[ PEOPLE SINGING ] >> Mary: FAITH LEADERS PRESSED LAWMAKERS TO URGENTLY PASS A BILL TO RESCUE HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER, HCMC, WHILE WORKERS JOINED THE CALL TO FUND THE STATE'S SAFETY NET HOSPITAL.

>> IT'S REALLY UNSETTLING.

I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 29 YEARS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER ONCE -- LIKE, IT'S GOING TO MAKE ME CRY.

NOT EVERYBODY IS CALLED TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND THESE E THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT HCMC HAVE THAT CALLING AND THAT DESIRE.

THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO WORK.

>> WE NEED A DEAL THAT IS GOING TO STABILIZE THEM FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME SO THAT THE WORKERS OF THIS HOSPITAL CAN FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY HAVE JOB STABILITY AND A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR WALZ BLAMES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR CUTS TO MEDICAID, CREATING UNCOMPENSATED CARE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO LOSE HCMC BECAUSE OF THEM.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO ECONOMIC RECOVERY BECAUSE OF THEM.

>> Mary: THE FIRST ITEM LISTED IS HRJ.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PROSPECTS ARE?

>> WE NEED TAKE CARE OF HCMC AND OUR RURAL HOSPITALS BECAUSE THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL HAS DONE A LOT OF DAMAGE.

>> Mary: A BIPARTISAN PLAN HAS MOMENTUM.

>> HIS IS OUR STATEWIDE HOSPITAL FOR A LACK OF A BETTER TERM.

WE HAVE PATIENTS NOT ONLY IN HENNEPIN COUNTY BUT ACROSS THE STATE.

>> AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS -- THIS IS A STATEWIDE RESOURCE, WELL, THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN HENNEPIN COUNTY ARE REALLY FOOTING THE BILL TO KIND OF HELP THEM TO MAKE THAT CASH FLOW HAPPEN WEEK TO WEEK.

AND SO THAT'S SORT OF PART OF THE REASON FOR THE NEED FOR INTERVENTION.

>> IEFORTSZ JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.

IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE.

AND SO I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH IT AND LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT ANGLES AND KIND OF COME TOGETHER ON IT.

>> IT'S MY GOAL NOT TO AVE A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE PUTTERING BAND-AIDS ON SO WE CAN LIMP ALONG FOR A COUPLE MORE YEARS.

WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS TO MAKE IT SO THAT HENNEPIN -- HCMC, NORTH MEMORIAL, CAN NOT SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE.

>> Mary: COULD THIS BE A TEMPLATE FOR OTHER ISSUES YOU'RE MOVING QUICKLY, SESSION'S WINDING DOWN, IT'S BIPARTISAN.

>> WHEN WE DO COME TOGETHER AND WE HAVEN'T BURNED BRIDGES IN THE PAST, IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER TO WORK TOGETHER AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT SOMETHING.

YOU CAN FIND PATHS THROUGH.

YOU JUST HAVE TO WORK HARD AT IT.

>> Mary: IS THERE TIME IN THE LAST TEN DAYS TO GET THIS DONE SOME >> THERE'S ALWAYS TIME, UNTIL THAT FINAL GAVEL BANGS.

THERE'S ALWAYS TIME.

>> Mary: ANOTHER BIPARTISAN BILL DEALS WITH FRAUD AS THE MINNESOTA HOUSE FINALLY TOOK UP THE PLAN TO CREATE AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

>> THERE BEING 127 AYES AND 5 NAYS, THE BILL IS PASSED AND ITS TITLE AGREED TO.

THE BILL IS PASSED AS AMENDS AND ITS TITLE AGREED.

>> THE PROPOSED OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS A POWERFUL OFFICE MEANT TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL CONCERN.

FRAUD AGAINST OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS.

>> I HOPE THAT THIS IS HE BEGINNING OF THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

THIS AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE PASSED.

BECAUSE MINNESOTANS ARE MAD.

AND THEY DESERVE MORE.

>> Mary: THE SENATE PASSED A DIFFERENT VERSION LAST YEAR, AND THE GOVERNOR IS READY TO SIGN THE BILL.

>> IF YOU TALK ABOUT OVERSIGHT, VOTE FOR THAT OVERSIGHT AND THE BILLS THAT ARE WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CHAMBER.

[ Applause ] >> YOU GOT TO WANT STOP IT, NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT.

SO SEND 'EM TO MY DESK AND I'LL SIGN 'EM INTO LAW IMMEDIATELY.

>> Mary: SENATOR KLOBUCHAR ANNOUNCED HER PLAN AS THE LEADING CANDIDATE TO REPLACE THE GOVERNOR.

>> TRANSFORM OUR GOVERNMENT INTO A GOVERNMENT THAT IS INNOVATIVE, EFFECTIVE, AND ACCOUNTABLE.

THESE IDEAS AREN'T PARTISAN.

GOOD IDEAS CAN COME FROM DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

SOME OF THEM ARE PENDING RIGHT NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

>> FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WHAT THE HELL, PEOPLE?

>> IT IS MADDENING.

IT IS INFURIATING.

IT IS HARD.

>> Mary: AND THE FEISTY FRAUD COMMITTEE CONCLUDED FOR SESSION.

>> IT HAS BEEN EYE-OPENING FOR ME, AND I THINK FOR ALL OF OUR MEMBERS.

AND ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC.

>> LET'S CONTINUE TO DVANCE THE MANY PROPOSALS THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH OUR BODY AND OUR NEGOTIATION WITH THE SENATE.

VERY PLEASED WITH THEM.

>> I RAN INTO THE HEAD OF THE B.C.A., THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER.

I SAID WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING OVER HERE?

AND THEY SAID WE'RE WORKING ON FRAUD.

SO THERE IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT SAFETY ASPECT ON SOME OF THESE BILLS.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND THERE ARE FRAUD BILLS MOVING IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT COMMITTEE BILLS, YOU KNOW, SORT OF COMMITTEES OF JURISDICTION.