All Videos - Minnesota 2021 - 2021 1st Special Session (Page 8)
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
A Deeper Look into Minnesota's First Two Governors Aug 25th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
This program was a historical feature on the Minnesota Capitol’s collection of gubernatorial portraits and the stories behind them. It explained why the portraits are oil paintings rather than photographs, how their size and style changed over time, and how more recent governors work with artists to include personal symbols and settings that reflect their interests or legacies. Examples discussed included Floyd B. Olson’s radio microphone, Arne Carlson’s butterflies tied to his Swedish heritage, Jesse Ventura’s symbolic background, Mark Dayton’s portrait acknowledging his role in the Capitol’s restoration, and the controversy over Rudy Perpich’s portrait including his wife, Lola.
The second half focused on Minnesota’s first two governors, Henry Hastings Sibley and Alexander Ramsey. Sibley was described as a fur trader, territorial delegate, constitutional convention participant, and the state’s first governor, with emphasis on his relationships with the Dakota people, his role in the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, and the controversial five-million-dollar railroad loan issue during his governorship. Ramsey was discussed as Minnesota’s first territorial governor and second state governor, his role in promoting settlement and acculturation, his leadership during the Civil War and U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, and his call for the Dakota to be driven out of the state. The program noted the mass execution of Dakota men at Mankato, the internment of Dakota people at Fort Snelling, and the long-term consequences of those events.
The program also touched on Ramsey’s later political career in the U.S. Senate, as Secretary of War, and as a commissioner on Utah polygamy, while noting that both men’s legacies are complicated by their roles in Minnesota’s early expansion and in policies that harmed Native people. It closed by reflecting on how modern viewers interpret these figures through lenses such as mental health, grief, and historical accountability.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
MN House booth set-up at 2022 Minnesota State Fair Aug 25th, 2022
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Take the 2022 MN House opinion poll at the MN State Fair! Aug 24th, 2022
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The segment promotes the Minnesota House of Representatives’ annual opinion poll at the State Fair booth in the Education Building. Mike Cook of the nonpartisan House Public Information Services Office explains that the 12-question poll is designed by staff who review session coverage and select hot-button issues that may not have been resolved, using the poll as a tool to gauge public views across the state.
Cook and the interviewer note that legislators do pay attention to the results, reviewing them after the fair to get a sense of Minnesotans’ priorities. The poll questions change each year, and the full results are posted on the House website and can also be received through the nonpartisan Session Daily email.
No formal legislative action or vote occurs in the segment; it is an informational invitation for fairgoers to participate in the poll and contribute to the legislative process.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
MN House at the 2022 MN State Fair! Aug 23rd, 2022
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The speaker encourages fairgoers to visit the Minnesota House of Representatives booth at the Minnesota State Fair and participate in an annual 12-question opinion poll. The poll is described as informal and designed to gather public views on a range of legislative issues, including topics currently under discussion and those that may come up in the future.
The remarks emphasize that the survey data is useful to lawmakers and that the booth offers a low-pressure way for people to engage with government. The speaker frames participation as an opportunity for the public to make their voices heard on legislative matters.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Two Influential Women Legislators Reflect on Senate Careers Aug 19th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
This Capitol Report focused on the retirement of Senators Julie Rosen and Michelle Benson, along with a remembrance of Senator David Tomassoni. Rosen reflected on major bipartisan accomplishments from her Senate career, including authoring the legislation that helped build U.S. Bank Stadium, leading the 2018 pension reform effort, and helping craft major anti-methamphetamine legislation in 2005. She also discussed the 2019 opioid-distributor licensing fees that continue to fund treatment and county services, and repeatedly emphasized that major bills require personal relationships, compromise, and working across the aisle.
Benson discussed her work as chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and the budget pressures in that area, citing rising demand for care, aging demographics, and the high cost of services. She said her background in health care, auditing, and family experience made the committee a good fit, and pointed to her efforts on program integrity, accountability, and a reverse-auction approach she said would save taxpayer money. She also criticized the legislature’s failure to act on the state surplus and said she would focus on health care after leaving the Senate.
The program also honored Senator David Tomassoni, who died after battling ALS. It noted his role in passing increased funding for ALS research and included remarks from colleagues describing him as a bridge-builder and respected mentor. The episode ended with a feature on the State Fair opinion poll and a tour of the Supreme Court chamber in the Capitol, explaining its symbolism, murals, and the role of the courts in Minnesota’s system of government.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Senator Michelle Benson Reflects on Senate Career Aug 19th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The interview focused on outgoing Minnesota Senator Michelle Benson’s 12 years in office, with emphasis on her long service on the Health and Human Services committee and her chairmanship from 2017 to 2021. Benson said she was drawn to the committee because it oversees the fastest-growing part of the state budget and affects many Minnesotans, and she discussed challenges ahead such as rising demand for care, an aging population, disability services, and escalating costs. She also reflected on her gubernatorial run, saying it broadened her view of the state and reinforced her belief in respectful political discourse.
Benson criticized the Legislature’s failure to act on the roughly $9 billion surplus, saying she would have preferred a bonding bill and tax cuts rather than additional spending. She said federal funds should have been returned to taxpayers instead of expanding government. She also described her work with the Legislative Auditor and Minnesota Management and Budget as among her proudest accomplishments, citing efforts to improve program integrity, accountability, and results-first budgeting.
The conversation also touched on the role of women and parents in the Senate. Benson said the chamber has improved somewhat for lawmakers with young children but still has room to improve, and she encouraged more family-friendly scheduling. She said her next step will likely involve work in health care and other highly regulated settings, and the interview ended with thanks for her service as she prepared to leave the Senate.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Senator Julie Rosen Reflects on Senate Career Aug 19th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The interview focused on outgoing Minnesota Senator Julie Rosen’s major legislative accomplishments and her reflections on retiring after two decades in the Senate. She highlighted her role as chief author of the bill that helped build U.S. Bank Stadium for the Vikings, describing it as a carefully negotiated deal that benefited Minneapolis, the team, and the state. She also discussed the 2018 pension reforms, saying stabilizing public pension funds was essential to protect teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other state workers, and that the effort showed pension reform could be achieved through bipartisan compromise.
Rosen also revisited her early work leading the Minnesota Methamphetamine Task Force, which produced major anti-meth legislation in 2005. She said meth had spread into southern Minnesota and that the resulting bill addressed child endangerment, contaminated property, treatment, and safe harbor homes for mothers with addicted children. She emphasized that the bill succeeded because of cooperation from retailers, judges, police, staff, and lawmakers from both parties, and said that experience taught her the importance of reaching across the aisle.
The conversation also covered her work on opioid policy, including 2019 licensing fees on opioid distributors and manufacturers to raise money for treatment and county services. Rosen said Minnesota is on a solid path in addressing opioid abuse and that the state has built a strong foundation for ongoing relief efforts. In closing, she urged future legislators to focus on personal relationships, compromise, and practical work rather than partisan conflict, and said she believes she accomplished what she set out to do when she arrived in 2002.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Remembering Senator David Tomassoni Aug 19th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The meeting was largely a remembrance of Senator David Tomassoni, who recently died from ALS after championing legislation to increase funding for ALS research. Speakers noted that the bill had already been signed into law in a ceremonial signing last March in the Governor’s reception room, and Tomassoni’s own remarks about receiving support from the governor, Speaker Hortman, and Majority Leader Miller were recalled.
Several members paid tribute to Tomassoni’s career and character. He was described as a brief Senate President and a leading advocate for Minnesota’s Iron Range. Senator Tom Bakk said, “We lost a giant.” Majority Leader Jeremy Miller called him a wonderful colleague, friend, and mentor, and Minority Leader Melissa Lopez Franzen said he succeeded by building bridges and working collaboratively with dignity, love, and respect, even in contentious debates.
The discussion did not include any new legislative action or votes. It focused on honoring Tomassoni’s legacy, his ALS diagnosis and the difficult prognosis he faced, and the bipartisan respect he earned at the Capitol.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Senate and House Booths at the State Fair Aug 19th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
This transcript is a promotional announcement encouraging State Fair visitors to participate in Minnesota’s annual opinion poll on pressing state issues. It explains that the poll questions are drawn from unresolved bills and current concerns being considered by lawmakers.
The announcement directs fairgoers to the Minnesota Senate and House booths in the Education Building on Cosgrove Street, where they can take the separate polls and sometimes speak with lawmakers who are present to hear public concerns. It also notes that the Education Building includes nonprofit and educational exhibits, robotics demonstrations by middle and high school students, and displays of student art, writing, and craft projects.
No legislative debate, testimony, or votes are described in the transcript.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Legislative Task Force on Child Protection Aug 17th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The meeting focused on an overview of Minnesota’s child protection court process and the broader tensions in child welfare reform. The presenter emphasized that the system must balance child safety, family preservation, trauma reduction, and racial equity, while recognizing that neglect cases are far more common than physical or sexual abuse cases. She noted that neglect can sometimes be tied to poverty, chemical dependency, or untreated mental health issues, and that systemic racism has contributed to harm in the system. She also stressed the importance of hearing from multiple perspectives, including people directly impacted by child welfare involvement.
The presentation walked through the legal process after a child protection case enters court: county attorneys decide whether to file a petition, emergency removal hearings must occur within 72 hours, and judges determine whether a child would face immediate danger if returned home. The speaker described the CHIPS phase, case plans, reunification efforts, and the later permanency phase if reunification is not likely. She explained the main permanency outcomes as reunification, termination of parental rights and adoption, or transfer of legal custody to a relative, and noted that relatives are generally preferred placements when removal occurs.
A substantial portion of the discussion covered legal representation. The presenter explained that Minnesota children age 10 and older have a right to their own attorney under McKenna’s Law, and that a new law effective in January 2023 gives every parent in Minnesota a right to counsel at every hearing in a child protection case. She said this change was driven by access-to-counsel concerns and statewide equity issues, since practice had varied by county. Senator Hoffman asked about the interpretation of neglect and the term “willfully deprives,” especially as it affects parents with disabilities; the presenter responded that statutory language can be interpreted differently, but the court process provides checks and balances. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Governor Henry Hastings Sibley Aug 12th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The discussion focused on Henry Hastings Sibley’s role in Minnesota history, including his work for the American Fur Company, his close relationships with Dakota people, and his later political career. The speaker described how Sibley came to Minnesota as a young fur company representative, built a home near Fort Snelling, and became known as “Walker in the Pines.” His ties to Dakota communities were presented as significant but also complicated by the growing pressure of white settlement and the decline of the fur trade.
The transcript also covered the 1851 treaties, especially Traverse des Sioux, and how traders sought treaty payments to cover debts owed by Dakota people, which deepened tensions and accusations of cheating. Sibley’s governorship was described as short and difficult, marked by the state’s railroad loan controversy: Minnesota amended its constitution to allow a $5 million loan to railroads, but the economic panic left only a few miles of track built and the debt lingering for years. The speaker said Sibley opposed some of the financing but was politically blamed for the outcome.
A major portion of the conversation addressed the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 and its aftermath. Sibley was said to have led military efforts against the Dakota, supported the detention of noncombatants at Fort Snelling, and backed military trials that resulted in the execution of 38 Dakota men after President Lincoln reduced the original death sentences. The speaker noted that historians have long criticized the fairness of those trials. The segment concluded by emphasizing that Sibley’s legacy is mixed: he was an early territorial delegate, constitutional convention figure, and civic leader in Saint Paul, but also a controversial figure tied to dispossession and violence against Dakota people.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Battling Invasive Carp Aug 12th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee held an informational hearing on invasive carp and the threat they pose to Minnesota’s rivers, lakes, recreation, and economy. Testifiers and Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen warned that if carp establish themselves in Minnesota waters, they could damage fisheries, tourism, boating safety, and the ecology of the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix river systems. Ingebrigtsen said the state has monitored carp for years and funded research through the Legacy Committee, but argued that the issue now requires action rather than more study.
A proposal discussed at the hearing would modify Lock and Dam 5 near Lake Pepin and install a bio-acoustic fish fence to block carp from moving farther north. Ingebrigtsen said the engineering work has already been done, the technology has been tested elsewhere, and the state should move quickly even if the project is expensive. He said he would support seeking funding in a special session if necessary and was willing to pursue money from state, federal, or other sources.
The DNR said it remains committed to invasive carp prevention and management and wants to continue working with partners on possible solutions. Senator Scott Dibble was also described as supportive of a collaborative approach and prevention efforts. The hearing did not take a formal vote or advance legislation; it was informational, with the main action being discussion of the Lock and Dam 5 proposal and the need for future funding and coordination.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Battling Invasive Carp / Governor Henry Hastings Sibley / Touring the BCA Aug 12th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The program focused heavily on invasive carp prevention in Minnesota, featuring an informational Senate Environment Committee hearing and an interview with Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen. Testifiers and the senator warned that if carp establish themselves in Minnesota waters, the ecological, recreational, tourism, and economic impacts could be severe and irreversible. They discussed a proposal to modify Lock and Dam No. 5 near Lake Pepin and install a bio-acoustic fish fence to block carp from moving farther north. Ingebrigtsen said the state should act now, argued that current efforts have not been adequate, and suggested the legislature may need to fund the project, possibly in a special session using the state surplus. Sen. Scott Dibble was also cited as supportive of prevention and collaboration on the issue.
The program also covered Governor Tim Walz’s tour of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, where he and law enforcement officials emphasized efforts to address violent crime. Walz and others said the state should invest more in the BCA, investigators, the fusion center, State Patrol staffing, and additional facilities to speed up forensic work and help stop retaliatory shootings and other future crimes. The message was that faster processing and stronger investigative capacity can improve accountability and public safety.
A separate historical segment examined Henry Hastings Sibley, Minnesota’s first governor and an early territorial leader. The discussion highlighted his role in fur trading, his relationships with the Dakota, his participation in the constitutional convention, and his later public service in Saint Paul. It also addressed the controversial and tragic legacy of the U.S.-Dakota War, the military trials, and the mass execution of Dakota men in 1862, presenting Sibley as a significant but deeply complicated figure in Minnesota history.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance - 08/10/2022
Summary:
The committee met informally to discuss the threat of invasive bigheaded carp in Minnesota waters, with the chair emphasizing that the issue had been raised for many years but had recently regained urgency because of new reports and media attention. The main witness was University of Minnesota professor Dr. Petersson, who said a decade of research funded by about $5 million from LCCMR had brought the science to a point where the state must decide whether to act now or risk losing the chance to prevent establishment. He reviewed the history and impacts of invasive aquatic species in Minnesota, argued that prevention is the only realistic strategy, and said bigheaded carp could severely damage fisheries, biodiversity, and recreation if they reproduce in the state.
Dr. Petersson described bigheaded carp as a serious ecological and economic threat, citing evidence from southern states that they reduce game fish, native planktivorous fish, freshwater mussels, and water quality, and noted that silver carp can jump high enough to injure people and disrupt fishing. He said Minnesota is still at a narrow window of opportunity because the fish have been detected in Pool 8 and are now being seen near Pool 5A and Lock and Dam 5. He stressed that even a small number of breeding females could lead to rapid population growth, making later control extremely difficult and expensive.
He then outlined a proposed control plan centered on modifying the Mississippi River lock-and-dam system, especially Lock and Dam 5, which he said is the key barrier before Lake Pepin and upstream waters. Based on his team’s research and a Barr Engineering feasibility review, he said the plan could stop 97 to 99 percent of adult carp if implemented quickly, using redundant measures at locks, spillway gates, and dam structures. He estimated implementation would cost about $1 million, while failing to act could leave the state spending $1 to $2 million annually on removal efforts that would not solve the problem. No formal vote or action was taken in the meeting; it was informational and focused on testimony and discussion.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Raising Revenue for Roads and Bridges Aug 5th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The discussion focused on dedicated funding for roads and bridges in Minnesota, centered on a bill authored by Sen. Jeff Howe that would have redirected all sales tax revenue from auto parts to transportation. Howe said the measure was intended to address deteriorating roads, help keep up with traffic and heavier farm equipment, and provide more support for township roads and small cities that rely heavily on property taxes. He noted the bill had passed the Senate 59-7 in the prior session and would have sent 86 percent of the revenue to the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund, with the rest split between town roads and small cities.
Howe responded to criticism that shifting that revenue would hurt the general fund, arguing transportation receives a very small share of the overall budget compared with education and health and human services, so the impact would be limited while the benefits to local road systems and property tax relief would be significant. He also discussed transportation funding challenges posed by electric and hybrid vehicles, saying the current $75 surcharge should be higher and that the amount in his bill was based on MnDOT data rather than an arbitrary figure.
He said his preferred approach was not the surcharge but a separate proposal to tax electricity used as vehicle fuel and dedicate that revenue to the highway fund. Howe emphasized that the state needs a workable system for charging electric vehicles, and eventually other alternative-fuel vehicles, for their use of roads. No new vote or formal action occurred in this interview segment beyond the discussion of the previously passed Senate bill.