>> Cathy: EVERY ELECTION SEASON MEANS NEW FACES AT THE CAPITOL BUT IT ALSO MEANS THE DEPARTURE OF MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS AND POLICYMAKERS.

WE'RE NOW JOINED BY AN EXPERT PANEL OF RETIRING LAWMAKERS.

DFLERS UP FIRST.

SENATOR SANDY PAPPAS REPRESENTS SAINT PAUL, SHE IS FINISHING HER 11TH TERM IN THE STATE SENATE.

SENATOR ANN REST REPRESENTS NEW HOPE AND NEIGHBORING WESTERN SUBURBS, AND SHE FINISHES OUT HER EIGHTH SENATE TERM.

REPUBLICANS WITH THEM TONIGHT.

SENATOR CARLA NELSON REPRESENTS ROCHESTER.

THIS WAS HER FIFTH TERM IN THE SENATE.

AND, FINALLY, REPRESENTATIVE PAUL TORKELSON OF NEW ULM AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES, FINISHING OUT HIS NINTH TERM IN THE STATE HOUSE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE COUCH.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> OUR PLEASURE.

>> Cathy: SENATOR PAPPAS, LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU, SHALL WE?

>> I'M GOING TO GO FIRST?

>> Cathy: SURE, COME ON.

SO WE HAD CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR LISA DEMUTH ON, SPEAKER DEMUTH, AND I'M WONDERING, HOW COULD A NEW GOVERNOR, WHOEVER THAT'S GOING TO BE, DEMUTH OR KLOBUCHAR, HOW WILL NEW LEADERSHIP POTENTIALLY RESET THE LEGISLATIVE TONE AND TENOR, DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH.

WELL, CERTAINLY A TONE AND TENOR OF COOPERATION, BEING PRESENT, OF BEING INVOLVED, I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY BEEN AMY KLOBUCHAR'S WAY OF BEING, AS SHE'S COVERED ALL 87 COUNTIES THAT SHE VISITS EVERY YEAR.

AND LISA ALSO IS SOMEBODY WHO REALLY REACHES OUT QUITE A BIT.

SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE USED TO ALL BE INVITED TO HAVE LUNCH OR DINNER AT THE GOVERNOR'S HOUSE, BIPARTISAN, YOU KNOW, BICAM YOU KNOW, BICACAMERAL, BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE.

>> Cathy: YOU SAID USED TO BE INVITED?

>> THERE WAS THE REMODELING GOING ON, ITCHING THERE WERE SOME YEARS WE WEREN'T INVITED, BUT WE WERE ALWAYS INVITED.

I THINK THEY COULD TAKE SOME ADVICE FROM US OLD-TIMERS, WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE FACING.

FOR ME, IT'S GOING TO OBVIOUSLY BE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, 8 TO $9 BILLION OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN STATE GOVERNMENT, AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AS WE SAW EARLIER ON THE SHOW, THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH SEWER AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE KIND OF AGING OUT.

SO, I THINK TAKE SOME ADVICE FROM US.

>> Cathy: REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

HOW MIGHT THINGS CHANGE, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME HISTORIC EVENTS IN THIS LAST BIENNIUM.

INCLUDING SOME VERY TRAGIC EVENTS.

I THINK WE'RE STILL HEALING FROM THAT.

I ALSO THINK WE'RE STILL KIND OF GETTING OVER COVID.

COVID REALLY DISRUPTED KIND OF THE NATURAL FLOW WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE WE WERE WORKING REMOTELY, WE DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO REALLY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY THOSE LEGISLATORS THAT CAME IN DURING COVID.

SO, I THINK WE'RE GETTING PAST OF THAT, BUT IT TAKES WORK.

YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET ALONG.

>> Cathy: SENATOR REST?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED, AND I WOULD CERTAINLY AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON, IS WE'RE FACED WITH A LACK OF GRACE THAT WE FAIL TO OFFER ONE ANOTHER IN DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US.

AND I WOULD ACTUALLY -- WHEN I HEARD THAT SENATOR NELSON, SENATOR PAPPAS, AND REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON WERE GOING TO BE HERE TONIGHT WITH ME, I WAS DELIGHTED BECAUSE THIS IS A GROUP OF LEGISLATORS WHO DO INDEED OFFER ONE ANOTHER GRACE IN OUR DISCUSSIONS ON POLICY AND IN OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

>> Cathy: JUDGE IS THAT -- WHY IS THAT LACKING SO MUCH?

THERE'S HARD EDGES AND A HARSHNESS.

>> I THINK PART OF IT IS THAT OUR SOCIETY HAS CHANGED A LOT.

AND, SO, NOW WE HAVE A LOT OF ONLINE MEDIA AND IT ALSO IS FEEDING A PARTICULAR VIEWPOINT.

THE FORMER -- AS A FORMER READING SPECIALIST, I'LL SAY IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A BROAD BACKGROUND, LISTEN TO BROAD IDEAS, BROAD BACKGROUND.

AND I THINK ALSO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE HONEST DIALOGUE AND DEBATE, BECAUSE IF THE ISSUES WERE REALLY THAT SIMPLE AS WHAT YOU HEAR ON THE SOUND BITES, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED ALREADY.

I THINK WHAT WE HEAR HERE, ON THIS COUCH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LEARNED THAT YOU LISTEN TO ALL POINTS OF VIEW, YOU ARGUE HONESTLY, AND YOU TRY TO WORK TOGETHER ON THOSE AREAS WHERE YOU CAN.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED BONDING, BEING KIND OF QUEEN OF BONDING YOUR TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> QUEEN OF LIQUOR, SO THIS IS A PROMOTION.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

I'M WONDERING, WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, BIG ISSUES NOW, WHAT ISSUES, THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES, HAVE YOU ALL AVOIDED?

>> OH, AVOIDED.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

I MEAN, THINK ABOUT SOME OF THESE MAJOR ISSUES, WHAT HAVE YOU AVOIDED?

>> YOU MEAN IN TERMS OF HONEST DISCUSSION?

>> Cathy: YES.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY CERTAINLY WE SHY AWAY FROM TALKING HONESTLY ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND TEND NOT TO TAKE SIGNIFICANT ACTION OR EVEN AS WE'VE NOTICED IN THIS PAST SESSION BEING ALLOWED TO VOTE.

AND I THINK THE PUBLIC EXPECTS MORE OF US THAN THAT.

AND OTHER TOPICS LIKE WHAT ARE WE REALLY GOING TO BE DOING ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY.

WE STILL HAVE A MORATORIUM ABOUT EVEN DISCUSSING IT.

AND THAT'S COWARDICE ON OUR PART.

>> Cathy: REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON?

>> I FIND THAT THE BEST-ADVERTISED ISSUES ARE OFTEN THE HARDEST TO DEAL WITH, WHETHER IT BE RIGHT TO LIFE HIGH ISSUES, WHETHER IT BE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES, THAT SENATOR PAPPAS TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THE THINGS THAT DIVIDE US TEND TO KEEP US DIVIDED.

AND WHEN THEY ARE USED IN POLITICAL ADS AND OTHER MEDIA RESOURCES, IT MAKES IT WORSE.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY DEVELOPED OVER THE TIME WE'VE EEN IN THE LEGISLATURE IS SOCIAL MEDIA.

PEOPLE GET STUCK IN THESE ECHO CHAMBERS WHERE THEY HEAR PEOPLE THAT THEY AGREE WITH AND THOSE MESSAGES GET BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH WITHIN THE ECHO CHAMBER AND THEY BECOME TRUE BELIEVERS.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT, I THINK WE ALL REMEMBER LAWMAKERS -- ROGER MOE COMES TO MIND, HE WAS A REALLY GOOD DEAL MAKER.

YOU ALL ARE LEAVING WITH A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY AND KNOWLEDGE.

AND YOU ALL CAN DO DEALS.

SO WHO'S BEHIND YOU THAT ARE ABLE TO DO DEALS?

>> WHO DO I -- >> Cathy: DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AS OU LEAVE?

>> YES.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- YOU GOT TO DO DEALS, YOU JUST HAVE TO DO THAT TO GET THINGS DONE.

>> YES, YES.

I FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE CANDIDATES THAT I KNOW, IN THEIR BACKGROUND AND THEIR ABILITY TO LISTEN TO ALL SIDES AND COME UP WITH A WORKABLE SOLUTION.

SO I FEEL CONFIDENT IN THAT.

BUT I ALSO THINK, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, IF IT'S NOT AN HONEST DISCUSSION AND DEBATE AND ALSO IF IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING SOUND BITE THAT YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY GO PUT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.

>> Cathy: SENATOR PAPPAS.

>> I THINK ERIN MURPHY IS A GOOD DEAL MAKER, SHE'S BEEN OUR MAJORITY LEADER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.

I THINK SHE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THE COMPROMISES, AND SHE'LL SACRIFICE HERSELF, WHICH I THINK IS PART OF A GOOD LEADER, SHE'LL SACRIFICE, YOU KNOW, WHAT SHE WANTS OR WHAT SHE NEEDS FOR HER DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEAL GETS MADE.

>> Cathy: SAY, ARE YOU OKAY IF I ASK PREDICTIONS, WHICH PARTY WILL ONTROL THE HOUSE AND SENATE, SENATOR REST?

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT EARLIER, I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO COMMENT.

>> Cathy: REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON?

>> I CHOOSE TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE THE BEST SLATE OF STATEWIDE CANDIDATES WE'VE HAD FOR A LONG TIME.

I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR FUTURE GOVERNOR DEMUTH.

I'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH HER SINCE SHE WAS ELECTED LEADER OF OUR CAUCUS.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK REPUBLICANS ABOUT CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I THINK WE HAVE A SHOT.

>> Cathy: YOU HAVE A SHOT.

SENATOR NELSON?

>> YES, I DO, TOO.

ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT, I'M OUT AND ABOUT A LOT, PEOPLE ARE JUST FED UP WITH THE FRAUD, JUST FED UP WITH THAT.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT NEW LEADERSHIP.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

BUT WILL REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE SENATE?

THE HOUSE?

>> I THINK DEMUTH HAS A GOOD CHANCE AS GOVERNOR.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT CHANCE IN THE SENATE.

AND I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR ABOUT THE HOUSE CANDIDATES.

>> Cathy: SENATOR PAPPAS?

>> I THINK EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE LOCAL ISSUES THAT ARE A CHALLENGE FOR DEMOCRATS, I THINK THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE BLUE WAVE WILL HIT MINNESOTA AND WE'LL HAVE A DFL TRIFECTA.

>> Cathy: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF FOR YOU YOUR SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

REALLY, THANK YOU.

YOU'VE DONE GREAT WORK.

AND YOU'LL BE MISSED.

HAPPY RETIREMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Cathy: THANKS SO MUCH.

ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE GONE LONG TONIGHT.

A CAMPAIGN SEASON RECURRENCE.

BEFORE WE GO, A REMINDER ELECTION DAY IS THIS COMING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD.

NO EXCUSE VOTING IN MINNEOSTA MEANS JUST THAT.

YOU CAN VOTE EARLY, BY MAIL OR HEAD TO THE POLLS.

DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR MICROWAVES AND CAR CLOCKS BACK