Hear what the legislative leaders had to say

On Monday, January 31, the Minnesota Chamber kicked off the 2022 legislative session with the annual Session Priorities event. We laid out the business community’s top issues for the year and heard from leaders of the House and Senate what they hope to accomplish. During the crowd favorite “lightning round” questions, the leaders shared their thoughts on issues ranging from preventing a huge UI payroll tax increase on employers and returning the budget surplus to taxpayers to recreational marijuana and sports betting. Here are their answers:

Chamber President and CEO Doug Loon: Let's go to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which is running a deficit, not if, but when will it pass?
House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt: It needs to pass. I think everybody's on record saying it will. We need to start with the federal money, expend all of that. And it needs to happen in the first month of session.
Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen: Soon.
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller: Senator Franzen is in luck because it's gonna happen soon in the Senate. Senator Pratt's going to have a hearing next week.  
House Speaker Melissa Hortman: There's no reason it can't happen soon.

Chamber President and CEO Doug Loon: Will the "Walz Checks" be part of the final bill? 
House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt: I don't think they will. I don't think the governor ever intended them to be. I think it's a political stunt.
Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen: Some version.
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller: Some egos are bigger than others.
House Speaker Melissa Hortman: I think that there will be something in the form of a tax rebate.

Chamber President and CEO Doug Loon: What do you think will be the number one issue that you're gonna hear about from voters this fall?
House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt: I think it's gonna be public safety. It is now, and I think it will be then.  
Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen: Affording their life.  
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller: I already talked about public safety. I think the next biggest issue is education. We need to do something different to ensure that our kids are excelling in the classroom. Parents need to be involved in their children's education, and we need to address the achievement gap. What we're doing now is not working.
House Speaker Melissa Hortman: Choice and gun violence prevention, because probably the Supreme Court's going to strike down Roe v. Wade in June. And probably there will be another school shooting before the next election.  

Chamber President and CEO Doug Loon: Will we update Minnesota's prohibition-era liquor laws?
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller: Unlikely.
Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen: Just as unlikely as cannabis legalization.
House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt: Soon.  
House Speaker Melissa Hortman: Representative Zack Stephenson is gonna be all sin all the time. He's tackling liquor and sports betting.

Chamber President and CEO Doug Loon: Sports betting in Minnesota? Yes or no. 
House Speaker Melissa Hortman: Yes.
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller: Yes.
Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen: Soon.
House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt: I actually don't think it happens this year, but I think it'll happen next year.  

Chamber President and CEO Doug Loon: Speaking of betting, the governor asked for $2.7 billion in bonding. Over or under $2.7 billion?
House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt: I guarantee it'll be under that. I guarantee it.
Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen: Never thought I would agree with former Speaker Daudt, [but] under.  
House Speaker Melissa Hortman: Under.
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller: Under.

Chamber President and CEO Doug Loon: Now we're onto the surplus $7.7 billion surplus. How much will be left unallocated at the end of session? 
House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt: $5.5 billion.
Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen: I hope we save some.
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller: Give it back.
House Speaker Melissa Hortman: $4.4 billion, because we really have a surplus of $8.8 billion and I think we'll spend half and save half.