♪♪ >> ERIC: WE HAVE NOW HIT THE TIME OF THE SHOW WHEN WE FILL THE COUCH WITH POLITICOS.

FOR TONIGHT'S VERSION OF OUR PANEL, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO PAIR UP TWO CURRENT LEGISLATORS WITH TWO FORMER LEGISLATORS.

ALL FROM ROCHESTER.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR CARLA NELSON STARTED HER LEGISLATIVE CAREER IN THE HOUSE MORE THAN TWO DECADES AGO.

THE STATE HOUSE IS WHERE DFL REPRESENATIVE TINA LIEBLING HAS SERVED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

FORMER LEGISLATORS JOINING US TONIGHT - KIM NORTON WAS A DFL STATE REP FOR A DECADE BEFORE BEING ELECTED THE FIRST FEMALE MAYOR OF ROCHESTER IN 2018.

ROUNDING OUT OUR GROUP, DAVE SENJEM IS A FORMER REPUBLICAN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW AN OLMSTED COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

WELCOME, ONE AND ALL.

MAYOR, WHEN YOU WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE, IT SEEMED TO ME THAT ONE OF THE DRIVING FORCES TO GET YOU OUT OF THERE WAS A PARTISANSHIP CONCERN.

>> IT WAS.

INDEED.

I HAD STARTED FEELING THE STRAINS THAT WE'RE SEEING VERY MUCH AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL NOW, I'D STARTED FEELING THOSE AT THAT TIME, AND I'M A KIND OF PERSON THAT LIKES TO COLLABORATE AND COMPROMISE AND WORK TOGETHER TO GET BILLS DONE.

AND NOT FINISH A SESSION WITHOUT BILLS.

AND I STARTED GETTING FRUSTRATED AND DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON.

>> Eric: YOU WERE A MODERATE SENATOR WHEN YOU WERE LEADING THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE PARTISANSHIP?

AND CAN YOU DENOTE ANY CHANGE IN THE TIME SINCE YOU LEFT?

>> I THINK IT'S INCREASED, CERTAINLY.

BUT IT IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT.

AND I THINK TO SOME REAT EXTENT, WE WERE -- WHEN WE NEEDED TO BE, WE CAME TOGETHER AND GOT THE JOB DONE.

AND THAT'S, I THINK, MOST IMPORTANT.

AND, FRANKLY, MOST IMPORTANT FOR RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF WEEKS LEFT, I THINK THREE OR FOUR WEEKS, THREE AND A HALF, AND IT'S HONESTLY TIME TO GET TO WORK.

>> Cathy: REPRESENTATIVE LIEBLING, I'M CURIOUS, IN TERMS OF HE TONE AND TENOR, I MEAN, THE HOUSE HAS BEEN A LITTLE TOUGH, SHALL WE SAY?

UNTIL THIS POINT.

AND I'M WONDERING, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT WHAT LED THEM TO LEAVE, WHICH WAS KIND OF THIS BITTER PARTISANSHIP, IT REALLY DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT'S CHANGED AT ALL OR HAS IT?

GOTTEN WORSE, A LITTLE BETTER?

>> WELL, I'M TOTALLY OBJECTIVE ABOUT THIS, OF COURSE.

[ Laughter ] BUT I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S KIND OF GONE OFF THE RAILS A LOT MORE.

NOW, THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO CAN WORK TOGETHER.

THERE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, AND THERE STILL ARE.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE REAL FRINGE PEOPLE, AND I THINK THERE ARE MORE OF THOSE THAN THERE USED TO BE.

AND I WOULD SAY THEY'RE ON THE RIGHT.

>> Eric: SENATOR, YOU GOT INTO THE DOGHOUSE WITH YOUR CAUCUS A COUPLE TIMES, I REMEMBER, BACK IN THE DAY.

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON BIPARTISANSHIP THEN AND NOW?

>> YEAH.

WELL, I WAS PROBABLY IN THE DOGHOUSE WHEN I VOTED FOR MY CONSTITUENTS.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SENT THERE TO DO.

AND, ACTUALLY, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO O. I CAN SAY IT'S PRETTY HARD, THE VERY FIRST TIME, BUT THEN YOU REALIZE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

BUT I WOULD SAY HAT THE PARTISANSHIP, UNFORTUNATELY, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART, I THINK, OF PARTISAN POLITICS.

BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, I DO THINK IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE.

BUT I HAVE TO BE -- I'D BE REMISS IF WE JUST SAID IT WAS REPUBLICANS.

THERE'S FRINGES ON THE LEFT SIDE AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

AND I THINK PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE VERY ONE LEANING EITHER RIGHT LEANING OR VERY LEFT LEANING DISTRICTS.

I DO THINK IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH REDISTRICTING.

THERE'S VERY FEW COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS.

AND IT'S WHEN YOU'RE IN A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT WHERE YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT ALL OF ONE PARTY.

AND IT'S YOUR JOB TO LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM.

SO, I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS.

>> Eric: YOU WORKED ON WORKFORCE ISSUES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> I DID.

>> Eric: AND YOU HAVE A PROGRAM, IS IT CALLED CRADLE TO CAREER?

>> CRADLE TO CAREER, YES, A NONPROFIT.

>> Eric: WHY THAT FOCUS ON THE WORKFORCE IN PROSPEROUS ROCHESTER?

>> WELL, CRADLE TO CAREER STARTS WITH THE VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, PRENATAL AND BIRTH, AND WORRIES ABOUT THEM AND WORKS TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES FROM THERE UNTIL THEY'RE IN THOSE CAREERS.

AND IN A COMMUNITY LIKE OURS, WHICH IS HEAVY IN HEALTHCARE, WHICH WE'RE WORKING TO DIVERSIFY, OF COURSE, TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY STRONG, WE NEED THE WORKFORCE TO STAY HERE.

WE NEED OUR CHILDREN TO GROW UP TO LOVE THE COMMUNITY AND WANT TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT LEAVE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY'RE EDUCATED, CARED FOR BY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AND THAT THEY WANT TO STAY.

>> Eric: AND THIS IS YEAR OF YOUTH?

>> THIS IS YEAR OF YOUTH -- YEAR ABOUT YOUTH, YES, SO I HAVE ASKED ALL OF OUR NONPROFITS, AS WELL AS OUR GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND EVERYONE ELSE TO DIG IN AND MAKE OUR CHILDREN FEEL SAFE, CARED FOR, SO THAT THEY CAN GROW UP.

>> Cathy: YOU BROUGHT UP EDUCATION, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EDUCATION BILL, THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

I BELIEVE, SENATOR NELSON, THAT YOU'RE NOT TERRIBLY APPY WITH THE EDUCATION BILL, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> WELL, I DID VOTE FOR THE POLICY BILL LAST NIGHT.

BUT WHAT I'M QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT, REALLY, IS WHAT'S COMING IN THE FINANCE BILLFUL -- FINANCE BILL, QUITE FRANKLY.

THERE'S OVER $600 MILLION OF CUTS TO THE PER PUPIL FORMULA, THAT'S ABOUT HALF OF EDUCATION FUNDING.

AND IT'S THE MOST MPORTANT TYPE OF FUNDING BECAUSE IT'S WHERE THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT DETERMINES HOW BEST THAT NEEDS TO BE SPENT.

SO, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

>> Cathy: BUT THE STATE IS STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET SHORTFALL IN THE OUTYEARS, IN THE FUTURE YEARS.

ISN'T IT K-12 AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SPENDING MAKES UP ABOUT 73% OF THE STATE BUDGET?

SO, SHOULDN'T THERE BE CUTS SOMEWHERE IN THAT BIG PILE OF MONEY?

>> WELL, THE DECISION'S BEEN MADE -- WELL, LOOK, THE HOUSE IS EVENLY DIVIDED.

SO THE REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR, THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN GROWING ANY REVENUE.

SO THERE IS NO WAY TO PASS A BUDGET THAT BALANCES WITHOUT MAKING SOME CUTS.

IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE A BUDGET WITHOUT MAKING SOME CUTS.

>> Eric: COMMISSIONER, WHAT ABOUT THE CONCERN THE COUNTY BOARD MIGHT HAVE OVER POTENTIAL FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS?

BECAUSE YOU PASS THROUGH A LOT OF HUMAN SERVICE MONEY, TRANSPORTATION AND SO FORTH.

WHAT'S THE CONCERN THERE, IF THERE IS ONE?

>> WELL, SUBSTANTIAL CONCERN.

IN FACT, WE TALKED ABOUT IT TODAY IN A RETREAT.

AND AS WE SORT OF LOOK AT THE POTENTIALS AND WHO KNOWS HOW THEY END UP, BUT, I MEAN, JUST SORT OF KEEPING WHERE WE ARE TOOK US TO LIKE A 12% LEVY INCREASE.

AND, SO, THAT'S PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO END UP, BUT WE MAY HAVE WELL TO MAKE SOME CUTS, TOO, IN TERMS OF SERVICES THAT WE APPLY TO OUR CITIZENS IN OLMSTEAD COUNTY.

SO IT IS CONCERNING, THERE'S NO INQUIRE ABOUT IT.

>> Eric: CAN THE STATE BACKFILL FEDERAL CUTS, NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THAT?

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

>> LET ME JUST SAY WHAT WE CAN DO IS REALLY NOT WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSING.

HE'S PROPOSING MOVING SERVICES FROM THE STATE DOWN TO THE COUNTIES, AND IT'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WILL BE PASSED ON TO OUR COUNTIES.

AND WE KNOW THOSE ARE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES.

SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY WIDE-EYE OPENED ABOUT THAT, AND I THINK PROBABLY THE SADDEST THING IS, IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY, WE HAD AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS LAST BUDGET, $10 BILLION IN NEW TAXES, NOW THE $6 BILLION PROJECTED DEFICIT.

SO I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO BE WIDE-EYED ABOUT THIS AND REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

>> Cathy: HOW WIDE-EYED ARE YOU, MAYOR NORTON, ABOUT ALL OF THIS?

>> WELL, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE CITIES, TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

AND, SO, OUR -- SO WE ARE CONCERNED.

WE WANT THE STATE TO PASS A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET, BUT ALSO NOT TO CUT HUMAN SERVICES, NOT TO CUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS THE LARGEST PART OF A CITY BUDGET.

WE HAVE TO DO THE JOB NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THE POLITICS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

SO WE COUNT ON THESE FOLKS.

>> Eric: CHAIR LIEBLING IS ONE OF THE LEGISLATIVE EXPERTS ON HUMAN SERVICE FUNDING, AND WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THAT PART OF THE BUDGET AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO SHAKE OUT?

>> WELL, THERE'S SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW, AND EVEN IN UR LATEST BUDGET PROJECTION, THEY ERE VERY CLEAR SAYING THERE'S SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY, MUCH MORE THAN USUAL, BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND BECAUSE OUR BUDGET IS ENTIRELY TIED TO THE FEDERAL ECONOMY.

AND, SO, IF THE ECONOMY STARTS TO GO DOWN, I MEAN, WE'VE ALL SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STOCK MARKET AND ALL OF THAT, AND WHAT MAY HAPPEN WITH INFLATION, I MEAN, TARIFFS ARE GOING TO IMPACT OUR STATE.

IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

AND IF MEDICAID, IN PARTICULAR, IS CUT, OR MEDICARE IS CUT, I MEAN, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT HELP SUPPORT OUR HEALTH ECONOMY HERE IN MINNESOTA, NOT TO MENTION THE HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS, IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL BIG CHALLENGE TO TRY TO PROTECT MINNESOTANS AND NOT LET THEIR HEALTH GO UNDER.

WHEN THE FEDS PULL AWAY FUNDING.

>> Eric: ARE YOU FINDING CAMARADERIE WITH DEMOCRATS IN A 34-33 ONE-SEAT MAJORITY FOR THE DEMOCRATS?

HOW'S THAT GOIN' IN THE SENATE?

>> ACTUALLY, I DO WORK WELL WITH THOSE ACROSS THE AISLE.

BUT WE ORK ON THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK ON TOGETHER.

THINGS LIKE CRADLE TO CAREER, THAT'S SOMETHING I FUNDED WHEN I WAS EDUCATION CHAIR.

THINGS THAT WORK.

THINGS IKE PTECH, ANOTHER INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE DONE.

I THINK THE KEY THING IS TO LEAVE OUT THE POLITICS, WORK ON WHAT WORKS.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU HAPPY YOU'RE NOT IN THE SENATE WITH 33-34?

>> I'M SORRY.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU HAPPY YOU'RE NOT IN THE SENATE ANYMORE WITH THAT CLOSE A MARGIN?

>> NO, I'D LOVE TO BE THERE ARE.

I'D LOVE TO BE THERE.

[ Laughter ] LET ME JUST SAY THIS.

AS I THINK BACK TO THE FIRST DECADE OF THIS CENTURY, AND WE WERE LOOKING AT PROFOUND BUDGET DEFICITS, $6 BILLION.

AND I REMEMBER THE 2007 SETTING, AND, ACTUALLY, I THINK IT'S TIME TO, AS WE USED TO SAY, GO INTO THE HUDDLE.

GET THE LEADERS, TAKE THEM INTO THE CORNER OFFICES, WE USED TO TALK ABOUT IT, AND THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO BE, IF YOU WILL, COMMANDER IN CHIEF FROM THE STANDPOINT OF BRINGING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER.

>> Eric: 67-67 IN THE HOUSE IS GOING TO WORK OUT?

>> WELL, SURPRISINGLY, IT REALLY IS KIND OF WORKING OUT.

WE JUST PASSED THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUDICIARY BUDGET BILL TODAY, JUST BEFORE I CAME HERE.

OF I WAS THE CHAIR FOR ONE OF THOSE TWO COMMITTEES.

AND CO-CHAIR, I SHOULD SAY.

AND WE WORKED TOGETHER VERY WELL.

NOW, THE BUDGET IS EXTREMELY THIN AND IT'S KIND OF AN EVERYBODY'S UNHAPPY BUDGET, BUT WE CERTAINLY WORKED TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: WILL YOU GET DONE ON TIME, BY THE WAY?

>> WELL, OF OURSE, THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

MY PREDICTION IS THAT WE WILL.

HOWEVER, WHEN THE FEDERAL CUTS COME DOWN, WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK IN SPECIAL SESSION, NO QUESTION, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A ONG AND CHALLENGING SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Cathy: YOU HEARD IT HERE.

>> Eric: TREMENDOUSLY FUN GROUP TO E WITH US TO WRAP UP THE SHOW.

THANK YOU, LL, FOR JOINING US.

THANKS FOR THE HOSPITALITY