SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, Governor Tim Walz, House Speaker Melissa Hortman, and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka announced a bipartisan agreement on an outline for a new two-year state budget.
Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth), the House Deputy Majority leader, issued the following statement:
“The past year has been incredibly challenging for everyone, but COVID-19’s impacts haven’t been felt equally. The work is far from over, but our budget roadmap means we will be able to make historic investments in schools, strengthen health care for Minnesotans, and help protect economic security for workers, small businesses, and families following COVID-19. Today, on the last day of the legislative session we accomplished some good bipartisan work in health care, agriculture, and public safety. Minnesotans are expecting us to work together, and I’m hopeful we can enact a final budget that will enable all Minnesotans, no matter where they live or what they look like, to have a bright, successful future.”
Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth) issued the following statement:
“As we continue to turn the corner beyond COVID-19, this budget framework enables us to make sizable investments in education, health care, and everything else Minnesotans value from state government. We have the ability to collaborate across party lines for the good of Minnesotans, and we proved this earlier today by passing a significant Health and Human Services policy bill. It will take a good-faith commitment from both sides, but I’m confident in the coming weeks we will have a final state budget that helps our state recover from the pandemic and enables Minnesotans to succeed well into the future.”