Capitol Report Minnesota Senate Media Services

The chair of the Senate Finance Committee is one of the most powerful positions in the Senate.  Any bill with a fiscal impact must get its final approval from the committee, and the chair ultimately decides which bills to consider.  Senator John Marty, DFL-Roseville, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to talk about the budget surplus and proposals for a MinnesotaCare public option, universal health care, legalizing sports betting, and prohibiting cashless establishments.

Despite substantive investments in E-12 education during the 2023 budget-setting legislative session, many school districts are facing budget shortfalls. Senator Jason Rarick, R-Pine City, lead Republican of the Education Finance Committee, joins Shannon to outline a plan intended to help school districts' finances by delaying the implementation of new educational mandates.

Also in the program, Republican lawmakers call for changes to the new state seal and for a statewide vote on the new state flag, and DFLers promote legislation that would reform the prior authorization process, clarify employee misclassification fraud, and enhance business competition.

Minnesota has a surplus of $3.7 billion for the current biennium, according to the just-released February Budget and Economic Forecast. Governor Tim Walz and legislative leaders respond to the report as they prepare to finalize supplemental spending proposals for the 2024 legislative session.

During the 2023 legislative session, one billion dollars from the budget surplus was directed to housing initiatives.  Last week, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers and advocates called a press conference to outline policies intended to spark the construction of more affordable housing options throughout the state.  Senator Lindsey Port, chair of the Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention Committee, joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to walk through some of the proposed changes.

The Emergency Medical Services Task Force, created by the legislature during the 2023 session, held its first meeting in December, followed by field hearings around Minnesota.  A final report is due to the legislature by mid-August.  Meanwhile, the situation is dire for some EMS and ambulance services, and recommendations will be considered this session.  Senator Judy Seeberger, DFL-Afton, co-chair of the task force, joins Shannon to explain.

Also in the program, Senate Republican leaders unveil the first part of their "Repair Minnesota" agenda, aspiring educators and DFL lawmakers call for a tuition waiver for student teachers, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers and EMS professions urge passage of an emergency funding bill.