Preparing for the 2019 Legislative Session

State lawmakers enter the 2019 legislative session with issues remaining on the table from 2018, including efforts to address tax conformity, opioid addiction, elder abuse, school safety and health care costs. In addition, the latest state budget and economic forecast predicts a budget surplus of $1.5 billion dollars for the coming biennium, which may prove helpful as policymakers determine the state's future spending and taxation levels.

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk join Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to discuss the 2019 legislative session and the priorities for their respective Republican and DFL caucuses.

Also in the program, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) has released the first of the two budget and economic forecasts that provide critical information to lawmakers as they structure the state’s next two-year budget. Despite projections of a $1.544 billion dollar positive balance for fiscal years 2020-21, state officials are urging caution in setting new spending levels. Dr. Laura Kalambokidis joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to provide perspective on Minnesota's current and future economic realities that warrant an optimistic but measured approach in setting the budget.