Monday Morning’s Hot Cup of Political Realitea April 20 – April 24, 2026 Wolves in 5 🏀. The week of April 20 marks the beginning of the Timberwolves playoff run, and a shift from committee work to negotiations and floor votes at the Minnesota State Capitol. Lawmakers set three committee deadlines early in the session. Bills had to be acted on in their house of origin by the buzzer on March 27 (first and second deadlines). The final deadline for major appropriation a

No tea last week because we were on a breaaaaak! But just like Ross and Rachel, the Minnesota Legislature was bound to get back together for a final sprint toward omnibus bills and deadlines. While national and local events kept headlines swirling, the political world still served up plenty of drama at Central Perk ☕️ RECESS RUNDOWN: With the first major policy bill deadline hitting on March 27, the Legislature entered its spring recess—officially the Easter/Passover bre

After last week’s blizzard, Minnesota’s 70-degree weekend mimics the wild swings at the Capitol on this Manic Monday. The melting snow revealed work left und one, and lawmakers returned to Saint Paul to dig out from a backlog of hearings and approaching committee deadlines. Legislators and staff are working hard to make progress before the March 27 policy bill deadline . ‘SUP GOVERNOR: Governor Tim Walz rolled out new proposed supplemental budget that would tax large s

Last Week’s Fresh Scoop Budget & Forecast Review : The February forecast projecting a $3.7 billion surplus for FY 2026–27 still dominated discussions. Lawmakers continued to debate how to allocate the additional $1.3 billion in projected revenue while warning that revenue growth remains fragile and federal uncertainty around Medicaid funding could turn the surplus into a deficit. At Monday’s hearing , Minnesota Management & Budget walked the House Ways & Means Committee th

Budget Forecast Minnesota Management & Budget’s February forecast projects a $3.7 billion surplus for FY 2026–27, about  $1.3 billion more than estimated in November . But spending still outpaces revenue, leaving only $377 million available in FY 2028–29 , and officials warn that volatile revenue sources and federal uncertainty — notably the Trump administration’s threat to freeze $259 million in Medicaid funding — could quickly turn the surplus into a deficit. Monday’s Ho

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