Leader Among Republicans Says ‘We Are Ready to Go’

A special session is imminent, according to Assistant Senate Majority Leader Geoff Michel.

“I think we are ready to go. It’s time to get Minnesotans back to work,” Michel, a Republican who represents Edina and West Bloomington, told WCCO radio on Monday afternoon.

“It is up to the governor to decide that, though,” he said.

Michel also pointed to the release of preliminary versions of the Public Safety/Judiciary and Transportation bills as evidence of Monday's progress.

“I think there is more progress to talk about today,” Michel said. “(The two bills) are part of the framework that we talked about with the governor.”

Negotiators appropriated $4.7 billion for the Transportation bill and $1.9 billion for Public Safety/Judiciary for the next biennium.  

MPR News reported on Sunday evening that a handshake deal was reached on an $11 billion Health and Human Services bill, but that budget hasn’t been confirmed by representatives of either party.