The Minnesota Senate and House both adjourned Monday night with numerous budget bills left to be considered. As a result, a future Special Session will be called in the coming weeks.

Senator Michael Kreun (R-Blaine) released the following statement in response: 

 

“I’m disappointed that we couldn’t put partisan politics aside to get the work of Minnesota done in a timely manner. Minnesotans expect our work to be done on time, but the May 19 deadline has come and gone, and much of our budget remains undone.

 

“I want to be incredibly clear: the primary reason we are delayed is because House Democrats chose not to show up to work for three weeks at the start of Session. During that time, virtually all work was halted. 

 

“As we move forwarded to get things finalized prior to a special session, conference committees are now meeting as ‘working groups,’ but I am concerned that much of those discussions are being done behind closed doors. 

 

“Transparency is desperately needed in this process – the public deserves to know what is going in final budget bills. We are talking about legislation that will affect the daily lives of every single family in this state, and the public is deliberately being kept out of the process and given no say whatsoever. Our government belongs to the people and this is not how we get work done for the people.”