Senator Eken unsure if Special Session will Actually Come to Fruition

ST. PAUL (KDLM) – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says he will call Minnesota lawmakers back to St. Paul for a special session, but a Lakes Area Senator isn’t so sure that will actually happen.

The state legislative session closed without passing a $3.9 billion tax plan, nearly $4 billion in proposed spending for nursing homes, schools, police agencies and other areas, or a $1.4 billion bonding bill.

Senator Kent Ekon speaking with KDLM news on Monday said he’s not sure a special session will actually come to fruition though he hopes it will, “It’s not something that’s required because this year isn’t a budget year, so nothing would shut down. There are some who may be looking at pushing this surplus that we have into the next budget cycle rather than dealing with it now.”

Governor Walz holds the power to call a special session but lawmakers decide what to do once they get to the Capitol, so Walz likely wouldn’t call a special session unless he had reached an agreement with lawmakers.

Eken says it would be unfortunate if a deal couldn’t be worked out, “We’re sitting on an historic budget surplus and that could be put to good use right now.”

Leaders of both parties are putting blame on each other for blocking crucial spending and tax framework from passing in the Legislature’s final days.