Legislative leaders expect special session to last through the night

One overtime may not be enough for the Legislature to complete its crafting of a biennial state budget.

When Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders announced the need for a special session late Monday, the agreement was for it to finish by 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Around 10 p.m. Tuesday, House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) said that may not happen.

“If it becomes apparent we need more time, we will talk to the governor about that,” Daudt said.

The House is expected to reconvene at 11 p.m., nearly eight hours after going into recess, to take up the tax and education bills followed by the remaining bills as night turns into morning. Daudt said all bills are in the drafting process.

Left unfinished after nearly five months of session were bills that comprise about 70 percent of the projected $46 billion budget for the 2018-19 biennium, including education, health and human services, state government and transportation. A package of tax cuts and a nearly $1 billion capital investment bill are also sought.

We believe the governor will sign all 10 omnibus bills because “we did it together,” said Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-Nisswa).

A public pre-emption bill that, in part, would prevent cities from setting their own labor standards, such as minimum wage, was to be debated as a standalone bill. Dayton previously said he will veto it.

However, that bill now includes, pension provisions, parental leave for state employees and state contracts.

In a statement, Dayton said, "It is unconscionable that Republican legislators would pit the earned financial security of hardworking state employees and retirees against the rights of local officials to make the decisions for which they were elected by their citizens. Nevertheless, I have said that I will veto the preemption bill, and I will honor that commitment.”

The 2018 session is scheduled to start Feb. 20 at noon.