It's the kind of problem many governors might love to have: how to divvy up a $9 billion budget surplus.
But unlike many states, Minnesota has a divided government, and the Democrat-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate are already stuck on business tax cuts and pandemic bonuses.
Halfway through the legislative session, DFL Gov. Tim Walz has proposed one-time spending, included sending checks to taxpayers, “hero pay” for pandemic workers and money to refill the depleted unemployment insurance fund.
The governor also faces a challenging landscape as he heads into his campaign for a second term. Minnesotans are exhausted after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and worried about rising gas prices, a war in Ukraine, a surge in violent crime and the future of public education.
On Friday, politics editor Mike Mulcahy talked with Gov. Walz about what he thinks can get done this legislative session and how he wants to lead Minnesota forward.
Plus, an economist explains why inflation is a growing concern.
Guests:
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
Louis Johnston is a professor of economics at the College of Saint Benedict | Saint John’s University and writes the Macro, Micro, Minnesota column for MinnPost.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.