Legislature Back in Special Session to Pass Next Two Year Budget

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Legislature is in a special session after they were unable to come to an agreement on the state’s next two year budget during the regular session, which ended last month.

Members of the House and Senate put forth their bills this morning relating to public safety, education, taxes, transportation, the environment, public infrastructure, healthcare, public health disaster response, crime prevention, gambling, and housing. Governor Tim Walz says lawmakers are coming together to finalize the state’s two-year, $52 billion budget. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says the special session is expected to last several days, but that both sides are committed to getting the budget passed before the July 1st deadline, adding that they are each willing to throw some things out to reach a deal and put off a government shutdown.

In early business at the Capitol, the Minnesota Executive Council voted to allow Governor Walz to retain his emergency powers for another 30 days. House Speaker Melissa Hortman reportedly told lawmakers not to make any plans for July 14th, which is when they would be called back into session for the 18th month in a row to vote on emergency powers. Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says that 43 states are still under a state of emergency.

As long as Governor Walz retains his emergency powers, he is allowed to rule by Executive Order rather than lawmakers passing bills for him to sign. Some say that takes power away from the people as those they elected to represent them are not allowed a say in how the state should continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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