(ST. PAUL, MN) – The Senate adjourned from the special session early last Saturday morning. A week of negotiations on how best to spend federal CARES dollars, assemble a bonding bill, and pass police accountability ultimately broke down over stalemates from the House and the Governor. The special session was primarily called because Governor Walz extended his emergency powers. Senate Republicans voted the extension down in favor of a legislative lead on major state decisions.

During the special session, the CARES act bill, which divides $841 million between every county, city, and town in Minnesota, was agreed upon and passed by the Senate. The House amended millions of dollars of new spending and previously unseen legislation onto the bill at the Governor’s insistence, effectively tanking it for the session. 

“The House and Governor have no excuse for leaving out towns, cities and counties in the dust as they recover from the economic shutdown,” said Senator Mark Koran (R-North Branch). “The Senate did their job when it came to police accountability, and even took bill language directly from House authors. The House voted it down because they did not get every provision they wanted. It is impossible to work together when there is no willingness to meet in the middle.”

The Senate’s eleven police accountability bills included many agreed-upon ideas, like banning chokeholds, removing arbitration powers, and letting judges resolve union firing contracts. The House offered 22 bills, including extreme provisions like felon voting and dismantling police departments. The state’s constitution stipulates a bonding bill must originate in the House, but a bonding bill was not brought up for a vote in the House before the Senate adjourned. 

“I have and will continue to listen to my district. We needed this legislation and are prepared to pass it again when the House and Governor decide to come to the table,” Sen. Koran concluded.