Deadline
This past week has been “hurry up and wait” for the members of the Minnesota Senate. Several weeks ago we debated and passed a finance and tax bill that addresses the $935 million budget shortfall the state is experiencing. We are now waiting for the Governor and House and Senate leadership to find a compromise with the provisions of those bills that the Senate has already passed and the House is waiting to approve. The legislature and the Governor are close to finalizing that deal. There are some differences related to specific cuts and there has been a lot of discussion about the Governor’s desire to place limits on local government’s ability to set levies. The Senate finance bill is set to provide over $115 million to local governments in the form of Local Government Aid which the Governor opposes.
In the meantime, over the past few weeks, the House and Senate have passed a minimum wage bill (vetoed), a teacher statewide health insurance bill, an education finance bill, and a few other items awaiting action by the Governor. Will we complete our business by the constitutionally mandated deadline on May 19? We are optimistic. We will clear our Saturday and Sunday schedule if need be. We have accomplished a lot this session and it would be shame to come this far and not find that “global agreement” when it is within our reach.
