No activity at MN Capitol Wed night, as lawmakers take rest before marathon session
State lawmakers took the night off Wednesday to catch up on sleep, and will be back at the Capitol at noon today for a marathon session to try to finish the state budget. It’s been late-nighters and all-nighters for legislators for weeks, particularly after the legislature missed its Monday midnight deadline to wrap up the budget and Governor Mark Dayton then immediately called a special session. Staff needs time catch up on drafting and double-checking final versions of critical budget bills.
The legislature in the past couple days has struggled through passing a tax cut bill and an E-12 education appropriations bill, but important components like health and human services, transportation and bonding still await final action. House Speaker Kurt Daudt indicated Wednesday night that, if lawmakers don’t finish the budget by Friday morning, they’ll come back after the Memorial Day holiday.
The next deadline lawmakers face is June 30th, when parts of state government would shut down if there’s not a new budget.