Legislative break needed due to a “more angry period” at the capitol in St. Paul

Lawmakers hit policy deadline before recess

ST. PAUL (KVRR) — It’s the most hectic week of the Minnesota legislative session with the deadline for policy bills to clear all of their committees as lawmakers begin a recess.

Republican Rep. Steve Elkins says it’s worse than usual this year because of their late start.

He says with a 67-67 tie in the House, there is relatively little of either party’s agenda that can be accomplished.

Sen. Erin Murphy, the Democrat Senate Majority Leader, says today they planned to take up around 27 bills in committee.

Just after noon Thursday, the Senate adjourned until April 7 and Murphy says the break is needed.

“It has felt like this has been um a more angry period of time for us and I can understand why. Because people have been through a lot and I think we’ve experienced a lot of loss and grief and trauma together but we don’t talk about that very much we talk about bills and legislation,” said Murphy.

She says getting a bonding bill passed this session is a high priority for all four caucuses.