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Dead of night legislating: Lawmakers pass public safety bill, end governor’s emergency powers
Minnesota lawmakers gave final approval early Wednesday morning to a $2.6 billion public safety budget bill after hours of debate that included last-minute amendments over police and criminal justice reforms that some Democrats say fell short. The deal was nearly scuttled by a separate issue that has roiled Minnesota politics and government for more than […]
Compromise public safety bill with limited police reforms prompts pushback from progressives
Progressive lawmakers are pushing back against a bipartisan public safety budget agreement struck over the weekend by legislative leadership and Gov. Tim Walz, saying the legislation is inadequate to protect the lives of Black Minnesotans from deadly use-of-force by police. On Saturday, leaders of the Democratic-controlled House and GOP-majority Senate announced a deal on one […]
GOP Senate uses budget bill to try to revoke Walz’s emergency powers
DFL Gov. Tim Walz on Friday said he intended to rescind his peacetime emergency declaration to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic by Aug. 1. The additional time would allow the state to leverage continued federal aid, he said. This is the first time Walz has provided a date for when he would relinquish his emergency […]
Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison for murder of George Floyd
Convicted in the murder of George Floyd, ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison Friday, becoming the first white Minnesota police officer to serve prison time for a murder committed while on the job. The sentencing marks a significant milestone in the effort to get justice for Floyd, […]
Nearly $800 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds will shore up health, human services spending
Nearly $800 million in federal COVID-19 relief dollars will be spent in the next four years on health and human services under a budget deal struck Thursday by the Minnesota House and Senate. Altogether, the health and human services spending will grow to just shy of $14 billion in the two-year budget cycle that starts […]
Minnesota Republicans use budget bills to focus on rising crime in the Twin Cities
Minnesota Republicans offered another signal that they intend to use crime as a political weapon against Democrats in 2022, turning to an unlikely vehicle to do it Wednesday: A transportation budget bill. The Minnesota House debated a $7 billion transportation budget bill Wednesday, with many GOP-sponsored amendments that aimed to provide state funding for law […]
Lawmakers agree to provide bonus pay to essential workers who took unpaid time off during pandemic
So-called essential workers who took unpaid time off during the height of the pandemic will receive some bonus pay under a deal announced Tuesday by Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake. “We have agreed to a worker bonus,” he said. “It’s well over $200 million.” He said he was “not at liberty” to […]
In reversal, Senate votes down refinery safety measure
The GOP-led Senate on Tuesday voted down an amendment requiring refinery contract workers to complete apprenticeship-level training just days after approving the same amendment, dealing a blow to refinery union workers. Teamsters at the Marathon oil refinery in St. Paul Park are in a contract dispute with the company over what workers say are dangerous […]
Refinery safety provision cut from jobs bill, Clean Car rule moves ahead as special session nears conclusion
Minnesota lawmakers say they are making progress on finalizing a $52 billion two-year budget ahead of a June 30 deadline, even as state agencies begin preparing for a potential government shutdown. This week, state park visitors with camping or lodging reservations will be notified that their camping plans may be disrupted by a government shutdown. […]
After Senate adopted refinery safety amendment with large margin, finance committee might remove it
The legislative fate of some provisions in the jobs bill are undecided, as the Republian-led Senate voted 36-30 on Monday to send the jobs budget bill back to the Senate finance committee, where some items will be added and others deleted, said Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake. Some Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers sought assurances […]
Clock ticking to pass budget as lawmakers return in special session to finish work
Lawmakers returned on Monday to a noisy Capitol brimming with visiting Minnesotans for the first time in 14 months. The joyous mood was tempered by the clock — time is ticking to complete a new $52 billion state budget or force the state into a government shutdown. The Legislature has until midnight on June 30 to […]
Special legislative session could drag on through end of June as budget still unfinished
Lawmakers are preparing to return to the Capitol on Monday to begin a special legislative session to avoid a possible government shutdown on July 1. Legislative leaders say they are still working to bridge ideological differences as they continue setting budgets for areas of government like public safety, education, health and human services. DFL Gov. […]