Memorial Day

Remembering those who gave their ultimate sacrifice to our country. 

Special Session?

A special session is now likely as transportation and bonding bills failed to get passed during the regular session.  The bonding bill must get 2/3 vote to pass. 

Trump reaches 1237 in the delegate count

Donald Trump has reached 1237 delegates according to an AP survey. He now avoids a much talked about open convention in which he will be voted the republican nominee on the first ballot. 

Unfinished business: transportation and bonding

The legislature adjourned the regular session with some major items still left undone transportation and bonding. The governor has not decided whether he will call a special session.

Also the REAL ID needs to be passed so that the state can get an extension on implementation of the program from DHS. REAL ID will be required to board domestic flights as soon as 2018 but could be extended to 2020. 

Sunday deadline

The MN legislative is hours away from deadline. Three major bills need to dealt with: taxes, bonding and the supplemental budget.  Bonding requires 2/3 vote to pass. 

Other highlights: the legislature passed a bill dealing with body camera worn by officers. The bill allows local units of government to set local ordinances and departmental policies. The law will likely need revisions in future legislatures. 

The legislature passed a bill to allow the Board of Pharmacy to collect data. The prescription monitoring program is designed to watch for abuse of prescription drugs and doctor shopping. The controversy surrounds how long the board is allowed to hold the data who buy schedule 2 prescriptions. The survey is designed to help the legislature determine course of action.  The expectation is that once the survey is done data will only be held for 12 months before its discarded. 

They have till midnight. 

Legislative countdown begins: House debates, transportation funding?

This week the legislature is getting down to business as the session comes to a close, when final negotiations come to a head.

There were a number of bills debated in the House Mknday including body cam legislation.

Still up for consideration is funding for transportation. The House GOP refuses to increase the gas tax and says between the bonding bill and the potential transportation omnibus bill that is where they expect final conclusion. 

There will be no special session this year because it is not a budget year. 

Cruz drops out; Trump wins IN primary, becomes presumptive GOP nominee.

An unlikely story for an unlikely candidate. Trump overcame tremendous odds.  He dispatched seasoned politicians and tea party favorites to rise to the top of the GOP hill.  

Now his job is to pivot to the general election and shore up the rest of the GOP if he wants to win the election in November.