Legislature passes $52B budget, continues to debate tax measures

Minnesota's divided Legislature quashed lingering fears about a partial government shutdown Wednesday, passing the final piece of a $52 billion budget that pours money into classrooms.

Lawmakers had just hours to spare before a midnight deadline as they approved a massive spending package to support K-12 education, which went to Gov. Tim Walz for his signature, and continued to debate a tax relief package late into the evening Wednesday that includes nearly $1 billion in tax cuts.

"We obviously would have liked to have it done a little earlier, but that's the way things work," said Walz, who hand-delivered the signed copy of the education budget to the Secretary of State's office just before 8 p.m.

https://www.startribune.com/legislature-passes-52b-budget-continues-to-debate-tax-measures/600073583/