Minnesota legislative leaders weigh in on sports betting, beer in grocery stores during ‘lightning round’

It has become something of a Minnesota legislative tradition — the lightning round at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce session priorities gathering in St. Paul.

On Monday, KSTP-TV political reporter Tom Hauser led the four legislative leaders through an hour-long preview of the 2023 session. But it is the short-answer round that is the most-popular feature.

Here is a lightning-quick rendition of this year’s lightning round:

Odds of a sports betting bill passing in 2024 (after the first answer was 50-50, Hauser banned that answer).

Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks: 50-50

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul: 51-49

House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring: 52-48

House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park: 60-40

Which legislator from the other caucus is the most frustrating to debate but who you would welcome into your own caucus?

Murphy: Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls

Demuth: Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona

Hortman: Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington

Johnson: Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park

Is state permitting onerous or appropriate?

Johnson: onerous

Murphy: appropriate

Demuth: onerous

Hortman: a little from column A, a little from column B

Will strong beer be allowed in grocery stores?

Johnson: no

Murphy: no

Hortman: no

Demuth: no

Will the Met Council be reformed?

Hortman: no

Demuth: yes

Murphy: yes

Johnson: yes

Total number of legislative retirements this year?

Johnson: 14 (when told there were already that many he later said 21)

Murphy: 19

Demuth: 21

Hortman: 21

Should there be a constitutional amendment creating a full-time Legislature?

Johnson: no

Murphy: no

Demuth: no, that would be a terrible idea

Hortman: no

How does the business community in your district describe the 2023 legislative session

Johnson: confusing

Murphy: thank you

Demuth: unaffordable

Hortman: better for workers

In three words or less, how will the 2024 session be described?

Hortman: short

Demuth: not damaging

Murphy: productive

Johnson: repairing the damage from last year

Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect the answers given regarding Met Council reform. Three of four leaders said yes. The original version of this story reported that all four said no.