Captioning Provided By AV Captioning www.avcaptioning.com >> DEBATE NIGHT 2026 IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY: LAKELAND PBS, THE BEMIDJI PIONEER, BRAINERD DISPATCH, PARK RAPIDS ENTER SURPRISE AND KAXE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT DEBATE NIGHT 2026, A LOOK AT OUR AREA LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES.

YOUR MODERATOR TONIGHT IS BETHANY WESLEY.

AND NOW, THE MINNESOTA SENATE DISTRICT 5 DEBATE.

>> Bethany: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO DEBATE NIGHT 2026 AT THE LAKELAND PBS STUDIO IN BEMIDJI.

I'M BETHANY WESLEY, YOUR MODERATOR TONIGHT.

WE'RE FINISHING THE WEEK WITH TWO STATE LEGISLATIVE DEBATES TONIGHT, COVERING TOPICS AND ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITIES.

IN OUR SECOND DEBATE, WE WILL HEAR FROM TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR SENATE DISTRICT 5.

THE CANDIDATES ARE: REP.

MIKE WIENER FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND SKYLAR FYNBOH FROM THE DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY.

OUR PANELISTS TONIGHT ARE: DENNIS WEIMANN, THE NEWS DIRECTOR AT LAKELAND PBS.

LARISSA DONOVAN, THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA REPORTER FOR KAXE.

THEN, DUE TO A CHANGE IN OUR FILMING LOCATION, I WILL BE ASKING QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE BRAINERD DISPATCH.

SO FOR THE RULES FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE: EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING COMMENTS.

THE PANEL WILL THEN BEGIN ASKING QUESTIONS.

SOME WILL BE THEIR OWN QUESTIONS, OTHERS MAY BE FROM THE PUBLIC.

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

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A ONE-MINUTE REBUTTAL.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF USING ONE MINUTE OF BONUS TIME TO ADD ON TO ONE OF THEIR ANSWERS TONIGHT.

THIS CAN BE USED DURING THE ANSWER TO THE INITIAL QUESTION OR DURING THE REBUTTAL, BUT IT CAN ONLY BE USED ONCE.

WE'LL CONTINUE WITH QUESTIONS UNTIL WE REACH THE 50-MINUTE MARK, AT WHICH TIME WE'LL POSITIVE TO CLOSING COMMENTS AND CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING COMMENTS.

WITH THAT NOW, WE'LL GET STARTED WITH OPENING COMMENTS.

AGAIN, THOSE ARE THREE MNTZS, AND SKYLAR, YOU'LL GO FIRST.

>> Fynboh: THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO THANK LAKELAND PBS, THE OUTLETS COVERING TONIGHT, THE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING DEBATE NIGHT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS SKYLAR FYNBOH AND I'M RUNNING FOR SENATE DISTRICT 5 TO GIVE YOU A CHOICE.

THIS DISTRICT ISN'T ONE KIND OF PERSON.

WE'VE GOT NEIGHBORS WHO CALL THEMSELVES CONSERVATIVE, NEIGHBORS WHO CALL THEMSELVES PROGRESSIVE, PUT A LOT OF FOLKS JUST WANT THE PROU TO COME, THE AMBULANCE TO SHOW UP, AND FOR THEIR KIDS TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION.

WE ALL HAVE GOOD IDEAS.

IT'S MY JOB TO LISTEN AND TO BRING THOSE IDEAS TO SAINT PAUL BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE A GOOD IDEA IS RELEGATED TO ANY SPECIFIC PARTY.

PROGRESS SUFS AND CONSERVE TUFS NEED EACH OTHER TO DEBATE, AUMPst OFFER CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND TO WRITE POLICY THAT WORKS FOR EVERY MINNESOTAN.

I BELIEVE A FAMILY THAT WORKS FULL TIME SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME, CHILDCARE, A DOCTOR.

THE AMBULANCE SHOULD COME NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE.

I BELIEVE IT'S CHEAPER TO INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION AS A STATE INSTEAD OF PUSHING THE BILL ON TO EVERY TOWN AND COUNTY.

I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE WHETHER YOU'RE IN WADENA OR EDINA AND I BELIEVE YOU DESERVE STRAIGHT ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT THINGS COST FROM ANYBODY ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE, MYSELF INCLUDED.

I'LL TAKE A GOOD IDEA FROM ANYONE AND I'LL STAND UP TO ANYONE TO ENSURE YOUR RIGHTS AREN'T FAVORS DEPENDENT ON WHO'S IN OFFICE.

I'LL KEEP SHOWING UP JUST LIKE I DID AS A FIREFIGHTER EMT AND I WILL KEEP AN OPEN MIND WHETHER YOU'RE RED, BLUE, GREEN, OR PURPLE.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DESERVE FROM YOUR NEXT SENATOR.

BACK TO YOU, BETHANY.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

AND MIKE.

>> Wiener: WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING AND ALSO AN APOLOGY.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THE OTHER EVENING WHERE I MADE A MISTAKE.

I HAD PUT THE LOCATION AND SO FORTH ON MY PHONE, SAVED IT TO THE WRONG LOCATION, AND I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE THE VIEWERS WANTED TO SEE THAT AND TO THE STAFF AND EVERYBODY HERE WHO HAD DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB OF PUTTING THESE DEBATES ON.

I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE, AND SO SKYLAR AS WELL.

BUT IT BRINGS UP A POINT IN POLITICS THAT I THINK HAS GOTTEN KIND OF OUT OF CONTROL IN A WAY, AND IT'S THAT GUTTER POLITICS THAT WE SEE ALL TOO OFTEN WHERE A SIMPLE MISTAKE BY SOMEONE, AND I'LL USE AN EXAMPLE LIKE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WHEN HE WAS GOING UP THE ESCALATOR TO AIR FORCE ONE AND STUMBLES, AND IMMEDIATELY PEOPLE CAST ASSUMPTIONS, NEGATIVE COMMENTS, BERATE SOMEONES A THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF DEBATE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HERE TONIGHT.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD BECAUSE I THINK THE PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER OF THEIR POLITICIANS AND THE PEOPLE THAT REP THEM.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO JUST INTRODUCE MYSELF A LITTLE BIT, GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE BACKGROUND.

I NEVER EXPECTED TO GET INTO POLITICS.

I DIDN'T HAVE REALLY A DESIRE TO.

BUT I STARTED LOOKING AT THE WAY OUR STATE WAS GOING AND OUR COUNTRY AS WELL, AND A LINE THAT MY DAD USED TO SAY, SAYS YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN TOO MUCH IF YOU DON'T GET INVOLVED.

AND I SAID, WITH THE LAST REDISTRICTING, IT WAS TIME TO GET INVOLVED.

SO I DECIDED TO THROW MY HAT IN THE RING.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO WIN.

I REALLY DIDN'T.

BUT I WANTED TO LEARN THE SYSTEM AND I AT LEAST WANTED TO TRY, SO THAT MY VOICE COULD BE HEARD, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, SO THAT WE COULD -- THAT I COULD BRING THE VOICE AND THE IDEAS THAT I GREW UP WITH THAT SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING IN OUR STATE ESPECIALLY, BUT IN OUR COUNTRY AS WELL.

I WANT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MY KIDS CAN RAISE A FAMILY HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WITHOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT SEEM TO BE ESCALATING.

SO I WANTED BETTER.

AND I, AS A REPRESENTATIVE, HAVE LEARNED IMMENSELY AND I HAVE ENJOYED, EVEN WITH THE CHALLENGES OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS, BUT NOW RUNNING FOR SENATE, I LOOK FORWARD TO REPRESENTING THIS WHOLE AREA, ALL THE PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT THEIR POLITICAL STRIPE IS, BECAUSE WE DESERVE BETTER IN THIS STATE THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN AND MY SINCERE APOLOGIZE FOR THE OTHER EVENING.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE INTO THE QUESTION PORTION.

SO WE'LL KICK IT OFF WITH LARISSA AND THEN MIKE, YOU'LL ANSWER FIRST.

>> Larissa: RIGHT.

WHO IS A PUBLIC LEADER YOU ADMIRE AND WHY DO YOU ADMIRE THEM?

>> Wiener: OH, THERE IS MANY, ACTUALLY.

I PARTICULARLY LIKE OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND WHAT THEY PUT TOGETHER FOR US.

OUR CONSTITUTION IS AN AMAZING DOCUMENT AND THE FORESIGHT AND THE IDEAS THAT THEY PUT INTO THIS, FULLY UNDERSTANDING OUR FLAWS AND HUMAN NATURE, AND SAYING THAT WE CAN DO BETTER WITH A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY GONE AWAY FROM SOME OF OUR FOUNDING PRINCIPLES, AND WHEN OUR FOUNDING FATHERS TALKED ABOUT VIRTUE AND MORALLY UPRIGHT MEN AND OUR CONSTITUTION IS BASED ON A MORAL AND THEOLOGICAL MINDSET, WE'VE GONE AWAY FROM THAT.

I THINK AS A COUNTRY, WE NEED TO GET THAT BACK.

WHEN I LOOK FORWARD -- WHEN I LOOK AT OUR LEADERS, I REALLY LOOK TO THE GREAT MINDS THAT CAME BEFORE US AND SAY THAT WE CAN LEARN A LOT.

WE'VE GONE A LITTLE ASTRAY HERE AND I THINK WE NEED TO PULL THAT SHIP RIGHT BACK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION MOVING FORWARD.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

SKYLAR?

>> Fynboh: YEAH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH MIKE.

I THINK THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE VERY BRILLIANT PEOPLE AND I THINK THEY WERE VERY WISE IN THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT THROUGHOUT HISTORY THAT WERE WORKING.

AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE STRAYED ALL THAT FAR FROM WHAT THEY INTENDED.

YOU KNOW, THEY DESIGNED OUR GOVERNING DOCUMENTS AS LIVING DOCUMENTS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

THEY HAD THE FORESIGHT TO KNOW THAT OVER THE COMING YEARS, THINGS WOULD CHANGE AND THERE WOULD BE PROGRESS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I ALSO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS SHARE A LOT OF OUR SAME VALUES.

JOHN ADAMS, HE IMPLEMENTED A TAX ON SAILORS THAT ENSURED THAT THEY HAD THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED.

WASN'T A CRAZY IDEA THEN AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A CRAZY IDEA NOW.

BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE GOVERNOR OLSON.

I THINK HE WAS A MAN WHO FOUGHT FOR THE PEOPLE IN EVERYTHING HE DID.

HE HAD A LOT OF HARD CHOICES IN FRONT OF HIM.

THERE WERE TIMES WHERE HE DIDN'T MAKE ANYONE HAPPY, BUT HE FOUGHT FOR MINNESOTA AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE TABLE.

I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE, MIKE, IF MY JESTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WERE A LITTLE TOO HARDY FOR YOU, BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR APOLOGY AND I UNDERSTAND MISTAKES HAPPEN.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES FROM TIME TO TIME.

>> Bethany: MIKE, A REBUTTAL OR RESPONSE?

>> Wiener: NO, THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BRAINERD DISPATCH FOR PROVIDING THE QUESTIONS I'LL BE ASKING HERE.

SO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAY AND CRITICAL ROLE IN ALLOWING RURAL COMMUNITIES TO GROW AND DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE.

IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU SEEK TO ENCOURAGE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITIES YOU REPRESENT?

SKYLAR.

>> Fynboh: YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE HEARD THIS WEEK TIME AFTER TIME, WE'RE ABOUT 100,000 HOUSES SHORT, YOU KNOW, AND WITH THAT LIMITED SUPPLY, IT'S DRIVING UP OUR PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A HIGH DEMAND.

I DON'T KNOW MANY PEOPLE MY AGE THAT CAN AFFORD A STARTER HOME OF $180,000.

I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE CAN AFFORD THEIR HOUSE THEY BOUGHT TEN YEARS AGO AT 120 THAT ARE NOW $300,000.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF SOLUTIONS WE CAN DO.

I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HELPING OUR COMMUNITIES BY ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE VOTING FOR BONDING BILLS SO THAT THEY CAN INVEST IN THINGS LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT INCENTIVIZES HOUSING.

AND IF WE SOLVE HOUSING ON, THAT SOLVES A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR US.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE HOUSING, YOU CAN'T HIRE.

AND IN HUBBARD COUNTY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DRIVING IN.

50 MINUTES OR MORE.

SO WE NEED TO INVEST IN HOUSING AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FUNDING THE PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HOUSES.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MIKE?

>> Wiener: WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND IT HAS COME UP IN DEBATES.

I HAVEN'T WATCHED ALL OF THE OTHER ONES THAT TOOK PLACE BEFORE US, BUT THE HOUSING ISSUE IS REALLY INTERESTING WHEN YOU TIE INTO THIS, DELVE INTO THIS, REALLY, BECAUSE YOU SEE, MANY OF OUR PROBLEMS TODAY WERE SOLUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT IN THE PAST.

WE HAD THE HOUSING BUBBLE OF '08 WHERE GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND IDEAS CREATED THAT SITUATION, AND AFTER THAT HOUSING BUBBLE, WHAT YOU SAW AS GREATLY DECREASED HOUSING CONSTRUCTION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

AND WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THAT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR AGING POPULATION.

SO WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE ABOUT 25%, GIVE OR TAKE, OF OUR POPULATION IS ELDERLY AND THEY OWN A LOT OF HOMES.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT INVESTMENT, WHEN COMPANIES, WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT INVESTMENT AND THEY LOOK AT A HOME, THEY'RE LOOKING AT A 30-YEAR INVESTMENT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING A SERIOUS PERCENTAGE OF OUR POPULATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND WHAT INVESTORS, WHAT OTHER PLACES ARE LOOKING AT IS WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING WILL WE HAVE, WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE INTERIM HERE BEFORE WE HIT THAT NEXT HOUSING SITUATION.

AND WE DID IT WITH OUR ZONING IN TODD COUNTY WHERE YOU COULD HAVE GRANDMOTHER'S HOME ADDED ON TO YOUR PROPERTY, WHICH WORKED GREAT.

THOSE TYPE OF IDEAS CAN HELP DEAL WITH SOME OF THE HOUSING SITUATIONS NOW.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

SKYLAR, A RESPONSE OR REBUTTAL?

>> Fynboh: YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I -- I DON'T DISAGREE WITH MIKE ON EVERYTHING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE RECESSION THAT I BELIEVE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, CORRECT, THAT CAME FROM DEREGULATION.

THERE WERE A LOT OF LOANS THAT WERE ISSUED THAT PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ISSUED, AND THAT DESTROYED OUR ECONOMY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE DO NEED TO FOCUS ON STARTER HOMES, FOR SURE.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T JUST BE WAITING ON OUR ELDERS TO PASS AWAY.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOOD POLICY.

AND I THINK WE ALL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HOUSE EVERY MINNESOTAN SO THEY CAN GET TO WORK AND SUPPORT THEMSELVES.

>> Bethany: MIKE?

>> Wiener: SO THERE AGAIN, THOSE POINTS OF DEREGULATION WAS BROUGHT UP, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF HOUSING AND HOW THAT CHANGED WITH GOVERNMENT'S INTERVENTION, CREATED THAT HOUSING BUBBLE AND IT CREATED THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN NOW.

SO WE REALLY HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHEN WE START DEALING WITH SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS BECAUSE, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, TODAY'S PROBLEMS WERE YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS AND WHAT HOUSING -- THIS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT AND THERE ARE FIXES THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE SUCH AS THE TEMPORARY FAMILY HOUSING, WE CAN PUT UP SMALLER STARTER HOMES.

WE HAVE TO BE FOCUSED ON REGIONAL ISSUES, DEAL WITH REGIONAL ZONING AND MORE FOCUSED ON WHERE THE GROWTH IS TAKING PLACE, WHERE THE EXPANSE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IS FEASIBLE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

DENNIS.

>> Dennis: WELL, WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD MINNESOTA PASS A STATEWIDE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS AND HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES IN RESPONSE TO REASONS SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY SHOOTINGS?

>> Bethany: MIKE, YOU GET THIS ONE FIRST.

>> Wiener: THANK YOU.

WELL, THAT ISSUE HAS COME UP QUITE A BIT AND THE BILLS AND LEGISLATION THAT WAS PRESENTED THE LAST COUPLE SESSIONS WERE PRETTY EXPANSIVE PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND IT WOULD ALMOST TURN MOST OF OUR HUNTERS AND SPORTS MEN INTO FELONS ACROSS OUR STATE.

WE HAVE THIS REACTION EVERY TIME THERE'S A SCHOOL SHOOTING, EVERY TIME THERE'S A SITUATION IN OUR STATE AND COUNTRY WHERE THESE TRAVESTIES, THESE BAD SITUATIONS HAPPEN, BUT WE REALLY HAVE TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE.

WHY ARE PEOPLE, WHY DO INDIVIDUALS FEEL LIKE THE ONLY REASON OR THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THEM IS TO SHOOT UP A SCHOOL?

UNTIL YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN MEN'S HEARTS, THE TOOL IS LESS OF AN ISSUE.

AND WHEN INDIVIDUALS FEEL LIKE THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO IS CAUSE PAIN TO SOMEONE ELSE, WE HAVE TO START DEALING WITH THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW HUMAN NATURE IS FLAWED, BUT HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT DRIVE PEOPLE TO THAT POINT?

THE ASSAULT WEAPONS IS SECONDARY TO THE HUMAN HEART FIRST.

MEN HAVE BEEN KILLING MEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, BUT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN OUR SOCIETY THOSE KEY ISSUES.

THE OTHER THING IS WHEN WE LOOK AT STATISTICS A LOT OF TIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS THE NUMBERS ARE -- THEY SHOW CERTAIN STATISTICS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY COGNIZANT -- OR RELEVANT OVER THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE LESS OF THESE MASS SHOOTINGS THAN MOST OTHER COUNTRIES DO, SO I BELIEVE IN OUR SECOND AMENDMENT.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN ATTACKING THAT ANYMORE, AND I WOULD NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF AN ASSAULT WEAPON BAN.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

SKYLAR.

>> Fynboh: YOU KNOW, I LIKE MIKE WINER AND I'M PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF MY DFL COLLEAGUES MAD, BUT I BELIEVE IN THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

I'M A GUN OWNER, A PERMIT HOLDER, AND I OWN AN ASSAULT WEAPON AS A LOT OF DEMOCRATS LIKE TO CALL IT, AND LIKE MIKE WIENER, I WAS NOT THRILLED SEEING THAT ASSAULT WEAPON BAN.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WRITING LEGISLATION WITHOUT HAVING A FULY FORMED CONSENT OF HOW FIREARMS WORK.

MIKE IS RIGHT ON THIS ONE.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS HEALTHCARE, FOR ONE.

I KNOW WE HAVE 192 PSYCHIATRIC BEDS SO IF SOMEONE NEEDS IN-PATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, THEY'RE WAITING IN AN E.R.

FOR TWO, THREE DAYS BEFORE YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE THAT YOU NEED.

I'D WANT TO TACKLE THAT.

I WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY HAVING THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE BECAUSE AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF GUN VIOLENCE IN MINNESOTA ISN'T EVEN VIOLENCE.

IT'S SUICIDE.

I WANT TO SAY THERE'S 402 SUICIDES EVERY YEAR USING FIREARMS.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT.

I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS POVERTY AS WELL.

I THINK POVERTY IS A ROOT CAUSE OF VIOLENCE ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE GOOD JOBS AND HAVE SOMETHING TO BUILD TOWARDS, AND LIKE OUR PREVIOUS ISSUE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE HOUSING.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE MY AGE TO GET HOUSING WITHOUT MAKING MASSIVE SACRIFICES THAT MY OPPONENT PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE WHEN HE WAS MY AGE.

SO I WANT TO SEE SOLUTIONS TO GUN VIOLENCE.

I WANT TO SEE SOLUTIONS TO VIOLENCE AS A WHOLE BE BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY GOING TO COME FROM BANNING ANY FIREARMS ACROSS THE BOARD AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT.

I SUPPORT THINGS BACKED BY DATA AND REASON AND HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, AND POVERTY ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO ADDRESS A LOT OF OUR PROBLEMS.

>> Bethany: MIKE, A RESPONSE OR REBUTTAL?

>> Wiener: JUST TO CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT OF A STATEMENT THERE.

I GUESS DON'T ASSUME WHERE SOMEBODY ELSE'S UPBRINGING IS.

MY FOLKS STRUGGLED.

MY MOM WAS A NURSE, WORKED NIGHTS, MY DAD OWNED A SMALL BUSINESS AND THOSE EARLY '80s WHEN THE INTEREST RATES WERE SKY HIGH, I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS AT THE TIME, BUT THERE WERE -- MOM WOULD SEND US OUT FISHING AND I ASKED DAD ABOUT IT LATER BECAUSE I SAID I KIND OF GOT BURNED OUT ON FISH, WE HAD THEM SO MUCH.

AND DAD SAYS, YOU KNOW WHY THAT WAS?

I SOOD IT WAS TO GET US BOYS OUT OF THE HOUSE.

HE SAID, NO, BECAUSE IF THERE WASN'T FISH ON THE TAKE, THERE WASN'T MUCH TO EAT -- FISH ON THE TABLE, THERE WASN'T MUCH TO EAT.

TO SAY THAT I DIDN'T STRUGGLE IS NOT ACCURATE.

I WORKED HARD FOR WHAT I HAVE AND I'M PROUD OF THAT AND I WILL WORK HARD FOR THE REST OF THE CITIZENS AND MY KIDS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS IN THE STATE.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: SKYLAR?

>> Fynboh: YEAH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S RIGHT.

I DIDN'T DIG INTO MIKE'S BACKGROUND BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLICY, AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, HE'S NOT ALONE IN THAT STRUGGLE.

I SPENT SIX MONTHS LIVING OUT OF A TENT, CRASHING ON COUCHES.

TO THIS DAY, I DON'T HAVE RUNNING WATER.

I USE AN OUTHOUSE YEAR ROUND, AND IN JANUARY, THAT'S PRETTY COLD.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE BECAUSE I LIVE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I HAVE TO FIGHT FOR EVERYTHING I HAVE HAD AND THAT'S THE ENERGY THAT I BRING TO THE TABLE TOO.

I DO APPRECIATE WHERE MIKE WIENER IS COMING FROM.

WE ALL HAVE OUR STRUGGLES.

WE ALL HAVE OUR PERKS, OUR BENEFITS, THE THINGS THAT HELP US PUSH THROUGH, BUT I DON'T WANT THAT FOR ANYONE ELSE.

I'M STRONG ENOUGH, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE AREN'T?

>> Bethany: QUESTION FROM LARISSA.

>> Larissa: ALL RIGHT.

HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC FUNDING CHALLENGES FOR RURAL EMS?

SKYLAR.

>> Fynboh: YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR AMBULANCE SERVICES ARE DETERMINED TO BE AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE IN MINNESOTA.

YOU KNOW, THAT GIVES US A PATHWAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FUNDING THEM.

YOU KNOW, IN 2024, THE STATE GAVE AMBULANCE -- RURAL AMBULANCE SERVICES $24 MILLION, AND MIKE SUPPORTED THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT IT WASN'T WHAT THEY NEEDED.

AMBULANCE SERVICES LOST $57.3 MILLION EVERY YEAR, YOU KNOW.

EVERY YEAR, WE'RE DONATING $64 MILLION WORTH OF OUR TIME TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

EMTs, PARAMEDICS, THEY'RE NOT INCLUDED IN THE SAME PROGRAMS THAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE INCLUDED IN TO SUPPORT THEM WITH HOUSING.

SUPPORT THEM WITH HEALTHCARE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A UNION AS AN EMT, YOU'RE AT THE MERCY OF YOUR COMPANY AND IF WE'RE NOT FUNDING EMS AGENCIES RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUR EMS AGENCIES.

MEDICAID CUTS ARE GOING TO AFFECT OUR AGENCY EVEN MORE.

50 TO 60% OF CALLS WITH A NORTH MEMORIAL AMBULANCE ARE MEDICAID.

THEY ALREADY DONE Y -- DON'T PAY FLUFF ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE RUN.

THEY'RE GETTING PAID 900 AND CHANGE TO RUN THAT COST.

THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE AND THE PEOPLE THAT SUFFER ARE THE PEOPLE THAT RELY ON YOU TO SHOW UP.

I THINK WE NEED TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE FUNDED.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERED AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL FIGHT FOR SO YOU GET THE CARE YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED IT.

>> Bethany: MIKE.

>> Wiener: THANK YOU.

WE SAW DURING THE 23-24 BUDGET CYCLE THAT $18 BILLION SURPLUS AND WE SAW THE PRIORITIES IN RURAL MINNESOTA WERE REALLY, REALLY LACKING IN THOSE BUDGETS.

THAT WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE WE EXPECT THAT OUR BILLS, OUR LEGISLATION SERVE THE WHOLE STATE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT WE SEE IS THIS METRO-CENTRIC PRIORITY OF SO MANY THINGS, AND WE'VE BEEN REFERRED TO AS, YOU KNOW, ROCKS AND THAT'S A VERY NEGATIVE STATEMENT AND THINK ABOUT HOW THAT APPLIES TO THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER END OF THOSE SERVICE CALLS BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE.

IT'S LIFE OR DEATH.

WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THAT WAS -- WORK AS AN EMT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

THAT 24 MILLION WAS A DROP IN THE BUCKET AND WITH AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS, THERE WAS THINGS THAT WE COULD HAVE TRIMMED BACK ON.

THERE'S DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WANTS AND NEEDS.

WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON WANTS AND NOT ENOUGH ON NEEDS IN THIS STATE.

WE DIDN'T PRIORITIZE VERY WELL.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT SURPLUS AND SO MANY THINGS LEFT ON THE TABLE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FUNDED.

>> Bethany: SKYLAR, REBUTTAL.

>> Fynboh: ABSOLUTELY.

AS I RECALL, A LOT OF THAT SURPLUS WENT TO THE COST OF INFLATION.

A LOT OF THAT SURPLUS WENT TO HEALTHCARE, WENT TO EDUCATION, AND A LOT OF THAT SURPLUS ALSO WENT TO REBATES, THINGS THAT HELPED MINNESOTANS PUT MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET.

I SUPPORT THAT.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MIKE WEINER CONSIDERS A WANT OVER A NEED AND I AGREE.

EMS A NEED.

WE RELY ON IT.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RUN CALLS IN RURAL MINNESOTA AND IN THE METRO AS WELL.

IT IS A THANKLESS JOB AND SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ONLY GOES SO FAR, SO YEAH, I MEAN, I WOULD WANT TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO RURAL EMS.

I WANT TO PUT MONEY INTO EMS EVERYWHERE.

WE LOSE AROUND 113 MORE PARAMEDICS THAN WE CERTIFY AND THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.

MOST EMS AGENCIES ARE HAVING STAFFING PROBLEMS, AND THAT MEANS THE PEOPLE COMING FOR YOU, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE FOREVER.

>> Bethany: MIKE.

>> Wiener: SURE, I GUESS PRIORITY OR ONE OF THOSE ISSUES, WANTS VERSUS NEEDS, IS HOW ABOUT A RUG BY FIELD IN ANOKA?

TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THAT'S A PRIME EXAMPLE AND THERE'S MANY OF THEM.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT BUDGET BILL, THAT BONDING BILL, THERE AGAIN, THAT SURPLUS WAS NOT JUST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MONEY.

THERE WAS A SURPLUS THAT WAS ACTUALLY ROLLED FORWARD THE LAST FEW BIENNIUM, AND ONE-TIME MONEY FROM COVID BASICALLY, BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS LONG-TERM SPENDING INCREASED IN THE STATE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, TEN YEARS AGO, OUR STATE BUDGET WAS ABOUT $35 BILLION.

IT'S 70 -- OVER 70 BILLION NOW.

SO THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, EVERY BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF SPENDING IS ABOUT $300, GIVE OR TAKE, TO THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER, SO IN A $35 BILLION INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET, THAT'S HUGE.

THAT COMES OUT TO A LOT OF MONEY COMING OUT OF YOUR POCKET.

SO THESE ISSUES ARE SERIOUS, AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MIKE, YOU'LL GET THIS ONE FIRST.

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

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

>> Wiener: THANK YOU, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

EDUCATION IS CRITICAL.

I MEAN, IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT OUR HISTORY ONCE AGAIN, MANY STATES WROTE THIS INTO THEIR CONSTITUTION TO HAVE THIS AS A NECESSITY BECAUSE THEY WANTED A WELL-EDUCATED CITIZENS.

AND IT IS VITAL.

IT IS IN OUR OWN STATE CONSTITUTION.

BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN, ONCE AGAIN, IS CHALLENGES.

WE'RE NOT MEETING THOSE EXPECTATIONS.

WE USED TO RANK VERY HIGH IN THE SCALE AS FAR AS COMPARED TO OTHER STATES, AND WE HAVE BEEN SLIPPING REALLY BAD OVER ABOUT THE LAST 10 TO 15 YEARS.

WE CAN DO BETTER.

NOW, THERE WAS OPTIONS, AND I BELIEVE THAT OPEN ENROLLMENT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, BUT ALSO FUNDING.

THERE WAS THE OPTION OF THE VOUCHER SYSTEM BASICALLY WHERE $1750 PER STUDENT COULD BE A TAX WRITE-OFF, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MONEY THAT CAME INTO OUR STATE, BUT THE GOVERNOR CLOSE NOT TO DO THAT.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT FUNDING FOR OUR STATE, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CLAENLS MOVING FORWARD, THE OTHER -- CHALLENGES MOVING FORWARD, THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND REALIZE IS WE HAVE A NEGATIVE BIRTH RATE, NOT JUST IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT IN OUR STATE AS WELL.

I THINK BY THE STATE DEMOGRAPHER, WE'RE LOOKING AT A DECREASE IN STUDENTS MOVING FORWARD, ABOUT 5- TO 8,000 STUDENTS DEPENDING UPON INFLUX, PEOPLE MOVING IN OR MOVING OUT.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO AFFECT OUR BUDGETS AS WELL, BUT RIGHT NOW, OUR SCHOOL BUDGETS ARE TIED WITH INFLATION AND AUTOMATIC INFLATION AT ADD JUSTERS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHALLENGES MOVING FORWARD THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND WE'RE NOT PRIORITIZING RIGHT NOW.

WHEN WE HAVE MEETING STANDARDS AND SOME OF OUR STUDENTS AND DISTRICTS ARE NOT AT THE PROOFFICIALSLY RATE FOR READING AND MATH AND SCIENCE, WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

SKYLAR.

>> Fynboh: YEAH, I THINK AS YOU'VE HEARD EARLIER, VOTE "YES" ON THE EDUCATION AMENDMENT.

I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

IT'S A VERY IMMEDIATE WAY TO GET MORE FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FUNDING SCHOOLS IN THE WAY THEY NEED TO BE, AND I'M NOT SEEING THAT NECESSARILY AND WE'RE SEEING THAT IN OUR EDUCATION RANKING SLIPPING.

I THINK THAT WE NEED THE STATE TO PAY ITS FAIR SHARE FOR RURAL SCHOOLS.

I THINK YOU SHOULD GET THE SAME EDUCATION YOU GET IN WADENA, AGAIN, AS YOU DO IN EDINA.

YOU KNOW, WE PUT $2.26 BILLION MORE INTO SCHOOLS IN 2023, AND MIKE WAS THERE FOR THAT.

AND WE PUT $663 MILLION TOWARDS ON SPECIAL ED SO DISTRICTS DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH OUT OF THE CLASSROOM FUNDING.

I THINK MIKE VOTED "NO" ON THOSE, AND, YOU KNOW, NOW TEST SCORES NEED MORE WORK.

THEY NEED MORE FUNDING AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EDUCATORS HAVE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO EDUCATE.

>> Bethany: MIKE?

>> Wiener: SURE.

WELL, THANK YOU.

YES, I VOTED AGAINST THOSE BILLS, AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS, YOU CAN USE THAT TO FUND WHAT YOU NEEDED TO WITHOUT TAKING WITHOUT MORE DEBT, AND WHAT WE DID IS WE INCREASED THE MANDATES TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH CREATED MORE ISSUES FOR THEM.

OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ASKING FOR AUTO -- AUTONOMY, MORE CHOICES ON HOW THEY SPEND THE MONEY.

YOU TAKE TWO SCHOOLS IN FLY AREA, MILES APART CAN HAVE A NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE IN THEIR CLASSES AND STUDENTS AND HOW THEY FUNCTION AND OPERATE, BUT THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL PRESSURE FROM THE STATE SAYS THIS IS HOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE FUNDED, THIS IS HOW YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE RESULTS ARE NOT SHOWING UP VERY WELL, SO WE NEED TO DO BETTER ON THAT AND I DEFINITELY LISTEN AND HEAR WHAT OUR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTED IS SAID, WE NEED MORE LOCAL AUTONOMY.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: SKYLAR?

>> Fynboh: I CAN AGREE WITH MORE LOCAL AUTONOMY AS LONG AS WE'RE MEETING THE STANDARDS WE NEED TO COMPETE AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOLING.

THE BIGGEST UNFUNDED MANDATE ISN'T COMING FROM MINNESOTA, IT'S COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYS, WHAT, 10% INTO SPECIALATION FUNDING?

AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE PAYING A LOT MORE.

THEY'RE ALLOWED TO PAY UP TO 40% AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CURRENTLY PAYING, YOU KNOW, WHAT, 44% OF THAT?

I THINK -- I THINK IT GOES UP TO 50, BUT IT'S NOT JUST MINNESOTA STATE-FUNDED MANDATES.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THE RUNDOWN AND THE MATH ON THAT, BUT IT TAKES TEAMWORK BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED.

TAKES WORKING ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SO, YOU KNOW, LOCAL PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO FILL IN THE GAPS.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

DENNIS.

>> Dennis: WE ALWAYS ASK OUR VIEWERS TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS FOR THESE DEBATES AND WE HAD A STRONG RESPONSE THIS YEAR.

A QUESTION FROM MARK FROM DISTRICT 5, SIMPLE QUESTION, IS UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT?

>> Bethany: SKYLAR.

>> Fynboh: YEAH, I THINK UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T GET THERE OVERNIGHT, UNFORTUNATELY.

WE HAVE TO WORK OUR WAY UP TO IT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF JOBS IN MINNESOTA THAT WILL BE GONE IF WE GO TO UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE IMMEDIATELY.

YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO WORK WITH SENATOR MARTY ON MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN WORK TOWARDS UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER.

CANADA PAYS ABOUT $550 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WHERE WE'RE PAYINGUP WARDS OF 2 -- PAYING UPWARDS OF 2,000 AND CHANGE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

WE NEED FEDERAL PARTNERS TO GIVE US WAIVERS TO ALLOW US TO EXPAND MEDICARE AND PROGRAMS LIKE THAT, BUT WORKING WITH A LOT OF OTHER SENATORS ACROSS THE STATE TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE HEALTHCARE WE NEED WHEN WE NEED IT, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO SAVE OUR CONSTITUENTS A LOT OF MONEY.

HOW MUCH DO YOU PAY IN HEALTH INSURANCE?

AND HOW MUCH HAS IT GONE UP IN THE LAST YEAR?

I THINK IT'S GOING TO GO UP A LOT MORE NOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT MONEY IN THE BIG BILLIONAIRE BAILOUT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE INVESTING IN HEALTHCARE BECAUSE I'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTHCARE.

YOU DON'T GO TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE APPOINTMENTS AND EVENTUALLY YOU CALL US AT 911 AND THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

AND IN THE MOST EXPENSIVE WAY POSSIBLE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S TAKING CARE OF YOUR NEIGHBOR TO SAY YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

I'M HAPPY TO HELP OUT, LEND A HAND BECAUSE AN E.R.

VISIT IS AROUND $1700 COMPARED TO THE 75 TO $100 YOU MIGHT PAY FOR YOUR PRIMARY CARE VISIT.

>> Bethany: MIKE.

>> Wiener: THE COST OF HEALTHCARE HAS INCREASED SINCE I FIRST GOT INTO THE JOB MARKET AND I'VE SEEN THIS AND WATCHED THIS, AND OFTEN WONDERED WHY.

BUT WE'VE SEEN THAT COMPETITION HAD BEEN DECREASING, AND AS YOU COMBINE MORE AND MORE OF THESE SERVICES AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN MORE AND MORE CONTROL OF OUR HEALTHCARE, IT'S MADE IT MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE.

WE HAD A BILL A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO CALLED THE ACA OR AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO SOLVE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU LOOK AT THE GRAPHS OF THE INCREASE IN HEALTHCARE COSTS, THERE IS A DEFINITE POINT WHEN THE ACA, SHORTLY AFTER THE ACA WAS SIGNED WHERE THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN SPENDING ON HEALTHCARE HAS SHOT UP.

SO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HEAR IS THESE CUTS TO HEALTHCARE AND SO FORTH THAT ARE TAKING PLACE NOW, AND WE GOT TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, INFORMATION IS JUST THROWN OUT WITHOUT A LITTLE BIT OF BACK STORY.

THERE WAS MEDICARE, THERE WAS EXTRA SPENDING THAT WAS PUT INTO PLACE DURING COVID, AND THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPORARY.

TO LET THINGS RUN THEIR COURSE.

WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH THE COVID SITUATION ANYMORE, SO THE PLAN WAS AT THAT TIME WHEN THEY WERE PUT IN THAT THEY WOULD DROP OUT AND NOW THAT THEY'RE DROPPING OUT, PEOPLE ARE SAYING WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE BECAUSE THESE CUTS, BUT THEY WERE NEVER MEANT TO BE LONG-TERM SPENDING.

SO WE HAVE TO BE HONEST WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS AND THAT AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HAS HAD A VERY DETRIMENTAL IMPACT TO OUR HEALTHCARE COSTS.

>> Bethany: SKYLAR?

>> Fynboh: YEAH, I MEAN, WITH THE ACA, MINNESOTA UNINSURED RATES DROPPED FROM 8.2% TO 4.3%.

THE LOWEST SINCE MEASUREMENT BEGAN.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, ASTERA IN WADENA AND ST.

JOSEPH, THEY'RE RANGING FROM 18 T 20% OF PATIENTS BEING ON MEDICARE AND THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY AND I KNOW THOSE HOSPITALS ARE SCARED.

THE FACT THAT MEDICAID IS GETTING CUT, THAT PUTS ALL OF OUR HEALTHCARE AT RISK BECAUSE WHEN ESTER CLOSES, WHEN ST.

JOSEPH CLOSES, LAKEWOODS CLOSES, WHERE IS YOUR NEAREST HOSPITAL?

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GO WHEN YOU GET HURT ON THE FARM?

I KNOW A HELICOPTER IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN AN AMBULANCE AND I WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY GETTING THE CARE THEY NEED IN THE TIME THEY NEED IT.

>> Bethany: MIKE, RESPONSE?

>> Wiener: THANK YOU.

COMPETITION IS THE BEST WAY TO DRIVE DOWN COST, AND A SINGLE-PAYOR SYSTEM WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH THAT.

YOU WILL ONLY SEE AN INCREASE IN THE COST OF YOUR HEALTHCARE IF WE EVER GO TO A SINGLE-PAYOR SYSTEM.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

OKAY.

QUESTIONS FROM LARISSA AND THEN MIKE, YOU WILL ANSWER FIRST.

>> Larissa: ALL RIGHT.

MY QUESTION, HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE CONCERNS ABOUT BALANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> Wiener: GREAT QUESTION.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, I OWN A SMALL BUSINESS.

WE RECYCLE WASTE WOOD, SO WE TAKE PRODUCT AND WE PROCESS THAT, WHICH WOULD BE WASTE, PROBABLY LANDFILLED, PERHAPS BURNED, AND WE'D MAKE IT INTO A USEABLE PRODUCT.

I'M ALL ABOUT RECYCLING.

I'LL ALL ABOUT REUSING.

I'M ALL ABOUT OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES BUILDING.

WE WANT CLEAN AIR.

WE WANT CLEAN WATER.

OUR FARMS DO AN AMAZING JOB AND USUALLY GET ATTACKED FOR HOW THEY ROTATE THEIR CROPS AND THE STUFF THAT THEY PUT ON THEM.

BUT OBVIOUSLY WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

I DON'T KNOW ANY INDIVIDUAL, ANY SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA THAT GOES OUT AND PURPOSEFULLY POLLUTES, ALTHOUGH THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT MAKE THOSE ACCUSATIONS AND I FIND THAT KIND OF DISTURBING.

SO WE WANT ECONOMIC GROWTH, BUT WE ALSO WANT A PLACE WHERE OUR KIDS CAN LIVE WITH GOOD HEALTH.

AND IF WE DON'T BUILD OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES, IF WE DON'T BRING JOB OPPORTUNITIES INTO OUR SMALL TOWNS, OUR RURAL ENVIRONMENTS, WHERE DO THEY GO?

THEY TEND TO GO DOWN TO THE METRO.

AND I TEND TO THINK THAT WE HAVE A VERY GOOD WAY OF LIFE IN RURAL MINNESOTA, AND I WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT.

I LOVE OUR SMALL TOWNS.

I LOVE OUR RURAL SETTING.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN MY KIDS GET TO THE POINT IN THEIR LIFE -- AND SOME OF WHERE THEY'RE STARTING THEIR FAMILIES -- THEY CAN STAY RIGHT HERE AND LIVE THE KIND OF LIFE THAT I HAD AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAD WITH CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND A GOOD PLACE TO LOIF.

-- GOOD PLACE TO LIVE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

SKYLAR.

>> Fynboh: I CAN AGREE, WE LIVE IN GOD'S COUNTRY UP HERE.

YOU KNOW, I -- OBVIOUSLY, WE ALL WANT MORE INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND I AM A FULL SUPPORTERS OF INCENTIVIZING BUSINESSES TO WORK AND GROW HERE.

YOU KNOW, I WORK FOR A LOCAL MANUFACTURER BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THAT EMPLOYER SUCCEED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF TAX INCENTIVES FOR COMPANIES THAT DO NOT TAKE CARE OF OUR LAND.

THEY DO NOT STEWARD OUR LAND.

I MEAN, ENBRIDGE, WE PAID THEM $30 MILLION AND THEY BLEW MULTIPLE HOLES IN AQUIFERS.

THAT WAS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OFINGLY LONS HERE IN THERE -- OF GALLONS HERE IN THIS DISTRICT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ANYMORE AND NOW THEY'RE BACK IN COURT.

AND THEN DATA CENTERS, TOO.

THEY WANT TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND PUT THESE MASSIVE PROJECTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE STATE'S OWN STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ANY JOBS THAT THEY BRING ARE NEGLIGIBLE AND WOULD BE ALREADY CREATED IN OTHER WAYS ANYWAYS.

WE LOSE $90 MILLION ON YEAR, LAST I CHECK, ON THE TAX BREAKS THAT WE GIVE TO DATA CENTERS.

SO IF I'M GOING TO INCENTIVIZE ANY BUSINESSES BY GIVING THEM TAX BREAKS, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NET BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS IN SUPPORT OF IT.

PERSONALLY, I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE I THINK SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE WAY WE BUILD THE COMMUNITY WE WANT UP HERE.

I DON'T THINK A WALMART IS GOING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTERS ABOUT I THINK A DOLLAR GENERAL IS ESSENTIAL IN OUR FOOD DESERTS, BUT I WANT TO SEE MORE LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES KEEPING MORE DOLLARS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MIKE, A RESPONSE?

>> Wiener: SURE.

BRINGING UP LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT WIND AND SOLAR.

THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR SOILS, WHAT THEY'RE FINDING OUT NOW FROM SOLAR FARMS, REALLY HAS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND AS FAR AS THE WIND, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TURBINES THEMSELVES AND THE BLADES, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO RECYCLE THEM AT THIS TIME.

THERE ARE VERY LITTLE, MOST OF THEM ARE ENDED UP LANDFILLED, BURIED OUT IN WYOMING, I BELIEVE.

THE IMPACT RIGHT NOW, AND THERE'S SOME GROWERS WHO ARE SAYING THEY WILL NOT TAKE CERTAIN CROPS THAT ARE NEAR THE SOLAR FARMS BECAUSE THEY'RE FINDING TRACE MINERALS AND SO FORTH IN THEIR CROPS AROUND THE SOLAR FARMS.

WE HAVE TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR ENERGY, OBVIOUSLY.

WE CAN'T GROW, WE CAN'T BUILD WITHOUT ENERGY, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE AND PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TOO, AND I THINK WE'VE KIND OF GONE A LITTLE BIT OVERBOARD ON SOME OF THE PROJECTS LATELY.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

SKYLAR?

>> Fynboh: YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK -- I THINK MIKE MIGHT BE OPERATING ON SOME OLDER DATA THAN I AM.

I KNOW WIND TURBINES, THEY'RE ABOUT 85% RECYCLABLE NOW.

SOLAR INCREASES CARBON SEQUESTRATION.

IS THERE A LITTLE BIT MOISTURE CONTENT IN THE SOIL?

SURE, BUT IN THE 18 TERRAWATT PROBLEM, OUR RESEARCHERS KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET WHERE YOU WANT WITH ONE SOLUTION.

EVERY ENERGY SOURCE HAS ITS PROS AND ITS CONS.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO INVEST IN RESEARCH HERE IN MINNESOTA TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RIGHT BLEND IS.

I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF WIND, SOLAR, AND MAYBE NUCLEAR UNTIL WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN SUSTAIN OURSELVES OFF OF WHAT WE CAN PRODUCE HERE.

>> Bethany: OKAY.

I HAVE THIS QUESTION.

WHAT ONE ISSUE DO YOU BELIEVE MATTERS MOST TO RURAL MINNESOTANS AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS A LEGISLATOR TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE?

SKYLAR.

>> Fynboh: YOU KNOW, WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT FROM SAUK CENTER ALL THE WAY UP TO 71 AND 200 IS COST OF LIVING.

IT'S HARD.

GAS IS UP.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, HEALTH CARE, THAT IS A LARGE PORTION OF OUR BUDGET.

CHILDCARE ANOTHER BIG PORTION OF OUR BUDGET.

HOUSING, WE'RE PAYING METRO PRICES ON GREATER MINNESOTA WAGES.

SO IF WE WANT TO TACKLE THESE THINGS, THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT AND THE PEOPLE VOTE WITH THEIR WALLET, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO ENERGY SOURCES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE, THAT WE CAN MAKE CLOSER TO HOME.

I THINK MIKE IS WELL AWARE THAT BIOFUELS ARE SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE WITH WASTE PRODUCTS HERE AT HOME.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE WORKING TO MORE AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR MORE DOCTORS.

WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR MORE BEDS.

WE'RE PAYING MORE BECAUSE WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE WORLD.

WE'RE THE ONLY OECD NATION THAT DOESN'T HAVE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE.

OTHER COUNTRIES, THE OTHER 30-SOME COUNTRIES DO IT CHEAPER THAN AMERICA DOES, AND I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER.

WE'RE AMERICA.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE NUMBER ONE.

WE SHOULD NOT BE NUMBER ONE FOR THE HIGHEST HEALTHCARE.

>> Bethany: MIKE.

>> Wiener: WELL, THANK YOU, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, AND I -- IT'S PROBABLY MY ANSWER IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN MOST, BUT OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR FOUNDING FATHERS SAID THAT WE'RE ENDOWED WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, AND THAT LIFE TO ME IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR CULTURE AND SEEN IN OUR STATE AS WELL IS A DISREGARD FOR LIFE.

WE HAVE A NEGATIVE BIRTH RATE IN OUR COUNTRY AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR A CIVILIZATION OR A CULTURE.

IT'S HARD TO TURN THOSE STATISTICS AROUND AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS AND THEY'RE SEEING IT.

JAPAN HAS REALLY STARK STATISTICS WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR BIRTH RATES.

IF WE DON'T FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND I DO BELIEVE -- EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXISTENTIAL THREATS.

THIS IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR STATE IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE ROUGHLY 60,000 BIRTHS, I BELIEVE THE NUMBER WAS -- I'M SORRY, I'LL BACK UP.

ONLY ABOUT 10,000 BIRTHS IN OUR STATE, REALLY, WHEN YOU COMPARE NUMBER OF BIRTHS VERSUS NUMBER OF DEATHS, THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 10,000.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, AND WE'RE GOING TO TOP OUT IN 2030 WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES FOR HEALTHCARE, FOR BUILDINGS, ALL THOSE THINGS, WE HAVE NOT PRIORITIZED OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND THAT PUTS US AT A SERIOUS DISADVANTAGE AS FAR AS GLOBALLY AS WELL.

SO THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, BECAUSE OF OUR REGULATIONS, BECAUSE OF OUR TAX STRUCTURE, WE'VE DRIVEN OUT -- AND THE IRS DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF THIS -- $7.35 BILLION OF NET GROWTH ADJUSTED INCOME AND THAT EQUATED TO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 350 AND 3500, YES, MILLION DALLAS -- 500, YES, MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF INCOME TAX REVENUE.

THOSE ARE THE ISSUES WE'RE DEALING WITH THERE IN STATE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO WORK ON.

I PLAN ON GOING DOWN TO THE SENATE AND REPRESENTING YOU AND THE REST OF OUR STATE WITH THOSE COMMONS SENSE SOLUTIONS.

>> Bethany: SKYLAR, A RESPONSE?

>> Fynboh: YEAH, I HATE THAT -- I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WE'RE STILL POSITIVE ON OUR BIRTH RATE, BUT IT IS DECLINING, AND I WOULD SAY IT'S DUE TO COST OF LIVING AND I DON'T THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF REGULATION.

THE REASON MY GENERATION AREN'T HAVING KIDS QUITE AS OFTEN AS I BELIEVE MIKE WANTS IS BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SUPPORT MORE THAN THE BARE ESSENTIALS.

WE ARE BREAKING EVEN EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IF WE WANT MORE PEOPLE HAVING KIDS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN HAVE HOUSING, THAT THEY CAN AFFORD A HOUSE THAT THEIR PARENTS BOUGHT AS THEIR STARTER HOMES, AND PEOPLE OVERALL, THEY'RE NOT LEAVING NECESSARILY.

I BELIEVE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE WEALTHIER YOU ARE, THE LESS OFTEN YOU MOVE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

MIKE, A RESPONSE?

>> Wiener: SURE.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE LIFE AFFORDABLE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR STATE, STOP DRIVING OUT THE EARNERS.

THE BIG EARNERS.

BECAUSE THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

WHEN THAT ADJUSTED GROWTH INCOME, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS LEAVES THE STATE AND THEY MOVE -- THEY WILL -- THEY MOVE TO OTHER STATES, NOT JUST AN IDEA HERE.

THE IRS TRACKS THIS AND IT'S DOCUMENTED, WELL-DOCUMENTED.

I BROUGHT UP OUR STATE BUDGET BEFORE.

THAT $35 BILLION THAT OUR STATE BUDGET WAS TEN YEARS AGO TO $70 BILLION NOW, WHEN YOU DO THE PLATTE, THAT EQUATES TO ALMOST $15,000 PER YEAR PER TAXPAYER.

YOU WANT TO MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE IN THERE STATE, WE HAVE TO CUT THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT.

BUT EVERY TIME WE ADD ANOTHER PROGRAM, EVERY TIME WE ADD ANOTHER THING, AND I HAD A BILL THAT WOULD CUT THE LOWEST TAX BRACKETS.

IF YOU MADE UNDER $38,000, YOU WOULDN'T PAY THAT INCOME TAX.

THAT WOULD GIVE YOU HUNDREDS OF -- ABOUT $2,000 PER YEAR, AND THAT WAS SHOT DOWN.

WHY?

WE CAN DO BETTER IN THIS STATE.

BUT WE'VE CHOSEN NOT TO.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR CLOSING COMMENTS.

SO THESE ARE TWO MINUTES AND MIKE, YOU WILL GO FIRST.

>> Wiener: WELL, THANK YOU.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE COVERED TONIGHT.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE DIDN'T.

I WISH WE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, BUT I GUESS WE TALK TOO MUCH, SO I WANTED TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING RONALD REAGAN WAS ATTRIBUTED WITH, BUT YOU CAN'T BRING PROSPERITY BY DISCOURAGING THRIFT.

YOU CANNOT HELP SMALL MEN BY TURNING DOWN BIG MEN.

YOU CAN'T STRENGTHEN THE WEAK BY WEAKENING THE STRONG.

YOU CANNOT LIFT THE WAGE EARNER BY PULLING DOWN THE WAGE PAYER.

YOU CANNOT HELP THE POOR MAN BY DESTROYING THE RICH.

YOU CAN'T KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE BY SPENDING MORE THAN YOUR INCOME.

YOU CANNOT FURTHER BROTHER WHO'D OF MEN BY INCITING CLASS HATRED.

YOU CONDITION ESTABLISH SECURITY BY BORROWING MONEY AND YOU CANNOT BUILD CLARK BY TAKING A -- CHARACTER BY TAKING AWAY INITIATIVE AND MAN'S INDEPENDENCE AND YOU CAN'T HELP MEN PERMANENTLY BY DOING FOR THEM WHAT THEY SHOULD DO FOR THEMSELVES.

IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SEEING THIS CLASS WARFARE, THIS ENVY THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS DOING BETTER THAN US.

THAT SOCIALISM IN OUR COUNTRY IS GROWING AND IT IS A HUGE THREAT TO OUR FUTURE.

WE CAN DO BETTER IN THIS STATE, BUT WE'RE THROT GOING TO DO THAT BY LOOKING AT SOMEONE ELSE AND SAYING WE NEED TO TAX YOU MORE.

WE NEED TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOU SO THAT I HAVE.

THAT'S ALMOST ONE OF THOSE ORIGINAL SINS THAT CAIN AND ABEL, LESSON FROM THE BIBLE TAUGHT US, THAT SIN OF ENVY AND IN OUR STATE, WE SEE THIS QUITE A BIT.

WE WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE WITHOUT DEFINING WHAT A FAIR SHARE IS.

BUT THAT THREAT TO OUR SOCIETY, OUR CULTURE, OUR COUNTRY, BY THE RISE OF SOCIALISM IS IMMENSE, AND UNTIL WE DEAL WITH THAT SITUATION, WE ARE VERY MUCH IN THREAT OF LOSING OUR CULTURE.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

SKYLAR, CLOSING COMMENTS.

>> Fynboh: YEAH, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO MADE TONIGHT POSSIBLE, THE CREW HERE AT LAKELAND, THE PANELISTS, INCLUDING MIKE.

I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP AND BEING HERE TODAY.

BUT ESPECIALLY I'D LIKE TO THANK THE VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

YOU KNOW, MIKE LIKES TO SAY OUR BEST DAYS ARE IN FRONT OF US, BUT THEY DON'T SHOW UP ON THEIR OWN.

SOMEBODY HAS TO SHOW UP AND PAFER THE ROAD TO GET US -- PAVE THE ROAD TO GET US THERE.

BEN FRANKLIN GOT HIS NEIGHBORS TO CLIP IN ON A FIRE COMPANY.

AGAIN, JOHN ADAMS SIGNED A LAW TAKING 20 CENTS A MONTH FROM SAILOR' PAY SO THEY HAD HEALTHCARE.

IT WASN'T RADICAL THEN AND ON OUR COUNTRY'S 250th ANNIVERSARY, I DON'T THINK IT IS NOW.

FARMERS POOLED THEIR MONEY TO BUILD THE CREAMERY, THE ELEVATOR, THE ELECTRIC CO-OP.

SOME FOLKS WOULD CALL THAT DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO SOCIALISM, BUT THAT'S HOW WE'VE ALWAYS WEATHERED THE STORM IN MINNESOTA.

SO HERE'S WHERE YOU MAKE YOUR CHOICE.

I THINK HIS PLANS SOUND GOOD IN A HEADLINE, BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND GOOD IN A BUDGET AND AS A WORKING CLASS GUY, THE BILLS I WRITE, I VOTE ON, THEY HIT MY POCKET TOO, SO WHEN WASHINGTON OR SAINT PAUL LEAVES A HOLE, IT WILL LAND ON OUR COUNTY, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR AMBULANCE, AND FINALLY OUR KITCHEN TABLE.

WE ALL WANT A DOCTOR WE CAN AFFORD, CHILDCARE CLOSE TO HOME, HOMES THAT WE CAN AFFORD FOR LIFE AND AN AMBULANCE WE CALL AND IT SHOWS UP.

IT COMES WITH WELL RESEARCHED POLICY AND TARGETED INVESTMENTS, AND IT COMES WHEN WE STOP ASKING SMALL TOWNS TO CARRY THE LOAD ALONE.

IT COMES WHEN WE SLONELG IT TOGETHER AS MINNESOTA -- SHOULDER IT TOGETHER AS MINNESOTANS.

AS I'VE READ THROUGH MIKE WIENERS BILLS, I DON'T SEE A LOT OF RESEARCH THERE.

HIS FLAGSHIP TAX BILL PUT A $4 BILLION HOLE IN OUR BUDGET EVERY YEAR, AND WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM?

IT COMES FROM YOU TO FILL IN THAT GAP.

SO I WILL ALWAYS KEEP SHOWING UP FOR YOU.

I WILL ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOU, AND I'M SKYLAR FYNBOH AND I NEED YOUR VOTE AND YOUR VOICE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SAINT PAUL.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU BOTH FOR PARTICIPATING IN TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

THANK YOU TO OUR PANELISTS FOR THE QUESTIONS.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR TUNING IN.

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