The Minnesota Legislature is hanging around a bit longer.

The yearly work was supposed to end Monday, May 19 but lawmakers adjourned with unfinished business. Now, they’re gearing up for a special session.

Most of the budget is unresolved and the final points of agreement are still not in hand. So when might this be done and is a government shutdown a possibility?

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with Gov. Tim Walz about the legislative session and his role in settling the budget dispute. He is urging lawmakers to avoid the worst-case scenario, which would be entering July without a budget.

Later in the program, political analysts unpack the political landscape amid the action and inaction in Minnesota and Washington.

Guests:

• Tim Walz is a former Democratic vice presidential candidate and second-term DFL governor of Minnesota.
• Abou Amara is a Democratic political analyst and Twin Cities attorney.
• Preya Samsundar is a political analyst and a GOP strategist.

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

The end of the Minnesota Legislature’s session was supposed to be right around the corner — Monday, May 19 — but just like the choppy start of this year’s session, the ending is proving to be difficult.

Back in January, a politically tied House got off to a delayed start. Now, the possibility of a special session looms over the Capitol.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with legislative leaders about the state budget and the final push to the end of this session.

Guests:

• GOP Floor Leader of the House Harry Niska, Ramsey
• DFL Floor Leader of the House Jamie Long, Minneapolis
• Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson, East Grand Forks

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Almost 40 percent of the state budget goes to preschool through high school education – around $25 billion over two years.

For school districts, state dollars make up most of what gets spent on classroom costs, from teacher salaries to specialists to materials. So it’s no surprise that the education budget bill is always one of the last to come together.

MPR News politics editor discusses what’s happening in schools and the direction state lawmakers might go when setting a new education budget.

The Legislature’s finale is near, but the new state budget is still a work in progress. And it’s going to take some long days and long nights to meet the May 19 adjournment deadline.

Guests:

• Rep. Cheryl Youakim, DLF-Hopkins, is co-chair of Education Finance
• Sen. Jason Rarick, R-Pine City, is the ranking minority member of the Education Finance Committee

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.