House Dems including gun-control measures in budget bill over GOP objections

Republicans are objecting as Minnesota House Democrats move to include criminal background checks on gun sales, plus a so-called “red flag” measure in a larger public safety budget bill. Democratic Speaker Melissa Hortman says Minnesotans have demanded that lawmakers address gun violence protection and D-F-Lers “will fight until the last minute of session to make progress.” Republican Representative Brian Johnson from Cambridge responds Democrats claim their gun-control bills are supported by huge majorities of Minnesotans, but now they’re “choosing to hide these proposals in huge omnibus bills” rather than taking stand-alone votes. Johnson notes Senate Republicans have been clear that gun control bills must be separate from the discussion about the state budget.