Lawmakers At Odds Before Legislative Session Starts
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- It's hard to believe, but it's that time of year again: Minnesota lawmakers are preparing to return to the State Capitol.
Lawmakers are starting right back up where they left off last year, and last year didn't end well. It was an unusual legislative preview on Thursday at the State Capitol, featuring all four legislative leaders and Governor Mark Dayton.
All of them immediately were locking horns over last year's biggest issues. Gov. Dayton went after House Speaker Kurt Daudt for saying Democrats support all day Pre-K programs as a favor to the teacher's union.
"And I stand right by it, Governor," Daudt said.
"Well, OK. So the reason to oppose universal Pre-K is that it's going to add more Democrats to the voting roll? Not looking at what 47,000 kids could benefit from?" Dayton said.
"No, Governor, the reason to oppose it is that it shows that it doesn't close the achievement gap," Daudt said.
"Oh, yes it does. You're wrong," Dayton said.
"No, it doesn't," Daudt said.
"Yeah, it does," Dayton said.
"No, it doesn't," Daudt said.
"And what we did together, Governor, in a bipartisan fashion last session does show that it closes the achievement gap. And you and I did it together," Daudt said.
Democrats and Republicans also clashed over road and bridge repairs, light rail transit, a range of tax cuts, and raising the gas tax.
This might be just a taste of what's coming when the legislature begins its election year session March 8. And it won't help anyone's mood that it's going to be very cramped quarters because of the ongoing Capitol restoration.
