>> WOULDN'T BE SESSION WITHOUT HAVING ERIC ESKOLA LONG TIME WCCO RADIO REPORTER AND ALMANAC'S OWN.

IT REALLY STRIKES ME WITH THESE RETIREMENTS WE HAVE SOME BIG ONES THIS YEAR AND I'M URE THERE'S MORE COMING.

WE'VE HAD SENATOR REST ON, WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON NEXT WEEK.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THE CLOSERS ON THAT PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO GET A BILL DONE.

HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THIS PLACE?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A BILL IN THE HOPPER FOR TERM LIMITS, IS THERE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT AND THERE'S SO MUCH TURNOVER PARTICULARLY IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE THEY RUN EVERY TWO YEARS.

>> YEAH, AND THEY ALSO LOST ONE OF THEIR OWN, I DON'T THINK WE CAN OVERLOOK THAT.

AND NEARLY LOST ONE OF THEIR OWN OVER THERE TOO.

IT'S A FACTOR.

>> AND THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE MOOD AROUND HERE AND TIGHTENED SECURITY AND ALL OF THAT.

IT'S A DIFFERENT PLACE AND, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED SOME PEOPLE WITH FRESH IDEAS JUST FROM DOORKNOCKING AND A MONTH EARLIER THEY COME INTO PLAY, THE MID-CAREER TYPES WHO ARE JUST FEELING A WAY, BUT FEELING MORE CONFIDENT ND THEN SOME VETERAN CLOSERS, YOU NEED THAT MIX AND I THINK THE OLD-TIMERS AROUND HERE WOULD SAY, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CLOSERS HERE ANYMORE.

WE GOT SOME BUT THEY AREN'T THE OLD CLOSERS.

IT'S A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT AND A DIFFERENT SET OF ISSUES OF COURSE THAT ARE COMING UP, SO.

>> I THINK WE GOT TO HEAR FROM THE FORMER LAWMAKERS BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENT VIBE IN THE HOUSE FROM THE SENATE THIS YEAR.

I HEARD A LOBBYIST EARLIER SAID THAT THE HOUSE IS SO CHIPPY ALREADY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> WELL, THERE IS SOME BIPARTISANSHIP.

>> BUT THERE'S SO MANY YOU TIE AND YOU DIE VOTES AND IN COMMITTEE THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIMES GETTING THINGS OUT AND MOVING IT ALONG.

>> I THINK REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO MADE THE POINT VERY WELL THAT POWER IS VERY, VERY CONCENTRATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE GOVERNOR IS A LAME DUCK BUT DOES HAVE THE VETO PEN STILL SO HE'S A PLAYER.

AND I THINK THEY'LL HAVE INTERESTING BATTLE GETTING THEIR BUDGET TARGETS, HOW MUCH THEY WANT TO SPEND BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS TO PLAY WITH NOW.

>> JUST ENOUGH TO PLAY, ISN'T THERE?

YEAH.

AND IT'S JUST ENOUGH SO THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE SOME HOPE THAT IF I GET MY HAND OUT I'LL GET MY SLICE OF THE PIE.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR A SALES TAX INCREASE, FOR HOUSING.

ANN REST I THINK SENT CONTAINING THE IDEA OF A TAX ON SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES.

SO THERE'S, AND THEN THE SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO ROLL BACK THE GAS TAX, VEHICLE SALES TAX, TAB FEES.

>> YEP.

>> ALWAYS A FAVORITE.

>> AND WE JUST SOME SOME OF THE EARLIER POPULAR ROLLING BACK, THE TIPS, RIGHT, THAT'S ALWAYS POPULAR.

>> AFFORDABILITY, BUT WHERE'S AFFORDABILITY?

THE ISSUES IN THE EARLY GOING ARE FRAUD, I.C.E., AND CONDUCT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

BUT AFFORDABILITY'S GOT TO SNEAK IN THERE SOMEWHERE WHEN EVERYBODY 201 SEATS ARE UP FOR ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

>> I THINK IT'S COMING BUT DON'T YOU THINK THAT THE IMMIGRATION ISSUES AND GUN ISSUES WERE SO EMOTIONAL AND SO PRESSING EARLY ON?

>> THERE'S AN ANTI-PRICE GOUGING BILL.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THAT I WONDER IF THAT'S EVEN CONSTITUTION -- IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE STATE CAN DO ON PRICES?

>> I JUST ONDER IF THE WHOLE SESSION, DOES THIS HAVE THE POTENTIAL, WE USED TO TALK ABOUT DO-NOTHING SESSIONS, ODD YEARS IF THERE'S NOT APPETITE OR BIPARTISANSHIP FOR A BONDING BILL THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, DO THEY?

>> TAKE IT TO THE ELECTION!

>> IT FEELS LIKE IT COULD BE THAT KIND OF YEAR.

>> AND IS THIS A 2022 SITUATION WHERE THE REPUBLICANS HAD A PRETTY GOOD OFFER FROM THE DEMOCRATS ON THE BUDGET, THOUGHT, WELL, WE'LL BE IN CHARGE IN 2023 SO WE'LL DO BETTER THAN THAT OFFER?

TURNED OUT THEY GOT BEAT IN THE '23-'24 SESSIONS WERE SO PROGRESSIVE.

>> AND CANDIDATES GALORE, WE STILL TECHNICALLY HAVE THREE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR IN THIS CHAMBER ALONE RIGHT NOW.

>> SO YOU'RE THINKING LESS RATHER THAN MORE?

>> I THINK SO.

AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THE BUDGET FORECAST NUMBERS ARE REAL NUMBERS EITHER.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS IN THERE.

>> WELL, IT'S LESS ACCURATE THAN USUAL I'M AFRAID.

>> DEFINITELY.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISE ADVICE.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

AND FRIDAY NIGHT ON "ALMANAC" TUNE IN FOR ERIC, WE'LL BE TALKING TO THE I.T.

COMMISSIONER AND I'LL