The Minnesota legislative session is winding down, and as usual tempers are getting short in both the House and Senate.
Governor Walz tells WCCO's Vineeta Sawkar on the Morning News that lawmakers need to step back and work toward compromise.
"Right now, this just is about leverage," Walz says. "It's about trying to, you know, get your way. But if we all just come together, we're not gonna get everything we want. I've always said that I'm not gonna get my full budget. I'm not gonna get my requests on bonding, but we'll get some of it."
Walz says they are very close on a bonding bill and legislation to allow sports gambling in Minnesota.
Walz says threatening to hold up legislation isn't what's best for the state.
"You don't get to say I'm going to take my ball and go home because you don't get everything there," explains the Governor. "There is compromise here and I think the Republicans have ideas that they could add to this. But I don't think it's helpful when you say, 'look, we're going to just bring the whole thing down.' That doesn't serve anybody."
Walz is hopeful they can soon reach a compromise on a bonding bill. The session runs through Sunday and by state law, they have to wrap everything by 7:00 a.m. Monday. Since this is a bonding year, nothing needs to be finished in order for state government to still function.
TENSIONS FLARE
On Wednesday, Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman (DFL- Brooklyn Park) ended debate on the floor around midnight and called for a final vote on a bill that would change the state's paid leave program. That after it had been the subject of more than eight hours of debate.
"We can get our work done in 36 hours," says Hortman. "We have about 20 conference committee reports and so we have plenty of time to get the work done during the hours that most Minnesotans would be able to watch us."
Later on Thursday, Republican House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (Cold Spring) accused her of silencing the minority party.
"The Speaker has set a very dangerous precedent," Demuth told reporters. "We have no idea how she is going to maneuver the next three days where we're on the house floor. What you saw last night could be her plan all the way through. We don't know that."
Among the issues still undecided, an Equal Rights Amendment bill and a Bonding bill.
SPORTS BETTING
Sports betting seems like a longshot with Senate Minority leader Mark Johnson (R- East Grand Forks) saying Thursday he's not hopeful that it will pass this session.
"I think the hardest bet in all of sports is sports betting in Minnesota," Walz joked who said he would sign a bill if they could get one to his desk. "I think it's probably closer than it's been all of this session. If we can get this to the finish line, that's a good thing. I'd like to sign that."
UBER-LYFT
Another controversial bill is the Rideshare agreement between legislators and the Minneapolis City Council which would greatly increase wages for rideshare drivers like Uber and Lyft. Both of those companies have said if it passes, they will leave the Twin Cities.
Walz thinks there needs to be an increase as the state task force he set up recommended, but the current deal is too much.
"We can pay folks a fair wage but we need to keep folks here," says Walz. "We're a free market economy and competition is good. But the one thing is, people should not be randomly saying they're bluffing in this. That is not a way to legislate."
Walz says some of the safety provisions like insurance, background checks along with wage increases are good, but the companies need to be in a place where they still make money.
"I don't believe they're bluffing. I don't think it makes any sense," says Walz who still would like a deal done before Sunday.