The comments come after three top leaders spent days in secret negotiations without a meaningful breakthrough. 4:51 pm, May 12, 2021 ×
Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, left, and House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, right, on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, said the budget negotiations were ongoing at the Minnesota Capitol but noted that lawmakers likely wouldn t finish their work before the legislative session was set to end on May 17. Dana Ferguson / Forum News Service
ST. PAUL Minnesota lawmakers are on track to go into overtime as secret budget negotiations continue at the Capitol and sizeable philosophical divides remain in the legislative session s final days.
Legislative leaders and the governor on Wednesday, May 12, said they continued work on budget targets but had yet to reach a compromise. With just five days left before the legislative session was set to come to a close, they said they might still be able to finish in time, though the prospect grew increa
Police reform remains sticking point in Legislature s final days Walz encouraged by pace but says sides are still a long ways apart. May 12, 2021 5:30pm
Video (04:33) : Gov. Tim Walz held a news conference with community leaders and DFL lawmakers to urge action on a sweeping set of new police reform proposals in the final days of the legislative session in St. Paul. Text size Copy shortlink:
Police reform which emerged as one of the most pressing debates this legislative session still looms over the race to strike an accord on a new two-year budget by next week.
Democratic leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz, on Wednesday sought to apply further pressure on a bid to adopt a sweeping package of 12 new policing proposals before the May 17 adjournment date. The Senate GOP s leadership has meanwhile struck a more skeptical tone.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz enlists community, faith leaders to again push for policing law changes
Two dozen community and faith leaders joined the governor to publicly support a push for police accountability measures at the Capitol. 5:23 pm, May 12, 2021 ×
The Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson, at center, on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, spoke to reporters on the Minnesota Capitol complex about efforts to re-write policing laws. (Dana Ferguson / Forum News Service)
ST. PAUL Gov. Tim Walz and Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday, May 12, stood alongside two dozen community and faith leaders and business owners to renew their calls for policing law changes at the state Capitol.
Here are 7 political forces shaping the end of the Minnesota legislative session
If Republicans in the state Senate, Democrats in the state House and Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, don’t agree on a two-year state budget, they’ll have go into a special session to avoid a state government shutdown starting July 1.
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Dave Orrick / St. Paul Pioneer Press | 3:18 pm, May 9, 2021 ×
Minnesota State Capitol
ST. PAUL In the end, everything at the Minnesota Capitol is a blend of pragmatism and politics.
And we’re near the end.
The Minnesota Legislature will end its 2021 legislative session May 17.
If Republicans in the state Senate, Democrats in the state House and Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, don’t agree on a two-year state budget, they’ll have go into a special session to avoid a state government shutdown starting July 1.
Josh Skluzacek Created: May 04, 2021 02:42 PM
Thursday, Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka discussed his initial budget offer to the House of Representatives.
Gazelka said the proposal doesn t include any new tax increases, which has been a priority for Republicans as Gov. Tim Walz and Democrats have proposed raising taxes for married couples earning more than $1 million and individuals earning more than $500,000 per year.
The Senate GOP leader also called for all Paycheck Protection Program loans to businesses to be forgiven, which Walz has also said he d support working through. Many states have already approved similar loan forgiveness measures.
Finally, Gazelka said all penalties against businesses that committed COVID-19 violations should be waived.