>> ERIC: EVER SINCE THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION HERE IN MINNESOTA, WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE CIVILITY.

THE CITIZENS LEAGUE'S LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE WORK BEING DONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP LAWMAKERS CONNECT ACROSS THE AISLE.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER TAKES US ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

>> Mary: THE PERFECT SUMMER DAY STARTS AT A CHARMING COMMUNITY CAFE.

IT INCLUDES A STROLL THROUGH A SUBURBAN PARK FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE DUO STRIVING FOR A FRESH TAKE ON CIVILITY.

>> YOU TWO DID PICK EACH OTHER?

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: TELL ME WHY YOU PICKED >> MOSTLY BECAUSE I WANTED TO LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT THE METRO AND ESPECIALLY THE SUBURB COMPONENT TO THE TWIN CITIES BECAUSE THEY DEAL WITH SOMETHING SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE COMMUNITY I REPRESENT DOWN IN FARIBAULT AND ANESVILLE AND BACK TOWARDS KENYON, WANAMINGO.

IT WOULD BE CARLY BECAUSE WE HAVE KIDS ABOUT THE SAME AGE AND A LOT OF THE SAME INTERESTS AND EVERYTHING.

AND THIS WOULD BE FUN.

>> Mary: OW DOES THIS HELP BREAK DOWN THAT GEOGRAPHIC DIVIDE?

>> I THINK JUST BEING ABLE TOLL VISIT SOMEBODY IN THEIR HOME TURF IS A LOT OF FUN.

IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT SIDE OF THEM AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AS A PERSON.

AS A PARENT.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO SEE WHAT WE DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND SOME OF THE CORPORATIONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SERVING WHEN WE COME TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND IT, OU KNOW, HELPS US TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S NOT JUST REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN FROM THAT AREA.

IT IS REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN AND ALL OF HIS CONSTITUENTS.

>> Mary: THIS SCHEDULED STOP IN EDEN PRAIRIE IS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE PROGRAM FROM THE NONPARTISAN CITIZENS LEAGUE.

>> WE'VE BEEN RUNNING THE LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE SINCE APRIL OF 2025.

AND TODAY IS OUR TENTH VISIT WITH OUR SIXTH PAIR OF LEGISLATORS.

>> Mary: DID THIS BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT AND PRESSING AFTER THE HORRIFIC ASSASSINATION THAT HAPPENED HERE?

>> OH, I THINK, IT DID WITHOUT QUESTION.

WE STARTED THIS UNDER HE IDEA, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A CLOSELY DIVIDED LEGISLATURE AND WE HAVE A LOT OF IMPORTANT WORK TO DO.

MINNESOTA'S A GREAT PLACE OR A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.

BUT TO FEEL THE IMPACT OF THAT HORRIFIC EVENT LAST SUMMER, AND HAVING POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS HIT SO CLOSE TO HOME, I THINK IT JUST HOWN SUCH A LIGHT FOR US ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TONING DOWN THAT RHETORIC OF UILDING THOSE REAL RELATIONSHIPS, OF REAL HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE LOCATED TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES, NOT DEMONIZING THE OTHER SIDE, BUT WORKING TOGETHER, BEING CURIOUS, UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER, WE NEED A LOT MORE OF THAT AND THIS PROGRAM CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT, JOB WELL DONE I THINK.

>> I WAS AT A LAST DAY OF SCHOOL PARTY AND WAS CHATTING UP ANOTHER DAD WHO ENDED UP BEING THE POLICE OFFICER WHO CAME TO MY HOME ON JUNE 14TH AND BROKE THE NEWS TO MY HUSBAND AND I BOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY -- >> IT'S FINDING THOSE COMMON THINGS THAT WE HAVE, BESIDES JUST COMMONALITY IN POLICY AND COMMONALITY IN THE WAY WE LOOK AT THINGS, BUT ALSO ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.

UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM AND WHEN I COME FROM AND, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, IT MAKES -- IT MAKES THE JOB A LOT EASIER TO BE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT A PERSON AS A PERSON AS OPPOSED TO LOOKING AT THEM FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A PARTY OR A PARTICULAR OSITION THEY TAKE, IT BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS IN A HURRY.

>> AND IT'S MORE FUN.

>> IT'S WAY MORE FUN.

>> Mary: SCHOOLS, HOUSING, CHILD CARE, ALL EMERGED AS CLEAR COMMONALITIES.

EVERYTHING YOU'VE BROUGHT UP ARE THINGS YOU AGREE ON.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU?

>> NOT REALLY.

I MEAN, THE MORE YOU SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLE, YEAH, WE MIGHT DISAGREE ON 10 OR 15 TO 20% OF THE ISSUES.

BUT SURPRISINGLY, 80% E CAN AGREE ON AND FIND COMMONALITY AND FIND SOME COMMON GROUND ON.

IT'S JUST WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE AS LEGISLATORS WILLING TO PUT IN THE EFFORT.

>> BEND TO THE DETAIL LEVEL OF HOW -- GETTING DOWN TO SPLITTING HAIRS ON SOME OF THAT STUFF.

>> Mary: AFTER A VISIT TO FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT, A BONDING BILL CONCEPT CAME UP WHICH NEEDS ACROSS THE AISLE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> IT'D BE FUN TO GET THE FULL COMMITTEE THERE TO LOOK AT IT.

>> SECOND BUSIEST AIRPORT IN THE STATE.

>> Mary: SO THIS IS REALLY A BLEND OF POLICY AND PERSONAL.

>> YES.

>> Mary: WAS THAT THE INTENT?

DID YOU KNOW THAT?

>> WELL -- >> WELL -- [ Laughter ] >> Mary: ALSO, THIS WEEK, THE GROUP, "MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE," RELEASED ITS STATE OF BIPARTISANSHIP REPORT THAT SHOWED BIPARTISAN GOVERNING REMAINS STEADY WHILE POLITICAL FNARRATIVES AMPLIFY DIVISION.

>> THE MOST REALISTIC THING TO KEEP IS CO-PRESENTING BIPARTISAN BILLS.

>> Mary: "MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE" ALSO CREATED A CIVILITY PLEDGE FOR FFICIALS TO SIGN FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATIONS.

BOTH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTING EACH OTHER'S NONPARTISAN WORK AND EXTEND THEIR REACH OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL.

>> WE'RE ALSO NOT COMPLETELY OPPOSITE.

WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS.

WE'RE MINNESOTANS.

WE LIVE HERE.

WE LOVE THIS PLACE.

WE ALL WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT DEAS ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENS, BUT THE BEST WAY TO FIGURE OUT A PATH FORWARD TO FIND THAT COME ON GROUND TO WORK TOGETHER IS FOR LEGISLATORS TO ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER AND YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT THE CAPITOL IS PHYSICALLY BUILT TO KEEP THEM APART IN SO MANY WAYS.

YOU CAN'T REPLICATE SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT COME OUT OF THESE TRIPS BY READING ABOUT THEM OR SEEING IT BRIEFLY.

YOU GOT TO DO IT.

YOU GOT TO BE THERE IN PERSON, SPEND TIME TOGETHER, THAT STUFF MATTERS.

IT REALLY CHANGES YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

AND I THINK YOU GET THOSE MOMENTS OF, AH, I SEE WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT NOW.

>> Mary: THIS FALL, THIS PAIR OF LAWMAKERS WILL ONCE AGAIN HIT THE ROAD TOGETHER TO VISIT REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN'S AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AFTER THOROUGHLY ENJOYING A FULL TOUR OF THE WEST METRO IN A WINNEBAGO.

DO YOU HOPE THIS IS INFECTIOUS WHEN YOUR COLLEAGUES SEE, HEY, THIS IS FUN, THIS IS GOOD OFF SESSION STUFF TO DO.

>> YEAH, I HOPE SO.

IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I'VE HEARD FROM THE OTHER LEGISLATORS THAT HAVE DONE THIS AND HEY CAN'T