What happened this week at the Minnesota Capitol
It's been a busy—and dramatic—week in Minnesota politics. Gov. Mark Dayton collapsed near the end of his State of the State address Monday night, then rolled out a $45.8 billion two-year budget on Tuesday morning. That budget includes $1.2 in new spending and consumes almost all of the state projected surplus, setting up a fight with the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Along with the budget, health insurance was front and center. With the Republican Congress poised to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Dayton is looking for a new choice for Minnesotans who buy insurance on the individual market. He has proposed a public option, which would be an extension of the MinnesotaCare program that already assists people with low incomes.
Meanwhile, in a separate effort to address health insurance, House and Senate negotiators reached a deal with Dayton's administration on a plan to give rebates to those seeing big increases in premiums with no access to federal subsidies.
That's not to mention the opening act of what could turn into a debate over school vouchers, or a measure that would charge protestors for the costs to police during civil disruptions.
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All of this came on the heels of weekend marches. On Saturday, thousands of Minnesotans across the state gathered to march in support of women's rights and to protest President Donald Trump's policies. A day later, the state Capitol grounds were host to another protest, this one to mark the 44th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.
MPR News host and political editor Mike Mulcahy talked with several guests about the week in politics.
To hear the full discussion use the audio player above.
Guests:
Commissioner Emily Piper of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Sen. Michelle Benson Minnesota (R-Ham Lake), chair of the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee in the Senate.
Secretary of State Steve Simon.
Brian Bakst, reporter who covers politics and state government for MPR News.
Tim Pugmire, reporter who covers politics and state government for MPR News.