Jensen has called on Republicans to “hold the line” and keep more of Minnesota’s historic surplus for next year — when he might be governor.
Gov. Tim Walz’s threat that he would not call a special session may have served as a catalyst for action, but in the end, it didn’t push lawmakers toward success — and may not have actually been true.
The bill directs $18.4 million to address drought relief and includes $110 million to help build more high-speed internet infrastructure in Minnesota.
The tax bill is a major part of a so-called “4-4-4” deal to spend $4 billion of Minnesota’s historic surplus over the next three years on tax cuts, $4 billion on new spending and leave $4 billion remaining in reserves.
Due to a lack of contested races, the party’s state convention was sparsely attended and tepid in tone. It took all of six minutes for delegates to nominate and endorse both Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan by acclamation.
House Commerce Committee Chair Zack Stephenson, who has been in the middle of both issues, said he is not giving up on the gambling legislation — and is ecstatic about the proposed liquor law changes.
Justin Greiss left the group Young Americans for Liberty after allegations of sexual misconduct.
Not since 1994 has a non-endorsed GOP candidate won Minnesota’s Republicans primary, which means candidates must cater to the most active and conservative party members — the 2,000 delegates who show up at the state convention.
Munson is one of the front-runners in the special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn. But he also faces intense opposition from many of his fellow GOP legislators.
Unlike previous deals struck by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, the agreement announced Monday puts the onus on committee chairs at the Legislature to work out many of the details.
A common theme at the state Republican convention was electability — how the party can win more votes in DFL-friendly Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding suburbs, where most voters don’t support many of the policies GOP candidates for governor have campaigned on.
Jensen, a one-term Minnesota state senator and family doctor who rose to national prominence as a critic of COVID-19 restrictions, prevailed over four other Republican candidates.
The Republican convention is set to endorse a candidate for governor on Saturday.
The purpose is to help move people out of homeless shelters and to help transition people being released from treatment facilities.
Ellison said the issue is “98 percent” about Republicans wanting to stymie a progressive attorney general, one who is expected to face a tough reelection campaign this fall.
Some lawmakers argue that Minnesota’s taxation of Social Security benefits contributes to retiree flight to states like Arizona and Florida.
The push comes in response to the 2020 election, when Republican operatives recruited candidates to file for office under the banner of one of the state’s two marijuana parties — moves that likely siphoned votes away from some DFLers.
Two trade groups have filed a petition with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission saying LTD Broadband will waste taxpayer time — and money — in the company’s bid to provide high speed broadband to roughly 160,000 people in the state.
The deal appropriates $500 million to distribute bonuses to up to 667,000 frontline pandemic workers in Minnesota. But it also spends $2.7 billion to repay a federal loan and refill the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund.
The Minnesota Supreme Court has found that the state Constitution provides a right to abortion, but that could be reversed either by a future court or via a constitutional amendment.
