Tensions Rise At State Capitol As Legislative Session's End Draws Near

By Caroline Cummings, CBS Minnesota

May 17, 2024

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Tensions rose at the state capitol this week with prolonged debates and political finger-pointing by both Democrats and Republicans, defining features of the final few days of any legislative session.

Lawmakers must adjourn on Monday and the DFL majority is racing to complete its to-do list of bills, but not before Republicans have their say. On several bills this week, debates lasted more than seven hours on a single bill in both chambers.

The frustration between the caucuses culminated late Wednesday just before midnight when House Speaker Melissa Hortman cut off debate and forced a vote. Many Republicans were yelling, demanding that she reverse course and let the debate continue. The procedural move drew the ire of GOP members who decried it as undemocratic and said doing so threatened to derail their support of bills that may require their vote to get them over the finish line.

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