Minnesota Legislative Leaders Express Optimism For COVID Aid Plan
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The top four leaders in the Minnesota Legislature expressed optimism Friday that lawmakers can agree on a new coronavirus relief package in time for a Dec. 14 special session, though negotiations on what should go into the aid package were continuing.
An updated forecast this week that projected a $641 million surplus in the current budget came as a welcome surprise to lawmakers. There appears to be general agreement on tapping it to help businesses hit by the four-week partial closure ordered by Gov. Tim Walz, which runs through Dec. 18, and on extending unemployment benefits. But Republicans have not embraced a proposal by the governor and House Democrats for $500 one-time payments to low-income families.
Working groups of lawmakers met into the night Thursday and reconvened Friday, the leaders said in an online forum hosted by media and political strategist Blois Olson of Fluence Media. And the four planned to meet with the Democratic governor Friday to discuss the aid plan.
"There's a lot of conversation going on, and even though we we all know that there's need out there for business and workers, and we want to get this out as soon as possible, these conversations are still in the early stages," said Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, of Brooklyn Park.
"Progress being made and discussions are happening," said Democratic Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent, of Woodbury.
But the Legislature's two top Republicans stressed that the package should be focused on struggling businesses and jobless workers.
"We need to make sure that we take care of our workers and take care of their jobs immediately to preserve where we're at, and that that doesn't get any worse when we come out on the other end of this," said House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, of Crown. He said the business aid won't be enough to meet all the needs and should be seen as a bridge until more federal stimulus money comes through.
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, of East Gull Lake, said he'd had "very productive" conversations with the governor and ongoing discussions with Hortman. He added that he wanted to keep the package "targeted and narrow," aimed at small businesses.
Walz and House Democrats originally proposed a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits. Daudt indicated his broad support for an extension earlier this week. But Gazelka indicated Friday that he wasn't on board with 13 weeks.
"Unemployment benefits are expensive. It's $40 million a week ... and so we'll have to talk about how long we initially extend those benefits," Gazelka said.
Walz is required by state law to call a special session by Dec. 14 as a condition of extending the state's peacetime emergency, which gives him the authority to issue executive orders to respond to the pandemic. It will be the seventh special session this year.
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