June 7, 2022

Discussions over Special Session Continue

Following Memorial Day weekend, Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders returned to the topic of a possible special session to effectuate the “budget framework” agreed upon the final week of the legislative session.  By all reports, these private conversations have been positive and somewhat productive even if they have not yet resulted in the level of agreement needed for Gov. Walz to feel comfortable calling a special session.  

Outside of Saint Paul, public pressure for legislators to reach agreement has started to grow.  The idea that the state government is holding onto surplus dollars (versus either investing or returning them) is generally unpopular and a variety of advocacy groups, particularly in the long-term care and disability services, have ratcheted up their public-facing advocacy efforts to emphasize the urgency of some of the contemplated spending proposals. It remains to be seen what impact they will have, but the general consensus is that the further we get from the end of the regular session, the less likely it will be that they return for a special session. 

  

Deadline to File for Public Office

The deadline to file for public office closed on May 31st at 5:00 PM and with it, brings a host of legislative hopefuls and primary challengers. Candidates will spend roughly the next two months vying for party support and targeting likely primary voters until the state primary election on August 9, 2022. Redistricting may create barriers to office for some sitting legislators as new districts may be made up of largely new territory, while others remain roughly the same.

A race of note is embattled State Senator Omar Fetah (DFL- Minneapolis) currently up against one primary challenger for the state’s 62nd district. Sen. Fetah has received attention for his connection to Muse Mohamud Mohamed who was indicted for lying to a grand jury. He also faces an ethics complaint in the Senate for carrying legislation that would have given money to a non-profit that donated money to his campaign.    

Important Dates to Remember

• August 9, 2022: First Congressional District Special Election Primary
  
  
• November 8, 2022: Candidate Filing for all constitutional offices and the MN House and Senate

 

Federal Guns and gun violence, chatter over a possible reconciliation deal and the start of public hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection will dominate the headlines as Congress kicks off a busy three-week sprint ahead of the July 4 break.

 

Guns and Bipartisan Gun-Control Talks Take Center Stage

With the country plagued by an endless wave of mass shootings – including the horrific massacres in Uvalde and Buffalo – this has emerged as the top political issue of the moment.

On Thursday, June 2, 2022, President Joe Biden pleaded with Congress to take action, including removing immunity from gun manufacturers and restoring the assault weapons ban. In a response to those pleads the House returns today with a plan to pass gun control legislation, including a package that would increase the age to buy certain rifles and limit magazine sizes. The bill, advanced out of committee during a recess-week markup, also includes additional measures, such as ones to codify regulations banning bump stocks and ghost guns, and provide standards for safe gun storage.

While united on the need to act after gunmen killed dozens of people in mass shootings in recent weeks, Democrats aren’t in agreement on the best path forward.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), in a letter to colleagues, wrote that the chamber will vote on the gun control package that the Rules Committee plans to debate today, setting up a final vote for later in the week. 

But Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) joined by 20 other Democrats, wrote to Pelosi and other leaders the same day, asking them to split the bill back into its individual proposals, in an effort to build as much bipartisan support as possible before the legislation heads to the Senate. Other bills that could be considered in the weeks ahead include an Amber Alert-style system for active shooters and a renewed assault weapons ban, Pelosi wrote in the letter. Democratic leaders also have their sights set on moving a proposal by Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) whose son was murdered by a gunman in 2012. Her bill would allow seizure of someone's guns in emergency situations, and has been opposed by gun groups.

Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia have such red flag laws in place, covering roughly half the country. This bill would encourage states without such laws to set up their own programs. House Republicans have objected to all these gun-control measures, arguing that they’re redundant or – in the case of red flag laws – a violation of Second Amendment rights and due process. It’s clear, however, that Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leaders believe they have the votes to push these bills through the House. Pelosi has also promised a vote on an assault weapons ban, although it’s not clear right now if there are the votes to pass it. 

At this point, these bills cannot make it past a guaranteed Senate GOP filibuster, despite public support. But the real action on gun control – and the only possible compromise that could become law – is happening in the Senate. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX) are holding negotiations on a less sweeping plan than what the House will take up. 

Murphy is also involved in parallel discussions with a group that includes Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CN), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) on the same issue. Sources familiar with the Murphy-Cornyn talks said the two sides are “exchanging paper,” although there’s no text yet. “A deal is still a ways away,” cautioned the aide, although both sides are “feeling positive” and still remaining publicly upbeat. A compromise package could include a version of a red flag law, some enhanced background checks on gun sales – although not the broad background checks bill passed by the House last year – and funding for mental health programs.

 

On the Radar: Democrats Out to Salvage Reconciliation Bill

Democrats face big obstacles and a deadline measured in weeks as they attempt to salvage a scaled-down tax, climate and health care package that could give them a boost ahead of the November elections. Conversations have been underway between Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), to negotiate a budget reconciliation bill — which only requires a simple majority for passage — that would meet Manchin’s demands without losing support from other Democrats. But even if legislation is written to accommodate Manchin, Arizona Democrat Kyrsten Sinema remains a crucial question mark. The reconciliation bill would need the support of the entire Democratic caucus in the evenly divided Senate to pass with a tie-breaking assist from Vice President Kamala Harris.