>> Mary: WITH THE NUMBER OF LAWMAKERS THAT ARE LEAVING THE LEDGE SLAUGHTER TO RUN FOR OTHER OFFICE, WE HAVE NOT BEEN TALKING TO THOSE, BUT REPRESENTATIVE KRISTIN ROBBINS SUSS SUSPENDED ER CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR AFTER A LIFETIME OF CARING ABOUT GOVERNMENT.

♪ ♪ >> I'M NOT AN ATHLETE SO I WAS NEVER INVOLVED N SPORTS.

I PLAYED OBOE IN BAND, I WAS IN CHOIR, I DID DEBATE YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT, I LOVED CIVICS.

WE HAD A TEACHER NAMED MS.

HIGGINS WHO WAS NEAR RETIREMENT WHEN I HAD HER ND SHE'D BEEN TEACHING ABOUT 40 YEARS AND SHE WAS FANTASTIC AND THAT'S WHERE I REALLY THINK SOME OF MY LOVE OF GOVERNMENT STARTED.

[ Banging Gavel ] >> THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.

A QUORUM IS PRESENT.

[ Banging Gavel ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Mary: WITH US NOW IN PERSON REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE KRISTIN ROBBINS, FIRST OF ALL REPRESENTATIVE, WHAT WAS THAT MOMENT LIKE HAVING THAT FAREWELL AT THE SPEAKER'S DESK?

>> OH, IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL.

LOOKING OUT AT ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND SWEET MEMORIES IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EIGHT YEARS, I AM VERY BLESSED TO HAVE SERVED.

IS IS >> >> Mary: HOW ABOUT YOUR FUTURE?

YOU'RE DONE WITH YOUR RUN FOR GOVERNOR, ARE YOU DONE WITH POLITICS?

>> YOU KNOW, I'LL NEVER SAY NEVER, BUT LIFE IS ONG AND THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO DO IN LIFE.

I HAVE LOVED THE EIGHT YEARS I'VE SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE, IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE BLESSING BUT THERE'S A LOT TO DO SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO FINDING OUT WHAT ELSE I COULD PUT MY HAND TO.

>> Mary: IT SOUNDS LIKE WE TALKED LAST WEEK, YOU ARE NOT RUNNING FOR THE SENATE SEAT THAT OPENED UP FOR SENATOR LIMMER, NOT RUNNING FOR AUDITOR.

STILL IN THOSE POSITIONS?

>> YES, NO, I'M NOT SEEKING ANY OTHER OFFICE, THAT WAS THE PLAN AND I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT BUT, YEAH, I AM NOT LOOKING FOR ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS CYCLE.

>> Mary: WE SAW YOU AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW CHAIRING THE FRAUD COMMITTEE.

THAT HAS BEEN A VERY HIGH PROFILE PLACE FOR YOU AND ISSUE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN IN THESE FINAL DAYS ON FRAUD IN THIS SESSION?

>> WELL, I'M HOPING WE GET THE OIG BILL PASSED TOMORROW.

I BELIEVE IT'S ON THE FLOOR TOMORROW.

AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT HAT WE HAVE THIS INDEPENDENT EXECUTIVE BRANCH INSPECTOR GENERAL, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE AS THE LEGISLATURE, WE CAN'T GO IN THERE AND FIRE PEOPLE AND CLEAN THINGS UP BECAUSE IT'S A SEPARATE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT SO WE NEEDED THAT EMBEDDED IN THE OIG.

WE NEED TO EXTEND THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, THERE'S OTHER BILLS ORKING ON INTERNAL CONTROLS.

SO THERE ARE MANY THINGS I WANT TO GET OVER THE FINISH LINE >> Mary: INSPECTOR GENERAL STAY SEPARATE OSO IT IT CAN MOVE ALONG TO THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR >> YES, THAT'S OUR HOPE.

>> Mary: OTHER ISSUES, WILL THEY GET BUNDLED?

I KNOW I RAN INTO THE HEAD OF THE BCA, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER AND I SAID WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING OVER HERE AND THEY SAID WE'RE WORKING ON FRAUD.

THERE IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT TO SOME OF THESE ILLS.

>> ABSOLUTELY, NO, AND THERE ARE FRAUD BILLS MOVING IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT COMMITTEE BILLS, SORT OF COMMITTEES OF JURISDICTION, SO I EXPECT THAT WE WILL GET SEVERAL THINGS OVER THE FINISH LINE, SO.

>> Mary: HOW DIFFERENT DOES SESSION LOOK NOW THAT YOU ARE NO LONGER RUNNING FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE AND RUNNING AGAINST TWO OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, THAT ARE TWO CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR IN THIS CHAMBER.

DOES IT FEEL DIFFERENT NOW?

>> IT REALLY DOESN'T.

WE ALL DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF KEEPING THE POLITICS OUT OF THE SESSION.

AND SO WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE TEAM AND WE'RE FULLY FUNCTIONING FOR OUR COMMITTEES AND FOR OUR TEAM AND POLITICS WAS AT THE DOOR SO IT'S NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM AND IT REALLY HASN'T HANGED, SO.

>> Mary: I'VE BEEN TALKING TO ALL THE RETIRING LAWMAKERS AS I CAN SEE MELISSA HORTMAN'S FLOWERS DOWN THERE AND HER MEMORIAL AND EVERYBODY HAS ADMITTED IT HAD A REAL IMPACT ON SESSION.

TELL ME HOW IT'S AFFECTED YOU.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO ALK IN THE CHAMBER EVERY DAY BUT ALSO SO HONORING, I LOVE THEY'RE DOING THE FRESH ROSES AND HER PHOTO IS THERE, HER CHAIR IS ROPED OFF.

I THINK IT'S EXACTLY APPROPRIATE, AND WE'VE DONE A COUPLE BILLS TO HONOR MELISSA AND MARK THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME AND HONOR HER LEGACY.

I THINK HAT'S REALLY GOOD AND HEALING FOR THE MEMBERS.

BUT CERTAINLY IT'S DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK SHE WOULD WANT US TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET THE WORK DONE.

SHE WAS A WORKER BEE, SO.

>> Mary: THAT NEW HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET BE NAMED AFTER HER?

DO YOU THINK THAT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN?

>> I DON'T KNOW HONESTLY, I'M NOT ON THE COMMITTEE THAT DEALS WITH THAT.

THERE'S TALK ABOUT THAT, THERE'S TALK ABOUT A PARK.

SEVERAL THINGS.

>> Mary: MEMORIAL, STATUE, BUT YOU THINK MORE IS COMING TO HONOR HER.

>> I DO THINK SO, YES.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HISTORY, WE WERE ENJOYING THE PIECE OF YOU GOING THROUGH YOUR YEARBOOK AND I KNOW YOU'VE CONTINUED OUR WHOLE LIFE TO BE INVOLVED IN YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT AND REALLY WANTING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE HERE.

TELL ME THE IMPACT THAT HAD ALL THE WAY BACK TO YOUR TEENAGE YEARS TO THE PRESENT.

>> OH, I LOVED IT.

I TOLD PATRICK MURPHY WHEN I WAS ON THE DAIS YESTERDAY, LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP.

I WANT TO STAY INVOLVED IN ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE, I TRY TOCAP IN TOUCH WITH THEM AND ENCOURAGE HEM SO ANYTHING I CAN DO TO PROMOTE YOUNG PEOPLE'S INTEREST IN PUBLIC SERVICE I WILL CONTINUE TO DO.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD AB BE ELECTED OFFICIAL TODAY WITHOUT YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT?

>> OH IT, REALLY IGNITED ME, I'M SO THANKFUL.

AND THERE'S OTS OF WAYS TO SERVE EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT ELECTED I WORKED AS A STAFFER IN CONGRESS 30-SOME YEARS AGO, WORKED AT THE LEGISLATURE UNDER GOVERNOR CARLSON, AND GOVERNOR PAWLENTY, I WAS ON HIS CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS COMMISSION.

AIF YOU HAVE THAT SPARK TO DO PUBLIC SERVICE THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO BE INVOLVED.

>> Mary: LAST WEEK WE HAD THE D.F.L.

COCHAIR OF THE CIVILITY CAUCUS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT CIVILITY, DO YOU THINK THERE'S HOPE FOR THAT STILL?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FUN TO DO IT WITH SAPPED AREA, SHE AND I HAVE BECOME GOOD FRIENDS.

I THINK THE WORK OF THE CIVILITY CAUCUS IS IMPORTANT, IT'S IMPORTANT WE AS LEGISLATORS KNOW EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE SO WE CAN BUILD TRUST TO DO THE HARD NEGOTIATIONS AND THAT IS THE MISSION OF THE CIVILITY CAUCUS AND I THINK IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND I HOPE IT CONTINUES NEXT SESSION.

>> Mary: I NOTICED YOU STUDIED ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE.

WHICH BETTER PREPARED YOU FOR THIS JOB HERE IN THE HOUSE?

[ LAUGHTER ] WHAT DO YOU CALL ON MOST?

>> YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THE ECONOMICS.

AND THAT'S WHY I GOT THE MASTERS BECAUSE AT ROOT, MOST PUBLIC POLICY DECISIONS HAVE SOME ECONOMIC DRIVER WHETHER IT'S MEETING A NEED FOR CITIZENS OR WHETHER IT'S A BUDGET ISSUE, AND SO I THINK HAVING THAT UNDERSTANDING AND HERE IN THIS SESSION REALLY BEING A SPOKESPERSON IN SOME WAYS AGAINST THE RISE OF SOCIALISM AND PROMOTING FREE MARKETS AND CAPITALISM AND LOW TAXES, THE THINGS THAT REALLY DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE WAYS I'VE CONTRIBUTED.

>> Mary: YEAH, AND WHAT ABOUT A UNIQUE PLATFORM, IN THIS TIED HOUSE EVERY COMMITTEE HAS COCHAIRS, YOU HAVE THE ONE AND ONLY COMMITTEE WHERE YOU YIELD THAT GAVEL.

HOW IMPORTANT WAS THAT ON THE ISSUE OF FRAUD FOR YOU?

>> I THINK IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD THE COMMITTEE MAJORITY SO THAT WE COULD PURSUE THE OVERSIGHT QUESTIONS WE WANTED TO BRING.

AND I THINK WE DID A REAT SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND NATIONALLY O UNCOVER THE VECTORS OF FRAUD, THE BUSINESS MODEL OF FRAUD, AND TO KIND OF CRACK THE DOOR OPEN SO THAT OTHER STATES CAN SEE WHAT THESE RED FLAGS ARE AND HOPEFULLY CRACK DOWN ON FRAUD IN THEIR OWN STATES.

MINNESOTA IS THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE BUT IT IS GOING ON OTHER PLACES.

>> Mary: FINAL ADVICE WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE PERSON WHO REPLACES YOU OR OTHER LAWMAKERS WHO COME UP HERE?

>> TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING, MEET EVERYONE, ATTEND ALL YOUR COMMITTEE HEARINGS, READ ALL YOUR BILLS LIKE REALLY DIVE IN AND TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

IT'S SUCH A --S IT'S SUCH AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND ALWAYS PUT YOUR CONSTITUENTS IRST, ALWAYS DO CONSTITUENT SERVICE.

THAT'S BEEN THE MOST REWARDING, MOST OF MY SERVICE HAS BEEN IN THE MINORITY SO ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING PARTS HAS BEEN MOVING THE NEEDLE FOR MY CONSTITUENTS AND THAT'S A GREAT JOY.

>> Mary: WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF REAL QUICK?

>> OH, GOODNESS!

I GUESS THE WORK ON THE FRAUD GENERALLY, BUT, YEAH, SO MANY THINGS.

SO MANY THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVEN'T SEEN WHERE YOU HELP SOMEONE GET THEIR PENSION OR YOU ELP, YOU KNOW, IN SMALL WAYS FOR DIFFERENT FAMILIES, THAT'S A H