>> Cathy: IN ADDITION TO DEADLINE WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK ALSO SAW A MINNESOTA APPEALS COURT EXAMINE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF OMNIBUS BILLS.

AND IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THERE'S A GROWING RIFT BETWEEN REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

PLENTY TO PONDER FOR OUR POLITICAL TEA LEAF READERS.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT, PAT GAROFALO IS A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA GROCERS ASSOCIATION.

EMILY NOVOTNY CHANCE IS A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN AND LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT IN THE STATE SENATE.

SHE'S THE YOUNGEST NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEEWOMAN IN THE COUNTRY.

DEMOCRATS WITH THEM, JEFF HAYDEN IS A FORMER DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER IN HE STATE SENATE, NOW A LOBBYIST AND FINALLY, TARA ERICKSON IS A FORMER JOURNALIST AND LONG TIME LOBBYIST AT THE CAPITOL WHO NOW WORKS AS A CONSULTANT.

HEY!

WE'VE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

SO PAT GAROFALO, DEADLINE WEEK.

KIND OF ARTIFICIAL, THOUGH, RIGHT?

I MEAN, IN THAT IF THERE'S A WILL TO GET SOMETHING THROUGH, THERE ARE WAYS TO DO IT.

>> SURE.

WELL, FIRST, CATHY, ERIC, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Cathy: ABSOLUTELY.

>> YES, SO IT IS A ARTIFICIAL DEADLINE BUT IT DOES SIGNAL PRIORITIES OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE CRAZY PART OF THE SESSION WHERE EVERYONE'S AGAINST EVERYTHING, THEY'RE TRYING TO JUICE UP THE VALUE OF ITEMS IN NEGOTIATIONS.

BUT IT IS TRUE THAT NOTHING HAS TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

NOW, THERE'S THINGS THAT SHOULD HAPPEN THAT ARE THE IGHT THING TO DO.

BUT WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, IF IN THEORY THE LEGISLATURE BREAKS DOWN AND DOESN'T AGREE TO THINGS, GOVERNMENT IS STILL FUNDED.

BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

I THINK THE BIG ISSUE THAT THESE SIDES NEED TO COMMUNICATE BETTER ON IS THAT THE COURTS HAVE RULED PRETTY HEAVILY THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE GIANT GARBAGE OMNIBUS BILL, THROW EVERYTHING IN ONE, THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

AND THAT'S GOING TO MEAN MORE INDIVIDUAL BILLS WHICH PUBLIC POLICY IS A GOOD THING TO DO.

I'M NOT SURE LEGISLATORS ARE USED TO THAT.

AND THAT REQUIRES COMPROMISE, OUT AND OPEN, TRADEOFFS AND THAT'S GOING TO, IT'S GOING TO BE A BUMPY ROAD BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> Cathy: SO WHEN WE HAD THE WAYS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS ON THE AIR WITH US TONIGHT THERE'S NO TARGETS.

I MEAN, LIKEWARES ALL SO USED TO HAVING TARGETS IN COMMITTEES.

>> BUDGETS.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID YOU MAKE THAT FAR >> HONESTLY, ACTUALLY I THINK IT WILL WORK FINE.

AGAIN LIKE PAT SAID WEES DON'T REALLY HAVE TO PASS ANYTHING.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

AND SO I THINK GOING IN KNOWING THAT AND JUST GOING, ALL RIGHT, WHAT CAN WE ACTUALLY NEGOTIATE AND KIND OF WORKING THE BUDGET OUT WHILE ALL OF THE COCHAIRS ARE DOING IT, I THINK IT WILL WORK FINE.

ESPECIALLY DURING, YOU KNOW, DURING THE SHORT SESSION.

>> Eric: $3.7 BILLION PROJECTED SURPLUS.

ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT ANY OF THAT'S GOING TO GET BACK TO THE TAXPAYER?

IN RELIEF ONE WAY OR ANOTHER?

>> WE'LL SEE.

I DON'T THINK SO.

WE STILL HAVE TO BALANCE OUT THE TAILS.

>> Eric: BECAUSE DOWN THE LINE THERE'S A PROJECTED PROBLEM.

THE TAB FEE THING GOT BEAT ALREADY IN ONE OF THE COMMITTEES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND JESSE VENTURA WON!

>> YEAH, HE DID, I THINK IT'S TOUGH, EVERYBODY'S GOT STICKER SHOCK.

I THINK THAT THERE PROBABLY IS SOME COMPROMISE, I DON'T KNOW IF SENATOR DIBBLE OR THERS ARE READY FOR IT BUT I THINK IT MAY BE SOMETHING THERE.

THAT'S THE BREAD AND BUTTER THINGS THAT YOU SEE.

>> I THINK JEFF, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK THAT'S A SLEEPER ISSUE, NOT THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT ME.

BUT HEY, IT'S ALL ABOUT ME, RIGHT?

MY LICENSE TAB FEES WERE $1,000.

A THOUSAND BUCKS TO RENEW MY TABS THIS YEAR.

>> PAT, I MEAN, MY GOD, WHAT YOU DRIVE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I HAVE A TESLA MODEL S, BUT STILL.

HERE'S MY TEST WHEN MY NONPOLITICAL FRIENDS OMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHOSE AB FEES INCREASED.

LIKE THEY HAD THE SAME CAR, CAR GOT A YEAR OLDER AND TAB FEES WENT UP.

THIS IS KIND OF A SLEEPER ISSUE.

>> Cathy: MY FRIEND HAS A TOYOTA MINIVAN WHICH IS NOT AN ATTRACTIVE CAR IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM AND IT'S OLD, $570.

>> I THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT ANYTIME YOU WANT TO LIKE REDUCE THAT OR EVEN IF YOU WANT A TAX BREAK THAT'S KIND OF SPENDING AND PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY BECAUSE THAT'S LESS REVENUE COMING IN, I THINK WE HAVE TO PUT THAT ALL IN ONE BIG KIND OF BUCKET BUT I THINK THIS ISSUE AROUND TAB FEES, I'LL SHOUT OUT TO MY FRIENDS AT HEALTH CARE, HCMC, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING OTHERWISE THE HOSPITAL WILL REDUCE OR EVEN CLOSE.

THAT IS DISASTROUS FOR US.

>> Eric: GUNS.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE HOUSE WAS TARGETING THREE SUBURBAN REPUBLICANS LAST, EARLIER THIS WEEK IN A LONG FLOOR HEARING.

DEBATE.

I WONDER F THAT'S A TOUGH ONE FOR REPUBLICANS IN THE SUBURBS, OR?

>> THE GUN ISSUE WILL DEFINITELY BE ON THE TOP OF MINDS AS IT IS EVERY ELECTION CYCLE BUT I THINK THERE'S OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PROMINENT LIKE FRAUD.

THE $19 BILLION IN FRAUD.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S KEEP IT AT FACTS HERE.

KEEP IT AT FACTS.

>> THAT'S WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S INVESTIGATING RIGHT NOW, TARA.

>> THAT'S WHAT DONALD TRUMP HAS SAID.

>> IT'S NEVER BEEN SAID THAT.

>> HONESTLY I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S PROBABLY BETWEEN ONE AND TWO AND WE DON'T KNOW THOSE NUMBERS YET.

>> THAT ONE AND TWO BILLION WHAT IS YOUR TIME WINDOW.

I THINK F YOU WAS HE BACK TO 2019, JOE THOMPSON WHO IS PRETTY WELL RESPECTED, HE SAID NINE.

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON HOW FAR WE GO BACK.

THERE IS NO DOUBT.

I SAW FRAUD AND AS EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS 'VE WORKED ON MEDICAID FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

AND THERE WAS FRAUD IN NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION DURING THE PAWLENTY ADMINISTRATION THAT I WAS DEALING WITH AND I WAS SAY THAT DHS IS PROBABLY THE REASON WHY THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE THEY DESTROYED THE PROGRAM.

BUT IT IS NOT 19 BILLION AND I THINK WE GOT TO STICK TO FACTS AND WE CAN DEBATE ABOUT THIS AND FRAUD IS BAD, BUT.

>> WE CAN SAY A TRILLION DOLLARS BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT TRUE.

I THINK AT THIS POINT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS THAT THEY KNOW IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GROW BUT I DON'T THINK IT GETS TO $19 BILLION.

BUT YOU HAVE TO SPEND SOME TIME IN THOSE COMMITTEES TO UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I THINK SOMETIMES WE PROJECT THAT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS -- >> IT'S A CRISIS, THOUGH, I THINK IT'S FAIR.

>> ABSOLUTELY, 100% >> IT IS A PROBLEM.

IT IS AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY USA IDS LEFT WHO ARE DEALING WITH.

>> DON'T USE ACRONYMS I DON'T KNOW.

>> THE ATTORNEYS, SO THE JOE THOMPSONS OF THE WORLD WHO WERE VERY GOOD ABOUT THIS.

AND I ACTUALLY HELPED HIM AND GAVE A PRESENTATION ON EXACTLY MEDICAID AND WHAT THE DISABILITY WAIVERS RE.

THEY HAD A REALLY GOOD GRASP ON WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WE'VE LOST ALL OF THAT.

I MEAN, THEY'RE GONE.

>> I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE ISSUE AROUND GUNS AND THAT'S WHERE WE KIND OF STARTED THIS PORTION.

IT IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE.

AND SO MY KIDS WENT TO ANNUNCIATION TEN YEARS AGO.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR, BUT WE KNOW A LOT OF THOSE FAMILIES, WE'VE BEEN IN THAT CAMPUS, THAT IS A REAL ISSUE THAT I THINK IS GOING TO TUG AT PEOPLE TO SAY WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING IN THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT GUNS.

>> DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE?

I'M SORRY.

>> ISN'T PART OF THIS, THOUGH, THAT LIKE NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS, ANUNNATION, THE STATE HAS RULED, DEMOCRATS HAVE SAID THEY CAN'T GET ANY FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FOR HARDENING OF CLASSROOMS AND SECURITY, ISN'T PART OF THIS THAT THOSE PRIVATE SCHOOLS THOSE KIDS DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED JUST AS MUCH AS THE KIDS AT -- >> WELL, YEAH, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AN ARGUMENT OUT OF ME, MY KIDS WENT TO ANNUNCIATION AND DELA SALLE.

SO I THINK WE CAN PUT A PACKAGE TOGETHER.

I THINK THIS LINE ABOUT, HEY, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO DO THIS OR ONLY THAT OR WE FALSE EQUATE, THEY'RE DIFFERENT, I THINK WE HAVE TO PUT THEM LL TOGETHER.

THIS IDEA OF HIGH CAPACITY GUNS IN OUR SOCIETY, YOU KNOW, WE DID IT WITH THE BRADY BILL, WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL KIDS ARE PROTECTED.

>> GOOD NEWS IN THE SENATE AS A GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATE THEY DON'T HAVE THE VOTES IN THE SENATE TO HAVE IT THE THEATER IN THE HOUSE, THAT GETS ATTENTION RIGHT NOW.

>> IT GOT OUT OF COMMITTEE.

>> IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THEY WOULD BE VOTING FOR THAT ITH WOULD LITERALLY GIVE THE MINNESOTA STATE SENATE TO REPUBLICANS.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE.

I THINK THAT THERE'S FEATS TO -- SEATS TO PICK UP.

I'M NOT GOING TO TELL RURAL GUYS TO VOTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I THINK THEY SHOULD VOTE WITH HEIR HEART BUT I THINK THERE S OPPORTUNITY TO PICK UP SEATS IN THE SUBURBS.

I THINK THE MATH WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT RURAL GUYS HAVE TO WIN IN ORDER FOR DEMOCRATS TO WIN IN THE SENATE IS NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.

>> Cathy: WHAT ELSE ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

YOU MENTIONED SLEEPER ISSUE ABOUT THE TABS, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES OUT THERE UNDER THE RADAR THAT MIGHT MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE?

>> THE U.S.

SENATE RACE RIGHT NOW ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE YOU'VE GOT PEGGY FLANAGAN RUNNING AGAINST ANGIE CRAIG AND I DON'T THINK I'M GIVING ANY SECRETS AWAY ON REPUBLICAN STRATEGY HERE, REPUBLICANS REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF THE CHANCE TO RUN AGAINST PEGGY FLANAGAN.

THIS IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE FRAUD ISSUE WITH THE WALZ-FLANAGAN, WHICH IS SOMETHING FOR EIGHT YEARS THEY'VE BRANDED THE AD AS WALZ-FLANAGAN, I THINK THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS IN MINNESOTA IN THE SENATE RACE TO BE ESPECIALLY COMPETITIVE ESPECIALLY IF YOU END UP WITH MICHELLE TAFOYA AS NOMINEE.

NO, I'M SAYING IF YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST ANGIE CRAIG, MORE CHALLENGING, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

IF PEGGY FLANAGAN IS NOMINEE, I THINK IF I WAS A BITTING MAN AND WE ALL KNOWS I'M A BETTING MAN, I WOULD SAY REPUBLICANS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.

>> THERE'S A MESS IN THE REPUBLICANS, IS MICHELLE TAFOYA GOING TO GET THROUGH HER STANCES ON RIGHT TO LIFE AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS IS MUDDLED, WHO KNOWS WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO DO.

I DON'T KNOW IF TAFOYA IS GOING TO BE YOUR YOUR CANDIDATE.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO STAY NEUTRAL IN THIS, YOU DON'T TAKE A STAND UNTIL AFTER THE CONVENTION.

>> CORRECT.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF MAY.

I'LL HAVE TO BACK WHATEVER CANDIDATE OUR GRASSROOTS SUPPORT.

>> YEAH, AND JEFF AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A BATTLE LIKE THE DEMOCRATS DID LAST WEEK.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AND KLOBUCHAR VERSUS CALLLES OR DEMUTH.

>> LOOKS LIKE DEMUTH HAS HAS GOT A MOMENTUM.

>> THE THING WITH AMY KLOBUCHAR, SHE'S EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A STANCE.

SHE CAN'T E EVERYONE'S HAPPY-GO-LUCKY AMY, SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO SAY WHAT SHE'S FOR OR AGAINST WHEN IT COMES TO THE -- >> I THINK SHE'S DONE HAT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

>> Eric: RUNNING MATE?

>> I THINK THOM PETERSEN.

AG COMMISSIONER WOULD BE -- >> JEFF HAYDEN.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I THINK THOM PETERSEN WOULD BE A GREAT