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Minnesota lawmakers must agree on a balanced two-year budget by May 20 or risk a special session. They kicked off the year with optimism, talking of a fresh start and plans to get things done early.

But the situation quickly got complicated, as disagreements over the size and priorities of that budget emerged. This week, a 

 showed that lawmakers still have a surplus to work with, but the size of the surplus slipped to about $1 billion, down from an estimated $1.5 billion in November.

The 2019 legislative session

 drew a huge crowd and DFL Gov. Tim Walz has proposed a 

Overall, how's the session going? MPR News political editor Mike Mulcahy spoke with two MPR reporters about what's going on at the Capitol.

To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.

Politics and Government News

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MPR News with Angela Davis

Mike Mulcahy

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Julie Siple

Minnesota lawmakers must agree on a balanced two-year budget by May 20 or risk a special session. They kicked off the year with optimism, talking of a fresh start and plans to get things done early. Nearly two months in, how's it going?

Two months in, what has the state Legislature accomplished?

The grounds of the Minnesota State Capitol are covered in slushy, wet snow.

Two months in, what has the state Legislature accomplished?

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