Top leader says Friday is earliest possible day for special session of MN Legislature

Speaker Melissa Hortman e-mailed Minnesota House members last night (Wed) that Friday is the earliest there could be a special session to wrap up the state budget. Wednesday was for tying-up details on as many of the state budget bills as possible — and when negotiators reached impasses, Governor Tim Walz, Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman stepped in. Most analysts agree it would be best for the legislature to pass the rest of the budget before Memorial Day, otherwise some lawmakers could have second thoughts on parts of the budget agreement. And if the deal were to fall apart, legislators would have to put it back together before July 1st, or there would be partial state government shutdown.