Minnesota lawmakers still hope for police reforms, public works bill

Jul 08, 20200

Renee Jones Schneider – Star Tribune count

Sen. Jeff Hayden spoke during Tuesday at a news conference with U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and the Minnesota Legislature's People of Color and Indigenous Caucus at the State Capitol in St. Paul. Gov. Tim Walz is prepared to call Minnesota lawmakers into a special session that would begin Monday.

Minnesota state lawmakers will get another chance at passing police accountability measures into law next week, with Gov. Tim Walz planning to call a special legislative session for the second time this summer.

Walz said Tuesday he is optimistic that lawmakers can strike a deal on both a public works spending package and on police reforms in the wake of the May death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.

But the politics remain tricky. A few hours after Walz revealed his plan to call a special session this coming Monday, members of the Legislature's People of Color and Indigenous Caucus - joined at a statehouse news conference by Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar - said that GOP legislative leaders have not been communicating with them about police accountability proposals.

https://www.startribune.com/legislature-getting-a-do-over-on-police-reform-public-works/571662302/