Nov 22, 2024 - Politics

Gov. Walz, legislative leaders start "cordial" pre-session talks

Torey Van Oot

Illustration of the Minnesota State Capitol with lines radiating from it. — Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and all four legislative leaders met Thursday for the first time since the election.

The big picture: Legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle described the gathering as a "cordial" and constructive "reset" to discuss how to work together during next year's return to divided government.

It also marked their first in-person meeting since the bitter and rancorous end of the last session.

State of play: House leaders Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) said talks are ongoing to figure out what a power-sharing agreement will look like under a 67-67 tie in the House.

Demuth reiterated her view that the chamber should be managed "50/50" given the split.

What's next: Crafting a two-year budget will be the top item on the Legislature's to-do list next year.

Leaders will have a better sense of what that might look like when state economists release an updated fiscal forecast early next month.

🏗️ What we're watching: Both sides expressed openness to working toward a deal on a bipartisan capital investment package next year.

The intrigue: Democrats were noncommittal on progressive groups' calls for a special session to use their current trifecta to pass protections ahead of a second Trump term.

But Republicans said any action should wait until new members are sworn in.
Walz did not take questions from reporters following the 30-minute meeting.

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Gov. Walz, legislative leaders start "cordial" pre-session talks

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