This story was originally published on Minnesota Reformer. [1]
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“Ridiculous”: lobbyists weigh in on a weird legislative session
By:   ['J. Patrick Coolican Is Editor-In-Chief Of Minnesota Reformer. Previously', 'He Was A Capitol Reporter For The Minneapolis Star Tribune For Five Years', 'After A Knight-Wallace Fellowship At The University Of Michigan', 'Time At The Las Vegas Sun', 'Seattle Times', 'A Few Other Stops Along The Way. He Lives In St. Paul With His Wife', 'Toddler Son.', 'J. Patrick Coolican']
Date: None

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A lobbyist had a sharp take on the end of the legislative session:

“In normal years when we are in the building, we get all caught up in our own little issues and human encounters. This year, from a distance, I think many of us are seeing it the way the public usually does — as ridiculous.”

As for what’s to come, the source notes the hard work that’s left to do, especially on changes to policing and auto emissions rules.

“The chairs have already shown their inability to negotiate,” this person says dismissively. “I assume the leaders and the governor set the 5/28 and 6/4 deadlines to give themselves 10+ good days to write a lot of the bills themselves as a ‘Tribunal.’ I think we all know that’s where we are headed.”

Not a ringing vote of confidence in our elected representatives.

Another lobbyist called it an historically bad year for legislating, if just by the numbers, noting fewer than two dozen bills passed in roughly 20 weeks.

“Speaker (Melissa) Hortman is correct: These are officially no longer your father’s or mother’s legislative work. Adjourned at 4:30pm on the last day. Not even the pretense.”

Next year should be fun!

House Speaker Melissa Hortman, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and Gov. Tim Walz, you’ll see that of the state’s roughly $2.8 billion in federal money, there’s $1.233 billion reserved for next year. (There’s another $500 million in federal “revenue replacement” that’s slated for next biennium.) If you look at the small print on the budget agreement between, you’ll see that of the state’s roughly $2.8 billion in federal money, there’s $1.233 billion reserved for next year. (There’s another $500 million in federal “revenue replacement” that’s slated for next biennium.)

Plus, we’ll likely have more surplus because consumers are spending like a sailor on shore leave. So you’re going into the 2022 election year, and the governor gets to shower the state with cash even as he runs for reelection.

But another potential candidate for governor — Gazelka — will have his own agenda with that money.

Talking to a Walz world source this morning, they’re happy: Summer school; a healthy increase in education spending with 2+2 on the education funding formula (as Rilyn Eischens reported ); everything is reopening; pile of cash still be spent next year; and Walz gets to return to 2019 form, barnstorming the state doing the Walz thing, guzzling Diet Mountain Dew and speaking in charming word salads.

[1] Url: https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/ridiculous-lobbyists-weigh-in-on-a-weird-legislative-session/