>> HELLO EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO OUR FOURTH DEBATE NIGHT FOR 2022 AT THE LAKELAND PBS STUDIO IN BRAINERD.

I'M RAY GILDOW, YOUR MODERATOR TONIGHT.

WE'RE COMING TO THE END OF AN EXCITING WEEK OF DEBATES COVERING TOPICS AND ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITIES.

WE FINISH TONIGHT WITH OUR 8TH STATE LEGISLATIVE DEBATE.

OUR CANDIDATES TONIGHT ARE REPRESENTATIVE JOSH HEINTZEMAN, A REPUBLICAN, AND SALLY BOOS, A DEMOCRATIC FARMER LABOR.

OUR PANELISTS IS DENNIS WEIMANN A LAKELAND PBS NEWS DIRECTOR, HEIDI HOLTAN, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO AFFILIATE AT KAXE NEWS, THE DIRECTOR.

AND CHELSEY PERKINS GREATER DISPATCH AND VOTED AS THE BEST WRITER IN THE BRAINERD AREA THIS YEAR.

THAT'S A GREAT HONOR.

CONGRATULATIONS.

JUST A QUICK RUN OVER THE RULES A LITTLE BIT.

THERE WILL BE THREE MINUTES FOR EACH CANDIDATE FOR OPENING COMMENTS.

THE PANEL WILL ASK QUESTIONS AFTER OPENING COMMENTS.

SOME OF THEM WILL BE THEIR OWN QUESTIONS.

AND SOME WILL BE FROM THE PUBLIC.

THE CANDIDATES WILL ROTATE THE ORDER THEY SPEAK BEGINNING WITH OPENING COMMENTS AND FINISHING WITH CLOSING COMMENTS.

EACH CANDIDATE GETS TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

THEN EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE A ONE MINUTE REBUTTAL OPPORTUNITY OR IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CALL IT REBUTTAL MAYBE WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO WHAT WE SAID BEFORE.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF USING A ONE MINUTE BONUS TIME TO ADD ON TO ONE OF THEIR ANSWERS TONIGHT DURING THIS 50-MINUTE SESSION.

THIS CAN BE USED DURING THE SESSION, BUT ONLY USED ONE TIME.

QUESTIONS CONTINUE UNTIL WE ARE ABOUT 50 MINUTES INTO THE PROGRAM.

AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO CLOSING COMMENTS.

LET'S SEE, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU, SALLY, IF YOU WANT TO START WITH YOUR OPENING COMMENTS.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK FOR ALL OF YOU.

I'M SALLY BOOS.

I'M A RETIRED TEACHER HAVING TAUGHT SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR 34 YEARS IN THE BRAINERD DISTRICT.

FOR THE PAST 48 YEARS, THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA HAS BEEN OUR HOME, WHERE WE WORKED, RAISED OUR FAMILY, AND VOLUNTEERED.

I DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE AS I WAS WEARY FROM NOT HAVING REPRESENTATION IN ST. PAUL.

THE INCUMBENT HAS ESTABLISHED A PATTERN OF NOT ONLY NOT LISTENING TO HIS CONSTITUENTS, BUT ACTIVELY AVOIDING THEM, AS SEEN IN HIS REFUSAL TO ATTEND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FORUM WHICH WAS A NON-PARTISAN EVENT.

HE HAS TOLD OTHERS HE DOES NOT REPRESENT THEM AND DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK TO THEM.

THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO ME TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT, PARTICULARLY AT THE CROW WING COUNTY FAIR WHEN INDIVIDUALS WOULD STOP AT MY BOOTH AFTER ATTEMPTING TO SPEAK TO THEIR REPRESENTATIVE AT HIS.

THE INCUMBENT HAS ACTIVELY TRIED TO SUPPRESS THE RIGHTS OF MANY OF HIS CONSTITUENTS.

SINCE TAKING OFFICE, HE HAS AUTHORED AT LEAST THREE BILLS TO RESTRICT THE RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS.

HE HAS ATTEMPTED TO PAINT THE BRAINERD SCHOOL DISTRICT AS -- BY RELEASING A STATEMENT ABOUT NONPUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL SPORTS THIS BEFORE GETTING THE WHOLE STORY.

HE HAS SAID HE'S PROUD OF FACT THAT HE DID NOT SUPPORT THE HISTORIC TAX AND SPENDING BILL THAT BOTH SIDES AGREED ON.

NOT PASSING THAT BILL HAS HURT EVERYONE IN THIS DISTRICT.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FACING SHORTFALLS RESULTING IN STAFF AND PROGRAM CUTS.

SENIORS CONTINUE TO HAVE TO PAY INCOME TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD HAVE SEEN SOME TAX RELIEF AND INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX RATES WOULD HAVE DROPPED.

WORKING PARENTS LOST OUT ON CHILD CARE CREDITS, WHILE BUSINESS OWNERS LOST THE CHANCE FOR TAX CREDITS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MISSED OUT ON INCREASED IN LOCAL AID.

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HE DOES NOT COME THROUGH FOR OUR AREA.

IN THIS LAST SESSION, HE AUTHORED 24 BILLS, NOT ONE OF THEM MADE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE.

ON MAY 22ND, HE AUTHORED A BILL CALLING FOR PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT A GREAT DEAL OF WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE IN THE WANING DAYS OF THIS SESSION.

TWO QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, WAS IT A TIME WASTER TO HELP RUN OUT THE CLOCK?

AND WHOSE PRAYERS?

I WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL MY CONSTITUENTS.

OF COURSE I WON'T AGREE WITH ALL OF THEM, BUT I KNOW HOW TO LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND, NOT JUST REPLY.

>> THANK YOU, SALLY.

JOSH?

>> THANK YOU, RAY, AND THANK YOU LAKELAND PUBLIC TELEVISION FOR HOSTING THIS DEBATE.

IT'S REALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS AREA AND THE DISTRICT HAS CHANGED EVER SO SLIGHTLY, WE PICKED UP A TOWNSHIP JUST SOUTH OF MY PREVIOUS DISTRICT.

IT WAS DISTRICT 10A.

NOW IT'S DISTRICT 6B.

THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO.

THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE TO DO THAT.

MY WIFE CARRIE AND I HAVE BEEN MARRIED 23 YEARS.

WE HAVE SIX CHILDREN, RANGING IN AGE FROM 21 TO AS YOUNG AS 6, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT OF A GAP THERE.

WE LOVE THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA.

WE'RE SO BLESSED TO LIVE HERE, TO WORK HERE, TO PLAY HERE.

MY BUSINESS IS CALLED UP COUNTRY LOG.

I DO LOG WORK IN THE REGION, POST AND BEAM WORK.

NOT AS MUCH AS I USED TO.

MY LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES PULL ME AWAY A LITTLE BIT COMPARED TO PREVIOUS LIFE BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT THAT BRINGS ME TO MY WORK AS YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, WHICH I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.

I'M VERY VERY CONSCIENTIOUS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT I CARRY REPRESENTING YOU.

AND I WORK TO BE AS ACCESSIBLE AS I POSSIBLY CAN.

IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT ANY OF MY [INAUDIBLE] PIECES AND I WILL MENTION IT HERE TONIGHT, MY CELL PHONE IS ALWAYS THERE.

I ONLY HAVE ONE.

I DON'T HAVE TWO, THREE, SO I CAN HIDE.

I'M HAPPY TO GET BACK TO PEOPLE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CORRESPONDENCE.

820-JOSH, PRETTY SIMPLE.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, SERVING THIS AREA, I'VE SERVED BOTH IN THE MAJORITY FOR FOUR YEARS AND IN THE MAJORITY FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

THERE'S CERTAINLY INTERESTING TRANSITION THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO FROM BEING IN CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE, YOU CERTAINLY SHOULD TAKE THAT CRITICISM FOR BOTH WHAT HAPPENS AND DOESN'T HAPPEN AND THEN THAT TRANSITION TO BEING IN A MINORITY.

AND WHILE THERE CAN BE CRITICISM, I'M VERY PROUD THAT IN SPITE OF BEING IN THE MINORITY, I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY WORKED ON TAKING ON EXTRA RESPONSIBILITY, SERVING IN NOT JUST THE ENVIRONMENT NATURAL RESOURCES SUBJECT AREA WHERE I HAVE BEEN THE G.O.P.

LEAD FOR MY CAUCUS FOR TWO YEARS, BUT THEN ALSO GOING ON TO SERVE ON THE [INAUDIBLE] COUNCIL, SERVING ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER, SERVING IN A NUMBER OF CAPACITIES, DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE I REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT AND REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT WELL.

SO AT THAT, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

OUR FIRST QUESTION WILL BE COMING FROM HEIDI THIS EVENING.

JOSH, WE WILL DIRECT THAT TO YOU FIRST.

>> TO GIVE VOTERS A LITTLE IDEA OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR PAST, I'M LOOKING FOR AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN YOU'VE WORKED WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO SOLVE A SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND HOW YOU'VE DONE IT.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE, I WAS REALLY VERY FORTUNATE, IN FACT, SOMETHING THAT I HEARD ABOUT DOOR KNOCKING IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY COMMON FOR US AS CANDIDATES.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD FROM MY VETERANS WAS I WAS HEARING THAT MINNESOTA'S TAX ON VETERANS BENEFITS WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE, WORKED ON, NEEDED TO BE WORKED ON, IN THAT CYCLE, AND SO I TOOK THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY, THAT CHALLENGE, MAYBE, AND IMMEDIATELY WHEN I WAS THERE IN ST. PAUL FOR THE FIRST TERM WAS CARRYING THE BILL THAT FULLY EXEMPTED VETERANS PENSION FROM STATE INCOME TAXES.

I THINK WE ARE ONE OF MAYBE THREE OR FOUR STATES THAT CONTINUE TO FULLY TAX THAT, AND IN THAT, IN THAT TIMELINE, IN THAT YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR MINNESOTANS.

IN THAT SAME VEIN GOING FORWARD, I HAVE COAUTHORED LEGISLATION, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN 2023, FULLY EXEMPTING OUR SENIORS SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FROM MINNESOTA'S INCOME TAXES.

THAT'S JUST TWO EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT I HAVE WORKED ON, ONE THAT I'M STILL WORKING TOWARDS AND LOOK FORWARD TO POTENTIALLY HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT THROUGH.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

SALLY?

>> I'M A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, FOR 17 YEARS, AND WHEN I WAS IN TREATMENT, I HAD VERY GOOD INSURANCE AND A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM AND PAID SICK LEAVE, BUT MANY OTHER WOMEN DO NOT HAVE THAT, SO I HAVE BEEN A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE PINK RIBBON CUPBOARD WHICH PROVIDES HELP FOR WOMEN AND MEN IN TREATMENT, HELP PAYING THE MORTGAGE, HELP WITH GAS CARDS, GROCERIES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT IS A WONDERFUL THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEN I WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE SUSAN G. KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.

SO I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THAT SORT OF THING.

FOR 15 YEARS, I RAN THE LAKES AREA TUTORING CENTER, AND I MET WITH STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL TO HELP THEM FINISH THEIR HOMEWORK, GET ORGANIZED, AND INCREASE THEIR SKILLS.

AND THAT WAS A BIG HELP TO A LOT OF PARENTS.

>> JOSH, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

NONE?

OKAY, THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL BE COMING FROM CHELSEY, AND IT WILL BE DIRECTED TO YOU, SALLY.

>> WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN MINNESOTA?

AND WHAT CHANGES, IF ANY, WOULD YOU PURSUE BASED ON THAT POSITION?

>> PUBLIC EDUCATION IN MINNESOTA HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED FOR TWO GENERATIONS.

WE NEED TO FINALLY FULLY FUND IT.

WE NEED MORE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM, TO LOWER CLASSROOM SIZES.

WE NEED MORE SUPPORT PERSONNEL TO WORK ONE-ON-ONE TO STUDENTS TO HELP THEM MAKE UP FOR THE TIME AND SKILLS LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE NEED MORE COUNSELORS, MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS.

THE TRANSPORTATION FORMULA NEEDS TO BE REDONE BECAUSE MANY DISTRICTS, LIKE PEQUOT LAKES ARE BUSSING THEIR KIDS A LONG WAYS, AND THEY NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF MILEAGE THING ON THAT, WHEREAS THE BRAINERD DISTRICTS, A FEW OF THEM ARE A LONG WAYS, BUT MOSTLY THEY ARE PRETTY SHORT DISTANCES.

SO I THINK PARENTS NEED TO MAYBE TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND REALIZE THAT THE TEACHERS ARE WORKING EXTREMELY HARD, AND THEY ARE NOT TRYING TO INDOCTRINATE THEIR CHILDREN.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH TO BE ON A SCHOOL BOARD LATELY.

I HAVE ATTENDED SOME OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT THESE TEACHERS BELIEVE -- I MEAN, I'M SORRY WHAT THE PARENTS BELIEVE.

WE NEED MORE SUPPORT.

MONEY IS WHAT WE NEED BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HIRE MORE PEOPLE WITHOUT THE MONEY.

>> THANK YOU, SALLY.

JOSH?

>> THERE'S SOME GREAT SUCCESS STORIES AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S ALSO BAD EXAMPLES.

THERE ARE IN THOSE BAD EXAMPLES SOME LESSONS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE AWAY.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE FACING -- HOPEFULLY THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING, BUT WE ARE FACING QUITE A CHALLENGE AS A RESULT OF THE SHUTDOWNS AND LOCKDOWNS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS UNDER THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION, AND STUDENTS ARE IN A REALLY REALLY TOUGH SITUATION, AND AS WE'RE LOOKING AND SEEING EVIDENCE THAT WE'RE BEHIND, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RENEWED EFFORT IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE THERE FOR OUR KIDS -- FOR OUR KIDS, AND I THINK PART OF THAT WOULD BE A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON WHAT IS THE VERY BEST OPTION FOR PARENTS.

UNLIKE MY CHALLENGER HERE TONIGHT, I DO TRUST PARENTS.

I'M GLAD THEY ARE AT THEIR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR SCHOOL BOARDS BECAUSE SOME SCHOOLS HAVE MADE SOME MISTAKES.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS FOR THOSE PARENTS TO BE THERE AND SAY WAIT A MINUTE, TIME OUT.

WE WANT SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES HERE.

WE WANT SOME ACCOUNTABILITY.

PART OF THAT I THINK IN THAT DISCUSSION SHOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT IS THE BEST FIT FOR THEIR KIDS?

I'VE FACED SOME CRITICISM BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I CARRIE HAVE CHOSEN TO HOMESCHOOL OUR KIDS, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPTION FOR MY FAMILY.

IT'S NOT FOR EVERY FAMILY, BUT IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPTION FOR MY FAMILY.

PRIVATE EDUCATION MAY BE A GREAT FIT FOR SOME FAMILIES.

THERE'S BEEN TALK OF, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, EDUCATION CHOICE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER, AND I WOULD SUPPORT.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

SALLY?

ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> SURE, I ATTENDED PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR 12 YEARS, AND MY PARENTS NEVER EXPECTED THE STATE TO PAY FOR IT.

AND MY SENIOR YEAR, I ACTUALLY PAID MY OWN TUITION.

I HAD A JOB.

I DIDN'T EXPECT THE STATE TO PAY FOR IT.

BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR JOSH.

I'D LIKE YOU TO STATE THE MISTAKES YOU THINK SCHOOLS HAVE MADE.

>> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REBUTTAL, SO I WILL TAKE THAT.

YOU KNOW -- >> IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING -- >> NO, I'M CONFUSED WHEN A QUESTION MIGHT BE COMING FROM MY CHALLENGER.

>> OKAY.

>> I WILL TAKE MY OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.

>> SURE.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE SORT OF PREVALENT IN THIS PARTICULAR CAMPAIGN, AND THAT IS SORT OF THE TONE THAT IT'S TAKEN WITH THE ISSUES RELATIVE TO EDUCATION.

AND I'M PROUD OF MY POSITION ON EDUCATION.

YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT SCHOOLS ARE JUST SIMPLY UNDERFUNDED, AND THAT'S THE REASON FOR ANY PROBLEMS THAT FOLKS MIGHT HAVE FOUND IN EDUCATION IS QUITE HONESTLY RIDICULOUS.

IN FACT, WHEN REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL, WE'VE ALWAYS ADDED TWO AND TWO ON THE FORMULA, 2% ON THE FRONT SIDE, AND 2% ON THE BACK SIDE.

GUESS WHAT?

NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

NO REQUIREMENTS TO FORCE TEACHERS TO -- OR MANDATES TO FORCE TEACHERS TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMMING THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO USE.

JUST MONEY TO BE THERE AND TO SERVE OUR KIDS.

AND QUITE HONESTLY, I THINK IT IS ALSO RIDICULOUS TO SUGGEST THAT SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T USE PUBLIC EDUCATION, THAT THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS SHOULDN'T BE THERE FOR THEM AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

IF THEY WANT TO REDIRECT THOSE DOLLARS TOWARDS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, BY ALL MEANS, LET THAT FAMILY CHOOSE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT'S THE BEST FIT FOR THEIR KIDS.

THAT'S MY TAKE ON IT.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

>> CAN I USE 30 SECONDS OF MY EXTRA TIME?

>> YEAH -- YEP.

>> WHAT ARE THE MISTAKES SCHOOLS HAVE MADE?

YOU HAVEN'T ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

YOU STATED SCHOOLS HAVE MADE MISTAKES.

WHAT ARE THEY?

>> AT THIS POINT, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INTERESTING CROSS TABLE BACK AND FORTH, AND I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON WHAT I THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS.

IF WE GET INTO A HE SAID/SHE SAID AND SORT OF A BACK AND FORTH, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S PRODUCTIVE.

I THINK PARENTS ARE WELL POSITIONED TO RECOGNIZE WHAT MISTAKES THEY FEEL HAVE BEEN MADE AND LET THEM HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

MY OPPONENT WOULDN'T GIVE THAT TO THEM.

I WOULD.

>> I WOULD, BUT -- >> YOU WOULD SUPPORT EDUCATION CHOICE?

>> NO, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> I WOULD, I SUPPORT EDUCATION CHOICE.

>> BUT YOU HAVEN'T ANSWERED THE QUESTION.

>> I ANSWERED THEIR QUESTION, SALLY, AND THE PEOPLE OF CROW WING COUNTY, MY DISTRICT, MY CONSTITUENTS, I'M HERE TO SERVE THEM.

>> YOU VOTED AGAINST THE EDUCATION BILL LAST SESSION.

>> OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO QUESTION NUMBER 3, IF THAT'S OKAY?

DENNIS WILL BE ASKING THE QUESTION AND WILL DIRECT IT TO JOSH.

>> OKAY.

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND SHARING YOUR VIEWS ON DIFFERENT TOPICS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHAT INITIATIVES WOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR, PROPOSE IF ELECTED TO OFFICE?

>> THIS IS REALLY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND TO THIS COMMUNITY.

CROW WING COUNTY IS IN APPROXIMATELY 75% SERVICE-BASED ECONOMY.

AND WE'RE ABSOLUTELY DEPENDENT UPON OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO THRIVE AND TO GROW.

AND THERE'S SO MANY AREAS WHERE WE COULD FOCUS, BUT RIGHT NOW, MINNESOTA HAS APPROXIMATELY 9 BILLION DOLLARS SURPLUS.

AND THE WAY TO WORK TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT YOU SUPPORT MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY IS MAKING SURE THAT JOB PROVIDERS HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESSES OPEN, LOCKDOWNS AND SHUTDOWNS FROM THIS WALZ ADMINISTRATION HAVE DEVASTATED, DEVASTATED OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

AND WHILE IN ST. PAUL THE LAST TWO YEARS, I VOTED 21 TIMES TO END THE SHUTDOWN, AND NOT ONCE DID MY FRIENDS ACROSS THE AISLE COME AND JOIN WITH REPUBLICANS TO END THAT, TO END THE LOCKDOWNS.

YOU LOOK ACROSS THE BORDER, IN STATES TO OUR EAST AND WEST AND SOUTH, THEY HANDLED THIS DIFFERENTLY, AND THEIR RESULTS WERE FAR LESS IMPACTFUL, NEGATIVELY IMPACTFUL ON THEIR BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT ALLOWING A ROGUE ADMINISTRATION TO EVER AGAIN TAKE MINNESOTA'S BUSINESSES DOWN THAT DESTRUCTIVE PATH.

WORKING TOWARDS TAX CUTS AND THE USE OF THAT 9 BILLION DOLLARS POTENTIALLY TO RETURN IT BACK TO THOSE THAT WERE OVERTAXED SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN THAT SUBJECT AREA.

MAKING SURE THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, BUSINESSES -- STATEWIDE BUSINESS PROPERTY TAXES ARE CUT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM ELIMINATED.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE COMING INTO 2023 TO MAKE SURE THAT MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY IS SHORED UP AND STRONG GOING FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

SALLY?

>> I THOUGHT THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT ECONOMIC GROWTH, FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED STRONG SCHOOLS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE DAYCARE CRISIS.

IN MY DOOR KNOCKING, I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL DAYCARE PEOPLE, AND THERE'S A REAL CRISIS.

WORKERS CAN'T FIND DAYCARE, SO THEY CAN'T GO TO WORK.

IF THEY CAN'T GO TO WORK, THEN THE INDUSTRIES DON'T HAVE THE WORKERS.

SO WE DO HAVE THIS WONDERFUL SURPLUS.

LET'S USE IT.

LET'S USE IT TO SOLVE THE DAYCARE CRISIS, GET MORE CENTERS OUT THERE, GET MORE HOME CENTERS.

THERE WAS SOMETHING I BELIEVE IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO PEOPLE TO FENCE IN THEIR YARDS AND TO -- [INAUDIBLE].

PERSONALLY I THINK CHILD CARE SHOULD BE PART OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

AT 3 YEARS, THEY GO INTO THIS, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE TREATED LIKE A BUSINESS.

IT SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE AN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS.

>> THANK YOU, SALLY.

JOSH, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M GLAD THAT MY OPPONENT BROUGHT UP THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE FACING IN CHILD CARE.

TEN YEARS AGO, CROW WING COUNTY HAD TWICE THE CHILD CARE CAPACITY THAT IT DOES TODAY.

WHAT CHANGED?

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA STEPPED IN AND REGULATION AFTER RULE AFTER RULE AFTER RULE WAS INTRODUCED, AND AS I'M VISITING WITH CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, WHICH FOR THE MOST PART, A LARGE PORTION OF THOSE IN CROW WING COUNTY ARE MOMS AND POPS, GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS, WE LOST THAT, AND I WILL USE THEIR WORDS, BECAUSE WE TOOK THE JOY OUT OF CHILD CARE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND THE LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES KICKED IN, SO THAT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

I'M GLAD THAT WE GET TO DISCUSS THAT TONIGHT.

GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY IN THOSE SCENARIOS AND MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE CARE FOR EACH OTHER IN SOME CASES, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS THAT FACE MINNESOTANS IN CROW WING COUNTY.

>> YOU HAVE A MINUTE.

>> YES.

THESE REGULATIONS ARE THERE TO PROTECT KIDS AND TO MAKE THE CENTERS AND HOMES SAFE FOR KIDS.

SURELY, YOU ARE NOT SUGGESTING REDUCING THOSE TYPES OF REGULATIONS.

>> -- [INAUDIBLE] GRANDPARENTS ARE A GREAT FIT.

>> YEAH, I'M A GRANDPARENT, BUT I WANT MY GRAND KIDS TO BE SAFE.

I THINK HOMES NEED TO BE SAFE.

THEY NEED TO BE REGULATED.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DANGERS IN HOMES.

IT'S FOR THE SAFETY OF THE KIDS.

>> THANK YOU.

NEXT QUESTION IS COMING FROM HEIDI, AND IT WILL BE DIRECTED TO YOU, SALLY.

>> MINNESOTA HAS BEEN NUMBER ONE IN VOTER TURNOUT FOR MANY YEARS.

THERE IS A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES AND AUDITS ALREADY IN PLACE.

IF YOU WIN, IF YOU LOSE, WILL YOU TRUST THE OUTCOME OF THIS YEAR'S ELECTION?

DO YOU TRUST THE SYSTEM?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S NEVER BEEN A HINT OF FRAUD IN MINNESOTA.

THEY ARE VERY SAFE AND SECURE ELECTIONS.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, I ATTENDED LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTATION BY DEB ERICKSON WHERE SHE WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCEDURE FOR ALL KINDS OF VOTING, AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THE MACHINES AND TESTING THEM, THE TABULATION MACHINES, THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET IN ANY WAY.

IT IS VERY RIGOROUS TESTING.

THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT NEXT WEEK.

I WOULD INVITE JOSH TO JOIN ME THERE BECAUSE I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE SAFE AND SECURE.

>> THANK YOU.

JOSH?

>> THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION.

AND IN SOME WAYS, THERE ARE SOME GREAT FOLKS THAT WORK IN ELECTIONS AROUND THE STATE, AND I COMMEND THEM.

THERE'S ALSO SOME PROBLEMS.

AND THAT'S WHY I COAUTHORED THE ELECTION INTEGRITY ACT.

IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GOOGLE THAT AND LOOK AT IT AND SEE SOME OF THE PROVISIONS THERE, I THINK IT WOULD HELP YOU UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE.

WE DO NEED AN ID VERIFICATION.

WE DO NEED PROVISIONAL BALLOTS.

WHEN AN ENVELOPE COMES TO THE OFFICE, AND LET'S SAY, IT IS EARLY VOTING, COMES IN THROUGH THE MAIL, AND THAT ENVELOPE IS OPENED, THAT'S A LIVE BALLOT.

THERE'S NO WAY TO RECONNECT THAT BALLOT TO THAT INDIVIDUAL.

THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE VOTE.

AND WE CAN ALSO PROTECT ACCESS AT THE SAME TIME.

THERE'S THOSE THAT HAVE SUGGESTED YOU CAN'T DO BOTH, AND I WOULD DISAGREE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF STATES AROUND US THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING THAT KIND OF LEGISLATION FORWARD.

MY OWN PERSONAL EXAMPLE OF SEEING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM IS WHILE DOOR KNOCKING, IT'S ASTONISHING FROM TIME TO TIME, YOU GO INTO A NEW DEVELOPMENT, AND I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS, SO I CAN SPEAK FIRST-HAND.

YOUR LIST IS GENERATED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE, SO THIS IS COMING FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

YOU GET AN ADDRESS.

AND I'VE BEEN TO A LOCATION.

THERE'S NO HOUSE.

THERE'S NOBODY THERE.

BUT THERE'S SIX VOTERS.

I KNOW THERE ARE CASES.

IS IT RARE?

IN MOST PLACES, PROBABLY YES BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.

I THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL TOGETHER WORK TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE ABSOLUTELY 100% SECURE AND ACCESSIBLE.

>> SALLY, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> YES.

THOSE ENVELOPES ARE NOT OPENED UNTIL THEY'RE PUT INTO THE TABULATING MACHINE, AND THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE, ELECTION JUDGES THERE, SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

VOTER ID IS A WONDERFUL IDEA, EXCEPT IT ELIMINATES A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE MY 97-YEAR-OLD MOTHER HAS VOTED IN THE SAME PLACE FOR 50 YEARS.

SO SHOULD SHE HAVE TO GO SOMEPLACE AND GET AN ID NOW BECAUSE YOU WANT HER TO DO THAT?

I THINK IT JUST DISENFRANCHISES A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND IT WOULD BE CUMBERSOME AND EXPENSIVE TO DO, AND PROVISIONAL BALLOTS JUST SEEMS LIKE ANOTHER WAY TO DISENFRANCHISE PEOPLE.

>> JOSH, ANY ADDITIONAL?

>> SURE, I WOULD LOVE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT PROVISIONAL BALLOTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE SAME DAY REGISTRATION CURRENTLY IN MINNESOTA WHICH IN MOST CASES I THINK PEOPLE WOULD AGREE THAT THAT'S A GREAT OPTION FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO VOTE.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT BALLOT, AS SOON AS IT IS PROCESSED, THERE'S NO VERIFICATION ONCE THAT BALLOT HAS BEEN FILLED OUT.

IT GOES INTO THE TABULATOR.

IT'S GONE.

AND THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE CONCERNED, AND THERE MAY BE SOME EVIDENCE THAT BEARS THIS OUT, THAT FOLKS MIGHT VOTE MULTIPLE TIMES AND GO FROM PRECINCT TO PRECINCT.

IS IT RARE?

I HOPE SO.

BUT IF IT ISN'T A CONCERN, YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE AGREEMENT AMONGST REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

LET'S MAKE A SAME DAY REGISTRATION.

MAKE THAT BALLOT PROVISIONAL.

THE ADDRESS IS VERIFIED BEFORE IT'S LIVE AND GOES INTO THE TABULATOR.

>> THANK YOU.

THE NEXT QUESTION IS COMING FROM CHELSEY AND WILL BE DIRECTED TO JOSH.

>> MANY RURAL MINNESOTANS IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTHCARE MUST WAIT WEEKS OR EVEN MONTHS FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PROVIDER, AND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH BEDS IN FACILITIES.

IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU SUPPORT EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE TO MEET GROWING NEEDS?

>> A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA PROBABLY REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD A STATE HOSPITAL.

THAT'S GONE NOW.

AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY WHY.

WHAT IT GOES BACK TO IS 1999, THE DECISION, IT IS A SUPREME COURT DECISION, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GO THROUGH AND READ THAT, I THINK YOU MIGHT FIND IT REALLY INTERESTING, IF THIS IS A SUBJECT AREA YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

I WASN'T AWARE OF IT UNTIL QUESTIONS LIKE THIS CAME, AND I STARTED TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN MINNESOTA?

WHY IS IT WHEN SOMEBODY IS IN CRISIS, THEY BASICALLY HAVE THREE OPTIONS?

A HOSPITAL BED, A JAIL CELL, OR TRANSPORTED OUT OF STATE.

WHY ARE WE TRANSPORTING PEOPLE OUT OF STATE?

WHAT I FOUND OUT IS THAT NOT EVERY STATE LOOKED AT THAT DECISION THE SAME WAY AND INTERPRETED IT THE SAME WAY.

AND I THINK MINNESOTA NEEDS TO LOOK AT THAT MORE CLOSELY.

MINNESOTA'S LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO REVISIT THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE DISMEMBERING OUR STATE HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO PUT THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DIRE SITUATIONS INTO A HOSPITAL BED.

THAT'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD FIT, AND JAIL CERTAINLY ISN'T.

SO THERE ARE CASES WHERE WE PROBABLY SHOULD LOOK TO TRY TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS ANOTHER OPTION FOR THOSE PEOPLE, AND I THINK IT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

NOW, THE DECISION DID DO SOME REALLY REALLY GOOD THINGS.

THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE INSTITUTIONALIZED THAT NEEDED TO BE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF FOLKS THAT BENEFIT FROM THAT, AND INSTITUTIONS WERE NOT A FIT FOR THEM.

SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT STARTING POINT FOR THAT CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

SALLY?

>> THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WE NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH BEDS AND MORE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS.

I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY TODAY ABOUT THIS RULE 25.

YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS RULE IN ORDER TO GET DIAGNOSED AS CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT OR MENTALLY ILL, AND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH COUNSELORS AROUND.

WE NEED TO RECRUIT MORE AND EXPAND THESE PROGRAMS SO THAT THEY DON'T -- THESE INDIVIDUALS DON'T END UP IN JAIL OR HAVING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND LOSING THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE SOMETHING TO CAUSE THE POLICE TO SHOOT THEM.

IT'S -- WE HAVE THE SURPLUS.

LET'S USE IT FOR SOME GOOD.

>> THANK YOU, SALLY.

JOSH, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THAT QUESTION?

>> NO, I THINK WE COVERED IT.

>> YOU COVERED IT.

OKAY.

SALLY, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

OKAY.

OUR NEXT QUESTION IS COMING FROM DENNIS.

IT WILL BE DIRECTED AT YOU, SALLY.

>> MANY ARE CONCERNED WITH INCREASED GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WHAT LEGISLATION, IF ANY, WOULD YOU SUPPORT TO HELP REVERSE THIS CURRENT TREND AND RESPOND TO THE NEED FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO GET SOME GUNS OFF THE STREET AND MAYBE MAKE IT A LITTLE LESS EASY TO OWN A GUN AND TO CARRY A GUN.

I KNOW THAT JOSH HAS INTRODUCED A BILL FOR CARRY WITH NO PERMIT.

NO, I THINK THE PERMITS NEED TO BE A LITTLE HARDER TO GET, AND THE MANUFACTURERS NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS WITH ONE OF THEIR ITEMS.

>> JOSH?

>> YEAH, THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT QUESTION, AND THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE COVERED, DENNIS.

NUMBER ONE, LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS SHOULDN'T BE TARGETED WITH LEFTIST AGENDAS LOOKING TO CONFISCATE THEIR WEAPONS OR TAKE THEIR WEAPONINGSES AWAY -- TAKE THEIR WEAPONS AWAY.

THEY SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR RIGHTS AS AN UPSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

MY OPPONENT IS AGAINST THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

MANY OPPONENT IS WORKING TOWARDS THAT MAKING SURE THAT LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS ARE TARGETED -- EXCUSE ME -- ARE TARGETED IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF GUN GRABBING ORGANIZATIONS EFFORTS TO DRAFT AND BRING LEGISLATION FORWARD.

I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

I'M PROUDLY ENDORSED BY THE NRA, HAVE AN A RATING.

I'M ALSO ENDORSED BY MINNESOTA GUN OWNERS.

THESE GROUPS ARE FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS.

I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO BE THERE STANDING AND FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS AS WELL AS YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.

AS IT RELATES TO MAKING SURE WE'RE TOUGH ON CRIME, THE OTHER HALF OF THE QUESTION, WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN A DERELICTION OF DUTY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION AND DEMOCRATS RUNNING THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, STARTING WITH MELISSA HORTMAN ON DOWN.

WE'VE HAD OPPORTUNITY AFTER OPPORTUNITY.

WE'VE DRAFTED BILL AFTER BILL AND WORKED TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT WE SUPPORT POLICE, SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE PROGRAMS AND LEGISLATION TO KEEP CRIMINALS, VIOLENT CRIMINALS LOCKED UP.

LET'S NOT TARGET GUN OWNERS, LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS WITH THESE KINDS OF NONSENSE BILLS AND LEGISLATION THAT TAKES AWAY THEIR RIGHTS.

LET'S GO AFTER CRIMINALS.

>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THERE, SALLY?

>> IF THEY ARE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS, THEN THEY SHOULDN'T MIND A DEEP BACKGROUND CHECK, RED FLAG LAWS, OR HAVING A NICE PERMIT INSTEAD OF WALKING AROUND WITH A GUN ON THEIR HIP WITH NO PERMIT.

AND THAT VOCABULARY IS INTERESTING, LEFTIST AGENDA.

GUN SAFETY AND SOCIETY'S SAFETY IS NOT A LEFTIST OR RIGHTIST THING.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE NEED TO PROVIDE FOR OUR CITIZENS.

>> THANK YOU, SALLY.

JOSH, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> YES, FIRST, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR BEING A LITTLE FLUSTERED OVER THIS QUESTION.

IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING, BECAUSE IT IS A LEFTIST AGENDA, AND FOLKS ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DISARM LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS, AND I THINK IT IS WRONG.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY CLEAR ON THAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY OPPONENT AND MYSELF.

I WILL BE THERE DEFENDING YOUR RIGHT AS A LAW-ABIDING MINNESOTAN, AND THIS IDEA OF A RED FLAG LAW, SOLVING SOME KIND OF A PROBLEM?

I'M SORRY, BUT FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS CALLING IN AND ON A QUOTE UNQUOTE TIP LINE TO TURN EACH OTHER IN?

I THINK THE LESSONS OF THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE PROVEN THAT THOSE KIND OF TACTICS ARE NOT HELPING PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER ON AN ISSUE AND SOLVE PROBLEMS.

I THINK THAT IT'S ALSO RIDICULOUS TO SUGGEST THAT WE DON'T HAVE A RIGOROUS BACKGROUND CHECK ALREADY IN PLACE.

THAT'S THERE.

I'M NOT SURE THE LAST TIME MY OPPONENT WENT AND BOUGHT A FIREARM, BUT I JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT A SHOTGUN FOR MY DAUGHTER, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTICE, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY THAT PROCESS IN PLACE, CONFIRMING AND GOING THROUGH MY BACKGROUND, ALLOWING ME TO PURCHASE THAT FIREARM FOR HER TO USE.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

OUR NEXT QUESTION IS COMING FROM HEIDI, AND IT WILL BE DIRECTED TO YOU, JOSH.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

IN MINNESOTA, THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

WHAT'S THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COMES TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FOR WOMEN?

>> THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE REVERSAL OF ROE V --.

I WANT TO START BY SAYING HOW THANKFUL I AM THAT MINNESOTANS ARE NOW BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

A GROUP OF UNELECTED JUDGES 49 -- 49 YEARS AGO MADE THAT DECISION FOR THE PEOPLE OF UNITED STATES.

SINCE THAT TIME -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET THIS RIGHT -- WE HAVE SEEN OVER 60 MILLION ABORTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY.

I THINK THAT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN YOU HEAR QUESTIONS LIKE THIS ASKED OF CANDIDATES, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I INVITE IT, KEEP IN MIND AS A VOTER, DON'T BE CONFUSED.

MINNESOTA IS ONE OF THOSE STATES THAT HAS A SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT YOU ALSO NEED TO BE CONSIDERING, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTICE THAT THAT SUPREME COURT CASE DOE V. GOMEZ IS THERE, AND IT ISN'T AS THOUGH MINNESOTA IS RIGHT THERE READY TO BECOME A PRO-LIFE STATE THE WAY SOME FOLKS ARE ARTICULATING IT.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS FEWER ABORTIONS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT WILL STAND WITH US AND THAT WILL LOOK TOWARDS PRESERVING HUMAN LIFE AND WORK TOWARDS THAT GOAL OF FEWER ABORTIONS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND WITH THAT GOVERNOR AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS BOTH WOMEN AND BABIES.

AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE CONTROVERSIAL TO SAY, BUT I'M THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

SALLY?

>> SINCE IT IS A CONSTITUTIONALLY SUPPORTED PROTECTED RIGHT, THEN THERE IS NO ROLE FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S A DONE DEAL.

THEY SHOULD NOT WASTE THEIR TIME ON IT.

THAT BEING SAID, WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ARE VERY MUCH ON THE BALLOT.

WE KNOW THAT IF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GAINS CONTROL OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THAT WILL BE THE TOP OF THEIR AGENDA.

THEY WILL HAVE TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AS AN AMENDMENT, BUT THEY WILL TRY TO DO THAT, JUST AS THEY TRIED TO DO THAT WITH MARRIAGE EQUALITY A FEW YEARS AGO.

AND I'VE SEEN THE MEMO THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP PUT OUT SAYING DOWN PLAY OUR ROLE, DOWN PLAY TALKING ABOUT ABORTION, BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO FOOL THE VOTERS INTO THINKING IT IS NOT ON THE BALLOT.

BUT IT VERY MUCH IS.

>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THERE, JOSH?

>> YEAH, THANK YOU, RAY.

FOR THE RECORD, THERE'S NO MEMO.

I'M HAPPY TO LET YOU KNOW I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY SUCH MEMO.

BUT IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT IT IS ON THE BALLOT.

IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

PEOPLE GET TO CHOOSE WHO DO YOU WANT TO REPRESENT YOU?

DO YOU WANT SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO PROTECT LIFE FROM CONCEPTION TO NATURAL DEATH?

OR DO YOU WANT SOMEONE THAT IS GOING TO STAND THERE IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY AND REPRESENT THOSE VALUES?

THERE MAY BE SOME QUESTION AMONGST A FEW AS TO WHETHER MINNESOTANS AGREE, DISAGREE ON THIS ISSUE, BUT THE TRUTH IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, OVER 70% OF MINNESOTANS SUPPORT SOME EFFORT TO TRY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS.

THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT, I ASSURE YOU, ARE ARDENTLY PRO-LIFE.

THEY CARE ABOUT CHILDREN FROM CONCEPTION AND ONCE BORN TO NATURAL DEATH.

>> SALLY, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> YES, I THINK IF THE REPRESENTATIVE REALLY CARED ABOUT CHILDREN, HE WOULD BE VOTING FOR MORE BILLS THAT HELP SUPPORT THEM.

THIS PAST SESSION YOU VOTED -- I'M SORRY, YOU VOTED AGAINST BILLS FOR SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR KIDS, EDUCATION FUNDING, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUNDING, EVEN PAY FOR FRONT LINE WORKERS.

IT'S EASY TO SAY YOU ARE PRO-LIFE, BUT LET'S SHOW THAT YOU SUPPORT THAT LIFE.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION IS COMING FROM CHELSEY.

THAT WILL BE DIRECTED TO YOU, SALLY.

>> LAST SESSION A CONTROVERSIAL AND SURPRISING OUTCOME FROM THE LEGISLATURE INCLUDED LEGALIZATION OF THC EDIBLES.

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN MINNESOTA?

>> I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE LEGALIZED.

THAT'S IT.

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS A QUESTION THAT'S ABSOLUTELY GOT TO BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY.

THE MISTAKE THAT WAS MADE -- AND I WILL GO WITH THE IDEA THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THIS CONVERSATION -- IS REALLY A TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE THING THAT HAS HAPPENED, AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE WORKING TOWARDS TAKING DRUGS OFF THE STREET, IN THIS CASE, WE PUT DRUGS IN WHAT CAN BE IN MANY CASES LOOK LIKE CANDY AND OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT CHILDREN COULD BE ACCESSING, WHICH WOULD BE HORRIBLE, BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE AT STAKE IS OKAY, NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW THAT THESE GUMMIES ARE ON A TECHNICALITY LEGAL?

AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ROLLED BACK.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT GO AWAY.

NOW, IF WE ARE GOING TO GO AND TALK ABOUT THE LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL USE MARIJUANA, ANOTHER PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, I'M ARDENTLY AGAINST THAT.

AND PART OF THE REASON IS I HAVE HAD FAMILIES ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS IN MY OFFICE WHOSE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE EITHER IN TREATMENT, IT WAS A GATEWAY DRUG FOR THEM, MARIJUANA, OR FAMILIES WHOSE LOVED ONES HAVE BEEN HURT OR EVEN KILLED ON MINNESOTA ROADS BECAUSE OF A DRIVER WHO WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE O MARIJUANA.

-- INFLUENCE OF MARIJUANA.

IT IS REALLY A DIFFICULT THING TO POLICE ON THE HIGHWAYS.

IT OPENS UP A DOOR THAT I DON'T THINK NEEDS TO BE OPENED.

MEDICAL USE, ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER PIECE OF THIS, AND I DO SUPPORT MEDICAL USE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE BENEFITTING FROM THAT.

BUT OPENING IT UP FOR A FREE FOR ALL WITHOUT VERY CAREFUL DELIBERATE CONSIDERATION WOULD BE A HUGE MISTAKE.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

SALLY, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> YES, THE MISTAKE YOU SAY HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T READ THE BILL.

ISN'T THAT YOUR JOB?

>> YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO RESPOND.

SALLY, I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THAT BILL.

>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

JOSH?

>> NO, IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY A TERRIBLE SLIP OF I THINK A LOT OF WELL-MEANING PEOPLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FIXED, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS REVERSED.

>> THANK YOU.

DENNIS HAS THE NEXT QUESTION, AND IT WILL BE DIRECTED TO JOSH.

>> WE ASK OUR VIEWERS TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS FOR THESE DEBATES, AND WE TRY TO MIX THEM IN THROUGHOUT ALL THE DEBATES.

I'VE GOT A LENGTHY ONE HERE REGARDING AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES.

QUESTION READS OUR LAKES ARE CHANGING ACROSS MINNESOTA.

WHAT ANGLERS ARE FISHING FOR MAY ALSO BE CHANGING.

LAKES THAT HAVE BEEN WALLEYE FACTORIES ARE LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO SUPPORT WALLEYE AND BECOMING MORE VEGETATED AND MORE DOMINATE BY BASS, ETC.

RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT WALLEYES IN MINNESOTA LAKES INFESTED WITH ZEBRA MUSSELS AND SPYNY WATER FLEES WERE 12 TO 14 PERCENT SMALLER AFTER THEIR FIRST SUMMER.

THIS HAS IMPACTED THE WALLEYE POPULATION IN OUR LAKES.

HERE'S THE QUESTION, AS A MINNESOTA STATE SENATOR, DO YOU SUPPORT STATE FUNDING FOR THE PREVENTION OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES LIKE [INAUDIBLE] AND OTHER INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANTS?

>> WHAT A HUGE IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE LAKES AREA, AND I'M HAPPY TO TELL MY CONSTITUENTS THAT ABSOLUTELY I HAVE WORKED TOWARDS THAT AND VOTED FOR FUNDING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE RESEARCH ONGOING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, AND BOOTS ON THE GROUND MONEY AS WELL.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE DNR OVERSAW -- HAD THE OVERSIGHT IN THIS AREA WITH THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND FOLKS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, BOAT ACCESSES AND SUCH, BUT OVER TIME, IT MADE MORE SENSE TO TRANSITION THAT TO COUNTIES AND GIVE THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO HIRE PEOPLE AND WORK WITH LOCAL FOLKS TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT ISSUE, BECAUSE PREVENTION IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE PART OF THAT UNTIL THE SCIENCE CATCHES UP, AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.

I'VE MENTIONED SOME OF MY COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, AND WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL, AND I LOT LOVE THAT WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES -- I LOVE THAT WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO DIRECT DOLLARS TOWARDS RESEARCH AND THEN ALSO AT THE LCCMR.

WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD THERE TO MAKE SURE DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH AT THE AQUATIC INVASIVE RESEARCH CENTER.

SO WORKING TOWARDS THOSE GOALS TOGETHER HAS BEEN A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

EVERYBODY AGREES THIS IS A SUPER IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA IS KIND OF THE FRONT LINE ON THAT EDGE, WHERE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO PREVENT AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES FROM COMING INTO OUR LAKES, STREAM, AND RIVERS, BUT THEN ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE THERE READY WITH A SPOT TREATMENT, IF WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM.

SO I'M PROUD OF THAT WORK.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO RESPOND TO THOSE ISSUES.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

SALLY?

>> ACTUALLY THIS IS SOMETHING WE ACTUALLY AGREE ON.

I APPLAUD YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR EFFORTS.

WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS.

WE NEED TO STOP IT.

WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR LAKES.

SO KEEP UP -- YOU WON'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO KEEP UP THE WORK, BUT I WILL DO IT.

>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, JOSH?

>> NO, I THINK THAT THERE'S PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING ON THAT HAS BEEN BRIEFLY COVERED.

>> SALLY, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> NO.

>> OKAY.

OUR NEXT QUESTION IS COMING FROM HEIDI, AND IT WILL BE DIRECTED TO YOU, SALLY.

>> WHAT COULD YOU DO AS THE NEXT MINNESOTA LEGISLATOR FROM THIS DISTRICT TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING?

>> AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S HAMPERING US.

IT IS KEEPING INDUSTRIES OUT.

IT IS KEEPING PEOPLE FROM JOINING THE WORKFORCE.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THIS.

I'M GOING TO ADMIT THAT.

THIS IS SOMETHING I NEED TO STUDY AND LEARN ABOUT, BUT WE NEED TO MAYBE SUBSIDIZE MORTGAGE LENDERS OR SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO ADMIT I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THIS, BUT THIS IS A CRISIS THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE, AND WE HAVE THE MONEY, AND I'M SURE WE CAN COME UP WITH IDEAS, AND WE HAVE THE WILL TO DO IT.

SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO ALL WORK TOGETHER.

>> JOSH?

>> YEAH, HEIDI, TALKING TO CONTRACTORS IN THE AREA, AND BEING A CONTRACTOR MYSELF, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS HOUSING AROUND MINNESOTA.

IT IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT'S IN ONE PLACE.

STATEWIDE THERE'S A NEED FOR HOUSING, AND IT'S AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS, NOT JUST LOW INCOME, NOT JUST MIDDLE INCOME.

WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S CRITICAL IS HAVING THE REGULATORY CLIMATE IN A POSITION THAT PEOPLE -- BUILDERS WHO ARE TRYING TO BUILD IN, SAY, THE LAKES AREA, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE SUPPORTED AS OPPOSED TO HAMPERED IN THEIR EFFORT TO DEVELOP PROPERTIES.

SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF NOT ON PEOPLE'S RADAR IS THE AMOUNT OF STATE LAND ACROSS MINNESOTA, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, AND STEVE GREEN, REPRESENTATIVE STEVE GREEN WHO IS RUNNING FOR THE SENATE IS A GUY WHO HAS REALLY BROUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE.

WHEN PROPERTY DOES COME AVAILABLE, AND THERE ARE EXAMPLES UNFORTUNATELY WHERE FOLKS IN I THINK VERY WELL-MEANING CAPACITY, HAVE WORKED TO TRY AND BUY UP SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES, AND THEY'RE NOT THERE AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND FOR NEW HOUSING TO BE PRODUCED.

AND SO THAT'S A SMALL PART OF THIS, BUT A PIECE OF THIS AS WELL.

BUT THE REGULATORY CLIMATE ALONG WITH SUPPORT FOR THE INDUSTRY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE THERE AS A STATE SUPPORTING THAT EFFORT AS OPPOSED TO STANDING IN THE WAY, THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DID DO THAT ACTUALLY IS HERE AGAIN ANOTHER SMALL EFFORT, BUT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THERE WAS A GROUP CALLED [INAUDIBLE] WATERSHED DISTRICT HERE IN CROW WING COUNTY.

IT STARTED OUT REALLY WELL, BUT OVER TIME, IT STOOD IN THE WAY OF THOSE KINDS OF PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD WITH OVERBURDEN OF REGULATIONS.

I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF WORKING TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT THAT DIDN'T CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IN CROW WING.

PEOPLE CAN GOOGLE IT TO LEARN MORE.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, SALLY?

>> NO.

>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, JOSH?

OKAY.

WE HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

IT IS COMING FROM CHELSEY AND WILL BE DIRECTED TO JOSH.

>> IF YOU COULD ONLY CHANGE ONE THING THAT YOU THINK IS WRONG WITH STATE GOVERNMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE, AND WHY?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALMOST AN UNFAIR QUESTION.

WE COME TO THE LEGISLATURE WITH SO MANY EXPECTATIONS, AND YOU'RE TRYING AS BEST YOU CAN TO RESPOND TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR NUMBER ONE CONCERN, SO RIGHT NOW AT THE MOMENT, I WILL JUST ANSWER IT IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW IN MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY COMES TO MIND FIRST AND FOREMOST.

INFLATION IS OFF THE CHARTS.

PRICE OF GAS IS SOMETHING THAT HORRIBLY AFFECTS GREATER MINNESOTA COMPARED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

CALIFORNIA CARS IS A MANDATE COMING FROM THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION, AND IT'S GOING TO BE FORCING YOU OVER THE NEXT 12 YEARS, 2035, IS WHERE WE WILL INDEX WITH CALIFORNIA AND BECOME A STATE THAT NO LONGER ALLOWS FOLKS TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP AND BUY AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION POWERED VEHICLE.

THAT ISN'T JUST PASSENGER CARS.

THAT'S ALL THE WAY FROM A PASSENGER CAR TO TRUCKS THAT WE USE EVERY DAY.

THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING UNDER THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION AND IMPACTING MINNESOTA FAMILIES.

IF I COULD WORK ON ONE THING, ONE SUBJECT AREA, I'D CERTAINLY WANT TO FOCUS IN ON AN AREA WHERE I'M HEARING THE MOST FROM THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT.

THAT'S WHERE I PLAN ON SPENDING MOST OF MY TIME IN THE COMING SESSION, WORKING TOWARDS MAKING SURE MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY IS SUPPORTED.

I'M GOING TO ADD TO THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS I MY ARE MISSING IN THAT CONVERSATION -- THERE'S SOME THINGS I THINK ARE MISSING IN THAT CONVERSATION, ONE OF THEM BEING, WE ARE IN A BIT OF A BUBBLE RIGHT NOW.

OVER THESE LAST TWO YEARS WITH THE LOCKDOWNS AND SHUTDOWNS COMING FROM ST. PAUL AND DEMOCRATS, WE'VE HAD 80 BILLION DOLLARS -- I ALMOST SAID 30 -- IT WAS 80 BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL MONEY SPENT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS SURPLUS.

SPENDING IT FRIVOLOUSLY NOT THE ANSWER.

TAX CUTS, SUPPORTING MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THE LAKES AREA, THAT'S HOW WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AND GOING FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

SALLY?

>> THE QUESTION WAS WHAT WOULD I CHANGE ABOUT STATE GOVERNMENT?

I THINK TIME MANAGEMENT.

I BELIEVE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS 120 DAYS; IS THAT CORRECT?

AND A LOT OF THOSE DAYS ARE JUST WASTED.

I MEAN, ALL LEGISLATORS, THEY PROPOSE FRIVOLOUS BILLS THEY KNOW ARE NEVER GOING TO GET OUT OF COMMITTEE, AND THEN WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE LAST WEEK, THEY ARE WORKING REALLY HARD AND OFTEN TIMES THE JOB DOESN'T GET DONE LIKE THIS LAST SESSION.

SO THEY NEED TO LOOK AT THEMSELVES VERY CLOSELY AND SAY, HOW CAN WE BE MORE EFFICIENT?

>> THANK YOU, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THERE, JOSH?

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU COULD DO ONE THING, I THINK YOU'D WISH TO BE ABLE TO FIX EVERYTHING.

BUT YOU CAN'T, AND SO YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN, AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD POINT OUT, OVER THE LAST YEAR, THERE WAS SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP MINNESOTANS, SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK ON PUBLIC SAFETY, MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY, GET A ROBUST GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE BILL FOR MINNESOTANS, AND DEMOCRATS RUNNING THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STARTING AGAIN WITH MELISSA HORTMAN COULDN'T FIND AGREEMENT.

THEY REFUSED TO NEGOTIATE, AND IN THE END, YOU GET NOTHING WHEN PEOPLE WILL NOT COME TO THE TABLE.

AND WHEN YOU LOAD UP BILLS WITH PROVISIONS THAT ABSOLUTELY CANNOT BE SUPPORTED, AND THE OTHER SIDE KNOWS IT, YOU DO WIND UP WITH GRIDLOCK, AND YOU DO WIND UP WITH SOME THINGS THAT ARE MISSED.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE THINGS FINISHED UP AND DONE IN 2023.

>> SALLY -- >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE CLEAN CAR RULE.

IT IS DESIGNED TO CLEAN OUR AIR AND TO SAVE DRIVERS MONEY BY INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY, AND YES, IT WANTS TO PROMOTE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, BUT THERE'S A MARKET-DRIVEN THING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

WHY WOULDN'T YOU SUPPORT CLEAN AIR?

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

I MEAN, OUR PLANET IS DYING.

AND THIS IS A SMALL STEP TOWARDS SAVING IT.

WHY WOULDN'T YOU SUPPORT THAT?

>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, RAY, THANK YOU.

>> UH-HUH.

>> MY OPPONENT IS UNINFORMED.

SO OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE WATCHED THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION PUSH CALIFORNIA'S EMISSIONS STANDARDS, WHICH IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, YOU ONLY HAVE TWO OPTIONS.

YOU CAN HAVE THE FEDERAL STANDARD, OR YOU CAN HAVE CALIFORNIA'S STANDARD.

INSTEAD OF BRINGING CALIFORNIA'S EMISSIONS STANDARD THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE FOR A VOTE, THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION KNEW THEY COULDN'T DO THAT, SO WHAT THEY DID IS THEY WORKED THROUGH MPCA'S RULE-MAKING PROCESS TO FORCE CALIFORNIA'S EMISSIONS STANDARDS ON ALL OF MINNESOTANS.

THOSE STANDARDS ARE NOT ONLY MAKING THE COST OF VEHICLES GO HIGHER, BUT THEY ARE ALSO AUTOMATICALLY INDEXING WHAT CALIFORNIA'S RECENT DECISION TO GO COMPLETELY ELECTRIC VEHICLE BY 2035.

THIS IS LUNACY AND A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT GONE AWRY AND AN ADMINISTRATION THAT NEEDS TO GO.

>> OKAY.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR QUESTIONING.

>> I DON'T GET A REBUTTAL?

>> YOU CAN USE YOUR FULL MINUTE.

>> I WOULD SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HELP SAVE US.

WE HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS.

THE BATTERIES AREN'T CORRECT YET, AND THAT WILL BE DEVELOPING MORE, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR OBJECTION TO THIS.

IS IT BECAUSE IT IS FROM CALIFORNIA, OR IS IT THE STANDARDS THEMSELVES?

THIS IS SOME OF OUR LAST HOPE FOR OUR PLANET.

LET'S GET OFF OF FOSSIL FUELS AND GET TO CARBON-FREE EMISSIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

>> CAN I TAKE MY EXTRA MINUTE?

>> YEAH.

YOU DIDN'T USE YOURS.

>> I DIDN'T USE IT, SO I WILL GO AHEAD.

YEAH, I THINK THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING.

I THINK ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN THEIR PLACE ARE A GREAT OPTION FOR PEOPLE, AND AS YOU SAID, SALLY, THE WAY FOR THAT DECISION TO BE MADE IS AN ECONOMIC CHOICE, A PERSONAL CHOICE FOR INDIVIDUALS DECIDING IF THAT'S THE FIT FOR THEIR NEED.

FORCING PEOPLE ON THE OTHER HAND, NOT EVEN GIVING THEM A CHOICE, AND I HAVE WRITTEN NUMEROUS LETTERS, MY STAFF, TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WORKING TO TRY TO CONFIRM WOULD YOU EVEN BE ABLE TO SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, BUY A PICK-UP TRUCK, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR VEHICLES IN THE NATION, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, A HALF TON TRUCK, AND HAVE IT LICENSED AND HAVE IT REGISTERED HERE IN MINNESOTA?

CRICKETS FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION.

DEMOCRATS HAVE LOST THEIR WAY ON THIS ISSUE.

WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES IT LOOKS LIKE IT ISN'T THE CASE.

WE ALL AGREE WE WANT CLEAN WATER.

FORCING MINNESOTANS TO DRIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN 20 TO 30 BELOW TEMPERATURES, NOT GIVING THEM A CHOICE, THAT IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> ALL RIGHT, THAT'S GOING TO WRAP IT UP.

WE'RE UP AGAINST THE CLOCK A LITTLE BIT HERE.

YOU EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING.

AND WE START WITH YOU, JOSH.

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, I'M SO GRATEFUL.

I WILL THANK LAKELAND PUBLIC TELEVISION AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ROBUST DISCUSSION AND FOR YOU TO GET A CLEAR OR A MORE CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT OUR VALUES ARE AND WHERE WE STAND ON THE ISSUES.

AND I THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD CONVERSATION, AND I THANK MY OPPONENT FOR THAT DISCUSSION TODAY.

I THINK THAT OUR DIFFERENCES REALLY CAME THROUGH.

AND I WILL MENTION A FEW OF NOT JUST MY ENDORSEMENTS, BUT MY OPPONENT'S ENDORSEMENTS.

I'VE BEEN ENDORSED AS I MENTIONED EARLIER BY THE NRA.

MINNESOTA CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR LIFE BECAUSE OF MY STEADFAST SUPPORT FOR THE UNBORN.

I'M SUPPORTED BY THE COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS.

I'M SUPPORTED BY FARM BUREAU, MINNESOTA POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, MPPOA, THAT ENDORSEMENT I THINK IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTICE.

I'M THE ONLY ONE ENDORSED IN THIS RACE BY THE POLICE.

MINNESOTA GROCERS ASSOCIATION, THE MINNESOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND I MENTIONED THIS ONE ALSO EARLIER, THE MINNESOTA GUN OWNER'S CAUCUS.

THESE ARE ENDORSEMENTS THAT I AM PROUD OF, THAT I'M GLAD TO HAVE, AND I FEEL LIKE THEY HELP THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT KNOW THAT I HAVEN'T GIVEN AN INCH ON THE SUBJECT AREAS THAT THEY CARE ABOUT MOST, THAT I WILL ALWAYS BE RESOLUTE, AND I WILL ALWAYS BE STEADFAST, AND I WILL KEEP MY COMMITMENTS TO YOU, THE VOTERS, IN CROW WING COUNTY.

I WILL PROTECT YOUR RIGHT, YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS, AND I WILL PROTECT THE UNBORN.

I WILL MAKE SURE THAT MINNESOTA HAS AN ECONOMY THAT'S BOOMING, NOT JUST FOR MY DISTRICT, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

I'M GOING TO DO THAT IN A TARGETED WAY TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT WE GET TAX CUTS BACK INTO -- OUR TAX DOLLARS BACK INTO THE POCKETS OF THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE OVERTAXED.

THANK YOU, AND ONCE AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> THANK YOU, JOSH.

SALLY?

>> THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR HOSTING THIS DEBATE, AND THANK YOU, JOSH, FOR COMING.

I MISSED YOU AT THE FORUM.

THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT IS CLEARLY STATED IN THE U.S. PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION.

ONE OF THOSE PURPOSES IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON WELFARE.

IN OTHER WORDS, DO AS MUCH GOOD AS YOU CAN FOR AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN.

THIS IS WHY I WANT TO BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IN ST. PAUL.

WE CAN HELP ALL MINNESOTANS TO THRIVE AND BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE CAN MAKE SURE OUR KIDS HAVE SOLID EDUCATIONS.

WORKING FAMILIES CAN FIND CHILD CARE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ALL MINNESOTANS DESERVE ACCESS TO OUR WONDERFUL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, WITHOUT GOING INTO DEBT.

WE CAN INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH BY ADDING FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL.

WE CAN PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND MITIGATE SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE CAN DO ALL THESE THINGS AND MORE.

THE IDEAS ARE THERE.

THE MONEY IS THERE.

YOU CAN HELP MINNESOTA ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS BY SENDING ME TO ST. PAUL.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION MY ENDORSEMENTS.

I'M ENDORSED BY THE AFL-CIO, AND THE EDUCATION MINNESOTA.

I HAVE BEEN A UNION MEMBER SINCE THE MID 70s.

I'M ENDORSED BY THE BOUNDARY WATERS ACTION FUND AND THE CLEAN WATER ACTION FUND.

I'M ENDORSED BY PLANNED PARENTHOOD, PRO-CHOICE, PROGRESSIVE TURNOUT, MINNESOTA NOW, AND WOMEN WINNING.

AND I'M PROUD OF ALL THOSE ENDORSEMENTS.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING THIS EVENING ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND THE STAFF, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING TIME OFF FROM YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO SHARE YOUR VIEWS WITH OUR VIEWERS.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PORTION OF TONIGHT'S DEBATE OR WOULD LIKE TO WATCH IT AGAIN, IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE LAKELAND PBS WEBSITE WITHIN 24 HOURS.

THAT WEBSITE IS LPTV.ORG.

ALSO, THE BRAINERD DISPATCH PROVIDES ADDITIONAL CANDIDATE COVERAGE IN GENERAL AT THEIR SPECIAL ELECTION WEBSITE.

BRAINERDDISPATCH.COM/VOTE.

AND YOU CAN FIND ELECTION COVERAGE FROM KAXE ON THEIR WEBSITE AT KAXE.ORG.

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE INTO THE 10:00 NEWS AT 10:00 TONIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.