Capitol Report

The chair of the Senate Finance Committee is one of the most powerful positions in the Senate.  Any bill with a fiscal impact must get its final approval from the committee, and the chair ultimately decides which bills to consider.  Senator John Marty, DFL-Roseville, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to talk about the budget surplus and proposals for a MinnesotaCare public option, universal health care, legalizing sports betting, and prohibiting cashless establishments.Despite substantive investments in E-12 education during the 2023 budget-setting legislative session, many school districts are facing budget shortfalls. Senator Jason Rarick, R-Pine City, lead Republican of the Education Finance Committee, joins Shannon to outline a plan intended to help school districts' finances by delaying the implementation of new educational mandates.Also in the program, Republican lawmakers call for changes to the new state seal and for a statewide vote on the new