Minnesota Report
We understand an interesting thing happened when the three sides finally met prior to the final agreement on May 16th. In a meeting just before Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman (DFL-36B, Brooklyn Park) said to Governor Tim Walz (DFL-MN) and his team including MMB Commissioner Jim Schowalter she believed it was time for the DFL side to make a bolder move and effectively “Go Big or Go Home.”
This was not met with agreement in fact Schowalter specifically expressed his opposition saying it was premature. When the three sides then met and the DFL put forward as less robust position Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-09, Nisswa) rejected the proposal saying it was not much different than the last one, and that they (DFL) didn’t push hard enough.
Looks like they should have Hortman be the lead negotiator and tell the bureaucrats to leave the strategy and political posturing to the professionals, who earned their spot at the table with an election certificate not an appointment.
This reminds us, Hortman still doesn’t have a nickname as most Speakers have.