Divided Minnesota Legislature could bring bipartisanship - or gridlock

Nov 09, 20200

Glen Stubbe – Star Tribune count

After the abrupt ending to the special session, House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, talked with House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, in the mostly empty House chamber on July 13, 2020.

For most of the past decade, Republicans and Democrats at the Minnesota State Capitol have clashed over budget deficits and haggled over taxes and spending. At times, they have even allowed bipartisan policy goals on infrastructure and health care to fall prey to partisan gridlock.

In Tuesday's election, Minnesota voters opted for at least two years of more of the same, delivering Republicans a narrow majority in the Senate and Democrats control in the House.

"It keeps some balance in," said Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake. "I think Minnesotans, consciously or unconsciously, didn't want one-party control."

https://www.startribune.com/divided-minnesota-legislature-could-bring-bipartisanship-or-gridlock/573011231/