Common Cause Minnesota is criticizing legislators for prioritizing partisan squabbles over the needs of the people, requiring a special session to pass a state budget this year.

Because lawmakers in the Minnesota House failed to reach a budget agreement by the constitutionally set time, a special session will be needed, costing Minnesotans extra time and money to advocate for a budget that works best for them. This is in addition to the cost to Minnesotans for the delayed start of the legislative session. In response, Common Cause Minnesota is calling for lawmakers to end the partisanship.  

“This legislative session, our state leaders failed the people of Minnesota,” said Annastacia Belladonna-Carrera, executive director of Common Cause Minnesota. ‘Each side understood reaching a bipartisan compromise would be difficult, however, isn’t that what they are called to do regardless of a 67/67 House split? Instead of solving transparency and ethics issues, and ensuring our government works for us, some elected officials chose to center partisan rhetoric over good-faith bipartisan compromise. They did not do the most important thing for Minnesotans – pass a bipartisan budget! With days left to the session, the blame game got out to a good start. The lack of transparency in some conference committee spaces was a disservice to good government and Minnesotans. We received complaints throughout the session that constituents couldn’t reach their House representatives and were turned away because they didn’t have appointments or the legislative assistants wouldn’t come down to speak to them. They wouldn’t come off the chamber floor to speak to them! Both Republican and Democratic leaders share the blame. They let partisan fights delay essential work and kicked meaningful reforms down the road — hoping to blame each other instead of taking responsibility. Minnesotans are paying attention, and they will hold accountable anyone who puts party politics ahead of the people’s work.”