Politics Friday: Unfinished business at the Capitol

Politics Friday: Minnesota DFLers convene for their state convention

The 2024 DFL State Convention will be held at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center in Duluth beginning Friday afternoon.

Coming up Friday at noon, a special edition of Politics Friday with a preview of the DFL convention. MPR News host Brian Bakst will talk with DFL Chairman Ken Martin and state Sen. Kelly Morrison, the endorsed candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District.

Later, a roundtable conversation with DFL delegates as they get ready to gather for their party’s convention.

Politics Friday: Gov. Tim Walz weighs in after the Minnesota Legislature gavels out

The DFL is in its second year of control of the House, Senate and governor’s office.

Over the last four months, the DFL passed a rideshare ordinance, a bill on gun restrictions with a tougher penalty for “straw purchasers” and various cannabis resolutions. But there’s also a list of bills that didn’t pass from an equal rights amendment to sports betting bill and a construction projects plan.

MPR News host Brian Bakst talked to Gov. Tim Walz about his take on the 2024 legislative Session.Later, the Republican perspective on this year’s session with Sen. Julia Coleman of Waconia and the assistant minority leaderin the Minnesota Senate.

Plus, MPRCapitol reporters Dana FergusonandClay Masters told us more about what got done at the Capitol this year, what got left behind and what it means for the campaign already under way.

Politics Friday: Minnesota Republicans gather for their state convention

The Minnesota Republican Party convention gets underway at the St. Paul RiverCentre, with the selection of national delegates and endorsement of a U.S. Senate candidate on the to-do list. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at the party’s annual Lincoln-Reagan fundraising dinner which will be held in association with the convention.

Coming up Friday at noon, a special edition of Politics Friday from the 2024 State Convention for Minnesota Republicans. MPR News host Brian Bakst and the MPR politics team conduct interviews and a look at the scenes at the convention.

Later, a recap of the session-ending sprint at the state Capitol with MPR News senior politics reporters Dana Ferguson and Clay Masters.

Politics Friday: It’s crunch time at the Capitol

Minnesota lawmakers have only one more full week to finish up the legislative session’s work.

MPR News host Brian Bakst spoke with two leaders of the Minnesota House about the authorization of construction projects, a touch-up of the state budget, updates to Minnesota’s new cannabis law and a possible plan to set minimum pay and protections for rideshare drivers — all still up in the air.

And May 11 not only marks Minnesota Statehood Day, but a new state flag goes up the pole and a new state seal will replace the old. We got a look at the redesign process that spurred thousands of submissions — and months of debate —and what transition means for Minnesota.

Plus, two members of MPRCapitol reporting team, Dana Ferguson and Clay Masters, huddled upfor a weekly check-in on Minnesota politics.

Politics Friday: Unfinished business at the Capitol

The two weeks that remain in the Minnesota Legislature’s 2024 session will result in a flurry of votes, negotiations and certainly twists.

One key piece of unfinished business is the bonding bill — the slate of publicly financed construction projects that need state signoff to move ahead.

MPR News host Brian Bakst talks withthe chair of the House Capital Investment Committee about the construction financing plan as it comes together.

Also, what might an upcoming Senate Ethics Committee hearing look like? The conduct of two members in the closely divided chamber is under review.

Plus, the latestinMPR News’ peer-led conversations with Gen. Z voters about how they’re approaching the coming election.

Later, a check-in with a pair of Capitol reporters as the legislative session reaches its home stretch. MPR’s Dana Ferguson and Peter Callaghan from the MinnPost join the conversation.

Guests:

• Rep. Fue Lee is the Chair of the House Capital Investment Committee.




• Ember Reichgott Junge is a former senator, DFL-Robbinsdale,and served as the committee chair for the Rules and Administration - Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct Committee in the Minnesota Senate.




• Marko Mirkovic is a student at the University of Minnesota.




• Jack Christensen is a student at the University of Minnesota.




• Charlie Eggers is a student at the University of Minnesota.

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