES.

>> Mary: ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> I GOT YOUR BACK ON THIS, MICHELLE.

I AGREE, I THINK IT'S TIME TO GO O A STRAIGHT PRIMARY ON THIS NOW IT'S CONFUSING FOR SOME FOLKS THAT THEY KNOW WE HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, WAS IT LAST NIGHT, IS IT THE FIFTH?

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION NOW.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT A NEW LEADER?

LAST YEAR WE STARTED OFF SESSION TALKING ABOUT THE WOMEN RUNNING BOTH CHAMBERS.

WE STILL HAVE WOMEN RUNNING BOTH CHAMBERS AND THERE IS A NEW LEADER, AND OUR THOUGHTS WE SHOULD ALWAYS SAY ARE WITH SENATOR DZIEDZIC.

THERE IS A NEW LEADER, WHAT DO WE THINK, WHAT DO WE KNOW?

NOR MURPHY, WHICH KNOW HER WELL.

>> A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC, A DIFFERENT APPROACH, AND HOLDING THAT CAUCUS TOGETHER WAS A MINOR MIRACLE.

KARI DZIEDZIC PULLED IT OFF.

WE'LL SEE HOW ERIN MURPHY DOES.

>> Mary: CAN ERIN MURPHY DO IT?

>> I THINK SHE HAS THE SKILLS TO DO IT.

CAN IT BE EXECUTED IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE HOUSE NEEDS TO GET OUT FOR ELECTION, BONDING BILL GIVES REPUBLICANS SOME LEVERAGE AND YOU HEARD SENATOR KARIN HOUSLEY SAY LET'S STICK TO OUR KNITTING, SO LET'S SEE.

>> ERIN WAS MY ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER IN THE HOUSE, SHE WAS AN ASSISTANT MENNOR LEADER IN THE SENATE WHEN I WAS THERE.

MURPHY, E., AS I CALL HER IS A HARD-WORKER AND DEFINITELY A STALWART OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, NOTHING ABOUT IT.

IF SENATOR DZIEDZIC WHO I LOVE AND ADORE CAN KEEP THAT CAUCUS TOGETHER THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND SO SENATOR FRANSON BEFORE HER AND SENATOR KENT BEFORE HER, THERE'S NO REASON WHY SENATOR MURPHY CAN'T.

AND SO I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO AND IT'S NOT WHAT WE THINK, ITS OTHERWISE ABOUT WHAT THE CAUCUS THINKS AND THEY'LL TO HAVE RALLY WITH HER TO KEEP THE CAUCUS TOGETHER.

>> >> Mary: LET'S LOOK AT IT TOMORROW, THE BUDGE ELSE FORECAST COMES OUT BRIGHT AND EARLY, THERE WAS A 17 BILLION SURPLUS THAT'S MOSTLY GONE.

MAYBE A DEFICIT OR SHORT-FALL IN THE OUT YEARS, BUT THEY DON'T LIKE TO CALL IT THAT.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE?

>> THERE IS A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, I THINK YOU'LL SEE A SLIGHT TREND BUT SOME ANYTHING THEY HAVE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS OF THE BIENNIUM.

>> Mary: IS A NEGATIVE A DEFICIT?

>> A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT SHOULD SEND RED SIRENS TO THE PEOPLE SPENDING THIS MONEY.

THAT YOU'VE GOT TO TAP THE BRAKES ON THE SPENDING AND GET THIS GOVERNMENT UNDER CONTROL.

REMEMBER, 40% GROWTH IN GOVERNMENT, NOTHING GROWS 40%.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MIXED MESSAGE.

STILL A SURPLUS BUT MAYBE OUT-YEAR IMBALANCE -- >> LOOK, SO ALL ECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE STRONG, LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, YOU KNOW, THE STOCK MARKET IS PHENOMENAL, INFLATION'S GOING DOWN.

I MEAN, IT'S GOING GREAT.

I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, NO MATTER WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE, THERE'S GOING TO BE MAYBE A COUPLE EXPENDITURES, MAYBE SOME CHILD PROTECTION, MAYBE SOME CHILD CARE.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE EXTREMELY MEASURED AND CONSERVATIVE IN WHAT