Repubs, Dems at MN Legislature will try again for compromise on COVID “hero pay”, Unemployment Insurance Fund

It’s on to the negotiating table after the Minnesota House last night (Mon) passed a bill that tries to break a year-long stalemate over COVID bonuses for front-line workers. House Democrats would give Senate Republicans want they want — 2.7 billion dollars to refill the Unemployment Insurance Fund and avoid business tax increases — if Republicans approve one billion dollars for “hero pay” bonuses — four times the amount agreed to last summer. And there’s another sticking point: Democrats’ offer would also allow hourly school workers — bus drivers, food service workers, education support professionals and others — to draw unemployment benefits during the summer. That’s something Republicans strongly oppose.