Legislative UpdateFriends and Neighbors, As we head into the final week of session, it's beginning to look like things are not on track to wrap up on time. The constitutionally mandated end of session is May 19th, but with major bills still in limbo and key agreements yet to be reached, the odds of finishing on schedule are slim. Sadly, the first 23 days of session were wasted when one caucus chose not to show up for work. Now, it’s clear how much that delay is costing us. Right now, we still don’t have joint budget targets; those are the agreed-upon spending frameworks between the House and Senate that guide each area of the budget. Without them, we’re stuck in a holding pattern while conference committees wait for direction. That said, some bills are moving. I’m proud that our Veterans Affairs bill has officially entered conference committee as of Thursday. Others haven’t fared as well. The Education bill, for example, hit a major setback after a bipartisan agreement was broken, even after it had already passed through two committees. And while a few bills are moving forward, many are being reduced to what we call “lights-on” bills. That means the state is only doing the bare minimum, funding essential operations, without tackling the bigger issues we came here to solve. Happy Mother’s Day To all the mothers in our community, thank you. Your strength, sacrifice, and love make a difference every single day. I hope you feel appreciated and celebrated this weekend.  Fishing Opener Minnesota’s fishing opener is here, and it’s one of our most cherished traditions. Make sure your license is up to date and enjoy some time out on the water.  |