Capitol Report: Protecting Game & Fish, Regulating Surrogacy

On this week's Capitol Report program, The catch-and-release season for Walleye on Mille Lacs Lake ended in early September, and DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr joins Shannon Loehrke to talk about the restoration efforts and the health of all of the state's game and fish.

There is a patchwork of laws across the US regarding surrogacy, which is an arrangement whereby a woman carries a pregnancy for intended parents. No federal laws exist, leaving it up to each state--some states prohibit the practice, some states regulate it to varying degrees, and some states, like Minnesota, have not yet created a legislative framework. The Minnesota's Legislative Commission on Surrogacy is studying issues surrounding regulations, and the commission’s co-chairs, Sen. Alice Johnson and Rep. Peggy Scott, join Shannon to highlight some of the issues being reviewed.

Also on the program, the general fund is the largest of all state funds. Minnesota tax collections are deposited into the fund and then distributed to various areas of need. Producer Jon Brune explains the purpose of the general fund and the important role it plays in Minnesota's state government.