Sen. Erin Murphy/(D) Senate Majority LeaderST. PAUL (KVRR/FOX9) — Gov. Tim Walz has still not called for a special session to finish up budget work in Minnesota. That’s because working groups are still trying to iron out differences on a number of budget bills including education and taxes. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy says they have ironed out many of…
ST. PAUL (KVRR) — Democrats and Republicans are still hard at work in St. Paul even though the regular session ended at 11:59 p.m. on Monday. They are discussing House and Senate offers on the taxes bill during this working group. Leaders wanted the groups to wrap up the work on numerous budget bills by this evening. Budgets for commerce,…
ST. PAUL (KVRR) — The final day of Minnesota’s legislative session fizzled out late Monday without finishing and voting on budgets for commerce, education, energy, health, human services, transportation and more. Conference committees became working groups this morning to finish work on the budget bills. Both chambers also failed to vote on an omnibus tax bill. It made it to…
ST. PAUL (KVRR/FOX9) — Time is going to run out for the Minnesota Legislature to pass the next two-year budget. The regular session must end at 11:59 tonight. Leaders say a special session seems likely. Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders had announced a roughly $67 billion budget agreement heading into this weekend. Lawmakers in both chambers passed several bills…
MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) – Concordia College is cutting its operating expenses in response to a projected $2 million budget deficit. The college says the deficit is associated with a national decline in enrollment. A Concordia spokesperson says departments have been directed to cut 5% of their operating expenses. “Concordia is not immune to the challenges facing higher education. We are…
ST. PAUL (KVRR) — Gov. Tim Walz says human services spending passed in past legislatures, by both parties, has put the state on a path to unsustainable cost growth. During his State of the State address, the governor says in just a few years, the biggest of those human services programs will eat up $1 in every $8. He is…
The North Dakota Capitol building. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (Mary Steurer, NORTH DAKOTA MONITOR) – North Dakota senators on Tuesday narrowly rejected a proposal to add $1 million for a “life education committee” in the Office of Management and Budget budget to teach people about abortion alternatives. The amendment was brought by Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, who…
MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR – Governor Tim Walz didn’t just stop by Dilworth during his visit to Clay County – he also spoke at a town hall meeting on the Concordia College campus. It was hosted by Sen. Rob Kupec and Majority Leader Sen. Erin Murphy. It’s part of a string of events put on by the DFL to discuss how…
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fargo Commissioner Dave Piepkorn wants any city staff overtime to be approved ahead of time by the commission. He referred to a Forum article over the weekend about the city paying out over $31 million in overtime in the past decade. Piepkorn says one employee made $80,000 in overtime in one year and says overtime needs…
ST. PAUL (KVRR/FOX9) — Gov. Walz is talking about the power struggle going on in the House and saying Republicans do not have a quorum. “This is a short term issue that will be corrected on the 29th that will be the will of the public and trying to use this vacancy to create a two-year majority that doesn’t exist…
