Legislative session sputters to an end; potential special session awaits

At a press conference last Monday announcing a framework to finish out the legislative session, Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders were asked a number of times for more details rather than just grand total numbers.

The outline split the budget surplus into thirds: $4 billion for tax breaks, $4 billion for new spending, and $4 billion left on the bottom line in case the economy worsens.

Lacking specific on things like taxes, health care and education, Walz told the media it is their role to be skeptical, but he was “pretty confident” things would come together.

After another week of DFL and Republican members blaming the other side for the lack of success, the state’s top elected official said just before 1 a.m. he’s open to calling a special session — something he previously pledged not to do — in hopes of reaching agreement on myriad supplemental funding bills that also contain key policy across the spectrum.

“We’re 90-95% of the way there, we’re sitting on the proverbial 1-yard line. Just punch it in. Just get it done.” Read more

Session Daily

Five-term member Albright to resign from House (8/5/2022 8:15:00 AM)
Departing House members say goodbye from House Floor (5/23/2022 2:42:00 PM)
House passes policy-only omnibus health and human services bill, sends it to governor (5/23/2022 10:37:00 AM)
Legislative session sputters to an end; special session probable (5/23/2022 1:45:00 AM)
Omnibus mental health package, including expansion of mobile crisis teams, heads to governor (5/23/2022 1:40:00 AM)
Amended technical commerce bill includes funding for increased fraud investigators (5/22/2022 10:46:00 PM)
With only a few hours to go, much unfinished as session nears end (5/22/2022 4:53:00 PM)
House OK given to conference committee report on Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (5/22/2022 12:30:00 AM)
Conference committee agreement meets target -- but millions short of original House bill (5/21/2022 10:26:44 PM)
Conferees settle differences with agriculture omnibus, drought relief bills (5/21/2022 9:15:00 PM)
Conference committee strikes tax agreement; bill may be session's finale (5/21/2022 5:33:00 PM)

Photography

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