Under an unprecedented crush of circumstances stressing the fabric of society, the economy and government, Minnesota’s elected lawmakers returned to St. Paul this week.
And promptly drew political lines in the sand, pointing fingers in predictable partisan directions.
It is, after all, an election year. Every seat in the state House and Senate will be on the ballot in November, as will a president who has inspired polarization like few others.
Yet, an undercurrent of bipartisanship exists for the big issues now before the Legislature in its special session: responding to the coronavirus pandemic, reforming police departments in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, and a public works and infrastructure spending plan that members of both parties see as necessary and a potential shot in the arm to a struggling economy.
Whether common ground will be found, whether it could be found in days, or whether, if it’s not found in days, they’ll give up and go home all remained unclear Tuesday as Gov. Tim Walz implored: “I think the next three days are really critical … to the psychology of Minnesota, that we can solve problems together.”
Republicans have set a Friday deadline to get the work done or leave. Walz could always call them back.
Here’s a quick summary — based on the priorities Walz articulated when he called the lawmakers back into session last week.
POLICE REFORM
On Tuesday, Senate Republicans, who hold the majority in that chamber, pushed ahead with several changes to law enforcement statutes that Democrats derided as weak and not getting at the core of the problem of police killing unarmed black men.
The Republican-backed proposals seek to ban chokeholds in nearly all situations, increase mental health training for officers and strengthen requirements for cops to step in if they see a fellow officer using excessive force. Democrats, meanwhile, who control the House, are pushing a suite of bills that range from creating new crimes for officers who use excessive force to allowing municipalities to reinstate residency requirements for cops.
Whether Democrats will settle for less, and whether Republicans will entertain more, remains to be seen. Debate continued into Tuesday evening. It’s possible nothing could ultimately reach Walz’s desk.
LOOTING DAMAGE
As of Tuesday, there was no formal proposal for how to help businesses that were damaged in the violence that erupted from some protests following Floyd’s death. Walz said he’s angling for a funding mechanism that is likely to face skepticism from Republicans, who note that the recession has turned the state’s projected $1.5 billion budget surplus into a projected $2.4 billion deficit.
COVID-19 FUNDING
The Senate moved ahead with a bill that guides how more than $841 million in federal coronavirus response can be spent. While there was wide bipartisan support in the Senate on Tuesday, there’s some disagreement in how the money is doled out, especially when it comes to how it affects local governments. Also, Walz wants assistance for renters, arguing it should be part of an economic stimulus package. Its future was uncertain Tuesday.
BONDING BILL
Walz has proposed a record $2.6 billion borrowing-and-spending plan to repair aging infrastructure, from sewers to National Guard armories, while Senate Republicans have set a $1.3 billion ceiling. Bipartisanship, even in the Democratic-controlled House, is needed. There’s widespread bipartisan support for such a plan, but it remains unclear whether lawmakers will be able to overcome the differences over the dollar amounts.