
End of Regular Session
Clip: Season 2025 Episode 19 | 3mVideo has Closed Captions
Mary Lahammer tracks the end to the regular legislative session.
Mary Lahammer tracks the end to the regular legislative session.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Almanac: At the Capitol is a local public television program presented by TPT

End of Regular Session
Clip: Season 2025 Episode 19 | 3mVideo has Closed Captions
Mary Lahammer tracks the end to the regular legislative session.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipWE ALSO AVE POLITICAL REPORTERS HERE TO DISCUSS WHAT'S AHEAD.
BUT, FIRST, A LOOK AT THE HISTORIC END OF SESSION.
>> THE SENATE IS NOW ADJOURNED.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[ MEMBERS VOTING ] THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.
[ MEMBERS VOTING ] THE MOTION PREVAILS.
THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED... >> Mary: HE REGULAR SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE ENDED WITHOUT ALL THE BUDGET BILLS COMPLETED TO KEEP GOVERNMENT GOING.
>> I'LL BRING 'EM BACK OR A ONE-DAY SPECIAL SESSION, WE'LL BUTTON THINGS UP.
>> Mary: NOW THE GOVERNOR HAS THE UNILATERAL POWER TO CALL LAWMAKERS BACK, INCLUDING A TIED HOUSE.
>> WE HAVE TO FINISH THIS.
WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
THAT IS WHAT MINNESOTANS EXPECT US TO DO.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THAT WORK DONE IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION.
THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED.
WE TALK ABOUT THAT ALL OF THE TIME.
HARD DECISIONS STILL HAVE TO BE MADE, AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK WHEN THE GOVERNOR CALLS US.
>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTING THAT THE SESSION ENDS AS IT BEGAN WITH SOME REALLY PARTISAN ANTICS ON THE FLOOR.
BUT THAT SHOULDN'T OBSCURE, IT WAS A GOOD DAY, WE GOT SOME GOOD BIPARTISAN WORK DONE.
THE STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE BILL, FOR EXAMPLE.
>> Mary: DEMOCRATS DIVIDED BITTERLY OVER ENDING HEALTHCARE FOR ADULT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AND BREAKS FOR BIG-TECH BUSINESSES.
>> I DON'T THINK THE THINGS HAVE BEEN IMPLODED.
BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS ANOTHER STALL TACTIC TO EXTRACT MORE AND EXTRACT MORE FROM MINNESOTANS WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
>> THE ENTIRE TEAM UP HERE IS HEARTBROKEN THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THE GOP FORCED IN NEGOTIATIONS, WE'RE ANGRY.
>> WE'RE NOT DONE FIGHTING FOR IT, WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING ALL MINNESOTANS.
>> Mary: SENATE REPUBLICANS IN THE MINORITY BY JUST ONE VOTE AND TIED EARLIER IN SESSION, DID NOT SIGN OFF ON THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT THAT BROUGHT PROTEST AS A DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS DEMOCRATS' FRUSTRATION AFTER TWO YEARS AND $18 BILLION OF SURPLUS BEING SPENT THAT THEY'RE FINALLY HAVING TO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE CONSTRAINTS ON MINNESOTA TAXPAYERS.
AND, SO, NOW THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, RECONCILE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE.
IT'S GETTING TO BE FRUSTRATED FOR -- FROM US SPHRIEGHT THEIR CAUCUS, YOU SAW A COUPLE DAYS AGO AS THEY TRIED TO BREAK DOWN THE GOVERNOR'S DOOR DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT FRUSTRATION REALLY BUBBLING UP.
>> WE AT THE START OF THE SESSION, CAME IN, UNDER VERY UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, PREPARED TO DO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THE SENATE HAS PERFORMED ADMIRABLY THIS SESSION.
WE TOOK HARD MEASURES AT THE BEGINNING WITH POWER SHARING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD DO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.
AND I AM FEELING A DEEP, DEEP FRUSTRATION THIS MORNING WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE.
>> THE TARGETS SHOW $5 BILLION OF REDUCED SPENDING FROM BIENNIUM TO BIENNIUM.
SO AS FAR AS PEOPLE SAYING THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO AS FAR AS SHUTTING THE GOVERNMENT DOWN, THAT WAS NEVER A TOPIC FOR HOUSE REPUBLICANS.
THAT WAS NOT PART OF IT GOING FORWARD, WE WILL GET THIS WORK DONE.
>> I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YOU NOW FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, YOU NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH, YOU NEGOTIATE WHERE YOU CAN BE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2025 Ep19 | 1m 9s | House and Senate photographers document life in and around the Capitol. (1m 9s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2025 Ep19 | 12m 57s | Mary Lahammer sits down with Governor Walz after an unprecedented regular session. (12m 57s)
Political Reporters | May 2025
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2025 Ep19 | 5m 14s | MPR News Dana Ferguson and WCCO’s Caroline Cummings. (5m 14s)
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Almanac: At the Capitol is a local public television program presented by TPT